Monthly Archives: April 2011
What {Not} to do the Week of a Big Race
| April 29, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Running |
A little over one year ago today, I was getting ready for the Shape Up Half Marathon, my first ever Half. That week, I rested, hydrated, and did all the things you’re supposed to do when you have a big race on the horizon. I even wrote a nice long post about how to prepare for a big race to show what a good little runner I was being.
Today, I’m getting ready to take my second shot at that same half marathon. I’d like to tell you that this passing year has left me feeling wiser, faster, and even better prepared for my second time around. But of course, that would be a lie…
You may not have even realized that I’m running a race in two days. Don’t feel bad – I’ve been living in denial. Since my approach to this year’s race is somewhat…umm…different…I figured it was only fair to show you what I’ve been doing this time around. Think of this as a Part II to my What to do the Week of a Big Race Post, the what NOT to do part.
What {Not} to do the Week of a Big Race
1.) {Don’t} Ignore the fact that you even have a race and pretend that as long as you don’t think about it, Sunday will never come
2.) {Don’t} Start trying to work lifting back into your exercise routine because you realize that while your marathon has left you in great cardiovascular shape, you’re feeling pretty weak in every other area.
3.) {Don’t} Eat copious amounts of Easter candy and any other delicious dessert that seems to be calling your name, everywhere you turn.
4.) {Don’t} Suddenly plan to move out of your current apartment, and then spend every ounce of spare time you have that week preparing for the big move. (yes, I know, I moved last summer and now I’m moving again. It’s a long story)
5.) {Don’t} Have your boyfriend make you a packing and to-do list for the week, only to leave out one important detail – the actual race.
Sunday: Clean, Pack Bathroom. ….oh, and run 13.1 miles
6.) {Don’t} Start losing sleep over the fact that you have so much to get done before the end of the week….and because you’re staying up late trying to watch all your favorite shows (because when else are you going to have the time to get caught up on last night’s emotional Office??)
7.) {Don’t} Stop eating any and all fresh produce because you’re moving soon and you don’t want to buy new groceries.
8.) {Don’t} Incorporate new foods into your diet because they were sent to you, look delicious, and let’s face it – given the current state of your fridge, it’s either that or condiments for dinner.
Lightlife was generous enough to send me these samples to try out for the blog. Full review to come.
9.) {Don’t} plan to spend the entire day before the race finishing up the packing, cleaning the apartment, and hauling the first of many loads over to your new place.
10.) {Don’t} think about the fact that the longest run you’ve done since your marathon (which was a month ago) has been a not so great 10-miler last Friday. And that you’ll need to run more miles in this one race than the total mileage you’ve done in some of the weeks leading up to it. (minor details…)
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I can honestly say that this is the least prepared I’ve felt for a race in a very long time. This isn’t something I’m exactly proud of – I signed up for this race and knew it was coming. But there are times in life when, for whatever reason, training takes a backseat. When what used to be one of the most important aspects of your day becomes something you simply don’t have time, energy, or motivation to do. And I’m trying to make my Type A perfectionist self be okay with that. I have {almost} convinced myself that this race is just going to be for fun. Now I know at this point you’re probably shaking your head thinking: we’ve all heard that line before and look how that turned out, but this time I’m serious. I’m not expecting a great time and I’m not even expecting to feel awesome the entire way. I just want to enjoy running through the streets of my city, and get in one final training run for the Cape Relay next weekend (oh yes, another race I sort of forgot about…). Is this the smartest plan? Maybe not. But I made these decisions and I’m owning it. And I’ll own whatever happens on race day too.
The Great Skirt Debate
| April 26, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Running |
First of all, I just want to say that I loved all your awesome feedback on my last post! I’m really glad I’m not the only one who struggles with doing it all when training for a race. But if any of you come across any tips or tricks that help you maintain a total body fitness and still get in all the miles you need (without finding a sponsorship and training full time, that is!) please share your wisdom!
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Last week I took the plunge. I went to the store, pulled out my wallet, and did something I never thought I would do – I bought a running skirt.
Partially because I thought it would be a fun thing to have for my relay, partially because I had a coupon (thanks City Sports!), and partially because (let’s face it) I put the thing on and instantly thought it looked cute.
