April 19, 1995

If not for the events that happened between 9:01 AM and 9:03 AM, there would be no such thing as the Oklahoma City National Memorial Marathon.  I’d have probably run the Redbud Classic (which took place last week), or some other marathon.

An insignificant change in my life compared to the events of that day which changed and destroyed other lives forever.

I sit here today, one mile from the site and remember with sadness, the loss of 168 lives.  Today, there are not many people in Oklahoma City who won’t think back and remember exactly where they were when they heard what happened.  For some of us, exactly where we were when we heard the blast.  We remember what it felt like to look up at that building, gaping open with a wide wound.  There are no words to explain it.

On April 29th we will run with joy.

 “This is what the Memorial Marathon is about: realizing the preciousness of time, valuing one another, taking life as it comes and making something magic from it. Celebrating Life.”

Ten weeks to go and the miles are piling up! 

Thirteen was the magic number on Saturday.  Thirteen very windy and very cold miles.  Twenty mile an hour winds with gusts up to double that and a chilly 34 degrees!  As I heard someone comment, it didn’t seem to matter which way you turned, the wind was always against you, sometimes even blowing a lifted foot into a leg!

I’m fortunate in the fact that the OKC running club, OKC Landrunners, host free marathon training runs in preparation for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.  “The Runner” so helpfully provides water stops, and the camaraderie is a great incentive to get out there and run a set mileage.  They run on Saturday or Sunday mornings, Sundays if there is a major race on Saturday.  I’ve been wanting to get in on the runs, but either because I was out of town, or because the runs were on Sunday, I have missed all of them prior to this last Saturday.  As I was a new runner in the training group, I’m even in the picture on their website!   

John’s blog today really struck a chord with me.  On some of my longer runs, I try to imagine the thrill of crossing the finish line of my first marathon.   The thrill isn’t from the victory of completion, it’s from envisioning my friends and family gathered there to cheer and scream wildly as they see me finish.  Alas, besides my running partner NordicTwin, there will be nobody there at the end or even toward the end of the marathon. 

I wish there was a way to convey how important running is to me.  When people ask why I run, my response is generally “because it keeps me sane”.   And it does.  It makes me feel good.  It’s a sense of accomplishment.  It’s the feel of the pavement under my feet.  I am a runner and it’s the rhythm of my life.  It’s the struggle against the wind and the struggle against my own laziness.  It’s the chance to grin (or grimmace!) and lift a finger in acknowledgment of other runners on the trail.  There’s a sense of freedom, a release of my cares and stresses.  It’s selfish.  It’s so I can wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and say “I am a runner!”  It’s “me time”. 

So why do I imagine my friends and family at the finish line?

Like John said:

Why does it matter ? Because in the end it’s not all about me (us runners), it’s why we blog/share tips/ask for advice… because we want it to at least matter to others.

I’m so excited to find that OKC has a training group for the April 29th marathon.  I’ll be running with them every Saturday morning at 8 as long as I’m here in town! 

Although I’ve done 10 mile runs without the benefit of either water or camaraderie, I was dreading the longer runs by myself.  A local running shop “The Runner” is coordinating water stops for our Saturday morning runs and they anticipate between 40 and 100 people to show up (based on the previous years).  This will definitely be a help and encouragement for the long runs.

I had a nice 7 miler on Saturday, averaging a little under 9.5 minutes per mile.

Asics: 7 so far this week, 79 total

Much like Regina, I’ll be running my first marathon, with her support (that means get ready to drag me).  I started a cleanse/fast this week but so far it hasn’t affected my runs.  45 min on Mon and Tues.  I’m feeling stronger on my runs which may have something to do with the New Year, new goals, renewed energy…what ever it is I like it.  A positive attitude can make a big difference!  Keep pounding the pavement.

It’s started!  I was amazed at my success last year, thanks to my wonderful friends, family and acquaintances, and I’m hoping that this year will be just as great!  Actually, it’ll be better because I’m hoping to have some friend(s) run with me this year!

Please click HERE to see what’s going on!

Well, I returned “The Beasts” last night for some Asics Gel-Nimbus VIII’s…….Apparently my foot, though flat as suspected, has grown accustomed to neutral gate shoes, so these fit the bill nicely.  I cruised over to UCSD with my buddy Justin and we ran a quick mile before heading off to play racquetball.  The shoes felt fine, though they did not propel me forward at rocket speed as I had hoped.  hmph.  =)

So now I have decent shoes, am running more comfortably and am starting to get increasingly more serious about this 10k coming up in May. 

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Damon and I am not (NOT) a runner.  At this point in my running career I do not in any way enjoy running.  I struggle tooth and nail.  I pant.  I collapse.  I nearly kill myself trying to get into shape.  But daggnabbit I set a goal to run a 10k with the beautiful Regina and I plan on doing it if its the last thing I do. 

Regina, on the other hand, IS a runner.  She is the person who started this whole thing for me.  So when i’m running around the local track nearly dead and drowning in persperation, it is usually her I blame….

But when I cross that finish line in Oklahoma City in May after my first 10k, it will be her I credit.

I didn’t run yesterday because I was getting ready for company coming in.  I’m not running tonight because I’ve got a Christmas event to attend.  Wednesday’s are out because of Bible study.  Thursday I may be packing to spend the weekend down in Texas.  The weekend….maybe I’ll have time to run.   To top it off, my foot is still really bothering me and so I want to get a new pair of shoes before another run. 

I somehow can’t find the motivation to run in the mornings but I’ve GOT to get my miles in if I’m going to be ready for this marathon!  Suggestions?  Motivation?  HELP! 

Awaking with the same headache I went to sleep with, and a lovely knee pain, I’m having a hard time feeling motivated to leave work early and go run.  I asked my best friend to go for just a walk with me this evening, but as I expected, she declined.  But I do have this nifty little MP3 player that someone kindly gave me…that shall be my motivation today!   That and putting more mileage on my new shoes!

Run on!

Last night I headed out of work early (4ish) and ran at the lake.  It’s still too wet on my dirt trails.

I ran 3 miles without stopping to walk at all…for which I’m happy.  It took me 9 minutes and 15 seconds to run the first mile.  Nine and 28 to run the third.  I’m sooooo slow.  And my shins hurt.  Badly.

Figuring that shoes need to be replaced every 350 miles or so, that’s probably my problem.  I’ve done about 500 in this pair. 

Planning on a long run Sunday.  Saturday will be fairly busy.  Don’t know yet how far it will be.