Today was the Marine Corps Marathon, and I have been reading social networking posts from friends who ran. Brooks Running was posting about it, and others are posting about the upcoming New York City Marathon. So why am I writing about this? Because it gets me insanely pumped up! I didn't even run a race today, but I feel like I have the adrenaline that I get for race day.
One of the things I love most about running is this runner's high, happy feeling, and how in tune I feel with other running friends. I am so happy for them, even the ones I don't know all that well. A successful finish, a PR, or just getting out there is impressive. Today I feel all of these things through friends and acquaintances who raced.
The hardest part for me at the moment is this ongoing injury from the bike that I've been dealing with since mid-August. I had to give up my fall marathon and that makes me feel like a wuss. At the same time, there is no way I should be ramping up my mileage that much when running 12 or 13 miles gives me days of pain; I know better than to push like that even if I want to. I'm listening to my body and trying really hard to cut back on long runs. My post-Malibu Half goal is for my longest run to be 6 miles until I start increasing for the Santa Cruz Half on April 1.
In the meantime, I'm occupying my fitness self with personal training. There are two of us training together, and we had our first session this past Thursday. The trainer went really easy on us for the first one and neither of us were sore, but I'm sure he'll make it harder once he determines our abilities. He also gave us a fitness test based on movement and flexibility, which I didn't score well on at all (13 out of 21 - oops.) Now I have something to work on! This was hard to hear because I consider myself to be fairly strong, but I suppose my sporadic strength training and cardio-only mindset of late has let me slip.
Interestingly enough, I've read a few articles on how endurance training helps you store fat. I don't feel fat, but I do know that my strength is down and I don't have the muscle definition I used to when I trained regularly. My favorite article - and one that really hits home for me - is by Rachel Cosgrove, a personal trainer who found herself in less-than-toned shape after completing an Ironman. An Ironman, which I would think makes you stronger and fitter, but not so! Check out her article - make sure to see all of the pages and to check out the pictures at the end - and prepare to be inspired.
30 October 2011
29 October 2011
Running for Halloween
Our Halloween celebration at work was yesterday, and I gave it a running theme this year. This was mostly because I wanted a 'costume' that I already owned that would be easy to put together! My first idea was to go as Kara Goucher, my favorite woman marathon runner. I'd planned to wear a pink Nike tank, black shorts, black arm warmers, a medal, and a race bib with Goucher written on it.
Telling my husband my idea, I commented that if only Kara was still pregnant I could be a prego Kara Goucher for Halloween. And then it dawned on me - I could just wear my Chicago marathon gear and be Amber Miller. Hopefully this isn't tasteless, I was going for funny.
For anyone who didn't hear about this, Amber Miller is the woman who ran the Chicago Marathon this year at 39 weeks pregnant. She went into labor at the end of the race and gave birth only hours later. I'm astounded that she ran the marathon pregnant, let alone at 39 weeks. I admit I find it a little crazy - why put yourself through that? (From this comment, you can assume that I didn't love the marathon. I've only done it one time and I had a hard time in the 80 degree heat, perhaps I'll give it another go since Malibu didn't work out.)
The costume ended up cute, and some people caught on and found it really funny. Some people were confused but thought a pregnant marathon runner was funny anyhow. When I told them it really happened, their jaws dropped. See my costume below - Chicago race bib, medal, and shirt (Kevin's shirt - mine was too small to stuff the stomach.) If nothing else I loved wearing comfy running clothes to work!
The party at work was great, although not as many people dressed up as I hoped. In my old office EVERYONE dressed up and there was a ton of enthusiasm. Here, some people dressed up but most just seemed amused at those who did. Even so, we had a fun time at the party with food, drinks, a costume contest and a fantastic live band!
Telling my husband my idea, I commented that if only Kara was still pregnant I could be a prego Kara Goucher for Halloween. And then it dawned on me - I could just wear my Chicago marathon gear and be Amber Miller. Hopefully this isn't tasteless, I was going for funny.
For anyone who didn't hear about this, Amber Miller is the woman who ran the Chicago Marathon this year at 39 weeks pregnant. She went into labor at the end of the race and gave birth only hours later. I'm astounded that she ran the marathon pregnant, let alone at 39 weeks. I admit I find it a little crazy - why put yourself through that? (From this comment, you can assume that I didn't love the marathon. I've only done it one time and I had a hard time in the 80 degree heat, perhaps I'll give it another go since Malibu didn't work out.)
