Friday Funnies

I find it very difficult to motivate myself to get work done on Fridays. Despite the fact that I have tons to do (much with impending deadlines) I am sitting here surfing the internet. I am sure I am not the only one with this issue and that plenty of people (especially a few minutes until 5pm) are looking for ways to waste their time.

Today I Have Three
Polar Bear meets Treadmill - not too far off of some of my experiences.


There is a website with some very sarcastic postcards ... those with odd senses of humor will truly appreciate.

And now I officially have a plan for the Marathon...

Warning: Don't Read & Run

Another long day as I try to adjust to my schedule. Went to bed late, got up early. Got to campus later than I wanted, but did have time to manage a coffee! Taught my class ... and even got a laugh or two out of my students (this was intentional - and hopefully they were laughing WITH me, not AT me!). Then I got home and put together my lecture slides for chapter 2. And at the end of all this it was only 12:30. WOW!

I tooled around for a while before doing my run. Motivation was lacking. I wanted to run a different route but didnt feel like actually figuring one out. Excuses, excuses, excuses. I checked my email one last time before I finally went out for my run, and saw a message from Becca (another TNT runner) with the subject "we aren't old enough". This piqued my interest and I decided to check out what she sent me ... it was just another way to stall on my run.

See Jane Run. See Her Run Faster and Faster.
Becca sent a link to an article in the New York Times. Its actually a great article, with the general message that many women short-change themselves when it comes to running - but that this may disappear with age. Older women may be "trying harder than younger women and discovering for the first time what they are capable of". I thought it was a great message - and head out for my run right after I read it.

That Was A Bad Idea
I was obviously inspired by the article, because I could tell I was running faster than my normal pace. This was not totally on accident to me for two reasons: first, I am trying to push it a bit more as we lead up to the marathon - and second, I am hoping to hit the Taste of Polonia (a Polish-American festival) tonight for some pierogi's and beer and wanted to burn a few extra calories before doing so.

I get about half way through my run (1.83 miles to be exact) and I am pretty sure I am going to die. My shins hurt. My legs feel like lead. I am pretty sure my lungs are going to explode. At this point I continue to run, but need to interject some short walking breaks here and there in order to make sure I dont pass out or keel over. I get home and put in my times..and this is what I get:
First 1.87 miles: 9:16 pace
Total 3.10 miles: 9:50 pace
In addition, I got stopped for two of the longest lights ever during the first 1.87 miles...so that pace included waiting time as well :(
I am normally about a 10:30 pace for short runs, 11:30 for long

Moral of the Story
It is great to be inspired - but keep yourself realistic. You start to think you are the Road Runner and you just might find yourself out of steam ;)
Photo from Cartoons Show

Random Thoughts

Today is a rest and stretch day, so no major training going on. (I am working on what appears to be a future career in competitive eating, but no actual marathon training will take place today...). Instead, thought I would post some random thoughts and things I found while surfing the web.

Running club members face felony charges
Two siblings, members of a running club called the "Hash House Harriers", sprinkled flour in an IKEA parking lot to mark a trail - inadvertently causing a bioterrorism scare.

New Perspective on Charity Running
The Onion, a satyrical paper, pokes a bit of fun at charity running. Its all in good fun, and its pretty hysterical ;)

Vanilla Makes Me Feel Silly About My New Schedule Complaints
While I whine and cry about how I have to get up early now and go to school, Vanilla is getting up at 4:30 am for a run. He may be as crazy as I lazy.

At Least I Never Have to Worry About Over-Training
Tom has realized he may be over-training. Considering I do exactly as told - or less - this will never be an issue for me. As runners tend to always do extra, I think that is just another hint that I may not yet be a "runner" - there isn't a whole lot that would motivate me to actually do EXTRA running...while I find plenty of excuses to do LESS.

Fall is a Great Time for a Fun Run
There are tons of runs that start shortly after the marathon - short distances, fun themes, and usually BEER after! Gives me a little something to look forward to :)
Trick or Treat Trot (5K & 10K) - Oct 28th
Turkey Trot (8K) - Nov 22nd
Rudolph Ramble (8K) - Dec 9th

I Think I Am In Love

Why do these places come up with stuff that torments me so?

Important News!

In addition to school and training, I do have some additional hobbies :) I am a big pop culture fan - love the music, celebrity gossip, fashion/trends, etc. Though I personally do not always submit to the demands of popular culture, I am always fascinated by whats going on around me. As many know, one of my favorite musicians is Justin Timberlake. Just wanted to make sure everyone knows he has a special on HBO this Monday (Labor Day) at 9PM Eastern.

They are going to show his concert - which I went to see earlier this year - and its gonna be awesome. Here is the trailer (you know you want to watch it).


Update: 10:15 pm
Training Log
Made it through another Wed night workout! Tonight we did some running in intervals, and some hills. I didnt go all out, but managed to get myself pretty tired - so I figured I deserved a reward (of course) and stopped at McDonalds on the way home. I officially decided that "my body is a temple" ... starting September 1 (Monday). From that point until the Marathon, I promise to treat my body like its ths only one I've got :) No bad food, good workouts, resting/stretching/icing...all of the things I have to do in order to make October 7th the best day possible!

Just One Of Those Days...

Last night I was up until after midnight, printing out notes for my lecture today. I also put together some stuff I had to FedEx. When I went to bed, I was exhausted ... but as usual barely slept. With the new schedule I now wake up at 6:15 - I know the majority of the world does the 9-5 thing ... but this has been a big shock for me.

As I am walking to the bus I realize I left all of my notes at home (realized the FedEx thing much later) and had to decide if I wanted to rush home to grab them (at which point I would need to drive to school) or keep going. I kept going.

I get on campus with a few minutes to spare, despite the fact that I had to wait 15-20 minutes for a bus to show. I was so happy to have the minutes I decided to stop at a coffee shop in the student union on my way to class and get a latte. Off with my latte I walked to class, focusing on how akward I was going to feel speaking in front of 50 students. Next thing I know, the lid pops off my coffee. Then (in slow motion) the entire coffee spills all over my arm, and makes a massive pool of liquid in the hallway of my building. Its 5 minutes to 9, my arm is wet and burning, and I have to get to class. So I head into class with my wet, red, burnt arm and look at the 50 faces staring at me as I load up the computer and my slides.

The 50 minutes of class actually flew by - I had a lot of material to cover. As is common, the beginning of a class is usually data dump, and my class is no different. I spattered out terms like "market segmentation " and "target marketing" as I watched two of my students slowly nod off into a slumber. So far, so good, right?

After class I headed to my office to get some work done, and next thing I know I have my advisor standing in my door. "Can we meet next Wendesday to talk about your progress?". Meaning, he wants to know where I am at with my dissertation. Let me give you a hint ... "what dissertation?". I putz around my office for a few hours and then head out for my trip home. At this point I wait another 20 minutes for a bus just to finally hop on and find myself becoming slightly nauteous shortly into the trip. I get off early and take a leisurly walk home.

