To Half or Not to Half, that is the Question...

Running a "5KaDay" has proven to be a challenge. But not an insurmountable one. I am now finding my daily 5K runs to be easier, smoother, and much more enjoyable than they were when I first started this odd experiment just three weeks ago.

Which means it must be time for a new challenge. (I'll have to check my birth certificate, but I'm fairly certain my ancient Gaelic name means crazy woman, because there's no other explanation for this quest for running perfection. But, I digress.)

So, naturally, I have been scouting out more 5Ks, 10Ks, and even Half Marathons in order to up the ante in preparation for this fall's Marine Corps Marathon.

But oddly enough, I keep getting tripped up on the "Half" Marathon.

You see, I don't do anything halfway in life. In career, life, love, or relationships. It's all or nothing. 90mph toward the brick wall, or nothing at all. Where I’m from, doing anything “half-assed,” well, that was thought to bring shame upon the family name. (You think I'm kidding but I seem to recall that being a direct quote.) I admit, it may be simple semantics. A psychological block. But the "Half" marathon is a real conundrum for me.

I'm up for a 10K, to be sure. I’ll be there in a few weeks. But I desperately need the expert opinions (and the not-so-expert opinions) on the training benefits of the "Half."  Are there specific, concrete training benefits to doing a Half? Do I even have time to run one between now and October? Do I need to run a Half in order to prove I can run a whole marathon? Or can I just do as I've always done: go big, or go home?

Tough Mudders

 

Photo credit: www.Murrieta-MudRun.com

 

Being in Politics, I fling mud for a living.

But I've never actually run in the mud.

Until now.

Last night, my girlfriends signed me up for a 5K Mud Run complete with obstacle courses and well, you guessed it... 'lots and 'lots of mud.

Surely this must be every guy's dream. Groups of women pushing and shoving and covered in mud, right? Well, I'm perfectly happy to throw the Women's Lib out the door, because frankly I'll do (almost) anything for a good cause.

Our team will run to benefit the troops at Camp Pendleton, CA when we take on the Murrieta Mud Run in Riverside County, Southern California, on September 10, 2011. The race is one day before the 10-Year Anniversary of 9/11, and I can think of no greater way to honor the victims of that day than to run through any sort of conditions to benefit the brave men and women who have sacrificed themselves in order to deliver justice for the acts of that fateful day.

If you live or run in the Southern California area and would like to join our team, e-mail me.

Now... let's get down and dirty, girls!

Reflections on Running

Over the weekend, there was an exceptionally good trending topic on Twitter: #WhyIRun. 

It was interesting to see what runners from all walks of life listed as their reasons.

Confidence. Strength. Fresh air. To clear the mind. To prove a point. Relieve stress. Blow off steam. Achieve a sense of accomplishment. Get into shape. Lose the baby weight. To fit into that bikini. Look good in those skinny jeans. And one recurring theme that needed only one word: chocolate.

Reading others' reasons for running forced me to reflect upon #WhyIRun. Fitness ranks up there. Same with those size 6 skinny jeans. But upon closer examination, it turns out the mental vibe is just as important – if not more important – to me.

I run mostly to clear my head before or after work. Every time I set out for a run, I think it’s going to be a purely physical release. But it always ends up being a mental release, too. Like a kid at Christmas, I will never cease to be amazed by the things I am allowed to process while running. Whether it’s solving a work problem for a client, or figuring out my own long-range life plan, it just clicks. A true mind-body connection that I’ve not been able to replicate anywhere else.

So, what’s your reason? Why do you run? Join the fun and Tweet it at #WhyIRun.

Run Like Nobody's Watching

I saw a t-shirt the other day that read, “Champions are made during the off-season.”

And you know what, it’s so true.

When an event is weeks or months away, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that how we will ultimately perform that day is largely determined  by how we prepare now. Sure, the day of a big event is (relatively) easy – it’s filled with ‘lots of fanfare and excitement and cheering crowds. But during the days when there is no applause, no one cheering us on, and no audience in the stands, that is when we are forced to reach down deep. I am convinced it is in those days that we really become a champion.

