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!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Scioto Audobon...A Running Route Review
I think it was our second or third date when Sam told me he wanted to show me the site of the audobon center that his firm had designed. I agreed even though it was nearly 10 or 11 at night. We drove over to the Whittier penisula that was at the time the location of the police impound lot. After driving past the impound lot we entered a construction zone that was dark, scary and completely isolated. That was the point where the thought ran past my mind. "If he were going to kill me this would be the perfect place to dump my body."
In my defense I had only known him a couple weeks and even though he didn't give the impression of a serial killer I couldn't be sure. Luckily, I am just super paranoid and Sam gets excited about construction sites, not shallow graves.
This construction site became the location for my favorite park in the Columbus, the Scioto Audobon Metro Park. I wrote briefly about running through this park in a previous running route review but I feel as though the Audobon deserves a full review. So here goes.
The Good: Where do I begin? I recommend starting at the docks, just past the park's entrance on the left. You will run along the river for about 1.5 miles and be able to see a wide range of wildlife. The last time I ran there I came face to face with two doe, in the city! There are hundreds of birds that call the Audobon home and if you have a keen eye you are sure to catch a glimpse at several of them. |
| One of three Blue Heron I saw on my run |
The park is impeccably kept by the parks department. I have yet to see any trash or dumping on the running path.
If you choose to take a short detour from the river you can run through the grassy area that is buzzing with bird life as you run by. The park also boasts a huge climbing wall, a very cool playground, a lovely view of downtown, a dog park (complete with an obstacle course) and of course the Grange Audobon Center.
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| The climbing wall |
The Bad: The Audobon is a good place for walks or short runs. If you have a longer run in mind you will need to continue north to downtown.
The Ugly: While running from the Audobon to downtown you will run under a highway (I-70) and a railroad. This area is a little nerve wrecking as it would be a perfect place for someone to hide. I never walk or slow down through there even though I've never seen any sketchy people in the area and there are always other runners, walkers and bikers on the path.
 |
| The view of downtown as you head north from the park. |
Overall: A beautiful place to run or just spend an afternoon. On my last run there I felt my Dad's approval of the scenery, it is exactly the kind of place he would have liked to spend some time outside. Kudos to the Metro Parks for such a fantastic place to play!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
No Seriously...Don't Hit the Wall!
The wall is well known to marathoners. If they haven't experienced it themselves they certainly have heard the stories about hitting the wall. For those that are unfamilar with the wall I'll do my best to explain it. The wall is obviously not a real wall that you run into but a metaphor for the feeling that overcomes you late in a marathon that makes you feel as though your body can't move forward because it is pushing against a wall. It comes at different times for different runners and as I mentioned before it may not even come at all to some lucky runners.
Lately, I've been feeling as though I have hit a wall in my training. I have been doing well on my runs and I've been feeling really good about the physical aspect of my training. But there is something different this time around. Even though I feel good on my runs I don't have as much confidence as I have had in the past in my physical abilities and I'm worried about the strength of my will power to complete a challenge. And no matter how positive the support system around me is, I just can't seem to shake this feeling of impending failure.
At first I was worried about why I was feeling this way. Was I not training enough? Was I obsessing over my speed compared to others? Then it came to me. I've never done this on my own before and I'm scared that I won't be strong enough to succeed.
Since I identified the source of my fear I've been thinking a lot about my Dad and the role he played in completing my last marathon. While we ran I had him on one side of me encouraging me to continue on a little further and my husband on the other side telling me that I was doing great. How am I supposed to finish Nashville without either and Canton with only half of the formula that worked so well before?
Running a marathon can be a very emotional experience in itself. There is a lot of time to reflect on life while training and completing the difficult milestones in the training is the catalyst for a new sense of pride. But nothing compares to crossing the finish line. It is amazing, exhilerating and inspiring. Combining these already strong feelings with doing an activity that inspires memories of my Dad has proven to be one of the most difficult things I've ever taken on.
Lately, I've been feeling as though I have hit a wall in my training. I have been doing well on my runs and I've been feeling really good about the physical aspect of my training. But there is something different this time around. Even though I feel good on my runs I don't have as much confidence as I have had in the past in my physical abilities and I'm worried about the strength of my will power to complete a challenge. And no matter how positive the support system around me is, I just can't seem to shake this feeling of impending failure.
At first I was worried about why I was feeling this way. Was I not training enough? Was I obsessing over my speed compared to others? Then it came to me. I've never done this on my own before and I'm scared that I won't be strong enough to succeed.
Since I identified the source of my fear I've been thinking a lot about my Dad and the role he played in completing my last marathon. While we ran I had him on one side of me encouraging me to continue on a little further and my husband on the other side telling me that I was doing great. How am I supposed to finish Nashville without either and Canton with only half of the formula that worked so well before?
Running a marathon can be a very emotional experience in itself. There is a lot of time to reflect on life while training and completing the difficult milestones in the training is the catalyst for a new sense of pride. But nothing compares to crossing the finish line. It is amazing, exhilerating and inspiring. Combining these already strong feelings with doing an activity that inspires memories of my Dad has proven to be one of the most difficult things I've ever taken on.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
16 Miles in the City...A Running Route Review
Even with the rain and hail it is pretty hard to complain about the weather in central Ohio right now. It is only mid-March but it feels like the end of April. The daffodils are blooming and the flowering trees all have buds that gently sway in the perfect breeze. I live for this kind of weather.
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| A flowering tree along the river downtown |
I've been taking advantage of the weather and getting my baby outside as often as I can. He discovered that even though he is not a fan of carrots, dirt is quite tasty. This week we went on a family run. I'm still getting used to the running stroller and I think it slows me down because I can't swing my arms while I move. At least this is the excuse I gave Sam when he complained that I was running too slow.
This weekend my long run was a 16 miler. It was definitely a doozie, but the weather made it palatable. And to celebrate a great St. Patty's Day run I thought I'd give my readers something a little extra in this post, a review of one of my favorite running routes in the city (so far).
I started at my home in Olde Towne East and headed straight down Bryden/Towne St., through the Columbus Commons to High St. From there I headed south to Whittier and hit the trail head at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. It is about three miles from my house to the park. I ran along the river through downtown, on the Scioto Mile to the North Bank Park. I headed north on Neil Ave. all the way to OSU campus. I did a quick lap on the oval, a stop at the business school and then back tracked to downtown and back home. When I say it was a 16 miler that is a white lie. It was actually only 15.4 miles. I just couldn't convince myself to pass my street when I got there at 15.4 miles. If you could've done it, I need you to start training with me. Here is my take on the route.
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| The view of downtown from the running path heading north from the Audubon |
The Good: This route is a beautiful way to see the city. I ran through four fantastic parks and one of the best campuses that ever existed (I might be a little biased about OSU). But in all seriousness OSU is a great place to run, especially when it snows. The facilities department is quick to plow the walkways which is not always the case on sidewalks or even running trails. Another great thing about this route is that there are a lot of runners and walkers, even on the roads.
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| Downtown Columbus on St. Patty's day...about 12 miles into my run |
The Bad: Since I opted to head north on Neil Ave. rather than continue on the trail I had to stop for traffic quite a bit. It can also get a little crowded at the Scioto Mile because of the swings and benches along the river.
The Ugly: Nothing. I loved every step of this run.
Overall: Scenic and fun, I highly recommend this route. If you only need a few miles start at the Audubon and head north toward downtown. You'll be glad that you did.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Girls + Running = FUN!
While perusing the Canton Marathon website http://www.cantonmarathon.com/ I stumbled across an amazing organization called Girls on the Run. Immediately I knew that I wanted to be a part of their mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. After a very long training session, lots of paperwork and a background check I'm in.
We've completed two sessions and I am hooked! Being at a GOTR session is like stepping into another world. There wasn't really a "getting to know you" phase with the third, fourth and fifth grade girls on my team. Once they knew my name they felt as though they could expose me to their world, which includes a lot of singing, dancing, laughing and quirkiness. You've got to love it when you tell them to run around and act crazy they sing, leapfrog over one another and act like chickens. I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot of fun in the next nine weeks.
