Treat Your Feet

Today was long run day--as will be every Saturday between now and Portland. Running wrecks your feet. Callouses, blisters, broken toenails, dryness...and, I have heard that black toenails are very common closer to the race and during the race.* I also live in high heels.** Finally, summer has hit Spokane, and it's dry and hot.

The bottom line: my feet are gross.

I will paint my toenails and put lotion on my feet (sporadically), but I kind of neglect my feet.*** Not today. Today, I received a pedicure. Pedicures are pure pampering: foot massage, scrubs, lotions, and for me, hot pink toenail polish. I rarely get them, but this might change, since my two neglected feet are getting me through my Portland Training. I have only missed 1 run in the last 4 weeks of training (if you're counting, it means that I have completed 19 training runs, as my training schedule includes five days of running). My feet are responsible for helping me meet my current and, it seems, long-term love: running. I'll be going back in a few weeks to treat them again.

*Word on the trail is that the pressure and friction of long runs can lead your toenails to turn black and sometimes fall off. I have seen it on other runners' feet. Not pretty.

**I don't want to hear that high heels are bad for me. I know they are. I don't care. I do not have very many vices. They are pretty; they make barely 5'2" me taller; they can be the pop of color a dull, conservative outfit needs; and, as someone who thinks I have great style (not me) recently said , "they are sexy." These sexy shoes are from Michael Kors, and they are shown with my pretty, prink, post-pedicure toes.

***This is in stark contrast to the amount of money and time I spend on skincare for my face. Sunscreen (every single day no matter what), lotions, scrubs, masks, eye creams...I have and use them all.

6 to 7 Miles of Music

Saturday's training run was "six to seven miles" at a long, slow run pace (1-2 minutes slower than your desired race pace). I almost always run with my iPod, and I take great pleasure in making running mixes. I am always asking friends for running music suggestions; it's interesting to see what motivates different runners. Saturday morning's playlist was a massive playlist called "IRunThis" (original, I know). It's an ever-growing, ever-changing list to which I always add, generally while I'm listening to a shuffle of my master iTunes library at work. Once I listen to a song from the IRunThis playlist, it gets transferred into the Used-Run playlist and deleted from the IRunThis playlist (I am really not that anal retentive, I swear). If I really love a song these days, it gets added to my slowly growing Portland Marathon Official playlist. Portland, unlike many other big marathons, actually allows and even encourages runners to use headphones, MP3 players, etc.

Saturday's run included the following:

(1) "Tick Tick Boom" by The Hives. This was formerly my previous Nike+ "PowerSong," my go to song when a run got hard, and I wanted to quit. The Hives are a Swedish band that tend to dress all the same (in black and white suits), and their front man, Howlin' Pelle Almquist, is full of showmanship, bravado, and a huge dose of (feigned?) ego. They put on an amazing live show, and "Tick Tick Boom" is a high-energy song with a chorus that includes the lines: "I've done it before/And I can do it some more." That's a long run mantra if I have ever heard one.

(2) "The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim. I have no idea why this song has this title. I don't think any of those 3 words appear anywhere in the song. Most people would recognize this song as the "Funk Soul Brother" song or the "Right About Now" song. Again, high energy, this song is "electronic" or "techno" or "dance"--it was not my favorite running song, but probably the fact that the Ross character from "Friends" talked about this song (and maybe sang it?) in an episode has killed it for me.

(3) "You and Dat" by E-40. As this is a family, friendly blog, I'll leave comments about this song to myself. I will, however, mention that the "Dat" modifies a body part that benefits greatly from lots of running--definitely motivating.

(4) "Swagga Like Us" by T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye, and Lil Wayne. This song is a bit too slow for running, but the song that T.I. and company raps over/samples--"Paper Planes" by M.I.A.--is a great running song.

(5) "Whoo! Alright, Yeah...Uh Huh" by The Rapture. I think the title speaks for itself. This is a running song.

(6) "U.R.A.Q.T." by M.I.A. This song is crazy, but a fun song for running. Actually, a fun song, period. The title is pronounced by reading each letter individually. I downloaded this song after reading about it on the brilliant blog "Things I Bought That I Love" created by Mindy Kaling from "The Office." Incidentally, if you like things and buying things and well, laughing, read this blog (http://thingsiboughtthatilove.com/).

(7) "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" by The Gap Band. A great 80's song. Not a great 80's running song.

(8) "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive. A great 80's song. A great 80's running song. A song that has been sampled greatly by Flo Rida to create a completely different song.

