If you need to be humbled, run long!

You might know that I’ve been training for a relay race coming up in August. I was feeling rather pleased with my efforts. In fact, on July 4^th I ran a 5K and finished with my best time yet! I’m almost 57 and I’ve been running for 10 years. I’ve been thinking, “I’m faster! I’m faster!”

As the summer wore on, four miles became a “good run.” Four miles with hills was a little more challenging, but not exhausting. I’ve been thinking, “I’m stronger. I’m stronger!”

My training partner and I jumped from four to six miles a couple weeks ago for our long runs. Still, we held a steady pace and did not die at the end. I’ve been thinking, “I’m prepared. I’m prepared.”

Then I remembered that my longest run on the relay is 6.6 miles. I’ve been thinking, “I need to run longer. I need to run longer!”

Enter the seven-mile long run. Perhaps I wasn’t hydrated and fueled enough. It’s hard to fuel before a morning run. I like to get as many minutes of sleep as I can! It had to be a morning run because, well – it’s hot out there! Water? Why didn’t I plant a water bottle somewhere along the route? Yes, I bonked! I couldn’t make it up a hill at mile 5.5 without taking a walk break. We finished the seven miles, but it wasn’t pretty on my part. I wandered home, drank some water, stretched, drank some electrolytes, ate breakfast, puttered around, ate some lunch and downed more fluids, puttered some more, and complained about my aching muscles. By evening, I finally felt like myself again.

What’s my take away? I know how to prepare, but I was feeling confident enough that I didn’t prepare properly. I paid a price today for my pride. I am humbled. I’ve got a few long runs prior to relay weekend and you can bet I will anticipate them more carefully by fueling and hydrating better the day and hours before.  I might even plant a water bottle along the route.

That’s why we train – so we can learn about our weaknesses. When we know where the weak spots are, we can reinforce them and make them strong.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” – Ether 12:27 

What weak things have you changed into strengths?

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green

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Tuesday's Training Tip: Eat on the Run

This Tuesday Training Tip discusses fuel and the importance of learning to eat on the run.  When I began running at the age of 47, I could not drink within 45 minutes of a run. I ran first thing in the morning. I certainly couldn’t eat before a run and I never dreamed of eating during a run! Experience has taught me a few things.

As I began to embrace fun run opportunities, I learned that it was important to fuel before a race if you had any hopes of completing the race. Longer races require fueling during the run.  I would suggest practicing or training to eat on the run by fueling during your long run workouts. 

·         Try fueling on runs or workouts longer than an hour.  Eat something every 20-30 minutes.

·         Mimic race day water stops and fueling opportunities by studying the course and mapping your workout accordingly.

·         Try different fueling options on several long runs to find what works best for you. Experiment with gels, chews, and granola or dried fruits to discover your personal preference.

·         The best fuel is the one that agrees with you. Here are some of my favorites.

It will be tricky at first, but with practice you can learn to eat on the run and avoid hitting the wall or bonking on race day.


Tune in every Tuesday for more training tips and visit my Training Tips page to find all the tips you may have missed.

Question: Do you have a favorite workout fuel you would like to share?

 

Happy Running!

 

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Eating on the run

We all know that it is rude to just eat and run, but in the world of runners, eating while running is a must. When I began running six years ago I could eat nothing prior to a run and my stomach took some time to settle down after a run.  Even drinking water before a run was flirting with danger.  If it went down too close to run time it would most surely come back up.  I eventually learned to sip water mid-run and live.

While training for my first half marathon (read about it here) I learned that I had to eat something during longer workouts.  If I did not, my legs would quit on me.  So began the experimentation with gels and fruit snacks, protein bars and peppermint candy, and gum.  I settled on a combination of gels and fruit snacks. (Yes, regular kid tested by them at the grocery store fruit snacks.)

I have been training with a new running buddy for the Fit for Life Half in Boise on July 12. I convinced her to try eating on the run and we began experimenting again.  We’ve come to this conclusion:

Jelly Belly® Sport Beans are the best mid-run fuel because …

• They taste good.

• The packaging is easy to open.

• You can carry them in one hand and pop two or three at a time rather than consuming the whole package at a water stop.

Gatorade®Prime Energy Chews are a close second because …

• They taste good.

• They are soft and go down quickly, but …

• The packaging is difficult to open. I would recommend repackaging these before the race in snack size zipper bags.

I am still sticking with Power Bar® Protein Bars before and after the run.  My favorite?  Caramel Peanut Fusion.  Yum!

With any luck the mid-run fuel will help to carry us through on Saturday. Oh, and gum.  I can’t run without my peppermint gum!

Happy Running!

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A little bit of running and a lot of grandmothering ...

I am just checking in.  It is a busy summer with half marathon training and grandchildren visiting.  Not much time for blogging.  I have a few minutes while my youngest granddaughter and I share a snack of cheese, crackers, and some great big ruffled potato chips.  (Don't tell her mom!) 

Our construction:  Backyard Fairy Castle

Running - One more three mile run before race day on Saturday.  I was ever so grateful that last Saturday was the last long run on the schedule! I think I'm ready to scale it back just a bit.
Grandmothering - Sadly, the grandkids will be leaving the day after the race. We have baked, camped, boated, snacked, lazed, constructed, and visited all while trying to maintain a training regimen.  It has been fun getting reacquainted.  Grandchildren are one of life's great rewards.
I will report after the race.  It may take a few days as I will have grandkids to hug and tears to dry.  Oh ... and a few sore muscles to be sure!

You are a runner if ...

“I am a runner.” When can one who runs confidently make this claim?  I believe it is different for everyone. This morning I ran eight miles to stay on track for half marathon training. My legs are pretty tired. Actually, all of me is quite tired! I think I can say, “I am a runner.”