Being a GOTR coach reminds me of when I was in high school and I helped my dad coach a fifth grade girls basketball team. I was never much of a basketball player, but I really enjoy that age group and I thought it would be a good chance to hang out with my dad in his element. My dad loved sports. He loved to watch them, play them and coach them. Growing up my dad was always helping to coach or support some athletic program that we were involved in. Now that I am an outcast in the world of pre-teen girls I understand that my dad sought to find a common interest with the tween version of me and for me it was basketball and softball. Smart guy.
We've completed two sessions and I am hooked! Being at a GOTR session is like stepping into another world. There wasn't really a "getting to know you" phase with the third, fourth and fifth grade girls on my team. Once they knew my name they felt as though they could expose me to their world, which includes a lot of singing, dancing, laughing and quirkiness. You've got to love it when you tell them to run around and act crazy they sing, leapfrog over one another and act like chickens. I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot of fun in the next nine weeks.
Being a GOTR coach reminds me of when I was in high school and I helped my dad coach a fifth grade girls basketball team. I was never much of a basketball player, but I really enjoy that age group and I thought it would be a good chance to hang out with my dad in his element. My dad loved sports. He loved to watch them, play them and coach them. Growing up my dad was always helping to coach or support some athletic program that we were involved in. Now that I am an outcast in the world of pre-teen girls I understand that my dad sought to find a common interest with the tween version of me and for me it was basketball and softball. Smart guy.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Franklin Park...A Running Route Review
A couple months ago some of our friends visiting us from out of town and dubbed my husband Mr. Columbus because of his love and knowledge of the city. I guess that makes me Mrs. Columbus. As the newly self apointed Mrs. Columbus I've decided to offer a valuable service to my fellow Columbusonians (or Columbusites?), reviews of popular running routes. I'll try to have one per week from now on.
Franklin Park
The Good: Franklin Park is right in my back yard so I've done a good deal of training there. It is a scenic location where there are always friendly faces around, no matter the weather. I've even enjoyed a free bowl of stew after a 12 mile run in the rain at one of the gardens there.
The Bad: There are hundreds of geese and ducks that reside in the Franklin Park ponds. They come with a few hassles. They don't clean up after themselves and though the park groundskeepers try to stay on top of it there is always a good deal of poop dodging to do. The other downfall of this park is that it only has a mile loop with mile markers. This can be a bit boring for long runs, but there are many other paths that will take you through the other gardens if you want to use a GPS app (like MapMyRun) to keep track of your distance.
Franklin Park
The Good: Franklin Park is right in my back yard so I've done a good deal of training there. It is a scenic location where there are always friendly faces around, no matter the weather. I've even enjoyed a free bowl of stew after a 12 mile run in the rain at one of the gardens there.
The Bad: There are hundreds of geese and ducks that reside in the Franklin Park ponds. They come with a few hassles. They don't clean up after themselves and though the park groundskeepers try to stay on top of it there is always a good deal of poop dodging to do. The other downfall of this park is that it only has a mile loop with mile markers. This can be a bit boring for long runs, but there are many other paths that will take you through the other gardens if you want to use a GPS app (like MapMyRun) to keep track of your distance.
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| This is the sign I taped to my Gatorade last week. I'm pleased to report that it worked wonderfully! |
The Ugly: There are some Gatorade thiefs in the area. Both Sam and I have had our Gatorades stolen from this park on separate occasions. Now that I've got my Fuel Belt back in funtioning order I don't have to worry about that anymore. For those of you that haven't drank the Fuel Belt Kool-Aid (which is actually Gatorade) I've found that if I tape a note to my Gatorade bottle the groundskeepers and other park goers will leave the bottle alone.
Overall: This is by far my favorite spot in the city for a short run.
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| Franklin Park in full bloom. The Franklin Park Conservatory sits in the background. |
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Little Things
It's funny how little things can swing your frame of mind one way or another while you are training. This week I have experienced swings in both directions. Let's start with my long run. Even though I firmly stand by the total awesomeness of the Fuel Belt mine is currently on the fritz. During the frigid weather the plastic on the caps became brittle and broke off. I tried to rig them so they wouldn't open while I was running but I ended up with red Gatorade all over my back. This was not the event that put me in a sour frame of mind during my training, but the history is important to the story.
After putting an order in for replacement caps and a couple additional bottles for the Fuel Belt I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. You see, now that I know how the Fuel Belt has revolutionized my running I was worried about returning to my old training tricks. But I needed to finish fourteen miles so I headed to good ol' Franklin Park with my Gatorade in hand. I was sure to drink some of it before I set it down on my the path and I started my run. It is no secret that the U.S. economy is struggling but did you also know that their is an extremely high demand for Gatorade these days? Three miles later...no Gatorade. Seriously?!?! I'm pretty sure that is exactly what I shouted when I got to the spot where I had left my Gatorade a mile earlier. There might have been a couple expletives in there too.
This is a common thing to happen to runners and it really, really sucks! I've been the victim of Gatorade theft in College Park, MD. My husband and dad both had their Gatorade's stolen during training runs. It's likely that the person doing the stealing is really trying to be a good steward to the environment. They are clearly NOT a runner and they have no idea the impact this can have on your mental state during a long training run. Needless to say that was not my best run.
The little things also make a big difference when I need a boost to keep me moving toward a difficult goal. A couple weeks ago I was struggling through my long run when two little boys started running a long with me. The older bother gestured back to his younger brother who was trailing us by ten yards and said "That's my brother. He stepped in an ice puddle. And you know what else? He cried." I immediately felt bad. "Maybe you guys should head home." I suggested. He agreed, but he didn't listen. They went off to play as I continued on. I passed that spot again later in my run and they were still there. This time they didn't run with me but they waved and smiled. It was very sweet and the image of their faces helped me finish that run.
This week the weather has been glorious. All of the signs of spring are in the air. I even saw some crocuses in bloom which instantly put a smile on my face. Today I got to go on a run with my whole family (including the dog) which was a real treat for me. Linus is very talkative when he's in his stroller and it makes for a pretty entertaining outing. I'm hoping for a lot more of these family training sessions. It makes marathon training feel a bit less lonely.
I get a lot of energy from the support of others. I love to hear "Great job!" from other runners or spectators. At the marathon I ran with my dad I remember it making a big difference throughout the race. During the marathon it was a huge relief to see mile marker 24 and at the Delaware marathon seeing that sign instantly put a smile on my face. While we were finishing our last two miles of the Delaware marathon my dad, Sam and I were cruising along with huge smiles on our faces. I remember that the crowd was kind of thinning but there were three spectators that made a huge difference for me. The first was another marathoner that had already finished and was heading to his hotel. He shouted to me "Great smile! Keep it up you're almost there!" And the others were my Uncle John and Aunt Donna. I wasn't even expecting to see them their but there they were and it was so motivating to see their smiling faces cheering us on.
There is a lesson in the post for both runners and non-runners. For non-runners...leave the Gatorade alone! And say something encouraging the next time you pass a runner on the street or path. For runners...run with a smile on your face, you'll get more encouraging comments from the Gatorade stealers.
After putting an order in for replacement caps and a couple additional bottles for the Fuel Belt I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. You see, now that I know how the Fuel Belt has revolutionized my running I was worried about returning to my old training tricks. But I needed to finish fourteen miles so I headed to good ol' Franklin Park with my Gatorade in hand. I was sure to drink some of it before I set it down on my the path and I started my run. It is no secret that the U.S. economy is struggling but did you also know that their is an extremely high demand for Gatorade these days? Three miles later...no Gatorade. Seriously?!?! I'm pretty sure that is exactly what I shouted when I got to the spot where I had left my Gatorade a mile earlier. There might have been a couple expletives in there too.
