Are You Running or Dancing?

As I drove home from work last night, I tuned into an evening broadcast called - Tropical Beat. A strange blend of drums and vocals filled the truck. African safari kind of music. I had no idea what the song was saying but the rhythm was uplifting. And even though I was totally exhausted, I found myself cruising to the beat. It was energizing.

Music touches us on a primitive level – rhythm. That’s what makes it so powerful. Dr. Oliver Sack’s new book expands on this idea. He believes we can listen with our muscles. So even if you’re not tapping your toe while running, your muscles are paying attention to the song's rhythm. “It animates us.”
I am a firm believer in using music as a collaborator. We can run faster and train longer.
So up-load the tunes and try listening to a new genre.

Related Links

Oliver Sacks
The Power of Rhythm - YouTube
The Listener

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Inspirational Runner

Another amazing story from a runner trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.
Paul Stoneham is 37 and he’s been dreaming of being in the Olympics since he was 11. His story will inspire all of us who have been set back by injuries.
He quit his job 3 years to start training for the Olympics. When was the last time you really wanted something so bad you would quit your job? His sacrifices are inspiring.
If all goes well he will be here in Eugene, for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
To qualify he must run must run a 10k in under 28:15 – (that’s why I’m not an Olympian.)

“Stoneham weighs 135 pounds. He has 3 percent body fat. His resting heart rate is 34. He runs 110 to 120 miles a week; usually along the Trinity Trail...He goes through a pair of running shoes about every three weeks.”

You can check out his life and training here.

Good Luck Paul - I will be cheering you on at the Olympic trials.

“ IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU CAN’T DO IT ” – Paul

Holiday Hash

After my run today I will heading out to visit some of the local wineries. Hope you’re having a great holiday weekend too!

• How to Read a Running Book
• The Complete Lens of Running Books
• Hot Topics at trailrunningsoul on gear, training, etc.
• Endurance News – News By Sport
• Send a Phoenix Mars Postcard
• Dead-simple Chickpea Salad
• Swedish Cider

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Treasure Map Run

In honor of the return of Indiana Jones. I posted today's 5 mile run on a treasure map. If you can find the treasure let me know. : 0

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

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Running Hazards

I read about Nick’s injury in last week’s paper. [He trains in Eugene, Oregon and has become one of my favorite celebrity runners.
He received a nasty gash in his leg when he attempted to hurdle over a fallen runner. A shoe spike caught his leg. What’s amazing is he went back to the start line and attempted to run again with his knee bleeding. He stopped before the race was over. (My heart goes out to him.) Apparently it was his first DNF.
Final Sprint has posted Nick’s actual account of the injury.
A worthy read and runner – Nick Symmonds will be one of our future Olympians!

Running Perils I’ve seen in races:

• Tripping over laces +
• Tripping over orange cones +++
• Nasty elbow jabs++
• Face plant right before the finish line.

My own collection of horrors:

• Trip on a root – splitting knee open.
• Ankle twist over a pine cone.
• Branch scratch.
• Missed curb – OUCH.
• Inhalation of a live spider.

What hazards have found you?

BTW
Common sport injuries needing admission to the Emergency department. In order of occurrence:
Biking, basketball, playground activities, football, soccer and then running : )

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Running Dips Into the Fountain of Youth

After seeing pictures of Joan Benoit Samuelson - I started wondering if running causes you to age prematurely.
However,this article -> “Staying a Step Ahead of Aging” says noway!
A study done my Dr. Wright (a runner herself) tested older athletic people to see what happened to them.

Some astounding highlights from this study::
But please read the full article in the NYT by Gina Kolata.

• Your body has the ability to train at any age.
• Interval training is absolutely crucial.
• Train hard is important.
• As you age - more rest days are needed.

What I also found interesting in this article was the part about the maximum heart rate. Apparently the heart slows down naturally with the aging process. (In the big picture it will eventually really slow down. So enjoy your runs while you can.)

As for Joan - I would contribute her older looks to the continual exposure to outside elements. You really must wear sunscreen. I lather a SPF of 45 on my face, neck and hands before every run!

BTW
Running stresses the bone which is great for maintaining bone density.
“Women in their 40s can expect a 10% loss of vertebral bone mass.” (Think hunched over old ladies.)

Have a great Monday and keep on running ~

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Asleep At The Gym

I looked at the player which sat naked in my hand, the ear phones were missing…
This should make for an interesting workout – no diversions just workout.
I actually worked each muscle set more vigorously as my focus was on my reps.
Everything was all fine until I jumped on the treadmill!

• 2 minutes – Wishing I wore my glasses so I could read all the small print.
• 10 minutes – The people beside me are talking about roasting a pig. And I don’t want to hear anything about it.
• 12 minutes – The sound of the treadmill motor is putting me asleep. White Noise Trance.
• 17 minutes – Watching the fitness class in the pool. Even the lifeguard looks board.
• 25 minutes – Decide to do a heart rate test to see what percentile I’m in. Using the BIG CHART on the wall...HR 120 – upped the ramp.
• 30 minutes – trying not to look at the Hot Tub. It’s so damn warm in here!
• 35 minutes – Getting off NOW. Mildly impressed that I lasted that long!

Have a great weekend and don’t forget your ear phones!

A Sleep At The Wheel

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Sporty is Sexy

I got a chuckle from this article about running outfits in Japan. Apparently, running has become trendy with the Japanese females. And they are adding there own twist to the sport. "Snazzy Outfits"
“Young women are appearing on the streets in running skirts, leggings, tops shaped to flatter the torso and shoes in rainbow colors.” -Kaori Shoji

"Because sporty is sexy!"

