A well oiled machine can perform flawlessly, unattended, for long periods. Metaphorically, it is a state that any athlete strives for both in training and in competition.
Having fueled up last night with burger, fries, and coke, I was indeed heavily oiled for my run today - though not in a good sense - and if the noisy clunking and wheezing racket I made all morning qualifies me as a machine, then I'll settle for that. It isn't the machine-like efficiency I'm striving for, but at least I was out there, and that's something.
With less than two weeks left for training before the Gold Coast Half Marathon, I know I should be eating more of the right foods. I'm not stupid, just pathetically weak. Well, okay, you got me there, but at least I'm truthful on the second point. One out of two ain't more than half bad. It wasn't just last night that I dined poorly, and I'll be carrying an extra 10kg over my target weight on race day because of it, and maybe that's enough to smarten me up enough that I stop sabotaging my training. Maybe.
I tried something a little different on Monday and loaded my MP3 player with an audiobook from one of my favorite authors. The idea was that if I could keep my mind engaged it wouldn't be constantly trying to defeat me. It sounded good in theory, but in practice? I never did find my groove, and the entire run became a struggle. I bombed out at 8km. The rest of my runs in recent weeks have been without the MP3 player, and I've decided to go with that for a little while.
After a couple of weeks of bad weather it has been nice to see the sunrise again lately. My running routes are planned to make the most of the bay views around home, and although the glare and headwinds can make things a little uncomfortable at times, the negatives are dwarfed by the sense of peace and the amazing eye-candy conjured up by the early morning sunlight hitting the ocean.
I did Warren proud today, with deposits of salt streaking abstract patterns over my shirt, pants, and as I discovered afterward, my face. Start to increase the distances and I too become a salty runner. Never fear though, Warren, I don't aim to challenge the king. Still, if I keep upping my mileage like I have lately, Victoria Point may soon need a new name. "Chunkybits' Salt Flats" comes to mind.
Nice blog. :) I love all the priceless phrases like
"One out of two ain't more than half bad." and
"Paris "Living Proof That Darwinism Doesn't Always Pan Out" Hilton" :D
Keep it up!
tony nailed it. reece, you really DO know how to turn a phrase. maybe torque, even.
oh, speaking of salt flats, you need to rent 'worlds fastest indian'; great movie about a kiwi and his land speed record quest.
I agree "Paris "Living Proof That Darwinism Doesn't Always Pan Out" Hilton" is priceless!
Maybe we should start a sabotage group, I'm definitely guilty.
Nice job on the salt. Just remember to milk it as much as possible - i.e. I need more potato chips, I'm a salty runner, etc.