This is a common thing to happen to runners and it really, really sucks! I've been the victim of Gatorade theft in College Park, MD. My husband and dad both had their Gatorade's stolen during training runs. It's likely that the person doing the stealing is really trying to be a good steward to the environment. They are clearly NOT a runner and they have no idea the impact this can have on your mental state during a long training run. Needless to say that was not my best run.
The little things also make a big difference when I need a boost to keep me moving toward a difficult goal. A couple weeks ago I was struggling through my long run when two little boys started running a long with me. The older bother gestured back to his younger brother who was trailing us by ten yards and said "That's my brother. He stepped in an ice puddle. And you know what else? He cried." I immediately felt bad. "Maybe you guys should head home." I suggested. He agreed, but he didn't listen. They went off to play as I continued on. I passed that spot again later in my run and they were still there. This time they didn't run with me but they waved and smiled. It was very sweet and the image of their faces helped me finish that run.
This week the weather has been glorious. All of the signs of spring are in the air. I even saw some crocuses in bloom which instantly put a smile on my face. Today I got to go on a run with my whole family (including the dog) which was a real treat for me. Linus is very talkative when he's in his stroller and it makes for a pretty entertaining outing. I'm hoping for a lot more of these family training sessions. It makes marathon training feel a bit less lonely.
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| Crocuses in bloom...Spring is right around the corner! |
I get a lot of energy from the support of others. I love to hear "Great job!" from other runners or spectators. At the marathon I ran with my dad I remember it making a big difference throughout the race. During the marathon it was a huge relief to see mile marker 24 and at the Delaware marathon seeing that sign instantly put a smile on my face. While we were finishing our last two miles of the Delaware marathon my dad, Sam and I were cruising along with huge smiles on our faces. I remember that the crowd was kind of thinning but there were three spectators that made a huge difference for me. The first was another marathoner that had already finished and was heading to his hotel. He shouted to me "Great smile! Keep it up you're almost there!" And the others were my Uncle John and Aunt Donna. I wasn't even expecting to see them their but there they were and it was so motivating to see their smiling faces cheering us on.
There is a lesson in the post for both runners and non-runners. For non-runners...leave the Gatorade alone! And say something encouraging the next time you pass a runner on the street or path. For runners...run with a smile on your face, you'll get more encouraging comments from the Gatorade stealers.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Advice Lady
An interesting phenomenon has been happening lately. I've been getting a lot of questions from female friends and even strangers on running. Form, gear, training habits, diet, you name it I've been asked about it. I find it a little amusing considering that I am not what you would call an elite athlete and therefore not the most obvious person to ask about running. But I do love talking and writing about running, so I'm happy to oblige.
I have a theory on why it is happening..I'm very proud of being a marathoner and I like to show off my marathon shirts as often as possible. As a pretty average looking American woman I think people are a little impressed when I wear my race shirts to the gym and I get a lot of comments about them. The women seeking my advice probably see me as a non-threatening runner who is not so different from them that has achieved something that at times can seem like an outrageous feat. But after hearing what I've done they probably look at me similarly to how I looked at my dad when I was deciding to run a marathon. In 2010 my dad was nearly twice my age and I thought if my old dad could do it surely I could too.
I'm not sugar coating marathon training. It is difficult. But it's not impossible even for us average looking Americans. Of course the training and physical fitness are important, that is why we train. But the most important ingredients to becoming a marathoner are determination, self-discipline and creativity.
In order to dedicate four months of your life to prepare for one day you must be determined. Without determination I don't even think anyone would be able to get started. There are a million reasons to run. that one has to come from you. Once you have the determination to move your tushie you now have to start training four to five times a week which requires the self discipline to get it done even when you don't want to do it. We all have a lot of responsibilities in our lives from parenting to volunteering or work obligations and it's easy to say "I can't train because I have to..." This is where the creativity comes in. You have to be able to figure out how to incorporate training into your life without it taking over your life. If you are worried you won't have the time to spend with your family because you are training ask them to come along. Run at a park where the kids can play or ride their bikes along with you. This can also work to your benefit because they can be your little pit crew, carrying drinks and snacks for the run. Maybe you could use your lunch break to run some of the shorter runs. Or you can do what I consider the hardest life modification of all...wake up early and run in the morning. I have yet to be able to accomplish this one despite the fact it would make my life a lot easier. What can I say...I LOVE to sleep!
Alright Canton Marathoners it's time to muster up your determination, self-discipline and creativity and get your training program going. We are four months from the big day and it is going to be an amazing experience. If your using The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer this weekend you will do your first long run at five miles! Good luck and have fun!!!
I have a theory on why it is happening..I'm very proud of being a marathoner and I like to show off my marathon shirts as often as possible. As a pretty average looking American woman I think people are a little impressed when I wear my race shirts to the gym and I get a lot of comments about them. The women seeking my advice probably see me as a non-threatening runner who is not so different from them that has achieved something that at times can seem like an outrageous feat. But after hearing what I've done they probably look at me similarly to how I looked at my dad when I was deciding to run a marathon. In 2010 my dad was nearly twice my age and I thought if my old dad could do it surely I could too.
I'm not sugar coating marathon training. It is difficult. But it's not impossible even for us average looking Americans. Of course the training and physical fitness are important, that is why we train. But the most important ingredients to becoming a marathoner are determination, self-discipline and creativity.
In order to dedicate four months of your life to prepare for one day you must be determined. Without determination I don't even think anyone would be able to get started. There are a million reasons to run. that one has to come from you. Once you have the determination to move your tushie you now have to start training four to five times a week which requires the self discipline to get it done even when you don't want to do it. We all have a lot of responsibilities in our lives from parenting to volunteering or work obligations and it's easy to say "I can't train because I have to..." This is where the creativity comes in. You have to be able to figure out how to incorporate training into your life without it taking over your life. If you are worried you won't have the time to spend with your family because you are training ask them to come along. Run at a park where the kids can play or ride their bikes along with you. This can also work to your benefit because they can be your little pit crew, carrying drinks and snacks for the run. Maybe you could use your lunch break to run some of the shorter runs. Or you can do what I consider the hardest life modification of all...wake up early and run in the morning. I have yet to be able to accomplish this one despite the fact it would make my life a lot easier. What can I say...I LOVE to sleep!
Alright Canton Marathoners it's time to muster up your determination, self-discipline and creativity and get your training program going. We are four months from the big day and it is going to be an amazing experience. If your using The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer this weekend you will do your first long run at five miles! Good luck and have fun!!!
Face It Head On
Ooouuuch! This is the sound I've been making recently while I run. About two weeks ago I rolled my ankle during a short run. It didn't bruise so I thought nothing of it and continued to train as normal. But a few days later it started to swell badly and was very painful. I've never been prone to injury in the past so I wasn't sure how to treat my ankle. After some research I've started icing it for about ten to fifteen minutes a couple times a day and elevating it above my heart as often as my life will allow me to. Despite the unsolicited advice that I've been receiving from the doctors in my life (none of which are actual M.D.s) I continued to train on it. I bought a ankle brace thinking it would help but it actually causes more pain than relief.
Finally, with only 75% of my long run completed I was forced to call my husband for a ride home due to the unbarable pain originating at my left ankle and shooting up my leg, I've decided to give my ankle some time to heal. In hindsight it seems a little silly to try to struggle through with the risk of further injuring myself but at the time I was scared that I might lose momentum in my training.
Setbacks are a normal thing in training and in life. But in order to be sucessful we have to overcome adversity and push through. Sometimes we just need to stop what were doing and deal with the setback we have been faced with in order to make the obstacle more manageable. Other times it is necessary to adapt and continue on with our lives.
