The Lime Green Sneakers of Life

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, which means that I will inevitably end up dozing off shortly before midnight in a feeble attempt to watch the ball drop in NYC…on TV. I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Eve, nor do I make New Year’s Resolutions (as I already mentioned).

HOWEVER

I have been itching to shake things up for the past few months now. Without school and professors defining the daily activities of my life, without homework and paper writing and marathon training, I’ve found myself bored, lulled into the monotony of a grown-up life, filled with work, gym, food, repeat. (ok it’s really not THAT bad, I do have a boyfriend and a cat and a generally busy social life with incredible friends) but I miss having structure, I miss being bribed to do things like practice the piano or write a paper, promising myself rewards of alternatively more gym time or more food. I miss the far off dream of a marathon. I miss writing papers. I really do. Every day at work, I grow more and more tempted to pick and topic and write a 2 page paper on it.

So I have decided that I have to fix this rut I’ve gotten into, I have to remind myself that there is more to life than a job and that I have to maintain a balance of academia (sounds like macadamia) and fun and running and responsibility. I’m tired of not being organized, of leaving clean clothes in my basket for 2 weeks while I try to make time to fold them. I’m tired of leaving books scattered around my house. Gosh darn it, I’m going to buy a book shelf.

When I mentioned to my mom the other day that I was missing inspiration to run, she returned home from work with a pair of lime green Nike sneakers. She told me they were to inspire me and to get me back on track. And you know what? They have. I absolutely love these green sneakers, they are bright and energetic and they will, I believe, inspire a return to the pavement. So I think I just have to find lime green sneakers in everything. In my desire to study, in my desire to be more active…when I am seeking organization in my life, I will have to pick up something small to remind me that yes, it is important, because I have added value to it. In my job, in my daily routine, in the goals I am creating for myself for 2009, I will have to seek out my lime green sneakers in all that I do.

I think I better go buy some bright colored pumps to maintain this in the business world…

Whoever said that running was just running has never really ran.

Baby, it's cold outside!!!!

It’s cold outside. Today it was 17 degrees, and felt like 1, when I left for work in the morning. Needless to say, I’m not jumping up at 5am, when it’s pitch black and there’s penguins running around outside, to go running. Nor am I coming home from work at 6pm or later, and throwing on my spandex to do a loop around the park – nope, that’s when the polar bears are out. I managed to do the Jingle all the Way 10k (in 54 minutes, I might add), which was a lot of fun, but still…COLD. And the winter solstice was only yesterday! What to do as winter threatens me with imminent hibernation?

The truth is, I must return to the gym. I have to buy a new gym bag that will hold all my crap and fill it with shoes, a towel, shampoo, a hairdryer (excessive? Perhaps) and convince myself that going to the gym 4 times a week in the morning or after work will ultimately make me feel better, not just physically, but also mentally, considering I’m paying $40 a month to have a membership card. With no picture on it. I know. If I’m paying $40, it should AT LEAST have an ugly “before” picture on it to motivate me.

But the truth is, I haven’t been motivated. I’m in a slump. I feel my muscles deteriorating, oozing from my body. I no longer feel a constant soreness, which had become the norm for my body all summer/fall. So I finally decided to bring it back at the gym yesterday, but doing about 50 squats, followed by 30 lunges, 20 more squats, 30 more lunges, and about 2 minutes of wall sits. At first, as I did the squats, I worried that I had lost the ability to feel that searing pain that comes with leg exercises – oh no, don’t worry, I haven’t, and I feel it today and I run around the city. I guess now would be the time to do some serious work with free weights and give yoga another shot (shudder…shudder…). Now I just have to find a way to convince myself to do this. The holidays certainly don’t help, since all I’ve been doing is eating. This is quite a rant here. But then again, that’s what this blog is for. So that no one has to here this on the phone or in person (although some people inevitably will). I must find a way to get back on track.

I could go the whole New Year’s Resolution route and tell myself that it’s my job for the new year, to be fit and fun. Except I decided a long time ago that resolutions are BS and I usually go less than 24 hours before I break them, even if just for the sake of irony. I have to find something to work for, or maybe find a new sport or work out. That’s what Shapeselfcosmofitnessrunnersworld magazine said. Vary your workouts and you will continue doing them!

A Marathon Runner...and Blog Slacker

Well...it's been ummm close to 2 months since I transitioned from "marathoner-in-training" to "marathoner!". And umm even longer since I provided you with reading material. So while I had a successful marathon, I still feel a twinge of failure as I think of you, my poor readers, coming here daily in search of my wit, my humor, hungry for the constant joy that I once provided for your lives and leaving unfulfilled.

Fear not, I have returned.

Yes my friends, I did complete the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon, held this year on October 26. Although I did not reach my lofty goal of 4 hours, I did manage the run the entire race (run used loosely here, as the final miles could hardly be considered more than a trot) and finished in 4:23:00. Not a bad first time I'd say. The experience in general far exceeded my expectations, largely because of the people who were there that day. Of course, the MCM is known as the People's Marathon, in part because it's in Washington, DC and partly because the crowd is absolutely fantastic. There was only one part of the race where there weren't people hooting, hollering, cheering, ringing cowbells, waving signs, handing out food and vaseline (which I ALMOST mistook for gu and ate), and consistently providing a reminder that a) those of us running were, in fact, crazy and b) they loved us for it. There were two extremely important people in that crowd (well 3 actually, now that I think of it), and mother and boyfriend endured a test of a different kind as they hunted me down throughout the race and were forced to become extremely chummy after having met only once before at the chaos of my sister's beautiful wedding only a month before. Throughout the whole race, knowing that I was going to see them, with the signs my mom made, propelled me to go a little faster, to keep my head up and not look at the ground and to make it to the finish line so that they could give me the water bottle I had so stubbornly refused to carry with me. My mom arrived the night before, making me spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and getting up at 5:30am with me to make it to the start line about an hour earlier than we had to. Then of course, my friend Ryan, who I was kind of running for, because after all, he is in the seminary, kept a watchful eye out for me at mile 14, making sure the whole world knew how awesome I was! He also found my crew afterwards at Chipotle, where mom and boyfriend forced me to sit down and eat a burrito. You know, after you run 26 miles (+.2), you're really not hungry. You kind of just want to sleep. So it took me about an hour to eat the burrito, which granted, they are huge burritos, but to be realllllly honest I can usually inhale them in a good 15-20 minutes. Chewing has never required such diligence.

To be really honest, the entire marathon is kind of a blur. It was incredibly fun, I've already blocked out any pain I felt - it's kind of like having a baby (I imagine) - really, really painful at the time, but so worth it at the end. Mile 22 was the real killer - over the bridge to Crystal City. No cheer squad, people were dropping like flies on the pavement, and we had been taunted at the beginning with promises of "water at the end of the bridge!" when they failed to mention that the bridge was the longest bridge in the world. Or it seemed that way anyway. I almost cried at mile 25 when I saw a girl with a shirt that said "My sister has MS. I'm running this race for her." When I saw her again at the finish line, I told her how her shirt touched me...she replied that her sister had died 2 years ago and she needed a new shirt....funny, the memories I have.

So now I have run a marathon, what now? After taking the required 4 weeks off, I'm in miserable shape, starting to imagine what you all must have felt when I said I would do one, because I certainly couldn't do one any time soon. What I must do now is find a new challenge, a new goal to propel myself along. Since sky-diving is out of the question (bad vision, torn retinas = blind), I'm considering a triathalon. You know. If I can learn to swim beyond the doggie paddle.

Ideas? Challenges? Congratulatory flowers? I can give you my address.

A Bitter Break-Up Letter

Dear Ipod,

From the very start, I have loved you with the best of my ability.  From the first one of you, given to me by my father for Christmas, I have been enthralled by your ability to entertain me.  But our relationship extended so far beyond entertainment - you have been there for me when I was alone on the metro, alone on the train, alone on the street - alone except for the sweet nothings you would whisper in my ear (or yell depending on my mood).  In return, I took you with me whenever I could, filling you with delicious and beautiful songs as often as possible.

I'll admit that we've had our tough times.  There is, of course, the first one of you that I broke almost immediately - ah, young love is so careless.  Wouldn't you agree that I simply didn't know HOW to love you yet when I did that?  But even with your blank and glaring screen, I still managed to keep that broken ipod for a year, listening to my music on endless shuffle mode, never complaining, never angry at you.  Then I received your newer model (we might say you had some plastic surgery, or went on a diet) -  a day of even purer joy!  When I saw that you had my name tattooed on your back, I knew that we were still in this together.

Oh how wrong I was!

