Running and Memory

I enjoy reading race reports. I’m always impressed by the detail some runners note, including mile by mile verbiage – incredible.
I, for some reason, have to force myself to remember details. (I haven’t been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s yet!) I do have vivid memories of the start and finish line and any fun encounters.
There are a number of factors that can influence our memory of an event:

Factors that Affect Recall (From Wiki on Recollection)

Attention
“…divided attention slows down the process, yet has little to no effect on its accuracy.”
And I thought running with the iPod blasting was replacing my memoires with a confusion of beats.

Motivation
“Any form of motivation…generally leads a person to better recall.”
Some parts of the race I DON’T WANT TO REMEMBER!

Interference
“They (memories) are not moved into long-term memory and are thus lost.”
When did I eat my last pineapple Clif Kid Twisted Fruit Stix?

Context
"In other words, you can recall more when the environments are similar. Deep-sea divers recalled their training more effectively when trained underwater, rather than being trained on land...”
So maybe I should be taking notes along the way. Or better yet, run the course again for a cool down.

State-Dependent Memory
“Stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines or caffeine are known to improve recall in humans.”
I’m sure the Runners’ High qualifies as a factor. It makes you feel invincible and erases stuff like that grating pain in your right knee. (Interestingly enough, I discovered one of the side effects of Ambien (my favorite nightcap) is – Anterograde amnesia.)

Gender
“Consistently, females perform better than males on episodic memory tasks…females in general are more likely than males to recall their mistake.”
Most of the lengthy race reports I’ve read are written by female bloggers!

Here’s a few great reports: (M&F)
Happy Runner – The Race for the Cure 5K race report
Steve in a Speedo? - Half Marathon; no, Quarter Marathon; no, 10K; no 10.25K Race Report!
Meg Runs - Ultra Race Report!
Middle-of the-Pack Girl - BAA 5K Race Report

Other related links:
How to Remember Things
Brain Training For Runners:
Marathons are Good and Bad for Memory
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Truffle Shuffle - Race Report

The best part of this race - excluding the gigantic chocolate truffle - is the course. It runs along hallowed ground… following parts of Pre’s Trail!
The bottom loop encircles a wide open field with scenic views of the Willamette River. I would run there everyday – if I didn't have to drive.



“The six-mile stretch of wood-chip and bark-dust paths was initially constructed by the city of Eugene in 1976 to commemorate Oregon’s distance-running legend Steve Prefontaine."

The Bad:

• I was 3 minutes slower than last year. Holy crap! That’s what I get for racing with a cold.
• It’s bad enough the park bathroom stalls don’t have doors – but no toilet paper?

The Good:

• The big “high five” I received from the girl in front of me at the finish line. A reminder that the time on the clock is fleeting...

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” - Ursula K. LeGuin

Favorite Shirt Quote:

• “Your workout is our warm-up.”

Race Chatter:

• “I think she’s waving at you.”

Post Race Grub:

• 1 Truffle, Peanuts in the Shell, Beer - Red Chair NWPA (Hey, there was a football game on!)

Ode To the Truffle
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Take My Picture?

Race photographers are plentiful now. At last week’s race I spotted three - cameras on tripods. (This Nikon can shoot up to 7 fps.)
They set up along the course and take our pictures.

“Anyone can be photographed in a public place without their consent except when they have secluded themselves in places… such as dressing rooms, restrooms, medical facilities, etc"

I’m guessing they work in collaboration with the race organizer so they can identify people by their Bib numbers. Then, they attempt to sell the images.
This company will print your picture as a Magazine cover or even create a statue!

PS. If you want to take advantage of MY unique fit body image:

“Get a model release from anyone uniquely identifiable before trying to sell the photos.”

My question is:
Do you mind having your picture taken?

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Fall Race Report

If the air is cool but most of the leaves are still green – Is it still Fall?

Yes, it was a spectacular day for the Fall Festival Run.
It’s a 50 mile drive to Corvallis – So we headed out early - early enough to take in the sunrise…



I felt strong and awake – might have been the illicit half cup of joe I drank.
I know one thing for sure, running a flat 5k is a whole lot easier that a hilly Trail race.



The course crossed through the Oregon State University campus. Scenic, but involved plenty of sidewalk running :0


Where's my chip?


