The more inclement the weather, the better the run

courtesy of [someone else]

I've worked myself into an every-other-day running routine that suits me well. Yesterday was a running day, and I'd been looking forward to it all day. So when I stepped outside in my running shoes (yes, back to those) and found that the summery day had turned an ominous shade of--shall we say, dark charcoal--I was not to be deterred. I cranked up Soulja Boy, loosened up my calves, and hustled over toward the Reservoir. Here is how the next 40 minutes unfolded:

00:00:37 - Woman down. She's literally lying across the dirt, immobile, face contorted in pain. Two or three others appear to be tending to her. I pause Soulja Boy and RunKeeper (the running app on my iPhone) and slow down to offer help but I get a thumbs-up from one of the attendants. Everything's under control. Soulja Boy resumed.

00:07:28 - RunKeeper pipes up to inform me that I've covered one-quarter of a mile, at which point I realize I never un-paused it.  Damn.  Un-pause.

00:09:15 - The whispered premonition of a side ache is officially a full-blown side ache.  No!  Why is this happening?  I shouldn't have drunk so much water.  Proceed to violently prod general intestinal region while producing cough-like noises and continuing to run. This draws side glances from a couple running the opposite direction.

00:15:23 - Circle back to immobile woman. This time EMT is there, too. My side ache is back and I slow to a walk, massaging something in the general vicinity of the small intestine. Maybe.

00:23:00 - Everything going swimmingly.  I'm back in action!  Picking up the pace.

00:26:54 - Cracks of thunder and a flash of lightening.  I'm on the side of the reservoir opposite my apartment.  A grin spreads across my face.

00:28:06 - Rain falling freely. I try to run under trees and begin to wonder whether there's any chance my iPhone might be waterproof.

00:33:16 - Rain is starting to soak through my clothes. There doesn't appear to be anybody else on the running track. Even the EMT is gone!  I'm getting to the highpoint of my run and have no desire to cut it short, but I'm concerned about my iPhone.  So I take off my t-shirt and wrap it around the phone.

00:36:00 - Still running.  Euphoria.  Splashing through puddles.  A couple wayward glances from male runners.  So I'm not the only one left after all.

00:40:00 - Throw open the door to my apartment, kick off my shoes, and jump in the shower. Best run ever!  Or second best, first being last year's blizzard run.

Runnerly yours,

Marisa <3

Running Around the Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

One of my favorite things about living near Central Park is running around the reservoir. Each loop is approximately 1.5 miles, so these days I'm shooting for two wide loops and then some, for a total of a little under four miles.

With easy, mostly flat mileage and pretty city views, it's a great place to unwind and walk or run to your heart's content. Hope to see you there!

Week Off

Image from http://www.therunningfront.com/

I can't say this week off is entirely voluntary. I would run just about every day if I could. But this week I'm taking a break because my body said, Enough.

There's no shortage of strong opinions when it comes to the topic of running injuries. Is it running itself that incurs injuries, or is it bad form? Maybe it's a little of both, and maybe it varies from person to person. But I've been struggling with two injuries for a long time now (a chronic strain to the right quadriceps and, more recently, a very tight right calf that seems to pull easily) and this week decided to give in to them, let them rest.

Even in the absence of injury, a week off once in a while can be very beneficial. There seems to be a consensus among scientists and athletes that the human body emerges from a periodic rest period in a state much more receptive to exercise and better prepared to build muscle. A less talked about advantage to taking a week off is the mental and emotional break--the chance for your mind to detach from its focus on performance and the body. You can use the extra time to catch up with a friend, tidy up your living space, read a book, cook dinner, or anything your heart desires! The point is, a break from routine has mental as well as physical benefits; when you return to your routine, you'll likely notice renewed energy and enthusiasm as well as endurance and strength.

May we all have the knowledge, resources, and wisdom to know how to heal our injuries and when to take a break. Here's to a healthy lifetime of running!

_______________________________________________________

Question: Did you transition to barefoot or minimalist running successfully? How did your body acclimate to the change, and what are your tips for an efficient and successful transition?

Thank you, Caballo

Caballo Blanco crosses the river during the first leg of the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon.
Image from http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

A very sad loss to the running community. It is hard to make sense of or find meaning in the passing of Caballo Blanco (Micah True), who inspired so many of us in the most profound way. May we be reminded to heed the yearnings of our soul, as he did, and may we follow in his footsteps of simplicity and peace.



(For those unfamiliar with but curious about who Caballo Blanco was, check out this well-done bio in Sweat Magazine. There is also a very well done short video about the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, which Caballo spearheaded, and the Raramuri people of the Sierra Madre, for whom he had the utmost respect and affection.)

New York Times: when ramping up running mileage, 10% isn't the cap

Thank you, New York Times. You published this almost a year ago, but I'm very happy to discover it now: when ramping up mileage, the 10% rule is bogus: runners needn't constrain their mileage to 10% increases a week.

Personally, I'm still going to play it conservatively most of the time, particularly if I'm recovering from an injury. But it's nice to know that if I'm nearing the end of a great run, I don't necessarily have to cut it short.

Happy running :-)

Barefoot, but not on concrete

Tried the Vibrams, they're a-ma-zing!

!!!!

I had a bigger grin on my face than any person on a treadmill has ever had.

Treadmill, you ask with a sneer?

Yes. And I raise the point because a chiropractor/doctor who's treated me and has worked with many elite athletes, including runners, before, cautioned me not to wear the Vibrams or go barefoot on the city streets or anything resembling concrete. He and his colleagues have seen many enthusiastic barefooters come in with injuries from barefooting on manmade surfaces. It seems we are born to run, yes, and barefoot, but on gentler surfaces like dirt, grass, and trails. (Treadmills are fine, too, which is excellent as winter is quickly approaching--blizzard today! in October!--and I live in Manhattan, not close enough to nature to run trails regularly.)

So my plan is to adjust to the Vibrams and build up the muscles in my feet this fall/winter on a treadmill, and when the sun pokes out its rosy face in spring, I'll be ready to do longer distances on trails. Training partners welcome!

Barefoot Running (almost)

Drumroll........

("Drumroll" was supposed to appear BEFORE the picture, but that's okay..)

My new VibramFiveFingers! Woohoo! Woot! Yeehaw!

Here's to a lifetime of healthy, injury-free (or as close to it as humanly possible) running! I am *secretly* plotting to build up to 50-milers on trails, hoping to do it within a couple years. But the main thing, I remind myself (and try truly to believe), is the process, not the destination.

And yes, I know it must be a slow transition to running in these since, like most Americans, I've been plodding around in cushiony sneakers for twenty some-odd years.

!!!!