TRAINING DIARY.
Byline: The Register-GuardThe temptation to stray from my relatively safe life as a professional runner increases with each degree of the weather. I love training in this warm and dry - well at least drier - climate, but the sunny afternoons present a new challenge.
The responsible thing to do each day between training runs is to rest at home, but I find the powerful flow of the Willamette or a late evening hatch calling me to the river; the trails that have finally dried out are begging for a mountain bike to pass over them and a crisp local microbrew sounds ever more appealing.
These guilty pleasures are the things I must sacrifice to pursue another passion to the best of my abilities. When I can no longer run professionally I can return to these activities with the vigor that I'd like.
However, this self-imposed pursuit of perfection often ends up draining me more mentally than the activities would physically. On these occasions I weigh the risks and pack up my car for an afternoon in Oregon. I leave the mountain bike and skis in the garage, but a day of catching trout on the McKenzie or shooting clays up in the hills reminds me that there is more to life than running.
These breaks inevitably lead to a refreshed outlook and a hunger to be more competitive on the track. Often my best workouts and races come then, and I believe that contributes to my consistency and longevity as an athlete.
I will be putting this to the test as I set out for the longest, most ambitious season of my life. I've had two good performances so far and will be tested at my next race in Carson, Calif., on May 18, when I run 1,500 meters against great competitors, including 2007 world champion Bernard Lagat.
Before each race I remind myself that running is something I do, not something that defines me, and this gives me confidence to step on the track, have fun, and kick some ass.
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| Title Annotation: | Sports |
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| Publication: | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) |
| Date: | May 8, 2008 |
| Words: | 342 |
| Previous Article: | NOTEWORTHY. |
| Next Article: | TRIALS MOMENTS. |