Experiment in mileage calibration

Whenever possible, I try to avoid the treadmill. Sometimes, due to a winter storm advisory -- or pure laziness, it cannot be helped.

I've always suspected that my treadmill wasn't totally accurate and resolved myself to the notion that I just think that I always seem to run faster outside because running inside seems to take the wind out of your sails. But I felt like I was SO much faster outside.

This morning during my run, I decided to use different music, which happened to on the iTouch. So I lauched the NIKE + GPS app and played the music through the app while running.

Does 3 wrongs, make a Right Run?

It was a glorious day to run outdoors again today, in the northeast. One of those few, but increasingly common opportunities, where the temperature reached over 60 degrees in early April.

As I prepared for my run this afternoon, I could see the wind blowing hard outside my window. I thought, that given how cold it's been -- it would be best to wear at least some cover to stay warm in the wind. So I dressed in a long-sleeve T.
That was MISTAKE #1

Since it was a nice afternoon, I thought I would try a different route and mix it up a bit. I've driven a parallel route to where I've run plenty of times to bring the kids to school. I figured it might be another 0.5 mile give or take, since it's basically parallel, right?
Well, not only did I miscalculate the distance, by over a mile, the course I ran was a LOT more hilly than I thought it would be.
That was MISTAKE #2

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!