Last Minute Pre-Race Thoughts

During my junior year in highschool, I was notorious amongst my friends for faking the flu every time we had an AP Physics exam. I have no idea why my teacher let me get away with that, but usually I'd be able to take my "sick" day and cram enough to muster a passing grade the next day. With the big race (SF Nike Women's Half Marathon) being only 4 days away, I'm starting to feel that same desperate need to postpone and last minute cram. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way for an organized race. On the other hand, I've still managed to cram my last bit of training into this past month.

My original goal for this race, was a finishing time of 2:30 or under. Considering that the average runner finishes a half marathon in under 2 hours, it didn't seem like a tall order. However, my fastest half-marathon time so far has been 2:50, so in regards to my ability this was a stretch. Over the last couple of weeks (approximately 17 miles every weekend), I can't say that my pace has greatly improved. So I'm adjusting my time goal to just beat my best time, 2:50. Even though I've trained more this time around than I have with the last two half-marathons, I'm still feeling nervous, un-prepared, and mildly discouraged. I know it's not the positive inspiration that you'd usually expect from me pre-race, but I'm somewhat doubtful of my abilities after my last 11-mile long run last Sunday.

After the first three miles, I couldn't maintain a steady pace anymore and resorted to running brutal intervals for the rest of the run. And since I'm not used to running intervals for such a long distance, I was left dreadfully exhausted with extreme muscle soreness. To top it all off, around mile 5 I was passed by a very sprite and healthy old man who was.....walking....with a cane! It doesn't engender the most self-confidence, but at least I managed to shave off 20 minutes off my best 10-mile time since I was sprinting.

In any case, I'm going through the exercise of creating a list of running tips to get me through the race. This is definitely more for my benefit, but I hope that some of these points are useful for all you fellow racing procrastinators. As for me, I'll be mentally scrolling through this mantra during the race.

Surfrunner's Last Minute Race Tips:

1. Back Straight, Head High. - Believe it or not, having good posture is good running form. You won't be as sore, and you won't tire as quickly. It also encourages you to properly breathe through your diaphragm, like a singer, which will lend more efficiency to your breath.
2. Break the Distance into Chunks. - Everyone has heard of the philosophy to break a large task into little ones to complete, so the whole job doesn't seem overwhelming. That's definitely an idea which applies to running long distance. Personally, I like to break the race into 4 three-mile runs with some change, because I'm comfortable with a three-mile run. After a while, I'll begin to think "Hey, that last run wasn't so bad. I'm game for another".
3. Pick Visual End Points. - This kind of goes hand in hand with the last point. It's my mind-over-body exercise. When I start to feel my legs burning, I'll pick a spot far ahead of me to run to, before I stop for a walk break. It can be anything, like a tree, a lamp post, or even a moving person. Although, I don't choose a moving target unless I've got enough steam in the engine.
4. Feed Off the Crowd Energy. - I'm not the only crazy person to wake up at an ungodly hour to run an insane distance. There are 20,000 (at least in this race) other people who are just as nuts and happy to be doing it. I can literally feel their energy as they warm-up or pass me by. Don't let that energy go to waste and try to transfer the feeling of that camaraderie to your legs. It even works for the annoying little highschool students who stand on the sidelines to cheer you on. Granted, they are always erroneously yelling "Keep going!! This is the LAST HILL!", which it never is. So, I'll inevitably want to transfer their energy to smacking their earnest little heads. But, maybe I'll feel differently this time around.
5. Enjoy the Scenery. - Racing shouldn't be a chore, it's just a glorious end to the last few months of culminated hard training. So, take a moment to revel in the hard work. Pay attention to the race course, because it's beautiful and you don't always get a chance to run like this through closed streets every day.

Ok everyone, wish me luck! As my pudding buddy says, "You can't do anything more than your best". You're right dude. I'll try to remember that. And who knows,..maybe if I keep up the training/racing, I might end up as agile and healthy as the old man with the cane.

Happy Belated Moon Festival!

I know what you're thinking, what is with all the food posts? Where are the running posts? Sorry folks, I was just lazy and found it easier to cook, take pics, and share that instead of posting about my ongoing training torture. And the truth is that there wasn't much running to write about in September, since I took time off to entertain my visiting parents as well as nurse myself back to health from a cold. So did that month off put a chink in my training schedule? Indeed it did!

You'd think that I've learned by now how to take a break, i.e., maintain a base level of fitness with regular 2-mile runs. But, I've always been one to learn things the hard way. So, yet again I've had to build up my fitness level from scratch with just a month and a half left before the big race (Nike Women's Half Marathon 2009). Despite the setback, I've been determined to build myself back up the right way: slow and steady. I decided to restart my training with the Palo Alto Moonlight 5K Run.

