Run SJ Run

While I was at work today, I had the Boston Marathon playing in the background and my runners that I follow on DailyMile on the tracker site on constant reload.

While this blog is updated sporadically at best, most people who follow me on Twitter, Facebook or DailyMile know that I’ve had a tough time of it lately as far as running is concerned. I trained for almost six months for Austin only to have to pull out at mile 14 because of a nagging IT band injury that started on my long runs six weeks before the race. I was devastated and felt like a failure. While I’ve started feeling a little better about things, these thoughts still waft in every now and then.

That’s what makes today so inspiring. I saw someone who has been dealing with an Achilles injury for most of his training, run a sub-three-hour marathon. I saw someone run a DOUBLE Boston Marathon only 9 days after finishing another 50-mile race.

Does this erase all traces of self doubt and negative self talk? Of course not. Do I magically think I can now finish this race distance that has magically eluded me? Maybe. Am I scared to begin the training routine all over again on May 1 (not to mention train in the hellish Austin summer heat)? You betcha. I guess at the end of the day, all I can do is run. Do the training. Know that my body doesn’t hold up to running long distances as others. Run 4 days a week. Yoga twice a week. Anything else is beyond my control.

Some people might be able to prevail and overcome injuries and adversity to reach their goals. I have yet to prove that I can. But if watching all of the talented, hard working and inspiring runners today has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t know what you can do unless you try.

So I’m traveling for work this week – as I do about once a month. Obviously the beauty of running is that you can do it anywhere and anytime. Fortunately for me, my work travels haven taken me to D.C. until Wednesday night, where I lived for 8 years before heading south to Austin in September 2008. This means I know my way around and can get some runs in.

This also means half my suitcase is taken up by running gear and here’s why.

I hate being unprepared for a run. I hate being underdressed or overdressed. I hate not having my Garmin and I hate not having my running hats. The temperatures this week are ranging from the high 30s to mid 50s. I don’t know what I’m going to need when. Since I will be running two days here, I obviously need two sets of any kind of running clothing to fit those temps.

Without further adieu, here’s everything I brought for a three-day trip that’s related to running:

• Running shoes (obviously)
• Running “kit” (my blue case that includes HRM, Garmin, iPod shuffle, running light, Garmin charger, iPod shuffle charger)
• Two sports bras
• Two pairs of shorts
• One pair of knickers
• Two short sleeve shirts
• Two long sleeves
• One heavier outer layer long sleeve
• Two pairs of socks
• Two hats
• One running water bottle (have one 8-mile run that I need to take water during)
• One non-running water bottle (not entirely running related, but it’s the bottle I drink from during the day at work at all times and it ultimately makes my runs better by keeping me hydrated)
• The “Stick” (mine isn’t exactly this one, but it’s a foam roller sub)
• Clif Bars (my typical “breakfast” before runs)

I also usually bring my rope that I use for stretching, but didn’t think about packing it this time. And of course, I have three days of actual clothing to pack, and toiletries.

Since I’ve traveled so much for work this year, I’ve gotten this down to a science. So no, I did not check a bag.

What do you pack for running when traveling? Do you bring every necessary item? Or do you scale back a bit?

So clearly it’s been nearly a years since I’ve written here, so the one or two people who might come check here once in a while are probably wondering where I went and why I’ve come back.

I’ve gone back and forth on blogging for a while now. On the one hand, what’s the point of having an outside place to collect your thoughts, when you can frequently share what’s on your mind in places where people are going anywhere (Facebook, Twitter, dailymile). On the other hand, those platforms don’t necessarily allow you to share more in depth content or thought. So I thought I’d try my hand out at blogging again. At the very least it would be good to practice and get into writing again.

