Last Minute Marathon Advice Needed

Eric said:

Questions:
1) My quad pain, will this be a big factor? I assume it will feel fine
by Sunday.
2) How to finish out this week? Monday I was off. Yesterday and today
I did 20 minutes on elliptical (build to hard) to get blood moving and
warm body for good stretch. Probably do the same Thursday and Friday.
3) Detroit is nice this time of year. Its just money, 6 months of
training, hundreds of hours of training, it is worth it. What do you
think?

I think you're just getting the jitters because it's close to the race. Your
training looks good. If you just have DOMS in the quad, it's a complete
non-issue. Especially with the taper, you will recover, and should be ready
to go on the day of the race.

3:08 is already a pretty conservative target coming off a 37 minute 10k.
Not sure why you'd want to shoot for slower than that unless it's a very
tough course or bad weather. According to the WAVA tables, a 37 minute 10k
is comparable to about a 2:54.

With your training, it seems unlikely that you'll just crash and burn if you
go out at 1:34. In fact I'd bet on you coming home with negative splits
barring bad weather, a very tough course, or some nut job in a kilt attacking
you.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

"Eric" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm off to run the Columbus Marathon on Sunday 10/17. I have had an
excellent 3 months of training and averaged about 57 mpw over the
heart of it. 9 runs 17+ and 4 runs of 20+, mile intervals, hills,
races, ... followed Pete Pfitzinger's "Advance Marathoning" up to 70
mpw program fairly closely.

Excellent.

Quoted message said:

Two issues I'm facing: First, I'm unsure if my taper has been
sufficient. Second, on Monday I installed an outlet in my house and
spent a lot of time squating (not an electricial by training) and
ended up with very sore left quad on Tuesday (and still a bit sore
today Wednesday).

It will be fine by race day, I predict. BTW, I work on my old house all the
time, and I *never* squat. I sit, or use a knee cusion.

Quoted message said:

This will be my third Marathon. Ran 3:15 (2002 Flying Pig Cinci, a bit
hilly) and last year ran Columbus (fairly flat) targeting 3:10 but
legs cramped at mile 20 and never could completely recover. Walked
across the finish at 3:28.

I had a nearly two year long battle with cramps, and the answer for me was
simple:
Dehydration. Now I drink much more in races (I do ultras these days), take
a Succeed at least 1/hour, and if I feel the merest beginnings of a cramp
(you get a funny pre-cramping feeling), DRINK as much as you can (15-30 oz)
and TAKE a SUCCEED to promote stomach emptying. The last two times I've
started to cramp, this solved the cramps within minutes.

Cramping is not due to muscle fatigue -- studies have shown that it can
occur in muscles with plenty of glycogen in them. I betcha you were at
least 5 lbs lighter at the end of the race (meaning you were pretty
dehydrated).

Quoted message said:

My analysis of last years Columbus is that my last long run was too
much and I never completely recovered.

I once ran a 20 miler at 6:10/mile pace (goal pace + 10/sec) a week before a
marathon and I had a bad race. IMO, the long run for marathons should be a
minute or more per mile slower than your marathon goal pace. Save the
faster paced stuff for the shorter workouts.

Quoted message said:

3 weeks prior I ran a 1:28 half
marathon off a 7 mile warmup.

Three weeks is *plenty* of time to recover from that, imo. (provided you
took it easy for the week after the half).

Quoted message said:

This year I have definitely had higher
quality training and feel stronger than ever. Smashed my 10K PR with
37:07.

I don't want to get you too excited, but that predicts a sub 3:00 for you if
you can stay hydrated.

Quoted message said:

Now I'm fearing the same thing has happened as last year (or is it
just nerves?). This year my taper looks like this:

Week Total Long
3 69 20 (long run 21 days before marathon, slow 9 min pace)
2 53 17 (a bit faster than usual averaged 8 min pace,
hilly)
1 35 10 (Started worring about insufficient taper and
decrease from Pfitzinger's program)
Race Week >>>> I am here, 4 days to go <<<<

This sounds right on the money. I usually go from a 70mpw base, to 60, to
35.

Quoted message said:

I have even seriously considered skipping Columbus and driving to
Detroit for their marathon the following Sunday. For running may be
ideal, but seems too costly and if I had a bad run it would be a
waste.

