Last week I survived my first 30K run. I went with my running buddy, my brother-in-law Ed. It took us 3hrs 9 minutes which is pretty much on tract with my 4:20 marathon goal. We ran the waterfront trail in Pickering and the scenery was really nice. It sure beats my Oshawa city run. We went 15K out and then back. It was hard but when you are running with someone else you have no choice but to keep going. We had problems with clouds of little black bugs though that flew in our mouth and when I got home I noticed a dead one stuck in my eye.
This Saturday... I did 33K by myself. I did my 10K & 6.5K neighborhood route and then did them backwards. It wasnt as pretty and it was cold and windy and I felt nauseous the whole way, I'll take little black bugs over that. It took me 3 1/2 hrs too! I think it was because of the wind, plus my watch is crappy plus Ed makes me faster.
My hubby Don and I always go out for breakfast every Saturday morning. We've been doing this ever since our kids were old enough to babysit. The past ten years or so we started working out or running before we go. It feels great to have worked out and shower before our date. We say we have to work for it or it doesnt taste as good.
Last week when I ran with Ed I told Don I would do my run first and then we would just have a late breakfast and call it brunch. Well we had "brunch" at 2:00 p.m. Crazy I know but nothing stops us from having our breakfast out. It just doesnt feel like the weekend if we dont have our breakfast treat.
So this Saturday we had our breakfast at the normal time and then I did my run 2 hours later which is the usual time I have to wait after eating to run without feeling nauseous. Well 10K into it I felt like throwing up. I'd burp and then think - oh now Im going to feel better but the sick feeling never went away. I was also experimenting with these sport energy gummies and jelly beans but they just made me feel even more pukey.
I guess it was too big of a breakfast. I had 2 eggs, 2 slices of toast, tomato and a fruit bowl with strawberries, pineapple and bananas oh yeah and about 3 cups of coffee, maybe that was the reason. I wont be doing that again! On the morning of a race I always eat a couple hours before the race but I have half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and half a banana and a cup of coffee and it has never failed me. I'm ready to go to the bathroom right before the race and then Im good to go. I know thats TMI but its very important. I've seen runners in the bushes during a race and one time I saw a woman whip down her shorts and go behind a very skinny tree. Im not that hardcore! Peanut butter bagel from now on!
Running for Physical, Mental and Spiritual Health
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
My Schedule and Ice Baths
This has been my schedule since January and I've been sticking to it quite closely.
Monday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hour, 20-30 minutes weights for arms, legs, abs.
Tuesday: Running Free Marathon Clinic - 10-13K tempo run or 1K sprint repeats.
Wednesday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hr (if my shin splints are bugging me) or 1/2 hr treadmill & 20-30 min weights. (soon will be changing to 10K outside)
Thursday: 10K outside.
Friday: Off
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Off
I am up to 26K in my long runs. This week I have to do 30K and then every weekend in April it will be 30+K. I just have to make it through April and I will be good to go. Thats all. Its so hard and soooo time consuming!
Well at least I have lost 11 lbs ! (or more..I didnt weigh myself at first because I didnt want to know) and I am 1 lb away from my goal weight which is to be too light to be a Clydesdale. Last year I joked about being a Clydesdale but I dont want to be a work horse anymore. I want to be light and run like a gazelle...or somewhere in between.
A couple of weeks ago I took a whole week off of running. It was very hard to do but I have been suffering from shin splints in my right leg. The stinging pain was so bad when I ran it caused me to limp sometimes. I had been trying to convince myself it was getting better but someone said to me "Doesnt that mean you should stop running and let it heal?" and looked at me with a face that suggested I was crazy. Hmmm stop running, I never thought of that. So I decided to buy new shoes (my present pair are only a few months old) and take a week off to let it heal. My marathon clinic leader also suggested ice baths, anti-inflammatory cream, icing and compression. I have done all of the above and am happy to say it has gotten alot better. Im still wearing my compression strap around my shin when I run but it just hurts abit at the beginning of my run.