The costume ended up cute, and some people caught on and found it really funny. Some people were confused but thought a pregnant marathon runner was funny anyhow. When I told them it really happened, their jaws dropped. See my costume below - Chicago race bib, medal, and shirt (Kevin's shirt - mine was too small to stuff the stomach.) If nothing else I loved wearing comfy running clothes to work!
The party at work was great, although not as many people dressed up as I hoped. In my old office EVERYONE dressed up and there was a ton of enthusiasm. Here, some people dressed up but most just seemed amused at those who did. Even so, we had a fun time at the party with food, drinks, a costume contest and a fantastic live band!
23 October 2011
Every Run is Amazing...
When you run in new clothes! Sadly, I only wish that were true. In reality, today was one of those runs where each step felt hard and I never found my comfortable place. It often takes me 3 or 4 miles to feel good and warm, but that didn't even happen this time around.
My husband and I went out on the Bay Trail from Shoreline in Mountain View. I dialed it back a little to rest from last Sunday's race and ran 9 miles, while Kevin pushed his distance to 16 miles in preparation for the Malibu Marathon. I switched my race entry to the half because of my injury, and I'm really glad I did due to inflammation after NWM.
Today was hot (at or above 80 degrees) and we were running in full sun - heat is always a downfall for me. I handled it and pushed through by giving myself (really, my mental well-being) a couple of walk breaks to drink water and still kept an ok pace. That said, I was so glad to finish at 9 miles and to let Kevin continue running on his own this time!
I enjoyed the rest of the time at Shoreline Park hanging out by the water for some bird watching and people watching. The park was pretty crowded with runners, bikers, walkers, and families relishing in the nice weather.
Back to the comment on new clothes, the fun part of my day. I bought the Second Wind Skort from Athleta which has the cutest pleats in the front. The color is called ultra blue, although really it looks purple. The purple stitching on the pleats adds a nice touch, and I love how flattering it is. As with most skorts, the under-shorts ride up a little and I find that annoying on long runs. I'll likely stick to short runs with this skort but I'll enjoy it none-the-less.
I bought the Relay Capri running tight when I ordered the skort, but the fit was super unflattering on me so it'll be going back. It's too bad - they had cooling mesh and cuffs to make them look unique from other capris I've had. Guess I'll stick to my go-to Lululemon capris...if only they were a little less expensive!
My husband and I went out on the Bay Trail from Shoreline in Mountain View. I dialed it back a little to rest from last Sunday's race and ran 9 miles, while Kevin pushed his distance to 16 miles in preparation for the Malibu Marathon. I switched my race entry to the half because of my injury, and I'm really glad I did due to inflammation after NWM.
Today was hot (at or above 80 degrees) and we were running in full sun - heat is always a downfall for me. I handled it and pushed through by giving myself (really, my mental well-being) a couple of walk breaks to drink water and still kept an ok pace. That said, I was so glad to finish at 9 miles and to let Kevin continue running on his own this time!
I enjoyed the rest of the time at Shoreline Park hanging out by the water for some bird watching and people watching. The park was pretty crowded with runners, bikers, walkers, and families relishing in the nice weather.
Back to the comment on new clothes, the fun part of my day. I bought the Second Wind Skort from Athleta which has the cutest pleats in the front. The color is called ultra blue, although really it looks purple. The purple stitching on the pleats adds a nice touch, and I love how flattering it is. As with most skorts, the under-shorts ride up a little and I find that annoying on long runs. I'll likely stick to short runs with this skort but I'll enjoy it none-the-less.
I bought the Relay Capri running tight when I ordered the skort, but the fit was super unflattering on me so it'll be going back. It's too bad - they had cooling mesh and cuffs to make them look unique from other capris I've had. Guess I'll stick to my go-to Lululemon capris...if only they were a little less expensive!
22 October 2011
Zero Drop Shoes - Take Two
I took the Altra Intuition shoes out for a spin again yesterday and I'd say it went better than my first try. It's interesting how much it changes my form (and how much I have to focus on form to run in them!) The first time, I was definitely landing too far forward and adding pressure to my ankles. It sort of felt like I'd done way too many calf raises and I was really sore for a few days after.
