Mardi Gras 5K 2012

Mardi Gras 5K 2012 - Bib, Beads, and Shirt

My year’s goal to run a race every month continued this Saturday. On February 11, I ran the Mardi Gras 5K in Marietta, GA. Because it was a Mardi Gras themed race, I needed to make sure I had something to represent the race. Before the race began, I met with my future sister in-law to be given the neck beads that usually represents Mardi Gras. It was a cool, but breezy morning. The weather felt as if it was getting colder as the morning went on. I dressed extra warm for this race to make sure I did not freeze after the race. I wore a thermal shirt under a hooded sweat shirt, a winter hat, track pants, and wind proof gloves. The race had about 800 participants, which was over 1000 less participants than my last race. It made it easy for me to get to the front of the pack. It was a timed race where a chip was placed on the bib. I always wonder when they start the time for the race. Based on my run time, I believe they start it when they say “go” and not when you pass the start line. This can add a few seconds to the final time if you like to walk to the start line (as I do). After giving Stephanie a good luck kiss, we were off. My colorful beads were knocking against each other. Because they were small, they did not bother me too much. The race started with a good downhill. My thoughts were on the uphill that went along with the downhill. Though I started closer to the front of the pack, there were people in front of me and others that bolted out ahead that I caught up to and passed. We ran through a residential community and the runners were having a great time with their Mardi Gras masks and beads. At about 15 minutes into the race, a light snow started to fall on the runners. It was better than being rained on, but still unexpected. After about 5 minutes of the light, it stopped. The runners looked relieved. Yes, there was the incline that went along with the decline. I saw a guy that reached the top of the hill and release a sigh of relief. I ran by him and said “please don’t let there be more hills.” There was one small incline towards the end, but it was not too difficult. The best moment of the race was when I ran past 2 runners that I was pacing around the 2.5 – 3 mile of the course. Just as I passed the finish line, I saw Stephanie taking pictures of me. I decided to slow down to wave for the camera. As I posed and waved, the 2 runners sprinted pass me. I thought that I could have caught them, but I was too late. I congratulated them at the end of the race. This was a wonderful race. My time was 25:39. Not bad since I was sick the weekend before and the training was limited. I will be looking to the next race and improving as the weather gets warmer.

First Race of 2012: Polar Bear 5K

Polar Bear 5K Number

On Saturday, I ran my first race of the year. I was my first race since last summer and the first race of my goal to run a race every month. It was a 5k race and a great day to run in the middle of the winter. The sun was out and the wind was blowing at a minimum. The morning started in the mid-30s and by race time it was in the high-40s. On our way to the race, it was a bit chilly. When the race began, it was warm enough to run in shorts. I kept my jogging pants and long sleeved shirt on in case I got cold after the race. The race had close to 2,000 runners. I am assuming that this is a popular race in the area it is located. There were families with children and parents running with strollers. There were runners of all ages. It is always encouraging to see kids and seniors running with you. It makes me feel alive when running. There are a couple of issues I have when I run the local races. First, there are no starting waves. This race had everyone bunched together no matter their pace. I began close to the back and ended up running by the people who were in front of me. At times, I had to slow down for runners in front of me before I could pass them. Also, the way we are timed is inaccurate. There was a chip on the number we received, but the official results were slower than what I clocked on my watch. Actually, it was almost 2 and half minutes off. There are things that I love about local races. I love the communion. I love that families run together. I love that there are people who have ran the race every year for the last 10 years. I love the support of the local businesses and the post run give-a-ways. Usually, races give away water, bananas, apples, and bagels (btw, my favorite food to eat after the race). These local races there are all of those things plus a variety of recovery drinks, samples of health snacks, and sometimes real food. There was a race that handed out Chick-fil-A sandwiches to the runners at the end. Overall, this was a good race for the first of the year. Not too difficult and just the right distance. I look forward the races in the months to come.

Taking Advantage of the Warm Weather

During the cold days, the trail can be a dark, lonely and tranquil experience. As the weather become warmer, there tends to be more people taking advantage of the weather. The trails become lively. Parents are out with their children. Runners get off of the treadmills to hit the path. The path turns into an exercise party.

The spring brings suitable weather for running, but it can be inconsistent. Unlike like some of the other seasons, planning in advance to run may be necessary. Looking at the 7 day, 5 day, 3 day, and next day forecasts become very important. The outlook of the forecast can change within hours. It is best to take the running days as they come. Personally, my workout week begins on Monday. I look at the forecast for the week and loosely plan my running schedule. Because the end of the week may be less predictable, I will try to get most of my miles in the first couple days of the week. This can be problematic because of over running making the body too tired to train effectively for the rest of the week. It can also be a good strategy, because the end of the week’s weather may not be conducive for being outdoors. Planning wisely based on past experiences can avoid the issues of the weather getting in your way of training.

The spring weather can be pleasant and frustrating. There are periods where rain can prevent outdoor training for consecutive day. Allergies can also prevent runners from getting outdoors. It can become so drastic that it can cause runners to miss entire weeks of running. This can be the frustrating part of spring. The pleasant part of spring is that the flowers are in bloom, the weather is lukewarm, and the hours for daylight are longer.

Since I was young, spring has been my favorite season. As I get older, I appreciate the season more after a cold winter. I have been taking advantage of the spring days after the frigid season and before the summer scorch. Running outdoors is completely on my mind.