Now I am adressing my sorrows with some cookies and ice cream. Suddenly things are picking up. If only I didnt have that horrid mid-week team workout tonight ;)

Image found at: http://www.sdarts.org/features/sdclassroom/sdclassroom.htm

Reality Bites

I know I have only been back in school for two days - but so far I am not a fan. I have to wake up early, commute with the rest of the world, and put my "game face" on for students. Its hard to transition from a summer focused just on research (and of course, marathon training!) into lecturing in front of a class, working for a professor, and just having to be productive in general. I know I will survive, but for now I feel confused and scattered. I feel like I cant manage my time and that I am not quite sure how to get all that needs to be done each day. Amy suggests on these cranky days (like going back to school) to think about "why we run" - the power of thinking can eliminate so much doubt. Its not how I will be able to manage my schedule - instead it should be how much I want to get things in order because of the importance of my other goals. For example, running the marathon :) Of course it will all work out ... because I am motivated ... and because I know I can do it!

I have been good about my training - which is one of my biggest concerns. How will my new schedule impact my training routine? Yesterday I did my run in the afternoon after I came home from campus, and today I did my cross-training at the university gym. Both days I did some weight training ... so far so good!

Other Things of Note
10-Miler
I signed up for the Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile that takes place on Monday (Labor Day). Basically, I signed up for it because TNT suggested it and my training group doesnt have an official run this weekend. I am a bit leery after my lack of enjoyment of the CDC, but Vanilla had a post that boosted my spirits a bit. He said "Your first attempt at a race distance is always a PR right?" ... and I think he is right! I found an old article from "Dr J" that confirms this idea! I have never run a 10mile race before, so I am bound to set a personal record. Whoohoo!
Confirmation of Obstacle Course
My 18-miler (while it went well) was the messiest, dirtiest, most complicated run thus far. We did it after some major storms, and had to dodge fallen trees and massive puddles (more like small ponds) throughout the run. When we finished, I was sure I had run 19 miles due to all the diversions. In addition, I had mud all up my legs and my feet were soaking wet from those puddles I didnt not manage to quite cross completely. Princess Runner sounds like she didnt enjoy the obstacles either (and I was secretly glad to see others got as dirty as I did!).

A New Perspective

Obviously the marathon continues to draw nearer. In fact, I only have three "long runs" left. This realization is a bit surreal, but definitly something to think about. What do I need to do in the next 41 days to ensure that I am as prepared as possible for a 26.2 mile run?

- Eat sensibly
I have had a bit of a "I can eat anything I want, I am training for the marathon" mentality since day one. This is probably a good part of the reason I have gained weight while training :) I think from now until October 7th I need to make sure I treat my body like a temple - and keep all of the junk out. I am not saying I am going to give up all of the things I love - but I AM saying I am going to think about what I put into my body.

- Strengthen
I need to work on building strength. Today I signed up for a pilates class that meets twice a week - but it doesnt start until September 17. That will give me 6 sessions, which is better than nothing, but I think I need more. I need to work on incorporating more weights into my weekly workouts, and add some core exercises.

- Stretch
Its a weakness of mine, I dont give enough credit to stretching. I need to stretch every day, somehow build it into my routine. That only means I have to stretch 40 times...I think I can make myself remember to do this.

- Rest
I have the worst sleep problems (ok, maybe not the WORST - someone else always has it worse!) and I am well aware that they impact every part of my life, including training. I think that although I hate the fact I have to be on campus every day this semester, this "inconvenience" will actually shape some routine into my life and hopefully make my sleep patterns a bit better. I promise not to rob myself of any opportunities to sleep if my body promises not to smack me with restless nights.

Training Log
Time:  20:00 time  Distance:1.95 miles   Pace:  10:15 min/mi
I went to the gym today, and made sure to do some weights before my short run. I focused on my legs, but did a bit of oblique and back work as well. The back pain I had during the 18 was a wake-up-call and has gotten me thinking about my back and ab strength ...

It was a short run and I was feeling pretty good about it, so I started of slow and kept picking up my speed. Average was 10:15 for a pace, but it varied over the length of the run. I got home all proud of myself for feeling so good during the run, and then realized while posting this that I was scheduled for a 40 minute (not 20 minute) run. Oh well! I dont think the schedule took into account I was on my feet all day at the triathlon yesterday ;)

Spectator Ettiquite?

Watching the triathlon yesterday was so fascinating, and as a spectator one of the conversations that came up was proper spectator behavior. During the CDC a few weeks ago, a woman was yelling to us "only 1/2 mile left!". This seems like it would be motivating, but there were two issues with it. 1) She was talking about 1/4 mile to the next water station...we were at mile 11 and actually had over 2 miles left of the race. 2) it was actually about 1/2 mile even to the rest/water stop. This woman kindof screwed with my mojo, and Patti and I spent the next 1/2 mile trying to figure out where we were in the race, and what the heck was going on. (Questions answered with disappointment when we came across the 12 mile marker a few minutes later). And as one of the last aid stations during the triathlon, we got to see some participants who were really struggling. The race sponsors and workers started clearing up the track: putting away cones, breaking down tables, etc - and there were still a few stragglers left on the course. We waited ... until EVERY participant passed our station. We made sure to cheer extra loud for them. Becca was SO AMAZING. For the last 3-4 people she personally walked them out a cup of Gatorade and water ... and was telling them how awesome they were. Most of them shook their heads in disagreement, which was really sad to see. ALL FINISHERS ARE AWESOME. I am so proud of each one of the people who passed our station, but especially proud of the ones who were struggling - but pushed their way through and made it happen.

So, what do we say to the spectators who are giving it their all as they move along their events?

Donald suggests a few "do's" and "dont's"...
Do
GO DONALD! (obviously, "insert name here")
YOU RUNNERS ARE AWESOME! or WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!
GREAT BUNS!
BEER AND SOUP AT THE FINISH!

Dont
ALMOST THERE!
YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD!
ONLY x MILES LEFT! (where x is anything over ¼ mile)
Check out his whole post, he explains his logic and has some great insight on the Complete Running Network

Jazzyjo wants to hear how "great my sexy calves look" or how awesome she is running.

Jessica gives some other do's and dont's in a 2006 Colorado Runner article.
Do
Way to go!
Looking good!
Great job!
Go number 75!
or the simple "Woohoo! Yeah! Yippee!"
...try something creative or funny, like "Look at those hot legs!"

Dont
You're almost there!
You're almost finished!
It's just around the corner!

There is a neat tip sheet, "Marathon 101" posted on the Boston Marathon site. They suggest cheers of: "Way to run", “Party in Baltimore”, “Awesome”, “You Can Do It”, “Looking Strong”, “You’re flying”, and “Looking Good”. The article also notes to stay away from good old “Almost there” and “Not far to go”.

