There's no place like... somewhere else

My Facebook friends LOVE to post quiz results from various quizzes that they've taken. For the most part I ignore them (I don't want to know what Disney princess I'm more like), but the other day someone posted this quiz about running and I was intrigued. 

On the Runner's World website you can find a quiz called What's Your Perfect Running City? I was curious as to what my city would be so I decided to take the quiz. When I started answering the questions I realized that I would have to answer things based on my experiences with running and not what I would imagine my experiences to be. Living in South Florida means that what I encounter in terms of weather and temperature are completely rare when it comes to the rest of the United States. I don't run on hills, I don't have to deal with the cold and snow and while it rains quite a bit during the summer, it never lasts the entire day. 

With that said I assumed that based on my answers I would get a city somewhere in the south, but I couldn't have been more wrong. My perfect running city is:

Seattle

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A city that is on the complete opposite end of the U.S. from where I live now. Seattle has hills, Florida doesn't. Seattle gets cold, Florida doesn't. Seattle has tons of rain and is gray most of the year. Florida rains mostly in the summer for a couple of hours at a time and it's sunny 90% of the year. Maybe I should stick to my no quiz rule. :)

Take the quiz and share your results. 

What city should you run in?

Running movie review

The other day I realized that I have not done another running movie review. I am slipping people! I had to think about what I was going to review and I got a little stressed about it until it hit me that I could review a movie that I've seen multiple times. So without further ado here is the review for

Spirit of the Marathon

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I saw this movie about two years ago when I just started becoming serious about running. I was in no shape to run a marathon at the time but was intrigued by the idea. I've seen the movie about three times and though it isn't at the top of my list of great running movies to watch, it does have it's inspiring moments. Oh and it's a documentary by the way.

The movie follows six marathoners preparing for the 2005 Chicago marathon. Two runners are elite athletes (Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga) and the four others are everyday people ranging from experienced runners to newbies. The first portion of the movie goes into the history of the sport and how the marathon has become a huge event for people of all ages and backgrounds. That part of the movie was very fascinating to me. I love to know the history and back story about things and people. 

If you don't know the story of the marathon, I can give you a quick synopsis. Apparently around 490 B.C. a greek messenger ran all the way from Marathon, Greece (hence the name of the event) to Athens to report that the Persians had been defeated in battle. He ran the entire distance and once he gave the news he collapsed and dropped dead immediately after. Yeah, he died. Thousands of years later (around 1896) when the modern Olympic games were beginning, someone said "Hey remember that story about the guy running all the way from Marathon to Athens non-stop and then dying? We should do that!" And there you have the birth of the marathon.

After the historical points the movie delves into the each runners story and how they plan to prepare for the Chicago marathon. Ryan Bradley is a serious veteran runner who wants to qualify for the Boston marathon. I think he came close a couple of times but missed it by mere seconds. I wouldn't say he's obsessed (though I just did) but he is VERY determined to reach his goal. This was Lori O'Connor's first marathon and she is optimistic but realistic in her goal to complete the race. With this race she is also raising money for an adoption agency that she is familiar with.

Leah Caille is a single mother who is also running a marathon for the first time. She started running as a way to heal from a rough divorce. Jerry Meyers is a 70 year-old runner who started late in life but doesn't let that stop him from running a number of races every year. He runs for sheer enjoyment and you get to see him coach his daughter who is running the Chicago marathon for the first time.

As far as personal stories go, none particularly grabbed my interest. I wouldn't say that you could get any kind of attachment or draw some inspiration from their stories but it's entertaining. All in all if you are sitting around one afternoon but can't find anything to watch and this happens to pop up anywhere in one of your viewing devices, I say watch it. If not for the individual stories but for the historical content, it's something that is worth adding to your running movie watch list.

