Why? Because I love it.

Recently two articles and a discussion with friends have made me think about the reasons for running. In one article and the conversation with friends, the topic was about running too much. And the strain it puts on relationships. The idea of what constitutes too much varies among individuals of course, but how many Marathons are enough? How many Ultras are too many? Why run multiple Ultras? Is one 100 miler enough? If not, why not? Again, the answer to that question is unique to each individual. The main point was that the body can only take so much pounding. Some will be able to pound their bodies more than others but I believe we all have a finite number of times our joints can take a beating. I don't want to get to the point where I cannot walk in comfort. It is very difficult to slow down though. But it's a must. Especially as we grow older. An Ultra or two a year are what's in store for me now. And probably, not over 50 miles anymore. Of course there will be shorter distance races too! A 10K, a half and full Marathon thrown in here and there.
Why? That's the second article. Why do we run. I enjoy pushing my body. It makes me feel alive. As does being outdoors. Running, I've seen, and felt being a part of,  numerous beautiful sunrises, grassy fields, farms, mountains, hills, forests, deserts, cloudless sunny skies, rain forming clouds, animals, birds, sunsets, bright full moons and moonless star filled skies. And I want to see and feel more. I love the camaraderie and competition that running brings too. I've made many good friends over the years I've been running. And running into some friends I haven't seen for some time is always refreshing. This happens often at races as it did at today's half Marathon in Bulverde,TX.
The day started cool and wet with a slight breeze. Picking up my packet a friend came over to say hi. Another friend I made a few months ago called out my name. I saw and was hanging out with some old friends when in walks Michele. It had been years since I've seen her at a race. We go back about 7 years to a small group of trail runners we ran with.
As this was my first time running this course, Joe gave me some good advice prior to the start, "save something for the end, it gets real hilly at about mile 10."
The race started with a downhill on the slick rural road. Soon my friend Daniel pulled away and I tried to keep repeating Joe's words in my head. The mist in the air at times became heavy but never materialized into a drizzle. At mile 4 we began up a long gradual incline. I could still see Daniel about half a mile ahead. If I can only keep him in sight I'll be ok. Then I thought "Why? Run your own race Tony!" The hills were rolling along farm houses and crop fields. We passed a farm with horses, donkeys, chickens, and cows. Nice! See!, that's the reason I like running.
At mile 8 the real hills began. My pace slowed and I thought about walking one. I waited until I crested it though and only paused to take 4 or 5 steps then resumed running (with Joe's words coming back to haunt me). I was to do this only one more time as I crested the hill at mile 11. I swallowed a gel and took two cups of water from the aid station. While I walked leaving the aid station a girl passed me. As soon as she was about 10 yards ahead I took off after her and fed off her energy until about mile twelve when I passed her on a downhill. I don't think she liked it. Her breathing was harder and she tried desperately to catch me. I was running comfortably and kept an even pace. There's the competition aspect. And honestly, I was eyeing any one who looked to be about my age too. I wanted to place in my age group. Approaching mile 13 fatigue was setting in. I slowed and was passed by that same girl. I tried my best to smile on that last uphill to the finish line. Post race I hung out with Daniel and the fellas. Daniel finished exactly two minutes ahead of me and missed 3rd place in his age group by less than a minute. It was a fun time and I placed second in my age group (50-54) with a time of 1:48:50. Yes, I like the competition also.

Adults call it working out, Kids call it fun.

What makes me happy more than any other thing is seeing other people happy. I saw "A whole lotta" kids having fun Saturday. I was part of the Rockhopper volunteers at the Bandera  50 and 100K trail races . We were in charge of the NACHOS aid station, mile 5 for the 50 and 100k runners and mile 36 for the 100k runners as well.
So many wonderful memories and thoughts are still swirling around in my mind that I can't put it to words yet. So I will just link to Photos and more photos
I can tell you my favorite moment was when a young woman running the 100k came in at mile 36 and said she needed a hug. She got it. And after the cutoff time I ran the the course in reverse under a beautiful star filled sky for 5 miles clearing the trail markings and thinking what a wonderful event this is, what wonderfully fun and caring friends we have in our group, and how my long time trail running buddy John and I who handled most of the planning, work well together. He is the meticulous planner, I am the talker (who acts on impulse and puts his foot in his mouth often) trying to motivate folks. I am the yang to Johns yin.