They say Character is what you do when no one is looking.  I believe the same applies to running. You can run a 5K a Day, or not. Show up to the gym or the running trail, or not. Run the full distance, or not.

So go ahead. Run like nobody’s watching. Because during the off-season, chances are, nobody is. But come race day, if you’ve trained like a champion, chances are that’s exactly what you’ll be.

A Cause Greater than Oneself



The Semper Fi Fund, recently featured in the North County (San Diego) Times.


















This year, I am running the Marine Corps Marathon to benefit the Semper Fi Fund, an organization that provides assistance to injured U.S. Marines returning from war.

This is my first year running for a cause. But it won’t be my last. In fact, now I can’t imagine running a race any other way. Running for charity has added a whole new dimension to my training – it has forced me to run for a cause greater than myself. 

As runners, we are so fortunate that organized races today have adopted more charity partners than ever.  Whether you feel passionately about our troops as I do, or about Alzheimer’s, Breast Cancer, children’s cancer, or (fill in the blank with the cause of your choice), it is easier than ever to raise funds and awareness for a cause which you care deeply about.

In this charitable age, it turns out that the benefits are mutual for runners, charities and even the participating races themselves. The New York Times running blog reports that running for a cause has provided a huge boom to organized races: http://marathon.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/running-for-charity-fuels-a-boom-in-marathoning/. Now that’s what I call a win-win-win.

Whatever your cause, I encourage you to seek out a charity partner on your next race. Most races have a section on their website called “Charity partners.” Simply click through the race's official website and find a cause that’s right for you. In the meantime, here are the Charity partners for what I consider “the top three” races in the U.S.:

The Marine Corps Marathon: http://www.marinemarathon.com/Register/MCM_Charity_Partners.htm

The Boston Marathon: http://www.baa.org/utilities/charities.aspx 

The ING New York City Marathon: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/galleries/charities/index.shtm. 

As for my Marathon effort, I invite you to read more about the Semper Fi Fund and the incredible stories of young spouses they have supported, the injured U.S. Marines and NAVY personnel they have assisted, and the homes they have retrofitted for heroes returning home in much different conditions than they left. If you’d like to support my team’s effort for the Marine Corps Marathon to benefit the Semper Fi Fund, you can contribute here: http://www.active.com/donate/semperfifundmcm2011/jenniferk

Here’s to running for – and living for – a cause greater than ourselves!

The X-Factor



The Mothership: 24 Hour Fitness HQ in Carlsbad, CA


















I’ve heard people talk about cross-training for years.

How it helps your performance, flexibility, reshapes your body, and protects against injury.

Well, turns out they were right.

Over the past year, I’ve taken to cross-training like Tammy Faye Baker at a mascara sale. And it has been a real eye-opener.

I can honestly say it has made me a better runner.

While I rarely give shameless plugs and the truth is, I’m not really even a “joiner,” I have to give credit where credit is due. After God and self, all the credit for my current conditioning goes to 24 Hour Fitness. (And before I start World War III, I am sensitive to the fact that you East Coast’ers have Krunch Fitness – or fill in the blank with your local fave – but 24 Hour Fitness owns the West Coast. If you’re workin’ out anywhere in California, you’re there.)

If you haven’t been to a gym in a while, let me tell you: They’ve made it so easy to cross-train, they have removed all barriers and excuses for anyone to be out of shape. (How dare they. Bastards.) Whether it’s getting a personal trainer who can tailor a program to your specific needs (and believe me, I’ve had some weird ones over the past few years), or simply immersing yourself in one of their “Group X” classes, you owe it to yourself to get in there. The personal trainer you have to pay for, but the classes, those are free. (We love free.)

While working in Southern California, I’ve had the privilege to work out at the corporate headquarters of 24 Hour Fitness in Carlsbad, California (pictured, above). When I’m there, I almost want to write them a thank you note or ask at the front desk if there’s a guestbook I can sign, with a note telling them how much they’ve changed my life. Because if it hadn’t been for the cross-training – which they have made more accessible than ever for this amateur athlete – I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I certainly wouldn’t be running a 5K a Day.

