I started writing this blog for two reasons, really. First, I wanted to try writing things down contemporaneously for once in my life. I have never kept a journal, so I am not used to chronicling my life’s events. I thought this might be interesting, at least for me, and writing about running seemed to be “easy” enough. Second, though, and probably more importantly, I REALLY wanted to be accepted into the Brooks I.D. Program. This program is intended for people who “evangelize” Brooks and who inspire others through running. Personally, I love Brooks Running products. I have exclusively worn Brooks shoes for about two years, and have worn Brooks shoes for all four of my marathons. Even in 2006, when I otherwise exclusively wore Nikes, I wore a pair of Brooks Trance 6 shoes (the red and white ones that had the 90 day money back guarantee) for the Detroit Marathon. I made the switch, no pun intended, to the Brooks Switch in 2008, and am currently favoring the Ravenna.
I recently completed my I.D. Program application, and received a follow up email letting me know that I need a recommendation letter from a Brooks sales rep, GURU, or a manager from my local running store. This is a problem. I don’t know anyone who works for Brooks. I do know some of the people at the local running store, but really, I don’t operate personally within that sphere. Not to be rude, but my sense is that if you didn’t grow up in Fort Wayne running track and/or cross country for a local school, go to a local college and run competitively, or immerse yourself in the local track club, you don’t really rate. It should be no surprise, based on my tone, that I don’t meet any of those criteria. I could possibly convince the running store manager to write a letter or email for me, but it wouldn’t be sincere. He doesn’t know me, and the things that I do and the people I interact with in the running world aren’t a part of the “local scene” either. So, I may have to give this one up.
This week I had two night runs in a row; one ten mile interval workout on the treadmill at the Y and one 8 mile recovery run. The interval workout was significantly more difficult, with 30 minutes of 1 minute on/1 minute off at a 10K pace for the “on” sections. Still, any kind of 8 mile workout on a weeknight is a pretty big dent in the schedule. I was talking about this with one of my lunchtime running buddies the other day. He is married with one child, and was commenting that he doesn’t feel like he has time to run as much as he should. He is not “interested,” as he put it, in running at 9;30pm, which is what time I started my recovery run this week. We talked about this for awhile, and I started to realize something.
My story is not special in any way, but that is the point, I think – if I can manage this with all that I have going on, than I would think anyone can. That is, I guess, how I would seek to “inspire” anyone who happens to read this. As I said before, I am not a coach or a race organizer or anyone who inspires others to run in the normal sense. I ran my first ever 5K race in 2004 in just over 31 minutes. I ran my first half-marathon in 2005 in about 2:06, and my first marathon in 2006 in 4:15. I have hit all of my PRs in the last year, and not because I don't race that often, but because I train as hard as I can. I don't have a lot of time, and there have been Sunday long runs that don't start until well into the evening, but I think if you make the decision and commit to working out and running better, you can. I plan to set all new PRs this year. You should, too.
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