My training at the moment is completely different from what I'm used to. Tuesday, for example, I did a warm-up followed by drills (heel flicks, high knees etc.) then some hill sprints before heading back home. It was all done in 45 minutes, half the time of an easy day under my old regime, but this was not an easy day, and I ached afterwards. However, it does mean I have more time and I am pleased to say that I have now made some progress on The Art of Running Project. I am working to bring together in one place examples or references to art with a running theme. You can see the work in progress on Getmarathonrunning.
One of the items I came across, a song and video, I shared with my friends on Facebook and the first two comments back "it's great" and "super" brought home to me, yet again, what a broad church running is. The first comment was from a young German woman who runs about 3 miles a few times a week. The second was from a retired English woman who regularly runs 24 hour races. I don't think you could get two runners farther apart than that, but they both liked the music and video. You can hear and see it on YouTube.
This set me thinking about the wonderful world of running, which threw up some interesting memories.
When I was training for a 100km race I met someone who had been a sprinter and now wanted my help and advice to prepare for a 10k race. She was going to take on something 100 times longer than her normal race distance. I on the other hand was only taking on something that was about 10% further than I had run before. We talked about the training she used to do, which was tough and took up a lot of time. I couldn't understand how anyone would want to work so hard preparing for a race that would be over in seconds. Then she described what it was like and how she felt when she was racing, there was magic in her eyes. I understood.
We ran the 10k together, which meant I posted a personal worst by a long, long way, but she was pleased to have finished a 10k. She was doubly pleased by the finish, it was on an athletics track and when she came off the last bend and saw the finish line that was it. Minutes earlier I had been nagging, almost bullying her to keep going, now she was flying and I just couldn't stay anywhere near her. That was a great day.
Quite a few months after the 100k, I was in my local pub chatting to a group of young lads, one of who had just won the Duchy 20 mile race in an obscene time; I would have taken at least twice as long as him. I was surprised therefore, but very flattered, when someone congratulated him on his win and he said, "Thanks, but I am nowhere near good enough to do what Edward does". Interesting that he envies my endurance and I envy his speed.
I could go on, but as the mention of speed brings me back to the start (my speed training session) I'll stop here. Please do have a look at The Art of Running Project and if you know of something that should be included please let me know.