Simmer Down Now

Generally speaking, I have a hard time winding down. It’s a trait that has haunted me my entire life.  Whether it’s relinquishing what's left of the day and getting ready for bed --- or making the transition from the hectic workday in order to enjoy an evening with family and friends --- I have long struggled with the delicate transition from 90mph to the resting position.

I suppose I identify with Newton's Law: “A body in motion stays in motion. A body at rest stays at rest.” I fear that if I stop, I’ll mess up the momentum.

And so goes my philosophy on Marathon training.

I have found it incredibly difficult to “taper down” on my training runs in the last few days and weeks leading up to this weekend's Marathon. The way I see it, as Runners we spend months building up to a Marathon. Spending blood, sweat and sometimes tears seeing just how far we can push ourselves. So, it seems odd to me – almost counter-intuitive – to suddenly start going in the opposite direction. After all, if a body in motion truly stays in motion, isn’t that the kind of forward momentum we want leading into race day?

But the experts know better. They say that tapering down your runs (such as reducing your running distance by 20-25% each week for three weeks leading up to a Marathon, according to RunnersWorld) will give your muscles the time and rest they need to repair and recharge for the big day.

Equipped with this knowledge, I began channeling my inner Nadeen – you know, the quirky, beehived, Southern character played by Cheri O’Teri on Saturday Night Live – who made a living (or at least her Saturday nights) running around telling everyone to “Simmer Down Now.” It was her way of telling people to relax, calm down, and let the expert in charge (usually, Nadeen) handle the situation.

So, I am chill. I am trusting the experts. I’m allowing the process to work. Just the other day, even though I desperately wanted to squeeze in "just one last run" on Friday, I  resisted the temptation.

I have to admit, now that my muscles have had a few days of rest and a few good nights of sleep, I feel wholly prepared to take on the race. Piece of cake.

Maybe Nadeen was onto something.

Run, Don't Blog

 
I’ve been a bad blogger lately.

Thankfully, I’ve been a pretty good runner.

And that’s how life goes sometimes. At thirty-something, I’m finally learning that sometimes you have to make choices. This or that. One or the other. Priorities.

As the training runs have gotten longer, when I've been given the choice between training and firing off a blog off for the evening, I had to come down on the side of training. (Well, I went from blogging almost daily, to weekly. That's not so bad, I suppose.) But that's beside the point.

I ran a marathon once before when I was woefully unprepared, and it wasn’t fun. I won’t go so far as to say it was the worst five hours of my life (because it wasn’t), but it wasn’t particularly fun. And I had no one to blame but myself. Try running with that broken record in your head for five hours!

Also, since this is my first marathon back after a serious accident, it was important to me to train injury-free. Honestly, when I set out on this journey to train for my first marathon back, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is, I could do it.

Six months later, I am absolutely delighted to be going into the final weekend for the Marine Corps Marathon injury-free (minus a few aches and pains).

So, for the sake of the sport, I hope you’ll forgive me. I know many of you have said you enjoy the posts. Now that race weekend is (finally) here, I look forward to sharing more posts from the road.

And in case I haven’t said it lately, Thanks for reading. xx

Friday Night Lights

Last week, we participated in a great American tradition: a Friday night high school football game.

My boyfriend and I picked up his boys from their football practice and with the goal of giving them a taste of a good old fashioned football rivalry, within minutes we were heading across town to see St. Francis High School take on Harvard Westlake - two of the best college preparatory schools in Los Angeles.

When we arrived, what we found was nothing short of the perfect high school football game. Fall was in the air. It was Homecoming. A pretty blonde was crowned queen. And the home team won the game with only two seconds left on the clock.

Looking around the field, it made me realize: whether you're 17 and you're the star quarterback, or you're 18 and leading cheers on the sidelines, or you're the parents finally taking a seat in the stands after weeks of carpooling that falls just short of an Olympic sport -- everyone plays their part in making the game happen. Just as in life, it requires teamwork to make all the moving parts come together.

This week, I encourage you to find a game in your area. Watch a heated rivalry. Appreciate the effort that goes into the production of a great sporting event. Plus, it'll make you feel like you're in high school again, if only for a night.

Enjoy the Friday night lights.

Ring Around the Rose-y...

 Do you ever get hooked on an incredible run?

And I mean, an incredible run that you can't actually believe you're running.

I had this experience over the weekend while running around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

This 8-mile jog took me to the Rose Bowl and back, and around the perimeter of the Rose Bowl which is a 3-mile loop in and of itself. The run included hill work and enough mileage to log a respectable long run for this Marathon trainee.

Not to mention the scenery.

I am told that more than 10,000 people move to California each year courtesy of a single landmark photograph of the canyon that leads down into the Rose Bowl.

