WHAT was I thinking? (And how did I survive?)

So... just learned I have an opportunity to run a fall marathon with a charity group.

In weighing pros/cons, I looked back at my 2006 training plan and wondered WTF I was doing -- and how the hell I survived. Sure, I did a 21 miler, and a couple of 18s... And my time wasn't even awful (4:45) on race day.

But -- and I wish I were kidding about this -- I was running (no joke) 2-3 mile runs, a couple of times a week mid-week, and calling that a training plan!

WHAT WAS I THINKING???

Needless to say, I'm in a much better position now than I was 10 years ago. Is it time for another crack at 26.2?????

Someone please talk me out of this? (Or maybe into it?)

In search of the... change of plans

The quest for the sub-24 5k is being put on hold temporarily... 

My pre-race workouts were exactly as they should've been last week. But that 5k I was supposed to run on Saturday? That turned into a home loan appointment at the bank... I have no regrets about skipping the race.

Image by Colemama

Ok... maybe I have a few regrets.

I was hitting paces in the 6s during my track workouts leading up to this race, and race-day weather was PERFECT.

Unfortunately my timeline for making the big move just got moved up to May instead of July. (Read: I move in 2 months, not 4. Yikes!) So lots of pieces need to come together in the next 8 weeks. That bank appointment couldn't be postponed.

Racing has to take a back seat.

(On top of that, my right foot has been saying "go back to pool running" for a few days... It's about time I listened.)


Last week's plan / actual:

• Monday plan: strength circuit + 60 min bike + stretching
  Actual: Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, level 2 + 60 minutes on stationary bike


• Tuesday: 4 mile run
  Actual: 4 mile run


• Wednesday: yoga
  Actual: 25 minute gentle yoga + 3 mile walk


• Thursday: 3 mile run
  Actual: 3 mile run


• Friday: rest day
  Actual: REST


• Saturday: RACE DAY!
  Actual: A morning appointment with our bank + an afternoon walk (Banking and a walk don't make a very sexy workout combination, but it did feel like an accomplishment to cross a major "To Do" off of the home-buying checklist... Now if only someone will put a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for sale in DC within walking-distance of my new job...)


• Sunday: anything goes
  Actual: 5 mile trail run at Fort Pickens

This week's plan:
My new goal for the next two months is to maintain my strength and run for stress relief.

• Monday: strength circuit + 60 minute bike ride
• Tuesday: 3 mile run or swim
• Wednesday: yoga
• Thursday: strength circuit + swim
• Friday: rest day
• Saturday: 5 mile run or hike
• Sunday: anything goes

How are you doing on your 2013 goals?

In search of the 5k PR (week 7 training)

The quest for the sub-24 5k continues...


Last week's plan / actual:

• Monday plan: strength circuit + 4 mile run or 50 min bike + stretching
  Actual: 60 minutes on stationary bike (Grr... PFing foot!) + 2 circuits of the Fitness Blender 100 rep workout (which equates to 50 reps of each exercise) and I stretched.


• Tuesday: 6 x 800 meter intervals
  Actual: 1 mile warmup + 6 x 640 meters (stupid 1/5th mile track!) at 7:30 pace with 1 lap (320 meter) rest interval... The wheels were falling off by my 5th and 6th intervals (slowed to 7:48 pace. Blergh.) so maybe I'm glad the track is short?


• Wednesday: yoga
  Actual: 25 minute Yoga For Runners from YogaDownload.com + 4 mile walk



• Thursday: 5 mile tempo run + core / I postponed my run to meet up with the Helen Back run group for a nighttime 3-miler through downtown Pensacola. Read: I didn't run 5 miles and I didn't run tempo, but it was good to see my running buddies. Oh... and that nagging crunchy feeling is back with a vengence in my right arch.


• Friday: rest day
  Actual: REST


• Saturday: 8 mile run
  Actual: Thunder. Lightning. And foot pain... The last time I felt this pain, I tried to keep going and as a result, I tore my calf muscle. The wheels that fell off during my run on Tuesday stayed off. All weekend... Zero running. Sometimes recovery is more important than mileage.


• Sunday: anything goes
  Actual: 4 mile walk

This week's plan:
It's time to test my training with another 5k. So this week's plan is to rest - both to get ready for the race and give my aching foot a break.

• Monday: strength circuit + 60 minute bike ride + stretching
• Tuesday: 4 mile run
• Wednesday: yoga
• Thursday: 3 mile run
• Friday: rest day
• Saturday: RACE DAY!!!
• Sunday: recovery

Are you working today or do you have a long weekend?

