OK, here's my tip, for those w ho have aches and pains like I do. Grind up an ibuprofen with a morter and pestle and add it to a teaspoon of yogurt before running. That seems to get into into my system faster without giving me any upset. I suppose it would work to put it into a glob of your favorite GU as well..I haven't tried that yet.
More tips from the running tipster.. You can buy Gu by the case of 24 packets at Amazon for a very good price (if you have Amazon Prime and don't pay shipping). It works out to about a dollar per packet. I just got a case of Chocolate Outrage so I'm set for a year. Also REI in Conshohocken apparently discounts Gu if you buy 12 or more. And finally, Target carries Shot Bloks (in the drugstore section in the aisle with the Luna Bars and diet stuff) and recently had them on sale. -Kristina
OK K! Well, you were missed by me this Saturday, but I trust that you were tapering and off doing your short run at a REASONABLE hour. 1/2 marathon this upcoming weekend!? Awesome - good luck - you're gonna do great.
This Saturday, Rick and Melanie, Floyd and Mea were all out at 7AM, ready to do the big 20 miles. Me too. I must have been nuts. But, I'm pleased to report that Floyd was a trooper and we did the majority of the run together - successfully! Started at VG, went down to Kelly Dr, past the Art Museum, and down the trail along the Schuylkill to the turnaround point @ Locust St, and then back, up MLK, all the way back to VG. I kept moving pretty well - Floyd and I did separate around the Falls Bridge, but he was never too far behind me at all - finished OK. Could I do another 6.2 miles? I didn't really feel like trying, but it wasn't really that far - I think I'm doing pretty well. And I want to get out there this week and do everything that I need to do.
So obviously I'm not going to see you before your big race this weekend - give me some more info about it, because I'm struggling to find it online - what's this 1/2 m called?
Here is the link. http://www.uberendurancesports.com/Oktoberfest.html
I've crashed and at this point I just want to get through this race on Sunday and go back to short distances. I guess the universe doesn't want me to be a long distance runner. Oh well. But you guys are doing great! I'll be out there cheering at the Wanderers water station on Marathon Day.
Kristina ~ best of luck to you at the October Lauf Fest. Hopefully you can rest up this week and feel good for the race.
As a side note, Mea and I are planning a post-race get together for the whole group after all of our respective runs are done (thinking perhaps first week of December?). We can all swap horror stories. :) Stay tuned for the invite!
I won't be around this week or next! My wife Johanna's father is battling cancer and has taken a turn for the worse, and we are taking an emergency trip to her home country of Ecuador to see him. I will be away for the next two training Saturdays. I will keep you up to date.
L - good luck on your continued training! K - knock 'em out on the race! Anyone else - wish me luck, and thanks for your kind thoughts about my father-in-law.
Will be back the weekend before the marathon. PEACE!! Keep running :)
R- I'm very sorry to hear about your father-in-law, and wish you and your wife a safe trip. Definitely keep us updated and I hope to see you in November. Everybody else, I'll be there on the 6th for a training run. -Kristina
Run today was educational but disappointing. Ran OK for the initial 11 miles but then started to get a spasm in my left leg. At that point I started running three minutes for every one walked. I made it back to VG but wasn't too happy about having to walk so much.On the other hand, it was nice to go outside the box and run down to the Water Works and then back up MLK Drive.
RACE REPORT - My first half marathon, the October Lauf Fest at Pennypack.
So. I was running injured, so my plan going in was pretty much just to finish and get it over with and never ever run anything longer than 9 miles again as long as I live. Here is how it went.
Miles 1-5: Didn't want to go out too fast and run out of gas early, so I started out in first gear. The first five miles seemed way longer then normal miles. I was dragging. Ignored all water stops because I had 20 oz bottle with me. Everybody passed me. Wondered why I was doing this.
