Being the first year for the Canton Marathon I figured it is my duty as a runner and a blogger to write a review. I really enjoyed the event, but there was definitely room for improvement.
The Good: The community seemed to embrace this event and it showed. There was a lot of coverage in the local newspapers and magazines leading up to the race which made the build up very exciting. The spectators were not as plentiful as in bigger races but I was surprised at how many came out given the size of the race. What was lacking in quantity of spectators was made up in quality. The spectators were awesome! They even offered fruit, candy, cooling stations and a "last chance" bar. My favorite spectators were the nuns at the monastery near Malone College.
I was also partial to the spectators at miles 12, 18, 20, 21 and 24 (my family and friends). I have to give a shout out to my nieces and nephews that ran with me and made me feel like a rockstar and my cousin that dressed in a banana suit. I love you all so much! Thanks for the support!
The volunteers were great too. They were ready with water and Gatorade and a smiling face. A big thanks to all that volunteered! There was water or Gatorade at every mile which was great for a June race.
Even the police officers directing traffic offered support as we ran by. The community really came together to welcome all the runners and cheer us on through a difficult course.
The finish line was on the fifty yard line of Fawcett Stadium. As we approached the finish line they announced our names and where we were from. That was a nice touch!
The Bad: The course was surprisingly hilly for an Ohio race. I thought I had trained on hills to prepare but central Ohio does not have the caliber of hills that we faced in this race. The first hill was not as bad as I thought it would be, as it was a gradual incline over five miles. In my opinion. The worst hills were at mile 13 and 25. But it felt like non-stop hill climbing throughout the whole race, when I got to the bottom of one there was another one waiting just ahead.
The course was not completely closed to traffic which can be a little stressful for runners. I had one near miss and another scare during the race. In my opinion the course should have been on less travelled roads that Stark County could easily close to traffic until the end of the race.
The Ugly: Road kill on a marathon course is unacceptable. The Canton marathon course had several along the route. I am a super slow runner and therefore I was not crowded on the course. This made it easy for me to spot and avoid the road kill, but I can imagine some faster runners were not so lucky. At mile 23 I was sure that I was going to join the several rotting carcasses on the road. Luckily, I made
it to the finish!
In the beer tent I mentioned the road kill to a couple race coordinators and they said that they couldn't help it that the city didn't do it's job. My suggestion...have someone with a pick up truck, a spot light and a shovel drive the course early in the morning on race day. I'll say it again...road kill on the course is unacceptable.
Overall: An awesome inaugural event. I was happy that I ran this race and I will be back!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Let's Be Honest
If I'm being honest, and I promised myself I would be honest in this blog, I must admit that I've been lazy. Both in my running and my writing. During the last month or so I've avoided Don't Hit the Wall because I've also been avoiding training and I couldn't justify writing about running if I wasn't actually running.
Why wasn't I running? Good question.
I think there are a couple reasons why I started to slack. I was burned out from the training for Nashville and disappointed in my performance at that race. I also started to feel overwhelmed with anxiety and depression and I began to use how I felt as a crutch for what I did (or in this case didn't do). I felt like I wasn't strong enough or worthy enough to accomplish what I had set out to do. And I was terrified at the idea that even though I intended to honor my father's memory I could fail. I didn't handle any of this very well.
Despite my issues, I still had a race to run on June 17th in Canton. I realized I was in trouble a couple weeks back but rather than working hard, I started trying to gain approval from others for not running the race at all. Apparently, my support system is just too supportive. Time and time again I was told "You can do this Laura!", "Your Dad would be so proud.", "Just take it easy. You'll be fine."
Three days before the race, the race director sent an email offering free deferrals and changes to the half marathon. I thought I had found my reprieve. But when it came time to choose my race I stuck with the marathon, despite my concerns. This race meant too much to me to bail out at the last minute. I knew I was in for a rough day.
The race was extremely difficult. My lack of training started to rear its ugly head at mile 15 and was exaggerated by the seemingly non-stop hill climbing. When I first decided to run this race in January I was certain that the significance of the day would overwhelm me with emotion at the finish line. In reality, I was so exhausted that I only felt relief as I crossed the finish line with my worst finish time to date.
Over the last few days I've been reflecting on the experience and what my Dad would have thought of it all. He probably would have given me a hard time about my lazy training and he would have had no sympathy for my lame finish time. He would have said that if I wanted to do better I needed to work harder. And he would have been right. But he would have been proud that I finished. Running a marathon is hard, no matter how much you train and he would acknowledge that.
