Coffee and Running

Many a morning I've wanted to chug a cup of coffee before my run, just to wake up before I go out the door. And sometimes, I do - but wondered if it really does help or hinder running?

I've tried drinking coffee a bunch of times during training and fewer times before races (I've even drank a Red Bull in the parking lot before a 5K) And to be honest, it didn't work out so well. It was especially nice to have a (small) hot cup of coffee before marathons (like Disney) that start at 6am in the dark, during January. Although temps are nice and warm when you finish Disney (70-80 degrees) it was about 30 degrees at the start.

Now granted, I think most people reading this are not Olympic-caliber athletes; but suppose we were? What is the impact? So I looked for the science to support this notion.

Let the training begin!

I've recently got my training back on course and really getting over my last injury - which I hope will not be a recurring one. I'm encouraged with not only being able to run pain-free a few times a week, but also to be increasing the intensity of my pace.

So of course, we start to dream and aspire to greater, loftier race goals.

I even went as far as signing up for a race (more than a month in advance). Which happens to be the Superhero Half Marathon in Morristown, NJ.  In the last few years, I've been a race-day entry kinda guy-which stinks because you usually miss the swag bag 70% of the time.  So signing up so far in advance is quite an uncommon occurence for me these days.

But my lofty ideas didn't stop there---no. After reading  about the different marathons you've all signed up for and the posts on the Disney half and Elaine's rigorous race schedule (an ultra bookended with a couple of marathons) and the ultra at South Mountain, I thought--hey I used run in the woods for hours with the Hash House Harriers (H3), looking for flour & chalk marks, just to have a beer--then, maybe I can do this afterall?!

Do you think they'll mind if I'm yelling "on-on!" and "check" at each of the intersections during the race? RU?

 

Have you done this?

If you have done any of these, or countless other shameless things, just to get in a run... then consider yourself a Runner

... bought a pair of running shoes, just so you can run now - instead of waiting to run later?

... changed meetings at work so you could get in a run?

... bought clothes (socks?) from a street vendor, so you could run?

... "missed the church" of a wedding to get in a run, or travel back from a race?

... shown up "dirty" (and maybe a little smelly) at a function, because you couldn't get to a shower, post-run?

... bought all new running stuff (shoes, clothes, etc) because you didn't pack it on your business trip?

... considered the use of 'handi-wipes' equivalent to shower in order to run & make it to your next appointment
 
... changed or missed family functions to get in a run?

... scheduled a 'running meeting' with colleagues at work during lunch?
 

Now that the weather is starting to warm up and get nicer to run outdoors, you'll want to be sure to get that run in. So keep on getting creative and get that run in!


Keep running!

Amazing where inspiration and motivation can come from...

Attending our national sales conference this week, there are many team members who can be found in the gym, working out or hitting the roads for a run. In fact, it seems that after the last two meetings, there's an unspoken competitiveness we all share to be there working out, even if it means being there at 5:15 in am after flying to the West coast.

While there's no mention of distance completed or pace in our exchanges, there was sort of a turning point for me this week when the head of sales introduces me in the breakout session, not by the topic I was there to present but, "this is Jim, he runs like a gazelle and he's run, how many marathons?"

It almost parallels in experience to the first real road you committed to. Remember when you first told colleagues or family that you going to train to run your "first" 5K or half or even marathon? You hoped by telling them, you wouldn't talk your way out of it and would find the discipline to carry through.

As a result of this introduction, I now feel somewhat of an obligation to exceed my own expectations of what I can accomplish. To push myself further and to continue my discipline in training and recovery.

Strange. Funny how that happens.