The Quest #11: Meaningful Progress

June 30th, 2024 to August 5th, 2024

The idea makes sense, I'm consistently training and hope feels real. Truth is, I thought I could get out of the black hole on my own, but it took being vulnerable and asking for help that led to meaningful progress. We can't do everything alone.

Long story short: I became a stay-at-home deadbeat because life got too hard for an emotionally unstable yuppie. Now I'm trying to redeem myself by running a lot and talking about it. Hopefully you find this entertaining enough to subscribe, buy merch and become inspired to follow your own Quest.

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• PRAISE BE TO THE RAIN
• the bread at Texas Roadhouse is S-tier
• The Acolyte was beyond painful to watch
• The Olympics got me activated
• RIP to PhoMPH on South 1st :(

June 30th, 2024

One step forward, each day. No matter how small. I'm not just living for myself, but for the people around me, to lift them up, and to honor those who helped me get this far in life. We're going to the top, together.

--

Thought this was cool - here's the race route for the Paris 2024 Olympics Marathon.

Never really cared for sports but since getting more into running and Formula 1, I'm paying more attention. My family has always loved it but I'm finally an active watcher. And also I like the fashion aspect too, the kits for each country were pretty cool this year.

Tonight I caught the tail end of the U.S. Olympics Trials for Gymnastics. I really respect all of the athletes and it's just so cool to see them making it this far. I admire the people that have dedicated their lives to their sport, the families that have dedicated so much time and energy to support their dreams, and just the entirety of this world is humbling. These are just kids fighting to the top; and here they've made it to some of the highest peaks in the world and human achievement. So cool!!

Also, you know Eliud Kipchoge, the running GOAT who took home gold in the last two Olympics? He's aiming for the triple threat in Paris. Prayers up.

July 1st, 2024

I reopened my computer from last night and dove back into Olympics stuff. So - the 5,000m event is about 3.1 miles. The best time in the world, if I'm reading this correctly, is 12:35.36 by Joshua Cheptegei on August 14th, 2020.

Damn. So I'm running one mile in the time it takes this guy to run three. That's insane. But it's a good number to keep in the back of my mind as I keep developing. My eyes are set on the Austin Marathon in February, but I should try to get in at least 3-5 trail races where I can dial in my times and learning to be proactive and get to the front of the pack. I've always been a lone wolf, play by myself type, but fighting for a meaningful time in any of these trail races is a way I can move forward mentally.

--

Brutal midday run. The sandals are great, but the course I ran on today was mostly concrete, and so I felt the extra compression in my knees which lead to fatigue. Got 2.42 miles done according to fitness tracker but it's a little lower on Strava because I started tracking 10 minutes into the run. I decided for every run that's not in my neighborhood I'll record on Strava, no matter how short or long. The fitness tracker can be my 'source of truth' since I record every workout with it, and I compare that data to Strava runs. There is a slight discrepancy overall, maybe a .02 miles off or something, but it's not terrible.

July 2nd, 2024

Man my left leg feels stiff as hell. I definitely put too much weight on it when I run, so I'm trying to be more mindful on finding a balance. That run took the life out of me though, I was still feeling off until a few hours ago today. But it's good - it's making me aware that if I'm really gonna do this, I've got to make sure I'm constantly getting good nutrients. I've got a jug of protein powder and 'UltraKarbs', so I'm going to figure out the easiest way I can make a power potion each day.

Been clean for the last few days, have family in town. The first day is always the worst, but man it is just such a weird feeling. It's not just being in a fog, but also the constant distractions and nonsense I would fixate on. So I'm feeling how long a day is, how much I CAN do if I focus and try, and how much time I wasted. But it ain't time to dwell, it's time for action. Printed out a Nike Run Club (NRC) Half Marathon training plan, so I'm gonna follow it. Running just to move has been good, but I've got to get more intelligent about a plan if I'm to take this seriously. Hence the training plan. I found another race by Tejas Trails called the Mellow Trail Race which will be on September 7th, 2024. I'm thinking I'll run the half again here, and try to improve on my last time. I put myself at the very back of all racers last time, 50% acknowledging my lack of ability and 50% not wanting to be around people. But now I want to try and be in the fight.

--

Solid bike ride this afternoon. I've got this idea of 'training routes', and I want to put those online, so I'm riding on a bike after I run them to log the GPS data. So many cool tech tools and resources out there. Back on my BS on Ladybird Lake. It's great to ride the bike, so much faster and easier to make progress on the trail. Makes me appreciate every step I run even more. Also had my first homemade protein shake for the first time in months. This time I have to shout out to the Ninja blender, the R&D boys are killing it. Simple design and great functionality. I mean, yeah it's a blender, but hey it's doing a great job. I figured I should tell someone.

July 3rd, 2024

Mellow Trail Race: 66 days away, or about 9 weeks. Aiming for the half again, so this will be my 2nd half trail race. Excited! And hopefully should be less brutally hot.

Printed out the Nike Run Club (NRC) half-marathon training plan. I'm happy that I've just started running consistently again, now it's time to get focused and dial in a good training system. I tell ya what though, I skipped ahead to 9 Weeks To Go in the plan and my ass is intimidated, so I'm starting at the first week, 14 Weeks To Go. I think I can dial in the intensity but let me build the foundation right now.

July 4th, 2024

[insert fireworks .GIF here]

It's the fourth of July. Went for a run at Ladybird Lake - 3.1 miles. Following the NRC half marathon plan, so in two days on Saturday I'll attempt a speed run. Wasn't too hot early in the morning, and lots of people out and about. The SUPers, kayakers, cyclists, daydrinkers, tourists, locals of all kinds and the other runners. Improving my 5K time, slowly but surely, and had another protein shake post-workout. I swear I'm not paid by Ninja but I also have their blender and that's been working well.