I have to admit I did see a few females with ramped up outfits in the last race. One runner wore a not suportive sport bra – short shorts and the required lower back tattoo.
That was not me. Guess I’m a strange, but sexy outfits and running just don’t make for a safe or comfortable run.


wiki image

And yes - my husband wants me to wear one of these skirts.
What do you wear running?

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Running Under Trees

I love running along this path even though it follows along private backyard fences. The canopy blocks the sun and filters the rain. The branches reach out awkwardly overhead - almost off balance...
In the winter, ponds form at the base of these trees – Ducks splash down as I run by.
Sadly, the city cut down a few of these trees – I guess home owners worried the branches would break off...

--- Trees I Run By ---

Oregon Ash

Notes:

• Snakes were said to be repelled by ash leaves or a circle drawn by an ash branch.
• Irish folklore claims that shadows from an ash tree would damage crops.
• It is in the olive family.
• It is 1 of 16 species of ash in the United States.
• And the only ash native to the Pacific Northwest.

Pinnate Leaflet
I carried home

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8 Things You Might Want to Know

I don’t normally divulge personal information in a meme - but Ellen’s post was so revealing I felt obligated to chime in. (Not that I could ever spin such an enchanting tale.) Besides - > I love tomatoes!

Eight random facts about me:

• I leave a pair of runners at my Mom's place. She keeps them safe. They must be well over 10 years old.
• I have a foot fetish. Don’t all runners?
• I still have my first running book. Galloway’s Book On Running. It was like a bible, I referred to it constantly. Now it sits on my third shelf like a good luck piece.
• If I was a castaway on a lone island I would grow fields of pineapples and tend mountain goats.
• While I was shopping one day, (carrying a basket) a guy walked over and asked if he could touch my biceps. The pitfalls of working out.
• I can wear my Livestrong band on my ankle.
• Listening to Bob Marley while running is cathartic.
• Kara in Japanese is kuu sora...Kuu is empty deep mind; Sora is sky.

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R is for Reminder

This morning’s run took me down the same path the Eugene Marathon followed.
The trees are heavy with green, bending in the wind as I pass under them. There are remnants of last weekend’s race along the way. Bold chalk words with pointed arrows. Even a few Clif shot packs litter the trail.
I’m not in any training mode - just running free, taking in the surroundings. This reminds me of why I run. Not to be the best or better than others; but to feel whole...
Connecting body, mind and soul.

Looking at my running stats so far this year, I’ve also walked 43 miles. I really must buy some proper walking/hiking shoes. Any suggestions?
Slick graph by Breaking The Tape

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Recovery Run

recovery

"The physiological processes that restore the body to its pre-exercise condition after exercise. Recovery includes replenishment of muscle glycogen and phosphagen (the energy stores in the muscles); removal of lactic acid and other metabolites (the waste products of muscle activity); reoxygenation of myoglobin (the special respiratory pigment which provides muscles with an extra source of oxygen); and replacement of protein (needed to repair muscles damaged during exercise)." - Oxford University Press

We all know and love the recovery run. (You’ve earn it!) There are no demands on the body – the mind will just let it be. The reward for successfully carrying you over the finish line...

REFLECTIONS

• The realization I need a new training program.
• Counting my blessings - not minutes or miles.
• Feeling the exact location were the hamstrings connect.
• Running so slow it seems juvenile.
• Smelling the lilacs.
• The promise – to not care what others think.

Walk Like An Egyptian

Image morgueFile

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Yesterday’s Half-Marathon Eugene

For me the best parts of a race are usually the START line and the FINISH line. But in yesterday’s race – the finish line was a blur. At the 10 mile marker I started feeling nauseated. (Give me pain instead!)
I would have given my eye teeth just to lay down on the mat while the kid cut off my timing tag.
Pushing to hard... or perhaps the oil tasting water I gulped along the way... Anyways I did achieve my goal of getting under 2 hours – shaving 7 minutes off last year’s time. WOOt!

RACE OBSERVATIONS:

3 Line-ups before the start line. Traffic, shuttle and port-o-potties.
2 Females in running skirts.
10+ Tattoos on calves.
8 At the 8 mile mark – a guy who looked like he stepped out of the 70s passed me. He looked just like Steve Prefontaine. Wonder if anyone else saw him…
4 Dogs along the sidelines were German Short Hair pointers.
1 Cement underpass. I yelled out YAHOO – others chimed in.
2 Runners with white hair wigs on…

FOUND ITEMS:

• Gloves... way too many to count.
• A black UNDER ARMOUR cap. (Almost stopped to pick it up.)
• Half a granola bar.
• Numerous Clif Shots ( thick goop)
• Running bottles – too many!

BEST T-SHIRT QUOTES:

“Run the miles – Live the dreams”
and
“Doesn’t this skirt make my ass look fast?”
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I would like to thank again all the congratulations I received from my Twitter friends : )

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Go With The Flow

I stopped at almost every booth at the Eugene Marathon race expo – checking out gear, future races and even snacking on free samples. (See above LARABAR : )
At one of the counters a lady said, “I see you have your camera, are you running in this race?” I promptly replied; without even thinking, “Yes – just the half.” She gave me a big surprised look and said, “Hey – watch what you say, that’s the race I’m running!” I gave a stunned smile and walked away.
Her attitude was one of admiration; mine was inferiority. Self defeating talk serves no purpose.
Tomorrow I’m going to start off listening to the Rocky Theme and then run forward – leaving my ego behind.
Just go with the flow!

“Flow occurs when challenges are balanced by abilities."
- Ronda Gates

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