I somewhat reluctantly picked up Gwyneth Paltrow’s new cookbook My Father’s Daughter  (not your typical cookbook name…not jumping off the shelf for sure) from the library.  I thought it might be plagued with privilege from an actress who has Steven Spielberg as a godfather.  But I have to admit, I love it.  Yes, her kitchen and her children (and she herself) are beautiful, but I am in love with her relationship with food.  Fresh ingredients cooked in healthy ways.  I tried one of the dishes out on my teenage children and even got an unprompted “good chicken Mom” from my son.  The never ending battle known as “dinner” has me always looking for more to offer at the table.  Gwyneth uses food to entertain, bond with friends and teach her children.  This cookbook is centered on her family both past and present.  An idea I embrace.  Some of my favorite moments are sitting at the table with my family enjoying a meal and the casual exchange of conversation that accompanies culinary togetherness.   She also reminds us that just preparing food can be about family.  I think back when my son was home from law school at Thanksgiving — I learned a lot about his life from a session of peeling potatoes.   My daughter studies while she bakes (or is it bakes while she studies?).  Somehow thoughts of quizzing her from her flashcards comes to mind if the smell of baked chocolate is in the air.  Taste, smell and the warmth of connection felt around the kitchen form mental snapshots like these that we carry with us.  Gwyneth is trying to do the same for her children.

And for those of us runners who are always looking for miles from our food I must note that she offers some good healthy options here.  She also works hard on her body so she can eat a plate of Paella or pancakes. Sound familiar? 

And yes, I do get that we don’t all look like Gwyneth, but I think we can learn from this renaissance gal.  I have to admit, I am a little jealous of her perfect life…but mostly just in awe.

There is a running revolution taking hold and it’s wearing a skirt—a running skirt that is.  Women are making their way to the starting lines of marathons and halfs in record numbers.  They account for almost half (or even more than half) of the field these days.  Olympic runners like Paula Radcliffe, Kara Goucher and Deena Kastor are conquering motherhood and running.  We are all not only paying attention, we are cheering them on.  Running has helped many of us make our way through parenting by offering a dose of endorphins and a long distance friend to hear us out.  Women are trading therapy sessions for a pair of Asics and the open road.  Running carves out “me” time for the price of a pair of running shoes and a race entry.  It has not only become a catalyst for empowering women, but a stress-relieving companion in their quest to do it all.  There is no one lining the streets to cheer you on or give you a medal for motherhood, so why not get one for finishing a race.

Mom’s not only like to run alone, they like to run together and in groups.  They have formed front porch communities and taken them onto the road.  They have conquered personal goals and weathered triumphs, all while running together.  It is therefore not surprising that the release of the book Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving–and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity has been a huge success.  It acts as the manual to the running/motherhood movement and lends a voice to this emerging runner profile.  It answers women/mother specific questions and offers advice not found in other running books.  It’s authors Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea are on to something here.  They have become like the Oprahs of the mother runners.  Through their blog, Facebook Page, and Twitter (Sarah Tweets, Dimity Tweets), they have started a wonderful conversation.  It seems they are listening just as much as they are being heard.  Women relate to them.  They are both real moms, real runners and real people.

10 Questions for Dimity and Sarah:

1.  Running skirt, friend or foe?

Dimity:  Friend. Flatters like nothing else.

SBS:  BFF. I have a mutually exclusive relationship with my running skirts—I haven’t worn shorts in years.

2. What is your idea of the perfect run (details please…when, where with whom)?

Dimity:  Santa Fe Dale Ball Trails. 5ish miles. With my dog Dharma, before she started her annoying habit of just stopping cold on the trail behind me and staring at me like I was crazy.

SBS:  The Presidio & Golden Gate Bridge. Ninety minutes on a weekday morning. By myself—with my fond memories of living in San Francisco for eight years. I never stop marveling at the Bay Area’s natural beauty.

3.  Were you a runner or a writer first? How has running changed for you since writing RLAM?  How has writing changed?

Dimity:  Writer. Comes much more naturally me than running ever will. I think a lot more about my running while I’m running now. My mind used to wander; now it’s all about form.

SBS:  I started running in college before graduating to become a professional writer (and editor). Since writing RLAM, I’ve become an even more avid runner—I used to cross-train a lot more, but now I usually run six days/week. Writing still remains my bread-and-butter profession.

4.  Describe your present state of (running/training) mind and your goals/races for 2011?

Dimity:  Starting over (again). Focus will be on triathlons (Olympic, probably) and trail runs. No specific races yet.

SBS:  After three marathons in two years, I’m halving the distance—dropping down to half-marathons this coming year. I like being able to shower and eat brunch after a race—and not limp when I leave the restaurant. I’d like to dust a few seconds off my personal best and drop my time to 1:45.

