Currie's Column
November 14th, 2004
Well, thanks to the mild weather we are able to keep running
outside. This probably doesn't sit well with the Glide
part of Stride & Glide. But the Stride
part couldn't be happier. It is typical: This year I finally decided
to purchase a membership at the "Y", just because we
had such a dump of snow in early mid-October, and it all melts
and we are left with an extended autumn.
I must say that I do enjoy running at the "Y", but
I wish there was something to watch…some sort of distraction.
Going for hours on end with nothing to focus on makes me almost
slip into a trance. I don't wish to wind-up as a train wreck all
over the weight machines behind me. I am sure glad they have so
many treadmills because I have yet to have any problem getting
one right away. I must confess to being rather blasé about
weight training in general, but I'm quite sure if I ever get more
interested in it, I will find plenty of neat machines to work
with. I was struck by how isolated everyone seemed. I mean hardly
any body was talking to each other. Obviously I am not familiar
with gym etiquette as it is new to me, but I just thought it was
strange. I must admit to violating what is probably some unwritten
rule of gym etiquette; and that was to look at the speedometer
of the person on the treadmill next to me. Can't help it I get
bored sometimes.
One thing I am having a hard time getting used to is; when I
have concluded a long run on the treadmill and I step off, boy
do I feel topsy-turvy for about a minute. Now I know what my cat
feels like when my boy spins him around and around on our swivel
footstool, then plops him on the floor to walk. Other than that
it is a great place to train.
I must send out a great big thanks to the Prince George Road
Runners club for organizing so many awesome road races this
year. Next year I hope to be able to contribute some volunteering
time as a way to return the favour. Keep up the great work people.
Well lets hope the weather holds…Sorry Shayne.
Friday - October 15th
Well another marathon completed…not the best result I could
have hoped for, but I did learn all that I needed to know. I won't
be able to sustain 100kms with a strained and sore upper-thigh
muscle or lower-back pain (Whatever it is). Time off and rest
is all I can do now. I must confess I was fairly certain that
my nagging injury was going to place me on the shelf for the season,
after I finished the Labour Day Race. Nevertheless it was great
to run in the last bit of warm sunshine for 2004. It was a very
scenic course that was supported extremely well by Victorians.
I will definitely run next years race and would encourage anybody
who is wondering about entering a well-attended event (over 5000
competitors) this is the one to try.
The weather was just what a runner would ask for: Drizzly in the
morning and sunny around noon. Without so much as a hint of frost…unlike
our local climate as of late. The amount of well-wishers and offers
of "good luck or have a great race" were everywhere.
I mean even the guests at the hotel who were not there for the
marathon joined in the chorus. It made me feel great. Although
at about 20kms into the race and a whole lotta upper-thigh pain
later, not even massive spectator turnout and the lift it generates
could help me. All I can say is; it was a good thing the race
was an out and back type of course, because no matter how sore
or slow you are going; pulling out is just not an option. I came
to the conclusion that the 40 dollar charge for not returning
the race-chip at the finish line is to ensure that you may as
well hobble your way around the course as best as you can, cuz
you gotta give back the darn chip anyways.
I couldn't help but notice that one of the areas that we had
to run through was very ritzy. I mean old money…tons of it.
Ironically it was called Uplands. Not really a name us Prince
Georgeites would rely on, as it conjures images of slightly less
than well-to-do. I must confess to being slightly worried about
having to spit or god forbid toss-me-cookie, while running this
particular section of the course, as it might draw some Headmaster
type from the line of spectators who would threaten to give me
a "thick-ear" (you have to have British parents to cringe
at that one). It was during this jaunt through high society that
the competitors were offer, by some well-meaning types, biscotti
and beer. That's right it took me back a bit as well. In fact
I couldn't believe it on the way out so I had to really check
it out on the way back. Sure enough…somebody was perfectly
willing to part with some of their own personal reserve just to
ensure some racers would hurl before the finish line. Needless
to say I passed on the opportunity.
Shayne, Tuppy and Ricki competed in the ½ marathon and
by all accounts had a splendid time. Shayne apparently decided
that household harmony was much more important than a PB during
this race, as he proved all he needed to in the first half of
the race and then let Tuppy slip by him towards the end. While
Ricki was content to run her own race. I mean she was in so much
of a "runners-zone" that when I passed her on the course,
within inches of her, she was too focused to even wave. Wow what
commitment.
I would like to thank these guys for being great traveling companions,
because without them I would have been really quite bored. I only
hope my hogging of the TV remote didn't force them to endure too
much football and boxing. I can only imagine what was said once
we parted ways. "….I have never sat through twelve rounds
of a boxing match before..yada…yada"
The local running scene or sort of local…as in Brian Nemethy
and Rod Woodbeck did really well and my hat is truly off to the
pair of them. The funny thing is that for a while I have looked
towards Brians results as goal posts for where I would like to
get to, now along comes this Rod Woodbeck guy from Houston who
is pushing these posts farther away. Slow down fellas. Oh well
I still have a couple more years on the junior circuit.
I really would be amiss if I didn't send a note of appreciation
to the mystery driver of a blue late model Dodge pick-up who slowed
down and drove along side me while I was running towards Miworth
last week. I am not scared of bears but I am wary of them and
this one particular bear was a just a bit too inquisitive of me.
So I was very relieved when the Good Samaritan slowed down and
placed his vehicle between me and the bear for about a kilometer.
Thanks a bunch. While there are no sidewalks or very little shoulder
to run on out there the drivers are very courteous to me.