This time, I focused on landing mid-foot and it felt much more natural. I haven't gotten as sore yet and I felt much better during the run. I'm not yet convinced that I'll be able to go the distance in these shoes, but I also haven't given up on the idea. My goal is to work up to a 5K for December, but it's definitely going to be a slow process.
In other news, I'm still on a high from last Sunday's race and finding new events to sign up for! I registered for the San Francisco 1st Half Marathon this week, which is July 29, 2012. Registration just opened and I didn't want to miss out.
The SF 1st Half Marathon was my very first half marathon when I ran it in 2009. I remember loving it, especially running along the bay and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Just like the NWM course, the SF Marathon course has fantastic views of the bay after the hill climbs. This is also my first time repeating a course - believe it or not, I've done 11 half marathons and have yet to do the same one twice! I'm excited to repeat it and to see how I've improved since my first one.
This time, I focused on landing mid-foot and it felt much more natural. I haven't gotten as sore yet and I felt much better during the run. I'm not yet convinced that I'll be able to go the distance in these shoes, but I also haven't given up on the idea. My goal is to work up to a 5K for December, but it's definitely going to be a slow process.
In other news, I'm still on a high from last Sunday's race and finding new events to sign up for! I registered for the San Francisco 1st Half Marathon this week, which is July 29, 2012. Registration just opened and I didn't want to miss out.
The SF 1st Half Marathon was my very first half marathon when I ran it in 2009. I remember loving it, especially running along the bay and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Just like the NWM course, the SF Marathon course has fantastic views of the bay after the hill climbs. This is also my first time repeating a course - believe it or not, I've done 11 half marathons and have yet to do the same one twice! I'm excited to repeat it and to see how I've improved since my first one.
18 October 2011
Nike Women's Half Marathon Report
Goal accomplished - I crossed the finish line and received my Tiffany necklace from a firefighter in a tuxedo! My time was 2:21:56, not bad considering the logistics and crowding situation. My last hilly SF race (The US Half, November 2010) was 2:24:41, so I'll consider it an improvement even though my newest PR is 2:10:39 (Salinas Valley Half, August 2011.)
Race day dawned warm for SF, even a little humid, but overall very nice weather. I got ready and headed out to the start from my hotel in Union Square. Finding the start was easy - there were so many women and spectators milling around Union Square. The porta-potty lines were insane, and I don't think they had enough. Lucky for me my hotel was close so I didn't need it. I wore my new Lululemon Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve shirt and the Lululemon Run Inspire II Crop.
The first issue I had with this race is that Nike didn't assign start corrals, and people started wherever they wanted to. More on that later. I wanted to start in the 10-11 minute pace group, so I started looking for the color orange as directed in the expo packet. After asking around I finally saw a tiny orange sign for that group and headed toward it. I couldn't tell which direction was the start line. I never did see the other color signs to determine the start and end of the group, so I ended up starting with the 9-10 group. This was really fine since I expected to be right at about a 10 minute pace. I also looked around for a pace team, which Nike said would be wearing bright pink shirts, but I didn't see any in my start group. Again, not a big deal because I only use them for line up help.
After being pushed around quite a bit in the over-crowded start area, the race started. We moved slowly toward the start line and I crossed about 10 minutes after the gun (not bad for a big race.) As soon as I crossed the start line I began getting stuck behind walkers who had started in an early pace group. This made no sense; women were walking multiple people across, taking up big parts of the road at any given time. I dodged back and forth, back and forth figuring I'd eventually get out of the crowd. I never did. My first mile was at 9:48, right where I wanted to be, but shortly after I gave up the dodging game and just slowed down.
Race etiquette was very bad for this one, maybe because there were a lot of people new to this kind of event. People walked in groups all over the road and blocked others, they dropped clothing and trash in the middle of the roadway, and so many people were wearing headphones that it was impossible to say 'excuse me' to pass and for them to hear you. One person stopped in front of me and I ran into her back because I didn't expect it. People who wanted to run took to the sidewalks in an attempt to get around all of the walkers.
When we started up the hill into Fort Mason, almost everyone around me began walking. I ran up the hill and tried to follow the few others to make a path through the walkers, but it killed any momentum. I felt like I was bumping people and being rude, but I didn't mean to. I just wanted to run the hill!
