Wednesday, April 30, 2008
City Running Tours
Am I the last runner to have heard about City Running Tours?
Have you all been discussing this for months while I’ve been buried under books about therapeutic exercise and neurological interventions in physical therapy? Hopefully, this will be new information for at least one reader.
The concept is simple: if you are a runner who happens to travel, and don’t have the time or patience to research cool places to run in your destination city, then City Running Tours may have a solution for you. In select U.S. cities, you can hire a ‘guide’ to run with you, and in their word: “Choose your distance and the sights you want to see, then let us share the history, urban myths and the unofficial landmarks that make these cities unique.” Check out this article from the LA Times if you want to get a ‘users’ perspective on a guided tour through San Diego.
This is quite an interesting marketing concept to me. I can see at least two opinions emerging from within the running community:
1) Cool! A runner-tourist activity in a new city that doesn't involve me having to figure out safe places to run and how to see interesting sites along the way. Plus, I might even learn something!
2) Wait, what? Hire someone to run with me? Why would I pay to run with someone when I can just use google maps or hook up with a local running club/running store and have a similar experience?
There are the obvious pros and cons. I’m interested in hearing what you guys think about it, as I am sure there are other opinions and viewpoints out there. Weigh in. Leave some comments. Send an email. Let me know!
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Have you all been discussing this for months while I’ve been buried under books about therapeutic exercise and neurological interventions in physical therapy? Hopefully, this will be new information for at least one reader.
The concept is simple: if you are a runner who happens to travel, and don’t have the time or patience to research cool places to run in your destination city, then City Running Tours may have a solution for you. In select U.S. cities, you can hire a ‘guide’ to run with you, and in their word: “Choose your distance and the sights you want to see, then let us share the history, urban myths and the unofficial landmarks that make these cities unique.” Check out this article from the LA Times if you want to get a ‘users’ perspective on a guided tour through San Diego.
This is quite an interesting marketing concept to me. I can see at least two opinions emerging from within the running community:
1) Cool! A runner-tourist activity in a new city that doesn't involve me having to figure out safe places to run and how to see interesting sites along the way. Plus, I might even learn something!
2) Wait, what? Hire someone to run with me? Why would I pay to run with someone when I can just use google maps or hook up with a local running club/running store and have a similar experience?
There are the obvious pros and cons. I’m interested in hearing what you guys think about it, as I am sure there are other opinions and viewpoints out there. Weigh in. Leave some comments. Send an email. Let me know!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Game Off
Every week, the same conversation has taken place in my head.
This week will be different. This will be the week where I will hit all my workouts, make my mileage, stay on top of my studying and get things off my to-do list. I’ll go full-speed and just power through it all, like I used to. Nothing can stop me. No guts, no glory, no excuse, no regrets.
Every. Single. Week. I’ve had that same conversation.
Every. Single. Week. I’ve failed. For about the past 30-some odd weeks.
It’s demoralizing. It’s disheartening. It’s downright embarrassing.
I don’t do disappointment well. Failure isn’t an option.
However, something had to change, and I had to be the one to do it.
So I did.
I’m cutting the trail marathon off my race calendar – I’ll volunteer instead, as I have in the past. Maybe I can sweep the second half of the course. But I will be a spectator and not a participant.
This is history being made right now. The Running Chick has never given up on a goal that she has announced to the world. It was a difficult decision to make, but in the long run, in my heart…I know it has to be this way.
There’s a difference between the feeling of “wanting to run” and “having to run.” I prefer to want to run; I prefer that feeling that running is a privilege that I am fortunate to partake in when I choose. To wake up on a weekend morning and be nervous and excited about a long run – that’s joy, that’s living...that’s being in the moment.
I haven’t felt that way in a long time. Running has been filled with guilt and worry. I worry about when I’ll have time to fit my long run in, how tired I’ll be afterwards, and if I’ll be able to stay awake while I’m studying. I worry about where to run – should I take the extra time to drive to a different trail or should I keep running the trails near home? What if I hurt myself – then I won’t be able to run or go to school. Then I’d calculate the amount of time and energy needed for trail running…so could figure that into my time calculations and food/water intake. It felt overwhelming, and burdening.
Usually, I love these details. The goal keeps me focused and on track. The details provide the structure and routine I crave. I thought having a race to work towards would help me, but right now, it’s not working. Plus, my body has given me more than one warning shot to back the heck off. It’s a recipe for an injury-disaster right now.
I need to listen to the messages that are being sent to me – better to listen carefully to the whispers now, rather than deal with the screams later. In just a month and a half the stressed out, sleepless, dehydrated and poor-eating-habits Running Chick can be put to rest. Then, she will refocus, rejuvenate and celebrate.
Stick around for the celebration.
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This week will be different. This will be the week where I will hit all my workouts, make my mileage, stay on top of my studying and get things off my to-do list. I’ll go full-speed and just power through it all, like I used to. Nothing can stop me. No guts, no glory, no excuse, no regrets.
Every. Single. Week. I’ve had that same conversation.
Every. Single. Week. I’ve failed. For about the past 30-some odd weeks.
It’s demoralizing. It’s disheartening. It’s downright embarrassing.
I don’t do disappointment well. Failure isn’t an option.
However, something had to change, and I had to be the one to do it.
So I did.
I’m cutting the trail marathon off my race calendar – I’ll volunteer instead, as I have in the past. Maybe I can sweep the second half of the course. But I will be a spectator and not a participant.
This is history being made right now. The Running Chick has never given up on a goal that she has announced to the world. It was a difficult decision to make, but in the long run, in my heart…I know it has to be this way.
There’s a difference between the feeling of “wanting to run” and “having to run.” I prefer to want to run; I prefer that feeling that running is a privilege that I am fortunate to partake in when I choose. To wake up on a weekend morning and be nervous and excited about a long run – that’s joy, that’s living...that’s being in the moment.
I haven’t felt that way in a long time. Running has been filled with guilt and worry. I worry about when I’ll have time to fit my long run in, how tired I’ll be afterwards, and if I’ll be able to stay awake while I’m studying. I worry about where to run – should I take the extra time to drive to a different trail or should I keep running the trails near home? What if I hurt myself – then I won’t be able to run or go to school. Then I’d calculate the amount of time and energy needed for trail running…so could figure that into my time calculations and food/water intake. It felt overwhelming, and burdening.
Usually, I love these details. The goal keeps me focused and on track. The details provide the structure and routine I crave. I thought having a race to work towards would help me, but right now, it’s not working. Plus, my body has given me more than one warning shot to back the heck off. It’s a recipe for an injury-disaster right now.
I need to listen to the messages that are being sent to me – better to listen carefully to the whispers now, rather than deal with the screams later. In just a month and a half the stressed out, sleepless, dehydrated and poor-eating-habits Running Chick can be put to rest. Then, she will refocus, rejuvenate and celebrate.
Stick around for the celebration.
