Feel like a runner

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Do you remember the moment you felt like a runner? Maybe it was with a group of friends, after race, or unexpectedly during some training run.

Not everyone is born a runner. For most people lining up next Saturday at the Fargo Marathon, next month at Grandma’s Marathon or any one of several races throughout the region this spring and summer, running wasn’t a natural gift. It took determination, commitment and work. Even great runners have to put in the work if they want to perform to their ability.

I can recall exactly when I felt like a runner for the first time. Growing up, I was a pretty decent athlete, and on the ahtletic field, I was always one of the fastest on my teams. But I was not a runner – at least not in when it came to any distance further than a lap around the track.

No, I didn’t feel like a runner came at the end of the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon. Earlier that year, I had set a goal for the Fargo Marathon, and for a number of reasons, didn’t quite reach it. Six weeks later, Grandma’s Marathon was a fun race, but I still didn’t feel like a runner until I completed my fifth marathon. In that race, finally, my time reflected what I believed was my potential.

During the past six months, I didn’t feel much like a runner, either, despite putting in as many miles as I could. Until today.

Striking out early this morning, as the sun crested the horizon, I put shoe to asphalt for my longest run in months. The wind was barely noticeable. As I passed each public access at Lake Bemidji, I counted the number of boat trailers on Minnesota’s fishing opener.

As I passed through Lake Bemidji State Park, I recalled those Rave Run pictures in Runner’s World. The scent of pine needles as I ran along the beach and tucked below the forest canopy filled my senses. Six miles later, I swung by the house to pick up Riley for the final stretch of my run. We headed out of town and Riley sniffed his way through the ditches.

As we neared the end, Riley and I took a detour, where he jumped in the lake. Always a water dog, he loved every moment of it. For my part, I felt like a runner again – 22 pain-free miles.

A big week ahead

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For many runners, the week before a key event can make or break their efforts on race morning. Reduced mileage leads to the jitters, anxiety about the race can impact sleep and eating the wrong food can ruin the efforts of the previous 3 months.

As runners, we always hear the adage, “Don’t try anything new on race morning.”

But that can often apply to the days and weeks leading up to a marathon or half marathon, too. Personally, I don’t mind trying something new, or different, if it makes sense. And it’s especially true if what you’ve done in the past has hurt, rather than help, your race.

More than anything, though, I’m methodical in preparation for marathoning.

Most important in my book is getting the proper rest leading up to a hard effort. In the week leading up to a marathon, I’ll go to bed a bit earlier each night as the big day approaches, aiming to have my most restful night the second night before the race (Thursday night for a Saturday race).

Of course, there are other important keys: trying to eliminate stress, eating and hydrating properly, and visualizing the race in your mind. If you’re traveling, there are added issues to think about. And, to cut down on stress, packing or organizing everything for race morning a couple days in advance.

For me, the key race is still 5 weeks away in Duluth, so my key preparation is long runs this weekend and 2 weeks from now. And, if all goes well, a strong effort in next weekend’s Fargo half marathon. All of that is predicated, though, on whether the chiropractor visit will help me log the type of run I need tomorrow.

A bit hyper

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At the chiropractor today, I had less optimism than normal.

In my last visit, I had high hopes, expecting to walk out of Killer’s office with a new lease on my running. So much faith I put in his abilities that I won’t run a marathon or half marathon without visiting him first. And pretty much every ailment I’ve experienced as a runner has been fixed by Killer.

Until the visit last month.

But I went there today anyway, and quite honestly, expected bad news. I expected Killer to say that I needed to shut it down and go to a physical therapist.

Right away, he asked how I was doing. My response, I bluntly said, was that I’m a wreck. And I went on to explain the pain and problems.

Moments later, he offered this up: One of my hips was misaligned – essentially it slipped out of place – and my knee had been hyper extended. And he pretty much put everything back in place.

Less than 30 minutes later, I walked away with renewed hope. And as a runner, how can you run through the pain and long miles without hope that the discomfort is all worth it? That’s what has always driven me in the worst of times – that by keeping the faith, things will turn out and I’ll come out the other side better.

So, after Killer worked on my legs, I drove back to Bemidji. And for the first time in months I didn’t feel the shooting pain from my knee to my lower back while I sat behind the wheel. Maybe I’m closer to a fix – and closer to normal – than I believed.

All I know is I can’t wait to find out the next time I lace up my running shoes.