There seem to be some agreements...but also some conflict. Most agree you dont tell people they are almost there, or how much they have left - but some feel that is appropriate at the VERY end of the race (last 1/2 or 1/4). Jessica and Donald disagree on the "you're looking good" comment...but both think that yelling something funny/humorous (about their buns or legs) is good. And Jazzyjo didn't even think comments like that were funny - she seriously would like someone commenting on her "hot legs" :).

It appears to be a tricky thing ... this spectating. And I thought those of us running it were doing all the work :) I found that I was sadly mistaken at yesterdays triathlon! Working the aid stations is hard work! Cleaning up the course after is hard work! And as a spectator, cheering the "appropriate" things and motivating those out there on the course can be mentally exhausting. Since there seem to be so many opinions out there, I thought I would offer a few of my own.

My Own Ettiquite View
1. Cheer for EVERYONE!
The worst thing as a participant is to run by a silent crowd...all of them scanning the participants for the one person they came out to see. As a spectator, cheer for everyone. They all need the encouragement! (You can cheer for your special participant extra loud ... thats totally ok)

2. Find a "sparse area" and call it your own
Every event has areas where no spectators seem to want to be. Thats where the participants really need to see some smiling faces - and it will be an easy spot for your loved ones to spot you.

3. I agree with the masses...dont tell them how far they have to go...but I dont even want to hear it at the end :)
I am one of those people that never really wants to know where I am in a run. Even at the end, it still is hard! I remember the .1 mile of my recent 1/2 marathon being one of the longest-feeling runs of my life. When its at the end ... we know it! Just cheer like crazy and motivate us to get through it.

4. Tell those you are cheering for how much you love and appreciate them
I think these endurance events (marathons/tris/etc) can really wreck emotional havoc on the participants. Many people are dissapointed at the finish - and emotionally overwhelmed. When we get over the initial shock, we feel really great about our accomplishments and achievements ... but I think a lot of us have the tendency to re-think the route as we finish: places we could have sped-up, ways we could have done better, etc. What I think the finishers need to hear is just "you are awesome" and "I am so proud of you" and "We love you" ... comments that speak to how proud of the PERSON you are, not just how proud of the event/accomplishment you are.

Thoughts? Am I missing anything? Whats the worst thing a spectator has yelled to you? The best?

Accenture Chicago Triathlon

Today was supposed to be a rest & stretch day ... but I gotta say we busted our butts at the triathlon today. Obviously, the effort I exerted was nowhere near that of the participants - but I was suprised how much work it takes to manage one of the aid stations. Couple of insights for today:

1. Triathlons are amazing. But I dont think its something I would ever do.
I cant imagine the level of training these athletes go through, and what is expected of them on the day of the event. I have to give so much credit to each and every person who competed today - awesome job!

2. The pro athletes are fast, furious and mean.
I have never seen such lean, muscular women - the men were very fit too ... but these women were amazing. They definitly did not "appreaciate" the volunteers handing out water and Gatorade to them - it was more "expected". In addition, there were several motorcycles on the course, ahead of the pros ... filming them. There were often shouts of "get off the path, runner coming through!". I dont think the other 9,999 people competing today believe that they are not runners - just because they are not professional athletes.

3. Give a little love to the aid station workers.
First, the work is back-breaking (almost literally! my back kills!). Second, many of the station workers are volunteering their days to help out runners/athletes during these events. It was amazing how few "thank you's" we got - but the ones we did were well appreciated and made it all worth while. How great is it to hear someone, who has just swam 1.5K and biked 40K and is now running their 10K, say to the people who hand them water "thank you so much for volunteering!". It made our day - each and every time.

Here are some pics I took today:

Last heat of swim

Cara & Becca with swimmers behind









Cara, Becca & Patti ... manning the beverages :)

Runners coming through the station
Rhonda, our patient honoree, with the hand-off!

(The bike stuff happened a bit away from where we were - I saw it on the way coming in but didnt have the opportunity to snap any pictures.)

18-Miler

Alive, and (pretty) well ... home from my 18-miler. The weather was pretty great - cooler, but still very humid. I would take cool and humid over hot and humid any day, but for the Marathon my vote is for cool, without the humidity :) Back to the run ... I felt good throughout the run, but around mile 10 my back really started to hurt. My low back was the worst, but it also went all the way up and down eventually. I am aware many runners experience back pain, but it might not be a coincidence that I had my back re-aligned just recently. I still havent made up my mind about the chiropractor, but I am definitly going to postpone doing anything until after the marathon ... just in case it impacts my training or the actual marathon itself. (So, I have answered one of my many life issues...temporarily!)

With the back pain, the run became a bit harder. I pushed through and finished, but I do think it could have gone better overall without it. I also had a lot of pain in my pinky toe for the last three miles or so. Everyone I know has has this issue - seems to be something with the toenail banging against the shoe?

So I am now home, with ice packs on my ankles and knees. I came home with a sore back, sort pinky toe, and pretty major farmers tan / sunburn line. Other than that, I am feeling pretty good. Scared, but optimistic, about the next few weeks!

Tonight
Some of our fellow Team in Training members are having a fundraiser at a local bar tonight. Its at 7 - which is good. Any later and I might just not make it! So I cant wait to reward myself with a beer or two (or three...four...or five).

Tomorrow
Tomorrow, the other two girls in my pace group (Patti & Becca) in addition to one other TNT member (Cara, who is too fast for our pokey little pace group) are going to volunteer at the Accenture Chicago Triathlon. We are manning (womening?) the fourth aid station along the run. The whole event is so huge and crazy, but this spectators guide makes some of the explanation quite simple. I am really excited to get a glimpse of what this event is like and it should promise to be a fun day. Since I actually get the chance to "spectate" I am going to bring along my camera and will post any fun pictures!

More storm damage ...

Stopped in at Target - its pitch black in here. Looks like they have backup generators so the registers and some odd lights are on but the aisles are dark and I cant see a thing!

My Run - A Pictorial

Its cooler today, and I was going to do an easy run due to the 18-miler tomorrow...so I thought I would give an attempt at bringing the dog along. Earlier posts can desribe how well that usually goes ... but I am a gutton for punishment I guess!

We head out easy, and she was great. The other day on the path by the lake I noticed a girl who had her dogs leash tied around her waste. Now Wrigley likes to tree squirrells and chase other dogs - so I thought this might be risky. With my hands I can control her odd behavior, but with my waist? Anyway, when I hold the leash my arms get uncomfortable ... and when she yanks it hurts my shoulder. So I figured - why not? Turns out...it went pretty well.

First we came along some pretty crazy stuff from the recent storms:
Then we came across a rancid, tiny puddle - and Wrigley decided it was a good place to swim. At this point, having the leash tied around my waist was not so ideal.
As we were in the finishing stages of our run, she also stopped and started acting like she had to "go"...which I knew was not true because I made sure her business was taken care of before we started! I told her to hurry up ... and she pulled a fake pee and then we were off again. When we got home - I turned on the sprinkler so Wrigley could cool off (and get that nasty, stale, dirty water off of her!)

