Goal-less Running

Like so many others, my racing season is over. Since the first 5 Peaks in April, at Golden Ears , I've been running with a race in mind. From Iron Knee in May to the summer's 5 Peaks series, and a culmination in August with Stormy 50 and Trans Rockies, in Colorado. Following all that racing and a couple of annoying overuse injuries, I vowed to back off racing and distance. Since August 27th I haven't run anything more than 15 km - a couple races, but mostly just running without a focus or a goal in mind. No big deal, right? Or so I thought.

"Run Now" is my mantra on so many occasions, but this morning, while climbing a new route up Grouse, I had an epiphany that some recent restlessness, and lack of present-minded running, came from having no racing goals. I'd been racing and training so much it had become a way of living. About three quarters of the way up it came to me that I was enjoying myself immensely and hadn't thought about my running plans for the coming year. I was so focused on "Running Now" that I was able to just be there. When I say I had been restless, I mean that I had been looking for various races to do and something to focus on, like my next race, or yoga, or some type of gym routine. It was just an undetermined internal nagging I felt. In hindsight, the question arises, do we need a reason to run other than the enjoyment of moving freely, being outside under tree cover, or the meditative concentration it takes to run a technical trail?

This mornings run brought me to a place where I could just run without future thoughts and from that emerged my goal...or a reaffirmation of my blog namesake and mantra, RUN NOW. The fall is such a beautiful time to run or race, it's crazy to feel discontent when I arrive back home. I love that a run/hike up Grouse with friends is what brought me back to what I needed. Like many runners and racers, I am incredibly goal oriented, but fall is a time for variety and enjoyment, not racing and pushing. And that's okay.

So...when all goals are achieved, t's are crossed, i's are dotted, lists are checked, it only makes sense to just Run Now.

Trick or Run

It's late October already and Run the North Shore's final trail race of the season is flagged and ready. By 9:30 tomorrow the trails will be riddled with ghosts, goblins, and whatever other freakish garb folks can find in their closets. The trails are muddying as I write this and the wind is amping up to cover the route in ugliness - some downed trees, leaves covering holes, and roots, and who knows, maybe a forest ghost or goblin.

I had a great run at this last year as I battled out the last 10k with Katrina Driver, but this year she'll have to battle with the Lazy Trail Runner or Ms. Polizzi, who I saw registering today. It should be a great race and if Nicola Gildersleeve races, it'll get even more interesting.

It'll be great to see the finish for a change. In keeping with my resolution to only run shorter than 15k through the fall, I will run the 9.8k course. It'll be fast and over-with in under 50 minutes I hope. The course record is 40 minutes flat and is held by a real turn-over guy so I should be out there at least a couple minutes after that. It works well with my recent XC races, but isn't just running across the grass or up a few small hills. A smattering of stairs should give me the lactic hell I'm looking for. Regardless, I'm very excited about the current rainfall and the possibility of some seriously ugly trail conditions. Like a little kid in a puddle, I'll be coming home wet and messy no matter how long I'm out there.

10-10-10

A brilliant morning on the trails with a crew of keen folks thinking of tackling Run the North Shore's Hallow's Eve Half, a ghostly 21 km's up Lynn Creek this October 24th.

19 of us met at 8:30 this morning, at Jaycee House while it was still a bit overcast and by the time we'd finished our 10k orientation run it was time for a coffee on a sunny patio. It was a perfect morning for fall trail play.
The Lazy Trail runner and I will be leading the orientation run for the top half of the course next Sunday, October 17th as well. It's always a great group run even if you're not planning to race. Come check it out. The run down Griffin into Snakes and Ladders is wicked fun. We meet at Lynn Headwaters second overflow parking at 8:30.

See you there...I hope.

That time again...

I don't know what it is, the smells? the temperatures? the way the sun hangs low in the sky? or the cool, fresh air of the mornings?, but something about fall reminds me of my childhood in the Okanagan. Thanksgiving long weekend is coming, kids are starting to think about Halloween costumes, and I...well I'm getting geared up for cross country season.

