Good advice

I got some good advice when I was running today.  I had just reached my turn round point and was trying to summon the energy to go back.  An old farmer pulled up beside me in his truck, leaned out the window, and with a smile, said, "you know, you should never run out farther than you can get back." Then he offered me a ride home. 

 I felt a little sheepish, because he had a good point, but I didn't want to look like I needed a ride.  I was only halfway into a 5 mile run, so although it was hot, it was an easy day, and I knew I would have no trouble getting back home. So I turned down the ride and finished out my run.  

 I learned several things from this experience.  First, I must look more tired than I think I do if I looked like I needed a ride after 2.5 miles.  Second, I must live in a good place that someone would offer a ride, and that I could safely consider accepting it.  And third, I should remember never to run out farther than I can run back.  

You stink

Dear running friends, 

I wanted to let you in on a secret that only really close, non-running friends would tell you:  you stink.  Not your running ability of course, you are awesome.  Keep going.  But you actually, literally stink.  I hate to be the one to tell you, but I discovered this truth myself this weekend, and there are some things a runner really ought to know about herself.  

  See, I had finished my half marathon, and since I had some time to pass before awards, I went and showered before returning to the finish line.  Of course I was now fresh as a daisy, and that is why the realization hit me with such force: runners stink.   I was now surrounded by 2000 people who had been sweating for the past 3 hours, and it wasn't a whiff of roses that greeted my nose as I walked around.  I thought of the post-race, pre-shower hugs I had given my poor family and realized that they must really love me to not gag and turn their heads.  (Or maybe that explains the nose plugs...)

Further, I was sorting my laundry last night and came across the running clothes that had ripened for three days.  They were, well, ripe.  I was looking for the animal that died in my laundry basket when I realized it a merely my running outfit that was standing up under its own power and I started to think that something must be done.  

Now I realize there is not a lot you can do about it.  Running leads to sweat which leads to stink.  As a solution, I would offer an easy fix.  I suggest not showering if you are going to hang out with runners.  If you stink, you don't notice the stink of others. If you are spending time with non-runners, this gets a bit more difficult, but I recommend either warning them to keep their distance (and sometimes this might be quite a distance), or maybe you can make a cute necklace out of one of those car air freshener things for each member of your support team.  This way they can spend all day at the finish line or with you and will never notice the less than fresh air.  I also recommend washing your own laundry to avoid any sneak attacks on the senses of the unsuspecting laundry sorter.  Lastly, avoid running errands between your run and your shower.  While it may help clear out the line at the grocery store faster, it might leave others with a lasting impression of you that is striking, to say the least.

Beware that running stink occurs in winter, too, it just tends to be frozen into your clothing at first so odor will be released on a delay as you start to thaw.  This provides a little window of time for you to shower before everyone realizes how much you stink. Take advantage of this.  

And finally, to my mom, I apologize for all those times when I would come home from a run and sit by you on the couch under the fan where the air circulated so freely.  I now realize how that must have assaulted your olfactories, and I am deeply sorry.  You really should have said something. Is that what you meant by the nose plugging and leaning away? Sorry. Maybe next race I'll have a necklace for you to wear to make up for it.  

Half marathon

I am now six weeks from marathon day, and passed a major milestone by running the Top of Utah Half marathon yesterday.  I was one of over 2000 runners in a really great race.  Race conditions were nearly perfect, about 60 degrees with a tailwind out of the canyon (through mile 7) and overcast most of the way.  It starts up Blacksmith Fork canyon, which had been on fire just a week ago, so I expected charred mountains and acrid air.  Much to my pleasant surprise, it was actually very lovely, and besides the fire crews still monitoring things and two blackened hillsides, little evidence of fire was noticeable.  This is a nice half course because it is net downhill, but not steep enough to really pound the quads, just enough to help the times.  It is big enough to have people to run with but not so giant that it is ever crowded. Aid stations every three miles were well supported, and the race is managed very well.  My only complaint is that awards/drawings took a while, but that really has little to do with the race itself, so I really can't complain.   Overall, a good race experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to run 13.1.

I was aiming for 1:28-1:30 and ran 1:29.00, so that was right on target.  I finished as the ninth female, 2nd in my age group. It was a pretty fast race for around here, with the overall female winner finishing in 1:18, and overall male winning in 1:05, both crazy fast times.  The good things that I take from the race are confidence that I can run the full marathon at 30 seconds a mile slower without dying.  I also paced this race much better than I usually do.  Surprisingly, it helps.  I tend to go out fast and have nothing left at the end, but I kept the splits more even this time which makes the finish feel much better.  Mentally it also feels better to be passing people at the end instead of being passed.  

