8 miles today . . .

8 miles today. This is the longest that I have ran since the marathon. It felt incredible. Sweat in my eyes. Gray t shirt soaked. It was 52 degrees. I still wore shorts. It was good to take back the roads again. I could see forever on the country road I ran on. Throughout my training it was a tunnel with corn on both sides. I felt all of the familiar pains. . .

It has been an interesting weekend. Friday night I sat in a tree stand in the middle of nowhere . . .Saturday I was in downtown Chicago . .and today I ran . . .this weekend covered alot of the elements that make up "me."

I am so thankful that I did not tear myself up on my marathon.

Another Do Over . . .

I am going to run 7 miles today. This feat seems as large as the 26.2 miles I did JUST last month. I seem to be in a constant state of "do overs" . . . .I am going to give myself another one today. Instead of being mad at myself for letting my mind, body and spirit lose its edge after the marathon . .I am going to give myself a do over before I completely have to start from scratch again. My faith is based on a constant state of do overs . . .it is called GRACE.

We were in Chicago yesterday. I had cookies for breakfast. A LARGE Blue Moon and Chicago style pizza for lunch. All of that is just fine if I am doing to the work to atleast even out the calories. I haven't "evened out" the calorie intake versus calories burned since the marathon 35 days ago. I need to start. I was in The North Face store which to me represents everything about me that I like - - -outside, fit, fresh, clean, adventure. I was trying on a fleece sweater and saw my belly try to jump out of the top of my pants. My gluttony and lack of discipline disappointed me. I don't like to disappoint me.

I am going to sign up for a race here in the next couple of days. Even if it is in the spring. . . .I am going to run 7 miles today. I am going to "get back" the part of me that I worked so hard to get before the marathon.

And yes . . . the Blue Moon was worth it. Potentially the best beer that I have EVER had.  

Started my day with sweat . .

I ran about 3 miles this morning at 5:30AM . . I woke up not liking myself on several accounts this morning so I took it out on myself for 3 miles! Running gives me clarity. Running allows me to let God speak to me. Me, Myself and I are doing better now. I have a long day . .many miles . . .many meetings . .many phone calls and emails before I return home this evening.

I am needing a shot in the arm . . .

I have been running but nothing more than 4 miles since the marathon. I am so thankful that I am not hurt and have been able to run through the fall. I have really lost my fitness. I need to get signed up for something. My work life and family life has been quite busy and I am finding it hard to find time to run. Since the marathon
I have been working out at the Y 2 days a week. I have no muscle! This post has not be very inspiring. I am however going to get up EARLY EARLY tomorrow and get in 4 miles before my day starts. The new Coldplay album is out so maybe I will download that on ITUNES and put it on my IPOD.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY miss my pre-marathon self. I miss how it made me a good man. I miss how it made me a disciplined man. I miss sweating and drinking water and talking so freely to GOD because I had 2 and 3 hour runs. And . . . .I think he misses me too.

    

I MISS ME

I MISS THE PRE-MARATHON ME.

I MISS THE WATER I DRANK.

I MISS THE SWEAT I SWEATED.

I MISS THE BANANAS AND THE BAGELS.

I MISS THE LONG RUNS.

I MISS THE PRE-MARATHON ME.

I AM STILL RUNNING. I AM STILL OUT IN THE DARK MORNINGS. BUT I MISS THE LIFESTYLE . . . .AND I AM GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

I AM ALIVE

I am alive. I took a week off from running after the Marathon. 1st time in a long time that I took off 7 whole days! I have been running in the mornings still  . .usually 3 to 4 miles. On Sundays I have been running trails with Tanner. I will start writing every day again. I guess after the marathon I put everything on hold . . .I am ready to start moving forward again. I quit writing on this blog for awhile after the marathon because it made me MISS my life as "the person training to run his first marathon." After I crossed the finish line . . .anything that I related to that experience made me "homesick for myself" in a way. If that makes sense? Those of you who have done this know what  I am talking about.

I am going to start writing on this every day . .I promise. Thank you for continuing to read and for nudging me to keep at this.

For those of you who follow my music trends . . .I am currently listening to the album "Lost Songs" by David Gray and am really digging the song, 'Truth" by Alexander.