John and I appreciating our Volunteers while Eliot explains details to little Asa (we did actually work some too :-)

Back at it

Well I'm back on my feet. I started the new year with a 9 mile run with friends on January first! I thought I'd run 4 or 5 alone but after all the e-mails that came through our group dis:all list I couldn't resist joining a group run. That's the great advantage of being part of a supportive group like the Rockhoppers. Motivation. When we began our run I told myself I'd turn around at the 2 or 3 mile mark but the company and the conversation was too good. I couldn't help but think that I really don't have to talk to be engaged with them. Moments of silence are golden. And many times listening instead of speaking evokes sincere feelings of togetherness.
Before I knew it we were approaching mile 4 and I thought, "what the heck, we'll be turning back soon. Won't we?" Thank God Tom made the decision for us to turn around at mile 4.5. Nine miles may have been too much to run after being off for 3 weeks. I did get on my bike three or four times while I was injured but nothing replaces actually running. I was tired at the end and sore the rest of the day but the happiness obtained by running with good company kept my mind off of that discomfort.
I've run 26 miles in the last six days and even though my toe is still a little swollen I think I'll be back in full form soon. I must stay on smooth surfaces for the time being though. Trail running requires all my toes to maneuver over rocks, roots, and ruts.
Thursday a few spanish speakers in our group were interviewed by a local Spanish TV station. I think I did well in my interview. We'll find out in a couple of weeks when the piece airs.
The most interesting question was, "Are you ever on a run and feel like you can't go on? And if so. what do you do?"
I answered by saying "It's very difficult to explain, but one can actually rest while running. Running is a way of relaxing for me. I relax my mind and body while running. And if I feel pain and or fatigue, I calm my mind, breath slowly, collect my thoughts, and slow my pace. Then, when I have rested, I pick up the pace slowly and continue."
Hard to explain. But it happens! Same can be applied in many aspects of life.

Still Hurt, and Too Many books!

This broken toe is driving me nuts. Still not healed and going on three weeks of no running. I've attempted to stay in shape by getting on my spin bike but that is so boring. Even with music and on my backyard patio. The DOMS as a result of weight lifting a couple of days ago now has me walking like a duck. I had to get outside and ride!
What an enjoyable ride! The wind in my face, seeing others walking, running, and riding on the trail. Nice!
 I love to read but it takes a really good book to keep my interest. And also I think I suffer from ADD. All my life I've struggled with staying on task. And I have trouble sitting still. Maybe that's why I run. In reading and in life, my mind jumps to the next chapter or goes back to the last. Anyway, I just read "The Hobbit" because I hadn't yet (had a close friend in High School who read many of J.R.R. Tolkien's books) and because I want to see the movie soon. I started reading "AWOL on the Appalachian trail" It's interesting but then I found "Walking the Amazon, 860 days, one step at a time" while rummaging through my closet.  This book was given to me a few months ago and I had forgotten about it. Now this IS one interesting book! The writer does a good job of describing the difficulties of planning the adventure, then of describing the terrain and people they come across. I imagine being right there and wondering how I would handle climbing mountains and walking through jungles.
Then I came across a book I found intriguing. "If I live to be 100: lessons from centenarians." This captured my imagination. Not because I want to find the secret to live to be 100 but because I thought these people must know something about being happy, eating well, and dealing well with life's challenges. I bought the audio book. I tease my brother when he tells me he "READ" a book when actually he "LISTENS" to books. That's not reading! But I bought it because of the other two books I've started (there's my ADD at work). Now my daily listening of Garrison Keillor's "Writers Almanac" will have to take a back seat as I listen to this book every time I get in my truck.
I am only through 5 chapters of the live to be 100 book, but so far it seems that keeping the mind and body active is a good thing. As is living life in the present, looking to the future and enjoying others company.
Since I've been hurt and not able to run, I haven't been stressed by needing to keep up with my training schedule. I am enjoying staying home more, and cooking.  But I still need to get out and run.
I need my time to think, live in the moment, keep the body active, and look to future races on my schedule!

It's always something

My training was going so well. Following the Hansons Marathon training method in preparation for my next big race, my body was adapting and all lower leg issues were resolved. Then it happened.

The water heater at home went out last weekend. It was late Saturday evening and a cold front was due to arrive Sunday night. I had to install a new one. Cold showers are no fun. Thanks to my Dad I learned plumbing at a very young age but I still do not enjoy it. And with my impatience I only make it harder on myself. Sunday morning I ran my scheduled easy 10 miler and by afternoon the water heater was installed. Walking around in socks at home, I hurried to put my tools away and clean up the mess I'd made when I cut it too short going around the kitchen island and BANG! My little toe on my left foot caught the island corner! It hurt so bad! Oh well, I've done this before. It would be alright soon. Next morning I rolled out of bed and the pain it my foot almost brought me down to my knees. Half the foot was swollen and very badly bruised. One week later and 0 miles run, the swelling has gone down but not entirely and it is still bruised. Yesterday I volunteered at a road race and ran close to 3 miles to my two posts as course marshall. A little discomfort but I thought I would be back on track today. No dice. Ran out the door this morning and half a block down the street my foot was throbbing. 

