Instead of a dog, we got an oven

No, there will not be a race report on the Philadelphia Distance Run. We ran, we finished, we got best times by a few minutes. Moving on. Noah's training for a marathon, and I seem to be stuck rehabbing a minor injury that refuses to heal completely. At least I still get to run.

Other than running and working, we have been indulging in our other love: eating. You see, we got our kitchen redone over the summer, and now we have two ovens. Our new toy is a 24 inch electric oven with convection function made by the Spanish company Fagor (known for pressure cookers), and it's a gift from my mom's brother and sister. They are very cool!

Here it is, posing with some strawberry peach crumble:

More examples of the oven's good deeds:

Nutella-swirl Vanilla cupcakes (before icing)


Peach Upside Down Cake


Pizza

So Classic

I have been conditioned to pee on cue. The cue, of course, is running related. It is the Wissahickon – the smell of the woods, the sounds of the creek flowing, and the sight of the little shed that encloses two potties featuring toilet paper, at the midpoint of Forbidden Drive. In the beginning, it was just visits to the shed on a just-in-case basis. But now, I have observed that no matter how seriously I emptied my bladder before my run, if I am approaching the Wissahickon from any direction and through any means, I am urged to urinate.

Today was no different. Noah dropped me off at the Northwestern entrance of the Wissahickon so that I can increase the trail:road ratio of my run. As soon as I see those trees, even before I got out of the car, there was no question that I would have to go. I was so flustered that I forgot about the porta-potty that exists and ran straight up to the meadows. I think this part of the Wissahickon is the hardest area for a girl to pee – other than the one big beech tree, the trees here are skinny and spread out – you can really see through these woods. Within this ¼ square mile area, a maze of trails intersect, meaning that as soon as someone turns onto a trail, they can only be a few steps away.

I knew this and pondered descending for the porta-potty, but decided that it would be a worthwhile investment of time, personally, to look for a satisfactory spot to squat unabashedly. I encountered success.

And then, I went about my run – 4+ on trails, 1+ on roads. The air was crisp and the sky was blue. I felt like I could run forever. I ran leisurely, today hurried by nothing, and stopped several times to prolong the run. It was the perfect recovery from yesterday’s 20 miler.

Top 10 Running Moments in 2007

2007 was the first year in which I didn't resolve to qualify for Boston, and I qualified twice. So, in 2008, I will continue to not care and just see what happens. My only running-related new years resolution is to carry my own house key and not leave it in the keyhole.

So, I ran 1,800 miles last year, and assuming I averaged 9 minute mile pace, I spent over 11 days of time running. Good golly... all that time... Instead of wondering whether all that was worth it, I went through my memory to compile this list of highlights:

1. Running neck to neck with Noah for 26 miles in the ODM
2. Breaking 1:10 at Broad Street Run
3. Getting an age-group prize at the Wissahickon Trail Classic
4. The runs in Beartown State Forest in Great Barrington
5. Run-hiking the snow-covered Goat Rocks Wilderness with Noah
6. The perfect weather in Seattle and seeing cool neighborhoods because I got lost
7. Wearing out two pairs of Asics Kayano 12, probably my favorite shoes ever
8. The post-race spread and chillage at the Eastern State Breakout 5K
9. Getting into the Philly Marathon even though registration was closed
10. 13 miles of pace group running (and easy positive splitting) at the Philly Marathon

What Helen's Marathon Thumbnails Don't Show

Just after the picture of us running together, the bandit patrols stopped me.

The Morning After Gait

I wonder how long I have to wait to walk normally again.

Addendum to the official spectator guide

History will be made tomorrow when at least 10 people I know will stand among thousands to cheer on runners on in the Philadelphia Marathon. Yay for home course advantage! Even though all are experienced cheerer-oners, I figured I'd whip up a few reminders.

(1) Dress warmly- As it's going to be cold and rainy (see forecast on right), put on 1/2 to 2 1/2 extra layers of clothing --- particularly covering well your head, hands, and toes. Also, manage your potty needs as the port-a-johns are not heated. If the wind picks up, stand behind tall people.

(2) Crowd Control - It's nice to be spectating in a crowd because it's loud, fun, and warm, and "cheer zones" near a clock lets you know what time and what mile the race is at. But here's a disadvantage: unless you're James Earl Jones, runners probably can't tell which voice is whose from a cheering crowd. For me, even if I react in time and look over, I might have trouble identifying you in a crowd in time. So, my suggestion is to split from other spectators when you are expecting your special someone to pass through or wear something outrageously bright so that we can spot you. Also, secure your valuables and don't trip.

(3) Cheer Endurance - If you have a noisemaker, bring it. If you're like me and cheer for everyone that passes by, you will not have vocal cords for work the next day.

(4) Yelling Stuff - I know how you feel... you have a few seconds to yell something coherent to the runners passing by, and when they look like they're suffering, it's hard to figure out what words actually help in that short window of time. And then cheering quickly gets boring because you're yelling the same two phrases to everybody for the last hour. Or if you brought a sign, you worry that I'd trip and sprain my ankle while trying to read it. (This last worry is mine only.)