Water stations were rough not very organized, so in many cases you had to go through a crowd of women walking slowly to grab fluids. At a couple of stations I had to wait on them to pour it. People seemed to basically stop moving forward when they took water, causing even more congestion. I prefer to be able to grab a cup as I run by without stopping, but that didn't work well in this race.
The course crowding got a little better once we hit the Marina, minus another hill situation going up to the level of the bridge in between those two sections of the course. I'd given up on running for a time, so I posed for a photographer and grabbed a Sports Basement gift card ($10 woo!) from their cheer station. I let myself do something I don't usually do - have FUN and not care about time.
The course went through the Presidio and then downhill along the Pacific Coast Highway; it was a beautiful vista. From there we went into Golden Gate Park, looped around and finished by Ocean Beach. At Mile 12 they handed out Ghiradelli milk chocolate truffle squares, a nice touch. (Admittedly, I expected more from the highly advertised 'Ghiradelli Chocolate Mile' such as more people and more hurrah, but I appreciated the chocolate none-the-less.)
The finish line amenities were super crowded but nice. Firefighters in tuxedos with orange bow ties handed out necklaces and posed for finisher photos. There were stretching areas, a massage tent, a shop, and few other tents for freebies. I enjoyed the Gatorade recovery shakes but didn't wait in line for anything else. Safeway gave us coupons for a free case of bottled water and reusable shopping bags made just for NWM.
My final impression of the NWM Half is that logistics are really rough around the edges and I'd never run it for a time goal. That said, the course is gorgeous, the amenities and finish swag are fabulous, and it was overall very enjoyable! I'm hoping to register with a group of friends to make it a fun girls weekend in the future.
The first issue I had with this race is that Nike didn't assign start corrals, and people started wherever they wanted to. More on that later. I wanted to start in the 10-11 minute pace group, so I started looking for the color orange as directed in the expo packet. After asking around I finally saw a tiny orange sign for that group and headed toward it. I couldn't tell which direction was the start line. I never did see the other color signs to determine the start and end of the group, so I ended up starting with the 9-10 group. This was really fine since I expected to be right at about a 10 minute pace. I also looked around for a pace team, which Nike said would be wearing bright pink shirts, but I didn't see any in my start group. Again, not a big deal because I only use them for line up help.
After being pushed around quite a bit in the over-crowded start area, the race started. We moved slowly toward the start line and I crossed about 10 minutes after the gun (not bad for a big race.) As soon as I crossed the start line I began getting stuck behind walkers who had started in an early pace group. This made no sense; women were walking multiple people across, taking up big parts of the road at any given time. I dodged back and forth, back and forth figuring I'd eventually get out of the crowd. I never did. My first mile was at 9:48, right where I wanted to be, but shortly after I gave up the dodging game and just slowed down.
Race etiquette was very bad for this one, maybe because there were a lot of people new to this kind of event. People walked in groups all over the road and blocked others, they dropped clothing and trash in the middle of the roadway, and so many people were wearing headphones that it was impossible to say 'excuse me' to pass and for them to hear you. One person stopped in front of me and I ran into her back because I didn't expect it. People who wanted to run took to the sidewalks in an attempt to get around all of the walkers.
When we started up the hill into Fort Mason, almost everyone around me began walking. I ran up the hill and tried to follow the few others to make a path through the walkers, but it killed any momentum. I felt like I was bumping people and being rude, but I didn't mean to. I just wanted to run the hill!
Water stations were rough not very organized, so in many cases you had to go through a crowd of women walking slowly to grab fluids. At a couple of stations I had to wait on them to pour it. People seemed to basically stop moving forward when they took water, causing even more congestion. I prefer to be able to grab a cup as I run by without stopping, but that didn't work well in this race.
The course crowding got a little better once we hit the Marina, minus another hill situation going up to the level of the bridge in between those two sections of the course. I'd given up on running for a time, so I posed for a photographer and grabbed a Sports Basement gift card ($10 woo!) from their cheer station. I let myself do something I don't usually do - have FUN and not care about time.
The course went through the Presidio and then downhill along the Pacific Coast Highway; it was a beautiful vista. From there we went into Golden Gate Park, looped around and finished by Ocean Beach. At Mile 12 they handed out Ghiradelli milk chocolate truffle squares, a nice touch. (Admittedly, I expected more from the highly advertised 'Ghiradelli Chocolate Mile' such as more people and more hurrah, but I appreciated the chocolate none-the-less.)
