My Boston Marathon Top 10

I've probably said this before, but I don't like crowds. At all. I don't go to busy places. Like you won't catch me shopping on Black Friday, or squishing between people at the Farmer's Market trying to buy organic kale at noon on a Saturday. Busy Max Train=Nope. Mosh pit? No, Thank You. And, I don't run the Shamrock Run in Portland either because I hate tripping over people, getting boxed in or having strangers touch me. Gross.

But, I was willing to suppress all my neurotic feelings about crowds in order to run the Boston Marathon this year. Why?

Because the Boston Marathon is special. People spend years trying to run a BQ just for the chance to run the oldest marathon in our country. The selection criteria are pretty simple: run a time at or under the qualifying standards (a little stiffer this year with people needing BQ -1:38 in order to run in 2014). Still. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone in order to run THIS race.
 

I haven't run the Boston Marathon before, so I really can't compare this year to any other. Maybe the crowds were bigger. Certainly, the number of runners was bigger. This year, 31,805 people managed to run from Hopkinton to Boylston street. That was about 10,000 more runners than finished in 2012. Of course, 2013 had a low finishing rate, since 5,633 runners were not able to finish due to the bombings near the finish line. Crowds? Yes, Sir. Everywhere.

I won't bore you with a long race report where I hash the marathon mile-by-mile. How about at Top 10 List? We can pretend I'm like a long-winded David Letterman (I do have gapped front teeth, so maybe we're related?).

Here are my Boston Marathon Top 10 Highlights:

1. Fortunately, the night before the race, I read this article about the race course. Maybe it was a bit like cramming for a test the night before, but I prefer to think that waiting until the last minute made certain that the tips were still fresh in my mind. I also didn't want to overwhelm myself with too many statistics. Wait, what was the elevation profile on the first mile out of Hopkinton? Where was I supposed to see the Citgo sign? Instead, I had an overall knowledge of the course, and took heed of the strategy the article outlined for making it through all the rolling ups and downs along the course.
   
   
2. Since the Boston Marathon is so huge, you have to get to the start like 2.5 hours before you actually get to run. There were people everywhere sprawled on Mylar blankets. Had it been warmer, sandy, and had an ocean, it might have looked like a scene from the stacked spots in Venice Beach, CA. The announcer kept saying, “make friends, find a place to relax on the grass.” I was clad in my sweet “Goodwill Sweats”, prepped for the 40-degree weather. The sweatshirt was from UW, so I got asked if I was from Seattle, and some guy wanted to talk about how good the Huskies were at Basketball. UConn? Dunno, peeps, I got it at Goodwill for $4.99. When I wasn't spending time stretching, and soaking up the sun in supine, I spent a good hour and a half (two trips) in line for the potty. Good times.
   

   

   Just like Venice Beach minus the sand and ocean.

    
3. I knew going into the race that the first 4-5 miles were downhill, and I needed to be VERY conservative. Run the pace. Don't let yourself get seduced by how easy it feels going down hill. I reined it in and was really glad I did. It's true that you end up seeing A TON of people on the flats and hills afterward, who were hurting and clearly hating life after they had just dashed speedily down those smooth 5 miles.


4. About mile 7, I realized that I had a blister the size of Connecticut on my right forefoot. It hurt like a Mother Farker! My kids don't like my potty mouth, but dammit. I noticed at some point it didn't really hurt as much, just a little burning, and that's because it had popped. Fantastic. I'm still nursing that bad boy today.
   
   
5. The crowds along the route can be summed up in one word: A-MAZING. I know, I almost made that two words, huh? I've never seen anything like it. The cheers, the signs, the music, the random people with bull horns telling everyone how good we all looked....ALL of that was inspiring and encouraging. The buzz of energy was so thick, you could almost smell it. Or maybe that was the smell of beer and burgers on the BBQ, I get confused. At some point, they were playing YMCA, and I found myself unconsciously raising my arms in the air to make the letters. At some point while climbing the Newton Hills, I found my self singing along with Neil Diamond's, “Sweet Caroline”...“Buhm, buhm, buhm....so good, so good, so good.” I heard myself spew as the music went quiet.
   