I will admit that breaking you again was my fault.  I'm not sure how I bent you, how I broke the microchip heart inside you, but I will never forget the words of the idiot at the Apple "Genius Bar" (remember in better days how we snickered at their incompetence to EVER help me? it didn't seem so funny this time) as he told me that I had destroyed you once again.  Flooded with guilt, I immediately tried to fix you.  I didn't upgrade to a newer version, I didn't try to get more memory space.  I loved you as you were (it's just that I wanted to hear out of both headphones and not just the right one).  So I replaced you and loved you as if you had never changed.

But you did.  Your affection for me was not the same.  For months you tried to hide it, building up resentment and anger towards my carelessness.  And yes, I'll admit that I was careless.  I read books on the metro instead of listening to you.  Communication is so important, but I'm a working girl now, I'm not in school anymore, and let's face it, when I get home, I just want to rest.  Now, I'm not trying to make excuses - I'm just telling it as it is.  But suddenly YOU were the one treating ME poorly.  Shutting off randomly, losing battery time when I had turned you off, halting my Nike + workouts after 25 minutes...you know I can't deal with that kind of drama.  I'm training for a marathon.  I always knew that I'd had to run the marathon without you (it's the rules of the game, not my own!), but I never thought that I'd be able to bear to train without you.  Now you have decided that I must start running alone, that you are tired of my "games" and my antics.

That was your decision Ipod, not mine.  I almost cannot stand to run without you, I need your distracting lyrics, your glowing face...but apparently you don't need me.  So starting this Sunday, a little more than a month to go till the marathon, I will run without your little headphones stuffed in my ears.  My ears and my arm will feel naked without your presence and the emotional turmoil of your dismissal may be detriment to my training.  But I've come to accept that this is for the best.  I don't like it, not one bit.  But perhaps....this is for the best...

Mileage: 15 on Sunday, 6 on Thursday = +21 miles

Total mileage/$ earned: 78 miles, $78

Keeping track...

Just a quick note today (sigh of relief from the peanut gallery)...

I managed to hit the pavement again last night, only going about 5 miles. I did, however, finally find the Harris Teeter on foot! A minor accomplishment. If you ever want to learn a new neighborhood, just go running. If you get lost, you won't be lost long, cause you're RUNNING!!!

Just go in the daytime if it's a questionable neighborhood...

Total mileage/bribe money earned: 57 miles/$57

Sidelined!

I ran 6 miles on Friday, bringing my current total to 52 miles and $52 earned.  Then I took Saturday off, thinking that I might run on Sunday.  Instead, I decided to take a yoga class, the same one that I took the previous Sunday with the awesome instructor.  

Only she wasn't there this time.

Now, I'm not afraid to say that this was the WORST class I've taken at Flow Yoga because everyone else absolutely loved it and asked the sub when she usually teaches - therefore, I know that I'm not bruising anyone's fragile ego.  For me, this was the most painful, the most boring, and the biggest waste of $13 that I've spent in a long time.  I don't know what it was, but I was in pain during the whole class (maybe this should have been my wake up call), with everything from Down Dog to something Sunny Faces (?!?).  I don't know why people do this to themselves out of anything but necessity.  And we had to hold every position for like TWENTY minutes.  Ok...that might be pushing it a little, but it was just endless.

The worst part though, was that almost immediately afterwards, I felt incredibly sick.  I went to church afterwards (note to self: do not return to a Cathedral in yoga pants, you will be underdressed) and couldn't even kneel because I felt so nauseous.  When I went home, all I could handle for dinner was some cereal and that was a huge mistake because that just made me feel worse.  

BUT IT GETS EVEN WORSE.

I woke up the next morning with lower back pain.  I've never had back pain before, in fact, I think I was one of those mean people who scoffed at it as wimpy.  But let me tell you something, nothing is more painful.  Apparently (thank you Dad, for the info), your pain receptor in your brain is right next to your nausea receptor and my pain was so intense that I couldn't even eat 1000 calories on Monday.  I took a nap after work and then went to bed at nine.  I was incredibly overheated.  I had to ice my back.  I had to take painkillers.  I woke up over and over again despite having taken a sleeping aid.  I woke up this morning and felt like you do when you're super sick - my lips had that nasty coating on them that makes you feel gross and my body just HURT everywhere.  I took a shower and my skin ached.  I had to sit down just to blow dry my hair because standing provoked such nausea.

(Ok this sounds really serious, and I swear it's all true, but my mom claims that I am a slight hypochondriac, so it is possible that my mind made this feel worse than it actually was, but that's not the point...the point at this moment is that you should a) be feeling very sorry for me and b) loathe yoga with all your might.)

But to add insult to injury, I've still managed to eat way below my calorie line today, and I'm kind of scared to run.  Putting food into my body only seems to cause more nausea and while the back pain has eased up, I'm nervous about throwing it completely if I push too hard.  So I might have to take another day off tomorrow, which would mean that I've gone almost a week without running, which just really irritates me.  I know that it's good to take time off, but I don't really WANT to take time off.  I feel like I must be gaining weight, which is ridiculous since I'm hardly eating.  I'm exhausted, which is probably also due to not eating, but also because I'm one of those people who has to work out to feel normal.  I just do not go this long without physical activity.  So maybe that's the problem.  Maybe if I run tomorrow morning, I will feel better!

If I can drag my butt out of bed at 5am, I am so testing this.

Friday: 6 miles

Total mileage/bribe money earned: 52 miles/$52

Carnivore...or not

On Monday, I had a fantastic run.  I thought I'd go out for about an hour and just get my blood moving.  I ended up going for 2 hours and about 13 miles, without my fuel belt, without getting winded or sore.  It was fabulous - completely the "runner's high" that you hear about.  Sometimes the runner's high seems like a myth, one of those lies you tell yourself to force yourself to run.  But it really exists and if you can find it, it's one of the best feelings ever.

Then I did a really hard Pilates class on Wednesday - my butt is STILL sore.  

And then 5 more miles this morning with speedwork...

And now more on nutrition.  I have to admit that I'm struggling with nutrition and eating properly.  I'll do okay for a few days and then it all collapses.  You don't realize it all the time, but your body REALLY responds to what you put in it, and I find that I'm an extremely sensitive eater (shocker!  not really, I'm extremely sensitive in general).  I used to be a very picky eater when I was little, and while I've managed to expand my food tastes, food can be very mean to me.  I guess it's revenge.  I'm slightly lactose intolerant (a recent and self-diagnosed discovery) and if I don't eat enough or if I eat too much junk food, my body rebels like a teenager with blue hair.  So you'd think that I'd learn by now to take care of myself...

Today I had meat for lunch and meat for dinner.  I had pork tenderloin (leftovers) for lunch, which I had with roasted vegetables.  That's healthy, hooray!  But then I went out to dinner with a friend to a place we've been meaning to try here in DC, and got burgers and I had a, get ready for this, toasted marshmallow milkshake (not recommended, not getting an endorsement).  Now I just feel gross.  Ugh.  For those of you who didn't know, I was a vegetarian for almost 8 years and I've only eaten meat again for about 2 years now.  I enjoy it, I find that I get a lot more variety into my diet, but I still am not a crazy meat eater.  I don't crave meat.  Some people I know will just CRAVE a steak.  Me, I crave chocolate sometimes and every once in a while I go crazy for bagels, but meat is not something that I ever just scarf down.  It makes me feel heavy and too full.  Don't get me wrong, I certainly enjoy a good quality steak or even a burger.  But I think I've learned, also from eating tacos the other night, that I can't eat red meat before a race.  It upsets my stomach just enough that I don't notice it if I'm not working out, but if I try to run the next morning, I can just feel my stomach mooing.

These are the kinds of things that I'm trying to learn as I approach race day.  What I can and can't eat, whether or not I should stretch, how much I should eat, how early I have to get up before running.  It's an interesting process and kind of hard to monitor...it will be interesting.

New mileage: 18 miles

Total mileage/bribe $ earned: 46/$46

If it doesn't hurt, you're not really running

So this past week was my first 40 mile week.  17 miles last Sunday, 8 on Wednesday, 5 on Thursday, and 10 on Saturday.  Then today I did the Nike + 10k.  It was GREAT!  I've decided I need to sign up to do more races.  It's very motivational - instead of just running, you feel like you have to push yourself harder.  I reworked my play list and added some new songs, including Ok Go's "Here We Go" and Fort Minor's "Remember the Name."  Remember the Name is my new song!  When I become a famous runner and I enter an arena (they don't really do that for runners, do they) or I have a Nike commercial, I will do it to Fort Minor's "Remember the Name."  

"This is 10 percent luck, twenty percent skill

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will

Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name"

This song really powered me through my work out and made me pick up my pace.  That's the power of a good song, and also of a new song.  Putting a new song in your playlist will give you an extra boost in your workout.  After the first 2k, I realized that I hadn't run like that in a long time.  It hurt.  I was winded.  When I finished my 10k, I had to sit down for a minute.  That is running.  Now, I'm the first one to say that you can't do that all the time.  You'll make yourself sick if you don't learn pacing and you seriously can't always do anaerobic work outs.  But I had a math teacher in high school who was also a track coach - he told us a story once about a kid who really wasn't very good at track.  But this kid tried his heart out and in the final meet of the season, he ran so hard that when he crossed the finish line, he puked his guts out.

