The Shamrock Shuffle is Only Two Weeks Away.

The Shamrock Shuffle is two weeks from Saturday, and I can’t start trying to run again until the middle of next week.  I’ve done the 5 mile distance before several times, so I’m not worried about that.  I’m just starting to realize that it is just about here and hoping and praying that I will feel good and not be embarrassed by my time.    My friend Charlie is in town this week for a conference and over dinner the other night we realized that we would both be running in the Shamrock Shuffle.  He made me feel better in the sense that he said there were 30,000 people who did it --- many who would walk it --- so not to worry about the time.  From his mouth to God’s ears. 

After next week college athletics are, for the most part, over until August.  That makes me really sad.  But not in the way you might think (even though, for the record, I am upset about my Badgers).  College athletics gave me a schedule on the weekends. It is a schedule that makes my running better.  I would wake up, go to the gym, get the run in, and then meet all of my buddies to watch the games.  I need to find something else to keep me more disciplined now.  Because this week, without cardio, it hasn’t been easy.  Sure, I have stretched and done abs and weights, but it hasn’t been the same.

Just a few more days and I can continue trying to be a runner.  My foot does feel much better.  The bruising is gone (for the most part).  I’m continuing with the ice and ibuprofen.  No more pain medication, as it made me loopy and say bizarre things about the college basketball brackets.    Have a great weekend everyone.

In Honor of Bucky .... and Bruesewitz

I really can't run for two weeks or so, but I am starting to feel better.  No more pain killers, just lots of ice and rest.  No reason I can't do ab work and some arm weights.  To me, that doesn't seem like training for the half marathon.  You know what that means don't you?  That I don't have to wear Michigan clothes.  Amen!  Just to be safe, though, I figured I would wear a yellow hat --- but it doesn't say Michigan.

In honor of my beloved Badgers making it to the Sweet Sixteen (in New Orleans no less), I couldn't contain my excitement.  So, tonight I broke out the Badger gear!

Who Is That Person In The Photo?

I'm in a tremendous amount of pain today.  I have a very high pain threshold, so for me to say that means something.  It is a pain that I haven't felt before --- on the outer part of my left arch.  I took an ice bath as soon as the pain started, and followed with more ice.  I got the appropriate medical care today.  These type of pain are going to become more common as I increase my mileage, and I am going to have to make the decision if I can get through them.  Part of me is saying that if I felt this much pain after 5.5 miles, how am I going to handle 13.1 (much less 26.2).  The other part of me is saying that I can't quit because pain is temporary but pride is forever, and I know how much pride I will feel after accomplishing these goals.

I got a surprise package at the office today, one that made me smile in light of how crappy I felt.  It was filled with Badger gear, specifically a Beat Michigan button.  I immediately took pictures and put them on Facebook, especially in light of how much crap I have been getting from my Wisconsin friends.

My friends started to comment on Facebook, and when I got a chance I looked at the comments.  In the course of looking at the comments, I came across another photo in my Mobile Uploads Folder.  The photo hit me like a ton of bricks, especially when I realized that it was taken exactly one year ago today on St. Patrick's Day 2010.

I no longer know that woman in the middle.  Even though there was a smile on my face, I wasn't happy.  It was that picture, more than any other, that has made me realize how far I have come.  It is that picture that gives me motivation to continue, even though I am in a lot of pain.  It is because of that picture, and the person I see in that picture, that I won't allow myself to ever go backwards in this journey.

OK, so I am working through some injuries.  I'm a bit down because my friends are starting to run a lot faster than I am, and right now I can't do that.  My endurance ability is there, but I am hurt and I don't want to permanently hurt myself.  I can't let my ego get me down despite how competitive I am.  The important thing is finishing the race (i.e. finishing what I have started); it is personal and it has to be done at my own pace.  I can't worry about what anyone else is doing or how fast they may be doing it.

Today I really learned that looking back and taking stock of how far you have come can get you where you want to be in the future.  Last year on St. Patrick's Day I had Guinness; I pretended to be happy and consumed a lot of alcohol to mask what I was really feeling.  This year on St. Patrick's Day I will have water; I am actually happy and it shows through in everything that I do, whether I am feeling pain or not.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and Go Badgers!!!!

A deal is a deal.

Let me say this right off the bat ---- I am a die hard University of Wisconsin fan.  When I hear "Varsity" or "On Wisconsin," I might get a little bit teary (is that really so bad?).  I get tense during Badger games, to the point of stomach pains.  My best friend from college (also a die hard Badger fan) and I text during games to get out frustrations.  I have Badger socks, t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, shorts.  I even have Badger signs in my office.  My computer screen saver is Bucky Badger.  Yet, since January 2, 2011, I have been wearing Michigan clothing and hats.  Why? Because a deal is a deal. 

I hate the University of Michigan.  It's an amazing school and many of my closest friends went there, but there isn't another team I like to beat more. My friends knew that nothing would be more emotionally painful than having to train in Michigan clothing and wear a Michigan hat and t-shirt during my first half marathon because it would be a constant reminder of hating Michigan.  I'll admit, when I got back to New Orleans after the Rose Bowl I didn't really envision this whole deal.  But, waiting for me was an array of Michigan t-shirts and a Michigan hat.  When I "complained" that the hat wasn't of the quality I anticipated --- more arrived.









So the deal is that I have to train in them.  I have to run in them.  Basically, anything athletic that I do until crossing that finish line on May 29, 2011, I have to wear them.  I've been really good about it.  As I am "required to do," I have been posting the proof on Facebook.  Here are just a few examples.





So, how does this play into running?  I've caught a lot of crap from my fellow Badgers about this.  They can't believe that I'm making good on this.  They don't understand why, as a lawyer, I don't find a little bit of wiggle room.  The truth is, this whole situation is motivating me.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am, the quicker than May 29, 2011 will be here.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am the faster I will be able to cross the finish line and promptly put on a Wisconsin hat and t-shirt.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am the more I HATE Michigan and want Wisconsin to beat them at every possible opportunity.

The good news, though, is that I did find a little bit of wiggle room.  On Saturday my beloved Badgers beat former #1 Ohio State in basketball.  Michigan hates Ohio State more than just about anything, so I loved seeing the following on Facebook with the status update along the lines of, "all of my Michigan friends can thank me later."

I figured that my Michigan friends would be so happy that Ohio State went down, that they would let me have that wiggle room I needed.  After all, according to the deal I have to wear a Michigan hat and a Michigan shirt --- but what a Michigan hat and shirt are have never been defined.  I figured as long as it said Michigan and was Michigan's colors (blue and maize) that I was kosher --- so I went with it yesterday.  That little bit of wiggle room has given me that extra motivation I needed --- especially as I am coming up upon the time when training needs to kick into high gear.  It might not seem like a lot, but it has made all of the difference.



It says Michigan and it's blue and maize.

So, for the next few months I will continue to suffer and wear that ugly shade of maize.  But, it isn't the maize that will make the difference on race day --- it is going to be the wiggle room.