5.  What one training tools/items/gear can you not live without?

Dimity:  My husband. And at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Ideally, 9, which rarely happens.

SBS:  My iPod nano. Podcasts, live radio, and kick-ass playlists are what keep me going.

6.  What trait do you most value in your training partners?

Dimity:  Being on time.

SBS:  Ditto. And being a witty, engaging storyteller.

7.  Were you surprised by the outpouring response (from women) to Run Like a Mother? Why do you think that is? And now that you have their attention, what lies ahead? Is there a sequel in the works?

Dimity:  Definitely. We sensed a community as we were writing, but to see it materialize has been fulfilling and humbling. Why is that? Motherhood is isolating, women like to connect, runners are really great people. We’re working on the next proposal, and have some more tricks up our arm warmers.

SBS:  Never more than a few days go by without me getting teary-eyed reading comments on our Facebook page or website. We feel so grateful for the love and support of our fans—support not just of us and our book, but of each other and the community. At risk of sounding cheesy, it really reaffirms my faith in humanity.

8.  Sometimes I see your posts/schedules and I think it must be exhausting…what are your strategies/personal guidelines/mantras for doing it all?

Dimity:  It’s easier to do it all when a) I have a partner; and b) I love doing it. Yes, my brain runs dry sometimes, but it’s a good exercise in writing when I don’t necessarily want to. Doing it all? I don’t. You should see my house. My dinner menus. (SBS mocks me for breakfast dinners; nothing wrong with Raisin Bran at 6 p.m. in my book.)

SBS:  I approach the duties same as I do a long run: Chunk.It.Up. Instead of seeing the weeks and months (or miles) stretched ahead of us, I just focus on one blog post, one FB status update. And I couldn’t do it w/o Dimity.

9.  Name one of the most memorable encounter/ moment with runners along this journey?

Dimity:  At a run in Denver, a great woman whose name I can’t remember (sorry!) quoted me back to me. It was the line about how you can only have room for three things in your life at one time. It’s actually Oprah’s line, but I loved that she remembered it.

SBS:  When running friend, fellow mom, and speedy marathoner Megan K. introduced me to a room full of running moms in a coffeehouse in Battle Ground, Washington. I’ve never heard such nice things said about me out loud—and I’ve had two rehearsal dinners and weddings!

10.  If you were not writing about running and fitness you would be writing about….?

Dimity:  I’m actually starting a totally different book about women’s cardiovascular health. But there’s always room for RLAM.

SBS:  I’d ditch writing altogether and become either a landscape architect or a lactation consultant. Flowers, plants, and breastfeeding: a few of the other subjects in life I’m passionate about.

Extra credit:  What are your favorite writers/books of the moment…what should we be reading? Perhaps there is a Run Like a Mother Book Club in your future (now that Oprah is leaving)…

SBS:  Ah, I love fiction, especially classics by Jane Austen, Willa Cather, and Edith Wharton, while Dimity favors non-fiction. But Dim and I both loved Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom. (If you’re ready to go on a classics kick, I highly recommend Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. It was so moving and engaging, I talked back and shouted at the book!)

Dimity:  Truth be told, I don’t have a fave book lately. But just ordered Laura Hillenbrand’s new one and Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell and will have them “magically” appear in my Christmas stocking. Looking forward to digging into those.

Run Like a Mother–the Book will make a great gift this holiday for the mother runner in your life.

From the book cover:

“Finding Motivation to get out there when you were up all night with a sick kid. Cajoling a husband who is less than supportive of your mileage.  Running during pregnancy, when you feel like a whale, and running after it, when you still feel like a whale.  Coping when race day and your period coincide.  Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea cover all these (and plenty of other) essential topics through personal essays, helpful advice from hundreds of running mothers, and hilarious anecdotes.  For all overextended mothers, whether beginning runners or seasoned marathoners, Run Like a Mother will inspire even those who got three hours of sleep last night to lace up their shoes.”

Check out their blog for the fabulous 12K’s of the holidays giveaways

About Dimity and Sarah Bowen Shea:  Bio is taken from their blog Run Like a Mother the Book

Dimity McDowell (the one taller than the Transamerica Pyramid)

Lives in: Denver with two kids, two dogs, and one husband.
Wishes: She could go faster without doing speedwork.
Gets fired up by: Annie Lennox (go tall women!); a few select Neil Diamond songs; and the knowledge that a big bowl of Phish Food ice cream awaits at the end of a long run.
Another wish: That she could wave a magic wand and have her left hip/glute/hamstring/knee, an area that has been angry for over three years, reboot.