The finish line amenities were super crowded but nice. Firefighters in tuxedos with orange bow ties handed out necklaces and posed for finisher photos. There were stretching areas, a massage tent, a shop, and few other tents for freebies. I enjoyed the Gatorade recovery shakes but didn't wait in line for anything else. Safeway gave us coupons for a free case of bottled water and reusable shopping bags made just for NWM.
My final impression of the NWM Half is that logistics are really rough around the edges and I'd never run it for a time goal. That said, the course is gorgeous, the amenities and finish swag are fabulous, and it was overall very enjoyable! I'm hoping to register with a group of friends to make it a fun girls weekend in the future.
14 October 2011
Race On Deck
The race I've been waiting for is finally here - the Nike Women's Half Marathon is on Sunday! I'm super pumped about the race, although I'm also feeling a little worried about my body holding up. It's been a tough couple of months recovering from the injury, and my knee made itself known again after my 12 mile run. My calves have been really tight this week and my ankle was sore. Ugh, not the way to go into a race.
I went out for a slow and easy 3 miles today, making sure to stretch really good about a mile in and then after. Stretching definitely helped and the run eased my nerves a little. I'm sure the calf tightness is from checking out the zero drop shoes last Saturday (I know I know, stupid to try it a week before the race, but I thought that was plenty of time and I didn't go far...that's what happens when you get excited.) Earlier this week I focused on swimming and using the elliptical to give my knee a break. I still feel like I can run the whole thing or at least almost the whole thing, but I just can't attempt the PR this time.
On a happier note, it may not be a PR but there is a TIFFANY NECKLACE at the end! The race bibs are round which is unique and I love how small they are. I haven't seen the finisher shirts yet because we get them at the end, but we got a cute red drawstring bag for the goodie bag. I bought a shirt at Niketown too because it was too good to pass up - I run to be sexy. Oh yeah.
The race expo was interesting. They set up a tent in Union Square and it was all Nike all the time. Not surprising of course, but the expo didn't have the normal tables advertising other races and shops. Niketown was across the street and you could buy merchandise there. The tent had treadmills where you could try out Nike shoes and there were interesting booths like Neutrogena skin care and hair styling. I didn't actually wait in line for any of these but it looked cute.
Overall, the expo wasn't necessarily my taste but it was super well done. I'm confident the race will be just as great, not to mention the course being in San Francisco with fantastic views.
Wish me luck on Sunday, I'm sure I'll have fun no matter the time outcome!
I went out for a slow and easy 3 miles today, making sure to stretch really good about a mile in and then after. Stretching definitely helped and the run eased my nerves a little. I'm sure the calf tightness is from checking out the zero drop shoes last Saturday (I know I know, stupid to try it a week before the race, but I thought that was plenty of time and I didn't go far...that's what happens when you get excited.) Earlier this week I focused on swimming and using the elliptical to give my knee a break. I still feel like I can run the whole thing or at least almost the whole thing, but I just can't attempt the PR this time.
On a happier note, it may not be a PR but there is a TIFFANY NECKLACE at the end! The race bibs are round which is unique and I love how small they are. I haven't seen the finisher shirts yet because we get them at the end, but we got a cute red drawstring bag for the goodie bag. I bought a shirt at Niketown too because it was too good to pass up - I run to be sexy. Oh yeah.
The race expo was interesting. They set up a tent in Union Square and it was all Nike all the time. Not surprising of course, but the expo didn't have the normal tables advertising other races and shops. Niketown was across the street and you could buy merchandise there. The tent had treadmills where you could try out Nike shoes and there were interesting booths like Neutrogena skin care and hair styling. I didn't actually wait in line for any of these but it looked cute.
Overall, the expo wasn't necessarily my taste but it was super well done. I'm confident the race will be just as great, not to mention the course being in San Francisco with fantastic views.
Wish me luck on Sunday, I'm sure I'll have fun no matter the time outcome!
08 October 2011
Drop it Like it's Hot
A couple of posts ago I mentioned the Newton Running shoes; however, I didn't bring up the shoes that caught my eye even before those, the Altra Intuition. I did quite a bit of reading this week to decide between the two and the Altra Intuition won - they arrived on Wednesday from Running Warehouse.