There are races that I run as an annual tradition: SF Nike Women's Half Marathon; there are races that I run to assess my fitness level: SF 5K race; and there are races that I run for the pure enjoyment of it: Palo Alto Moonlight 5K Run. The moonlight run winds through the Palo Alto marshes at 8:30 pm, so your path is only lit by the moonlight. Thus, the need for the runners to have some sort of flashlight on their bodies. It's such a unique experience, and the best part for me is the group of friends, including Raquel, who I'm always running with for this event.

For the most part, my friends will run at their own pace so I don't have to worry about keeping up or slowing down. But, just knowing that they are also present on the course makes me smile. This year's run actually wasn't as bad/painful as I originally thought it would be with the shape I was in. In fact, I improved my previous time by three minutes! So on that note, I'd like to say that it was a great jump-start back to my training.

Race Highlights

• I didn't need to wear a headlamp, since Raquel decided to run at my pace and literally light my way. Isn't that what a girlfriend is for?
• Watching the unique ways that every runner decided to light their path. My personal favorite: the runner who wrapped himself in Christmas lights.
• Finding a new and fun way to celebrate Chinese Moon Festival other than eating moon cakes, which are a very calorie-dense dessert.

I Believe!

Apologies all around for my absence! Jog In Ocean took a couple of months of hiatus to take some summer camping trips, get settled in a work promotion, and ramp up on training for the Nike Women's Half Marathon (Oct. '09), But, I'm officially back. And, I'd like to start off with a shout-out to Sidewalk Monkey for joining our little pre-breakfast running club, and to Mayumi for being hard-core about her runs despite the ridiculous heat out on the east coast. I've also heard that there are a handful of new people who've started to read my blog. So, welcome to the intrepid web wanderers who stumbled onto my page!

I'm happy to say that my half-marathon training is currently in full swing. And, I've pumped up my schedule this year with more interval workouts, since I've added the pressure of a time goal. But, today's post isn't going to be about my last interval run, it's about my last long run yesterday (7.5 miles). Why? Well, because it was so bad that I felt compelled to blog about it. I began the day with the proper nutrition and hydration for a long run, but other circumstances hindered me from hitting the trail until high noon. I can't stress enough how much that's a BAD IDEA!

Unfortunately, yesterday's high temperature was in the 90's, and I could literally see the waves of heat curling up from the trail. Well, it was either that or I was starting to get blurry-eyed, which was also highly probable. So, yesterday's running goal swiftly turned from finishing in a respectable time to simply finishing (ie...a run/walk). I'm happy to say that I did manage to run/walk the full distance, but not without arriving at my car utterly drained, out of breath, and dizzy. Next time, I'll try to bring a small bottle of water. Since, I usually don't drink during a run, but in that heat you have to. I think that would've made a world of difference.

Also, Here is the one highlight of my run. I recently introduced a new song into my running rotation: "I Believe" by Yolanda Adams, from the Honey Soundtrack. Thanks to Mayumi, queen of dance movies, I watched the Honey movie, starring Jessica Alba, and loved the soundtrack. You never realize how much one song can affect you until you're running with it. Check out the lyrics:

They said you wouldn't make it so far.

And ever since they said it, it's been hard

But nevermind the nights you had to cry

Cause you have never let it go inside

You worked real hard

And you know exactly what you want and need

So believe and you can never give up

You can reach your goals

Just talk to your soul and say…

(Chorus:)I believe I can (I can)

I believe I will (I will)

I believe I know my dreams are real (know my dreams are real)

I believe I'll stand (Oh yea)

I believe I'll dance I believe I'll grow real soon and (That's why)

That is what I do believe

Your goals are just a thing in your soul

And you know that your moves will let them show

You keep creating pictures in your mind

So just believe they will come true in time

It will be fine

Leave all of your cares and stress behind

Just let it go

Let the music flow inside

Forget all your pain

And just start to believe

Chorus

Nevermind what people say

Hold your head high and turn away

With all our hopes and dreams I will believe

Even though it seems it's not for me

I won't give up

I'll keep it up

Look into the sky I will achieve all my needs

I will always believe…

Chorus

So yes, this may sound cheesy, but you truly feel the meaning of the words when you're pushing yourself to your physical limit. Every single phrase counts, every single phrase sinks in and fizzles down to your toes. My body literally started tingling, and I sprinted off, feeling weightless for the majority of that song. For a very brief 3 minutes and 43 seconds, I felt like I could sprint all the way back to my car (I was only at the 4 mile marker). My speed even kicked up an extra notch by the time I hit the last chorus, because that's when they bring in a children's choir to sing in the background. And I know that affected me because I grew up singing in a youth chorus. Then the song ended, and 2 minutes later I was back to plodding along again at a slow rate with the heat waves smacking me in the forehead. But, it just shows me how important music is for me on these runs. So what songs work for you out there? How does it make you feel?

