Swim Like a Fish... Ok, Maybe a Dead Fish

So I've decided that  its time to start listening to the advice of the running gods over at Runner's World and start cross training.  So what cardio workout is more low impact than swimming?  This, I thought, would be perfect since I was always a good swimmer.  Well, times have apparently changed since 1995 when I was on the middle school swim team.  But how can this be?  I can run 8 miles over hills and through a wintery mix?!  My body and my lungs are supposed to be in shape?  So why am I gurgling, gasping and basically drowning before I've completed lap one?

Well, my faithful followers, apparently I'm not as fit as I thought I was.  While I may have come great strides with my running, I'm basically at square one with swimming.  I could just give up and hit the track or a spinning class, but then I would have to admit that I'm just a dead fish.  So, its time to regroup.  The first thing I did was whine to my fit friends.  Their advice? Relax.  It would appear that holding my breath for long periods of time and then trying to exhale and inhale in one short head tilt was not the best idea.  I needed to relax into my stroke and breathe every second stroke (not every 6th stroke like I had done day one).  I also had to cut myself a little slack.  I'm not looking to go to the Olympics here, so it would make sense to slow things down.

So I'm proud to announce that day number two has gone much better.  While I'm still working on feeling completely comfortable  and relaxed in the pool, I feel a million times better than I did on day one.  So back in the saddle I'll go until I can swim like a fishy, and a live one at that.

Message to My New Gym Buddy

Kudos to the elderly man in the neon-white, calf-high socks who lapped me multiple times on the indoor track last night.  I commend you on your years of practice and conditioning.  Enjoy your time as king of the track... for now. Because I've got my eye on you buddy.  It's on.  Oh yes, it's on.

Road to the Corps

Last year at this time, if you had told me that I would one day run a marathon, my reaction would probably have involved hysterical laughing, spraying milk/wine/soda out of my nose and rolling on the floor in a fit of cackling laughter.  For those of you who knew me prior to my new life as a runner, the closest I used to come to cardio was racing to the clearance section at DSW on Black Friday.  I worried about things like stilettos and overpriced jeans, not split times and tempo runs.  I've come a long way this year in terms of respecting myself and my body as well as the new found confidence that I have in myself.  So I have decided that 2011 will be the year that I run a marathon.  I have decided to run the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC.  Suzy and Leo have been drafted as my support team and will be responsible for collecting whatever is left of me at the finish line.

Given the more than 400 marathon choices around our country each year, I had a difficult time choosing the marathon that was right for me.  Other marathons that were on my list were The Disney Marathon in Orlando, The Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati and The Good Life Fitness Toronto Marathon.  I knew I wanted a fun and exciting marathon that welcomed newbies.  I was looking for a marathon in a city that I was fairly familiar with but not in my home town.  But the biggest consideration was the time of year.  I wanted the proper amount of time to train, a good chance of comfortable weather conditions and I didn't want to run too close to my wedding in July.

After looking over all of my options, the MCM was the perfect choice for me.  The date for 2011 is October 30th (a Saturday).  Fall is my favorite season to run (great temperatures & beautiful foliage) and the date gave me enough time to train hard after my wedding.  The MCM also offers an expo the evening before the race where I will be able to meet up with other runners with a similar goal pace.  Since pacing is one of my biggest issues while running, a pacing group is just the thing I will need during a marathon. It will also be exciting to see parts of DC and Arlington that I've never seen before and from a different perspective.

I will be running the Buffalo Half Marathon in May as an early test run to figure out what pace I can shoot for in DC.  So, with registration starting on February 23rd, the countdown begins!

Pizza Hut is Trying to Kill Us!