For my personal rating I give this movie: 

one thumb up and one thumb down

Not everyday can be sunshine and roses

The one thing that you can be sure about in life is that no day is ever the same. Running makes that fact much more apparent. Yesterday I ran four miles... four, not fourteen. But you would've thought I was ending a marathon by the way I looked and how I felt. My legs felt like lead and my upper body felt like a wet noodle. My heart rate shot through the roof in the first mile, despite my slower pace. This was going to be an easy run, something to just get me moving and out the door so that I wouldn't miss out on a running day. I'm working my way back to running five days a week so any miles is better than none. But the odds were not in my favor.

I always find it interesting that no run is ever the same. At some point I was running six miles four days a week with a long run thrown in for good measure. Even when I made sure to eat right and get rest, six miles on one day could be vastly different from six miles on another day. Running (for me) hasn't gotten easier but I've certainly gotten better at it. The more I run the more I see that even the slightest change in my day can help or hinder my run, kind of like a butterfly effect. Timing, negative or positive thoughts, even how my family is doing can make the difference between rough or easy. 

Yesterday I did all the right things for a good run. For lunch I had a small serving of pasta and a fruit and nut bowl. I drank tons of water because the temperature is back up in Florida and summer seems like it's already here (which was probably why my heart rate jumped up). I waited over an hour for my food to digest and brought water with me for the run. I was excited to run so there were no doubts or reservations in my mind. With all the boxes checked I certainly didn't expect to struggle.

After my turn around point at mile two I was already thinking about taking a break. This can't be good I thought. I think I had just passed my three mile mark and decided to take a short walk break. I had a fast walking pace and after I counted to twenty I started running again. Seeing the entrance of my housing subdivision was the best sight and I told myself that all I had to do was get to the corner. The run didn't go as I had planned but once I was done I didn't beat myself up about it. I told myself that I'm allowed some bad days and as long as I got out and did something then that was all that mattered. Just like anything in life, running can have it's good moments and it's bad moments. But how you deal with those moments is really the true test. 

Have you ever had a bad run/workout?
How did you get over it?

Never leave home without it and Sunday runday

Every runner has something that they cannot leave the house without before a run. Watch,  headphones, lucky pair of socks, whatever it is your run is not the same without your special item(s). My items are vaseline and my phone.

Vaseline is what I use instead of Body Glide. I haven't gotten Body Glide yet because, well... do you see the size of this thing!? The tub is huge and I would like to use all of it instead of throwing it away. I used to apply it after a run to temper the burns and chaffing marks that I got in various places. Now I apply it before a run to avoid screaming in the shower when the hot water hits my marked up skin. 

The other item I can't run without is my phone. No I don't have any running apps on it I use it for the purpose with which it's intended. Phone calls. There have been only two occasions that I can think of when I needed to call my wife to have her pick me up because I had an injury or something went wrong. Thankfully I don't have to use it often but I like to know that it's there. 

Today I did my long run and I gotta say, I felt pretty darn good. I skipped the runner's group last week because I did a ten mile race on Saturday and that night my wife and I celebrated our three year anniversary with a late dinner. 

We're normally the same height but I had my heels on. 

The thought of getting up early was too much to bear so I skipped it last week. When my alarm went off this morning I didn't feel any more excited to run but once I got my clothes on and I was out the door I felt ready.

The majority of the runners out this morning were fast and I wanted to take a part of the route that I've never done before. That meant that I either had to deal with getting lost or try and keep up. Most of the really fast pack was gone before I could even get my body in gear but there were a handful of people that were running at a pace that I could handle. The conditions were ideal for a Florida morning and that helped ease some of the anxiety about keeping up. 

After the second water station my group kind of frayed a bit and I passed two guys that I was originally pacing with. Once I no longer heard their voices behind me I had to focus on keeping steady so I could push through. At some point I noticed that a quarter of a mile in front of me was one of the runners who is a complete bad a**. She's a triathlete who's very petite and has zero percent body fat. My eyes locked onto her legs and I tried to keep her pace. There were a couple of moments where it felt like my legs were still moving forward and my body was flailing behind but I just kept focused on her the entire time. 

