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Half (of 26) or Full?

Is the course better half of 26 or full? That’s what I asked myself this past weekend when I participated in the Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. I was in town to work on behalf of HP as part of its HP Veer 4G sponsorship. In fact, I worked two long days prior to the race at the expo, a job I’m now convinced should be saved for those 25 years of age and younger.

I had very low expectations of how well I’d run.  Not only was I exhausted from standing on my feet for those two days, but I’d run 16 miles the prior weekend as part of my fall marathon training schedule. My goal? Break 2 hours and call it a day.

Then the race starts, the music is playing, the crowd is cheering, the runners are moving quickly (I started with the 1:45 pacers) and the adrenalin kicks in. My Garmin, which I almost forgot AGAIN, was providing inaccurate readings because of all the tall buildings in Chicago, so I really had no idea how fast I was running.

Before I knew it, I had completed the race in a time of 1:47.25, finishing 18 of 628 runners in my age group (which is very good for me).

The experience – tiring but not exhausting – has caused me to reflect a bit on why I run marathons. Heretofore are the advantages of going half the distance.

Training. Rather than weekends comprised of 18 and 20-milers, the schedule only requires 10 or 12-mile training runs, which are far less cumbersome, time-consuming and exhausting. You’re less likely to encounter injuries, too.

Wear and tear. Clearly, 13.1 miles is not as physically abusive as 26.2, both while training for the race and actually during it. Fewer people stop to stretch cramped muscles, and you can even walk home comfortably after the race, without limping uncontrollably.

Pain. Not to worry, pain can still be expected. After all, you are likely running a faster pace than that which you’d attempt for the full distance. But by default, the duration of the fatigue is shorter, making the saying “pain is temporary” less so.

Mental anguish. I have created a full arsenal of mind games to play during the last 8 miles+ of a marathon just so I can complete the distance. The mental battle is either non-existent or shorter lived when running a half because there’s no “wall” to knock down and no lack of coherence to conquer.

Stress. I get so nervous to run a marathon that I scarcely enjoy the two days prior. With a Half, it’s business – and life – as usual.

Ordeal. This past weekend, I had completed the race, taken a hot bath and settled in for a nap – all within 3 hours of the race’s start time. Sure, I was tired, but the race didn’t monopolize my entire day. In fact, I still found the time and energy to shop all afternoon along the Miracle Mile.

Recovery. I carried out my usual post-race routine of eating and drinking and stretching, but I recovered remarkably well. The next day I wasn’t sore or tired – despite my four hour flight home that arrived at 12:30 a.m.

So why still run marathons?

I suppose I’m a gluten for punishment, enjoy waking up at the crack of dawn for long training runs or like doing PT for all of my ongoing injuries. Because of those long training runs, mental battles, sacrificial Saturdays and walls knocked down, the feeling of accomplishment from running a marathon is hard to surpass.

So for that reason, I’ll keep running marathons as long as my body lets me. However, I may be substituting some of those Fulls with Halfs, in hopes that my running clock will keep on ticking!

Photo courtesy of RNR on Facebook.

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A Dog’s Exercise Mentality

Dog Talk: I didn’t get any exercise today so I’m a grump. I’m either lying around doing nothing or getting into things I shouldn’t because I’m bored. (Why does Mom have to work all the time anyway?)

People Talk: I didn’t exercise today so I’m in a bad mood – no endorphins to lift my spirits. Instead of being productive, I’m lying around doing nothing, tempted by those cookies and chips in the cupboard.

Dog Talk: Today, I got to go for a walk around the neighborhood on a leash. Though I’m familiar with the terrain and somewhat restrained, at least I get to go outside for a little while. And I got to leave my mark on at least 5 fire hydrants, so life is pretty good.

Human Talk: I got on the treadmill for half an hour today. Not the most exciting exercise, but at least I burned some calories and got to catch up on Real Housewives of Orange County.

Dog Talk: My mom took me for a hike in the hills today. I got to run off leash till my heart was content, smell all sorts of interesting aromas, roll in the mud and jump in the water. I wanted it to last forever.

Human Talk: I tried something new today. I broke free of the confines of the gym and went out for a long bike ride. I got exercise while I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the big city. It didn’t really feel like exercise at all because it was fun. And different.

Dog Talk: Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better than yesterday! Mom took me running in the hills with her friend, AND her friend’s dog. Not only did I get to enjoy the sights and smells of the outdoors again, but I had a partner in crime who showed me all sorts of new territory to explore.

