Running to New Experiences

At this time, one week from right now, I'll be doing my very best to unwind from one 26.2 mile course & completely focus my mental energies on another 26.2 mile course after I sleep a night's rest. I'm likely going to find this very easy to do - at that point...I'll have also just driven three and a half hours. 😏😂 I'm guessing that, between having just run 26.2 miles, and knowing that there's another 26.2 miles coming up in just a few short sleeping hours, and after having just driven the three and a half or so hours to get from one state to the next, that sleeping and being asleep will basically be just what my body is begging for (don't want to end sentence on preposition).

This past week has been awkward & odd in training. I've to admit, I know I began over-thinking the proper, or best way to taper for the past week or so. From the little bit I permitted myself to read online in encouragement & clarification (since, when I typically have prepared myself for a marathon, I've done it hastily enough that I'd have to "let go" of having a "proper" taper period), my tapering might've begun too soon. A week too soon to be exact. The good part is knowing that it's all a fluid, throwing-hands-up-in-the-air sort of way to go at this point.

It's strange because I actually miss running many, many miles (like double what I'm running now) every-other-day. Though something happened to me in the past ten days, &, when I meant to run X amount of miles, I ran a few less. I accepted it. I knew it was fine & that all would be well. And it has been well. Then, for the first time since I began the actual "process" of running (that is, once I got ahold of this stuff! 😁), I've not gone more one day without running at least five to seven miles. Then that happened...& I had to simply remind myself that it was okay. It was better than okay. In fact, it probably became a positive thing to my body healing. I know that. And that's why I'm more accepting of the graying within the black & white of the situation than I am bummed out. Also this week, my strength training has been a little bit less than it's been since, well, even before I bought this & began my running streak. At least I've kept it going to at least every-other-day still, which is something that at least leaves me feeling strong & successful. It's important for me to maintain it, even despite advice suggesting to pull back during a final taper week, as I feel it's something that's become an actual warm-up for me & that it provides an empowerment, a true feeling of success & completion where it's completely beneficial for me. (I can feel the muscles that are strengthening, coming to my assistance, really pulling their weight - yes, a pun right there 😏😉 - which is sometimes just what's keeping me going all the stronger.)


Also this week, in non-running news, I made a real, true, meal (crockpot-style!). I had pork ribs available to me, &, along with a garlic clove, half a sweet onion, a small bag of bite size medley red & white potatoes, & a jar of this, I finished a slow-cooking day with a large, juicy meal. I'm a little bit late [in life] to the whole cooking-actual-meals & not just throwing some food groups together & calling it a day - type of thing...Oh well, better late than never! 😏😁😂

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Strength in Training

It's days like today's run where I realize how amazing strength training can be; just how important it is to best a runner's performance. That, & protein.

I've known for quite some time where my most trouble spots are &, naturally, I do find myself focusing on them both while I run, as well as while I'm working with my hand weights. When I'm running those longer distances I can feel these muscles being worked, being "put to the test". It feels good; it's a reassurance that this work I've put in - with completing the strength training - has really been as well off for me as I'd been informed it would be.

Originally, nearly ten years ago, for different reasons (as I'd not conceived of becoming a marathon runner back then [Never Say Never!]), I'd purchased these. I never did use them, & rather instead passed them off to a friend who'd begun participating in a walking group. Then I found these. Yes, they're blue. So, of course they're a "win" for me. They're also five pound weights; & with my preference of doing things in increments of five, well, they became an ideal selection for me. 😉

Since that purchase I've also added both eight & ten pound hand weights to my "collection" as I've realized I can push myself that little bit more; that my muscles can take on a few more pounds while training. I've a few kettlebells too, though I don't use them much right now due to my current housing situation.

One of the things I've most learned in strength training is about engaging the muscles. Not to rush through a rep. In this way the muscles are better strengthened & there is less [chance for] injury. And this is very helpful while out running because feeling that strength mid-stride is very encouraging.

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Wrist Gizmo

This device has increased my confidence. It's encouraged me & provided me with much needed security. Looking back at these first two sentences I write as if it's a love story & that I've fallen in love with this inanimate object I fasten atop my wrist while I run. --So maybe I have. 😏

Being totally honest, I'd gotten rather used to locating places where I could just loop rounds & knew that the distance was roughly a mile...in so that I'd mentally keep track of "approximately" how far I'd run & be content with that accrued mileage.

