Runner Under Pressure

I moved my blog to Wordpress. Come check me out at http://runnerunderpressure.wordpress.com/ or runnerunderpressure.com.

~S

I Signed Up for What?

While it may seem that everyone from Oprah to Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers has done a marathon, it's still a formidable check on bucket list. It takes a huge amount of courage to sign up for the marathon, but after you shell out the money and take the plunge, there's a moment of "oh shit, what did I just commit to?!"

Well never fear: If you are running a spring marathon, be it Vermont City Marathon or another spring classic, start tuning into the Run Down, where I'll be guest blogging through the fall, winter and spring about all sorts of issues related to the marathon from picking a training plan and a running shoe, to surviving the winter doldrums. I'll still be blogging here as well, including lots of entries on my own path from here to VCM 2012.

As John "the Penguin" Bingham says, "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." Signing up is the start of an incredible experience. Like most things worth doing, the marathon has its ups and downs, but I don't know many people who have completed one who wished they hadn't. So be courageous. Sign up to run a spring marathon, then tune in here and on the RunDown for everything you'll need from start to finish.

My Life is Complete

I was totally that badass kid who wore Tuesday underwear on Friday. As an adult, I'm still breaking rules and have to relearn at least once every couple of months that my turquoise thong is the WORST running underwear ever. When I heard about these on Runner's World, I knew my troubles were over. Who's getting me these for Christmas?!

http://www.oiselle.com/shop/rundies

Cheap Thrill

Find yourself in better shape than you thought? Want a reason to go to Vegas and don't feel like shelling out the $160 for Rock and Roll in December? Here's quite the deal for you:

http://www.reallybigfreemarathon.com/

Interesting concept where sponsors picked up the registration costs. If you end up running this race, let me know how it goes. It will either be seamless or a complete catastrophe. Hope a porto-potty company gave some in-kind donations. 

The Decision 2011

While I'm no King James, I've been wrestling with what my next target race should be. I have a little less than 2 years before medical school, during which time I would really like to get my Trials standard. I'm operating under the assumption that for at least the first two years of medical school, the only running I'll be doing is between the library and my bed. 

I want a course that is tough enough to benefit my tough-it-out style. I want a course with great crowd support. I want a race morning that is easy and predictable. I want to know every uphill, downhill and flat between mile 1 and 26. In short, I want to control every variable except for the weather. I loved City of Oaks with its quad busting hills, but hated running alone for 8 miles. I hated pretty much everything about Vegas. Boston was a brutal course with unbelievable support. So what's a girl to do when she wants to make big strides (well, little ones if you've ever seen me run) towards a Trials standard?

Man, this is very tough. My heart will always be around Vermont. This Spring, I'll be taking my talents to the Vermont City Marathon on May 27th, 2012.

Want to join me on an epic weekend in Burlington? Registration opens tomorrow.

Why I'll Always Be a Runner

Because yesterday, I watched my team kick butt at the Essex Invitational and was as nervous and excited as if I were running myself.

Because last night, I was at my wits end and grabbed my running shoes and headed out for an hour. In that hour, I felt like I was flying. I don't know if it was the cooler temperatures, the need to blow off steam or overly rested legs, but it was the best run I've had in ages.

Because in the midst of some of the craziest days of my life, lacing up my running shoes is something I can do and instantly regain control over the chaos.

Where I Am

I really meant to get back on a posting schedule, I did. But then Irene hit and I decided to launch the website http://vtresponse.com to help people get back on their feet. We've had 101,995 in three days, so I've been busier than I meant to be. I'm running for sanity now and excited for our first cross country meet on Saturday, but probably won't post here until the response to Irene in Vermont is wrapped up. 


Run On.
S

Baby, we were born to run

I'm fresh back from Derby House, our pre-season training camp. What a blast we had! Despite the fact that I got almost no sleep, it was an amazing week in the Northeast Kingdom. It's rare that I have the opportunity to focus solely on running, so it was a great training week for me. The other benefit, of course, was time to bond with my team. I left camp feeling lucky to have such a talented and hardworking group of girls. It helps that they are also a blast to be around. Seems cross country girls don't change much through the years...