(9) "4 Minutes" by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. I love Madonna. I love Timberlake. I love Timbaland. That's all that needs to be said.

(10) "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA. Why is this on my playlist? Why isn't it on your playlist?

(11) "With Love" by Hilary Duff. I may be ashamed of walking; I may be ashamed of failure and quitting; I am not ashamed to admit I love this song by Hilary Duff.

(12) "Can't Stop, Won't Stop (Remixed Vers.)" by Young Gunz feat. Chingy. Again, it's all in the title.

(13) "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team. Embarrassing? Yes. Motivating? Hell yes. This song was a total pick me up on the last part of my long run.

(14) "Vans (Remix)" by The Pack. "Yeah, yeah I'm in my zone." Lyrics to motivate.

(15) "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" by Estelle. Estelle's entire album, Shine, is great for running, save a couple of slow tracks.

(16) "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo. See number (8), above (exclude references to Flo Rida).

(17) "This is How I Disappear" by My Chemical Romance. Loud, aggressive. Just what you need those last few hundred yards.

(18) "Whatever U Like" by Nicole Sherzinger feat. T.I. This song always gets me going, always.

The Motivating Power of Shame*

The 4th of July. The day America celebrates its independence from England. Incredibly hard to believe now that a tiny country that gave us Shakespeare, blood pudding, and David Beckham once controlled Colonial Americans.** Harder still to believe is that many Americans probably have no idea what year America celebrated its first Independence Day (hint: it did not involve aliens and Will Smith). Americans associate Independence Day with barbecues, federal holidays, apple pie, sunshine, and fireworks. Americans do not associate Independence Day with running.

So, it was incredibly challenging on the morning of the 4th (Saturday) to get out of bed as early as I would on a workday to run "six to seven miles" or 72 minutes.*** I slept a bit later than I would have liked (6:30 instead of 5:30), laced up my Asics, grabbed my water bottle and tucked it into my running belt, brushed my teeth, put on my sunscreen, and headed west towards downtown Spokane and the Centennial Trail.**** I felt strong on the run--pushing myself, waving at other runners, trying to maintain an easy, even pace needed for my long, slow run. I incorporate several very short walk breaks into my long runs, as long runs are supposed to be slower, their purpose being to get your body used to so much time on your feet. Allegedly, run breaks not only allow you to catch your breath and grab a little water/gel without choking and/or pouring your water/gel all over your face and clothes, but they also help pull (push?) the lactic acid out of your muscles to allow you to run longer. When I started really running just over a year ago, I felt guilty, ashamed even, of taking walking breaks. In truth, I still feel a little of that, and I will extend the time between walking breaks on long runs if it means I can run past other runners, walkers, senior citizens on bikes.*****

This walking shame is about vanity, of course. But, in reality, I am out running more miles before breakfast on a Saturday morning than most people ever run in a row, period. But, walking shame is not the point of this post...this post is about the shame of quitting, of failure.

I always tell people that I am afraid of two things--aging and failure. In reality, I just hate both of them. My type-A(+) personality cannot deal with failure very well. So, while I, like most Americans, do not associate Independence Day with running, I do associate a missed long run as a failure on a small scale that could mean failure on a large scale (not being able to run the Portland Marathon in October). Certainly a portion of that fear is related to feeling as if I have let myself down, but it's more about the shame associated with telling people that I missed too many runs and therefore cannot run the Portland Marathon this year because, as anyone training for any big race knows, everyone knows about it. Everyone. Friends, family, co-workers, ex-boyfriends, the person who sells you coffee on weekday mornings. I cannot handle the shame associated with telling people that I am not running Portland because I quit or was lazy or just could not commit to the training. I ran Nike last year with a broken foot, partly because everyone knew I was training for it.

I am not hard core. I run because I am ashamed. And, I am not ashamed to admit it.

*I know I have not really been updating this, but please check back, as I will be filling in some of the gaps here soon (between October and now).

**One of these is not a good thing.

***My current Beginner Marathon Training Plan has all of these runs of between x and y miles.

****While a running belt resembles a fanny pack, it is not one. It is not worn by tourist to hold camera and currency; it holds in place a water bottle (think about running and holding a water bottle for miles in the heat) and tends to have pockets for keys, gels, phones, tissues, etc. that you might need on a long run. Okay, so it's totally a fanny pack.

*****This last one will be the subject of a later post.

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.

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.

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.

