Creepy!

My parents threw an incredible Engagement Party for us on Saturday night. While sipping on glass number 3 (?) of red wine, my friend asks if I'm ready for next weekend.

Huh?

Oh right. The marathon. I completely forgot that it was next weekend! I truly thought I had a few more weeks for training. Whoops! That totally creeped up on me BIG TIME

No worries, I'm feeling good. I've been running more frequently than I have for other marathons, and I got in several 9 milers on my own and did a half marathon two weeks ago.

PLUS! Get this! The weather is going to be FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! High of 55, low of 40. Beautiful running conditions for this girl.

Now all I need to do is figure out what I'm going to wear:
a) Something corny like "The Chicago Mere-a-thon" (always a classic)
or
b) "Runaway Bride" since there's a high likelihood that this will be my last marathon with my last name before it changes!

Suggestions?

Swap Out Your “Buds”

You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose…but, unfortunately, you can’t pick how those around you run.

Headphones, those little buds that seem to be attached to runners’ ears on race day, are becoming a bigger and bigger problem.

I feel strongly that wearing headphones is absolutely, positively the stupidest thing that a runner can do on race day. Yes, it’s even dumber than starting out too fast, missing a turn (which could be attributed to being distracted with headphones and not watching the course) or forgetting to hydrate.

Gosh, this really grinds my gears. Why? Why do I let myself get so worked up over this?  Let me share with you my thoughts, and then I will share some thoughts of others that I talk to on race day about this topic.

In my opinion, headphone wearing runners are:

1.       Party Poopers! Running events are designed to be highly social (unless you’re actually good, in which case you need to finish fast for prize money). Cheering others around you on helps to gain motivation. It’s the motivation of people running alongside of you, pushing toward the same goal. Even if you huff and puff out a “Good job” or “are we there yet?” along the course, it not only helps the other person perk up a little, but it pushes you to keep going.

Example 1: During my half marathon this Sunday, I congratulated 3 women running past me. I said “good job, ladies, keep it up!” through short breaths. What response did I get? Nothing. Nada. Zero response. Lame.

2.       Oblivious to those around them. They are in their own little world and miss out on critical announcements or instructions.

a.      Example 2: During the half marathon, it was an out-and-back. Volunteers kept yelling “keep to the right! Runners are coming!” Well, the headphone-wearing hooligans around me either (1) Didn’t care of (2) Didn’t hear the instructions because they took up the entire path. They finally got over just in time for the first 4 lead male runners to pass, then drifted left again, just in time for the next wave of runners to come by, forcing some of them into the grass to avoid collision. Ridiculous.

3.       Unlawful. Many races clearly state “no headphones”. It’s for your safety! You need to hear announcements, updates, people around you, etc. It’s not because the race director doesn’t like Kayne or Ozzie setting your cadence. They care about you and your safety.

What others say:

1.       Headphones keep them going. Okay, I can understand that. Maybe only wear then when training. Sometimes running solo gets lonely and it takes all 5 of the Spice Girls to keep you going.

2.       They train with headphones, so why change on race day? True, you aren’t supposed to do things drastically on race day, but finding a new way to motivate you shouldn’t be life-or-death.

3.       My iPhone tracks my pace, speed, distance, etc. for me. Congratulations. I’m happy that you’re relying on technology for this. Whatever happened to the good old fashioned Timex and mentally calculating where you are? What else is your brain doing when you’re running? Don’t let it go mushy.

So, please, if you’re a headphone wearing hooligan, please reconsider your ‘buds on the course.  Then, on race day when you’re with hundreds of your closest friends covered in Body Glide, you can bask in the gloriousness of other sweaty, stinky, panting, runners who are grinning like fools because they made a running comrade along the course.

I challenge you, for your next race, swap out your music-blaring ‘buds for the living, breathing kind that need to feel the sense of belonging with fellow runners as badly as you do – I guarantee you’ll have a heck of a lot more fun and will be grinning from ear-to-ear.

Walk it Off

Kel and I have been walking everywhere together lately. One hour yesterday morning, then before dinner we walked to Price Chopper to return a movie at the RedBox. She's sleeping longer in the mornings (almost to 8am! sweet!) and, well, I'm feeling refreshed when I get up, too!

Walking may not get my heart rate up as high as running, but it's getting me moving more than usual. I'm still running, biking, swimming and doing some yoga, but if I can add additional movement in the day (walking), game on.

Speaking of getting moving, I need to go assemble my lounge chair for the backyard so I can finish my Chick Lit book...