Roseanne Roseannadanna was right, "It just goes to show ya, it's always something."

Dealing with minor Knee issues, Music makes it all better.

My running form felt better today. A result from the Airosti treatment I had yesterday, no doubt. I developed a left knee and lower leg issue. Some pain but mostly discomfort and something out of whack. The first thing I was told by the Doc was that my IT band and quads are too tight. And it turns out my hips were off kilter. Thinking back this all started when I began training for my next race, the Austin Marathon in February of 2013. I've had this race on my mind since 2000 but a mountain bike event in west Texas on the same weekend with my brother and several other friends kept me from it. Now I am training for it and hope to best my Marathon PR. So, I bought a pair of more cushiony shoes for the road running. That was the what caused my knee issues. It has to be. I had transitioned to minimalist shoes over the last three years and thinking back on that, my injuries had almost disappeared. Now all of a sudden I'm elevated on cushioned shoes and the injuries are back. I'm convinced the shoes are the problem. Back to a more minimalist shoe and the natural shock absorbers in my legs. Along with a strict foam rolling regimen. Doctors orders.
As I descended from the busy streets down to the creek bed on this evenings run I encountered a flute player under the Bandera Rd. bridge. The sound was echoing under the concrete acoustics with the sound of rush hour traffic from the road above as background music. It was truly a unique sound. And with the bagpipe player I saw last Saturday downtown on a street bridge over the riverwalk, it seems San Antonio is turning into an eclectic city. Made me think of Bongo Joe. If you've lived in San Antonio long enough you may remember him playing huge bongos made from industrial metal barrels on downtown street corners many years ago.
Lately Americana music has been streaming into my ears form my iPhone on my runs. Folk, country, blues, and mostly bluegrass. Recently I wondered why I find this music so appealing. My Grandfather played the violin. His style was conjunto. The Tejano version of Alternative country, and born on the farms and ranches of early Texas, uniquely American. This was the first music I learned to dance to as a child. Today a co-worker and I talked about the music we grew up with. Both of us grew up in San Anotnio and were teenagers in the early Seventies. Folk music was very popular and there was so much new music coming out of Austin and San Antonio. A local radio station, KEXL, played all the new local stuff from Artists like Gary P. Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm and Augie Myers to name a few. And from Groups like New Riders of The Purple Sage, Pure Prairie League and The Flying Burrito brothers.
Yes the seventies was the era of Disco Music and I did dance the Hustle. Disco was where the parties with girls were! And I also enjoyed Rock music. Those were different parties though.
Lately though, I am enjoying the varied traditional roots of American Rhythm and blues, Country, Folk, Rock and Roll, and Bluegrass on jaunts on the road and especially through the woods?

Living for the City

The weather was perfect. 40 some odd degrees, a slight breeze and sunshine. A serene run in Leon creek enjoying the beautiful trees turning into shiny tones of red and yellow. Crimson and gold peppered the evergreens. And with Bluegrass tunes streaming into my ears, it made for a calm easy 10 mile run yesterday. Weaving around the trees, in and out of the dry creek bed, through tall grass, and over rocks.
Around a bend in the trail and there he stood! A juvenile six point buck. He stared at me. I back at him. With a hoop and a holler I sprinted towards him in hopes he would run! He did but not very far. Is he not afraid? Accustomed to humans? Or guarding his does? What came to my mind was, I've got to do what I can to keep these deer afraid of people. People will harm them. I am fortunate, I guess, to live next to a protected area where two creeks cross each other and  to be able to run through the woods enjoying nature and wildlife and still enjoy the conveniences of  "city living"  but I'd like to see the wildlife stay wild. Wishful thinking I suppose. Surrounded by Humans, the wildlife will become tame or die.
From about 30 yards away I threw a rock at the buck. Missed the first time and hit him in the chest the second time. He ran off.
Further up the trail another buck. This one surrounded by 10 does. More rock throwing. Some ran, some stood there and stared.
That evening the local news reported the killing of an eleven point buck on the trails in the Medical Center area by two men armed with crossbows. In Metropolitan San Antonio.
Stevie Wonder sang about how difficult it is living For the city