Training Aids

The EMRS was created in the spirit of lack of funds, low tech, and the simple rewards of running. However....

I'm in training for one, if not two more halfs that I have yet to sign up for. This time around I would like to better my time significantly and have made more of an effort to keep track of times and mix up my training routine.

This morning an email popped up in my inbox advertising the Adidas Mi Coach. It looked intriguing and got my mind working. Audible real-time feedback? Yes please. Of course, unless your a pro runner and have the luxury of receiving promo items to test the Mi Coach is going to cost you a few dollars. I went to the website to find out exactly how many of those dollars and stumbled upon a training planner. (Free I'm assuming) I'm debating on whether or not to take advantage of it, sacrificing my Gmail inbox to the spam Gods. Just plug in the race date, how many days a week you want to run, and what days your long runs will fall on.

Of course to actually receive the plan you must create an account (yet another password I will inevitably forget) Appealing. Very.

Does it go against everything the EMRS stands for? Well, the EMRS was created to include all types of runners so technically I would say no. Would I judge you for judging me? Hmmmmm.

Head for the Hills

We (Garrick and I) attempted a track workout last night, not thinking about the fact that high-school football has begun. So there we were, standing in a parking lot trying to think of an alternative. One of the other members suggested a hill workout, which I will admit I hadn't really given much thought to. We turned on the GPS and started down the sidewalk of the nearest hill. We jumped over gorge sized gaps, small hills formed as roots grew up through, glass shards, and trash cans that were left in the middle of the sidewalk. Our search for the perfect hill continued, including running under a GPS killing overpass.

Finally, we found it and after a mere four trips up it, my calves and thighs were pleading for mercy. It pushed me to my limits, which was good. Garrick is running the Chicago Half on September 11 and I probably won't race again until the end of October. I plan on training differently this time, focusing on speed first, then building up distance. Of course after our hill runs we had to rehydrate with a couple of Oberons.

The Dog Days (are not) Over

I'll admit, since running in my first half-marathon on June 4th my ambition to run and write about running has suffered. My lack of initiative coupled with the hottest summer in years has led to very few accumulated miles. Then I started working with a roofing crew.

I'm looking for a job in a different state at the moment, and needed something to fill in. A friend needed some assistance and it wasn't long before I was cutting the sleeves off of all of my old t-shirts. Yes, I embraced the good 'ol American hard work ethic. I'll admit it has been nice to get away from the computer screen and work outdoors all day long.

After the first week of roofing I decided that I don't care what my work schedule may end up being this fall, I'm going to train for the Middlebury Hilly Half and I'm going to run it in under two hours.

I'm back to training, I put in some solid miles last week. This time however, I'm taking a different approach. For my first half, I only concentrated on going the distance. No matter how long it took me to run the race, I wanted to build up to 13.1 miles. This time I'm starting from the bottom up. I want to nail down an eight minute mile pace before I start to build up the miles. I'll let you know how it all works out. Until then, I'll get double training by lugging shingle bundles up onto the roof.

Keep On Keepin On

It's been just over three weeks since the completion of my first half-marathon. Since then I've ran a total of about 10 miles. There has been a lot going on in my life as of late, but when it comes to running sometimes the excuses to skip a run overcome the reasons to run.

So, the question is how can I stay motivated to train when I'm not staring down a race?

I've been doing some cross training, riding my bicycle somewhat regularly with a friend. I never finish with the "runner's high" but it keeps me from sitting in a lawn chair drinking Bell's Oberon in my backyard all summer long.

Read a book. Ok, there's no Book Club faction of the EMRS, but the world existential does imply a certain amount of contemplation and use of that organ jostling around in your skull. Reading a book (like the one I reviewed Thursday) can help with the mental aspect of running, which is possibly more important than the physical aspect.

Friends don't let friends quit running. Get someone out there with you. Running can be a great social activity, running with a partner just may push you harder than you push yourself. The aerobic workout is greater because explaining your homebrewing aspirations to your running bud also increases your breathing aspirations.

