I Want To Be FAMOUS!!!

I have mentioned before...the only podcast I listen to faithfully is The Marathon Show.  It's really a Blog Talk Radio show, but I just download the podcast so I can listen when I want to...not to mention I seem to be busy every time it's on live.

I love that show.  The host, Joe Taricani, is AMAZINGLY talented at keeping me entertained.  He interviews people, but his questions are not canned and stale.  They are insightful and interesting.  He has talked with elite marathoners, race directors, product inventors (SnuggBuds and Head Sweats to name two)...he's even recorded while running a marathon of his own!!  The show never fails to inspire me. 

I discovered this gem last year when I driving to Arkansas one day to see my son.  I was going to be in the car for about 12 hours (there and back), so I searched for some podcasts to keep me entertained....and struck GOLD.  I ended up listening to every single show he had recorded up to that point (it was a very new show then)...and wanted MORE.  I've listened to every show since then, some more than once!  Last summer when my goal was to run Rocket City in December, the show pumped me up about the race....but even after that goal was postponed, the show continued to inspire and motivate me.

Here's what it says on the home page:

The Marathon Show is an online radio show for and about marathons and marathon runners. We cover topics that make you think, make you smarter and make you laugh about running. It's a show for runners of all abilities. We speak with elite runners and the top names in marathon running, but we mostly speak with people just like you. We like to make average famous because every one of you has remarkable determination. We celebrate the finish line on The Marathon Show, not the finish time.

I think no matter where in the pack you are, the show has something to offer for anyone who loves running.  Somehow Joe manages to keep coming up with great ideas.

One of his latest ideas is to have a guest host contest.  My first thought about the contest was "NO WAY anyone will EVER come close to being able to fill Joe's shoes."  I didn't even consider entering.  The way you enter is to post a photo in his "guest host entries" photo album on FaceBook....the top five most liked people will then submit a one minute long monologue that will be scored by a panel of judges.  For the record, I really don't have a lot of FaceBook friends.  The two people who were already entered were Endorphin Dude and the (GORGEOUS) creator of Sweaty Bands.  Come on...there was no way I was going to enter a popularity contest with either of them.

Click here to LIKE it.

But, as time went on, I realized everyone must be thinking the same thing as I was because no one was entering the contest.  Let me tell you...if there are only three people entered, chances of being one of the top five most liked is VERY HIGH!!!  :D  So, I decided to throw my fears by the wayside and my caution to the wind and enter.  After a few agonizing minutes of trying to decide what picture to post, I went with this one.  It's fairly recent, shows me in running gear, and hey...I'm showing off my first half-marathon medal--I LOOK like a WINNER!!

Well...I immediately posted the link on my FaceBook wall.  My mom liked the link, but didn't understand she had to click on the picture to like just my picture.  I was going to send her an email to clarify...and decided why not send out the link and instructions to a few other people, too.

I don't know what made me do it...but I sent out an email to EVERY SINGLE CONTACT IN MY COMPUTER!!!!!  Yes, every single one.  Yes, on purpose!  All my neighbors, all my kids' past teachers, everyone I had ever sent an email to or received an email from.  EVERYONE.  I've never in my life done anything like that.  I almost chewed my hand off wondering what kind of responses I'd get.  I thought for sure I'd get some back telling me they didn't appreciate the spam.  Maybe there were some people who thought it, but more than that....I got LIKES!!!!!  So far I'm up to 55 LIKES...and that doesn't include the other 19 people who liked the link (it's a little confusing...you have to "like" the picture itself, not the link to the picture.  If it comes down to 19 votes, don't think I'm beyond messaging those friends with a tutorial.  As it stands now there are still only three of us entered, so that might not be necessary.  :D

I'm already getting nervous about the monologue.  Now, don't get me wrong, I can talk for DAYS...but it's not the most interesting banter.  Just ask my husband.  On top of that...I really can't stand my recorded voice.  I want to believe that's NOT what I really sound like to everyone else...but it's funny how other people's recorded voices sound exactly the way they do in person.  I'm going to have to somehow get past that before it's time to record.  Thankfully Joe will be helping with that part of it...so I have to believe it's going to be just fine!!

