Running 101: Cold Weather Essentials

Ok, not a cold weather running picture, but close!

It is snowing in Erie, Pennsylvania. it is wet snow, the kind that sticks until tomorrow morning at best, but cold weather is hear to stay!

With the weather turning colder a lot of runners realize it is time to turn shorts into pants and t-shirts into jackets. An unfortunate part of the year for some runners, I absolutely love the freezing cold Saturday mornings where running in one direction for 6 miles is all I can manage due to the wind and snow. I can't wait to run on top of that crunchy frozen earth. And breathe in that fresh cold air. (and perfectly, just about the time I will be back running it will be the coldest part of the year!!)

In anticipation for what I am sure will be a long, cold winter (last year was short and mild), here are some of my favorite winter running must haves.

Side note: the best kind of cold weather dressing is in layers. You might start out freezing your bum off, but realize 3 miles in you don't need gloves. I always think about dressing in layers and buying running clothes that are lightweight and stackable. 

A great jacket: I have a few actually! One for kind-of-cold-but-might-need-to-take-a-layer-off days and one for the really absolute freezing days.

I like this kind from Brooks for the light jacket. It is easily packable and very versatile. I recommend the neon color as it stands out, night or day. It easily ties around my waist when I am too hot to keep it on any longer. I have one of these from a few seasons ago and through many washings it has stood up very well.

For the colder weather days, I also prefer a Brooks jacket like this. I scored a gently used jacket like this at a second hand store once and love the way it fits, tight to keep me warm but not too constricting given I might be wearing layers of clothes. I find I don't like running jackets with hoods, but there are several hooded options out there.

Gloves and Hats:  Hands down the best every day running gloves are these from Nike. They are lightweight enough to wear on most days. I love that they have a key slot in the glove, because loosing a key in the snow is not ideal. I have two pairs of these gloves, I know running clothes hoarder over here, so I can have one pair in the wash and one pair for the day.

I also have a hand-made pair of mittens that are great for the extremely cold days. Mittens keep your hands warmer but letting your fingers "snuggle" for body heat. I haven't tried any commercial mittens, but almost every running clothing company has several options.

Most of the heat from your body escapes from your head, so do yourself a favor and get a good running hat or head band! I like this type from Sporthill. It washes really well and holds up through years of abuse. A good hat can be hard to find so try a few types. I have one I really like that is again homemade (something about it fitting better) but there are many options out there. 


Pants: Here is a running clothes confession: I have one pair of pants which I absolutely adore and will never get rid of no matter how many holes or worn out elastic parts they have. My Sporthills are my favorite running pants ever. Now I know they look a little unisex-y and unflattering BUT they are the most comfortable pair of pants. They are light weight, but when the weather really turns cold there is plenty of space to pair a tight or other legging option underneath. I cannot speak highly enough of these pants!

I also have a pair of Under Armour leggings similar to these, which I also like. They are not lined, but I know they make lined (think fuzzy fleece) for those awful cold days. My only issue with these tights are they don't have a great waist band. I have to wear a longer shirt to make sure we don't have any fashion disasters while running.

Long Sleeve Tops: Depending on your core body temperature, you might want a couple of long sleeve top options.

I like the basic Under Armour long sleeve for most days. Mine doesn't have the face cover but that looks like a nice new option (really those do help you stay warm!). Again, lightweight enough to be paired with a jacket for the really cold days.

Again, they make a warmer option with fleece like lining, which I also recommend. I have one of these tops and do need it on some days. I find I can wear just that top and no jacket in fact.

I know there are plenty of other accessories for cold weather, but a few good basics and you should be all set. Depending on the places you run during the winter you might also want some clip on no slip shoe coverings like these (yeah, I know they say seniors, but really anyone can benefit from them). Changing to a trail like show for the winter can also be a good idea if you feet can handle it.

Getting the right gear can lead to better runs. Less time spent worrying about what to wear and keeping you warm are keys to running success in the cold weather.

Any other suggestions for running gear? What are your favorite cold running accessories?

Running 101: Getting (and STAYING) motivated!

Do you have the "bug" yet? Has the Olympic spirit motivated you to run a little extra these last few weeks? Is running on the brain?

Running is not always in the front of my brain (especially with a baby on the way!) but it seems like the perfect time to help myself get motivated; the end of a long hot summer breaking way to a crisp, cool fall.

With sports, athletes and awesome races from London this summer, I can't help but take a look at the results and watch replays of my favorite events (Did you see the awesome finish in the Men's 10,000 Meter race on Saturday? Go Galen!). I wish I could get out there and compete!

Although not everyone can be Olympic caliber, we can do our best to stay motivated every day. There will always be good days and bad days, struggles and triumphs. Acknowledging that truth can be a great place to start.

One way to stay motivated is through experience. Ever have that euphoric experience after a race where you are on cloud 9 even though you can't stand up right? Seek those feelings often. They have the power to push you to a new person record (PR for short) and ecstatic feeling.

