Complacency, routine - be gone!

I just finished reading Dean Karnazes' 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - and How You Too Can Acheive Super Endurance! (Catch-22 was a no go - after twenty pages I couldn't bare to read any more rambling nonsense) and like his other book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, this book had some great passages. For example:

Running teaches you that there's a difference between working hard and feeling bad. Consumer culture tries to teach us otherwise. How many television commercials talk about "making life easier"? If everything you knew about life came from TV, your goal would be to live the easiest, most comfortable and unchallenging life you possibly could. You would believe that the only good feelings are sensual pleasures such as the taste of a good soft drink and the fun of driving an expensive car and lying on the beach.

But it's just not true. Challenging and testing your mind and body, even to the point of exhaustion, failure, and breakdown, can feel as wonderful as anything else life has to offer. I suppose the enjoyment of hard work is more of an acquired taste than the taste for pleasure and fun, but once you've acquired it, you're blessed with more ways to feel good, and life is better. Harder and better.

(pg. 88)

How true is this? Don't you feel good after you've accomplished a challenging task such as mulching the garden or organizing your overflowing closet? While you may not enjoy the actual act of mulching the garden in 80 degree heat or organizing your overflowing closet on your day off, you have to admit that after, you feel some kind of pride for what you accomplished.

So many commercials on TV try to sell you products that make your life easier. Case-in-point: those commercials trying to sell you an egg peeler, in which the commercial shows a lady with egg all over her because it is just so HARD to peel an egg. Granted there are some chores I would gladly give up if I could find a little robot to do it for me (i.e., cleaning the bathtub), but if we took away all the challenging tasks in life, then what would we do with all that free time? Watch more bad reality TV (seriously, what is with that show "The Bad Girls Club"?)? Would we be a happier society if we never had to do anything remotely challenging? I seriously doubt it. Just ask all those messed up rich people.

Another passage I liked was:

It is so easy to live a life that has been scripted for you by others, to fall into the mire of conformity by following a path that society has laid before you, rather than heeding your own unique calling. Comfort, complacency, routine, the path of least resistance, the easy road - these things are the bane of human-kind. It is a disquieting moment when you awaken to realize the trappings of conventionality have created a life for you that is entirely different from the one you wish to live.

(pg. 224)

I am of an age where all my friends are getting married and starting to have kids. And sometimes, when I see two people get married, I just KNOW they are going to get divorced. When you reach a certain age, there is this societal pressure that you should be getting married soon, never mind that the person you are currently dating is all wrong for you, or is up to his or her eyeballs in debt, or has completely different values than you. Often, I think people settle, thinking that they are of a marrying age and the person they are dating is good enough, so why not get married? This societal conformity is the reason that half of all marriages end in divorce, and why people all of a sudden have mid-life crises. They wake up one day and think "uh, oh, what have I done? This is not the life I wanted to live."

And then if you choose to buck conformity, to go your own way, by not marrying the first person you get into a serious relationship with, or refusing to fall into the trap of worrying that you will become an old spinster who will die alone and childless, or gasp - have other plans for your life - then people think you are strange. Or just lying.

Everyone is different. But for me, the trappings of conventionality are what I dread most. I do not dream of a life in which I spend my weekends at the Pottery Barn shopping for new decorative pillows or scented candles. I want to be challenged. I want to hike to Manchu Picchu. I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I want to push my body to see how far it can go. I want my life to be exciting, full of variety.

While I do want comfort (who doesn't?) I don't want complacency, routine or the path of least resistance. Not for me. Not for my life.

Happy Thanksgiving

Fun fact: Did you know that "Jingle Bells" was originally composed to celebrate Thanksgiving? James Pierpoint, an American songwriter, wrote the song in 1857 for his church choir. "Jingle Bells" was so popular that it was performed again at Christmas services.

Good luck at your turkey trot, marathon or other race if you are running today. And Happy Thanksgiving!


Photo by Vicki's Nature at flickr.