When my dad first passed away I wondered if this was a case of adapting and continuing on with my life. I knew that at first I would be sad and think of him often but I thought eventually my life would return to normal and I would be able to talk about him without tearing up. As the time has passed I still think of him often and there are many things that prompt strong emotions in me. About a month ago I was telling someone about this blog and what I aim to do with it. He seemed a bit surprised when I told him that it wasn't just a running blog and that it is also about documenting dealing with losing a loved one. When he asked me "So your still grieving?" I started to worry that maybe I was holding on and not working through my emotions in a healthy way. For the next few days I was self-conscience about my situation and I sought out some advice. I began reading a book called The Mourners Handbook to help me work through the emotions and feelings that linger.
The book talked about the very situation I had experienced with my friend. Though his question felt calous to me when he first asked me about my grief I started to realize while reading the handbook that many people don't understand the grieving process. It is very common for friends and family members to worry about a grieving loved one. They want to know when their loved one's pain will subside. Will it be a month? Six months? A year? The handbook says that there is no timeline that can tell us when the grief will subside. The important thing is to accept that you must express the grief of your loss at some point. If you hold in the emotions you can harm yourself physically. Failing to mourn has been known to cause migraines and ulcers.
I guess the loss of a loved one is not something to adapt to but something to face head on. Expressing the grief I feel through mourning his loss will enable me to remember him not with sadness in my heart but with laughter and joy for all of the wonderful memories we shared. I look forward to the day when I can talk about him without a waiver in my voice but excitement for his acomplishments. I will get there someday. It might be a month from now, six months, a year or longer but I'll get there. For now, I'll work on the little things. Like getting my ankle back to health.
Finally, with only 75% of my long run completed I was forced to call my husband for a ride home due to the unbarable pain originating at my left ankle and shooting up my leg, I've decided to give my ankle some time to heal. In hindsight it seems a little silly to try to struggle through with the risk of further injuring myself but at the time I was scared that I might lose momentum in my training.
Setbacks are a normal thing in training and in life. But in order to be sucessful we have to overcome adversity and push through. Sometimes we just need to stop what were doing and deal with the setback we have been faced with in order to make the obstacle more manageable. Other times it is necessary to adapt and continue on with our lives.
When my dad first passed away I wondered if this was a case of adapting and continuing on with my life. I knew that at first I would be sad and think of him often but I thought eventually my life would return to normal and I would be able to talk about him without tearing up. As the time has passed I still think of him often and there are many things that prompt strong emotions in me. About a month ago I was telling someone about this blog and what I aim to do with it. He seemed a bit surprised when I told him that it wasn't just a running blog and that it is also about documenting dealing with losing a loved one. When he asked me "So your still grieving?" I started to worry that maybe I was holding on and not working through my emotions in a healthy way. For the next few days I was self-conscience about my situation and I sought out some advice. I began reading a book called The Mourners Handbook to help me work through the emotions and feelings that linger.
The book talked about the very situation I had experienced with my friend. Though his question felt calous to me when he first asked me about my grief I started to realize while reading the handbook that many people don't understand the grieving process. It is very common for friends and family members to worry about a grieving loved one. They want to know when their loved one's pain will subside. Will it be a month? Six months? A year? The handbook says that there is no timeline that can tell us when the grief will subside. The important thing is to accept that you must express the grief of your loss at some point. If you hold in the emotions you can harm yourself physically. Failing to mourn has been known to cause migraines and ulcers.
I guess the loss of a loved one is not something to adapt to but something to face head on. Expressing the grief I feel through mourning his loss will enable me to remember him not with sadness in my heart but with laughter and joy for all of the wonderful memories we shared. I look forward to the day when I can talk about him without a waiver in my voice but excitement for his acomplishments. I will get there someday. It might be a month from now, six months, a year or longer but I'll get there. For now, I'll work on the little things. Like getting my ankle back to health.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Running Play List
There is a debate out there in the running world as to whether or not it is better to listen to music while you run. Some people need the beats to keep them going. Others actually feel that the music can make you go faster. I even found an app in the App Store that suggests a play list based on the speed you are hoping to run. And there are the group of runners that believe that you cannot achieve "flow" while listening to music. Me? I'm a waffler. I do not take a firm stance either way. I have run with and without music and I've had good runs (and bad runs) while doing both. I usually make the decision whether or not to turn on my play list at the last minute, or even after a mile or two. As a general rule I try to do my long runs without because most races strongly discourage or prohibit running with headphones. Today was a super cold and windy day so I decided to use the beats to keep me moving. Last weekend I had the privilege of running with my brother, Mark. It was by far the best run I've had during this training program. It's because of this I feel compelled to make a confession about my own play list.
I realize I give my brother a hard time about a lot of things. His shoes are dorky, his high school summer job was absolutely adorable, etc. But last weekend I did something so wrong I must make amends. While we were running and even after our run I teased Mark relentlessly for his play list. Here's the truth. Even though I laughed that we ran (and danced) to Party in the USA I must admit that I can counter him with MMMBop. I might even say that The Power of Love is a better choice than John Denver's Thank God I'm a Country Boy (or Country Girl...which is how I like to sing it).
I try to hide behind the likes of TV on the Radio and The Black Keys but the truth is I'm a dork too. But the great thing is I'm totally ok with this fact. As my friend Alliree says "Dorks are cool!" I'm willing to bet that some of my readers out there are dorks too. I can't imagine a hipster ever having any interest in my blog. The running play list is about getting you moving and keeping you moving. Hanson accomplishes that goals for me and if Miley Cyrus does it for Mark than that is awesome. So I'm wondering what's on your play list? What is your secret guilty pleasure that gets your butt moving? What is your MMMBop? I might be tempted to add it to my play list.
I'm a dork and I love it.
And so is my little brother!
I realize I give my brother a hard time about a lot of things. His shoes are dorky, his high school summer job was absolutely adorable, etc. But last weekend I did something so wrong I must make amends. While we were running and even after our run I teased Mark relentlessly for his play list. Here's the truth. Even though I laughed that we ran (and danced) to Party in the USA I must admit that I can counter him with MMMBop. I might even say that The Power of Love is a better choice than John Denver's Thank God I'm a Country Boy (or Country Girl...which is how I like to sing it).
I try to hide behind the likes of TV on the Radio and The Black Keys but the truth is I'm a dork too. But the great thing is I'm totally ok with this fact. As my friend Alliree says "Dorks are cool!" I'm willing to bet that some of my readers out there are dorks too. I can't imagine a hipster ever having any interest in my blog. The running play list is about getting you moving and keeping you moving. Hanson accomplishes that goals for me and if Miley Cyrus does it for Mark than that is awesome. So I'm wondering what's on your play list? What is your secret guilty pleasure that gets your butt moving? What is your MMMBop? I might be tempted to add it to my play list.
I'm a dork and I love it.
And so is my little brother!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Maniac #2794
Webster defines maniac as a person with an inordinate or ungovernable enthusiasm for something.
When I tell people that I am training for a marathon I sometimes get a surprised reaction. Some people just don't get it. They want to know why any sane person would want to run 26.2 miles in one day? I guess they might think us marathoners are a little crazy, maybe even maniacs when it comes to running. There are real maniacs out there, I'm not one of them.
To be a Marathon Maniac at a minimum (bronze level) you have to run two marathons in a 16 day period or three marathons in a 90 day period. There are ten levels of Maniacs though. The highest level, Titanium, requires the runner to run fifty-two Marathons or more within 365 days, or thirty Marathons in 30 US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within 365 days, or twenty Countries within 365 days. I would say that the term maniac is fitting for these folks.
You will know a maniac by their singlet. It's yellow with red and black lettering and they wear them proudly during races. The next race you attend as a runner or supporter give the maniacs the credit they deserve. I usually like to yell "Hey Maniac! You rock!"