 If you have had a few ok runs, switch up the course, join a group or enter a race with that experience in mind. It is ok if you don't achieve the feeling your after, the trying will be more motivation for the future.

I find motivational blogs, books and movies to help too. Some of my favorites are:

• Fast Track by Suzy Favor-Hamilton 
• Once a Runner by John L. Parker
• 5 Essentials for a Winning Life by Chris Carmichael
• Joan Samuelson's Running for Women by Joan Benoit Samuelson
• Chariots of Fire
• The Lone Green Mile
• Runblogger blog
• A great resource for Women's inspired running blogs: Running Skirts
• RunFastMommy
• Shut Up + Run

Finding the time and having the energy to run is really only half the battle. Staying positive mentally can be difficult at times. Sometimes ourselves get in the way of making running a habit. Here are a few questions I ask myself if I am feeling tired or sluggish with running.

• Why am I going to run today? (I like to have a purpose for all my runs)
• What do I need to have a good run? (clothes? shoes? water? food? time?)
• What is my short term goals for running? What are my long term goals?
• Why is running important to me? 

Other reminders for myself include thinking about the benefits of a good sweat, the necessity to run more miles to meet my goals, the great feelings I get after a run and how running allows to me lead a better life (less sick days, more energy, etc.)

Some times even a few quotes on sticky notes helps keep me motivated!

When in doubt, or really run down, let your body & mind rest. Take a break if this all seems overwhelming. It is hard to stick with something that seems like such a chore mentally and physically. Allow yourself to unwind or take a time out. Running will be there when you are ready.

What motivates you? Why do you run? How do you help keep on track? 

Update: Marathon Training

Oh my goodness gracious. Just when I thought I could catch up on all the reading, knitting, baking I wanted to do...boom...I feel the need to run more. Great. Why do I have to be so ambitious? 

I thought after the craziness of the holidays, traveling to see family & friends, having friends over for the weekend and endless cleaning afterwards I would have some time to my self. Well, I do, but since signing up for the Glass City Marathon I feel the need to run more. Lots more. Like not taking a day off during the week, adding an additional morning run and adding mileage. Perfect way to relax, huh? I want to do well and that means that I need to keep consistent and keep adding the miles up.  

My week is going well in terms of running. I know I am in good shape, just need more of the endurance.

It's funny, I have a count down on my calendar that lets me know how many weeks until the marathon. This week is 15 weeks to go, and it doesn't seem that far away!! AH!

This is what the week is looking like so far:

Monday: 5 miles at the gym in the evening

Tuesday: 6 miles at the gym in the evening

Wednesday: 3.5 miles at the gym in the morning

Thursday: yet to be determined, 7 perhaps?

Friday: yet to be determined, 6 or 7 again

Saturday: Long Run (hopefully at my favorite run location, which has been closed due to flooding lately!) 10-13 miles

Sunday: Finish whatever is left to make 46 miles or more for the week.

phew. this sounds more difficult than it is. 

I am still on the lookout for a good training partner. I should put out an ad! It would read:

Wanted: Avid Runner for Training Partner. Preferably Female. Ability to run 40 miles or more a week at 7:30-8:30 pace for over 5 miles. Needs to love running and enjoy all the pain involved in running a marathon! Location: Erie, PA but there might be some runs outside the city.  Serious inquiries only.  

Side note: My husband recently had a class discussion about sexual practices and one of the topics was ads of this type for sexual partners. They use some crazy abbreviations which I have no clue how to read but they are fun to try and figure out. Its like a cryptogram! Any way, that made me think of making an ad for a running partner. That is how I got there if you were curious.

Know any takers (for running partners!!)? Hit up that comments box below.

In the mean time, I'll be running around (and around. and around. and around.).

always, EAA

Signed Up

I finally did it.

I signed up for a marathon. 

Yes folks, the time has come for me to quit talking about it and just do it. 

I was sweating profusely while typing in all the athlete information and forking over my hard earned money only to find satisfaction in knowing half of a resolution is filled (signing up is half the difficultly in this case).

Nothing like committing to run a 26.2 mile race to get you pumped on a Friday.

Needless to say I am elated! I cannot wait to race. I have even marked it on my Google calendar. No going back now. April 22, 2012 Toledo, Ohio here I come!

Want to sign up too? Click Click

Thought so. Doesn't a marathon sound like a good way to spend a Sunday in April? 

Since signing up my daily runs seem to have a little extra pep. It helps I have a race to look forward to.

On that happy & joyous note I will leave you to think about all the running goals you want to accomplish this year!

Running

A recent post from a good friend reminded me that I wanted to write more about running. So here I go.

Beside working full time and spending time with my husband, my days are numbered by the miles I put in. I count the weeks leading up to a race, miles per day, and hours spent running. I thought this blog would be a great place to record, vent and write about my running. I love running very much, but some days it just sucks. Like most people I suffer from bi-polar workout syndrome. Some days I want to run a billion miles, while other days eating bonbons on the couch sounds like a better idea. Hopefully this blog will keep me focused on my running and provide a way for me to enjoy keeping track of it. I love to write about what I love. If you don't enjoy running or think I am crazy leave a note. On the other hand if you think I am super woman feel free to let me know that too. 