With this I find myself concentrating on other things. Like the important things. Such as pumping my arms (which is easier since I include strength training nearly daily), good runner's form, realizing that that the runner or runners who've just passed me - that I could pace with them for a bit, that when the mile marker on this sounds off, I could glance at it for the encouragement...That, if I'm running laps around a building, lake, parking lot, track, etc., rather than nauseate myself actually keeping track of how many laps I've run around [insert random particular location here] (which, because I've managed to lose count in the past 😓), I can just glance down to my wrist & quickly learn of my progress.

Or...if I'm itching to feel good about my progress, & I'm nearing, say a five mile mark, I can glance down & see if I'm at about the time I'd think I should be &, if my body [read: my mind] is in the mood for it, adjust myself accordingly & maybe accomplish something great & new in the remaining short mileage until I do. Otherwise, glancing down at my wrist would only prove counterproductive in the case that I'd be hoping to learn that I'd not been running with such poor form & pace, only to find out that the cement feet & general sluggish-ness I'd feel would've been all too true & then I'd be getting myself down & out about it.

I'd had another wrist tracker, & with most things in life more recently I've learned something that's of reasonable quality is sometimes worth the little extra effort. Besides, when I'd attained the original tracker, I simply could not afford the better ones, so I found myself bidding online for one. What I'd won was a tracker that didn't sit properly in its charger - as in, it needed to be held in place, or pushed down into place atop the metal disc to continue charging. I'd find random things that would sit consistently without gravity getting in the way. Though on that tracker there wasn't a GPS & the length of my stride was considered a factor (& my stride length is anything but consistent).

I'm not of the faster runners in so that I particularly looked for a tracker which would have a longer time frame (definitely beyond six hours). I initially choose this eight hour tracker, it being advertised as a "small size" tracker, then changed to the ten hour tracker of the same design (just "larger") after being counseled on a social media platform that these tracker's do lose time & that "eight hours" won't be eight hours after a while.

I've been thrilled with my selection thus far (not even mentioning in this post each of the "bonuses" for which I particularly enjoy it) & as I'm completing my very first back-to-back marathons in less than a month now, I'll be wearing this (insert link again) around my wrist. And I'll have confidence. 😊 (Even though said confidence will be from reasonable preparation & not just from wearing a suitable tracker!)

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Sounds Like Runner's Grub

Saving Grace, Salvaging Eggs, High Protein, [reasonably] High Carb...

It was a week ago today when this post was inspired. Yep. Once again, in a striving attempt to make a molehill out of another [somewhat] mountain.

It'd been suggested to unload the vehicle where it was, on the quiet street, rather than the busy street on the other side of the corner location. I obliged & continued with the unpacking as I'd be staying at this location for just a few days. As previously mentioned I've technically two wardrobe styles: athletic/running gear & professional, ready-to-be-at-work. I'd been wearing the latter all day, which included a thrift store find - a unique sweater knit, nearly bright yellow skirt which would wear well with all things navy as well as gray & many pinks too.

In earnest of completing the task as timely as possible, I carefully & considerably loaded many bags (although, in my cautionary sense, I could've loaded even more) onto my forearms & fingers each time, leaving behind a item or two when necessary to balance for these wet weather conditions.

Then it happened anyway. Boom! I went down. I was on the ground knowing I was wearing said skirt & that one of those bags on my forearm contained two relatively well-packed dozen eggs. I'd have to investigate their cartons.

I spent, probably an hour, more likely closer to two hours in total, cleaning up the cartons & considering the salvage-ability versus the loss of what remained. The biggest positive was that these egg cartons were plastic & not instead a Styrofoam. This made it easier to retrieve all that could've been lost.

I learned how difficult it is to retrieve already-been-cracked eggs from their carton slots. 😂 I ultimately managed.

I realized I technically had nine eggs which really needed to be used right away. Bingo! I'd grab this from the small box (I think the exact one in which Amazon sent it to me 😁) & began working in the mixing bowl.

This "great positive" that came out of the situation: A super high in protein snack/meal add-on. I mixed four eggs with this coconut oil, water, this flour, this salt, pepper, could be also random preferred spices such as parsley, turmeric, basil, dill weed. Dried tomato pieces. Almost like an omelette, yet one with flour instead of cheese or meat.