One thing that I am proud of is that I have conquered ice baths! I have tried taking them before and couldnt do it. This time I was determined. I wore shorts in the bathtub and a hoody with long sleeves. This really helped. At least my top half was abit warm. What a sight I am! I also used my stop watch to time 20 minutes and read a running magazine to pass the time and remind myself WHY I was shivering in a bathtub full of ice water. Once again going through child birth helped me to deal with the excruciating pain of first sitting in the ice water. I moaned and groaned my way through it! It helped.
Monday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hour, 20-30 minutes weights for arms, legs, abs.
Tuesday: Running Free Marathon Clinic - 10-13K tempo run or 1K sprint repeats.
Wednesday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hr (if my shin splints are bugging me) or 1/2 hr treadmill & 20-30 min weights. (soon will be changing to 10K outside)
Thursday: 10K outside.
Friday: Off
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Off
I am up to 26K in my long runs. This week I have to do 30K and then every weekend in April it will be 30+K. I just have to make it through April and I will be good to go. Thats all. Its so hard and soooo time consuming!
Well at least I have lost 11 lbs ! (or more..I didnt weigh myself at first because I didnt want to know) and I am 1 lb away from my goal weight which is to be too light to be a Clydesdale. Last year I joked about being a Clydesdale but I dont want to be a work horse anymore. I want to be light and run like a gazelle...or somewhere in between.
A couple of weeks ago I took a whole week off of running. It was very hard to do but I have been suffering from shin splints in my right leg. The stinging pain was so bad when I ran it caused me to limp sometimes. I had been trying to convince myself it was getting better but someone said to me "Doesnt that mean you should stop running and let it heal?" and looked at me with a face that suggested I was crazy. Hmmm stop running, I never thought of that. So I decided to buy new shoes (my present pair are only a few months old) and take a week off to let it heal. My marathon clinic leader also suggested ice baths, anti-inflammatory cream, icing and compression. I have done all of the above and am happy to say it has gotten alot better. Im still wearing my compression strap around my shin when I run but it just hurts abit at the beginning of my run.
One thing that I am proud of is that I have conquered ice baths! I have tried taking them before and couldnt do it. This time I was determined. I wore shorts in the bathtub and a hoody with long sleeves. This really helped. At least my top half was abit warm. What a sight I am! I also used my stop watch to time 20 minutes and read a running magazine to pass the time and remind myself WHY I was shivering in a bathtub full of ice water. Once again going through child birth helped me to deal with the excruciating pain of first sitting in the ice water. I moaned and groaned my way through it! It helped.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Jesus Running Waves
I'm behind in writing about my marathon clinic. I want to have a reminder of my training to look back on. Training is half the fun of doing the marathon. Its like being pregnant. Waiting and preparing for the special day, scared but yet excited. Ok well having a baby is way better and you get a baby at the end, in the marathon you just get sore muscles and feet, oh an bragging rights I guess. Not everyone can run a marathon but lots of people can have a baby. Enough! Im constantly comparing running a marathon to having a baby. I even wrote an article on it and it was published in The Running Room magazine, but I have to stop doing that.
Running can also be compared to our christian faith walk in so many ways. I'll never stop doing that! I was thinking about that a few weeks ago when I really didnt want to go to the marathon clinic. It was so dark and cold and they were doing a 13K tempo run. It was hard enough doing a 10K tempo, I didnt know if I could do 13. It was also a crappy week at home. I have "20-something" kids and it can get pretty scary sometimes and I start doubting and worrying. Well I forced myself to go to the clinic and was so glad I did. I was feeling really down and after the clinic I felt so great.
I ran 13k at a quick steady tempo, wasnt last and finished strong. But the best part was where the extra 3 kilometers took us. We ran to the Pickering waterfront and we could hear the waves get louder and louder as we got closer. The waves were huge and looked so dark and eerie but yet mysterious and amazing. Snow was lightly falling so you could see a little sparkle here and there. Its how I had always pictured the waves when Jesus walked on water. The disciples being amazed yet scared. How eerie that must have looked. Then I thought about how powerful God is and that He could make those mightly waves stop just by saying so. I felt so comforted. God always speaks to me when I am feeling down. He was showing me in such an amazing way that though my life may seem out of control and scary like those waves He is in control.