I have to step back for a minute to rave about Running Warehouse, my go to running shoe (or gear, clothes, etc - they have it all) online store. They ship fast, send it 2-day to anywhere, and they have free shipping and returns. Talk about a great place to shop! It's even better in California because they use Golden State overnight shipping.
Back to the shoes. The two reasons I went with them over Newton is that they are zero drop and foot shaped. I ran one mile in them today, and I can't wait to get into them as my primary shoe. I have to take it slow to get used to the change to zero drop and thus running more naturally with a mid- to fore-foot strike, but I'm already pretty sold on the idea. Here's why.
Foot-shaped: The shape is amazing. I have wide feet, dare I mention bunions, and it always annoys me that shoes get pointy toward the toe. This shoe doesn't, so it's much roomier in the toe box and is also unstructured. The mesh keeps the feet happy.
Zero-Drop: The shoes are flat, so the heel doesn't get in the way and encourage heel strike like standard running shoes. I'm hoping that running more naturally will decrease impact to my feet and knees, and so far so good (but like I said, only one mile.) Whenever I try to strike mid foot on my Brooks Adrenaline, I catch the heel and end up shuffling, so this was a treat.
Weight: They are so light compared to my other shoes. I took a few strides in the grass to practice and then took them to the sidewalk. I felt like I was floating!
Appearance: Ok, not the reason to choose a shoe. But what can I say, I LOVE the look and colors too.
Fit: The fit is really comfortable. I love the mesh and lack of structure in the upper, and I've already raved about the foot shape. They come with two insoles, cushioned for support and minimal, and I'm currently using the cushioned one. We'll see how things go, and perhaps once I'm using them as my primary shoe I can give the minimal insole a try. For sizing, I went a half size up from my normal running shoes and that worked perfectly.
Transition: The warning with going to a zero drop shoe is tightness in calves and the Achilles tendon. Dropping the heel allows the muscles and tendons to extend to normal length, and for people who aren't used to it that can result in tightness. I didn't feel it in my one mile run, but I'm still starting slow to avoid any issues.
My other new running accessories include a cute rainbow colored headband from RazzyRoo and Experia socks by Thorlo. I picked both up at the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half expo last weekend. I have been wearing a black/reflective headband from Chica Bands and wanted an extra, but Chica Bands wasn't at the SJ expo. To my surprise, RazzyRoo had the same quality product for a much better price - 3 for $30 instead of the $15 each paid for Chica Bands. And of course I bought 3.
The Experia socks by Thorlo are sweet too, they feel soft and have just enough cushion. I have two pair and prefer them to the Smartwool socks I've been wearing for the past few years. The Experia socks can be seen in the shoe photos above.
Until next time - stay motivated!
I have to step back for a minute to rave about Running Warehouse, my go to running shoe (or gear, clothes, etc - they have it all) online store. They ship fast, send it 2-day to anywhere, and they have free shipping and returns. Talk about a great place to shop! It's even better in California because they use Golden State overnight shipping.
Back to the shoes. The two reasons I went with them over Newton is that they are zero drop and foot shaped. I ran one mile in them today, and I can't wait to get into them as my primary shoe. I have to take it slow to get used to the change to zero drop and thus running more naturally with a mid- to fore-foot strike, but I'm already pretty sold on the idea. Here's why.
Foot-shaped: The shape is amazing. I have wide feet, dare I mention bunions, and it always annoys me that shoes get pointy toward the toe. This shoe doesn't, so it's much roomier in the toe box and is also unstructured. The mesh keeps the feet happy.
Zero-Drop: The shoes are flat, so the heel doesn't get in the way and encourage heel strike like standard running shoes. I'm hoping that running more naturally will decrease impact to my feet and knees, and so far so good (but like I said, only one mile.) Whenever I try to strike mid foot on my Brooks Adrenaline, I catch the heel and end up shuffling, so this was a treat.
Weight: They are so light compared to my other shoes. I took a few strides in the grass to practice and then took them to the sidewalk. I felt like I was floating!
Appearance: Ok, not the reason to choose a shoe. But what can I say, I LOVE the look and colors too.
Fit: The fit is really comfortable. I love the mesh and lack of structure in the upper, and I've already raved about the foot shape. They come with two insoles, cushioned for support and minimal, and I'm currently using the cushioned one. We'll see how things go, and perhaps once I'm using them as my primary shoe I can give the minimal insole a try. For sizing, I went a half size up from my normal running shoes and that worked perfectly.