Runner's World Round-Up

As I sat reading Runner's World in Borders bookstore ... and then again in Caribou as I waited out the first of several storms today, there were quite a few things that sparked my interest. Thought I would mention them ;)
Potatoes Are the Perfect Carb
The magazine notes that potatoes are just as good - if not better - as a carb source compared to pasta! Specifically "baked, mashed, or boiled, potatoes actually provide more energy-deliverying complex carbohydrates than a cup of pasta". And, since I have never looked up the specific nutrition info for a potato, I thought it would be nice to mention that a russet potato has: 63 grams of carbs, 8 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat...in addition to 64% of your daily vitamin C, 53% of B6, and 1,600 milligrams of potassium (3X a large banana)...and they are a "rich source" of antioxidants. I think I love potatos!

Strange Events
There are also some upcoming events one might want to look into:
Original Bare Buns Fun Run
Location: Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park: Loon Lake, Washington
Date: July 27, 2008 Course: 5K Details: Clothing-optional. Those that run without clothes get a "Nude Finisher" T-shirt. The park website has a rear-view of a race... and check out the old race results - they indicate whether a runner was nude or clothed. (Wonder which one makes you faster??)

Big Man Run
Location: East Sommerville, Massachussetts
Date: September 22, 2007
Course: 4.8 miles Details: You must weigh more than 190 lbs to enter. Runners consume a hot dog and 8oz beer at each of three aid stations. (Those who cant keep it down are DQ'd)

North American Wife Carrying Championship
Location: Bethel, Maine
Date: October 6, 2007
Course: 278-yard obstacle-style Details: Man carries his wife (or any woman age 21+) over log hurdles and through mud pits. 1st place team wins woman's weight in beer and times 5 in cash.

Cool Ad
Then there was a cool ad for Pearl Izumi shoes...I found it again on www.wearenotjoggers.com.
Unfortunately, I am a jogger. But reading this ad actually made me desire to be "runner". For some reason I found it highly inspirational, and thought others might too.

Caught In A Monsoon

So I went out for a walk to Borders bookstore. I grabbed "Runners World" and a coffee, and sat down to read while trying to ignore the man snoring two tables away. On my way home I got caught in this downpour - waiting it out with another coffee at the local Caribou. (This ones a decaf!)

Update: 8:23pm
The storms cause havoc all over the city: powers out, streets are flooded, and many trees suffered some dire consequences. We lost a plastic outdoor-table that blew from our roofdeck (looked all over the neighborhood and its MIA!) but other than that suffered no dammage. Many others did though, thought I would post some pics I found on the Chicago Tribune photo gallery. While all these pics are of my area - I didnt take them myself - they are posted by other Chicago Tribune readers :)

Exciting Neighborhood News!

We have a Potbellys. While this may not thrill all - its definitely exciting for Jeff and I too see some new stuff popping up. And, I must admit, I dont exactly hate their milkshakes :)

How to Run Your First Marathon

I cant believe how soon the Marathon is. We technically have only four long runs (18, 10, 16 & 20) until we begin to taper for the 26.2! Just typing that makes me a bit sick to my stomach :(

Anyway, I feel like I still havent mastered the training - I have some problems with what to eat the day or two before a long run, and I also have had some problems with endurance/energy at the end of a long run. So, of course, I am concerned ;) I have been surfing around and found an article I found really helpful, and decided to actually post the whole thing. Its not all 100% relevant me, as it assumes a walk-run routine (I am running it straight) but most of the suggestions and comments are quite helpful!

How to Run Your First Marathon
By Jeff Galloway
For Active.com

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when preparing for your first marathon—and I’m not talking about the months of training you already have planned and in some cases, finished. I’m talking about the race itself—the actual day (and week) in which you are going to run those 26.2 miles. Once you have followed through with your training, how do you make sure all of the other factors are in order?

You have a great deal of control over how positive your race-day experience will be. Here is what I've learned during my 49 years of running and coaching over 250,000 runners.

Rehearsal
If at all possible, run one or more of your long training runs on the race course. You'll learn how to get there, where to park (or which rapid-transit station to exit), and what the site is like. Run over the last half-mile of the course at least twice. This is the most important part of the course to know. Many runners will run segments of the course on several different long runs.

Visualize your line-up position. First-time racers should line up at the back. If you line up too far forward you could slow down faster runners. You want to do this first race slowly and have a good experience. Because you will be taking your walk breaks as you did during training, you will probably need to stay at the side of the road. If there is a sidewalk, you can use this for your walk breaks.

The Afternoon Before
Don't run the day before the race. You won't lose any conditioning if you take two days off from running leading up to the race. If the race has an expo or other festivities, walk around, but don't walk for more than two hours. Some races require you to pick up your race number and your computer chip at the expo the day before. Other races allow you to pick up your materials on race day. Check out the information materials or the event website for instructions.

The Carbo-loading Dinner
Some marathons have a dinner the night before. At the dinner you can talk with runners at your table and enjoy the evening. Don't eat much, however. Many runners mistakenly assume that they must eat a lot the night before. This is actually counterproductive. It takes at least 36 hours for most of the food you eat to be processed and useable in a race. But eating too much, or eating the wrong foods for you, can be a real problem. A lot of food bouncing up and down in your gut when you race is stressful. Carbohydrate "loading" the night before can lead to carbohydrate "unloading" on the course itself. The evening before your long training run is a good time to practice your eating plan, then replicate the successful routine for the race.

Drinking
The day before the race, drink when you are thirsty. If you haven't had a drink of water or sports drink in a couple of hours, drink half a cup to a cup (four to eight ounces) each hour. Don't drink a lot of fluid the morning of the race. This can lead to bathroom breaks during the marathon. Many races have portable toilets around the course, but some don't. A common practice is to drink six to 10 ounces of fluid about two hours before the race. Usually this is out of the system before the start. Practice your drinking routine before and during long runs, and use the pattern that works best for you.

The Night Before
Eating is optional after 6 p.m. If you are hungry, have a light snack you have tested before that has not caused problems. Less is better, but don't go to bed hungry. It's a good idea to have eight ounces of a good electrolyte beverage about two hours before you go to bed the night before your marathon.

Alcohol consumption is generally not recommended the day or night before a race. The effects of this depressant carry over to the next morning. Some runners have no trouble having one glass of wine or beer, while others are better off with none. If you decide to have a drink, I suggest that you make it one portion.

Pack your bag and lay out your clothes the night before so you don't have to think much on race morning.

