13 Miles

Day 79.

ATTENTION AUDIENCE: The parts of “self” and “runner” will once again be played by Jack Sheard today.

SELF: So, you still think you can do this running thing?

RUNNER: Yup. I still do. You still think I can’t?

SELF: I’ve had my doubts. But I gotta tell ya, you’re beginning to win me over.

RUNNER: Big test today.

SELF: How far are we going?

RUNNER: Nine big ones.

SELF: Wow. Really? Nine miles? How far have you gone at once before?

RUNNER: I did eight miles two weeks ago. I ran that in one hour, 26 minutes and 41 seconds.

SELF: That’s almost an hour and a half. I didn’t know it was humanly — or at least Jack-ly — possible to run for an hour and a half straight. What’s the goal for today?

RUNNER: I’d like to do it in about 10 minutes a mile. That’s be …

SELF: I know, 90 minutes. Geez. I know you’re the runner, but I can still do math.

RUNNER: Sorry. But in all reality, I’d like to finish in less than one hour, forty minutes.

SELF: Let’s go, runnerboy. Where are we going, by the way?

RUNNER: We’re gonna go toward Hall County Park to the Bill Seymour turnaround point, then back to the other end of the trail, then back almost all the way to home.

SELF: Does that sound like more than it is, or is it more than it sounds like?

RUNNER: Good question. I think knowing where the five mile mark is will help.

SELF: Now that we’re running, I have a few more questions, if you don’t mind.

RUNNER: No problem. I love talking to my Self.

SELF: What’s the point?

RUNNER: In talking to myself?

SELF: No. What’s the point with the running nine miles?

RUNNER: I’m pushing myself. And preparing for the 13 miles. It’s only two weeks away.

SELF: OK, but once again, after 79 days, I gotta know if it’s been worth it to run this much.

RUNNER: Do you like your toes?

SELF: Huh?

RUNNER: Do you like your toes? I assume you know they are there, right?

SELF: Yeah, I know they are there.

RUNNER: So, do you like being able to see them?

SELF: I thought I was the one asking questions.

RUNNER: Sorry, but you see my point? I can see my toes again. That’s something I couldn’t do without really bending over 79 days ago.

SELF: OK, I get it. But are you still enjoying the running?

RUNNER: This is the turn around point coming up.

SELF: You aren’t enjoying it after this?

RUNNER: No, this is where we turn around. I still enjoy it.

SELF: Oh. But … ?

RUNNER: But nothing. I admit, the night before a run is filled with a bit of anticipation.

SELF: Anticipation or dread?

RUNNNER: A bit of both, we’ll say.

SELF: How are you sleeping?

RUNNER: Better. Much better. You see, I can get to sleep much faster the nights after I run. I’m tired. But not during the day. I’ve got more energy.

SELF: But do you look forward to it?

RUNNER: I’m looking forward right now. We’re coming up on the five mile mark.

SELF: What’s the time?

RUNNER: 47 minutes, so far.

SELF: That’s better than you expected, isn’t it?

RUNNER: Yup. I ran 4 and a half Thursday in 43 minutes. So I’m not far off that pace.

SELF: You may be able to do that 90 minutes thing.

RUNNER: We’ll see. I think I can.

SELF: “I think I can. I think I can.” You think that thinking stuff works?

RUNNER: I think it does. If I didn’t think I could do this, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get too far.

SELF: We’re really moving now. This lake over here, Suck’s Lake. Didn’t you struggle with that one?

RUNNER: Back on day one. I couldn’t make it around the lake without stopping. But you gotta start somewhere.

SELF: And now look at you. You’re making me so proud. You could go around that lake like 18 times.

RUNNER: Let’s not get crazy.

SELF: I believe I asked if you were enjoying this?

RUNNER: I am. I don’t know if I enjoy the first fifteen minutes of a run. Getting up to speed is tough. And telling myself I’m at the right pace for a long distance isn’t exactly my forte.

SELF: You’ll be fine. Any more goals we should discuss?

RUNNER: Well, originally I thought I’d like to finish the 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 40 minutes.

SELF: Now?

RUNNER: I picked up the entry form from the YMCA. It has the all time records for men and for women. You get 500 bucks for setting the record.

SELF: Wow. What’s the record for men?

RUNNER: One hour and eight minutes.

SELF: Uh …

RUNNER: I know.

SELF: So … what’s that? Your new goal?

RUNNER: HA! Nope. I’d like to do twice that. Two hours, 20 minutes.

SELF: Is that do-able?

RUNNER: I’m beginning to think so. We’re reaching the end of the trail again. Time to turnaround.

SELF: Time?

RUNNER: If I kick it in, I can go under 90 minutes still. We slowed up a bit this last stretch. Time to go faster.

SELF: Think you can?

RUNNER: I think I can.

SELF: So, one more question, then I’ll let you go.

RUNNER: Go ahead.

SELF: Are you excited for the 13 miler, or are you worried or sad it’ll be over or just want it to be over or what?

RUNNER: I don’t know. I’m excited to have it be here. I’m worried I might not be quite ready, but I’m pretty sure I will be. I’m doing better on this nine mile run than I expected I would yesterday. I’m excited to see my wife and kids and parents along the trail cheering. I think about that a lot. The cheering thing will be neat. I’m not too sad, however, that the whole thing will be over. I’m looking forward to taking the pressure off of having to run so far so often and follow the schedule.

SELF: Getting close to the end.

RUNNER: If we make the rest of the way … really fast … we can do it.

SELF: We?

RUNNER: We’re in it together, now.

SELF: I think I can.

RUNNER: I think I can, too.

SELF: Almost there.

RUNNER: Done.

SELF: Time?

RUNNER: One hour, 27 minutes, 47 seconds.

SELF: Wow. That’s only 1 minute six seconds longer than your eight miler.

RUNNER: I think I can.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am and is filed under Training | . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.