Alright, that's all I have for this post. But, let me leave you with some additional tips to run in heat:

TIPS:

• If there is extreme heat in your area, try to run in the mornings or the evenings.
• If you have to run when it's really hot, try wrapping a light towel soaked in ice cold water around your neck.
• Wear light-colored clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen (protect your skin).
• If the heat is so bad that it's making your limbs feel heavy, try a run/walk. Jog at a comfortable pace through the shaded areas and walk through the uncovered sections to recover. If there are no shaded regions, jog for 10 minutes and walk for 4 minutes. Repeat.
• Hydrate an hour before the run and take water with you on the run.

My legs feel like jelly

(photo courtesy of Pilates Digest)

(photo courtesy of getfitsource)

The above photos are the two instruments of toture that my personal trainer selected today to try to break me. But, there is much to say about pride and pure stubbornness. Both of which, I've been told, are prominent traits in my family that I've inherited. And I'm convinced that it's with these traits that I'm going to make it through the intense program that my trainer has designed for my half-marathon goals. Because, even though the bosu ball and glider discs (pictured above) seem harmless, I can assure you that they are evil and will continue to painfully sculpt my body for the next couple of weeks.

Now, if you're lucky enough to have these things in your gym and don't know how to use them, let me enlighten you on some of their fun exercises.

Glider Discs

(the little purple plates)

-Pushups: place your hands on each disc, and separate them as you lower yourself. Your elbows should go behind your shoulders. Then, push your hands together towards the center of your body as you push up. This will work your upper body....and the next day your boobs will hurt.

-Mountain Climbing: Get into pushup position, but instead put the discs on your feet. Then keep your upper body still as your feet slide back and forth on the ground, like ice skating. Keep it up for a minute. This works your legs.



Bosu Ball

-Squats: Hold out your arms to the front to balance yourself. As steady as you can, do squats standing on the ball, while keeping your back straight. This is why my legs feel like jelly. It also works your core.

-Crunches: Do crunches while lying on the ball to support your lower back. Make sure to not let your hips drop while you sit up. Instead, use your stomach muscles. This mainly works your core.

-Plyometrics: Stand with one leg on the ball, and one leg off (The Captain Morgan pose). Then, jump sideways, switching your feet on the ball, and landing on the other side with the Captain Morgain pose again. Keep jumping and switching for a minute. This increases flexibility and works your muscles for lateral movement. Of all the exercises, I think this one is the most beneficial to runners.


Alright, that's all I have for now. I'm sure I'll have more exercises in the next session. But, even though I'm sore, I'm looking forward to it. If this makes any sense, this is the good kind of sore.

Poked, Prodded, Weighed, and Measured Like Cattle

I'm lucky enough to be working for a company that isn't doing too horribly in this economy. Because, they can still maintain the luxury of having our own private gym on campus. And I'm even more lucky that it offers personal training at a greatly discounted rate. So with the upcoming NWM in November, I decided to enlist some help in my training. Albeit, my trainer isn't going to come on any of my runs, but I've asked him to focus on my core strength which will ultimately improve my endurance and speed.

Today was my first day so I excitedly showed up early to workout. Little did I know that the first day of training equated to personal assessment day, ie. putting me through multiple tests to acquire my baseline of fitness. The first part was exactly like a doctor's appointment, but without a cute nurse. He just took my blood pressure, heart rate, weight, etc. But, I don't think I was quite ready for the part where my 2% body-fat, muscular trainer broke out the fat calipers and tape measure. In my head, I was picturing that I was at an Over-Eaters Anonymous meeting and saying "Hi, I'm Surfrunner, and I'm a fattie". Everyone together now, "Hi Fattie Surfrunner".

Now, I understand that he needs some kind of measurement to help me quantify my goal. But, that little girl in me who once looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was seriously cringing. It's my constant internal battle to convince myself that I've made it past that stage in my life, and that I'm not going back. I'm even alright with occasionally getting a little more doughy than normal, as long as it doesn't drastically alter my appearance or health. However, it's entirely different when muscle-boy trainer pinches as much fat as he can from my arms, belly (thanks beer), and thighs, then promptly squashes it between the fat calipers. Can't I just measure my success rate by my finishing time at NWM? I could've done without the embarrassment.

Anyway, I got over it and tried my hardest to rip through the subsequent cardio and strength tests. I definitely had something to prove to Mr. "I don't look like I've ever eaten a french fry" trainer. And because of that, I think my results turned out somewhat skewed. It seems my body statistics are of an overweight, lazy engineer. But, my performance statistics displayed scores closer to a normal athlete. HUZZAH! In any case, I really would like to improve my body stats, so we'll see how this trainer works out. Keep in mind, that I'm saying this after I've eaten two wedges of Quiche for dinner and an entire pint of strawberries for dessert. Maybe what I really need is Jenny Craig.

