Boston Marathon Long Run
Monday, 2-27-2006
20+ miles in 2:09:47 with pick ups of 1', 1', 6', 1', 1', 8', 1', 1', 4' en route every 10' after 35' of running
* UPDATE
Alright, I had to write an addendum to this long run. This is somewhat "R" rated, so for those of you sensitive to language and/or violent imagery, please stop reading now.
Today, obviously, was a key run/day for me. It was my first long effort since the A1A Marathon and since my Saturday workout did not go well (told me I wasn't recovered yet), I was nervous to go 20 miles again, and become even more depleted. However, with Boston looming on the horizon, I had to get in my long run on Monday since I worked a softball tournament all weekend long.
Anyhow, last night I went for a steady 8 miles and felt quite solid. Ran almost a course record, which was mentally satisfying, because it told me I am recovered from A1A. But, this morning I was a little nervous that I had run too hard last night, and with only about 12 hours of rest, I was going to hit 20 miles. I started off and my legs felt pretty good. My 20 mile course consists of the Dairy Queen Loop (5 miles) and then two 8 mile Canal Out-and-Backs.
Well, by mile two I know that I am going to have a great long run and settle into a nice rhythm. On my Dairy Queen Loop, which consists of a perfect three mile loop inside a neighborhood (circle) there is no sidewalk, so I run on the edge of the road. No problem, right? I mean, by now, the whole city of Kendall pretty much knows who I am in terms of "that runner" running around for hours every morning. Most people on this loop are accustomed to seeing me out here since I run this loop quite regularly. Well, here I am, enjoying the beautiful 60-degree morning, running smoothly, about 3 miles into my run, when, obviously, a newbie to the circle has to be a smart@ss and honk at me. The following is what played out:
Honk! Honk!
Here I turn around with a confused, look, "what?!" There is no sidewalk to run on, so I just turn arounds arms up and perplexed, "what"?
Honk! Honk!
Once again I turn around, wanting to scream, "what do you want me to do?" There's no sidewalk. Everyone and their mother has driven past me and made room and continued on their day, but here's Mr. Control Freak in his BMW honking at me because I am on the road. He drives up to pass me after about 50 meters.
"Get on the f^cking sidewalk, jerk!" as he accelerates past me.
Rebutting loud enough so he can hear me as he drives past, "There is no sidewalk, dumb@ss!"
Hearing this, he yells out his window something profane, and I just respond with "fat@ss", referring to his 250 pound frame sitting behind the wheel of his 2002 white BMW 5-series. Obviously, he has some issues with seeing a fit adult running in the streets and some bitterness or jealously or disgust with his own out shape body causes him to react so angry towards me this morning. Maybe I made him feel out of shape, something had to have touched a nerve.. or maybe he's just a jerk.
Anyway, the "fat" comment makes him slam on the brakes about 80 meters ahead of me. He has stopped in the middle of traffic. I continue on, obviously picking up the pace thanks to the adrenaline rush and the anticipation of fat-man to actually get out his BMW and confront me. As I sneak past (no where to run, no sidewalk, duh!) he responds with,
"Keep running, you skinny little b!tch."
As I quickly retort, "Yeah, just keep driving, fat@ss," which causes him to pull behind me and attempt to rev his engine and I'm just hoping, "go ahead and try to swerve at me or try to run me off the road, buddy, because 1) I'm quicker than a 2-ton car, and 2) I'll memorize your license plate and there are plenty of witnesses if he tries to hit me. Finally, I think he figures this out on his own and storms past me with his hazards on, still driving slowly and looking back, but he keeps going and I keep running.
Of course, once I realize he peels off and the adrenaline wears out, I am almost crashing, my body out of whack from the rush/fartlek/anger and I'm only 20-odd minutes into a 2-hour run. Argh! just my day... having a perfect run and some jerk has to mess it up. But I get tough, and say, "you know what, I'm not going to let this guy ruin my run" and I relax and get back into a rhythm and hope that I've ruined his day and end up having a heck of a long run. Well, that's the story from this morning. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.. living on the edge. StreetFighter Rodriguez lives another day!
