Sunday morning, praise the dawning
It's just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Marathon training requires l.s.d., long, slow duration. Every Sunday morning at 6:30, begins the long run of 10+ miles. Today, it was 16. I don't talk about running often, because I'm not sure why any non-runner would care. It's just a personal, intimate, if rewarding experience. 10 years ago, if someone had told me, I would wake up early to do this, I would have scoffed "Why?" That is why I'm never surprised when I get that response now. And yet, Sunday is my weekend--no other day is a enjoyable.
Sunday morning and I'm falling
I've got a feeling I don't want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Robert Pirsig described "chautauquas" in his Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The chautauquas are Pirsig's essays on philosophy born out of the wanderings of his mind while motorcycling. A similar wandering occurs during running, however with medititave qualities Pirsig never mentions. With the body stressed by exertion; waking dreams emerge, thoughts refine themselves and moments of mental stillness occur. It can be transcendental. That's not a runner's high talking, either--those occur after the run, not during.
Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all, Sunday morning
This morning was perfect for running. The temperature was chilly and the air dry--unusual for Houston. For the first time, I used gels or "fuel supplements" which help to restore glycogen levels. Without glycogen, runner's "hit the wall" or run out of energy. The gel experiment succeeded, so I felt better afterwards. I ran my route in 2:27:09, which is about the same time I ran 15 miles in last week. That's encouraging for the final race, because while finishing is the primary goal, secondarily, I'm seeking a time at or under 4-hours.
I can't believe I just said I was planning on running for 4 hours.
it makes no difference to me
how they cried all over overseas
when it's hot in the poor places tonight
I'm not going outside
I don't really run with an iPod, but music always is on my mind--especially when running. Last Sunday, the Velvet Underground song came to mind as the sun-hued clouds glowed yellow-pink in the blueness. Then Pete Yorn's song, Life on a Chain--it was just a free association. This week, Wilco's Poor Places crept in mind--though I was neither hot, nor was I in a poor place (River Oaks).
And I was waiting over here for life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine
After finishing out the run, dealing through some recent thoughts on the fairer sex, and imagining my life back in school, came one of the highlights, the shower. It was the best shower I remember in a long time, too. Next, breakfast: eggs benedict ala Florentine from Empire Cafe, cheese hash browns and fruit. After a nap, I started a new book, ran some errands and went to see the new Scorcese film,
The Departed.Go see
The Departed--it's easily the best movie in the last 5 years.