Let me tell you one thing.  If I don't pass out or puke from exhaustion after I finish this marathon, I know that I didn't push myself to my limit.  And that's just totally unacceptable.

Later today, I went to a beginner's yoga class.  I know some of the basics, but I'm still not that great, so I stick with the ones that are for beginners, all levels, or I just go to Pilates classes (I took that in college, haha).  We had to start with "ohm" again but this time I actually just did it and only snickered a little.  And when we did it at the end, I didn't even laugh.  There was significantly less picking of the feet in this class, although I have to admit that my flexibility is no better.  My hamstrings are incredibly tight, which was, of course, noted by the class because today the instructor picked me to use as her example.  I was really surprised when she asked me if she could use me, so I just said yes.  I haven't decided if this is because she figured I would need the most help out of anyone and just wanted to help me herself, or if she just thought I looked like a sucker.  Both are very possible.  But she had me do a downward facing dog, which I hate, and then pushed down on my back to get me to pull back my shoulder blades.  Then she had me do a downward dog on my forearms and proceeded to put her foot between my shoulder blades and told me to put one of my feet on the wall and straighten my leg.  Then she had me put the other leg up to join it.  So I was on my forearms, with both legs straight out on the wall.  I'm not describing this well...but basically I never thought I could do anything like that and it was really....FUN!  It was fun to do one of those crazy "yoga" things.  And the instructor's attitude was really refreshing - someone asked if my legs were supposed to be bent and she said that it was just cause my hamstrings were tight (which she knew without ASKING me) and when people kept being nit-picky about my form and where I was on the mat, she said, "C'mon people, it's just YOGA!"  She was great.  It was the best yoga class I'd taken so far.  

Total miles: 10 Saturday, 6 Sunday

Total miles/bribe $ earned: 28 miles, $28 

Running in the rain (legal): the equivalent of running naked (illegal)

Ok, first I’d like to say that I’ve never really run naked, and that sounds pretty darn uncomfortable to me, physically and socially.

But this morning I got up at 5 again (why do I not run at night?!?!) and did a 10 minute ab workout before jetting out the door for a 5 mile run. When I woke up I tried to figure out if it was raining (cause obviously I am not crazy enough to run in the rain…right?) but I didn’t hear any so I pulled myself out of bed with the promise that I would get my mileage in this week.

However, when I went outside, I saw the cars with their wipers on and I realized that there was a steady drizzle falling. But…it was 5:30. I was dressed. How could I deny myself the endorphins?!!? So I set off down the street and consoled myself by telling myself that I have graduated to the level of “crazy runner who defies the weather.” I figured there were 2 approaches I could take here: either send a few four letters words towards Mother Nature, or go for the less combative approach and embrace the fact that I am even closer to nature and the world. Figuring that if I flipped off Mother Nature I would inevitably find a slippery spot on the sidewalk and break my elbow or something, I decided to “become one with the earth” (oh no, this may be a direct result from all that yoga!). and a funny thing happened – I wasn’t forcing myself to run in the rain, I was enjoying it! It was great! It wasn’t too cold, so I was still sweating but it all mingled with the rain water. It wasn’t pouring, but it was steady enough to drench me thoroughly. It was the most relaxing and freeing run ever, which was why suddenly, right by the Capital, I was struck by the idea that this was probably like running naked…at least, that’s the best comparison that I could come up with. There were a few important factors contributing to this – it was a light rain and it wasn’t too cold…it was dark out. Twilight/dawn. The sun was just starting to break when I got home.

Cause the sun still rises, even when it rains. Sometimes that’s when the sky is the most beautiful.

I guess that’s what they mean by “silver lining…”

Mileage: 5 miles
Total mileage/$ earned: 13 miles/$13

To Look Cool (and be safe), Wear This!

This morning I woke up at 5:05 and thought: ugh. It was dark outside. I was sleepy. I had woken up at 3:45 and thought it was time to get up (but I did have to pee so lucky I woke up?!). But then I reminded myself that I had a mission! If I ran this morning, I would earn myself some moo-lah. So I sat in my nice bed for a few more minutes and then dragged myself out.

It’s been cool when I’m walking to work these days, so I decided that at 5am it would be downright cold. Umm, hello Sarah, it’s still August. So the sweat-capris, not such a good idea (they are sooooo comfortable though, just a little warm). As I puttered around getting ready, it dawned on me that dawn would not come until I was almost done with my run. This provokes some serious safety issues, including the threat of being mowed down by the garbage trucks. But luckily, this past Christmas I got the fabulous gift of a reflective running vest! Truth be told, I look like a real goofball when I run around in this – but no one will miss me. And my chances of winning in court should a garbage truck mow me down will greatly increase since I took the precaution of wearing it. Thus, I offer you the following arguments for the important, if slightly goofy, running vest:
1. you will be visible in the early morning and the late night
2. this means you can still run alone
3. you provide great entertainment for those around you (one of the police officers by the Capital this morning said I looked like the reflecting pool)
4. it makes you look tough (ish) – did you ever see the cops wearing those? No? they do, I promise. People will think you’re a tough protector of the law/you know karate and hence will not try to mug/rape/attack you
5. it has a handy compartment in it for your keys/metro card/snacks
6. did I mention that when you put it on – BOOM – instant cool?

******SARAH’S UNPAID ENDORSEMENT****************
Please click here to see my reflective running vest. Our friend Edgar happily models this version, which retails at a mere $12.99! For a scant $13, you can look as cool as Edgar and me!

MILEAGE/DOLLARS EARNED:
Today: 8miles/$8
Total bribe money earned: $8

PS. that guy's name isn't really Edgar...well it might be, but I don't actually know him. FYI.

Motivation is Key

Race day is exactly 2 months away from today…I’ve already hit 20 miles in my long runs. I’ve done a 5k in under 40 minutes and I’ve exhausted my paths in DC. I’ve added yoga into my routine (in other words, I’m stretching).

Now what?

The days are getting shorter, meaning that I’m way less motivated to get up at 5am and run in the dark (mom sighs in relief). My body is sore and I’m tired all the time. My dedication to nutrition has faltered and I find myself raiding the candy basket at work and wolfing down Hershey kisses like nobody’s business (although I have been better with breakfast – yogurt with Kashi and fruit). Beer tastes especially delicious. Yes I love fall…but it’s doing nothing for my running. I hate running in the cold and DC is already starting to cool off. So what’s a marathon newbie to do?

Bribe myself of course! Many of you may have heard of the plan to bribe DC students to get better grades and behave themselves…well if we can pay students to go to school, I can certainly pay myself to run! A dollar a mile…now THAT will get me to go those extra 5 miles!

I actually got this idea from reading an article in Runner’s World. It seems like sheer genius to me! Now I just need to think of something that I REALLY want and that I will be able to save enough money for within the next 2 months. My goal for September mileage is 110 miles (= $110 in bribe money). I’ll probably taper in October, so we’ll go with an even $200 goal. Now I have to think of something very special to give myself in return for torturing my body. A massage seems obvious, but yet so boring. I will have to find something really fun if I want to motivate myself.

A lot of people that I talk to about running tell me that they have a hard time getting past their personal best time. How do you even make it to 3 miles? And once you get there, how do you get past it? Those are questions that I’ve heard over and over again. Sometimes, I’m right there with you. I went out for my long run on Sunday (17 miles), and after about 6 miles, I was ready to toss in the towel. “enough of this!” I thought. “Back to the couch for some cheetos!” After all, you burn about 100-125 calories with every mile. I figured 6 would be good enough. And if you remember, I’m all over the listening to your body and stopping when you need to stop (or at least, I’m trying to be). But then I really tuned into my body…and my body wasn’t in pain, my body was just whining like a little 2 year old in the grocery store. So I just focused on the next mile…and then the next mile…and the next. That’s where most people encounter their problems – they try to run their whole workout in their head right from the start. That’s when you start to panic, that’s when you realize you still have a half hour, an hour of running left, and you just feel like you’ll never make it. But one mile – one mile is, what, 10 minutes? At the most. 10 minutes is nothing. In your life, you’ll have so many 10 minutes. You waste 10 minutes doing any number of things – picking at your toes in a yoga class, watching cookies bake, waiting for water to boil. 10 minutes is nothing. A mile is nothing. That’s what you need to tell yourself – even if you don’t believe it right away, you will get to the day when you say to yourself “a mile is nothing” and your response will be, “a mile?! Heck, 2 miles is nothing!” my personal mantra, when I get really pooped is, “3 miles is nothing.” Then I go 3 miles…then I face the next 3. it carries me through the run.

Why are you still reading? Why aren’t you running?

