I Will Bow Down to Bud White

May 10, 2011

Did I tell you guys that I'm running the Vermont City Marathon at the end of the month? Because I am, and I have three twenty-milers down, and one long run to go. I'm officially at the point where I have a continuousI cycle of thoughts running through my head like, I hate running, and I hate running, and I really think I hate running.

I don't actually hate running.

My main goal is to not have to take any walk breaks, like I've done during my last two marathons. My second goal this time around is to run a personal best, which would put me under 3:48. And my third goal is to run a 3:40.  Since Boston's qualification process is all changed up, I'm not even thinking about it right now. 3:40 would give me the right to try to register, and I'd be okay with that. So let's say that it's number four on my list.

My plan this time--which is my plan every time, which I end up thinking I'm way too cool for and blowing it--is to stick with a pace group like glue. I don't care if the pace feels like a bunch of nursing-home turtles at the beginning, I'm sticking with Bud White like we're duct taped together. Bud White is my Buddha. Jared told me, that if the pace still feels too slow at mile twnety-two, then I can run ahead. I don't think any pace could ever feel too slow at mile twenty-two, so I agreed to the plan.

Jared is my rock, Twizzlers are my motivation, and Bud White is the guru unto whom I'm a faithful follower.

I even made this Bud White prayer card:


Bud White has no idea what he volunteered for.

If you're a runner, and you ever think about running a marathon, you should definitely consider Vermont City. The streets are lined with fans the entire way, the scenery is awesome, the hippies are so encouraging, there's a little church service before the race (which I'm totally into as it's 99% effective in elimating Sabbath Day guilt), and there's bread and butter at the finish line. It was my first marathon in 2004, and it's my favorite by a long shot.

I ran 18 miles this past weekend, and took an enormous digger right on the side of the biggest road that runs through my neck of this state. If I had to guess, twenty cars saw it. Thankfully, no one beeped and no one stopped to ask if I was okay--because clearly, I would have had no choice but to cuss them out.

In my world, there's A) Nothing funnier and more satisfying to the soul than watching someone fall, and B) Nothing more embarrassing and soul crushing that being the one who falls.

Isn't it funny how that works?

So that's what I've been up to lately. I've been running, I've been grocery shopping, and I've been working. It's a damn shame I don't write about work on this blog, because work has been Дали всушност само пребарување на интернет за македонски преведувач? Се колнам дека ќе те вработи на генијалност, ако имав секаков вид на авторитет as of late.

(I wrote that part in Macedonian, just to protect my professional integrity.)

Is anybody else out there training for any races right now?

24 comments:

Amanda @ Click. The Good News said...

I'm really glad you clarified on digger- I thought you had to crap on the side of the road! I'm getting psyched up for San Deigo and Seattle marathons in June...boo to hills and heat!

Georgia Snail said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JojaJogger said...

Yes, I did use the google translator.

Georgia Snail said...

Мислам дека Google преведувач карпи! Генијот!

Jo said...

Indeed, when you see someone bite the dust, once you've ascertained that neither the fallen one's life nor limbs are on the line, your job is to laugh gleefully and then look away, baby, look away.

Good luck with the Vermont City marathon. I'm getting ready to run my first half marathon this Sunday--the Cleveland half. The jury is still out on whether Cleveland does in fact rock.

Krista said...

I'm training for Anchorage Mayor's on June 18. I am so pathetically slow though that I am just hoping to break 5 hours. I was thrilled with an average of 10:45 on my last long run of 16.5 miles (I was pulling 12:30s my previous runs). So I am in awe of your speed and perseverance.

Turi Becker said...

Ве молиме наведете опис на работното место во следниот пост.

Laura said...

So excited to hear that you are running Vermont! I am leading the 4:30 pace group for the third year in a row, and hope I get to meet you! I'm also speaking at the expo the day before - come say hi :)

Mindy said...

I'm too lazy to translate that. I thought the digger was a crap too, at first. I'm training for Wasatch Back right now. :)

Hannah Q. Parris said...

Good luck! My husband is training for his first marathon, and I'm working up the courage to register for my first 5k since high school.

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

I miss the days of your marathon training posts including hand-drawn diagrams of you pooping behind a dumpster.

jed-laura said...

Не знаев што зборуваа македонски? Ова е прекрасно.

Morgan Hagey said...

I totally did google translate that. HAHAH! Good luck on the marathon running. You're kind of awesome that way.

BrianFlash said...

3:40 - very badass. That would be my goal at Fargo except that I don't see how it is going to be possible for me to run 8:20 miles 26.2 times in a row.

Someday Vermont will come up on my state list!

Kevin said...

I with the poo train and did translate! Good Luck.

The Stiffs said...

Јас не го бара ... Јас само се користи Google Translate. Прв подготвени да посвојат дете што не зборува мојот јазик, има тоа е предност.

Blaine said...

Мојата раса обука во моментов се случува околу, како и мојот Македонија јазични способности.

That pretty well sums up how my race training is going.

heather said...

I <3 Google Translate.

Среќно со вашата раса

The Kyles said...

Good luck! I'll be running a marathon in Vermont in July, It's brand spankin' new - the Mad Marathon in Waitsville. Hope it's as magical as the Vermont marathon!

Team O'Connor said...

So I'm "training" for the Mad Marathon still. My main goal is to just finish. This is my first and I'm scared...really scared. I kind of do hate running so I don't know why a marathon is a goal of mine, but it is, so I must try. If you can't make it I'll take a butt load of pictures and you can paste yourself in there. I'll be thinking of words of encouragement from you while running. Things like, "Carrie, you're weird 'cause we've still never met in person but keep going." I can't wait!

Amy said...

I went to school in Burlington--love that city. Haven't done a full (was set to do Disney this past Jan. but then I got a stress fracture. But I got to cheer on my husband and sister...yay.)Little races here and there for me and then B2B is my main focus.
btw--oddly enough my brother-in-law is Macedonian. True story.
Hope the remainder of your training is free of falls!

kristen said...

My family is from Vermont- and my husband and I have talked about doing the Vermont city marathon...maybe next year?

Good luck!

Tara M said...

I'm getting very close to being ready for my first 1/2 marathon in July. Of course, my ultimate plan for this year is to run a marathon but I have yet to register for one (I figure I should get the half under my belt first). Vermont Marathon sounds like a good time, maybe next year :D

Unknown said...

Mk personal training academy lee croucher today s hit country overview: brant lee croucher s self-released debut album old denton roads a whimsical mishmash of witty, warm, and wistful tracks that dances. Brant lee croucher mcgonigel s mucky duck mcgonigel s mucky brant lee croucher music, lyrics, songs, and videos by brant lee croucher at reverbnation. Lee croucher everything you need to know about lee croucher email addresses, phone numbers, biography, tracks, price, houston, dhl supply chain, dhl, severn trent water. Lee croucher - filmography by year member photo does not exist.lee croucher