Who says it is easy

It has been some time since I last posted on the blog. The reason for this is that summer has arrived, and I have been occupied with various tasks. However, life is not always straightforward, nor is training for a 100-mile run and documenting the experience.

My last post focused on Afton’s recovery and weight loss, both of which are undoubtedly challenging endeavors. Additionally, I encountered difficulties with my knee. It is essential to recognize that personal challenges can emerge in various aspects of life, including career and relationships.

Relationships can be strained, and it is natural to wonder if they can be salvaged. This contemplation arose when a fellow blogger recently shared their thoughts on their life in 1986. She mentioned that elementary school was her formative years, while I was a year removed from university, feeling quite elderly. I had recently completed my first year of running marathons and was in a three-year relationship with a woman named Lori.

Our relationship was complex and perplexing. I was a young, diminutive 24-year-old with a cocky demeanor who often felt the need to be reprimanded. I consistently assured her that our relationship was purely for entertainment purposes, which she never fully believed. Even the band I was a member of composed a song titled “I am in Love with Your Body, Not Your Mind” that reflected our dynamics.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about you all the time

And the way things were when we first started going out

All this time, I thought I was in love with your mind

Then I realized it was only physical

(Chorus)

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I should’ve figured it out a long time ago

I spent too much time trying to undress you

You’re too clever ever to let it show

And I was wondering what you were going to do

(Chorus)

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

Now, I’ve got a lot of different girlfriends

I take a new one out almost every night

I’ll be there if you ever want me again

But you better realize it was only physical

(Chorus)

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

I’m in love with your body, not your mind

Reflecting on the photographs from that era, I observe that long hair and perms were employed to achieve the distinctive REO Speedwagon curls. One day in May 1986, she confronted me and stated, “You are not joking; you are only with me for fun.” I responded affirmatively, and she subsequently ended the relationship. I have often regretted my actions and wondered if I should have made an effort to salvage a relationship that I had not anticipated. Ultimately, I chose to move on. 

In my most recent dating experience, I encountered a similar dynamic with roles reversed. This prompts me to reflect on whether I have completed a full circle. A friend once likened relationships to a car, suggesting that they should be maintained for as long as possible, but eventually come to an end. While I may not have fully embraced this notion at the time, I can attest to his current situation, as he is now married to his second wife and has owned two cars since we became acquainted.

On a personal note, my current job has been challenging. While I genuinely enjoy my work as a city planner, there are instances when conflicting desires among several hundred individuals create a tense atmosphere that strains my physical limits and makes training arduous. Fortunately, I have been gradually increasing my weekly mileage, reaching approximately 40 miles on foot and several hundred miles on my bicycle.

This evening, I concluded a lengthy public hearing involving hundreds of individuals regarding a sensitive land use matter. Legal experts and one of the most esteemed companies I know were on opposing sides, including those of many citizens, including me. It is worth noting that there are numerous talented individuals dedicated to their respective fields. Still, they often face opposition from individuals like myself and others who hinder their ability to complete their assigned tasks.

However, the interests of people’s homes, neighborhoods, and corporate entities frequently clash. In many instances, I find myself aligning with corporate groups, while in others, I support neighboring residents. This particular project led me to side with many citizens. Despite receiving some extremely harsh communications, including accusations of incompetence, foolishness, and a lack of community service, I remained steadfast in my duties.

Fortunately, I now have three consecutive weekends free, which will allow me to dedicate myself to training with reduced stress levels. I am eager to embark on a run along the Superior Trail in either the first or second week of August. I intend to send a note on MNDRS next week to inquire about potential participants.

After careful consideration, I am inclined to depart from Minneapolis at approximately 5 AM and embark on a run from Finland to County Road #1. I anticipate encountering darkness during the run and desire to witness the sunrise. I will assess the feasibility of this plan and determine the appropriate course of action. In the meantime, I need to secure a driver for my journey.

Carry on.

Slow recovery and weight out of control

Maybe I’m out of shape because I ran Grandma’s Marathon two weeks ago and started running three days later. Afton’s hills were more challenging than I thought. My quads are still burning, but I have no knee pain. Buck Hill is closed, which is disappointing since I was looking forward to 5-6 weeks of hills once a week. I’ll consider alternatives like RTA’s Pleasant Hill, driving to Afton (almost 60 miles round trip), or Hyland (I await verification that running is okay).

I plan a day trip to run some segments of the ST 100 trail. I’d love to make Julie Berg’s beta, but I’m committed that weekend. I thought about leaving Minneapolis on Friday after work, running the trail for 12-14 hours, and returning. A friend and my son would love to camp and drive. I invite you to join a low-budget all-nighter and commute. Who knows, my idea might work?