A Running Buddy

DID YOU KNOW....that there are tracks you can buy on itunes that are basically a personal trainer crooning in your ear with music specifically selected to match the tempo you are aiming for?  These tracks last about 40 minutes or longer and can help you in your training.  They also cost about $10 each cause you get a whole bunch of songs in there, as well as a personal trainer who resides in your ear (this is a major benefit because you're not worrying the whole time if they're bored or thinking how fat you are, etc.  I love personal trainers but I have a hard time doing everything they say cause I wonder if they're judging me).  Because they cost more than 99 cents, I have never invested in one before; this and I also have developed the uncanny ability to talk to myself while I'm running so I never thought it was necessary.  But I signed up for the Nike Human Race 10k on August 31st and they sent me a free track entitled "My First 10k."  I was incredibly skeptical, but since it was free, I figured, "why not?"  So I downloaded it, stuck it in my work out playlist and set out on my run.  

I started off skeptical, was a believer for a while, and then faded back to "eh."  I'm actually pretty impressed by the whole idea and it definitely helped to have someone telling me when to run faster and when to pull back a little.  The music, being free, was naturally not incredible, but it was a mix of Latin American songs, so you know it had energy and it was actually a pretty good mix.  BUT you know me, I have to recognize the songs to pump myself up, otherwise it really just doesn't work, so I got a little bored.  Luckily, it was only for 40 minutes, so I still had about another 40 minutes to listen to "my music."

By the way, another great song for running: Moby's Bodyrock.  It's great cause the entire song has about 4 words that just repeat over and over and over again and it's very energizing.  Not so great for sprints but it will help you power through a workout. 

In the area of nutrition...I went to a Harris Teeter today - an AMAZING and MAGICAL place it is!  I wandered in amazement and sheet joy.  I bought the ingredients for a new recipe that I found in Runner's World and made it tonight.  I would highly, highly recommend it, so now for.....

SARAH'S UNPAID ENDORSEMENT

Cinnamon Chicken, taken from Runner's World Online (click here for recipe)

Delicious!  It's not the easiest recipe I've ever made (I actually TOUCHED raw chicken, um ew) but it certainly wasn't that hard.  As the recipe says, you let it stew for an hour so it gets very tender and the flavor is excellent.  And, another bonus, you don't have to go out and buy a bunch of weird ingredients.  Sometimes I look at a recipe and I think it sounds really good but it calls for all these weird spices that I would probably only ever use for that particular recipe.  Now that's fine if you're old and rich (or young and rich, but that's far less likely), but if you are a poor, recent college graduate who can usually get a free drink but not free spices at the grocery store, buying a new spice every time you want to make something new can get pricey.  So this recipe works overall, and you could even share it and feel proud.

OH YES.  My marathon goals.  I know you were waiting for this.  So naturally I'm getting way ahead of myself, this is only my first marathon but I've decided that I want to keep training and running races until I get my time down to 3 hours and 40 minutes.  Why, you ask?  Because then I will qualify for the Boston Marathon!!!  I've decided that this is one of my life goals.  

Speaking of insanity, did you see the winner of the Olympic Women's Marathon?  She finished in 2 hours and 26 minutes...that's less than a 6 minute mile.  Consistently.  CRAAAAAZY.

I could do that.

If I really wanted to.

But...I don't.

Cough...cough....

Food is your Friend

Today I made the unfortunate decision to have a "super-duper-kick ass- intense-beyond belief" workout day.  I set my alarm clock for 7am and dreamed that it was going off at 6:26am so I just got up and went out and ran 9 miles.  Then I took a shower and went downtown and did a yoga class that ended up lasting an hour and a half.  And it hurt - a lot.  Also we had to start class with "ohm" and reciting some weird chant a bunch of times and the instructor started talking about pyranas or something and about earth, fire, wind and water and I wondered when Captain Planet was going to burst in.  We had to start class sitting cross legged, which is a personal challenge, because my hamstrings are so tight.  Sitting cross legged, we began to focus on our breathing.  This is the part where everyone's eyes are closed except mine, so I try not to snicker audibly while I look at everyone and pick at the dead skin on my toes because I can't sit still (my feet are all torn up from running, what can I say?).  Then I met a friend for lunch, stayed downtown, shopped (oh details, details), went to church and then rushed home and went out for another 11 miles.  

Ow, ow, ow.  Also, I might have done all this on a cliff bar, a chicken salad, half a piece of chocolate cake, some yogurt, coffee, and tortilla chips.

That was the dumbest thing ever.  I threw up in my mouth twice during my run tonight (only a little bit) and now it is 10pm and I have absolutely no desire to eat anything.  You're supposed to eat within an hour of doing a hard run (the reason why is escaping me at the moment, I just remember that it's really important).

Drat.  This is not how I'm supposed to feel after a super duper whatever I said workout.  I'm supposed to feel like superwoman!

I really have to pay more attention to my nutrition.  Sometimes I skip meals, I know I don't eat enough protein, and I eat more sweets than my fair share.  So that's definitely something to work on.  

Repeat after me: food is your friend!  You like food.  Food must enter your body at regular intervals.  Food must be colorful, include valuable nutrients, and be fresh and healthy.  

More later this week...I know I've dropped off a little.  Remind me to tell you about my future marathon goals.

Strong like Marathon Runner

Obviously, the title of this entry is a pun of "strong like bull."  Obviously, you are all convulsing in laughter at my extreme wit and amazing sense of humor.

Cough...cough...

So today I want to talk to you about cross training and strength training.  As you all know, a runner cannot simply run and run and run and run and run (although we'd certainly all like to), which is why I've tormented myself with the idea of yoga.  Unfortunately, not even yoga, sprints, and endless long runs will prepare you for a marathon, or even put you in tip-top shape.  Cross training and strength training are also vital in your quest for physical fitness.  

But, you may be asking now....what the HECK is cross training?  Well, that's actually a really good question, uh...let's consult the great and wonderful internet.

**CONSULTING**CONSULTING**CONSULTING**

About.com: Sports Medicine tells me that: "the term cross training refers to a training routine that involves several different forms of exercise."

WOW!  That's AMAZING!

But you're still asking, I can see the question in your eyes, what does this mean?  This simply means to vary the exercise routine - go to the gym a day a week and get on the stairmaster.  Go to a cycling class, or better get get on a bike and ride outside.  Play tennis.  Jump rope.  Do an aerobics class.  Have a long conversation with me and try to talk as fast as I do.  Swim.  You get the idea.  The great thing is that you only have to add this in once a week.  I went to PA this past weekend and the wonderful people at Flying Hills Fitness let me have a weekend pass.  I hadn't been to the gym in a really long time, since I've been focusing on running/I am too cheap to buy a membership in DC while the weather is nice.  I ended up going twice, once doing sprints on the treadmill and the stairmaster, and another time doing the elliptical.  You really forget how doing something slightly different (I mean, how different is the elliptical from running?  it's just cardio) can work TOTALLY different muscles and kill your body in a totally different way than you're used to.  And you know I totally support that.

Strength training is a whole new ball game.  Okay ladies, I know, I KNOW you don't want bulky muscles.  I know you don't want to spend hours in a gym when the weather is just screaming for you to run.  But this is a marathon, and it is important not only to stretch but also to strengthen, so we're going to plow through both.  Personally, I build muscle like whoa.  I bulk up fast and it's icky.  I hate it.  I'm all about tone and strength and agility and all the good stuff, but I hate having big arms and I would never want Olympic sized thighs.  However, I have found a way to work around my incredible muscle building skills while continuing to build lean muscle and incorporate strength training into my routine.  Believe it or not, you don't have to spend hours doing this either.  I usually do this at home, on the same day as a run or on a "day off" (I have a really hard time taking days off).  When I was at home, I used the weights at the gym but you don't even need weights because your body is just that amazing.  (If you do find yourself with the opportunity to use weights, I recommend it highly.  Just do high reps with a low weight.  I usually do bicep curls with 5 pound weights....really girly and wimpy right?  I usually do 2 sets of 20 reps...try doing that with a 30 pounder).

So here it is, the MennoneMarathon strength program, guaranteed not to last more than 15-20 minutes because I get bored and distracted easily.

Basically...it's the stuff that you hate doing.  Yeah, I know lunges and squats and push ups and crunches are not fun, and they hurt and they're hard but um people....DUH that's why they work.  But I add some fun stuff in to make it more exciting and painful!

