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.

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.