Over and out

Well I waited and waited for someone, anyone, other than me to post something but it was not meant to be. I thought I should make a post to shut down the blog since I know of one reader, probably the only reader, who actually checks to see if something new is here - thanks reader!

Good luck to all on May 28/29.

More Motivation

Throughout your training program, depending on how your day is going and how you’re feeling, you will usually be one of two people:

1 – excited and pumped about running your race

2 – tired of training and wondering why you signed up

Luckily for us with an end of May race, the last 2 months leading up to it bring us much better weather than what we have been used to. Personally, if the sun is shining, it is SO much easier for me to lace up the old sneaks and hit the pavement. When it’s not as nice, I need a little push out of bed some days. Since I am a morning person, if I don’t get it done then, I likely won’t get it done.

I subscribed to this Runner’s World ‘Daily Kick in the Butt’ over a year ago and I look forward to reading it every morning. It comes in while I’m sleeping so it’s always there for me when I wake up. Since I use my iPhone as an alarm clock (when the dog doesn’t wake me first, which is rare), I usually check my email (select ones anyway) before my feet even hit the floor. There have been a few cold mornings during my training schedule that I really thought about sleeping in instead of getting up and going for my run but reading this kick in the butt actually got me up. They aren’t all great but many of them are and I really enjoy reading them every day.

If you’re finding yourself being more the #2 person lately, subscribe to this email, it may help! Here’s the link:

http://runnersworld.f.delivery.net/f2/Ftaf2?cID=26814665246&mEM=moleelee%40hotmail.com&vID=13716&oID=3661092

Motivation by Music Association

It drives me crazy to read articles that talk about how if you listen to music when you run, you aren’t a “real runner”. I say, do what works for you and if you’re running, you’re a runner, no matter how you get it done.

I have done it both ways and although I agree I am much more in tune with my breathing and concentrating on my form when I don’t have the tunes on, it simply isn’t as much fun, and therefore it’s harder. Simply listening to music you like can help significantly by making it more fun but I have learned that music can also really motivate. I stumbled on this last winter when trying to create a 6+ hour long playlist for training. I realized that music helps but music that means something helps even more. This is how I discovered motivation by music association –

“All the Right Moves” by One Republic from a few years ago. Pretty good song, but my local radio station played it to death and I got really sick of it (this happens to me a lot). Then, the Australian Open did a 2 minute slideshow of *sigh* Roger Federer with that song playing the background. Guess what? Now, every time I hear the song I think of him (which is motivating already) and the beautiful frames of him hitting a glorious forehand in slo-mo. It is now a staple on my playlist and makes me smile (and kick it up a notch) every time I hear it.

Lately I just did it again. I made a slideshow for my Athens marathon pictures to Usher’s “More”, which is an awesome running song already but now when I hear it, I see the smile on my face coming in to that incredible marble Olympic stadium and remember the feeling I had at that moment and I get really pumped up. I actually caught myself running faster than my planned race pace on my “slow” long run this weekend. In hindsight, I should have picked another song because this song would have gotten me going even without the association!

Over the next couple of months leading up to the race, I’m going to find some more some songs to associate with motivating things and place them strategically in my playlist to kick me in the butt on May 29^th when I think I’ll really be needing it. I’m going to have to get the audio from Allie’s “Go, go, Auntie Mo” video from last fall in my playlist somehow…

We're Back!

The Jam Outers are back for Ottawa Race Weekend 2011!

Looking forward to everyone's contributions!

Giving thanks

Well we’re almost there – less than a week to go. I was thinking yesterday about the things I am thankful for with respect to my running so thought it would be a good conclusion to the blog to post my top 5.

I am thankful…
5 – That I am physically able to run, especially since this time last year I was not.
4 – For the physical and mental benefits running gives me.
3 – For the good times I have had with my running partners – Addie, Hilary, Malcolm and Mac – and look forward to meeting new ones this summer as I train for my first marathon.
2 – For the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with running.
1 – For the race next weekend that allows me not only to run in my home city, but also with the support of my family and one of my very best buds.

This blog was created one night at the old ranch over many drinks and in hindsight maybe wasn’t the greatest idea but I did have some fun with it and I appreciated the posts and the comments from others and I am thankful for the few of you who contributed to this blog so I didn’t feel like I was talking to myself all the time (most of the time yes but not all the time!)

Cheers to all and good skill next weekend.

Carb loading time!

Taper time is here - which also means carb loading time - yahoo! Anyone ever ask why on earth you run such long distances? Being able to eat loads of carbs guilt free is one of my fave reasons! This is a good article in Runners World about famous chefs who run marathons and what they eat.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-303-307-10203-0,00.html

I can't wait to see what Craddie serves up in two weeks!

I don't want everything to run!

Does anyone else have a serious problem with getting a runny nose shortly after starting your run? It drives me crazy. I don't want to carry Kleenex and I've been using my sleeves but short sleeve weather is here so what do I do now? It's not even like I can launch a snot rocket (I am part Asian so I should be able to do that!) because it's mostly just wetness. Yuck.

Some things I've read tell you to cut down on dairy, some say to take some over-the-counter meds, and others say you have to go see an E-N-T specialist - I'm not really a fan of any of those approaches! Any advice is very much appreciated!