In search of the 5k PR (week 6 training)

The quest for the sub-24 5k continues...


Last week's plan / actual:

• Monday: strength circuit + 4 mile run or 50 min bike / Jillian Michaels 6 week six-pack workout + 50 minutes on stationary bike (lightning is not my favorite running buddy)


• Tuesday: 8 x 400 meter intervals / I swapped the planned track workout with Thursday's 5 mile tempo run: 1 mile warm up, 2.5 miles at 8:00 pace... (ok... the last mile was 8:30 - my legs and core were exhausted from the JM workout on Monday!) and 1.5 mile recovery.


• Wednesday: yoga / 30 minutes of gentle yoga via YouTube... The first 5 minutes of this video taught me that the past several weeks of sprinting, strength training, and power yoga have been wreaking havoc on flexibility my hips and lower back. I used to be able to do a forward fold... Note to self... must stretch more.


• Thursday: 5 mile tempo run + core / Tuesday's planned track workout: 4 x 800 at a 6:53 pace! (And I did some planks and crunches, too.)



So proud I took a picture of my stopwatch as evidence.

• Friday: rest day / 3 mile walk


• Saturday: 6 mile run / The weather was so good, so perfect for running, that I thought I might turn Saturday's run into a double-digit run. Within a mile, I knew distance was delusional. With track work at the end of the week, by Saturday my legs were dead. D.E.A.D. Dead. I considered postponing. Two voices waged a war in my head over whether it was smarter to run on tired legs to get used to the fatigue or to hobble home and avoid injury. In the end, I kept moving forward. I paused several times to stretch my screaming calves. Ugh. But I ran those 6 miles... (if only barely).


• Sunday: anything goes / 3.5 mile hike at Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

This week's plan:

• Monday: strength circuit + 4 mile run* + stretching
• Tuesday: speedwork: 6 x 800 meter intervals
• Wednesday: yoga
• Thursday: 5 mile tempo run + core work
• Friday: rest day
• Saturday: 8 mile run
• Sunday: fun day - any workout

*Or 60 minute bike ride, depending on how my calf / potential flare up of PF is doing... I suspect this will be a bike ride kind of week...

Are you working today or do you have a long weekend?

In search of the 5k PR (week 5 training)

The quest for the sub-24 5k continues...

Last week's plan / actual:

• Monday: strength circuit + 5 mile run / free-weights + 50 minutes on stationary bike (running in the dark at the end of a 12-hour work day just wasn't appealing)


• Tuesday: hill repeats / 1.5 mile warmup + 8 x 200 meter hill repeats at a consistent 7:30 pace


• Wednesday: yoga / 30 minutes of vinyasa yoga + 3 mile walk


• Thursday: 5-6 mile easy run + core / 5.5 mile run (Sort of forgot about the planks and pushups... Oops. I made up for it with several hours of strenuous manual labor on Sunday...)


• Friday: rest day / rest!


• Saturday: 8 mile run / 8.25 miles cheered on by Wonder Woman (no. really.)


• Sunday: anything goes / 4 hours of trail maintenance on the Florida Trail Association (Yea... I got into a car with strangers and let them drive me out into the woods.)

This week's plan:

Runners at the London School of Economics (circa 1920)
Image source

• Monday: strength circuit + 4 mile run or 50 minute bike ride (I'll gladly run in rain, but not in lightning or tornadoes.)
• Tuesday: speedwork: 8 x 400 meter intervals
• Wednesday: yoga
• Thursday: 5 mile tempo run + core work
• Friday: rest day
• Saturday: 6 mile run
• Sunday: fun day - any workout

What are you working on this week?

I have work to do

This is the face of someone who has work to do...

Finish line at the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 5k

If you've been following along, you know I've been training to get faster in the 5k. This morning at the Pensacola Double Bridge Run, I had my first chance to put that training to the test.

Mile 0.0-1.0: 7:48 pace - Perfect!

Mile 2.0-3.1: 7:40 pace with a sprint at the end - Perfect!

It was that middle mile... 1.0-2.0... the mile involved a highway overpass (read: hill) and a bridge over the intracoastal waterway (read: hill). That mile bit me in the arse.

I powered through.

I ran hard enough that I wanted to hurl at the top of the second hill bridge. But I kept it together and gained speed on the downhill.

And yet... it wasn't enough.

