Sunday, September 16, 2012


When to Let Go:  making the switch in your brain

I am letting go of the New York City marathon.  I have been fighting this decision for weeks.  But today, after deep thought and shedding some tears, I realize that I have to let it go. 

Qualifying for this race was one of my biggest triumphs.  I am a marathoner at heart.  Half marathons have never been my best number – I feel like at 13.1 I am just getting warmed up.  To qualify for the NYC marathon, you can meet either a full, or half distance qualifying time.  These times are even stricter than Boston, and have been lowered even further for 2013.  NYC was on my list, but not for years down the road.  Until the announcement was made in the fall of 2012 that the times were being drastically lowered for 2013.  My good friend and running partner had a qualifying time…I realized if I wanted to meet one as well I needed to find a race, and quick.  I only had until March or so before the qualifying period ended (with the exception of the Boston marathon and few other NYC races).  I was running Boston, but I wanted at least 2 chances to meet the NYC standard.  I found a small, local half set for mid-January.  With two weeks to train for it, my coach had his work cut out for him!

Fortunately for me, I was just coming off a great fall marathon PR, and was in good shape.  My biggest challenge was mentally preparing for the distance.  It would be a push – I could nail the speed in training, but racing was another story.  Long story short, we did a very abbreviated training schedule…lots of speedwork in a short amount of time and very quick taper.  The plan worked and I came in 90 sec. under the qualifying standard for the half. 

With great joy and enthusiasm I reported the news to my good friend.  We registered, and began happily planning our adventure.   I would take my youngest daughter…just a special trip for her and mom.  My friend’s husband and teenage daughters would watch my 9 year old during the race.  We booked similar flights, the same hotel, and planned on staying a few days after the race to sightsee.  We couldn’t wait to train together, especially on the long runs.

In June, I got injured. 

Three weeks prior to my 70.3 my heel began to hurt.  Plantar fasciitis.  I stopped speedwork, and luckily since I was so close to tapering, I was able to stay in shape and actually ended up having a fantastic race.  I waited until I thought my foot was better, then went running.  Big mistake.  My injury was aggravated.  I took many weeks off, but it never really got much better.  Icing, stretching, massage, rolling, ibuprofen, strengthening…all these things in various combinations have gotten me to about 90%, but that is where I am stuck.  My longest run has been 9 miles.  The swim and bike are fine, but you can’t swim and bike your way through a marathon.

This past week bib numbers and corrals were announced.  I downloaded my information, and felt the race excitement.  Maybe I can make it.  Maybe, magically, all the pain will disappear and I will regain all the strength of my healthy self.   There is magic in running, but recovery from injury is another matter altogether.  The magic happens from having patience, and willingness to let go when you realize that this time, you will be on the sidelines cheering instead of out there on the course.  The magic happens when you make the switch in your brain.  When you fully accept your limitations, the training plan then becomes about recovery first, rebuilding second. 

I am still taking my daughter to New York.  We will get our mother-daughter bonding time.  But it will be as cheerleaders for my friend.  And  like any faraway city you travel to, I’m going with the thought that I will be back someday.  I will run this race.  Just not this year.  And that’s okay.  There are other races to look forward to…other races where I will come back stronger than ever.  Yes, my heart is a little bit broken, but that will heal as well.  What isn’t broken is my spirit and determination.  It just has taken a different path for the time being, a different switch in my brain.

 

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun

 

Sunday, September 2, 2012


The Road to 140.6

I am a big fan of podcasts.  It all began years ago, when my favorite radio show went off the air.  The host started his own podcast, available on iTunes.  Interested in more content, I checked out some podcasts about running and triathlon.  Some we great, others less so, but all were interesting because they were hosted by real people, with real stories.  I love hearing other people’s stories about their training, racing, and journeys as endurance athletes.  Each one is so unique, and there is so much to learn from other people’s experiences. 

In hindsight, it was the content of those podcasts that planted the seeds of my triathlon career.  I have been a runner for years.  11 marathons and counting, 3 half-marathons, a handful of relays and many 5ks (including two first overall female finishes on a tough 5k course, something I will never forget and am very proud of).  After years of running in “never quite the right pair of shoes,” it was a podcast, not the running store or my own research, that finally turned me on to the right pair.  Side note here:  the running store kept putting me in different brands of stability shoes.  Turns out what I needed to do was to stop heel-striking.  The right shoe, running with better form, (something I continue to work on today), was key to becoming a much stronger runner.

 It was a podcast that got me on the spin bike, too.  The host, a runner and triathlete, suggested that runners try 10-15 minutes on the bike, before a run, to get the legs warmed up and ready.  I tried it, liked it, and it became my routine before many runs.  I’ll never forget another podcast host, who talked about the “euphoria” he got from swimming.  He made it sound so wonderful, I just had to try it for myself.  It turns out that swimming is one of those sports that takes practice before you get to the “euphoria” part, but after a few months of drills and working on form, one day I felt the “euphoria,” and I’ve been enjoying the swim ever since. 

One of the podcast hosts also suggested that runners try a Sprint triathlon.  Swimming and cycling are  fantastic for cross-training, so why not have some fun and try a Sprint?  This made sense to me, as someone who always ran a spring and a fall marathon.  Why not mix it up and add in a summer Sprint?

