A "Paine-ful" Lesson

"These are the times that try men's souls." -"The Crisis"

Heroes are people who at the exact right moment do the exact right thing. "The Crisis", a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776, was printed during the dark, spirit-crushing winter of this nation's first year. Its memorable first line describes the end of the honeymoon, as the patriotic zeal drubbed up by the signing of the Declaration of Independance and defeat of the British at Boston had worn off, and the beginning of the long struggle, seven years in all, that would define the world's future, had commenced

There is a world of wisdom to be gleaned from this defining moment, and I suggest reading 1776 by David McCullough, which chronicles that rude awakening our country met shortly after its conception. However, I have not hijacked the purpose of this blog, though i don't think the other presumed authors of this blog would mind. Instead, I thought how appropriately Paine's words summed up where I find myself in my marathon training.

It has been three weeks and between 60-65 miles since I last posted, and though I could come up with a lame excuse for not blogging since then, I think the real reason is the excitement from the thought of finishing the challenge wore off. I posted five times in the first two weeks of the training. Shin splints, training regimens, slightly warped spiritual lessons flowed during that momentary bliss, and I woke up eager to complete the workouts, and not only that, but talk about them with the half dozen people that check this blog every two weeks.

Then came the wall. To use the American revolution metaphor, my army got its butt handed to it and winter set in. Truly, the shortening days ironically mirrored the Americans own chances, and as they were defeated again and again, it was no surprise that so many soldiers, over half the army it is thought, deserted. Similarly, though I have stayed the course almost perfectly where my training is concerned, I have found each day's workout more ominous and less rewarding and now call my right calf, disaffecctionately, Benedict Arnold.

In the midst of this struggle, the example of men like Washington, Paine, Nathaneal Greene, and Jefferson shine brightly for me, especially considering the dark backdrop before which they played their parts. Though no one will name a city, park, or street after me when I win my war, Lord willing I do.

Of course, I do not believe my struggle compares with these forefather's, but, as a result of these past three weeks frustration, I understand Paine more clearly when he says, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly." Moreover, when I finish this post and lace my shoes up for my fifty minute run tonight, I affirm, like the apostle, that "trial produces perseverence, and perseverence, character, and character, hope, and hope does not disappoint." (paraphrase)

Course Syllabus

Without much to say, I think we will take care of some housekeeping

Rome Marathon, March 16, 2008 @9:00 AM
http://www.maratonadiroma.it/eng/home_en.asp
Early registration: Nov. 23, 2007

Proposed entrants of The Great Race: John, Jonathan, Katie Ramsay and Glen Herzog
Cumulative amount of thigh that will be shown on race day by entrants: 17.5-21 in.

Jonathan's running schedule:
Sunday: Cross-training
Monday: 40-50 min run
Tuesday: 30-40 min run
Wednesday: X-training (Sand Volleyball)
Thurs: 40-50 min run
Friday: rest
Saturday: long run (this week 9-10 mi with hills)


Long Run schedule:

Next week: 5k race with 9 total miles
wk 6: 3-5 X 1 mi (11 mi total)
wk 7: 5k race (8 mi)
wk 8: 5-7 x 1 mi (14 mi)

If I make it past week 8, then we can talk about what comes next.