• Your watch, set up for your run-walk ratio
• Shoes
• Socks
• Shorts
• Top
• Race number pinned to the front of your top
• A few extra safety pins
• Water, pre-race and post-race beverages
• Food for the drive in and the drive home
• Bandages, Vaseline and any other first-aid items you may need
• Cash for registration if you are doing race-day registration (check for exact amount, including late fee)
• $25 to $40 for gas, food, parking, etc.
• Race chip attached according to the race instructions
• A few jokes or stories to provide laughs or entertainment before the start
• A copy of the race-day checklist, below

Sleep You may sleep well, or you may not. Don't worry about it if you don't sleep at all. Many runners I work with don't sleep at all the night before and have the best race of their lives. Of course, don't try to go sleepless...but if it happens, it's not usually a problem.

Race-day Checklist Photocopy this list and pack it in your race bag so you have a plan you can carry out in a methodical way. Don't try anything new the day of your race--except for health or safety reasons. Walk breaks are the only first-time item I have heard people successfully use in a race. Stick with your plan.

Fluid and potty stops--After you wake up, drink four to six ounces of water every half-hour. If you have used a sports drink about 30 minutes before your runs, prepare it. Use a cooler if you wish. In order to avoid the bathroom breaks, stop your fluid intake according to what has worked for you in other long runs (usually one or two hours before the start).

Food-—Eat what you have eaten before your long runs. It is OK not to eat at all before most races unless you are diabetic, then go with the plan that you and your doctor (or nutritionist) have worked out.

Get your bearings--Walk around the site to find where you want to line up (at the back of the pack, or in a pace group), and how you will get to the start. Choose a side of the road that has more shoulder or sidewalk for ease in taking walk breaks.

Register or pick up your race number--If you already have all of your materials, you can bypass this step. If not, look at the signage in the registration area and get in the right line. Usually there is one for race-day registration, and one for those who registered online or in the mail and need to pick up their numbers. Pin your number on the front of the garment you plan to wear when you cross the finish line.

Computer Chip--More races use technology that electronically picks up your race number and time as you cross the finish. You must wear this chip--usually laced on the shoes near the top. Some companies have a Velcro band that is attached to the ankle or arm. Read the instructions to make sure you are attaching this correctly. Be sure to turn this in to the volunteers after the race; there is a steep fine for those who don't.

Start your warm-up about 30 minutes before the start. If possible, just walk backwards on the course for about a half-mile and turn around. This will give you a preview of the most important part of your race: the finish. Laugh and joke as you stand around waiting for the start. On your first marathon, I recommend using the first mile to complete your warm-up. During this first mile:

• Walk for two or three minutes
• Start your watch for the ratio of running and walking that you are using
• During the first few running rotations, run more slowly than usual

After the Start

• Remember that you can control how you feel during and afterward by conservative pacing and walks. Whatever energy you save in the first half will be available to you during the last five miles.
• Stick with the run-walk-run ™ ratio that has worked for you--take every walk break, especially the first one. It is always better to walk more in the beginning.
• If it is warm, slow down and walk more (30 sec/mile slower for every five degrees above 60 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Don't let yourself be pulled out too fast on the running portions.
• As people who don't take walk breaks pass you, tell yourself that you will catch them later. You will.
• If anyone interprets your walking as weakness, say: "This is my proven strategy for a strong finish."
• Talk with folks along the way, enjoy the course, smile often.
• On warm days, pour water over your head at the water stops.

At the Finish

• Cross the finish line in the upright position with a smile on your face
• Keep walking for at least half a mile after the race
• Drink about four to eight ounces of fluid
• Within 30 minutes of the finish, have a snack that is 80 percent carbohydrate and 20 percent protein
• If you can soak your legs in cool water during the first two hours after the race, do so for 10 to 20 minutes
• Walk for 20 to 30 minutes later in the day

The Next Day

• Walk for 30 to 60 minutes, very easy. This can be done at one time, or in installments
• Keep drinking about four to six ounces of water or sports drink an hour
• Wait at least a week before you either schedule your next race or vow to never run another one again.

Runners Lounge: Have you hugged a "slow" runner today?

As I sit here eating ice cream and fresh baked chocolate-chip cookies, while contemplating ditching out on my evening workout due to the 103 degree heat index, I am catching up on some of my fellow-bloggers posts. Amy had a great one today on Runners Lounge: Have you hugged a "slow" runner today?. I know I am a slow runner, and when I get passed I occasionally feel a bit sorry for myself - but Amy really boosted my spirits and made me remember how many others just like me are out there :) My pace group, affectionally self-named "the Turtles", is proud to be slowly chugging along. We like to take in the scenery. Who wants to run fast and miss the whole experience of the Marathon? We are going to take our sweet time, hear every cheer, greet every family member and friend that has come out to support us ... and savor each minute of our experience - both the high and the low points ;)

The New Influencers

School starts on Monday, and I think you will be hearing a bit more about my research and teaching over the next few weeks. Mostly because it takes up so much of my life - but also because its going to take a stomping to my training routine. I have trained so far as a student ... meaning flexible schedule and flexible hours. Now I have a class to teach and have to be on campus 5 days a week in the mornings. There goes my "student life"! In addition, my program is really ramping up - I need to work on publishing in journals and begin my dissertation. So, if I focus too much on my other life (that which actually does not involve the Marathon!) I apologize for now!

And onto school stuff :) My research has a lot to do with social media (like blogs for instance!) and I found a book review for for Paul Gillin's "The New Influencers" posted by Yvonne at lipsticking.com. The website is great (if you are into that kind of stuff) and her review was enough to make me run out and buy it :) I just started it, but so far ... so good!

Back Cracking...To Do or Not To Do?

Today I had my second visit with a Chiropractor (after visiting my construction-ridden campus). The first visit was for some testing and the second was for my consultation. I was told "good news, we can help you" ... but not really told how. I need to come back again for the full treatment plan (and financing details). I am thinking the way they work this seems a bit sketchy, and am not too sure about the whole Chiropractor thing anyway.

I have had lower back and neck pain on-and-off my whole life. I often dont sleep well due to back pain, suffer from many stiff necks, and ocasionally experience random shooting pains in my neck and/or back. I am generally getting pretty tired of it, but after vising general practitioners over the years and not getting any sort of help or treatment out of it - I kindof just assumed this is how it would be. Then at the CDC expo there was a Chiropractor at the booth next to the Team in Training booth ... and next thing you know I am here. Debating.

Today they did an initial "realignment". Supposedly there are three trouble spots in my neck and five (six?) in my lower back. So right now I am sore - just in my lower back. But the soreness is much like what I experience on an average night laying in bed - annoying, but nothing I cant handle. I have my next appointment scheduled next week, where they are going to try to get me to commit to some sort of treatment plan...and I am just not to sure what to do.

Training Log
Its a crosstrain day! Love those! 45 minutes on the elliptical (while updating myself on the latest celebrity gossip) and I was out of there. I also did some of the stretched recommended by a PT earlier for my ITBand...but that was it for the day. If my back wasnt hurting from the Chiropractor today, I would be feeling pretty good right now ;)

Does This Look Like They Are Ready?