Then just as I was thinking that a Hillsong song came on my MP3 player (yes I snuck my little buddy with this time) . The song started "I have never walked on water..." seriously it did! What a God moment. Some would say coincidence but I know its not. The chorus goes: "You are my freedom, Jesus you're the reason, Im kneeling again at your throne, where would I be without you, here in my life, here in my life." I was singing that outloud the rest of the week, sometimes without realizing I was singing it outloud.
Anyways I was talking about how I compare running to my faith walk . That week I was thinking that on our faith walk, sometimes we are called to do something we really dont feel like doing, but when we do it anyway because we know God wants us to, we are always blessed. I find that with running too. Some nights I REALLY dont want to go but I am always blessed when I do. I also thought its like my Dad never wanting to miss church because he said that might be the day when its one of those life changing messages so he didnt want to miss it. Runnings like that too.
Running can also be compared to our christian faith walk in so many ways. I'll never stop doing that! I was thinking about that a few weeks ago when I really didnt want to go to the marathon clinic. It was so dark and cold and they were doing a 13K tempo run. It was hard enough doing a 10K tempo, I didnt know if I could do 13. It was also a crappy week at home. I have "20-something" kids and it can get pretty scary sometimes and I start doubting and worrying. Well I forced myself to go to the clinic and was so glad I did. I was feeling really down and after the clinic I felt so great.
I ran 13k at a quick steady tempo, wasnt last and finished strong. But the best part was where the extra 3 kilometers took us. We ran to the Pickering waterfront and we could hear the waves get louder and louder as we got closer. The waves were huge and looked so dark and eerie but yet mysterious and amazing. Snow was lightly falling so you could see a little sparkle here and there. Its how I had always pictured the waves when Jesus walked on water. The disciples being amazed yet scared. How eerie that must have looked. Then I thought about how powerful God is and that He could make those mightly waves stop just by saying so. I felt so comforted. God always speaks to me when I am feeling down. He was showing me in such an amazing way that though my life may seem out of control and scary like those waves He is in control.
Then just as I was thinking that a Hillsong song came on my MP3 player (yes I snuck my little buddy with this time) . The song started "I have never walked on water..." seriously it did! What a God moment. Some would say coincidence but I know its not. The chorus goes: "You are my freedom, Jesus you're the reason, Im kneeling again at your throne, where would I be without you, here in my life, here in my life." I was singing that outloud the rest of the week, sometimes without realizing I was singing it outloud.
Anyways I was talking about how I compare running to my faith walk . That week I was thinking that on our faith walk, sometimes we are called to do something we really dont feel like doing, but when we do it anyway because we know God wants us to, we are always blessed. I find that with running too. Some nights I REALLY dont want to go but I am always blessed when I do. I also thought its like my Dad never wanting to miss church because he said that might be the day when its one of those life changing messages so he didnt want to miss it. Runnings like that too.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The First shall be Last & the Last shall be First
At Marathon Clinic last week's 10K tempo run I didnt come in dead last! When I got home I announced to my family "Second Last!" They gave me a huge cheer, well it was a cheer, I'll take it. I was starting to feel better about my running.
This week the leader announced we were doing 1 kilometer repeats. I was a little apprehensive but thought maybe I'd be better at this because in school I was always one of the top three in the short distance races.
Two leaders ran with a group of about 10 of us a couple kilometers to the 1K route. We ran the route slow and then we were supposed to do it fast and then repeat that 3 times. Our fast laps were supposed to get faster every time. I was the only one without a watch. They all wear these huge watches that cover half their forearm that shows all their stats. I've never been that technical about my running. I know my best race times and thats about it. One of the leaders said he'd keep track of my times. Gee thanks. I'm sure he's going to announce my times loudly for everyone to hear.
We did the first slow lap together chatting and laughing. Meanwhile Im trying to memorize the route so I dont get lost. Then came the first fast lap. No more talking it was serious, hardcore running now. I was the one hacking and coughing but keeping up, until the last stretch. I was dead last, again. The leader told me my time was 4:20 I think, I didnt know if that was good or not. I just know I was last.
