Saturday morning’s run was to be a long training run. After a rough week, one where I only got two runs in of three miles, I was concerned that this run was going to end in failure. I didn’t know if I had the endurance to go past eight miles, even though I ran a half marathon in May. It’s funny how your doubts let you believe that you’ve lost everything you have built up.

After chatting with the iCan Running group and doing our stretches, we took off. My dear friend Kara and I were leading the pack, as most of the group was running slower due to the humidity. Kara and I just saw it as another hurdle to get over, to learn to deal with and push through it.

We chatted and laughed, which is all too common on our runs together. It’s our way of catching up with each other and making the most of this beautiful moment in time. There we were, in the early morning, two best friends enjoy a run and the beauty of the trails we were on. You really can’t ask for much more!

At one point we turned to see where the other runners were. Much to our surprise, they were nowhere to be seen. I knew we were running faster than they were, but I didn’t think we were that fast. We resumed our run and Kara said “Thank you for running with me, it would suck to run this far alone.” I thanked her too, and thought about how much easier the long runs are when you are with someone.

Most days, I run alone. It’s my Zen time, a chance to get away from everything and everyone, to clear my head and regroup. But, I love running with Kara and Stephanie, and the other runners in our group as well. Those are times to learn and teach, to help and to receive help.

But there is something magical when you have one or two running partners that know you so well, that are your closest of friends, that will always be there for you. These bonds develop over time, and countless miles covered together. And somewhere down the road you realize how special that is. Your pace is the same, you know when they will move a certain way, you look for the same things (we saw a deer watching us today). It becomes instinctive.

I would recommend to anyone starting out in running, especially distance running, to find a buddy to run with. Work together to assist one another in achieving each other’s goals, hold each other accountable when it comes to training, and hopefully you too can feel the magic of having a very special training partner.

We ended our run at 13.8 miles, and a total time of 2:22:31. It was hard to believe that I was worried about going eight miles. Kara sent me a note later saying “Thanks for the run. Just like old times.” Yes it was, and I hope the beginning of many more runs that are “just like old times.”

“Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, or an hour or a day, or even a year. But eventually, it will subside. And something else take its place. If I quit, however, it will last forever.”

-Lance Armstrong

The above quote is one I think of at times when I’m tired, or sore, or just want to stop running and go home.  It’s one I think of when my legs, my back, or those little voices of doubt try to get me to end my workout early.  I think about this quote, and how far I have grown in the last few years both mentally and physically, and I know I cannot quit.

Yesterday I went out on a 6 mile run.  I added a long hill incline (approximately 11 blocks) into the mix early, and started paying for it quickly.  My body wanted to stop, to walk and rest, but I knew that if I stopped, I would not start again that evening.  So I kept pushing, hearing this mantra in my head.

It really doesn’t matter what time you finish your distance in.  Some days you set a personal record, some days you won’t.  What does matter is that you didn’t give up on yourself, that you have the guts, the drive, the determination to forge ahead and continue.  You refused to take the easy way out, to quit, and because you refused to quit you become tougher, stronger, and more mentally focused.

When I finished, I thought “Wow, it really wasn’t so bad.  Why did I even consider quitting?”  Running is one of the few sports where the participants continue on long after the winner has crossed the finish line.  Why?  Because it was never against them in the first place; it was against those inner demons that want you to quit.  It’s a battle within, and one you can win …

If you continue to forge ahead.

Remember, pain is temporary, quitting is forever.

Live healthy, be happy.

Travis

Saturday was the 35th annual Dam to Dam race, and for the first time the event was lengthened to become a half-marathon. It has been a 20K race (12.4 miles) all these years, but after discussions with city officials it was decided to add the .7 miles and create a half-marathon.

Kara and I arrived downtown around 5:00 a.m. to catch the bus that would take us to the Saylorville Dam. We met up with Donna, who is training for her first Ironman race; Andy, who just completed his first Ironman; and Andy’s fiancée Megan, who was running her first half-marathon.

We boarded one of the many buses that were waiting and headed out. We wondered what the other three pickup points looked like since it appeared that every school bus in Des Moines was on Locust Street that morning. The ride was uneventful until a road closure had the bus driver confused on what to do. It was apparent that this wasn’t discussed before the drivers were sent to their locations. But we runners are always a helpful bunch. The whole bus directed him around the detour, and we made it to the drop-off point with time to stretch and prepare for the next 13.1 miles.

