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?
i think i’m very comfortably in middle school, say around 7th grade? ;-)
when i run, i like to keep it pretty simple – running shoes, shirt, spotsbra, shorts, basic socks, hat. sometimes i bring my ipod, but not usually since i live in NYC and need to be aware of my surroundings.
on longer training runs though, i have more gear – watch, Gu/sport beans, fuel belt, water/gatorade combination.
i’m more regimented (aka anal retentive) about my eating routine prior to a long run or race. prerace meal is always whole wheat pasta with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and organic chicken breast sauteed in a little bit of olive oil with salt and pepper. no dairy at all. morning of, i eat a spoonful of peanut butter and a 1/2 cup oatmeal with water and a full glass of water at least 1 hour (if not 2 hours) before my run/race.
Whew, I feel so high maintenance now!
I’m definitely new school but lately I’ve been running without my ipod. Couldn’t live without my HRM though!
I’m mostly old school…I do use the iPod though! I don’t think I could go as far as I do without it. I love when an upbeat song comes that I love and I can feel myself running faster. I do love how all you need are running shoes for the sport in general though-you can do it anywhere!
A mix of both. While I can appreciate the Garmin, knee sleeves, etc, I will never wear jewelry or make-up while running. Nor would I go out and purchase a new outfit (but yours was cute), as I guess it just wouldn’t feel “right” for the type of running I do.
I do listen to music, but there are times when training seriously, that you ought to just take it off and listen to how your body speaks to you while running.
Oh I just loved reading everyone’s comments!!! :)
Great point about wanting to run after a race. For me, it’s usually after a great workout, or a different workout, like a long run in a new place. You feel so inspired by it and in love with running, that you really want to overdo it the next day instead of resting!
I’m definitely old school recently. I used to do the heart monitor, ipod, sometimes even GPS. Recently it’s been just a watch (gotta have some connection to the techno world!)
I’d say I’m most definitely in the ‘middle school’. I am so excited to get my new Garmin Forerunner! I admit I don’t run outside with an ipod BUT it is only because I worry that I can’t hear cars and other stuff going on around me.
When I run on the treadmill I’m definitely rockin to my ipod (Boom, Boom, Pow is on my play list too ;)).
Love the action shot! You shouldn’t definitely get it and have it framed hehe.
I just really go through running phases. I have been in one for the past month or so. I just can’t get enough. There really is nothing else in the world that makes my body feel like that and also gives me such mental clarity.
I am in between the old school/new school. I run with an IPOD (which has the nikeplus receiver) but that is it. No heart rate monitor, no watch, no brace (after 20 months straight of physical therapy, I better not need a brace!), no jewelry. I have worn a heart rate monitor and watch in the past but I get addicted to them and right now I’m just in a “I just want to run to run” phase.
Happiness Awaits
Gotta say, I’m old school. Some part of me thinks that making changes to my usual running rhythm will knock things off. And I’m broke!! Haha
I’m totally old school. I started running as a freshman in high school. I don’t even know if ipods were around then (1996). Anyway, we weren’t allowed to have any gadgets on us. Most of the time we couldn’t even wear a watch during races! We never used gps devices to measure distance. Instead our coach always had us run by time for our long, tempo, and recovery runs. To this day, I have never worn an ipod during a race. It’s just me, my sneakers, my roadID, clothes (obviously…ha!) and sunblock. It’s simple and I love it. :) I do wear my ipod on the treadmill though. I just think it’s dangerous to wear it anywhere else. Especially when I run by myself. I want to be able to hear everything around me.
I am old school, but I wear a Garmin now, and a RoadID, which I think are both important. I don’t wear an iPod, and while I don’t care if other runner’s wear them (I used to DEPEND on mine), I don’t understand why they wear them for races shorter than a half marathon. I guess I’m just old school in thinking that you should be concentrating on running and listening to your body, and that you don’t need a distraction during the race.
And I don’t understand why people in my running group wear them when they are running with other people! I want to talk to them, but they have headphones on! So annoying!!!
Glad you asked this question, I like reading other people’s comments! :)
BOOM BOOM POW!! Yessss!! Hehe I play it every morning to get me pumped up–and then it comes up again on my running playlist in the evenings =]
Congrats on your stats! You did fantastic!
Sounds like a great run Angela, but I’m sure you’re going to have a hard time comparing any run to your race! There’s just so much involved in the marathon with raising money, nerves, excitement, etc. that make it that much more magical. :)
Haha, I love all your “crap.” I think it really depends on the runner. For you, you probably run a heck of a lot better with all the crap than you would without. Plus, if you’re used to all that extra weight and that’s how you train, it shouldn’t really affect you too much when it comes to race time.
Awesome photo btw! Definitely a keeper!
Definitely old school. I’ve been running pretty seriously for 12 years (since 8th grade) and the thought of running with anything other than a very basic running watch makes me cringe. I’ve never run outside with an ipod or headphones or fancy monitering equipment. It’s about being alone with your thoughts and listening to your body and just enjoying the beauty of the run and experiencing the world around you.
aww I love your running pic! you should definitely order it.
My running crap is my ipod, hat, Road ID, and Nike Sport kit thingy hahah. gotta love it <3 Have a great day tomottow!!
tomorrow** lol (that must have been a signal that I should go to bed)
I am pretty old school, I have a plain 30$ 9 year old timex that I wear seldom and I rarely run with my ipod. I find that my thoughts are enough to keep me entertained plus then I can hear traffic better. Though I kind of want a Garmin….
It’s so inspiring to see all your pictures!!! What an accomplishment! You placed so well!!!