October Cool (we hope) dates

My favorite holiday (HALLOWEEN!) is this coming month as are the following:

Oct. 1 = International Day of Older Persons - this is the day that younger people let older people pass them on the track or trail (I am NOT making this stuff up!)

Oct. 11 = Reptile Awareness Day - this is for single women (or men) to discuss the varied patronage at NON-ROGUE personals functions.

Oct. 12 = International Moment of Frustration Scream Day - This is a Sunday... are we running that day?? Perhaps we are frustrated that we are not?? Steve??

Oct. 18 = World Menopause Day - Celebrating at the Palo Duro trail run. Anyone wanna f---ing come with me???

Oct. 25 = Make a Difference Day - Awwwwwww. Many thanks go to Rogue, Keep Austin Running, my friends, child protectors, and puppy adopters.

Oct. 31 = Halloween! THE best party night! However, it is on a Friday (pre-long run) so I guess the celebration will have to be Thursday! Oh for a sugar coma! (Don't look Meredith!!)

Runner Girls at ACL

All of us got our workouts in before this was taken... really!!!

And beer has potassium and B vitamins too!!

Food! Glorious Food!

I used to make my poor mom make my batch of chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips in them. I never thought that chocolate should be combined with any other food... that was just wrong. (And yes, I cannot stand Reeses peanut butter cups or donuts with chocolate icing. Who comes up with this stuff???) Anyway, that was only the tip of the iceberg on my weirdo eating habits. I don't like a lot of different foods and I love the ones I always eat (over and over.) Variety is for clothes, painting your house, or whatever...just not food.

Running has caused me to reevaluate this food issue in my life. I have found huge problems with digestion, energy, and just getting the right amounts of foods for overall nutritional health. Even as a kid I used to moan to my mom that someone just needed to come up with a really cool "meal pill" that would give you all the nourishment you needed, allow you more outside play time, and cut meal time down to all of 10 seconds and no cooked carrots (which I love now but couldn't even convince the dog to eat when I slipped them under the table.) Thank God Meredith Terranova came along and is working on my runner's nutrition!

Imagine Meredith's surprise when I told her I ate no processed food other than sugary things and no salt. "How do you get your salt/electrolyte balance then?" she asked. Silence. "Do you cramp frequently?" was her next question. "Uh, basically the entire time I am awake." was my answer. Oh boy, work to do, work to do.

I got a list of things to eat and not eat. I got some articles on healthy eating. I was told to keep a food log to see how I was doing. Ok. Six weeks later my food log is two days long. My bad. So, I decided to go to a website that I had used in the past when I was having some anemia issues (yeah, I don't like meat either) and I broke a rib (yeah, I am not a big dairy product fan either.) This website makes the whole food log thing much easier. It keeps tabs on calories, carbs, fats, proteins, as well as vitamins and minerals. You should check it out:

http://www.fitday.com/

So I have been keeping a log now for several days (I got inspired by all of Priscilla's posts) and WOW, what a wake up call. No surprise to me, I eat a little too much fat and not enough protein. Unbeknownst to me, even with trying, I am way lacking in iron, calcium, and several B vitamins. Basically some of the most important nutritional biggies for runners. And I am consistent with my faux pas as well. Well then, time for a change! I am gonna keep this log going for a little while longer and try to work on this.

Ya know, there are so many things in life that are out of our control...even botox only goes so far. So, if I can tweek my nutrition a little to help my body recover or energize well, why not?? The salt thing?? A miracle. I noticed the lack of cramping immediately with just the addition of a few salt pills. See! I knew the pill thing would work!

Avid reader/runner

I have a TV that sits in the corner of my living room. I don’t like it there and I never watch it. I try to watch TV sometimes…mostly at other people’s houses where it seems to be the center attraction or, if not, a drone in the background that no one notices unless someone turns it off. I sometimes wonder if I should make a point to watch it occasionally just to get a drift of where society is, so I do try. But it is so dumb…

I love to read. My eyes don’t generally cooperate for too long these days so my reading is in spats, like driving some car with a bad clutch. This is dangerous for an ADD type such as myself, for I generally have 2 or 3 books going at the same time. They are often totally unrelated and it is a surprise each time I pick a new one up!

Ok, moving right along…

Despite being sick this week and having my first five mile run this morning, I was, and still need to be, in my base building phase. I am not yet ready for any quality work. This has been a bone of contention for me as I kinda like doing what every one else is doing (uh, except when it comes to TV watching!!)