Legs feel like noodles. I felt exhausted after 3.2 miles, or about 3% of my 100 mile race goal. I've got a long way to go.

July 11th, 2024

First run in a few days, just a 15 minute recovery run. Back on the Nike Run Club training plan, going with the half-marathon one. I realized I'd be out of town for the next Tejas Trails (Mellow Trails) race so instead I'm just gonna train hard and take on any race that I can in September. Still driving towards the Austin Marathon, so this training plan is a good warmup.

The training route development is going well. Route 1 should be out in the next few days, and I'm gonna keep training and moving like heck.

July 12th, 2024

Got my first interval training run done in years. Can't believe it, but it's good to be back. Nothing complicated: 5 minute warmup then run for a minute, walk for a minute, 8 rounds of that. Using the Nike Run Club plan to visualize what the heck I need to do has been useful, I've got 2 training days completed for Week #1, 3 more to go! I think I can.

July 15th, 2024

Man I have not been a stellar employee lately. I know I need to finish what's left at the role and move on. Lately I accepted that there wasn't anywhere for me to grow in the company or the role - they've been keeping me in a holding pattern just like I've chosen to put myself in one. That's not playing the blame game either - I could've wised up and left earlier, but I took the easy way out. Keep my head down and keep getting paid. But something in my heart, my subconscious, my spirit - whatever - it's saying 'bruh, it's time to figure things out RIGHT NOW'. I have no clue what the next year of my life is going to look like, but I know the job I don't care for is sucking way too much energy out of my life. Working on Sendō and my job prospects are the most important things. I'm anxious as hell for a new job, but hopefully if I play my cards right, the next job is one I have 100% control over.

July 18th, 2024

Finished my first week of the 14 week half-marathon training plan! And what an elegant sentence. That's five days of training, with each run being a little different. Today's was a 'speed run', in which I alternated between a minute of hard running and two minutes of easy running, 7 intervals (what runners call sets I suppose).

Since I've been running in sandals, I'm glad to follow this Nike Run Club program from the beginning because I need to be thoughtful about each step. I know there's a ton of muscles, big and small, that have been asleep in my legs for the last five years. The sandals are teaching me how to run better too - without padding I am really attentive to how each step lands. I think this is called a strike pattern, but basically I noticed that I have more explosive energy when I run on the balls of my feet, but I run out of energy quicker. Again, duh, running shoes are designed to put you more on the balls of your feet. But here's the difference from the years of running I've done with sneakers - I never really understood why I ran out of energy so quickly, or why my left leg would be stiff and swollen while my right leg felt totally free. It's like I was numb at the feet, so even though I was moving forward, blasting heavy metal or rap to keep me moving, I'd always be in pain at the same time - about a mile into a run. But with the sandals, and going music-less, I'm noticing all of the little details in my approach. And with yoga, I'm paying attention to my core in those moments where I'm feeling exhausted.

So - main takeaways, sticking to a training plan is good because it gives me something to follow, and the different types of runs they suggest are helping me strengthen every dimension of my running. I've been thinking about running as an form of art, and I feel it when I slow down and understand that there's so many little mechanical movements and choices in something that seems so simple. It's kind of like how the Innuits have a thousand words for snow, I'm seeing more of the details in something I thought was easy. I'm getting a knack for running now, and I'm feeling how good it feels to be totally exhausted physically and using your mind mentally. I can say that as someone living in the fog for years, exercise is one of the best ways to fight the demons back. Running a hundred miles gives me a crazy objective to fixate on. Maybe I'm just fighting windmills but at least it's a purpose I believe in.

A hundred miles still feels far as fuck though.

July 22nd, 2024

Got another run done yesterday, midday and in sandals again. The sandals have been awesome - I have so much more awareness and feeling in my feet that it makes it easy to listen to my body more. I can feel each strike on the ground, I can rotate my feet or focus more on the midfoot or use the heels when I need to recover. Even when there's natural dips or unevenness on a trail, the sandals enable me to process the data on how my foot needs to twist or bounce in that moment. All this little mechanical movements are so interesting to learn. I've been an indoor cat my whole life, so yoga was the first step in seriously learning my own body, and running with sandals has been the 2nd step.

I know it's not smart to run in the middle of the day when it's so insanely hot, but that's how my day turned out. I sweat like a pig though, so I think that's good? Like my body's working hard to keep me cool? But I imagine the more I keep training, the more my body will need to sweat super hard to keep my body temperature good. At any rate, I don't even really need a sauna anymore.

Got to get serious about hydrating after the workout, I think I'll keep a cooler in the car and load up with a few bottles before I go.

July 25th, 2024

Weightlifting today. Toe squats: squats but you're on your toes. I only did 5 rounds with a 20 pound kettlebell, but I felt how it could make my running stronger. Coming from the ground back up, I could feel how much coiled strength was in my upper legs. Kind of like a rabbit's leg. I felt that if I kept training life this for a few weeks or months, it could give me more sprinting power. Very cool!

July 30th, 2024

Starting to get callouses looking like Caillou under my feet. That's a little dramatic, but I am feeling the bottoms of my feet harden up, kind of like when your fingers get strong as you play guitar. So I'm making music with every run and every step. Still far from long distance runs, but my average run time is whittling down to about 11 minute miles. Still not good, but I bet if I ran in sneakers my time would be way stronger. So if I can get to an 8 minute mile in sandals, I'm on my way to becoming a legend.

Here's the other tradeoff, sobriety means more free time, which is making me crazy. But it ain't over yet!

Icons: Game-Icons.net

In-Chapter Artwork: AI generated using DALL-E (ChatGPT)

Everything Else: It me

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