Run DRM

Bull City Running is the premier running store in Durham.  Last year I bought a shirt emblazoned with Run DRM in big bold letters, obviously DRM, meaning Durham.  Today, I committed to adopting the Durham Rescue Mission for my running this year, so now, DRM will mean Durham Rescue Mission.  With the temperatures in the single digits overnight and the wind chills below 0, the Durham Rescue Mission was filled beyond capacity, not turning anyone away.  Volunteers proactively went out to find homeless on the streets that were in danger of the frigid temperatures.  DRM offers shelter, food, healthcare in a Christian faith-based environment for the homeless, poor and working poor.  There are two divisions, Men's and Women's/Children's.  I have committed to Operation Daily Bread supporting both divisions.  To learn more about DRM, visit their website at Durham Rescue Mission.  I have committed $1 for every mile run this year.

Here is a snip-it of the email that I sent to DRM:

... Being a newer resident of Durham, I only know about DRM from the website and facebook page, an article written in one of the local newspapers and some news reports but the mission is something that I want to support. Why attach running to it, you may ask? Certainly, I could do this resting in the quiet comfort of my home, but it would defeat the purpose of the effort required to help someone else. As I run the streets of Durham on hot, freezing cold, or rainy days, I want to make each step meaningful for those who are living in those conditions but have a place like DRM to go to for shelter, food, health and Christian faith. Runners are also one of the most charitable groups on the planet....

This morning, when the temperature showed 9 degrees, I was anxious to get outside into the cold knowing that the steps I was taking outside in the frigid temperatures were going to help the people brought in from the cold by DRM.  I dressed appropriately and ran 4 miles in cold, brisk but bright sunshine (at least at the end).  I'll likely run 1500 miles this year so each mile, 1, 10 or 26 is still meaningful.

I am not pretending to know what it is like to be homeless, down-on-your-luck, impoverished or working poor nor do I really know anyone who is, but I see the lines standing outside of shelters waiting for a hot meal, determining if there is room at the Inn for a warm night's sleep, some needing immediate healthcare and know that in some way, help is needed.  I do this humbly and only write about it to show that we all can make a difference in our own way for our own personal convictions.  I challenge others, runners or not, to adopt a charity each year.  I like to associate it with running because that is what I do.

"For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’"  Deuteronomy 15:11

Today Day 7: 4.2 miles; 2014: 41.67 miles

And God said....

"So, you write about serious runners?  Let's see... how about if I ask Mother Nature to rain on you today, not before you go out, but a quarter mile in, to make sure you are already out the door...to see if you are the serious runner you write about"  This morning, the temperature was mild, even in NC for this time of year, about 55 degrees at 7 a.m.  Comparatively speaking, Minneapolis' air temperature was -22 with a wind chill of -47 due to the Polar Vortex dropping its bomb on the continental U.S.  It was wet outside but looked like the rain stopped and moved east.  So, I venture out for my "rest day" run (normally I take Monday's off but to keep my streak going, I ran an easy 2.5) and a quarter mile or so into the run, it starts raining, not sprinkles, not showers but raining.  I am in shorts and a long sleeve Underarmour shirt, which might wick sweat but not rain.  It continues to rain for the rest of the short run.  I've run many races in the rain but the timing of this was interesting.  I thought about the blog post I wrote on Saturday about serious runners running in all kinds of conditions.  It was almost as if God was saying, "put your money where your mouth is."  I guess tomorrow will be another test as the wind chill is to be -5 to -10 and a high of 9.  God help me!

Today 6th Day: 2.47 miles; 2014: 37.47 miles

What's a Heaven for?

"ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?" - Robert Browning via Amby Burfoot...  As you know I am contemplating RACE and which charity I will adopt this year.  Where else does one contemplate but on the "throne" (I won't explain this further).  The library near the throne is made up of running magazines that sometimes get refreshed but sometimes just get read over and over.  Yesterday, I picked up the November issue of Runner's World with Meb on the cover.  The one article that hit home with me when I first read it was Amby Burfoot's The Life of a Runner (and how you can too).  The page was folded back to the end of the article subtitled Set High Standards.  In the second paragraph, Amby noted this quote from his 8th grade Social Studies teacher.  Amby further wrote about his running and specifically aging through the years at the Manchester Thanksgiving day race.  He won the high school division in 1963 and many more open titles through the years.  He then set his sights on the Masters division (no such luck) and then 50+ (nothing) but did end up winning some 60+ titles.  He mentions that he still keeps tabs on himself through the age-graded calculator (see a previous blog post here about my thoughts on the age-graded calculator).  But, the most interesting part of this subsection came in the last few paragraphs, which I will quote because it is so strong and is on point related to RACE.

"Of course, we shouldn't judge ourselves by time alone. There are higher standards-much higher. Like good character, charity, and the examples we set for others.  I've seen so many huge changes in my 50 years of running: astonishing new world records, the women's running boom, the half-marathon explosion.  But the biggest by far is the generous work runners perform through their sport.  I'm thinking of cancer-support groups; the efforts of physically and mentally challenged individuals; prison programs [programs for the homeless]; shoe collection programs, and many more.

