My Electric Postcard

  You may have heard of the phrase “runners high”. It’s not to be mistaken for running after having consumed an intoxicating substance. No. It’s in reference to the endorphins that kick in after the first 10 to 15 minutes of strenuous exercise. It can be quite euphoric and helps to explain why many people chase that feeling through running. For me, a good run is one where the discomfort is masked by the high. You are in a sort of meditative state where my legs are carrying me one mile after another, but my mind and body is relaxed and I’m free to meditate on a vast assortment of topics. I think what’s been tough about getting back into running is that this meditative high has been elusive. I’ve had it only a couple of times in training, and it was great! But since I got out of shape, the uphill slope to regaining my conditioning has kept this feeling at bay. Regardless, I’ve felt it. And I’m feeling it slowly come back. What I’m learning is to not put too much...

In 2010 I lived in Chicago. I worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden as a postdoc and was on year two from grad school. Needing something different in my life, I decided to run the Chicago Marathon. Because it was going to be my first marathon, I wasn’t sure what I should do. In addition, I made this decision in June, after registration for the marathon had closed. However, several charities offered entrance in exchange for fundraising. I chose to run for the American Red Cross. There were numerous reasons to run for the American Red Cross (supporting Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, having volunteered for them in high school, etc.), but I was really interested in the marathon training program they enrolled us in. This was through the Chicago Area Runners Association, which we refer to as CARA. In all honesty, the training program didn't include much. They provided us with a training schedule and some information on how to train. The most valuable feature was supported weekend lo...

    July was a busy month. Most of my colleagues in academia have the summer months off from instruction. It’s also the busy season when it comes to prepping for fieldwork. In this vein my friends Brian Perry and Chuck Bell were in Colorado for their annual cycling pilgrimage. For a large part of their stay I was able to keep up with my running. After their visit I had an opportunity to travel to Las Vegas to re-unite with old friends, Stephan and Craig. Craig is my best friend from high-school and we only get to catch up with each other in person about once a year.   It’s usually at Stephan’s since he has a large home and there’s usually concerts or other activities in Las Vegas we can immerse ourselves in. However, these visits tend to take place in winter or spring. This was the first time that I can remember that we got together in July. I had every intention of continuing my training during my visit. And for the most part, I succeeded. However, ...

      I’m feeling better about the miles I’m adding on. I can remember the start of getting back in running conditioning and when running a 12+ min/mile pace would make me feel like fainting. Now I’m able to stretch several miles together at a sub 11 min/mile pace and feel strong. I’m also encouraged to see how much this has coincided with a drop in weight. I’ve lost over 10 pounds in the last couple months. At my worst weight, I was a little north of 210. Because I tend to pack it on around the waist, it’s the least flattering form of weight. Since I dropped that excess, I can see – and feel – the difference. I’ve had to use an extra notch on my belt, AND the necessity of the belt was not a factor earlier in the year. I’m sure some of this technology was around 5-10 years ago, but I’m pretty surprised, and entertained with what I get now with my Garmin. I’ve plugged into my Garmin that I’m running the Chicago Marathon in October and that I’d like to...