Sarah Bowen Shea

AKA:  SBS or Champy (you’ll score big if you cheer her on with “Go Champy!” at a race.)
Lives in:  Portland, Oregon, with her hubby and three kiddos.
Gets fired up by:  Britney Spears, Rihanna, and “Glee” songs. (yes, she’s a teen stuck in a Masters-age body.)
Driven nuts when:  People call running shoes “sneakers”.
Favorite Race:  The 197-mile Hood to Coast Relay, which she’s run 9 times, usually on an all-women’s team. (less stinky, usually more roadside dancing, and definitely more laughs.)
Would never be caught dead in:  Running shorts. She -hearts- running skirts.

Contact Dimity and Sarah at: runmother@gmail.com
Tweet with Dimity and Sarah at: @dimityontherun + @sbsontherun

When Piper Kerman was incarcerated for a year on a ten year-old drug charge, she ran everyday around the track to keep from losing her mind.  The kindness of fellow inmates in this stripped-down world provided her comfort.  This book reminded me of the redemptive qualities of running.  And although this story is not about running, it plays an intimate part in the outcome.  Running sometimes saves us from ourselves.  It can provide peace to a troubled mind or solace to a busy soul.  It can act as a catalyst to knowing that we are capable of coming back from pain.  If life is like a race, we keep running, even when it really hurts.

The unexpected friendships that developed for Piper within the walls of the prison camp brought to mind threads of running friendships.  Although not even comparable to prison life, a shared experience of long training hours and personal triumphs (reduced to the toughness and the kindness within us) can bring forth some of the most unlikely bonds.  True colors are shown and respect is earned.  Humor and connection trump competition and rivalry.

Orange is the New Black – My Year in A Women’s Prison is a really good read that opens your eyes to the injustices within the walls of our prisons.  So much of it made me cringe.  Piper is one tough cookie.   I could not put this one down and was left wanting more.

If you’re looking for more about this book and Piper Kerman, see these videos and interviews:

• NPR interview (Talk of the Nation)
• Book TV (Video of interview w/ Piper)

courtesy of www.chrismcdougall.com/blog

Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run has ignited a raucous, ongoing debate in the running (and larger) community about the benefits of barefoot running and the integrity of the running shoe industry.  The book’s influence has extended to our feet; both Monica and I have switched to the lighter Newton’s and I am not automatically replacing mine after 300 miles.

But Born to Run is more than a book about barefoot running.  Christopher McDougall is a storyteller extraordinaire.  The book is a page turner, replete with an adroit portrayal of the Tarahumara of Mexico and incisive characterizations of singular people, such as the awesome Ann Trason and Jenn Shelton.  He brings to life the colorful and robust world of ultra runners, the exhilaration of the Leadville Trail 100 race and the history, lore and physiology of endurance running.

I recently re-read Born to Run via CD.  My husband (a non-runner) and 13 year-old daughter (not particularly interested in adult pursuits) were captivated by the stories.  The Tarahumara and ultra races became dinner table fare. High praise!

What’s more, after reading a few chapters and I felt the urge to get out there—and run long…

10 Questions for Chris McDougall:

1. The Jon Stewart appearance, interviews with major newspapers, the NY Times Best Sellers list, that Jeopardy question…..describe a memorable moment on the best selling author circuit.

Jon Stewart telling me the bottom of my foot felt like a dog’s paw was definitely one for the scrapbooks.  but the wildest had to be when I met Caballo’s old girlfriend after a book signing in seattle.  she gave me a picture of him from 25 years ago that showed him holding a scruffy dog and leaning against an old pickup … and he was doing EXACTLY the same thing last time I saw him.

2. At what moment after the publication of Born to Run did you realize that the book had taken on a life of its own?  Do you think that the book’s release date, in the midst of the economic crisis, contributed to runners’ willingness to embrace the debate about barefoot running?

barefoot running is really just a fraction of what the book is all about. the heart of the story is the message that running can be a total blast, and not just a punishment for pizza. and if people are responding
to the less-is-best revelations about running shoes, that’s probably because we’ve hit critical mass when it comes to injuries and frustration. for decades, we’ve been told that fancy shoes will make running better,
and now it’s clear that we’ve been fooled by a bunch of marketing blather.

3. We both wear Newton’s.  What do you think of them? Are your daughters wearing running shoes?  If so, which type?

i’ve never tried newtons. personally, i feel more comfortable wearing nothing (interpret that any way you like). my kids are just yung’uns, so they crash around in whatever cheapos we can find. during their school’s race for education, we were the only one running barefoot — for about 10 minutes. as soon as the other kids realized they didn’t have to wear shoes, they started chucking them. soon, there was a mountain of discarded sneakers and an army of grinning kids whizzing around the soccer field.

