Adventure is her middle name

A Mother's day tribute to my wife

My wife is quick to inform everyone who asks, and even those who don’t, that she ran a marathon before I did. She was training for Hartford when we began dating, and I remember being amazed that she had a detailed training plan that she actually followed. Running a marathon seemed inconceivable to me at the time. Not to her. It was simply one more thing to tick off on life’s great checklist of experiences. 

She didn’t stick with running after the race. There were too many things to explore, like swimming. She didn’t really know how to swim, so she taught herself by watching YouTube videos. A few months later, she had a triathlon under her belt, as well. 

She still swims from time to time, and loves her road bike, but once the triathlon was over, it was on to the next thing. Or maybe I should say several things. The winter is for snowboarding and in the summer she busts out an inflatable paddle board that is her new passion. 

She almost got swept out to sea once. It shook her up, but when your motto is, “Adventure Awaits,” you have to expect the unexpected. Now she sticks to rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, but I would absolutely trust her judgment if she ever decided to give open water another try.  

Her greatest unresolved ambition is to see a moose in the wild, which is one thing I have over her, and remind her about constantly. Pretty much everything else I know about being active I learned during our time together. Through my wife, I was introduced to hiking, camping, surfing, snowshoeing, yoga, and dozens of other activities that eluded me since my greatest weekend ambition back then was sitting couch. 

We are very different people, but we share a mutual respect for each other’s pursuits and are learning to appreciate each other’s motivations. Her workout time is as much a part of our family’s schedule as my runs, and Saturday mornings are her space to do whatever she wants. It’s the very least I can do because as I wrote earlier this week: “For such a low-maintenance activity, we (runners) can be incredibly high maintenance.” 

She’s learned to roll with my eccentricities for the most part and I’ve learned to dial them down (somewhat) so we can peacefully coexist, but she’s not one to sit around waiting for me to come home from some 3-hour romp in the woods. While I’m out doing my thing, she and our son have developed their own array of interests that include: bird-watching, museums, skiing, horses, ice skating, historical reenactments … the list is endless. 

While my wife remains a dabbler in all things, she is at her absolute best as a mom. The bond she and my son have is the most beautiful thing in the world to me. It’s not just that they give me space to do what I want, it’s that they took that time and made it into their own special thing. 

On all days, but especially Mother’s Day, here’s to the best person I know. She never says never, and is the undefeated champ at finding the perfect snack rock. 

It’s been a busy few weeks at Running, Probably. If you’ve been considering a full subscription, here are a few of the pieces you’ve missed. 

Confessions of a running control freak

Being married to a runner is no picnic. In addition to the time away from home, our training often dictates our mood. There’s also the pre-run rituals that for someone like me can take on a life on their own. Coming to terms with my tendency to micromanage everything is an evolving journey every bit as vital as running. 

God forbid if anything was out of place. My ability to handle setbacks and frustration at that point in time was notably not-zen. When things were amiss, I’d rant and rave and stew and fume. I’d burn so much needless energy that by the time I started running, I’d already be at a full boil. Needless to say, that’s a terrible way to train, not to mention a tough way to go through life. 

Still, there was a method behind my madness. The reason my shoes had to be next to the door and my clothes had to be laid out the night before, is because I am easily overwhelmed by having to make decisions, especially early in the morning. When everything was in its proper place, there was no need to process information or make choices. I could enjoy my run with a clear head, and I’d argue, be far more pleasant to be around when I got home.

V02 Max’d

A few weeks ago, I experienced numerous training breakthroughs all at once. Among them: My V02 max jumped an astonishing 22 points. I don’t put a lot of stock in that reading, but it served as a nice reminder that there’s more potential in this middle-aged body left to be tapped. 

While maintaining my middle age fitness felt like an achievement, it also felt like a barrier. Is this really all I have, or is there another level I haven’t yet reached? While maintenance is an accomplishment worthy of its own respect, the last few months offer proof that a change in training approach can lead to substantial improvements. Even for a 46-year-old runner who thought they had plateaued.

And then, the tweaks began

As if I needed a reminder that I’m not invincible, since experiencing those training highs I’ve had nothing but annoying setbacks. My body’s not right, and my concern is growing. The initial twinge happened right at the end of a long run when I thought I was all clear. Alas. 

I want to be clear that it definitely wasn’t a pop, but it was more than a tweak, and that left me feeling anxious. I finished up the run hoping it would magically go away on its own. Of course the uncomfortable twinge was still there, lingering ominously.

You know that feeling? It’s not pain, but it’s definitely not good. It was like the area just below my knee was lighting up with flashing warning signs. I walked a bit, jogged some, and then it came back. The cycle repeated itself until I was finally able to get into a little bit of a rhythm for a mile or so. And then -- long sigh -- it came back.

Navigating these setbacks will be the most important part of my training. Not only for my upcoming 50K, but for the rest of my running days. Thankfully, I have the RP community to lean on for support and expertise. I hope you’ll consider joining us with a paid subscription.