When my dad first got sick he was pretty down in the dumps. Just weeks before he had run two races in one weekend (a double in maniac terminology) and now he needed help getting out of bed. I wanted to send an email to the Marathon Maniacs community and let them know what was going on with him. I figured maybe some of his running friends could send him a get well e-mail or two to lift his spirits. The response we received was overwhelming. People that had never met him before sent cards, emails, gifts, medals and shirts. They offered to run a mile or a whole race in his honor. He received letters from runners in South Korea, Afghanistan and all over the US. While my dad was in the hospital I read his emails to him which always brightened his day. In the weeks that followed I would call him to ask how his chemo was going and he would share with me the letters and cards he received. The response from the Maniacs made me proud that my dad was a part of such an amazing group of people.
My brother Mark will qualify for the Marathon Maniacs after finishing the race in Canton, OH. I'm really excited for him, I know he has been working hard to get to this point. I can only imagine how emotional it will be for him. This is a race that our whole family plans to attend in my dad's honor, to qualify at that race with our whole family present will be awesome. I'm so proud of our Markie!
The whole family, especially my mom is hoping to meet some of the maniacs in person at the Canton Marathon. Maniacs are busy group of people as you may imagine. I remember when my dad was running races all the time he would plan them months in advance, so he also knew how to train for them. I hope little Ol' Canton will make their calendars.
My dad's Maniac number was 2794. I will wear that number proudly to honor him and all Marathon Maniacs in all the races I run for the rest of my life.
When I tell people that I am training for a marathon I sometimes get a surprised reaction. Some people just don't get it. They want to know why any sane person would want to run 26.2 miles in one day? I guess they might think us marathoners are a little crazy, maybe even maniacs when it comes to running. There are real maniacs out there, I'm not one of them.
To be a Marathon Maniac at a minimum (bronze level) you have to run two marathons in a 16 day period or three marathons in a 90 day period. There are ten levels of Maniacs though. The highest level, Titanium, requires the runner to run fifty-two Marathons or more within 365 days, or thirty Marathons in 30 US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within 365 days, or twenty Countries within 365 days. I would say that the term maniac is fitting for these folks.
You will know a maniac by their singlet. It's yellow with red and black lettering and they wear them proudly during races. The next race you attend as a runner or supporter give the maniacs the credit they deserve. I usually like to yell "Hey Maniac! You rock!"
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10/3/10 - At the start line of the ME marathon, the second in my
dad's double that weekend. This was the last marathon he ran.
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My brother Mark will qualify for the Marathon Maniacs after finishing the race in Canton, OH. I'm really excited for him, I know he has been working hard to get to this point. I can only imagine how emotional it will be for him. This is a race that our whole family plans to attend in my dad's honor, to qualify at that race with our whole family present will be awesome. I'm so proud of our Markie!
The whole family, especially my mom is hoping to meet some of the maniacs in person at the Canton Marathon. Maniacs are busy group of people as you may imagine. I remember when my dad was running races all the time he would plan them months in advance, so he also knew how to train for them. I hope little Ol' Canton will make their calendars.
My dad's Maniac number was 2794. I will wear that number proudly to honor him and all Marathon Maniacs in all the races I run for the rest of my life.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
running in his footsteps
During long runs I repeat a cadence in my head to keep me motivated and moving. One of my favorites is "I am a marathoner and I love to run! In the rain or in the sun, up a hill or down a slope, running far-it gives me hope!". More frequently I just repeat "I am a marathoner and I love to run!" or "I am a mother and I love my son!” over and over on beat with my steps. The other day I created a new cadence unconsciously. It's not very catchy and is a little harder to keep to a beat but for some reason I began repeating a line to a song that I've had stuck in my head. It's not really even a whole line, just a few words. At first I didn't even notice I was doing it. But the other day I realized that I kept repeating "...this newly impassioned soooouuuul...” I knew right away they were the words of a Mumford & Sons song, but I couldn't remember the whole line, the context in which it was used or even the title of the song. After I realized what I was doing I started thinking about these words and why I felt the need to repeat these words while I ran.
While reflecting on these words I started to think about my dad. If I were to say that I have a newly impassioned soul I can pinpoint the moments that led me to it. In my father's last weeks the house was always full. He was surrounded by people that wanted to tell him one last time how much he meant to them and how much they loved him, or just simply sit and hold his hand. The day before he died all six of us kids and my mom were praying next to his bed. My dad was in and out of lucidity. When he would wake up he would always look at my mom and smile. My mom asked him if he wanted to say anything and he smiled and said “I love you” then gave her a kiss. She turned to us and asked us if we wanted to say anything to him. We promised to take care of my mom and each other. I told my dad that we will be his legacy. My brother finished my thought by adding that we will live our lives the way he taught us to. The next morning he died.
It's hard to describe the feelings I felt on the day of his memorial mass. I was sad. No, I was devastated by my father's death but until that day I hadn't had to face the reality of it. There were so many details to complete for the memorial and my brothers and sisters and I lost ourselves in these small tasks. I knew that the memorial would make it more real than it had been in the days before and I was terrified to face it. I remember arriving about thirty minutes early to the memorial. I avoided stopping to talk with anyone on my way to my seat in the front of the church. As I sat there, my right hand holding my husband's hand, my left holding my grandma's hand, I couldn't help but feel the anxiety growing. The silence in the church made my stomach turn. I didn't dare turn around for fear of seeing the empty seats. I was so mad at all the people that had loved my father so much while he was alive. Where were they when it came time to honor his memory? Sam must have felt the tension building in my grip on his hand. He leaned over and whispered "It's so full that people are lining up in the back by the doors." I felt myself exhale for the first time since I had stepped in the church.
After receiving my father’s friends and family members for over two hours I began to reflect on my own life. In fact, in the last three months I have reflected quite a bit on who I am and how I impact the people in my life and my community. What was the legacy that I would leave behind?
This is all is what led me to the phrase “newly impassioned soul”. I feel an obligation to live up to the legacy that my dad left behind but also to be a positive force in the lives of the ones I love and my community. To fulfill this obligation I've made a systemic change in my life. I've made the commitment to always love unconditionally and I've started donating my time. I am now volunteering at the American Cancer Society, Girls on the Run and I am taking a more active role in improving the lives of women and girls through the works of Soroptimists of Columbus and Franklin County. As you know, I've decided to take back the control of my health and be sweeter in my everyday interactions with others. I'm educating myself on the policies that affect my state, city and community and I've been staying in contact with our elected officials on these issues. Most of all, I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to stay home with my son and be able to take responsibility for his growth and development. I can only hope that he will grow up to be a genuinely good person with an impassioned soul. I guess in short I've decided to live fully, love passionately...and run far.
While reflecting on these words I started to think about my dad. If I were to say that I have a newly impassioned soul I can pinpoint the moments that led me to it. In my father's last weeks the house was always full. He was surrounded by people that wanted to tell him one last time how much he meant to them and how much they loved him, or just simply sit and hold his hand. The day before he died all six of us kids and my mom were praying next to his bed. My dad was in and out of lucidity. When he would wake up he would always look at my mom and smile. My mom asked him if he wanted to say anything and he smiled and said “I love you” then gave her a kiss. She turned to us and asked us if we wanted to say anything to him. We promised to take care of my mom and each other. I told my dad that we will be his legacy. My brother finished my thought by adding that we will live our lives the way he taught us to. The next morning he died.
It's hard to describe the feelings I felt on the day of his memorial mass. I was sad. No, I was devastated by my father's death but until that day I hadn't had to face the reality of it. There were so many details to complete for the memorial and my brothers and sisters and I lost ourselves in these small tasks. I knew that the memorial would make it more real than it had been in the days before and I was terrified to face it. I remember arriving about thirty minutes early to the memorial. I avoided stopping to talk with anyone on my way to my seat in the front of the church. As I sat there, my right hand holding my husband's hand, my left holding my grandma's hand, I couldn't help but feel the anxiety growing. The silence in the church made my stomach turn. I didn't dare turn around for fear of seeing the empty seats. I was so mad at all the people that had loved my father so much while he was alive. Where were they when it came time to honor his memory? Sam must have felt the tension building in my grip on his hand. He leaned over and whispered "It's so full that people are lining up in the back by the doors." I felt myself exhale for the first time since I had stepped in the church.