4. Born to Run is about so much more than barefoot running.  What other transferable skills should we take away from the Tarahumara?

my apologies if this sounds unhelpful, but i’d like to avoid trying to distill their culture into self-help tips. Caballo has been down there for 15 years and he’s still getting his arms around things.

5. How has the success of Born to Run shaped your approach to your current project?  Any hint on the subject?  Have you learned anything more about a Born to Run movie?

it’s been a wild week. yesterday, i closed a deal for the next book, and today (literally, four hours ago) i signed the movie contract. i have no clue what happens next with the movie, if anything. as for the book,
believe me — if i tried to describe it, you’d yawn. i still haven’t figured out how to pithily summarize born to run without it sounding weird and nerdy.

6. We are fascinated that women are racing and beating men at the Ultra level.  Are men running these distances slower or are women running them faster?  Does the 100 miler finally level the playing field?  Can you talk about this a little…or write a book about it?

wait, i thought i just did! what i was getting at with the anthropological evidence about ultrarunning is the idea that if humans truly did evolve as persistence hunters (that is, as hunters who ran their quarry to death through heat exhaustion), then it would only make sense that the hunting pack would have to remain a pack — men and women, old and young alike. so it’s not that women get stronger as distances get longer — it’s more that the differences between men and women diminish.

7. What do you think the next big debate in running will be about?

there’s still a lot of life left in this one… Dr. Lieberman, the harvard professor who’s spearheading the best research into barefoot running, is making it clear that we still have a lot to learn about running technique. style had been ignored for too long in favor of sales and marketing, and it’s going to take a while to turn that ship around.

8. It’s been a snowy winter in Pennsylvania…what is the state of your  running?  Are you planning any ultras?  Do you think about writing on the run or is it more of a quieting experience?

i’ve had some great runs. luckily, i live in dairy country, so the roads get plowed pretty snappily so the milk truck can get thru. the second i’ve got a clear path, i’m gone. the best runs of your life are always on a snowy morning when everyone is too afraid to drive. no plans for any races it’s been much more fun being a pacer for friends rather than entering them myself. if you ever want to see a look of pure love on someone’s face, be waiting for them at mile 60 with a bag of M&Ms. you’ll never feel so adored in your life. sure, i think about writing while i run, but i think about everything.

9. What is Jenn Shelton up to these days?  Are runner tourists attempting to visit the Tarahumara?  How do they fare?

Jenn is living in Oregon and tearing up the trails. here’s an update:
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200907/jenn-shelton-ultramarathon-1.html
Caballo managed to stage his race again this year, and he had a whopping turnout — over 200 Tarahumara runners, and 60-some Americans and other visitors. Caballo said it was a total party.

10. Who are some of your favorite authors and runners?

i’m old school. Emil Zatopek, Nelson Algren, Patricia Highsmith, Marshall Ulrich.

Extra credit: Did you persuade your family to eat chia?  Do you have a favorite recipe?

just soak it and slip it into pancake batter. my kids don’t mind the chia, but the wheat germ and flax seeds really piss them off.

Jean Metzinger painting from the Picasso exhibit courtesy of the PHA

Yesterday was a carpe diem day.  There is something euphoric about checking off items from a “things I want to try out/do” list. There are so many that somehow never happen. Yesterday was a day of accomplishment to temper the more frequent sentiment of a ”I didn’t get enough done ” type day.

I was up at 4:30am to get dressed, stretch and drive a few towns over for a 5:15 11 mile run.  Hilly and challenging, in the way that makes you finish knowing you had nothing left (and probably should have eaten something in your groggy haste).  By 10 am I was off to see the Picasso and the Avant-Guarde exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Cubism art history and comparative studies, a very enjoyable show followed by a yummy veggie sandwich on olive focaccia at the cafe to fuel me ahead.  It felt great to walk so much after a hard run, I often don’t have the opportunity to do that and sit stiff in my office chair.  Yes, playing hookey today, an occasional must!

In the early evening, Jamie and I decided to finally try out the run/yoga sessions advertised on the Lululemon website.  They offer this in many cities around the country in conjunction with local running stores, in this case Philadelphia Runner.  I have run twice in one day only a few times but with all quiet on the home front (husband in town taking the reins), I could not forgo this perfect opportunity.  We arrived early at the running store and browsed a well stocked, very friendly-staffed establishment.  Runners are so friendly aren’t they?  I love that.  A group of about 20-30 people headed out from the store in small groups.  A 5 mile group, a 2 mile group and a 2 mile walk/run group.  Many of them were beginning a training program for the Philadelphia Broad Street 10 mile run.   Broad street is a fun, flat race through the center of Philly.  We opted for the 2 miler and followed a young lady and man throughout the streets of a bustling downtown.  It was a beautiful 60 degree night and a welcome change from the suburban landscape that backdrops our standard route.   We got the feeling that most runners were new runners, perhaps there to take on their first race.  We met afterward at the Lululemon store around the corner for oranges, bananas, a little stretching and some ab exercises…yoga?  Everyone was very welcoming and friendly and seemed to be catering to a new/beginning runner crowd.  There was no yoga to be found, but I was able to find a pair of technikini mesh underwear in a fabulous shade of purple (which brought up a discussion for a future post topic: do you wear underwear when you run?).