School starts Monday so I am on campus getting some stuff ready. The campus is bustling with people preparing for the students return. This huge hole in the center of campus suggests to me that they are not quite ready :)

Its Not Just Me Over Reacting!

I know I complain a lot lately about the weather, but it really has just seemed to be very rainy and gloomy every day. I find myself struggling to get out of bed, and getting sleepy during the day. This is not a good thing, since I should be cutting back on caffeine for training ... yet caffeine is the one thing I crave all day! So, an article in todays Chicago Tribune (by Jeffs favorite, Tom Skilling) suddenly makes things so much clearer:

August's 6.40" wettest in 17 years--nearly 3 times normal!
With soils saturated and a number of streams and rivers in flood, area residents are likely to cast nervous glances at each new cluster of thunderstorms in the days to come. Were August to proceed through its remaining nine days without an additional drop of rain, the month--with 6.40" on the books to date--would rank 13th wettest of the past 137 Augusts.

There hasn't been a wetter 20-day August open at the city's official rain gauge since 1990 when 7.25" had fallen by this date. Only seven other Aug. 1-20 periods since 1871 have been wetter. But the story is an even wetter one in areas around the city. WeatherBug rainfall sensors in northwest suburban Palatine have tallied 13.05", while 9.82" has fallen at Highland Park and 9.33" in Glencoe.

Monday, Gloomy Monday

The weather really has been hit-or-miss the past few days. Gloomy with spots of rain ... enough that its difficult to make any plans for any sort of outdoor activity. Yesterdays air show actually had to be cancelled ... which is sad because Angelina & Brad took their kids out on a boat to see it, but the water was so choppy they had to come back in. So sad.

So today I went to the gym for my run, partly because of the weather, but mostly because I wanted to work on some strength training. The run was only a 20 minute run, so it was a great day to work on some of the other stuff I always neglect.

Training Log
Time:  20:00 time  Distance:1.92 miles   Pace:  10:25 min/mi
As usual, it was like a sauna in the gym. I dont know how people can be so cheap that they let a gym get as hot as mine does. It has to be a bit dangerous - I was sweating BEFORE I even got on the treadmill. Anyway, I did my strength training (though not a full-fledged effort) and my run, and booked out of that place before I melted.

Update :(

Rain delay! Only 2.5 innings into the game and the rain has started to come down in full force. This seems to be a recent trend for the nights we have tickets ...

Proof

The rain cleared just in time for the Cubs to begin their Cardinals smackdown. Go Cubs!

The Final Harry Potter

I know that everyone else in the world polished off this book weeks ago, but I simply have not had the time to really get into it. Today though - was a different story. Its a gloomy, rainy day ... a perfect day to curl up with a book! I finally finished the last book in the Harry Potter series, and although there are many other things on my overall to-do list, I feel quite a sense of accomplishment :)

Today is a rest and stretch day, so I did a short program from OnDemand for yoga stretching. It was the longest 15 minutes of stretching ever - with poses that I definitely could not handle! I think I will still need to do some additional stretching today but at least I have some constructive marathon-related work under my belt for today.

Cubs
Today is the second (and last) day of the Air & Water Show. Yesterday, though gloomy, planes flew overhead all day. Today its been relatively quiet during the past few hours. I have a feeling the the storms have put quite a damper on todays show. We also have tickets for tonights Cubs vs Cardinals game, but right now its not looking like the weather is going to hold up. The weather is forcasting some heavy storms for this evening (probably not unlike what we have had on and off all day!) and the game isnt until 7:30. Looks like only time will tell - but right now I am not holding my breath.

Women Marathon Runners

Saw an interesting blurb in the Sept issue of Women's Health:

YOU'VE RUN A LONG WAY, BABY
More women are running marathons than ever before. Last year, 400,000 people in the U.S hoofed the 26.2 miles to the finish line, and a full 40 percent of them were women. In fact, there's been a 22 percent increase in the number of women running marathons since 2000. Why? Because there are more training programs for new runners, and more charities are using marathons as fundraiser, which is especially appealing to women, according to Ryan Lampaa, media director of Running USA.

Training Log
Time:  1:27:26 time  Distance:8 miles   Pace:  10:55 min/mi
Today the weather was perfect and we can only hope that the weather for the Marathon is anywhere close to what it is today. The high was supposed to be 73, but I dont think it got anywhere near that ... no complaints here! Today's run was "timed" - We were supposed to do a 90 minute run. We ended up a bit short in time because our pace on the way back was faster than on the way out, but overall it was only a minute or so shy of the total. Its hard to imagine that next weeks run is so much more than today's - 10 more miles to be exact! Its going to be quite a challenge, and I need to work to keep on track this week in order to make sure I am ready for it.

My Big Day

You know how there are days where you feel like doing stuff - but just not the stuff you should be doing? This morning I had a campus meeting with the Professor I am working for this fall. I was on campus from 9AM - 12PM. Since the school year has yet to start (and I already have to be on campus two days next week) I felt like I put in my dues for today. Sure, I have a paper to write. Sure, I still have to do all of my class prep. And sure, there are many more important things to be doing...but I decided I didnt want to do any of them.

First I went to Stanley's Fruit & Vegetable Market
This place is one of Chicago's "hidden gems". It has tons of cheap produce, really fresh stuff - and much of it is organic. Today they had 10 ears of corn for $1. Whooo hoo! I actually went there with corn in mind - is today my lucky day or what?

Next on the list: Target
My luck wasnt as good here - I went there for a "shoe stretcher" and they were all out. Guess everyone needed a "shoe stretcher" today? I also had a few other things on my list, so I shopped around for a bit and then came home.

Third on the list: Baking and Air Show practice
So instead of coming home and getting some work done, I decided to start baking. Brownies and cookies ... mmm.

In addition, today (and yesterday) are practice days for this weekends Air & Water show. The jets are all over the city, and you can hear them almost anywhere you go. So while baking, I opened all the windows - it feels like I am sitting in the middle of the airport :) Wrigley (dog, not field) was a bit freaked at first and hid by the back door ... but since the condo isnt so big and she cant go up or down, I think she realized it was pointless. After a few minutes I think she realized she isnt in any danger, and came back out to the front window where she likes to hang out.

The Air & Water show is one of the biggest Chicago events all year, and one of my personal favorites. Check out some pics I found of practice! Pictures courtesy of Todd McClamroch

Trying Something New...

While at the CDC Expo, I talked to a Chiropractor that suggested I come in for an evalutation. I have had back and neck problems dating back to when I was a teenager, and I figured that its highly likely this running can make those problems worse, so I decided it was time to try it out. I was at Peak Performance for about an hour while they ran some initial tests and took some x-rays. I have to go back next week for my official report ;)

The doctors office was in an area of the city I like, but never really get to - "Old Town".

