Food? I don't need your stinking food!

I think running kills brain cells. At least that's what I think after my run in the Vermont City Marathon last weekend. Somehow, I completely, 100% spaced on a critical element of race strategy this year -- food. I simply didn't have enough to get me through.

The story of this race really starts at last year's Vermont City. I forget what I titled my post for that race, but it had to be along the lines of the Pot-o-Potty Express. I had major GI issues that year, and hit 4 Pot-o-lets and one gas station bathroom along the 26.2 mile course. I remember the dilemma of having to continue drinking Gatorade and eating shot blocks, even though they were upsetting my stomach. It was a nasty cycle.

Unfortunately, the memory of that race doomed me for this one. Because I didn't want to repeat my issues from last year, I chose not to drink Gatorade at the rest stops (mistake #1), and was stingy with the shot blocks (mistake #2). The net result was that I completely ran out of juice at mile 17. I rallied a bit here and there before hitting a big-time low around mile 23, and although I managed to run the last 1.2 miles to the finish, the fact is that I was barely able to finish at all. Between miles 20 and 24 I stopped a bunch, walked a bunch, knelt down, and even sat on my butt on the side of the bike path. My calves were cramping so bad at one stretch that when I lifted my leg, my toe pointed down as the calf contracted. My body felt weird, which is to say it was beyond a normal "bonk" pain and into a definite nutrition depletion mode.

The shame of it is that AG and I followed a great plan, pace-wise. As he mentioned, we diligently stuck with the 9:00 minute mile pace guy for the first half of the race, even when we felt we could've gone faster. I managed to stick with him through probably 16.5 miles before the wheels quickly and completely fell off. The weather was also good for running -- overcast to start, not too hot, and no rain. In terms of conditioning, you can always do more, but I felt good about adding to a solid base by getting in two 20's and an 18 in the six weeks leading up to race day.

In the end, counting on water, 5 shot blocks and one Gatorade at mile 23 (which immediately relieved my calf cramp) just wasn't enough to get me through. It's easy to write that now, but in reality, I only realized it after the race was over. I was lying down (it felt so good to lie down!), when a guy I know came over to see how I was doing. He is an accomplished distance guy who had just run a 2:52. Not that I could've gotten anywhere near his pace if I had eaten right, but it's worth noting that he drank Gatorade at every aid station and ate 14 shot blocks during the race. My intake miscalculation was a big miss.

So here's the kicker. Now I think I have to run another one of these suckers. Not sure when, but I'm pretty positive I'll be back out there again. And you'll read about it here.

AG, you there?

Just checking in.

Back...

I'm on a forced break from running over these next few days after pulling a small muscle in my back over the weekend. Very sensitive to certain motions. I went to PT yesterday, and was adviced not to run probably until the weekend. I'm doing exactly as she says so I don't jeopardize the marathon. I'll keep you posted. Think good, and healing, thoughts.

Wild Woman

Mrs. VTR has started a phenomenon. Frustrated that the competitive feel of even local fun runs was getting the better of her, Mrs. VTR started the Wild Woman 3 Miler last year. Her goal was to reclaim the sport of running, without any competitive pressure, self-inflicted or otherwise. She set a date and was going to run three miles on her own. A few friends found out about her mission, and they decided to join her...in costume.

They had a ball, so this year Mrs. VTR decided to open the run up to a few friends. The ladies arrived at 7:45AM yesterday and dropped their kids at our house, where many of the husbands and I were on kid and refreshment duty. 30 racers, about 20 husbands and somewhere around 30 kids later, Second Annual Wild Woman's 3 Miler went off without a hitch, complete with official t-shirts that I was able to pull together.

It was a great run and tribute to the community spirit that can drive running, if it's approached in the right mindset. There were two comments after the race that really epitomized to me what the event was all about. One non-runner-type described how the runners split into two groups on the course. She didn't realize they had split until the front group just stopped running. She wondered what was going on until she realized that the faster group was patiently waiting for the second group. "How cool is that?" she said.