Mile 1.0-2.0: 8:40(ish) pace.

My net time: 25:03.

Cue anger, frustration, and renewed dedication to Tuesday track workouts.

I could blame the tiered starts that left 5k runners weaving through 15k walkers. I could blame the fact that I forgot to schedule a massage this week. I could blame the 2 pounds I gained eating king cake last month. I could blame the fact that it's allergy season.

But I won't.

Clearly track work is helping. I was fast enough to take home an age group award.

But that's small comfort when my time isn't where I want it to be. I have a gap to cover in order to PR. Yes, I know I could sign up for a net downhill course, but that defeats the purpose. I want to be faster.

So... back to the track.

I have more (speed)work to do.

Summing up 2012 (because Miss Zippy asked)

Because Miss Zippy asked six questions summing up 2012 and MCM Mama's answers inspired me to reply... 


Best race experience?

The Gulf Shores Half Marathon might be the best half I've run. Ever.
I mean, really, how many races have parrots and Parrotheads at the water stops?

Best run?

The Blackwater Trail 10k ranks high on my "most memorable runs" list. I was nervous about racing in thick, swampy woods where it's easy to get lost, but once I got going, I had a great time.

My marker-spotting skills were sharp enough that I became the de-facto lead runner in our pack, and I was the only person in the first 2 waves of runners who didn't get stung by a swarm of bees.

Winning a $10 age group award didn't hurt, either.

Best new piece of gear?

Um... do new shoes count? I don't think I've purchased a single bit of running gear this year... Oh wait! My t-shirt from the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half marathon is my favorite new piece of gear because when I wear it, I can tell the story about how I ran behind the sag wagon!

Best piece of running advice you received?

This year I gave more advice than I received, but a reader did stump me with a question about treadmill running... Her dilemma: feeling unstable and not running in a straight line on the 'mill.

I sent the question out into Facebookland and the Twitterverse, and readers responded with some excellent advice:

• Post a quote (or image) about six inches above eye level in front of the treadmill and focus on that. This works like using a visual focus point in yoga to keep you centered and balanced.
• Set the incline to a higher level and set the 'mill to a slow speed. It will feel more stable.

Most inspirational runner?

Meb Keflezighi's grace (both in physical form and in attitude) are an inspiration, and Alysia Montaño's Olympic quote is one that will stick with me for a long time...

Image source

“The flower is.. to me, means strength with femininity. I think that a lot of people say things like 'you run like a girl.' That doesn't mean that you have to run soft or you have to run dainty. It means that you're strong. We are the givers of life."
Alysia Montaño (after winning the women's 800 meter race to qualify for the 2012 US Olympic team)

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?

This was the year of "MORE."

I raced more, traveled more, and spent more time recovering from injury* than any other year since I started keeping records back in 2003...

I'm beginning to think 2013 should be the year of "more rest."
Hmm...
Then again, maybe not. There are races to run and places to see!

*Important note: "More" running did not cause "more" injury. I pulled my calf muscle while weight lifting.

How would you answer these questions?
(Answer in the comments section below, or write your own post and share the link in the comments section.)

The ugly truth

I've been mostly silent about yesterday's Holiday Half Marathon in Point Clear, Alabama because my run, quite frankly, was awful.

I'm still exhausted. Sore. Exhausted. (Did I mention exhausted?) And I don't really want to talk about it. But we can't shit roses and rainbows all the time, so here's the ugly truth...

Smiling near the finish line BEFORE the race...

On Friday I mentioned that I was setting the bar low goal-wise for this race. In fact, I planned to treat it more like a well-supported training run than a race.

For my sanity's sake, I'm glad I did. I could not have raced yesterday if I tried.

I signed up for the Holiday Half a few weeks ago, thinking (Yeah. What was I thinking??) that earlier this year I could run a half marathon with a week's notice, so Why should this be any different?

Why, indeed.

Clearly I was delusional.

Delusion #1: I'm healed from my injury, and that means full speed ahead!

Reality: Aside from pool running, I did almost no running in August and September. I couldn't. My calf and foot needed time off. Unfortunately, time off equals lost endurance.

While biking is an endurance sport, endurance is not like riding a bike. You don't just get back in the game and "remember" how to run for two hours. It doesn't work that way. The handful of easy-paced 9 to 11 milers I finished in November were not enough to make up for months of low mileage.

Yes, I am smart enough to know this. (See low bar for race goals, above.) I am also smart enough to know that I can run a half marathon with 10-mile training runs. This delusion alone would not have sunk my battleship.