Start off with legs: regular lunges or walking lunges (go around your living room while you watch tv), squats, endless squats (see if you can go through a TV show or a song).  A helpful hint with squats: stay near a chair or a couch or a bench.  You want your butt to get all the way down like you're going to sit but DO NOT LET ME SEE YOUR BUTT TOUCH THE CHAIR, get right back up.  Lunges are pretty straightforward, just make sure you keep your knees at 90 degrees.  Push-ups are pretty basic too, see how easy I make this for you?  If you have to go down on your knees, you have to make sure that you keep your butt, back, and shoulders in a line.  Don't stick your butt in the air, don't leave your back low and just push your shoulders up.  The thing about push-ups is that they force you to use your own body weight, so don't waste that!  With push-ups, you can do a set of 15, a set of 10, and a set of 8 (or 12, 10, 8...10, 8, 5...you get the idea).  Where you have your elbows will change what muscles you use, so just pay attention to what your body is feeling.

Oh my gosh, i can talk so much....I can't believe you're still reading this, you must be really bored.

Perhaps I will save abs for another day.  Deal?  I'm pooped, I need to go to bed so that I can get up at 5 and run.

We'll do strength training another day...

The Power Running Shorts

I'm sure you've all heard of the power suit.  It's what you wear to the interview when you really want the job, it's what you wear to a meeting when you want to make a sale.  It's what you wear when you want to impress that special someone at a "business lunch" (even if it means that everyone else at your office wonders why the heck you're wearing a fancy suit on casual Friday).  The power suit is what you wear when you need to feel confident, capable, and darn good looking.  

Well, I recommend getting a "power suit" for when you run.  Hear me out: running is great because all you have to do is throw on an old t-shirt and a pair of shorts and you're good to go, no need for all this fancy extra stuff.  But once you start to really get into it, once your runs extend beyond 20, 30 minutes, once you start feeling the urge to get up at 5am and make it running for the 7th time that week (ok maybe I'm pushing it), it's important not only to wear clothes that fit and are comfortable, but also to start treating yourself.  It's important to find something that you look good in and you KNOW you look good in it.  You need that outfit that when you put it on, it's go time.  You put it on and you know that you are able to go as far as you need to go.   I might just happen to have a few of those outfits...but right now I'm very focused on my new running skirt.  It's black with some red in it and I have a matching red top (all courtesy of Nike and my mom!) and I wore it for the first time today.  It does have the little spandex shorts built in, so I actually might save it for shorter runs (I'll report on today's run in a minute) because it gets kind of hot.  But running around in this little skirt just made me feel ultra-feminine but ultra-tough because I layered on the fuel belt, and after about an hour, I had sweated clear through everything.

You know you look tough when you're drenched in sweat.  Even if you are wearing a running skirt that matches your sneakers.

So I'm sure you're all curious about my run today, because you want to know: was it easier since she took time off??  Is she really plateau-ing?  Did she hurt herself beyond repair with those silly yoga classes?  I know, the suspense is killing you!!!  It's like a weird soap opera.  Anyway, I was curious too and eager to set off this morning.  I got up by 7:30 and was out the door within the hour.  I knew that I had to start early because it has been HOT in DC for the past few days and today turned out to be no different.  I know that I have to just work through the heat because it's certainly not going away for a while.  So I started off, and I started a little slow, a little out of tune.  You know, running is a lot like going on a road trip - you have to pee before you leave, you have to pack your water and your snacks (delicious GU!), and you have to make sure you bring the right tunes.  So maybe you start off a little bit clunky, but it evens out as you warm up.  I did, in fact, even out and apparently my body likes running as much as my mind does, because there were times when I couldn't even control my legs - they were just taking off without me and I had to force myself to go slower because I knew it was going to be a long run.  I ended up going 18 miles and I even conquered my inability to take walk breaks. I walked a little bit after mile 13 but in general I ran most of it.  Then I walked 3 miles to get home - so technically today I did 21 miles.  I was thinking about this as I was walking home and almost convinced myself to crank out an extra 5 and just go the distance but reminded myself that this would be a very bad idea.  It was pretty hot out today, which is good.  What's nice about running when it's so hot out is that you don't realize how sweaty and gross you are (because it's cooling you off, you welcome it), it's so warm that your muscles are all stretchy and nice, and the only real challenge is staying hydrated.  You don't even really think about how far you've gone, you just wonder when you're going to find some shade again.  

But consider this!  There is such a thing as OVERHYDRATION.  Also known as water poisoning or "hyponatremia," it occurs when athletes drink too much water and throw their sodium levels out of whack.  That's why it's important to drink sports drinks when you're doing more than 60 mintues of exercise, ESPECIALLY when it's super hot outside.  This is also where the delicious GU also comes in handy (I had two packs today, and let me tell you....it was the most gourmet, delicious, and satisfying treat I'd ever had).  Overhydration is actually a serious issue, especially because of all the focus today on avoiding dehydration.  Overhydration can cause the brain to swell - it can be fatal.  It's amazing to think of all these crazy things that we could do to our bodies and yet they still hold out on us.  

Another extra note on music and why it is helpful: when you're trying to get in a long workout (like 3 hours), it can be a very daunting task to tell yourself: I'm halfway done, only an hour and a half left.  When you're really getting to the end, and you only have about 2 or 3 miles done, you can easily talk yourself into ending the workout right then and there.  That's when I start telling myself: 3 more songs.  6 more songs.  I focus hard on those next two or three songs.  This is also why you need to have put in some serious thought on your workout playlist - you need to have songs in there that you LOVE - you know, those songs that no matter where you are, in your car, on the street, in the office, "in da club," you turn it up.  You wiggle your butt.  You sing along, either out loud or in your head.  Put those songs in your playlist right now and leave them there forever.  When you feel like you can't go any further, put those on.  After all, you can't walk to a butt wiggle song - you have to run.  Tell yourself you'll run till the end of this song.  Then find another one.  Tell yourself only one more, only one more.  One song is nothing.  I bet you'll want to listen to it again.

SARAH'S UNPAID ENDORSEMENT: The Nike Shoe Wallet (can be purchased at nike.com)

I was very skeptical when my mom sent me the Nike shoe wallet, which by the way, retails at a mere $8.  I'm terrified of losing my keys and having to retrace all of my steps during a long run.  But not much is more uncomfortable than sticking your keys in your sports bra, so after listening to me whine about that for a while, my mom stuck a shoe wallet in a package that she sent me.  It clips down into your laces, but I was still scared that it would fall off.   After all, I don't power walk.  I don't jog.  I RUN.  But I decided to give it a shot.  I'm actually very impressed by it - it stays put, even when I sprint (but I didn't really like how my keys kind of hit against my foot while I sprinted).  During long runs, when I'm not sprinting, I forget that it's there.  However, it does not fall off, it does not come loose, it does not let your keys slip out.  And it's super stretchy, so if you want, you can stick in an ID or a credit card.  So, I fully support Nike's shoe wallet and recommend it to all (Nike retailers everywhere breathe a sigh of relief that I will continue to spend disproportionate amounts of money on their products).  However, don't forget...your fuel belt does come fully equipped with zipped pockets...perfect for keys, credit cards...and delicious, easy to access GU.

Fit Flow Yoga

Ow, ow, ow. And sweat.

OW.

Introduce Yourself to...Yourself

What I failed to mention in my last post is that I'm taking a week off.  I know.  CRAZY! Insane!  Stupid!  Why would I take a week off??  I'm in the peak of training!  I'm just getting into the good stuff, I've only just begun to dig my heels into this marathon!!  But the truth is that I tried to go for a long run on Sunday and I had to stop after 6 miles.  I was dehydrated - I coudn't gather any energy, even after drinking al the water bottles in my fuelt belt.  Even after GU.  I was overheated - I had gone to the beach the day before, I was sunburned and I was running at 2pm.  My muscles were cramping.  I took a walking break and couldn't force my legs to relearn how to run.

Brief panic set in - was I plateau-ing?  Would I lose interest if I kept running like this?

But I remembered from years of sports training and fitness magazines - this is also a great metaphor for LIFE guys, get ready - one bad run doesn't mean that you're a failure.  It didn't mean that I was never going to run again, it didn't mean that all of the sudden I was going to go at an 11 minute mile for the rest of my life.  It meant that my body was ANGRY at me because for the past month I've been pulling 30 mile weeks.  It meant that I wasn't paying attention to my hydration levels or my nutrition (I might not have eaten anything before running except a piece of peanut butter toast at 9am).  It meant that I had spent too much time in the sun in the past 24 hours.  It meant that I had neglected to pay attention to my body - and my body is the only thing carrying me forward in my endeavor.  

Well geez, that was pretty stupid of me!

So I told myself...no running this week (a rule which I immediately broke the next day by going running with a coworker, but I decided it was a worthy exception).  Instead, I would focus on reading some articles about nutrition and I would return to the basics - strength training and a focus on flexibility.  Which is why today during my lunch break, believe it or not, I went to a yoga studio and bought a pass for 2 classes.  Granted...I then signed up for a Pilates class and a "Fit Flow" class instead of traditional yoga.  But I figured that doing stuff like this, controlled exercise with someone supervising my movements, would help me in regaining a sense of personal balance and find new inspiration to run (I'm REALLY pushing this in my head).  