When we got to the third water station our paths split and I had to keep the pace alone. I know that there were a couple of moments when I lagged a bit but once I could feel my breathing slow down and my heart rate lower, I got back in gear. Today's time isn't the fastest that I've run for 12 miles but it's the best that I've felt. These are the days that make running worth it.

A runner by any other name.

Yesterday I ran in a 10 mile race at the last minute. A friend of a friend signed up to run but had to back out at the last minute. During the race I reflected a bit on how far I've come in my running. I mean, to be running in a 10 mile race at the drop of a hat without any sort of serious preparation and planning shows me how much my fitness level has grown in the past year. If you would've told me I would be running 10 milers on a regular basis a year ago, I'd believe you but certainly doubt the time frame. 

Another thing about this race that was kind of exciting was posing as someone else. This was my first time using another runner's bib. I didn't think anything of it till the race actually started and I realized I would have to remember who I was in order to look at the results. When I was running I forgot the name of the person whose bib I had, so when I crossed the finish line and the announcer said a different name I was thrown off for a minute. I only hope that I did my ghost runner justice. :) Or would I be the ghost runner in this situation?

Have you ever raced using someone else's bib?

If so, what was your experience like?

Must I play the weighing game?

I don't like the fact that weight is a topic that hangs out in the back of my mind but denying that it does is worse. When I started running I wasn't very mindful of losing weight but it was certainly a wonderful byproduct. I thought that being an active and healthy person would absolve me of the woes of having to think about weight but I've found that not to be true at all. In fact being a more active individual has made me MORE aware of my weight.

It seemed like I just woke up one morning and suddenly lost thirty pounds. Of course there was a lot of work involved but I was too busy trying to be a better runner to notice the pounds flying off. Once I got the hang of running, losing weight became a new high. I got a rush seeing numbers substantially decrease and not scale numbers... size numbers. I was wearing sizes that I never wore as a teenager and feeling more comfortable in my body. I would look at myself in the mirror more and actually smile at what I was seeing. Who was this person that I had transformed into?

Being more aware of my body now means that I'm more aware of how food affects me physically. Eating cheese bloats me up quick and makes my stomach feel like a rock. Added sugar puts a little extra jiggle in my midsection after a couple of days and gives me headaches. And don't get me started on meat. That would be T.M.I. and you don't want to know the deep inner workings of my digestive system in regards to that. Combine a couple of days of not eating right with missing a workout or a run and those pounds start to come back. I mean quick!

Now when I say pounds, I'm not talking about ten or fifteen creeping up on me quick. No, it's the tiny two or five pounds that come back. And for some strange reason I can feel each and every pounds that rears its ugly head. It's times like these that I get back on track with my eating and really focus on getting back to my holistic life. I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed with making sure the pounds stay down, let's just say I'm more aware. :) But why do I even have theses thoughts in my mind? Why is weight such an issue? By all accounts I am a very healthy person. I eat right and exercise, I make sure I get sleep (not 8 hours but getting there), I meditate and keep drama out of my life.

When I look in the mirror now, I'm proud of what I see. My body is a visual representation of  the hard work and effort I put forth to maintain it. So when there are moments that seem like I'm falling back into old patterns I freak. When I was heavier I told myself that I was happy that way but it wasn't till the weight went away that I realized I wasn't. I wasn't comfortable in my own skin and I think it definitely showed. Now that I've put in the work physically and emotionally I want to make sure that I maintain it. So maybe the little voice that keeps me on my toes about my weight is actually helping me rather than annoying me.

Start me up... please

Lately I have been really struggling to find the motivation to run which has been a surprise to me. Normally I feel excited or even anxious about a run but at least I feel something. For the past couple of weeks I've had a take it or leave it kind of attitude towards my runs and I couldn't seem to figure out why... until today.

I haven't set any particular goals to work towards. Last year I had my first half marathon at the beginning of the year and my first full marathon at the end of the year. My entire year was training to prepare for both of those race. Plus I had a 5k and 10 miler thrown in to shake things up a bit. I also started working out with my Fit Moms group last year which has also helped in my running. Once I realized that last year was all about doing things to make running more fun and exciting, it was obvious why I haven't been motivated. 

