Thor's Running Journal

 I did not win the lottery.  This afternoon I received notice from the Chicago Marathon race organizers. I did not get entry to the race. Sure, I feel a little bummed, but I knew getting in by lottery was a long shot at best. Amazing if I did, only tempered disappointment if I didn't This news does set off a set of more certain ideas for 2026. I already have my place booked for overnight accommodations for Detroit Free Press Marathon, even though registration doesn't open until January 1. And since winter kicked into high gear and reminded me how terrible marathon training on ice and snow is, I'm hardly tempted to try and run a spring marathon. A half-marathon perhaps, but I don't have the heart to attempt speed work out or marathon pace stuff on packed snow followed by powdered snow followed by a sheet of ice. I know it would just leave me frustrated. And a treadmill? Come on. Really? 99% of why I run is for the daily dose of fresh air. Make no mistake, I still want to...

Yesterday I logged my 2000th mile running this year. As the crow flies, that's about the distance from my home in Michigan to San Francisco California. That is the equivalent of 5.5 miles a day since January 1.  I knew all I needed to do was to run 6.6 miles yesterday to reach the goal. I thought about running 5.6 and leaving the last mile for Wednesday and making it ceremonious with a run around the block with the kids, but with the snow forecasted, I thought it best to just hit the mark and not play games.  After all, if there is one big lesson I learned this year from all these miles, it is to take advantage of the moment at hand. I learned you never know what it's going to be like the next day. I learned it the hard way through that crash and then the random straining of my muscles on a seemingly benign trip to the tennis courts with the kids. There will be excuses not to run or do any number of things. It's important to call an excuse and excuse, and even if valid, kn...

 Honestly there is a little thrill that comes from running while there are flurries coming down. I think there should be bonus points for miles logged in these conditions. It is the easiest thing in the world to turn over and say "how about tomorrow", but it takes some sort of insanity to say "I think I'll go for a run" After yesterday's long run my mind said, " how about just a couple" but by mile 2 I felt good and figured I might as well keep going. The slight bit of snow is scary and I didn't even really get up to speed until I had more sure footing at mile 5. At that point I needed to get home to get ready for church.  I got out the door late because a I finally managed to go back to sleep at 2am rather than get out of bed. I'm not sure exactly how it happened, and it might have been a fluke, but the fact that there were other tracks in the snow before my own as not lost on me.  I mean, it's just as dark at 630 am as it is at 2am so...

Just a few miles this morning because I needed to get the kids up this morning. I could have been out longer, but its sorta cold and just wasn't feeling it. I mean, not much longer, maybe 1 more mile. I'll long run tomorrow and still end up hitting about 40 miles on the week so who cares. I'm also only about 30 miles away from my 2000 mile goal for the year.  This weekend will be 1 month since the marathon. Feels like forever ago. In some ways I'm still processing the race. I don't have the sense of elation the way I did after the PR in Detroit last year or disappointment that came with Bay Shore. It feels a little more matter of fact. Less dramatic than previous races. Sort of a shurg. Don't get me wrong it is still a big deal and a wonderful part of this year's story, but it seems distant.  I'm also starting to think about what is next for the new year. A running streak is great, but it doesn't have the same sense of purpose that comes from trainin...

The moonlight in the winter with the snow makes everything a little brighter. I've probibly mentioned it before, but it left me in wonder again this morning.  I crossed paths with a lady running in the dark with no lights. Im pretty sure we've crossed paths before because it strikes me as a bit of a challege to run without lights, but she likely has her system of doing things the way I have my system of doing things. There's no sense in disrupting the balance. Winter running brings the layers. So if I am going to get out the door in the morning, I need to be very organized about making sure the hat and gloves and mittens and gator neck warmer thing and running belt and head lamp and flashing light and jacket and ear buds and leggings and long sleeves and socks are all ready to go the night before. In the summer there's less of this kind of hassle. More get up and go. But without the layers on my hands it gets dangerous for my fingers. I know what painfully c...

I use the blinking mode on my light vest more often these days. I don't know maybe it is the holiday spirit kicking in.