   
6. It was starting to get hot out, and about half way, I felt like I had to pee. I had been inhaling water and Gatorade like a whale swallowing krill. I told myself that I could wait 90 minutes to go pee. I hope this doesn't make me incontinent when I'm an old lady. Besides, I noticed there were short lines for the potties. Lines? Nope, not going to stand in a line when I could be running. Run now, pee later. I started getting hot enough to pour water on my head, back, front. I think I looked a little like a nursing mom who forgets about breast pads. No one cared...not a single person.
   
   

   

   Wellesley Scream Tunnel: My girlfriend is in there somewhere. :)



7. About halfway you get to Wellesley College where there are what seems like 1000 women screaming and holding signs offering kisses to all takers. Shoot, why not? So, I just ran over, grabbed a young lovely by the shoulder and kissed her cheek as she did likewise. She even whispered “Good luck!” Simple and sweet, just like pie. That reminds me, she smelled nice, too. I am sure I was impressive with my wet shirt, and frizzy ponytail. Never mind all that. My beloved friend, Esther, who passed in 2001, was an Wellesley College Alum, and I know she would have been proud of me for taking the time to stop here. Miss you, Babe.
   
   
8. You want me to dish about Heartbreak Hill? I knew all about the famed “Newton Hills" from mile 17 to mile 21 after my quick study the night before.  At mile 21, you get to the top of “Heartbreak Hill.” Sigh, I wanted to dash up the hills, but again I listened to the inner voice tell me to stay steady. Heartbreak Hill was long, but not really that steep. When I got to the top, I felt FREE! Hurray. Now, I could just go. My legs were still feeling OK, so I just took off as fast as I could for the finish. The last five miles, I weaved in and out of people like a mugger in New York City.
   

   

   Squeezing through the crowds.

   
   
9. About a mile and a half from the finish, the Allman Brother's Band song, “Melissa” came on my iPod. Odd, I didn't remember putting the song on my Playlist. At this point, I was overcome with emotion. I knew I was going to run a PR. I knew I was almost done running this marathon. I knew I was going see my husband and my mom really, really soon.
   
   
10. I turned onto Boylston Street and I thought, “Jeez, that's a really long way, still. Frack.” Obviously, I ran as fast as I could for that finish line. I finished in 3:26:21---over 4 minutes faster than my previous PR. As I crossed the finish line, I thought about the events that took place in that very spot last year, and how many people were impacted by the inhumanity of two people. Disgusting. But, this race is special. This town is like no other, and the people who live here were more determined than ever to prove that this finish line belongs to the runners, and not to the bombers. Period.
    

    

    Post Race: tired, happy, sweaty.

We came home the next day, and life went back to normal. Work, kids, laundry, making my own lunch---all with a slight limp now thanks to all those ups and downs. Honestly, those hills left my quads on fire and that ginormous blister killed me for days. Yesterday, we got a long slim package from Amazon. It was for my husband, so I had no idea what was in there. My son commented, “Maybe, it's a cane, for you.” How sweet of him to think that.  Little does he know, he'll be helping me into the shower when I really DO need a cane. Tee..hee.

My family understands why I run. Whether they realize it or not, they know that I am a better mom, wife, and person because I can get out there and run. They are very supportive of this sport which, for the most part, is done when I am alone. My mom and husband were great supporters during the marathon, and I couldn't have begun to navigate the crowds, streets, and race events of Boston without them. Bless them both.

Like I said, I don't like crowds. But, this “crowd” was different. Everyone running on April 21st 2014 was coming together for a single purpose: RUN BOSTON and LOVE BOSTON.  I am proud that I survived suppressing all my mob-phobic feelings in order to participate in this race. Thank you, Boston Marathon for testing my limits of endurance, but also for pushing my patience level, the boundary of my inner space bubble and for showing me the true spirit of resilience.

Doing It Together: We're Talking Couples Workouts

“You guys must run together all the time.”

Unfortunately...not.

In the past, it wasn't that we didn't want to run together. We did occasionally get to have a “Running Date Morning”, which follows a “Date Night,” courtesy of the Grandparents.   Our kids are blessed to have kick-ass grandparents.

 

Most of the time, between having to balance kids, all their activities, work, and the seemingly unending mountain of laundry that is our lives, we just never found the time. Generally, we play Tag. One of us goes first, then we Tag at home. Tunnel Tag would have been fun! We should try that. Oh, but we're getting off track.

Have you been hearing lately about “couples workouts?” There are a bunch of videos on Youtube of "Hot Couples Workout" videos, like this AMAZING COUPLE.  Oh, and Pinterest has more stuff, too.

