Is this a good running song?
I say yes!
Workout of doom
Turns out, working out while ill is a horrible plan.
My pal encouraged me to join her for some butt-kicking cross training. Our soccer team has been taking a break, so I’ve been looking for something entertaining. I was excited to try this mysterious, gut-busting ordeal. It was intense – donkey kicks, burpees and lots of other jumping-around-things that I don’t know the names of.
Until about halfway through the first set when I took a break. As I caught my breath and cooled off, I realized my face was flushing hot. Like, super hot. I had to sit down. That’s when it hit me.
“Please don’t throw up in this gym. Please don’t throw up in this gym.”
Megan walked me into the bathroom.
“Please don’t pass out in this gym. Please don’t pass out in this gym.”
The good news: I didn’t pass out. The bad news: I did get sick.
I’ve surmised that I had a stomach bug that my daughter broguht home from school. Awesome. But getting up early, I didn’t give myself a chance to figure out if I felt good or not. Lesson learned.
As I was sitting on the bathroom floor, begging myself not to faint in front of my running buddy, she told me that probably the gym bathrooms were probably the cleanest of all the bathrooms in our office.
That’s what friends are for, people.
Runners at the Endeavor Games
Michelle Obama and I discuss best workout music
If First Lady Michelle Obama and I have one thing in common, it’s that we’re super awesome. If we have another thing in common, it’s that we love to listen to good workout music. She shared her Top 10 workout songs with Women’s Health magazine, and turns out, the First Lady knows how to get moving. I love her No. 1 pick: Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”
I’m going to be honest. I just listened to it now sitting at my desk. I’m not even running. It took everything I had not to sing along here at work. However, I might or might not be dancing with my feet under my desk and mouthing along whenever my coworker isn’t sitting across from me at her desk.
What’s your favorite running song? I think this might be mine: “Ehlala” by Zola, a South African hip-hop artist. It just makes me so happy. Full disclosure: There are some swear words. I have no idea what any of the non-English words are, so there might even be more than I know about. So there’s that. It’s still a great running song.
Ultra-marathoner hosting free barefoot running clinic in Oklahoma City
In case you hate shoes, here’s some info about events coming up just in time for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon:
Backwoods, Inc., today announced world renown ultra-marathoner Jason Robillard’s visit to Oklahoma City and an in-store clinic with the athlete Friday, April 27, 2012 from 7p.m. to 9p.m. For this event, Backwoods has partnered with Merrell to bring awareness to the ever growing sport of barefoot and minimalist running. The event will be hands-on, customers will have the opportunity to try Merrell’s line of barefoot shoes and participants will have a chance to go on a short run with Robillard and staff. Backwoods’ Oklahoma City store is located at 12315 N. May Avenue, Suite 103, Oklahoma City, OK 73120.
“We have seen the level of interest in barefoot and minimalist running grow over the past few years and wanted to offer our customers the chance to meet the expert, as well as hear how to make a safe transition to barefoot running,” Jennifer Mull, Backwoods’ chief executive officer, said. “We understand how important the outdoors are to this community and we want to make sure we are providing our customers with the information and products they need to enjoy all that this city, and the surrounding areas, have to offer.”
Barefoot running consists of running with nothing on the runner’s feet while minimalist running means running in shoes that provide limited or no support, only minimal protection.
The clinic at Backwoods will be lead by Jason Robillard, who has over 20 years experience as a barefoot runner and logs nearly 100 miles per week training. Robillard is also founder and director of Barefoot Running University. As a barefoot runner, he has competed 5k, 10k, 15k, half-marathon, 25k, marathon, 50 mile and 100 mile distances barefoot. He is also the author of “The Barefoot Running Book: The Art and Science of Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe Running,” a book that outlines how anyone can transition to this style of running.
“We are very excited to have Robillard join us at Backwoods to share his experiences as a barefoot and minimalist runner. There is no one in the industry who can give a stronger narrative on the sport,” Tom Adams, general manager, said. “As this sport continues to grow, his expertise will be welcomed by runners here in Oklahoma City and across the state.”
Winds tricks runners into dehydration during warm spring
This weekend, I had to cut my long run short. I blame the wind.
My 7-mile plan quickly turned into a 5-mile trek when I got a pulsating headache. If I walked, it faded away. If I ran, it came back with a roar.
I had some water and a healthy breakfast before I went out. I took water with me on the run. So what happened?
I’m pretty sure that the Oklahoma wind that puts my hair in knots tricked me into thinking it wasn’t as hot as it really was. Temperatures were creeping toward 90, but I didn’t feel it at all. I was sweating, of course, but I wasn’t dying.
Turns out, I wasn’t as acclimated to late-morning running as I thought I was, and I didn’t drink enough water at all. So, lesson learned on that one. You won’t fool me next week, wind.
Pound Per Person carries weight for victims
This is pretty amazing.
A good run that felt bad
I’ve decided that the first three miles are the absolute worst three miles of any run. My body completely disagrees with me about what we should be doing.
My brain: “Let’s go for a run! It will be cold outside and we can work on rebuilding our cardiovascular stamina!”
My body: “Let’s go for a nap! There will be lots of blankets!”
This is how things went yesterday, when I dragged myself kicking and screaming for four miles. It was awful. I walked a million times, was passed by someone more than twice my age and generally felt awful. By the time I got back to my car, I was sure my outing lasted 56 hours. When I checked my phone, though, I was so excited to see that I was only 30 slower than my race pace. My race pace? Oh yes. That’s how fast I was going. (And when I say “fast” I mean “less slow than normal.”)
How on earth did that happen? I felt terrible the whole time. It all goes back to getting your body to agree with your brain. For me, it took the entire run. But at least the ending was exciting.
Crying while running: Christmas edition
OK. I’ll admit it.
I’ve cried while running.
More than once.
And let me just say, it’s even harder to run while crying than it is to just run. So about 10 minutes into a really great run this morning, I had to walk because I was crying my face off about this story. The holidays make me even more emotional than I already am. This is why I should probably run outside and not on the treadmill. There aren’t special holiday stories playing on Good Morning America on the gym televisions.
I can’t embed the video, so you’ll have to click the link to watch it. Please don’t watch it while running.
Running for time or distance?
I’ve decided I need a new strategy. I’m in a training rut.
So I’m going to start running for time instead of distance. That’s how I started running in the first place. My friend suggested I do Hal Higdon’s very basic beginner running plan: 10 minutes walking, 15 minutes running, 5 minutes walking. I could do that! Easy peasy!
After I got my bearings a bit, I started running for distance instead of time.
Well, now that I’ve started my training over, my times are slow. Like, depressingly slow. Like, maybe-I-should-just-walk-because-it-would-be-faster slow.
I decided to start like I did the first time: going for time.
A marathoner who works in our video department does this. He always runs for time instead of distance. And sometimes he runs “an extra mile or two.” I can honestly say that I have never, ever, ever “accidentally” run an extra mile or two. So impressive.
So, here’s to a new game plan!