Delusion #2: I can handle running in the heat. I do it all the time!

Image source

Reality: Race-day humidity at 90 percent, morning temperatures in the 70s, and bright sunshine on a mostly shade-less course are my triple Kryptonite.

And yes, I'm a Florida runner who should be used to this.

BUT (and this is where reality bites) I'm used to this in July.

The past few weeks have seen temperatures in the 40s, and my long run days were all cool and dry. The weather warmed up only days before the race, leaving me with about as little acclimation as a snowbird fresh off the plane from Minnesota.

TMI (unless you're a runner): During the race I sweat so much I could have wrung seawater out of my clothes. I drank two full 20-ounce bottles of water while on the course, chugged two cups of gatorade at the finish, and still didn't have to pee for an hour after the race.

The result:
I didn't run my slowest half ever, but my pace on the pancake-flat course was about on par with what I usually run for hilly half marathons (think Torrey Pines hill at the La Jolla Half Marathon in San Diego). S-l-o-w.

And I'm sore.

And even though I said I wasn't going to race, I'm still bummed that I didn't have a good run yesterday.

What's your worst race ever?
What's your favorite self-delusion?
How do you deal with a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad run?

Streak vs. Taper

Alt. Title: Race vs. Run

This weekend I plan to run half marathon #4 of 2012.

After injury setbacks this summer, it feels good to be comfortable again at longer distances. I'm not where I'd like to be speed-wise, but at least I'm not broken.

This weekend I also plan to break my 2011 run streak record (42 days).

I wrapped up streak day #39 this morning, and see no reason to quit now. Except... these are highly incompatible goals. This week I should be engaging in that little pre-race ritual we love/loathe: The Taper.

Normally I'd spend the week before a distance race nixing all strength training, cutting back on my mileage, and enjoying a couple of good, long, no-running-allowed rest days. Maybe I'd add a massage for good measure.

I know that I race best when my legs are rested. I know that rest is an important part of a running routine. But how do I rest while run-streaking?!

So, do I quit the streak? Do I streak and let my race suffer? Decisions. Decisions...

When I look at my goals for the year, I see:

• 5 half marathons
• 24-minute 5k
• run-streak

Did you notice that those half marathons have no time goal? Good!
I can run, skip, hop, walk, waddle, or cartwheel my way through 13.1 miles and it still counts toward my goal. Whether I race this race (which was unlikely anyway -- see injury statement above) or I Galloway this race is irrelevant. I don't need to compete in order to complete the distance.

Waddling inspiration!

Now we've got the ingredients to formulate a pre-race taper plan! I'm going to reduce my streak-day mileage to 2 miles or less each day, and I'll waddle* my way through 13.1. Conflict resolved!

*I realize that race purists are turning up their noses right now. "Why run if you're not going to be in peak form?" they'll ask. (Ok. Let's be honest. Those people probably don't read this blog.) Whether they read or not, I counter with two points: (1) I am going to try my hardest... my hardest while streaking and after taking two months off. Call it a training run. (2) Without this half marathon goal, I might not have been motivated to rebuild my distance after taking most of the summer off. Call it a motivating force.

Normally I race. This weekend I'm going to run.
And that's ok.
(I might still get that massage anyway...)

What's your normal taper routine?

Re-drawing the training map

Recalculating route... (said in my best Garmin-sounding voice)

Image source

My training map needs to be re-drawn.

While I was on the road toward two autumn half marathons, my route was clear: 12 miles one weekend, 6 the next. Run up and down some hills. Sprint around the track. Repeat until fully prepared. Reduce speed to a taper before arriving at final race day destination.

Unfortunately my training took an injury detour.

Nearly two months have passed.
My training calendar, hanging on the refrigerator door, still had a series of big 12s circled on Saturdays.

Last weekend, when I was out for my new "long," run (5.5 miles) I felt strong and wanted to push the pace. I had promised myself walk breaks every couple of miles, but wanted to keep going. It took every bit of willpower to slow down and rest when I planned to rest. (This is supposed to work the other way around, no? It's supposed to be hard to keep going, so if I feel good, I should push on, right?)

When I got home, slight throb in my calf, I realized I made the right decision by walking even when I didn't want to. I took it easy, even though my heart really wanted to run sprint intervals. Those sprints - which seemed like a shortcut at the time - would have turned into a much longer detour.

That struggle, between what I think I should be doing - feel like I could be doing - and what I really can do right now, has been eating at me.