So, 24 Hour Fitness, if you’re out there and you're listening… Thanks!

For Those About to Run, We Salute You

We are a nation of runners.

If Paul Revere hadn’t had a horse, I’m convinced he would have run cross-country to tell the news.

I was reminded of our nation’s love of running tonight as I found the treadmills at the gym more crowded than usual this Monday night.  And I mean really crowded.

Then it dawned on me. It's the day after the women’s World Cup championship game. And not just any World Cup game. One of the most exciting series for the U.S. in recent years. Not since Brandi Chastain ripped her shirt off at the Olympics have Americans been so in awe over women running up and down a field. Everywhere I went this past weekend, people were abuzz and impressed by the sheer athletic ability of these women – specifically their running endurance, which was on full display. And that’s the thing about professional athletes, they inspire the best in all of us.

You don’t have to be a championship athlete to run. People run every day in this nation. In fact, it’s truly the people who keep this place running and I think it’s high time we salute them. The soldier returning from war with one less leg to run on. The first-time runner. The student athlete. The FedEx guy delivering that special package from Mom. The fireman who runs into the building, not the other way around. The mother of four running her first half-marathon. Just a few of the people who make this nation great.

To the U.S. women's World Cup team, you have the salute of an inspired nation. Welcome home. You make us proud. And more importantly, you make us want to get out there and run.

Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes

I read somewhere that you should replace your running shoes every 500 miles, or every 6 months.

Well, I have had my running shoes for six years.

I'm laughing as I type this. Six years is a mighty long time. To have anything. Let alone a pair of running shoes.

While the idea of bringing home a shiny new pair of shoes is exciting, I have to admit I've grown attached to my treads. I've bought the exact same model since I started running in college. Saucony Grid 3000's. And always in pink.

This particular pair? They've been to the Middle East and back with me. They've taken a jaunt 'round Londontown. We've cruised through races from L.A. to D.C. together. They were there for me when I went through excruciating months of physical therapy. They've gotten me through a lot.

Nevertheless, I suppose it's time to cut the strings, so to speak.

The Evidence: Six-year-old shoe. Exhibit A: A hole so gaping, I can fit my entire index finger through it.

Time to tap into my single-girl salary for a new pair.

But where does a girl begin? A lot has changed in six years. Shoes today have spacesuit technology in their soles (hello, Nike Lunar), and some have almost no soles at all (what's up with that, btw?). Some even have microprocessors built into the heel to track your every training move. This alone makes my head spin, as I can barely remember to charge my iPod before a run. And of course there are the other considerations: low arches, high arches, wide foot, narrow foot, and of course the most important part: they have to look good. And I mean really good. As in, zing-over-puddles-on-a-rainy-day good. That's right, I said zing.

So, this is the week I'll trek on over to the RoadRunner Sports megastore in Southern California to check out the vast selection. But first, I'm curious to hear from you. What's your favourite pair? Are you brand loyal? Or do you just have to have the latest trend? What's more important: cushion, performance, or fit?

Help me choose my next pair. Tweet me. Blog me. I don't care. Just help me. Because, as you can see, it's high time to hang up these laces.

By the Numbers

The pesky thing about a goal – and I mean a really, really specific one – is that it’s really, really hard to ignore.

3.2 miles.

Otherwise known across the pond as a 5K.

It’s what I promised myself and the rest of the blogosphere I would run. I’ve emblazoned the number onto my brain. Some days, it feels as if someone tattooed it to the inside of my eyelids while I was sleeping because now I swear I see it everywhere. (Price of gas? $3.20. Next exit? 3.2 miles. What time of day is it? Oh look, it’s 3:20. So goes the torture…)

I readily admit there are days I don’t want to run. And I mean really, really, really don’t want to run. Yesterday happened to be one of them. But I do it anyway. Just like a good little girl. And just like Nike told me to.