Mmm...yea. We aren't quite like that. Plus, we aren't going so far as to try these sexy and steamy workouts, like the ones you might read about in ladies' magazines.   That just ain't our thing, as in, it ain't happenin', Bro.  But, whatever floats your boat, right?

But, during this last training cycle (Melissa training for the Boston Marathon and Scott training for the Vernonia Half-Marathon), we have scrounged around and found some time to train together, like when the kids search in the dark corners of the house looking for extra money for the ice cream truck.

 

Here's what we've managed to get done as a couple:

• Track interval workouts while the kids play or walk on the track with us.
• Short recovery runs
• P90X Yoga...Namaste.

  

  Reverse Warrior: we should probably be a little lower, but we're runners not yogis.

•  Lifting weights 'near' each other at home

Post workout.  Isn't our son a great photographer?

• Stretching/foam rolling/Prehab Exercises within proximity

How exactly do couples foam roll together??

 

What do you think about couples workouts? Do you have any go-to routines, or do you prefer to workout on your own?

Pool Running, Ice Bath, and a Post-Run Snack

Last week I was talked about my crummy run and how that doesn't really matter that much because I am still living, running and enjoying life. And, those sentiments still ring true. This week, well, things weren't fabulous either. But, in this life we must persevere, no? New season starts, today! 

I made a bad move on Saturday night, and although the same could be said for my moves on the dance floor, this one was worse. I fell down hard on my right knee onto a tile floor. I will spare you the details, but suffice to say that I hurt my knee such that it got all swollen and was hard to bend. No Bueno, folks.

I slogged out 5 miles on Sunday, but it HURT. Dammit, it HURT. I told myself that I had better be able to handle pain and unpleasantness if I am going make it through the 50K Trail Run I have planned this summer. It's a mental trick runners use when they're stupid: run through injury in the name of progress. Anyway, the race is called the SOB 50K, which I think is hilarious, because I'm immature like that. I figured my knee would only hurt for a day or something. So, so naïve, and overly optimistic, as usual.

That bugger hurt so terribly that I couldn't do Yoga on Sunday afternoon. Downward dog was tolerable, but Warrior 1, 2 or any other of those slick Yoga moves were not happening. I was able to do my weight training on Monday, but it still was iffy. On Tuesday, it felt better and I was hopeful that it felt Ok enough for me to do Intervals with ORRC Group on Tuesday Night. NOPE. I ran a slow 5 ½ miles, with it hurting more and more. Wednesday, I did my weight training, but zero running.

ICE, COMPRESSION, ELEVATION, REPEAT.  This did give my knee some relief. Don't worry I Googled, and talked to some peeps at work (I work with a bunch of PT's), and I don't have any symptoms of a ligament tear or anything like that. Just swelling that makes it feel like my Patella is being shoved laterally to the back side of my knee. In case you were wondering, Patellas don't like hanging out in the back of anywhere, they enjoy being front and center. They are like the Kim Kardashian of bones.

Today, I decided to go to the gym and try “Pool Running.” One of my lovely coworkers, Andrea, who used to run quite a bit herself, also suggested I try the Elliptical Jogger. I went over to 24-hour fitness, donned my swimsuit, threw my iPod under a baseball cap and ran in slow motion in the pool for 30 minutes. After 10 minutes, I wanted to get out. I think it was the longest 30 minutes of my life. After I couldn't handle anymore pool running I jumped out, changed clothes and made my way to the Elliptical machines.

Ok. I will freely admit, I've only been on one of those like twice, ever. The first one I got on was really easy, so I cranked up the resistance and incline all the way, but it still was exceedingly easy. I decided it was broken. I found a different brand that looked newer. It gave a me a pretty good workout, though not quite as much as running would have. I have to say I know now why they call it an “Elliptical Jogger”---it's hard to get the machine to truly simulate running, even on the highest level. It was a fairly decent workout, not as much as running but way better than nothing.

How was the knee?? I could still feel a little discomfort, but nothing like before. I decided to go for a couple of miles outside after I left the gym. It was definitely tolerable, but I didn't want to push my luck.  How about some food for all that  torturous pool running and elliptical jogging? 

Good Stuff. I hope Matt Fitzgerald would be proud.