Ok, so I'm about 90% sure that Pizza Hut is trying to kill us.  Every time I think that a fast food chain can't possibly make a grosser more completely unhealthy "meal" option, they prove me wrong.  The last obesity enabling chain restaurant disaster was the Taco Bell XXL Chalupa.  Weighing in at a whopping 266 grams, it boasts a heart stopping 650 calories and 39 grams of fat. MMMMMM.... heart attack.  But now, Pizza Hut decided that it wasn't enough to just cover a pizza with cheese, fill the dough with shortening (in case you don't know, thats fat), and top the whole thing off with all the fatty low grade mystery meat they can get, they decided to replace the already fat filled crust with cheese-filled breadstick bites. They call this  artery clogging monstrosity the Cheesy Bite Pizza.  The meat lover option will pump your waistline full of 460 calories and 22 grams of fat PER SLICE!!!!  Think of how many slices of pizza most people eat in one sitting.  It's not good.  Oh, and don't bother walking to your car and driving there or even picking up the phone, you can order right from your computer and pay online so as to minimize any type of physical movement.  Awesome.

Pepto Bismol Ice

Ok, so this has pretty much nothing to do with running, but for anyone who has ever had the runner's trots or experienced Emergency Crisis Lockdown Mode, this will make you laugh.

The Bonk

No matter how smart you train, most runners have to face the bonk every once in a while.  Try as I might to avoid it, it's not always possible.  In my opinion, the bonk can be caused by one or a combination of the following issues: Inadequate sleep, improper fueling, dehydration, overtraining or crappy weather.  I've had days where by some mystical alignment of the stars all of these issues occur at the same time.  On days like this, there is no toughing it out or fighting through it.  When you bonk, you bonk.  I think being a runner means that sometimes you have to be flexible.  You can try to plan out your runs and stick to your schedule but you have to realize that occasionally there will be a day where you just have to let yourself be human.  Every once in a while you need to cut yourself a little slack.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that every time you feel a little achy or tired or flurries fall from the sky that you should call it quits and park it in front of the tube.  I'm just saying that sometimes you have to cut your losses for the day and come back strong tomorrow.

If you do bonk, I've found that the best course of action is to fix the problems that caused the bonk in the first place.  Rest up, drink lots of fluids and try to eat something healthy so that you can recover quickly.

Excuses, Excuses...

You can always think of an excuse not to go for a run, but do you ever think of an excuse to not watch TV?  Or not play a video game, not eat another snack or not relax on the couch?  Maybe you do, but I bet way more excuses pop into your head when you’re trying to talk yourself out of a run.  I always think about my never-ending to-do list.  I convince myself that if I don’t go for a run, I will somehow find the key to world peace in its place.  The problem is that what I actually end up doing falls ridiculously short of what I had intended to do.  So, I just end up feeling guilty and lazy.

The truth of it is, most of us, no matter how busy we think we are, have a half hour or hour to fit in our daily run. Especially if you make it a priority.  People always say to me, “I’d love to be a runner, but I just don’t have the time.”  My response is usually something to the effect of, “we’re all busy, if you really wanted to be a runner, you’d do it.”  Plus if you truly don’t think you have time during the day, get up an hour earlier.  It might be rough for the first week, but eventually your body gets used to it.  Not to mention the fact that you’ll feel even more energized throughout the day.

So enough with the excuses.  Right now, at this very moment, someone is busting their ass just to take you out at your next 5k.  So if you don’t want to get left in the dust, hit the roads.

Photo courtesy of Nike

"If you want to do it, all you have to do is do it"

Check out this video about a man's journey from obesity to Ironman and Boston Marathon finisher. This video is truly inspiring. Check it out and then get your bottom off the couch and out the door for a run!





Check out Ben’s website at www.bendoeslife.com also be sure to like his facebook page Do Life

Happy Runner=Messy House

Oh. My. God.  Whose house is this? It can’t be mine.  MY house is spotless. Obsessively-Compulsively clean.  This cannot be my house!  HOW did this happen? WHEN did this happen?  Well the how is easy enough.  It happened because running became a new priority in my life.  When did it happen?  It happened during all of those long runs, Fartleks, intervals and hill workouts.

While running, life and dust still go on.  Somewhere along the road, I forgot about this simple fact.  Perhaps I was a little wrapped up in my own calming, meditative, running world.

I also think that I’ve become a little mellower as I continue to run.  I don’t stress as much about the state of my baseboards or the dust bunnies under the couch because I have bigger fish to fry (i.e. getting faster and running longer).

