Hood To Coast

I just got back from seeing the movie "Hood to Coast" and I hope you were able to see it as well. It was amazing! One of the most emotionally moving films I've ever seen, and yet it kept an even keel by being comical and inspiring at the same time. I hope it comes out on DVD because it is instantly a favorite for me. For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about I'll try and fill you in without giving everything away because well that would be a dick move.
          Hood To Coast is the worlds largest relay race. It covers 197 miles in Oregon from Mount Hood to the Pacific Ocean. 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the race and it has grown to a limit of 1,250 teams, each team having between 8 and 12 members. Each member of the team will run three non-consecutive legs which range from around 3 miles to almost 7 miles. Doesn't seem like a whole lot, until you realize they have been up for over 24 hours and when they aren't running they're riding around in vans supporting their teammates. The Film is a documentary that follows four of the teams on their journey. The teams couldn't be any different if they tried. For me it was almost a roller coaster ride of emotions, but I tend to let myself get lost in movies pretty easily. This one being true made it that much easier to do. All four teams provide humor in their own way, but two of the teams really tug at the heart strings. I feel like if I'm ever lacking motivation to get out and run, all I have to do is think about what they've gone through and what running has done for them and at least right now I don't think anything could hold me back. This movie came at the best time for me. I'm at the beginning of training for my second marathon and my first time training through the winter. I know there are going to be times of weariness and a lack of will. It's not being pessimistic it's just the truth. Nothing in life goes perfect, but I feel like I've just added another weapon into my arsenal of "anti-wah wah"!
         I went to see this movie with one of my oldest friends and former high school teammate and we both agreed that we are going to try and put together a team and try our luck at entering this puppy because it is that AWESOME! Ha ha, have I told you that I'm excited yet? I love the idea of being on a team again. That is the one thing that post high school running has left me devoid of. The feeling of being on a team, the camaraderie that comes with being a part of a group and the team I was on was like a big slightly dysfunctional family, so maybe this will be the way to get that feeling back.
         Okay so now that I'm done gushing about my new favorite movie, how about a training update? I have never been a morning person....ever... I am known for strolling into work when I'm supposed to be there...as in the last second I'm supposed to be there. I just hate getting out of bed in the morning. It's so comfy why would I? That being said, I got up BEFORE work EARLY 3 days last week and once so far this week! The best part is I actually enjoyed it. Not the getting out of bed before I absolutely have to but the part after that. The part where it's 7:30 and I'm at work close to a half an hour early and I've already done my workout for the day. I'm wide awake, energized, not drowsy and ready to go on with the day, knowing that when work is over I don't have running hanging over my head in case there is some setback where it might not happen. It's done and out of the way and at 7:30 in the morning I have a feeling of accomplishment that I just didn't get when I ran after work. It's weird but it almost gives me another reason to love running! So there you have it I'm motivated, I'm excited, and I'm feeling great and ready to kick some winter training ass! Oh and now that I am all excited and motivated....A) it's time for bed and B) tomorrow is a rest day for running ha ha go figure! I hope you all get a chance to see this movie if you haven't already. I know my little preview doesn't do it justice so you'll just have to take my word for it!

Winter Weather Wednesday

Obie loves the snow!

And running circles haha

A Reflection to the Future

     Seeing as how I didn't keep the best of records of my running endeavors from the past year, my 2010 review will instead consist of my new obsessions and discoveries of the past year.

              Music ~ Mumford and sons ~ British accents and a banjo in the band, how can you resist?

Food ~ Penn Station East Coast Subs ~ Move over Quiznos and Subway, These are delicious!

              Candy Obsession ~ Generic bulk sugar covered gummi bears ~ need I say more?

Television (A tie) ~ How I Met Your Mother ~ SUIT UP! ~ and ~ Raising Hope ~ I can't even describe it

              Snack food ~ Garlic Lovers Hummus and pita chips ~ Who doesn't love garlic?

Movie ~ Inception ~ Chris Nolan is my favorite director, he hasn't made something I didn't like

Moment in Sports ~ The Detroit Lions Won 4 in a row!!! ~ Last time you could say that was 1999!

      Just a few of my favorite things from the last 365. Now since the first of the year has come and gone it's probably time I make some goals for 2011. Some are specific and some are more generic.

• train for and complete kalamazoo marathon
• maintain running at least 4 days a week when not training for something in specific
• run at least one 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon
• run a race in a different state
• add in more cross training
• bike more
• volunteer at a race 
• meet more local runners
• run in the morning at least one day M-F
• run 1000 miles
• Keep track of my running totals better (that way I know if I hit 1000 or not haha)

Baby It's Cold Outside!

