Archive for the 'Preparations' Category
Lake Padden Slush
When my friend, Sharon, told me she wanted to train for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon, I was quick to say I’d join her. I’m a huge fan of Disneyland, and a big fan of Sharon too. Sharon was one of the six or seven friends who held my hand and gently guided me through my divorce a decade ago. She was the one who gave me a place to sleep on her floor when I was so discombobulated I didn’t know which end was up.
Since those dark days, Sharon and I have been through a lot together. We’ve traveled, taught classes, cried over losses, raised puppies, and aged (gracefully) together. But up until a few months ago, we’ve never run together. Sharon wasn’t much of a runner until recently, and I thought I could be supportive of her new venture not only by going to Disneyland with her (a huge sacrifice on my part, as you can imagine), but also by organizing a fun final training run around Lake Padden here in Bellingham and providing a pizza lunch afterwards–maybe with a little pre-race toast to her success.
The original plan was for all of the women who were going on the trip (six in all) to meet at the lake this past Saturday and do four loops and then another mile out and back. Each loop around is 2.6 miles, so my plan would have gotten us up to 12.4 miles, a respectable distance for a first timer’s final half marathon training run.
But, alas, as will happen, my plans were foiled on several levels. First, three of the women going to Los Angeles with us next week couldn’t make it on Saturday. One had to work and the other two had a wedding to get ready for. Then, it snowed–and not the nice, pretty, fluffy stuff either. The trail around the lake was slushy and muddy up to the ankles–and really gross and cold. Sharon’s sister wisely bid us goodbye after one loop around the lake, but Sharon and I decided to press forward. Every step was an effort, especially on the flat side of the lake which is most exposed to the elements. On our third time around, Sharon and I agreed that we would skip the slush and repeat the hilly but forested part of the trail and then call it quits. In the end, we eked out 9 painfully wet, freezing miles (which from my perspective are worth at least 12 flat and sunny miles).
Home we went to shower and have our reward: pizza. Oh, but did I mention that Sharon has discovered she shouldn’t be eating gluten or dairy? So we opted for sandwiches with gluten free bread and fake cheese, and we toasted with hot coffee.
Once again, I learn the perennial lesson that running has to teach: This won’t go the way you planned it, but you can make the best of it if you put your mind to it!
BTW, it’s a good thing we’re on our taper because the snow came down heavily by Sunday evening and I’ve been in the house for a few days now.
Bill built a snow person in our front yard
Jane and Fuji with Bill's Snow Person
If you’re new to running and you’re planning a half marathon in your near future. Check out Disney’s half-marathon training program (this came to me courtesy of my pal, Leslie, who is training to do her first half marathon in Disney World in February). They’ve got you training for 22 weeks – almost six months. I think this is a great program if you’re starting from scratch. If you started NOW, you’d be ready for a half marathon in April or May.
And what should you eat while you’re training? This is a tough one. I subsribed to the “eat normally until after the race and then eat french fries” school of thought, but the truth is, I feel better when I stick to pretty lean protien and eat plenty of complex carbs during training. On race day, I like a piece of toast with peanut butter and banana. Water, of course, is crucial, and gel and sports drink are important during the race for me. But check out Marathontraining.com for some advice from those who know what they’re talking about. My pal Sharon (whom I’ll be joining for her first half marathon in Disneyland this January) asked me if I knew a good nutrion/eating plan for new runners. I don’t. But now I’m looking for one.
What do you have for us readers? What are your training programs? What are your nutrition tips?
Well so far, I’ve heard that people are planning for the Pittsburgh Marathon and the BMO Vancouver, BC Marathon. Both will be happening on my 45th birthday, May 6! The Vancouver course looks awesome, by the way. It’s a new route this year and runs along the water front, past the university and through Vancouver’s lively downtown.
