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