Colorado is a such a beautiful place. The terrain, the cloud formation, the trails and the running are spectacular. I wish I could say the same about the altitude! It’s amazing how in shape you feel back home only to get up in altitude and feel like you havent run in months because the altitude is making your lungs and body work so hard. Breathing hard running along trails you feel like a rookie. I mean that in a good way but the greatest thing is even when you are suffering and breathing hard, in some big way you are fine and your legs feel like running forever. Along with that, just knowing your body is producing more red blood cells is enough to endure the temporary pain.
After getting in two workouts today, one in the morning and one in the evening, my body has taken in so much water and fruit and good healthy food choices throughout the day. In altitude you have to be careful because the body will dehydrate really fast so you have to stay on top of it. My second workout this afternoon was at 3:30 local time in 93 degree weather and it was a great push and run. Most people always ask me ”why run in the heat?”, but the truth is if you are well prepared, anything is possible. That goes for running and life.
Today as I ran I was thinking about the story Rod Dixon told me several years. Rod Dixon is the New Zealand Olympic marathon runner who participated in a few Olympic Games and was the 1983 NYC Marathon winner. After The Munich Olympics, Rod teamed up with the great runner Steve Prefontaine and they agreed to rent a house here in Boulder to start training for the next Olympic Games and soon after getting everything in order here for their plan, Pre died in that horrific car crash in Eugene, Oregon. Rod told me they were going to run everyday here in Boulder and crush each other to get each other on the Olympic platform for the next Olympic Games and everyone was just devastated. There is a saying Nike has, “Pre Lives” and well yes Pre lives for sure. He is still a legend in the running world and will forever be a legend. What made him a legend? He wasnt afraid to put it all on the line, he just wasnt afraid. I think as runners we are constantly learning to not be afraid and to put it all on the line when it counts. Ultimately this is not just a running lesson but a life lesson. Try to live your life so someday you will die a legend.
Have a great day and keep finding your inner “Pre”
Ryan