Side note: today is an eating bonbon type of day.

Life.

I suppose writing a blog about the life I lead brings with it all the ups and downs, which eventually help write my daily story. It’s not too often that I like to write about stressful situations here, often because I don’t need to be reminded of the stresses every day (or in years to come when I look back at this blog). I like to micromanage my stress. I love the task options on electronic calendars, I am forever making list (and then forgetting them some where…), and I love to be able to reflect on the day to see what I did.  I like to be in control of my personal stress.

I do not cope well with stress that is not mine.

I am sure it’s been mentioned, or at the very least implied, but being a wife of a medical student is not a walk in the park. If you ever read blogs about spouses of medical students (yes, I am a reader of such blogs) you will find a common theme. Stress (or anxiety or nerves or disappointment or happiness) that is related to the student, yet some how educes the same dizzying effect on the cohort.  I find it to be one of the most difficult parts of  being a spouse of a student doctor. I don’t get to spend hours upon hours of studying until my brain hurts, yet when exam day comes I am a ball of nerves waiting for the results.  It’s like being a coach, getting your athletes ready and then leaving the win to them.

My husband (thankfully) is going a fantastic job at school, his grades have shown that he works hard. He does get stressed (read: restless) before big exams (like those coming up next week) and some how I end up stressed too. There are days when I feel like I can’t  fully concentrate on my job because I know he is taking a huge test. Or nights when he has to study for 4 hours and I wonder if he is getting all the information he needs. I worry that he needs more time away from me (and my nagging about taking out the trash) or more resources (as if the 20 pound books he has now are not enough). I get just as restless, and perhaps as sleepless.

Does all this stress show that I care or does it have a negative affect on my husband?

I would hate to add more stress to his life (but I really do hate taking out the trash…).

I struggle with this question a lot.  Just because stress is present doesn’t mean I have to make my self-stressed too. I tend to think having two people stress under one roof brings more problems than solutions.

So selflessly I try to ignore these stressful thoughts, concentrate on the things I can control while trying to be as helpful as I can to the stressed.  It is not easy. I want him to do so well, yet I can’t go in and take the test for him. I have learned that this mother-like quality has reared its head as my husband and I grow closer (I am thankful for the growing closer part though!). As mothers try to make your day just a little brighter, I try to make my husbands stress a little smaller. This in turn reduces my stress. A win-win when you get the combination right.  I am not at my best every day, and like today I end up trying tirelessly to de-stress.

This brings me to think of things that allow my husband or myself to de-stress:

• A warm bath (a post college luxury I never knew I missed!)
• A good meal (Chicken & Rice from my Grandmother’s recipe always hits the spot)
• A long talk with a good friend
• A hot chocolate, tea or coffee (especially today since it has been 40 degrees and  rainy all day in Erie)
• A long run (I’ll try that one for sure. 7 miles on the docket for today!)
• An even longer stretching or yoga session (If it fits in I will do this too)
• A good book (paired with that hot drink would be nice)
• A back massage (I might be able to convince my husband to help with this one)
• Knitting (There is something so soothing about this hobby)
• A good laugh (made even better by those I share it with)

What do you do to unwind or de-stress? What stress do you carry? Is it yours or could you be more helpful by trying to lessen the load? Is there someone or something that helps you figure out what stress you can leave behind? 

the craziness

besides being a sadist, i am slightly crazy. and I can explain. 

it's cause: wanting to run a marathon

it's problem: darkness + lots of miles + life + work 

literally this is what one of my runs looked like last week 

 

The red lines are my running "tracks" or where I went. Ha. This is great. When I wear my GPS watch at the gym and run around a 200 meter track this is what I get. This really looks like a hot mess, which is how I feel after some runs any ways. 

So this is why I am slightly crazy. I run around a track over 48 times in one workout.

I have not even gotten close to super crazy, but it's coming soon.

I can feel it. There will be plenty more post about the craziness that is life.

All signed up for my next 10K too! I am running with my family in the local Turkey Trot here in Erie. I have not raced in a while but I am looking forward to it. I convinced my father-in-law, husband and brother-in-law to run with me too. The Albano racing team will be in full force. Look out Erie road racing!

More on the closet challenge, weekend and adventures and trip plans. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading!

Always, Erika

Promised Update- I swear!

Ok. I know I promised an update. And I swear I will get there. Later.

In the mean time (and why I have been m.i.a the last few days): ready, set, winter fashion

Perhaps I should revise my 30 for 30 challenge: update on a weekly basis? We will have to analyze this further. Running 40+ miles a week is starting to get tricky. I am still holding true to the challenge, but updating pictures has been a struggle!

By the way, ever want to know all the ways you can get sick? HUNDREDS! There are hundreds of bacteria just floating around. I studied them last night with my husband and am now a germ o-phobe.