There are a bunch of reasons why I like this area, one of them including the "Fudge Pot". Its a chocolatier, and a place with pretty much anything covered in chocolate you could dream of. Since I was in the neighborhood, of course I had to stop and get some goodies :)


CDC Photos
The pictures from the CDC are posted - they are ok. Here is one I "stole" from the provider ;)

"Cheated" On My Run - Ate Ice Cream Afterwards :)

When I checked the temperature it said it was 77 ... while thats not cool by any standard, it certainly isnt hot! So, I was excited to head outside for my run since I have been doing so many of them on the treadmill in recent weeks. My excitement soon vanished about 1 minute into the run when I realized it was about 99% humidity and I was pretty sure I was going to die. I had planned a short run, only about 3.10 miles, but wanted to quit about 1/3 of a mile into it. It was so humid that I had a difficult time breathing and my entire body was soaked with perspiration within seconds. Guess I should have hit the gym once again!

I met a friend for lunch, did some shopping, and got some ice-cream after. It was actually frozen-yogurt ... since I didnt do all of my run, I didnt deserve "real" ice cream. (But, of course, I still deserved SOME treat, right?)

Training Log
Time:  27:85 time  Distance:2.8 miles   Pace:  9:57 min/mi
So even though I didnt do my whole run, and was struggling throughout the whole run, at least my pace was decent :) I cant have three strikes, right?

Some Fundraising Statistics

I just received this from one of our Team In Training representatives, and thought it was pretty interesting. Sometimes you want to know where your money goes when you donate to a charity :) Below is what kind of impact various dollar amounts have through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

$1,000	Assists in the organization of (47) Illinois support groups and education programs for patients, and contributes to Society sponsored blood cancer research.
$500	Provides a leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma patient with financial aid to support medical treatment and to travel to medical appointments for one year.
$500	Allows (10) patients to logon to a webcast and hear the latest information in treatment for their disease.
$250	Provides a Family Support Group for one year.
$150	Will train (6) survivors to make First Connections with a newly diagnosed patient.
$100	Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
$75	Average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.
$50	The cost of a co-payment for a CT scan.
$40	Will educate (4) school employees on how to ease the transition back to school for a child with cancer.
$35	Will purchase (12) Charlie Brown DVD’s to explain cancer to pediatric patients.
$25	Covers a single prescription co-payment.
$5	The cost of sending a newly diagnosed patient a packet which includes information about their specific disease and support.

It's Monday?

This morning I sent out an email letter to friends and family to update them on my 1/2 Marathon experience and also on my fundraising efforts. The Marathon is coming up soon, and I still have yet to reach my personal fundraising goal for Team In Training. While I have plenty of time, my schedule is getting hectic - especially with school starting on August 27th! Some friends were quick to reply - and I increased my total fundraising to $1420! It feels great to be making this sort of contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I want to sent a sincere "thank you" to all my donors.

All day today I kept thinking it was Sunday - since I did my long run yesterday (which normally takes place on Saturday). Repeatedly I have had to tell myself its actually Monday, which has been a battle I have waged against myself all day.

I spent most of the day at the Chicago Premium Outlets, where I met my Mom, Grandma and Grandpa for lunch. (Of course, I managed to do some shopping!) So, while I was supposed to be resting and stretching, I found myself walking laps around a large, outdoor, outlet mall. Since I am feeling a bit sore today (and in some unusal places like my ankles), this might not have been the optimal decision and I am about to do some stretching and icing followed by bedtime!

This Makes It All Worth It

There are two things I like to do to reward myself for accomplishments (big or small!): eat and shop. Today I must have felt extremely worthy because before I pigged out on these awesome ribs I got myself some new shoes :)

Chicago Distance Classic - My First Race!

I woke up at 4AM this morning to be greeted with thunder and lightning - in addition to the fact it was still pitch black out. Wearily I dragged myself to the kitchen to eat and have some water and then jumped into the shower. I wouldnt say I was nervous, and I also wouldnt say I was excited - it was almost a "lets get this over with" feeling :)

Jeff drove me down into the area where the race started, and I headed to the Team In Training Tent to meet the girls I run with.

We headed to the start line area - it took about 6 minutes until we actally crossed the official start line...and we were off! The run didnt seem very long, but it was hot and could get very congested in parts. About 1/2 way through the water providers ran out of cups, so they were pouring gallon-jugs of water into peoples mouths (mostly missing). Overall it was a good run - the heat and crowds forced us to go a little bit slower than we might have on a Saturday run. In addition, there was this overall feeling or expectation that today was bigger than a normal day - and the actual finish seemed anti-climactic. I am not sure how to explain it...being my first race I thought I would be totally psyched to cross the finish line - but instead I was thinking about longer distances I have already run and will still have to do over the next two months. This race was a great opportunity to see (in a very small dose) what the Marathon will be like, but I am glad its not my final event of the season. I feel like there is definitely something more out there (about 13.1 miles more to be exact!)

This picture includes me, Becca, Patti and Cara after the 1/2 Marathon. Becca and Patti are in my pace group, but Cara is just too fast for us so she runs with another group. We still let her hang out with us though, as long as she doesnt rub in the fact that she finishes so far ahead of us :)

And this one is just me, Patti and Becca after the race


Training Log
Time:  2:34:27 time  Distance:13.1 miles   Pace:  11:47 min/mi
When I pace myself on other runs, I do not account for breaks (water/restroom, etc). So this pace seems not to far off - on our longer runs we have been averaging about 1 minute in "breaks" per mile. Since we arent trying to actually WIN a race, we generally stop for water (instead of trying to run while drinking) and occasionally we actually need to take a restroom break. So, that would put us at a running pace of 10:47, with a total pace of 11:47.

Final Countdown

I just set my alarm for 4AM, yes, 4 AM! The race starts at 6:30, and I need time to eat, make sure I have my stuff together (so I dont spaz) and get there - so I am making sure I give myself plenty of time. As this is my first race, I just dont know how I will feel and whats going to go through my head :)

I am going to hop in bed now and read Harry Potter for a while. I have been so busy lately that I haven't read it and so this is a good time to get a few pages done.

I am sure tomorrow will go great and I will post an enthusiastic and wonderful update shortly after the race - but if there isnt an update from me tomorrow (because I am sleeping it off?) then expect full details on Monday :)

Good Luck all CDC participants!!!!

I Am Officially "3498"

As I said, I picked up my bib for Sundays CDC. I am bib #3498. I have never been known as a number before - never run a race, and never been in prison :) I am both terrified and excited at the same time. I am not very concerned about the distance (we have passed 13.1 in training) but am more nervous about what it will be like to run in a race with so many other runners - and spectators! I am also a bit concerned about the weather. Tom Skilling (Chicago weatherman, and personal hero of my spouse) says its going to be 95, and the website quotes:

Potentially summer's hottest! Sunny, breezy, hot and humid. Possible 102-108 heat indexes. Building clouds could erupt into active t-storms at night.