So I went to Flow Yoga Studio on P St. and signed myself up.  They have, no lie, a purple staircase.  You are asked to take your shoes off when you go in and you can sit in the heavily incensed lobby/entrance, which has little sofas (divans?) for you to sit on and relax, with flowy, meditaton-inspiring music playing in the background.  They have 3 different recycling bins at the front.  They ask you to relax with filtered tap water and encourage you to buy a reusable water bottle because bottled water is a waste.  I believe their mats are organic.  

I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but places like this usually make me giggle.  It's not that I don't respect their attention to the environment and to the importance of breathing and being in touch with your own body.  I just have a really hard time getting into it.  I'm a very hyper, quick-paced person.  I prefer a different type of challenge that these places usually present.  But this is a bigger challenge to me than running a marathon - this is forcing myself to listen to my body and be aware of what it needs.  After floundering in my run on Sunday, I kind of felt like I had to introduce myself to myself: "Body, I'm Sarah.  It's so nice to meet you, now please behave."  "Sarah, this is your Body.  You're KILLING ME."  

Therefore, I went to Flow this afternoon and took down one of their organic mats and went through one of the hardest, one of the best Pilates classes I've ever taken.  We were in constant motion and I knew right from the start, when they put on the song "Perfect Gentleman," that this would not be boring or unbearable.  The only times I giggled were when the instructor had to force my arms to stretch out farther than they wanted to and when I found that I cannot lift my leg to hip-height.

I guess that what I'm trying to learn from this is that you have to learn how to read your own body.  Personally, I find it really easy to lose track of myself and to push too hard without realizing that I've gone too far.  On Sunday, I kept trying to tell myself to go a little bit farther, run a little bit longer.  If I had done what my mind said, I think I would have ended up passing out.  And if your body says stop, STOP and don't punish yourself for it.  It's not a sign of weakness or failure - the human body can withstand an awful lot, but I don't think that it's fair to push yourself to the point of shut-down.  Well....unless it's race day.

SARAH'S UNPAID ENDORSEMENT:  http://www.flowyogacenter.com/flow/index.html

Flow Yoga Center is a tiny little studio near the Whole Foods on P St. in Washington, DC.  The atmosphere is surprisingly relaxing, the people who work there are extremely friendly, and from what I can tell so far, the classes are challenging without putting a lot of pressure on participants.  Prices are reasonable - if you are new to Flow, you can get a pass for 2 classes for $20.  Later, if you want to buy a pass for say, 10 classes, you can get a 5% discount if you do it online (that way you save paper and the earth...awww).  Also, because it's by the Whole Foods, if you take an evening class and don't have anything for dinner, you can pop in and buy yourself something healthy.

Rock'N'Roll...'N'Run!

A nice pun to start your day with, right there.

One of my best friends drove us to the beach this weekend and mentioned to me that not only was she reading my blog, but she was waiting for me to do an entry on music.  Needless to say, I was thrilled to learn that someone is actually following my blog and honored that she would ask me for advice.  At times, I happen to think that this is a rather unfortunate blog, full of my musings and not much advice or running tips.  But I'm trying to develop it, so naturally I am looking for what people want to hear, and I will do my best to follow up on requests.

There are two different schools on thought on running with music - you either do it or you don't.  There is actually very little gray area in this subject - people either seem to love to run with music or they seem to hate it and view it as a form of weakness.  Some people think that running with music detracts from the run, distracts you from paying attention to your body, and takes your mind off of your focal point: running.  To these people running is all that matters in a work out.  But to me, a work out is more than just a motion, more than just a series of motions.  Running is an experience, it's a ride, and I'm in it for all I've got.  Music motivates me, it pushes me to go harder - it does distract me, but only when I need to be distracted.  Running with or without music is a great escape from the world - you feel like nothing can touch you because you're in motion, you're dashing off away from everything else.  When I go on my long runs, it's like a hiatus from the real world.  People talk about a runner's "high" - well, I'm here to tell you that it's real and it's attainable.  And music can help you get there.

Anyway...I've found a few simple tricks that keep me motivated during my runs.  One of the most important things is to keep your music current.  I know that sounds really basic, but it's so important.  Find new songs, new artists, new beats, new styles of music, but don't forget that not every song is made for running.  Some songs will lull you into a dull jog and you don't want this.  You want songs that will bring you to your peak, that will force you to go another 5 minutes, another mile, another 5 miles.  You have to be aware of the rhythm and the beat and how it corresponds to your personal tempo.  I listen to different songs when I do sprints (like I did today!) then when I do my endurance runs.  

I recommend having at least one playlist dedicated to your workouts.  I have one that I maintain and add new tracks to as I find them.  I keep most of them in there, building up a long set of songs, but I rotate them within the play list.  I do not listen to all my songs on shuffle because I like having certain songs in order.  Songs with similar ideas within the lyrics (I'm big on lyrics), songs with similar beats and harmonies stick together in my playlists.  That way even if I shift their position, I still have some sort of stability.  Once I've heard two songs in a row a few times, I have the expectation that they will be together.  For example, I keep Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's "Face Down" always in front of Eric James and the New Century's "Trust," which is immediately followed by June's "Swallowed."  Having these songs grouped together motivates me because I know what's coming up next.  Once I find "Face Down," whether it's at the top of my tracks or buried within my playlist, I know the sequence that's ahead.  "Face Down" is a very quick-paced, angry song..."Trust" takes the tempo down a little bit and is a little sadder and "Swallowed" picks the tempo right back up.  It's really important not to block all your fast tempos together - you'll have that block of adrenaline built up by those songs and then you'll fall down as soon as it ends.  Also important is to start with something a little slower paced - I read an article today about music and running and I quote, "You don't want your music to kick ass before you do."  In other words, remember, and this is what I tend to forget, that you have all the time in the world to run.  Start off with something energizing but not totally pumped up.  I found a new group, The Hush Sound, that has 2 good warm up songs - "Don't Wake Me Up" and "Wine Red."  They have a steady beat, good for finding your rhythm, but it won't make you want to sprint.  

When I do sprints, I try to find songs with really good refrains - really high tempo, steady length, and really energizing.  Some songs that I sprint to are: Gavin DeGraw's "In love with a girl" (my new song for now), Flyleaf's "All Around Me," The Veronicas' "4Ever," Cute is What We Aim For's "The Curse of Curves," MatchBox 20's "How Far We've Come" (careful with that one though, the refrain comes really quickly in it), Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer," Paramore's "Misery Business"...I think if you listen to those songs, you'll get the idea.  These are just what work for me - I need something that has a really intense refrain and that will last me longer than 5 seconds.  I love the song "Numb/Encore" but when I tried to sprint to it, I found that the refrain's tempo is not a lot faster than the rest of the song, which did not motivate me at all.  

Endurance runs mean that you have to space out those fast paced songs.  This is why you have to keep your music current and keep your playlist current - do not stick with the same order of songs for more than 5 or 6 runs.  Even if you keep certain songs grouped together, you should not keep the same old playlist.  Move it around, mix it up, add a new song.  

A few songs that have reached hall of fame status in my workout playlist (in no particular order):

All Around Me

Bring Me to Life

Face Down

Trust

Swallowed

Shut Up and Drive

How Far We've Come

Girlfriend (yes the one by Avril Lavigne...I refused to listen to it for a long time and now I can ONLY listen to it when I'm running because it makes me want to speed up)

Don't Matter

Makes Me Wonder

Numb/Encore

Paralyzer

MakeDamnSure

Little Razorblade

Calling You

In Love With a Girl

Every Time We Touch

We Used to Be Friends

I Don't Want to Fall in Love

Would You Go With Me

Look At Us Now

Fidelity (good only for cool downs)

Of course there are some safety issues with running with headphones - it becomes more important to pay attention to traffic signals and lights...and looking for cars.  You have to be more aware and more alert to those darn people on bicycles and stray children.  But all in all, having the right music can enhance your run and make you go that extra mile...or eight.

NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW

SARAH'S UNPAID ENDORSEMENT:  http://www.roadid.com/common/id.aspx?/hash=wrist

I endorse this product because it is important to be safe on your runs.  This ID bracelet is more durable than a piece of paper in your fuel belt or your shoe wallet (or your shoe - do you know how much feet sweat?) with your emergency info.  It looks pretty (it comes in pink!) while maintaining that hardcore image that you've been working so hard to create.  I plan on getting one as soon as the small pink ones are back in stock...don't you think you should get one?

Stretching - An Urban Legend?

I can hear the groans now - is this chick REALLY going to talk about stretching AGAIN?  But seriously people, this is one of my constant musings while running, so I feel the urge to share with all of you, only because I love you dearly.

Also, I mean, you're the ones who are silly enough to be reading my blog...