The 5 K Winner was Benjamin True A23y M1/21m Eugene OR 14:14
That’s a 4:35 pace!
I, surprisingly, placed. (Well - there were only 400 runners in the 5k.)

Favorite Shirt Quote:
Ride High (?/?)

Race Chatter:
Runner #1 –“My IT Band burns every time I race.
Runner #2 “Why?”
Runner #1 “I don’t know…”

Post Race Snacks:
Starbucks and a shared Noah’s Blueberry Bagel.

Goody Bag:
From Strands – My dog checking it out.
(I always cut her ears off...)

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Trail Preview

I took a short hike up part of the trail I will be racing on this Saturday.
No longer afraid of getting lost… just looking forward to getting
off the road!


Amazon Headwaters Trail

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Race Report Scandia 10k

Another “I feel great at the finish race!” (That’s two 10ks in a row.) My time was about the same time as last year but I did stop at every water station. (I’m testing out this routine – as I usually don’t drink anything till after the race.)
Happy with some of my splits too!

This year, the mint fields were already harvested, but there was still a lingering distant whiff in the cool morning breeze.



One guy ran with his Thor horns on to honor the Scandinavian Days. Next year I’m going to braid my hair.



I Love the homemade direction signs.



After I found my pace, I slipped into an observational trance - noticing the way other runners held their arms. I tend to run with my arms at waist level. For several years I ran with a dog and had better leash control with my arms at that level.
But what I witnessed was crazy:

• Arms bent at a 45º angle with hands almost touching their chest.
• Arms slapping about like they were dislocate at the shoulder.
• Elbows sticking out.
• Hands like propellers.

It appeared, as runners began to fatigue, there was greater arm movement...
What do your arms do? Improve your running or just go along for the ride?
Arm Movement in Running

More Highlights!

Port-o-potty chat: “More people here than last year – yeah, in this line!”
T-shirt Talk: “Don’t Vote Me Off”
Farthest away t-shirt - Tempe AZ

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Racing on Sand

I finally get a chance to run a race on the beach. This weekend, on Manzanita Beach, there is a 5k / 10k race entirely on the sand. An out and back with the Pacific Ocean as my running mate, the wind tossing my hair, and a forgiving surface under my feet…
Except the more I read about running on sand – the more I worry - it may not be such a good thing.

Risks of racing on the sand:

• Extreme calf soreness.
• Fatigue due to an increase in upper body propulsion.
• Sore feet from bad traction.
• Tripping over flotsam, glass, logs, or giant seaweeds!
• Sore ankles from running on a slope.
• There is no bounce.
• You burn 1.6 times more calories – like I already burn 5000 cals during a regular 10K

Wish me luck – I’m going to need it!

Ref:
Running Beach Style
Sand: A Solid Foundation to Build Your Running Skills
Soft Sand Running - Video

"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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Back In The Saddle

Looking forward to the race tomorrow. It’s been 7 weeks since
my last race and all is forgotten...
[Felt so bad after that race, I thought I was going to die!]
I'm actually chomping at the bit for a chance to compete again.
What I have to remember is my age group - and then behave my age.

2009 Datalogic Fun Run & Charity Challenge 5K

Juneathon Day 19
Elliptical 15 mins
On TV - Pomegranates!
Squats 3x10

Have a great Friday!

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Half Marathon Rundown

In the jargon of the sport, I hit the wall. I was cruising along – keeping an eye on my pace. The 10 mile marker was the last I remember…



After that I ran the best I could. Coming in 2 minutes slower than last year. (Hey, the course had changed - more hills. (excuse #12)
I did however accomplish my backup goal which was coming in under 2 hours.


The Wild, the Weird and the Wonderful

• men running topless.
• empty ketchup packages. Cheap carb fix?
• so many spectators along the way – high fives and cheers!
• some guy running with his massage stick.
• a cap with little holders specifically for Clif Shot Bloks.
• the scent of well used port-o-potties at the 9 mile stretch.
• a runner, post race, dry heaving on the curbside. O, that was me – how embarrassing.
• a belt buckle medal! (Not really - just took the neck strap off.)
  

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Favorite start line shout: "You’re almost finished."
Favorite shirt logo: “I never trained for this race.”
~
AV time for the Eugene half-marathon was Average Time: 2:23:51
Make your own Wristband at live2run

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The Day Before

Galloway suggests “Don’t run the day before the big race.” And I’m going to take that advice! I’ve completed 4 months of training – you would think I'd feel ready, but I don’t...