My second fast lap was supposed to be faster but it wasnt. I thought I was going to die.
For our last fast lap the leader announced we were doing something different and switching things up. He said we were going to do things backwards. So that means you will be first and he pointed at me. My heart dropped. I mean I knew everyone knew I was last but this was embarrasing. He didnt even know my name. "And whats your name?" Cyndie, yeah thats me, Cyndie the tortoise. He said the next person would start 10 seconds after me ( that was Ed) and then 10 seconds after that another person would go. So the person who was usually first went last. The idea was that by the end we would all be in a line racing each other. Healthy, fun competition he said. Yeah fun for who Mr Jumbo Tron Watch? He said if your not used to being chased you'll feel what its like to be chased and vice versa.
So he gave me the signal to start. I started out fast, no one in front of me. Running free right up front, everyone chasing ME for once and ....I wanted to cry. I felt like running down the wrong road on purpose. I felt so embarrased and I wanted to stop right there and give up. I knew that any minute everyone would catch up to me and I'd be last again, except this time it would be even more humilating. I felt myself slowing down. Ok stop being a suck I chastised myself. Besides it felt kind of good being in front. Maybe I could just enjoy being first for a little while.
Earlier the leader had told us that what he does to push himself in a race is he concentrates on looking at an object and doesnt think about anything else. He blocks out his pain and just concentrates on that object. Well thats exactly what they taught us to do in Lamaze class and I''ve given birth to 4 babies! Hey I can do this!
The breathing hurt so bad but I concentrated on the next street sign. Then I realized I was halfway done the route and no one had caught up to me yet. I was giving it my all and trying to stay first for as long as I could. I could hear Ed breathing behind me. He caught up to me just towards the end. Ed was the only one who beat me! The leader said that was my fastest time and said it sure feels different being up front doesnt it? It sure did! When Im last I feel heavy and slow. It just shows how being first pumps you up.
I learned two things this week at Marathon Clinic. First of all we have to see ourselves as winners and feel like a winner and we have to believe in ourselves that we can do it. And second of all I need to do more kegel exercises.
This week the leader announced we were doing 1 kilometer repeats. I was a little apprehensive but thought maybe I'd be better at this because in school I was always one of the top three in the short distance races.
Two leaders ran with a group of about 10 of us a couple kilometers to the 1K route. We ran the route slow and then we were supposed to do it fast and then repeat that 3 times. Our fast laps were supposed to get faster every time. I was the only one without a watch. They all wear these huge watches that cover half their forearm that shows all their stats. I've never been that technical about my running. I know my best race times and thats about it. One of the leaders said he'd keep track of my times. Gee thanks. I'm sure he's going to announce my times loudly for everyone to hear.
We did the first slow lap together chatting and laughing. Meanwhile Im trying to memorize the route so I dont get lost. Then came the first fast lap. No more talking it was serious, hardcore running now. I was the one hacking and coughing but keeping up, until the last stretch. I was dead last, again. The leader told me my time was 4:20 I think, I didnt know if that was good or not. I just know I was last.
My second fast lap was supposed to be faster but it wasnt. I thought I was going to die.
For our last fast lap the leader announced we were doing something different and switching things up. He said we were going to do things backwards. So that means you will be first and he pointed at me. My heart dropped. I mean I knew everyone knew I was last but this was embarrasing. He didnt even know my name. "And whats your name?" Cyndie, yeah thats me, Cyndie the tortoise. He said the next person would start 10 seconds after me ( that was Ed) and then 10 seconds after that another person would go. So the person who was usually first went last. The idea was that by the end we would all be in a line racing each other. Healthy, fun competition he said. Yeah fun for who Mr Jumbo Tron Watch? He said if your not used to being chased you'll feel what its like to be chased and vice versa.
So he gave me the signal to start. I started out fast, no one in front of me. Running free right up front, everyone chasing ME for once and ....I wanted to cry. I felt like running down the wrong road on purpose. I felt so embarrased and I wanted to stop right there and give up. I knew that any minute everyone would catch up to me and I'd be last again, except this time it would be even more humilating. I felt myself slowing down. Ok stop being a suck I chastised myself. Besides it felt kind of good being in front. Maybe I could just enjoy being first for a little while.
