Marathon training isn't going so well. Over half way to the Grand Rapids Marathon on October 19th and I am running low on motivation. I've never trained so long for an event. The 8000 Meter Challenge is the closet competition I have come to that matches the difficulty, intensity, and commitment of a marathon. I competed in both 1996 and 2004 but have never been able to finish. 2004 was particularly difficult due to my recent diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes.
It has taken years to learn how to train with this disease. The most challenging aspect is the mental willpower and discipline needed to train when my body isn't cooperating. Testing too high or too low and waiting for my blood sugar to stabilize is the most frustrating. Sometimes I can't wait due to my schedule and just give up and other times I push through and make it happen. This is what worries me. How far can I push myself before I collapse?
So far, I've avoided serious injury. Mostly just aches and pains, especially in my left leg. My friend Doug Lynes at Austin Lake Chiropractic has been an indispensable help in keeping me moving with his adjustments and excellent stretching suggestions. I think I need to add a massage therapist too but really don't have the cash for that right now.
Classes begin on September 2nd and I have a pretty full class schedule. Really excited about getting back into the darkroom and also starting a basic web programing class this semester. I have the book for the programing class and already started reading it and working on some of the exercises. Most of it is pretty basic but I need this class to fill in some of the holes in my knowledge.
Finally finished the design on the next postcard. My friend Andrew at All Star Printing offered to print them so they should look really good this time. I'm aware the the first postcard didn't survive mailing very well. The paper stock I used isn't designed for mailings so it really didn't hold up well. I should be able to mail them by the end of the month. If you are not yet on the mailing list you can subscribe at Red Line Studio.