I went home and made myself a yummy snack. I needed a reward. Today, I had: Greek yogurt and peanut butter/almond butter mixed together with honey as the base, then I added grapefruit, chia seeds, toasted coconut, small pieces of dark chocolate, and sprinkle of granola. YUM! After reading, Racing Weight: How to get Lean for Peak Performance, by Matt Fitzgerald, I have found it rather easy to feed my body the fuel it needs with unprocessed, unrefined whole foods. Good stuff.

 

 

Pre-ice bath: I already look cold.

Once my belly was full, I decided to ice my entire lower half in an ICE BATH.  My 8 year-old daughter, Maya, was sweet enough to draw my ice bath for me, and even throw in a gallon of ice cubes from our freezer. As I was resting in the tub, I over heard her buddy ask, “Where's your mom?”. Maya replied, “Oh, she's in the tub...in cold water with real ice cubes in it. She needs to do that when she runs.” Poor kid probably thinks I'm crazy. Don't worry, I know I'm crazy, so it's cool. Oh, I wasn't alone in the tub---I always have a warm beverage on hand, today it was HOT Chai Tea, like so hot that it needed a warning label like McDonald's coffee. Oh, and the dog likes to hang out in there too to keep me company. He might love me more than my husband does.


Tomorrow...I have plans to run.  The knee feels ready.






Have you ever tried pool running?

Do you like the elliptical, or other gym equipment?

Do you have any special yummy snacks for post-workout?

Ever get into an ice bath?

Spring Forward? Yes, yes, I did. Quite literally.

On Wednesday, I had a bit of crummy morning. It started out normal enough:

Step 1: Get up early.

Step 2: Run 10 miles at recovery pace.



 Brooks Transcend: Hot colors make it even more extravagant.

I was pretty excited to be heading out because I had new gear. I LOVE new gear, since I rarely treat myself. I just picked up the Brooks Transcend, a new pair of Brooks for me, actually they're new for everyone since Brooks just launched them. They were pretty expensive...like more than I usually spend for shoes, but I justified it by buying them ON SALE, and getting another pair that I will also use in my shoe rotation at a steep discount. Scott remarked that he thought the Brooks Transcend purchase was “extravagant.” Hey, with the discounts I actually spent less than had I bought 2 of my normal shoes at regular price. Given how cheap I am with most other parts of my life, I guess I get to be extravagant for once.

 

I got up at 4:30am which I've been told my some people is the middle of the night. Actually, it was still technically “night” out with the sky still the color of dark charcoal, and small twinkling stars reminding me that I wasn't alone. I stepped out of my front door adorned in my brand new, shiny Brooks, and I was trying out a new hand-held water bottle from Ultimate Direction. Pretty slick, right? Not ½ mile from my house, I wiped out BIG TIME. I think the bigger bottom on the Transcends caught the edge of one of the uneven sidewalks that are so pervasive in our part of town. Tree City USA, makes for big trees.

It's simple math, I will break it down for you:

Very big trees=ginormous roots=tons of uneven sidewalks

Period. 

This spot where I took a dive has a HUGE Giant Sequoia.  Roots...sidewalks with attitude...you get the drift. It's a beautiful specimen and I've marveled at it for years, but never had I seen it from the underside that close until that moment.  It's really old, too. I think maybe that tree has been here since dinosaurs walked the earth.  I'm not sure since I didn't have time to take a core sample.

It wasn't just the new shoes that made me fall, though. I was distracted, too. My entire consciousness was stuck on some bad news and I couldn't think about anything else. I can count the times I have fallen during a run and 2/4 were from having my mind on something else. As I was flying through the air with my arms outstretched, my new Ultimate Direction water bottle bolted off my my hand and landed lightly in the needles of the Giant Sequoia, and I landed hard mostly on my elbows and chest. “Huh”, I breathed, as the wind was slightly knocked out of me. It took me a second to pull my thoughts together. “Oh. Crap. I need to stop my Garmin.” Ha! Wouldn't that just be the first thing to come to mind?

Happy bubbles in my water bottle...too bad they don't taste happy.