Yes, it’s true – I bought an article of clothing thinking that it would look cute while running – something that I’m not particularly good at. I make hideous faces at the camera, and in most race photos I appear to be marching, not running. A skirt isn’t going to solve those problems, but it might help, right?
Anyway, now that you all are shaking your heads at my vanity (admit it! Even if your primary goal is to get faster, you wouldn’t mind looking good while doing it, would you?? 
), the point is that I tried on the Women’s Nike Woven Skirt and was instantly hooked. It’s lightweight, breathable, and complete with a nice little slit so that my legs can move freely.
I tried this baby out during the last 6 miles of the Boston Marathon, and I wish I could say that my love for it only grew stronger. Instead, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. The shorts underneath (which are supposed to be compression but do not feel like it) instantly started riding up. Never so far that certain parts of me were exposed, but far enough to be uncomfortable. I suppose my large (ahem – powerful) thighs could be to blame for this issue. But isn’t the whole point of running skirts to avoid that? To let you escape from the awful feeling of your shorts riding up in the middle when you run?
I don’t really know if I’m sold on this whole running skirt thing yet. Sure, it was fun to wear while cheering for the Boston Marathon, and I think our outfits (which my lovely father referred to as “ridiculous”) helped us stand out in the crowd so the runners we knew could easily spot us. But in terms of actually running in it?? I’ll wear it on the relay, but I’m not so sure it’s going to be making an appearance in a serious race anytime soon.
So I’m turning to you, wise readers! I know running skirts can be a hot topic among runners. Love them? Hate them? Would never wear anything else? Would never be caught dead in one!? I want to know!
And for those of you who do wear them, are running skirts really all that comfortable or do runners really just wear them for the fashion? Be honest with me here! Did I just not get the right skirt (Becky and I scoured the Boston Marathon Expo for different styles and in the end we chose the cheapest one)? Or would I just be better off sticking with shorts forever?
Marathon Fitness vs. Total Fitness
| April 22, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Fitness, Running |
Fact: you don’t have to be in excellent shape to run a marathon.
Now before you go thinking I’m crazy for saying something so counter-intuitive, let me explain. To train for a marathon, the only thing you really have to do is run. You start off running a little, and gradually over time, you build up enough endurance and strength to continue running for hours on end. Is this hard? Yes. Do you need to be strong to do it? Absolutely. But do you need to be in great all-around shape? Not really.
In case you haven’t noticed, running a lot isn’t automatically going to give you a strong core or great flexibility. When you run, you are essentially practicing the same movements over and over. Ultimately, this is going to make you really good at those movements, and it will help your body become very efficient at keeping you moving for long periods of time. What it doesn’t do, however, is work every single muscle, leaving you strong and toned all over.
In an ideal world, runners should supplement their running with other activities – like cross training and weight lifting. Not only will these things make you in better all-around shape, but they will also make you a stronger runner.
The problem is, similar to the training for any endurance event, the actual running part of training takes a lot of time. And for most of us, running isn’t actually our full time job (sadly enough). There’s only so much you can fit into any given day. So unless you’re willing to cut back on the running or add to your total time working out, it’s really easy to let the non-running parts of training slide.
Clearly, this is the only reason why Kara and I both run marathons, yet I do not look like this: (okay, fine… so there might be just a little more to it than that…)
This woman just gave birth and has better abs than I do
Other forms of exercise aren’t the only things to go when you’re marathon training. For me, when my miles go up, my other movement goes down. Way down. Sure, I may run for a couple of hours one day a week, but in the days leading up to it, I’m resting to conserve energy. And then for a day and a half after my run, I’m resting to recover. Anyone who has never trained for a marathon before might be surprised at how much resting is actually involved.
Not only that, but it’s easy to let fruit and veggie consumption go down too, as peanut butter and carb consumption go up. Meals become planned around runs, and it’s a lot easier to snack on pretzels before a run than an apple.
Add to that the decreased activity level that occurs during a taper, and then resting after a marathon to recover (but yet an appetite that still seems convinced I need to stock up on calories!), and by the end of the full cycle, I’m left feeling a bit like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
(Source)
Don’t get me wrong. I love training for marathons. I love the discipline, the challenge, and the opportunity to push my body harder and further than I had ever thought possible. There is something incredibly rewarding and addicting about this test of endurance, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean I think that marathon training is the path to a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. And honestly, I like having time between marathons to build up my fitness base – and get back into better all-around shape.