Compare and contrast to “the old days” when I would set out for a run and commit to running 15, maybe 20 minutes. I certainly didn’t measure the distance. And if I didn’t feel “into it” at any point during the run, I might even leave the trail and call it a night altogether. What I didn’t realize at the time... It was as if I was committing a thousand small surrenders. Of my body. Of my soul. Of my self-respect. Without even knowing it.

And that’s the thing about a good goal. Whether you like it some days or not, it sets a clear marker to achieve. In black and white terms (or neon green, in my case), my goal looms out there like a beacon that keeps guiding me until I get the satisfaction of watching that number light up the screen. Trust me, I’ve tried to cheat, cut corners, short-circuit my runs, but ever since I threw down the 5K a Day challenge I can’t bring myself to cheat. Because no matter how many people I might end up disappointing, the truth is I’d only be cheating myself.

I encourage you to try it for a week. Pick a number. Set a goal. Then run it, repeatedly. Don’t stop a minute – nor a mile – before you’re supposed to. Then see how tall you stand when you finish that day. And the day after that…and the day after that.

So, let's go, America.  Give me your tired, your weary, your digits...

The State of Running

Visiting the State Capitol of California today, I couldn't help but look forward to one of my personal favourite runs around the perimeter of Capitol Park.

Whenever I look upon this great Statehouse, I am reminded of all of the cities and counties that are represented under that dome.  And, (our perennial fiscal calamities aside), I am often reminded of the beautiful state in which we live.

With 840 miles of coastline and gorgeous weather year-round, California surely has to be “the running Capital of the world.” Everywhere you turn – whether it is on a beach, a sidewalk, a neighborhood street or right here in Capitol Park – Californians are outdoors, and we are running.

I would venture to guess that California has more runners per capita than any other state in the union. And, thanks to our status as “the most populous state in the nation,” we no doubt have the largest sheer number of runners pounding the pavement.

That’s why it gives me great pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, to announce today that The State of Running is strong.

You see, our budget may be flailing, our roads may be crumbling, the earth may start quaking, and our state may go up in flames, but at the end of the day, Californians will still be running. Perhaps for our lives. But we'll still be running.

In all seriousness, there is no shortage of Marathons, 5Ks, 10Ks and Half Marathons from which to choose. Every time I turn around, I see an ad for the San Francisco Bay to Breakers race, the Los Angeles Marathon, the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon, various Nike races, The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the list goes on and on and on...

And we have something to show for it.

Californians are generally known as being more physically fit than their counterparts in other states. Among our counties, Marin County near San Francisco strides across the finish line first as the healthiest county in California. San Diego scores a respectable 16th. And Sacramento ties for 30th with Monterey County (somewhat surprising, as I’ve been to both and believe me, Sacramento ain’t no Monterey.) But I digress. If you live in California, you can check out your County ranking here to see how you rate. 

Here’s to good health, California!

Day of Rest

And on Sunday, she rested.

Legs need rest. And, as it turns out, even God took a rest on the seventh day. Which actually makes me feel better for taking this self-imposed “day off” from the running trail.

Genesis 2: 2-3 says:
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Verse in hand, I headed out to the neighborhood pool today to rest these weary, road-tested legs.

I hope that wherever you are, you took a rest, too.

We’ll be back at it tomorrow.



Run Anyway

A friend once asked, “How do you know at the beginning of a Marathon that you will actually finish the race?”

I suppose I could have opined about visualization techniques that long-distance runners employ, or explained the tried-and-true Jeff Galloway run/walk method that all but guarantees a smooth, injury-free finish. But instead I said, “You just do. Tell yourself you will, and you will."

In a race – as in Life – if you want something enough, you can achieve it.

Well, that’s mostly true.

I say mostly because no one can possibly predict what might happen on a course. For all you know, through no fault of your own, you could trip and fall and tear your meniscus on mile 6 and never finish the race. You never saw that coming, did you?

And that’s the thing about Life.

None of us really know how it’s going to go. None of us can predict. You can't guarantee when you wake up this morning that this day will go exactly as planned. Or that the sky won’t fall. Or that the ones you love in this life won't break your heart. Or that the World won’t end tomorrow. But you know what? Who cares.