   

    I've been running off and on since seventh grade, so roughly twelve years. There haven't been a lot of constants throughout those years except for one. Without fail every year I took the winter off. Call me a baby but in Michigan it's typically cold in the winter. One thing I've never been overly fond of is being cold. This winter all that is changing. You see the city of Kalamazoo (my hometown) decided they needed a marathon, and I decided I needed to run said marathon. So far no problem, then they decided it would be a spring marathon! What am I to do?! Surely I can't train for a marathon indoors on a treadmill, because if there's one thing I dislike as much if not more than the cold it surely has to be running on a treadmill. I can handle up to a half hour on one but at that point I'm usually ready to go certifiably insane. My only other option; talk to people who have figured out the secrets of surviving the arctic weather. (I may exaggerate a touch when it comes to how cold it really is!)
    So here we are the beginning of the new year and the temps have been below 30 degrees for over a month now. (oddly enough except for new years eve where it was 51!) Lucky for me I have an old friend who works at the local running store who supplied me with ample amounts of info on how to survive the next four months.

                             Layer, Layer, Layer

                  

                  The biggest key to staying warm in the winter is staying dry. Layering helps accomplish this as long as its done right. Even though it's below freezing outside your body still sweats a lot when you're running. the key is to move this sweat away from your body to the outer layers where it can evaporate. The first thing I put on is a base layer. For now I'm going with a Patagonia Capilene level 1 long sleeve shirt. Its snug but not overly tight like most under armour style compression shirts. I'm not a big fan of the uber tight feeling so this shirt works well for me, and it's made from polyester which by the way is great for moisture management.

                   Next I wear a looser slightly thicker but still fairly thin layer. This helps again with moving the moisture and since it's thin it keeps the bulk down so I don't feel like the kid from A Christmas Story! I've got a few different options that have worked well so far. If its not crazy cold I've been wearing my brooks technical shirts that I've gotten at a couple of races, one is long sleeve and the rest are short. They seem to work well when weather is around 30 degrees give or take 5. I also got this next gem for Christmas and it is nothing short of awesome! It is the Nike wool 1/2 zip. The thing is awesome, did I mention that yet? From what I'm told wool is the only fabric that traps water in it's vapor state, and moves it away from the body. Sure sounds very technical blah blah, all I know is it works and it has kept me warm. The 1/2 zip is nice because it's a quick and easy vent if you start to get too warm and let me tell you it keeps you warm. It has little built in mitten like pockets at the end of each sleeve and I could not believe how warm they have kept my hands when it's been below 20 out!

                   Depending on the temp and whether or not it's windy/wet or calm and dry my outer layer either consists of a thin wind blocking, water repelling layer, or a thicker fleece like layer. The wind can get pretty brutal and cut right through to your core so the wind blocking layer is a must for gusty days. I got a Saucony Epic Run Jacket, which came with a cool little rechargeable USB LED light that clips on the sleeve for added visibility. It's light, thin, water resistant, and awesome at blocking the wind. My other outer layer option is a New Balance 1/2 zip with little holes for me thumbs at the end of each sleeve. This piece has worked well in the cold but the wind still tends to cut through if it blows very hard so that's when I need the wind breaker.

                  I received two pairs of tights for Christmas, both of which display my lack of a bum.... which is why I usually wear a pair of shorts over them. That and a little added weather protection over my man parts is always a good idea. From what I've been told the thing you want to look for in tights for winter running is thermal tights. Meaning they have some type of fleece like lining on the inside for added warmth. Both pairs I got have this fleece like lining. The second pair also have a softshell exterior covering a lot of the front. This helps block the wind from chilling you to the bone. Both pairs have worked really well.

                  I have a couple of choices for headgear which is good because lack of hair on top of my head means an extra need for warmth. I have two skull cap like style hats from brooks, both have reflective logos and one is half bright green for added visibility. The third option is a Saucony Balaclava which covers whole face, head and neck, minus an opening for my eyes which is convenient for....seeing. I haven't worn this option yet because it hasn't been that cold or windy yet, but when I do I'll let ya know how it works out!
                 On my feet I've been rocking Smartwool phd light cushion socks, the wool is crazy soft and works great at both cushioning and keeping my feet warm.
           So there you go that's what I'm using to avoid turning into an ice statue of a runner this winter. There are a lot of great products out there to keep you warm. Remember to layer, pick items made from non-cotton materials like wool or polyester that will wick moisture away from your body. Items with softshell or something similar work well at blocking the wind. That's about all I've got, if you have some tips for staying dry and warm this winter I'd love to hear about them. Oh and don't forget to stay hydrated this winter, you don't always think about it but again you still sweat a lot when exercising in the winter, don't forget to replenish that lost liquid!
        Official training for 2011 starts tomorrow! woohoo! hope everyone had a great New Years Eve and 2011 brings you a lot of happiness!