The Recovery Run (Run 56)

Sundays in my training schedule are reserved for "recovery runs." Basically, short runs that follow more intense training runs (Saturdays are always long runs) to loosen up your muscles to prepare for a rest day (today). I think of it as "active rest."

Last night, I did my recovery run just before 9 p.m. The sun had gone down, but it wasn't completely dark yet. The feeling of running in the almost darkness, while people prepared for their Monday mornings and work weeks was empowering. It reminded me to be thankful for my legs that have allowed me to follow up an almost 8-mile run on Saturday afternoon with an easy three-miler (with a few light hills). As a female, it's so easy to get caught up in your insecurities and perceived and actual physical flaws. It's easy to think "my thighs could be smaller" or "my calves could be more shapely." It's hard to remember that having legs and having the ability to run (even walk) are gifts, which are easy to take for granted.

I have put over 170 miles on my feet, calves, thighs, hips, etc. since I started training. They haven't let me down (aside from a little pain). I still crave more speed, but I know that will come with time. Right now, I'm thankful for this rest day.

No One Said This Was Going to Be Easy (End of Week 11)

Week 11 started with a missed run* and ended with vomiting and overheating on an 8-miler. It included hill sprints, stair repeats, sore legs, a blister,** an unexpected generous donation from my favorite tattoo artist, and an inspiring video from Sean "P.Diddy/Puffy/Puff Daddy" Combs about running.***

Thirteen weeks to go until my race. I can run faster, farther, and harder than I could more than 165 miles ago (about the distance I have ran since I started training).****

*I added the time from my missed run to my other runs and made sure to get in the full amount of running time allotted for the week.

**The blister was from walking around in heels all day--peep toes, which I wear less often than closed-toes.

***The Sean Combs video can be found here: http://dailyviews.runnersworld.com/2008/07/diddys-treadmil.html. Diddy reminds runner to be conscious of the run and for the blessing that it is--being alive and being able to run. Sure, a lot of jokes can be made about Mr. Combs, but the man did train for and run the NYC Marathon a few years back.

****I have missed a few runs here and there, so my overall mileage is a bit below the mileage prescribed. I'm confident that I'll be able to complete the race in 13 weeks.

[Also, this post was originally longer and more thoughtful, but I had a computer/internet issue and lost all my work.]

Friday Night Lights (Out Before Ten)

Running requires sacrifice. At least, that's what all the running ads tell you. Friday nights have been a sacrifice for me as my long runs early on Saturday morning become earlier and longer. I am now running a minimum of 6 miles every Saturday morning with the team, and these runs begin at 6:30 a.m. at locations to which I have to drive. So, in order to be up around 4:30 a.m. on Saturdays to eat something that will give me energy but won't upset my stomach during my long runs, I have to be in bed around 9:30 or so on Friday night.

This means that last Friday (the 11th), I ate a yummy pasta dinner (prepared by me), watched a little "Dog Whisperer,"* and went to bed early. I missed a text from my friend Kevin Blocker about going out--that text was received at 11:00 p.m., when I was fast asleep.** I may as well be watching "Golden Girls" and getting up for the early bird special at Denny's.

Oh yeah, I'm 30. Not 80.

*I love the "Dog Whisperer." I probably (definitely) like dogs more than people and Mr. Milan's way with animals is truly astonishing. I find myself using some of Mr. Milan's phrases, such as the "cchhsshhh" sound he uses as a "correction," as well as "live in the now" and "just a touch." I need a pet.

**I don't mind the texts late night. I never wake up when I receive them late. Plus, I don't want anyone to think that I am just ignoring them for no reason--I always text back the next morning (not at 4:30 a.m.) to thank friends for the invites which I cannot accept.

All I Needed Was a Little Ego Boost (End of Week 9)

Week 9 was an up and down of emotion and ability, which started off with my bad run that ended Week 8.* Week 9 ended with our long team run (Run 45) at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning on the Centennial Trail by SFCC (very, very hilly). I ended up running the first 30 minutes of my supposed-to-be 60** minute run with a girl that I had gone to high school with, Heather Butner, formerly Heather Silvey. Heather was always a star athlete and sprinter in both high school and college. There was no way I could ever have kept pace with her in high school. She and I knew of each other, but never really knew one another during that time. She was always very friendly, and I knew she was one hell of a runner.