That’s exactly what I did.  It wasn’t all easy.  I fell off the bike a lot at first, and was very frustrated that I wasn’t immediately good at it.  I couldn’t figure out how to shift gears, I was chafing in unpleasant places and my rear end hurt.  A lot. But I loved swimming and running, and was not going to get the bike stop me.  It took some time, but I got the gears under control, found a good brand of ant-chafe cream, found the right saddle and comfortable bike shorts.  I’m glad I didn’t give up.  My first Sprint tri was a great success.  I went on to compete in an Olympic the next month, and a 70.3 the following summer. 

I just registered for a 140.6.

Other athletes, their stories, their lives and their dreams are hugely inspirational.  I’m glad I took the time to listen.  You never know what little tidbits will stick in your mind, and ultimately change your life!

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun.

Friday, August 17, 2012





Nutrition:  Small Changes, Big Payoff
Runners and triathletes, by nature, are generally healthy eaters.  The longer you train, the fitter you become, and the more food becomes incredibly important both for recovery and for fuel.  I’ve been a runner for a long time, a triathlete in training, and a serious triathlete for long enough now to know that food plays a crucial role in performance.  Like most athletes, I’ve planned meals well in advance of big workouts, logged what works and what doesn’t, and been careful when attending social gatherings to eat properly and fuel for the next day.  I’ve always considered myself a healthy eater; not only because it benefits performance but because I want to set a good example for my kids and raise them to make good nutritional choices.  We have occasional treats, in moderation.  No one is left feeling deprived. 
Recently, with a little nudging, I gave up dairy completely.  I drank the occasional chocolate milk after a workout, and ate yogurt and cheese almost every day.  After considering the downsides of dairy, I decided to give it up.  A funny thing happened.  It unleashed an entire diet makeover.  Gone were big bowls of white pasta with lots of cheese on top.  Replaced instead with corn or rice pasta, spaghetti squash, some lean protein and seasoning (note here:  garlic makes pretty much anything taste good!)  Gone were milk based recovery drinks…replaced with coconut or almond milk and low sugar protein powder.  Gone was my sugary coffee creamer…replaced with coconut milk.  Gone were meals based around the tradition protein, starch and vegetable model.  Replaced with yes, protein, but multiple vegetables and a wider variety of grains.  We never ate white bread anyway, and if I do have bread, which is rarely, it is Ezekiel 4:9 or Dave’s Killer bread.  Eggs on top of brown rice cakes are just as good. 
Do I miss anything?  Not at all.  And here is why.  I FEEL so much better.   My blood sugar seems more stable, and adding in more lean protein at lunch (canned salmon or canned tuna with a pop top is easy and convenient) has eliminated the need for the 3pm “coffee and carbohydrate” fix.  My energy level is definitely higher, and I am sleeping more soundly at night.  My workouts are more focused, partly due to the energy level increase, and partly due to a renewal of priorities.  Healthy food creates a circle of wellness that feeds on itself.  The better you feel, the better you want to continue to feel.
Another benefit…the entire family is eating better.  Just having more fruits and vegetables available gives the kids something to reach for other than processed snacks.  It didn’t happen overnight with them, but gradually they are making their own changes. 
I still have coffee in the morning and a glass of red wine in the evenings.  I believe these things are fine in moderation.  I have given up both, for months at a time and an interesting thing happened.  I started eating more to make up for the feeling of deprivation.  Giving up either one didn’t seem to have a significant effect on my training.  In fact, I perform better with a little caffiene.   Caffiene can boost the metabolism and red wine is said to have anti-aging benefits.  Again, moderation is key here
Do I get a little grief here and there?  Of course.  There have been times when somebody didn’t like that I wouldn’t eat birthday cake.  They’ll say something like “come on, it’s a party.”  I’ve also gotten the occasional “is that what you are going to eat?”  I used to launch into long explanations of my training and racing schedule to try to explain to these folks why I was eating (or not eating) the way I was.  Over time I’ve learned not to bother.  People are going to think what they think.  The best response is a smile and a firm “No, thank you.”  No explanation necessary.  You work hard to be healthy.  Be consistent in both your nutrition and your training and you will see the benefits on a daily basis!
Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun

Friday, July 27, 2012


A Few Things I’ve Learned Along the Way:

It all started sometime in 2005-2006 with a 9 mile run, in an old pair of New Balance, wearing an old college sweatshirt and carrying a yellow Sony Walkman.  My first real, outdoor run.  Up until then I had been running on the treadmill, working my way up from 5 minutes of running to well over an hour.  I don’t remember much about that first run, other than it was the most fun I’d had in a long time, and I couldn’t wait for more.  Many marathons and triathlons later, its 2012 and aside from proper shoes, gear, and form technique, there are few things I’ve learned along the way.

1)      Pay attention to imbalances.  Yes, there will be days when you are sore, or tired.  But if something is really nagging at you, continually over time, seek advice.  Its possible to train for months or even years with little nagging sore spots.  However, the likelihood that catching up to you someday is very real.  Notice your tendencies.  Do you get tight calves or a tight Achilles after speedwork, long runs, or races?  Ice, stretch, foam roll and strengthen now, consistently, to avoid it turning into something bigger, like plantar fasciitis.  Some knee pain here and there?  Roll you IT band and strengthen your quads now to avoid possible problems (such as torn meniscus or Runner’s Knee) later on.  Log everything.  Be diligent about proper form.  Work with your closely with your coach, who can assign specific stretching and strengthening exercises to get over any little aches and pains now and you will avoid heartache later on. 

