The Extra Mile

Running Hangover

hopkinsmt1 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:11:33 +0000

The high from completing yesterday’s 5 miler soon nose dived after my cool down. Concerned I pushed it too far I took an epsom salt bath as a muscle ache preventative. It relaxed me to the point of being uber drowsy, which of course happened exactly the moment my brother pulled in from his road trip. I was a shitty host as I was grumpy and tired. I had planned on taking him to a friends Bday party in Hollywood. But after we both pitched back heaps of spaghetti for dinner, the ensuing nap turned into an all nighter. We never woke up. A text from my birthday friend sounded her disappointment.

The good news is that I ran 15 miles in four days. The regimen called for five days and a minimum of 14 miles. Week One down.

4 Miles Is So Yesterday

hopkinsmt1 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:49:56 +0000

It’s now two days after getting tanked and missing my first 4 mile run attempt. It’s also the day after my first 4 mile run. And now today, it’s thirty minutes after my first 5 mile run. Yesterday’s 4 miler is a has been.

It happened as I was returning from TJ’s (Trader Joes) and the perfect autumn temperature and sunlight seduced my inner runner (where did he come from?). After shelving my groceries, without thinking about it, I found myself putting on my running gear and returning to the reservoir. I had planned on not running today. My brother is due back in town after a fifteen month leave filming documentaries and I have planned on chillaxing with him. I hadn’t even planned on running 4 miles. But after the second lap (4 miles) around the reservoir I found that I just kept going. Maybe this is a good thing.

It’s Been 20 Years Since I Tried This.

hopkinsmt1 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:50:02 +0000

I’ve never liked running.

I played a lot of soccer as a kid and would run my ass off for an hour solid, but that was while doing something cool like scoring a goal and being the hero for the day. Running though is solitary. I mean have my iPod, I problem solve the big’N'small in my world, I could even find a running group. But then, even after a mile or two, running turns inward. You hear the sound of your breathing, your shoes thumping, the sweat sting in your eyes and a million different nerve impulses like this one: ‘Thighs to the Brain. Thighs to the Brain. Come in Brain!!!’ ‘Christ, what is it this time Thighs?’ ‘Um, I don’t feel so good Brain. Can you pull over?’ ‘Thighs, whyyyyyy do we go thru this everytime?’

So here I am, thinking of better things to do than running, up before the crackass of dawn and I realize it’s been almost, exactly 20 years since I ran 4 plus miles everyday. I did it as an Army Private going through the Army’s Airborne School where you run and run and run…and then run some more to strengthen your legs for the hard impact of parachute landings. I was 18 then and I hated those long runs. I’m now 38.

But I make it through the four mile run today without issue, even if its been 20 years since the last one. Two full laps around the reservoir. And I feel good, not 18 good, but close enough. The body seems to do what you will it.

Old Habits Die Hard

hopkinsmt1 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:29:18 +0000

The first week of training, per Runners World’s rookie training regimen and goes like this:

Sunday: Easy 2-3 miles. (Michael: CHECK, 3 miles)

Monday: Cross Train (something other than running) 30 minutes. (Michael: FAIL, body says rest)

Tuesday: Easy 3-4 miles. (Michael: CHECK, 3 miles)

Wednesday: Easy 2-3 miles. (Michael: FAIL, body says rest)

Thursday: Easy 3-4 miles (Michael: FAIL, Hangover from throwing back a cocktail too many with a VIP client.)

Friday: Rest – TBD

Saturday: Easy 4-5 miles – TBD

Sunday: Easy 2-3 miles – TBD

Total: 14-19 miles – TBD

I could say Wednesday’s client drinks took priority over Thursday’s run. I could say my indisposable relationship with the client has an important and future rippling effect on our company. I could say I had to play the company man. But the truth is, I could have said no more drinks after the second one. And I didn’t. An old habit, dies hard. End of the world? Nope. A discliplined training attitude? Nope. Can I make up for it? I don’t know.

