I've Got a Fever, and the Only Prescription is More Running

Earlier this week I had to take a 4 day hiatus from running due to a ridiculous work schedule.  I was completely exhausted after working a 40 hour work week in just 2 days, with about 6 hours of sleep over a 3 day span, so needless to say, my body needed a break.  I was crazy enough to think, however, that I could possibly sneak in a run during that time I spent in the desert, but all they did was collect dust in the back of a Suburban while we built almost 50 bombs for a Harrier exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instruction.
After I returned to the base on Wednesday, I crashed for a glorious nap, which turned into a great night's sleep, but as I awoke, I felt refreshed and terrible at the same time.  Refreshed from the sleep I finally got, but terrible because I realized I hadn't ran since last Saturday.  This is the fever I speak of, so I gave myself a healthy dose of running over the next 4 days, speed work on the track on Thursday, a 6 miler on Friday, 4 on Saturday which I turned into an unexpected tempo run (craved a little more speed), and a long 12 miles this morning for a grand total of 25 miles in 4 consecutive days!  The prescription was just the right amount to get my mind right and set the world straight, and even though I am sore as all get out, I feel freakin' amazing!
Runner's know exactly what I'm talking about when I talk about that fever, and there's no better feeling than getting over it with some good ol' fashioned effort, full of sunshine and sweat.  So if you're feeling a little down or sluggish, get out there and soak up some rays, turn on your favorite playlist, and hit the road for some of that sweet step after step thing we call running!  It will clear your mind, leave you feeling accomplished, and set you straight for the rest of the day, no matter what may come at you!  Yeah buddy!!

The Great Shoe Debate

So after running my first marathon a few months back, I began the search for the perfect marathon shoe (for me).  What I have come to figure out is that there is no perfect shoe, but there are definitely the wrong shoes to wear for 26.2 miles!
I first tried some Newton's, and while I initially loved them, after about 4 runs, the lugs on the bottom started pressing back on the balls of my feet too much and began to hurt the more I ran in them. Luckily, they have a 60 day run in guarantee so I returned them.
Next, I tried out a more traditional type shoe, the Brooks Transcend. Initially, this was the most comfortable shoe I've ever put on my feet, but after running in them, there was a spot on my left pinky toe that started rubbing to the point a blister was formed. I couldn't imagine how bad that would've been after a long training run, so back to the store they went.
I then bought a pair of New Balance Fresh Foam, and again, initially thought I loved them. Super comfortable, but turns out the sole was just too thick and I didn't get any road response while running in them. I will say, though, that I did keep these, and ran a PR 10k and ran a half marathon that was 11 seconds from a new PR, I just don't think I'd like them for anything longer than a half.
So the common thread to the last couple of shoes I tried was that they were thick soled, heavily cushioned shoes, and my feet seemed to hurt more in them than they did in thinner, more minimal type soles, such as the Brooks Pure Cadence that I ran 2 marathons in. I decided to revisit the idea of staying minimal but actually going to a "zero drop", meaning that my heel and toe were the exact same height off the ground, unlike traditional shoes that have around a 2:1 ratio drop with the heel sitting up higher than your toes. Enter the Altra....
I bought Altra The One zero drop shoes after reading some pretty good reviews about how the zero drop helped with knee, back, and feet ailments common to runners. So far, the foot pain and knee pain I was beginning to develop during this shoe treasure hunt I've been on for two months has started to dissipate. I've only ran in the Altras for about 2 weeks now, but I've put some serious workouts on them including a 10 miler and a speed workout with a 5:55 min/mi pace 4x400m. I used to run in Vibrams alot, but fell victim to listening to people say you can't distance run with a zero drop, non cushioned shoe. Well that's exactly what the Altra is, and I love it so far, so I'll continue this zero drop experiment until my body tells me no...which may never happen. They make each step feel effortless whether I'm doing a long slow run, or a fast paced speed workout on the track.
So take this info and do with it what you will, but the proof is in the pudding for me; bio-mechanically correct running puts alot less stress on each step, and makes me feel like going farther, faster.

Marathoner

Marathoner. That's what my Nike + account named me after I loaded all 26.2 glorious miles from my GPS watch after my first ever marathon.  It was worth all the miles, time, sweat, ice, and ibuprofen to see that word...Marathoner.