2)       Training is not the time to “diet.”  Food is fuel, and proper nutrition is key to success.  If weight loss is a goal, talk to your coach, log your food intake and all your workouts.  As a result of training, you will likely gain muscle and lose fat…you are exercising and getting stronger every day.  Your body will become lean and strong as a result of proper training and nutrition.  Skipping meals, cutting back severely on calories, or relying on caffeine and/or quick sugar as an energy source is detrimental to your goals.  Your body is a fantastic machine.  Treat it with respect, fuel it properly, and you will see amazing results in both body and mind.

3)      You will gain muscle.  Healthy, strong bodies are a result of excellent nutrition and training.  Your body works hard to give you what you ask.  Enjoy the benefits and ignore the fads.  So what if your calves or quads don’t fit into skinny jeans?  Strong is beautiful.

4)      Strength train.  It doesn’t have to be every day, and it doesn’t have to be for hours on end.  Save the long endurance for biking, swimming, and running.  Your coach will assign appropriate exercises, and most sessions last under 60 minutes.  Strong muscles pay dividends on race day! 

5)      To women athletes:   5 minutes of proper Kegels daily.  Do it now, before its too late.  Muscles lost elasticity and strength if not used.   Your core routine should also focus on all the muscles of the abdominal region.  The Transversus  Abdominis (TA)  is often overlooked and can weaken with pregnancy.  Be sure to add TA exercises to your core routine.

6)      Log your workouts.  Your coach needs to know not just the numbers, but also how you are feeling on each particular day.  Add life events, etc.  Looking back on old logs can reveal patterns, which are both useful to you as an athlete and invaluable to your coach.



Be certain of yourself.   Share your passion of the sport with others.  Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Surviving the taper

Tapering is a necessary element of racing.  To get ready for a race you must base build for endurance, strength train, and speed train.  You must run, swim and bike various distances at varying heart rate efforts for specific  amounts of time.  What you also must do…taper.  The length of the taper, as well as the length of the recovery depends on the length of the race.  Let’s use the marathon as an example.  A typical marathon taper is 2 weeks out from race day.  All the training has been done.  During the taper, it is time to scale back, rest up/store energy, and mentally prepare for the race.  There will still be intensity, but the duration of your workouts will decrease.  The week before the race you might do a 3 mile run, with speed  intervals of only 90 seconds (whereas during peak training you were doing repeats as long as a mile, long negative split runs or runs holding faster than goal pace).  After weeks and months of building speed, strength and endurance you become accustomed to long workouts.  You see progress, you’re having fun.  Your confidence is building.  You are feeling strong and ready to meet your goal. As race day approaches, you go over your race plan with your coach, begin mental preparations and prepare your gear.

After all the hard training, it can be hard to scale back.  Mentally and physically.  Physically it is common to feel a little tired, sluggish, and hungry.  Little aches and pain crop up here and there.   Mentally it is time to be patient.  The race is close, but not that close.  You may start to wonder if you trained hard enough.  You may doubt if you are ready. You may start to feel antsy or impatient.  Resist the urge to add in extra workouts. The taper can be one of the hardest times for an athlete.  You have extra time, but what to do with that time?  Expending extra energy, especially in the few days leading up the race, isn’t generally a good idea.  That leaves a lot of time to think.  Now is not the time to let negative thoughts creep in.  You did the work and it is time to trust in your training, trust in the process. 

After 11 marathons, I’ve learned a thing or two about handling the taper.  I can feel very anxious, and the need to fight the negative thoughts is great.   I tend to feel  sluggish and tired during the taper.  Having gone through it many times, I have learned that this is normal for me and not to worry.  Some ideas on how to get through the taper:

1)      Go through your logs.  Look at all the work you have done!  Look at mileage, look at intensity.  Read the logs and not just the ones where you felt really great.  Challenging workouts are just as meaningful.  Whether it was a long run, interval run, or a long trainer bike ride, these workouts  made you stronger mentally and physically.

2)      Watch inspirational movies.  There are lots of great sports movies.  Some of my favorites include “Prefontaine,” “Spirit of the Marathon,” “Vision Quest” and “Rocky.”  Also look on YouTube for Ironman montages and finish line videos.  There are great YouTube montages of sports movie scenes set to music, as well as quotes and inspirational moments.

3)      Fine tune your nutrition and hydration.  Make a plan for recovery.  Recovery is a great time to make dietary changes.  Research dairy-free or gluten-free recipes. 

4)      Think about your next goal.  This doesn’t have to be set in stone, but kick around some ideas.  Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.  Some people like to have races set up, or ideas for next season.  Goals can include setting a new PR, making dietary changes, weight loss, strength gains, or trying a new sport (triathlon for runners) or distance (go longer or shorter next time). 

5)      Visualize you race.  Visualize yourself performing your best, feeling strong  and having fun.   Racing is always a powerful experience in which we learn and grow as athletes.  Write down your thoughts in a race report so you have it to look back on for motivation, achievement and as a learning tool. 



Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun.

Thursday, July 5, 2012


The importance of paying attention.

Injury is very hard on athletes.  Before I started running, my response to an injured runner would have been something like, “I’m sorry to hear that.  Enjoy the time off while you get better.”  Now that I am a runner and triathlete my response would be something like “I am so sorry.  Injury is the worst!  I hope you can cross-train and maintain your fitness while you are healing.”  My response to injury was different early in my running career than it is now.  I used to completely lose my mind, fearing that I would never run again.  Now I know the elements of proper recovery – rest, ice, compression, elevation, ibuprofen, stretching/foam rolling, proper nutrition, physical therapy exercises, returning to activity at the proper time.  Done correctly, you can minimize recovery time.  If allowed, cross-train to maintain cardiovascular fitness and sanity levels.   Listen to your body and your coach.   