It’s 5 AM

hopkinsmt1 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:57:42 +0000

My body has been conditioned to wake naturally at 6 AM. The alarm is always set for 6:30 AM as a backup, but my body musters most days on its own. Today that doesnt happen. It’s 5 AM and after stabbing the snooze bar with my index finger I can feel my body asking the question, ‘Are we really going to do this?’ My mind replies with what I suspect will be my clarion calls until this journey ends. These calls form more as visualizations. The first is what I imagine I’ll feel when I cross the finish line at the Santa Monica pier. Knowing I did it. All 26.2 fucking miles. The second is what I imagine, what I hope, Little Star will look like when I share that I ran the marathon for her. And since she’ll be running it too, I imagine that this news churned with her own emotions of completing the marathon will win me back her favor, whatever form that takes. I imagine her smile, all 100 miles of it stretching across her face and her eyes casting their light toward me.

But, the hard reality is, it’s a considerable long shot. Ah, silly me.

I’m out of bed. It takes me 15 minutes for my warm up and then it’s off to the Silverlake Reservoir to run. At this hour, what is a popular place for runners, walkers, moms with babies, dog walkers and bicyclists is quiet and empty. The moon is still nearly full, so the Reservoir’s surface gathers its light and bounces a soft ambiance into the early morning air. My second run is another 3 mile run. It’s been two days since the last one. My quads were sore and needed a break after one day, but they feel fine…for now. The run is essentially uneventful save for the last quarter of the third mile. This quarter mile is all uphill. And as my quads start to burn again and my unconditioned lungs fight to beat that hill, and then strangely enough, a thought goes through my head. ‘I can do four miles.’

Hasta la vista Treadmill

hopkinsmt1 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:31:05 +0000

First run down! 3 miles. This is the first run I’ve done outside in over a year. Up until now, my running was exclusively on the treadmill. I set it at a 6.4 speed and 1.0 upgrade and then voila, 27 minuntes later and I’m done and sweaty. I would do this once or twice a week. In contrast, this week I plan on a doing at least three 3 mile runs and one 4 mile run.

The difference being outside versus inside is quickly apparent. The air is dry. The gym is humid. The ground is hard. The treadmill is forgiving. The hills have loose rocks. The treadmill has handlebars. The lake (around which i run) has trees and houses. The gym has TVs.

The hills made my quads burn and my lungs gasp. This week’s schedule demands running everyday. It’s clear that won’t be happening. Lol. I’ve decided to let my body’s logic call some shots and to go with the flow a bit. Next week might be more realistic for everyday.

This first run started at dusk and so I watched the full moon ascend over the reservoir. Stunning. A big white blue marble that scatters diamond light across the water’s surface. It feels like a good omen and so naturally my thoughts wander to Little Star. It helps the burn in my thighs go away. I think about her smile and I feel my own stretch across my face. That’s what she does to me.

The origin of crazy…

hopkinsmt1 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:20:15 +0000

Today I unofficially, yet officially, began training for the LA Marathon. I have four months and 9 days before race day. The training schedule I am using is exactly 16 weeks long, so it appears I’ve started in time. However, there is one small problem, I’ve got a three week vacay in Thailand with my brother in December. That’s a tiny dent in my game plan, however, I have a plan for that.

The reason my start is unofficial is because I want to see how I’ll do through the first three weeks of training. I figure if I can run 5 out of the 7 days, and one day of cross training over the next two weeks, then I’ll make it official by telling friends and family. Why the hell embarass myself otherwise?

I am convinced I am nuts for doing this. I don’t even like running. But…I have two reasons for attempting to complete the training and the race. One, I am feeling the need for attempting a goal, something new and far removed from my comfort zone. The second reason, is to pay off some bad karma debt. I need to make good on something and I need to do it in a big way. In a very big way. I am hoping this fulfills the redemption I need, from the person I need it most ’cause I snuffed out a star, a Little Star.