Training through difficult times is really what separates
the men and women in this sport from the more sensible members of our
population! When it's pouring with rain,
or blowing a gale, we know we probably have to suck it up and get out there. Sure, I'll check my running log to see if I
can muster up an excuse to be a weak and worthless loser, but most of the time
it reveals that I have to hit the road or live with the consequences (which
are mostly just fear of being a weak and worthless loser!).
This year has brought plenty of challenges. January second our newest family addition, Griffin, was
born. Just like the first two, it's safe
to say our lives will never be the same!
Balancing the running with family life is always tough, but with two
little boys (engaged in a methodical attempt to drive all adult caretakers out
of their minds), and a newborn, it's even tougher. I ran the day after Griffin was born... at
11pm. Two miles and then 7 repeats up
and down a nearby hill.
Although winter on Whidbey Island is a challenging environment
to run in, keeping a consistent schedule while on detachment to Italy is even
tougher. First it was terrible jet lag
(9 hours worth) leaving me feeling aweful for four days, then it was the every-other-day flight schedule, and on top of
that it's the lack of trails coupled with terrible roads to run on. The Italian drivers have good situational
awareness (much better than in the U.S.), but there are typically no shoulders,
and very sharp weeds hang way out into the roads. Towns are steep and cobbled with lots of
traffic, and no sidewalks, and there are stray rabid dogs waiting to chomp the
leg of Lost Looking Americans.
While pondering my running misfortune I realized that,
despite the inconvenience, I can still run.
My brother spends two weeks on a tug boat every month, and he manages to
run quite often. I'm sure that the ports
around New York harbor aren't exactly convenient running locales! So I got back in it. Round and round the base (1.5 miles), round
and round the .2 mile track. Treadmill
intervals. Treadmill progressives. Then I had an idea... has anyone ever run
from Sigonella to the top of the paved road on the south side of Mt Etna? I decided to do it. No maps worth taking, so I took some screen
shots with my phone, packed a few gels, a few euro's, and some water, and
talked my crew into meeting me at the top (in the Audi rental car).
The run started off hot, and I ran slowly to keep my body
heat in check. Immediately was a 500
foot and five mile climb to the town of Motta, then an easy descent off the
north side of that town. Somehow I took
a wrong turn there and ended up off track and with a few bonus miles on my way
north to the town of Belpasso. This was
more heat, wind, and several stops to check my map pictures. Once I found Belpasso I knew I would find the
road up. I stopped for a pastry and
water refill at around 13 miles right in the middle of town, and then continued
the push to the north and onto the shoulders of massive Mt Etna. The grade was steep enough to be slow
running, but not so steep as to require a hike.
Ever. (I was thinking 'please just one super steep switchback so I can walk!?'). It was difficult, and the
mountain proper still looked far off!
'One foot in front of the other, and I'll get there !' was what I had to
tell myself in order to maintain focus. It was definitely feeling like an ultra-distance effort.
The country side out there is just beautiful. Lovely little farms, olive and citrus
orchards, the occasional restaurant. I was the only
runner I saw all day.. needless to say I got a few strange looks! Slowly the farmland gave way to volcanic
flows from past eruptions (this is a very active volcano, and it was even
erupting several days ago). The grade
never relented, but the air cooled, and eventually even became cold. I could smell the gas from the volcano, and
as I reached the snow line it was all covered in ash. What amazed me is that there are a few homes
built up here. Several can be seen
beside the road, covered up to their roofs in lava. Other newer buildings have been built on mini
summits. Not sure I'd choose to live so
close to such an active monster!
My legs were dead as I reached the top, and I was so glad to
see my crew in the Audi with warm clothes, water, and most importantly a seat
to sit in! The views from the top are
spectacular. In the very far distance
the city of Catania, and even the base at Sinonella were visible, a seeming
impossible distance, and far below.
Overall, this was a great training run. The 26 miles and
approximately 5000 feet of climbing don't quite do justice to the difficulty of
the run, and I believe it will make me stronger as I move toward the San Diego
100 in June. Today I'm very glad I
didn't have to do this three more times though...even though I've done it, and am training to do it again, running 100 miles is hard to
imagine!
