“If you make any money from these articles, how much do I get for providing you with quotable lines? I think 50% is fair.”—My dad
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Energized by my run the other day and the knowledge that a few people are starting to actually read about my attempt at athletic immortality, I started looking for someone to help me. I did a little bit of research and found someone who I THINK could be the perfect person to coach/train me, so I sent an e- mail. I didn’t come out and ask him to help me by either coaching me or devising a training plan, but I included links to some of my previous posts and let him know I want to talk. I am eagerly awaiting his reply and will update everyone as soon as I hear something, good or bad.
Upon finishing my run the other day, one of my thighs was really irritated and I decided that I needed some new shorts in which to run. I didn’t need to find running shorts per se, but something better than my 15-20 year-old Umbros. I wouldn’t think it would be so hard to find shorts, but it is. Almost every pair of shorts I found were either actual basketball shorts or long like basketball shorts. I don’t necessarily want to run in those tiny track shorts (back in junior high school soccer, we called them “nuthuggers” because, well, you know), but I don’t want shorts that go past my knee either. I realize that I could have gone to the running store that’s literally less than two miles from my house, but I also didn’t want to spend $60 for a pair of shorts. Wouldn’t you know it, I found something at Marshall’s. Now, to try them out.
Since the last run worked for me (and by “worked for me” I mean I wasn’t in terrible pain the last two days and didn’t have a heart attack), I decided to do the same thing again today. I stopped at the gym before picking up the kids, threw my stuff into a locker and changed into my new shorts. I set the treadmill for 30 minutes and started at a lightly faster speed than last time. Surprisingly, though very pleasantly so, neither knee was hurting and I got into a pretty good rhythm. I ran fairly hard, though I recognize that that is relative term, for a solid 15 minutes. By the end of the 15 minutes, I was pretty winded, but I was also running at an 8 minute mile pace. I don’t want to use the term “game changer” lightly, but the shorts, with the built-in lining, were really comfortable.
As I write this, I’m drinking a Clementine White Ale by Clown Shoes Brewery (you know, I wouldn’t be mad at Clown Shoes for sponsoring me or sending me a case of this beer, or the Mango Kolsch; that stuff is delicious) and watching the movie “McFarland,” with Kevin Costner (maybe I should clarify: He stars in the movie, he’s not sitting here watching with me, though that would be pretty cool). My wife asked if I’m watching this particular movie because it’s about running and “those are your people now.”
Not yet, honey. Not yet. Stay tuned.