So this morning, while I sipped a cup of coffee, I tore my training calendar off of the fridge, got out my biggest eraser, and started writing out a new plan.

If I can follow directions when my map tells me to run up and down the same hill over and over again, 'til I feel like I'm going to hurl, surely I can follow my map when it tells me to slow down, back off, glide around the block, and take walk breaks.

Tonight, with Hubby, I ran a few miles through our neighborhood. Toward the end, he was feeling his oats and started a sprint toward home. I felt a tug in my calf, and chose to walk the last few blocks. I called it a "cool down lap." Because that's what the new map directions say.

Do you rest when it's "doctor's orders" or do you burn the candle at both ends?
Do you revise your training plan?
What is the longest injury recovery period you've ever had?

Time on your feet and tackling 26.2

Yesterday I planned to run long.

I woke up at 5:45 to "beat the heat" (whatever that means when it's already 80 degrees and 90 percent humidity at 6am). Unfortunately I knew I was going to have a dragging-arse day before my feet even hit the floor.

Most mornings I look forward to my long runs. Yesterday neither my head nor my hydration were in the game. (Yes, I know long runs are 90% mental. Yes, I tried every motivation trick in the books. I was still dehydrated and unmotivated.)

Ultimately I got out the door by promising myself that I could walk some... as long as I got out the door. My planned "16 miles or bust!" turned into a somewhat underwhelming "16 miles or 2 hours and 45 minutes, whichever comes first."

Thrilling, no?
Surely the Olympic marathon trials are in my future...

But, in all honesty, sometimes time on your feet is as important as covering a set distance.

And I'm not just saying that to justify a lackluster run.

In my case, I'm working on base-building before marathon training begins in earnest. Hitting a goal pace is less important right now than just getting my body used to being on the move for 3+ hours. Also, I'd like to not hate running (or get injured) before marathon training starts. Forcing a certain pace and distance at this point in the training cycle would be foolish.

Oh wait...
I haven't told you about marathon training yet?

Until now, I've only mentioned this to a handful of people...
I've signed up to lead a pace group for marathon training. This means 16 weeks of 5am wakeup calls. Plus, I not only need to run, I need to run evenly, consistently, and strongly enough to lead others on each and every run.

No pressure.

To be honest, I'm both excited and (more than a little) nervous about this. I've trained for dozens of races before (from 5k to marathon to Olympic distance triathlon) but I've always trained alone. I was only responsible for getting myself across the finish line. If I had a great day, I could roll with it. If I had a bad day, only I would be affected.

I've also led running groups before, but for shorter distances, and with few specific time goals. If I had a fast day, I could lead the pack. If I needed a rest day, I could hang back and someone else would step in to lead.

This marathon training program is new territory.

I'm looking forward to the challenge!

Have you ever trained with a group before? Coached group runs?
What's the best running advice you've ever received?

Dry humor & sweet rewards

Yesterday I went out for a long run, and some funny things happened in that 2.5 hours.

Frozen assets:
Normally I head out the door with a frozen water bottle. In Florida summer heat the bottle melts by mile 3. By mile 4 it's bath-water warm (which is as gross as it sounds).

So I (finally) realized that if I run my first mile or two as a loop from home, I can leave the bottle in the freezer and pick it up mid-run. Brilliant!

"Licking blocks of ice on a hot day." Refreshing but disturbing?
Image source

This is the first time in more than a year that I've had cold water past mile 5.
(Should I be glad I thought of this trick? Or disappointed that it has taken me so long to figure it out?)

Sweet rewards:
90 minutes into the run, my water supply was running low, as expected. I planned to stop at home for a refill, so I decided it was a good time to head back in that direction.

As soon as I turned toward home, I saw a yard sale in full-swing. I scanned the odds and ends, and was about to keep going when, lo and behold - buried among the tchotchkes was... (do my eyes deceive me? is it a mirage?) a lemonade stand!

5-cent lemonade.
Image source

It always makes me smile to see little kids selling lemonade, but under the circumstances, this stand was particularly sweet.

Thankfully I always run with a couple of bucks tucked into a pocket. I handed over a sweaty $1 in exchange for a 50-cent cup of lemonade and told the budding entrepreneur to keep the change. It was a small price to pay for not hearing "eww gross" about my sweatiness a refreshment that made the next couple of miles much, much easier. (Plus, who wants to run with loose change jingling in a pocket?)

