If it's spring, it must be triathlon season

In my previous entry, I recounted a very bad running day. I'm happy to say it's gotten much better, and a lot longer, since then.

I did learn my lessons from that disastrous 2 hour, 20 minute run. I make sure to get to bed at a reasonable hour the night before a long run (I'm not going to say early because frankly I don't go to bed all that early), limit my alcohol intake the day before and eat some real food about an hour and a half before the run. Usually it's a banana, a bowl of cereal and a hard-boiled egg.

I have since done a 2 hour, 30 minute run and, this past week, a 2 hour, 50 minute jaunt. Jeff has been my usual long-run partner, but this week he came down with a virus and wisely opted to sit this one out (Note to athletes in training: You do yourself zero, ZERO good undertaking a strenuous workout when you are sick, especially when you have a fever. Stay home and rest. You will get better faster and you won't spread your illness to unsuspecting people like me). Fortunately, Laura, who just wanted to do the 170-minute run to see if she could, was there to join me. I can't thank her enough. It was the first morning of daylight savings time (so our 7 a.m. start was really a 6 a.m. start) and it was pouring. I can't image what it would have been like to do that run without her there to keep me moving forward and the conversation lively.

I've been pretty clear about my relative dislike for running, mostly for long-distance running. I wouldn't say that I exactly enjoyed last Sunday's run, but I was definitely satisfied with my performance. I still have a 3-hour run to go on April 17 before the taper begins for the Vancouver Marathon.

My lamentations about running sparked a lot of e-mail from readers, most of which echoed my sentiments. But there also were quite a few from former runners who lamented their inability to run anymore, largely due to injuries and too much wear-and-tear. And that got me thinking. It got me thinking about my friend Jason, who is working hard just to be able to walk the aisles in a grocery store as he continues to recover from a near-fatal car accident. And my friend Kathy, who has been forced to all but give up aerobic workouts because of degenerative injuries in her feet and knees. And my co-worker Tom, who was a devoted marathon runner until knee injuries forced him permanently to the sidelines.

The suffering and pain that goes with triathlon training is self-induced, and frankly, not all that miserable. And any one of these folks would trade places with me in a heartbeat just to get a chance to do a fraction of the workout I do. I am a very lucky woman. These runs are no picnic for me, but I'm injury free and getting stronger, which is a win no matter how you look at it.

Special shout-out: Just wanted to offer a special cheer to my good friend Juliet, who completed her second Ironman race on Saturday, April 9 in Tempe, Ariz. She finished in 13 hours, 41 minutes and 51 seconds. She has been an inspiration to me and got me started on this odyssey. I couldn't be more excited for her. Juliet, you are an Ironman!

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