My last blog post was in 2012 after I had ran a half marathon, so why not post another after the marathon. I got a little busy in 2013, we had a baby, changed jobs, and moved, so my time for blogging suffered a bit. Now, it's 2014, and I'm running again, ALOT! It seems different this time around; I really enjoy running. Not that it was awful a few years ago, but I just feel like I'm doing it the right way, so that I get the most enjoyment out of my time on the road. I used to be concerned with speed, I'd set out for a 4 or 5 mile run and just take off like a bat out of hell. After 2 miles I was exhausted and suffered for the last 3.  Since I started running again back in November 2013, I just set out to complete a certain distance, no matter how long it took me to do it. It makes every run more enjoyable because I'm not out of gas at the end, so it keeps me coming back for more, and more is what I'm doing.

The marathon was grueling, we were drenched in sweat after only a mile due to the 100% humidity in New Orleans. Couple that with heavy fog and a light mist, our feet were soaked by mile 10, so the head games came into play early on in the race. I was wondering if I should stop and change my socks and shoes or just keep going. Should I start doubling up on gatorade at each stop or will that make my stomach too full? If I put on a hat will it change the way I look up the road and throw my posture off? Who's gonna win the Super Bowl? I had several conversations with myself over that 4 hour and 22 minute jog. One conversation I'm glad I had with myself was the one about pacing myself for the first half of the race, and not reverting back to my 'bat out of hell' technique. I felt like a million bucks after about 6 miles and really felt like I could increase my pace by at least 30 seconds, but I didn't, I just stuck it out, and promised myself if I had some left in the tank around 20 miles I could step it up a little. Well, I did have a little left so I sped up a bit, but by the time I was at mile 23 I was ready to cross that line, and my feet were screaming at me to get it over with! My wife joined me for the last 3.2 miles, and I can honestly say, I'm glad I had some company, because I was hurting! The last .2 seemed as long as the 26 miles before it, I swear they kept moving the finish line back! But when I finally got there, all that hard work paid off, as it was the most satisfying step I've ever taken as I crossed the line. I probably would have cried if there was any liquid left in my body, but the NOLA humidity had sucked it out of me! I could barely hold my medal as they handed it to me, but instantly I was rejuvenated knowing in my mind I had just completed something that less than 2% of the world's population will ever do.

Here are a few tips from my overall experience over the last 3 months:
1. Shoes, shoes, shoes. Get what's right for YOU. Go to a running store and have them evaluate how you run. The right shoes make all the difference in the world.
2. Drink Gatorade, not water, during runs over 90 mins long. Your body needs more than water when it starts to lose glycogen out of your muscles. For really long runs, I take in about 60-70g of carbs per hour using carb gels (GU) and Gatorade.
3. Dress for your run, and be comfortable. Good running shorts, socks, shirts and shoes are expensive for a reason. They last, and keep you comfy while you run. Layer up for cold runs, and use gloves and a beanie for anything under 40 degrees. My favorite cold weather item I bought this year was thermal compression tights. Legit.
4. Do some research...on everything. If you have a question about anything running related, there's probably an article on it. From chafing to music, there's a web page on it.
5. Get a training plan and stick with it. Knowing how far you have to run and when you have to do it helps you stick with your goal.
6. Attitude is everything. Keep a positive attitude and have fun achieving your goal!

Honestly, the race was the easiest part of the whole marathon experience. It's the college football Saturdays when I just wanted to wake up and drink bloody Mary's while watching Gameday, but instead had to set out for a 20 mile run with no medal waiting at the end for me. There are no finisher festivals at the end of a 20 mile run, no crowds, no aid stations, and certainly no glory. Those were the toughest days...and to be so consistent for 13 straight weeks, running through wind, rain, snow, sleet, ice storms. That is the toughest part about running a marathon. The day of 26.2 is nothing but a reward for all that hard work, where there is a medal waiting you at the finisher festival with thousands of people cheering you on! And the title, Marathoner, which will never be taken away from you.

