Staying True
These words echo in in my personal life, passions and day-to-day living.
I ran the 5K this morning and don't feel sore in the least after lowering my time by a minute.
I hit the first the first mile in a 6:15 followed by 6:30 miles for the last two. As I started the run and moved down the first 300 meters, I realized that I had a feeling of tiredness in my legs and started wondering how I was going to be able to finish? Once again I had to remind myself to allow myself to "warm up" and be patient and not let the doubts run free in my head. I had not run all week and only run maybe a half dozen times since the marathon from a month ago. I figured I had the strength to get around the Lake and felt more relaxed and ready then I had been in the past, but after about 2 minutes or so I did not feel the weight of my legs and started to find "my groove" as we wound ourselves around the colonnade's. I try not to be so hard on myself when I have these little bouts of giving up- but I know that if I ran another 5k in a month it would be easier. I remember from high school how hard the first runs in track meets were and then it would get easier physically (sometimes mentally) in subsequent track meets. I now know it is going to take some work to get close to the low 19 minutes but am confident that I can shave another thirty seconds off the time I did today. I have to say, I felt pretty strong the first 2 miles- passing a few runners in the front (some running 10K's!) and I know a year ago I would run out of gas after the first mile, but now I know I can keep it up for two miles. It will always be the last mile that is going to be the challenge for me. I also know that when I get to the track soon and run some 400's, that will make all the difference in my performance. I wanted to run the 800 meters this summer, but I know I won't really be ready until next January. It takes at least 6 weeks to get ready for that- and I know the marathon has slowed me down- but the strength in my legs that I have received in return has been a great trade off for the speed work I have lost.
Mile two, and here comes Mr. barefoot (Michae Legault) on my left side just as in the marathon when another silent runner amazingly appeared without a sound. I had just passed by somebody who was wheezing loudly, and my barefoot friend flanks my side and says I am his "source of pain" as he was using me as his pacer for the race when he overheard my conversation with another runner about the time I was going for- so he kept his eye on me thinking that was what he was going for. He said he finally caught up to me and said he had a stomach ache. He told me after the race he had ice cream the night before and that it was a bad idea the night before a race. I agreed, I have my vices as well and I sometimes pay dearly for them the following day. The next half mile (at about 2.5 ) I started to struggle and feel tired. I tried to stay on the pace but knew I was slowing slightly for the next 3-4 minutes. I was so close to the end and feeling strong all the way through, but it finally caught up to me after running confidently for fifteen minutes. As we made our way closer to the finish line, I overtook my barefoot friend as we neared the 3 mile marker. I am still awed by his seemingly effortless movement without shoes and I have a feeling I am going to have to run barefoot at some point in the future, no doubt about it. I finished strongly (not kicking it in this time) and looked up at my time (19:50) as I crossed the finish line. I was tired and out of breath for about 5 minutes. I was hoping (and thinking) during the race that if I could get close to a low 19 minute time I would not have to run a 5k like this again for a while. this is the very same strategy I used for the marathon, but I fell a little short well knowing I did my best this time and will have to put in some work as I decide if I will compete in the masters 800 meter run this summer or not.
My first two weeks of work have been completed this week. I called at least 50 or so Designers I have not seen in a year or so and some have started calling back or coming in to see me. Some dropped in but most are saying that "frugal fatigue" is getting old with many of their clients and more and more people are ready or getting ready to spend money on some on luxury items such as floor coverings, lighting and accessories.
I had a previous client come in and tell me she needed to borrow some rugs for staging a penthouse in an upscale penthouse in downtown San Francisco, which of course could lead to something big. Reaching out and connecting is needed in this economy and people are responding to me with the same enthusiasm as mine as opposed to the "lethal lethargy" that has flooded many in an industry that has suffered from the combined disappearance and closings of many showrooms in the San Francisco Design Center . I am coming back to this business after being away for a year, and I bring a renewed sense of energy, enthusiasm and optimism while others have only seen the slow death of spending come to a near or complete stop.
I feel fortunate to come back with a renewed vigor, and although I have paid a price for being out of work this past year, the return has been priceless in ways that now put me far in front of those who have just given up.