Cross country played an enormous role in my coming of age. Like most sports teams, we spent a lot of time together. With daily practice, twice weekly meets, and team dinners, we spent almost all of our free time together. It made sense, then, that we were also each other's closest friends. As often happens with cross country, we also spent Winter doing nordic skiing and Spring doing track. We went to Crystal Ball and Prom with the boys team. When we got bored of them, we took boys from Harwood's XC team. It should be no surprise, then, that on one night of Derby House, we had to have our "crush party" to note who our crushes were for the coming season. Turns out, coaches are not exempt from sharing that information. I think the girls were disappointed, but they'll live...

I left camp so excited for the fall. Even though my own racing will be mostly on hold, I get to spend my afternoons, Friday evenings and Saturdays with a great group of runners who make me laugh, challenge me and remind me how I started running in the first place.

Day 1, the last morning I would be well rested

Did you run cross country or track in high school? What were your favorite memories? Funny stories?

Run On.
S

How do I pick a running shoe and other pressing questions

For being about the simplest activity you can do, starting or restarting a running routine can be overwhelming. Do you need a minimal shoe? Or perhaps a Vibram Five Finger. Why are the laces offset on Asics? Do I need wicking shirts, seams that don't chafe and socks with padding? Not to mention, you haven't run in months and you're not sure how to begin again. In a matter of minutes, the couch starts looking better and better.

Fear not, novice and partially retired runners, Caitlin from Wore Out Vermont and I are teaming up. We're even roping Joe from SkiRack into starring in a "how-to" video on picking the perfect running shoe. Read our three part series which starts in September and get back on the roads.

Run On.
S

Saucony Fastwich 5 Review

Saucony does it again. While other shoe makers are messing around with laces (Asics), ignoring the trend towards minimalism (Brooks) and generally ignoring the distance runner (New Balance), Saucony is evolving and as they say, being loyal to the sport. 

I don’t ask a lot of a running shoe. I’m light, I’m neutral and I don’t need or want bells and whistles. When I went looking for a new pair this time around, I wanted to try something with just a little more support than the Kinvara. I still Kinvara’s a couple days a week, but the fit isn’t perfect at the toe box. Joe at SkiRack suggested I try the Fastwitch, which still has a minimal drop, but a little more support in the post. As usual, Joe was right. I’m now infatuated with the Fastwitch and going back to get a second pair for my rotation. 

What’s to like? First, the Fastwitch is nimble at 7.1 ounces, making it light enough for up tempo work, but has enough support thanks to some reinforcement in the post to help out when you’re tired, making it perfect for longer runs. The fabric is almost as breathable as the Kinvara, a necessity in the summer when feet sweat like crazy. For me, the toebox is roomy enough to be comfortable without slamming my feet around (which was happening a lot in the Kinvara, ergo my missing big toenail). Saucony even plays into the text message generation with cute messages on the heel. 

 Downsides? Eh, the colors. While Saucony has been playing around with fit and streamlining (the entire fall line will not have a drop from heel to toe of greater than 12mm), they’ve sort of slacked off in the colors department. The women’s version comes in a scary bright white (which I’ve already dirtied down to a more reasonable shade) and a bright turquoise. Finally, they run small. I normally take a 7 in running shoes and ended up in an 8 in the Fastwitch. It’s a little big on my right foot as a result, but my left foot is happy and we want my left foot happy at all costs. 

Surfacing

Grades are posted. I’ve had 5 good nights of sleep. I went grocery shopping and got in a few runs longer than the 30 minutes I've been living on. All in all, I’m starting to feel like a human again. It’s not an experience I’d like to repeat, but Organic Chemistry is successfully completed.

In other news, it’s been a big summer for me as a runner! I got a shiny new 5K PR at Clarence DeMar on a hot, humid morning.  I survived the Stowe 8 Miler both as a runner and as the incoming Team Racing Coordinator for GMAA. I was hired as the Assistant Cross Country Coach at Mount Mansfield Union High School, an opportunity about which I am extremely excited. And here you thought that I was just in the library…

One major downside of my summer is that my mileage was stuck around 35 miles a week. While I’m grateful to have fit that in, I’m heading into August with a lot of base building to do. As a result, I don’t think I’ll be racing a fall marathon, but will instead focus on getting into shape with Vermont City Marathon as my next big goal race. The upside is that it’s August, and I’m not injured. As many of us can attest, sometimes being uninjured is an enormous accomplishment.

So what else is new from the past 8 weeks? Anyone have a PR to brag about? A funny running story? Race plans firmed up for the fall?

So happy to be back.

S

Ouch!

With love and gratitude to everyone who's helped me survive the last 7.5 weeks...See you Friday.