I guess I’d rather be a happy runner than an anal retentive clean freak anyway.  Although maybe I should break out the Swiffer tonight.  You know, for old time’s sake…

Photo courtesy of Asics.  

Grab Your Flashlight!

As the days get shorter and night approaches earlier, most runners have to make the choice: morning or evening?  Either way most working runners are still running in the dark.  Tonight I took my first after-dark evening run.  I have to say, it was a very different experience from running in the daylight.
The first thing I noticed was that it took a lot more effort.  I was surprised to see that while I thought I was working really hard and running really fast, I was actually running over a minute below my usual pace.  I think this had a lot to do with the added mental strain that comes along with paying extra attention to each step to make sure I didn’t trip, staying extra alert to my surroundings to make sure no one was following me in a creepy, windowless van, covered in airbrushed images of wizards and warlocks and making sure oncoming vehicles could see me so as to not become road kill.

Since I knew that running after dark poses a considerable risk compared to a daylight run, I took some added  precautions.  I made sure to tell someone exactly where I would be running and what time I planned to be home.  I also brought my license, insurance card and pepper spray with me.  To make myself more visible to vehicles, I attached a flashing LED light on my back and I carried a small flashlight with me.  I also wore a brightly colored, reflective jacket.

While running after dark is not my favorite type of run, it definitely beats the treadmill.

Picture courtesy of www.filmsnoir.net

Running Light

I just recently purchased a pair of New Balance WT101 women’s trail running shoes.  Now, let me tell you, it has been a long search to find MY shoe.  I have searched high and low to find the shoe that was built for me.  Low and behold I have finally found it in the WT101.  This shoe is exactly what I’ve been looking for.  It’s incredibly light (only 6.3 oz), low to the ground with a minimal heel to forefoot drop (10mm) and it’s a trail shoe to boot! It’s also pretty stylish in my opinion.

I’ve been running in these shoes for a couple of weeks now and I’m really impressed with their snug and comfortable fit.  They run on the small side so I recommend purchasing a half size larger.  My previous trail shoes were very heavy and clunky.  The 101’s on the other hand are light and airy.  I feel weightless and zippy when I’m wearing them.  These are the type of shoes that make you want to run fast.

I’ve mainly been running on the road in the 101’s and I’ve been alternating them with a pair of more structured shoes for long runs.  I have noticed that they definitely assist me in running with a more natural foot strike (landing midfoot, rather than on my heel).

Overall I think these shoes are great option for a trail (or road)  runner who is looking for a lighter, more minimal shoe.

Picture courtesy of barefootrunningshoes.org

 

Good Socks Make My Feet Happy

While this might seem obvious to you, it took me months to realize what a difference a good pair of socks makes.  When I first started running back in January, I wore several pairs of festive candy cane and reindeer socks purchased from the clearance dollar bins at Target.  Cute, right?  Anyway, I couldn’t understand how my feet could get so wet and sweaty in 30 degree weather.  The answer,  my friends?  Crappy socks make your feet sweat.  They also can cause blisters, chafing and just plain unpleasantness.  Not to mention the smell… Still cute?

Now, I don’t know about you, but none of those ailments seem at all appealing to me.  So what should you look for in a good sock?  In general, it’s a good rule of thumb to look for a running specific sock made of synthetic materials or wool that wick moisture away from your feet.  Never, I repeat, never run in 100% cotton socks.  Cotton absorbs moisture rather than wicking it away from your skin, which will cause blisters and overall wetness.  

There are also a number of running socks that are geared to your specific arch type.  Some provide mild arch support while others provide more cushioning.   This is really an area of personal preference.  I personally prefer thin socks that keep my feet close to the ground.

If you're looking for a basic starter sock, I love the Saucony Athletic Anklet socks.  They are fairly inexpensive ($12.95 for a 3-pack).  They are super thin and provide no cushioning which keeps my foot closer to my shoe and the ground.  I use these socks mainly in the spring and summer as they don’t provide as much warmth as a wool blend.  

