26.2 Ponderings

140%

The marathon is 50% physical and 90% mental.

- Amby Burfoot

Ok, the math doesn't work out so nicely, but the take-away message is that a lot of racing is in your head. If you don't think you can do something, you definitely won't. If you trust in your training and don't doubt yourself, you just might (within reason... I can believe that I'm going to break 2hrs in a marathon by training in a weight vest all I want, but reality dictates otherwise). However, if I put in the training to BQ (like actually put in the training and have some race results to back it up), I shouldn't doubt that I will 1-mile in shoot myself in the foot by trying to "bank" time for when I die. Sound familiar? I know that I personally have run a few (ok, many) races like this. I mean, that anecdote looks good on paper, and Amby Burfoot's words sounds reasonable, but he's an elite athlete!

This is where I always run into trouble when reading advice from the "top". It's easy for them to say trust in your training... be more concerned with health vs. mileage and pace... they've run more miles in one week than I might hit in double that time... and at a pace that I might be able to hang at for a 1/4-mile! So yes, I've "listened" and "read" for a few years, and then completely ignored their advice because I am not them. However, after doing the same thing over and over with the same results, I decided to maybe try something different (because it's silly to do the same thing and expect different results). And, ya know, what they say kind of works for just "normal" runners too:

1. Starting with the second point, I finally decided to trust that I wouldn't forget the 3.5+ months of training that I put in when I got to the start line of my last marathon. I followed my plan, and actually managed to PR. This was in contrast to my previous two attempts, where I got nervous that my legs would suddenly turn to jello, and banked 3-5min in the first half only to crash and burn in the second. So, trusting in your training apparently works.

2. Speaking to the first point, I ran the exact same marathon two years in a row. One year, I really only got in 2.5-months of training (and one 20-miler) because my IT Band was "bugging me" early on. The next year, I easily ran 100 more miles in preparation, at a faster pace, with more long runs (I was definitely in better shape). I ran ~3.5min slower the second year (and no, it was not the weather, in fact, this race marks the fastest marathon ever run). The difference- I was exhausted the 2nd year. I was so concerned with making sure I stuck to my training plan that I ignored the fact that I was dead ~3 weeks out. Guess what, no one races well when they're not healthy!

So, take this for what you will. Reading this article "reminded" me of some of my new training/racing "philosophies" (haha... I don't philosophize... I've just run out of other things to try), so I figured I'd let y'all ignore a "normal" runner for a bit!

How to run a marathon

Marathon Injuries

And to conclude "Boston-prep" week, the most common "marathon injuries" are (note: I don't consider some of these to be injuries, but they were classified as such by about.com):

1. Blisters (put Vaseline / Body Glide on your feet and wear moisture-wicking socks) and Black Toenails (make sure you have between a 1/2 and full thumb-width between your toes and the top of your shoes)

2. Chafing (apply Vaseline / Body Glide wherever there is a seam, or even where there's not, and wear moisture-wicking clothing)

 3. Sunburn / Windburn (apply sunblock with an SPF of at least 30)

 4. Muscle Cramps (make sure you're taking in enough fluids and electrolytes; compression gear *may* also help) and Sprains, Strains, and Stress Fractures (avoid literally hitting a wall, as pictured below...)

5. Hydration / Fueling Issues: Dehydration (make sure you're taking in enough fluids), Hyponatremia (make sure you're supplementing your fluids with electrolytes), GI Issues (be careful what you eat and make sure you're staying hydrated), and Hitting the Wall (take in calories)

Q: What's better than the Boston Marathon?

Km: Running 26.2 miles on a treadmill in Boston during the expo. Wait... no... that's not right... that sounds like an awful idea. Well, someone better tell that to Michael Wardian and Kim Duclos, because that's exactly what they're doing. Why? To break a world record (in Michael's case... someone "stole" it from him last year) and to bring one into existence / set one (in Kim's case).

Ok, what I found the most cool (because I think running a marathon on a treadmill is crazy)... they have software that can match a runner's pace to a virtual run?! At least, that's how I'm reading the last paragraph. This is totally awesome news to me because it solves my "treadmill on a spaceship" dilemma (aka you need to exercise during space travel to prevent bone and muscle loss... but it would be awful to run on a treadmill all the time... unless maybe you could pretend you were really running outside... or playing a video game like Paperboy). Also, they point out another use for the Garmin footpod.

A: Gummy Bears

Jeopardy Ask Kilometer...

Q: What's better than a PowerBar, Fig Newtons, saltines, graham crackers, a small plain bagel, jelly beans, or an orange?

Yes, in terms of "foods for energy", gummy bears out-rank all of these strictly in terms of a carb : calorie ratio. The only things better (based on the Runner's World list) are Gatorade (#1), honey (#2), and dried fruit (#3)... although there was a three-way tie for fourth (with GU and hard candy). And, in case you were wondering, the world's biggest gummy worm weighs 3lbs and the biggest gummy bear weighs 5lbs (I love how they're being all scientific with safety goggles and a lab coat):

 
... I think the "gummy bear truck" might be at our run tonight ;-)

The Goal - 26.2

Maybe your goal is to run your first marathon in 2012... or maybe you're looking to BQ for the first time... or, perhaps you're looking to set a new PR for the 26.2 distance. Here are some marathons you should check out no matter what your goal:

• Largest: New York City Marathon (NY), Chicago Marathon (IL), Boston Marathon (MA)
• Best chance to BQ (excluding Boston): Santa Rosa Marathon (CA), Sugarloaf Marathon (ME), Ridge to Bridge Marathon (NC)
• Fastest (basted on median time): Boston Marathon (MA), Baystate Marathon (MA), Steamtown Marathon (PA)
• Fastest - USA (based on race time bias): California International (CA), Houston Marathon (TX), Chicago Marathon (IL) 
• Fastest - international (based on race time bias): Berlin Marathon (GER), Seoul International (KOR), Paris Marathon (FRA)

Or, if you want to "see a good show", head to London, as this marathon ranks highest among men and women for quality performances.

p.s. I got the date wrong when I wrote this post over the weekend! Oh, and I officially have only 1 post banked... aggghhh!