Just Gotta Get Through This

Sometimes people mention things in passing that come back to you later in unexpected ways. Jess mentioned this song as part of a story about surviving a rough time and recently, I find myself playing it on repeat. Organic Chemistry over the summer is a lot like a marathon. You know (or are pretty confident) that it won't kill you, but that doesn't mean it won't be a gruesome, gutting experience.

In my first marathon, miles 22 and 23 weren't pretty. In my second, miles 10 through 26 were a wreck. This course is somewhere in the middle. The first semester was busy, but I came out of it relatively unscathed. I think the words "Organic Chemistry SO isn't that bad" even escaped my lips. I said a similar thing after my first marathon. Much like Mile 10 of my second marathon, I'm thinking I spoke too soon.

This week is a lot like that point in a race where you ask yourself why the f*&$ you race. Why can't you just be casual? Why can't you just head out and jog like everyone else? The answer lies, of course, in the feelings that the casual runner misses. They miss the moment when you know you're going to finish.They miss out on the moment when you know you are going to PR, the moment when you know you're going to get through it.

I have lots of race reports to write up (including a shiny new 5K PR), but they'll have to wait til August.

Run On.

S

It Pays to Run

One benefit of the summer race season is the ability to race both days of the weekend, almost all summer long. In addition to myriad opportunities to check your fitness, there is always the possibility you'll win a prize. While I've won plenty of prizes in my life, this past weekend, I won the best.prize.ever. The best part was that it was in no way related to my performance. Yes, on Sunday at the Paul Mailman 10 Miler, I won a chicken in the raffle.

Now to clarify, this chicken was already dead. A surprising number of people have responded, "A live chicken!?" as though that makes more sense than a free range, local chicken frozen and donated by the race director. Although a frozen broiler is less exciting than a live chicken, it is an excellent prize nonetheless. This is a huge bird and although I probably won't roast it until the fall (perhaps at the "Booty Dinner" Jess and I thought up on our run yesterday), I'm sure it will be as exciting then as it was on Sunday.

The other benefit of the chicken was the hilarity that ensued on the way home. My ever-supportive teammates were as excited as I was, and we took a group picture with the chicken. Carlie recommended a great cookbook, Roast Chicken and Other Stories: A Recipe Book and we came up with my costume idea for First Run 2012, which will remain a secret until then.

What is your best prize ever, running-related or not?

Happy Summer Racing.
~S

Wordless Wednesday: Looking Forward and Back

More on this soon...

Tempo Tuesdays

I'll admit it. I hate tempo runs. I hate all speed work. I'd run 20 milers every day, if only I didn't have to hit the track and the roads at an uncomfortable clip. But alas, tempo runs (and other speed work) are key to success at almost every race distance. As such, my summer resolution is to restart Tempo Tuesdays again.

I begrudgingly got out of bed this morning, strapped on my heart rate monitor and headed out with the dog for a short tempo. I planned to do a 2 mile warm up, 2 at tempo and 2 mile cool-down. I figured that even I couldn't wriggle my way out of that short of an effort. In fact, I did. Ava is a great running partner, but tempo pace is not fair to her, especially in the summer. Instead, we had to settle for a fartlek workout, and she did a great job, even initiating a few intervals when a squirrel was spotted.

Next Tuesday morning, I'll warm up with Ava, then drop her at home for the hard portion of the run, which will be a sandwich tempo, with 2 miles hard, a 5 minute jog, then 2 more hard miles. The first part of the sandwich is a slightly easier pace, 6:55 to 7:00. The second part is harder, both because I'm tired but also because it's faster at 6:45 to 6:55. These paces seem pedestrian, but after 8 weeks of running slow in preparation for Vermont City, I need to regain some snap. Then I can grab my trusty running partner for the cool down. As the summer goes on, I'll alternate between a regular tempo and sandwich tempo, adding distance slowly towards about 60 minutes of hard effort.

What about you? Do you love or loathe speed work? What workout would you skip if you could?

Run On.
S

P.S. I am always open to company on Tuesday mornings. I like it even more if you talk me into a different workout...

Wordless Wednesday: Pink and Spiky

Perfect for Catamount Tuesdays and the Equinox 10K on Saturday...

Brooks PR MD, with 3/8 " Spikes

How I'm Spending My Summer "Vacation"

I won't be around these parts much until about August.  I'm taking Organic Chemistry this summer and knocking out two semesters in 8 weeks, so my life has been reduced to sleep-study-class-lab-study. I'm still trying to run and aiming to maintain about 40 miles a week, but everything else I enjoy is on hold until August.

