Running with whatever life throws my way
(1) Favorite Gu flavors: Vanilla Bean and Mandarin Orange. I wish I could mix them together without making a huge mess. Alas.
(2) Name on FRONT or BACK of my shirt for the half? I’ve got some time to decide–I’m doing a trial run of the shirt on Saturday and then it will go through the wash and THEN I’ll put the letters on it. But seriously…which do you think will get more response? (Because I want people cheering for me, damnit!)
Front? or Back?
Training is going well. I have my last long run–10 miles on Saturday. I did my 7 miles in the rain this morning. My outfit is coming together nicely (black wicking shirt and white iron on letters purchased today) and I even found that I have nail polish that matches my tights (yeah, crazy, I know) so I’m going to go nuts with that next week.
I’m mostly excited, though I’m also nervous. I keep looking at the course closure/sweep times and even though realistically I know I’ll be okay, it still makes me nervous. I know that I’ll have race day excitement & momentum on my side (not to mention other runners, bands, and cheerathoners) and I don’t worry about finishing the distance itself–I know that most training plans don’t have you run the full distance before the race and I know that I can get myself to the finish line because I’m good at finishing distances, I have yet to meet a distance I haven’t been able to conquer (even if I want to die afterwards). I’m just worried about finishing in time.
*breathe* I just need to breathe and relax. I’m not fast, but I’m steady, and I’m sure I’ll feel better after my 10-miler on Saturday when I know for sure how long that takes me (I’m decent at guesstimating, but it’s not the same as having an actual number to work with).
So glad I waited to get a shirt until I saw what color the capris are
The capris on the website
The color they really are. Only this picture doesn’t do them justice. They are INSANELY bright. But note that they are different from the picture.
Thinking I’m not going to go for a shirt this color. Think I might go for a dark grey or black shirt and find iron on letters this color for my name. Boo yah!
Looking for some wisdom from people who have run half marathons before.
What do you wish you had known the first time you did a half?
What advice do you have for a newbie?
I’ve raced before, but not this distance, and I have to travel for the race, so if any of you have advice for traveling before the race or recovery advice for after I’m open to that as well.
Thanks in advance!
I’ll be running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.
Wow. I’ve been busy lately so I haven’t been posting much, but training is going well. Postponed my long run this morning because I felt ‘off’ but tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be even more amazing than today so knocking out 9 miles in the AM will be no problem.
I’ve started getting my gear situated and working on my outfit (because I need to have something bright and fun to run in because that is how I roll). Got a fuel belt. This one:
I chose to go with this over the multi-bottle models because I’ve been carrying a 32 oz bottle with me during my runs, the idea of juggling 4 bottles wasn’t appealing (and seems unnecessary given the water stops on the route) and the 2 bottle versions would only yield me 20 oz. That extra 2 oz doesn’t seem like much, but it makes me feel more secure. I’m going to try it out tomorrow.
I also ordered these:
to go under my black skirt. Not sure what color shirt I’m going to go with, but I’m definitely in the market for something wicking (though, truth be told, I typically run in plain cotton men’s Hanes v-necks no matter the distance and they serve me well). Kinda waiting to see what color pink this is in person before I pick a shirt. Also debating the name on the shirt feature…my bib is personalized but I worry the print will be too small for bystanders to cheer me on. I’m thinking I’ll get some big, black iron-on letters. 🙂
Oy vey. Blergy run, let me count the ways:
(1) first long run in over a week [have I mentioned how much I HATE cutback weeks/short runs?]. I hate them. It’s hard for me to get motivated to do them because it doesn’t feel worth the time if I’m going to be out for less than an hour. At this point 7 is my favorite distance because it is my favorite route–hellish uphills on a semi-dangerous road followed by glorious downs on the path through town.
(2) shark week, need I say more?, complete with lady cramps that cropped up in the freakin’ middle of my run. I felt good in the beginning, but ended up walking most of my favorite part of the route because I just hurt and the running didn’t help (believe me, I tried).
(3) f’d up weather. Seriously, I experienced being both over and under dressed this morning. It was cool but sunny, then I went through some light sprinkly rain, then I was too warm, so I took off my baseball cap and gloves and unzipped my layers. Then there was very faint, almost unbelievable but it is April in Vermont SNOW (!!). This was the warm part in which I was still unzipped, sans hat and gloves. Then it was sunny but with a wicked wind that made me re-zip, put my gloves and hat back on. I went from being overdressed to underdressed in about a minute. CRAZY.
Here’s hoping that my 9 miler on Saturday is better.
I always think the best part about some of these runs is that I have no choice but to finish–I’m 3.5 miles from my house and there’s no other way to get back there. I have to keep going. Which proves to me that I can do it. If I was on the treadmill I would’ve just quit and gone home, but outdoor runs make me persevere. And even when they suck (and this didn’t suck, it was just not great) I’m always glad I did it. The only runs I’ve ever regretted were the ones I didn’t do.
I’m pretend running shopping since I can’t afford to go real running shopping right now…
Okay, I guess that’s all for now.
…and I HATE short runs. I hate them now. I loathe them. It is hard for me to take them seriously. If I’m not going to be going for at least an hour it is difficult for me to get up the motivation to go. (Maybe Erik is right and I have the makings of an ultrarunner in me…)
To defeat this, I’m going to make a point to do this run on a treadmill at the gym, and to push myself to do it as fast as I can.
My day just keeps getting more complicated.
Got these today. I LOVE my Vibrams, but need a second pair of shoes for times when FiveFingers are less practical. Tried on a pair of Adidas trail running shoes today too and only got one of them on before rejecting them–too much shoe! I so couldn’t deal with that anymore. Hoping to take the Vibrams outside this week for my shorter runs.
…as we say in my house when I rise at 6 AM on a Saturday, or while on vacation to make sure I can get my run in. I’m becoming a morning runner. I prefer it. It gives me strength and confidence to go into the day knowing that I’ve already put in my miles.
I owe you a big post about March. It’s coming. But I’ve been wicked busy, and that’s something that’s going to continue, so it might be a week before I get to it. Good things are coming, however.