Running and Dear Friends

Yesterday seemed to fly by and before I realized it the work day and with it the work week had come to an end. In my quest for “shaking” things up in my life (not really but it does sound good!!) I once again reversed my exercise schedule for the second day in a row. I don’t know how wise this would be with a marathon coming up in three days which is being started at 6:30 in the morning and training consistently at this time may have been the way to go. However; I being the “unconventional” one have decided to turn my day upside down while working out after work instead of before work. What it really came down to was being tired this morning from the late night the night before and the workout the night before. I decided having an extra hour of sleep was worth more then getting up and working out. Of course I had to work out which is why I went to exercise after work.

I must commend people for working out after their workday because it is much more difficult then working out in the early morning. I am a fairly “avid” exercise person and I was having a difficult time convincing myself to go workout last night after work. I didn’t have much to do which was one of the reasons I thought working out after work would be a good idea but I was coming up with excuses to forego the workout. I finally convince myself and it wasn’t much convincing at all as the car drove right to the gym on my normal route after work. I am very impressed with people who continue their day at the gym after working 8, 9 and 10 hours. I do believe it is easier giving up the hour of the sleep in the morning then it is coming to the gym after working the entire day. This is exactly why I have always favored going to the gym before work as opposed to after work.

Anyhow I got in a very good workout and this was my very last intense run before the marathon on Sunday. My intensity has ratcheted up but the distance of the runs have come down precipitously over the past two weeks. In fact this was the shortest albeit fastest run of my training session since it started over 10 weeks ago. It is hard to believe it has been 10 weeks already and June will arrive in only a few days. I got through the intense short run and there are times where I question whether or not I came make run 26.2 miles. There really is no doubt in my mind that I can run the 26.2 miles because I have done it four times before. I have started five marathons and finished four; the only non-finishing event was the marathon in Phoenix back in 2004 where I developed tendonitis in my knee and had to call it a day at mile 15. I did feel terrible when my daughter said, “Daddy, what are you doing, get back in the race”. But I couldn’t go any further and of course in retrospect I could have “gutted” it out over the last 11 miles but who knows maybe the tendonitis would have been worse.

I didn’t run another marathon for almost two years as I took the time off to recuperate only concentrating only cycling for quite awhile. Then at the end of 2004 with my life utterly out of control I wanted to run the Los Angeles Marathon followed by the New York Marathon and finish with the Boston Marathon all starting in early 2005. Well that planned got derailed for a few years as my misdeeds and my secret life was discovered and running in these marathons became a distant hope. However; through recovery I was able to run in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles Marathons in December of 2005 and March of 2006 respectively. The Las Vegas Marathon was my best marathon by time and the Los Angeles Marathon wasn’t my best marathon and wasn’t my worst marathon. After this my running was relegated to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations over a period of 19 ½ months.

Running was one of the many things that kept me sane throughout my incarceration. I did log a few miles around the “yard” and the “camp” over that period. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to get some type of physical exercise because earlier on I had no physical exercise for the first thirty. Now all of this is over and in less then 48 hours I will be running through and around the greater San Diego area relishing every step of the 26.2 miles. Of course I have some time goals set for myself but the key is the opportunity to actually run the race without anything crazy thoughts swirling in my head. Running gives me peace, serenity and tranquility and this upcoming run will be extra special in so many ways. I’m not sure how many people who get released from prison have the opportunity to run in a marathon three months later which is why I will enjoy the journey. This is what life is all about; “enjoying the journey” one step at a time.

My workout was over yesterday evening and returned home where I made myself a very nice dinner of mushroom risotto. No, I didn’t make this from scratch rather I bought it frozen from Trader Joe’s and heated it up in the microwave. It was delicious and very inexpensive. I think something like this would go for $14 or $15 at a restaurant but it was mine for $2.49. While I ate I spoke with one of my good friends and later on another of my good friends returned home and we had yet another of our great conversations. This great conversation did last past my normal bedtime but as always it was well worth it.

Even though I went to sleep much later then I anticipated I was still up in time to get in my morning workout. This was my last run before the marathon and it felt very good. I have some stiffness in my shins but nothing anything like it was a few weeks ago. I will take the next day off in preparation for the marathon on Sunday. I have put in the miles and intensity so it is going to be a wonderful run come Sunday.

The morning workout was over and I headed into the office for an hour before I had to partake in my usual Friday golf game. Yet another dear friend has become my Friday golf partner over the past month and we are still getting some rather good deals on some very nice golf courses. Today was no exception and we played one of the higher end more difficult courses in the area. It does pay to shop around and this high end golf course was played for one-third the normal price. I had a great time with my dear friend even though I didn’t play very well. The more difficult the golf course the higher more score gets and today was no exception; however; the weather was beautiful and the company grand.

As we ended our golf game my friend invited me over his house for dinner. Normally because I am two days away from the marathon today would be my carbo-loading day meaning I would eat pasta and lots of it. However; my friend suggested pizza and this gave me the opportunity to see another dear friend (my goodness I seem to have many “dear” friends) as we picked up the pizza. I had a wonderful time at my dear friend’s house and we even watched a basketball game. I have come a long way in just three years of recovery. Last night the Lakers won their playoff game to clinch a spot in the NBA finals and I had no idea they were even playing. At one point in my life (actually at several points in my life) I knew exactly what was going on in all sports but now I could care less. I have no problem talking about and even watching it tonight was refreshing from a “fan” standpoint as opposed to the “point spread” standpoint which I endured for some many years. I know I can never gamble again and I am extremely grateful for this because my life is so much better today then it has ever been in my life.