My New Goal: NWM 2009!

In 2007, my introduction to the world of racing and half-marathon training started with the SF Nike Women's Half Marathon. And I can honestly say that the whole experience: the training, the way I eat, and the race itself changed my life. It got me hooked on to a sporty, active, healthy lifestyle. So, I wanted to make that experience an annual tradition for as long as I lived in Northern California. But, the popularity of that particular race forced the organizers to institute a lottery to sign up for it. I can definitely understand it's popularity, because who wouldn't be enticed into running a marathon that offered free massages, chocolates, a Tiffany's necklace, and countless other freebies? I mean, if you're going to put yourself through that torture, there had better be a good reward, right?

Unfortunately, that also meant I couldn't make it an annual tradition because it's not like I'm going to win the lottery every year. So, in 2008, I decided to find other marathons to run, while trying to improve my performance. I started reading the Runner's World magazine, browsed the runner's forums online, and invested in a better pair of running shoes. It's suffice to say that I did improve my technique and nutrition from all that research. But, my finishing times for the next two races were abysmal compared to NWM '07.

But today, I'm happy to announce that I made it through the 2009 lottery a couple of days ago and am now locked in to run my favorite race again this year! And believe me, I can already tell I'm coming back with a vengeance. In the last couple of days, I've already logged over 10 miles, and I haven't slowed down yet. It's like this race has put a fire under my butt, and I'm running with the same exuberance that I originally trained with in 2007. This year I'm also adding a personal time goal. If I cross that finish line in under 2 hours and 30 minutes, I'll be ridiculously happy. Wish me luck, folks!

Readjusting My Focus

Yesterday, Raquel asked me how I used to stay so focused on my running when we first started dating, and why it seems like my focus has shifted since then. After giving her the initial quizzical "duh" stare, I told her the truth. It may seem like my focus has shifted since we started dating, but that's because I was better at masking my real priorities back then. Besides, what better way to impress a girl than being in shape and showing some dedication to fitness? After you get the girl, you tend to be less worried about impressing her. Unfortunately. And in all honesty, my weekly running mileage decreased by about a half after we met.

Naturally, that begged the question of how I stayed so focused before we met. Of course, I did touch on my early motivation that I share with most of my friends, but this time Raquel was the one asking. And I believe in full disclosure when it comes to my girlfriend. So she helped me realize something while I was being honest with her. My best running performance was fueled by anger and bitterness from a previous breakup. It's true. I'm sad to say that the peak of my running career occurred between my previous relationship and Raquel. It explains everything about my running style during that time: balled-fisted, teeth-gritting, angry music pavement pounding (that was probably grammatically wrong, but you get the point).

In essence, I think I was literally running away from my own fears: fear that I handled the relationship badly, fear of my own sexuality, and fear that my career was going nowhere after years of schooling. Hey, some people have therapy, and I guess I had running, which allotted me miles of sweating and quiet reflection. At least it was free and not to mention the beneficial side effect of getting in shape. After 856 miles (according to my Nike+ account), I'd like to think that I've sorted out those issues and more. I'm not saying that running is going to be a magical remedy for everyone, but it does work for some.

So where am I going from here? Well, I now know that running will always be there to help me sort through my problems. But, I don't want it to be associated with negative emotions. And maybe it's time to use it as an expression of how happy I am that I've found someone who's perfect for me. I'm not going to run away from my fears anymore. Instead, I'm going to run towards a dazzingly bright future, that I never thought was possible or deserved. It's just a matter of seeing where my feet take me.

Thanks Nike....

So, as you may have seen, my spiffy new mini-me on the side of my page has been harrassing me for the last couple of weeks. And every time I log onto my page, I can't help but be amused at her comments. Nike really didn't hold back when they programmed the mini-me's to kick people into gear. Here are some of my favorite comments from Mini-Surfrunner:
"I'm stuck in a rut! What I wouldn't give for a run!"
"I've turned into a couch potato. I need to run."
and my all-time favorite:
"This ball is getting more exercise than I am", whilst playing with a paddleboard ball. This particular comment is even enhanced, because Mini-Surfrunner is wearing a loose-fitting shirt and is slightly sticking her tummy out. So, she looks fatter. Good Job Nike, that's pretty effective.

The funniest part of this situation is that I've been running like a madwoman with a vengeance. I've started hard-core training for the winter since before Christmas. I'm just too lazy to plug my iPod into my laptop to upload all my runs to the server. Thus, poor Mini-Surfrunner is stuck in limbo. If I were to give Nike any kind of technical recommendation, it would be that runs were automatically uploaded to the server wirelessly after every run. We're tired enough already from the run, you can't ask us to fiddle with our equipment when all we want to do is fuel up with chocolate milk and food, then sleep after a run.

