Lessons from My First Marathon

I can't say that running the Napa Valley Marathon was a great experience. If anyone tells you that, s/he is lying. Running a marathon feels terrible, no matter how prepared you are for it. By the end, you are tired and hurt in places you didn't know you had. As I passed the 26 mile marker, I was really thinking, "I've gone far enough. I don't REALLY need to run another 0.2 miles...if only all those people weren't standing there watching and cheering at me. I guess I'll keep going; quitting now would be pretty embarrassing." Seriously, shame was the only thing that made me run the last few yards. But as you cross the finish line and realize what you've accomplished, all those aches and pains suddenly seem a minor inconvenience. It's an adrenaline and endorphin rush bigger than any runner's high.

All in all, NVM was a good experience. I think it's an excellent choice for a first marathon. It's small (just over 2000 entries) and well-organized, and the course has just enough rolling hills to keep your interest but no major summits to peak. I also liked the fact that there was no timing on the course because it prevented me from obsessing over my pace and allowed me just to stay in the zone.The scenery was beautiful, as the course winds down a rural highway flanked by vineyards. City slickers really enjoyed that feature. One guy was excitedly pointing up a hill and telling me to look at the deer; it turns out that what he saw was actually a horse, but I didn't feel like bursting his bubble.

Unfortunately, as I live in a similarly rural, agricultural area, the beauty of the scenery could not make up for the tunes that were missing from my run. That's right, no headphones allowed or risk disqualification. Some runners risked it, but I wasn't about to run 24 miles only to be discovered and kicked off the course (I've got a vivid, catastrophic imagination, I guess). The other downside to being in such a remote area was that the cheering squads were few and far between. Unlike urban races, where you run through neighborhoods and have encouragement all the way, you could run down Silverado Highway for a mile or two before coming to the next crossroad where a few family members were waiting for their favorite runner to pass.

Overall, I learned that this type of race requires a lot of self-coaching and discipline. It's really easy to walk or give up entirely when you have so little to help keep you moving. The first 6 miles felt like they took forever. The next 16 miles or so, I was cruising. But mile 22 was my wall and the point that everything hurt and I didn't want to go on. Without distractions, it was too easy to focus on the pain. Around that time, I started obsessively trying to refresh my memory of anatomy of the lower extremity to figure out what obscure thigh muscle was bothering me. Nonetheless, I finished. I guess this is one time when my stubborn nature was an asset.

Where do we go from here? Well, San Francisco for the SF Marathon on July 25, of course!. I already checked to make sure that my trusty iPod could run with me. Another key to my next big run: new shoes. For NVM, I put off buying new shoes, even though I knew my old ones were wearing out (I was afraid I wouldn't have time to break them in by the time I got around to thinking about it), and I paid for it with a lot of foot and back pain. My plan this time is to get new shoes about 3 weeks before the race and break them in slowly. I also hope to be a little more relaxed about my training schedule. It basically dominated my life for the winter, and I've simply got too much to do this spring to allow that to happen again. The great news is that the days are longer and the weather, I hope, will dry out to facilitate nice outdoor runs in the evening. I'm optimistic that my long Sunday mornings on the treadmill are a thing of the past.

Anyone wanna run across the Golden Gate Bridge with me?

Update

Yes, finally...I'm back. It's been a busy few months, and I was feeling overwhelmed by the thought of trying to get the blog caught up, but I've decided just to start from scratch. To summarize, in the new year, I've run two big races--the Birmingham (AL) Half Marathon in February, followed by...drum roll please...the Napa Valley Marathon in March. I'm proud to say that I survived my first full marathon nearly unscathed, with the exception of a monster blister on my left big toe. It was definitely a test of my will. The feeling of accomplishment was amazing, enough to compel me to register for the San Francisco Marathon at the end of July. Of course, once the elation wore off, I felt sore and tired and not too motivated to start running again. I'm already behind schedule for SF training, but I'm feeling more positive now that I finally got my first double-digit (12 mile) run in since Napa. More thoughts on marathoning to come.

Big Sur Half-Marathon

I completed my first Big Sur 1/2 today--my second half-marathon ever. Compared to the San Jose Half-Marathon I ran last month, it was a much more enjoyable route. The weather cooperated and was brisk but sunny. I also noticed that the runners seemed more fit, which pleased me. I was not interested in seeing another person drop dead in front of me, as happened in San Jose. I'll definitely be back next year.