Love anyway. Plan anyway. Live anyway. Run anyway. Not only that, but Run as if you’re going to finish. And don’t look back.

"Are You Running?"

Those three little words every girl loves to whisper. (Well, any girl who is a political consultant, at least.) “Are you running?”

It’s the phrase we quietly ask of a person when rumours start swirling that he might run for public office. And when they nod and smile and respond back with the not-unrequited three little words of their own, “I am running," it is sweet music to our ears. Game on.

I admit, the political form of “running” – well, I’ve been interested in that about as long as I’ve been interested in the physical act itself. And I’ve always been interested in language and the power of words. Especially when words have dual meaning.

Webster’s dictionary lists the word “Run” as the following:  (verb) – "to  go faster than a walk; specifically: to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step.”

But there are so many other powerful meanings.

You see, you “run” from a burning building. You “run” into the arms of your lover. You “run” for office – perhaps the highest office in the land, not to mention the free world. You “run” a business. You “run” a lemonade stand. “Run” for your life. And last but not least, you “run” an errand – one of the seemingly simplest of chores, yet done hundreds of times per year it weaves the very fabric of our daily lives together.

"Run" is one of the most powerful words running in the English language (there it is again). And in my view, one of the most powerful things you can do. For your body. For your mind. For your soul. For your children. For yourself.

So the only question I have for you, America, is:  “Are you running?”

The Bridge to Anywhere

Bridges have been on my mind a lot lately. In politics, we often talk about “The Bridge to Nowhere” – some taxpayer boondoggle built in the middle of nowhere that leads to a dead-end road.
 
And just this week, China surpassed the U.S. by unveiling the world’s longest bridge.
 
But the Coronado Bay Bridge in Southern California wins my attention today, mostly because it inspired the idea for this blog.
 
On the 4th of July holiday, I ran the Coronado 5K - a race which traces the path of this massive beauty of a bridge. As I finished my run and set off to enjoy the afternoon – workout already accomplished for the day – I thought to myself how nice it would be if every day could be this way. You show up, you run your 5K, then you go home. No procrastinating, no excuses. Just lace up your shoes and show up. Simple as that. I realize the idea of someone holding a 5K race especially for me every day is ludicrous, but you get the idea. I create my own 5K runs.

This is precisely what I love about running. No membership card required. No expensive equipment needed. And (unless you’re running an official race), there is no price of admission. If you’re poor? Hell, you don’t even need a pair of running shoes – you can do it barefoot. (Just ask Zola Budd.)

Running is the great equalizer of the world. To me, that’s what makes running “The Bridge to Anywhere.” It’s what gets young men out of Third World countries and into the Olympics. It's what soldiers in Iraq do in the streets to engage the youth and occupy their days. It’s what boosts the self esteem of young girls in Harlem and lets them know they can get up and out of the inner city through positive programs like Girls on the Run. Regardless of income, race, background, color or creed... yep, you guessed it: You can run.

As for me, I’m three days into my “5K a Day” training schedule, and it feels good. But I’d be lying if I said the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, how I am going to be able to keep this up for the next 116 days? For now, I don’t concern myself with that. 

Let’s just say, I’ll cross that Bridge when I come to it.

On Your Mark... Get Set...

 As if it’s not absolutely psychotic enough to run a "5K a Day,” I thought I’d add insult to what I’m sure will become (some sort of) injury along the path, by actually Blogging about it for all the world to see.

Maybe I’m doing this to ensure that I actually live up to my self-prescribed challenge to run the equivalent of a “5K a Day” in preparation for the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. this Fall.

Or maybe I’m a glutton for punishment.

But only the finest punishment. The kind where you push yourself to the point of breaking. Both mentally and physically. The kind of punishment that leaves you wondering why you can’t just be normal like everyone else and leave well enough alone.  The kind that reminds you, in the quiet of the night when you reflect upon the day, that you will actually never be “normal.”  Because you, after all, are a Runner.

I dedicate this Blog to all of the runners out there.