Dry humor:
Still, I needed more water.
Eventually I made my way home for a pit stop, where I sweet-talked Hubby into joining me for the last 3 miles.

Hubby runs faster than me.
Hubby runs much faster when I'm into double-digit miles and he's on fresh legs.

I wasn't about to risk injury by trying to keep up with his 5k pace after my half-marathon run. And he wasn't about to shuffle just for the sake of shuffling.

So what did he do?

He ran circles around me.
Literally.

It was hilarious.
(Maybe I was giddy from dehydration? Maybe that little girl spiked the lemonade? Either way - I can't remember the last time I got the giggles during a long run the way I did every time Hubby would lap me.)

Nothing beats a belly laugh.
Image source

Hubby would sprint ahead a block or two, trot back, circle me, and repeat.
And I would chuckle every time.

Under other circumstances, I might have been peeved that Hubby was running laps around me. But yesterday it worked. Hubby got a solid interval workout. I got company for the (always hardest) last few miles of my long run. And we both got a good laugh out of it.

When is the last time you bought lemonade from a child at a roadside stand?
What's your most recent belly-laugh moment?

Sweet treat

What do you get when you take a 14-mile paved trail around San Diego's Mission Bay, add 2 dozen cupcakes, and sprinkle in a handful of friends?

The fitness trail, east side of Mission Bay.

The "runner's bathroom" at Mission Bay.
Is there any doubt that this is a runner's town?

Answer: 1 happy runner.

I've been doing long-run training solo since I moved to Pensacola. Hubby paces me for the first mile or two, then speeds off into the distance.

It was a delicious change of pace to have company for my miles yesterday. Not only did my friend, C, pace me for nearly 2.5 hours, she also provided some post-run treats.

Post-run fuel-party: Homemade cupcakes, milk, almond milk, and water.

When I got back to my hotel, I had just enough energy left to take a shower and call for a plate of room service risotto... Room service can feel like a total cop-out when I'm surrounded by both great restaurants and plenty of friends to dine with, but the run wore me out (in a good way) and I did dine with friends first...  We feasted on cupcakes served from a sidewalk cafe!

I am one happy runner.

What's your post-run food of choice?

Do you train solo or with a group?

2-bit Tuesday

Doubles, pairs, and seconds - today is all about 2s.

Tuesday is usually 2-fer Tuesday around here, with a morning and evening run. Given that this is both recovery week and pre-race week (see double-booking note below), I'm skipping the double run today. However, I'm still doing...

...2 running-related things. This morning I did a shake-out 5 mile run around the neighborhood. Tonight I'm heading to a kickoff meeting for a marathon-training program in which I'll be a pace group leader!

2 races in 6 days - This goes on the list of possibly over-ambitious things I double-booked myself signed up for. Sunday's half marathon was race number one and on Saturday I'll be hitting the trails for race number two. I hope my two little legs don't hate me too much at the end of this... But if I could run every day for a 42-day streak, two races in a week shouldn't be so bad... Right?

2 seconds are all that separated the female winner, Sharon Cherop, from the second place finisher, Jemima Sumgong at yesterday's Boston Marathon. (I cannot imagine how hard those two ladies battled it out for that close finish!)

Speaking of Boston and seconds... Yesterday's marathon win was the 2nd slowest on record since 1985.

What are your two cents?

Very superstitious

I am a science person by nature. I want proof for things. Scientific evidence. I like a well-designed research project that includes case-control standards. I geek out over dissecting the pros and cons of research methods in journal articles.

So.

Why am I still superstitious about races?

A black cat walks into the Cubs dugout during a 1969 Cubs/Mets game.
The feline was "bad luck" for the Cubs, as the Mets passed the Cubs to win the division and then the World Series.
More on the story and image source

I can ignore the hubbub about Friday the 13th, black cats, walking under ladders, and stepping on cracks. But race-day brings out my superstitious side. Some people (most famously, Michael Jordan) have lucky shorts. Some people have favorite foods (case in point: Wade Boggs' winner-winner-chicken dinner).

Some athletic superstitions get downright weird... For instance:

• Changing personal hygiene habits (including the playoff beard and between-inning tooth-brushing)
• Tapping, patting, or kissing the goalie
• Asking for a good, hard slap across the face
• The Sports Illustrated cover jinx or the "Madden curse" (Of course, this is a superstition most of us need not worry about..)
• Ritual dance
• Wearing red (or not wearing yellow)
• Banning peanuts at NASCAR events (Personal opinion: They should ban cigarettes too. My burned arm would have been thankful, but that's another story for another time...)