In the Red Corner: Off The Wall--In the Blue Corner: Any Time Fitness. Let's have a clean fight! Ding Ding!

It's about time, but Bennington is finally getting a "modern workout facility". This means a facility with treadmills NOT duct-taped together or with potholes in them. It means TV's on each piece of equipment and earplug hookups for each individual so you're not stuck watching HLN (seriously, how is that possibly an accredited station!?!). It means moderately priced with benefits of fitness classes, workout equipment, free weights, tanning, and weekend hours that extend past 1pm.

I don't expect and ear-biting between the two places, but it woul dbe nice to see if there are some competitive price incentives because, honestly, $33.33 a month at Off The Wall is a bit ridiculous. Plus, there isn't any place where you can stretch or cool down without all teh meatheads lifting weights staring at you. (Shouldn't there be a dress code where JEANS are NOT allowed in a gym? These guys come in off the street in jeans and think it's okay to lift massive weights for one--maybe two--reps then call it a workout.)

Moral of the story, I have been with OTW for one month now. But our time is up. Literally. My one month expired. I will go on a few dates with Anytime Fitness and see if they swoop me off my feet with red wine and white roses.

Once I beat this cold that knocked me off my feet in the last few days, I'm giving Anytime a chance. Then, as the weather gets nicer, Kelly will start to increase her mileage. 4 miles has been her max. I'm thinking she'll get up to 6-7 by the start of summer. But then again, that means I need to be at that speed, too.

Oh, not to mention, Girls on the Run starts in a few weeks so I will have 20-some girls ranging from 3rd to 5th grade running and I will need to keep up the best I can. It's surprising how fast those girls can be! No really! I'm really looking forward to volunteering with them this year. Heaven knows the girls in Bennington need as much positive influence and role models as ever. I don't want to see any of those girls pushing strollers in the springtime...

Brick...yeah my legs felt like those, too.

Last night, after work, we formed a peloton. Collins, Jerad, Victor, Joe, Glen, and I took a ride up Woodford (heaven forbid you pronounce the "d"... it's Wooooofurd around here, folks!) we took it right around the first truck pull off, turned around and Weeeeeeeee we flew down the mountain. Victor's comp. had us at 38 mph (mine decided not to work--the batteries are fresh, trust me, I know a guy)

I biked to work... so I had to bike home. Stupid mountains. they're everywhere! Made it home (sweaty) threw on running shoes and ran a mere 2.2 miles. Honestly, this was the most difficult brick ever! My legs felt like boulders. Gross.

Next week I'm in Westlake for buisness, so THANK GOODNESS for the flatlands. I can't wait! I was meant for the Great Plains. This whole 'green mountain' thing is a bit tough to adjust to (and it's been over a year now!!)

5k Goodness

The Susan G Komen 5k was today in Vermont. The morning was hazy, but the forecast showed no rain for the morning. But boy oh boy was it HUMID!

Today marked a glorious record-breaking-time: 26:08. Granted, that's not the fastest 5k known to man, but it's the best I've done in several years. Movin' on up...!!

Next goal: hitting under 25:00 for a 5k by Turkey-Trot season.

Hot town, Summer in the...Boonies?

This summer's been much cooler than I remember from back home. Today we were set to reach 85 degrees. Though my morning run started late (10am, not 6am!), I don't think it was SUPER hot during my run.

Hal Higdon has a master plan for me: today was 14 miles. I mapped it out on www.MapMyRun.com (aka my most visited site, move over Facebook! You've SO been replaced!) Sounded simple: keep hanging rights into New York, curve back into Vermont, cross two covered bridges, cut around the airport, head home. Holy bratworst, Batman! The hills that I came across were comparable to those along IM-Moo's bike courses. Holy HELL where did those come from!? I thought I was being tricky and routing myself AROUND the hills--not through them.

At mile 4-ish I started feeling pretty warm and thirsty. Buggers, I still have 10 miles to go. Suck it up, girlie. Pull up your big girl panties and deal with it! I told mself. I made it to mile 10 before needing to walk. But then I walked for about the last 2 miles. I even cut a corner and made my run 12.7 miles. I was so darn thirsty by the time I got to that intersection: turn right and add an extra mile and a half; turn left and head STRAIGHT home to cool, refreshing Brita water... not a hard decision there.

Thank goodness for my common sense to put on sunscreen this morning. Sure needed it. Much of the route was NOT shaded (though trees/mountains were everywhere--just not doing their j-o-b on the course!!).

Note to self: On hot days, wear a hat.