The Right Place to Begin

I started today in Boston, am writing in Seattle, and will end today in Vancouver. I’ve been thinking about writing for a few reasons. First, just a year ago I was settling into Cusco and started this blog. Second, thinking about running seems to make me want to write. I am running the Vancouver marathon on Sunday and the Boston Marathon, always a source of inspiration (I supported and cheered this year), was just two weeks ago. Running has emerged as a theme of Para Mi Madre, Para Mi.

I had kinda forgotten I wrote about the Spring of Glory (g-Laurie) back in February. The past winter in Boston was not an easy one for training. Despite the snow and then the lingering cold, I am reasonably sure I’m ready for Sunday. I have a few more aches and pains than I would ideally want to have going into race day and I still feel slow, especially compared to 2012 and 2013, but it is all part of the journey. Korynn is here too and together we did many laps of Fresh Pond during the past few months of training.

I’ve been thinking about the lessons I am learning from training in the Spring of Glory (g-Laurie). A key one is that you can only go from where you are at. The last couple of years have had some bumps in running and otherwise, but the only chance to get back to the shape I once attained is to get out there. I am just starting a book about habits for my book club and this quote captured that feeling:

“Whenever you read this, and wherever you are, you’re in the right place to begin.” -Gretchen Rubin, author of Better than Before and The Happiness Project

This marathon will be my 10th since I first ran Vermont City in May, 2010. I don’t think I ever thought I’d be hitting this milestone, yet here I am. I’m looking forward to the beauty of Vancouver and its coastal views. The weather forecast is for 60s and sun. My run will be about letting go (of time goals and expectations) and having fun.

Running in Cusco

Since I started running longer distances nearly five years ago, I’ve found running to be a great way to explore a new place. I have fond memories of runs in LA, Denver, Amsterdam, London, Wales, Puerto Rico, New Philadelphia in Ohio, India and perhaps a few more. Sometimes I wondered whether I would find my way back to my hotel; some runs were snow covered and others way too hot, but all were satisfying. There is a sense of adventure and exploration when running in a new place.

Yesterday’s run marked an exciting milestone: I ran on the city track. I found the track last Thursday, but even though I could see some people running on the track through the fence, I couldn’t get in because the main entrance was closed for the May Day Laborers holiday. I decided to try again. I ran the 1.2 miles to the entrance, bought a ticket for about 70 cents and made my way to the track. Looking at the views of the surrounding mountains and the little kids executing soccer drills in the center of the field, I’m not sure I’ve ever been so happy to run in circles around the track. The ground was level and the air felt so much cleaner than on the streets.

At 11,150 feet, Cusco presents a unique set of challenges and I have to admit that if the Lima Marathon wasn’t in two weeks, I might be taking a break after running the Boston Marathon on April 21. I recall feeling the altitude in Denver and in Xela, Guatemala, long before I was running very far, but the extra few thousand feet makes a big difference. On top of that avoiding hills is impossible, which would be fine except for the altitude which makes even walking up a hill feel like a herculean feat at times. Plus there is considerable traffic and I noticed 84 octane gas seems to be the norm which doesn’t make for easy breathing. Motivated by Lima I made it out and logged a little over 17 miles last week — some of them very slow, but completed nonetheless.

I am feeling slightly more optimistic about Lima than I was a week ago and if all goes well over the next two weeks, I feel ready to run and happy that I signed up to run just because it is a marathon in a country I happen to be in.