Baby its cold outside

It was brrr cold out this weekend. Cold as in, "wow I can't feel my nose anymore and I just crossed the street." I knew Saturday was going to be cold, but I was banking on Sunday being warmer so I could do a long run outside. However, Sunday left me hanging. So it was off to the gym for both days. Saturday I did the spin bike. Shoved off into the back of the gym, I am probably the only person who uses the spin bike. I am just waiting for the day that I go to the gym and find that my little lonely spin bike has gone to spin bike heaven.

Now I don't know about you, but I find spinning by my lonesome in a corner of the gym VERY boring (not to mention painful). So I brought reinforcements - my Ipod and Dean (Karnazes' book 50/50 to be exact). Reading a book while on the spin bike wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It wasn't exactly comfortable either, (lord knows how that spin bike hurts the hoo hah) but it was much better than staring at myself in the mirror, hoping that an hour will magically fly by while you are trying to find some kind of comfortable position on the bike while also trying to balance a hard cover book at the same time.

As I said, Sunday left me hanging, so it was back to the gym for a 6 mile run on the treadmill. I was jogging along feeling good, but towards the end, I kept getting stitches in my side, or as I like to call them, "Dallas BBQ side pains." Those baby back ribs are not so good for running, but they sure are tasty.

There was no pilates for me tonight, because I had other obligations, one of which involved a slice of vegetable pizza (the diet hasn't been so good the last couple of days), but hopefully it will be a little warmer after work tomorrow so I can do some kind of long run outside.

Speaking of which, I am new to whole running outside in the cold. Just as I master the art of running outside in the heat, Mr. Heat ups and leaves and in comes Mrs. Cold. And Mrs. Cold has been a real pain in the neck lately - bringing January temperatures in November. I really want to run the Manhattan and Bronx half-marathons in January and February so I can run the half-marathons in all five boroughs, but I don't know if I can run 13.1 miles in such cold temperatures. I was totally thinking of sporting one of those black face masks - you know the hat that covers your entire head and face except for your eyes. They sell them on the street, right next to the $5 pashminas and the $30 fake Gucci bags, but I am hesitant because do I really want to run a half-marathon looking like I just robbed a Washington Mutual? With my face covered its not like anyone would know who I am, but I do have some pride.

What if I just wrapped a $5 pashmina around my face? Is it better to look like a hot pink mummy or like you just robbed a bank? Now there is something to ponder while I am making the cranberry sauce this week.

It's Friday...Woo Hoo!

This has been one loooong week. It all started on Monday morning, when I woke up feeling like crap because I caught the evil cold that has been going around. It seems like everyone has it - my coworkers, people at the gym, people on the subway. Then it was just project after project, assignment after assignment at work. And oh yeah. Remember how I said I was going to go to the gym on Tuesday and walk on the treadmill because I said it was better than nothing? Well...err...that didn't happen. I actually only ran once this week - last night, and it felt so good, even though I had to run on the boring treadmill because it was just too cold outside.

But it is finally Friday! Woo hoo!


I can finally sleep. And let me tell you - I need sleep. It took everything I had no to fall asleep at work today. I was so tired that it physically hurt.

I don't know how much running or exercising I will get done this weekend. There is so much I need to do - food shopping, Thanksgiving food shopping, errands, work that I brought home that needs to be done, etc., etc., etc. Plus, I am finally getting a new stove on Sunday, which will mean that I will have to wait around for the delivery guys to come. But it is well worth it because I have been dying for a new stove lately. My oven and broiler have been broken (and unfixable) for ages, and I have been just dying to bake all kinds of delicious things. Like maybe some green tea cupcakes like these?

I am also pretty excited, because I just picked up Dean Karnazes' 50/50 book at the library. I keep sneaking little peaks at what's inside. But before I can read it, I. must. read. Catch-22. first. for my book club. But Catch-22 looks awfully long. What if I read Catch-22 on the subway, and 50/50 before I go to bed at night? Yes, yes, that just may work.

Have a good weekend!


Jumping boy by buzzsnap at flickr.
Green tea cupcakes by hoveringdog at flickr.

Thank Goodness for Running

Here is what a typical day at work looks like for me:

Big Boss: I need you to research XYZ.
Me: OK. When do you need it by?
Big Boss: ASAP.