I always go into a training cycle with the best intentions. I plan to cross train regularly, lift often, and take Yoga classes to increase my flexibility. But a month or so into training, the same thing inevitably happens. I get busy, and my motivation to do anything that makes me more tired on my runs goes out the window.
Now that my spring marathon is done, I’m fighting the urge to just run, and taking steps to incorporate other forms of exercise into my life. For the next couple of months, I want to focus more on:
- Lifting - my goal is to do this workout twice a week
- Yoga – I need to break the mentality that if my heart rate isn’t up, I’m not really working out. I know Yoga is good for my inflexible-injury prone self
- Classes – my comfort zone is running, not group exercise classes. But I need to break out of that comfort zone, and start trying new things like spinning (do you hear that Becky??)
- (and if I’m feeling particularly ambitious) Other forms of exercise like cycling and swimming - one of these days, I will actually get around to training for a triathlon.
I will still be running and racing (I have another race coming up next weekend), but that’s not going to be my primary focus. I’m going to try really hard to restore some sort of fitness-related balance to my life, so that by the time I start ramping my mileage back up in July, I’ll be in really good shape. And who knows – maybe this time around, I’ll actually stick with it.
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Thoughts? Agree/disagree? Does being a marathon runner automatically mean that you’re in great shape? And is it really the best approach to a balanced, healthy lifestyle?
Finding Inspiration: Boston Marathon Edition
| April 19, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Running |
I’m not going to lie – the BAA and I haven’t been on the best of terms lately. First (for the second year in a row), the race filled up before I was able to register. Then, they changed the qualifying standards (though I guess I showed them!), and finally, to add insult to injury, they rejected the {ontherun} application to be volunteers during the event. Which, if you ask me, is ridiculous – I mean, who wouldn’t want these faces representing the BAA??
Don’t answer that.
So you’d think that by the time Marathon Weekend rolled around, I’d be bitter and want nothing to do with the race festivities. Right? …or not. The truth is that there’s no place I’d rather be on Marathon Monday then in Boston, celebrating the Marathon. Whether I’m in the race or on the sidelines, the BAA can’t keep me away.
Honestly, the wonderful thing about the Boston Marathon is that you don’t have to be an actual participant in order to experience its magic (though it’s pretty darn amazing if you are!). Whether you’re a serious runner or a weekend warrior, a causal jogger or someone who just likes watching sports and drinking beer – being a part of the marathon weekend is sure to leave you feeling inspired.
Here are just a few of the ways I experienced the magic of the marathon this weekend:
1.) Waking up early on Saturday to watch one of my running idols, Kara Goucher, speak at Niketown.
The {ontherun} girls made an early trek up to Boston to see Kara Goucher on Saturday morning. And even though our drive was about 3 times as long as the actual event, it was completely worth it. I find this woman so incredibly inspiring! Not only did she run through her entire pregnancy, but yesterday she ran a marathon only 7 months after giving birth. If only I have a fraction of her hardcore-ness someday….
Bonus: getting Kara’s signature,
(and meeting Susan!)
and getting interviewed for a brief piece in Competitor Magazine about the amazing Kara Goucher!
…though I’m not sure what happened to my eyes in that clip…
2.) Going to the Boston Marathon Expo, where I was surrounded by thousands of inspiring runners.
Some famous…
Oh, hi Ryan Hall!
and some who are just like you!
3.) Finding some neat new running gear amidst the endless tables of free samples.
…including the same phiten necklace that Kara ended up wearing during the Boston Marathon! (I plan to write more about this necklace in another post.) And whenever I’m feeling discouraged or unmotivated, I’m going to put on this shirt as a reminder.
4.) Hanging out with some pretty amazing runners from all over the country.
