Woke up late this morning. Scratchy throat. Feeling rundown but not sick. Just needed an aerobic easy day, in training parlance. I define that to my runners as a pace slow enough to facilitate recovery. The dogs needed to go out and the house was too quiet. So rather than putter around in the silence I reached for the remote. Maybe there were some good sports on TV.
Then I remembered: today is the London Marathon AND the Liegie-Bastogne-Liege bike race. I settled in for two of the best endurance sports moments in a long time. Not one, but two, runners broke the Holy Grail marathon mark of two hours, splitting sub-4:35 per mile for the last ten kilometers. And over in Belgium, a nineteen-year-old Frenchman battled world champion Taday Pogacar for 155 miles before being dropped on the short but extremely steep Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Paul Seixas still finished second.
The cycling was gripping but won't do too much to push sales for The Long Run (see how the mind never stops spinning, even on this recovery day). Yet I'm still trying to figure out how I can leverage Sebastian Sawe's 1:59:30 into something promotional for The Long Run. Bill Rodgers 2:09:55 at Boston in 1975 was considered very close to the limit of human performance. That time would have put him more than two miles behind in London. Even as I type that sentence I realize that this dry, nerdy take is not going to sell books. Not flashy. Certainly not sexy. Need to put my marketing hat on. The connection between The Long Run and where we stand in the current running boom is strong and obvious but needs a little moxie.
I should note here that it's been a very good week for TLR. National Public Radio did a nice interview with me on Monday. The Wall Street Journal said several very nice things about the book yesterday "[t]he joy of running...pulsates through Martin Dugard's The Long Run."
The reviewer even added a nice personal sentiment:
"For all the book’s historic figures, Mr. Dugard emerges as its most endearing character."
This meant a lot. I struggled over how much of my own story to add to the narrative (there's not much). Didn't want to make it about me, so I'm glad I found the right balance.
This week of promotion and podcasts came to an end with a signing at Barnes & Noble in Aliso Viejo yesterday. I was a little self-conscious about standing up to speak. I haven't exactly been living the Spartan lifestyle since Callie passed — chicken enchiladas and lasagna still fill my freezer. But just like I've begun writing again, so I will resume a modicum of personal discipline very soon.
So I threw on some clothes that fit, drove on down to B&N, and spent a lovely hour with a packed house of readers and other good friends. I managed to find confidence, despite my insecurities. There are many photos. I had no idea how gray I've gotten.
The week to come brings more promotional work, as well as league finals in track. My energy level needs to be high. Women's golf and the NBA Championships are on now. Spring Football on ABC. NASCAR and college baseball. I watched Hamnet last night. Really good.
I will leave you with this magnum opus, based on my book and recorded by my good friend Cush. Great title. Words and music speak for themselves. Perfect Aerobic Recovery listening. Peace. Out.