May the 4th be with You!

DO Or Do Not, There is No Try!-Yoda

Howdy pardners! How are you? It’s Lincoln Marathon weekend and I forgot to taper (HATE TAPERING!), so no marathon running for me this weekend. My daughter and I are volunteering to help for several hours so I’ll be on the giving end of water, sports drinks, gels, and “runner snacks” instead of the receiving end this year. (Actually once I entered my 50k race for October, it didn’t make sense to run this marathon this year.) Maybe we’ll get to splash some lucky runners with water! 😀

Can we talk about perseverance since Yoda brought it up with Luke Skywalker? I’m 165 days into a crazy runstreak. The last week or so has been a real struggle since a 20 miler (at full marathon race pace) last weekend. My asthma and allergies have flared up a bit this week, affecting my breathing when running. My Garmin displayed words I hate like “recovery level fair” (usually it says good) and 49-50 hrs. estimated recovery until my next run! (NOOOOOOO!) But my body is slowly recovering from that long run and I notched a negative-splitting run today. (Can we please get some warmer weather here in Nebraska? That might help! THANK YOU!) I just keep fighting to keep that streak alive even if I have to resort to “shorty” tiny 1 mile runs at times to catch my breath. (Reminder to self: Breathe deeper and sleep more! I know I haven’t been sleeping enough and when I do sleep it’s been fitful.). I’m napping whenever my wife & daughter will allow me to do so. That helps. I feel like if I can reach 180 days (this month), I can make the 365-day runstreak goal. That’s kind of the halfway downhill point (past the humpback whale or camel if you will) in the year-long streak. If I can run around the world in 180 days, I can run around the world in 180 more.

As you may know, May 4th is known as “May the Fourth [Force]” day to Star Wars fans like me. Really excited about Star Wars Episode VII and the announcement of the full cast that just happened. (Did you see the viral photo?)
Star Wars VII official cast photo!

So for the first year ever, I’ve decided I’m going to remember to celebrate it as a true Star Wars geek should. How will you celebrate “May the Fourth”? and don’t forget “Cinco de Mayo” the next day! I love that those two days are back-to-back, double the celebrations! Is it Geek Week?

Hope you are all doing well. Take care, have a great weekend. May the “fitness sports force” that you love most be with you! Ciao!
~Running Groove Shark

DO or do not, there is no try!

Enjoy this funny Star Wars Medley (several of the great musical themes in one) video from a violinist, Lindsey Stirling (with Peter Hollens), I love to listen to and watch. I used to play the violin but could never play it “on the run” like she does.