Earlier the leader had told us that what he does to push himself in a race is he concentrates on looking at an object and doesnt think about anything else. He blocks out his pain and just concentrates on that object. Well thats exactly what they taught us to do in Lamaze class and I''ve given birth to 4 babies! Hey I can do this!
The breathing hurt so bad but I concentrated on the next street sign. Then I realized I was halfway done the route and no one had caught up to me yet. I was giving it my all and trying to stay first for as long as I could. I could hear Ed breathing behind me. He caught up to me just towards the end. Ed was the only one who beat me! The leader said that was my fastest time and said it sure feels different being up front doesnt it? It sure did! When Im last I feel heavy and slow. It just shows how being first pumps you up.
I learned two things this week at Marathon Clinic. First of all we have to see ourselves as winners and feel like a winner and we have to believe in ourselves that we can do it. And second of all I need to do more kegel exercises.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Puk On!
Last Saturday we went to my brother-in-law Mike's mother's funeral. Marie Haan lived a long, full life, raised 4 kids and was 97 years old. Her children talked about the dutch sayings she often used. One of them was "Puk On!" It means - tough it out and get going, you can do it, persevere, etc. Well this week at marathon clinic I had to tell myself to Puk On! several times.
I brought my head light this time like everyone else but still didnt look as cool. Maybe it was because I wore a cap with a fleece headband over top and then the headlight on top of that. Not cool I know. I even saw a girl in a car laughing at me as I walked in the store. I dont care, I rather have warm ears. I had forgotten my contacts and it was raining so thats why I had to wear a cap but I thought it was too cold for just a cap.
Before we headed out for another 10K tempo run the leader told us to MAKE SURE we did the first few kilometers as a warm-up. This is very important he said. Yeah yeah, I thought it was more important not to be last and proceeded to run way too fast at the beginning.
I pulled it off at first. I was sticking with the group. I was one of them. Then someone passed me, then another and another. Even these two tiny little ladies who I could probably stick in my back pocket and took tiny, baby steps passed me. How could they be faster than me? I was over dressed again and was so warm that I had to take my jacket off and in doing so got it all tangled up in my water bottle belt. Then the wind started. It got so windy I side stepped a couple of times. Thats when I realized I was last. Dead last. I almost felt like giving up. But I thought of Mike's mom and told myself to Puk On! I Pukked On running by myself in the dark up a long hill with the wind howling. I think I probably could have walked faster. I could see Ed ahead of me and it looked like he felt bad for me but the leader (Garth) told him to go ahead and he circled back to run with me.
Garth said I was doing great and he said it like he actually meant it. It helped. He talked alot which helped me get through those last kilometers. We werent that far behind the others but then we got stopped by a red light. Now I was dead dead last. He said he never worried about time but runs because he loves running. Although he did mention that he's done Boston AND now does ultramarathons, 100 kilometers! I dont know if I love running that much! He asked me about my goals and found out he's also turning 50 this year. It turned out to be a great run, even if I was dead last. I still got high fives from some of the front runners when I came in and Garth said I did great.
It doesnt feet great to be last and I've never felt so slow as I do with this group but I think I'll stick with it. These tempo runs are definately pushing me and can only improve my speed. I just have to Puk On!
I brought my head light this time like everyone else but still didnt look as cool. Maybe it was because I wore a cap with a fleece headband over top and then the headlight on top of that. Not cool I know. I even saw a girl in a car laughing at me as I walked in the store. I dont care, I rather have warm ears. I had forgotten my contacts and it was raining so thats why I had to wear a cap but I thought it was too cold for just a cap.
Before we headed out for another 10K tempo run the leader told us to MAKE SURE we did the first few kilometers as a warm-up. This is very important he said. Yeah yeah, I thought it was more important not to be last and proceeded to run way too fast at the beginning.
