gestation, and cats
it finally came to me at a race i ran back in november. 13+ years of running and racing, and only now have i come to this conclusion.
it was austin's thanksgiving turket trot five miler, a race that i decided to do on a whim, largely because my training plan called for a 35-minute tempo run that day. "what's the difference?" i thought, and found myself that morning amongst the 1000s of runners on hand for the running.
aside from my needing to sign up on the day of, my routine for the race was no departure from all the other races that i've run: take care of the race pack, survey the start and finish, then find someplace to stretch for 20 minutes.
i looked high and low for a place to stretch. "by that tree?" no... too windy. "how about that deck with the benches?" no... too many people. "you could just go near the start line." too... open. after nestling in behind the park's shed, near some closed-off bathrooms and a non-functional water fountain, i realized that my protocol for searching for a pre-race stretching session is not unlike the protocol a pregnant cat runs when looking for a place to deliver her litter.
it wasn't quite the inspiration i was looking for moments before the gun, but genius sometimes has to strike when you least expect it. or something like that.
***
for no less than the past 12 months i have had the upcoming marathon in my crosshairs. T-minus 20 days. my final long run--23 miles--went swimmingly. went with negative splits. went with me feeling decent the next day. my training has been near perfect--only illness, unfortunate weather or household stupidity are between me and having a good run, i'm rather convinced.
there's nothing like a man writing about pregnancy to make him look like a fool. nevermindyou that--i've been waiting, training, taking care of myself, living life almost as if there wasn't such a thing as the day, until the time has actually come, and what i have gotten myself into is now all seemingly very real. i feel like the world can change on that day. it feels like something's inside of me, waiting to burst. something like a child, gestating. it's strange... i sit here, minutes before going to bed, and i don't see anything terribly special about me... just typing on the computer, jeans and t-shirt, a dirty cereal bowl on my desk. but there is one race inside of me now that has to come out. all of this effort for this one that now is inside of me, waiting for the day. and it's day won't be denied.
and no, i'm not telling you what i'm going to name it. everyone just can't seem to get enough of that question. pass the pickles, would ya?
maybe it's more like a timebomb, waiting to go off. good thing i'm going to run the local marathon... i don't know if i could get by airport security given the state that i'm in right now.
it was austin's thanksgiving turket trot five miler, a race that i decided to do on a whim, largely because my training plan called for a 35-minute tempo run that day. "what's the difference?" i thought, and found myself that morning amongst the 1000s of runners on hand for the running.
aside from my needing to sign up on the day of, my routine for the race was no departure from all the other races that i've run: take care of the race pack, survey the start and finish, then find someplace to stretch for 20 minutes.
i looked high and low for a place to stretch. "by that tree?" no... too windy. "how about that deck with the benches?" no... too many people. "you could just go near the start line." too... open. after nestling in behind the park's shed, near some closed-off bathrooms and a non-functional water fountain, i realized that my protocol for searching for a pre-race stretching session is not unlike the protocol a pregnant cat runs when looking for a place to deliver her litter.
it wasn't quite the inspiration i was looking for moments before the gun, but genius sometimes has to strike when you least expect it. or something like that.
***
for no less than the past 12 months i have had the upcoming marathon in my crosshairs. T-minus 20 days. my final long run--23 miles--went swimmingly. went with negative splits. went with me feeling decent the next day. my training has been near perfect--only illness, unfortunate weather or household stupidity are between me and having a good run, i'm rather convinced.
there's nothing like a man writing about pregnancy to make him look like a fool. nevermindyou that--i've been waiting, training, taking care of myself, living life almost as if there wasn't such a thing as the day, until the time has actually come, and what i have gotten myself into is now all seemingly very real. i feel like the world can change on that day. it feels like something's inside of me, waiting to burst. something like a child, gestating. it's strange... i sit here, minutes before going to bed, and i don't see anything terribly special about me... just typing on the computer, jeans and t-shirt, a dirty cereal bowl on my desk. but there is one race inside of me now that has to come out. all of this effort for this one that now is inside of me, waiting for the day. and it's day won't be denied.
and no, i'm not telling you what i'm going to name it. everyone just can't seem to get enough of that question. pass the pickles, would ya?
maybe it's more like a timebomb, waiting to go off. good thing i'm going to run the local marathon... i don't know if i could get by airport security given the state that i'm in right now.
Post a Comment