Injuries are tricky little suckers.  You can be doing everything right on paper….proper form, following your training plan, enough sleep, good nutrition.  I was doing a great job at all this, or so I thought, when I came down with what I refer to as a snakebite on my heel.  It’s likely a combination of the onset of plantar fasciitis, some bruising (I whacked it pretty hard on a big rock one day swimming in the lake…my first thought was oh, no, this is not good), and subconsciously guarding my knee which had been  (but  currently is not) bothering me.   The thing that bothers me most is the possibility of plantar fasciitis.  I work hard to maintain really good form, and right now I’m putting in less running mileage than usual.  During marathon training, my mileage is much higher.   I transitioned from spring marathon to summer triathlon focus, and my running has never been better.  What on earth could have caused this? 

The more I thought about it, the answer was pretty clear.  This is hard to admit.  I wasn’t paying attention.  Life had become unbalanced.  Like most athletes, I put family first, then training.   I pride myself on balancing the two.  How could I have let the scales tip?  It wasn’t any one event, but rather a combination of little things.  At the end of the school year, I was volunteering a lot, spending a lot of time on my feet.  Any runner can tell you that a sure way to foot fatigue is standing around for hours with little movement.   What I did wrong: a long bike ride, followed by a quick shower, coffee, and off to help some family move.  What I should have done:  ice bath after the ride, proper nutrition and hydration, shower, foam rolling, then go help.  What I did wrong:  long tempo run, shower, coffee, pick up kids, off to not one but two consecutive end-of-school-year parties, where I was standing a lot.  What I should have done:  long tempo run, ice bath, nutrition and hydration, shower, foam roll, then party time, but sit down when I had the chance.  What I did wrong:  blowing off my PT exercises, telling myself “I’ll get to it later today.”  What I should have done:  Set aside time every morning for PT, no excuses.  I stopped paying attention to the details and a little of the magic was lost. 

I’m not blaming a busy life for injury.  Rather, losing focus can lead to poor training decisions.  There is a lesson to be learned here.  Running is full of lessons.  In the past, I sometimes wouldn’t listen.  I know better now.  I will be at the starting line healthy.  I refuse to make the same mistakes.  It will mean saying “no” to late nights during the taper, scheduling recovery time (ice bath, foam rolling) into the training day, and focusing on proper nutrition instead of relying on caffeine and energy bars.  Making and posting  a list of priorities has helped turn things around.  We all slip a little here and there.  The important thing is to pay attention and make changes when necessary.  The scales will stay balanced!

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Wear Sunscreen!


It was about the size of a pencil eraser, and about the same color pink.  At first I thought it was a little blemish.  I always thought pimples were for teenagers…unfortunately that is completely untrue.  At 29 I was still getting them occasionally, and I assumed this was one.  It was right on my upper cheek, beneath my eye but close enough to my nose to be considered in the t-zone.  Tried to treat it, but it wouldn’t heal.  Hmmm.  I was probably messing with it too much.  Weeks went by.  I tried to leave it alone, but that dang thing just wouldn’t go away.  Before my beloved Grandma passed away last year, we used to talk weekly on the phone.  I happened to mention the little blemish to her and she immediately said something which I still consider some of the best advice I have ever received…”if you have anything on your body that won’t heal, get it checked out right away.”  I was about to turn 30, and hadn’t had a physical since it was required for high school sports (oh yeah, badminton state champs, 1992!).  I also hadn’t been to the doctor for anything since my kids were born.  I was busy.  I was young.  I was healthy.  But something about turning 30 was nagging at me…I really should make an appointment.  Make sure everything is okay, be responsible and such.  But in the back of my mind I still had a teenage feeling of being indestructible.  Nothing could possibly be wrong, so with a certain amount of naivete, and to please my Grandma, I made an appointment with my GP.  Everything was fine…a bit of high cholesterol, but the ratios were good so no problem there.  A little low on iron, too, but nothing a good iron pill couldn’t fix.  The next appointment was for the dermatologist.  Went in, armed with my family history of ailments and personal history of laying outside under the summer sun at 15, with nothing but baby oil on my skin and a spray bottle of water to keep me cool.  My friends at I used to lay out and try to get sunburned.  Both so it would fade into a nice tan, and to keep our skin clear (how little did we know then???).  The dermatologist was interested in the little blemish and did a biopsy.  Don’t worry, he assured me.  Just wait for the results and we will go from there.   5 days later (the clock ticks slowly when you are waiting for any kind of test result) the results came back.  Basal cell carcinoma.  What????  Skin cancer?  Are you kidding me?  I was 29!  The dermatologist assured me that this wasn’t going to take one moment off my long life.  That if you are going to get skin cancer, this is the kind to get.  Treatable, slow-growing.   I was referred to a surgeon and a week later I was in his clinic, getting prepped by a very nice nurse, who kindly responded to each of my chatty, nervous questions.  My face was numbed up pretty good.  I wasn’t going to feel a thing.  The surgeon came in (I noticed he had the whitest skin imaginable...I guess that’s how dermatologists roll).  The procedure was simple.  Cut a big chunk out, look at the margins.   If they are clear, we’re done.  If not, cut some more.  Luckily, it only took one time to get clear margins.  He took a picture with a digital camera and showed me my face, just to give me an idea of how much flesh was missing.  Whoa.  I am not squeamish but it made me very queasy, looking at what amounted in my mind as a gaping hole in my cheek.  He sewed me up and sent me on my way.  I had a big bandage and sort of a black eye for the next few days.  Many weeks after it healed, I went back for some cortisone injections which smoothed out the scar.  Today, I can’t even tell where it was.

