Tech-Free (Run 77)*

This afternoon, I acquired a new pair of running shoes. I have been alternating between my Saucony ProGrid Omni 6 Ultimates and my Asics Gel Kayano +14s, but the Sauconys are my preferred shoe for longer runs.** Unfortunately (or fortunately), the Sauconys have over 300 miles on them, and as the race is still 7+ weeks away, I needed to start breaking in a new pair. So, I headed to Runner's Soul, right across Wall Street from my office, to get a new pair of the Sauconys.

After a bit of abuse, er, help from Cory (who sold me the Asics after a failed Nike purchase), I left with a new pair of Saucony ProGrid Omni 7 Ultimate (apparently, the 6s have been replaced). I figured I would test them on my run tonight. The shoes felt great, and I had a great 40+ minute run.

However, this was my first run in sometime that was not assisted by my Nike+ pace/distance/etc. monitor, as I forgot the receiver-insert that plugs into my iPod. It was surprisingly nice to run without hearing the time intervals called out, although my Type-A personality was mentally calculating my pace based on song length (the run wasn't completely tech-free) on perceived distance.

*I thought about quoting a line from "Ayo Technology" by 50 Cent feat. Justin Timberlake as the title, but I wasn't sure how many readers would catch it given the relatively poor showing of 50's "Curtis" album.

**I love the Asics for speed-work and shorter runs, but I don't feel as if they give me enough support on long runs.

How About A Little Support (More on Run 74)

My laundry basket is generally filled with smelly, sweaty, running gear. Sometimes, I am lazy about washing clothes, so I recently decided to acquire two new sports bras, so I could wash them less. I opted for the Nike DriFit Strappy Sports bras that are small, reversible, and come in a variety of fun colors.* The bras feel like a soft cotton, but actually are a blend that will help pull moisture away from your skin (thereby keeping you cool and preventing blisters/chafing) as you sweat.

When they arrived from Nike.com, I thought they looked a little small--like they wouldn't cover what they needed to cover. Sure, they were a size small, but I expected a bit more fabric (more like a traditional sports bra). Granted I am a small girl, so I figured I would try them on first and test it out. Much to my surprise (and chagrin), they actually covered everything I needed to cover and were a bit lose around the neckline. Still, I did my Irish run wearing my new green one (fitting), and actually felt a bit of bounce--but only because the small was too big. I am returning the unworn one to exchange it for an extra-small,** and I've relegated the green one for less motion-intense activities (like weight training).

*I would not recommend this bra for women actually needing support v. just coverage.

**Trust me, wearing an x-small sports bra is not as pleasant as wearing a smaller size in pants.

Things That Are Worse Than Shin Splints (Run 75--Long Run)

Surely, I can think of several: (1) root canals*, (2) any movie starring Paris Hilton, (3) dropping the baton while trying to qualify for the relay finals at the Olympics**, (4) Nascar, and (5) the 2007-2008 Notre Dame football season.

But, for me, the only thing worse than shin splints (which I seem to now have), is the treatment of shin splints. I'm not talking about stretching, or even basic icing--neither of those is really bad. What I am referring to is the ice bath. It is exactly what it sounds like--a bath in water either filled with ice or water as cold as your tap will release. This is, according to several legitimate sources,*** the best way to heal aching muscles and treat shin splints.

Thursday's run with the Irish left me feeling very sore--mostly in my left shin. Sure, I probably overdid it a bit trying to keep pace with others while running the River Loop, but I didn't expect an "injury" 15 weeks into my training. Still, I stretched and iced Thursday night and Friday night, and tried to get as hydrated as possible for a hilly long run (of about 6 miles) this morning. The run, while successful in the sense that I finished it (while actually running), was painful. I knew my best bet was to get into the ice bath. As I didn't have any actual ice, I just went the faucet route. I turned the cold nob all the way up, and brace myself as I eased into the frigid water, my body still warm and sweaty from just completing my run. It was painful, and it probably took me a minute to get into the water that was navel-high while seated in the tub.****

It was the longest five-minutes of my life, but I am currently rocking stilettos with little soreness in my left shin, so it was probably worth it. Let's hope my recovery run tomorrow goes well.

*I have pretty serious allergies to most "good" pain killers. Trust me, treating a route canal with extra-strength Aleve from the store shelf is miserable.