Susan and I hanging out with the Boston Marathon runners, Aron, Page and Noel
Lizzy and Kimmy threw a great event at Cambridge 1 near Fenway. Not only did we have delicious flatbread pizza (which I inhaled as though I had something to carbo-load for), but they also handed out tons of goodies. My favorite – a pair of New Balance Technical Elite NBX socks. I busted these things out on the trip home and have already gone for a run in them. I think it’s time to replace my hole-y socks with more of these!
5.) Channeling my inner Picaso to make signs for Marathon Monday.
Not wanting a break in all the marathon festivities, Becky and I got together again on Sunday afternoon to make signs for the inspiring runners who would be passing us by on Monday.
Can you tell I majored in Art and Graphic Design in college??
6.) Screaming my lungs out!
By 10:30 on Marathon Monday, Becky, MomOnTheRun, and I had staked out our spot near Mile 20. For the next 4 hours, I proceeded to look like this:
Yes, we wore the same outfit – complete with our {ontherun} shirts
Our Bondi Bands (also picked up at the expo) say “will run for ice cream” – which got quite a few smiles from runners!
…as my favorite runners ran by. I knew so many people running this marathon – other bloggers, friends from previous relays, and even a few childhood friends who had traveled all the way up from Ohio. The time passed unbelievably fast as we watched one after another run by.
Becky and I knew that we were at a really tough spot on the course. Mile 20 is hard in any marathon, but after running miles of hills through Newton with Heartbreak Hill looming up ahead and the hot sun beating down on them, I figured the runners must have had a tougher time than usual. Yet I was so impressed by how good each of them looked despite the conditions. And I was so happy to be there to cheer them along.
And finally…
7.) Being there for a friend who needed an extra boost.
As much as I loved cheering on the sidelines, my favorite part of the day came when Lizzy passed by. This girl was running Boston after only a few short weeks of training, and Becky and I wanted to help her complete her goal in whatever way possible. So when she reached us on Monday, we threw down our signs and our cowbells and hopped right in. I know she was hurting at that point, but Lizzy was so determined. The miles flew by as people screamed her name, guiding her into the city.
I’ll let her tell you the story in her own words, but I was so happy to be there with her, to run her to the finish. It was such a special thing to be a part of. I know Becky and I were both extremely proud of our runner that day!
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The weekend festivities left me incredibly inspired and with a runner’s high so great, you’d think I actually ran the marathon. Congratulations to all of the amazing runners who completed the 115th Boston Marathon, especially Aron, Corey, Emily, Jane, Justin, Kim G, Lizzy, Matt, Noel, Page, and Sarah! You all are incredibly inspiring!
I already can’t wait for 2012 
How to Psyche Yourself Up Without Psyching Yourself Out
| April 13, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Running |
Races are funny things. Signing up is exciting, training is {usually} rewarding, and the race itself fills you with joy after you’re finished (most of the time, anyway). But those weeks leading up to the race? Those can be a killer! In fact, sometimes I think waiting for a race to start can be worse than actually running it. Especially because it’s so easy to let the nerves get the best of us.
I’m sure we’ve all done it (and I know I have!) – we build this one race up in our heads so much that it’s all we can think about. And we put so much pressure on ourselves to do well in that one race that instead of getting excited, we become increasingly more anxious. By the time race day rolls around, we’re so crippled by the anxiety that we fall apart. What should have been a great race turns into a nightmarish day as we crumple under all the pressure.
Instead of psyching yourself up, you’ve just psyched yourself out.
Don’t get me wrong – pre-race jitters are a good thing. It’s important to pump yourself up for a race. If you just look at it as another training run, you’re ultimately just going to run it as though you would do a training run…and then what’s the point of racing? So I think you need to be a little worked up when race day comes around. But the trick is to not overdo it. To build up the excitement without leaving yourself trembling in fear.
So if you want to psyche yourself up without psyching yourself out, here are a few strategies that have worked for me in the weeks leading up to a big race.
1.) Visualize
You have a goal for this race. And whether it’s to run a certain time or just to finish, chances are that goal is a little scary. After all, we make goals in order to push ourselves….so it wouldn’t be a good goal if it were easy!