Sign up for a race. Let's face it, we all have running goals, but sometimes the best motivation is a deadline. We all need to be pushed and the best person for the job is yourself.

Born to Run; A review for Barefoot Thursdays

There are a many books about running out there, most dealing with technique and form; others are biographies of the great runners of the past. My favorite book that I’ve read on running, in fact the book that changed my entire mindset about running is the book, Born to Run, by Christopher McDougal.

Before reading the book I was in the mindset of a lot of would-be runners, I thought that I was genetically predisposed with bad knees and I would never be able to go running on a day-to-day basis. McDougal’s book literally changed all of that. His book is an intriguing blend of storytelling, anthropology, biology, and other sciences.

It follows him as he travels to Mexico’s Copper Canyon to observe the Tarahumara Indians, a group of people that are able to run distances many would find insane. The Tarahumara begin running at early ages, and McDougal highlights a particular social game that they play, a sort of soccer like game, that also prepares them for proper running technique.

Along the way McDougal and his travelling companions, the infamous “Barefoot Ted”, a female competitive Ultramarathoner, and two young running enthusiasts compete in a 50 mile race with the local Indians.

He espouses the virtues of the forefoot strike over the heel strike. (a technique that helped me to overcome my own assumptions about my “bad knees”) He also explores the increasingly popular barefoot running craze.

Another notable scene in the book also mentions the practice of persistence hunting. This style of hunting has been confirmed by anthropologists. Persistence hunting involves a small group of humans slowly and consistently chasing prey until it overheats and dies.

I read the book nonstop, finishing it within a few days, and though it was January when I read it, I couldn’t wait to get out and start running. One of the main themes of the book is that running shouldn’t be work, or a punishment for eating too many calories. Running should be a reward unto itself. The book tries not only to teach a better technique for running, but also a better mindset and love of running.

So, are you one of those people that say, I’m just don’t have the knees for running, or, I’m just not built to be a runner? If so I highly recommend this book, it just may change your mind.

New Balance Minimus MT 10

My running buddy was kind enough to let me go for a jaunt in his New Balance MT 10's last Sunday. We went seven miles at a pretty good clip and I must say I was impressed. There was plenty of room in the toe box for splaying, and I could definitely feel a nice forefoot strike. I did experience a slight amount of knee irritation, but it was absolutely not due to heel-strike.

I payed close attention to my left foot, which usually tends to swing around from the outside to the inside as I run. None of that.

The terrain was mixed, probably half limestone trail and half asphalt. The last mile we kicked it up to a 7.5 minute mile (probably why my knee was slightly tweaked) and I felt and finished strong.

My biggest complaint was that the orange color and wide rounded toe box reminded me of Ronald McDonald's shoes. No cheeseburgers for me though, I'm too busy trying to develop a bacon wrapped fried pickle.

Barefoot Thursday (Late Edition)

Ok, I already messed up on only my second barefoot Thursday post. Here it is anyway, even if it is a day late.

I was browsing through my seemingly daily arriving Eastbay catalog, when I noticed a new minimalist running shoe! The Saucony Hattori pictured here. They look pretty similar to the New Balance Minimus trail shoe, but I would still love to give them a try. Anyone want to donate a pair for me to test?

I would love to take a spin in them, a quick jog in the parking lot of the shoe store just doesn't cut it. I need to go at least four miles to really get a feel for what they will do to my knees. They are pretty reasonably priced, cheaper than the Vibram Bikila LS's I bought.

After three pairs of Vibrams my wife has put her foot down. (pun intended, haha) No more running shoes for a while. I still love my VFF's but I certainly wouldn't mind trying the Saucony's. My running partner has a pair of Minimus and he would probably let me take them for a spin. I'm not sure what the etiquette would be though, it's not the same as borrowing someones underwear, right?