It becomes dough-like & you've got something solid & good to work with. Drop this, somewhat pancake-style, into a low, yet wide pan, or a large skillet. Press down on it. Wait until it browns. Keep pressing on it in so that all of the raw batter touches the skillet & cooks & browns. Flip it. I used an average-sized spatula (like the one pictured in the middle here) for the entire "project"; it worked out well for me.

I made two of these. The high protein content, along with the flour's carb content, made for a spectacularly filling snackish meal. I made sure to eat them the evening before what was my 23 mile long run. Typically I end up enjoying the filling benefits of one banana before a run longer than 10 or so plus miles. In this case, I definitely didn't need anymore fuel. I lasted well into the run & got to enjoy the fruits of the labor of a "practice run" alongside a scheduled event. My mile times proved positive.

I'm also considering this same egg/flour recipe design with cinnamon, apples, cocao, etc. for a more "dessert-like" approach.

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Trouble in the Toe

So far in this marathon training I've managed quite successfully to arrange my schedule for all of the running I understood to be important &, in the midst of this, to not injure myself either. I've running 99% of the time on roads & blacktops to partially thank for this. I've faithfully stretched & completed daily strength training, both on the days I've run, & on the days I haven't. The discipline has been great for me, especially for my "black & white" frame of mind. Essentially, if I were to not complete my 1+ hour of daily strength training, it's got to be for an excellent reason, & even then, I have to overthink not overthinking in order to "get back on the bus" & back into that strength training routine again the very next day.

I've used this both under & around the sides of each of my knee caps as well as strips along my right calf as it became agitated post-run about a week or so ago (which, just happens to be the very first muscle which I ever pulled in either of my legs). I did a great job of increasing my mileage & putting myself out there each running day (essentially every other day) to the best of my ability.

Then my left foot baby toe did something. Grant it, I've been wrapping lots of this in thin strips around & atop many of my toes, which is much better (especially for skin breathability) than this. I did the same for said toe. Along with a desperate need for a restroom, & the uneasiness of this toe's "unresolution", I cut my [Easter] Sunday run a few miles shorter than I really wanted to. An old version of me would've been so mentally damaged by this necessary decision, I'd likely not have been able to bounce back. Currently, I'm not thrilled, though I'm also readily aware that I'm well prepared & I'm wise enough on the subject to know that, if anything, "chilling" from my prior preparation plans for two running days (Tuesday & Thursday, a.k.a. yesterday & tomorrow) will work out just fine; I might even be all the better for it.

I'm good at draining top-of-toe sores. I don't necessarily go about it in a sterile fashion. There's peroxide involved afterward; however, I typically just poke & pinch with the edge of the nail clippers. This generally does the trick. Well, with this left baby toe, it's been a slightly different aching pain. I made sure to try & work with the basics & go at it with the nail clippers. It's not been completely beneficial.

It's been super awkward (mostly mentally) to not be out running for four to five hours yesterday. And already knowing that I've made that cautionary, healing decision for myself for tomorrow, is likewise premeditatedly awkward & something for which I'm making sure to not overthink. 😂 Which, yes, essentially, is an overthinking unto itself in a sort of way. Although, after all it's to be fine.

I'm soaking my feet each night in this. I've two buckets where I'm running the sink's hot tap & adding five or six cups to each bucket. The buckets are oval shaped in so that they do well to host one leg each & sit alongside one another without, literally, butting heads. Nice.

The toe seems to be less agitated. And I'm very much hoping that's not in my head. Although not an equivalent to this, using these for this healing process actually provides a both successful & necessary cushion, so they're not all bad. 😂 I'm planning to go out for about fifteen, possibly eighteen miles, this Saturday morning. I'll be at a dancing event at night. 💃😍

This past Saturday I ran twenty-three miles (my goal in my longest run before tapering, which I certainly achieved!) before heading out to watch/listen to a friend's band, which happily included hours of dancing. 💃😂😍

And, yes, between hours upon hours of every-other-day running, & muscle maintenance, general life errands, & these fun dancing times, I've stayed away from this space for double the days that I wished. Another discipline. Now getting back on that horse too. 😏

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