I still miss my Dad desperately and I'm glad I have running to keep his memory alive in my daily life.
I've learned my lesson and I promise to work harder!
Why wasn't I running? Good question.
I think there are a couple reasons why I started to slack. I was burned out from the training for Nashville and disappointed in my performance at that race. I also started to feel overwhelmed with anxiety and depression and I began to use how I felt as a crutch for what I did (or in this case didn't do). I felt like I wasn't strong enough or worthy enough to accomplish what I had set out to do. And I was terrified at the idea that even though I intended to honor my father's memory I could fail. I didn't handle any of this very well.
Despite my issues, I still had a race to run on June 17th in Canton. I realized I was in trouble a couple weeks back but rather than working hard, I started trying to gain approval from others for not running the race at all. Apparently, my support system is just too supportive. Time and time again I was told "You can do this Laura!", "Your Dad would be so proud.", "Just take it easy. You'll be fine."
Three days before the race, the race director sent an email offering free deferrals and changes to the half marathon. I thought I had found my reprieve. But when it came time to choose my race I stuck with the marathon, despite my concerns. This race meant too much to me to bail out at the last minute. I knew I was in for a rough day.
The race was extremely difficult. My lack of training started to rear its ugly head at mile 15 and was exaggerated by the seemingly non-stop hill climbing. When I first decided to run this race in January I was certain that the significance of the day would overwhelm me with emotion at the finish line. In reality, I was so exhausted that I only felt relief as I crossed the finish line with my worst finish time to date.
Over the last few days I've been reflecting on the experience and what my Dad would have thought of it all. He probably would have given me a hard time about my lazy training and he would have had no sympathy for my lame finish time. He would have said that if I wanted to do better I needed to work harder. And he would have been right. But he would have been proud that I finished. Running a marathon is hard, no matter how much you train and he would acknowledge that.
I still miss my Dad desperately and I'm glad I have running to keep his memory alive in my daily life.
I've learned my lesson and I promise to work harder!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Nashville Country Music Marathon
Let's talk about Nashville. Phfew! Nashville kicked my butt...physically and mentally.
The Good: The expo at the Nashville marathon was nothing like anything I had seen. In Delaware I walked up to a table under a tent and grabbed the race packets for me, Sam and my dad. Nashville is serious business. We had to bring a confirmation letter that they had sent us a few weeks earlier, show our ID and there was no chance I could get my brother's packet for him. Entering in the convention center we were immediately corralled down stairs and through walkways like a herd of cows. I think they were preparing us for the race. We walked for about ten minutes through this obstacle course before we actually entered the expo. The expo had a lot of good vendors and a fair amount of free stuff. We got into Nashville the afternoon before the race and the expo was packed. I was able to get my old lady knees taped for free at the KT tape table. I waited forty-five minutes for it and it was definitely worth it!
On the morning of the race we had little trouble finding street parking near the starting line. We stopped in at the CVS and went to the restroom. We were told that the line was much shorter than the port-o-potties at the starting line. I definitely felt like the people that bought the VIP parking and bathroom passes were suckers. Of course, my mom made friends with everyone around us. Sharing our stories and talking about us as if we weren't standing right there to hear it all.
There were 35 corrals. And a ton of people waiting for the start. It was pretty impressive and exciting to see everyone getting ready for the race.
The first half of the course was great. We ran through neighborhoods with lots of supporters and the hills were there, but definitely manageable.
On the full marathon course we got to run around a small park around mile twenty-two or so. There was a good amount of shade and some beautiful birds. This park was so nice in fact that I suggested to Mark that we lay down in a grassy spot near a tree. He was not amused.
There were ample hydration stations and first aid. There were even several spots that had hoses out to cool us down, and with the heat (in the mid-80s) we needed them. I would have been in trouble had I not brought my Fuel Belt with me though. I really do love that thing!
The bands were a lot of fun and they got me pumped up as we ran by them. I was expecting them to be a lot closer together but I was definitely happy they were there. And they were pretty darn talented. Kudos Nashville!
The Bad: The second half of the course was not nearly as scenic as the first. We ran through some cool neighborhoods and as I mentioned before the park at twenty-two. But there was a long stretch where we were on a four lane highway and we also ran through an industrial zone. There was little shade in these two sections of the course and with the sweltering heat that made the race that much more difficult.