We headed back to the Philadelphia Runner as we had heard there was a speaker.  We felt positively lucky to find Runner’s World contributing nutritionist Nancy Clark already fielding questions.  She has written several books on sports nutrition (Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Fourth Edition, Nancy Clark’s Food Guide for Marathoners, 2nd Edition, and Getting It Right From The Start, Nancy Clark’s Food Guide For New Runners)  but hearing her explain the body’s needs for continuous daily fuel was an epiphany.  She used the car/fuel analogy to illustrate our body’s prerequisite for an energy source , it all made so much sense.  We hung on her every word and loved her warm, quirky, knowledgeable manner.  She suggested we think of eating on a time-line of four meals.  Breakfast (consisting of both pre and post workout mini meals), “first” lunch, “second” lunch (as opposed to snack which may be a much smaller, less healthy option) and dinner.  She introduced such ideas as cutting calorie intake at dinner at the back end of the day instead of at the beginning to lose weight while training.  She talked about keeping active all day vs. running in the AM and being inactive the remainder of the day.  She even purposed eating a Milky Way bar or a Twizzler in lieu of yet another gel packet on long runs.  She concluded with a couple of  helpful websites:  www.dayfit.com for nutritional info and www.scandpg.com to locate a sports dietician in your area.

This serendipitous meeting of yet another author was such fun for us.  I came home that night to a quiet household and a new disc of the defiant favorite Nurse Jackie to view before lights out–great day!

It’s amazing when you get to a certain age, and you talk about sleep in the same way you spoke about getting inebriated… I got eight hours last night. It was fantastic! Johnny Depp

Often, on running mornings, the first thing we talk about is our state of sleep. “I got to bed too late.” “I woke up at 3 and couldn’t get back to sleep.”  “I’m tired!!”  Sleep, like so much of youth, was a simple activity, taken for granted.  In middle age, I court sleep. And fret over it. While sleepy, I am cranky, tedious and famished. A good night’s sleep is the holy grail of comfort and restoration. I bask in it.

I recently read, Healing Night, by Rubin R. Naiman, Ph.D. Naiman is a clinical psychologist specializing in the field of sleep.  He works with natural wellness guru, Dr. Andrew Weil. The book is replete with new age flourishes. But, the vast amount of information about sleep is enlightening……I thought that I would share some of it here.

Yet another debt crisis to fear: sleep debt. Chronic lost and damaged sleep has a deleterious affect on our mood, physical well being, mental acuity, athletic ability and waistline. Falling asleep within 5-10 minutes of hitting the pillow signals a sleep debt. Sleep should be a gradual process (akin to walking into a lake).

Naiman recommends that we avoid looking at the time once we begin to enter the sleep state. If 20-30 sleepless minutes have passed, he advises us to get up, do something else and await sleepiness. My obsessive mind wanders–has it been 10 minutes? 20? 24? Should I get up now? In 5 more minutes? I’d better peak at the clock. What time did I go to bed again?

The term “cognitive popcorn” is bandied about. It refers to those thoughts (often anxiety filled) that enter our consciousness and prevent us from falling asleep or wake us up mid-sleep.

Sleeploading is recommended. That is, make up for sleep debt by spending a week or so going to sleep and waking up when the body chooses…even on vacation, this transcendent opportunity rarely presents itself!

Our bedrooms should be cool, dark and quiet.

We are biologically programmed to nap.

The BFF of runner’s, NSAID’s (Advil, Motrin,Aleve), compromise deep sleep by inhibiting melatonin production.

Encountering natural light in the morning stimulates the release of serotonin (associated with energy, activation and focused attention.) Is it any wonder that our recent sunlight dappled morning runs have been so sweet?

A good run is often preceded by a great night’s sleep.  For me, running is conducive to clear thinking and resolve. Sleeping promotes learning and focus. A powerhouse combination.  Without dwelling on a problem, I return from my run and the solution is often illuminated.

I decide I will give a full nights sleep its due.  But, waking hours are jam packed with family, work, mundane tasks and the black hole of the internet. I finally settle down to catch up on the books, magazines and newspapers eluding me all day and voila!  It’s time to turn off the lights!  What do I choose?