What did I learn from that?  1) None of us are indestructible.   Know your family history.  Check your skin monthly.  If you notice anything new, or a mole seems to be changing shape, get it checked out.  If something gets your spidey-sense tingling, listen!  Get anything suspicious checked out.  2) Wear your sunscreen.  Reapply as necessary.  Even in the winter.  I’ve gotten red on a sunny day in February.  Sunscreen is relatively cheap, sweatproof, and plentiful.  No excuses.  Wear it everywhere, and don’t forget the top of your head.  3) Get a mirror, or have your spouse/partner help you check your skin monthly.  Get to know your skin.  See your dermatologist if anything is changing shape, looks funny, doesn’t heal, or if you have any questions.  Better to be safe!  4) Sunscreen on the kids, and check them, too.  Our job as parents is to learn from our mistakes so our children don’t make the same ones.

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun.

Monday, June 25, 2012


Running:  Form and Staying Injury Free

With great power comes great responsibility.  Not much in life can make an athlete feel as powerful as a solid, strong run. I believe running is a gift.  Steve Prefontaine said it best. “To give less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”  It doesn’t matter how long you run, how fast, how often.  If you have a passion for running, you have the gift.  For most runners, the fear of losing this gift can be great.  Its more than just the endorphins.  A relationship with running in many ways is like a relationship with another person.  There are highs, lows, great joy, and strong feelings.  Once running becomes part of your life, it makes a permanent impact, and you will never want to let go.  Running is there for you for as training, competition, racing.  Running is also there, like a good friend, when you need a mood lift, or to unwind.  Running adds so much joy to life!  You have been given this gift, and there is potential for great power and strength.  Now comes the responsibility.  Runners want to enjoy lifelong careers.  It doesn’t matter if it takes the form of racing and competition, or enjoying the feeling of getting out for a good run.   Remaining injury free is important in order to enjoy a healthy life full of training and running. 

Proper form is key to staying injury free.  There is a lot of information out there regarding form for both new and seasoned runners.   The conventional wisdom used to be for new runners:  go the local running store,  have someone watch you run around, pick a comfortable pair of shoes,  and you’re set.  I would like to see a new conventional wisdom….something  I have learned from both personal experience, research, and talking with other coaches.  The new conventional wisdom:  first to learn to run.  Much has been said recently about the importance of a midfoot/forefoot strike.  I think most of us can agree that a running form closer to what our body does naturally (barefoot) is the healthiest way to run.  Most of us didn’t grow up barefoot, however, so we need some foot protection.  Finding the right shoe can be very complicated!  As a new runner, what to choose?  Who do you trust? What is good form, anyway?  A veteran runner looking to avoid injuries might ask themselves how to make the switch without a training loss.  A runner currently in a heavy stability shoe with a heel strike pattern will likely take more time to transition than a runner in a lighter shoe who already has running form that is closer to ideal.  The runner who needs more time to transition doesn’t want to cut back severely on weekly mileage.  Taking the time to transition properly is worth it.  The off-season is a great time to work on form.  Use cross-training to your advantage.  Stay in cardiovascular shape, and as a bonus become a stronger swimmer and cyclist.  Make a running form video for your coach.  There are many drills runners can do to improve form.  Give your body time to adjust.  Your coach can plan for adding mileage accordingly.  Work with a knowledgeable running store, as well as your coach to find the right shoe for you.  It is important to also wear good shoes when you are not running.  Avoid heels, tight shoes, and flip-flops whenever possible.  A good, lightweight “barefoot” model shoe will help strengthen your feet over time.  If you are a new runner, now is a great time to learn to run with excellent form!  Talk with your coach about the right shoe.  Again, a knowledgeable running store is a great resource as well.  Do the drills your coach suggests.  Take the time to build up mileage at a slow and steady rate.   Proper running form puts less stress on the body, and allows for much more overall efficiency.  Taking the time to learn to run is time well invested.  Give your best to your gift!

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun. 

Monday, June 18, 2012


Over-racing

Off season, pre-season, build, peak, taper, race.  Athletes train and work hard for months, sometimes years to prepare for a race.  Especially an “A” (most important) race.   Most athletes also have “B” and/or “C” races on their calendars.  These are generally considered less significant than the “A” race, and are sometimes used as “back-up” races.  Someone looking for a Boston qualifier, for example, might plan a spring and a fall marathon, in order to have 2 chances to achieve a qualifying time.  This can put less mental stress on the athlete, which can actually have a positive training effect.  “B” and “C” races are also helpful as training races for a longer event.  An early spring sprint tri, as a brush-up for a longer summer triathlon, a half-marathon a few months out from a marathon, for example.  Practicing racing strategy, nutrition, pacing, transitions (in triathlon) are all good ideas before an “A” race.  However, both the coach and the athlete need to make sure there aren’t too many races on the calendar.  Too many hard efforts, too close together, with too little recovery in between can leave the athlete mentally and physically fatigued, which will hinder further gains in training.  It is important in training and racing to make sure there is adequate recovery time between hard efforts.  Adequate recovery time could be weeks (for long distance races) or just  one or two days (after a hard training workout/ effort).  Heart rate (resting, during workouts, and post-workout), rate of perceived exertion of workouts, and mental and physical well-being should monitored and taken into account.  The importance of enough recovery between hard training efforts and races cannot be overemphasized.  When an athlete pushes too hard without giving their body time to heal and adjust to the stresses put on it, they are putting themselves at risk for overtraining, which can lead to injury.  Overtraining  is a serious problem.  Recovery from overtraining/overracing  takes time away from what should be valuable training.   Racing can be just as much mental as it is physical.  An athlete who competes too much is at risk not only of physical injury, but of mental race “burnout.”  Mental burnout feels different for everybody, but generally is a feeling of disinterest in racing, not caring about the outcome, or even can manifest in an over-interest in outcome.  Worrying too much can be a hindrance. 