As we made our way onto the bridge and to our pace area (the area marked that, according to your average time per mile, is where you should start from) it felt as though we were salmon swimming up the river. There were approximately nine thousand runners on the bridge, all waiting anxiously for the starting gun. Kara and I were hoping that we could start and finish together, but in this sea of people that would prove to be challenging.

Suddenly the race was on. After the initial start and stops as the crowd swells at the starting line, we were off and in fine form. Kara and I were quite the team, passing other runners while watching out to see where our partner was. We were making good time and moving ahead, and it looked like I would make my goal of under 2 hours if we kept up this pace or close to it. The first three miles were awesome!

Then it happened. We moved off the road to pass some slower runners, and Kara stepped back on the road easily. I went to follow, but the crowd was closing the area. I had to sidestep to get back on the road and avoid a runner in the grass, when I felt a pain in my right calf. I have a tear in the inner muscle that is healing, but this pain said to me that trouble was brewing if I didn’t watch out. I hollered to Kara that the calf was acting up, and she instinctively slowed down. I pointed forward and told her to go on; I wasn’t about to let my injury spoil the great run she was having. After a quick nod, she continued on with her pace and I slowly watched her fade from view and into a wall of people.

The next ten miles were brutal. I would have moments where the pain was gone, and my pace quickened somewhat, only to have the pain return and slow me down again. I needed to cross that line; I did not want to be picked up and carted back; I did not want a DNF next to my name. I had to give up on the personal record dream and focus on just finishing the race.

Finally, and mercifully, I turned the final corner and could see the finish line 400 yards away. The calf was calm for a moment, so I took a chance and started to really pick up the pace. Any gas left in the tank was going to be gone when I hit the tape. It probably looked slow, but it felt like a dash. 400 yards became 200, then 100, then the finish line. As soon as I stopped the pain returned, as if to say “I gave you a break, but now I’m back!”

I met up with Kara and Donna, who both had really good runs and both finished in under 2 hours. I finished with 2:13:56, not too bad for thinking that every step could be my last one for the last ten miles. We rehydrated and stretched, and tried to enjoy the moment.

Another half marathon in the books. Another Dam to Dam completed. Another medal to go along with all the memories that were made, both good and not so good. It won’t take long to start dreaming of doing it again next year.

In fact, I already am.

Live healthy, be happy.

Travis

This sunday, part of the iCan Running Group got together to go on a 70 minute training run. As I pulled into the meeting area, it started to drizzle, and as we stretched it started to rain. We had our training discussion and took off away; no rain was going to deter us from our morning run!

My dear friends Stephanie and Kara joined me, and it was like old times, laughing and joking along the way. The weather started getting worse, but thankfully there was no lightning, so we kept running. Stephanie laughingly mentioned that she was soaked, to which I replied “This is when memories are made.”

That statement got me thinking; that really is when memories are made. I had some sunny runs this week, but I don’t really remember them. But being with close friends, getting soaked, those runs I’ll remember. It seems that friendship or adverse weather strikes a chord that makes you remember the event. When you add the two together, the memory can last a lifetime.

Don’t get me wrong; Kara, Stephanie, and I have had many wonderful runs where the weather was perfect, and wonderful memories were made. But it seems that the worse the conditions are, and the more we laugh and smile our way through them, the better the memory.

I guess it just shows that we love our lifestyle, and each other. We support and encourage each other, and it’s great to feel and share that love. I didn’t have to run today as it was supposed to be a rest day. But I knew that I hadn’t ran with Stephanie and Kara since the Market to Market Relay, so I was not going to let a “rest day” or rainy weather stop me.

So think about it: what are your happy memories from? Are they from acquiring things, or being with people you love? Are they from times when you pushed yourself whether it be a mental or physical challenge, or where you ran in the pouring rain, like we did?

I hope you all build happy memories as you transform your lives.

Live healthy, be happy!

Travis

I was never one to waste a lot of time stretching, that is, until I got injured. I discovered that I wasn’t doing enough stretches and I wasn’t doing enough proper stretches to aid my running and to avoid injury. Here are some websites with some simple stretches to incorporate into your pre and post run routine.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/runningworkouts/tp/BestRunningStretches.htm

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1565

Live healthy, be happy!

