The Announcement

So my sister and I have a text/tweet relationship.  We pass so much information through those mediums.  I have never been the best at talking on the phone, but I can text something serious in a heartbeat.  I know...I'm a millenial and my social skill are lacking, but whatev.  I typically start texting my sister and then one of us will move to twitter and the rest of the conversation will be had there.  I've named this our Movie Theater technique.  If you know one or both of us you know that we're loud.  We are even more loud in Movie Theaters because we like to comment on what is happening, and laugh and cry with the characters.  So whenever we start a text conversation...one of us feels so compelled to move it to Twitter.  It feels like we could just have a text convo that no one knows about...but we're obnoxious enough to do it in public. LOL.  Follow me @patrickterril.

Anyway.  That was just backstory.  Hope you enjoyed it.

So I was texting my sister this past weekend.  We are committed to running a Half Marathon and a Marathon before the end of the year.  So we began discussing which races we wanted to do yatta yatta.  We looked at training calendars and race dates, and I spent a considerable amount of time on Runnersworld.com.  We compared race dates with dates of Clemson and Virginia Tech Football Games.  I will be missing the Duke and Boston College games for these races.  But it will be worth it.  Besides the Duke game is typically boring (Sorry I'm not sorry, Blue Devils), and the Boston College game is away.  All of these things went into account before we picked our races.

We have to, quite simply, be out of our minds...but here it is...

I am happy to announce that my sister and I will be running (emphasis on the word running) the:

Care First BlueCross BlueSheild Half Marathon in Baltimore, Maryland on October 13, 2012

and the:

19th Annual Philadelphia Marathon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 18, 2012

So that's that.  Now I can become a tad more serious in my running, because there are definitive events that I hope to do well in.  Let's all genuflect accordingly.  Training schedule starts July 1.  So I am eating like a pig because the training diet begins August 1.  This will be my second Half-Marathon and my First Marathon. Lord.  Save.  Me.

Peace,

PTJ

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Running Journal 12

Day: Thursday, June 21st

Time: 7:23 am

Duration: 32:38

Pace:  11'07"

Distance: 2.92 mi

Course: Tulane Campus, Audubon Park

Weather: Sunny & Breezy

Mood: Ready

Favorite Song on this Run: "Boogie Shoes" Glee Cast Version

Notes: So I took about a week break from running.  I can't run in the afternoons down here, it is very hot.  So I wanted to switch to running in the morning.  In 2009 when I decided I wanted to do road races, I was pretty embarrassed by my speed and ability in running.  So instead of running around the neighborhood or at a gym full of people, I would go the small gym at my apartment complex.  But I would go to this gym at 4am.  It was always empty, I could breath as loud as I needed, and I could build up my stamina alone.  It's safe to say that I became a morning runner because of these early runs.

So I had to start going to bed at 10pm.  Which is hard enough, but then I had to wake up at 6am.  The first day I did this I got up looked in the mirror and said, "Patrick, you handsome devil, you look like crap.  GO BACK TO BED" and that's exactly what I did.  This was the routine for the next couple of days.  I could wake up at 6, but I couldn't do much more than that.

Last night, I set out my running clothes and went to bed at 11pm, and popped up at 7am.  I was ready.  Threw on my clothes, stretched, and headed out.  It was an awesome run.  Except I was tragically devoid of water #mistake.  The only people awake was the football team, orientation kids, and old people walking around the park.  I made one loop around Audubon before heading back to campus.  Then, I was ready for my day to start, but I had an hour to do nothing...so...I took a nap! LOL!  Anyway, I'm back to running in the mornings...let's hope this sticks!

Chapter 6 in Marathon by Hal Higdon is all about learning how to train.  Making sure that you are eating and sleeping in such a way that helps improve your running.  The biggest takeaways from this chapter were: 1) know your level.  If you are a new runner don't try a training plan built for ans elite runner (and vice versa).  Victories during training may be small, but a victory is a victory.  2) Set reasonable goals.  So no running a 100 miles in a week, but pushing for 120 miles in a month is good for me! and 3) Running can be more fun with a friend.  There are training groups in some cities that will help you with technique and help put some miles behind you.  NOLA has two and they meet everyday except Friday, so I need to jump on some of those.

Peace,

PTJ

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Shutdown

I grew up in the south.  The Deep South.  Kids were seen and not heard.  This thinking allowed my sister and I to work heavily on social ques and facial expressions.  Our facial expressions are good!  If you know one or both of us you know what I'm talking about?  We can make you laugh without saying a single word.  As hard as I try, this becomes my norm in new situations.

This kid is still awesome.

Whenever I am thrown into a new situation, I shutdown.  Not to the point where no work is getting done, but enough for my eccentricities to be non-essential.  So my opinions and two-cents stay shut inside, my loud contagious guffaw of a laugh turns into a silent or more respectable giggle, my facial expressions become mild and boring.  The important things are making sure I am understood as a capable, efficient human being. Period.