Last night, I chose the silver lake of sleep. And what did I hear? My popping thoughts. I lay there reorganizing my pre-sleep days to fit in New York magazine….and The 3 Weismanns of Westport, the Bon Appetit yet to be opened……the new season of Damages perhaps.

It’s been over a year since I last raced and I decided it was time.  Jamie and I and a few other LDFs signed up for the all women MORE/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon in Central Park on April 25th.  This girl-power infused race around Central Park is a great energy boost.  And although this is not the ideal course (as Liz Robbins noted in her “a bold pace questionnaire”), it is a gratifying loop around a fabulous park.  Running with all women always proves to deliver a different experience than the co-ed versions.  All are so polite, positive and actually throw their cups in the provided trash receptacles instead of at your feet (nothing like a little Gatorade bath during a race).  Weaving through the abundance of walkers can be a challenge for runners, but the cheers and support from fellow participants can counter the annoyance.  I don’t think this is PR territory, but a fun girls-day-out in New York and an open door back to race mode.

So with race mode as the goal, it’s time to do some research and planning.   I hardly ever buy a book anymore.  We have a well-endowed town library that is always on the cutting edge of newly released titles.  Every couple of weeks I scan my favorite sources ( Book Beast, NPR Books, EW Book Reviews, NY Times, a list of highly regarded recommendations from Jamie) and fill my online library queue with a fine selection of books.  They are, however, not as interested in running as I am so I am sometimes forced to resort to Amazon.  I’ve had my eye on three books that I thought would fuel my training and they had all of them at a more than agreeable price. I received them yesterday and spent my night reading.

Running Anatomy by Joe Puleo and Dr. Patrick Milroy was a recommendation from LDF and running guru Dora.  She is a PT and I can see how she would love the clear textbook style of this book.  The detailed illustrations showing targeted muscles in motion shed light on how our bodies work when running.  Insight into how specific strength training exercises can effect running will be very helpful.

Racing Weight–How to get Lean For Peak Performance by Matt Fitzgerald is one I read about on a blog.  This is a 5-step plan for endurance athletes to improve performance by reaching optimal weight.  Not a new topic, but one that plagues me when racing.  So far there is nothing ground breaking here.  Rules like: eat early and often, stick to whole grains, and no refined sugar can be found but the sections on timing of meals and sport specific diet concerns make it interesting.  Of course I had to skip to the chapter that chronicles some of the exact training meals of such endurance athletes as Ryan Hall…no sign of donuts there!

And finally, I decided as a 47 year-old injury prone woman with menopause on the horizon, I need to run less.  But I don’t want to stop racing!  I thought Runner’s World Run Less, Run Faster was a program I would like to try for my next marathon.  Three key running workouts per week plus cross training may be the new balance I need to get me to the starting line of the Chicago Marathon, strong and injury free.

Before you run the New York Marathon, read Liz Robbin’s A Race Like No Other– 26.2 Miles through the streets of New York.  Actually, I think the book should be tucked into every swag bag with the t-shirt and race number.  Runners could fight pre-race jitters in bed the night before engrossed in these captivating stories.  Moreover, they could throw it in with their water and power bars the next morning and pass the dreaded hours of waiting time at the start with Paula Radcliff and Hendrick Ramaala.  Runners would appreciate the many volunteers they were about to pass in a whole new light (who may actually hand them their water).  They would become familiar with the sacrifices of the bold-hearted elite racers like those they will follow through the streets of NY. And how could they not be motivated by reading about the many individuals who overcame heart-wrenching adversity to make it to the starting line?  I would have loved that before I ran in 2008. This book had me at mile one.

We, at a bold pace, have devoured Liz Robbins’ astute and edifying articles about running and other sports in the New York Times and Well Blog. In fact, Liz’s article The Best Marathon Advice You’ll Ever Get (a favorite) will be sent to new marathoner friends in perpetuity. Are you sensing how delighted we are that Liz Robbins’ has agreed to answer our a bold pace questionnaire?

10 Questions for Liz Robbins:

1. Running skirt: friend or foe?

Foe. When I run, I want to wear shorts. When I play tennis, I wear skirts. When I played lacrosse and field hockey, I wore tartan plaid polyester skirts. Enough said.

2. What is your idea of the perfect run (when, where)?

When I covered the N.B.A. for the New York Times, I had my favorite runs on the road.

Venice Beach (not all the way to Santa Monica Pier) – a nice 5-miler watching the ocean

Dallas – Katy Trail (I always seemed to do that run when it was 92 degrees)

Miami – South Beach boardwalk/trail

But, my favorite quick run is in my backyard. A few blocks to Central Park, one loop on the upper bridle path, one loop on the reservoir.