So I became a little disgruntled about being the oddball. (I think some of my buddies may have even noticed, despite my quiet and demure manner.) I got somewhat of a bad attitude. That’s when Steve told me that I needed to stick some Led Zepplin (the greatest rock group EVER) or some disco (oh, like you never listened to it) on the CD player on the way to my workouts. “Get pumped!” he said, “Stop worrying about stupid stuff.” So I did. But it didn’t work. I just could not shake being the “one who is still behind.”

Back to the books. I decided that I could add one more book to my several in progress and got one that Steve had recommended (about getting your head…well, ya know.) So now I had 4 books that I was carrying about, to be read at any break possible. But wait a minute!! What was I thinking??? For someone with yucky eyesight for reading AND who rides around in a car more than a NASCAR driver, what about (drum roll) audio books??? I am not completely in the dark ages. I have had audio books for long drives. Then I thought…everything I do is a long drive! So I hit Barnes & Noble and I bought one.

I listened to my new book on the way home. And, I listened to my new book on the way to the workout this morning. I thought about how it could be bad to get all involved in my book and how it might make me think about it and disassociate from my running. (What can I say? I’m an idiot.) But, I did it anyway and arrived to my workout totally unstressed. No worrying about running. No freaking out about issues on NPR. Just relaxed and interested. Very interesting!!!! Yes, the car turned off, the book turned off, and I hopped out just in time to join my group as we ambled off from the Rock.

So how cool is that? How could I have forgotten the best method for clamoring into another mystery world when I needed it pre-workout as much as I needed it as a crazy teenager? I didn’t think about my run (or lack of running) as I listened to my audio story. And, just as when I put my books down and get up from the couch to make dinner, I was able to leave my storybook land as soon as the car shut off and go off to play (run) with my friends. Gee, great way to start the day! De-stress, fun run. Whatever works, huh???

Honesty

I ran into Scott M today after my not-so-successful 18 miler. I told him I had started a blog and was linked to his. We talked about this for a bit. He said that at first blogging seemed kinda self serving and egotistical but he had come to appreciate the fact that it worked to keep him honest (mostly with himself!) I agreed with this take. We also agreed that it was inspiring to read others...a big compadre thing. So blog on we shall!

Ok...working to keep myself honest. What a good benefit of blogging! As I walked (again) the last four miles of my miserable attempt at running this morning, I thought a lot about how dishonest I was with myself. Instead of turning off the alarm and staying under the covers this morning I told myself I just didn't feel that bad. I made a pact with myself to turn around if I couldn't breathe well but ignored this too. I made a promise to myself to turn around at the 14 mile turn around and then decided, "what's another four miles??" I told myself that I had to keep up my long runs or I would not reach my goal...I would fail.

I tried to sneak into the parking lot of Barton Springs so I could jump in my car and run off in my own little misery. Alas, Steve was there chatting with Priscilla, Dee, and Andrea...and he was waiting on me to hobble in. After a brief run down on what went on out there Steve said, "Why must you learn everything the hard way??" Well, I dunno. Here I am trying to afford to go back to school in the next year or so to finish a Social Work degree and what is my claim to fame??? I DON'T LISTEN!!! Great asset! Anyway, the 5 of us talked for a little bit and I had to choke down a little more reality. I have to adjust my goals to real time now (not 2 years ago) and I have to listen to my body...50 is not an excuse, (thanks Dee!) it just requires a little more maintenance. Basically, my running is just going to continue to decline if I don't learn to get my head out of my a--!

I guess that leads me to the proverbial question..."Who am I?" Honestly, I guess I just gotta remember, I am the wolf http://www.animaltotem.com/wolf.html and Rogue is my family no matter what speed, form, or age I am.

Oh yeah, happy, happy!

I was so wrapped up in my horse/tempo story on my last post that I forgot to mention how much I like being a member of our team. I enjoy all the "Hi Julia"s and my buddies who text or email me when I am grumpy (horrors!) and to those like Patrick that helped me through a side stitch this morning. Y'all rock. Kumbaya Mike...

Tempo running to horses?