After receiving my father’s friends and family members for over two hours I began to reflect on my own life. In fact, in the last three months I have reflected quite a bit on who I am and how I impact the people in my life and my community. What was the legacy that I would leave behind?
This is all is what led me to the phrase “newly impassioned soul”. I feel an obligation to live up to the legacy that my dad left behind but also to be a positive force in the lives of the ones I love and my community. To fulfill this obligation I've made a systemic change in my life. I've made the commitment to always love unconditionally and I've started donating my time. I am now volunteering at the American Cancer Society, Girls on the Run and I am taking a more active role in improving the lives of women and girls through the works of Soroptimists of Columbus and Franklin County. As you know, I've decided to take back the control of my health and be sweeter in my everyday interactions with others. I'm educating myself on the policies that affect my state, city and community and I've been staying in contact with our elected officials on these issues. Most of all, I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to stay home with my son and be able to take responsibility for his growth and development. I can only hope that he will grow up to be a genuinely good person with an impassioned soul. I guess in short I've decided to live fully, love passionately...and run far.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
C town
My hometown is Canal Fulton, OH. It is an adorably quaint place that boasts great pizza shops and cute ice cream parlors all over town. I have some wonderful memories of Canal Fulton and I met some of the most amazing people in my life there. If you find yourself in Canal Fulton you may end up at the famous Ohio & Erie Canal. The town was obviously named for this small piece of history and us Canal Fultoners are pretty proud of it. My little brothers even worked on the St. Helena III (or IV I can't remember if III sank) and dressed with straw hats and cut off capris. Their attire was much like what I imagine Huck Finn would have worn. I'm telling you, this place is adorable.
Here's a short history lesson on canals if you are unfamiliar with them. Canals are man made and are about four feet deep. They were built to transport goods and passengers throughout the state. Along the canal is what is called a towpath where the horses pulled the canal boat. With the invention of trains there really wasn't a need for canal boats anymore. This is why when my brothers worked on the St. Helena they would shout "Death to the iron horse!" whenever they heard a train passing.
The people of Canal Fulton now use these paths for running, biking and walking. As kids we used to spend a lot of time playing on the towpath and the parks it connected. While we were training for Delaware, Sam and I ran it with my dad. It was just before Easter and the signs of spring were showing on the banks of the canal. It was a truly beautiful place to run. As we run in between the canal and the Tuscarawas River we were greeted with the sounds and sights of all types of wildlife. It was hot that day but it was nicely shaded and the surface was soft under our feet. I remember talking to Sam after the race about how that run was the turning point in our training. It really gave us a lot of momentum and strength to continue on. Even though the scernery was beautiful it was the support of our mentor that made the difference that day. Thanks dad!
My dad did much of his training on the towpath. He adopted the out and back approach to his runs. He would start in the middle, where he would leave his Gatorade, and run a mile out and back. Then he would grab a drink and head the other direction, out a mile and back a mile. This way he always knew a drink was only two miles away at the most. When I started training for the Delaware marathon he advised me to adopt a similar approach. I found two parks where I did the majority of my training, both had a one mile loop that I ran over and over and over and over... It wasn't as bad as you may think. I was able to do most of my training with my husband so I never really got bored with the parks.
Now that I am doing most of my training by myself the one mile loop is starting to get to me. It started to get to the point that I was considering quitting my training. But then I got the little push I needed from my mom. She's really good at giving me a kick in the butt when I need it. She offered to let me use my dad's old fuel belt.
Now, I know that I've said in the past that all a runner needs to run is shoes and Vaseline or some sort of lube (seriously, the lube is sooo important when you are doing really long runs), but there are certainly things that make a runners life a lot easier like moisture wicking clothes, a running app on your iPhone, and let's not forget the fuel belt. A fuel belt is a belt you wear that has water bottles attached to it. It's kind of like a fanny pack on steroids. Of all the running gear you could buy it is by far the dorkiest. I remember when my dad first started using it. He used to crack jokes about how nerdy he looked in it, but then he'd smile and put it on. Sure it's dorky but it totally rocks. I can run anywhere I want with this thing on. I did a seven mile run on Saturday and I didn't even know where I was going to run when I headed out. I ended up running downtown, along the river and back to Olde Towne and it was beautiful. I don't care how dorky I look I love the fuel belt and I don't care who knows it!!!
Here's a short history lesson on canals if you are unfamiliar with them. Canals are man made and are about four feet deep. They were built to transport goods and passengers throughout the state. Along the canal is what is called a towpath where the horses pulled the canal boat. With the invention of trains there really wasn't a need for canal boats anymore. This is why when my brothers worked on the St. Helena they would shout "Death to the iron horse!" whenever they heard a train passing.
The people of Canal Fulton now use these paths for running, biking and walking. As kids we used to spend a lot of time playing on the towpath and the parks it connected. While we were training for Delaware, Sam and I ran it with my dad. It was just before Easter and the signs of spring were showing on the banks of the canal. It was a truly beautiful place to run. As we run in between the canal and the Tuscarawas River we were greeted with the sounds and sights of all types of wildlife. It was hot that day but it was nicely shaded and the surface was soft under our feet. I remember talking to Sam after the race about how that run was the turning point in our training. It really gave us a lot of momentum and strength to continue on. Even though the scernery was beautiful it was the support of our mentor that made the difference that day. Thanks dad!
My dad did much of his training on the towpath. He adopted the out and back approach to his runs. He would start in the middle, where he would leave his Gatorade, and run a mile out and back. Then he would grab a drink and head the other direction, out a mile and back a mile. This way he always knew a drink was only two miles away at the most. When I started training for the Delaware marathon he advised me to adopt a similar approach. I found two parks where I did the majority of my training, both had a one mile loop that I ran over and over and over and over... It wasn't as bad as you may think. I was able to do most of my training with my husband so I never really got bored with the parks.
Now that I am doing most of my training by myself the one mile loop is starting to get to me. It started to get to the point that I was considering quitting my training. But then I got the little push I needed from my mom. She's really good at giving me a kick in the butt when I need it. She offered to let me use my dad's old fuel belt.
Now, I know that I've said in the past that all a runner needs to run is shoes and Vaseline or some sort of lube (seriously, the lube is sooo important when you are doing really long runs), but there are certainly things that make a runners life a lot easier like moisture wicking clothes, a running app on your iPhone, and let's not forget the fuel belt. A fuel belt is a belt you wear that has water bottles attached to it. It's kind of like a fanny pack on steroids. Of all the running gear you could buy it is by far the dorkiest. I remember when my dad first started using it. He used to crack jokes about how nerdy he looked in it, but then he'd smile and put it on. Sure it's dorky but it totally rocks. I can run anywhere I want with this thing on. I did a seven mile run on Saturday and I didn't even know where I was going to run when I headed out. I ended up running downtown, along the river and back to Olde Towne and it was beautiful. I don't care how dorky I look I love the fuel belt and I don't care who knows it!!!
You might be thinking to yourself that it's not fair of me to embrace the dorkiness of the fuel belt but berate my brother for his nerdy five finger foolishness shoes. Ehhh... Big sisters do a lot of unfair things to their little brothers.
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The St. Helena III. I can't guarantee that the guys in this photo are my brothers, but they definitely dressed just as adorable as the workers in this photo. I love the suspenders Markie! |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Cross Train
I've mentioned in the past that part of my training regimen includes cross training. Up until recently I have been doing Pilates and spinning. I found myself complaining incessantly about my spinning class. Really it's not the class I don't like it's the music. The instructor didn't seem to put any thought into the music for the class. It was almost like she switched her iPod to her "Crappy 90's music" play list and we were off. There were several times when she would actually say "Don't focus on the song, it'll get faster eventually." Really? Don't focus on the blaring music? I even went so far as to ask a friend that teaches spinning to give me her play list in the hopes that I could pass it along to my wayward instructor.