I'll let you know how it goes...but in the mean time....PLEASE, go LIKE my picture!!!

((You'll first go to The Marathon Show on FaceBook...you'll click the "like" button at the top of the page....then you should see my picture on the top row of photos...click on it....just under my picture you'll see "like  comment"...click on "like".  If you don't see my picture...go to the left hand side of the screen and look for "photos", after you click on that, click on the "guest host entries" album, then click on my picture...and like it!!  ... you just helped me on my quest to be FAMOUS!!!  THANK YOU!!!))

Here's the link straight to my picture.

If you are logged in to FaceBook, and you have liked The Marathon Show, you will be able to like the picture....if you don't see "like" under it...then you'll have to go back to The Marathon Show's page and "like" it first.  While you're at it...shoot me a friend request, too!!  If you're still reading, you're already my friend-even if we've never met!!!!

Thanks for stopping in!  Come again soon!
:D

Grab Bag

I have a lot of pretty random things to talk about today.  That's not any different than usual, but I can't seem to collect my thoughts into a "topic" like I've been trying to do lately; so today is just a hodge podge of stuff.

The Marathon Show

First of all.  Like I mentioned in my last post I found a fantastic blog radio show/podcast called The Marathon Show.  I'll probably mention this show over and over from now on because I love it.  Monday's show was called Down to the Running Store.  ((I would link it, but I can't figure out how to do that since it's an iTunes podcast.))  There is an incredibly interesting section on proper fit of running shoes.  I HIGHLY recommend listening to this discussion before you go out and buy your next pair of kicks.  I harp on proper fitting shoes all the time because it's just about the most important thing you need as a runner.  The show's guest gives excellent information about the fit process that I've never heard anywhere else.

You should also listen to the show because in the intro the show's host, Joe Taricani, gave little ole me a shout out!!  (Thanks Joe!)

Running With Daisy

I had another GREAT run with Daisy Monday.  It was funny because I had planned to go to Hard Body's spin class and then follow it up with her Ab Torture with my neighbor (I'll call her Mrs. Rogers--as in "Won't-You-Be-My-Neighbor" Mr. Rogers---come on, laugh, you know you want to!).  I was all ready to go, with my fancy spin shorts on, but Mrs. Rogers hadn't confirmed yet when I got a text from Daisy asking if I was running and did I want company.  I quickly changed clothes and told her, "why yes, I'm running!"  We did a four mile road loop.  I was able to keep up with her for two miles then I had to throw in some walk breaks and slow down....until the last maybe 30 feet when I was magically able to sprint.

This brings me to the question---when I'm in the middle of a run and I feel like I just can't keep running anymore, is it just a mind game?  I almost always have a little something in the bank which enables me to sprint in at the end of every run...but in the middle I feel like I just can't keep going.  Am I able to sprint because I've walked some in the middle, or am I fooling myself thinking I can't keep running?  I had "decided" that it was a mind game when Turtle hit the wall.  I had "decided" that I needed to keep running no matter how I FELT...but doing it is a lot harder than "deciding to do it".

I think I need to go back and read my own post about Behaving in Accordance.  The problem I'm running into (no pun intended--when I typed that, it was a complete fluke...)....the problem I'm running into is the fact that I can "decide" anything.  "I'm going to run 10 miles today."  That would not be something I could realistically do so, just telling myself to behave in accordance with something I previously decided to do really isn't enough.

I think the key is looking at where I'm at realistically and setting achievable goals.  My main problem is that I'm an optimizer.  I want to make sure I'm training to the very best of my ability.  I don't want to do less than the very most I'm capable of.  If I'm capable of running without stopping, then that's what I want to do.  I think the real issue is that I really don't know exactly what I'm "capable" of.   Sometimes I surprise myself and afterward I think "WOW, I never knew I could do THAT!"  But, other times, like Monday with Daisy, I think, "wow, what a loser, you should have been able to do that, you just didn't gut it out."  But, at the time, when we were running and I said, "I have to walk", I really believed I HAD TO walk.   I think even if she had said, "you can do it, keep running" my mind would have told my mouth to say, "NO, I really can't" but is that true???  

