(Two posts in one day...gotta get this nervous energy out!)The other day I went running and I was thinking about how great it is that my friend Meredyth is training for her first half-marathon. Those of you who do run know that you become a little obsessive about it and it is so great to have someone to talk about...how long you ran, what you were wearing, what did you eat or drink, the pains, etc. Well when I was getting ready for my first half-marathon I didn't really have anyone to talk about it with as I didn't know anyone that was doing one. Here is where the blog world came in...I started searching the internet for tips and stories about other people and their running experiences. This is how I found a lot of the blogs I read today and still check out runnersworld.com too for information. So I started thinking that if I searched for info that maybe someone out there is searching for some basic info too...so I thought I would give you some tips that work for me...
1. Get shoes from a running store!! My running journey started about 2005 when Jeff and I decided to take a 6 week running class at a local running class. I had played tennis in the past and even had done a 5K and 10K but walked them. So I was definitely starting from square one. I arrive at the class in whatever tennis shoes I had bought probably for $49 because I liked the way they looked!...and started the class with running/walking...basically the couch to 5K program. After the first two classes...I complained of shin splits...she (the coach) said it was the shoes I was wearing...I of course figured they were just trying to sell their shoes but decided to try some on. So they watched me run and then picked out a few shoes to try on...after each shoe...you would run in them, etc. At the end of this...I had found a new pair of like $100 shoes...but I never had a shin split again!! So those were Muzunos, after about 6 months after having Norah I was ready to get back into it and went back to the store as my foot changed a lot while pregnant and got asics then after year or so...I got fitted again as my foot finally settled into my new "size" and I got saucony...now my foot hasn't changed anymore so the last couple time...I have ordered my same saucony shoes online at a discount site. My whole point to this ramble...is get the correct shoes...it makes a world of difference trust me!! (and my running shoes are a whole size bigger than my regular shoes!!)
2. Do not wear cotton. Yes...I'm old school and remember the days of playing tennis in cotton t-shirts or hittin' up the gym sporting the beloved cotton shirt...this does not fly in the running world. No cotton shirt, no cotton sports bra, no cotton shorts and if you can swing it...no cotton socks...trust me on this too.
3. You gotta find out what works for you regarding fueling. I never even heard of a GU before running but once I started running more than 4-5 miles...GU became my friend. I also sweat a lot and plain water usually doesn't work for me. So I use a half gatorade/half water mix. In the winter/cooler weather...I take my handheld and GUs for anything over 4 miles but in the summer/hot weather...I take my handheld everytime and GUs if over 4 miles. Again this works for me...try some things out before your big day.
4. Don't be afraid of ice. I see a lot of people take ice baths after they have long runs...I'm not that brave but sometimes after long runs...for me that means anything over 6....I usually would put frozen veggies or a ziplok of ice on my legs...it does help! Especially for the next day.
5. Warming up/Stretching...so far what works for me is I walk .2 miles before I run and then again after I run everytime...I don't count this .4 miles in my total either. I only stretch at the end never before. Again, this is what works for me.
6. This is a personal thing...but I love my Garmin 405!!! This is like awesome to me...I walk out the door and I walk my .2 miles, then I hit start....I can keep my screen at the total time, pace, and miles...then I hit stop when I finish running and then walk my .2 miles. I love that I never map at my run...I just can see how many miles I've done my looking at the "Garmmy"...love it! This is definitely not needed but I love it...I ordered it from Costco.com when they were having a special for like $250!! Totally lucked out!
Those are the main things I can think of for now...maybe I'll update later as I think of anything else. My main opinion of things is that I love to run...I am slow (super slow!) but I still love it and I am not the person that at this time is trying to get any faster. Maybe one day I will have more time to devote to getting faster but now I run to de-stress and feel good!
I have to admit with all that is going on in my life...running has taken a backseat but I'm hoping this week to get back on track as I am excited about the half marathon in October!
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