There's nothing like an early morning blast to the heart and lungs. Everyone toes the line knowing full well that their lungs will burn and heart will race as they scream across grassy, dirty terrain in Metro Vancouver's lesser known parks.

The first of my season is this Saturday at Crescent Park, in South Surrey/White Rock. Check out the cross country series schedule on the right of my blog. Anyway, Crescent Park is a great park that I raced in last year so I'm really looking forward to it, even though I am not 100% yet. It has taken me a long time to recover fully from Stormy, Trans Rockies, the new baby, and my return back to work. I just haven't stopped going since early August so I have really been enjoying the shorter, quicker runs. The daily four hour runs can really take it out of you.

One thing is for sure for this cross country season, I'll be sporting my favorite Salomon shoe ever, the Speed Cross 2. It was amazing last year in the mud and wet and it continues to be totally perfect for this stuff. Check out irunfar's Speed Cross 2 review and take a chance to enter their contest to win a pair. I know you'll love this shoe. You just have to get them on your feet. I'm excited to be sporting a new pair that is a blue and orange color combo.I 've only ever seen one pair before and then I spotted a pair last week at the Salomon Sample sale.

Hope to see you out for lung burner, if not this weekend in White Rock, maybe October 16th in Cates Park by Deep Cove. Enjoy the fall and don't forget to smell the fall. It's the best.

Salomon Sample Sale This weekend!

I was in at 3pm today and there was some great stuff. To get there turn North off Main street, up Harbour Avenue. About 200 meters up the street, on the right, you see balloons and Salomon tents. Have fun and take cash.

Fresh Tracks

I can't say enough about this so I'll let it say it itself. I always love reading the blog of The Sean. He has such a Zen-like approach to running and life. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Sean...and modeling a life that more of us could benefit from.

With mindfulness do step

calm comes in with breathe.

With anxiety exhaled

Fresh Tracks bring good health.

When are you "a runner"?

What makes a runner a runner?

A watch that does splits?
A calendar of races?
Compression socks?
Knowing your 10k time?
Runners clothing?
An ipod with a running mix on cue?
Someone who uses the word tempo?
Running specific shoes?
Belonging to a club?
Training on a track and recording your splits?
Having plantar fasciitis or Ilio-tibial band friction syndrome?
Owning a foam roller?
Keeping a running log?
Meeting with a weekly training group?

When are you a runner?

When I asked the question, "when are you a runner?" to friends this morning they immediately began to differentiate between a runner and jogger. So what's a jogger? When I think of joggers I think of someone a bit overweight, perhaps wearing sweats, and maybe even a headband and a Walkman. YES! A Walkman. Isn't the term jogger an eighties term? Maybe the jogger is a person who casually runs for weight control, doesn't purchase running specific clothing, and is not at all interested in getting better or competing?

That makes sense and sounds great, but does that mean that a runner is a person who is one who seeks to improve and has running related goals - likely races? That would make sense, but what about those who love to run with no goals for improvement and they run 5 or 6 times a week? Are these runners? I think they are if they run this much, but how is that not a jogger?

Having had several injuries over the past few weeks and being off my feet, I have had the opportunity to think about this. A runner I believe, takes on running as part of their lifestyle. They dress the part, build it into their daily routine and often have running related goals on their mind. I'm not certain it's problematic or not, but not being able to run has left me feeling like something is missing from my days. I miss running a lot. It's not just that it's missing, it's that I realize a deep seeded fear that I am losing fitness in not being out there. Is that what it is? Being scared of getting slower? So my friends are correct. It's having goals and seeking to get better - be that running faster or farther.

I think of myself as a runner, but I don't know why. I suppose it's just another label that goes along with teacher, father, son, brother, skier, and, dare I say it, "husband". Do these titles matter? No. But I still wonder, "when are you a runner?"

I'd love to hear your comments. Do you think you're a runner? Why?