marathons

Joan Benoit Samuelson

It’s already week two of the Runner’s World Challenge for the Philadelphia Marathon.  My e-mail from Bart Yasso came this morning and I started to sweat a little.  My goal for the Challenge is to adjust my running to my aging body. I am staring down the barrel of the big 50 (49 in Oct…50 in 2012!).  “The joys of aging” signs have crept up on me this past year.  I am no longer able to read the fine print of menus and maps without my glasses.  I notice saggy skin that makes me feel for a chicken.  I never thought I would miss having a period.  Then there is the weight gain in new places and my skirt length concerns me.  There are bitter sweet melancholy moments when considering the empty nest–it’s hard to visualize life without children in my immediate orbit.   The goal is to keep running as I age.  I feel it is time to make the necessary adjustments for longevity.  My last round of marathon training for the Shamrock Marathon made me realize that this change was needed.  My usual plan left me tired and energy zapped.  My toughest finish yet.

 

I was thinking of Joan Benoit Samuelson on a recent college visit with my daughter to Bowdoin College in Maine.  As noted on their website: Nike donated the track renovation in honor of their corporate relationship with Joan Benoit Samuelson, a 1979 Bowdoin graduate and the 1984 Olympic Marathon champion. I was wondering how often she gets to that track and how graciously she has mastered the age thing.  Joan Benoit at 54 is a huge inspiration.

I seem to find more and more information for the aging female runner and I am excited about that.  It’s not only the young mothers and women hitting the road.  The mid-life or “menopause marathon” seems a great way to transition through this milestone.   I see the changes in my long distance friends.  It’s almost as if at 48 it suddenly becomes hard to ignore.  I am reminded of the elementary school years with my own children when a few years can make a noticeable difference.  Fellow runners that are 42 or 43 show few signs of this pending metamorphosis.  Don’t get me wrong, these older competitive women are taking nothing lying down.  Their spirit is ageless.  They are training as hard as ever with tweaks to accommodate for this aging process.   Here are some areas to for me to consider/work on:

  • Figuring out the best rest/run combination: I know I need more rest and cannot run as many days in a row without feeling exhausted.
  • Energy from food:  I cannot eat as much as I did before without gaining weight.  My body seems to need less food.
  • Pace: learning to run at a gentler pace.  My mind wants to race but my body cannot keep up.  Learning to be OK with a little slower pace so I can be out there longer.

I am excited to get training and figure it out.  Bring it on!  (but maybe not quite as fast !:)

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Congratulations to Monique Rubin of Mo Travels who is the winner of the a bold pace give-a-way!  Monique is also a runner/writer and world traveler.  She is an expat from California that now lives in the Netherlands with her family.  Check out her travel/running blog Mo Travels.  You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter

 
As runners we all engage in varying amounts of self-talk.  Our inner conversations are amplified in the most defining moments of a race or run and for me sometimes, the only thing that gets me to the finish line.  Cami Ostman’s book Second Wind, One woman’s midlife quest to run seven marathons on seven continents is a wonderful peek at the transcript of her inner dialog including an introduction to both the bitchy and wise parts of herself (yes, we all have these). A depressed Cami takes up running after her divorce and vows to take on seven marathons (actually so many more) on seven continents as her quest to heal.  This cathartic journey is well documented in rich detail through each country.  I enjoyed this book for many reasons.  I share her love for running, travel and the relentless analytical quest for personal growth.  This is a different kind of running book.  There are no tips for better times, training schedules or supplements.  This is about appreciating the journey of training, planning and running a race for the quiet lessons it extends.  As each race presents an opportunity to run down her fears, she becomes more confident and self-aware.  We are introduced to a cast of kind characters who aid her in her travels and offered a feast of cultural insights and natural beauty backdrops.   I was reminded of Eat, Pray, Love and Women Who Run with the Wolves as I was reading.  I am all for the warrior woman and I felt myself cheering her on in each city. 
Running does for many of us, what it did for Cami.  We challenge every ounce of our physical selves and by doing so we are forced to take a long, hard (26.2 mile) look at our inner life.  I am reminded by this book to stand quietly at the start of my next race so I can perhaps hear the voice of my own warrior woman and what she is trying to tell me.  Bravo Cami.

Second Wind was featured in the January issue of Oprah Magazine and noted in the Oprah online book recommendations.

  10 questions for Cami Ostman:

1. Running skirt friend or foe? 
I like the Nuu Muu exercise dress: http://www.nuu-muu.com/home.html – cute, comfy and covers the bum on days when the bum wants covering.

2. What is your idea of the perfect run?  Details please…when, where and with whom?

The sun is shining (rare in my neck of the woods).  It’s 72 degrees and the Dave Matthews Band is playing in my ear. My little Boston Terrier, Fuji, is running beside me on the gravel trail that weaves through our town. We stop at a pond at the three-mile point so Fuji can wade in up to her belly and get a drink and then we continue on to Starbucks so I can get a coffee before we make our way back home.

3. Describe your present state of [running] mind and your goals/races for 2011? Is there a marathon out there that really calls to you now?

