Marathon Calmness....OH, and Naked Guy Strikes Again!

Plans have changed! Just another lesson in not freaking out about decisions because things can change at any moment!  And remember the naked guy???

Two posts ago I had a dilemma....what to do, what to do? Well, turns out going to San Francisco is NOT in the cards. I realized the pleasure I would get out of it did not outweigh the hassle, so it is a no go!  But then I had another problem. My running has felt fantastic. In fact, my long runs have never felt sooo good. Do I shoot for a PR at TCM or not? I had promised some friends to pace them. When it comes down to it, I just had to remind myself that this IS my year off!  So, with that, I am looking forward to pacing a 3:35 marathon and trying my darndest to PR at a half-marathon at the end of October. I know, it is my year off but this is a compromise!

I must not forget naked guy. I live with all men. A husband. Two boys. Two boy dogs. I grew up with two older brothers(no sisters for me). There are a lot of penises and balls in this house. I really don't want to see them out on a run. Fortunately I wasn't alone this time and it wasn't nearly as freaky. However, my running partner Julie was a naked guy virgin(okay, she has seen a naked guy just not this one in particular). I saw him coming and gave her a "heads-up" :-). I made sure she didn't give him the reaction he was looking for. We passed him, I looked back and he crouched down behind a bush to wait for his next victim! FREAK!  Sorry I don't have any pics to post but just take my word for it, it looks painful....

That's all for now!

RUN!

My husband claims the only time he needs to run is if someone is chasing him. He is a team sports player. I am a clutz and uncoordinated, so I choose individual sports where I only have to move in a straight line. However, I think he might be onto something with his idea of being chased. 

If you are reading this you have most likely been in a position in a race where someone is chasing you. But really, if they catch you and pass you, the only consequence is finishing one place less. BUT, have you ever REALLY been chased?

Last year I was. Wow, it is unlike any race. I was on my long run and went out alone super early due to the heat. I was meeting friends 6 miles into it. Approximately 4 miles into my run, I was nearing a forest and saw a guy up ahead running in the same direction. I didn't think anything of him. I enter the woods and all of a sudden this same guy is running right towards completely naked.  My exact response was, "What the fuck are you doing?" His response was, "It's hot out here." 

My reaction was to get outta that woods as fast as I could. I ran the next mile faster than any mile I have ever run. Was he chasing me? I have no idea but I didn't want to turn around and find out. I felt like he was and I ran like he was. 

It took me sometime to recover from this. The remainder of my 16 mile run that day was miserable. Many thoughts went through my head. Fortunately I wasn't injured in any way (physically that is) and learned to be more aware of my surroundings and pick different routes when out alone. However, can I get a creepy naked guy to chase me during my track workouts? Or the last mile of a race? This training tool might help us all tap into some hidden speed. What do you say?