So I'm not alone in being a little superstitious when it comes to athletic pursuits. (In fact, mine seems downright pedestrian compared with some others...)

My biggest nagging superstition involves "bad runs." I suspect you know what I mean. "Bad runs" are those days when you have every intention of running your long run (10, 15, 25 miles, or whatever your training plan called for) but when you get out the door things just go wrong. Your legs feel like lead. Your stomach heaves. You get shooting pains in ____________ (insert body part here).

Over the years, I've resigned myself to the fact that bad runs happen. In fact, they happen every few months. But no one takes away my "runner card" for one bad day every now and again, so I don't worry about those days very much.

But in the weeks before I race, I start to worry wonder when/if the bad run will hit.

Because here's my superstition:

If I don't have a bad run before the race, my race is likely to be that bad run.

So when I have a huge long-run fail, about 3 or 4 weeks before a race, I do a little cheer in my head: Crisis averted! (The more spectacular the fail, the better. If I have to do the quick-step home for a restroom emergency, I am convinced that my race will be flawless.)

I have no proof for this. No science to back it up.
Hell, it could easily just be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

But I'm glad my last long run was a sweaty slog-fest with some stomach issues. No matter how hot race-day is in 2 weeks, I'll be ready for it!

Are you superstitious?
If so, what's your lucky charm?

Post run sweatpocalypse

You might call it Sweatmageddon.
Sweatpocalypse.
A Sweat Tsunami.

Summer has arrived on the Gulf Coast and my evening 12-miler was a sweaty affair to say the least. Thankfully Hubby was around to document the damage.

Post run: The cold floor tiles feel sooooo good!
Just ignore the puddle of sweat...

Don't judge.

After 2 slow, slogging hours in the sun, I wanted nothing more than to cool off and put my feet up. The floor tiles just happened to be the coldest thing in the house. If I could have taken a nap in the refrigerator, I probably would have.

What I didn't count on was condensation. 2 minutes after laying down, I realized I was making a sweat puddle.

Sexy, I know.

But I'm proud of it.

Today tried really hard to be a no good, very bad day. (I did my fair share of cussing, whining, and complaining, to be sure.)

This morning's thunder and lightning tried to sideline me. My mid-day was steamrolled by project deadlines at work (yes, working on Saturday. Ugh.) and California non-resident tax forms. (Hello California, could you make the forms any more confusing?)

When I went out the door this evening, I was already in a pissy mood. The temperature could have turned me around for home. The heat was just another straw on the bad-day camel's back.

But, knowing I needed a little extra motivation, I packed my mp3 player (rare event unless I'm on a treadmill). I played some of my favorite running songs and just kept putting one foot in front of the other for 120 minutes.

I admit that I wussed out a little and turned down streets for their shadiness or lack-of-hills, rather than tackling a tougher route. I won't claim this was my "best run ever." In fact, there were times when it was downright ugly. (Photo above is an excellent case-in-point...)

I did, truth be told, stop back at home at the 100-minute mark, grab a glass of ice water (my water bottle was bone dry) and ask/beg Hubby to come trot with me for the last 20 minutes.

He obliged.

And then took the photo.

..but it will be harder for him to use it as blackmail now that I've posted it on the interwebs. Heh.

What's your strategy for coping with a bad day?

Washed out

Last night, even after a late date-night with Hubby that involved 3 glasses of wine, I set my alarm for 6am. The coffee maker was programmed to brew bright and early, too.

When the alarm went off, I did not want to get out of bed. But I did, because I have one last long run on the calendar before my 2012 half marathon #3. Today my training schedule called for 12 miles.

I rolled out of bed and poured myself a cup of coffee.

I thought I heard the pitter-patter of rain, so I opened the blinds and saw:

Rain dripping from the eaves...

...but I was determined to go out for a run!

So I started getting ready to head out the door.

And then I heard a rumble.
And another...
And it wasn't my tummy.

Thunderstorms are one of the few things that will keep me indoors.

If it clears up, I'll try again this afternoon. Otherwise it looks like I'm long-running tomorrow.

Are there any weather conditions that will make you change your training schedule?

Cross training challenge - need your input!

It's nearing month-end, and I need to find a new-to-me cross training activity to keep up with Kim at (Just) Trying is for Little Girls and her cross training challenge.