In both of these areas as you headed out you could see the faster runners heading back. This would have been a great time to cheer each other on (like we did in Delaware), but no one seemed to be interested in that idea. Well, no one except me and Mark. With 30,000 runners we couldn't find anyone to tell us "Good job!"? Lame.
Yes, that was not a typo. There were 30,000 runners. About 26,000 of them were halfers (as we called them throughout the weekend). All of the runners started together in the 35 corrals. Even though they assign the corrals based on your projected finish time so you should be running with other people at your speed the first half of the race consisted of us weaving through people and looking around to try to find each other and the pace groups (which we lost in the first half of the race). It was pretty crazy and in my opinion they should have started the races separately and maybe have had separate courses.
The Ugly: The weather was beautiful...if you were planning on spending the day sitting in a shady area. As for us marathoners, it was brutal. The heat had a significant impact on my performance. I hope to take a lesson from this and do more training in hotter temps.
The hills. I was not prepared for them. On the elevation map they look pretty insignificant. I was ready for the big ones at the beginning of the race but not the hills at the end. And there were a lot of them.
The walkers. I do not run a particularly fast pace but I was hoping to be able to run most of my race. When we reached the four lane highway section of the course it seemed like everyone started walking. This had a severe impact on my psyche. Now that I look back on it that makes me really mad at myself. This was my race to run. Why would I let the tired people around me impact my will to run? Lame. I hope to take lesson from this and focus on my own running and motivation in my next race.
Overall: After experiencing the Rock and Roll marathon series I will probably try to avoid them if possible. They are very well organized, but it seems like its more about the money than the running. Before this race I was sure that I would prefer big marathons to smaller ones. Now I'm not so sure. I guess I need to run a few more to make a fair conclusion.
I had a lot of fun during this weekend and I'm glad I ran the marathon. It was mentally, physically and emotionally challenging but I'm glad I did it. This race opened my eyes to how far I have to go to get to where I want to be as a runner. It was fun to run with my brother and I'm glad that we had our amazing "Ground Control" team (Ashley and my Mom). They really helped lift my spirits throughout the race.
Just before the start of the race my brother told me that the night before his marathon in Greenville my Dad had called to wish him luck. Mark missed that call but was still able to talk to him. We listened to the voicemail that my Dad left him. We stood there among 30,000 people with tears streaming down our faces wishing that it wasn't a recording, but him standing there with us ready to run. I think he was there but left the running to us.
 |
| Mark and me at the expo. |
On the morning of the race we had little trouble finding street parking near the starting line. We stopped in at the CVS and went to the restroom. We were told that the line was much shorter than the port-o-potties at the starting line. I definitely felt like the people that bought the VIP parking and bathroom passes were suckers. Of course, my mom made friends with everyone around us. Sharing our stories and talking about us as if we weren't standing right there to hear it all.
There were 35 corrals. And a ton of people waiting for the start. It was pretty impressive and exciting to see everyone getting ready for the race.
The first half of the course was great. We ran through neighborhoods with lots of supporters and the hills were there, but definitely manageable.
On the full marathon course we got to run around a small park around mile twenty-two or so. There was a good amount of shade and some beautiful birds. This park was so nice in fact that I suggested to Mark that we lay down in a grassy spot near a tree. He was not amused.
There were ample hydration stations and first aid. There were even several spots that had hoses out to cool us down, and with the heat (in the mid-80s) we needed them. I would have been in trouble had I not brought my Fuel Belt with me though. I really do love that thing!
The bands were a lot of fun and they got me pumped up as we ran by them. I was expecting them to be a lot closer together but I was definitely happy they were there. And they were pretty darn talented. Kudos Nashville!
The Bad: The second half of the course was not nearly as scenic as the first. We ran through some cool neighborhoods and as I mentioned before the park at twenty-two. But there was a long stretch where we were on a four lane highway and we also ran through an industrial zone. There was little shade in these two sections of the course and with the sweltering heat that made the race that much more difficult.
In both of these areas as you headed out you could see the faster runners heading back. This would have been a great time to cheer each other on (like we did in Delaware), but no one seemed to be interested in that idea. Well, no one except me and Mark. With 30,000 runners we couldn't find anyone to tell us "Good job!"? Lame.
 |
| The start line before the race |
The Ugly: The weather was beautiful...if you were planning on spending the day sitting in a shady area. As for us marathoners, it was brutal. The heat had a significant impact on my performance. I hope to take a lesson from this and do more training in hotter temps.