Human Talk: I’m now meeting my friend every morning for boot camp. It’s a good thing I have someone else to drag me out of bed. Not to mention, misery loves company and I’m not as tired since I am working out with her.

Dog Talk: It’s great to be tired. I’m so relaxed and contented – don’t feel the need to dig 10 new holes in the back yard. And I even got some extra dog food for dinner because I have been such a good boy all day. Go figure. They finally take me outside to do what I want to do, and then they spend all their time telling me what a good boy I am.

Human Talk: After that 10-mile run, I feel like I could do just about anything. I feel good about myself and I just feel good. Even if I do plan to go to bed a little early tonight. After that delicious dinner I plan to eat, I might even reward myself with a sweet treat, too. After all, I have earned it!

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Write it Down – The Results of the Weekly Health Calendar Test

Back in May, I challenged myself (and others!) to write it down and recognize the value in keeping a Weekly Health Calendar. My goal was to track the food I ate, the hours of sleep I got and the duration/type of exercise I carried out. The motivation was FEELING GOOD – by an increased awareness of what factors influenced my daily health and well-being.

I had another motivator as well. I was diagnosed with IBS years ago, and I wanted to see if certain foods triggered my dreadful stomach aches.

I successfully tracked my eating and exercise habits for six weeks. I even cut out sugar and alcohol during some of this period, to see if this had any impact on how I felt.

After a six week period, I had the following realizations:

Perceptions aren’t always reality. We may all have the perception that we eat healthy – I know I do. But by writing down snacks and side dishes and desserts, I became increasingly aware of my food ‘weaknesses.’ Suddenly I felt guilty to report that I had eaten potato chips with lunch. Similarly, I realized my energy lulls in the morning were caused by one too many carbohydrates.

Nutrient rich foods provide much needed fuel. I found that if I snacked on nutrient dense foods and ate balanced meals, I had so much more energy! I also realized I wasn’t eating enough fruit and tried to increase my intake to the recommended servings/day.

Eating out isn’t always a win. I’m not sure if I give myself more liberties at restaurants or if restaurant food isn’t quite as healthy as my home-cooked fixins’, but I usually felt more bloated and lethargic after eating out. Sadly, many restaurant meals are void of vegetables, so this creates a nutrient deficit right off the bat.

Life goes on without sugar. I’m a dessert freak, so giving up sugar was challenging for me. It was especially tough in the mornings when I tried to eat a bowl of oatmeal or cereal without any sort of sweetener. (I tried Stevia but didn’t like it). But I survived my two week test; and by the end of it, I wasn’t missing sugar nearly as much as I thought I might.

Even after I stopped tracking my health habits via the weekly health calendars, I have reduced my dessert intake. There is such pleasure in knowing I am filling my body with healthy calories that give me energy instead of sugary “stuff” that only provides a temporary buzz. This is not to say I will give up desserts and sugar altogether, but cutting back has been much easier than I anticipated. And eating more fruit helps fulfill my sweet urge.

Sleep is critical! Almost as much as the food I ate, the amount of sleep I got each evening influenced how I felt the next day – both physically and mentally. I realize that some folks need more sleep than others, but if extra shut eye gives me a new lease on life, then I’ll take it!

Recovery is needed. Though I have always done a pretty decent job of alternating easy and hard workout days, writing down this information forced me to pay attention to my body’s need for rest and recovery.

More snacks = less pain. Sadly, I didn’t solve the mystery of my frequent stomach aches, but I did confirm that afternoon snacks help alleviate the problem a little. I also noticed that eating a HUGE dinner could trigger an episode as well. (And when you’re training for a marathon, a huge meal is a pretty common occurrence!).

And an added bonus. While preparing for the Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon, I had some of the best training runs I’ve ever experienced. I had a great race, too, and recovered more quickly than normal. Though tracking my health habits might not be the only factor in this welcome change of pace, it certainly contributed!

If you’re looking for ways to feel better – write it down! You might discover some interesting things about yourself in the process.

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Learn How to Mountain Bike (And Be a Kid Again)

Last week was a monumental moment in Luke’s life.

Out with the old….

And in with the new…..

And now that he’s all set up with gears, it’s time to hit the trails.

But wait, do I really know how to teach someone to mountain bike?

After all, the way I learned was rather unorthodox.