The very fact that I'm questioning it makes me think it's not true.

Sprints

Today I did (EASY*) speed work with Turtle.  We went to a local track and started out with a warm up lap.  I was pretty sore** so all I wanted to so was walk that first one.  Now, I have to say, I'm a pretty fast walker so it's not as bad as it sounds.  Then we sprinted the straight-aways and ...cough... recovered (read: walked) the ends.  I'm not gonna lie-it was TOUGH.  There's no way I would have given the effort I did without Turtle there to "compete" with.  Yes, I admit it...I'm competitive okay.  

We started our first sprint, and Turtle took off.  We discovered the couple on the track with us at 5am had two unleashed dogs--lab puppies actually--who just LOVE new people!   Consequently we didn't really finish the first sprint.  The second time she started up, I dug down, sprinted my legs off and flew past her (top pace...are you ready for this??  4:22!!!  WOW).  I was able to do that the second time too (run past her).  The third time she started a bit earlier than I did and I was never able catch her.  The fifth time she pretty much pooped which gave me permission to slack.  It's funny because you can see a drop in my pace from 4:33 to 5:28.   We finished off with a "slow" cool down jog.*** (Yes, we only did a total of about1.25 miles-(*)that's why I said it was "easy" sprint work--but we're beginners, cut us some slack, okay!)

Newtons

*NOTE:  I was sore because I ran 4 miles with Daisy Monday morning, then another 1.5 with the NOBO group (in my Newtons) that night.  Then Tuesday morning I did Power Yoga.  I love those shoes, but they certainly work different muscles in my calves and ankles.  My hope is by doing some limited distance runs in them I will build up those weaker muscles which I hope will help make me a better runner.  I wasn't so sore I couldn't run this morning, but my calves weren't exactly happy to be going at it again.  ((I wore the Newtons for this morning's speed work, too.))

Advantage of Speed Work

**NOTE:  It was very interesting...when Turtle and I did our cool down lap, I thought we had slowed down to about a 12:00 pace.  That was my goal anyway. When I took a look at the Garmin data...lo and behold...it was actually an average of about a 10:30 pace!!  That's what speed work can do for you!  Just like hill work, it makes everything else seem that much easier.  It reminds me that it's all relative.  Slow for me isn't slow for someone else...and slow after running fast isn't as slow as it is when I'm starting from walking.  There are a lot of technical advantages, but that's the practical application advantage.

*****

It's only Wednesday and, already, it's been a FANTASTIC week.  I'm heading to Hard Body's Ab Torture class, then I'm swimming later today with Flipper.  Tomorrow is a (much needed) rest day.  Friday I'm running six with Daisy and another runner*.  Saturday I'm volunteering at a Sprint Tri**.

*NOTE: This other runner {I'll have to come up with a name for her (at some point I'll have to make up a "Cast of Characters" list on the side bar so you can keep up with who's who)}...this other runner is a woman I saw at the very first race I entered here.  I vividly remember seeing her before the race and thinking to myself that I wanted to be like her one day....that thought was completely confirmed at the race.  She is a little older than me, very fit looking, very encouraging, and (if I remember correctly) took first in her age group.  I couldn't resist, I had to tell her just how amazing I thought she was!  A while later I met her when I volunteered at Cookie Dash packet pick up.  She is one of the ladies I ran trails with recently, and the runner with whom I ran Saturday's first two miles.)

I'm more than just a little intimidated to be running with two ladies I admire in so many ways, not the least of which is running ability.  They are both amazing women and fantastic runners.  I will undoubtedly slow them down, but they are going into it knowing that, and have welcomed me to come along (enthusiastically even!!).  I feel like the ugly/nerdy kid in high school who was just (sincerely) invited to the popular girls' house for a party!!!  I CAN'T WAIT!!  I need to pick out my outfit and make sure it's ready to go Friday morning.  Maybe I should get a new one.  It's important to look good for these kinds of things!