This year’s formula
+
I completed my training and sustained no injuries.
-
a) I didn’t train hard enough. b) I should have added a few extra miles on the long run days - just lazy. c) I didn’t go fast enough in training the races.
=
Doubtful attempt to preserve last year’s PR of 1:55

“If we work off of plans for a model airplane, we’re not going to end up with a spaceship.” E. Larsen

Really Old Pulse Monitor

1881 direct sphymograph
Apparently invented by E.J.Marey



No, I’m not running with that on my arm!
In fact this weekend – I will be running my race [Eugene Half-marathon] sans the Garmin. But I will be wearing a watch!

Advantages

• I can set my own pace. (Occasionally sneaking a peak at the mile markers.)
• Frees up my left hand. (It’s too big to wear on my wrist.) So I can give by-standers the High five.
• Won’t be distracted by scrolling through screens.
• Don’t have to worry about negative splits. (Well might do some math along the way.) “Most athletes perform better if they run the second half of a race slightly faster than the first half.”
• Less chance of getting mugged and robbed. Though I will still have valuables on me, such as a cell phone and mp3 player. And my lucky dollar.

Disadvantages

• Have no idea how fast I'm starting. (Must start slow…)
• Have no idea how far I’ve gone – if I miss a mile marker.
• Won’t be able to map my memorable run in Google Earth.
• No handy compass. Never know - might get lost along the way.
• No one will ask me, “Just how fast are we going?”

Trivia

• We owe the second hand on watches to physician Sir John Floyer (1649-1734), who used it to time his patients' pulse.

Above image - Wellcome Images - 2000 Years of Human Culture

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11 Days To Go!

Starting to get a little nervous - not really worried, as I was able to complete a 10 mile race with plenty of steam, just nervous... I suspect these pre-race jitters are part of the overall excitement.
11 days to go!
Today's paper said there was a 10% increase in registered runners. So far, 7000 have registered for all the events. Race director predicts there will be 3,000 finishers in the half-marathon and over 2,000 in the full marathon.
It seems the half-marathon is steadily becoming a favorite race for all runners.
Tomorrow will be my last long training run before the event. My challenge is to beat last years time – even if only by 30 seconds... Wish me luck!

Above Logo - from the inaugural Eugene Marathon in 2007

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The Good, the Sad, and the Ugly

Race Recap - 10 mile Pear Blossom race

The Good

• Was able to connect with other runners in the race using Twitter. Extra fun - a local news station reporter set up a time to interview me via a tweet. (No, I didn’t get my 30 seconds of fame.)
• Maintained my half-marathon race pace to discover I had lots of steam at the end.
• I was dressed just right! The weather was perfect for running!
• Lots of police on motorcycles controlling traffic.
• Enjoyed seeing old buildings in the city.
• A young girl was handing out Twizzlers at the 9 mile mark.

The Sad

• The race organizers did not time the 5k entries. There were over a thousand runners.
• I did not sleep much the night before – despite bringing my own pillow.
• Discovered the lotion I used at the hotel, to massage my feet with, was hair conditioner.
• Witnessed an expensive iPod skip across the asphalt. I wonder if the guy had to run the rest of the race in silence.
• Spotting the halfway mark in the far distance, after climbing up and over the hill.
• The post race raisin bread – had no raisins just cinnamon chips. (But still tasted pretty good.)

The Ugly

• Despite maintaining my half-marathon pace and coming in sooner than expected, I felt deflated when seeing the final race results. I wasn’t even in the top half...

Swag

• Bright orange hand towel.

Fav T-shirt Words

“Paris Rome Frankfurt” For that international flavor.
“That’s How I Roll” Possibilities - roller derby gal, a pastry chef or a pot smoker?

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Easy Race Registration

Received a race reminder from active.com
I like how the registration process for races is evolving. It’s almost too easy now… Not only can you register online – but you can confirm your entry by looking up a name or number.
Some of the sites also send out friendly reminders like this one:



A few places let you dig into their data base and look at all the runners registered so far. I love this option as you can check out where everyone is from and MOST importantly – how many are in your age group.


Links:
Active.com
SignMeUp.com
GetMeRegistered.com

Good Luck to all the runners competing in races this weekend.
Tip: Save the chocolate bunnies for after the race.