I just recently purchased a pair of Feetures Pure Comfort Ultra-Light Cushion-Tab socks.  They are made from a wool and bamboo blend and let me tell you, I love these babies.  They provide mild compression in the arch area and the wool keeps my feet warm in cold weather.  They are made with CoolMax to keep feet dry and comfortable. They're even eco-friendly, made predominantly with sustainable fibers.  I have to say, these are my favorite socks that I've tried so far.  They are soft, light and fit tightly to my foot. 

SmartWool makes great wool blend socks that are light and fit snuggly. I really like the PhD Ultra Light Sock.  They have ventilation to help keep your feet cool and the material is strategically blended for moisture, temperature and odor control.  Not to mention they come in fun and cute colors!  

Another great option if you’re looking for some extra cushioning is the Thorlo Experia sock.  It provides great cushioning in the heel and forefoot and also fits snuggly through the arch for a glove-like fit.  For a sock with a lot of cushioning, its surprisingly light.  

While not always true, in general with running socks, you get what you pay for.  Consider it an investment in your feet.  They’ll thank you for it.

    

Why a Good Running Buddy Kicks You in the Ass Sometimes...

While the first rule of running might be, don't stop.  I think the second rule might just be to find a really good running buddy.  As a runner, I am constantly fighting the demon on my shoulder.  The little monster that likes to whisper sweet excuses into my ear.  Hey there, how about you just walk for a bit?  You've worked hard for a couple miles now, maybe you should call it quits for today.  You can always make up those extra miles tomorrow.  Plus, you don't want to hurt yourself, do you?  This is really for the best you know.  Plus, if you quit now, you can make it home in time to watch a Seinfeld rerun and eat some Ben & Jerry's on the couch.  You deserve it. You know, THAT demon.  He's always there, trying to get me to quit.

Fortunately, I have a few weapons in my runner's arsenal.  Weapon #1:  My ipod.  I crank that puppy up and drown that sucker out with the likes of Britney Spears and Madonna.  Weapon #2: Mind games.  I'm just going to run until I get to that tree.  When I get there, I can renegotiate, but first I need to get to that tree. And last, but definitely not least, weapon #3:  The running buddy.  My running buddy is a living, breathing, corporeal combatant to that demon.  For every excuse, she has a reason not to quit.  She's there cheering me on every step and fighting in the trenches right alongside me.  A running buddy can not only keep you motivated while you're running, they can also hold you accountable for all those runs you have scheduled on your calendar.  It's one thing to drop the ball when it's just you, it's another thing to stand up a good friend who's counting on you.  Not to mention the fact that it's just plain safer and more fun to run with a friend than to go alone.

So next time you're getting ready to pound the pavement or hit the trails, bring a buddy!  Because who couldn't use another weapon on the road?

The Life and Times of a New Runner...

Hello and welcome to my blog!  Ever since I ran that first step in January of this year, my life has changed dramatically.  I never thought that someone like me (a short, unathletic and painfully  uncoordinated self-proclaimed couch potato) could run 5 feet, let alone 5 miles.  But, what I found (in between gasps and side stitches) that first day, was that I actually LIKED running!  Who would have thought?  Anyway, from that moment on, I was hooked.

I can't really say what made me go out that first day.  You couldn't exactly say the weather was ideal, unless you find 22 degrees with a "slush-like mix" falling from the sky ideal.  It's not like anyone was jumping off the couch to go run through the elements with me either.  But something in me just wanted to run.  So I did.  I have to say, those first few minutes were pretty rough.  I ran 2 minutes at a time and had to walk one, but I just kept moving.  I ran/walked like this for about half an hour.  When I finally finished, I realized that instead of feeling tired, I actually felt more energized.  I was shocked at how good I felt.  I was experiencing my first runner's high and man, was it good!   There was no turning back after that.  I was completely addicted.

I have been running between 3 and 5 days a week ever since.  My runs range from about 3 to 7 miles.   I've run several 5k runs and I am currently training for an 8K race in November. I am obsessed with running shoes and I am very interested in new running gadgets and philosophies (if you can't tell, I'm a nerd at heart).  My newest gadget is the Garmin Forerunner 405 (look for a review later this month). So that brings you up to the present.  Stay tuned for my latest adventures!