13 Weeks to NYC Marathon: Dress the Part
11/08/2010 § Leave a comment
Goal last week: 20 miles total (3 miles, 14 miles, 3 miles)
Actual mileage: 20.2 miles total (3 miles, 3.5 miles, 13.7 miles)
Goal this week: 22 miles (4 miles, 15 miles, 3 miles)
Last week I successfully got out to run three times and ran the farthest distance I’ve ever run — go me! When I started out on my long run Saturday morning, I was a little nervous. I hadn’t ever run 14 miles alone. I mean, I’ve run a half marathon without a running partner, but I was running with a large group of people in that case. This was going to be me, alone, for over two hours. Running along the Hudson.
The first few miles I was busy with warming up and getting though the suck that is the warm up. No matter if I am running 3 miles or 33 miles, the first mile or two is usually a super drag. My body’s waking up, it doesn’t want to run, my legs are stiff, my breathing isn’t good, etc. etc. But then I get into my rhythm — my stride, my breathing, my arm swing is all in line — and I feel great. I can start to think if I am alone, or hold a coherent convo if I am running with someone. It is in this period when I can begin to wonder about random things like the probability that I am passing someone else on the path that is listening to the same exact song. So even when I am having my worst warm up ever, I always fight through it because I know it’s just temporary. If you don’t push yourself to your limits, you will never have a breakthrough!
The middle miles were a breeze, and I finished strongly. Unfortunately, due to a mapping/math error on my part, I didn’t quite do 14 miles. But I was close! I’ve also decided not to run in the Bronx half marathon, since I need to attempt 15 miles this weekend. I know I won’t do the extra two after the race. Plus it’s in the Bronx. And the course sucks. The decision really made itself, really.
Tip #3: Clothes make the (wo)man
I know that one of the big selling points of running is that it’s super cheap — all you really need is a good pair of shoes. But I’d like to offer a slightly different point of view. When I started out running, I had some nondescript “work out clothes” in a drawer somewhere, left over from a million years ago (and I’m not even kidding, I do believe I found a pair of shorts from a soccer team I was on in the 10th grade). They were fine. They were serviceable. I could have run in them, no question. Instead of just wearing the clothes I had, I decided to guilt myself into running by buying myself some new running clothes. Somehow, I’m now a girl that owns a large collection of wicking fabrics. Even my socks wick. And now I’m a runner. It’s pretty amazing.
So my tip this week is to buy yourself something new when you start out running. I’m not saying go crazy, nor am I recommending you go out and buy the most expensive stuff you can find – just a little something new. You’ll feel more like a runner when you put your running clothes on, guaranteed.
Tip #3.5: My favorite tank
I’m something of a sweaty betty, so I can’t bear to run with sleeves unless it’s really cold outside. I recently found the “run:swiftly racerback” at lululemon and I am in love, love, love with it. It’s super lightweight – I almost can’t feel it at all when I’m running. I definitely recommend picking one up for your summer runs.
Happy running!
Quite Continental 
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