I pulled it off at first. I was sticking with the group. I was one of them. Then someone passed me, then another and another. Even these two tiny little ladies who I could probably stick in my back pocket and took tiny, baby steps passed me. How could they be faster than me? I was over dressed again and was so warm that I had to take my jacket off and in doing so got it all tangled up in my water bottle belt. Then the wind started. It got so windy I side stepped a couple of times. Thats when I realized I was last. Dead last. I almost felt like giving up. But I thought of Mike's mom and told myself to Puk On! I Pukked On running by myself in the dark up a long hill with the wind howling. I think I probably could have walked faster. I could see Ed ahead of me and it looked like he felt bad for me but the leader (Garth) told him to go ahead and he circled back to run with me.
Garth said I was doing great and he said it like he actually meant it. It helped. He talked alot which helped me get through those last kilometers. We werent that far behind the others but then we got stopped by a red light. Now I was dead dead last. He said he never worried about time but runs because he loves running. Although he did mention that he's done Boston AND now does ultramarathons, 100 kilometers! I dont know if I love running that much! He asked me about my goals and found out he's also turning 50 this year. It turned out to be a great run, even if I was dead last. I still got high fives from some of the front runners when I came in and Garth said I did great.
It doesnt feet great to be last and I've never felt so slow as I do with this group but I think I'll stick with it. These tempo runs are definately pushing me and can only improve my speed. I just have to Puk On!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Marathon Clinic Newbie
This May I am turning 50, yuck, and my goal is to run a full marathon in May and beat my 40th birthday marathon time.
For my 40th I joined a Running Room marathon clinic with a friend. It was great! We both "finished upright and smiling". (A famous and much used RR saying).
This year I've decided to join a Running Free store marathon clinic because first of all its free, (the Running Room is $70) and my brother in law Ed was joining. Perfect!
I went for the first time last night and noticed there is quite a difference from the Running Room people and the Running Free people.
First of all at the RR there are all different shapes and sizes of people and all different styles of running clothes and not so good for running clothes. Not so at RF. The second I walked in the door I realized these runners are hard core! Not one 'beginner looking' person in the room and nothing but top of the line running clothes and everyone had a headlight on their head. Ed had told me I should get a head light but I had never seen anyone run with a headlight before. The manager kindly gave me a small flashlight to carry and showed me the route on a huge map. Very nice but he might as well of stuck a Newbie sign on my forehead.
Everyone knew Ed. Hi Ed, hi Ed, hi Ed. I only knew Ed, but thats OK. An oppurtunity to meet new people right.
For the first night we were doing a 10K tempo run. I thought no problem, I run 10K everyweek. At the RR I was always in the middle of the pack. Not so at RF. I like to start off slow to warm up. No such luck. They took off and it was full speed, well at least full speed for me. One of the leaders ran with us slower people. I was worried that we were last but noticed there were 2 stragglers behind us. Great I thought but the leader told us they were "taking it easy" because they had run 2 marathons in the last 2 weeks. Seriously...what did I get myself into??!! Ed stayed with me, "the newbie". I told him he could run ahead but he said it was fine and wanted to take it easy too, sure Ed. Poor guy, stuck with the Newbie.
Even though we were second last I thought we were doing a pretty good pace. Thats until the leader said 'These first 5K are a warm up and then the last 5K you can give it all you've got" I whispered to Ed, I AM giving it all I've got already, I dont got anymore! This was about at kilometer number #4.
Running with other people did make the kilometers go faster. Im used to running by myself most of the time. Runners love talking about running and the races they've done but I found these RF hardcore veterans would ask me what races I'd done and before I'd finished they proceeded to list all their races. One guy listed his marathons and then said AND 2 Ironmans. I said I've done a sprint triathlon??.....yeah he didnt hear me.
Towards the end of the 10K I could see the RF store off in the distance. I decided to sprint the end to show I wasnt exhausted (I was) but unfortunately the store was a lot farther off than I thought it was. But I couldnt stop of course and look like an idiot so I pushed it until I got to the store. When we got there everyone was just finishing their stretching and eating the snacks already.