As I assessed my injuries, which were pretty minor (scraped elbows, scratches from fallen branches on both legs, some bruises), I pulled myself together and started off into the darkness again. I was glad it was nothing serious. Later during the run, I found that I couldn't drink from my new super cool water bottle. WTF? To be fair, I didn't read the directions, I mean really, why should a water bottle be so complicated?? I had to stop at large intersection and that's when I discovered not just one, but two problems. I looked down at my Garmin and noticed that it had stopped working, claiming of all things: “DATABASE FULL.” Oh, right, it told me that a few days ago. Dammit. AND, after opening my water bottle to get a drink, I notice that the water was still soapy from when I had tried to wash it out before the run. FRICK!

Could this run have any more problems?

 

And, that's when it really hit me. This was completely nothing, really small potatoes compared to what someone else I know is going through.

Just the night before, I had learned that the brother of a good friend of mine had been diagnosed with cancer. Stage III. He's just a few years younger than me, and he is married with two children very close to the ages of our kids. I couldn't stop thinking about him. My mind was wrapped up with the sad and nearly sickening thoughts of this person, which was the other big reason why I fell down. The thought of what he and his family are going through is just heartbreaking. It can all change so quickly, one second you are living and enjoying life and the next you are told your time is almost up. Just like one second you are quietly running along, and the next you're sprawled out on the sidewalk like a rag doll tossed in the corner by a hurried child. It doesn't take much sometimes to interrupt our lives and remind us how fragile we are.   This quote was on repeat in my head:

As my thoughts rested on this person and his family, I realized that I had so much to be thankful for. So, I'd had a few “issues” during my run. Fell down, Garmin died, and my water bottle refused to work and only offered sudsy water.

 

So what?? A little unpleasantness, a little inconvenience? I realized that I was absolutely blessed to be having these “unpleasant” experiences at all. I was so lucky to be out running, enjoying a beautiful star-filled sky, smelling the first blooming lilacs and hearing the birds starting their early morning songs. Maybe it's a cliché, but I stood in the middle of my kitchen that morning thinking that no matter what happens to us, as long as we are living life, no matter the circumstances, then we are among the fortunate because life is truly a gift.  

I really miss my "good thing"

Have you ever heard of too much of a good thing?

Like, when you eat too much cheesecake and then you don't want to even look at it for months, or maybe even years. Ok, maybe cheesecake is a bad example. I think maybe it's vodka that has that effect.

Well, we can all agree that it is pretty sad when you over-do something that you really like, and then you can't do it at all. Right now, I can't go running. I really shouldn't even jog to my car from the gym where I've been spending nearly everyday taking Cycling or Weight-Lifting classes.

I miss it.

I ran my first Half-Marathon in 2010. That was roughly one year after I started running races again after many years of laying around eating ice cream and watching soap operas. Just kidding. I had 2 kids, which meant many years of doing piles of laundry (and watching a few soap operas during nap time).  What can I say, the plot line of All My Children was pretty addicting back then.

After that first Half-Marathon, I said that I thought my body could only possibly do TWO half-marathons a year (in addition to the 5 or so 10Ks that I run). "JUST SAY 'NO' TO MARATHONS!!" was my motto. Thanks, Nancy Reagan. I didn't think my body could do more without the risk of injury. If I got injured, then I couldn't do what I love. No bueno, right? I think I was supremely wise at that exact moment in time. Hello? LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

Fast forward 3 years. I love running, so why not run MORE?? No serious injuries in 4 straight years of running. What could go wrong? It turns out that my body could do more running...for a little while, at least. Everyone has a breaking point. I hit mine. The last 12 months have added up to 14 Races: Seven 10Ks, two Half-Marathons, two Marathons, a 25K, and let's not forget that I lost my mind and also ran a 50K. Oh, and a 5K on Thanksgiving, too...gobble. Too much of a good thing spells problems.

A couple of things happened. I gave up the 2-3 times a week of Cycling classes I was doing in order to fit in more running. And, I was only lifting weights 1-2 times a week, instead of 3 times. Cross training is important, friends. Really important.

My wonderful family after my 50K.
Notice that I'm not standing on my left leg.



Yes, good ole tear in the right arch of the foot (similar to Plantar Fascitis, dammit that's hard to spell), and a pretty unforgiving left calf strain, made me realize me how important cross training has been and that running too much without all that can lead to serious injury.

During a long ice bath this summer, I had to decide whether or not to do the 50K, for which I had already been training for 15 weeks. I decided to "JUST DO IT" (thanks Nike) and then stop running.

It's only been 2 weeks.

I miss it.