I went out on the mountain biking trails with my then-beau, who was a for more accomplished rider than I, in the Fells just north of Boston.

What does he immediately do?

He rides along some rocks that look something like this:

OK. Maybe they weren’t that bad. But you can see for yourself – ‘Fells’ means ‘wild rocky place’ (taken right from their website).

So like any panicked person would do, I clutch my brakes for dear life. Then flip, rather gracefully I’m sure, over my handle bars and fall onto the rocks.

My risk injured, I walked home dejected. With a sad dog who didn’t get her ride, either.

That didn’t deter me. I went back for many a ride at that wild, rocky place and loved every minute of it (as did Shelby the dog). And though I never mastered anything quite as technical as the previously shown photo, I did manage to hold my own. I even won a mountain bike race before I moved away from the Beantown.

But back to how I learned. I would describe the experience as rather unconventional; I don’t think I ever really grasped proper technique. I was just ignorant enough to try hard and worry about falling later.

So when we bought Luke’s bike the other night, the salesman told us to go out to the “pump park” to teach him how to ride. Again, either showing my age or ignorance, I had no idea what a pump park was/is.

Well apparently, this is the pump track in Eagle, Idaho, to which he was referring:

The gentleman told us that for Luke to learn properly, he should be able to ride around the pump park without pedaling. In this manner, he learns how to feel the bumps and the curves and adjust his weight accordingly.

I see it now. This will be Luke in 5 years.

But what the heck? While he’s at it, I don’t see why I can’t learn all over again, too.

After all, riding mountain bikes is like being a kid again. And what I would have given to have mountain biked at Luke’s age.

You should try it, too.

P.S. Hopefully I won’t be in a cast when I type my next blog post.

Photos courtesy of  Friends of the Fells and PinkBike.

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For the Love of Tennis – Make Exercise Social

In Finding Life’s Secret Sauce, I devote a chapter to “making exercise social.” I truly believe that having partners in crime is one sure way to help you stick with a schedule. Whether it’s finding a running buddy or playing golf with the guys or gals, being active with others makes it more fun!

Tennis is one such social sport that I find particularly enjoyable. It’s a great way to get exercise, meet new friends and stir up the competitive juices, if you are as lucky enough (or cursed) to have a system filled with these like I am.

How to Get Involved

I’ve recently laid witness to several friends – across a range of athleticism – who have just started playing tennis and are enjoying it immensely. They have asked me how to join a team, so I thought I’d share what I know.

The best way to get started, in my opinion, is to sign up with the USTA (United States Tennis Association). If you visit their main website, click the tennis link tab. From here, you can find out more about USTA Leagues, Flex Leagues, Tournaments and Junior Team Tennis. I personally play in USTA Leagues as much as the weather allows, and there are a variety of options during the spring, summer and fall.

No Experience Needed

You may think you need a lot of experience to get started, and this is not true. I decided to play tennis for the first time when I was 25 and living in Charlotte. I picked up a tennis racket and went to the USTA office to be rated. From there, I joined a league and had a blast. My friend in California just started playing for the first time at age 41.

How it Works

At least in Boise, you self-rate your skill level. The ratings start at 2.5 and build in increments of .5 on up to the pros. If you have never played in a formal tennis league or on a team and have to self-rate, I’d suggest starting out at 2.5. Even if you get bumped up to a higher level, you’ll enjoy a few wins under your belt to boost your confidence.

Some markets, like Charlotte years ago, may require that you get rated by a USTA staff person. This is easy to do as well – just place a phone call and set an appointment.

Also, if you don’t know the rules, don’t worry about it. I’m still learning them myself!

What to Play

Some of the leagues are doubles play only. Others have opportunities for singles and doubles. If you’re just getting started, you may not know what your preference is. And again, my suggestion is to try both. I started out playing singles then picked up doubles twenty years later. Having experience at both is very valuable in making you a better player. Not to mention, many USTA leagues are only doubles play – some mixed, some women’s/men’s. So if you want to play on teams, then you’ll probably need to learn doubles at some point anyway.

Other opportunities

If the USTA isn’t your thing, there are other opportunities to play with city and club teams. In fact, Boise has a Swim and Racquet Club which allows non-members to participate in leagues and tournaments. Your market may have opportunities like this, too, so call around for more information.

Another way to get more experience is to play in local tournaments. You’ll can find out about these via the USTA web site, your local tennis association and local clubs.

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