So, what stuff to yell? Here's one runner's perspective. In a marathon in which I am tired or bored, I love hearing something funny, such as don't try to win! want this chair? keep moving! I also don't mind constructive advice, like relax your stride! or turnover! If I'm immersed in conversation with a cute runner or am among a pack, something quick and easy like Go Helen! (use one of my names) will get my attention. Something hopeful is also good: There's hot soup and tea at the finish! Or something angry usually gets me to run faster, like Rick Santorum is beating you!

I would say stay away from screaming: 10 miles to go! You're almost there! Pick it up! And no riddles/puzzles that I can't solve.

Thanks to all who are coming out tomorrow!

Official Course Rules - insert your own joke

I love this one:

NO runners going backwards, animals, bicycles, strollers, baby joggers, roller skates, scooters, or skateboards allowed.

- Philadelphia Marathon 2007 Race Guide

Poll: What will be the title of my next post?

A. Amazing Race
B. Are you faster than a 5th grader?
C. King of the Hill
D. LOST (again)
E. 60 Minutes

Finally, a running website with Noah's picture

Training one can do on the commuter train

This post is inspired by the articles I have read about "yoga at your desk" and "exercise while you clean the house." I hate those articles because they invariably feature women taking care of household chores but not getting their own time to exercise.

With my train ride to work now 15 minutes longer (due to a job change, not SEPTA), I have learned that the commuter train can be a place to do balance exercises and oxygen deficit training, both of which could lead to better trail running fitness. Here's how:

Balance - Get on a peak train at the last stop before you enter or leave center city. Stand in the aisle without holding the seats around you, and just try not to fall as your train moves to North Philly. The swaying you feel will indicate that you are doing this right. This exercise is better than standing on the Bosu Ball. If you're a guy, young, or fit, you will notice that there are no seats for you anyway.

Oxygen Deficit - It turns out that even in Philly, you can do altitude training. Just hop on a SEPTA train during peak hours at the first or early stop before entering or leaving Center City. Take the inside seat. A smoker who just extinguished a cigarette, put on cologne/moose/perfume/BO, someone with bad breath who will talk on the phone, or a person just big enough to block out the air conditioning will sit next to you. You will naturally inhale less, turn your head towards the window or put your face inside a book, or whatever compensatory moves, which would all result in an oxygen deficit. When you get off the train and go on to the trails, it will feel like returning to sea level with low humidity.

I am bad. Just trying to look to the bright side.

Running in Seattle

I have this habit of visiting a new city and then wanting to move there. Last week, we flew to Seattle, and now Seattle is on my short list of places I would live in. The main thing, of course, is that the city is extremely runner-friendly.

It rains in Seattle half of the year, but in July, it's consistently sunny, dry, cool, and with 17 hours of daylight each day. In Seattle, roads have sidewalks, parks have trails, lakes have beaches, and water fountains sprout up every mile or so. Food is delicious and fresh -- their version of the Reading Terminal is much bigger and diverse. Northwest people are laidback, liberal, friendly, and earthy. That is of course a general statement, but you just don't see a lot of high heel types downtown. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether the city enforces its jaywalking laws on runners, too.

Seattle is a nice city to check out on foot, but before you go, make sure you can run hills because there isn't a road that is flat. One of my favorite runs (besides the sublime trail run in the Goat Rocks) was to run through real neighborhoods from downtown to Lake Washington, to Lake Union, and then back. I got a little lost due to excessive wandering, but since the sun was always out, I sort of figured out what direction I was headed, and later, I ran into a runner who confirmed where I was going. The other nice thing for a heat wimp like myself: I ran at 5:30 pm and it wasn't too hot.

Seattle is also a place to visit to buy running stuff. Brooks and REI are headquartered here, and there are Adidas, New Balance, and Nike stores downtown. I visited an actual Road Runner Sports store in the running neighborhood of Green Lake. I had no idea RRS offers more than online shopping. If you're in the frequent buyer program there, you might see your once worn shoes there on the clearance rack. In the same neighborhood is Super Jock N' Jill and Title 9. The highlight of running shopping is the Seattle Running Company located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The store features a large section of trail running shoes, and if you're serious, they let you try shoes on outside so that you can tell how they perform. If you've ever bought shoes that fit perfectly well on the carpet of a shoe store but are too stiff on pavement after you bought them, you know this is a helpful gesture.

"This road may be seasonally closed" - or, The Best Laid Plans, rent-a-car version

Helen and I decided to spend the first couple of days of our Seattle vacation in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

So, we flew in to SeaTac, rented a PT Cruiser, and headed off on the already long route...



Some of these roads were marked in the atlas as being subject to season closings. We figured that 'seasonal closing' meant closed in the winter, but open in, say, July.

This is the route we wound up taking.



Route 123 was out. Apparently when the snows melted, a lot of the road wasn't there anymore.


Meanwhile, a lot of the snow hadn't melted in the goat rocks, so when we got there, trails that usually look like this



Looked more like this!



Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but it wasn't what I'd expected. And we did have to drive down to a different entrance. So, yeah, a lot of driving, not a lot of open trail.
That said, there were some great views and it's a really cool part of the country. But what was supposed to be a 10-mile trail run turned out to be far different. We couldn't do the loop we planned. There were a lot of places where we were just following footprints to know where the trail was. Walking on snow in our shorts and running shoes, no food... I wasn't scared, but I was thinking that if anything happened, there would be a big old "these are the things they did wrong" discussion. No one knew where we were, didn't have provisions, etc.
But we did have a whistle.

Anyway, no blaming gmaps for this one. I could have called the rangers' office myself. Oh well.
But I'm glad Helen got to see it. As she pointed out, some of the areas are really the sort of thing that you see photographed in Runner's World or Outdoor Magazine.

When we got to Seattle, we came across this article about getting lost in the wilderness:
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=255918

Seeing as everything turned out well, I'm glad that we went hiking/trail running before reading that!

What do you get a runnerblogger for her half birthday?

Running shoes' life outside of running

Since worn-out running shoes continue to serve multiple specialized functions for many years longer, shoe manufacturers should design running shoes with their afterlife in mind. If you’re a shoe company, you can make shoes that runners run in for 500 miles and then are discarded or get used in the basement while the runner mix paints, never seeing daylight again. Or you can make shoes that last the same 500 miles and then five more years as walking shoes in the city, serving as moving billboards for your brand. Which would you rather make?

By my estimate, many runners choose running shoes based on fit and comfort, not appearance. But looks matter for taking walks, wearing jeans, running into your ex, going to work, etc. Therefore, I don’t think I’m reaching to suggest that companies make running shoes go with non-running clothes so that we get more mileage out of them

I wear my white-based running shoes to work, but I change out of them once I am in the office. But if I had these:

After 500 miles of running, I can continue to walk in these shoes all the time. They will be more comfortable than any other shoes and they won’t totally clash with civilization. I have done my research on zappos.com, and most of the people who left a comment on these shoes got them for walking. Runners are getting the 2120’s in the other colors, but that’s just short-sighted.

Shoe companies don’t have to limit themselves to black and brown. They can also make running shoes look cool for cool purposes. People are wearing those vintage Saucony’s. Can't they put the advanced midsoles in those shoes so runners can run in them too? Or sell swappable soles so that when I run my shoes out, I don’t have to replace the whole pair?

Running shoes are becoming more specialized

As I took a mental inventory of my running shoes, I realize I now have five inactive pairs in my possession. Five.

Since I move every two years, I have tried to make a habit of *not* being a pack rat. But my old, worn-out running shoes have been the exception. Seems like every pair is too special to just throw out. I put so much thought into buying each pair and ran more than 500 miles on them. I would eventually recycle or donate the shoes, but I tend to want to hang on to them for special purposes a little longer first. Back in the day, when mom had a lawn to mow, my old running shoes became shoes I wore to mow the lawns. Or I would keep a pair of old running shoes in her house for the two times a year I played tennis with my sisters there.

Nowadays, the purposes are different, but the hoarding is still the same. I figure that if I can justify keeping them, I can wait until we move again to toss them. For curious people with medium frames and low arches, here's what I've got:

Brooks Axiom 2004 - for walking to the basement
Brooks Adrenaline 2004 - for running just on soft or rocky trails (the cushioning is done)
Saucony Hurricane 2005 blue - for keeping because Noah got me them
Saucony Hurricane 2005 yellow - for walking to work
Asics Kayano 2006 - for keeping at work for the impromptu walk to the gym

I don't have a problem and I don't need any help. I just wonder if other runners do the same thing. :)

The best laid plans

(new route - 10.5 miles)


















Often go awry






















And leave us nought but grief and pain

The 10 Habits of A Highly Addicted Runner

Since the Broad Street Run, I have been pondering what my next real race would be and what running goals to set for myself. While all this pondering was going no where, I found myself making plans like "to stretch more," 'to ice after runs," and "to not force a run when hail is falling from the sky." (That last one is a great goal to set in the summer, by the way.) If I learned nothing else in counseling school, I learned to be self-aware. And during this goal setting, I became aware that basically I am trying to undo the strange and quirky (sometimes bad) habits I developed as a runner over the years. So, I made a list of them.

Here are the things I've been guilty of (in the order of the time it takes up):

1. Not stretching
   
2. Stopping the wrist-watch as I cross the finish line, thus ruining the finish line photo
3. Over-valuing the 5 seconds I would lose in a race if I stopped for water; not stopping and feeling dehydrated later
   
4. Enjoying commiserating about the taste of any non-Gatorade drink (e.g. Accelerade)
5. Having and believing in some lucky sports bra, socks, other random superstition, etc.
6. Looking up the times of every runner I know
7. Reading entire race reports of races I didn't do by people I don't know
   
8. Eating a whole package of Milano (milk chocolate) cookies
   
9. Doing a long run on a sheet of ice, one week before a marathon (Thank you, Noah, for the company.)
   
10. Tapering and complaining about the taper (even the pros do it)