UltraDadRunner

So I’m told by myriad inspirational quotes and a large portion of pop culture in general that I can do whatever I want and achieve my dreams and build a rainbow bridge to Paradise to drink the nectar of the gods or something along those lines. I decided that my dream is to do everything better than everyone else.

In case you are somehow unable to detect the irony emanating from the above sentences, I don’t actually think I’m better than you. Nor do I think I can necessarily do things you can’t. Despite the platitudes thrown around rather generously, the reality I believe is that everyone has their own limits and deciding to run 31 miles is partially about discovering what those limits are for me. I don’t know if I can do this, especially in this window of time, but we’re going to find out together. That out of the way, here's what happened this week in DadRunning.

Runner’s High of the Week

High of this week goes to the 10-mile long run I did on Saturday. After an easy three miles on Thursday and the treacherous five miles on Wednesday (additional details below), I wasn’t sure how Saturday was going to pan out. This was the most miles I’ve run within a three-day time span up until this point, but I was fortunate to run with my father-in-law, which made for a completely different running experience. We chatted the entire way and the run flew by.

Mile 6 was the longest because we added a bathroom break

We kept a solid pace throughout and finished faster than we started. This was the first run where I actually felt strong and capable. My muscles and joints were tired during the last three miles, but I really felt the benefit of physical therapy exercises I’ve been doing in that I was still able to maintain control from my hips downward. This base is essential to continuing this training process injury free.

Another high of the week was expanding my knowledge and execution of physical therapy exercises to continue to strengthen my core and supporting muscles and ligaments. The importance of these strengthening exercises can’t be understated. They’re the reason I’ve been able to start the process of running again in the first place, and I would love to share my knowledge if anyone has any questions. I feel I’ve learned a lot thus far.

Bonk of the Week

Low point of the week, as referenced above, definitely goes to Thursday’s “tempo run.” I had planned to run 5 miles with the middle 3 miles being higher effort, tempo miles, but my plans were scoffed at by whichever running god was handling my specific training that day.

I should point out, in my defense, that Wednesdays are kind of like Saturdays for me because I work Friday through Tuesday. I cajoled Katie into going out with me for a few drinks to get out of the house for a while. We stayed out a bit too late and slept a bit too little. This specific combination unsurprisingly affected the outcome of the training run the following day. Whaaaaat?! The following conveys my thoughts as they occurred during this disastrous run:

Mile 1 (lots of downhill and most shade of the run): Wow, this is going to be a great run. My pace is great after that week off. Who needs sleep?

Mile 2 (a bit of uphill and much less shade): Alright, let’s get this push started. Be consistent, focus on breathing. Hey, it’s kind of hot. Whatever, those carbs from the beer last night are definitely going to get me through this run. I found the secret to running like the Tarahumara before me.

Mile 3 (temperature exceeds 80 and the sun beats down on me): Alright, it’s officially sweltering. I might as well be running through a desert. Oh wait, California is a desert. Damnit. I’m running through the desert right now, “a desert veiled in pavement.” All the gardeners for sure think I look ridiculous because I’m certain I look ridiculous. I’m not even trying to hide it on my face. I’m sure I look miserable. So much for beer as fuel. This water in my waist pack is already hot and not at all refreshing. Maybe I’ll pour some on my head to let the wind cool me off. Now I have tepid water on my head. That didn’t at all have the effect I had intended.

Mile 4 (Still hot, over half uphill): At least my skin will get some color. I’m going to power-hike these hills. Well, this my cooldown mile so I’ll just take walk a bit. Maybe I can run to that mailbox. Alright, not to the mailbox but that bush. Hmmm…. I was almost at that bush when I started walking so it counts. I’m turning off my interval timer. The beeping is just mocking me at this point.

Mile 5: Turn off the app as quickly as possible so my overall pace doesn’t look as bad as it felt.

Note the pace completely tank at mile 3

It sucked as I was doing it, but I am actually grateful for this workout. The more terrible workouts I can push myself through, the greater the victory of finishing 50K will feel. Not every training run is going to go perfectly. The fact that I finished and kept my effort level high was enough for me. About halfway through the run I decided I should be smart and stay healthy. I walked when I felt it was necessary and drank water throughout the run. Despite the heat or how bad I was feeling, I pressed onward, and that is precisely the same mentality I am going to have at my race.

Dad High of the Week

There were actually several highs this week worthy of mention. We’ve officially turned on the pool heater and the water is comfortably swimmable. Iris learned how to swim last summer but was still young enough that she forgot it when we were back in the water this week. We worked on it, and she’s already got it back! This is going to be a great summer for her. We’re going to be in the pool a lot, and she’s going to get great at swimming.

Also this week, Iris told one of the most compelling stories I’ve heard in a while. You definitely need to watch the entire video to hear the ending….

Finally, Saturday was Farm Day at Katie’s school. Iris loves animals, and it was a joy to see her pet goats and chickens and rabbits and horses. She beamed while riding the pony and waved as she told us, “This guy is bumpy!”

That is one stoked child

Dad Flop of the Week

Low of the week was brief but potent. I was carrying Iris to make breakfast and decided I would open the cupboard so that I could make her cereal. As I was opening the cupboard, she expressed her intense desire to open the cupboard and began bawling at the fact that I’d already done it. Once the water works started, I told her to go ahead and finish up her crying in her room because it was excessive. She then replied, “I hate you, dad.”

The sting was softer than what it may have been given the fact that her actions were so irrational I knew it would fade pretty quickly. All things pass with time. With toddlers, you don’t have to wait that long. After three or four minutes, when her tears ran out, she came out and apologized. It actually provided a nice opportunity to talk about how words can be hurtful so we should be careful about what we say. I’m not sure where the H-word was first heard, but I’d like to move past it. I relayed to her that “hate is a lack of imagination.” I heard it from Pete Holmes’ podcast You Made it Weird, but he quoted it from someone else. I could Google it, but I’m not going to. How’s that feel?

Beer of the week

Beer of the week goes to Hamilton Mango Double IPA. Hamilton is a brewery out in Rancho Cucamonga, and the DIPA is pretty solid overall. Mango was subtle but strong enough to ameliorate the potency of the double IPA.

There is a beer in this picture, I assure you

It was especially delicious because my wife rallied and went out with me even though she was tired . She even brought Boggle so we could play a bit in the bar. Despite the awkward gazes received from other people basking in the sea of noise from the bar speakers, we had a blast. We hang out a lot at home—even at work now, occasionally—but it’s different when you’re “out.” The time away together leads to conversations that we’ve been meaning to have but have postponed for whatever reasons, legitimate or otherwise.