 So if you read the blog about my Strengths you know that Self-Assurance sits proudly at the top of that list.  However, this is not the case in new situations.  When a started grad school, my internship, or any new job I've had my second and third strengths take over.

They are Strategic and Adaptability. Pause.  I like to think of them like Mars' Moons 'Phobos and Deimos' also known as Fear and Dread.  Planetary Nerd. Unpause.  My Self-Assurance goes away completely and becomes susceptible to attack.  So my Strategic Strength plans a counter-attack.  I always decide to shut up and listen up.  I begin to pay attention to every person around me.  The things they say, they way they move, the jokes they tell, the people they hang around, the looks they give, the clothes they wear, the way they brush there hair, how comfortable they are in big groups and small groups, how they spend their free time, and how they present them self online.  I want to see it all.  Why? Because.  Those of you that know me know that my personality is not one for the faint of heart.  It has been my experience that people are on board with me or they are a million miles away.  I want to know how everyone reacts to every thing...to see how they will react to me. I want to know who can handle 100% Patrick 100% of the time.

Phobos and Deimos

 While this is happening internally...my Adaptability is taking over externally.  It is making sure that I am quiet and going unnoticed.  It's laughing that jokes that are and aren't funny, it's being cordial to everyone, it's participating in GroupThink. Pause.  That's a pretty big one for me.  I HATE GroupThink, anytime I feel it happening I go against it even if it makes me look like a fool.  Even more so, I can't stand wearing the same thing as other people.  Except for those VT HRL Polos & Quarter Zips...those are awesome.  Thanks VT HRL (I ain't trying to lose my job! You should be able to imagine my facial expression right now.) That was a solid plug for VT HRL. Unpause.  These mechanisms have been in place my entire life.  I always do this.  Because, there is always that one person that walks up to me and says something that completely aligns with my Self-Assurance. Through the shield of Strategic and Adaptability.  This person always turns out to be a friend I didn't see coming, because I wasn't trying to find a friend...I was just trying to fit in so I can know where I stand out.

Now, as I write I realize you may be thinking, "Patrick, that seems pretty two-faced.  You are choosing to not be who you are.  That's not right."  Well, let me tell you child.  It is exactly me.  It's a part of me that lasts about 2 weeks in new situations.  I'm sure you do some semblance of it too.  If I didn't do it I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.  I always tell people that my Self-Assurance Strength is more relational than anything.  Does that make sense?  I can't be me if everyone around me is pretending to be less than who they are.  It's uncomfortable. When you know yourself to a "T" you tend to come off as a jack@$$ to those that aren't ready to experience your awesomeness. <--Did you see that coming?  That back door brag about myself?  No?  Well that's what I'm talking about.  I am Truth over Peace.  I give it to you straight, and I hope that you have the tools to bounce back.  I've tried the spoonful of sugar nonsense, but I'm no Mary Poppins.  I really don't care how the medicine goes down.  But I do want to see you get up after them medicine has done its job.  I do hope that through my experiences and strength you find the nuances that make you unique and hold them to everyone's face and say, "This is me.  What are you going to do about it?"

Tricking kids into medicine.  SMH.

My Self-Assurance is a sounding board for your Self-Assurance.  My Strategic and Adaptability are bouncers during my "Shutdown".  They're seeing who wants to learn from my Self-Assurance.  This is the Self-Assurance Club, cover is resiliency.  Who wants to party?


Peace,

PTJ

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Running Journal 10

Day: Sunday , June 14th

Time: 6:18 pm

Duration: 22:57

Pace:  11'22"

Distance: 2.02 mi

Course: The Reily Center, Treadmill

Weather: N/A

Mood: Dutiful

Favorite Song on this Run: N/A


Notes: This run felt a lot like a chore.  Or maybe it was the treadmill aspect.  There's something about running on a machine next to a million other people in the air conditioning that makes it feel like work.  Simple two mile run.  Got it over with.

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Running Journal 9 - Long Run Day

Day: Sunday , June 10th

Time: 6:29 pm

Duration: 2:07:15

Pace:  14'08"

Distance: 9.00 mi

Course: Willow Street, Freret Street, Calhoun Street, St. Charles Street, Audubon Park, Magazine Street