You're fine. Maybe you're going nuts as we all do during the taper period?
;-)

Quoted message said:

My current plan is to go ahead with Columbus but forgo my 3:08
goal. Start conservatively at 3:16 pace and see at half way if I think
I have more or less and adjust accordingly.

Again, your taper is fine. If you're at a 37:07 10k, (assuming the course
wasn't short!), you're in great shape, and sub 3 is not out of the question,
imo.

Quoted message said:

Questions:
1) My quad pain, will this be a big factor? I assume it will feel fine by

Sunday.

Yup.

Quoted message said:

2) How to finish out this week? Monday I was off. Yesterday and today
I did 20 minutes on elliptical (build to hard) to get blood moving and
warm body for good stretch. Probably do the same Thursday and Friday.

You need to keep the running muscles running. I'd suggest: easy run of 30
minutes Thursday, with 3 x 1:30 mild (5k to 10k pace) pick-ups. Warm up for
15 minutes before the pickups.
Friday: 20 min easy, with 3-4 30 second pickups. You'll feel very strong,
but don't go too fast. Warm up 10 min before the pickups.
Saturday: Off, don't walk more than a mile or two all day. (No day-long
mall excursions). Try to keep your feet up.

Quoted message said:

3) Detroit is nice this time of year. Its just money, 6 months of
training, hundreds of hours of training, it is worth it. What do you
think?

Go for Columbus! You'll lose conditioning waiting that extra week.

You're all set. Good luck!

-- Dan

pray

(Eric) said:

I'm off to run the Columbus Marathon on Sunday 10/17. I have had an
excellent 3 months of training and averaged about 57 mpw over the
heart of it. 9 runs 17+ and 4 runs of 20+, mile intervals, hills,
races, ... followed Pete Pfitzinger's "Advance Marathoning" up to 70
mpw program fairly closely.

Two issues I'm facing: First, I'm unsure if my taper has been
sufficient. Second, on Monday I installed an outlet in my house and
spent a lot of time squating (not an electricial by training) and
ended up with very sore left quad on Tuesday (and still a bit sore
today Wednesday).

This will be my third Marathon. Ran 3:15 (2002 Flying Pig Cinci, a bit
hilly) and last year ran Columbus (fairly flat) targeting 3:10 but
legs cramped at mile 20 and never could completely recover. Walked
across the finish at 3:28.

My analysis of last years Columbus is that my last long run was too
much and I never completely recovered. 3 weeks prior I ran a 1:28 half
marathon off a 7 mile warmup. This year I have definitely had higher
quality training and feel stronger than ever. Smashed my 10K PR with
37:07.

Now I'm fearing the same thing has happened as last year (or is it
just nerves?). This year my taper looks like this:

Week Total Long
3 69 20 (long run 21 days before marathon, slow 9 min pace)
2 53 17 (a bit faster than usual averaged 8 min pace,
hilly)
1 35 10 (Started worring about insufficient taper and
decrease from Pfitzinger's program)
Race Week >>>> I am here, 4 days to go <<<<

I have even seriously considered skipping Columbus and driving to
Detroit for their marathon the following Sunday. For running may be
ideal, but seems too costly and if I had a bad run it would be a
waste. My current plan is to go ahead with Columbus but forgo my 3:08
goal. Start conservatively at 3:16 pace and see at half way if I think
I have more or less and adjust accordingly.

Questions:
1) My quad pain, will this be a big factor? I assume it will feel fine
by Sunday.
2) How to finish out this week? Monday I was off. Yesterday and today
I did 20 minutes on elliptical (build to hard) to get blood moving and
warm body for good stretch. Probably do the same Thursday and Friday.
3) Detroit is nice this time of year. Its just money, 6 months of
training, hundreds of hours of training, it is worth it. What do you
think?

Thanks for letting me think aloud! EjE

Quoted message said:

I had a nearly two year long battle with cramps, and the answer for me was

simple: Dehydration.
_
you are saying it took you _2 years_ of "battling" cramps....to figure out the
source of cramps for you?...only to discover it was something that methinks is
possibly #1 on the checklist...? i find this very hard to believe.