The hills. I was not prepared for them. On the elevation map they look pretty insignificant. I was ready for the big ones at the beginning of the race but not the hills at the end. And there were a lot of them.
The walkers. I do not run a particularly fast pace but I was hoping to be able to run most of my race. When we reached the four lane highway section of the course it seemed like everyone started walking. This had a severe impact on my psyche. Now that I look back on it that makes me really mad at myself. This was my race to run. Why would I let the tired people around me impact my will to run? Lame. I hope to take lesson from this and focus on my own running and motivation in my next race.
 |
| Ice for my old lady knees! |
 |
| Celebrating on Broadway with our "Ground Control" team! |
I had a lot of fun during this weekend and I'm glad I ran the marathon. It was mentally, physically and emotionally challenging but I'm glad I did it. This race opened my eyes to how far I have to go to get to where I want to be as a runner. It was fun to run with my brother and I'm glad that we had our amazing "Ground Control" team (Ashley and my Mom). They really helped lift my spirits throughout the race.
Just before the start of the race my brother told me that the night before his marathon in Greenville my Dad had called to wish him luck. Mark missed that call but was still able to talk to him. We listened to the voicemail that my Dad left him. We stood there among 30,000 people with tears streaming down our faces wishing that it wasn't a recording, but him standing there with us ready to run. I think he was there but left the running to us.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Marathon Diet
A lot of people ask me how and what I eat when training for a marathon. I figured I'd share my philosophy, which is in no way scientific or even a proven diet designed to make you thinner or faster. I should probably have put a little asterisk next to the title and a footnote that says *created by a chubby marathoner that LOVES her ice cream!
I have 7 rules on eating while training. They are as follows...
1. I ran 30+ miles this week, but that doesn't mean I can eat whatever I want in any quantity available.
It is easy fall into the trap of "I worked out today, I deserve this Big Mac and Super Sized fries". Especially because the training will make you more hungry than usual. In fact, the only time in my life that I felt a stronger hunger as consistently was when I was pregnant. If I'm feeling hunger pangs come on I usually try to start with a glass of water. Sometimes I'm actually dehydrated and my body interprets that as hunger. If that doesn't work its best to eat raw fruit or veggies. I am often guilty for going for a piece of cheese to snack on. I can't seem to get enough cheese while I'm training. Whether its an apple or cheese (or even fries) try to only eat small portions until you feel full.
2. Don't stock your house with craving food.
For me craving food is anything sweet or chocolate. For my husband it salty stuff like pork rinds and potato chips. In our house the only time we have pork rinds (probably the most unhealthy food you could possibly eat) available is when Sam does the grocery shopping. If its not readily available you are less likely to eat it. If you make a special trip for pork rinds than I don't have any advice for you.
3.Don't fear carbs.
We've all fallen into the low-carb fad at one point or another. It is not time to start the South Beach diet while training for a race. When we were kids my Dad used to ask my Mom to make us spaghetti or some other pasta before a sporting event. He said it would give us energy. He was right. Your body stores carbs to be used as fuel when you're running or doing other cardiovascular activities. Carbs are more easily converted to energy than fat or protein. It is definitely necessary to get your carbs in before a long run, but you should probably opt for whole grain if available and take it easy on the cheese. Except of course if you're eating a bagel, which is also a good source of carbs. It would be shameful to eat a bagel without cream cheese.
4. Green is good.
I seem to crave spinach while I'm training, which is a good thing. It is good to eat green foods and even better to eat them raw. I try to eat as many salads as I can bear during this time, though some sort of cheese always seems to sneak into the salad bowl. I'm not a fan of white salad dressings but if its your favorite and the only way you can stand a salad I say a few drizzles can't hurt.
5. Save room for ice cream.
There really isn't any good reason to have this rule. But I figure that for once in my life I don't have to feel guilty about my love of ice cream so I treat myself. Sometimes I need my husband to give me a friendly reminder of Rule #1 if I start to treat myself too frequently.
6. Eat banana boats.
My mouth is actually watering thinking about eating a banana boat. There is little that will satisfy your hunger after a long run like a banana boat. It's very easy to make. Here's the recipe.
Ingredients:
banana
1/2 c peanut butter
1 tbs honey
1/4 c granola
1. Soften the peanut butter and honey in the microwave. 20-30 seconds should be sufficient.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Peel the banana and coat it with the peanut butter mixture.