So here’s what you missed since I last posted:

1. I was dealing with a foot injury and was attempting to do a 30-day Bikram Yoga challenge (30 classes/30 days) to give myself a challenge and stay in shape while not running. I didn’t finish.
2. It took me about 4 more months to get back into running on a consistent basis. As we all know, an object in motion stays in motion – an object at rest… well you know how it ends.
3. I got married in May – that was pretty awesome.
4. July – November was the busiest period of work I’ve had in my 5+ year career so far. It was great experience.
5. I joined a running group in Austin – after always swearing that they weren’t from me (I’m not exactly chatty when I run). Turns out, it was the best thing I’ve done since I moved to Austin. Not only have I made some great new friends, but I’ve gotten closer to finishing a marathon than I ever have.
6. Continuing on from #5, I’ve gotten closer to the starting line of a marathon than ever. Completing several 16- and 18-mile runs, one 19-miler and one 20-miler. I have one 22-miler in a few weeks then to the starting line I go on February 14!
7. I’ve made some wonderful online running buddies (here and here) – both of which I hope to actually meet in 2010! But in the meantime will continue to chat via Twitter, DM and Blackberry Messenger.

That’s basically the gist of it. Not sure how often I’ll post here, or what I’ll say, but stay tuned!

Posting this a little late after my class last night, but I was busy watching High School Musical 3. (Sidebar: As a near 27-year-old, I’m not ashamed to say that one day I hope our paths cross. He’s not THAT much younger than me). Anyway, I digress.

Last night’s class was pretty challenging. Not just trying to leave work at a relatively decent hour to navigate the traffic up to the North Austin studio, but my balance was pretty much non-existent. I couldn’t even hold it during one of my best postures, Eagle Pose (seen here).

There were some breakthroughs though. It was my first class since the injury where I didn’t tape my foot (didn’t have enough time before the class started). Surprisingly, it felt better than when my foot WAS taped. So I can happily throw that away.

I also had a breakthrough on some of my postures. I was able to finally straighten out my legs during Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose (seen here)  and actually get within inches of touching my head to the floor – something I used to be able to do when I practiced more frequently. Surprising, since I’ve been blessed with absurdly tight hamstrings.

I’m starting to get a bit less bitter about not being able to run. Taking on this challenge has really given me a purpose during this time. Also, it’s making my core and upper body a lot stronger – two areas I sadly neglect when all I concentrate on is running.

When all is said and done, hopefully I can continue to supplement my running with yoga (either three days running three days yoga, or four running, two yoga). I forgot how valuable I found it.

Felt nice and strong today, but my balance was a bit tipsy. Tomorrow is when the challenge gets tougher when I have to mitigate work.

I recorded this after today’s class:

So today was a busy one. In addition to day 2 of the Bikram yoga challenge, I went to a movie and discussion (Meetup) and to dinner with a bunch of like-minded exercise-type folks (Ari’s grad school friends).

Let me just say this. It’s going to be a long 28 more days. While I’m two days into the official challenge, today’s class was my fourth this week – more than I’ve done in that amount of time in over a year. My arms were sore during the entire class and my already tight hamstrings, which I’ve been blessed with my whole life, feel like they’ve shrunk inches.

While today’s class wasn’t nearly as hot or crowded as yesterday, I felt someone weak – though my balance was good. The instructors keep saying the solution to all these ailments is more yoga. I hope that’s true.

Fortunately, I have off work tomorrow so I have a bit more flexibility of when I can practice. The real challenge will come when I have to navigate classes with work and *gasp* do my first 6 a.m. class on the 23rd.

Wish me luck!

So because I’m not training for the marathon anymore, I needed something to get my ass into gear – a new challenge.

I had wavered a bit, but I signed up for a 30-day Bikram yoga challenge at my new studio, which by the way is one of the best Bikram studios I’ve ever been to.

The few classes I’d taken in Austin since October (when I moved) were at Bikram Yoga Davenport. Also a great studio and well maintained. I went to Yogagroove (Austin’s only other Bikram studio) earlier this week because, knowing how much yoga I was going to be doing over the next six week, I wanted the intro special ($28 for unlimited yoga for your first month) that many studios offer.

This studio is unlike any I’ve been in. It offers a real community and every instructor is awesome. Usually, there are one to two instructors in any given studio that I’m not a fan of. Each one at Yogagroove brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to their instruction.

Today they packed about 75 people into the noon class (they are having a special re-opening this weekend because they just opened their SECOND room!) so it was probably 10 degrees hotter than the normal 105 temp. No matter though.

