The Road to Ultra

Today's Run: n/a
Run Time: n/a
Total Miles to Date: 114.9

Thoughts on the Run:

It feels odd to have lost a little momentum with posting runs and distances and times and splits. This week is a taper week for me, so there are no more planned runs. I did miss a few of my taper runs. I have been struggling with the chronic cough for several weeks after the last 10K and decided it would be best just to continue to rest and not aggravate it. I think it's the right choice.

The only "nervous" I feel about the upcoming run is excitement. I'm looking forward to it. I have not felt as well prepared for any race in the past. My only concern is the temperature - it looks like it may be a near-freezing start. I'm not a huge fan of running in the cold but I do it better now than I have in the past. I did an 8-mile training run in similar weather so I have an idea of what to expect.

Unlike my half marathon in South Dakota, this one I feel prepared for and I feel like I understand the distance. In South Dakota, I had no concept of pace or hydration strategy or even how far I'd really be going. I had simply focused on putting in the miles. It's no wonder I had horrible stomach cramping during that run (drank nothing but the aid station Gatorades which I found are not the best choice for me unless diluted with water) and felt like I was crawling near the end. I burst out at a 9-minute pace that quickly deteriorated later in the run.

Based on my recent runs, I have a strategy. I will go out steady but not pushing it, because I need to warm up to have a good run. Whenever I go out too hard I end up tanking. If I go out easy and give myself a good 10 - 15 minutes to warm up, then I can kick it into gear and not suffer. Of course I can warm up a bit before the start but I'm more interested in going the distance than squeezing out any last little bit of performance that I possibly can.

I also know the run is almost all uphill for the last 10K. So I feel I need to take advantage of gravity during the first half and get in a good pace (closer to 9-minutes) in the beginning if I intend to have a sub 10-minute pace overall. Hit the hill "steady as she goes" and use grit, will, and determination to cross the finish line.

This past week was a very busy week for me. There was a lot going on and my stress levels were pushed to their limit. The result was the return of my cough and a general feeling of funk for awhile. I believe we are all responsible for how we feel and that while life happens, it is how we deal with it that determines our happiness and success. So, I took a step back and asked myself if I was dealing with it the right way. The answer was, "no" and so I made the changes and adjustments and had a GREAT weekend.

One thing we did was drive around after breakfast yesterday. We went into some beautiful neighborhoods. My wife had been browsing homes and found a beautiful home that she decided to save as her desktop about a year ago. While we were driving, we ended up in a very beautiful neighborhood and then ... WHAM! Right there! We passed the EXACT house she had. It is a very unique architecture and design and you can tell by the position of the chimneys and arches leading into a courtyard that this was it. Talk about synchronicity! Atlanta is a BIG place so to stumble on this was something else.

We then drove to a section called Columns Drive. When we first met, we were blessed to find an apartment here. The approach is on the Chattahoochee River between multi-million dollar homes. Somehow we managed to find this apartment complex nestled behind the neighborhood with spacious floor plans - including windows on BOTH sides of the apartment (very rare, most just have one outward facing), views to the river, etc. We had expected it to be out of our price range but it ended up being one of the least expensive options on our list. The complex was walking distance from the trails that run parallel to the river.

Not only would we walk down to the park often, but my office at the time was on the other side of the trail system. I would meet with co-workers and we'd jog in the early morning before starting our day. I always remember how beautiful it was to see the sun reflecting from the river's surface and the great feeling of accomplishment we'd share after finishing the run and stretching out in the parking lot before hitting the gym to shower.

This visit almost took my breath away. It's probably been six years since I ran on that trail, but immediately I felt it again. I remembered the turns, the views, the bush here and the rock there. As my wife, daughter, and I walked on the path, I was taken back to that time when I ran just to burn calories and keep my weight down. It is so interesting to take that and view it in a different perspective and notice how the runs are different when you approach them with a different mindset.

One thing that has been consistent is the pleasure I experience during the run. Both before and now, my runs are a way to meditate, pray, and relax. They allow me to ground myself and remember to breathe, look, hear, touch, feel, and taste life.

My daughter said, "Daddy, let's run" and took off with a cloud of dust behind her. I jogged a little bit with her as we watched the leaves fall from trees, joggers huff past, and bikes zoom into the distance (it's also a great mountain bike trail system).

These moments are powerful. I reconnected to the same place, but the experience was different because I have changed. The contrast was a powerful one and helped me bring things into focus.

This will be an amazing week. My parents drive up on Wednesday to spend the holiday with us. I accomplish a personal milestone on Thursday with my second half marathon, and the first one I'll do without walking and in a sub 10-minute pace. Then we'll all give thanks and celebrate together, and I'll begin the long, steady climb of mileage to prepare myself for my first marathon in March.

Blessed be,

Jeremy Likness