"You only have to exercise on the days that you eat." ---Joseph S Alpert, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine

     I read this quote recently.  It is simple and to the point, and will be easy for me to remember.  Exercise is much easier than not eating.

http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/a-weight-loss-manifesto?cid=soc_Runner%27s%20World%20-%20RunnersWorld_FBPAGE_Runner%E2%80%99s%20World__Weight%20Loss



     Here is more evidence that exercise slows aging. I need lots more exercise evidently! Ha.
http://sportsgeezer.com/2015/more-evidence-that-exercise-slows-aging/


     I saw this quote on Facebook, and liked it.
This morning I feel....mortal.  I am going to run until that feeling goes away.

As you may have noticed,

I love quotes.  This morning I read three good ones and hope you enjoy them.

"Setting goals requires gazing way out at the horizon of your life.  But once you set your course, most of the time your awareness should be on the trail under your feet."
                                                      Lauren Fleshman


"Life is either a great adventure or nothing."
                                                       Helen Keller


"Love is a hole in the heart."
                                                         Ben Hecht

MCM Mission Complete

     The Marine Corps Marathon Sunday was a great race.  It lives up to its billing as "the people's marathon." We went through security outside the Pentagon and made our way up to Arlington National Cemetery for the start.  It was raining lightly but the two Marine Ospreys still had their flyover and the Skydivers jumped. A howitzer sounded the start.
     We ran through Rosslyn, Va, crossed the river, went through Georgetown and did an out and back through Rock Creek Park.  By then the rain had stopped.
     Mile 10 Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial (I didn't notice them)
     Mile 12 was the Wear Blue Mile to honor fallen veterans. There were photos of deceased soldiers, some with their families, lining both sides of the road.  Volunteers canopied the road with flags. It was extremely moving. Runners wept.
     Mile 15 Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (I didn't notice them, either)
     Mile 16 Lincoln, WW II, Korean War Memorials
     Mile 17 Washington Monument, Smithsonian Museums
     Mile 18 National Capitol, Art Gallery, more museums
     Mile 19 National Air and Space Museum
     Mile 20 "Beat the Bridge"---(time cut-off point)
     Mile 22 Crystal City, VA
     Mile 24 Pentagon
     Mile 25 Arlington National Cemetery
     Mile 26.2 Charge up the final hill to the Iwo Jima/US Marine Corps War Memorial
         
   

Osprey flyover

Some of the skydivers

     Here are my results.  My split times were remarkably consistent for me.  I didn't hit any walls this time.  Had I not had to stop to use a portajohn, which involved 10 minutes of waiting in line, I would have beat my prior marathon time. I came in 83rd of 164 women in my age group and had a good time, so I am satisfied. If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right.

     I am home now.  My crazy dog was so very glad to get out of the kennel and come home.  My muscles aren't too sore anymore, so it is time to contemplate the next race.

Wow. Inspiration.

     The TCS NYC marathon will be held on 11-1-15.  Among the over 50,000 runners will be 397 runners aged 70 and older (84 women, 313 men).
     This link covers a few. They can all kick my butt.
http://nypost.com/2015/10/12/these-80-year-old-marathon-runners-can-kick-your-butt/

     I want to be them when I grow up.

   

How to be a winner at life

HOW TO BE A WINNER "If you finish the race, you win. If you participate, you win. If you wake up in the morning, and feel good, you win. If you live the good life, and eat the good food, and have love for other people, you win." Micah True, American ultrarunner and a central character in Christopher McDougall's best-selling book Born to Run

     Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco, was amazing.  I am anxious to see the movie of his life:  "Run Free."

Adult Onset Running

     So this is the name of what I have contracted late in life....Adult Onset Running.  Below is a link to a good article describing why it is awesome. It reminds me to focus on the joy and mystery of running.  I don't need to PR or go fast.  I'll never be able to keep up with young athletes.  But I can have fun and stay healthy. There are certainly worse conditions to acquire as a person ages.

https://ilovetorun.org/adult-onset-running-why-it-b-831.html

Is it too late to start training???

    Most all of my running friends are racing in the Denver Rock and Roll Marathon/half marathon today.  I sort of wish I was there for the camaraderie, but mostly I am so glad I could sleep in, not getting up at 3 am, not having to go out there and push myself so hard.
     I know it will be my turn in a week, but I've always been the Queen of Denial, so not thinking about it will get me through the week.  It is either that, or I might throw up.