I ran the 5K this morning and don't feel sore in the least after lowering my time by a minute.
I hit the first the first mile in a 6:15 followed by 6:30 miles for the last two. As I started the run and moved down the first 300 meters, I realized that I had a feeling of tiredness in my legs and started wondering how I was going to be able to finish? Once again I had to remind myself to allow myself to "warm up" and be patient and not let the doubts run free in my head. I had not run all week and only run maybe a half dozen times since the marathon from a month ago. I figured I had the strength to get around the Lake and felt more relaxed and ready then I had been in the past, but after about 2 minutes or so I did not feel the weight of my legs and started to find "my groove" as we wound ourselves around the colonnade's. I try not to be so hard on myself when I have these little bouts of giving up- but I know that if I ran another 5k in a month it would be easier. I remember from high school how hard the first runs in track meets were and then it would get easier physically (sometimes mentally) in subsequent track meets. I now know it is going to take some work to get close to the low 19 minutes but am confident that I can shave another thirty seconds off the time I did today. I have to say, I felt pretty strong the first 2 miles- passing a few runners in the front (some running 10K's!) and I know a year ago I would run out of gas after the first mile, but now I know I can keep it up for two miles. It will always be the last mile that is going to be the challenge for me. I also know that when I get to the track soon and run some 400's, that will make all the difference in my performance. I wanted to run the 800 meters this summer, but I know I won't really be ready until next January. It takes at least 6 weeks to get ready for that- and I know the marathon has slowed me down- but the strength in my legs that I have received in return has been a great trade off for the speed work I have lost.
Mile two, and here comes Mr. barefoot (Michae Legault) on my left side just as in the marathon when another silent runner amazingly appeared without a sound. I had just passed by somebody who was wheezing loudly, and my barefoot friend flanks my side and says I am his "source of pain" as he was using me as his pacer for the race when he overheard my conversation with another runner about the time I was going for- so he kept his eye on me thinking that was what he was going for. He said he finally caught up to me and said he had a stomach ache. He told me after the race he had ice cream the night before and that it was a bad idea the night before a race. I agreed, I have my vices as well and I sometimes pay dearly for them the following day. The next half mile (at about 2.5 ) I started to struggle and feel tired. I tried to stay on the pace but knew I was slowing slightly for the next 3-4 minutes. I was so close to the end and feeling strong all the way through, but it finally caught up to me after running confidently for fifteen minutes. As we made our way closer to the finish line, I overtook my barefoot friend as we neared the 3 mile marker. I am still awed by his seemingly effortless movement without shoes and I have a feeling I am going to have to run barefoot at some point in the future, no doubt about it. I finished strongly (not kicking it in this time) and looked up at my time (19:50) as I crossed the finish line. I was tired and out of breath for about 5 minutes. I was hoping (and thinking) during the race that if I could get close to a low 19 minute time I would not have to run a 5k like this again for a while. this is the very same strategy I used for the marathon, but I fell a little short well knowing I did my best this time and will have to put in some work as I decide if I will compete in the masters 800 meter run this summer or not.
My first two weeks of work have been completed this week. I called at least 50 or so Designers I have not seen in a year or so and some have started calling back or coming in to see me. Some dropped in but most are saying that "frugal fatigue" is getting old with many of their clients and more and more people are ready or getting ready to spend money on some on luxury items such as floor coverings, lighting and accessories.
I had a previous client come in and tell me she needed to borrow some rugs for staging a penthouse in an upscale penthouse in downtown San Francisco, which of course could lead to something big. Reaching out and connecting is needed in this economy and people are responding to me with the same enthusiasm as mine as opposed to the "lethal lethargy" that has flooded many in an industry that has suffered from the combined disappearance and closings of many showrooms in the San Francisco Design Center . I am coming back to this business after being away for a year, and I bring a renewed sense of energy, enthusiasm and optimism while others have only seen the slow death of spending come to a near or complete stop.
I feel fortunate to come back with a renewed vigor, and although I have paid a price for being out of work this past year, the return has been priceless in ways that now put me far in front of those who have just given up.
posted by Tomba at 11:07 AM
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