20+ miles in 2:09:47 with pick ups of 1', 1', 6', 1', 1', 8', 1', 1', 4' en route every 10' after 35' of running
* UPDATE
Alright, I had to write an addendum to this long run. This is somewhat "R" rated, so for those of you sensitive to language and/or violent imagery, please stop reading now.
Today, obviously, was a key run/day for me. It was my first long effort since the A1A Marathon and since my Saturday workout did not go well (told me I wasn't recovered yet), I was nervous to go 20 miles again, and become even more depleted. However, with Boston looming on the horizon, I had to get in my long run on Monday since I worked a softball tournament all weekend long.
Anyhow, last night I went for a steady 8 miles and felt quite solid. Ran almost a course record, which was mentally satisfying, because it told me I am recovered from A1A. But, this morning I was a little nervous that I had run too hard last night, and with only about 12 hours of rest, I was going to hit 20 miles. I started off and my legs felt pretty good. My 20 mile course consists of the Dairy Queen Loop (5 miles) and then two 8 mile Canal Out-and-Backs.
Well, by mile two I know that I am going to have a great long run and settle into a nice rhythm. On my Dairy Queen Loop, which consists of a perfect three mile loop inside a neighborhood (circle) there is no sidewalk, so I run on the edge of the road. No problem, right? I mean, by now, the whole city of Kendall pretty much knows who I am in terms of "that runner" running around for hours every morning. Most people on this loop are accustomed to seeing me out here since I run this loop quite regularly. Well, here I am, enjoying the beautiful 60-degree morning, running smoothly, about 3 miles into my run, when, obviously, a newbie to the circle has to be a smart@ss and honk at me. The following is what played out:
Honk! Honk!
Here I turn around with a confused, look, "what?!" There is no sidewalk to run on, so I just turn arounds arms up and perplexed, "what"?
Honk! Honk!
Once again I turn around, wanting to scream, "what do you want me to do?" There's no sidewalk. Everyone and their mother has driven past me and made room and continued on their day, but here's Mr. Control Freak in his BMW honking at me because I am on the road. He drives up to pass me after about 50 meters.
"Get on the f^cking sidewalk, jerk!" as he accelerates past me.
Rebutting loud enough so he can hear me as he drives past, "There is no sidewalk, dumb@ss!"
Hearing this, he yells out his window something profane, and I just respond with "fat@ss", referring to his 250 pound frame sitting behind the wheel of his 2002 white BMW 5-series. Obviously, he has some issues with seeing a fit adult running in the streets and some bitterness or jealously or disgust with his own out shape body causes him to react so angry towards me this morning. Maybe I made him feel out of shape, something had to have touched a nerve.. or maybe he's just a jerk.
Anyway, the "fat" comment makes him slam on the brakes about 80 meters ahead of me. He has stopped in the middle of traffic. I continue on, obviously picking up the pace thanks to the adrenaline rush and the anticipation of fat-man to actually get out his BMW and confront me. As I sneak past (no where to run, no sidewalk, duh!) he responds with,
"Keep running, you skinny little b!tch."
As I quickly retort, "Yeah, just keep driving, fat@ss," which causes him to pull behind me and attempt to rev his engine and I'm just hoping, "go ahead and try to swerve at me or try to run me off the road, buddy, because 1) I'm quicker than a 2-ton car, and 2) I'll memorize your license plate and there are plenty of witnesses if he tries to hit me. Finally, I think he figures this out on his own and storms past me with his hazards on, still driving slowly and looking back, but he keeps going and I keep running.
Of course, once I realize he peels off and the adrenaline wears out, I am almost crashing, my body out of whack from the rush/fartlek/anger and I'm only 20-odd minutes into a 2-hour run. Argh! just my day... having a perfect run and some jerk has to mess it up. But I get tough, and say, "you know what, I'm not going to let this guy ruin my run" and I relax and get back into a rhythm and hope that I've ruined his day and end up having a heck of a long run. Well, that's the story from this morning. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.. living on the edge. StreetFighter Rodriguez lives another day!
posted by Gabriel Rodriguez at 11:44 AM
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