I stretched for abit and then went in the store. I could feel my face was bright red and all blothcy from sprinting at the end. What a Newbie face. I went to get some food but everyone was starting to sit down for the talk. Oh well, I didnt want any food anyway. The 2 leaders talked about nutrition and had a Q n A time. It was good but the whole time I was sweating profusely and peeling my layers off. Everyone else looked as cool as they did at the start....eating their bananas. I was starving!
I dont know if I fit in with these hardcore athletes. They all know their stats and talk about tempo runs and hill work and PRs bla bla bla and their fancy shmancy running clothes and high tech pants that are supposed to make you run 0.005 seconds faster. I just like to run because I love it. I listen to my music and take in my surroundings and dont worry about my time and my stats. Then again.... my husband has a headlight I could borrow. And if Im last I can only get better. Who am I kidding. I cant wait till next week!
For my 40th I joined a Running Room marathon clinic with a friend. It was great! We both "finished upright and smiling". (A famous and much used RR saying).
This year I've decided to join a Running Free store marathon clinic because first of all its free, (the Running Room is $70) and my brother in law Ed was joining. Perfect!
I went for the first time last night and noticed there is quite a difference from the Running Room people and the Running Free people.
First of all at the RR there are all different shapes and sizes of people and all different styles of running clothes and not so good for running clothes. Not so at RF. The second I walked in the door I realized these runners are hard core! Not one 'beginner looking' person in the room and nothing but top of the line running clothes and everyone had a headlight on their head. Ed had told me I should get a head light but I had never seen anyone run with a headlight before. The manager kindly gave me a small flashlight to carry and showed me the route on a huge map. Very nice but he might as well of stuck a Newbie sign on my forehead.
Everyone knew Ed. Hi Ed, hi Ed, hi Ed. I only knew Ed, but thats OK. An oppurtunity to meet new people right.
For the first night we were doing a 10K tempo run. I thought no problem, I run 10K everyweek. At the RR I was always in the middle of the pack. Not so at RF. I like to start off slow to warm up. No such luck. They took off and it was full speed, well at least full speed for me. One of the leaders ran with us slower people. I was worried that we were last but noticed there were 2 stragglers behind us. Great I thought but the leader told us they were "taking it easy" because they had run 2 marathons in the last 2 weeks. Seriously...what did I get myself into??!! Ed stayed with me, "the newbie". I told him he could run ahead but he said it was fine and wanted to take it easy too, sure Ed. Poor guy, stuck with the Newbie.
Even though we were second last I thought we were doing a pretty good pace. Thats until the leader said 'These first 5K are a warm up and then the last 5K you can give it all you've got" I whispered to Ed, I AM giving it all I've got already, I dont got anymore! This was about at kilometer number #4.
Running with other people did make the kilometers go faster. Im used to running by myself most of the time. Runners love talking about running and the races they've done but I found these RF hardcore veterans would ask me what races I'd done and before I'd finished they proceeded to list all their races. One guy listed his marathons and then said AND 2 Ironmans. I said I've done a sprint triathlon??.....yeah he didnt hear me.
Towards the end of the 10K I could see the RF store off in the distance. I decided to sprint the end to show I wasnt exhausted (I was) but unfortunately the store was a lot farther off than I thought it was. But I couldnt stop of course and look like an idiot so I pushed it until I got to the store. When we got there everyone was just finishing their stretching and eating the snacks already.
I stretched for abit and then went in the store. I could feel my face was bright red and all blothcy from sprinting at the end. What a Newbie face. I went to get some food but everyone was starting to sit down for the talk. Oh well, I didnt want any food anyway. The 2 leaders talked about nutrition and had a Q n A time. It was good but the whole time I was sweating profusely and peeling my layers off. Everyone else looked as cool as they did at the start....eating their bananas. I was starving!
I dont know if I fit in with these hardcore athletes. They all know their stats and talk about tempo runs and hill work and PRs bla bla bla and their fancy shmancy running clothes and high tech pants that are supposed to make you run 0.005 seconds faster. I just like to run because I love it. I listen to my music and take in my surroundings and dont worry about my time and my stats. Then again.... my husband has a headlight I could borrow. And if Im last I can only get better. Who am I kidding. I cant wait till next week!
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