Run SJ Run

This week, I’ve traveled from the warm comfort of the mild Austin winter to the admittedly slightly less mild winter of D.C. (I’m from Chicago,and  I stand with Obama on D.C.’s lack of affinity for grace under ice). While I am baffled my the general reaction in regards to such mundane activities as commuting and, you know, walking, I have completely changed what conditions I consider acceptable for running. There’s more to my lack of training this week than just the sheet of ice on the ground, although that is the main hurdle in my figuring out how to redistribute tomorrow’s planned 15 miler.

Being in D.C. this week, mostly for work reasons though staying through the weekend to hang with some friends, has been quite the eye opener. It’s been refreshing, crazy and – surprisingly-  somewhat unappealing. Refreshing because it’s been fun to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle and have actual face-to-face conversations with colleagues, crazy because of the hours I’ve been working and somewhat unappealing because of the – to use a phrase from How I Met Your Mother – “revertigo.” Revertigo is, as one would expect, reverting to a past self when you are surrounded by old friends or, in this case, an old environments. Since I’ve been in D.C., I have had more hard liquor (and the week isn’t over) since I’ve moved (only three vodka sodas, but I now realize how icky hard liquor makes me feel). As fun as it is, it’s not a lifestyle I’m comfortable with anymore. For some reason, a glass of wine a week just seems different and healthier. The mozzarella sticks are still a mainstay, though, so obviously their is some relativism here.

This all brings me to my main point and the subject of this blog – the running. After a great start of the week with a 4-mile effort on Tuesday, two days after my half marathon and at 8 p.m. after a hard day of work, I was somewhat derailed. It could be the fact that I’m outside my comfort zone, weather wise and locale. It could be the 13-hour days I’ve been working. It could be a lot of things that I make excuses for. The point is, after a long time of wrestling with weeks like these, it’s just a week. A week cannot make or break any training plan. I’ve experienced a renewed enthusiasm for this since October and one week will not derail it. I won’t let it.

So regardless if I make my 15 miler this weekend in the frigid temps – which sound less and less appealing the more I think about it. Monday (in my world) is a new week. The marathon is still 8 weeks away. Training plans can be modified to fit me, and if it can’t, I’ll go at my own pace.

So it’s Friday afternoon and I was pondering the 14-mile run I have ahead of me as part of my “maybe” marathon training. (SIDEBAR: I keep calling it my “maybe” training because if I put too page pressure on myself I freeze and well, I won’t make it to the start of the third marathon I registered to enter… Taking it week by week here folks.)

Then I remember, there’s a half marathon this weekend! Bonus. It’s practically all downhill! Double Bonus. It’s supported with water stops, liquid fuel, and fun people cheering! Triple Bonus. Sure, $70 is pretty expensive for a training run, but my relative inexperience racing means that I try to take advantage of every opportunity I have, which in Austin is plenty.

I have to say, I feel like a pretty hard core runner right now. In my warped perception, only hard core runners can decide on a Friday that they want to run a half marathon on Sunday “just for fun” or “to get a training run in.” I feel a little pompous about it. But I also kinda like it.

Of course I could be eating my words if I don’t finish. And just like that, my hard core-ness is just an illusion.

Runners World just posted an awesome, extensive Q&A with Kara Goucher, who just had the fastest U.S. women’s marathon debut ever. It got me thinking about where I fit in this crazy sport.

I often tell friends that it is mind boggling to me that elite athletes are better at their sport than I will be at anything in my life. No matter how far I advance in my career or how much I improve my writing, it still won’t nearly compare to how exceptional Kara Goucher or Deena Kastor are at running. Period.

While occasionally wallowing about this fact, I find that I have even more respect for these athletes because of it. While they might be better at running that I will be at anything, they probably also work harder than I do at everything. They have such a finite period of time where they can truly excel at their chosen profession, that the commitment and tear they place on their bodies is something I can’t begin to understand. Tough I am not.

Then again, I like to thing that anyone who challenges themselves, whether it be a 5K, a daunting half marathon course, going back out the day after you break down in the middle of a long run is exceptional. While I’ll never win a marathon, or even an age group award, I know I can take pride in being part of something that many talk themselves out of. And, as corny as it sounds, I think that makes me a little exceptional.

There’s nothing like getting a new, fresh-smelling pair of running shoes. Irrationally attributing my recent running issues to poor shoes, I decided to splurge on a new set. In all honesty, I haven’t gotten a new pair since the spring and I think these had enough wear and tear.

I decided to stay in the family with my New Balance 76 series. I just got the next one up the ladder, the New Balance 769s (after enjoying my experience with the 768s and before that, 767s).