If you’re looking for a marathon to train for, here are a few that I’ve either run OR that I’m looking at for the next year or two:
The Lost Dutchman Marathon in Arizona takes place on February 19. I’ve run the half here a couple of times, and Bill ran the full. This is a point to point which begins near Gold Canyon and makes it’s way to Apache Junction through the scenic landscape of the Superstition Mountains with a total loss of elevation of about 500 feet. It’s not a big race, and the price is reasonable: $80 before January 1.
The Trail Triple Crown Marathon in Delaware on April 28, 2012. This is a double loop trail race. On the plus side, there is no cut-off for finishing. On the negative side, the race comes with a warning that it’s a hard course and will ruin your shoes. Somehow this makes it even more intriguing to me, especially since it happens eight days before the Pittsburgh race. Would I be crazy to do it? Probably, but I’m thinking about it. Would love to hear if anyone out there has done this race. Anyone?
The Coeur D’Alene Marathon in Idaho happens on May 27. I’ve done this one and can highly recommend it. You’ll get views of the Coeur D’Alene Lake and very probably perfect weather. You can also stay in any number of the resorts in the area. If you’re looking for a well-supported race with a pretty flat course, do this one. It would be a great option for a first-timer.
What are you planning for? Let us know.
In the past several weeks, I’ve been running an online course called Catching Your Own Second Wind. Two participants joined me for the inauguration of this behind-the-scenes life-changing material. “Catching,” as I call it, is an explanation of the journey I went through to transform my life and reflects exercises and practices I’ve used with clients over the years to help them listen to their best inner voices and change relationship with the self-sabotaging voices the hear in (or even outside of) their heads.
The two amazing women who joined me for the course were Marilyn (from Pennsylvania) and Juanita (from Oregon). Both women had read Second Wind and were willing to take a risk and go deeper with me in the journey to really commit to living according to the requirements of their best Inner Wisdom. It was my privilege to hear their discoveries and goals as we met by phone to talk over their responses to the materials I sent them.
On our last call, Marilyn and Juanita talked about their mutual goal to run a marathon in 2012. For Marilyn, the Pittsburgh Marathon has a special significance; she knew that was the one she would shoot for. Juanita agreed to (virtually) train with her and to try and fly out to join her for the race. The date for the Pittsburgh marathon is May 6, which happens to be my 45th birthday, and I’m thinking that a trip to Pittsburgh sounds like a perfect birthday gift to myself, so I’m intending on joining my two sister sojourners in Pittsburgh this coming Spring.
I’ve invited Marilyn and Juanita to send me updates on their training, which I’ll post here on my blog. Does anyone else have a goal of running their first marathon in 2012? We’d love to include you as a virtual training partner with us. Send me some information about yourself, the marathon you’re shooting for and a little bit about your training plan (to clostman@live.com). I’ll post your goals as well and we can cheer each other on this coming year.
This weekend I’ll be running in the Lake Padden Trail Classic half marathon. I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but this year I became a “Half Fanatic.” Bill signed me up because earlier in the year I ran a couple of half marathons back to back during the time I was “resting” my plantar fasciitis. I’d promised myself to take it easier than I had last year when I incurred the injury in the first place and to stick to no more than half a marathon until I felt better (which I do now).
I’m glad Bill signed me up. The Half Fanatics are a lot of fun (and not quite as exhausted as their brothers and sisters, the Marathon Maniacs - of which I am also a member). I’d forgotten how much I love a half marathon. You get a dang hard workout, but you can still walk afterwards. It’s a win/win!
But this weekend’s run is more important for our community than the average half marathon. The proceeds from the Lake Padden Trail Classic will go to the Anna Brulotte Memorial. Anna was only two when she lost her life as her family was hit by a car while crossing a street in a well-marked crosswalk. I’m as guilty as all of you for being occasionally distracted by my phone, the radio, or something interesting on the side of the road, but I’ve been consciously working on turning over a new leaf since I met Anna’s mom in a running class several months ago.
“Remember Anna: Keep Your Eyes on the Road” is the motto for her memorial foundation. If you wish to donate to their efforts, here’s a link. At the very least, “like” the foundation on Facebook and commit to focusing on the road when you’re in the car.