Mental musings

     I reread "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall a few weeks ago.  I love and believe the above quote.  Watching the NYC marathon Sunday, or standing at the starting line with hundreds or thousands of other people, and then watching all the runners being cheered on as they finish even many hours later, you feel this.  Except for the elite professionals actually vying for prize money, the rest of us are there to compete only with ourselves, and to be with each other....our tribe.
     I watched the very last NYC Marathon runners finishing in the rain, in the dark, hours after the start, and there were still a small crowd of people there to cheer them in.  Talk about inspiring!! I can't find the quote right now, but John "The Penguin" Bingham ("The Courage to Start") referred to when, in his first race, people cheered for him, and he cried because in real life, that doesn't happen.
   

“The only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.” ― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

     Watch this clip if you can without crying.  I'm not crying, you're crying. Last but not least.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/sports/100000005536980/last-but-not-least-at-the-new-york-marathon.html?smid=fb-share

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting the rest of our lives.” – Lemony Snicket

     It's nice to be home, even though I had a great couple of days in Western Colorado with friends.  I picked up my insane dog from the kennel yesterday morning.  I missed her imperfectness.  We must have complementary craziness, because she missed me, too.  It's nice having a dog follow me wherever I go, and curl up at my feet.

A new week

Yesterday's Rim Rock Half.....beautiful, and a learning experience.

Pre race, in Fruita, CO gym getting instructions

At race start after a long bus ride to the top of the Monument

The views the entire run through the Monument, that's me with orange jacket

More scenery. It distracts your mind from running

     The running part of the race went great for me....till about mile 9.  I started looking for a bathroom after mile 8 and started walking at mile 9....... There were none!!!  How can that be?? No bathrooms in the last half of a race?? I ended up walking until we got back into the town of Fruita and I found an open business I could stop at.  (You can tell from the pictures that the scenery is beautiful, but the scant shrubbery would provide little cover). My time was 2 hours 55 min., still good, but could have been a personal best had I not had to walk for 4 of the 13 miles.  A learning experience for sure.....no breakfast prior to a race for me after this. It is one of those funny life events, miserable at the time but turned out okay.

     Next year.   There is always next year.

     I am watching the NY City marathon today.
     I'll never get through their lottery to run it but enjoy watching.

     Watching Shalane Flanagan win NYC, and Meb complete his 26th and final marathon at NYC was amazing....tears.

This is my problem......

We are only a moment. Make that moment awesome.

     I am heading to Grand Junction/Fruita Colorado later today with 2 friends for tomorrow's Rim Rock Half marathon at the Colorado National Monument.  There is a 30 % chance of rain tomorrow, so fingers crossed that it holds off.
     Be awesome this weekend, folks.