On the other hand, a serious runner-type said after the race, "Next year this could be really big and really good -- with prizes for the fastest time, etc." You see, this woman missed the point entirely. The only prize for the Wild Woman Race was for the wildest costume (won by a woman in a snorkel, mask and old school life vest). Mrs. VTR did take this woman's suggestion to heart, though. Maybe next year they will have a prize for the fastest time...only they'll draw it out of a hat at the end of the run.

Very cool.

Twelve

I got in a twelve miler on Saturday. It was a good run with a strong second half. I'm getting pumped for the Marathon at this point. Some of the training miles are starting to kick in. Nothing more to report.

Torn, nice job on the Marathon! Congratulations!

Surprising

I did not want to go out this morning. My legs felt a bit sore and stiff, and I almost convinced myself that I needed another day off to rest. Instead, I managed to rally and got out for 3. I'm glad I did. I felt as strong as I have in a long time on the back portion of this out and back. I was able to stretch out my stride and felt somewhat fast for the first time in a while. It's cool when running throws you that kind of curve ball.

Rain, what rain?

I had the pleasure of running 20 miles with AG on Saturday AM. About 8 of it was dry. The remaining 12 was extremely wet, like yellow and orange on the radar wet. We slogged through it, stretched a fair bit and emerged triumphant at the Hatch Shell. Along the way we climbed Heartbreak Hill, passed Harvard and BU's boathouses, and caught up on each other's lives. It was a great run, even better for knowing that neither one of us would have ventured out without the other. That's my last long run of this training session. I got in a 3 miler today to stretch things out before more bad weather rolls in tomorrow, and I felt good. Not too tight and generally strong.

Feels good to be on the wind down, and to have passed the last real test with a good friend.

Short ones

I managed to get in a couple of runs this week, a four and a half miler on Wednesday and a 3 miler today. I have to do my last 20-miler this weekend. I'm actually looking forward to it in some kind of demented way.

AG, is this the weekend for your 20?

Good twelve

I ran a solid 12 miler today. I went out slow, stretched a few times along the way, and finished strong. For the first time, I felt excited about the marathon on Memorial Day weekend. The 20 miler next weekend could change that, but I'll take the positive vibes for today.

I'll call it 7

I got out this morning for about one hour. I was supposed to do 8 miles, so I'm sure I fell short of that, but schedules are tight, you know? One hour got me back home in time to participate in the kids' t-ball and little league opening day.

I was slow and steady on the way out, did a couple of telephone pole-length "sprints" (if there's such thing as a slow spring) at the turnaround point and finished strong. My back lap of the out and back was a full minute shorter than my out, and that's including about a minute's worth of stretching on the back. I was pleased with that. It really is necessary for me to go out slow.

12 still on tap for tomorrow.

Chi-Chi

I was in Chicago for two days this week and got out for a 4 miler along the lake. It was gorgeous. Chicago really did the right thing with their lakefront development. Museums, a running/biking path, gardens, beaches....lots of public space. Really awesome. It made me think how cool it would be to run the Chicago marathon and bring the family out for the weekend. I'll have to work on that.

I ran three at lunch today with a small crew from work. It was fun to be outside with folks that I usually only see in the hallways or in meetings. Nothing else to report on that one, except it was gorgeous out there.

I have an eight and a twelver on tap for this weekend. It's also opening weekend for t-ball and little league, and we're starting in on painting the house. Very busy to say the least. It's supposed to hit 80 degrees up here, so at least I'll be outside.

Hope it's just as nice where you are this weekend. Enjoy!

On ice and arnica

Passing on some pain management tips that are working for me...

After my long runs, I immediately fill the tub with ice cold water, drink some milk and eat a PB&J, and then soak for about 10 minutes. I think the cold reduces the swelling in the legs -- whatever it does, it provides relief.

Someone also recommended Arnica gel, which is supposed to relieve muscle pain. Not sure if this stuff works, but I used it last night and woke up feeling great. I went down the stairs without a problem, and still feel good as I'm typing right now.

Worth a try...

Long weekend

This week was school vacation up here, so I took Friday off to get in some family time. I also managed to get in some runs. I did 5 on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and my long run of 21.6 on Sunday. (21.6 only because my loop is 10.6 and I couldn't figure out a way to cut out the extra.)