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Starting Fast

This week’s theme at Runner's Lounge TIaRT is.... Common mistakes and cardinal sins of running. What are some of the most common mistakes you make with your running?



My numero uno mistake in running (with regards to racing) is starting off to fast. Despite the fact I've read millions of articles on negative splits and managing pace, I still fall victim to this anomaly. The starting gun goes off; I'm caught up in the surge of runners - as they propel me to new heights. Yeah right - by mile 3 I'm panting - WTH was I thinking. I'm way older than kara goucher!

Strategies:

• Start closer to the back - then you’re forced to go slow due to the volume of runners/walkers you have to pass.
• Wear your Garmin or facsimile and monitor every minute of that first mile.
• Pretend you have a malady - limp at bit, rub your side, or head – whatever works for you. Then at the 1 mile marker - zoom. (A gradual zoom if you have another 12 miles to go.)
• Wear blinders so you can't see other runners' faces as they pass you.

"It is easy to run too fast in the early stages of the race and slow down at the end. It takes discipline to hold your pace and invest in a pretty photo finish." - Jenny Hadfield

PS: Open to other suggestions – please!

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Pear Blossom Run

All the arrangements are made - dog in kennel, Hotel reserved, new Nikes, for the 10 mile Pear Blossom run!
It takes place in April; just 3 short weeks before the Eugene Half-marathon event. Crazy? Noway – it has actually revved up my current training. They posted last years results and there were only about 30 in my old age category. That is incentive to finish in the top 10. (There were a total of 989 runners last year.)
The 10 mile is a new race distance for me. But I can easily incorporate it into one of my training runs. Perfect!
I’m looking forward to the travel also – Medford is about 25 miles north of the California border. So I expect sunny skies!!!

Race Logo:

EVERYONE'S A WINNER!

Anyone else entered in a new race this year?

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Ode to The Truffle

On Sunday I participated in the Annual Truffle Shuffle race where everyone entered gets a BIG Chocolate truffle. Thus inspired this Ode:



Ode to The Truffle

The decadant Truffle – creamy & rich.
Milk chocolate or dark with a strawberry twist
Replenish our stride as we savor this wish.
Last year’s race I scored two - I couldn’t resist!
Alas, my heart races for more…
Those mammoth truffle smiles
Well worth running four miles!

- > Actual runners dressed up as Truffles


Truffles courtesy Euphoria Chocolate Company

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False Start

Laughter is a good thing - especially nowadays when everything we listen to is doom and gloom.
This post at Jeff Galloway’s blog made me laugh. Apparently, at one of his lectures he had an incident with one of the guest speakers. It was some muscle guy promoting weight training. Prompted by an audience question, the guest blurted out, "Quite honestly, I don't want to look like Jeff Galloway." Read the full post and see a picture of Jeff here -> What is the funniest running story that's happened to you?

One of my stories:
I was a participant at a large race in Davis, California. There were many 5k and 10k participants. A few of us had no idea it was a staggered start with the 5ks starting first. As the crowd started running, I joined in. This was in the pre iPod days so people were actually chatting with each other... Someone said, "Is this the 10k group?" I looked around - about 10 people yelled out, "The 10K runners start after us!" A couple of us looked around sheepishly and then turned around - running back to the start line. As we neared the line - we pretended we were just warming up... :D

What's one of your funniest running stories? Post in the comments or link to your blog post.

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Week 2 Training Complete

“It’s only 13.1 miles.”
These words transmit a Morse code message to my very core. “I can do it – I’ve done it before.” But I still struggle with the Me in that equation. Dash Dash Dot
The training began in earnest this week.
A race pace workout, a magic mile TT and some fast 3x800s. Outside the schedule I went to the gym, and did the kettlebell swing. (And had time to do the wash!)
Next week - the Long Runs begin.
+
I finally listened to one of the Runner’s Lounge podcasts. Check out this weeks for the inside scoop on race selection. (And yes - post race grub does factor in : )

Graphics by Wordle - Beautiful Word Clouds

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First Race of the Year

Notes:

• Found a quarter in the parking lot.
• Spotted a runner eating a donut before the race.
• Two guys sporting Portland Marathon shirts.
• Runners from Chicago, Pasadena, and St Cloud? Florida.
• Ran 2 minutes slower than last year Hey it was windy out.

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