The 3Bs

Decent week last even if my heel is still bothering me some on and off.  I guess I just learn to deal with the Achilles/PF/whatever that I have since it seems to go away once I get running and it isn't curbing my speed, I just wish I didn't feel it at all.   Getting in to see Dr Leo is tough at this time of year since everyone around here is clamoring for a fall marathon whether it be Akron or Towpath or Columbus, but I did get an appointment the day after Erie - a day late is better than never and I know I'll make it through Erie as I ran the same course back in July on the same foot! with the same issue!  I did have a decent thirds Progression Run on Saturday (30 min real easy, 30 min moderate effort, 30 min moderate-hard effort) but I really wanted to get the last couple of miles down closer to 8 min and I just couldn't get there.  It was warm last week (temps in the 90s), but Saturday morning it was around 70F although quite humid (98%) and it did rain after the turn around (5 miles).  10 miles in 90 min is a good run since the first few miles were all around 9:20.  Yesterday my foot/Achilles really bugged me and I was tired in spite of the cooler morning.  I did run a hard workout effort on both Tuesday and Thursday and I'm back to my core class and working with Jake. I guess I can say I was a bit tired.

As for this weeks 3Bs, I'm a bit miffed this morning though about three separate issues: Badwater, Bandits and Baltimore.  Now they may not seem like they go together as they don't but they are all annoying me today.  As far as Badwater goes, the race has an uncertain future as the National Parks staff has seemingly decided to restrict the use of the park as visitors have asked how such a race can be run in the "hottest" time of year when they are advised to not do anything strenuous in the heat.  Well, come on, these badwater athletes HAVE TRAINED FOR THIS.  Wow, what a concept - training! These runners are not just deciding to run 133 miles in the desert without Training for it! Its not like today's half or even marathoners who often half heartedly jump into training, run one and are done just to check thing off the list.  These runners are serious about it.  Having helped a friend train in DV for the race one Memorial Day weekend back in 2007, I know a wee (very wee) bit about running in 113F heat since I ran 10 miler completely outfitted in my "French Foreign Legion dress", and it isn't for the faint of heart.  Somehow I do trust that the folks who run the Badwater race will figure out how to work with the park service.

Me in Death Valley - May, 2007

 http://www.nps.gov/deva/parkmgmt/upload/DEVA-Sporting-Event-Safety-Assessment-Final-8_20_14-1.pdf

As bandits go, here I am a bit mystified.  There was a local half marathon here this past Sunday in our local Metroparks.  This might be the 11th or 12th running of this race and as it is local, it is also pretty inexpensive ($40 up until 9/1 and then $60).  A bunch of members of our local running club ran as bandits yesterday, took medals, and seemed not to be bothered by the whole thing.  Granted, I ran (with other members of the group) in the Metropark as well as it is indeed an open park, but we ran on the bike path (the race was on the road), brought our own water, and certainly didn't take any medals for our trouble.  Now many of you know that I have run as a bandit - in fact, I ran Boston as a bandit, but that was back in the very early 1980s and even though that was a long time ago and many, many college students still bandit Boston, I don't know if that completely excuses it.  Shoot I entered the Akron Marathon at the end of the month to run 18 miles with a friend running the whole thing, as I didn't want to bandit.  I'm still going to take off the timing chip as I also don't want to be construed as a Rosie Ruiz with a weird time.  I think I'll just vent here and not to their faces, but I am still bothered by it as were some of the members of the group that I was running with. Yes, the Metroparks are indeed a resource to be enjoyed by all, but the race directors had to pay to have the road closed, pay for the food, the water stops, and the entertainment.  By jumping in, you effectively stole all those resources.  I know to many I am just preaching to the choir, but it did trouble me a lot and it also troubles me some that I am reluctant to speak up.  I do like these people and they have helped me settle into life here in Cleveland much better.  I guess for now, it is a whatever moment.

My final rant will not really be a rant, but a thank you to the Baltimore Ravens for releasing Ray Rice.  I know that they supported him until this morning’s video came to light, but that they acted quickly and decisively to release him immediately redeems them (somewhat) IMHO. (After all they are still the Browns, right?).    Domestic abuse isn’t funny and often just seems to be swept under the rug.  The behavior  of his now-wife to ask the NFL to go easy on him may be inconceivable to those of us on the outside, but is common behavior for anyone (male or female) in an abusive relationship.  A good friend in college was a victim of domestic abuse as she was shot and killed by her abusive husband on the courthouse steps after filing for a restraining order and divorce.  She had finally been convinced to get out only to be shot down senselessly.  So I applaud the Ravens for today's actions and I'm waiting to see if Roger Goodell at least apologizes for his ridiculous 2 day suspension.  Until today, I don't think that most of us knew the extent of the attack (she was knocked unconscious and Rice dragged her out of the elevator - wtf?), but it appears as if the NFL did.  The double standard should never apply here.

One final sad yet happy note:  RIP Truett Cathy - thanks for inventing the Chicken Sandwich.  The cows are crying today in Atlanta.