Weather: Cool, Sunset/Dusk

Mood: Ready...then Sweaty

Favorite Song on this Run: "Shake It Out" Glee Cast Version 

Notes:  So I missed most of my runs last week.  However, I don't like missing a long run.  So I laced up and hit the pavement.  I had it in mind to go 10 miles.  I started down Willow Street, hopping over the bojankety sidewalk and turned on Calhoun. I leaped over water puddles and made my way to Freret Street.  Before I passed Tulane Law School the first mile was over.  Pause.  I hate the first mile of any run.  It's the hardest.  My body always wants to give up on the first mile.  But I never hit a stride until after the third mile.  Guess how excited I am on mile two? :~|. Unpause. Anyway I ran from Calhoun to Broadway and back on Freret Street. Then I took Calhoun down to St. Charles, and by the time I got to Audubon I already had two mile under my belt.  I ran around the park twice before escaping down Magazine Street.  That was uneventful.  Too many people, not enough sidewalk.  So I turned around and went back to Audubon.  I think I looped it two more times before heading back up Calhoun Street.  It was getting to dark.  And everyone I know says, "Don't find yourself alone in Audubon Park after the sun goes down".  But this point I was only on mile seven, and I was drenched in sweat.  It was ridiculous.  My clothes were sticking to me.  It made the seventh and eigth mile horrible.  It was at this point that I was only going to go nine miles.  I looped down Freret again and turned onto campus on McAlister Place.  Then to finish the eighth mile I ran in front of the LBC, on Audubon Rd, and onto Drillroad before running by Soho, and back to my apt.  Nine out of 10 miles isn't bad...right?  But what made it worth it was seeing the first bloomed Magnolia on a Magnolia Tree.  Favortie flower.  Magnolias rock.  Yeah, I said it.

Anyway for the first five miles I was listening to Shake it Out (the Glee Cast version) on repeat.  It's kinda slow and I was able to pace with it very nicely without feeling fatigued. But I like the Florence + The Machine version just as much.

Lastly, Marathon, is a pretty good read so far.  In the first five chapters he's gone over the joys of running the mystique of the marathon, and what he suggests new runners should do before they attempt a marathon.  Haven't gotten anything I don't already know...but a refresher is always nice. Marathon training plan is 18 weeks so I will officially start July 1.

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Running Journal 8

Day: Friday, June 8th

Time: 6:oo pm

Duration: N/A

Pace:  N/A

Distance: 2.00 mi

Course: Reilly Center - Treadmill

Weather: Air conditioned

Mood: Tired & Forgetful

Favorite Song on this Run: N/A

Notes: It's been raining a lot down here.  I have been enjoying it, I just can't run in it.  The rain makes my glasses look like a windshield with broken wipers.  And taking my glasses off isn't an option...too dangerous.  To I made my way to the Reilly Center hopped on treadmill and jogged for two miles.  I won't rant about treadmills this time.  However, there was a random plant in front of my treadmill.  And I forgot my iPod and iPhone, so I don't know all the stats from this run.  Very forgetful.  #fail. So this was an uninhibited run.  I prefer running to music cause the sound of me breathing is not cute in anyway. LOL. This was my first run of the week.  Stress from school, work, and lack of sleep prevented it mostly.  But, I can't have a week like this.  I can't afford it.

Anyway, I am starting to read Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon this week.  I'll keep you updated on any good information I glean!

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The Rain

Rain in Audubon Park

It rained yesterday.

That seems like nothing.  We pull out our umbrellas and go about our day.

But, it rained yesterday.

It was hot all day, and as I was leaving work it began to rain.  I had to run to the LBC to get dinner, and when I came out it was pouring.  Now let me see if I can do this justice.  Have you ever smelled the mix of rain on hot pavement?  The relentless summer sun heated the earth to such a point that the rain caused steam.  I swear the smell of the steam amplifies the smell of the rain.  It's one of my favorite smells.  Pause.  My favorite smell is wet brown paper towels.  It takes me back to kindergarten instantly.  But only brown paper towels.  I could explain why, but...no. Unpause.  Anyway the amplified smell of rain hit me as soon as I left the LBC.  And I stopped.  I don't know why?  I wanted to respect the moment.  The smell of the rain took me home.  To when life was simple.  Long summer days, running around the neighborhood, finding ways to either emulate or annoy my sister (depending on the day), climbing willow trees, and playing in the rain.

In that moment, standing in the rain, I grew up.  I thought of my clothes getting wet, and water damage to my iPhone, and the rain messing up my freshly twisted dreads.  I began to hustle like everyone else around me.  A man took off running to make it into the McAlister Auditorium as dry as possible, and bike police sped up to make it to headquarters before it really came down.  There was such a sense of urgency.  It was if we were all the Wicked Witch of the West, and the rain was melting us to the core.  The urgency of the people around me confused me.  I stopped again.


When did I get so important?  Why do we adults avoid the rain?  How much is it really going to inconvenience our day?  When I was a kid there wasn't anything my mother could say to stop me from jumping in puddles and playing in the rain.  It didn't matter how nice or new my shoes were, the threat of ringworms, or the even scarier threat of a spanking.  I loved the rain.  I would just stand in it.  Catching as many rain drops as my open mouth could contain.  I would put on a new raincoat (to appease my mother) just to go outside, take off the hat and be washed over by the raindrops.  I was happy.

