My Indian name would be Runs with Bears

     Well really "runs from bears" would be more appropriate. Or actually "runs from possibly imaginary bears". I guess I should start from the beginning. I was down in Virginia last week with my husband who was on travel for work. We were near a park called the "Great Dismal Swamp". I know it doesn't sound like a very nice place, but it was quite pretty actually. It is a huge park which stretches across Virginia and North Carolina. I decided to go for a jog in the swamp because they have some nice well maintained paths of moderate to long length. I went to the ranger station got a trail map and plotted out my run. On the cover of the trail map was a photo of a bear cub one of the rangers had taken. I think this planted the suggestion in my head, so really I blame the graphic designer for my adventure that followed.

    So, I planned out a 5-6 mile run on something called the Washington Ditch trail, which had something to do with George Washington. I didn't stop to read the sign so that's all I know. I was cruising along in nearly perfect weather and the first 2.5 miles went well. I was just taking in the scenery and having a grand time. Then "The Growl" occurred. It sounded like somewhere between a werewolf and a dinosaur. For all I know it could have been a Were-asaur. In my mind only one word was echoing. "Bear, bear, bear, bear......" I never saw anything but thought it would be in my best interest to remove myself from that area as quickly as possible. If I was going to be a bear snack at least I would be fast food. I took off. Now being chased by a bear even if ti is imaginary is a great way to do speed work. My gps was telling me I was running too fast and this was not the speed I had programmed in. I argued with her that my plan was pre-bear and would she please be quiet she could be attracting the bear to us. As if my huffing puffing lumbering run wasn't already drawing  attention. Every branch I hear break was clearly a vicious rabid bear. I stepped in a few holes because I was running looking behind me. I finally made it safety and I had run the second half of my run 6 minutes faster than the first half. Clearly I just needed a little bear motivation. Looking back though, it very well might just have been a chainsaw. I did see some sawdust in the parking lot.

Trail Running

    So today I decided to attempt a 5 mile trail run. Now for those of you who don't live in South Jersey, you may not know our entire ground is made of nothing but sand. No matter how far you go inland, you will find sand. Some sand is harder packed and some is softer. You might even find a bit of clay in the sand now and then, but generally just sand. Well most of my runs have been on a treadmill or the occasional street. Today I learned all about the new kinds of pains one can experience when one tries to propel one's body trough sifting South Jersey sand.

    This pictures shows the start of my run, note the wide and well maintained trail. People local to the area might recognize it at Batsto Village. They have a 10 mile trail that connects it to Atsion Lake and I chose this as my first ever trail run. All I can say is the trail is a liar. After about 1/4 of a mile is turns into soft beach sand with the occasional horse hoof print in it. I am assuming it was a horse, it could have been the Jersey Devil for all I know. Soon after that the trail become about a foot wide and occasionally becomes swampy sand. If anyone feels compelled to take this trail make sure you have a gps with you. I did, thankfully, and still got turned around and had to backtrack to find my car.

    It was supposed to be a 5 miler, but I cut it short to 4 when I realized I was no longer keeping anything close to a running pace and my gps was telling me it was a brisk walk. My arches were killing me from sliding around in the sand, and strangely my back kinda hurts too. I think it is from the twisting. I assume I was using completely different muscles that I ever have before and don't really plan on using again soon. I think I might stick to pavement from now on. At least for a while. Look how friendly the pavement looks.

Running with Id and Ego

    I ran 9 miles today, the longest I have ever run. With me every step of the way were my 2 little friends Id and Ego. I am starting to think running is more about trying to calm the little voices in my mind more than moving my legs. I start playing games with myself to keep my brain occupied. It all starts with jellybeans. For energy, I keep a little baggie of Jelly Belly's on my treadmill that I munch along the way. My plan was to eat one every 10 minutes along with a big swig  of Gatoraid. Well Id kicks in early with "I'm hungry". This was after about 5 minutes. I know I am not hungry yet, I just ate breakfast. Ego softly tells Id "no". This does not stop Id, he keeps obsessing about the jellybeans, trying to figure out the flavors from the colors and select which one it wants first. After it gets the first one this game continues. Which flavors would mix well? I should have been happy with the jelly bean obsession. even if I ate the whole bag of jelly beans to keep Id quiet.

    Id gets bored and moves on. "I'm bored" he says. "Why aren't we going faster?" Ego chimes in with "We can't, we have a long way to go" Id doesn't settle for that "I know we can run faster than this. I have seen it, don't give me that crap" Ego replies "Those are shorter runs, we need to conserve energy" Id doesn't listen and starts moving my finger towards that little triangle pointing up on the console of my treadmill. I barely was able to stop Id in time. I tell them both to shut up at this point in time and I will go faster at the end if I feel like it.

   That's when another voice kicks in to back Id up, I think I call her the self destructive voice, she seems to have Id's side in this one. "At this rate it is going to take you 15 minutes to run a mile, we have to run 9 of them, do you know how long that is? Why are we even doing this, a half marathon is going to take you forever. Do they even let in people who run this slowly. Go faster" She tries to guilt me into pushing the pace. She doesn't really care if we go faster or not, she just wants me to burn out and fail. Ego and I politely tell her where she can go and recommend a hand held wicker carrying vessel she can deliver herself in.

   All if the voices in my head continue in this manner until about mile 6. Id kicks in with "I'm tired" Self-Destructive has his back, even Ego is like "I have no suggestions here, I am kinda tired too" Then my arm comes up with a great trick for all of us. It lashes out and pulls the safety key out of the treadmill. We come to a screeching halt. As I hook it back up I realize my arm is a genius. All of the previous miles and minutes are erased. Now I just have a short 3 mile run to do. I didn't just run 6 miles there is no proof of it, and even if I run 15 minute miles its still only a quick 45 minute run. We all manage to finish the run arm and arm. Even Self-Destructive had nothing to say. I know on my next long run thee voices will start all over again but I beat them today and I can do it in the future and they will be there with me asking for jellybeans and a nap when we cross the finish line of the Half-Marathon.