Taper madness----check!

     I am in tapering mode for my marathon next weekend.  I am suffering from all of the symptoms listed below.  I am running very little, yet I have twinges everywhere.  My foot hurts...could it be a stress fracture? I am eating everything in the pantry not nailed down every single day even though I'm hardly running.  I feel like a fraud....an impostor who is deluding herself about being a runner.  I feel like I've never run before and that my pace is super slow even when I push myself. None of my running shoes seem to fit comfortably anymore. My dog Charleigh finds me to be extremely cranky.  I am wondering why I ever was crazy enough to sign up for this.

Life is

Indigenous Peoples Day

     Denver declared Oct. 12 Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.  Yay!

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-declares-oct

Columbus Day....an embarrassment

     You may already be aware of this, but if your view of history came from your elementary school days you should read this.  I cannot fathom why this holiday has not been cancelled or re-named to something like "Native Americans Day."

http://www.the-open-mind.com/8-myths-atrocities-about-christopher-columbus-columbus-day/


The Oatmeal's take:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day

Should be vs actuality

     I should be out walking the dog or running, but instead I am spectating and being a couch potato.  I am watching the Chicago Marathon live-stream on my computer.  Being a slug.  I'll do today's run tomorrow.
     It is exciting to watch but they are having technical problems with the live feed, which is really irritating.

     I lost satellite coverage halfway through.  Went out for a short run but ran into a friend, we talked for a half hour.  Ran into a neighbor and we talked for 10 min.  Today was just not meant to be a long running day.
     There is always tomorrow.
     This is partially why I'm not a better runner....I use my training plan as a very general guideline to be taken with a grain of salt.

One life

     It is an absolutely stunning fall day here.  I could live in this weather forever.  I love Indian summer and both of its definitions....maybe I love the second meaning even more than the first.

In·di·an sum·mer

noun

1. a period of unusually dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn.

   • a period of happiness or success occurring late in life.

We were going to run forever and be the oldest (and probably slowest) runners out there. We still will be. He's by my side.

                                                             I run for Dean

Goal-setting time

   
     I am starting to consider goals for next year.  I love this quote.

Hot Chocolate 15 k

     The Hot Chocolate 15k yesterday was fun.  The weather was cool and overcast....a great thing.  It took me one hour and 51 min. to run 9.4 miles.  I was 37 out of 60 in my age bracket. Someday I'll be faster.  Here are some things that made the effort worthwhile:

Cool finisher's medal and jacket

Friends

More friends (Note portapotties are de rigueur for backgrounds in running pics)

Plus I rewarded myself with new shoes (just call me Imelda--remember her?)

     I am sore today.

Marathon truth

     This applies for all lengths of races for me.  Today is the Hot Chocolate 15k.  All the chocolate at the end will make it all worth the effort, though.

     Again up at the dark of 3 am to eat, walk the dog, and leave for light rail by 4:45.  It should be cold at the start, just a 20% chance of rain so fingers crossed it'll stay dry.  I know at least 2 dozen people running or walking the 5k or the 15k.  It should be fun. Like I said.....fingers crossed.
     I have a couple of friends running a trail marathon in Fort Collins today.  I can't even imagine running 26.2 miles on mountainous trails with 4000 ft. elevation gain. That is insanity. So my race should be a piece of cake (chocolate, of course.  see what I did there?)

Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.----Wm. Allingham

     Tipping point reached.  It is now officially the time for long sleeves, long pants and jackets.....the time for sweaters, slippers, headlamps outdoors and furnace heat in.  No more shorts and t-shirts. Hot tea replaces iced. Soup instead of salad.
     It is not yet time, though, for boots, shovels, yaktrax to keep footing, wool caps, mittens, and parkas, so life is good.

     It is not all bad.  I just mowed the lawn for the last time this season.  Woo Hoo!

“Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?” – Hal Borland

My favorite pun of the week:

     Twenty five days until marathon time.  I am constantly muscularly exhausted and every other day I eat absolutely everything not nailed down.  I crave all the carbs. I guess this is where I am supposed to be at this point in training? I have only one long run left the first of next week and then taper time.  Yay. It can't come too soon or I will gain ten pounds.