This Saturday and last Saturday, I spent 2 hours at the gym. First, I took Body Pump (aka lifting weights) for 50 minutes, then I climbed onto a Spin bike for 60 minutes of hard cycling.

During that spin class, I don't think the fan was on, because sweat was coming out of every part of by body. At the time, I thought there might have been some blood, too, but it's so dark in the Cycle Room that I wasn't sure. Don't worry, I checked the floor when I was cleaning my bike after class, and it was just sweat, and maybe a few tears...possibly some snot, but I can neither confirm nor deny that.

Don't get me wrong, I like cycling. I'm kind of a big chicken about riding my bike on the road. I have trust issues with cars running me over. It's just a different experience to spend 2 hours being "instructed" in exercise by a 30-something woman saying, "Come-on. Turn up that gear and push it!" I swear these classes always remind me of being in labor, minus the baby coming out and the addition of all the Katy Perry and Maroon 5 songs, of course.

It's just not at all the same for me as running alone for 2 hours with only my thoughts, music or podcasts to keep me company. Cycling and weights are the best cross-training for my body, but they are exactly that, for me:  cross-training. They simply don't do the same thing that running does for my mental, emotional or even spiritual well-being.

I can't wait for the day when I can get back out there and enjoy all that running has been for the last 4, almost 5 years. This time, I know I won't lose sight of what is really important: staying healthy by listening to my body.

Why Running Sucks

The Shirt.

This morning I saw a guy walking the opposite direction I was running. His shirt said, "RUNNING SUCKS." I've heard of people wearing this Nike shirt while running to emphasize the fact that running does indeed suck, sometimes. But this gent wasn't running. He was probably ~50 years old, and at least 100lbs overweight. I'm guessing that for him, at that moment running would suck, big time (no pun intended). I was in awe of him for wearing that shirt---clearly not a runner, but still telling it like it is, perhaps?

That made me wonder...What makes running suck? A couple of things come to mind. The first thing that makes running suck is running while you are in denial.

Denial. It's not just a river in Egypt, folks.



Nice for massaging the bad foot.

Since April, I've been in denial. Big time. I have a clear conscience now that a few weeks ago, I finally came to terms with the fact that I have the dreaded enemy of runners---AN INJURY! Tendonitis is my usual foe, so I could accept the fact that the nagging, yet intermittent right arch, and heel pain was indeed Plantar Fasciitis. It hasn't changed my training plans, too much. I am doing the mileage, but without speedwork. I am actively treating it with ice, foam rolling, massage, and even tried a little tape. We have this little ball that works really well.


You know what doesn't suck, though? SUMMER!!! Now that it's August here in Oregon, Summer has finally arrived. Summertime and living is easy...Bradley's on the microphone with Ras MG.

Oh, sorry. Distracted.

The long summer days are an inviting time for getting lost in a good book. I am planning to do my first Ultra in October (Autumn Leaves 50K), so I have been reading a ton of books about people who run really, really far, and the awesome places where they run. The books have been a mix of stories and narratives, infused with training and nutritional advice. For the most part, the ultra running community is very friendly, not super competitive, as they know they are all going against the course, not each other. I LOVE this mindset! I've been feeling greatly inspired by the stories I've read, but still a little worried, and apprehensive about going the distance.

My hope is that finishing a training program help calm the my internal worry-wart. Yesterday, I set out for 24 mile training run. This was my longest run since the Vernonia Marathon. It was a nice day, cool and comfortable and the route was a mix of back roads, and suburban streets. That brings me to another thing that makes running suck---runners who are looking to compete (with me!) during regular training runs.

Yesterday, at mile 22ish, I met up and ran along with another runner for about a mile. Actually, I passed him, then he passed me before we talked for a little bit. He was wearing a head lamp and a waist hydration belt. I figured from the gear that he must be running at least 20 miles, maybe more. Nope. He was running 12 miles. I think his head almost exploded when I said I was 22 miles into a 24 miler. His response, "And, you're running this pace?! Boy, I've got some work to do." Competitive much?? Really, man, it's best not to compare yourself with other runners. After reading all summer about Ultra Runners, I've embraced the concept we're both running against the course or in this case, the slope on Murray Blvd., NOT each other.