Quoted message said:

DRINK as much as you can (15-30 oz)

and TAKE a SUCCEED to promote stomach emptying. The last two times I've
started to cramp, this solved the cramps within minutes.
___

Oh god...please don't listen to this person. Rule #1, NEVER experiment or do
something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the 11th
hour"...before your Marathon. No new foods, new vitamins, new techniques...NO
NEW ANYTHING. Do not introduce or employ anything "new" onto your physiology
at the last minute....and if you don't drink 30 oz. of water 1/hr before and a
succeed! ....DON'T DO IT NOW!

Good grief. People...when someone is in that "last minute" stage...the only
advice you can give them is centered around the mental side or the
challenge...suggest a book, a movie to rent, something
inspirational/motivational....words of wisdom, don't _instruct them_ (as this
person has) to introduce and or employ their physiology to a new and foreign
substance/practice, whatever immediately before their race....

My 2 cents of advice? Once the event starts remember 3 things:
1) you are in a "race".
2) every step matters, and counts.
3) you can never recapture time.

Good luck.....

I would recommend doing some running and not just the elliptical.
Especially the day before, maybe an easy couple miles. I've taken 2-3
days off before and my legs felt so tight and I had a poor race
(although I didn't cross train on those days like you are). Everyone
is different but I do an easy 1 mile the morning before the race and
follow it up with a another run around the block (about .5 miles) that
evening.

I feel that no running this last week would do more to derail your
marathon than the quad.

Quoted message said:

2) How to finish out this week? Monday I was off. Yesterday and today
I did 20 minutes on elliptical (build to hard) to get blood moving and
warm body for good stretch. Probably do the same Thursday and Friday.
3) Detroit is nice this time of year. Its just money, 6 months of
training, hundreds of hours of training, it is worth it. What do you
think?

Thanks for letting me think aloud! EjE

"Lanceandrew" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had a nearly two year long battle with cramps, and the answer for me

was

Quoted message said:

simple: Dehydration.
_
you are saying it took you _2 years_ of "battling" cramps....to figure out

the

Quoted message said:

source of cramps for you?...only to discover it was something that

methinks is

Quoted message said:

possibly #1 on the checklist...? i find this very hard to believe.

Yeah, Lance, it's true.

Here's my (non-sarcastic) answer: I was drinking the same amount as other
ultra runners I was competing with, who did *not* cramp, and therefore, I
*assumed* (the magic word) that I was not excessively dehydrated. I wasted
time experimenting with salt, minerals, magnesium, pacing, you name it.

I only cramped in ultra races, and I only raced a 2-3 times/year.

I also asked my more experienced ultra running friends how they dealt with
cramps, and believe it or not, *all* said it was a problem with mineral
balance or fatigue...

I eventually weighed myself after a tough 50k race, and found that I'd lost
9 lbs, even though I'd been drinking 20-30 oz/hour. Now I drink 30 - 50+
oz/hour, depending on the conditions.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

DRINK as much as you can (15-30 oz)

and TAKE a SUCCEED to promote stomach emptying. The last two times I've
started to cramp, this solved the cramps within minutes.
___

Oh god...please don't listen to this person.

I said "this is what worked for me". Eric is free to take it or leave it.

Eric, feel free to completely ignore what I've learned. But if you cramp up
and have to limp in, you might want to read it again.

Unfortunately, when something happens only in a race, it's at the race that
you need to see what works for you.

Quoted message said:

Rule #1, NEVER experiment or do
something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the 11th
hour"...before your Marathon.

See my last sentence. By this line of reasoning, if you're dehydrated at 20
miles in your race, don't drink, if on your training runs in cool weather
you didn't need to? An interesting philosophy.

If he's starting to cramp, doing nothing will result in leg lockup. He'll
have to walk to get them going, and then they'll cramp again. Every stride
results in more muscle damage and pain. It's loads of fun.

Quoted message said:

No new foods, new vitamins, new techniques...NO
NEW ANYTHING. Do not introduce or employ anything "new" onto your

physiology

Quoted message said:

at the last minute....and if you don't drink 30 oz. of water 1/hr before

and a

Quoted message said:

succeed! ....DON'T DO IT NOW!

The drinking therapy was my advice when *starting to cramp*, not prior to
the race. Pre-race "water loading" is a bad idea, on several fronts.

Quoted message said:

Good grief. People...when someone is in that "last minute" stage...the

only

Quoted message said:

advice you can give them is centered around the mental side or the
challenge...suggest a book, a movie to rent, something
inspirational/motivational....words of wisdom, don't _instruct them_ (as

this

Quoted message said:

person has) to introduce and or employ their physiology to a new and

foreign

Quoted message said:

substance/practice, whatever immediately before their race....