Miles 6-9: Transitioning into 2nd gear was difficult but clearly necessary if I wanted to finish before darkness fell. For about a mile after speeding up I felt completely out of sync. Left leg was hurting as usual but once I passed the halfway point I was happy. Around mile 7 the course went off the paved bike path onto trails which felt better and I was able to comfortably pick up my pace and started actually passing people, including a runner dressed as Red Riding Hood. Miles 10-13.5 At some point I realized I could no longer feel my left leg and while this would normally be a bad thing, it was actually an improvement. At this point I was feeling good and had plenty of energy. Ran out of water with only a mile to go and right at a water station. Finished in a somewhat disappointing 2:09, but if I had done the first half at the same pace as the second half I think I would have come in under 2 hours.
So, it was a learning experience. I'm just not sure what I learned. Start out faster? Warm up for a mile before the race?
Anyway, it was a beautiful day,the scenery was gorgeous, the race was not too crowded and there was home-made raspberry crumb cake and weinerschnitzel afterwards. Also women in Bavarian barmaid outfits at one of the water stops, if that appeals to anyone. So I recommend this race, and it's also a nice 13 mile training run..no streets, just bike path and easy trail running with some steep but short rolling hills.
THIS SATURDAY Just a heads up..there are not one but two races on MLK drive and Kelly drive Saturday morning starting at 9, so if you don't want to get swept up in a bunch of runners possibly going in the wrong direction for you, you might want to avoid the area between falls bridge and the art museum between 9 and 10:30.
RUN REPORT-My last run report of the season. I did the Schuylkill Loop run Saturday (8.4 mi). Came in 2nd in AG, which was up from 3rd last year, so next year I guess I gotta win it. Beautiful day, beautiful course; dodging the regatta people on Kelly Drive is always fun. As usual I did the first half too slowly. Still trying to figure out the right starting pace.
Kristina, your Turkey Trot tradition sounded so inviting I decided to start one of my own and ran in the 5 mile trot in Fairmount Park yesterday. Still a personal best even though the first at any distance always is.
OK, here's my tip, for those w ho have aches and pains like I do. Grind up an ibuprofen with a morter and pestle and add it to a teaspoon of yogurt before running. That seems to get into into my system faster without giving me any upset. I suppose it would work to put it into a glob of your favorite GU as well..I haven't tried that yet.
ReplyDeleteK - that is great advice that I will have to try. I feel like I should be buying stock in the company that makes Aleve. It is my new best friend. :)
ReplyDeleteMore tips from the running tipster..
ReplyDeleteYou can buy Gu by the case of 24 packets at Amazon for a very good price (if you have Amazon Prime and don't pay shipping). It works out to about a dollar per packet. I just got a case of Chocolate Outrage so I'm set for a year. Also REI in Conshohocken apparently discounts Gu if you buy 12 or more. And finally, Target carries Shot Bloks (in the drugstore section in the aisle with the Luna Bars and diet stuff) and recently had them on sale.
-Kristina
OK K! Well, you were missed by me this Saturday, but I trust that you were tapering and off doing your short run at a REASONABLE hour. 1/2 marathon this upcoming weekend!? Awesome - good luck - you're gonna do great.
ReplyDeleteThis Saturday, Rick and Melanie, Floyd and Mea were all out at 7AM, ready to do the big 20 miles. Me too. I must have been nuts. But, I'm pleased to report that Floyd was a trooper and we did the majority of the run together - successfully! Started at VG, went down to Kelly Dr, past the Art Museum, and down the trail along the Schuylkill to the turnaround point @ Locust St, and then back, up MLK, all the way back to VG. I kept moving pretty well - Floyd and I did separate around the Falls Bridge, but he was never too far behind me at all - finished OK. Could I do another 6.2 miles? I didn't really feel like trying, but it wasn't really that far - I think I'm doing pretty well. And I want to get out there this week and do everything that I need to do.
So obviously I'm not going to see you before your big race this weekend - give me some more info about it, because I'm struggling to find it online - what's this 1/2 m called?
Here is the link. http://www.uberendurancesports.com/Oktoberfest.html
ReplyDeleteI've crashed and at this point I just want to get through this race on Sunday and go back to short distances. I guess the universe doesn't want me to be a long distance runner. Oh well. But you guys are doing great! I'll be out there cheering at the Wanderers water station on Marathon Day.
