This gem is from LiveLoveFab.com.
The Always Be Prepared Run
by 2 Comments
photo by hentze-orlikowski (via Pixabay)
Those of you who live out east know what you’re getting into when you go outside for a run.
Cold. Icy. Snowy conditions.
Outside of the mountains, northern California is much warmer. It’s the rainy season here, and we’re also in the middle of a drought. That means that, at any given time it may or may not rain.
And that was the forecast as I took off on my 16-mile long run last Saturday: it might rain, or it might be warm and sunny.
So, reluctantly, I dressed for both.
I’m whining, but this actually wasn’t a big hassle. When it’s raining outside, I mainly wear wicking clothing and my 2012 NYC Marathon (the marathon that wasn’t) running cap. When it’s sunny, I wear wicking clothing and my sunglasses.
And this is why dressing for a rainy run should not be a big deal: There’s no guarantee that it’s going to rain the entire time you’re running. Besides, if you have good wicking (read: NO cotton) clothing, then you’re set. Just throw on a hat that will keep the rain out of your eyes.
The more rain gear you wear, the more wet stuff you’re going to be carrying around on your run. Less is more, y’all.
But, UGH, now I have to wear a hat AND sunglasses? And if it gets cloudy, I have to find a place to carry my useless sunglasses.
Also, I do not like wearing hats while running. It’s the one thing I don’t like about running in the rain. I want to be able to see the sky above me. You know, in case I’m about to get attacked by an owl.
Do you kind of want to smack me and tell me to stop complaining? I do.
So off I went, clad in hat and sunglasses.
And it didn’t rain. Not one. single. drop.
So instead of keeping water out of my eyes, my hat kept the super strong sun off my face.
Oh, and I didn’t get attacked by an owl. If I did, I wouldn’t wait until the end of the post to tell y’all.
What is your go-to gear when you’re not sure what the weather will be like on your run?
Running Meme Friday: Smile!
This basically sums up every running picture ever taken of me.
Resolution 2014: 0 to 13.1 – Back on Track
by 1 Comment
Natasha is back with an update on her road from zero to half-marathon! You can find more of her posts in this series here.
![clip_image002[4]](http://irunwithit-pull.453328thrds.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/clip_image0024.jpg "clip_image002[4]")
You haven’t heard from me in a while. It’s because of the polar vortices, snow, a smothering period at the office, and a strong dislike of running in the open bitter cold elements. Yes, there is the treadmill, but when you are training for a half marathon that gets old–quick. Running in the open elements and exploring the city keep my energy flowing and my mind happy. I skipped a few posts (shame on me) because of work, but did manage to get in a few lunch time runs as I intended. Yay!
8 weeks into training and my distance peak on a training day is 5.6 miles. At this stage I should be at 7-8 miles, but hey—I’ve made progress!
My message to you this post is….
1. Don’t give up!
Giving it your best on your first big race is all you can ask for…I could throw in the towel, but I’m going to keep going even if on race day I drag myself across the finish line.
2. Buy an encapsulation sports bra!
If you’re larger than a B cup, after 3 miles of pounding the pavement you really need something that does more than just “compress”.
3. Adjusting the plan is a part of the plan.
I say this all the time, but if you’re flexible and responsive to your body and mind you’ll be better if than if you just gave up because your plan fell apart. When the plan unravels, piece it back together and keep on…running!
4. Run TOWARD something.
I mentioned this last post—and it really works. My DC Ladies on the RUN Club met up and ran to the Lincoln Memorial this past weekend.
What was the best lesson you learned while training for your first big race?
Worries That Only Plague Runners
by 4 Comments
Last Friday, I got sick. Massively sick. The kind of sick that makes you hesitant about being more that 15 feet from the bathroom at any given time.
Aren’t you glad I just put the Mr. Yuck icon up there instead of an actual representation of what I was going through?
You’re welcome.
Come Saturday morning – time for my weekly long run – the massive sickness had not magically subsided. I had a 16 miler on my schedule, which would have been my longest run this year, since my injury, and in this marathon training program.
Would have been.
To be fair, I did consider actually doing the run. I figured that I needed emergency bathroom access roughly every 15 minutes. So I could run a mile and return home. Repeat. Sixteen times.
Instead, drinking ginger ale while groaning miserably on the couch happened.
Other stuff happened to. Please refer to the Mr. Yuck picture above.