Over the holidays I met someone new. Someone that I strongly believe will change my life. This person is everything I always wanted...in an aerobics instructor. She encompasses all the qualities I have been trying to achieve my entire life. She's tall, blond and skinny. When this woman walks into a Walmart everyone would turn to look at her and say "Hey, there goes a Pilates instructor." I'm certain they would say this even if they had no idea what Pilates was. She substituted for my regular Pilates instructor over the holidays and I discovered that she not only taught Pilates, but spinning, step and core classes.
It was a no brainer. Leave Crappy 90's spinning for one of her classes at the same time.
The class? It is called Cutting Edge Core. I had know idea what it was or what it would entail but I figured I would give it a try. So I went. I was so excited that I was actually the first person there. When an older man came through the doors I introduced myself and asked him what equipment I would need for the class. He explained to me that we would need a BUSO. A BUSO is essentially half of a balance ball that you use in Pilates that is placed on a mount. It looks like the bubble in the middle of the game Trouble and I must admit I thought it would be a lot of fun to jump on. I would learn otherwise.
As he was helping me pull out a BUSO for the class she came in, the instructor. She seemed excited to see me and shook my hand to introduce herself to me. I didn't bother to tell her we had met before. I figured her classes are full of short, chubby, brunettes that are trying to figure out how to get those genetics to rub off. She informed us that we were using not one, but two BUSOs in today's class. Oh boy!
So here is a short description of the class. I attempted to get on the BUSOs to do the exercise being demonstrated, I fell off. I tried, I fell off. This continued for one full hour.
At the end of the class the instructor came over to ask me how I liked it. I smiled and told her it was very challenging. She told me that it never gets easier. I thought to myself that she never wanted me to come back. She must have seen the terror in my face and said it does become more doable, but it will always be challenging. Ok...I'm up for the challenge.
Over the holidays I met someone new. Someone that I strongly believe will change my life. This person is everything I always wanted...in an aerobics instructor. She encompasses all the qualities I have been trying to achieve my entire life. She's tall, blond and skinny. When this woman walks into a Walmart everyone would turn to look at her and say "Hey, there goes a Pilates instructor." I'm certain they would say this even if they had no idea what Pilates was. She substituted for my regular Pilates instructor over the holidays and I discovered that she not only taught Pilates, but spinning, step and core classes.
It was a no brainer. Leave Crappy 90's spinning for one of her classes at the same time.
The class? It is called Cutting Edge Core. I had know idea what it was or what it would entail but I figured I would give it a try. So I went. I was so excited that I was actually the first person there. When an older man came through the doors I introduced myself and asked him what equipment I would need for the class. He explained to me that we would need a BUSO. A BUSO is essentially half of a balance ball that you use in Pilates that is placed on a mount. It looks like the bubble in the middle of the game Trouble and I must admit I thought it would be a lot of fun to jump on. I would learn otherwise.
As he was helping me pull out a BUSO for the class she came in, the instructor. She seemed excited to see me and shook my hand to introduce herself to me. I didn't bother to tell her we had met before. I figured her classes are full of short, chubby, brunettes that are trying to figure out how to get those genetics to rub off. She informed us that we were using not one, but two BUSOs in today's class. Oh boy!
So here is a short description of the class. I attempted to get on the BUSOs to do the exercise being demonstrated, I fell off. I tried, I fell off. This continued for one full hour.
At the end of the class the instructor came over to ask me how I liked it. I smiled and told her it was very challenging. She told me that it never gets easier. I thought to myself that she never wanted me to come back. She must have seen the terror in my face and said it does become more doable, but it will always be challenging. Ok...I'm up for the challenge.
This weekend I did some extra cross training. My wonderful in-laws gave me admission to a Pilates for runners class at their gym. So this past Saturday I left Sam with instructions on the baby and headed out. I won't bore you with all the details of the class but I do want to share some truly awesome stretch/massages that I learned. We used a foam roller in the class which is a three foot long cylinder that is about eight inches in diameter. After a run the instructor suggested laying on top of the roller and supporting yourself in a plank position and rolling over the quads and shins. Then move to your side and massage the outer thigh or IT band. This is the massage I am demonstrating in the photo below (I'm trying hard to smile through it!). And finally roll over to massage the hamstring. I must warn you it will hurt like a mother, especially the IT band massage. You will probably hate me and swear that you will never read my blog again while you are doing the massage. But when its over you'll love me again. Trust me.
P.S. A couple of you have complained that you are following my blog but aren't getting notifications of new posts. The "Subscribe" button to the right should resolve that issue. If you want email notifications of new posts you can subscribe to get them by entering your email there. I aim to please.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Dave Weber's Words of Wisdom
Lately I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I recently read a couple suggestions on how to fall asleep fast and stay asleep all night and I thought I would try some of them out. One of the suggestions is to exercise an hour or two before bed. I thought this was a great idea, I could get my runs in and resolve my sleeping problem once and for all. The first night it worked well and I was convinced this was my ticket to living a healthier and more restful life.
Tonight...well, tonight did not go as planned.
Why, you ask. It's a kind of funny and slightly gross story. I have been trying to find a suitable beer battered fish recipe for months (if you know one please email me) and thought I would test one out tonight. Review: If I was being generous I would say it was bland and heavy. The photo below is NOT what our dish looked like. I waited 1.5 hours before deciding to get my training in for the day.
Wednesday's call for speed training. The speed training consists of quarter mile splits run in 2-2:25 minutes. Tonight I needed to run 7 of them. After 4 splits I felt like my failed fish and chips were going to make a reappearance. I had a horrifying flash of me cleaning the treadmill while it was still going. I stopped running at that point.
While I was traveling for work I used to talk to my dad almost every night about my training. I was struggling with a grueling work schedule to get my runs in. One night, I told my dad how I had just finished dinner and was going to hit the treadmill. He told me then that I should always run before I eat. He said that I wouldn't get a good run in if I ate first. To a reasonable person this seems to be common sense. Apparently, I am not a reasonable person.
To all the both reasonable and unreasonable people that aspire to move their tushies a little faster one day, I hope you enjoyed my dad's words of wisdom. As for me, I am going to get my runs in during the day and I'm planning on reading an extremely boring book before bed. Suggestions?
Tonight...well, tonight did not go as planned.
Why, you ask. It's a kind of funny and slightly gross story. I have been trying to find a suitable beer battered fish recipe for months (if you know one please email me) and thought I would test one out tonight. Review: If I was being generous I would say it was bland and heavy. The photo below is NOT what our dish looked like. I waited 1.5 hours before deciding to get my training in for the day.
Wednesday's call for speed training. The speed training consists of quarter mile splits run in 2-2:25 minutes. Tonight I needed to run 7 of them. After 4 splits I felt like my failed fish and chips were going to make a reappearance. I had a horrifying flash of me cleaning the treadmill while it was still going. I stopped running at that point.
While I was traveling for work I used to talk to my dad almost every night about my training. I was struggling with a grueling work schedule to get my runs in. One night, I told my dad how I had just finished dinner and was going to hit the treadmill. He told me then that I should always run before I eat. He said that I wouldn't get a good run in if I ate first. To a reasonable person this seems to be common sense. Apparently, I am not a reasonable person.
To all the both reasonable and unreasonable people that aspire to move their tushies a little faster one day, I hope you enjoyed my dad's words of wisdom. As for me, I am going to get my runs in during the day and I'm planning on reading an extremely boring book before bed. Suggestions?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Just Like Starting Over
Four months to the race! This week was the first official week of my marathon training. All the running I've done up to this point has been what I would like to call my psych up phase. This is the real deal now.
The last time I trained I used a training schedule called The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer (TNRMT) which I highly recommend for first time marathoners. It of course has a training regimen but it also tons of information about running and how your body will react to it, psychological techniques to training and nutritional information. My Aunt Margaret used it when she trained for her race and recommended it to my dad who recommended it to me, and my husband and my brother and my brother-in-law. Suffice it to say it is highly recommended by our family.