I had some plantar fasciitis in my right foot at the beginning of the year, so I’ve been working hard at healing. I put in a lot of time water running and biking. I’m feeling great now! I just did two terrific half marathons: the Happy Girls Run in Bend, OR and the San Juan Island Half Marathon at Friday Harbor, WA. Both were fairly hilly, but I felt good after each and very encouraged. As for the marathon that’s calling me… My husband and I were in Punta Arenas, Chile last March, getting ready to fly to Antarctica. While we were there, we stayed for a few days at a hostel where we met two other Americans from Park City, Utah who were involved in organizing the Park City Marathon – http://www.pcmarathon.com/home1.htm. We promised we’d get to Utah to run the race, and it looks like this year we’ll get there. The course runs mostly on trails and has a downhill finish (my favorite kind). I’ve never been to Utah and look forward to the race and exploring surrounding areas.

4. What one training tool/item/gear can you not live without?  And if the marathon is the metaphor for life, can you recommend a mantra to race with?

I cannot live without Body Glide. For better or worse I have a hefty bosom and in spite of buying the best sports bras, I still chafe. Body Glide is the only thing that totally prevents this and it’s less messy than Vaseline.

My mantra on a hard run (you know – the kind when you feel like you’re dragging a herd of elephants behind you) is “one step at a time.” I say one word with each step. And this is my mantra for life too. I’m a huge fan of being absolutely in the moment—not worrying about when something (a run or a long day at work) is going to be over or dwelling on the past. On some runs I repeat, “Breathe. Breathe.” It’s pretty basic, but we forget to do it sometimes.

5. Many of the marathoners I know (including myself) are obsessed with their training and diet.  There was not much mention of these in your book.  What did/do you use as your guide?

I’m not overly obsessed with my diet. Maybe if I obsessed a little more I’d drop five pounds and run a little faster. I eat mostly what I want in moderation. I do cut back on cheese and wine before a race, and I do try to make sure I eat in a balanced way with plenty of veggies and whole foods—and I don’t eat mammals. As I mentioned in my book, my family struggles with obesity, and I’ve always been grateful I figured out by the time I was twenty that if I exercised and didn’t overeat, I wouldn’t have to follow suit. Still, the older I get and the more I see my body changing, the more careful I’m becoming with what I put into my body.

As for my training, my husband, Bill, sketched out my first training schedule. He does a lot of reading about training and nutrition. I appreciated his attention to detail on that first round of training. When you’re first getting started, you’re just happy you can run from the end of the street to the telephone pole, so I needed all the help I could get.

Later I tried the Galloway system, but found that I lost my train of thought when I walked and that bothered me. My basic schedule now is that Monday, Wednesday, Friday I run 4, 6, and 4 miles respectively (sometimes 5, 7, 5). Then I do a long run on one of the weekend days. I gradually increase the length of the long run each week according to what I’m training for. Lately, I’ve been doing speed work and working on my form with a coach, too.

6. I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bill.  I think many runners experience that back/front of the pack dynamic at some point and your willingness to let him shine elsewhere in the race stood out for me (and yet another metaphor on relationships). Was he always supportive of you writing this book and documenting your relationship and do you think you would have gone on this quest had you not re-connected with him?
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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?
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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?
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{recipe alert} 2010 Brings The Lazy Shade of Winter

Thumbnail image for {recipe alert} 2010 Brings The Lazy Shade of Winter January 8, 2010

Yikes! Monica’s New Years resolutions are brash and steeped in that can-do spirit. But she’s a sunny, California gal. When I ponder the new year, I seem to channel Larry David. After a week filled with movies, books, friends, food, cocktails and sleep, marvelous sleep, I am as resolute as winter itself. It’s time to [...]

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On Being A Sore Loser…Getting Fit in 2010!

Thumbnail image for On Being A Sore Loser…Getting Fit in 2010! January 6, 2010

After two days of strength training, a 9 mile tempo run and a fall the other day I am so sore!  I decided my goal for 2010 will be to focus not only on trying to run injury free (and stay vertical:), but to GET FIT!   I am back out there a few days a week since being [...]

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Put a Run in Her Stocking — Race Entries make great gifts!

Thumbnail image for Put a Run in Her Stocking — Race Entries make great gifts! December 12, 2009

My kids have a Christmas list deadline–Santa can’t deal with any last minute requests.    So this year they requested I do the same.   I really can’t think of anything as great as being able to run injury free.  So that’s what I am asking/wishing/hoping for Christmas and in the new year (besides the obvious…healthy family, a [...]

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{race report} Philadelphia Marathon 2009…best swag ever!

Thumbnail image for {race report} Philadelphia Marathon 2009…best swag ever! November 30, 2009

An excellent start; the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon swag is the best ever. A smart Kick Asphalt technical shirt, runners’ gloves and a (zippered) mesh bag. Sunday, 11/22, 5:10 am. It’s finally time…Kim and Kerry are running their first marathon. The mood in the car is optimistic and light. The day is made for marathon running, cool, [...]

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{10 questions} for Rachel Toor author of “A Personal Record: A Love Affair With Running”

November 22, 2009

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, [...]

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WinCatherine: A Documentary on Catherine Ndereba (aka Catherine the Great) Marathoner–hopefully coming soon!

November 18, 2009

Filmmaker Stefani Weiss (who is sponsored by the artist supporting non-profit organization Fractured Atlas–donations are therefore tax deductable) began a twitter (@wincatherine) and Facebook campaign to secure funds to complete the film.  Jamie and I were lucky enough to hear Catherine speak and get her autograph (and a hug) at the Philadelphia Distance Run Expo.  She spoke eloquently about her [...]

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