Once you have that goal in your head, you can’t just push it away into the dark corners of your mind and then hope everything will come together on race day. You need to visualize it. For my last marathon, my goal was to run a 3:20:59 – which would not only be a PR, but would also be fast enough to allow me to register with the first wave of runners for Boston 2012. Although I thought it might be a long shot, I knew I was going to give it my absolute best try. So in the weeks leading up to the race, I put “3:20:59” on everything – such as the background of my phone, and the wallpaper of my work computer. I even hung up little notes with my goal time around the house. I focused on it during my final runs of training so much that it became my new mantra. Basically, I wanted that time to be etched into my brain.
Now if I had just stopped at this step, things probably wouldn’t have gone so well. I would’ve gotten so anxious obsessing over my goal race time that I psyched myself out. So once you’ve started visualizing your goal, it’s important to follow up with a few key things.
2.) Have Confidence
It’s easy to let doubt enter into your mind, especially during the taper period when your activity level is low and your anxiety level is at a record high. So during this time, it’s pretty crucial to have confidence – confidence in your training and confidence in yourself. As Aron recently wrote, you need to think about “what you did do“…. and not obsess over what you didn’t. Focus on the training that you’ve done, and how that has not only prepared you for race day, but has made you a stronger runner. Whenever I feel doubt kicking in, I like to tell myself “you are stronger than you think” and repeat it over and over until I believe it.
It also helps to focus on specific times in your training when things went really well. Those confidence-boosting workouts that leave you believing you can do this. For me, one of those was the Black Cat 20-mile race. Before that race, I had absolutely no confidence that I could go out at a relaxed pace for the first few miles of the marathon and still finish strong. I figured I’d slow down at the end no matter how fast I started, so I better start my long races as fast as I comfortably could to give myself a buffer for later. Black Cat showed me the opposite, and it helped me believe in myself on race day.
3.) Find Inspiration
No matter how hard you try, chances are you’re not going to spend the final weeks leading up to a big race completely full of confidence the entire time. There will be moments when the crazies get the best of you, and anxiety starts to slip in. During these times, find inspiration somewhere else. Read a book about a runner, be a spectator (or watch races on TV), or watch movies about running or inspiring runners.
A few days before the National Marathon, Becky and I got together to watch Spirit of the Marathon. It’s a documentary about the Chicago marathon that highlights several runners (elites and just regular old joes like you and me) who are running it. The movie is truly a celebration of the marathon and left me incredibly excited to run one (although at the time, I was wishing it were Chicago, but that’s another story….)
Other great ones to watch are Prefontaine and Without Limits (which is also about Prefontaine) – clearly I have a thing for him.
4.) Make a plan
Making a plan for the race is another great way to ease some of that anxiety and build your confidence. Not only do you need to plan race logistics – how you’re going to get there, what you’re going to wear, if you’ll have people cheering for you and if so, where they’re going to stand, etc – but you also need to have a race strategy. Especially for a longer race. You can’t really just show up and start running. You need to decide how fast you want to go out, if you’re going to attack the hills or take them easy to conserve energy for the rest of the course, if you’re going to use the run/walk method, if you’re racing for a specific place or going for a time, etc etc etc. This plan can be as general or as detailed as works for you. One thing Corey suggests (that I’ve never tried) is writing a race script that includes images you’d see during a race and phrases you will be repeating to yourself throughout. These should be positive and focus on how you want to feel and think (versus how you think you will feel when the pain of running kicks in).
Obviously things aren’t ever going to go exactly according to plan on race day. We can’t control every circumstance, and you never really know what could come up. But going in with a plan will help you feel confident that you’re about to do all you possibly can to reach your goal.
5.) Relax
Finally – and most importantly – you need to relax!! Don’t get all worked up over thoughts of the race. Sure, a little anxiety is a good thing because it boosts your adrenaline and will help your performance. But too much anxiety is crippling. To keep that anxiety under control, find fun, relaxing things that will take your mind off the run and bring you peace.
Stop checking the weather every 5 minutes, obsessing over your race outfit or sending anxiety-ridden texts to all your friends. Go out and enjoy yourself! Have dinner with a friend, eat ice cream, watch movies, read….whatever helps you chill out. And remind yourself that you are strong, you are confident, and you will to have a great race.
These are just a few key things I try to do leading up to race day that will pump me up without leaving me crippled with anxiety. But I know there are lots of other great strategies that people use. What other suggestions do you have?
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