Transition: The warning with going to a zero drop shoe is tightness in calves and the Achilles tendon. Dropping the heel allows the muscles and tendons to extend to normal length, and for people who aren't used to it that can result in tightness. I didn't feel it in my one mile run, but I'm still starting slow to avoid any issues.
My other new running accessories include a cute rainbow colored headband from RazzyRoo and Experia socks by Thorlo. I picked both up at the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half expo last weekend. I have been wearing a black/reflective headband from Chica Bands and wanted an extra, but Chica Bands wasn't at the SJ expo. To my surprise, RazzyRoo had the same quality product for a much better price - 3 for $30 instead of the $15 each paid for Chica Bands. And of course I bought 3.
The Experia socks by Thorlo are sweet too, they feel soft and have just enough cushion. I have two pair and prefer them to the Smartwool socks I've been wearing for the past few years. The Experia socks can be seen in the shoe photos above.
Until next time - stay motivated!
06 October 2011
Behind the Scenes
At the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, I took a break from running and went behind the scenes as a volunteer. What a great experience - I loved the insight into set up and race organization. Plus, Kev was running so it was nice to be involved and to meet him at the end. Here are a few of my observations in detail.
Volunteer Check-In: I woke up at 5 am and got to the start around 6 am...so early and still dark. Arriving at the volunteer check-in tent was odd; the area was full of high school age kids and only a couple of people my age or older. It turns out the high schools here have volunteer hour requirements and races are a popular choice. This is so different from where I grew up, but I think it's super cool to expose students to endurance running at a young age.
Start Corrals: My task was helping out in the start corrals. They asked us to get in groups of 3 (I found two other non-high schoolers to group up with) and had us gather in for instructions. It was pretty simple - we'd be separating the corrals, two people to hold a rope and one to hold the numbered sign. I took the sign and head to the front of my corral. While waiting, I talked to runners about the race, other races, and why they were running. The energy was high and I was totally caught up in the excitement as if I were running myself. Before the start, we moved the ropes and got out of the way, and on the runners went. The runners would be coming back that direction at mile 4.5, so we quickly cleaned up the bottles and any tripping hazards, and moved the barricades to keep spectators out of the road. Before we knew it...the runners were coming back through lead by Meb on pace for about a one hour finish.
Down time: I went back to the finish area to get a new task, and the race director told me they were all set. I was pretty bummed because I wanted to continue helping, but I took a break to grab a coffee and to watch Kev come through the 4 mile mark. I cheered him on and headed back to the finish area, where I went through the finish chute barricades (good to be wearing a volunteer shirt) and found a group that took me in for handing out medals.
Finish: The finish line was an exciting place to be. I watched the team get ready for the winner, setting up and practicing with the tape. Soon after, the lead car and press cars came through the finish. Around 62 minutes, Meb came racing through the tape to win the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon! He was a great guy, hanging around the finish to shake hands, take pictures, and give high fives. I got to shake his hand too! A few more men came through, and then Deena Kastor finished first for the women. She, too, was friendly and hung around to chat with people.
After: Kev finished with a PR of 1:50:23, and I was there to put his medal around his neck. The post-race highlight (aside from free beer) - Kev met Meb and I took a picture of them together. What a great finish to a great event!
Overall Outlook: Volunteering was super fun, and with so many races here in California I plan to volunteer for races that I can't run. I like giving back after being on the taking end for so long. The energy was catching and I enjoyed seeing the winners finish and handing out medals. The only disappointing part was that some of the fast finishers (elites perhaps) turned down medals and didn't have good attitudes at the finish. I'm sure they have tons of medals and were sad to lose the race, but they are still looked up to by so many people and could have given the high school student volunteers a better face.
If you have ever considered volunteering for a race - try it out. You'll be glad you did.
Volunteer Check-In: I woke up at 5 am and got to the start around 6 am...so early and still dark. Arriving at the volunteer check-in tent was odd; the area was full of high school age kids and only a couple of people my age or older. It turns out the high schools here have volunteer hour requirements and races are a popular choice. This is so different from where I grew up, but I think it's super cool to expose students to endurance running at a young age.