Other Boss: Can you look up ABC and get DEF?
Me: Yes. When do you need it by?
Other Boss: ASAP.

Co-worker: Can you help me do XYZ?
Me: Yes. When do we have to complete it by?
Co-worker: ASAP.

Umm....

Are you noticing a pattern?

Yes, everything in my office is due ASAP. I have ten to twenty things to do in a given day, each of which is due....you guessed it. ASAP.

Then there are two times during a year when my work life is even busier than normal. As in so busy that I wake up in the middle of the night with charlie horses in my calves because I spent the entire day running up and down stairs and around the office in my high heels. Or, so busy that my brain literally draft's documents in my head that are due the next day while I am trying to sleep.

Let's look at what a typical day in my work life looks like then:

Email sent by co-worker at 11:00 a.m.: Big Big Big Boss wants document by 11:30.
Me: OK.
(11:30?? What the hell. How am I supposed to draft a coherent, grammatically correct, error free document and then get three executives to sign off on it in half an hour?!?! And why is no one responding to my emails?? Helloooo, we need to finish this by 11:30!! Work faster work faster...and stop biting your nails!)

Email sent by co-worker at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday: Big Big Big Boss wants document by close of business.
Me: OK.
(Close of business?!?! It's Friday!! Why can't this wait until Monday?? And why am I finding out that it is due now? Great, I am going to be here all night, and then Lord knows how they turn off the air conditioning after 5:30 and I will have to sit here sweating while trying to produce an accurate, grammatically correct document with no errors by "close of business," whatever that means because technically business closes at 5:00 p.m., and forget about food because nothing is open after 5:00 around here...and stop biting your nails!)

So, what does this have to do with running you ask? And why am I thankful for it? Well, when I am flying around like a mad woman, trying to get things done ASAP (are you as sick of that word yet as I am?), I can mumble to myself "I can't wait to go home and go for a run." Then when I go home, assuming I am not so exhausted that I fall asleep after shoving some food I managed to throw together in a record two minutes, I can strap on my hydration belt, start up the Ipod, and run the day away. Usually during those runs, I run fast and hard, weaving around people walking home from work even later than me, working through everything that needs to be done and figuring out how I am going to do it. And oh yeah, I also like to switch to Aerosmith's "Love in an Elevator" and play some air guitar.

Like so many people, running for me relieves stress, challenges me, and just plain makes me happy ("Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't."). It gives me something to look forward to, something to strive towards and makes my life all-around better.

Thank goodness for running!

Ugh, I'm Sick

I have the worst immune system ever. If someone in my zip code gets sick, then I am sure to catch it shortly thereafter. It started Sunday night with a post nasal drip that made it difficult to sleep. Now my throat hurts, I have a runny nose, and no sense of smell. Someone remarked at a meeting today that it smelled like someone in the office was making toast, but I had to take his word for it because I couldn't smell a thing.

Oh, and did I mention that I am drowning in work? Yes, I have been working long hours with this lovely cold to boot.

So, it looks like there won't be much running going on this week. Which means that I probably won't do that 15K on the 30th, because I won't be able to do some longer runs before then. I am going to force myself to go to the gym and do some walking on the treadmill tonight, because walking is better than nothing. Even though all I want to do is curl up in bed and go to sleep.

Race Report: Race to Deliver

This morning I ran the 4 mile Race to Deliver in Central Park. The last 4 mile race I ran was my first race ever back in April, so I was eager to improve my time.

After checking all the weekend subway advisories, I finally figured out which subway I could actually take to the race and was able to catch a train just as it was pulling into the station. I ended up getting to the starting line about 35 minutes early, and it sure was crowded. After swinging by the port-a-potties, I went off to warm up before the race. I normally never warm-up before a race in a formal sense, figuring the hike to and from the subway counts as some kind of warm-up. However, I have never run a race in November before - today was overcast, about fifty degrees, but very windy. Also, someone told me yesterday that warming up would help me with my race, and so I decided to do a little research on the matter. Turns out he is right - at least that is what the Internet says.