Athletes work hard to be able to race, and they do it for a variety of reasons.  As training for a longer race (as mentioned above), for competition (relative to themselves, or competitors), for a specific distance or time goal, for a new experience, or just because they find racing to be enjoyable and exciting.  How do you find the balance between racing for PRs, racing for fun, and racing as training?  The athlete and the coach must have a good relationship (feel comfortable communicating) and the athlete must be willing to communicate how they are feeling both mentally and physically.   How many races an athlete can compete in depends on the distance of the race, the physical conditioning of the athlete, and the level of intensity of racing.   A runner may be able to intensely race a 5k once or twice a month, but racing hard (going for a specific time or PR) in a long distance such as a marathon is generally better left to twice a year.   A triathlete might be physically and mentally capable of racing multiple shorter distances throughout the year, but intensely racing full Iron distance is generally best left to once a season (or longer).   Whether or not you are at risk for overracing depends quite a bit on the intensity of the race.  Again, the coach and the athlete need to work together to avoid too many back to back hard efforts without proper rest in between.   Runners and triathletes tend to be a very committed group.  We enjoy training and competition.  Some of us even live for training and competition.  The key is to find balance so racing and training can be a lifelong endeavor.  Work with your closely with your coach.  Keep diligent training logs.  Take a step back and look at your previous race history in regards to injury and mental attitude.  What correlations do you see?  Look at your best races (PRs in particular).  How much were you training and racing?  Taking time to look at the past experience bigger picture will help avoid overracing in the future.  Being honest with yourself and your coach is key.   The goal is to stay healthy and happy so running and triathlon can be a lifelong journey.

Be Healthy.  Train Smart.  Have Fun.

Sunday, June 17, 2012


Triathlon Inspiration: what got me started

My inspiration into the sport of triathlon came from my running coach.  After years of using various on-line marathon training programs, I decided to hire a coach to help me get to the next level – to help me over the hurdle of the plateau I had reached.  Coach is a runner and triathlete himself, knowledgeable and a strong athlete in all three disciplines.  I have always done plenty of spin bike as cross-training.  I swam as a kid, and picked it back up as an adult for cross-training , because I knew it would make me a better runner.  Once you learn proper technique (this requires time and patience), swimming is surprisingly fun and great for runners.  As summer approached, my coach suggested a sprint tri, to mix up my training and keep me mentally fresh for fall marathon training. I was game.  But a couple of falls and difficult training bike workouts later, I completely changed my mind.  Triathlon was not for me.  I wasn’t interested in becoming a cyclist.  I was a runner, and swimming was for cross-training purposes only.  I told my coach, who was understanding.  But it didn’t feel right.  It felt strange to type an email to my coach, admitting the bike had gotten the best of me in such a short time and I didn’t want to even try.  That isn’t me.  I believe its important in life to try new things…travel…meet new people…try things that scare you…experience life to the fullest.  Was I really going to let a couple of falls in the driveway when getting used to new pedals and a couple of frustrating rides getting used to shifting gears stop me from trying something new?  Thousands and thousands of people train for and enjoy the sport of triathlon.  They must be onto something.  Why shouldn’t I see what all the fun was about?  I decided that the bike was not going to get the best of me.  The bike wasn’t going to keep me from pursuing something new that seemed like so much fun for so many people. Not to mention that Coach had been right about a lot of things (the effectiveness of heart rate training, Newtons/natural running form, nutrition).  I trusted Coach completely and there a part of me that didn’t want to let him down.   I signed up for the sprint tri.  I was determined to learn how to cycle…how to clip in and out, how to change gears, how to climb hills.  Over time my confidence grew.  I was excited about the sprint tri, but not as nervous as before a marathon.  I knew the tri would be an adventure.  I ended up 3rd in my age group.  It was thrilling hear my name called. I couldn’t wait to tell coach!  That summer I wouldn’t say I loved the bike, but I was getting better and that was enough.  A few months later I did an Olympic distance and won my age group.  It was meaningful to me because I worked so hard to overcome my issues on the bike.  Not to mention the sheer fun of it all!  Seeing competitors at various points along the course, encouraging and getting encouragement from others, crossing the finish line knowing you conquered something that scared you.  I was hooked on that feeling. 

Being part of a team and talking with other athletes kept me motivated all winter.  I worked on my bike throughout the off-season.  There were long days on the trainer and cold days when the roads were dry.  But come springtime, I felt stronger.  Its motivating to see yourself change.  Now that tri season is in full swing, swimming, running, and cycling with others, listening to race reports and talking about training has kept me inspired.  I am glad I tried something new.  I  glad I didn’t give up.  I’m glad I got right back on that bike and kept trying.  I will always be a marathoner at heart, but I know I will stay on the triathlon road.  Its so much fun, a challenge, and there are too many adventures to be had to even consider stopping.

