Top 10 Marathon Tips

Tips (I could come up with) for Marathoners

(or Things I Think Are Important to Remember in a Marathon)

1. Wear clothes you've run in before. You never know how a funky seam, bunching or shifting, or even a different length in new apparel is going to affect your performance. Wear comfortable clothes you like that aren't smelly.
2. Don't wear brand new shoes. If you've been sporting kicks for 500+ miles, it's probably best to have a newer pair, but if that means getting them the day before the race, skip it. Just wear the old shoes. You want to try to have at least two weeks in the shoes you're using in the marathon
   
   
   
3. Have a hydration plan. If you aren't carrying water with you, then take a look at the marathon's water stops. Plan accordingly. If it's hotter than normal on the day of your race, take more water. Drink from each water stop and throw some water on yourself, too. Also, when drinking from paper cups, pinch the cup to close it off so it doesn't splash, then drink out of the pointy side of the fold.
4. Have a nutrition plan. Find out if the marathon is supplying any kind of energy gels, snacks, etc. If you haven't trained with that stuff, don't try it for the first time at the race. Take your energy gels with you and use those instead.
5. Double-knot your shoelaces.
6. Go to the bathroom before the race. If it's a big city marathon, plan to get in line more than a half hour in advance. You may have to wait for awhile.
7. Lay out your race outfit the night before the race.
8. Charge your Garmin before the race!
9. Make sure you have a friend out on the course who can hold up a silly sign for you. It might just give you the push you will need.
10. Relax and enjoy the work you put in to make this event possible! Have fun!

The Last Longish Run

This past Sunday, I ran an awesome 9 miles in the morning before church. My workout was supposed to be 60-80 minutes easy and then the last 15 minutes push the pace to between 1/2 marathon and 10k pace.

It was 7:15am, Gregg and I started running from Peakland UMC parking lot, ran to Boonsboro Shopping Center parking lot, and met up with 4 other guys from Gregg's running buddies.

I hung with them for another mile, and then stayed loose and slow and they took off ahead.

After about 7 miles, I turned the pace up. I ran at about a 7:35 pace for mile 8, and then dropped a little faster to 7:30 for mile 9.

At about mile 8.5, I saw the guys again...they had run out farther than me, where as I was doubling back on my course, so I hadn't seen them since mile 2.

I heard some encouraging words from a few of the guys:

Lookin' good speedy!

and

Lookin' strong!

I finished back at the Peakland parking lot, where Gregg was waiting for me.

He looked proud. 

It made me feel good that he was standing there waiting for me. The following conversation ensued:

Me: I HAVE to go to the bathroom...maybe in those trees over there.

Gregg: You can't, it's a church.

Me: Let's go to Starbucks, quick.

Gregg: Ok.

Me: Hurry!!!

Gregg and I headed to Starbucks. He ordered the coffee and I headed to the bathroom to (well, you know...)

A local runner girl stopped me after I grabbed my coffee (yes, I washed my hands). She wanted to talk about my workouts. She said she needed to start doing that kind of stuff and wanted to do it with me maybe...I was flattered.

I mean me? The girl who used to be horribly inconsistent? She wanted to run with me?

It was a neat feeling. We talked about doing some workouts on the track and longer runs with tempos in the middle this summer. Granted, we all know I have to take a little time off after this marathon, but I can't wait to get started!

Best part is I have the most amazing running calendar for the upcoming year!

June: Chicago Women's Half Marathon

August: Hood to Coast Relay where I'll get to spend time with my friend Sarah who blogs here.

November: New York City Marathon Are you kidding me? Is this REAL?!

Can't wait to keep you posted!

Austin's home!

Miles today: 5.0

Miles this week: 21.1

Miles in 2010: 268

Here --->
are two of my favorite running store buddies: PW and Austin

Austin's home for the rest of the week, so I was happy to wake up at 7:30 this morning and meet her at the Greek Church for an easy 5-miler. We both hate running on the paved trail at Blackwater, but my legs were tired and I didn't feel like running up either direction of Langhorne or straight across to Cranehill, so the only option was to stay flat on the trail.