Diet Update

My high-carb diet experiment was a total flop. I have never felt so tired and cranky in my life. I ended up cheating and adding a little more protein to the mix, which helped my mood. However, I suspect that this type of carb/protein balance is more appropriate for those who have already built up to marathon mileage. Despite adding extra protein, my muscles were more sore, and minor injuries seemed to take longer to heal. Frustratingly, my running pace slowed considerably. My theory is that your body needs protein to make those repairs while you're building mileage. As of this week, I'm back to my usual diet, which is more like 45/35/20. I already feel more energetic and less sore, and my pace has picked up back to where it was. Happy to feel like myself again.

Standard Time Blues

We "fell back" a couple of days ago, and although I really enjoy seeing a few rays of sunlight on my way to work in the morning, the early sunset is a real bummer. It really feels like winter is upon us, and for a lot of us, that means resorting to the treadmill more and more. Ugh! As most of us know, running on a treadmill is not quite like running outdoors, and not just because of the lack of scenery. Here are some tips I've picked up along the way.

1. Set the incline. Even if you usually run on flat land, you need to incline the treadmill slightly to get the same workout. 1% is sufficient. Bear in mind, though, that there is no downhill on the treadmill. This means that if you want to run hills, you're probably better served doing it outdoors; indoors you will only be using your uphill muscles, not the downhill ones.

2. Hydrate more. Generally speaking, you will get hotter running indoors than out and therefore will sweat more. I usually expect to drink about twice as much water when running on the treadmill, and I am more likely to use an electrolyte solution (more on this to come in my opus on sports drinks, still in process). Also, cool the room down as much as you can. If you have A/C great, if not open the windows and use fans, even if it feels cold when you start out.

3. Space out. There's no way to pretend that running indoors is enjoyable. My usual outdoor runs are through rolling hills or along scenic coastline. The view from the treadmills is starkly different. I find that my ability to stick with a treadmill run largely depends on my attitude at the start. Namely, if I try to run at the end of the day when I've got a million things on my mind, it is extremely difficult to tune out and get into the zone; I do much better first thing in the morning before my racing mind is awake. I also find that if I try to watch TV when I run, I feel sluggish, probably because the pace of TV is much slower than the tempo of music. To keep up the pace, I run in the morning and listen to music. Your optimal set-up might be different, but the point is that you have to factor the monotony into your run and figure out how to use the treadmill when you are least likely to suffer.

4. Be considerate. If you are running at a gym, observe some rules of good citizenship. During peak hours, limit the time you spend on any single piece of equipment; if you need to use a machine for more than 30 minutes, time your visit for off-peak hours. After your run, wipe the treadmill down; no one wants to run on a treadmill that someone else sweated all over. Finally (most people don't realize this), use a towel to wipe YOURSELF down periodically during your run; as much as we hate using sweaty equipment, it's even worse when a sweaty gym-goer shakes sweat all over an innocent bystander.

5. Let your light shine. If you can't stand running indoors and choose to head outside, be prepared for the dark. Don't forget that the sun sets quickly this time of year. Wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. And again, run on the LEFT side of the road so that on-coming traffic can see you and you can see them.

Rules of the Road

I thought we all learned from our parents how to be a good pedestrian, but apparently that's not the case. I personally would prefer to incur my injuries doing something fun, rather than in a collision with a moving object, and I imagine a lot of you would agree. Bottom line if you want to be safe on the road: if there is no sidewalk, you must stick to the LEFT side of the street. This way you see all on-coming traffic and can move out of the way. This is especially important if you listen to music while you run because you might not hear someone approaching from behind.

On a related note, it is not a good idea to teach your kids to ride a bike on a heavily traveled bike/running path.

OK, rant over. Go out and be good citizens!

Team in Training

I am so proud of my friend/medical assistant, Libby Pedersen. Libby attended a Team in Training informational session with me a couple of weeks ago, and she has committed to walking a half marathon in San Francisco on February 7 for the cause. TNT raises money for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, an organization near and dear to Libby's heart, as her mother is currently battling lymphoma. As part of her decision, she has committed to raise $2000 and needs all the help she can get. If you are able, please see http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/sfhalf10/lpedersen to make your tax-deductible donation.

For those of you interested in getting moving but don't know how to get started or are interested in helping a great cause, programs like TNT are a great option. In return for her commitment to fundraising, Libby will be getting professional training and support to help her reach her goal.

Go, Libby!

P.S. If blood cancer has affected the life of someone you love, you can donate in your loved-one's honor via Libby's site.