Be Healthy.  Train Smart.  Have Fun. 

Friday, June 15, 2012


Confidence: let a strong will be your guide

Racing season is in full swing.  Its time to put yourself to the test, to make the training pay off.  You did the work.  You got up early, you worked out late.  You rode the trainer for hours when there was snow on the ground.  You diligently logged your workouts and studied your splits.  You cleaned up your diet, cut back on alcohol and treats, stayed hydrated, went to bed early.  You have discussed race plans, nutrition, and strategies with your coach.  Now its time to test your limits, to see what your body can do.  But that is only part of the equation.  Its also time to see what your brain can do.  One of my favorite quotes comes from Olympic cyclist, Rebecca Twig.  “You can accomplish so much with a strong will.  Just do your best.  No matter what.  Don’t let negative thoughts creep in.  Don’t talk yourself out of anything.”  Let’s break take a moment to break this down.  1) You can accomplish so much with a strong will.  Look how far you have come in your training!  You and your coach have set a series of realistic, attainable goals.  Each workout and race have made you stronger.  It was your strong will that got you here.  Let your strong will continue to be your guide.  2) Just do your best.  No matter what.  Don’t worry about what anyone else does on race day.  Just stay focused on yourself,  and do the best job you can do.  Stay positive and confidence will be yours.  3) Don’t let negative thoughts creep in.  You cannot afford to worry.   Negative thoughts might pop up here and there.  What if I have a bad race?  What if my nutrition falls apart?  What if (fill in the blank)?  This type of worry saps race day energy.  Do not doubt yourself.  Stop these thoughts as soon as they enter into your head.  Sing a song.  Say a mantra.  Fight hard to keep negativity and race day worry out of your head.  You did the work.  Trust in your training and in yourself.  5) Don’t talk yourself out of anything.  Do not give yourself an “out.”  Yes, there are times when training or race day conditions are not ideal.  You may have to shift your strategies.  If you race and train smart, you will be successful. 

My best and most memorable races happen when I am able to let go of worry and let a strong will be my guide.   Putting aside self-doubt takes practice.  Give it a try during one of your workouts.  If a negative thought starts to creep in, push it aside.   Use a mantra, song lyrics,  or say a word that give you strength.  Think of a memory that makes you happy.  Over time, you will create new mental pathways.  If you practice staying focused and confident, it will become the path your brain will take on race day. 

A good coach will help you set achievable and fulfilling goals, and put you on track with proper training.  A good coach will boost your confidence and mentally prepare you for race day.  Listen, and use the tools your coach has given you.   Let your strong will be your guide. 

Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun

Saturday, June 9, 2012


Natural running and the road to becoming a more confident athlete

One year.   It took me one whole year, just thinking about natural running, before I had the confidence to make the switch.  I had been running for years in a heavy stability shoe.  That was the conventional wisdom at the time…go to the running store, get fit, go run.  I have flat feet.  Of course I needed motion-control!  The experts at the store and the shoe companies knew best.  I had to listen.  I ran fairly happily in my stability shoes for years, albeit with the occasional injury here and there.  I knew where to get them cheap on-line (usually last year’s version), because at 350 miles they were “dead.”  I trained and raced, even scoring my first BQ.  But there was always a little voice in the back of my head asking “can we do better?”  I never found an answer until I heard about natural running (from a Newton runner).  It all seemed so perfect and magical…run with good form the way your body was meant to, go faster , recover better, less injuries.  But how could I, with my big, flat feet, run like that?  The shoe companies made big shoes to protect people like me.  I had it in my mind that I was different…not special…not a born runner.  If I wanted to continue I needed special, supportive shoes.   I had it completely wrong. 

After a year of thinking, wondering, contemplating, and “what-if-ing,” I bought my first pair of Newtons.  I read the package directions, looked on-line about form, listened to podcasts on the subject.  I had all the information….it was time to take the plunge.  I ran one mile.  One glorious, life-changing mile.  I knew right away I was onto something with natural running form.  I wondered, how come I am just hearing about this NOW?  I made sense, when I thought about it logically.  Good form is key in all sports.  Why wouldn’t running be one of them?

I still had it in my head that I was not special.  How dare I kick aside my stability shoes?  But as the weeks passed and my mileage increased, so did my confidence.  Six months later I ran a marathon in my Newtons and PR’d by 10 minutes, feeling great the entire time.  Never had I felt so good and so strong.  In a world full of doubts and a head full of “you can’ts,” natural running says “you can.”    
You can run free and strong.  Whether you choose Newtons, Altras, or something else, good form is the road that will take you there.  You can accept new challenges into your life and rise to the occasion.  You can try new things, make new goals, strive to change and grow.  You are special.  There is magic in running and triathlon.  Open yourself to the possibility of “can.”  Cast aside doubts and negative thoughts.  These things are wasted energy.  Envision yourself running farther, taking the first few laps in the pool, getting on the bike with confidence.  Find the joy in the little steps along the way.  Little steps lead to great things.  Go forward with confidence in your heart.  Train, race, and live well!