I have four consecutive tennis weekends, totaling 34 hours working each weekend. This makes training both challenging and enjoyable, and financially beneficial. Regarding my weight, I use a top-of-the-line digital scale to compare it with the scale at the physician’s office. It seems consistent, but there are times when it doesn’t make sense. In the past months, my weight has fluctuated.

For instance, on Saturday, I went swimming, showered, got ready for bed, and stepped on the scale. I was shocked to see a 245-pound weight, representing a 13-pound loss over the past few months. I went to bed without drinking anything and woke up after a solid 7 hours. When I rechecked the scale, it read 251.7 pounds, indicating a gain of 6.7 pounds.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. Sometimes I stay the same, sometimes I lose 2-3 pounds, and sometimes I gain 3-5 pounds. I’ve tested this by weighing myself 3-5 times before bed and waking up with the same reading each time.

My training has improved. Recovery from Afton took longer than expected. I wonder if I’m the only one who thinks Afton is more challenging than Superior. I have more of a challenge at Afton than the Superior Trail, but I think I’m in the minority. My knee feels okay, with a little twinge here or there, but no pain. I may battle ST 100 again, but I’m considering waiting another week to make a decision.

My son has returned home after being away for nearly three weeks. After a year of campus life, he was responsible for completing all the tasks that our parents had assigned him. Notably, he required dental attention. He has acquired three fillings (he had only had one previously, but now has three in one year), and he has undergone wisdom tooth extraction, which he will need to have done soon.

I recall my own experience with wisdom tooth extraction under local anesthesia. I had minimal discomfort and even ran that afternoon. However, my son’s procedure involved significant work, and he is currently experiencing pain. The swelling in his face is evident, and he appears in considerable distress. We are entering the third day of his recovery, and his pain persists. This is particularly challenging for a very active 19-year-old. Nevertheless, I am confident that he will make a full recovery.

Carry on!

Hills from Hell - Director and Volunteers from Heaven

I’ve been excited all week about my son’s visit. He returned from his Freshman year at the Colorado School of Mines in early May and spent a few days.  He left for Germany the following year to attend an immersion course. He returned last Monday night, having matured well. He can insult me in German, and I won’t know. Between my weight gain and a killer week at work, I wondered how I’d do this year.

I couldn’t sleep Friday night due to nerves and fireworks. I woke up at 4:00 AM and had no issues until the starting gun sounded. The race could’ve been more uneventful. I aimed to keep my heart rate at 120 BPM for the first half and 140 BPM for the second. I was happy to see Philip again at the start. He’s been working hard since the Superior 100. Last year, I went faster and caught him at the end. This year, I saw him on the downward slope at mile 23. He was moving well, but at 250 pounds, I tend to give up on the downhills.

I started with Les, running about 10 miles together. Two weeks earlier, at Grandma’s, Karen Gall passed me early in the race. She’s consistent and will always succeed. After the first loop river run, Les looked strong, and I saw him at the finish. I came into the half in 3 hours 38 minutes, 23 minutes slower than last year.

I met a young woman from Roseville who runs with Lynn Gannon. We ran to the first aid station, but she was gone. She looked strong, and running with her was enjoyable. I met several people and continued, not worrying about the time, just monitoring my heart rate. I drank 20-30 ounces of fluids an hour, more than usual, but I was sweating more.

Despite feeling slow, I passed five people in the last 10 miles. My knee was good. I tumbled on the snow show track, but it wasn’t an earthquake; I fell hard and rolled. My heart rate dropped, and I kept going. I had an indifferent run, as my old college professor said, “There are days I feel like a wart on a fat man’s butt.” I was hanging in there, unnoticed and unimportant.

I was surprised at the finish. I ran 3 minutes faster than last year, completing the second loop 25 minutes ahead of schedule. People thought the heat was a more significant factor the previous year, but it was also warm this year. I didn’t recall sweating as much last year as this year. I was drenched, but I consumed a lot of fluid. I took one S-Cap at mile 10 and two more at mile 20.

After the race, I had the chance to chat with Wayne Nelson, who bravely completed the 25 K. I also saw Philip Gary Smith cross the finish line just under the 8-hour mark. It was a pleasure meeting many people, including Mike (I think that’s his name?), a fellow trail mix aid station worker who also conquered the 50K. He’s got some impressive results in Chippewa and did exceptionally well here. Congrats, Philip! There was also Karen’s friend from Norway, who finished the race. We were expecting a Norwegian expletive, but I think he was too exhausted to use one. I’m sure I missed a few other amazing runners.

This race is truly exceptional because of its dedicated Director and the incredible core of race volunteers. Without the countless hours these folks invest, this wouldn’t be the incredible event it is. I can’t express my gratitude enough for allowing so many to participate in such a fantastic experience.

Carry on!