But, since they haven't made that particular technological enhancement yet, I promise to upload my runs tonight. Mini-Surfrunner is probably hoarse from the whining.

The Day after Thanksgiving

This morning I woke up completely bleary-eyed and still tired, it was almost like being hungover. But, last night I only had 2 glasses of wine. So now I'm convinced that I was suffering from a turkey hangover; way too much of a good thing. I have to admit that a full Thanksgiving dinner somewhat deters me from recovering my old running skill. Thus, it's double workout day. At least Thanksgiving dinner is nutritous and as I have said before, I can still use it as a starting block for a run.

I set out for a 5 mile hike after a meager breakfast of warm pita bread, cucumber salad, yogurt sauce, and coffee. There is a wildlife preserve nearby that I was itching to explore. And as an added bonus, today was perfect autumn hiking weather. But, as I started hiking I realized that I forgot to charge my trusty iPod, which forced me to hike the old-fashioned way (sans music).

So what did I notice? I felt the cold, crisp, blustery fall wind. I heard my labored breathing, random forest noises, and other people's conversations about their crazy cousins stealing their best Thanksgiving dinner recipes. I smelled the rich, earthy, bruised vegetation that got even stronger when I crushed leaves with each step (Raquel likes to refer to that scent as the natural Pottery Barn). It literally felt like I was a living, breathing Nature Valley commercial.

And while that felt amazing, I somehow managed to freak myself out around mile 3, because I was hiking alone in the wilderness. "What if I get lost?" "Have I watched enough survival shows to survive on my own if I get hurt?" "What do I do if a mountain lion attacks me?" "It feels like I might stumble upon the 'Pit of Despair' (7:18) from Princess Bride". Therefore, the next time I decide to go hiking, I think I'll take a buddy.

Thankfully, I made it home safely with just enough time to eat a hearty, yet sensible supper of leftover turkey soup, before I headed back out to the gym. My guilt meter has definitely been lowered after today's hike, treadmill run, and strength training. But, I'm sure that my body will still hate me tomorrow morning.

The First Step

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been taking an extended running break. And I still stand by the viewpoint, that every runner needs to take a break once in a while between training. But, that doesn't mean a break comes without a price. If you don't maintain some level of fitness during the break, you can't expect to jump back to the same level of running easily. In fact, that could be downright painful and you'd have to start all over again. So, did all of the surfing, hiking, and climbing during my break help with the maintenance? Sort of...

Last night was my first training run for the winter. I can honestly say that it wasn't as painful as it could have been, but my body was dreading it with all the recalcitrance it could muster. For some reason, my feet felt like 10 pound lead weights for the first mile. That's when you supposedly have to buckle down and focus on your motivation points. But really, I tried my best to zone out and get through it, kind of like giving blood or getting an immunization. On the other hand, while I may not have had a great run, my body did feel amazing afterwards. My skin was tingling, my heart was racing, and I was completely out of breath. And it felt like my body had gone through some sort of awakening from hibernation.

No matter what, starting over at the beginning is going to be hard for anything, especially when I've already reached a certain level. But, I'm going to have to start somewhere and the sooner I take that first step, the sooner I can get back to where I want to be. It's just a good thing my lazy ass has a backup plan, aka...Raquel nagging me every 10 minutes to go for a run that I said I'd do, but would allow myself to get deterred by a House marathon.

I'm back!

Apologies all around for my absence, folks. It's been a very busy couple of weeks: finishing one of my projects at work, moving offices, and taking a nice long vacation with Raquel. But, don't think that I've been lazing around and giving up on workouts just because life is busy. While home in Hawaii, I did manage to either do a hike, snorkel, or surf every day. Sadly, none of those workouts involved running unless you count running through the mall to buy macadamia nut chocolates. Thus, I've luxuriated in a three-week vacation from running.

Now, I wish I could say that I've enjoyed this vacation without any regrets or guilt. But this vacation included my mom, and she has a knack for guilting me into feeling that I'm not living up to my potential. I am, by no means, criticizing my mom for being overly critical of me. Because I know that there is no one else in this world who can push me beyond my limits (in a good way) like her, except for myself. However, her delivery could use some work. Telling me that I've gained all my weight back, and that my fashion style has become masculine due to that weight gain is not very nice, although effective. Incidentally folks, taking a break between races is ok. It gives your body a chance for some well-deserved, much-needed rest.