Sunday, June 3, 2012


Your secret weapon: why triathlon is great for runners

There comes a time in almost every runner’s life where then they need a break.  Not because they are injured or sick, or they lose the desire to be physically active.  More that they just feel a lack of motivation, maybe a little bored with their routine, slightly “burnt out,” and, well, just “blah.”  There is tremendous joy in running, and when that joy is lacking, it can be difficult mentally.  For a lot of us, training and racing is only part of the equation. Running frees the mind and lessens the stressors of daily life.  When running itself becomes a stress, then we have a problem!  Many years ago, before I started triathlons, I heard some great advice from a trusted source.  It was to try riding the bike for about 10-15 minutes before heading out for a run.  This advice was aimed at runners.  Not to get them into triathlon necessarily, but just as a warm up and to get the legs feeling good.  I tried this at the gym on the spin bike one day, then went out running.  My legs felt fantastic.  And it was more than just because the blood was flowing (compared to runs where I did other types of warm-ups).  There was something about the motion of cycling that was quite complementary to running.  It was only later that I learned about the relationship of cycling cadence to running.   While there is always going to be debate when it comes to training, it is generally accepted that a cadence of 85-95+ RPM mimics an efficient running cadence (90 foot strikes per minute).  It makes sense.  Your body and brain are ready to run. 

We have all heard how great swimming is for runners, as cross-training (the same can be said for the bike).  I’d like to look at it from another angle.  For me, the runner’s high is an endorphin party like no other.  The swim endorphin high is a more peaceful type of euphoria.  I heard it described once as “all is right with the world.”  Learning proper swim technique does take time and practice.  It is important to get a some coaching on proper technique.  If you put in the time, the rewards are great.  In my own marathon training, I have found that a swim the day after a long run is great for recovery.  My body doesn’t do well with short, easy runs the day after a 20-miler.  Body and mind do however, appreciate a swim. 

One day at the gym, just for kicks, I swam for about half an hour, rode the spin bike for 60 minutes, then ran a treadmill 5k.  Something clicked after that.  I “got” why people did this.  There is magic in the trifecta. 

So what does this mean for runners?  Many things.  If allowed, cycling and swimming are great for maintaining cardiovascular strength during injury.  Cycling and swimming as cross-training will improve overall conditioning, leading to stronger running.  But here is something else I have found:  I do not put nearly the pressure on myself in triathlon as I do in marathons.  The first couple years or marathoning,  I found myself with lower PRs.  When I started heart rate training, another PR.  Now its “game on” in my mind, and I am hungry for lower and lower race times.  This can take a toll mentally and physically.  It can be hard for runners to let go and just enjoy.  This is where triathlon comes in.  Give you mind a break.  Loosen up.  Have some fun.  Sign up for a sprint.  You will learn a lot about yourself and I promise you will have a great time.   You don’t have to train like Lance Armstrong or Michael Phelps.  There are no sea monsters in the lake.   Take some time to mix it up, try something new. You will become a stronger runner and gain a mental edge in racing.    If it turns out you love it like I do, there is a whole world of new race opportunites waiting on your doorstep. 

Monday, May 28, 2012


Fun: an essential ingredient to passionate and productive training

At the end of the day, for me, it all comes down to fun.  Fun is where it all started, and fun is what keeps me going.  But let me take a moment here to put “fun” in quotations.  The concept of fun can be a very relative term, and something  that is different for everybody.  When I first started running, the fun was in the challenge.  It was fun to lace up my shoes, grab my yellow Sony Walkman and head out the door, just to see where my feet would take me.   Acquiring and testing new gear was (and still is) fantastically fun, especially when it came my discovery of dri-fit materials.  Going a little farther than the week before, signing up for my first race, the pride I felt in my achievements kept me going early on.  Over the years I learned to embrace the exquisite pain of running, and the euphoria it all brings as my kind of fun.  I once had a long stretch training for a marathon where all I did was run long, listening to a playlist of about 12 songs total.  Looking back, this was in NO way a proper training method, but I was having a blast and somehow managed my first (albeit very painful) BQ .  Eventually I hooked up with some other runners, and the fun became having training partners, and lengthy conversations about training methods.  It was great fun when I got my first Garmin. Experimenting with new routes and paces, comparing notes with other runners and playing “dueling  Garmins” as we ran.  Of course, there were times when I felt flat, or unmotivated, but the promise of one of those exquisitely magical runs was always on my mind.  The kind of run where time seems to stretch or bend and there is joy in letting go and running free.  Currently, my fun is in the satisfaction of nailing a workout, knowing I am becoming better and better prepared for upcoming races.  And its not just the physical part.  As a physical anthropology major, I studied evolutionary reasons for every adaptation.  When “Born to Run” came out, I read it four times.  Finally someone was writing about why we do what we do.  (Side note:  if you are interested in this topic, check out the research of Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University).  I had often wondered what is it about human beings that draws us to running long distances.  My anthro brain was constantly thinking of ideas as to what exactly was it about our evolution that made this trait desirable.  After all, running is an energy expenditure.  There must have been a pay off.  I had so much fun thinking about running in this way.   Training can stir up moments of inspiration that draw from both past and new experiences,  translating over to daily life. 

As we train, and race, and train again, our goals will change.  It is satisfying to achieve goals!  I read once that the level of fun an athlete has in training corresponds to higher performance in racing.  Looking back on races I have done, the more fun I had in training= the more fun I had racing = my best performances.  Keeping training “fun” is an important element, and will show on race day.  Yes, you will need to work hard, and yes, there will be days when you don’t feel anywhere near your best.   The training journey can be an amazing process.  Ask yourself where your “fun” lies.   Racing?  Competition?  The satisfaction of hard effort?  The wind in your hair?  Write it down in your log, keep a journal, talk to other athletes.  At the end of the day, fun is what keeps us going, and fun is my motivation lifelong running and triathlon training.