NYC LOTTERY!

Brian and I each have put in for the NYC Marathon Lottery!  With luck, we will both get picked to run it!  My fingers are crossed because this would be one of the coolest experiences of a lifetime!  I hope we're both feeling lucky!!!

Time to go pick up a rabbit's foot now :)

Provo Aint So Bad

Stefhan and I were in the Provo area visiting some family and I still had a long run to squeeze into the schedule.  Stefhan was really awesome and said that he would join me along the way on my run.  I filled up my rolling duffel bag with my running gear and brought it down to Provo.  We both ran along the Provo River Parkway and I ended up running 9 miles total and Stefhan ran 7.25 miles.  This was definitely one of my favorite runs so far.  The parkway is really beautiful and it was so nice to not have to worry about traffic for once.  I gotta thank Stefhan for this one, it was a great pick!

 I also finally finished Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  I had a bunch of books lined up before it and I finally got around to it.  Even if you're not a runner, the book is a really great read.  It is mind boggling what the human body is capable of doing.  Like any book, there are some chapters more interesting than others, but for the most part, they all had some value to them.  I mostly enoyed reading about the 100-mile long races and the obstacles runners endured along the way.  Injuries, dehydration, hallucinations, amongst many other challenges.  I highly recommend any runner to read this book and even if you aren't a runner, I think you would still find the book enjoyable. 

Race day is right around the corner and I'm feeling more and more confident.  I can't wait for it to get here so that I can put it behind me and start working on the 26.2 mile :-)

Flea to Run LA Marathon

Thank you Jenn Rohn for sharing this article with me!

Flea read the same book I'm reading right now, Born to Run and decided to run the LA Marathon.  Go Flea!!!

Runner's World Article

Gu Gone WILD!!!

My mental stability regarding my runs tends to be hillier than the runs themselves...I've had my ups and my downs, but fortunately for me, I have had more positive training sessions lately. 

On Thursday, I ran with a friend of mine who is built like a member of the Tarahumara tribe.  He's a great athlete and built 6'5" tall and incredibly lean.  We had a 7 mile run planned and we hit the gates a little fast for what I normally do.  He normally runs at a 7 minute pace which is a far cry from what I'm used to.  He slowed down to a 9'30" pace, which for me was a drastic increase in speed from my 11 minute pace.  I hate to make excuses for why this run was so difficult for me, but it was terrible.  Mentally, I just wasn't there.  I started off strong but burnt out fast.  I survived the run, however barely.  My confidence plunged and I needed another run day to bring my confidence back up.

I stopped by the Salt Lake Running Company again and purchased a few more items.  I bought the GRID Foam Roller which has been awesome.  I roll on it before and after my runs and it helps stretch my IT band and any other sore muscle.  If you love that "it hurts so good!" feeling, then you gotta get the foam roller.  It almost brings me to tears in pain, but that tells me that I need some good stretching.  Once I start rolling, I just can't stop!

 I also purchased a hydration belt, because I normally don't drink enough water through out the day.  In the last two runs (a 5 miler and 11 miler), I have experimented with hydrating every mile.  I'm not sure if the success of my runs can be attributed to me sipping on water every mile, but I'm sure it isn't hurting.  The belt is really comfortable and doesn't wiggle around at all.  It's also easily customizable, which I like a lot.  I'm definitely a fan.   

The final item I purchased was Gu.  I bought several different packs from Gu, Powerbar and Hammer.  Today, I ate a pack of "Tri-berry" at mile 3 and another pack of "Mandarin" at mile 6.  Again, I'm not sure what exactly I can attribute the success of the run to, but with the combination of hydration and the Gu packs, the run was surprisingly easier than I had expected.  I'm already excited for my next long run to try some other flavors from other companies.  The texture and flavor was definitely a little odd at first, but if I just focus on the fact that it gives me more energy, it's worth downing it. 

My knee is still giving me a little aggravation, however I'm hesitant to see a doctor just yet because I KNOW he/she will tell me I need to rest.  Well, unfortunately, I don't have time to rest just yet, but I have made a vow to myself that I will get checked out with the conclusion of my half-marathon.  For now, I just have to survive the next month and the 13.1 miles.

Keep on rollin'!

Just Shoe Me

One of the cool things about running as much as I have been has been testing and trying out running shoes.  I have been trying to follow the debate between minimalist running and traditional running and it still seems like the argument that minimalist running is the way to go is still uncertain.  I have stuck with the trainers since I am unsure whether or not a minimalist shoe will actually benefit me.

Asics Gel-Kayano 17

I wanted to give kudos to the Salt Lake Running Company here in SLC.  Their customer service is top notch and speaks volumes for the company.  In mid-December, I went to SLRC to buy a pair of running shoes and bought the Asics Gel-Kayano 17.  I wish I took a picture of the shoes before I returned them because the heel completely blew out, probably due to my irregular shaped heel.  Below is a photo of my old Brooks shoes that I wore last year.  It was hard to show the wear and tear in the right shoe, but you can see it a little.  The Asics were far worse, after only two months of running in them.  I brought the shoe into the SLRC, expecting them to show me a pair that might fit my foot better and prevent the tearing of the material.  I also expected to purchase the more appropriate pair and just call the Asics a loss.  The salesman said that the store has a 30 day return policy and I told him that I was well past the 30 days.  He brought the shoe to the manager who was very understanding, and after 60 days of owning the shoes and putting approximately 75 miles on the shoe, the manager said that I could try a new pair from any company, at no cost.  I was torn between some Adidas and the Mizuno.  There was less slippage in the heel area of the Mizuno Wave Nirvana 7, so I went with those, which are pictured below (the pair to the far right).

I took the picture below just for fun.  These are all shoes I've had since Police Academy.  Having more knowledge now, I should have had a lot more pairs in between.  I left a space in the middle in memory of my Asics that I sent back.  I really wish I had taken a photo of them along with the damage after only two months of wear.

Blown out heel in Brooks shoes

From left to right: Nike AirEqualon, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9, Asics (RIP), Mizuno 

 

Anyway, the half-marathon is right around the corner (40 days and counting down!)  Tomorrow will be a 10-mile run, my longest run EVER!  I'm pretty nervous about it and hope I can survive.

Thanks for reading!
Charli