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?
Definitely new school – I love my HRM! But what is the electrical tape for?
definitely “new school”
I have to have my ipod, my garmin forerunner, and special running clothes!
haha the electrical tape is to secure the moleskin in place. It works what can I say!! ~A
I am definitely new school! I don’t take my iPod usually (it never has battery power, haha) but I always carry my BlackBerry in case there is an emergency, some form of identification and my house keys. I don’t know how I juggle it all!
New school all the way! I don’t think that I could do any type of solo exercise without music. Plus I love having my HRM to give me cals burned etc.
Congrats on your awesome results!
Congrats!!! I wish I could look as good as you do at an 8.5km mark… I would definitely have not been smiling!
As a fairly new runner/racer I’d say I’m a little bit old and a little bit new. I definitely bring my ipod and ear buds with me and I just purchased some special running clothes in the past couple months but I don’t have a HRM or a watch… yet! I am soon going to become fully “new school” when I get a garmin forerunner for my birthday! Can’t wait!
I guess I’m old school…I killed my ipod by sweating on it too much. Every now and then I borrow my partner’s ipod (he let me put one play list of annoying music on it), but its pretty rare. Once I stopped using the ipod, I realized I never really was listening to it, it was background noise.
Now I alternate between making lists and planning in my head, and trying to get into a meditative state where I have no thoughts and focus on my body.
Its actually been really nice, I feel like I’m learning how to be alone in my thoughts, and how to control them.
Oh, and I don’t use a heart monitor or anything else. I always get frustrated and set impossible time goals, so I don’t even pay attention to time anymore, just distance. Its a healthier way for me to enjoy running, without beating myself up
I mix it up between old and new. Lately though, I’ve been sticking with old school. Just myself and the outdoors. No distractions. Someone commented on my blog once that it helped her with her pacing when she ran that way. After trying it out, she is right!
New school, I’ve got my ipod, foot pod, heart rate monitor and camel back. I do however have really crappy sunglasses and running clothes, I spent all my running budget on gadgets! :P
I think that comment from the runner was silly. I don’t suppose he complains that we have a better way to track runners’ times at the Boston Marathon (chip in the shoe)?
Runner’s World had a good article on HRMs last month.
It’s funny you said this today- I am usually new school with my HRM, iPod, foot pod, sunglasses, water bottle, etc…but last night I was really stressed and had a lot of anxious energy, so I got dressed, tied my shoes, put my hair and ponytail and was out the door in about 2 minutes. And I just ran and ran and listened to myself breathe and enjoyed just RUNNING. It felt amazing!
New School, My Ipod is a MIUST!
You look so strong in that photo, wow! I guess I am pretty new school. Though I don’t have a GPS or heart rate monitor, my iPod is a must. Since I am usually running home from work, I also carry my Blackberry and wallet. On long runs I also always make sure I have my subway pass in case I get tired or injured and need to get home.
I love hearing about other people’s iPod play lists. I am sort of embarassed at how cheesey mine can get! Bollywood anyone??? :)
I have to say I pride myself on being “old school.” On race day, I’m wearing a pair of shorts, a sports bra, racing flats, and a watch. BUT, I just got a Garmin from my dad for graduation, so I suppose I’m becoming a bit more new school. I think the Ipod trend will never be for me. I like to be with my thoughts when I run.
New school. I don’t have a heart rate monitor but my Ipod is a definite must. I get so bored in the silence or crappy gym music.
I LOVE boom boom pow, it’s on my running play list too!
I am so new school — I was a dancer and to me, physical activity is driven by music. My brain has a hard time making my feet speed up, but the music works!
I always start out my run nice and easy to Evanescence’s “Bring me to Life” and I get crankin’ with Rolling Stones “Start me Up” (I heard that one on your slideshow!!)
The coolest thing is that your body will associate certain types of music with certain movement, so when I hear a song I run to, I can actually FEEL my body get ready to move. It’s awesome!
Old school. I’ve been running for 9 years and the only thing an ipod will get you is hit by a car.
Running is about listening to your breath, your footsteps, and letting your mind wander. It took me a while to not think about running so much when I ran. Sometimes I have to focus to pick up my form on a 20 miler and remind myself why I’m doing this, but for the most part I think about life!
great picture!
I’m actually the opposite after a race – I haven’t run ONCE since my 10K trail run over a week ago. My legs/feet were so sore for a couple of days and now it’s been raining (and we don’t have a treadmill or gym membership) so I’ve been doing yoga and kayaking. I’m ready to go now, but I did not want to run for at least a few days after. It was a really tough race, though.
I’m kind of new school? I love my HRM, but I quit wearing my mp3 player a while ago. When we run together (which is almost always) we talk some and my mp3 player was just annoying when we were trying to talk so I stopped wearing it and now I just never do! I’ve learned to just enjoy the sounds of nature, go through all the thoughts in my head…it’s actually nice not having the music constantly.
I’m so old school! I do often bring an ipod, but other than that I can’t seem to find a need for a HRM or Garmin GPS…I bought a Garmin and got annoyed with it then took it back. To me it doesn’t matter how fast I go…or slow…I go with how my body feels and it is the true indicator. I realized pretty quickly that you don’t need all these things to train…I ran a 10K race without a goal and came in at 50:54. I just started running this year since I had been recovering from a broken ankle. It is amazing how you can connect with your body when you don’t have all these numbers. And really…does the time actually matter? Granted if you want to qualify for the Boston Marathon it does…
I’m new school – my ipod is always on me, whether I’m listening to music or a podcast. Even when I’m running with other people I like having music on in the “background” (very quietly). I like running to the beat of the music. I totally agree with the other commenter who said your body associates running with music – when I hear a song that was on my first running playlist I can actually remember the feelings of accomplishment I felt at running a littler further, a little faster. That first summer, music for sure got me through running!
I will say though that I admire people like my Dad who put on shoes and go… no special equipment necessary. It’s him and nature and I think that’s pretty cool.