3.  What do you most value in a running friend (or do you prefer music/sweet solitude)?

Encouragement. I run faster with a friend.

4.  What is your present state of running mind? How are those knees…will you ever run the NY Marathon?

My present state of running mind is…incredibly frustrated. I haven’t had a run longer than 30 minutes for months, and I’m spending most of my time on the elliptical right now. My doctor wants me to have arthroscopic surgery. My doctor thinks it’s essential because cartilage is roaming free in my right knee. I knew the pain and the clicking noises were not good signs. Any advice?

5.  Who is your favorite runner to watch (or to cover) and why?

Hendrick Ramaala.

Because he is so genuine and so wise. When I did research for my book, I stayed with him and his family for five days in Johannesburg, and they couldn’t have been more hospitable. Hendrick, the 2004 NYC champion, has time for everyone, young runners, recreational runners, he loves to impart his wisdom. Plus, at age 38, he goes for broke and always thinks he can win. He is an inspiration!

A close second would be Paula Radcliffe. Even though it’s very difficult to watch her as she bobs her head and always looks in pain (since she is), a race is never boring when she is entered.

6.  We think runners are tough (especially women runners!). How do they compare to the basketball players or tennis players you have written about?

TOUGHER! No comparison. Nobody endures as many injuries as women marathoners, namely Deena Kastor and Paula Radcliffe.  And then there’s Grete Waitz.  She is battling cancer with grit and grace.

7.  In an interview you compared running a marathon to writing A Race like No Other. What did you learn about yourself when writing this book?

I learned I could push myself further than I ever thought. I wrote every day for four months straight, with the exception being New Year’s day of 2008. I had a deadline to meet. Since my chapters were each a mile on the course, I tracked my progress as if I were running. And, since all writing is rewriting, I crossed the finish line multiple times!

8.  Who are your favorite writers?

T.C. Boyle, Barbara Kingsolver, Joan Didion

9.  What are you reading these days?

The Women — T.C. Boyle

10.  What is your (life) mantra?

Keep pushing. You can always recover tomorrow.

Extra credit: What is your favorite sport to play? And why does ping-pong come up when your name is mentioned?

I love playing tennis and golf, but the latter is too frustrating for a former high school and collegiate athlete. Since I was a small girl, I have always loved to play ping-pong. The rhythm, the precision, the pace – what a rush!

About Liz (Bio edited from her blog):

“Liz Robbins has been a reporter for the New York Times for the last 10 Years, and a journalist for the last 18 years, since graduating from Cornell with a handy degree in European history. She has interviewed athletes such as LeBron James, Steve Nash, Andre Agassi, Venus and Serena Williams, and Paula Radcliffe, and covered major sporting events from the NBA finals to the United States Open to the Olympics. And, of course, the New York City Marathon. Since receiving critical acclaim for her first book, “A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York,” Liz has branched out of the sports department to cover breaking news for The New York Times on the web. She runs in Central Park as much as her tortured knees can endure, and plays virtually every sport, from tennis to golf to ping pong.”

Thank you Liz !!  We can’t wait to read your next book!

Liz has so generously offered to send a signed copy of her wonderful book to the lucky winner of the Facebook giveaway on the “a bold pace” fan page!  Become a fan, make a comment, bring a friend to enter!  (contest ends March 1st)

Maybe it’s the snow on the ground…or the high caloric intake…or even the general exhaustion from the late nights and last minute preparations.  Maybe it’s just all that being nice.    But holidays are not good for my running.  Went out for a 7 miler this morning and felt like I was crawling.   The moments of denial that found me saying “as soon as the holidays are over” rose up to greet me this morning on the run.   Ugh!  I need running/holiday rehab.

I once read that Bill Gates takes a week off every year to catch up on his reading.  He shuts the whole world off and just feeds his soul.  I have always thought this was a brilliant idea.   I stayed in yesterday and read a book (Little Bee–great read…highly recommend it) and snuck out with my husband to see a movie (A Single Man–Tom Ford’s 2 hour long Gucci movie featuring the sublime Colin Firth as a gay man in the 60′s…loved it!).   Now to just add the running element and a de-tox diet free of butter and sugar.   A declared stay-cation of exercise in the AM and nothing after that…nothing pressing anyway.

So maintenance runs and strength workouts by morning, books (so many “best of 2009″ lists to tackle), movies (so many Oscar contenders to view) and family games by night (children to talk to–gameboys to shut off)…holiday/running rehab at my house.

And perhaps, if I have time on a break from doing nothing, I will work on my running New Year’s resolutions…maybe not.