Awaiting the Spring

Gridiron Classic Race

Today’s forecast: Cold!! The weather historians have already proclaimed this winter as one of the worst winters ever. With the excess of snow, ice, and chills, it makes it almost impossible for one to run. Some days, the weather can discourage running. Personally, when I get home, I just want to stay warm at home. I have a few personal weather conditions that I will not run in: Rain, ice, and snow. I can deal with the cold wind pressing against my face. The feeling of invisible needles picking at my face does not bother me. The paralyzing feeling in my toes does not stop me from moving. What does bother me is the knowing. Knowing that there are seasons that are warm. Knowing that there are days where I can wear my shorts and a t-shirt when running. Knowing that there are days when I am not the only person on the trail. Knowing that there are afternoons where I’m racing against my best time and not the sunlight (though it can be a motivation). Living in Georgia offers days where the weather can be warm. Then the weather goes back to being cold again. This is fine. The consecutive cold days bother me. I can never get used to the cold weather, but I will deal with it for the sake of running. For now, I am awaiting the spring. This winter weather has been a disaster for running outdoors.  I am looking to pick up the distance and enter more races in the spring. Until then, I will bare cold weather and prepare for the warm days.

Runner’s Resolution

With the first month of the year almost complete, how many of you are continuing with your New Year’s Resolution? I’m positive there are those working through the difficult adjustments of habits and thinking. It is not an easy task to commit to a change and follow it. I commend those that are getting through this process. Creating resolutions are great. Personally, creating goals work better with my situations. Resolution is the process of converting or transforming. Creating and scheduling goals to convert or transform should lead to the intended resolution. With the resolution being the process or ultimate goal, smaller goals should be created to achieve the resolution. With the understanding that the results of the resolution is something that can’t be measured, then as long as there is an attempt, failing should never be a thought. As a runner, we can create resolutions such as: running faster, running longer distances, or running more races. These are all general statements and without goals, they may never be fully achieved. The perception and measurement of achievement lies in the individual who has creates the resolution.

Here is my example of creating a resolution with defined goals:

This year, my resolution is to lose weight by running (just an example). A good goal to set up is to run a 5k by spring with some of my friends. A 5k is equal to 3.1 miles and I am unable to run a mile. A starting goal will be to build up endurance to run further than a mile without being winded. In order to run further than a mile, schedule days to run with a set distance will help reach the goal. After being able to run over a mile, another goal will be to increase the distances on scheduled dates. With the running distances increasing, I should be set to run the 5k by spring. Running is not the only thing needed to lose weight. Eating healthy in moderation should be a goal. Similar to running, starting off slow with goals when changing eating habits will lead to a better diet. A goal can be to minimize or eliminate a type of food whether it is fried, sweet, or full of carbohydrates. A gradual decrease in the amount of food being consumed can be another goal. Training and dieting are not the only goals needed to succeed with a resolution. Having a positive attitude about losing weight is another goal. To understand that losing weight is a timely process, this can assist with the negativity that comes with the time and work required.

Whether you are continuing on a resolution or goal, make sure to have a consistent plan that creates positive results. For most, it is important to see improvement to continue. Measure your progress and celebrate the small victories to remain motivated. This year will be a great year whether training for a race, being healthy, or looking for success.

New Year’s Runner

Happy New Year! It has been a year since I started writing this blog. I began this blog to keep the community updated on the marathon training. It turned into an outlet for me to express my feelings about running based on my personal experiences. Since I began running, I have met many runners from beginners to experts. There have been moments when I was asked for advise and when I have asked for advice. I have read and learned from fellow runner’s blogs and articles. When speaking with and reading about other runner’s experience, there becomes a realization that you are not the only runner looking to improve or the crazy person running 10+ miles just because you want to. During training for the marathon, I have learned a lot about running, training, dieting, and myself. I have used what I have learned to created blog posts for others to read. This year, I plan to continue to write about the runner’s life through my experiences. I hope the readers have learned from my posts and enjoyed them as well.

Becoming Winter Ready

Recently, I completed my first race after running the NYC Marathon and realized the importance of being prepared for the winter weather. One of the important things that should be made aware of is the clothing that is worn on outdoor runs. Though it may be the preference of the runner to dress a particular manner, I, personally, would always dress appropriately for the weather. There are the times where being over dressed may cause the runner to be hot. In these moments, the runner may remove some layers of clothing to be cooler while running. There are articles of clothing that are great for running in the cold weather. For me, I wear track pants, wind proof gloves, and a winter hat that covers my ears. I usually wear a t-shirt under a thermal shirt. Over the thermal shirt, I wear a heavy hooded sweater. I can understand that when running the clothing may be much and can limit my range of motion. I will always prefer to be warmer than colder, so the more layers the better for me. For those that would rather wear less clothing, companies such as Nike and Under Armour makes clothing for cold weather training. Regardless of the clothing, make sure to keep warm while training to prevent injury and sickness.

During the winter, it becomes difficult to run during sunlight because of the normal work. Most of the running takes place before sunrise or after sunset. It is best to run on an indoor track or treadmill. Personally, I do not like running on a treadmill. While running outside, take safety into consideration. Running should be done in the in a well lit area where people are visible. If it’s a long distance run, walk with a cell phone to call during an injury. Because of the limited light and cold weather, there will be less people outdoors. Be sure to let people know the running route and the estimated time of the run. Always wear clothing that is bright for people and cars to see clearly. If necessary, wear a light or reflectors to see and to be seen.

The winter months are usually when most people workout less because of the holidays and weather. Keep the body in good shape and staying healthy can be a task in these months. If it this is the case, create a schedule of the days to run for the week. Before creating the schedule, take a look at the weather forecast for the next few days. Put together the schedule based on the weather and what is most comfortable. Most runners that train for long distance races usually have a schedule that remains consistent throughout the year. They are not affected by the weather change, but they are aware of the proper attire and times to run. In the cold weather, warming up and stretching is important for injury prevention. Make sure to warm up for at least 5 minutes and stretch before and after the run. Be sure to understand your body. Know how far to run on the cold days and how much to push yourself. Stay warm on the runs and stay healthy. The winter training will serve as an excellent preparation for the spring races.