4. Sprinkle granola on all sides of the banana.
5. Set on wax paper and put in the fridge.
6. Eat immediately after running and be totally satisfied.
It's as good as it sounds and looks!
7. Eat right away.
Some studies show it is best to eat no more than 30 minutes after running to help replenish your body with energy and nutrients. If you've made a banana boat you have likely been thinking about it for the last five miles of your run and timing shouldn't be an issue.
Most races have a post-race party with food for the runners. After we ran the Delaware marathon the pizza was cold, the ice cream sandwiches were melting and the beer was a bit watered down but my Dad, Sam and I all agreed that it might have been the best meal we've ever eaten.
These are the marathon diet rules I live by. I used to try to diet to try to lose weight while running but it made me feel tired and hungry. Now my primary goal with my nutrition is to make me feel strong and full of energy. Bon appetit!
I have 7 rules on eating while training. They are as follows...
1. I ran 30+ miles this week, but that doesn't mean I can eat whatever I want in any quantity available.
It is easy fall into the trap of "I worked out today, I deserve this Big Mac and Super Sized fries". Especially because the training will make you more hungry than usual. In fact, the only time in my life that I felt a stronger hunger as consistently was when I was pregnant. If I'm feeling hunger pangs come on I usually try to start with a glass of water. Sometimes I'm actually dehydrated and my body interprets that as hunger. If that doesn't work its best to eat raw fruit or veggies. I am often guilty for going for a piece of cheese to snack on. I can't seem to get enough cheese while I'm training. Whether its an apple or cheese (or even fries) try to only eat small portions until you feel full.
2. Don't stock your house with craving food.
For me craving food is anything sweet or chocolate. For my husband it salty stuff like pork rinds and potato chips. In our house the only time we have pork rinds (probably the most unhealthy food you could possibly eat) available is when Sam does the grocery shopping. If its not readily available you are less likely to eat it. If you make a special trip for pork rinds than I don't have any advice for you.
3.Don't fear carbs.
We've all fallen into the low-carb fad at one point or another. It is not time to start the South Beach diet while training for a race. When we were kids my Dad used to ask my Mom to make us spaghetti or some other pasta before a sporting event. He said it would give us energy. He was right. Your body stores carbs to be used as fuel when you're running or doing other cardiovascular activities. Carbs are more easily converted to energy than fat or protein. It is definitely necessary to get your carbs in before a long run, but you should probably opt for whole grain if available and take it easy on the cheese. Except of course if you're eating a bagel, which is also a good source of carbs. It would be shameful to eat a bagel without cream cheese.
4. Green is good.
I seem to crave spinach while I'm training, which is a good thing. It is good to eat green foods and even better to eat them raw. I try to eat as many salads as I can bear during this time, though some sort of cheese always seems to sneak into the salad bowl. I'm not a fan of white salad dressings but if its your favorite and the only way you can stand a salad I say a few drizzles can't hurt.
5. Save room for ice cream.
There really isn't any good reason to have this rule. But I figure that for once in my life I don't have to feel guilty about my love of ice cream so I treat myself. Sometimes I need my husband to give me a friendly reminder of Rule #1 if I start to treat myself too frequently.
6. Eat banana boats.
My mouth is actually watering thinking about eating a banana boat. There is little that will satisfy your hunger after a long run like a banana boat. It's very easy to make. Here's the recipe.
Ingredients:
banana
1/2 c peanut butter
1 tbs honey
1/4 c granola
1. Soften the peanut butter and honey in the microwave. 20-30 seconds should be sufficient.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Peel the banana and coat it with the peanut butter mixture.
4. Sprinkle granola on all sides of the banana.
5. Set on wax paper and put in the fridge.
6. Eat immediately after running and be totally satisfied.
It's as good as it sounds and looks!
7. Eat right away.
Some studies show it is best to eat no more than 30 minutes after running to help replenish your body with energy and nutrients. If you've made a banana boat you have likely been thinking about it for the last five miles of your run and timing shouldn't be an issue.
Most races have a post-race party with food for the runners. After we ran the Delaware marathon the pizza was cold, the ice cream sandwiches were melting and the beer was a bit watered down but my Dad, Sam and I all agreed that it might have been the best meal we've ever eaten.
These are the marathon diet rules I live by. I used to try to diet to try to lose weight while running but it made me feel tired and hungry. Now my primary goal with my nutrition is to make me feel strong and full of energy. Bon appetit!
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