So, Saturday morning, bright and early, I find myself running with--and keeping up with--Heather on a very hilly course, very early in the morning on Saturday.*** Now, I understand that sprinting and distance running are two very different creatures (Heather even commented as much), but for me to keep pace with someone I'd always considered a strong, fast runner really changed my bad-attitude that had dominated the end of Week 8 through a good part of week 9. Thanks, Heather!

In addition to be able to keep pace with a good runner, I get a little ego boost every team practice by finishing first. This is not because I am the fastest (far from it--I think that Aileen Laughlin, my friend Meg's little sis may be the fastest out there--and the fastest woman at the least), but because I run with the people who are completing a full marathon. They are running almost twice the distance that I am during our long runs to prepare themselves for the twice-as-long race in October (26.2 miles v. 13.1 miles). During practice we all run out in the same direction and turn around based on what our race distance is (half or full marathon) and what our pace is (over or under the 12-minute-mile mark). The half-marathoners running under a 12-minute-mile (that would be me, and...me) have to run for the least amount of time during out team runs.

So, I get to turn around sooner. Now, I know that many of my team members and coaches realize that I am a "halfer," but I can tell by the looks on some of my teammates faces (mostly the walkers) that not everyone realizes this. The coaches always give us a max turn around point for the runs, as in, even if your reach mile marker x before you are supposed to turn around (based on your time limits), turn around anyway (and add distance to the other end point of your run). I think some of these other teammates assume that I have reached the max turn around point at mile x, and that I have turned around to head back--very quickly. Sometimes I'll say some encouraging words to those teammates that I am passing in the opposite direction and let them know that I am a "halfer," but sometimes I just let them think that this short, 30-year-old girl who claims to be a "new runner" is just a natural.

*See my earlier posting, "Running Just Might be a Pearl Izumi Ad."

** The trail is a bit confusing by SFCC, so on my way back to the parking lot via the trail, I missed a turn and ended up all the way on the other side of SFCC. The team coaches and mentors looked at me strangely as I came running from the other side of the lot to the water station at the end of my run. This confusion added another 10+ minutes and probably close to 1.5 miles to my run.

*** I realize that "very early" is not 6:30 a.m. for many people, but I am NOT a morning person.

Running Just Might Be A Pearl Izumi Ad (End of Week 8)

The last few months I have noticed several ads from Pearl Izumi in both Runner's World and Outside which denounce jogging. No, Pearl Izumi has not abandoned the sports in which you lace up sneakers and hit the road, trail, or treadmill* and move in a motion that is faster than walking. Rather, Pearl Izumi is making a distinction between running and jogging.

I read an article (possibly on www.runnersworld.com) that said whatever your pace, you are a runner and not a jogger. Being a jogger implied that you were not serious about the sport, so if you ran a 4-minute mile or a 16-minute mile you were a runner. Since my pace is in that 4-to-16-minute mile range, I decided that I must be a runner.

The Pearl Izumi ads play on the same notion, and they even reference a website for Pearl Izumi gear and "inspiration": www.wearenotjoggers.com/home. The "We Are Not Joggers" site contains two chapters (so far) of a flip-through book which explains the difference between running and jogging. Basically--running is harder. You do not look cute when you run. Running is painful. Running is a feeling, and that feeling is not good. The site is quick to point out that runners can jog, but really they are just running slowly. However, joggers never run. No matter how fast they jog. Basically, Pearl Izumi is making running a bit elitist.

If you know me at all, you know elitism is not one of my turn-offs. However, I am not sure if running wants me to be part of its club. I have been training for 8 weeks, and in my mind, I should be a considerably better runner than I currently am. Sure, I can run for a long time. And, I can run for long distances. But, I wish I could run for a long time and/or a long distance (the two can be mutually-exclusive) at a faster pace. It is hard to remind myself that I am new at running, and the initiation into the running club is hard. My long run on Saturday was miserable (see above, running is hard and does not feel good). I ran two good miles, and then a combination of my mind, my body, and my ego just gave up--would not let me run, run slow, or jog. I could not overcome the mental hurdle that morning. I wasn't really sore; I wasn't really breathing heavily; but, I just wasn't in the mental part of my running game. Like when Andy Roddick always loses in big tournaments. Everyone knows he's a great tennis player with a huge serve and serious athleticism--but he falls apart in the mental game, and he loses.

My mental game was non-existent on Saturday. I ended up walking another four miles that morning, mostly in tears. I felt betrayed by running. Kicked out of the club. But really, I was betrayed by me. I want to be part of that running club, so today, I'm going to try again.