Anyway, it's back to training for me, especially to counteract the holiday meal effects. Now, I know that I've explained my motivation to run before. But, I think it's a good exercise to revisit and expand on those reasons. I'm running because I want to live long enough to enjoy life with my future wife and kids. I'm running because I want to one day inspire my kids to try hard to accomplish their goals. I'm running because after a good workout, life magically becomes more manageable. But most of all, I'm running for myself; not to please other people, like my mom. To me, running is a sport that is just between you and the road. And the only thing that should ever be between you and the road is a pair of socks and running shoes.

Runners are gassy

I've had my annoying share of gym faux pas committed to me during treadmill days: sweat flung on me and intensive BO emanating from my neighbor. But last night's incident, while still gross, was inevitable. After taking a week of break after the SJ Half Marathon, I dragged my butt back to the gym to start over from the basics. The plan was to run an easy 5K to stretch my legs and reawaken my stubborn drive to succeed in endurance sports. So naturally, the day that I decided to jump back on the bandwagon was the day that the gym became ridiculously packed.

After waiting for 15 minutes, I finally finagled a free treadmill by staring the last runner down. And excited with my acquisition, I hopped on without noting what kind of treadmill neighbor I had. However, his presence soon waved it's ugly head at me during my second mile, when he started passing gas. I have no idea what that man had for dinner, but it was darn potent. Now, I'm not going to get mad at the guy because sometimes that isn't something you can control. But, usually I'll only have to endure the torture for just a minute or two. I could smell this guy's gas for half a mile of running! Thankfully, he was finished with his run when I was at mile 2.5. Unfortunately, that's when the man on the other side of me started with his gaseous performance until I finished my run.

I must say that despite feeling like I was running through a sewer plant, that was one of the best runs I've had in a while. In fact, I think I mangaged to hit a "runner's high" moment for myself, because I felt like my legs could go on forever and I physically felt like I was floating. I love it when this happens, especially because it's rather rare for me. Yippie! Although, I have absolutely no suggestions on how to overcome the gassy neighbor obstacle. If there aren't any other free treadmills, I don't know what to do. But, I'm open to suggestions.

Game Face

Yesterday I just received the pictures taken of me during the SJ Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I must say that I'm a lot happier with these photos than I was with the SF Half Marathon. Why? Well, because I don't look constipated in these photos like I do in the last ones. But more specifically, it allowed me an opportunity to see a snapshot of my running form/technique.

In these photos, I've managed to relax my shoulders and upper body while running, which is something that I've been consciously trying to improve for my form. I know it sounds backwards, but many elite athletes try to be zen and relaxed while they are competing. It not only improves performance, but also is more efficient for your body. And I know I sound like an obsessed little fan girl right now, but Michael Phelps is a master at relaxing while competing and look where that got him. In any case, even though I'm not trying to be an elite athlete, I would still like to be performing at my best and have minimal pain after a workout.

These pictures show that I am truly "running tall" towards the finish line as opposed to my SF Marathon photos where my shoulders were scrunched up to my cheeks. I'll take this small victory as the one saving grace from this race. Now all I have to do is work on my game face, because I think I look a little too angry.

San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon Race Review

After the San Francisco Half Marathon that I finished two months ago, I wanted to focus on getting a better finishing time in yesterday's San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Unfortunately, I can't say that my intended plan worked. My atrocious finishing time for the SF race can be attritbuted to my lack of proper training. I had only been completing my usual minimal running routine, without building up on distance. So after that fiasco, did I turn things around? Truthfully, no. Yet again, I let the excuses pile up: my birthday, Reno Ribs Fest, a climbing trip, etc. and I never made it a priority to fit in my long runs. So, not only did I not beat my finish time for the SF race, I made it worse:

SF Half Marathon (8/03/08) - 3:18:02
SJ Half Marathon (10/05/08) - 3:25:45

I think I'm mildly depressed now and it's all my fault. Finishing a race like that always gives me a rush and a huge sense of accomplishment. But this time when I crossed the finish line, I couldn't help but feel a big let-down. The only thing that I proved to myself was how bad my time can be when I attempt to run a race out of shape and ill-prepared. Not to mention that my body is in a world of pain that I've never felt before now. I think it's time to retreat and let my wounds heal before I attempt another race. I've always thought of myself as a positive person, so I'm determined to start over with the basics and remember why I loved to push myself this hard. But for now, I'm feeling the full force of my own disappointment.

There are good races and bad races for every runner. Obviously this was a bad one for me, but I didn't want to let this one go without a review. So here are my highlights:

Highlights:

• I finally got one of my friends, Victor, to run a race with me. However, Victor has been a serious cross country runner since highschool, and he took off. Also, with the way the course is laid out (double-backs on itself), you can see people on their way back to the finish line. So I caught up with Victor when I was at mile 6, while it was his mile 11. As I saw him waving and cheering me on at that intersection, I wanted nothing more than to kick him in the ass for being so fast. Oops, I mean cheer him on all the way to the finish. Yeah, that's what I meant...
• The world-famous Kenyans ran this race! I had the pleasure of seeing them charging towards the finish while I was maybe on mile 5 or so. Gilbert Okari's finish time: 1:01:46.
• I also got to see the winning female from Japan whiz by me. Yuri Kano's finish time: 1:10:03.
• The race course was flat. That was a refreshing reprieve from all the hills in SF.
• There was a live rock band performing at every other mile.
• I saw these two women runners, dressed in silver sequins, stop at every stage and dance around like disco balls. Obviously, they had a blast.