Well...I have a lot more words to get out, but Hard Body won't wait for me to get there to start the torture session, not to mention I've blathered on long enough.

Thanks for stopping in, come again real soon!
:D

Six

In tribute to my SIX mile "long" run today... Here are my six sixes.

1) Six new terms I could have used today (for explanations, click on the link):

1. FIRM//Step Sister
2. Jog Itch
3. Land Mines
4. Releasing the Crackin
5. River Nile
6. Rulk (note--this is one of my additions to the glossary!!)

2) Six joys from today's run:

(Much prettier in person.)

 

1. BEAUTIFUL greenway--a full mile of which I'd never seen before today.
2. Passing by no less than THREE people who smelled just amazing.  Not in a "I'm-going-to-douse-myself-in-cologne-so-I-won't-stink" way, but "I-just-stepped-right-out-of-the-shower-and-just-took-my-clothes-out-of-the-dryer" kind of way.  (Yes, I have to admit it--I LOVE passing by someone who smells good.  I don't know why, and I fully admit it's one of the stranger things about me....but it makes me smile every time it happens.)
3. Running six miles with a pace of just about 12:00 on the nose.
4. Getting to see all my running buddies who are in the 13.1 training group, and a couple of other running buddies, too.  (Including Daisy.)
5. Getting to run with a running friend I totally admire for the first two miles.
6. Sprinting in the last maybe 30-50 feet!

3) Six lessons learned from today's run:

1. I need to either get a bigger water bottle, or better yet, buy a fuel belt.  I ran out of water at about mile 3.5.
2. Gu really does work.
3. Remember to take a sweat rag.  I want to try the Chilly Pad...but then again, I'm not sure how well it would work to mop up the buckets of sweat that pour off my face?
4. Listening to a great podcast on running is INCREDIBLY MOTIVATING.  My choice du jour: The Marathon Show.  Love this show; can't say enough good things about it-entertaining, inspiring, informative.
5. Short goals WORK (ie: run to the next phone pole; run to that leaf in the path; run to that place where the asphalt changes to concrete...as opposed to "run six miles today" or "run another mile")
6. I can run.

4) Six pieces of gear I want (because it's all about the gear!!):

1. Fuel belt
2. Trail shoes
3. Running bra--not quite sure I need this, but I think I'm going to try it out (brand to try: Moving Comfort) and see-I'll let you know the results.
4. Halo headband 
5. New running socks (no link because I'm not sure which ones to get, which is why I'm still running in the Nike moisture wicking socks I bought a year ago...I have six pairs but still...they are just about worn out.)
6. when it comes out--an armband for the Otterbox I now carry my phone in after I shattered not just one but TWO screens within a three week period!

5) Six tips for new runners....some of which are repeated, but are well worth saying again:

1. Start out slow.  Low distance and slow pace.  Don't increase either of those too fast.
2. Make sure you are hydrating as a way of life.  Your urine should be pale yellow-any darker-you aren't getting enough fluid; any lighter-you may be getting too much.  (Going to the bathroom is a small price to pay for proper hydration.)
3. Make sure you're eating enough calories to support your efforts--in all three categories-protein, fat and carbs.
4. GET FITTED FOR SHOES BY A SPECIALTY RUNNING STORE.  (Along the same vein, if you're a woman-get properly fitted for a running bra.)
5. Listen to your body.  If you don't know what it's saying to you-slow down and listen harder.
6. Cross train.  Swimming, biking, rowing.  Strength training is something you should do in addition to cardio.

6) Six marathons I want to do one of these days (in no particular order):

1. Athens
2. ING New York City
3. ANY Rock 'n' Roll
4. Maratona di Roma
5. Marathon to Marathon (because of what I heard about it on The Marathon Show)
6. Marathon du Medoc

I'm telling you, after looking up the links for all of those, it is taking all I have in me not to sign up for every single one of them right now!!  I can hear my husband's voice in my head right now, "Slow down there killer...let's just get you to Rocket City in December and then we'll think about those others....maybe."  

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!
:D