First Ever Half Marathon

So this past weekend marked my first ever half marathon race and it was everything I expected it to be and more! To be 100% honest, I surprised myself by running the entire distance without stopping, and I beat my goal time by almost 7 minutes! Everyone that knows me knows how competitive I can be, but I've never ran for longer than 10 miles at a time so I had my doubts about making the jump to 13.1. Turns out, the extra motivation from friends and family, all the runners, and a beautiful backdrop for a race helped tremendously and I felt like I could have kept running!
It was such an awesome feeling of accomplishment to complete something as grueling as running for almost 2 straight hours. I know it's not a full marathon but you have to start somewhere, and I feel like the full marathon may be the next step. The sights and sounds of the race were amazing and the support of the crowd is something you just can't describe until you've seen it and felt it for yourself. Everyone is running individually but you can feel a sense of 5500 people pushing each other to do their best, no matter how fast or slow they are. It was so inspiring to see the different types of people running for the same goal which is to test yourself and finish with pride.
I also ran the race with two new weapons...compression socks and shorts. This was a game changer! And thank you to my wife for buying them for me cause they really do work as advertised. My legs and feet normally start to get that numb tingly feeling during long runs over 6 miles, but not yesterday. Not at all. My legs had increased circulation and felt fresh the entire race, and due to lack of muscle vibration with the compression I had a lot less muscle fatigue. The best part is that I'm really not even sore today which is crazy because earlier last week I ran 6 miles and my calves were sore for three days! So in my opinion the compression technology is not at all overhyped; if anything, it's way underused and if you're into running long distances or have trouble recovering from workouts, get a pair of compression socks and compression shorts, you'll thank me later!
Last and certainly not least, I wanna say how awesome my wife is for her support during the race. She was so positive and filled my head with confidence from the time my training began until the end of the race. Not only did she get up at O'Dark Thirty to get to the race on time with me, she made a sign, ran all over downtown in order to track my progress during the race, and caught a cab to make it back to the stadium for the finish inside Petco Park! She had my whole family tracking my progress online with the run tracker attached to my bib so they could "watch" me run! She is such an inspiration to me and loves me whole heartedly so I want her to know how much it means to me when she does stuff like that. She's the real reason I beat my time by 7 minutes.
So I will end by saying this, I had so much fun this weekend and urge everyone to push themself to trying something out of their comfort zone cause you never know, you might shock yourself...it's a great feeling.

My Wife, the Motivator

So yesterday, Misti ran a 5k obstacle course in Mission Bay that she signed up for in Shape Magazine. The event was called the Diva Dash so as you can imagine it was an all female race full of costumes and goofy running attire. There were a few serious athletes, though, and to my surprise, my wife was one of them...actually not just one of them, she was one of the best of them! I knew she was athletic but I had never seen her really compete so this was an eye opener for me.
The course was extremely tough; imagine running a 5k in wet sand, climbing obstacles, jumping barriers, crawling under ropes and splashing knee deep through the ocean...in a blazing 28 minutes!! I know Marines that can't run a 5k in 28 minutes on flat pavement with the sun shining. She did all of that in 50 degree weather in the rain! I was super proud of her, because I know she wanted to quit or at least walk certain portions, but she kept on running, passing people that started 15 minutes before she did. She says I am her motivation, but the truth is, she motivates me more than she could ever know. Way to go babe, keep up the good work!
Oh and we are running a 5k trail race in a couple weeks...I hope I can keep up!

Less is more??

So I've been fiddling with the idea of cutting my weight lifting sessions in half from 5-6 days per week to 2-3 days per week. So far, by concentrating on compound lifts such as deadlift, bench press, squat, overhead press, and rows, I have had some amazing training sessions and my body has reacted in a way that I haven't felt in a long time....super soreness! So maybe the less is more thing is more my speed and exactly the kind of change my muscles were needing in order to grow. This also allows me to run a little more on days that I'm not lifting, which is perfect for my half marathon training. So if you're stuck in a rut, try cutting back a bit and making your workouts count by increasing your poundage and shortening your reps and pushing your muscles a little harder. The extra rest in between may be just what you need to gain some needed strength.

Happy New Year!!

So I know it's very cliche of me to do this but it's a new year and I have high hopes for my year of fitness that is to be.  2012 is going to be the year I sign up for events...which I've never done in my life.  I'm talking about 5k's, 10k's, Mud Runs, Half-Marathons, Marathons (maybe), and Sprint Triathlons.  There may even be a few strength competitions if I can find them, because I also plan on breaking the 500lb deadlift barrier, which for a 170lb guy is not too shabby.
So to begin my new year I have decided to run a Half Marathon here in San Diego on March 11, thanks to a buddy of mine's perpetual urging, and my amazing wife's act of signing up for her first ever obstacle course 5k.  I was very inspired by both of them and I can't wait to watch my wife run her event in a few weeks.  I started my half training on Dec 31st and have ran at least 2.25 miles each of the 3 days since, all 3 including some trails, and hills which weren't very kind to me...its always tough getting back into the swing of things, especially running.  I was, at one time, a decent runner and so when I run after long layoffs in a not-so-fast-type-of-fashion, its a little disheartening, but I am confident it will come back quickly.
Well, anyways, here's to a tough 10 week half marathon training program for my first ever 13.1 mile trek through the streets of San Diego, and I hope all of you have something they want to attain this year.  I will do my best to pop in every now and then with some running tips and things I learn along the way in order to hopefully motivate someone to hit the pavement, trails, or treadmills for some heavy mileage!  Stay fit, and stay happy!