Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Olympics and Summer Vacation

This morning Dan and I got up early to watch the women's Olympic Marathon. We don't have cable or any kind of DVR/Tivo set-up, so watching it live was the only option. I've watched every Olympic Marathon since Deena and Meb took medals in 2004 (how awesome was that??), and I wasn't going to start missing them this year.

I didn't regret getting up (especially because Dan let me go back to sleep afterwards and I slept until 9:40 a.m., a post-kids record!). I also really enjoyed watching the men's 10,000 yesterday. My favorite feature of both races? Seeing the bonds between training partners.

Good friends who ran hard and supported each other to the end. Credit: NBC Olympics
"...one is silver and the other's gold." Credit: USA Today
When the floodlights go down, win or lose, these athletes will always have running and their friendships. I think it's fantastic! It makes me grateful for all of my running friends, and all of my friends, period.

Yesterday I ran for 50 minutes. I had to stop for a bathroom break, but even that made me happy, because it meant that I am once again running long enough that I need to worry about my diet the day before. Time to resume some old habits! I can't wait until Darren lets me run for an hour, and I think when I'm allowed to go 90 minutes I'll actually feel I can say those magic words, "I'm back."

I'm in the middle of reading Matt Fitzgerald's Run: The Mind-Body Method of Running By Feel. I will review it when I'm finished, but I wanted to put in a plug right away for the chapter on injury. He describes injuries as a gift because you come back from them both grateful for your running and hungry for your goals. This has certainly been my experience so far.

My family and I are going on vacation in southwest Colorado this week, so I'll be taking a blogging hiatus. When I come back, I'll be grateful for fall running, for my coaching situation, for my big kids who are starting kindergarten, for my husband, Dan, who rigged up an antenna and then a connection to the BBC so we could watch the Olympics (no cable in my house), for my extended family and all my friends. This has turned out to be a great summer, though not in the way I expected it to.

Here's the cabin near Durango where we'll be staying. Ahhh!!

17 comments:

  1. We have the most basic of cable and no DVR, too, so I feel your pain.  So cool that Dan went above and beyond for you...especially sending you back to bed! I didn't watch the marathon, but I did watch the mens' 10K. WOW! So inspiring, and so touching to see the guys celebrate together. That cabin looks beautiful!! Have a wonderful trip!

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  2. Looks like an awesome time in Durango - so pretty!!!  I haven't been down in that area for a long time.  You have an awesome husband :).  Have a blast!

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  3. BostonboundbrunetteAugust 5, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    I got up at 3am to watch the marathon and then about died on my long run!  I won't do that again.  I DVR'd it so I did not need to watch it but I wanted to see if Desi Davila was going to run.  Have fun on your trip and you are going to be saying the words "I am Back" really soon.  I haven't felt like I can say those words quite yet.

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  4. Love this post on so many levels.  so much of what I'd write about right now if I were to post.  Super charged about the marathon and the men's 10,000.  So worth getting up at 3 a.m my time.  I went back to sleep until 9.  Haven't seen the full race of the men's 10,000 but only highlights and it was sooo amazing.  

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  5. Have an amazing time on vacation! And yay for runs long enough to need potty breaks! :)

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  6. LOL, I watched the marathon and tennis! I'm hating the television schedule....

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  7. Enjoy your vacation and being unplugged!  That greater appreciation for running after injury has always been my experience, too.  Sounds like something I should read!

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  8. I was selfish and race my 20 during the marathon. I knew if I didn't go first thing, it wouldn't happen. Bummed for Desi. Have a lovely vacay!

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  9. I missed those early morning races, otherwise I'm catching most of the evening track events.

    Glad to hear you're building up the mileage again.

    Enjoy your vacation.

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  10. I think Fitzgerald's comment equally applies to running and pregnancy.  HA!  I appreciate being able to run so much more now after forced time off to have my daughter.  Enjoy your well earned vacation and congrats on needing a potty break!  :D

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  11. Wow, that cabin looks like such a treat! I bet you are going to have a nice time. I have only even been to Denver, but would really love, love, LOVE to go to CO and travel, hike, run... 

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  12. Kindergarten sounds lovely today.  Only 5 more years!  I hope you are having a lovely vacation!

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  13. Love your attitude!  That cabin looks awesome have a fantastic time!

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