*Pearl Izumi's "We Are Not Joggers" website specifically states that while their shoes work just fine on treadmills, you cannot run on a treadmill--you are only jogging, no matter what your pace is.

Trust the Training Schedule (Runs 34 & 35)

Run 34 was schedule for Thursday (June 26). I worked a long day, so I planned on running Friday morning (even though my long run was scheduled for Saturday morning--usually Friday is a rest day). I ended up running in 80 degree heat, Friday night, battling the Hoopfest set-up crowd (which included a set of guys in matching jumpsuits who appeared to be closely watched while they worked). The run itself was not too bad, but in a desire to go out to dinner, I ended up barely stretching, and I didn't hydrate well enough post-run.

I slept later than I planned on Saturday (I was not intending to go to team practice this week), so I couldn't run through the park and downtown, as it was covered with basketball courts and around 200,000 people. So, I ran down Riverside towards People's Park and over into Peaceful Valley. The route was very hot and very hilly, and I struggled to maintain a decent pace. It was around 85 degrees. I managed to get in 54 minutes of running, according to Nike+.* I did stretch and hydrate after, but I would not count that as a quality run.

*I alternate between a pair of Asics and a pair of Sauconys. I bought two little pouches from Grantwood Technology so that I could use the Nike+ sensor with my iPod and not run in Nikes. The pouches lace to your shoes and seem to work great. They are around $6, and they are available on Amazon.

Maybe you shouldn't always trust your gut? (Runs 30 & 31)

Last Saturday (June 21) marked the end of my sixth week of training, so I am approximately one-fourth of the way done with training. Saturday was another team run, and I seem to always do really well on those. I ran just over 6 miles early Saturday morning.

I tried out an interval-type training run for excelling at long runs, which has been suggested by our coaches. It consists of intervals of running and jogging or running and walking. The intervals vary based on your ability and/or desired pace. The idea is to maintain a better overall pace by giving your legs and lungs a little break every x number of minutes. Interval training is not new, but it seems counterintuitive to go from running to a slow jog or walk to increase your overall pace. But, intuition is not always right (like when my gut said that big bangs and a perm were a good idea)...

I did some ten-minute intervals of running with 45 seconds to 1 minute of very slow jogging and/or walking for Saturday's team run. As a result, I was able to run at an overall faster pace, and I was not exhausted after my 6+ mile run. My pace dropped about 45 seconds per mile faster than it was without the intervals. I'm going to continue to play with the intervals from here out.

Unlike last week, I stretched really well after the long run, and I made sure that I hydrated. I attended a birthday party for my second oldest sister, Shirley, on Sunday, and I skipped the cake (as sugar has become my enemy--I love it, but it wreaks havoc on my GI-tract during runs), so I could complete my recovery run Sunday night.*

*I almost skipped the recovery run out of laziness, but I had been watching Olympic diving trials on DVR, and after watching 18-30 year-olds with 3-5% body fat and super-defined legs, I figured I'd better get off the couch and get in some cardio.

Just When You Think the Relationship is Going Well, Running Decides Not to Call You Back

Friday night I completed run #24. I was supposed to run on Thursday, slept in too late to do my morning run, worked past the time to run with the Flying Irish, and then was "over it" and missed my run. I figured I would run Friday night (even though this was a "rest" day). It was warm and a bit breezy, and I had a great 40 minute run in the new Asics.

Saturday was our team run--our long run of the week. As a half-marathoner with a less-than-12-minute-per-mile pace, I had to run for 50 minutes. I ended up running for just under 60 minutes, and I ran just under six miles. The run was great, and I really felt the runner's high for the rest of the day.

I was pretty certain Saturday night that I had fallen in love with running. Running was always on my mind, running made me feel good, running gave me that glow, and running was all I was talking about. I thought that running and I were at the start of something beautiful and fulfilling.

But, running decided to play hard to get. Sunday was supposed to be an easy, 30 minute recover run. I didn't hydrate well on Saturday post-run or Sunday morning/afternoon. It was about 65 degrees around 7 o'clock Sunday night when I head out to run. I was fine for about 8 minutes until every muscle in my legs decided to tighten up and every step felt as if I were running through hardening concrete. I stop and stretched lightly, and I tried to run again to no avail. Running was not going to spend time with me Sunday. I ended up walking for another twenty minutes or so, heading home to ice my legs, take an ibuprofen, and pout.

I have another date with running tonight. I am hydrating and hoping that Run 27 is more successful.