As your Run Guru I like to think that I’ve experienced just about every facet of our sport. The transient highs of youthful speed, the acceptance of aging and human frailty, life long mentoring by Historical Giants, every joy and suffering of putting one foot in front of the other as quickly as possible. I rarely lack for words when it comes to running. One that very infrequently enters my descriptive lexicon: FUN. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve experienced deep satisfaction, elation, rapt, nirvana, etc.
But very few of my runs would I describe with the sole purpose of having fun. I know how to put races on that are FUN for everyone that chooses that as their modus operandi, and I sometimes wistfully and vicariously experience that FUNdamental experience through their efforts. I just can’t get myself to allow fun to be my baseline. If I’m not suffering, whether in training or racing, then I’m not really running. This only goes for me, and in no way derides any personal experiences of you readers. Au contraire! I respect and admire anyone and everyone that chooses our sport for whatever ends they seek.
But it is only the white hot edge of the grindstone that sparks my ignition. I run on a lean mixture of pain, sacrifice, and challenge. Plenty of time for FUN later, and I do pursue my pleasures with as much veracity as I do running.
Looking for a great summer coach’s camp?
The Nike Smoky Mountain Coaches Workshop is scheduled for July 17-22. It is put on by one of the Historical Giants I mention above. Camp Director, Dr. Jerry Crockett, was one of my earliest mentors into USATF and all things National Class in running. He and old buddy Roy Benson have conducted this camp for years, this is the 39th annual. From the website:
“The Smoky Mountain Running Camp puts great emphasis on teaching runners the wisdom of the hard/easy training philosophy developed by the late, great U of Oregon coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. To implement the Bowerman philosophy, we use Coach Benson’s Effort Based Training Program to allow the whole camp to run the same appropriate effort while allowing each group to train at their individualized paces based on their current fitness, over-all ability and general goals. The instruction is serious and the training is right for this time of the summer.”
Race results from yesterday’s Boystown 5 Mile are up at www.mtecresults.com Race photos are up on our Flickr button, no secret passwords or fees, you Earned them!
Wednesday Night Track Workout, 6:00 pm at Millard West:
1.5-2.0 mile warm up and warm down
Ladders! 1 X 200, 1 X 400, 1 X 800, 1 X 400, 1 X 200. All efforts @ Goal 5K race pace, 1:00 recovery after the 200, :90 recovery after the 400s, 2:00 recovery after the 800.
Finally a grammar lesson for the funny pages: “Lest we forget” insists that we must never and was the phrase you were seeking. “Lest we not forget” insists that you must forget, double negative and all. N/C and BBO!
Pushing baby strollers is FUN! Emily, Olivia, & Tim Langdon, Rodney, Jody, & Taia Green at yesterday’s Boystown 5 Mile. Both Olivia and Taia scored big prs and are destined to become Good Mates!
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