I was very glad that I warmed up, because it was cold out and my legs were very tight. By the time I headed to the start-line, I had broke a light sweat. Oh, and did I mention how crowded it was? (5,979 people to be exact.) New York Road Runner races are always pretty crowded, but this race was more crowded than usual.

Also, as an aside, I think people lie about their pace per mile. New York Road Runner requires you to put down your pace per mile when you register, so they can put you in the correct seeded corral (faster runners in the front, slower runners in the back). However, there were a group of women in my corral who appeared to be tourists from the south and who did not look like runners at all, based upon how they were dressed, i.e., wearing Ugg boots, and the amount of makeup they were wearing. Now, I am not the fastest runner in the world, but I think I can run faster than an elderly lady walking in Ugg boots.

Another annoyance were the three people who were not running, but decided they would line up in the corral with their friend/family member and walk with her to the start line, pushing one of those mini-van type baby carriages. So, when people were trying to start running at the start line, it wasn't exactly easy because these three oblivious people and their huge baby carriage were blocking the way.

Anyway, I didn't end up crossing the starting mat (and passing Star Jones who was on the stage by the starting line) until about 8 or 9 minutes after the race started. It was so crowded that I actually had to walk across the starting mat, when normally it clears out a little as people take off running.

Besides having to weave around people, I felt good. I wasn't having any breathing problems this time luckily (although I brought a neck gator to pull up over my mouth just in case). My hamstrings were a little tight, but other than that, it was pretty smooth sailing all the way through. I will take running in cooler weather over running in hot weather any day.

When I saw the finish line, I was able to do my sprint to the finish, but not completely because again, it was just too crowded. In fact, my sister saw a girl take a tumble while trying to sprint to the finish and weave around people at the same time.

At the finish, I got my complimentary bagel and started to cool down. Thank God I did not check my bag, because there was line to pick up checked bags that was like nothing I had ever seen before. It just snaked around forever.

When I went home, I immediately checked my official time. And I am happy to say that I shaved 7 minutes and 23 seconds off my time - a PR!

Now I am debating whether I should do a 15k trail run the weekend of the 30th. I haven't been running more than six miles since the half-marathon in October, although I could do a seven mile run Tuesday and than an eight mile next week to prepare. However, it also depends on what the course is. If it is the same 3 mile course I ran last week that I would have to run around 3 times, then forget it, because that would just be far too boring. Decisions, decisions....

Roll Like a Ball

I wasn't really in the mood to go to Pilates this past Monday - I was tired and it was my day off - but I forced myself to go. This week, the instructor, who is the sweetest Japanese woman (and who rides her scooter to class), brought inflatable balls for us to use. During class, I often find myself using my legs and hips instead of my core. Well, the instructor had us blow these balls up half-way, and then place them underneath our backs, where a woman's bra strap would fall. And what a difference it made! Just placing that ball there really forced me to use my core, instead of trying to compensate with my legs and hips.

As I stated in a previous post, Pilates can fix imbalances that often result from running, increase core strength, correct postural imbalances, increase balance in the muscles of the back and hips, reduce injuries, and assist with breath control. So I thought I would share just a few of my favorite Pilates moves with all you runners:

The Hundred: (flattens your abs and strengthens your core)



Roll Up: (targets the abs)



Rolling Like a Ball: (develops control and balance)



Swan Dive Rock and Catch: (strengthens the spinal and hip extensors, which improves posture and tightens the butt)



Develope: (tones the leg muscles, increases flexibility, and improves core strength)

In Case You Missed It

From the New York Times:

November 6, 2008

National Briefing | Southwest

Arizona: Jogger Attacked by Rabid Fox

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A jogger was attacked by a rabid fox, ran a mile with the animal’s jaws clamped on her arm and then drove herself to a hospital, the authorities said. The Yavapai County sheriff’s office said the woman told deputies that she was on a trail near Prescott on Monday when the fox attacked and bit her foot. The woman said that she grabbed the fox by the neck when it went for her leg but that it bit her arm. The woman wanted the animal tested for rabies so she ran a mile to her car with the fox still biting her arm, then pried the animal off and tossed it in her trunk and drove to the Prescott hospital. The sheriff’s office said the fox later bit an animal-control officer. He and the woman are both receiving rabies vaccinations.