That reminded me of 14 miler I ran a couple of weeks ago. That day, I was running along listening to a podcast, when I noticed a guy running up along a side street that was going to intersect with the street I was running on. A little while later, I stepped into the grass of the parking strip to change my iPod to music since the podcast had ended. When he ran by, the guy said, "I knew I'd pass you, eventually." I suppressed the urge to say something smart-ass back, like-- "Really, Dude? I was stopped when you passed me." Instead, I just thought, "just run like normal." Music always makes me run faster--usually 30 seconds per mile faster. Obviously, I passed him again.

He caught up to me at a traffic light a little while later, and I decided not to trash talk. For what reason? Trash talking works in some sports, like Basketball, Football or even Bowling---think of Walter in the Big Lebowski. In the world of running, it just seems out of place. I never saw him again...but, I think that the proof was most certainly in the pudding. Eventually passing me didn't happen.

So, yes, running can suck. To me, it sucks a whole lot more when people get all competitive. That takes the enjoyment out of it for me. Granted, being injured makes running suck pretty bad, too. I guess I'd rather have no assholes and no owies...Is that too much to ask?

Body Image and Amateur Running



Hagg Lake 10K, 2012.  Can you predict the winner?

Standing at the starting line of a local amateur road race, you really can't tell who is going to finish first. At least, I can't tell. Even at relatively small races, you see people of all ages, sizes and body types.

 

Yesterday, we finished our 3rd (of 7) races for the ORRC 10K Series, the Hagg Lake 10K. Like most the races in this series, it's not flat or what would be considered an "easy" course. It's a mix of rolling hills: you run up, and you run down, then you run up again for a longer hill, then, you guessed it, back down. Yesterday, it was unusually warm for May. At race time (9 am) it was already sunny and 70 degrees. That's hot for racing. I knew going into this race, it wouldn't be a PR day. It wasn't just the heat, I know my body pretty well, and sometimes, you just know. I decided to run my best for the day, and in the end, I felt beat up and ravaged by the course, but having a "tough" race makes you stronger, right? Yep, that's what I tell myself.

During most of the race, I could see the women's winner of the race. I had no crazy ideas about catching her. I was solidly in 3rd place during the majority of the race. Until, about mile 5 when someone cruised on by. I didn't have anything left to try to keep up with her. She swallowed the 2nd place girl, too. Without a doubt, this woman had a GREAT race. At the end, as we stood around gulping water and congratulating each other on running up and down in the heat, I commented on how I was impressed with her last mile. She was very gracious.

Then she remarked, "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but it was great to run behind you and see another woman with big legs and muscles. People think that women with muscles can't run fast, but that's not true."

I was impressed by what this woman said. Obviously, I know I'm not built like an Olympic runner, and "fast" is relative, always. I know that it's true that I do indeed have an "unconventional" runner's body. So what? In the world of amateur running, having a large frame with big legs won't necessarily keep you from running faster than people with smaller, sleeker bodies. Why is that? I'd venture to say because a huge part of amateur running is mental, and also focuses on the training you put in, not necessarily your figure.

But, let's forget about speculating on what makes one person faster than the next, because there are too many variables, and that's not what really struck me. In the end, I appreciated this woman's honesty in talking about body image. Dammit, we are consumed with it and bombarded with images all day, everyday of what our society calls beauty. Never mind that Photoshop makes complexions perfect and bodies smooth in magazines and beauty ads. It seems like it was only last week when I saw and even engaged in a few online debates about this Dove Commercial. Women are hard on themselves, right? Yes, yes. I won't go into the debate about how scientific Dove's experiment was or wasn't, or even about whether I think they went far enough to dispel the myth that there IS some standard of beauty.

What strikes me is that there seems to be some standard. And, it doesn't stop with faces. At least yesterday, I left with the idea this IS still something women runners think about, maybe even agonize about. For me, I hadn't really given it much thought since I started running races about 4 years ago. You line up at the start with all sorts of body types. And, in the end, most of the time, body type doesn't tell you a thing about who is going to finish first, or even last. You absolutely cannot tell at the beginning of a race how it's going to shake out, especially among the mid-pack.

Maybe, that is one of the reasons why I so love amateur athletics. You can be exactly who you are, and no matter what the shape of your human form, it will still carry you across the finish line. You are only truly running against yourself, and most of us are  not running in order to dispel some myth about what a long distance runner looks like. Right?? Maybe not, eh?

What about you? Do you "size up" the competition at races? Do you feel like you have an "unconventional" runner's body? Do you think running relatively fast with an unconventional runner's body makes a statement?