Saturday, February 26, 2011

Optimism

Good luck to all you runners participating in the Winnipeg Hypothermic Half Marathon, 2011.  You're all winners in your own right.  Enjoy the endorphin high as it gushes through the brain.  You trained for it.  You dreamed about it.  You believe it.  You deserve it.  Now, go do it!

Remember to maintain your optimism even if you don't get your time.  After all, time is SO irrelevant in the big picture.  Have fun.  Be optimistic.  Smile.

It's a good day to be alive.

Mike


Monday, February 21, 2011

Running Eyes Wide Open



Runners are are a focussed lot.  This is good, for focus brings sharp minds and disciplined schedules. Runners need to be focussed. 

Today's run was not about focus.  It was purely in search of beautiful images that abound when we take the time to look.  I replaced the Garmin with a camera and the gel with a homemade oatmeal and raisin cookie (made 'em last night).  I had the cookie on a trail in the middle of a winding frozen river. I munched while I scanned the horizon.  Beauty personified.  

Two hours and 8 miles later I had 52 pictures of what I perceived to be beauty. The one below shows the intrepid runner preparing for the journey.  The rest are shapes and colours and bits of light that caught my eye.  I hope you enjoy. And I hope you too will ditch the Garmin from time-to-time and focus on the beauty instead of running by, eyes wide closed.  

It is such an amazing day to be alive.

Mike
(click 'em to make 'em bigger)










                                        





Sunday, February 20, 2011

Frankenfood

There's three possible reasons for you reading this blog; 1) you're bored and are trolling the net for untold reasons, 2) you're looking for Mike's Pastry joint, or 3) you're a runner.  I suppose you could also be a perverted, bored runner with a pastry craving, but that would be a total coincidence.  I'm gonna assume you're a runner.  I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm also assuming you're a distance runner.  If I'm correct, continue reading.  If I'm totally off base and Mike's Pastry Joint sounds more inviting than a run around the block then click here.


Distance running is a beautiful thing.  The downside is the liver can only hold so much glycogen and refueling enroute is a necessary part of the game. Without a constant source of glycogen our muscles simply run out of fuel, or to use the running vernacular, you bonk.  To quote wiki ...   the condition can usually be avoided by ensuring that glycogen levels are high when the exercise begins, maintaining glycogen levels during exercise by eating or drinking carbohydrate-rich substances, or by reducing exercise intensity.
I bonked in Chicago last October and it's not fun at all.  Stop, run for three seconds, stop, run for 5 seconds, stop, run for 4 seconds stop.... with 6 miles to go this can seem like an eternity.  The only solution is Frankenfood.


Trouble is -brace yourself for language warning- I hate the s*** (sheesh, I can't bring myself to say the "s" word online.  I'm such a wimp.).  I've tried it all, but I keep returning to GU gels (chocolate) and Gatorade.  The GU's are disgusting (especially when they get heated up and run down your cheek, yuck ... and stick to your fingers, yuck)  and the Gatorade is like sweetened battery acid and makes me retch.  The combination of the two shaking about in my belly makes for a nauseous Mike.  In Chicago I tried to vomit, but nothing was there... imagine craving vomit and not a drop to be seen!  PowerBars work well, but again, the taste just doesn't sit well with me.  I've written about nausea and running in a previous post.  Go here.  

My amazing niece and all time super vegan marathoner, Laura, sent me a package of Brendan Brazier's VEGA natural plant based performance drink.  As a "no meat athlete"  (see next week's blog) I'm intrigued with the plant based alternative energy drink.  Here's hoping it'll do the trick!


Then again there's alway's Mike's Pastry Joint.....  mmmm.....


By the way, if you haven't already, please drop by Connie's new blog, The Joy of Running.  It's a great blog that all runners, especially those training for their first marathon, will enjoy.

It's a good day to be alive... cold but good.  Unless your reading this in Mexico (right Jan :>)

Mike

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Still haven't found what I'm looking for...

... but this helps. Watch closely for the Canadian flag at minute 5.49 to 5.51. It's a good day. M

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hypothermic Half Marathon course

Hypothermic Half Marathon

February 27, 2011

Click here for course.  
Click here for a letter to the race directors.  

Good luck to everyone running the Hypo.  Remember, there's nothing you can do at this point to train for this run and everything you do is potential for injury... chill... enjoy the taper... see you at breakfast!

... and a couple of pictures of See Mike Running the Hypo last year.  

Mile 11 - ish

Mile 11- ish 'n-a-bit

finish... it's a good day to be alive!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Aren't we lucky?

My new running partner Jan sent an email the other day after a gorgeous 8 mile run.  She mused over how running is such a simple act and how it makes one feel centered and so damn good.
Today I ran 12.5 miles with Bruce, Joanne, Grant, Martial, Connie, and Wendy.  We're training for the Hypo at the end of February.  It was a perfect day.  Lots of sun, warmth, strength, fluidity, laughs, and silence.  I was in awe of the moment as I often am in times like these. The moments are fleeting and one must grab on to the image of this perfection before it fades.  For those of you who run distance, no explanation needed.  For those who don't, no explanation is possible.  At that particular moment, at that particular mile marker, all was well in the world.  I said "Aren't we lucky" to no one in particular.

Last week I posted a farewell.  More people than I ever imagined have sent their regrets.  Not sure why, but it appears that some enjoy reading See Mike Run.  This is such an honour.  Thank you for your kindness.  I am becoming a wiser runner, more centred, still searching, but more centred.  I hope the new See Mike Run will reflect some of this.  Thanks for stopping by.

Yup, it's a good day to be alive.

Mike