The Runger Games

Do you feel it? Coming in the air tonight? Hold on... it's The Runger. 

If you've never experienced it, the Runger is that special kind of hunger that runners get when training distances and intensity picks up. It strikes predictably (at dawn, shortly after long runs) and randomly (before bed, 2 hours after a large meal, 3 am).

The Runger Games: a battle that can't be won through traditional tactics.

You may feel compelled to forage for grains and fruits (in your mother's fridge), or hunt for your own meat (at the fast food restaurant across the street).

Your friends and family will be drawn into the Games as your mood swings violently and unpredictably. The lack of a banana before a run is a near tragedy. You may sit in your boyfriend's car close to tears because it's 5pm, you ran 11 miles that morning and have consumed less than 1000 calories so far. Problem solving ability is thrown out the window.

The pendulum swings back. Belly full of carbs and protein. Target acquired and all is right with the world. You have a perfect beer to top it off and are now able to have cheerful conversation with the non-insane adults around you.

Tips to winning the RUNGER GAMES:

1. (If you are not a runner) VOLUNTEER. Make sure your runner is stocked with what they need: bananas, post-race pretzels, protein shakes for emergency post-run calories, fruit and carb food snacking.

2. (As the runner) PREPARE: While it's nice if someone takes care of you, it really is on your shoulders to get these things together. Even if your car is down and you're lazy as all get out. Don't blame others for your lack of preparation.

3. IMPROVISE: You won't always have what you want to soothe the savage beast in your belly. If you want a banana and toast, but don't have fresh food, make oatmeal and have frozen fruit. You can do it. You're a runner. Suck it up.

Beware the Fatniss Everdeen if you always give in to the RUNGER

I promised more about my runner's body and being an achiever, and it's still coming. I'm slogging through summer and making it so far. 

PLEASE consider donating to my Marine Corps Marathon Fundraising Efforts for Epilepsy Therapy Project

Choices... and the wizards who inspire us

Welcome to July - the dog days of summer, steamy, sweaty, perfect running weather if you find yourself over-hydrated and masochistic. 

While my blogging and working have been on vacation, my running has not been. I'll admit to missing a run or two due to jet lag, severe thunderstorms, and the ongoing saga that is my OLD car. Oh, and least excusable: delaying a long run due to a pub pedal/crawl the day before, as my nutrition consisted of beer, a bloody mary, wasabi peas, spicy salty mix and wheat thins. Runners/walkers/humans can assume this isn't ideal pre-run fuel.

To catch up without detailing every run in the past few weeks, here's a takeaway lesson from my Summer Safari group. My team lead gave us this quote: A very credible running coach, Alberto Salazar, was once asked "What is the biggest mistake average runners make?' He answered 'Running the slow runs too fast and the fast runs too slow." 

So I've slowed down, especially on the long weekend runs and it's made all the difference. I can't bring myself to discuss how slow my pace is, but it's comfortable, I'm able to finish the increasing distances and I don't have cramps, side-aches or feel terribly out of breath. It's glorious. 

However, my consistently slow pace and the runs that I have missed have left me feeling unsettled, especially when I stack myself up against the mileage and pace of others. It's time to step back and let some wiser people take the reigns.

"It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -- Lord of the Rings

I have many natural abilities, and I could list them all here, but you would then see that like running, humility is also not one of them. However, as my favorite Headmaster said, it's not my innate abilities that prove my worth, but how I choose to work what I have. I don't have long legs or quick turnover. But I can choose to spend my time pounding the pavement, trail and track to build strength, stamina and perhaps even speed (all things are relative, m'kay?).

Gandalf's onto something. Despite a bad situation or our lot in life, we can't squander the time we've been gifted with. So I dragged by ass out of bed at 5am and chose to spend that time running in the muggy summer heat. Because I can. Because I want to. Because these moments and choices are proving who I am. 

I'll sign off here, with the promise that I have a bit more to say on this topic. 
Coming up next time: a runner's body and becoming an achiever.