As a little girl, I used to dream of living in California. Today, there are so many moments in this beautiful life - yes, even something as simple as this trip to the Rose Bowl - that have me pinching myself as if to say, Am I really here? After ten years here, it never gets old.

And for this football fanatic, I can't think of a more inspiring run. Passing the stadium on a perfect Southern California day, I can't help but think of the tradition. All of the athletes who have come before me. The pomp and circumstance of the Rose Parade. The cheering crowds. So magical.

Yep. The Rose Bowl has officially been added to my list of worldwide favourite runs. Now I'm curious: What's your favourite run? Landmark? Tourist-y spot to run? I have a few others up my moisture-wicking sleeve that I'll share in the next few weeks. But I'm curious to hear yours first.

Labor of Love

 Runners are passionate about their hobby.

You could even call it a labor of love.

Literally.

Reuters reports that a woman ran yesterday's Chicago Marathon at nearly 39 weeks pregnant. After the race, she went into labor.

I have to admit, I'm tempted to judge. I've always read it's unsafe to run beyond the 5-month mark. Although I understand she was under a doctor's supervision. And generally speaking, I want to support those who love the sport.

But a marathon?

A marathon takes a serious toll on the body. Some studies even suggest that distance running increases the chance of some cancers due to the prolonged strenuous physical activity that affects white blood cell counts. Therefore, I can't even imagine subjecting a fetus to that. As a woman in my 30s who is yearning to have a baby of my own someday, if there were even a slightest chance of endangering my baby I don't think I'd do it. Would you?

What's your opinion? Is this safe? Would you run a marathon with a baby in your belly? I'm curious to know!

One Small Step for Man...

 Just when you think you've heard it all.

A 31-year old man is training to be the first person to run a mile on the moon.

ABC News reports that distance runner Jonathon Prince is scheduled to be the first person to blaze a trail atop the lunar ball.

But although he will fly to the moon Prince doesn't necessarily think he's superhuman. When interviewed, he says nothing is impossible in life; you simply have to put a massive amount of commitment and dedication behind your dream. His dedication includes logging long hours training at a private space facility to learn everything there is to know about the space industry.

But that's not even the most impressive part.

Whereas I thought my measly 5Ks were impressive, Prince is currently logging a whopping 100 to 120 miles per week. When you consider that there are approximately 1,760 steps in every mile that is run, this means Prince is running more than 176,000 steps per week.

That is one giant leap for mankind.

To see the interview with the first man who will run a mile on the surface of the moon, visit here or follow him on Facebook.

Fingers Crossed!

 

This morning I was thinking about an upcoming race, and I was reminded of my infamous “race day rituals.”

Ahh, the race day ritual. Those twitchy little superstitious habits in which we engage in anticipation of the starting line.

Society has its rituals. And the running community is no different. In fact, I’m certain that the best professional athletes have them. I’m sure I’ve heard NFL players share their game day superstitions. And I, for one, have seen runners do all sorts of crazy things on race day.

I know some runners who request specific bib numbers, or demand bib numbers that end in odd or even numbers. I have heard that fights break out over specific numbers. Some runners eat a very specific breakfast on race day. Lay their race outfit out the night before. Wear a lucky bandana or a coin in their shoe (although that sounds awfully painful for 26 miles...) A more common ritual is to create a race day playlist on the iPod. Some people meditate. Pray. I’ve even seen a man doing jumping jacks at the starting line. Says he started doing it 20 years ago and it went so well, he's done it ever since.

Whatever it takes to get in the zone, man.

Mine? In the interest of sharing with the running community that shares it all (and I do mean, all) my worst race day habit has got to be running to the ladies room multiple times before the shotgun start. I'm sure it's the nerves. It is a habit which I became accustomed to during my ballet recitals as a little girl and a habit I have tried to break in the running world, as jetting off to the port-a-pottie every 5 minutes really defeats the purpose of getting that good spot at the starting line.

I also try to wear the same outfit on race day that I have worn to prior races. While it’s no guarantee, I figure that past success is a great indicator of future performance. (If it fits and doesn't chafe, it's a winner.) I also write or apply iron-on lettering the night before to my race day shirts to send a message (especially when running for the Troops). 

I have one other odd little habit – repeatedly tying and untying my shoes. I'm sure this started as a mere safety precaution, but it has now gone to the extreme. To make matters worse, since I double-knot my laces for safety it takes me twice as long to tie and untie them. I have no idea what this habit indicates. Probably that I was an axe murderer in a former life.

But enough about my quirks. I want to hear from you.

I’m curious: What are your race day rituals? What do you absolutely, positively, have to do in order to ensure a good race? Share it here, or Tweet it!