The past 5 days brought forth a rollercoaster of runs. Friday was an hour run at a healthy pace in the cool and crisp September evening. Unfortunately, Vienna wasn't quite built with runners in mind, but i found my way in the darkness on a decent path through woods, the W&OD, and suburbia. The next day was another evening run, this time only 30 minutes with about 6 strider/sprints to get my legs used to some turnover again and to make sure i wasn't too tired for my long run on sunday(plust some pushups and pullups inspired by watching the movie Warrior(AWESOME movie)).
I'm going to straight up say it, Sunday was possibly the best run i've had in a year or so. I started out slowly just getting the legs loosened up, working through a bit of tightness and soreness from the past 2 days. About 45 minutes in i found myself unconsciously picking up the pace. The sun was below the horizon, the air was once again cool and crisp and it seemed like i was one of the few souls outside that evening running around my old highschool stomping grounds as families sat inside and made their preparations for the upcoming week. By the time i was 2-3 miles from home i started really throwing down the hammer. I felt indestructible. I pushed harder and my breathing stayed steady while my legs stayed fluid. Figuring i shouldn't get ahead of myself and risk any injury, i ended my run at 1hr37m. A few laps walking around the culdesac while my heartrate eased up a bit capped an amazing training run in preparation for the race. The weather is getting cooler. We are entering that transitional season where it is neither too hot and humid, nor to bone chillingly cold. And i love it!
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and i found myself Monday and Today struggling like i never have before on the residual effects of Sunday's long run(40 mins and 50 mins). After clawing my way to the end of today's run i decided i'm due for a day off and tomorrow will be just that.
As for Max's post about 'scabbing,' or 'banditing' as i've heard it, I've found myself going back and forth. I can certainly see from a semi- to serious runner's viewpoint, while out of shape and not actually planning to go all-out in a race fashion, why they feel they shouldn't have to pay when they could essentially do the workout or hard effort they'd be doing elsewhere just as easily. The race just provides a convenient course devoid of all stop light and traffic interruptions with other people around, right? Well, while i have almost entered a race as a bandit to pace my friend, something still felt dishonest and dishonorable deep down(I'm completely fine with jumping in for a period of time to truly help pace a friend, but i view going from start to finish and focusing solely on your own performance a little different.) If we allow scabbing to become widely accepted, then what's preventing everyone from doing the same thing. It will lead to worse prizes and less money for the true competitors, poor or no services such as drinks and gu along the way, and less efficient and poorly constructed courses. Dare i say ultimately the end of the race altogether?! Maybe i'm getting a bit ahead of myself...
Sure races these days cost seemingly entirely too much, and a large portion of that price may be going to a cause that your cold and vicious hearth otherwise would not want to donate to if given the option.....But one must realize that halting traffic, creating and planning detours, hiring cops to conduct and organize the flow of cars and people for the sake of you being able to have that experience does cost something. And if one is to be taking advantage of these services being provided to those who helped support it, is it not so wrong to feel a little guilty about jumping in? I am not meaning to scorn anyone who does it, i'm just offering my personal feelings on the matter after much thought. I actually look forward to seeing you down there that weekend and having a gay ol' runner bros time with me and Big Ant! Good luck with the training and naturally make sure to post how it's all going.
-Kyle
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