**I do not think this was the fault of either Tyson Gay or Lauryn Williams (the 4th legs in the men's and women's 4x100m, respectively). The tape doesn't lie--and Darvis Patton and Torri Edwards maybe should have made sure Gay and Williams actually had the baton in hand before they let go of it.

***I believe all of these legit sources are also sadists.

****Let's just say that the feet and legs were easier to submerge than more "delicate" portions of my anatomy.

Run Like An Irishman (Run 74)

It had been well over a month since I last ran with the Irish (possibly longer). It had been a rainy, cold day for August, and I decided that I would run with the Flying Irish for my fifth run with them.* Little did I know I arrived on the day they were completing their longest route (closer to 4 than 3 miles).

The "River Loop" starts at O'Doherty's (as does every FI run), heads west on Spokane Falls Blvd., down to Clarke and through Peaceful Valley, across the Sandifur Bridge, up the winding hill path towards the former (current?) Kendall Yards project, around by the health building, down Monroe, back through Riverfront Park, all to return to O'D's. The route is hilly (downhill for a good portion of the start), rocky, and long. Despite this, I ran considerably faster than I had during my previous FI runs. Was I the fastest? Usain Bolt, I was not. But, there were more people finishing after me than there were on my previous runs.

Next time I run with the FI, I get "shirted," which from what I understand involves me standing on the bar at O'D's and telling and Irish joke. I think I have one--an Irish lawyer joke, no less.**

*Yesterday was also my dad's 65th birthday. So, basically when my dad was born, people still ran road races in their barefoot--mostly for the purposes of avoiding rival clans/tribes/Greeks & Romans.

**If you complete 6 runs with the FI, you get a technical running shirt (long sleeve) with the FI logo. There is a brief "initiation" to get said shirt. For more on the FI, go here: http://www.flyingirish.org/.

Things Are Falling Into Place

Last night, I needed to run. Not just in the sense that I had a scheduled training run, but more of a feeling that regardless of a schedule, I needed to run. I felt like I had to do it--like eating, or drinking water, or breathing. I've never felt that about running before, and I have only felt that about exercise in general in the sense that "I need to work out to burn off the 3 donuts I had at the office today."

But, this wasn't about a calorie burn (although, that is a nice bonus as I consumed a bit of organic chocolate on Tuesday night). This was about needing to feel the burning in your muscles and lungs, about needing to feel the sweat dripping down my back, about needing to feel the wind as I ran down the trail. I have previously alluded to the fact that I try to remember that the fact I can run is a gift--and even if my running "gift" is not the same as the running gift of say, Ryan Hall, or Lolo Jones, or Susana Kallur--it is still a gift that I am physically able to run--that my body will allow me to do it, that I have the time to do it, that I live in an area where I can, that I can afford running shoes, etc. These are all gifts. I take a lot for granted, am terribly hard on myself, and am always wanting more. Running is giving me a bit of perspective that I needed.

Things are falling into place in my life, and running is helping me put those pieces in order.

Lance Armstrong, My Personal Cheerleader (Run 70)

Saturday morning, according to Lance Armstrong, I completed my longest workout to date. No, I don't know Mr. Armstrong personally, but via the Nike+ system, every time you log your "longest workout to date," Mr. Armstrong's voice comes through your iPod headphones* to tell you that you have completed your longest workout to date, and, of course, congratulations.

I had a hit-or-miss training week, so actually completing my 9 mile run on Saturday was surprising. Even more surprising was that it was a great run, in which I maintained a good pace, stayed hydrated, and felt as if I could run longer (than 9 miles). Given that my race is now 10 weeks away (from today, actually), I feel confident that 13.1 miles will be doable and, dare I say, enjoyable. Saturday's run also reinforced that "time on your feet" (see my post about Run 65) actually does make a training difference. Somewhere during the past 14 weeks, I have become a runner.

*I do not actually use the standard Apple-issue iPod headphones while running. I find that the earbuds get sweaty and slip out of my ears during a workout, so I tend to run with the Sennheiser PMX 70 sport headphones, which I purchased from the online Apple store. I love them for running.