I have no idea what I did on our tempo run today. Steve has me still finding my tempo and I have been stripped of my Garmin...it was making me (more) crazy. I know that my run was not fast but it was still a hard effort for me. I have no idea why I am not "fit" enough yet. I did get a later start on training but damn... So, like Kamran, I have been rather comtemplative this last couple of weeks too and here is what I came up with:

Around about 1969 I rode a horse named Blue Boy in my lessons at a German riding school. I was over-mounted but after much begging, pleading, and negotiating, I convinced my trainer to let me try this horse. The first lesson was relatively uneventful and I was feeling fairly frisky. The next lesson was different. I was bucked off seven times in our one hour ride. Not only were my fellow riders getting mad about stopping to catch my riderless demon charging about but with each episode I could see my time on my prize horse was limited. So determination (anger) set in and I figured out how to hold my outside rein so short that Blue's nostril was rubbing along the indoor arena wall as we moved along. He was unable to spin around and go barrelling across the ring. Case solved. We became good friends and my riding improved.

Moral #1 Stick with whatever goal you have chosen for yourself. It will work out.

Of course, after becoming the kid that "tamed" the wild gray horse, I was then given the next one in line, a big, rotten, black wench mare by the name of Orchid. Come to find out her name had been changed to Orchid from Lorelei (the siren that sang so sweetly on the Rhine River causing all the passing ships to crash on the rocks and kill everyone aboard) Still, I managed.

Moral #2 Learning is a forever journey. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Lorelei comes along.

Luckily with the knowledge (from Blue Boy) that things would work out if I just hung in there I did learn to ride the black beast.

So, my tempo run this morning... not quite bucked off...I am still hanging on to the saddle...

Do I really wanna run on Sundays??

So I went running on Sunday...after our 20 miler on Saturday (which was my first "real" one since I had to walk the last 4 miles of the one before that) and after fellow (is that the right term for a girl??) Team Roguer Brenda M. and I went out with my boyfriend, John, to see Reckless Kelly at Nutty Brown Cafe that night. (Uh, that is the picture that I included here; a rare moment of clean, non-sweatiness!)

So, anyway, I wasn't too keen about hitting the trail at the "late" hour of 8am on Sunday morning AND the paper was screaming to be read, the coffee pot was the only thing looking perky, and my soft feather pillow was trying desperately to lull me back into dreamland. But my boyfriend John diligently got up to turn off the alarm and then stayed up...damn. Not ever to be outdone, I got up myself. I drove on down to Town Lake in my usual half asleep / half awake stupor but I kept getting buzzed by all these hyper, focused, busy body drivers. What the Hell were all these people doing up??? Oh yeah. It was not 5am.

The trail was swarming with people. Try as I might, it was hard to be really grumpy even though my feet hurt and my hips were stiff from the 20 miler AND some chick let her dog defecate on the trail (more than once!!) The air was still cool (by TX standards,) my stiff ol' legs managed to bend enough to run AND who should pass me by but our very own "black short shirtless wonder boys" lookin' all bright eyed and sassy. I guess it was ok to read the paper later in the day. It was a good morning to go out for an easy...

A new venture here...

So I decided to jump on in to this blogging thing. Of course, the first thing the site asks from you is to come up with a name. I played around with a few and in my goofing around I decided to look up the Websters Online definition of a rogue. It was perfect. (At least #2 and #3 were!) It read:

2. somebody mischievous: a mischievously playful person, especially a naughty child
3. dangerous solitary animal: a vicious or uncontrolled animal that lives apart from the rest of its herd or group

This is me and this is what my running reminds me of all the time.

I love being a playful, naughty child. It is my nature and running provides so many of the right ingredients. I can trail run through the dirt and weeds! I can be completely drenched in sweat and not brush my hair! I can pee standing up! I can race my buddies! I can run in the road and never use a sidewalk! Running is the freedom for me to be what I love about me!

On to the next definition...a dangerous solitary animal. Running also throws me down the crater of the live volcano known as my darkside soul. This is the part of me that is intensely competitive. It is the part of me that can tear my pysche to shreads if it detects a weakness of any kind. It is what tells me that I am not good enough, not in pain enough, not strong at all. And it tells me I must bear the brunt of all of this with a hard heart and detached mind. Whoa...some heavy stuff...

Thing is, I love Rogue #2. My heart is that person. The more I run, the more I realize that this playful child of mine has to remain a big part of me. It is my freedom. It gives me the freedom to feel how good this feels...how alive this feels. It shows me the importance of taming that dangerous solitary beast of Rogue #3 that would burden me with thoughts of apathy or coldness or inadequacy.

So there you have it. It is all in my name.