Alright folks, that's my recap. FYI, my next race will probably be next year, but I haven't decided yet.

Wick Away

Last night I was unfortunately stuck running in the gym again instead of outside. Now, I've never really had a problem treadmill running before, especially if something is good on TV. But, it really doesn't beat running on a trail and smelling the newly blooming summer blossoms. And considering last night's incident, I'm overdue for a nice outdoor peaceful run.

Upon arriving at the gym, I found only one treadmill available. So I immediately hopped on even though it was between two very big, potentially smelly men. I just didn't want to wait another half an hour to get my workout started. For the first mile or so, I didn't have any complaints because my running neighbors seemed to be taking it easy. But, halfway into the second mile I started to smell a peculiar odor coming from my left. And on top of that, I began to feel little specks of wetness landing on me from the same direction. Ok folks, body odor is one thing, but when my running neighbor starts sweating so profusely that he starts sprinkling on me with every step that's crossing the line! He invaded the sanctity of my treadmill bubble.

Luckily, I behaved myself and even finished a three mile run before giving up and going home. For that feat alone, I would like to be rewarded with many brownie points and universal good karma. I think I was so traumatized afterwards, that I scrubbed extra hard during my shower. Shouldn't there be gym-going etiquette included with every membership packet? Wear deodarant or wick-away clothes that absorb your sweat as a courtesy to the runner next to you! Alright, I'm done with my rant. Maybe I'm over-reacting. There are some sports where people pay to be sweated on by other people, like Bikram Yoga. So I apologize if I come off as judgemental. It's just my reaction to being grossed-out. It could've been worse, he could've been gassy too.

Cause I would walk 500 (thousand) miles...

As some of you may have noticed, my latest goal bar over the last few weeks has been empty since I put it up. It's not really because I've been slacking in my running (although, I sort of have been), it's because I haven't uploaded any of my recent runs to the Nike+ system. Well, that's about to change because I just found a new form of motivation. Instead of prescribing my own running goals, I'm going to enter free Nike+ challenges that are hosted by Nike.

This particular one is the Nike+ Marathon Charity Challenge. The big-wigs are slated to donate up to $100,000 to the Children's Memorial Hospital and the Imerman Angels. But, that total amount only gets sent pending on Nike+ runners hitting 500,000 miles by 10/12/08. Now that's pressure. I think that's a great cause to be running for and I can't think of better motivation to run than helping out a sick child. If any of you out there on the internet have the Nike+ system, please consider jumping on this bandwagon, especially if you're going to go out and run anyway. Stay tuned to the Latest Goal Bar over the next couple of weeks to monitor our collective effort.

Running with the Pack

Last friday was my first attempt to run with Raquel during a race. We both decided to start small with a 5K. It wasn't just any 5K though, this one had a theme. It was the Palo Alto Moonlight 5K. The course was on a trail through little lakes and reservoirs, and was only lit by the full moon. Isn't that a romantic and original concept? I can honestly say that I've never done a night run like that before. They recommended that we wear head lamps and hold flashlights, but I didn't bring anything thinking that my eyesight was sufficient and I'd try to keep up with Raquel, who was wearing a head lamp. Also, I invited my friends, Nat and Kimi, as additional reinforcements because there is safety in numbers.

My strategy was to let Nat and Kimi shoot ahead and play a game of chase with them for the whole race. That didn't quite go as planned. In the beginning, I decided to weave my way through the crowd and try to break free with Raquel valiantly keeping up and giving me some light. We had a good pace going for about 1.5 miles. But at that 1.5 mile marker, all of a sudden I felt the consequences of my early exertions and I ended up walking. I think I let my negative thoughts get the best of me: "Oh man.. I can't keep up this pace with Raquel." "My legs are feeling like lead, I've never done this pace before." "If I keep running at this speed, I might break an ankle because I can't really see the dirt trail, even with Raquel's light.". And like the loyal girlfriend that she is, Raquel stayed with me the whole time even though I know she had the energy to run farther. In the end, I mangaged a walk/run method after Nat and Kimi eventually caught up to us. We all finished the race together, but with a really slow time.