Kristina ~ best of luck to you at the October Lauf Fest. Hopefully you can rest up this week and feel good for the race.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, Mea and I are planning a post-race get together for the whole group after all of our respective runs are done (thinking perhaps first week of December?). We can all swap horror stories. :) Stay tuned for the invite!
I won't be around this week or next! My wife Johanna's father is battling cancer and has taken a turn for the worse, and we are taking an emergency trip to her home country of Ecuador to see him. I will be away for the next two training Saturdays. I will keep you up to date.
ReplyDeleteL - good luck on your continued training! K - knock 'em out on the race! Anyone else - wish me luck, and thanks for your kind thoughts about my father-in-law.
Will be back the weekend before the marathon. PEACE!! Keep running :)
R-
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear about your father-in-law, and wish you and your wife a safe trip. Definitely keep us updated and I hope to see you in November. Everybody else, I'll be there on the 6th for a training run.
-Kristina
Run today was educational but disappointing. Ran OK for the initial 11 miles but then started to get a spasm in my left leg. At that point I started running three minutes for every one walked. I made it back to VG but wasn't too happy about having to walk so much.On the other hand, it was nice to go outside the box and run down to the Water Works and then back up MLK Drive.
ReplyDeleteRick, maybe you ran out of glycogen? Don't forget to keep hydrated and do your energy gels on time.
ReplyDeleteRACE REPORT - My first half marathon, the October Lauf Fest at Pennypack.
ReplyDeleteSo. I was running injured, so my plan going in was pretty much just to finish and get it over with and never ever run anything longer than 9 miles again as long as I live. Here is how it went.
Miles 1-5: Didn't want to go out too fast and run out of gas early, so I started out in first gear. The first five miles seemed way longer then normal miles. I was dragging. Ignored all water stops because I had 20 oz bottle with me. Everybody passed me. Wondered why I was doing this.
Miles 6-9: Transitioning into 2nd gear was difficult but clearly necessary if I wanted to finish before darkness fell. For about a mile after speeding up I felt completely out of sync. Left leg was hurting as usual but once I passed the halfway point I was happy. Around mile 7 the course went off the paved bike path onto trails which felt better and I was able to comfortably pick up my pace and started actually passing people, including a runner dressed as Red Riding Hood.
Miles 10-13.5 At some point I realized I could no longer feel my left leg and while this would normally be a bad thing, it was actually an improvement. At this point I was feeling good and had plenty of energy. Ran out of water with only a mile to go and right at a water station. Finished in a somewhat disappointing 2:09, but if I had done the first half at the same pace as the second half I think I would have come in under 2 hours.
So, it was a learning experience. I'm just not sure what I learned. Start out faster? Warm up for a mile before the race?
Anyway, it was a beautiful day,the scenery was gorgeous, the race was not too crowded and there was home-made raspberry crumb cake and weinerschnitzel afterwards. Also women in Bavarian barmaid outfits at one of the water stops, if that appeals to anyone. So I recommend this race, and it's also a nice 13 mile training run..no streets, just bike path and easy trail running with some steep but short rolling hills.
Kristina ~ congrats on your run! For what it's worth, I am proud of you and jealous of your 2:09 half marathon time!
ReplyDeleteRodman ~ we are all thinking of you and keeping you, your wife and family in our prayers.
THIS SATURDAY
ReplyDeleteJust a heads up..there are not one but two races on MLK drive and Kelly drive Saturday morning starting at 9, so if you don't want to get swept up in a bunch of runners possibly going in the wrong direction for you, you might want to avoid the area between falls bridge and the art museum between 9 and 10:30.
RUN REPORT-My last run report of the season. I did the Schuylkill Loop run Saturday (8.4 mi). Came in 2nd in AG, which was up from 3rd last year, so next year I guess I gotta win it. Beautiful day, beautiful course; dodging the regatta people on Kelly Drive is always fun. As usual I did the first half too slowly. Still trying to figure out the right starting pace.
ReplyDeleteKristina, your Turkey Trot tradition sounded so inviting I decided to start one of my own and ran in the 5 mile trot in Fairmount Park yesterday. Still a personal best even though the first at any distance always is.
ReplyDelete