The long run was an interesting one for me. It was all about keeping injury at bay, not going too fast and just churning through the miles. Along the way, I stopped to stretch probably 5-6 times. It was the first time I've done that, and I found it to be hugely helpful. My legs felt refreshed after every stretching session, so I'll likely keep this as part of my long-run regimen.

I also ate differently on this one than I have during long runs in prior years. Usually, I have the Gatorade and Cliff Shots on board and I ration them out over the course. This time, I had an egg sandwich early, a banana just before my 11AM start, and carried water. At the halfway point (my house), I had a big chunck of banana bread and replenished my water. It worked out well, although I have to try more portable nourishment on my next run. I don't think banana bread will travel well on race day.

The big win for me was that I finished strong. My goals for the marathon are:
1. Go out slow (and stay slow)
2. Finish strong
3. No injuries
4. Sub-four

On Sunday, I constantly monitored my speed and forced myself to ease up instead of taking off when I hit a groove. I paid attention to every twinge and tweak, and slowed or adjusted to try to find relief. As a result, I actually did finish strong. The last mile to my house is a series of steep down/up hills which are brutal on the legs. I chanted "strong legs, strong legs" down the first hill and actually felt strong. I finished with long strides and way less pain then I had during last week's 18 miler. It was cool to see how holding back really can pay off in the end. Hopefully, I can overcome adrenaline and take this approach to marathon day.

18 miles.

Long. Painful. Done.

And only just now, satisfying.

Churn

I managed to get out for a 4 miler today. Still very tight, but I feel good about getting into more of a routine (finally). Longer runs are on tap this weekend, and I really don't know how my body will respond. Working on hydration to lube up the joints today and tomorrow.

Run with your butt

I went out for an 8 miler this morning before work. It's the first time I've done a weekday morning run in a long time. It was gorgeous.

I've been extremely tight in my calves, hammies, and legs in general during my training stint this year. I'm convinced it's because I'm 39, but a full-pro runner friend has me thinking it might have something to do with my technique. She randomly mentioned that I run with my calves and need to run with my butt. I'm not sure what that means, but I've been experimenting with longer strides, a different kick, and trying to push off with my butt instead of my calves. Random experimentation, really, and I'm not sure where I'll end up. I need to talk to her about this in more detail, and I'll share my results.

How about you? Any butt runners out there?

Focus, Fooccusss

I'm trying to stay focused on building base and progressing towards the Memorial Day Marathon. To that end, I got in two five milers last week (Tues, Wed), 8 miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday. Sunday was supposed to be a big one, but I've been very tight lately and felt that adding 8 onto the 10-mile loop was pushing it. I rested yesterday, and added a great 5 miler today. It was the perfect day to run, and I felt stronger. 8 on tap for tomorrow...

5.5, One with son

I ran 1.2 miles with Little VTR #1 this morning. I asked him to join me (thanks to a heads up from Mrs. VTR), and he didn't hesitate to say, "yes." He suited up in no time, and we hit the road. We did an out and back to a big red barn on our road. The back portion included stops at a waterfall we had never seen before today, at a tree where three woodpeckers were going at it, and along another set of brooks that converged on the side of the road. It was a lot of fun. We did the whole loop, including stops in 20 minutes, which Little VTR noted is way less than an hour, "like 40 minutes less." (I love the math learning at this age.)

After our run, I continued on for another 4.5. It was the same hilly route as the last post. I felt better today, but I still have lots of foundation building to do. That's on tap for this week.

Happy Easter!

Five hilly miles

I got up and hit it for five hilly mountains. We had a friend's 40th last night, so I felt good that I was able to get up early enough to get a run in. Sluggish, but checked it off.

30 minutes

I got out for 30 minutes at lunch today. It is gorgeous out. I actually had more time earlier in the week because I was in Reading, MA for two days -- no family commitments. I grabbed my gear but forgot my shoes. Frustrating.

Looking to run both weekend days, though not too far since I had another light week.