Good Grief, Lance, I just gave him plenty of encouragement, answered his
questions, and advice on how to handle his cramping, and several other
tid-bits. I hope you start feeling better -- maybe you won't be so cranky!

(PS: I'm bummed about the Flu vaccine shortage, too. I was weak for a good
month early this year after I got sick)

-- Dan

<< not just the elliptical.
Especially the day before, maybe an easy couple >>

You're an easy couple?
So NOW, who's your [censored]?
I'm running high, my endorphins rule ~ a bubble
Floats my happiness. Got tons of luck.
No more you, silly Puck!
Get a blew klew.

<< I've taken 2-3
days off before and my legs felt so tight and I had a poor race (although I
didn't cross train on those days like you are). >>

Sure, sounds about right.
Go to Grande Central,
Cross Track 7,
We'll catch up on track 8*.
O, yes, those tight legs ~
Catch my train of thought?
Give to the poor;
But don't rob the reliquary.
What will be,
After Revelation,
Remains to be scene.
Que sera sera.
Where's Ms. Day?
There's Mr. Night.
Afternoon's a Turkish Delight.
Let's climb back into that closet ~
Narnia calls.
An elliptical snow-covered
Tale, trails...

_______
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s.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo</A>

<< Detroit is nice this time of year. >>

Where's Edith?
Met her at Biancas, eons ago.
Fun cyber-scen show.
The hand knows. Slow & good.
Into Temptation, leadeth
Not, I warn. "Just follow,"
Said the Fool.
"Love details the view."

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s.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo</A>

<< Unfortunately, when something happens only in a race, it's at the race that
you need to see what works for you.

Quoted message said:

Rule #1, NEVER experiment or do
something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the 11th
hour"...before your Marathon.

See my last sentence. By this line of reasoning, if you're dehydrated at 20
miles in your race, don't drink, if on your training runs in cool weather
you didn't need to? An interesting philosophy.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you lost me

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"Dan Stumpus" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Cramping is not due to muscle fatigue -- studies have shown that it can
occur in muscles with plenty of glycogen in them. I betcha you were at
least 5 lbs lighter at the end of the race (meaning you were pretty
dehydrated).

Dehydration is certainly one of the main causes of cramping,
but isn´t the scientific jury still out on the verdict?

Cramping can be caused by dehydration, electrolyte (Na and K)
deficiency, lactic acid buildup, hypoglycemia or, according
to one theory, a kind of nerve signal (between those cramping
muscles, usually either the calfs or the quads, and the central
nervous system) overload or shutdown. (Or - IM unscientific HO
always) by a combination of two or more of those factors.

In other words, studies have shown that it can occur when
one (or more) of those factors are not present.

Quoted message said:

I don't want to get you too excited, but that predicts a sub 3:00 for you if
you can stay hydrated.

There´s something to be said for being a bit conservative
in setting one´s marathon goals, but with that 10K PB and
that amount of long runs I cannot help wondering what is
keeping the guy from pursuing a sub-3! Is there something
he didn´t tell us or is he just preparing ground for a
"I exceeded my expctations!-race report?:-)

If the main goal is to avoid cramping as far as possible,
it would indeed still be a better policy to focus on getting
hydrated than to race short of one´s capabilities.

Ander

<< Dehydration is certainly one of the main causes of cramping,
but isn´t the scientific jury still out on the verdict? >>

Is it? I dunno.
I've a deadly headache,
Malaise de Noggin,
Nodding off,
Lost keys,
On board...

<< Cramping can be caused by dehydration, electrolyte (Na and K)
deficiency, lactic acid buildup, hypoglycemia or, according
to one theory, a kind of nerve signal (between those cramping
muscles, usually either the calfs or the quads, and the central
nervous system) overload or shutdown. >>

I'm overloaded,
Yes, all shut down.
Ring the apothacary ~
Deliver me a remedy,
An electrolyte fizzy cocktail.
Got shot nerves,
All I hear are baby cow Moos.

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<< combination of two or more of those factors.

In other words, studies have shown that it can occur when
one (or more) of those factors are not present. >>

Wait a minute, hold on!
Factors, not present?
Who's present?
Who's not?
Where's Bigshot?
3:23 am, no
Supper yet.
Better call some
In...
Waffle mama
Needed.
Don't waffle me,
Like, ok?
Too baffled
To know
Much anymore.
I'm scared.

