TITLE: Itching to Get on The Road Again
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: July 29, 2004  8:05 AM
DESC: a brief layoff from running
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BODY:
And I mean that literally.

I haven't been able to run since last Friday.  This is my longest break
from my running routine in over a year, and I'm really ready to lace
up my New Balances and hit the road again.

However, I am recovering from the worst case of poison ivy I've had
since I was in grade school.  In some ways it is my worst ever.  On
Saturday, I was unable to move about comfortably.  Lying in bed
was nearly as uncomfortable.

How did you get <I>that</I>, you ask?  Let's just say that if I'm ever
on Jeopardy!, and Alex Trebek asks me about my most embarrassing situation,
I now have a really good something to say.  Of course, the answer may
disqualify me from appearing on Jeopardy!, so I may not let Alex know.

If I have to take a week off from running, now is as good a time as
any.  I'm currently training for the
<A HREF="http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/">Des Moines Marathon</A>,
which takes place on October 17.  Any later, and a layoff would
seriously affect my preparation.  As it is, I can use this layoff as
a rest for my body before seriously ramping up my miles in August and
September.  At I can rationalize it as such.  Mostly, I just want to
run.

This will be my second marathon, by the way.  Last October, I ran the
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/personal/chicago-marathon/">Chicago
Marathon</A> for my first.  That was great fun and a great teacher
about running the distance.  I'm approaching Des Moines with a bit
more confidence but also with even more respect for the marathon.
It's funny how learning about tough challenges can affect us in those
seemingly opposite ways.  Hubris and humility often go hand in hand.
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