I heard others refer to me as a runner long before I thought I was legit. I ran, sometimes, and not especially fast – but I did run. When I participated in my first 5K I was hysterical afterwards, laughing to keep from crying. It was hard! It rained that day and there was the added difficulty of being cold and wet. I didn’t do much of anything the rest of the day. I was busy recovering! Did that make me a runner?

I ran for four years before I could break a ten minute mile and it still doesn’t happen every day. Did clearing that hurdle make me a runner? I ran and walked a half marathon last year. Does that qualify me? I have run in the rain, the wind, and a blizzard. Runner yet?

This is what I have determined. It’s just the opinion of a granny who runs. 

• You are a runner if you run. It matters not how fast or how far. 
• Racing doesn't matter. Some runners love to race and some do not, so racing doesn’t matter. (Well, it does for those of us who enjoy it!) 
• You are a runner if you continue to run. Obstacles such as illness and injury, scheduling, and really bad weather might get in the way, but a runner will resume his sport as soon as the obstacle has been cleared. 
• Some days will be easier than others.  Some runs will be longer or faster than others, it matters not. 
• You are a runner if you run.

Run on, you runner, you!

Question: Do you have an opinion about what makes a runner?  Feel free to sound off in a comment below.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Lonely Run

It seems I’ve been training for a half marathon all year!  Actually, I began in March and hit a road block about the time I was due to run my first six-miler.  After recuperating from a couple of setbacks, I began again and reached the six-mile long run last weekend.  I had recruited a running buddy because long runs can get pretty lonely.  Unfortunately, there is a strange phenomenon surrounding the six-mile run.  Running buddies tend to disappear for six-milers.  I think I know the reasons.  It isn’t because they are wimping out (well maybe) rather they have reasons not to run six miles.

#1 – They are not training for a half, so six miles is just a random run.  It is not their goal.

#2 – Unless you can run a six minute mile (Most of us can’t) it takes a while to run six miles. Sometimes a long run just doesn’t work into your day.

#3 – Recovery.  Six miles takes more out of a body than three, or four, or even five.

This time my running buddy had something else come up and she had to cancel.  That happens, too.

That’s why I found myself alone on the road with only the voices of Alan Jackson, Sarah Brightman, Roger Miller, The Beatles, David Essex, and George Jones, to name a few.  I have an eclectic taste in running music!  I chose a route I had not traveled for many moons.  Long runs are typically done at an easy pace.  Their purpose is to build strength and endurance. I think they also have a purpose for building patience – something I need to work on.

Blooming Russian Olive Tree

 I started slow.  At 1.5 miles I was still slow and tried to pick up the pace a bit. Somewhere around mile three I got lost in my thoughts.  This was strange because somewhere around mile three I realized I had a 2 mile stretch that was bordered by blooming Russian Olive trees!  Like this one.

This was a problem because those innocuous yellow blossoms have a sickening sweet aroma that wreaks havoc on my head!  I dislike blooming Russian Olives with a passion, which is unfortunate because I am trying to bridle my passions! I thought, perhaps, this 2 mile stretch would be my undoing, but I just kept moving.  I ignored the trees and focused on … I don’t remember.  I think I let my mind wander, enjoying the assorted tunes bouncing in my ears and wondering what the uphill mile at the end of the run was going to feel like.

It felt fine.  In fact, it almost felt good!  The best part was the time on my watch at the end of the run.  It was the fastest I had ever covered six miles – 10K races included!  The slow start, the Russian olives, and the uphill mile at the end, were all a part of my lonely run and they combined for success.  I was satisfied with a sense of accomplishment afterwards, yet I had no buddy to whom I could brag, but then, if I had done the run with a buddy my time would have been slower because I would surely have been chatting along the way.

Innocuous Yellow Blossoms

I'm Alive!

It took me a few days to know for sure, but I am definitely alive and none the worse for wear - finally.  The High Desert Trail Run half marathon nearly did me in!  My time was pathetic.  I believe that had something to do with the great amount of hiking I did when I should have been running.  I just couldn't.  A 1700 foot climb over 6.5 miles after running 6.5 miles was just too much!  I ran the downhills - what there was of them.  Did I mention it was nearing 90 degrees? 
Combining my first half marathon with my first trail run may not have been my smartest move.  I was smart enough, however, to recruit Susan and Kali.  Without them I may not have made it home.  Thank you, ladies, for your company!
Four(4) days after the race I quit wincing with every step.  My quads have never been so sore for so long in my life! Two days after the race I quit guzzling fluids.  I was finally rehydrated.  One day after the race a fever blister popped out on my lip, but thanks to my friend, Dr. T, I had medicine to halt it.  Seven days after the race I am looking for a training plan for my next challenge.
I know, you think I'm nuts.  Maybe I am, but I have lots of friends who are nutty, too!

Enjoy the pics!



With Susan before the race.

Before the pain.

Oh, lonesome me!



Kali and Susan indulging in chocolate milk.



It's finally over!

My First Half

Look closely.  It reads, "Half Marathon!"

I finished my half marathon training this morning.  The four mile run was so much easier than earlier four mile runs.  Those long runs (10 & 11 miles) really change one's perspective!  I have two days to hydrate (It's gonna be hot!) and carbo load (My favorite part about racing!)  I've been working on the mental preparation for some time.  It got a bit of a boost today when one of my running buddies, Susan, decided to sign up for the 10K. Yipee! Misery truly does love company.
I've done the work.  I have the clothes.  I purchased the fuel - Powerbars, gel, sports drinks, etc.  I suppose there isn't much left to do, except maybe pray! I'm excited, apprehensive, and cautious about my expectations.  The goal for my first half marathon, the High Desert Trail Run, is to survive!  That in itself will be a personal record!
Wish me luck!  You can also pray if you would like!