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<<
There´s something to be said for being a bit conservative >>

True. Modest means,
Modest goals.
No owls
Delivered my
Invitation.
Vita?
My computer lost
That file.
See V.
All her fault.
_______
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"Lanceandrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh god...please don't listen to this person. Rule #1, NEVER experiment or

do

Quoted message said:

something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the 11th
hour"...before your Marathon.

If you take that logic to it's ultimate conclusion, we'd nearly all be
DNFing at about the 20-22 mile mark having not run faster than our LSD pace.

Quoted message said:

No new foods, new vitamins, new techniques...NO
NEW ANYTHING. Do not introduce or employ anything "new" onto your

physiology

Quoted message said:

at the last minute....and if you don't drink 30 oz. of water 1/hr before

and a

Quoted message said:

succeed! ....DON'T DO IT NOW!

Chill out Lance. Rules are for people who can't think for themselves. I'm
constantly amazed at the number of folk who believe the "Always run facing
the traffic" rule if they're running in the road. You'd think Dawinism
would have weeded them out by now.

All races (especially marathons) invlove a leap into the unknown and you
cannot always predict what problems you're going to have in the race as you
can never recreate all the conditions in your training runs. A nutrition
and hydration strategy that seems to work just fine in training my well not
work under the stress of race conditions.

In an ideal world the OP would have tried SUCCEED capsules in training to
make sure that there weren't any untoward effects but the truth of the
matter is, unless he was training in warm/hot conditions, he probably
wouldn't need them.

The risk of taking SUCCEED capsules is, I would say, negligible. The
potential benefit is great. The OP can decide for himself, based on the
experience offered here by folk who have used them and found them helpful,
whether he wants to take that risk.

Quoted message said:

My 2 cents of advice? Once the event starts remember 3 things:
1) you are in a "race".
2) every step matters, and counts.
3) you can never recapture time.

What the heck does that last one mean? Sounds like a reccommendation to go
out hard (followed by a crash and burn).

Nearly every month I run a 5k time trial. Nearly every month a bunch of
rabbits leave me for dead over the first km. Nearly every month I overhaul
them all before the 3k mark and my last split is nearly always my fastest.
Who says you can't recapture time?

Tim

"Lanceandrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had a nearly two year long battle with cramps, and the answer for
me was

simple: Dehydration.
_
you are saying it took you _2 years_ of "battling" cramps....to figure
out the
source of cramps for you?...only to discover it was something that
methinks is
possibly #1 on the checklist...? i find this very hard to believe.

Quoted message said:

DRINK as much as you can (15-30 oz)

and TAKE a SUCCEED to promote stomach emptying. The last two times
I've
started to cramp, this solved the cramps within minutes.
___

Oh god...please don't listen to this person. Rule #1, NEVER experiment
or do
something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the
11th
hour"...before your Marathon. No new foods, new vitamins, new
techniques...NO
NEW ANYTHING. Do not introduce or employ anything "new" onto your
physiology
at the last minute....and if you don't drink 30 oz. of water 1/hr
before and a
succeed! ....DON'T DO IT NOW!

In general, don't try anything new/experimental on race day if all is
going well. These are reserved for training. As Dan said, when things
are turning to [censored] on race day especially dehydration/cramping
problems, you damn well better make some race day adjustments. As much
as we try to emulate everything in training, it is not always possible.
Never use the word NEVER

I can personally account for making some radical race day alteration on
race day due to heat. When you train in 20-40 Degrees and the race days
is 85 you had best make some changes. I can site many others to prove
this point.

Quoted message said:

Good grief. People...when someone is in that "last minute" stage...the
only
advice you can give them is centered around the mental side or the
challenge...suggest a book, a movie to rent, something
inspirational/motivational....words of wisdom, don't _instruct them_
(as this
person has) to introduce and or employ their physiology to a new and
foreign
substance/practice, whatever immediately before their race....

Dan was providing some very real life experiences and what worked for
him along with hanging out some laundry thinking everyone has the same
cause and effect on race day. Frankly, he gave some very solid
information and has a boat load of experience in the endurance world.

Quoted message said:

My 2 cents of advice? Once the event starts remember 3 things:
1) you are in a "race".