It had rained all day yesterday, so we stayed away from the trails and just ran the paved path...out 2.5 and back. I am a big wuss and sometimes get nervous when I run with Austin because I know she's so much faster than me. But actually, today, I felt pretty good, all the way out and almost all the way back...and then of course, the cursed bathroom cramp hit me and I had to jog back to the Ed Page entrance with one thing on my mind...how quickly the bathroom would be near. We were also suprisingly lucky to start and finish our run after the rain finished and before it started again.

We saw Helen and her friend on the trail as we finished running, chatted really quick, and then headed out. It's always good to catch up with Austin by running because she can tell me all about school and how life is and I don't have to talk too much (especially since I'm always way more out of breath than her) and I can nod and say: uh-huh...and I don't seem like I'm too much of a wimp. It's great. It's our best catching up time when we're running. Plus she's got a lot more excitement going on in her life since she's a student at Wake Forest and living the college life. I love living vicariously through her.

Anyway, had a good run to start the day, stopped by AREVA to pick something up from Gregg, and then headed home and on to work.

Busy day all week at the store, so I've been on the floor every minute...and I can tell because my legs are a ton sorer than usual.

After work, Gregg and I ordered pizza and kicked up our feet for the evening. I love minutes spent with him. And pizza.

Gotta get up early to run and then help out at the Gifts for Gulu race in the AM.

A Day Filled with Lots

Miles today: 4.2

Miles this week: 14.1

Miles in 2010: 261

This morning I woke up and had the day off from work, so I met a new running buddy, Johnna, at the Greek Church and ran 4 miles with her. That's her on the right.

Johnna's a pretty big inspiration because she lost a ton of weight in the last two years and then ran her first marathon in November and QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON! How awesome is that? I hope that with proper training, I can do the same thing someday.

We ran from the Greek Church, up Langhorne, down Rivermont, and then down Woodland to the 1-mile mark and back up Blackwater. I hadn't run Langhorne in a long time, so I definitely was feeling the hill as we headed up to Rivermont.

It was fun to run with another new buddy. I usually find out pretty quickly if I'm going to have to work hard to keep up, slow myself down to stay with the person, or feel perfect and in sync and not have to worry about timing and pace. For the most part, with Johnna, I didn't have to worry about pace or struggling to stay together, which was nice.

After the run, Johnna had to go home to her boys (she has 3 gorgeous sons) and I headed straight for the bathroom...hahaha. A good run will do that to me.

After the run, I went to Wyndhurst to visit the J. Crew store...where I found a few cute dresses for weddings this summer. (Note: It's nice to try clothes on in smaller sizes lately...I think the running has affected my body composition, because things are fitting better.) My sister and niece met up with me, we took a look at some flower girl dresses at J. Crew and a store in Boonsboro, and then ate lunch at Phila Deli. (Note: I love, LOVE, LOVE their Buffalo Chicken Wrap...it's so good!)

I had a few meetings at hotels this afternoon, so I headed out to the Holiday Inn Select downtown and then picked up Gregg and went out to the Springhill Suites by the airport. We ended up deciding on both hotels, one being very close to the airport, and one very close to Lynchburg College. Hopefully our guests will be satisfied.

I headed home to finish the much-belated Save-the-Dates that said "Merry Christmas" and were supposed to get done before December 25th...but alas, at least they got done. I made inserts with hotel information and got a cute edge puncher from Martha Stewart crafts...then Stacey came over and helped me stuff envelopes and finish the project. THANK GOODNESS IT'S DONE.

Austin came home from spring break in Ft. Lauderdale today, so me, Gregg, and Stacey headed over to the Corner Cafe to meet up with her and hang for a little. We hadn't been over there for yummy fresh-cut fries in a long time! Long day, but got a lot done!