Jonathan

The black hole of tight

Monday night is football night in these United States, and seeing as I am a son of the Red, White, and Blue, I fulfilled my societal duty and sat down for the Cincy- New England game. About two minutes into it however, I realized something, I HATE both of these teams. Before, I had not considered this fact, because MNF has become so integral a cog of my week. So I did what many might consider sacrilege and bailed on the game to go hang at a bar with some dudes. My only comfort, besides the Amberschlauter, 60 minute hops, arrogant bastard pint I nursed for the better part of two hours, was that my company was several other supposedly red blooded, tried and true, born and raised, right as rain, country as apple pie, warm as a summer night, you get the picture, fellas. They will remain nameless as they have not signed a full disclosure agreement and, unlike some people we all know, have real jobs that might be on the line. We chatted it up, seven guys ata table made for six small people. It was cozy and the grape flavored swisher sweets were fermenting the air with the musk of a cross between a tuscany vineyard and your granmother's station wagon
What does this have to do with training for a marathon? Well, simply this. I didn't go running until late last night again. This is an alarming trend, but what was more alarming last night and, even though it has taken me two hundred words and counting to get to it, is the theme of this post, the tightness of my right calf. Now I am usually tight after a long run, and after an easy day on Sunday, my body didn't pep itself up right from the get go, but I expected the malaise to pass and the different kinks to be ironed out a mile or so into the run. Didn't happen. My calf throbbed the entire time so intensely, and yes dad I took walk breaks, I could not think about anything else
(Seamless transition into spiritual connection) My runs are some of my favorite times to think. I think about what I am writing, my friends, current events (status of fantasy football team), girls, and God. The rhythm of my stride and pace of my breathing enables me to cut through distraction and focus on a particular train of thought for an uncommon amount of time. That is unless something, like a rogue calf muscle intent on sabotaging the whole works, throws me off my balance.
Afterwards when I had a moment's reprieve from the bitching my calf was doing, I was struck at how running is symbolic of my life. I accomplish more and am happier when the things in my life are in order and working properly. Relationships, finances, spirituality, my room, if any of these, and there are others for sure, are messed up, then I have no chance of doing what I want to do or become who I want to be. How do I achive this balance? No idea, and I don't think it can ever be perfect, besides, I am better as a thermometer than a scalpel. Heck, I am still trying to figure out why my calf was so upset with me last night.
This may be nothing new to the four of you who read this blog, and two of you may have stopped reading when I used the "B" word, but it may keep your bed made for the next couple of days, and if that is the case, then it was all worth it.

first update

Its Sunday night and the training has been rough. When I was finishing mile 3 of 9 last night, I could practically hear the crowds. "Bene, Bene" As I passed the 23 mile mark in Rome feeling strong and trying to beat 3 hours, forty-five minutes "Vaya senor, fin, fin" Not knowing any Italian made it difficult to visualize what the teeming crowd would be screaming precisely as I effortlessly passed undertrained and oversmoked locals with a caesar wreath draped atop my drenched head. Unfortunately, by mile 7, I felt like I need a cig just to get my mind off of how bad my lower half throbbed. At least, I was not worried because one part of my leg, like my heel or my knee had an acute ache, because I wanted to chop off everything below mid thigh.

It was late Saturday night and I had not eaten anything since lunch. (This is not what the running bible suggests, btw) So it was not long before I started drifting into delusion. The man in the moon exists, or at least he did last night because i got a free counseling session between miles 3 and 4 with him. That is not all. In the midst of running mile 5 and 6, I may or may not have preached an entire children's sermon. It was filled with lots of interaction from my audience ( nevermind), and as I remember, I was quite winsome.

At the end of my eighty minute psychadelic experience as I caught my breath and tried not to smell my dripping "dri-fit" top, I thought to myself, "I only ran a third of it tonight." The actual marathon that is. Who knows what the "Idies" will have in store for them come race day from this tourist seer? Although, I have to believe the full moon had something to do with it. Must have.

So two weeks down and "I-don't-even-want-to-think-how-many" left-to-go. By the way, I feel that the contribution from the other two authors of this blog has not even been woeful, it is literally non-existent. It feels like I am talking to myself, which brings back images of last night (shiver).

Oh and I have resolved not to get on a scale until thanksgiving. To see how much my hard work has paid off. (kinda hooked on biggest loser, go red) Then I am going to get on the scale immediately after the meal to see how quickly all that work can go for naught.

Until the moon's next phase (ahwooooooooooooo),
Jonathan

Ready, Set, Go

A little less talk, a lot more action. That is what I am feeling as far as the beginning of this training goes. We can talk ourselves til blue in the face but the dash around the colloseum will not happen until we quit saying how cool it would be to run 26.2 in Rome. At least, it will be easy to get to, all roads lead there right?

And who doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, and collapse in the middle of cobblestone roads brown with the blood of caesars, nazis, and protestants alike. I do. I finished a 40 minute run today. Had a nice long run on SUnday, and am eager to get after it tomorrow.

The wise mage said, " Beware the ides of march" and I don't know exactly the day of the marathon but it would be poetic justice for my body to deal me "the cruelest cut of all" at mile 22 of March "whenever the ides of march is/are"?

Questions:
Are the Herzogs in?
Does your knee feel okay Dad?
Does your hip feel ok, Katie?
What does the course look like?
WHat date is the race?
What do tickets cost right now to go?
What time is it starting?

See you all in cyberspace