run like you mean IT!

Racing season has ended, at least for me.  I did two races this season--the ING half-marathon and the Miami Beach 13.1; but only one is official-- the ING.  Why??? because I was a bandit runner :).  For those of you unfamiliar with running terminology; a bandit runner is a runner who runs races without paying or as my girls like to call it--boot leg running.  My results for both races were below my expectations and below what I perceive to be my potential.  That sounds rather harsh doesn't it?  But it's true.  You see throughout my training all my runs were injury free and time wise I was hovering close to the 2hr mark.  I was ecstatic with this.  All I had to do was maintain that streak and I would finish my 3rd ING race in 2hrs or at the latest 2hrs and 10 mins...but Murphy's law states: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong..and go wrong did it go.  Around mile 8 one IT Band started to hurt, and as I continued to run and push through the pain the other IT Band flared up as well.  That was it!  I was around mile marker 10 when I realized my 2hr mark would be missed :(.  Was I disappointed..HELL YES!!!  I had just spent 4 months of my life training for this race.  I had managed to keep my previous injuries (all IT Band or hip related) at bay. I essentially was running my best times during this training period.  My frustration only increased more when I passed a cheering member of the community who enthusiastically told me "not to give up; to dig deep within me and find the strength to finish strong."  I wanted to turn to him and say---REALLY??!?!?!? Has it  not occured to you that my slight limp is not from lack of motivation but perhaps from a physical ailment I am momentarily suffering from.  But instead Lizzy just smiled and said thank you and kept walking.  I didn't lash out first because that would have been extremely rude and due to my upbringing and nature I can't be rude and second because it wasn't his fault that my body decided to turn itself against me on race day, c'est la vie.  I did muster the ability to run the last mile of the race...I wanted to make sure I ran across the finish line and not walk.  For runners there is pride in being able to finish strong as I was so fervently encouraged to do so.  Whether it was my own pride or the endorphins kicking in I ran my last mile in 7 mins and change which for me is flying.  The curious thing is all that pain I had been struggling with for a good portion of the race magically disappeared as I raced towards the finish.  I finished 20 mins after what I had hoped for but I did it flying :) .  Was it worth it? HELL YES!!!!!   

running..

Running...why do I do it?  Simple--because I can!  I've been asked this question a few times and I understand the curiosity people have.  After all, what sane person would purposely stress their body for fun?  No, I don't run to keep the pounds off or because I want to represent the millions who cannot.  No, my reasons for running are very simple and frankly rather selfish. Running brings me peace and harmony.  You see when I run the world disappears.  All the chaos, commotion, noise, and stress evaporates along with the my sweat....andddddddddd I suppose another good reason is because I get an occasional high from it too.  Hahaha!, that got your attention rather quickly.  Yes, as I run I'm smoking a blunt filled with California grown weed.  It's all true, all runners are junkies..we thrive on that feeling of greatness that overtakes us when we are experiencing the 'perfect run'---whether that be a marathon or a quick 5k---we all have our moments when we feel as if we are running on air and not even Hermes himself could catch us.     
But enough on that...my blog isn't meant to be some sort of philosophical or epiphanic diatribe.  Nooo my friends, my entries will be filled with the silly observations I make on a daily basis--connected to running of course; in one way or the other.