Before the race I was promising myself that I would never do it again because I don't enjoy the nerves and the self imposed pressure to do well. But it always feels good at the end to test oneself and actually do well, so I suppose there will have to be another race after all.  I still think I can go faster...so maybe I will be back next year.

The pre race party

I went to pick up my packet for a half marathon tonight.  The place was swarming with runners juiced with equal parts excitement and pre-race jitters.  I feel lean and fit just hanging out with a thousand runners who are trained and primed and ready, all sinew and muscle underneath their dri fit clothing. 

It is a strange ritual, if you think about it.  We have all carbed, fibered, and hydrated.  We collect the goodie bag, check our assigned number, and reassure ourselves that it is a lucky one indeed.  We try on the race tee to make sure it fits, while knowing deep down that our ability to wear it with pride depends on how things go in the morning. We are a random assortment of people, each with his or her own reasons for being there, at different stages of life, fitness, and training, coming from all over to run the same roads for a few hours.  I have to shut out thoughts of the actual race or I will probably throw up my spaghetti, but for tonight it is cool just to be here and part of something big. And it's always fun to hang out with runners. 

My Track Kids

I adopted a dozen teenagers this spring.  I got to coach the distance runners on our high school track team, and it was a great job. I'd forgotten how fun to is to be part of a team.  But what surprised me was how much the runners became like my own kids and their success was my success.  

Though only acquaintances when the season started, little by little over the course of the season we came to know and respect each other, and by the end I felt like this group of teenagers were my own kids (not that I'm old enough, but you get the point). It's amazing how the shared experience of training and racing can bring you together.  

And it wasnt just about running.  I found myself not only interested in what their times were, but worried about who they were dating, concerned about getting into college and on missions, interested in what their grades were, and frustrated when their decisions weren't ones I wanted them to make.  They made me laugh and I was reminded of the excitement and possibilities life holds for you as a teenager, while being secretly glad that I don't have to go through that again.  I hoped for them to recognize their potential both as runners and as people, and tried to get them to believe in themselves as well.  I was thrilled with their sucess and disappointed when they underachieved.  

I think the secret joy in coaching, and maybe even parenting, comes from seeing kids achieve great things.  It is exciting to see kids do things they didn't know they could do, especially when they have worked really hard to be there.  At a time when my PRs are distant memories, it is thrilling so see others achieve their best. So to my runners, thanks for letting me share your lives for a few months. I can't wait to see you again next spring, but don't think you can take the winter off...coaches (like parents) are always watching.  

The aid station 2: Bacon

I run past a cafe on a regular basis that serves breakfast. Some days it smells really wonderful, and I am thinking of asking them to set up an aid station for me with only bacon on it.  It would be crunchy and easy to pick up as I ran by.  The protein should be beneficial, I'm just not sure how it would sit in my stomach.  Maybe it's worth a try...after all, everything is better with bacon.

Injuries

Alas the dreaded injury.  I am humming along, seven weeks from marathon day, putting in 50+ miles a week, when I start feeling soreness in my knee. Right now the treatment plan involves icing daily but is not sore enough to cut back mileage. In the meantime, I will keep close tabs, but hope it doesn't get any worse.  I have no official diagnosis, but I do have a chronic underlying condition which contributes to my current pain.  I suffer from TMB, otherwise known as Too Many Birthdays.  Symptoms include aches and pains experienced during ordinary activities, and severe fatigue.  Often TMB injuries occur in muscles you didn't know existed previous to their inflammation.  Treatment involves more rest and becoming friends with the ice bucket as well as extended warm ups and stretching sessions.  Cross training can help alleviate symptoms.  Fortunately TMB is not a career ender, and one can train through for as long as pain is tolerable.  

One caution: sometimes more serious injuries can be mistaken for TMB.  If you have aches and pains that are present daily, including both while running and at rest, please take them seriously.  Start icing every day after you run, and consider reducing your training load until inflammation decreases.  Common running injuries such as plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, and stress fractures can be avoided or minimized as long as they are treated right and early.  Plenty of information from more qualifired professionals than me is available about these injuries if you go looking for it, but here is my free advice:  ice, rest and ibuprofen.  That terrific trio treats most minor maladies.  If an injury doesn't respond to those three, it might be time to find a doctor.  Just feel free to look for a second opinion if he tells you to stop running. Happy pain-free running!