In my quest to improve my race time I've acquired another training book that I've decided to use this time around. It's called 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon. It has training regimens for a 4-hour, 4:15, 4:30 and 4:45 hour marathon. I'm shooting for 4:30 for my race in Nashville. However, I'm not as impressed with this book. Sure it talks about what to eat and wear but it doesn't include the all important mental aspect of running the race. So I've decided to reference TNRMT throughout my training.
I must admit my first week of training did not go off without a hitch. The training schedule is as follows: Monday - run, Tuesday - cross train, Wednesday - speed training, Thursday - run or cross train, Friday - rest, Saturday - long run, Sunday - rest. I got everything in...just not on the scheduled days. As a mommy I have responsibilities to my son. He always comes first. Linus did not feel well this week and fitting training in proved to be a challenge. But like I said I got it all in. And I can feel it.
I'm trying to be careful not to fall into the trap of saying I couldn't run because Linus this...or Linus that. I guess the blog will help me avoid that. I encourage my readers to take me to task if I start to use my baby as an excuse rather than an inspiration.
The first week of training is the hardest in my opinion. Even though the mileage this week is only higher than the taper down weeks it is extremely difficult to get back into the swing of things physically and mentally. At several points during the week I thought to myself "What have I gotten myself into?" and "I'm never going to be able to do this again!" But the first week is hard. It was hard when I trained for Delaware and it's going to be hard this time too. My body hurts because it is trying to makes itself stronger for the next week, and the next and finally the race. I forgot how hard the first week is because it's more pleasant to think about how good I felt in week 10 when I was cruising along thinking how much I like running 15 miles at a time. I know the last sentence sounds crazy but I promise that really happens!
This is a week that I definitely needed my dad to encourage me. It's weeks like these that I really miss him.
The last time I trained I used a training schedule called The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer (TNRMT) which I highly recommend for first time marathoners. It of course has a training regimen but it also tons of information about running and how your body will react to it, psychological techniques to training and nutritional information. My Aunt Margaret used it when she trained for her race and recommended it to my dad who recommended it to me, and my husband and my brother and my brother-in-law. Suffice it to say it is highly recommended by our family.
In my quest to improve my race time I've acquired another training book that I've decided to use this time around. It's called 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon. It has training regimens for a 4-hour, 4:15, 4:30 and 4:45 hour marathon. I'm shooting for 4:30 for my race in Nashville. However, I'm not as impressed with this book. Sure it talks about what to eat and wear but it doesn't include the all important mental aspect of running the race. So I've decided to reference TNRMT throughout my training.
I must admit my first week of training did not go off without a hitch. The training schedule is as follows: Monday - run, Tuesday - cross train, Wednesday - speed training, Thursday - run or cross train, Friday - rest, Saturday - long run, Sunday - rest. I got everything in...just not on the scheduled days. As a mommy I have responsibilities to my son. He always comes first. Linus did not feel well this week and fitting training in proved to be a challenge. But like I said I got it all in. And I can feel it.
I'm trying to be careful not to fall into the trap of saying I couldn't run because Linus this...or Linus that. I guess the blog will help me avoid that. I encourage my readers to take me to task if I start to use my baby as an excuse rather than an inspiration.
The first week of training is the hardest in my opinion. Even though the mileage this week is only higher than the taper down weeks it is extremely difficult to get back into the swing of things physically and mentally. At several points during the week I thought to myself "What have I gotten myself into?" and "I'm never going to be able to do this again!" But the first week is hard. It was hard when I trained for Delaware and it's going to be hard this time too. My body hurts because it is trying to makes itself stronger for the next week, and the next and finally the race. I forgot how hard the first week is because it's more pleasant to think about how good I felt in week 10 when I was cruising along thinking how much I like running 15 miles at a time. I know the last sentence sounds crazy but I promise that really happens!
This is a week that I definitely needed my dad to encourage me. It's weeks like these that I really miss him.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
I Resolve
I dislike it when people say that they don't make New Year's resolutions. I want to say "Oh, really? Are you so perfect that you don't want to take an opportunity to improve yourself in the new year" I NEVER say that, since it is slightly bitchy and I am usually resolving to be less bitchy in the new year. If you happen to be one of those realist that choose to refrain from the resolution hoopla and now you know what I'm really thinking when you tell me you aren't making a resolution, I'm sorry. I think apologizing is what a nicer, sweeter Laura would say in 2012.
In all seriousness, I've had several conversations about being kind and thoughtful, and niceness in general with my mom lately. When you experience a loss of a loved one you appreciate the small kindnesses that people do in a different and more impactful way. A hug, a card, a phone call that in the past may have been forgotten a few days later are now cherished moments during a very difficult time. Losing my dad has changed me in that I feel the need to be more thoughtful and caring to people that need it. I've actually looked back at how I've reacted to death in the past and I've been a little ashamed. In 2012 I resolve to be able to offer a cherished moment of comfort to someone that might need it.
I used to make resolutions that I had no chance of meeting, like being able to wear a size 2 by my birthday in May. And then eating all the left over Christmas cookies on January 2nd. I've changed my ways in my old age. I'm still eating the Christmas cookies, but I try to set myself up for success. Two years ago I resolved to run a marathon with my dad. And five months later I did it! It's still pretty awesome to think about. However, as you may have read in my past blogs, after I completed my race I got fat. Really fat. And lazy. The lesson I've learned from that experience is to make a goal for the whole year.
This year I'm a little worried that I'm returning to my old ways of over reaching my potential, but I have a lot of support and inspiration so I'm going to go for it. My resolution is to run three marathons in 2012. Nashville, TN, Canton, OH and another in the fall (I'm pulling for NYC or Honolulu). Again, I am going to try to use this blog to keep me honest about my three race goal. So I guess that I also should resolve to write regular updates too. I should probably stop there. My resolution list is getting a bit lengthy here. Let's recap...#1 three marathons #2 regular blog updates #3 nice Laura #4 thoughtful Laura. It's going to be a busy year.
Dear readers I'm dying to know what you will do to improve your lives in 2012. Do you have a resolution this year? Who's going to run with me this year?
In all seriousness, I've had several conversations about being kind and thoughtful, and niceness in general with my mom lately. When you experience a loss of a loved one you appreciate the small kindnesses that people do in a different and more impactful way. A hug, a card, a phone call that in the past may have been forgotten a few days later are now cherished moments during a very difficult time. Losing my dad has changed me in that I feel the need to be more thoughtful and caring to people that need it. I've actually looked back at how I've reacted to death in the past and I've been a little ashamed. In 2012 I resolve to be able to offer a cherished moment of comfort to someone that might need it.
I used to make resolutions that I had no chance of meeting, like being able to wear a size 2 by my birthday in May. And then eating all the left over Christmas cookies on January 2nd. I've changed my ways in my old age. I'm still eating the Christmas cookies, but I try to set myself up for success. Two years ago I resolved to run a marathon with my dad. And five months later I did it! It's still pretty awesome to think about. However, as you may have read in my past blogs, after I completed my race I got fat. Really fat. And lazy. The lesson I've learned from that experience is to make a goal for the whole year.
This year I'm a little worried that I'm returning to my old ways of over reaching my potential, but I have a lot of support and inspiration so I'm going to go for it. My resolution is to run three marathons in 2012. Nashville, TN, Canton, OH and another in the fall (I'm pulling for NYC or Honolulu). Again, I am going to try to use this blog to keep me honest about my three race goal. So I guess that I also should resolve to write regular updates too. I should probably stop there. My resolution list is getting a bit lengthy here. Let's recap...#1 three marathons #2 regular blog updates #3 nice Laura #4 thoughtful Laura. It's going to be a busy year.
Dear readers I'm dying to know what you will do to improve your lives in 2012. Do you have a resolution this year? Who's going to run with me this year?
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