Some say running is a selfish activity, and I am no doubt partial proof of that.  But I also believe running is additive, not subtractive.  It increases our energy and our potential for good deeds; it doesn't diminish.  Like many others, I do what I can, when I can, for whom I can.  Browning's words still resonate with me.  I don't stretch my legs (as much as I probably should), but I try to stretch myself to see what I can achieve and what I can contribute.

Run long and healthy. Help others. It's a potent combination."

So, what are the chances that this section of this article from Amby, rolled back in an old Runner's World, sitting on top of the pile or other running publications, presents itself to me while I'm contemplating RACE?  God works mysterious ways and we all need to see the intricacies  of His path, like a fine, technical trail run over roots and rocks, twists and turns, hills and dales.  Stay In The Moment and see The Way forward or What's a Heaven For?!

Day 5: 6 miles; 2014: 35 miles.

Serious Runners

To me, if you get out the door on a consistent basis, no matter what your pace, you're a serious runner.  Those who get out in the cold, the heat, the light, the dark, the rain, the bright sunshine, the wind, the snow, the days of prefect temperature, the days where temperatures are askew, onto the flat lands, the hills, then these are the serious runners.  I ran in Umstead State Park today in Raleigh, know for its hills throughout the bridle and single path trails.  I once completed 50 miles on the bridle trail during the Umstead 100.  Yes, only half the distance.  Since moving to Durham, I've made Umstead my core training ground for hills and to determine my fitness level.  Today, with the temperature around 25 degrees, the parking lot was nearly filled with serious runners, some bikers (also have to be a serious biker to tackle these hills on a bike), and some dog walkers.  It was almost like the joy found before a race, runners congregating, chatting and running together.  I hope the new year has brought more serious runners to the mental and physical fitness running affords us.

I also have narrowed my RACE down to Durham Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries Durham, both shelters for those in need of food, shelter and faith.

And, this is Day 4 of the streak - 11 miles today!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Well, not compared to the mid-west or northeast, but for NC, it is pretty brisk... It is certainly not the coldest temperatures that I have run in but it was a bit numbing for a couple of miles.  The coldest has been a straight temperature of -3 and wind chill of -15.  I left very little of my skin exposed.  I find the cold temperatures exhilarating, refreshing and comfortable.  I would much rather run in cold weather than hot, humid heat.  Running in cold temperatures just takes some adjustment in clothes and you can be pretty precise with the right layering.  In hot, humid weather, you can run naked (maybe you, but not me!) and still not get the relief.

Today was Day 3 of my streak.  It's still nothing to write home about but it's a start and if anything, it promotes consistency.  

Day 2

Yes, not very original with the title of the post but some days, there is just not a connection between a post and a run. I am thinking of trying to streak (no, not the naked kind!) this year so Day 2 means I have run two days in a row.  OK, its not very impressive yet, but I haven't missed a day!  I ran 4 miles today on the roads of Parkwood in South Durham. 

I am going to adopt a charity this year for running.  For each mile I run, I will donate $x to that charity.  I feel like I haven't given back as much as I have wanted.  Why do it through running?  It keeps me motivated to run knowing that each mile means something to someone else, my effort and their gain.  Sure, I can just donate without doing anything but it makes it too easy.  In most cases, the people on the receiving end of the donations have been through and continue to endure hard times and in some cases life-threatening situations.  While running, I can equate (not in the true sense of equate) the struggle in my mind with each step while running to the massively difficult steps that these folks take everyday.  I have yet to decide on the charity but will decide soon.  Maybe I shall found a new organization called RACE (Runners Adopting Charities Endure).

2014

Here we are on the first day of 2014...Although I am not a huge fan of New Year's Day, I am a fan of a new start.  Running in 2013 was just OK and I'm thinking that it was just OK because of my weight gain.  I remained healthy and uninjured but the extra weight took its toll on my lower back, hips and sciatic nerve.  I was still able to run 6 marathons and 2 ultras.  If you take into account age-graded times, I ran one of my best marathon times in Kansas (4:13) but age-graded to 3:41.  I am sure that the younger folks won't look at age-graded times with much interest, hah, until they age themselves and their times slow.  I was quite happy with that time pacing with a couple of gal pacers (4:10) that stayed on pace throughout.  However, the rest of my runs were just downright hobbling.  I was able to add 3 more states to my collection of marathons states leaving only 5 to go.  The mountains-to-sea 50k was the toughest run of the year, moderately technical single-path trail in a beautiful setting of Falls Lake near Raleigh.  So what has to happen this year?  I need to drop about 15-20 pounds, do more tempo/speed work, stay on the hills, do more local races at shorter distances, and keep up the motivation.  Oh, I also want to write more here, publish some more artful pictures done by Cindy, maybe even do more with the local running community.  Its a New Year and all is possible again.