I need to find some goals. I already set in motion one goal to become a coach. I have paid for my tip and signed up with the Road Runners Club of America to attend their weekend course and get my coaching certification. Since I signed up for it a while back I put the trip in the back of my mind. The course is in April and since it is fast approaching I have something very exciting to look forward to. Not to mention the fact that I've never been to Des Moines, Iowa where the convention is being held, so that's nice.

Another goal that I didn't even realize was a goal is running with other people. My friend/trainer told me months ago about the running group that she is a part of and that I should come out and run with them. Well after blowing them off for months I finally decided to meet up for one of their long runs. They meet on Sundays at 6am and run various loops around a quite neighborhood. Initially I thought that there were mostly fast runners in this club based on some of the things that my friend told me. But I was pleasantly surprised to see runners of all speeds coming out and hitting the pavement. This past Sunday when the time change hit, I wasn't even bothered when my alarm went off. I was actually excited to run!

And of course I will be revisiting the Space Coast marathon this year but that race is in November so I won't be training for that in the near future. But there is a possible trip coming up this summer and a trip means an opportunity to run somewhere besides home. Since that is still up in the air I'm not counting that in my goal bank right now but I will keep you posted once I know for sure.

In the grand scheme of things these are only small things that have brightened up my days and made my runs more fun (oh and running without a watch has been pretty invigorating). But hey, anything to keep the spark alive is worth talking about.

Come on baby light my fire

*Disclaimer* The information in this post is based on my own personal opinion and experience.

There are so many fuel options that runners can choose from. Some of the more popular ones that I hear and see are GU and Nuun. Almost all of the races that I have been in offer GU in addition to water and Gatorade for fuel. To be perfectly honest, I haven't tried any of these fueling products because I'm scared to. Not that I've heard any bad stories about bars or gels but I have become so accustomed to eating whole foods during a run that I fear my stomach will protest. 

Since I'm not a GU or bar person, the question that I always get is "Well what DO you eat?" And the answer is fruit. 

Bananas are my number one go to for long runs. I pack about two (unwrapped) in a plastic baggie. Many people know that bananas have potassium which can help reduce muscle cramps but they also have magnesium which is good for your bones and vitamin B6 which helps your muscles and keeps your energy up. Of course they also have a good amount of calories and carbs which you need for long runs.

I can't remember how I found out about dates but once I did it was like finding the fountain of youth. Dates have potassium, carbs and simple sugars and since they are bite-sized, they are easy to carry and eat during a run. The first time I ate them I noticed that I was able to go longer without bonking earlier in my run. Though I took a break from eating them for a while, I recently have brought them back and absolutely love them.

When I decided to become a vegan I needed to find other sources of protein. There are beans and nuts but I was very surprised to learn that one lemon has 4.5% protein in it. When I started running I used to make my own liquid concoction of two lemons with a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of salt. When I wanted to have something other than water I would drink this. I had no idea that I was getting a great source of protein as well. 

One day I ran to the grocery store to pick up some thing for dinner. I had my little one in the jogger and decided to pick up some apples for her to eat on the way back home (she loves apples). I also got one for myself to eat. I never ate an apple during a run since it seems a bit complicated. But I decided to try it out anyway. What was crazy was that not too long after eating the apple I felt like I had more energy. Of course I realized that I wouldn't be able to bring a whole apple with me all the time. But my oldest daughter had a great idea. I could make applesauce and put it in a plastic baggie. I already make applesauce so that wasn't going to be difficult at all. I only tried the apple one other time and it was a whole apple, not the applesauce. But I still had the same results that I did the first time.

There are constant debates as to what to eat and not eat during a long run. I'm still on the fence about trying out GU but I won't say that I'll never try them. All I know is that fruit has been working for me and seems to continue to be working for me. I think that if you find something that works for you, stick to it unless your body tells you otherwise. 

What do you refuel with during your long runs?