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After encouragement from good friends, goading from other friends, an article in the Star Tribune, and only a little thought, I signed up for the Twin Cities Marathon yesterday.

Youthful Inspiration

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Saturday I found myself being excited and inspired by youths. First I went to the Get In Gear 10K early to watch my friend’s daughter run her first 2K. It was not a great day for a kid’s first exposure to an organized race with temperatures barely in the 30s, a persistent wind and snow. The best part is this didn't stop her. Despite being completely chilled waiting for the 10K to start, I loved seeing my friend’s daughter successfully try out this new sport to her.
Later in the day I went to see another friend’s son play his first gig at the Hat Trick Lounge. Not only did his band play well, but almost all their music was original. They also displayed composure as they enjoyed the audience and smoothly continued through any unexpected sound issues. I hope they have more opportunity to play out!

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The nasty weather Saturday must have worked for me. I unexpectedly beat my 10k time from last year and ran the Get In Gear in 50:19. That evening and the next day my legs felt like they did last weekend after the half though.

My Father My Lord

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Yesterday I saw My Father My Lord, a film at the Minneapolis St Paul International Film Festival. The description from Israeli films:

Living with his wife and son in the ultra-orthodox community of Jerusalem, Rabbi Abraham devotes his life to the study of Torah and Jewish Law. His son Menahem is at an age where he absorbs the world around him as a place of wonder. He does not resist but follows listlessly as his father leads him along the straight and narrow path that must be pursued by men of faith. But Abraham’s guidance can count for only so much in the scheme of the universe. On a summer vacation to the Dead Sea, his faith is put to the test.

Ultimately Rabbi Abraham’s fanatic devotion leads to the death of his son. I didn’t see this as an anti-Jewish or anit-religions film, but more a display of the danger of over-zealousness and blindness in faith. While the film depicts an obvious love within the family, Rabbi Abraham’s communication with his son seems to be only to condition him in the Jewish teachings. Menahem is curious about photos depicting other cultures, is fascinated with the devotion of a dog and is enthralled with birds and fish. Rather than embrace the innocence of these simple excitements, Rabbi Abraham uses them to teach his son to destroy anything idyllic and to give a lesson on the existence of animals, along with those who to not follow the Torah, to serve those of faith. In this way Rabbi Abraham steals part of Menahem’s childhood. Finally, as he is 'wrapped in the arms of the Almighty’ praying, he robs Menahem of the rest.
Faith and religion are not the cause of Menahem’s death. Disregard in favor of following religious law is neither a display nor a directive of faith.

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Part Of A First Half

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Yesterday’s half marathon was a success. I did have my slowest time of 1:58:50, but that isn’t incredibly far off my other times. The only disappointment I have in my time is that I ran with my friend who was running her first half and I’m convinced she could have done better. She followed me and continually encouraged me to take off when I wanted, but when it came to the last miles of the race, she was much stronger than I was. I truly believe if I’d been able to push harder, she would have had an even better time. I think she’s excited to have completed her first half though and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it. I think it’s just me who is a bit time obsessive. I’m working on that…

Hello, Dolly!

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I was at my parents last weekend to see the high school musical because it was Hello Dolly!, the musical I was the lead in my senior year. It motivated me to dig up some pictures of me as Dolly:

And while I was at it, I traveled a little further down memory lane and found this picture of me at age 5:
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I’ve been through a bit of a rollercoaster with my right knee lately, but I’m happy to say I think I’ll be fine for Saturday’s Earth Day Half Marathon. I’m experiencing very little swelling and stiffness and the mysterious feeling I experienced last weekend of something in the way in my knee is gone too.

Hills Again

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Today I tackled the challenging hilly route at my parents again. It’s still hilly. It’s also still challenging, but I added to that challenge by increasing the mileage of the route. I continued further on an unfamiliar country road this time and of course found more hills. I’m happy to have gotten in 10 miles, but by the end of the 10 I was getting pretty tired of hills. I’ve drawn a few conclusions:
1. I’m not in hills shape
2. There seriously is a 90 degree hill on this route… ok 85 degrees…
3. The glaciers missed my home town

Simulcast Met

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I’ve been slowly learning opera and this past weekend I upped the ante and attended an opera at the Met. I saved the $150+ ticket cost though and attended it as a live simulcast at a local theatre. A friend and I smartly bought tickets beforehand as one screen at the theatre was sold out and the other was close to full.
I largely wanted to go because the production was La Boheme, which is the opera Rent is based on. I’ve seen Rent several times, but after seeing La Boheme, I think La Boheme is now higher on my list. With little expertise to describe the music, I can at least say there was plenty of the big sound I seem to enjoy. That big sound, however, conveyed excitement, love, distress and anguish as various points in the opera. With such a mixture I was bound to enjoy it. And yes, it made me cry at the end.

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I’m finding I should probably remove from my sitting repertoire my favorite position of removing my shoes and sitting cross-legged on my chair at work. Lately it seems it takes my knees a bit to warm up after I get up from this position. I then stiffly wander around the office and find people giving me pitiful looks.

The Meaning of 7 Miles

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After last weekend’s successful run I didn’t get out until Tuesday for a 4 miler. Thinking Saturday’s run was a good indication of my knee’s health, I didn’t think twice about it. Until I was limping around the office afterwards. I reluctantly took the rest of the week off from running. I decided (ok… I simply couldn’t resist) to go for a run around the lakes this morning with a few friends. We did 7 miles and so far my knee is fine. Not only was it a relaxing run, but it was great to be out at 7:30am on a beautiful Saturday morning.

I also love that 7 miles is a pretty easy run for me right now. Every time I build up distance for a race, my definition of a long run gradually changes. Every time I also say I want to maintain the distances after the race. Well, this time is no different. But this time I think I’m more conscious of what my weekend runs can do for me. It isn’t just the exercise, but it’s carving out personal time for something I enjoy, it’s choosing to eat right and go to bed early before a long run, and it's building running relationships.