Travis

Friday I received great news. I was cleared by a specialist to resume running. The tear in my calf would heal on its own, and that even if they were to stitch it back together, there has been no proven benefit to even consider going that route. That bit of good news came at no better time, as the next day was the Market to Market relay.

For those that are not familiar with this race, it’s a relay race where teams of 6,7, or 8 members cover 72 miles of bike trails and sometimes city streets, making their way from Jefferson to the Court Ave. Bridge in Des Moines. Teams shuttle from checkpoint to checkpoint in vehicles (we rented a van, actually one of the largest vans I have ever seen) and drop off, pick up, and cheers their teams on.

This was my first Market to Market, and I am thankful for the invitation to go, even though I was nervous on how the leg would hold up. We started off a little bit of chilly weather, and a guy in a pink ape suit and a trombone leading the official start. That alone should tell you what a day this was going to be.

I had the fourth and twelfth legs of the run. I missed a very cold rainstorm on my first leg, and was running on wet pavement that was slowly drying due to the heat. It felt good and the 4.8 miles went by quickly in the scenic farm country. I finished that leg in 41:16, not to bad for all the worrying about the right calf.

The weather was all over the board. From bone chilling rain, to clear skies, calm soft winds to 25mph crosswinds, from heat to a torrential downpour (poor Kara had that leg), the weather was everything and anything that day.

My next leg was 4.6 miles and just a straight shot. That would have been a piece of cake, except for the brutal wind that made me almost constantly hold on to my hat for fear that it would blow away! I finished in 42:40, and wondered why it took so long, even with the wind. Stephanie reminded me that we have been walking a lot between relay legs, and she had been measuring it. We had the distance for a half marathon each already. Maybe that’s the reason I was tired!

When Kara emerged from the rainstorm on the last long leg, we ran as a team for the last .3 miles to the finish line. We started off as friends and strangers, united by one member or another, all with one common goal. We crossed the finish line as a team, united by a day and a bond that will remain with us forever!

Live healthy, be happy!

Travis

Saturday was a new event for me, an 8k race called Loop the Lake. It is sponsored by the Capital Striders, a great running group in town. Since I have belonged to the Striders for a year now, I thought it would be nice to participate in a club event.

The Friday before the race was the packet pickup, which was at the Confluence Brewery. I sent my wife a text asking if she wanted to go after work, and have a beer after getting the packet. She agreed, and then suggested that we ride our bikes there instead of driving. What a great idea! It was a beautiful afternoon and a great day for a short ride. It totaled 18 miles round trip, and took just over an hour ride time (we did stop to grab some water, but only for a minute).

Race day was beautiful! It was a great morning with clear skies and perfect temps to run in. I was still taping the calf that I had trouble with, but after a 10 mile run I figured the tape was merely a precaution now. There were several hundred runners that were running, so I hoped for the best and was determined to run my own race and not the other persons.

We started off and I got off to a fast start, 7:57 for the first mile. I was aiming for 9:00 or just under, so I was concerned about holding that pace for the entire race. I settled down (excitement usually gets me running faster to start) and got into a groove. Miles two, three and four came in at 8:23, 8:26 and 8:48. Mile four is a mystery to me: I’m not sure why I slowed down, except I was in a open area where the faster runners were way ahead and other runners were a bit behind. I don’t know if that had any effect, but I was 20 seconds slower than the other miles.

I gained the time back on mile 5, as I was able to pick up a good pace runner and then kicked it in another gear when the finish line got within view. Mile 5 was clocked at 8:16, by no means fast but fast enough for me! I recorded 41:56 for the race, something I was extremely happy with.

As I drank some chocolate milk and ate a banana, the initial postings came out. The elite and master runners put up amazing numbers, in the 20’s and low 30’s. It must be amazing to literally fly through the course like that! I looked further down the list and got a nice surprise . . . I finished in first in my age division for regular runners (50-54 age group). That was a quite a surprise, and received a medal at the post race ceremony.

Now it’s time to prepare for the Mayors Bike Ride and then the Hy Vee half marathon at the Drake Relays. It’s going to be a great year!

Live healthy, be happy!

Travis