I have a few races coming up, including the Stowe 8 Miler in July, so I'll try to post race reports and some training updates as we get closer.  Otherwise, have an excellent first few months of summer and I look forward to getting back into serious training in August.

Run On.
S

Vermont City Marathon Recap

Short Version: We survived the heat, rain and humidity and I crossed the line (still carrying my sign!) at 4:14:37 Chip Time. Great success.


Long Version: It was a grim race morning. From a soaking shower at the start to serious humidity and pollen, few would claim that last Sunday was the day they were hoping for. I tolerate heat well after years of running in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina. Still, I was anxious about my group members, many of whom were doing their first marathon.

Howard and I stood in the middle of Park Street, signs lifted skyward as we gathered our sheep. We had lots of first timers, but a few veterans as well. Once the gun went off, it took us almost two minutes to cross the line. The first mile was very slow and we had to do a lot of weaving. In fact, we were part of a huge group for most of the race (just ask the aid stations we repeatedly overwhelmed). Much to everyone's surprise, I behaved and didn't pull us through any miles too fast.

1: 9:47

2: 9:25

3: 9:37

4: 9:27

5: 9:34

6: 9:40

7: 9:36

8: 9:40

9: 9:38

10: 9:23

As we headed South, I started to check in with people, making sure that they were still feeling comfortable, that they were paying attention to their hydration and fueling needs. This was the first time that the face of the group shifted considerably. We were still a big group, but we'd dropped quite a few and picked up an equal number through the South Cove neighborhood. As we worked North towards Battery, it was time for tough love. I reminded them that it was one hill, that we had plenty of time left after the hill and that if all else failed, we were only 10 miles from beer (which, sadly, would be shut down when we got there. More on that later.)

11: 9:50

12: 9:10 **Pee break for me, had to catch up.

13: 9:35

14: 9:36

15: 9:40

Once we topped Battery, the sun decided to come out from behind the clouds and we all started to suffer. I started to slow down through aid stations to make sure that people were drinking and assessed my own hydration level. I felt good, but not great. Howard, however, was sheet white and I was starting to get anxious about him and a few others in our group. Working north, we encouraged everyone to take advantage of any and every sprinkler stop. The neighborhoods in these miles provided incredible support in the form of water, food, and sprinklers. Around Leddy, Howard let me know that he was going to stop because of the heat. This was an excellent message for some of the runners in the group, who were pushing too hard and needed to know that it was a day to listen to your body, not your goals. We rolled on through Leddy, across some muddy boards and up towards the final turn towards home. A friend of mine was running and joined up with us for a few miles as an unofficial pacer (Thanks Hillary!). She's run VCM a number of times and is a Girls on the Run coach, so her energy was hugely welcome.

16: 9:44

17: 9:35

18: 9:36

19: 9:36

20: 9:34

Watching other people hit the wall was intensely emotional. I didn't know whether it was more helpful to be silent and let them work through it, to address it honestly or to try to distract. I chose a combination of the three. I pointed out milestones. I told them everyone was feeling the same way and that they were doing an amazing job. I talked about my own experience with the wall in Vegas, when I was convinced I was going to wither in the Las Vegas desert. We all breathed a sigh of relief, however, when we turned onto the bike path. It was cooler and shaded, a welcome break from the sun beating down on us. We also picked Howard back up around 22, an enormous mental boost for me. My feet had started to scream and I was struggling to stay upbeat. Together, we rolled home. The most devastating moment was at 25, when we found out that the beer table (which I had been promising for 25 miles, thankssomuch Officer Buzzkill) had been ticketed and shut down. As we recovered from that blow and passed by the skate park, I sent my group ahead to finish their marathons.

21: 9:31

22: 9:36

23: 9:39

24: 9:47

25: 9:44

26: 9:47

.2 (or .42): 4:01

Over the last 6 miles, we passed 196 people. 5 people passed us. I carried a sign for 26 miles. I only dropped it once. All in all, it was an amazing experience. I don't know if I'll pace next year as I have thoughts of making VCM my next big goal race. However, for anyone looking for an entirely different kind of challenge that doesn't require you to run 100 miles or jump over obstacles, pacing comes highly recommended from me.

Run On.

S

Wordless Wednesday: The 2011 Pace Team