Sept 24th, 2004
A rather mundane week as far as training goes. Other than surviving
acupuncture with nothing but an aching lower back, there was only
one event that proved memorable. Last Saturday, while I was making
my way over part of the Heritage Trail system, my dog, Sammi and
I were startled by what I think was a gunshot. I won't go into
just where it was…because it could have happened anywhere,
but if that in itself didn't shake me; the fact that I came upon
numerous RCMP members walking the trail obviously searching for
someone made me think. Here I was sportin' a new haircut, which
is about as short as a new recruit, and a black German Shepard
on a leash. I was pretty much worried that I may be mistaken by
the purp as part of the search party, should I be so unlucky as
to bump into him or her. Needless to say my column is proof to
my making it through the entire ordeal unscathed. (Maybe I should
have titled this, Dateline Beirut)
As far as the acupuncture goes; I have adopted a "wait-and-see"
attitude. I still have pain in my upper thigh, but apparently
it is because of an irritated vertebra in my lower back, that
is, according to Doctor Acupuncture, creating a pinched nerve
situation that is radiating down to my thigh…? Sounds good…I
suppose I can go along with that. Unfortunately for me there isn't
a quick-cure. I need to strengthen the muscles in my lower back
and abdomen with one of those giant rubber balls. Whenever I see
people exercising with those balls, or lets just say flopped over
them, it always brings to mind one of my son's favourite cartoons.
Cow and Chicken I think it is called, anyway there is this one
character that is known as Cousin Boneless and he can usually
be found flopped over the mailbox. I digress. I don't know if
I would recommend this therapy to anyone, but I was pleased that
the diagnosis, however accurate, provided me with some different
ideas as to just what can be causing me discomfort. It also proved
beneficial to me as I came away from the visit with some invaluable
exercise advice.
Only a couple of weeks more until the Royal Victorian Marathon…
What a fancy name. Conjures an image of teacups being held with
pinky's straight out. As part of the English Diaspora I should
feel right at home there. Actually, all I can really think about
is: I hope it isn't too warm in Victoria on Race day. I am afraid
that I am getting too accustomed to running in the plummeting
temperatures, and I'm not quite sure how warm it would have to
be to have a negative overall effect on me.
Well that is it for another week. Remember, all you people who
run in the mornings: Too many people try and drive the first few
kilometers away from their homes with nothing but a porthole sized
area defrosted on their windshield and almost as bad on the side
windows. So be extra careful and make sure you make eye contact
with the driver if you must cross in front of them.
Sept 17, 2004
Shayne and Tuppy have graciously allowed me to have my own little
piece of this page to ramble on and on, so all you readers can
follow the trials and tribulations of an aspiring endurance runner.
I decided on Monday (Sept 13) that I would like to enter the
Victoria Marathon; so overwhelmed by this decision, I was, I took
the day off from running. No, not really: It was my first rest
day since completing the Labour Day Classic the weekend before.
The Victoria Marathon is being held on October 10th and I hope
to improve my personal best from 3:05:00 to anything under 3 hours.
My pace during the LDC was what I will need to beat 3 hours. As
it was the first time that I have run the Labour Day course I
was satisfied with my time of 1:52:00, not ecstatic or anything,
but just satisfied.
If I had to provide a post script of my Labour Day race I would
have to sum it up by saying: As every runner knows there are some
days when you just don't feel like running, and I know I always
pray that I don't have these low bio rhythm days on race day.
So I suppose that is why I was content with my time. Anybody can
run well on those feeling-great days, it's those days when gravity
seems to be having more of an effect on my legs, when it is a
real chore to keep my pace up. I placed fourth over all in the
race and was luckily able to claim a little golden trinket for
arriving first in my class (19-39). All the top finishers were
Masters runners…and what masters of the road they are. (Rod
Woodbeck, Brian Nemethy and Joe Kelly). I still have two more
years before I have to move up from the amateur division to, what
I look at as the real fast guys. I had a real nice run with Joe
Kelly for about three quarters of the race, but then he decided
to up his pace and move on, so accepting my fate I settled in
for fourth.
As the Victoria Marathon is not too far off (less than a month)
I don't really need to change my training regime much. About the
only changes I have made is, this week I decided to take two rest
days (usually I take only 2 days off per month). I will continue
to run about 200km per week until October and I won't do another
70km run until after the marathon. (My next 100km race is Nov
6).
At this point I just have to say how much I really appreciate
Shayne and Tuppy (Cory too) at Stride and Glide; not only have
they helped me with my running attire but they are an invaluable
source of health and hydration advice, but this week they out
did themselves in my book. Bearing in mind that running is pretty
much my life and not whole lot else really matters, (family excluded
yada..Yada..) They thrilled me by providing me with two pairs
of Mizuno wave-rider7's, so I can alternate them from day to day.
All the best runners do this, or so I am told. Actually for me
it is great because my runners never get to dry from one day to
the next and force drying them is not advised by the manufacture.
I must say that I am truly humbled by their confidence in me and
I can't count the number of times in the past two months that
I have pushed harder because of it.
Murphy's Law of running is that the minute you sign-up for a
race and pay the cash you either get injured or catch a cold.
I received the latter. I tell you it isn't a whole lot of fun
running in rain with a cold, but at least it will be over long
before Oct 10th. On the injury front, I intend to try acupuncture
on Monday for a nagging upper-thigh? (butt-muscle to me in layman's
term) injury. What the heck. What am I suppose to say to my tired
and overworked GP? " I have this pain in my leg that kicks
in at about 30km or so. What should I do?" "Don't run
that far!" he would reply with a snap…."Next please!"
Hey if it works out well I become an instant advocate for acupuncture.
At this point I am willing to try almost anything. Well, until
next week…