Run, Kanye, Run

Here's a great video of a "muppet" Kanye running. Muppet Kanye and I have something in common--we are both way shorter than everyone else we run with, generally...

http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=202157_-1__0_~0_-1_8_2008_0_0&em3281=&em3161=

Don't Overthink It (Run 66)

This morning I overslept a bit, so I only had time for a 30-minute run, instead of a 50-minute tempo run. So, I shuffled my schedule and just went out for 30-minute run through Browne's Addition. I run there often, but I altered my route just slightly, and went for it. I was a bit stiff from this weekend's long run/hike/vomiting session, as well as yesterday morning's leg-lifting and plyometric workout, so it felt like I was going a bit slow at first.

But, I just ran, and I fell into a pace that I assumed was slow, but felt good. As I approached my apartment at the end of my run--about 32 minutes instead of 30--I felt like I could keep going.* I stopped my Nike+ sensor on my iPod, and to my surprise I had gone further and faster than I thought--my pace was a good 30-40 seconds faster than it felt.

Time on your feet really does help.**

*I could have kept going, but as I am not a "natural beauty" kind-of-girl, I had to get back home to eat, shower, and head to work.

**See my previous post.

Time On Your Feet (And Food Out Of Your Belly) (Run 65)

Saturday I completed week 13 with a less-than-perfect run. I had gone camping for the weekend, and as I overpacked Friday afternoon I thought about bringing pre-run food for Saturday's long run. Sadly, I only thought about, but did not act on the thought. It's been no secret that my stomach has been sensitive to certain things on long runs--mostly sugar. I have found that if I eat a wheat english muffin or wheat bagel with a little crunchy Adams peanut butter (or the occasional Nature Valley Granola Bar) about two-hours pre-long run, my stomach is fine.

Saturday morning, I tested that--with a huckleberry pancake (about half of it) covered in peanut butter (not Adams) and syrup. The syrup may have been the downfall. I laced up my Sauconys and headed out around the lake with my running partner du jour, Andrew Roberts. The first couple of miles were fine--it was a nice, but not too warm morning, and despite the fact that Andrew was running at about a minute-per-mile faster pace than I was (but, running back every so often to keep from pulling too far ahead), the run was going well. Then, something--the pancakes, the peanut butter, the syrup--caught up to me. Literally. I stood on the side of the road, heaving up my pancake, and urging Andrew to go on ahead and not watch me get sick.

After losing the pancakes, I felt lighter and ready to continue running. I had some water (desperately wanted a toothbrush), and we walked a bit until my tummy settled. We continued to run again, but my stomach would just not calm down. My lungs, my feet, and my legs were all ready to keep running, but my stomach was not. My type-A, can't do things I'm not good at, hate to fail, personality could not handle this, and I fought back tears of frustration about my poor run. Fortunately, my running partner was much more positive, and while he stayed out of my line of breath, he encouraged me to keep going. We ended up hiking/walking a trail all the way back around the lake (where, I emptied the remainder of my stomach contents--water and Apple-Cinnamon Carb Boom) for a total of between 10 and 12 miles.

While I only ran 5 or so miles (instead of the 8 I was scheduled to run), I did get "time on my feet" as my coaches have said--a considerable amount of time at that. I certainly won't be bragging about my pace on this run (or my breath, looks, or attitude), but I kept going, and sometimes that's all that matters.

We'll see what tomorrow's 50 minute tempo run brings.

The End Is The Beginning (Is The End), or Halfway There

As of Saturday (August 2), I am halfway done with training. Saturday was the end of Week 12. I have been a runner for essentially three months. This was inherently true this weekend, as I brought my running gear with me to Portland for a friend's bachelorette weekend. Early Saturday morning, before heading out to the beach for bachelorette antics, I headed out on the Springwater Trail in Portland (it runs right along the Willamette) and put in around 7.5 miles. It was a great run and realizing that I had taken time out of a weekend of unhealthy activities to run made me realize that I had in fact become a runner.*

Of course, becoming a runner is a full-time kind of job. Once you're a runner, you're always going to have to practice--much like being a lawyer or a doctor. I'm still a ways off from where I would like to be in terms of pace and endurance, etc., but I am certain that I will finish this race on October 19 and that I will continue to run road races as long as my body will let me. I never thought that I would say something like that.

*While I had a blast at the bachelorette party, it was fairly clear that the salty, fried, cheesy food and countless alcoholic beverages that I consumed were not the norm for me, nor would they be anytime in the near future if I want to still be a runner.