So today I did a very unusual thing - I stretched before running.  Granted, I did not sit down for 20 minutes and hold the stretch for 30 seconds, etc, etc, but I did do the butterfly, which I haven't done in FOREVER and I did touch my toes several times, as well as stretch my hamstrings.  It was a conscious effort to encourage flexibility in my aching, tight muscles.  And you wanna know what happened?  I felt WORSE while I was running.  Yesterday, when I did not stretch, I effortlessly completed 9 miles.  Today, I was way more aware of my body's movements and my body's pains and troubles and five miles wore me out.

(Perhaps that is a good thing actually, this whole paying attention to your body...but let me whine for a few more minutes.)

Therefore, I really do have to question this whole "stretching" phenomenon.  I have to ask, is this just something that flexible people have come up with to make themselves feel better about their Gumbi-like, abnormal bendability?  Is it something created to make people who do things like, oh yoga, feel like they are getting exercise, because they can do that and I, someone who runs more than they can, cannot?  A cruel joke inflicted on the bendably challenged?  But everywhere I turn, I read about the benefits of stretching.  Runner's World assures me that if I take the time to improve my flexibility, I will actually be able to improve my running and decrease my times.  Other articles teach me that if I can train myself to make it through a yoga class, one painful move at a time, then I will be able to endure longer, harder runs.  So here is the great question - do I defer to these little gems of wisdom or do I dismiss them as the mere whimsical musings of doctors, trainers, and experienced athletes?  Well, I'm trying very hard to defer to them but let me tell you...it's going to be a challenge to convince myself that it's a good idea to stretch before running again.

The Sly Six Pack

As promised, faithful readers, I will delve into the subject of "the sly six pack" today.

If you have ever watched the Olympics or any sporting event where people run, you will notice that runners have ridiculous muscles.  They have thighs the size of watermelons and somehow their arms are toned and insanely ripped.  Their entire bodies merge into one rippling muscle.  Needless to say, my body is not like that.  I mean, I would describe myself as a runner, but I'm certainly not an amazing runner and I'm certainly not that good.  I also have a penchant for chocolate and just today, after a 9 mile run, I decided to follow it with a beer (and water, of course, but I decided a beer would taste really good).  So...I have not really developed the body of an Olympian.  

However, I will not deny that certain parts of my body have taken well to running.  I have, for example, something resembling a tan for the first time in my life, and I have ridiculous calves.  That's the one thing I will admit to.  They are definitely slimmer than they were when I did tennis or rowing - in fact my whole body is slimmer, but I notice it particularly in my calves.  But they are still bigger than most women's, and I will admit that gladly.  I can't even twitch my foot without having it look like I'm hard core flexing my calf muscles.  A part of me takes secret glee from this and another part of me winces when I catch a glance of them in high heels.  You can definitely tell that I do more than just go for a stroll during my lunch hour.

But, you are wondering about the six pack.  And no, I'm not talking about beer, I did not down a whole six pack after my run today.  Very funny guys.  

My abs are the one part of my body that I have never been able to control.  I have managed to whip my arms and legs, even my lower back, into ridiculous shape through running, weight training, classes, playing sports...but my stomach refuses to follow suite.  I learned in a health class once that women develop a layer of fat on their stomachs once they "mature" to protect their future babies, so I always just kind of accepted the fact that women are supposed to have soft, if slightly squishy, tummies.  Don't get me wrong, I've tried my darndest to tone it up - Pilates, ab classes at the gym, sit-ups, crunches, work out videos - they are all fun and can leave you with an awfully sore stomach for a few days, but I've never managed to stick with it long enough to acheive results.  Okay, I'm dwelling here and making it sound like I've spent hours and hours for nothing (really, I'd do like a class and then be like, that was fun and then never go again).  But the other day, I was startled to look in the mirror and see the top of my abs.  Like, the top of my abs in high definition.  First of all, there have only been brief moments in my life when I could even say I had abs and not just a tummy (there is a difference).  Second of all, I was surprised to see the start of what appears to be a six pack.  A very small start, I'm not talking like ripped, chisled abdominals just yet.  But enough that I mentioned it to a friend and he told me that no matter how many crunches I do, I'll never get a six pack that way - you have to run.  Considering that I'm now at about 30-35 miles a week, I assume that they will only continue to develop from here.  Without my consent!  Without my effort!  Don't get me wrong, I do a very light weight routine about once a week...but I find myself spending less and less time on my sit-ups and more on my lunges.

The sly six pack takes another victim!  Here it comes, like the creature from the Black Lagoon, storming your body and taking no prisoners!

Okay...once again, I have gotten carried away.

Speaking of getting carried away, I recently learned that in Maryland, in November, there is a FIFTY mile run.  I am intrigued and, unfortunately, tempted.  Why shoot for 26.2 when you can go for 50???  I mean, you're already over halfway to 50 after you've done a marathon.  Why not just keep going?  Such lofty goals for such a little runner...

The Challenge of Hydration

It's been a crazy last few weeks as I moved from Northwest DC to Southeast.  Some people might call this part of the city unsafe.  I wouldn't necessarily describe it like that - I think SE gets a bad rap.  I actually live in a very nice neighborhood and I am only 2 miles away from the Capitol building.  And I know this because I have started running to the Capitol, yep, even getting up and 5 and going before work.  New scenery, new routes, but basically once you get to the National Mall the same lunatics (aka people like me) are still running around with their fuel belts and their GU.

The fuel belt, in case I haven't mentioned it yet, is quite possibly the greatest invention in the entire world.  An incredibly comfortable, adjustable belt, it comes with four 8oz sports bottle and pockets and pouches for keys and cards.  It makes one look incredibly hard core and dedicated, which means that you end up pushing yourself even harder because you can't just go run 5 miles with a fuel belt on.  A fuel belt requires you to run at least 10 - you can tell just by putting it on that you are going to have a serious run.

Of course, I have already managed to break mine, but that is not the point.

The point is that it is very easy to get used to having water and sports drinks on hand once you get all these gizmos and contraptions.  My fuel belt (when it is properly assembled and not in a few pieces on my bedroom floor) usually contains GU, which is a fantastic substance that comes in a small pouch and is full of carbohydrates and designed to refuel a runner's body during the endurance (ie more than 10 mile) runs.  The water bottles with the belt come complete with the words, "Stay Hydrated!" lest you forget what purpose they are serving and are tempted to squirt water at squirrels while you run.  I never used to drink during my runs - I was afraid of cramping, so if I got too overheated or thirsty, I would stop at a water fountain, swallow a small amount and swish the rest around in my mouth before spitting it out, to the disgust of many a tourist.  But then I got the fuel belt and it changed my life.  NO LIE.  You think I'm exaggerating.  I can't say enough good things about this belt (except that it's fragile?  Maybe I just got a dud).  Now when I go on my short runs, I find it hard to rehydrate afterwards.  I usually end up drinking a lot of water at night and having to get up several times to pee (I think I actually got up 3 times the other night...I sound like a pregnant woman, not a marathon runner!).  So I have to learn how to hydrate throughout the day, every day, so that the addition of water/sports drinks (I prefer Gatorade and I thought orange would be good, but I have to admit that lemon-lime is really the best because it kind of tastes salty.  Or maybe it's cause I tend to sweat all over the water bottles...) and GU is only necessary because I'm going ridiculous amounts of miles.

Like on Sunday.  I did 17 miles and it KILLED me.  It didn't help that my fuel belt was MIA and I had to carry around a Gatorade bottle.  Which is all very well and good under normal circumstances but it's actually like carrying around a 1-1.5lb weight with you.  Anyone who's taken an intense workout class or done powerwalking can testify - that adds up after a while.  And trust me, I am ambitious in my marathon running but 17 miles took me almost three hours and it HURT.  I felt like my right arm was growing substantially while my left arm (where I keep my ipod) felt sadly puny.  I had to refill the bottle at water fountains several times and I have to admit that I walked the last .5 miles, something that I have not had to do in a long time.

I think if I start stretching, I will really start to feel better during my runs.  I tried this morning to stretch.  I joke a lot about how inflexible I am, but really I'm not that bad.  I can touch my toes.  For all of a second or two.  I mean, that counts.  So I touched my toes a couple times, shifted my weight from one leg to the other and then figured that was good enough.  I always forget my hamstrings and that muscle in your hip/butt.  I don't know the names very well, I guess I'll learn.  But for the first mile or two this morning, even after two days of rest, my left hip felt like it was going to pop out of the socket.  Ouchies!  I have to stretch that out now.  Am I even spelling stretch right?  It looks funny to me...

Well I guess that's what I wanted to talk about...I think the big thing here is that it's important to learn how to hydrate throughout the day, and not just to make your run easier.  Also so that you don't have to pee all night.  And hydration doesn't just include water, at least not for the hard core people like you and me.  It includes sports drinks, GU, and a fuel belt.  After a run, by the way, one of the best recovery drinks you can drink is...CHOCOLATE MILK!  Who would have ever guessed?  I haven't actually tried that yet, because as fun as it seems, the idea of drinking milk after running kind of makes me want to throw up.  Guess I'm not as hard core as I thought.