Drum roll please........Ta Da......You may now begin training

    When I trained for my first marathon I followed a training plan I found in an issue of Runner's World. It seemed like a pretty basic schedule of running 5-6 days a week and included speed work, hills, recovery runs and a long run every week. The long run started around 7 miles the first week and eventually peaked at 20 miles. Twice. Once again I'm beginning to train for a marathon (my second) and I officially begin this coming Monday. (cue confetti, trumpets, and loud applause!) Fine, no ticker tape parade but I am excited! I don't care if I'm the only one who is, because after all, it's for me not them haha.
    Anyway, this time around I once again have found a new plan for training in my trusty RW magazine, the January 2011 issue to be exact. In said issue there is an article that tells all about a slightly different approach to marathon training. This plan is used and designed by the Hanson Brothers... No not the singers annoying mm-bop guild. The guys who started the Brooks Hanson Distance Project. To summarize, the idea is to focus on training for the pace you want to run your marathon at. They still have speed, strength and long distance workouts but the longest run is 16 miles! When I read this that's what caught my eye, because last go around it was tough fitting in those longer runs every week. Granted it didn't help that it was one of my busiest summers I've had but still, this sounds like it will be so much easier on my weekend schedule! I know what your thinking. "How do you get around not having an uber long 20+ mile run?" Well the article does a much better job of explaining it but the way I understand it is the increased effort and high weekly mileage throughout the training schedule will train you to continue on when you are fatigued. So if you're interested in reading into it more you can follow the link above and get the scoop. Like I said, I'm excited for it and I'm hoping it works out for me, cus I mean well otherwise that would suck haha, but I won't know if I don't try! So like I said training kicks off Monday the 4th with 0-4 miles on tap, I'm going to shoot for 3 miles and ease into it. Then Tuesday is 3 miles worth of speed work, which since I'm a member of the Kalamazoo Area Runners I get to run indoors at WMU's track for free on Tuesday mornings! Take that old man winter! Wednesday is a rest day every week which works out perfect for me because that is my long day at work and I'm always lacking on motivation come the end of work on Wed. So there you have it running 6 days a week. speed work will be Tuesdays, marathon pace runs on Thursdays and long runs on Sundays, Wednesdays off and Mondays and Fridays will be mid distance easy paceish.

    I'm thinking next post I'll let you in on the awesome running goodies I got for Christmas and also what I'm using as defense against the Michigan winter. So far I haven't froze to death so I must be doing something right! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, I know I did!
    Oh and if you have a minute and want to check out a pretty awesome blog I recently found and started following then jump on over to JerBear Shares. If you do you might just win a prize! She just recently acquired her 100th follower and is doing a giveaway to celebrate!

~ From there to here ~ the abridged beginning of my life as a runner

   I love running! There's an ever growing combination of reasons, like I'm sure there is for most runners. Most likely not all the same reasons, but anyone who loves running surely has a plethora of reasons why. I've always loved sports and competition but when I was a kid I was too small and uncoordinated to be any good at football or hockey, too short and again uncoordinated to be a starter on the basketball team. Baseball was fun and I wasn't terrible at it but I was wayyyyyy too ADD to stand in the field that long waiting for the off chance that someone in little league might actually hit the ball past the in field. Then along came track and field in 7th grade and I had it set in my mind that I was a sprinter, fast as the Flash. It wasn't too long into the first week of practice that I realized I'm a terrible sprinter, damn. Again I was mediocre. This didn't mean I was going to quit, I mean after all I was still on the football and basketball teams even though I played about as little as you could while still actually being on the team.
    In 8th grade we had a new track coach who was more of a distance running oriented coach than our previous one, and when I was the only sprinter to show up to spring break practice among a half dozen distance runners he gave me the choice. He could come up with a sprinters workout for me or I could run a couple miles with them. In hindsight I'm so glad I chose to give that crazy idea of running distance a shot. When I finished ahead of at least half of the distance runners I knew this was where I belonged! That's how it started for me, my love of running. The next year I went out for the cross team instead of football and never looked back. A distance runner was born, and all the time I'm finding new reasons why I love the sport of running.
    My high school cross-country team was like a family and some of my closest friends to this day are some that I ran with in high school. Since that fateful spring break practice running has always been there for me. There have been times where it has taken a backseat to the rest of my life, pushed aside and almost forgotten. But there's always something that brings me back, and looking back at my life, I've been happiest when running has been a part of it. The most common question I get when people find out i'm a runner is something along the lines of "How do you run for fun?" It's at that moment when I remember all the amazing memories I've had as a runner and how much of my life has happened because of running. I simply respond with a smile and ask them how it's possible to not have fun?
    What about you? How did you find running? Or did running find you?

    Next post will detail my planned training for these frigid winter months and hopefully the training plan that leads me to a new marathon PR!

Due for an update!

Hi remember me! I'm the one who hasn't posted in oh... quite a while haha! I'm still alive and kickin, and still runnin! The biggest part of my delay has been my lack of a computer, it's busticated and I've been too lazy to get it fixed since my phone has been fully capable of handling most of my internet needs, but soon, very soon I tell you I shall have it fixed and once again bore... er... I mean captivate you with the trials and tribulations of training for my next grand adventure in running! That's right it's almost a new year and that means a new season of running and what better race to start it off than the inaugural Kalamazoo Marathon! I'm all signed up and ready to go as are a few of my friends. I'm excited and looking forward to it. Now all I've got to do is conquer winter training and keep my own inner demons in check! I've found a different philosophy and schedule for training in a recent Runner's World magazine that was created and used by the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. I'll update more on this in the future. So until I return again, which I promise will be sooner rather than later happy running and happy holidays!