Race Report: NYRR Cross Country Championships

I woke up this morning and it was a beautiful day out. Sunny, not too cold. Just perfect. Even more perfect was the fact that the race did not start until 11:30 a.m. I left my apartment at 9:00 because Van Cortlandt Park is far and because the past few weekends, I have had to wait a long time for the 1 train. Luck would have it that I did not have to wait very long for the 1 train, so I was there an hour early. I registered for the race and then read my book for a while. I decided not to bring my Ipod (which I never run without) because I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to wear one when trail running. But when I got to the start, I saw that some people had Ipods. So I told myself that I would just let the scenary be my music for this race.

About twenty minutes before the race started, I decided now was the time to remove my extra layers, check my bag and brave the cold in my shorts and short sleeve shirt. The start was by two orange cones out at the edge of some soccer fields, and everyone started to congregate there. You could definitely tell these were cross country people - tall, thin legs, short shorts, and these were just the guys. There were lots of high schoolers and even a few younger kids. One high schooler in particular thought it would be a good idea to blow his nose onto the grass right in the middle of the group. It was completely disgusting. How about going in the corner and doing that if you need to? Or here is a novel idea. It's called a tissue.

Standing at the start line reminded me of high school track all over again - the way we used to strip all our layers off at the last minute, huddle around trying to stay warm while we stood there in our shorts and singlets waiting for our event to start. Starting on the soccer field also reminded me of practices where the couch permitted us to run wherever we wanted as long as we ran for a certain amount of time. Now, for sprinters, this was a big deal because it meant we got to run off of the track. So usually, a group of use would head out and run around the soccer fields, baseball fields, etc., becoming cross country runners for the day.

Anyway, at 11:30 on the dot, someone yelled "Go" and then everyone took off. Almost immediately, I was at the back of the pack. But I figured I would be anyway, because this always happens during races. People take off fast and I end up passing them after the first half of the race. We wound our way around the soccer fields, past the adult soccer games going on, and eventually onto the trails. This is where people started walking. That's right. I said walking. I don't think it had even been a mile. Which raises the issue: why participate in a race, especially one with a challenging course, where you can not run for more than a mile? How about starting with a fun run that has walkers? I would never knock anyone for trying, but I can't imagine how running for .75 miles and then having to walk most of the rest of the way is satisfying.

The beginning of the trail is also where we met people who were not racing. Like a woman walking her dog who thought it was a good idea to stand on the left of the trail while her dog wandered to the right, with the leash blocking the middle of the trail. Luckily, her husband told her to move the dog over, but really, how inconsiderate can you be? You know there is a race going on. Just move yourself and your dog over to the side until the people pass, and then you can let your dog and its leash wander wherever it likes.

Running the trails were definitely different though. I am used to running on flat concrete so I wasn't used to all of the hills, leaves, etc. But I think I handled them very well. I kept chugging along, passing the walkers, and the walk/sprinters, you know, the people who walk and then all out sprint past you, then walk again. But then it became hard for me to breathe. My breathing became very shallow, and while my legs felt fine running up the hills, my lungs did not. I knew it was because of the cold, and not the trail itself. So, at one hill, I decided to walk for a few seconds while I drank some water. After that, my breathing was a little better, although not normal.

Eventually the trail ended and we headed out for the home stretch. This is usually where I really pick up the pace. But I was having a hard time doing that because of my breathing. My body wasn't tired - it was only a 3 mile race - but my lungs were not having it. Usually when I can see the finish line I start sprinting, but this was the first time that I couldn't. Even at the half-marathon I was able to sprint, even though my leg muscles were burning and I was in a really foul mood. But not this time. It took everything in me just to keep up an elevated pace. However, despite the breathing issues, I crossed the finish line with a time that was much better than previous times. I am definitely improving.