Afterwards, I asked Raquel how she felt about our joint run. And she told me that she was ridiculously tired when I stopped to walk, so it was a good thing that I slowed down. But, I know her better, that's her version of cheering me up. She also said that I seemed more self-conscious about my appearance when she was next to me. For example, she thought I was worried about my sweat, my hair being out of place, and that I didn't look cute. Now, I know that I definitely wasn't worried about that, so I'm trying to figure out if she was transferring some of her worries on to me.

Overall, I still prefer running solo over running with friends. But, I don't think that I dread pack running as much as I did before. I'm going to need a few more practice runs with Raquel to get used to her pace and presence. Next time, I'll have to apply some positive mantras to balance the negative thoughts. Apparently, I'll also have to remember to wear my cuter running clothes and to style my hair.

Bring It On

So to be honest, when Raquel voiced her interest in training with me for the next marathon I admit that I was a bit apprehensive. Now, I'm sure most runners would scoff at my hesitation, because they would love their significant others to show the same enthusiasm for their passion. Well, don't get me wrong because I certainly am excited that we may have another activity to share together. But, running has always been a solo activity for me. It's my mechanism for escaping the world; where I temporarily only have to worry about myself. Batman has the Batcave, Superman has the Fortress of Solitude, and I have running.

In addition, I feel like we have imaginary lines drawn to designate separate areas of expertise between us. For instance:

Surfrunner: music / Raquel: sports
Surfrunner: cooking for a big crowd / Raquel: cooking for two
Surfrunner: driving / Raquel: fixing the car
Surfrunner: surfing, running / Raquel: climbing, volleyball

Anyway, I'm sure you see my point. I'm not saying that we can never venture into the other person's world, because we each are more than happy to share. But, I wasn't ready to transform my demarcated Running territory into a union of our Venn Diagram.

Then again, Batman did allow other people into the Batcave, like Robin and Alfred, his butler. So I'm willing to give it a try and keep an open mind. We haven't started running together yet, but I am gearing her, as well as myself, up for a joint run relatively soon. As expected, it's taking her less time to ramp up to my current running level than I originally needed. In any case, there is nothing like a little healthy competition to give my training a boost, right? What do you think Internet? Am I being weirdly territorial about running or have you folks felt something similar?

Huzzah!!

Check out the bright, shiny, "Congratulations" under my "Running Goal" application on the right sidebar. Yesterday, I finally ran the last 4 miles needed for my accummulated 50 miles in 4 weeks goal. As of late, I've been failing every running goal I set for the last 3 months. So, this accomplishment feels very sweet and, at the same time, long overdue. FINALLY!

I can't describe the little giddy feeling I get every time I've successfully completed a running goal. The closest thing I can think of is getting an A on a project that I've worked really hard on. But, even that case is different because there are consequences to flunking a class. The only thing I get from missing a running goal is a long session of self-berating. Yet, since it was a personal goal that I've set, it feels more important to me than a goal set for me by someone else. Funny how that works...

In any case, I'll be celebrating by leaving that application up for one more day, while I re-calibrate my sensor tonight. Stay tuned for a new running goal to be posted within the next couple of days.

Surfrunner got a new pair of shoes!

Yesterday, I had a delightful first visit to the specialty running store down the street. Not only was this my first time in that particular store, but it was my first time in any specialty running store. Why? Well, because I'm frugal (*cough*, cheap/chang) and I've always viewed running shoes as functional equipment for a cheap, yet all-encompassing hobby. As long as I can run comfortably and my Nike+ system has a slot for the sensor, then it doesn't matter what shoe I get. Surprisingly, I've always thought of my iPod/Nike+ system as more important to my running than shoes. Well, not after yesterday's education.

Now that I think about it, of course I should care about the equipment that will help prevent my long-term injuries. The running expert identified the kind of runner I am: an overpronator; the kind of shoe I need to compensate for that: motion-control or stability; and proceeded to parade a large variety of those shoes to choose from. Not only that, but he explained the type of injuries I would get from running with the wrong shoes because of the way I run (I've already gotten them). Anyway, my favorite parts were that he let me extensively test each shoe: run a lap around the parking lot, and he drilled a hole in the shoe I chose so that it would perfectly fit my Nike+ sensor, all for free. Overall, I gained knowledge and I got special running shoes that didn't cost me any more than what I usually spend! Is that a good deal or what??

For the record, I settled on the Women's Mizuno Wave Alchemy 8. After I bought them, I took my new shoes for an inaugural run and finally broke the 700 mile mark!! That's right, according to my Nike+ system, I've run 700+ miles in a little over 2 years. YAY ME! As for the shoes, they are the lightest, most comfortable pair I've had. My only hang-up is that the trimming is bright neon green. Oh well, it's alright because I'm bringing the 80's back.

Free Surfrunner Tip: I tend to change my shoes every 300-400 miles to prevent injury.