I originally complained about the 6:30 am start time - but now I am seeing its value! A friend of mine who did the CDC last year said it was so hot that they had to spray people with hoses, and open up fire hydrants. If this isnt going to be a true test of will, I dont know what is!

And Onto The More Exciting Stuff...
The Bourne Ultimatum was great! All of the reviews were really positive for this movie, and they were right. It was fast-paced, exciting and interesting. Definitley an evening well spent.

DC Trip Photos
I know its been a while, but my friend Sharmin just sent these the other day so I thought I would post some pics from my DC trip - these are just the second 1/2 of my trip where I was involved in the conference.

This one is me with three of my classmates (Sharmin, Kelly & Tovi)

This is one of the whole conference group













And here is me and Sharmin, with a cool background of the Monument

Quick Update ...

Today has been very busy and I havent been home more than a few minutes - right now I am in the theater waiting for "Bourne Ultimatum" to start. I got my race packet and volunteered a bit in the TNT booth at the expo - so its official!

I Am Not Alone :)

It's funny how I seem to have these struggles througout training: my occasional fear of running, battling heat and humidity, weight gain, injury, etc ... and while each one of my problems seems to be a bit bizzare to me, I find that I have many partners in my misery. My pace group struggles with the same problems, and I find fellow bloggers discussing the same issues - often more clearly and eloquently than I!

Maggie Mae has been battling the Philadelphia heat and humidity - so much so that the recently suggested that "I think I would rather be running on a treadmill". I myself have been in this position several times - and have hit the treadmill twice this week :(

Amanda, in Overland Park KS has to battle 100 degree heat indexes! She also appears to have a weakness for cookies, which is something that I myself struggle with. In fact, I had one after lunch today ;)

While another persons struggles do not make me happy - its great to know I am not alone. In addition, while following anothers battles I can often get input and advice on how to address the same hurdles myself! My friends, fellow runners, and other bloggers have helped me overcome tons of hurdles since I started training - and more importantly, continually provide me the support and inspiration I need to keep on with this battle!

Training Log
Time:  31:36 time  Distance:3 miles   Pace:  10:32 min/mi
Last night at training one of our coaches mentioned that running the same pace for all runs (short, long, race...) is not a good thing. OOPS. I generally run a similar pace for everything. I talked to him post-workout and asked why it was so bad, and what should I do. He said that we need to do speed/interval workouts, and various paces, in order to create the endurance and ability to finish the distance runs. Training at the same pace may not give us the ability to finish a long run because we might not have built up the needed energy/ability to do those last few miles. One of thie things that he suggests helps is training like we did last night - where we run slower and faster paces. So today I did the same on the treadmill. I did a pace slower than my marathon (10:45) one at the same (10:30) and one faster (10:20). Averaged out it equaled my usual pace (about 10:30) but I got in three different speeds. Hopefully this should eventually enable me to run the marathon in negative splits (2nd half faster than 1st).

Saving The World - One Poo Bag At A Time

I believe all the "hype" about Global Warming, and all of the people saying that humans are destroying the planet. Yet, like many, I really dont change my habits - or even know where to start. I have been thinking of little things I do that add to the overall problems - and I realized that Wrigley (our dog), despite being very cute, is a contributor to the worlds problems. Its not all her fault - her waste can probably help the environmnent as fertilizer, etc - the real problem starts when I use a plastic bag to pick it up and put it in the trash :)

Although scientists are not positve since the plastic bag has only been around 50 years, recent estimates say it may take as long at 500 YEARS for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill. Even if it takes 1/2 that long ... I am a bit worried. Not only do I take plastic bags at the grocery store, Target, etc (most of them dont even offer alternatives) but I then take Wrigley-poop (something that decomposes quite fast!), and place it into a plastic bag!

Well, today I took the first step towards a new planet-conscious-Marathon-runner-in-training - I used a bio-degradable waste bag! Hartz has a whole line of "earth friendly" products under the Clean Earth label. I think the waste bags must be pretty new because they arent even featured on the website. Anyway, Wrigley and I are feeling pretty good about our contribution to the environment today. (I wish I had some ice-cream to celebrate!)

Need To Improve My Rain Dance

My prayers for rain were not answered. Although it was hot and humid, the rain refused to come. So, I had to go to the mid-week team run. And yes, I obviously survived.

Training Log
Time:  ~40min time  Distance:~4 miles   Pace:  various min/mi
Tonight we did a 10 minute warm-up (we were a bit late to start, so we did a 9:12 warm-up) followed by three miles at different paces The first was to be slower than our intended mararthon pace, the second at marathon pace, and third at a bit faster than marathon pace. We went out a bit too fast, doing the first at 10:45. Then the second was again to fast - at about 10:10. We were worried about our ability to run faster for the third mile (since 10:10 was a bit faster than we normally run) but we did the third at 9:45. Overall it was a good run. We were hoping that we would have paced according to the directions given to us, so that we could work on the skills we need to work on - but I think we stil succeeded and got a good workout out of it as well!

People Are Always Getting Into My Business!

Today I ran a bunch of errands, and when I came home there were some strange worker-men in my alley way. Both of them were shirtless, and one was wearing swim-trunks. (Maybe I am crazy, maybe mens shorts come in pastel stripes like that...with that type of material, I dont know...but they looked like swim trunks!) As I was trying to park in my garage, the guy in the swim trunks (with a huge beer-belly and no shirt) decided to "help me". It took me three tries to get in, and this guy probabaly thought I was a terrible driver. The thing is, if you were trying to park in your garage (while navigating through an alleyway, into a narrow spot) and a man, who is shirtless & sunburned, wearing swimtrunks, and madly waving his arms everywhere - is standing in front of you the whole time ... I bet you would have some difficulty too :)

Then I came into my house and am working on some schoolwork. These rude weathermen keep interrupting Judge Judy to tell me about tornado watches in the suburbs. How dare they interefere with Judge Judy! Now I dont know all the details about the birthday-party performer who quit performing because he was heckled by a party guest, who is being sued by the party thrower for her deposit back.

My Workout Today
So we are supposed to have a mid-week workout with the team tonight. We have tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, flood warnings ... and we dont know if its gonna happen or not. Generally, practices only get cancelled if there is lightening. This seems to happen every Wednesday - I wait all day to get my workout in, and by the time it is cancelled (or we simply decide not to go) due to weather its pretty late and then I need to figure out how to get my workout in at 7 or 8 at night.

Now, like it seems we do every Wednesday, we are debating via email as to whether or not we risk heading out to training. One time we decided not to go - and the sun broke through and it was perfect weather during the time we should have been at training. Another time we decided to actually go - and the sky turned pitch black and killer storms came out of nowhere (we decided to get Mexican food - so all was not lost). As you can see, our judgement seems to be a bit off :) Will I go? I have two hours to figure it out!