Ironically, I was flipping through my December issue of Runner's World after my race, and saw the following blurb:

COLD, HARD TRUTH
When temperatures drop, it's even more important to breathe through your nose. Breathing through your mouth makes the air that hits your lungs colder and drier, and it can induce asthmalike symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. If nose-breathing is difficult, consider wearing a bandanna over your nose and mouth - the air you exhale will humidify the air you inhale.

Bingo. Timely or what? Although I think I would look pretty silly with a bandanna tied over my nose and mouth.

Fueling for a Race

Well, tomorrow is my first trail run in Van Cortlandt Park. While it is going to be a bit of a subway ride to get up there, I am actually really looking forward to it. It just seems like the perfect time of year in New York to do a nice short trail run. I also have to admit that running lately as been great. The temperature right now is just perfect - cool enough so I am not dripping in sweat after a six mile run, but not so cool that I have to get bundled up.

I have also been thinking a lot about the triathlon I signed up for last week that is next July (it sold out in 22 minutes!), how I am going to train for it, etc. One of the big questions I am going to have to figure out before July is how I am going to fuel myself on race day. I know that the odds are that it is going to be very hot at that time of the year, so proper hydration and fuel will be key.

This summer, I drank lemon-lime Gatorade on bike rides and long runs, because water simply isn't enough when you are running and/or biking in the summer heat. I choose lemon-lime Gatorade because that is really the only flavor I can stand - it tastes like lemonade to me. However, the nasty side effect is that it makes me very thirsty, which I am guessing is from the sodium in the drink. I tried watering the Gatorade down, but it didn't help. During the Staten-Island half-marathon, I drank watered-down Gatorade that I carried in my hydration belt, but I was still perpetually thirsty, and had to keep taking sips of the latex-flavored water they were giving out to make up for it.

New York Road Runners gave out gels during packet pick-up, but I didn't use them, mainly because I didn't want to try something new the day of a race that I had been training for for months. But I still have those PowerBar Gels and they have been sitting in my kitchen staring at me and waiting for me to try them for the last month. I just don't know if I can bring myself to do it though. Just looking the package and reading "Caramel flavor" makes me nauseous. I just don't know how I could eat one of these sickly sweet packets while trying to run a race.

So you know what I am going to try instead? Pedialyte. You know, the drink the give to dehydrated kids when they have diarrhea and vomiting? I got this idea from Dean Karnazes' book, and thought it was genius. Dean drank it during his 200 mile runs, because according to him, "it is the most effective isotonic sports drink known to humankind, the next level after Gatorade." I also imagine that it is much gentler on the stomach if it is made for children. And another bonus? They make Pedialyte freezer pops! How great would that be if they gave the freezer pops out during long, hot races??

So, tomorrow is food shopping day. And while I am at the grocery store, I may just pick up some Pedialyte. The only trouble will be deciding what flavor to buy....

While you're out running tomorrow....

Remember to run by your local polling place and vote! (for *cough* Obama *cough*)

Now a word from our sponsors:

I found a tow truck

Last week I noted that me and my running were stuck in a rut. But I found a tow truck and it pulled me out.

The past week, I finished reading Dean Karnazes book entitled, "Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner." And I have to admit - until recently I had no idea who Dean Karnazes was. Nor did I really know what he did that made him so special. But now I do know - Badwater? a marathon to the South Pole? 200 mile races? Unbelievable.

Ultra Marathon Man was a quick read, but an interesting one at that. I read the majority of the book on the subway when commuting back and forth to work, and everytime I read, I felt inspired, not only by his story, but by his great wisdom. For example, two passages in the book that I loved were:

"If it could be done, I wanted to do it. Because I needed to know how far I could go."(pg. 158)

and

"If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not constantly demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip." (pg. 263)

I especially love the second passage - so true. Many people go about their lives, never challenging themselves or seeing what they can do, whether they can reach their potential. It's all too easy to chose the path most taken, to fall into the daily routines of life.

But I find that I need a challenge - whether it be mental or physical. Its the challenges that keep me going.

So, thank you Dean for driving up with your tow truck, and pulling me out of my rut. My running and I thank you.

I did it....

Important Information Regarding Your Registration:

Thank you for registering for the 2009 Nautica New York City Triathlon. See you July 26 in the Hudson!