Source: loseweight-safe
via Myra on Pinterest

So far I've done cardio kickboxing and burpees. Over the summer I want to add stand-up paddleboarding to my list, but this month's travel schedule (racing in New Orleans, followed by a 5k in Pensacola, then spending a week in San Diego) made that a bit difficult to schedule. So I'm planning paddleboarding for my April new-to-me challenge.

In the meantime, I have 5 days to find and DO something new.

So, folks...
What new cross-training should I try? (And why do you recommend it?)

2011 in review

Miss Zippy posted a few "year in review" questions and asked readers to respond, so here goes:

Best race experience? Not gonna' lie -- small, local races became my favorite this year as I discovered that my possibility of placing increases in inverse proportion to the size of the race!
Third woman overall in a 5k... I'll take it!

Best run? My best running experience was during a half marathon... Not because it was my best pace ever (far from it!) but because after weeks of hip pain, my feet felt light for the first eight miles, and because I witnessed incredible kindness and encouragement between runners on the course.

Best new piece of gear? N/A.
I don't think I bought anything besides replacement shoes this year...
Oh wait... Headbands! A pack of cheap, cotton headbands from Target saved my dying, sweat-stung eyes on summer runs. Never needed those before moving to the Gulf Coast! (Thanks for nothing, Florida!)

Best piece of running advice you received? I don't know if this counts as a piece of advice, but I've had a helluva lot of fun streaking! I've always taken days off to "recover," but thanks to the gauntlet thrown down by Runner's world, I've run every day for more than 5 weeks in a row. I have a new appreciation for what my body is capable of.

Most inspirational runner? Matt Long, NY Firefighter who was hit by a bus, left with a 5 percent chance of survival. After numerous reconstructive surgeries and excruciating physical therapy, he recovered to run the NY Marathon and complete an Ironman tri. Sort of puts a "crappy long run" into perspective... His book, The Long Run, is one of the most compelling books I've read.

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be? Sweaty. (Thanks, again, Florida!)

How was your 2011? Best run? Best advice?
Fill in your answers in the comments or leave a link to your own blog post!

Caution: chafing ahead

The best thing about training runs is that they give us an opportunity to figure out what works and what doesn't work before race day. With any luck, we'll learn from trial and error about what food, hydration, pacing, clothing, and other strategies work best for us for the distance we're racing.

This weekend I learned one lesson well. (Perhaps a little too well.)

Lesson learned: I will make sure (very, very sure) that I apply Bodyglide or other goo to chafe-prone parts.

In my mad dash to get out of the house on Saturday morning, I forgot this key element of my typical pre-run routine. Now my thighs, toes, and ribcage are very angry at me. They reminded me of my forgetfulness about an hour into my two-hour run. They screamed in anger during my post-run shower. I won't be able to wear a bathing suit in public for at least a week.*

So, to see if there was anything I could do (short of buttering myself like a biscuit in Paula Deen's restaurant), I looked up chafing on MedlinePlus.

I laughed out loud at their advice:

I have to assume this anti-chafing advice was not written by a runner.

• First of all, cotton fabric is the WORST for running-induced chafing. Ok. Maybe wool is worse. But cotton is pretty horrible. I speak from experience.
• Second: The "appropriate clothing for the activity" advice directly contradicts bullet point number 1. There is no such thing as 100% cotton cycling shorts.
• Third: Sure "avoid the activity" sounds great. Oh, wait "unless it is... exercise." What kind of chafing is this person talking about? Ohhhhh.... nevermind.
• Fourth: Clothing stays neither clean, nor dry, on a two-hour run. This is my proof that the author is a non-runner.
• Fifth... Ok. Now we're talking. Which brings me back to my original point: BODYGLIDE.

I suppose it's best that I was reminded of this lesson before race weekend. I made this mistake one time several years ago and wound up with wetsuit chafing around my neck after an Olympic-distance tri. (Sand, salt water, and a mis-measured mile swim made for some raw skin... Try explaining that one to the coworkers. "Really! It was from a race!") You'd think that after a stunt like that, I'd never make the mistake again... but at least this time I goofed up in training and not on race day!

Do you have any anti-chafing suggestions?
Have you ever goofed up royally on a training run?


*For those of you who survived Snowtober and can't imagine going to the beach this week: It is still mid-70s and sunny in Florida... But before you get jealous, just remember: summer here is 3-digit temperatures, mosquitoes the size of your cat, and fog-on-the mirrors humid. We get two, maybe three, weeks of truly pleasant weather all year. Don't be jealous.