Running Urges and Official Race Stats

I couldn’t help myself!

I went for a run tonight!!!

Does anyone else find that the urge to run gets pretty intense directly after running a race?

All I have been thinking about is running.

I know I shouldn’t have run tonight because my quads were still a bit sore, but I just couldn’t help myself.

I received two lovely emails from Chris’s brother and mom. I told them how my race went and the amount of money that was raised for cancer in Chris’s honour. They were so happy. Chris’s mom told me that it brought her to tears.

I was overcome by emotion after reading the emails and thinking about the whole experience some more that I went and laid on my bed and cried. It wasn’t a sad cry, but just an emotional cry.

I got up, got dressed, and went for a run. I wanted to feel that experience again.

In all fairness I didn’t push myself hard. I walked up the large hill that is on my route instead of running it and I took it pretty slow and casual. It felt so good to run. The weather has been gorgeous (30C and blue skys this week) and I just felt good. A bit sore, but good.

My run:

30:59 minutes
Max heart rate: 167 bpm
Avg heart rate: 154 bpm
Pace: 10:11 min/mile
Distance: 3.04 miles

I came home and took a COLD shower. I am trying to ease myself into the idea of ice baths. :D I took the shower nozzle hose thing a mabob and I put it directly onto the sore muscles. It was freezing at first but after a while I could tell it was really helping. I also took an Ibuprofen tablet omega 3 tablet, and vitamin C to reduce inflammation. I’m feeling so good right now!

When I was on my run I quickly realized that it was nothing close to the race experience. No euphoria, no competitors, no crowds. Just me. Damnit.

Oh sorry, I meant just me and my annoying play list!!!

Someone asked me yesterday what songs I have on my playlist, and you seriously don’t want to know. It’s bad. I forgot to put new songs on it before the race. I think I have about 12 songs on it currently and they are all ‘worn out’.

A couple that I listened to over and over during the race were:

Womanizer, by Britney
Boom Boom Pow, by Black Eyed Peas

Aside from that, the rest were duds! I need to update my music soon!

My official running stats are in as well as some pictures:

Overall: 40th place out of 323 runners
17th out of 214 women
3rd out of my division of 30 women (25-29 yrs)
Pace per km: 5:42 min/km
The chip time is still not up

An action shot at the 8.5 km mark! I was TIRED!

I remembered your advice from the weekend: SMILE for the photographer!!!

I like this picture, I may have to order it! :)

Runners and the ‘crap’ they bring on runs:

When I was talking to the seasoned runner before the race on Sunday, he was talking about how he thinks that runners nowadays have way too much ‘crap’ on them when they run.

I nervously looked down at myself.

Foot pod, ear buds, Ipod, Heart rate monitor strap, watch, 2 necklaces, 2 rings, hat, sunglasses, knee sleeves, moleskin, electrical tape.

I laughed nervously.

I probably had about 50 pounds of crap on me!

He said, “All you need is a good pair of running shoes, some sunblock, and your imagination.”

I thought to myself, “Never going to happen!!!” lol.

He is old school, I am new school. Sometimes I wish I was old school though because it takes me a long time to get ready for a run. Sometimes I don’t go simply because it is quicker for me to just hop on the treadmill then put on all the gear.

I love my gear though.

1) It keeps me from injury (knee sleeves, moleskin, sunscreen/hat, etc)

2) It helps me train (via feedback from HRM/foot pod)

3) It distracts me (Music/HRM)

But I think that was his point. All of these things we bring with us on run are a distraction from what truly matters. Your mind and the road.

Tonight’s question: Are you old school or ‘new’ school?

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Jessica

15 years ago

Hey ange… Just wondering what you think of a food processor as a green monster maker? Or am I better off just using a blender? I want something that can blend frozen fruit and I’m enticed by the vitamix but I just can’t afford that! Any suggestions? I know you said you use your regular ol’ kitchenaid blender, but I wasn’t sure if a food processor would chop frozen fruit up better.
Thanks …
Jessica :)

AshleyH aka Organic Girl

I am totally an old school runner which is funny since I am only twenty. haha. I usually run in old gym shorts and a random free tshirt at one of my many races. I put my hair up and head ou thte door. Only just recently I got an ipod and hrm. I use them evry once in a while but it only takes me five to ten minutes to get ready for a run.

Goldie

I have never seen anyone so photogenic at the 8.5km mark of a race! Definitely order it you – you look like you had such an awesome time.

Leah @ Simply Fabulous

I have to say, on Sunday night I went running- my hrm monitor was not working and my ipod needed to be recharged so that wasn’t working either.

It was just me, concentrating on my breathing.
I ran 5.5 glorious miles! It was one of my best runs that I have had all summer long.

I like to have my gear with me, but I think sometimes it’s nice to go without it to re-center yourself and think about WHY you are running rather than trying to distract yourself from the act of running.

haya (living and learning)

it was probably good for you to go for an easy run today. active recovery is excellent for sore muscles.

i am new school (nike+ ipod, hrm, gelbot) but sometimes i wish i wasn’t.

Marika

I like to have my iPod when I run, unless I’m running with a buddy. Other than that I’m pretty old school, no HRM or even a watch. I wear a hat to keep the sun out of my face (no sunglasses… don’t they bounce around, or slide off when you get sweaty?) and carry my keys in my hand (and it took me a while to get used to this– initially I found carrying something distracting since I was afraid I’d drop them!).

Laura

I’m newish. I totally agree that running is great as you can really just put your shoes on and go but I still like to have my iPod and Garmin with me. Ipod for distraction and Garmin to both keep me honest and help me train.
I hate it when runners kind of bash other runners for having the gear/technology etc. At least we aren’t sitting around watching TV right?

kristen

I have old school runs and new school runs. In the last week, I haven’t used my ipod at all (although I did run with a camera, since I was running in a pretty beautiful place and needed to take some pictures). But other times I’m decked out with my ipod, fuel belt, gu, nike+ and watch. So far I don’t have a GPS watch, but I have been eyeing a Garmin since I am a really bad pacer…I’d like to improve my pacing and I think a Garmin might help.

PS- you mentioned in a previous post that you had planned on taking some ibuprofen before the race…that might not be a good idea as it can have some not so nice side effects. after is ok, before isn’t so good.

Note everyone: Apparently taking Ibuprohen is NOT good before runs- PLease be careful. Thanks Kristen! http://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/0dfe069a3a704653818f4223481ca993#focus http://coachjoeenglish.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/training-can-i-take-ibuprofen-while-im-running/

Caroline

Hey Angela, did you ever put any practice time into changing your running style, trying to run with more of a mid-sole strike than a heel strike? If so how did it go?

I am still working on it with each run. I am much more mindful of not striking my heel to the ground now, so I do think that I have improved. It is a work in progress I guess! ~A

Melissa @ Veggie Runnr

New school all the way! I am addicted to my Garmin and I just started using my ipod for longer runs on the local bike paths- music is nice for a little distraction!