Next time (hopefully)....the sly six pack!

Muscles You Didn't Know You Had

So I didn't do my strength training today...but I did do a very enlightening short run this morning.  I've reached the point in running where a "short run" is any run under an hour and is usually between 5 and 6.5 miles.  

Last night I set my alarm for 5:05am and told myself, as usual, that I didn't really have to get up then if I felt too tired.  But I've kind of been getting excited about my morning runs and so I find myself waking up periodically in the middle of the night, anxious to get out the door and on the pavement.  When my alarm went off this morning, I actually thought to myself, "YES!  Time to RUN!"  I don't think I've ever done that before - I kind of surprised myself.  Usually I sit in bed for a while and convince myself that the bragging rights coming with getting up at 5am and running are worth it.  

This has been the most miles I've logged in a week for a long time - about 31, if I don't run tomorrow.  It doesn't seem like a really impressive number to me until I realize that I've done it in only 3 days of running.  With a 14 mile run on Sunday, a double run on Wednesday resulting in a 12 mile day and a 5 mile run this morning, I've done more than I thought I could.  

Tomorrow I'm moving into a new house, across the city.  I'm a little nervous about my running habits, since it's a different neighborhood (read: not as nice) and so I've determined that I should get on the metro and ride out a few stops to start my run.  Which will require even more dedication on my part.  I don't know how well I'll do on the metro at 5am (does it even open that early?).  I'll have to see how I can work this out.  My morning runs might have to end temporarily until I can work this out.  Oh well - I guess this will just be another challenge.  

Anyway, this morning I was running and I realized that my quads were really sore.  If you read my last post, you probably noticed that my body yells at me a lot (shrieking calves, etc).  Well, my quads were kind of just chit-chatting with each other this morning, not really yelling, not really in pain, just incredibly sore.  With every pound on the pavement, I felt them asking each other, "why is she doing this to us?"  I could feel the muscles wrapped around my legs and it really made me realize how connected our bodies are.  I should probably learn more about muscles and how our bodies respond to the physical challenges we present to them.  I should also probably start stretching before I run...

Yep, faithful reader, I don't stretch before I run.  I'm trying to remember the last time I voluntarily stretched when I did an individual run and I um...cannot remember for the life of me.  I've done Pilates and classes like that, so I kind of assumed that as long as I was stretching at some point, I was doing okay.  The other day, though, I browsed Runner's World online and was dismayed to read that runners should do yoga.

I hate yoga.  I am not flexible at all (probably because I don't stretch and my muscles are incredibly tight) and I cannot stand to be in the same position for more than 2 minutes.  Downward dog is my enemy and I struggle to find serenity because all I can think is - I want to move, move move move MOVE!  I like cycling classes...I like aerobic classes...I like pulsing music and instructors who shout at you to push it harder and I like to sweat and be out of breathe.  Yoga destroys me because it is more challenging than any other class for me - I can't do the poses and when I do finally manage to contort my body into something somewhat similar to what everyone is doing, I can't stand to remain in that position for the required amount of time.  The music and the instructor saying things that are supposedly going to relax my mind and body make me snort and giggle almost uncontrollably, so that I look horribly disrepectful.  It looks like I don't care.  And I try really hard to care, but with names like downward dog and tree...well...it kind of just makes me roll my eyes.

But...if I Runner's World says I should do yoga...if the ENTIRE WORLD has caught on to yoga...if my muscles are so tight that they are chit-chatting as I run and shrieking as I sprint, heck, I'm going to find a yoga class.  Although I might wait until YogaWeek comes back to DC...I mean, after all, what's the point of doing something I hate and paying more than $5 to do it?

Sprints

So I bought a copy of Runner's World the other day and as I was flipping through it, I realized that everyone was talking about sprints and hills and speed workouts.  I'm getting kind of cocky with my running, confident in my ability to run a marathon in under 4 hours.  Now I've managed to convince myself that I can really cut down that time...but that will require sprints. 

I did exactly 2 seasons of track in my whole life.  They tried to make me throw discus (I was so good that I can't even remember how it is spelled...sarcasm there guys), long jump, etc...in the final meet in my senior year of high school (my second and last season of track and field), they set me out on the 2 mile run.  Pretty much they did everything they could to keep me away from sprinting, probably because I'm AWFUL at it.  I blame my inability to run with cheetah-like agility on one simple physical characteristic: I'm short.  I'm 5'4" and not a ton of that is leg.  I mean, I'm not like 3/4 torso and 1/4 leg (that would be odd, where would my head go?), but I don't have long legs.  Also, I think I actually get more bored doing sprints than I do with distance.  How is that possible, you ask?  Because when I do sprints, all I can think about is the fact that my lungs are screaming, my legs are rebelling, and my brain is on repeat with, "Stop it, stop it, stop it, you IDIOT!!!!"  I literally have to talk myself into doing sprints...which is exactly what I did this morning.

I got up at 5am and told myself that I was just going to go back to bed and run this afternoon.  But then I remembered that I had promised myself to do the stairs by the Lincoln Memorial while the sun was rising.

For those of you who never run in the morning, you are missing something spectacular.  I recommend leaving before the sun is out, with just a bit of dusky light to guide your feet.  It's cooler, there's less humidity and there are less people out.  When you come across another person, out on the path, you give each other a little nod.  Morning runners form an elite club and we acknowledge each other's dedication.  But mostly you are free, even in a city like Washington, DC, to look at the trees...run by the Potomac and you may see large water birds walking through the water.  And as you run, the sun starts to rise, washing the sky in pink.  The sunrises in DC are almost always pink, a golden pink that sets the entire horizon aflame.  I get up at 5am not because I don't have any other time to run...I run at 5am because it is the absolute best time of day to run.

But today I had a hard time noticing the sunrise because I was in a great deal more pain that usual.  Ok...so I'm bad at sprints and...I hate them.  I did sets of stairs because reaching the top makes me feel like I've accomplished something.  But after about 6 sets, I started to drop about halfway to the top.  So I decided to jog around to the reflecting pool after 10 sets and sprint up and down one side.

The reflecting pool is a lot bigger than I remembered.

I told myself I'd run to that lamppost, to that next trashcan.  I muttered under my breath, "c'mon, c'mon, let's move, one more sprint, one more, one more is nothing!" but my calves were shrieking and at one point I'm fairly sure I saw black spots before my eyes.  I'm not sure if this will actually help me in a marathon...I'm not sure what good it did me except probably to burn more calories than usual.  But I've decided to incorporate one sprint workout a week in the hopes of beating a 4 hour marathon...and because let's face it: nothing gets my blood going like a painful, intense, over-the-top workout.

Next time (hopefully):  I will discuss strength training.

A New Blog

If you're reading this, you probably know (or could guess) that I'm in training to run my first marathon.  Throughout four years at GWU, I always kind of itched to do the Marine Corps Marathon, easily the biggest marathon run in the DC region.  It's supposed to be a great race - running around the monuments with arguably some of the best energy in supporting crowds.  I'm running with the Run for Vocations team, which is to raise money for seminarians...but more on that later.

I'd like this blog to be more about running, training, what works, what doesn't, running shoes (you know me and shoes!), the right music, running with and without music.

I started running in high school when I joined the tennis team.  Although I thought she was crazy at the time, our coach made us run hills, distance, and do intense strength training before we even started tennis drills.  Then in college, I started off with a semester of rowing, at which I was very bad.  Although I failed miserably at rowing, I could still keep up with the speed training.  A spring break trip to Argentina meant that I quit rowing, but I never quit running.  But I never really did it for anything more than pure enjoyment - stress relief, to stay in shape, etc, etc...then this past March, my friend Julie suggested that we do the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run.  

The thing about running is, once you start, nothing else gives you the same feeling.  It doesn't matter if you go to the gym all day, play frisbee or soccer, go for a bike ride - you still don't feel like you've gotten a work-out unless you've clocked in those miles.  I think there's a stereotype that running can get boring, that it's totally an individual sport, but I've learned that running is more exciting than most sports I've done.  It's great because it IS individual - it's completely up to you, you make or break your time, you're the one who pushes yourself, but at the same time it creates this incredible bond between you and other runners.  Just today, I saw a lady while I was running - I did 14 miles, I'm pretty sure she was struggling to get out 2.  But she gave me the thumbs up, I told her she was looking good, and for the next half mile or so, I was re-energized by that human contact (of course, another great thing about running is that if the world is really pissing you off, you just keep your eyes in front of you and push it away).  

Also, running is NEVER boring.  At times, it's painful.  Sometimes a mile feels like twelve.  But it's never boring.

Hopefully, it'll be un-boring enough for me to actually maintain a blog about it!