I also got a brand-new set of SuperFeet (not included in the pics). I think my foot bled into the old ones just one to many times. They are hot pink. I’m a little embarrassed by that, but there’s not much I can do about it.

I’m going on my first run in them tonight. Stay tuned!

Most runners know the importance of a strong core contributing to their running. I have woefully neglected any other strength training since I’ve started running because I already noticed the benefit on my abs. But through my constant reading of all things running, I’m learning that it’s just not enough.

Many might have heard of the Hundred Push-Up Challenge – a program designed to get you up to one hundred push-ups a day, as the name so simply suggests. (Sidebar: I got about halfway through this program before I stopped for no apparent reason other than I missed a day.) I think this is by the same group – the Two Hundred Sit-Up Challenge.

You start with a test run to see how many sit-ups (or crunches) you can successfully complete and then start the program in the corresponding group. Pretty simple. I’m starting this today as part of my running program and Hawaii Honeymoon workout program. To be extra badass, I’m going to do the Hundred Pushup Challenge at the same time – alternating sets of push-ups and sit-ups. I’m. Just. That. Awesome.

Anyway, I could be all talk, but I like that these plans are simple to follow, to the point and not at all time consuming. The fact that I can do it while watching Real Housewives marathons on Bravo is definitely a plus.

I just picked up the inaugural issue of Women’s Running magazine this weekend, after looking at nearly every bookstore in Austin. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this specialty magazine. Repurposed from Her Sports & Fitness, the title alone made me pumped to read this magazine. Now, for a review:

The Good:
• Positive Nutrition Advice – The best part of the magazine was its nutrition and eating tips. One article gives positive, healthy tips for runner’s who want to lose weight, while staying fueled for long runs and concentrating on balancing eating right and advancing an exercise goal. A second article goes into top foods for female runners and how to prepare them. A third discusses the eating habits of elite.
• Targets Busy Women – The mag seems to be catering to the female working weekend warrior. It provides an attainable 13.1-mile training plan for the time-crunched woman only able to train three days a week. Since I typically only run three, maybe four days a week, this plan is extremely helpful. (Although it would have helped to assign each run to a day of the week, in calendar format, instead of listing them “Focus Run 1,” “Focus Run 2,” etc.)

The Bad:
• The Layout is Poor – I know it seems a bit aesthetically smug and not ultimately important, but the layout totally bugged me. I had a difficult time distinguishing between some of the advertorials and editorial content. As I read, I obviously could tell the difference, but if I was flipping through, it’s impossible to tell.
• Some of the Tips are Antiquated – In an article to help beginner’s stay on track, one of the tips said, “Put up a sign at work to find people to run with or visit a specialty running store, where there’s often a bulletin board to help people find running partners.” Well… there is also this magical invention called the Internet, where you can instantaneously find people or running clubs in your area. Call me crazy, but that seems a tad more efficient than an old-fashioned bulletin board.
• Where are the Elites? – Aside from a few mentions here and there (including the nutrition article mentioned above), the elites and high-performing runners went missing. I would have appreciated an in-depth interview with an elite female a la Kara Goucher (who I have a huge crush on) or Deena Kastor. Given the audience of the mag, I wouldn’t have thought it would be a huge challenge to secure such an interview.
• Stick to the Running – Call me crazy, but I don’t really want to read about snowshowing or skiing in my running magazine. I understand that they were trying to offer some tips for those in cold-weather climates and others who take the off-season to expand their interests, but I don’t care. I want to read about running, and maybe a core exercise that will help me improve my running (which, to its credit Women’s Running has).

The Verdict
Obviously there are more cons than pros at this point, but that’s to be expected in a first issue. I have to say that I’ve been spoiled by the geekiness of Runner’s World. That magazine has the gadgets, the gear, the introspection and the elites to keep my interest high (Amby Burfoot is my personal Stewart Smalley). Plus their Web site is kick ass.

Women’s Running, at this stage, is targeted toward a beginner’s beginner and is still trying to gain hold of its true target audience. Even though I’m no speed demon, when I read Runner’s World, I feel like I’m at the head of the pack. When I read Women’s Running, I felt like I was at the cluster in the beginning of the race, ready for the action to start. I’ll keep my eye out for it to see what direction it goes, but am not racing to fill out the subscription card.

2008 was an up and down year. I got pretty out of top running shape, but I bounced back near the end to run my first half marathon. It’s momentum that I hope to continue in 2009. With that, I present my 2009 running resolutions.

Hello all! This is the new home to my former site, DCTriGirl. It will be primarily the same, but with more of a focus on running and less of a focus on D.C. (since I don’t live there any more). Enjoy!

Still a bit of a work in progress so stay tuned for some more fun content.