And somewhere in between the groans came the worrying. This isn’t some puny 4-miler or even speedwork I was missing out on. This was a LONG RUN. This was one of the bigger long runs.
Up popped the thought that every marathoner is required to think at least once: “Ohmygosh, I missed a run. How will I ever be able to run a whole marathon now? I can’t. I’m going to die in a pool of drool, embarrassment, and lactic acid at mile 15.”
Then I rushed to the bathroom … again.
Here’s the thing, y’all. Running a marathon is a journey of roughly a gazillion steps, and missing a few – or a few hundred – is not going to be the end of the world. Even if it’s a super important run, it’s not as super important as your entire training program.
So I took a breath, recovered from my gastrointestinal disaster, and today, I’m getting back up on the marathon horse. I let my coach know, so we can make the necessary adjustments to my training program.
And that’s it. On with the journey. Because that’s what running a marathon is really about.
Have you ever missed a major run while training for a marathon? How did you adjust your training program?
In other news, my brother has officially entered the blogosphere! It’s called Very Sound Pizza, and it will be all about making yummy pizza and listening to great music. So maybe head over there after your long run…
Running Meme Friday: Kevin Spacey
I’m bringing this one back because I’m so friggin’ excited about House of Cards Season 2!
Also, a good tip for everyone running the Myrtle Beach Marathon this weekend.
Don’t Know Yourself, Decide Yourself
by 2 Comments
Gnothi seauton. Nosce te ipsum. Know thyself.
Since Ancient Greece, teachers, philosophers, and various advice givers have been telling us to know ourselves, as if you are some great mystery, the solving of which is your life’s work.
Well, renowned philosophers, I call shenanigans.
When you’re faced with a decision, you don’t ask yourself, “What would I do if I were me in this situation?”
Because, guess what? You are you in this situation.
So you decide.
And if you look back at your life, it isn’t a deep exploration into all things you. It’s a series of decisions (oh, so many decisions) that have made you who you are.
You don’t discover who you are, you decide who you are.
I did not become a runner through a series of soul-searching exercises. I was not one day inspired to run a marathon.
I decided to become a runner. And then I started running. I decided (albeit, while full of champagne) to run a marathon. And then I did that, too.
It’s through all these decisions that we start to learn about ourselves – to know ourselves.
For example, I now know that I absolutely love running in the rain. How do I know this? I decided to be a runner, then I decided to run in the rain. Then I discovered I enjoyed it.
So don’t sweat the mysteries of knowing thyself. Just make a decision and follow through. It doesn’t even have to be a big decision. Decide to try a new food, a new way of cooking, or a new workout. Follow through and BAM! you know something else. Aren’t you smart?
Decide yourself.
What decisions have you made that have taught you about yourself?
Running Meme Friday: Tempo Miles
Discovery of the week: a stressful day at work is the perfect day for speed work!
On Moving the Badwater Ultramarathon
by 3 Comments
Recently, the National Park Service placed a temporary moratorium on races in Death Valley, which means that the 2014 Badwater Ultramarathon will have a different route.
Now, I would be completely behind this if the races were damaging the environment, endangering indigenous species, or otherwise hurting the park. I mean, the National Park Service is supposed to protect the parks, right?
But the reason for the moratorium has nothing to do with protecting the park. The National Park Service wants to do a study to see if these Death Valley races are dangerous.
Let me save you a few hundred thousand tax-payer dollars: Of course these races are dangerous. Climbing Mt. Everest is dangerous, too, in case you were wondering. Also dangerous: hiking in any forest with bears.
The Badwater Ultramarathon, like all the races that take place in Death Valley, are extreme sports. They are designed to push the human body to the limit. And if you’re not properly trained and prepared, they will push your body past its limit.
And let’s be clear. The Badwater Ultramarathon is an extremely difficult race, but the majority of participants don’t die or suffer grave injuries as a result, and many people have finished it.
Yes, these races are dangerous, even potentially fatal. But why is the National Park Service concerned with that? The risks associated with these races are the responsibility of the race directors, and the runners and cyclists who participate.
All races are dangerous, whether they take place in extreme temperatures or down the street. Is there such a thing as a race that’s too dangerous? Maybe. But the Badwater Ultramarathon has demonstrated for more than a decade that humans are more than capable of completing this race.
And if a race is too dangerous, it’s the responsibility of the race directors, not the National Park Service, to make the appropriate changes.
What do you think about the National Park Service’s decision?