Six degrees of separation is at play in the running world… Jamie and I run and blog (and read). (1) Maven Jamie (a Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point kind of Maven–always an ear to the ground) lends me a book called Personal Record: A Love Affair with Running and we both are intrigued by the author’s sharp, sardonic wit and approach to running and racing.  We also have teenagers so we move on to her Admissions Confidential.  We love her refreshing look at the daunting process of college admissions and she talks about running. (2) Jamie thinks that Rachel is a hoot on Facebook and in her Running Times’ articles so I friend her because she cracks me up. (3) I think she will appreciate my humor so I send her a Remanents tee and she sends me an idea for one (I love it). (4) I see on Facebook that she is going to the expo for the NY Marathon.  I mention to my LDF Jane (who herself is an avid reader–and running the NY Marathon with her medical school buddy Denise) that if she happens to see the Moeben booth, she can get free arm sleeves if she buys Rachel’s book. (5) Jane meets Rachel and they share a fun “expo moment”–worlds collide! Here they are together, an admired author and a treasured friend. (6) Rachel was kind enough to be the first to answer our A Bold Pace running adaption of the Proust Questionnaire and we are thrilled.

Rachel Toor and LDF Dr. Jane Ierardi

10 Running Questions for Rachel:

1. Running skirt: friend or foe? BFF

2. If you could run with any 3 people (they don’t have to be runners or alive) who would it be? Too overwhelming to answer; too many good people alive and dead to choose from.

3. What traits do you most value in your running friends? Most of all, good conversation not about running; people who can teach stuff and push me to run harder; those who are willing to listen to me whine about being cold.

4. The one running item (gear/sustenance/song) you cannot live without? Running bra. Seriously big ta-tas.

5. Describe your present state of (running) mind? After years of leading marathon pace groups, I’ve rediscovered how much fun it is to do a marathon and not give a hoot about your time. If I want to stop and get Ben and Jerry’s at mile 18, I can. If I want to negative split, I can. If I find someone really interesting to talk with, I’ll run at her pace. I’m in it for the fun and companionship these days.

6. What running superstition do you always heed? A good pre-race poop always helps.

7. Do you mantra? You’re latest? Nope. Maybe if I were a poet, but I’m a nonfiction writer.

8. How many students have you converted to maniacal distance runners? to maniacal writers? My students tend to be smarter and more measured than I. So while some will do marathons, or write prodigiously, they generally live pretty balanced lives. Unlike, um, other maniacal people.

9. What is the chapter of your book you are most likely to read at a book event and why? Depends on if I want to make the audience laugh or cry. For crying times, the one about pacing at Western States or my first unofficial pacing gig at the 2001 NYC marathon. For laughs, I tend to do “Speed Goggles.” I like to read “The Watch” chapter because it’s short and people often comment on the size of my watch.

10. Who are your favorite contemporary writers? Whoever’s written whatever good book I’ve most recently read. I just taught (for the third time) Thomas Lynch’s collection of essays, The Undertaking. (He’s a poet/undertaker in Michigan.) It is one of the most beautiful, profound, and funny books I have ever read, and my students respond to it as if I have given them a gift. Which, in fact, I have.

*Extra credit* Do you still only run with mostly men (because we would all like you to come run with us sometime)?! I run with whomever will have me.. Even after three years in Spokane I have yet to find a regular group, so I mostly run by myself these days. But in recent marathons I’ve hooked up with friends or strangers, and have enjoyed those races as if they were Sunday morning long runs. I like to be invited along by both men and women. Ask me. I’ll be delighted to run with you.

Thanks Rachel, you’re the best.   We are honored to have you as a new LDF!

Rachel Toor’s ambition, on graduating from Yale University, was to work on a dude ranch in Wyoming (never having been to a dude ranch — or to Wyoming). Moving to Missoula, Montana, for an MFA in creative writing is the closest she’s come. After a dozen years as an editor of scholarly books, at Oxford and Duke University Presses, she slid down the ladder of social mobility and did a stint in college admissions, quitting to write Admissions Confidential: An Insider’s Account of the Elite College Selection Process (St. Martin’s, 2001) in an attempt to demystify an arcane and brutalizing rite of passage. Her most recent book is The Pig and I: How I Learned to Love Men (Almost) As Much as I Love My Pets (Penguin, 2005) and the University of Nebraska Press will publish her next book, Personal Record: A Love Affair with Running. Rachel has a monthly column in The Chronicle of Higher Education and writes the “Finishing Kick” essay every other month in Running Times magazine, where she is a Senior Writer. Her work has appeared in The LA Times, Glamour, Reader’s Digest, Marathon&Beyond and a variety of other more academically-oriented publications. She is currently Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the Inland Northwest Center for Writers in Spokane, the graduate writing program of Eastern Washington University.