It's hard to have a life when you're a dedicated runner. And to those who you do hang out with, you life seems incredibly bizarre.
Last week I went to the Lake Superior Traditional Ways Gathering on the Bad River Reservation outside of Ashland, WI. I took some really good plant classes, made a willow basket, played around with flintknapping, camped all week right on the beach, hung out with a lot of old friends, and generally had a kick-ass time. So how to incorporate running into all this...?
The event started Sunday morning and I had done my 30 miles on Saturday. That evening, after setting up my tent and getting a bite to eat I laced up and ran up and down the 3.5 mile dirt/gravel road that led to the gathering site. This was pretty confusing or mesmerizing to a lot of old friends and acquaintances, but that night I ran up and down the road 7 times for a total of 21 miles in 3 hours. The road was dusty and any cars that went by kicked up a whole lot of dust that left me choking and cursing aloud. Three times someone pulled alongside me and asked if I wanted a ride. One person asked if I was "running just for fun." "Of course," I replied.
I got pretty well acquainted with that road throughout the week. And although I didn't get all my mileage in, I did get some speedwork and a tempo run in during the week. I've had to shift my schedule so that today and tomorrow are my long run days this week - but I guess that's what you have to do if want to be a runner and have a life.
2 comments:
Having a life + running = not a good mix!!!
You find yourself skipping out on runs when you try to hang!!! Or doing less mileage.
This is one reason I'm not going to the Tearing at the Roots gathering with everybody...that way I can focus strictly on running!
Hanging and being social is good though. It's the best medicine for us humans!
But then again, so is running!
At least you did your runs and didn't skip out on them. I have to give you props for running back and forth on that road. I can't do that shit. I go insane when I run the same route over and over and over and over...repetition is not my thing...
It was good chatting on the phone btw. I haven't posted on my blog...I have been running though but not as much since people have been in town and since my leg shit the bed...it's back though. Lifting weights and thorough stretches have been helping.
So, share with me! I want running stories! I started writing in my blog again...now it's your turn!!!
Post a Comment