Start Corrals: My task was helping out in the start corrals. They asked us to get in groups of 3 (I found two other non-high schoolers to group up with) and had us gather in for instructions. It was pretty simple - we'd be separating the corrals, two people to hold a rope and one to hold the numbered sign. I took the sign and head to the front of my corral. While waiting, I talked to runners about the race, other races, and why they were running. The energy was high and I was totally caught up in the excitement as if I were running myself. Before the start, we moved the ropes and got out of the way, and on the runners went. The runners would be coming back that direction at mile 4.5, so we quickly cleaned up the bottles and any tripping hazards, and moved the barricades to keep spectators out of the road. Before we knew it...the runners were coming back through lead by Meb on pace for about a one hour finish.
Down time: I went back to the finish area to get a new task, and the race director told me they were all set. I was pretty bummed because I wanted to continue helping, but I took a break to grab a coffee and to watch Kev come through the 4 mile mark. I cheered him on and headed back to the finish area, where I went through the finish chute barricades (good to be wearing a volunteer shirt) and found a group that took me in for handing out medals.
Finish: The finish line was an exciting place to be. I watched the team get ready for the winner, setting up and practicing with the tape. Soon after, the lead car and press cars came through the finish. Around 62 minutes, Meb came racing through the tape to win the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon! He was a great guy, hanging around the finish to shake hands, take pictures, and give high fives. I got to shake his hand too! A few more men came through, and then Deena Kastor finished first for the women. She, too, was friendly and hung around to chat with people.
After: Kev finished with a PR of 1:50:23, and I was there to put his medal around his neck. The post-race highlight (aside from free beer) - Kev met Meb and I took a picture of them together. What a great finish to a great event!
Overall Outlook: Volunteering was super fun, and with so many races here in California I plan to volunteer for races that I can't run. I like giving back after being on the taking end for so long. The energy was catching and I enjoyed seeing the winners finish and handing out medals. The only disappointing part was that some of the fast finishers (elites perhaps) turned down medals and didn't have good attitudes at the finish. I'm sure they have tons of medals and were sad to lose the race, but they are still looked up to by so many people and could have given the high school student volunteers a better face.
If you have ever considered volunteering for a race - try it out. You'll be glad you did.
02 October 2011
Shoe Decisions
I took Friday off as a late birthday gift to myself (birthday was the 27th) and had a fun running-related kind of day. I started off with my 12 mile long run in preparation for Nike Women's, and it was perfect weather. Later in the day, I wandered around the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon expo in downtown San Jose.
Race expos are amazing - people are excited, you learn about new races in the area, and there are tons of people to talk to and things to buy. This time I stumbled on the Newton Running shoes booth and did a little fit testing. Basically, they aren't a barefoot shoe but they help with running form. Newton shoes are almost no drop from heel to toe, and they have a thicker section toward the midfoot where you should be landing.
The rep was very knowledgeable and spent time showing me how they work, how to transition, and how to run with better form in Newton shoes. I'm most interested in the Lady Isaac S, which is a 'Guidance trainer' in their line with some stability. I like the idea of the technology, they last twice as long as regular running shoes because they don't break down, and they felt comfy in my short running test too. To transition, you wear them for only a mile or so at first, then you slowly increase distance until the body is used to landing midfoot.
I'm really thinking about giving it a shot. Currently I'm wearing pretty heavy stability shoes so this would be a real change - I definitely have concerns about making a big switch so I'm not there quite yet. What to do?
Race expos are amazing - people are excited, you learn about new races in the area, and there are tons of people to talk to and things to buy. This time I stumbled on the Newton Running shoes booth and did a little fit testing. Basically, they aren't a barefoot shoe but they help with running form. Newton shoes are almost no drop from heel to toe, and they have a thicker section toward the midfoot where you should be landing.
The rep was very knowledgeable and spent time showing me how they work, how to transition, and how to run with better form in Newton shoes. I'm most interested in the Lady Isaac S, which is a 'Guidance trainer' in their line with some stability. I like the idea of the technology, they last twice as long as regular running shoes because they don't break down, and they felt comfy in my short running test too. To transition, you wear them for only a mile or so at first, then you slowly increase distance until the body is used to landing midfoot.
I'm really thinking about giving it a shot. Currently I'm wearing pretty heavy stability shoes so this would be a real change - I definitely have concerns about making a big switch so I'm not there quite yet. What to do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)