And this means what?

Quoted message said:

2) every step matters, and counts.

And this means what?

Quoted message said:

3) you can never recapture time.

Is this remedial philosophy 098? I have some philosophical nothings to
add to your bathroom graffiti - "it is, it is not, it is both." or
"Socrates eat hemlock" or Kant recounts categorically." I'm sure these
will help you race day.

-DF

Lance, there is a recurring theme in these replies. I would strongly
suggest you take some notes. 😉
-df
"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lanceandrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh god...please don't listen to this person. Rule #1, NEVER
experiment or

do

Quoted message said:

something "new" for you and your body "at the last minute", "in the
11th
hour"...before your Marathon.

If you take that logic to it's ultimate conclusion, we'd nearly all
be
DNFing at about the 20-22 mile mark having not run faster than our LSD
pace.

Quoted message said:

No new foods, new vitamins, new techniques...NO
NEW ANYTHING. Do not introduce or employ anything "new" onto your

physiology

Quoted message said:

at the last minute....and if you don't drink 30 oz. of water 1/hr
before

and a

Quoted message said:

succeed! ....DON'T DO IT NOW!

Chill out Lance. Rules are for people who can't think for themselves.
I'm
constantly amazed at the number of folk who believe the "Always run
facing
the traffic" rule if they're running in the road. You'd think
Dawinism
would have weeded them out by now.

All races (especially marathons) invlove a leap into the unknown and
you
cannot always predict what problems you're going to have in the race
as you
can never recreate all the conditions in your training runs. A
nutrition
and hydration strategy that seems to work just fine in training my
well not
work under the stress of race conditions.

In an ideal world the OP would have tried SUCCEED capsules in training
to
make sure that there weren't any untoward effects but the truth of the
matter is, unless he was training in warm/hot conditions, he probably
wouldn't need them.

The risk of taking SUCCEED capsules is, I would say, negligible. The
potential benefit is great. The OP can decide for himself, based on
the
experience offered here by folk who have used them and found them
helpful,
whether he wants to take that risk.

Quoted message said:

My 2 cents of advice? Once the event starts remember 3 things:
1) you are in a "race".
2) every step matters, and counts.
3) you can never recapture time.

What the heck does that last one mean? Sounds like a reccommendation
to go
out hard (followed by a crash and burn).

Nearly every month I run a 5k time trial. Nearly every month a bunch
of
rabbits leave me for dead over the first km. Nearly every month I
overhaul
them all before the 3k mark and my last split is nearly always my
fastest.
Who says you can't recapture time?

Tim

Quoted message said:

Dan was providing...

Hey doug. Dan was directly _instructing_ the person on the eve of their
Marathon to introduce/employ something new onto their physiology. That is
clear, his language clearly illustrates this. Not wise. What's the big deal?

Wow...ultra-bonding i see. cute.

<< something new onto their physiology. That is
clear, his language clearly illustrates this. Not wise. What's the big deal?

Wow...ultra-bonding i see. cute. >>

What's that?
I play my fave CD,
Ultra Chilled v.01
A lot. Want
Bond, too.
Where's Jody?
Two-tea Jody
Put Thee!

_______
Blog, or dog? Who knows. But if you see my lost pup, please ping me!
<A
HREF="http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo">http://journal
s.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo</A>

Quoted message said:

What the heck does that last one mean?

...in sum the theme of the points are "press on", the last speaks to being
inorganic (still life), or organic (moving with time....and or "keep
flowing"...like water. i'm suggesting to "be organic".

i developed an appreciation for the wisdom in simplicity when i lived in the
mainland (China) for a number of years. ironically though it was from a
modern day chinese person, someone who started his career in my hometown
(oakland, ca) that my favorite words of wisdom come from as i train and race.

bruce lee. yup, some of you probably are familiar w/this quote, "Be like
water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the
object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you
stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be
formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the
cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a
teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my
friend".
___

So Tim the last one means to "Flow", not "crash"......and i am more physically
challenged than most of you distance runners (being stocky)....and when facing
distance and hills, etc...I have to pull out every trick in my bag to
persevere....i have to "be water".

now i did not want to get into this detail in explaining this...i am not
instructing anyone...simply answering your question...and i offered initially
some very simple things to consider. toss'em, consider them....whatever.

no harm, no foul...