Kids failing at holding umbrellas

Then one day, I moved from a raincoat to an umbrella.  Pause.  I don't see umbrellas as tools for kids.  They don't hold them up or hang on to them.  Raincoats suit kids better.  You button them in and they are set. Unpause.  My first umbrella marked the end of an era.  I began putting value on the things the umbrella protected: my hair, my clothes, my bookbag (and its contents), my electronics.  Pretty soon I began avoiding the rain completely.  Cancelling trips to football games or to the mall because I didn't want the inconvenience of being wet.

Here's the thing.  No matter how fast you run, or how expensive your umbrella is, you are going to get wet.  We are all affected by the rain.  The difference is how you view the rain.  If you view it as a negative, then it will have negative affects on you...and vice versa.

Well, I for one can no longer view rain in a negative light.  For me, rain symbolizes my childhood...it symbolizes my happiness.  I'm moving around some of the things I value.  Holding material possessions and education higher than everything else has to change for me.  I have to hold on to memories and relationships harder than ever.  These things/people deserve to stand in the rain with me, uninhibited by an umbrella.

While this is rhetorical...what symbolizes your happiness?  And more importantly, how often is it present in your life?

It rained yesterday, and I couldn't be more excited.  Next time I'll dance in it.

Peace,

PTJ

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Running Journal 7

Day: Sunday, June 3rd

Time: 6:22 pm

Duration: 1:48:17

Pace:  10'49"

Distance: 10.01 mi

Course: Uptown NOLA - Audubon Park - Tulane University

Weather: Sunny (At Dusk)

Mood: Excited

New Laces make all the difference

Favorite Song(s) on this Run: "Showdown" by The Black Eye Peas
                                    
Notes:  So I was excited to run today.  I went to the Nike Outlet (brand whore) and bought some new running shorts and new shoe laces.  I was pretty excited.  This was at about 2:00pm.  So I had all this new stuff, but it was too hot to run.  I was planning to go at 7:00, but my excitement let me leave thirty-minutes early.  So I left my apartment and walked to Willow Street.  While I was walking I was fiddling with my iPod and deciding on distance.  Sunday is Long-Run day.  I thought eight miles would be enough.  But instead I typed 10 miles into my iPod.  So I committed to it.  10 miles. Pause.  I wouldn't have thought I was ready for this. I've only been back in the game for about a week.  But a long run is not long unless you are truly tired at the end of it.  Your body shouldn't be extremely fatigued, but you should really feel it.  If that means anything to you. Unpause.  I ran down Willow and hung a right on Palmer street.  This street and the sidewalk are extremely jacked up, but the houses are beautiful.  I was excited to see St. Charles Street, because its even ground.  I started across the street when I realized the streetcar was coming.  I'm still getting used to looking out for two lanes of traffic, and two streetcars.  But, I didn't get hit, so I'm good.  I made my way to Audubon.  This is where the bulk of the running happened.  Miles two through nine happened here.  It was a good time to be running.  There were ample runners, bikers, strollers, and babies to look at while I was running.  Here is a list of the fun things I saw while there:

• An old man "running" that fell down (I would have stopped to help but many other people did that first (besides I don't have Empathy))
• A bike rider texting with both hands (he didn't fall)
•  A serious runner that lapped me twice, then she started running in the opposite direction booked it past me multiple times (she didn't fall)
• I grown woman in roller skates (The white ones with red wheels, she didn't fall)
• Two ducks getting "busy"(I stopped watching, I don't care if either of them fell)
• A woman and her untrained puppy.  The puppy literally ran circles around her...she basically took a walk.

Anyway.  When I got to mile 5.18 I literally said, "UGH, I WANT TO GIVE UP!"  I was tired.  But I committed to 10 miles, so I kept going.  There were multiple stops to get water and a fair amount of walking.  When I got to mile nine I was excited.  This hell was almost over.  I wasn't truly fatigued, my heart, lungs, and legs are at different stages in the process.  My legs decided to be tired around mile eight.  So I literally had this conversation with them:

Gotta STAYFLY

• Me: Legs?
• Legs: (no answer)
• Me: LEGS?!?!
• Legs: What?  We're kinda busy here.
• Me: Um, why can't you lift off the ground more efficiently?  
• Legs: Listen, stupid, you are in control of us.  It's your fault we are not working at peak performance.  Maybe if you hadn't taken yesterday off we would be better at this.  Also, you look silly talking to us.  
• Me: Welp.  Shut my dumb self down.

I guess I should have said I was a little delusional by this point.  As soon as I got to mile 10 my legs started cramping.  Lucked out on that one.  I hobbled back to my apartment, and realized I had nothing to eat, no ice, and no cold water. BLERG!  Oh well I made it through my long run.  I don't have to do that again until next week!

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