See Adrienne Run: The Pounding

What's All This Then?

Greetings!

This blog has run its course, as it were. Actually three courses, but don't let that stop you from reading. Here's the skinny: I dedicated most of 2008 to running and fundraising for cancer research. On June 1, I ran the San Diego Rock n' Rock marathon. On June 21 I ran a half marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. Both of these feats were tackled with the coaching and support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, for which I raised $5,725. The final challenge was the New York City marathon on Nov. 2. This time I trained with "Fred's team" on behalf of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where I was treated successfully for Hodgkins lymphoma five years ago. I raised another $3240 (maybe more).

It was a banner year in many ways. I celebrated 5 years of health. I raised a lot of money. I earned a Team in Training triple crown for completing a triathlon, century bike ride and marathon. I was featured on a show about three first time runners in the NYC marathon, aired on NBC in New York. And ....

You can read all about my journey in sneakers below. And remember:
"A journey of 26.2 miles begins with a single shlep."

(For the back story, check out the Sept. 29th entry.)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Pounding

I haven't run long enough yet to get to a runner's high. At least I don't think so. I regularly experience what I call "The Pounding." The pounding is the sort of tempestuous mindlessness that comes from feet hitting the pavement in the relentless way that is running. It's not peace exactly, and the process itself is anything but peaceful. It's more like my brain settling down. It's both meditative and agitating. It's emotional. I didn't expect that.

Why should running be emotional? I asked my sister Alison about this and she wasted no time agreeing. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than she said "It's totally emotional." In the course of a run, she can find an answer to world peace and by the end, it has all fallen apart again.

Exactly.

Since only 4.5 miles takes me almost an hour at this point, I have plenty of pounding ahead. I've been playing with the variables: music, podcasts, the looping conversation turned argument turned momentarily silent and then back to counting lamp posts, reading street signs, blocking out physical pain, admiring the dogs, trying to remember someone's name...it doesn't matter, I can do this, what the hell am I trying to do, I can't feel my foot, I've already run three miles, I'll keep going, maybe I can do four....

Running is an emotional mind game. It'll be interesting to see how it shakes out.