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Brutal RF run - Whitetail + Hoffman

September 27, 2014 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60s -> 80

Comments:
Woke up EARLY to take mom to the airport: had a good chat about my talk with Max last night. 1:30 drive roundtrip, then back to RF.

Left around 9 to run what I hoped to be a BIG run of at least 3 hrs, encompassing all my favorite trails. But when I left, my HR was immediately high. UGH. I thought it was fatigue+stress, so I decided to ignore it and go by feel.

Ran from mom's to the Whitetail mtn bike trail system: a great, hilly, winding 7-mile (or so) trail network in the woods. I felt OK, but not great. Tired and heavy.

After that, I was back on the roads, heading back into town. Felt ROUGH, like I wanted to be done. But I channeled some KacR and patched myself up (with a Deuce at McDs), then headed to Hoffman.

Hoffman Park is my ALL-TIME classic, favorite place to run. It is a small butte (maybe 250' up) but at the top is a 1709-meter wide trail that's 95% flat and not too technical. I used to do 3-10 laps at a time up there, and just get in the zone.

But by the time I got there, I felt terrible. Grabbed a drink and managed 3 laps up top (8:1x splits - which suck), but I could feel I was working.

From there...I shuffled home. Felt just awful, WTF? Breathing was terrible, even though it was nice and not humid. Near home I looked at the HR: 170!!!

I got done in 2:25 or so. AHR of 157!!! GDamnit!

Obviously allergies as I could barely inhale when done. About an hour after an allegra, I felt normal. UGH.

Rest of the day:

- Errands for mom (mower gas, mowed lawn, replaced flood lights)
- to Brandie's for dinner to hang with my niece+nephew
- another meeting with Max.

With Max at his house, I finally gave him some assessment:

- he learned when he was little that "the formula" for safety+affirmation was being perfect: strong, outgoing, hyper-achiement.
- that he changed from when I met him (age 12) and when we became friends (14-15), around when his dad was abusive.
- that ever since then, it's been all about "The Max Show" - doing this routine to gain esteem, feel good about himself, etc.

But in the past 5-10 years, it's breaking down: "The Show" is never big enough, it always has to be more (marriage, kids, jobs, volunteering). And that even his wife+daughter is a part of the show.

Ultimately, the show needs to end - that he needs to live authentically and honestly: doing good work, but also balancing with what my mom calls "self-care" (being social, exercising, etc).

I then outlined some things I think he should do:

- get off the sleep meds, which are a big part of the erratic behavior
- RUN every day (we talked about how this routine, and "the pattern" helps the brain)
- come visit me: he's NEVER visited me in Oregon in 5 years. In fact, he has NOT been on a plane or out of state in like...a DECADE. Again, he admitted this was a fear ("The Show" would stop).

All in all it was good, and shorter. We hung out for about 90min, then parted ways. Going to hangout tomorrow, including run!