So I’m officially signed up for the 30-day challenge! The only hurdle I’m concerned about is the five days I’ll be in Dallas for work the week of February 23. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it to some 5:30 a.m. classes (if at all).

No matter though – I have 8 more classes to make it through before I have to worry about it.

Namaste!

As many runners do, I spend an absurd amount of time thinking about all the little eccentricities that could remotely relate to running. The latest is race t-shirt etiquette.

It’s a topic that has no doubt been covered ad nauseam in on of my favorite blog posts of all time. In it, Ben lists about 20 faux pas that runners make when wearing race t-shirts, one of which is to never where a race t-shirt you do not finish (let alone start).

This is something I take very seriously. I never wear the t-shirt for the race I’m currently racing. As not superstitious as I am, it just gives me the creeps to wear a race shirt during the actual race. This leads me to a different question all together. What if you don’t even start the race?

As many of you already know, I was scheduled to run the Austin Half Marathon this weekend (originally full marathon), but have been sidelined with a ridiculous injury. I’m not gonna lie, I still want the t-shirt. So much so that I posed the question to my favorite running community at the Daily Mile (for those of you who are involved in any endurance sport, please check it out, it’s pretty awesome).

The vast majority of folks said that since I paid for the race entry, technically the t-shirt is mine. I pondered this logic for a bit. Yes, I paid the entry fee. But anyone can pay an entry fee. Granted it’s not the most cost efficient way to buy a t-shirt, but hey, I don’t judge how people choose to spend their money. Then I thought, well, if I was healthy enough to make it to the starting line, odds are extremely high that I would have finished the race. Therefore, there should be no shame in wearing the t-shirt, right?

And yet, it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. To me a race t-shirt symbolizes more than just an entry fee or 100% cotton – or if it’s an awesome race, wicking material. A race t-shirt represents the experience of that day. It might sound trite, but every time I put a race t-shirt on I think about that day and what I accomplished – whether it’s just a second of recognition or a longer reminiscence. If I get my t-shirt for the Austin Half, every time I wear it, I’ll remember that I was injured and couldn’t participate in an awesome day.

So I think my t-shirt etiquette remains unchanged at this point. It may change the more races I complete, when they all start to fade into each other. But for now, I like to think it represents more than an entry fee.

Thanks again to all you Daily Milers for the support through the injury and helping me figure all this out!

Most anyone who has known me for a while knows that I have been a loyal follower of Bikram Yoga since my junior year of college (which means more that six years, eek!). It has ebbed and flowed – with some periods of three or more classes a week and others with six months lapsing between classes at times.

With this ill-timed injury of alleged peroneal tendonitis (could still be a stress fracture, will find out in ten days) and no marathon to train for – making it the second marathon I’ve registered for an never made it to the starting line – I need a new challenge.

I went to a yoga class today and felt pretty good. I abstained from doing any poses balancing on my left foot, but other than that I felt like a decent workout.

Yoga studios often offer 60-day challenges, which as you would guess, means 60 classes in 60 days. Since I’m assuming I won’t be out of commish that long, I was pleased to discover that the new studio I went to today has a challenge of 30 classes in 30 days. Still a challenge, certainly, but seemingly more attainable and fits a bit better into the schedule.

The only hurdle is that I’ll be traveling for work the week of Feb. 23, so I’ll have to work out the logistics of whether they’ll accept classes from another studio. Regardless, I think it’ll be a fun challenge and a fun way to make the best of an injury.

So those of you who follow me on Twitter or Daily Mile already know the drill. I hurt my foot in the middle of an 8-mile run on Wednesday. The doctor thinks I have peroneal tendonitis. He wants me back in two weeks to double check that there are no fractures. Regardless, it means no running for six weeks. No marathon in March. Not really the news I want when A) I’m trying to get/stay in hot shape for my wedding more importantly B) I was getting to a really great place with my running.

So here’s the plan, I’m going to swim and yoga my ass off. I’m going to get a trainer two times a week and make my arms look CUT. Come mid-March, I’m going to come back and hopefully get in shape for a late April Half.