Terminalcoffee discussion

Charly wrote: "Heidi, I think you will find that it is very easy to acquire the "runner's mentality". The sense that regardless of how well you run you feel like you can always do just a bit better. "I could have..."

I think I already had a bit of that discipline, Charly, from when I used to train in martial arts... but I never took the time to focus on any other sport or athletic activity, so I never even made an effort to challenge myself to run. I think getting back into that kind of thinking, though, has been the most fun for me in all of this... and realizing those little aches and pains and discomforts are minor distractions and excellent reminders that I'm doing this... I'm really doing it.

Sarah, I've always followed the rule to save the eating for after the workout... water, only, beforehand. If I'm hungry, I'll eat a couple of apple slices and save the rest for after the workout. From everything I've read, the same applies to running/jogging. I figured out last night, also, why runners will kick their feet up to their butts before a race, too... releasing that gas from/popping their knees. I realized it when I was taking Robby for a walk. Ha! :)

Speaking of Robby, he's never been a runner. I used to be lucky if I could get him to go a half a round of walking with me before he'd try to get me to start for home. Over the past few weeks, I've gradually built up his laps around the apartment complex, as well. From a half round to 1 to 1 1/2 to 2 to 2 1/2 to 3... all the way up to 4 laps around this week. He gets LOTS of praise and pats on the back and scratches under the chin from me for staying with it. And a treat when he gets home. AND if he's up for a quick game of fetch, he gets that, too... but sometimes he seems too pooped from our vigorous walks.

Yeah, Bo can do one lap of the lake - about 1.3 miles - but I can tell he's done when he starts pulling toward the cars. He isn't picky about which one is ours. He's just through running.

Sarah Pi wrote: "Yeah, Bo can do one lap of the lake - about 1.3 miles - but I can tell he's done when he starts pulling toward the cars. He isn't picky about which one is ours. He's just through running."

Yeah, when Robby starts doing that, I'll try to encourage him to keep moving but if he doesn't keep going and he just turns back towards the house, I let it go. When he keeps going, though, it's always a pleasant surprise.

We camped on Assateague this weekend. I went for a run on Sunday morning on the bike trail that runs parallel to the road. Had to get off the trail a couple of times to make way for wild ponies! It was quite nice doing an outside run that was completely flat for once. It turns out I run much faster when the giant frikkin' hills of my neighborhood aren't involved.

Charly wrote: "part of the reason you run faster on the flats is the work you do on the hills."

I've found that to be true for my bicycle riding as well.

I live on top of the second highest hill in the city, so every road home is a steep incline.

I signed up for a 5 mile race on Thanksgiving morning. It's been at least 10 years since I entered a race. I don't know if I'll show up.

Heh, Cyril...

I've been running on the treadmill more than outside lately, but I think the treadmill can be rougher on my knees.

Life is a treadmill.

I despise treadmills with a fierceness.

Finished the five mile. 37.08 unofficial time. I've never been in a community race like this (only high school races and fitness tests in the Navy). I made the mistake of starting in the middle of the pack and it took a minute just to get to the starting line. I was still stuck in a jog at the one mile mark. It was fun though, and I got pancakes at the end.

Awesome, Cyril!

great time, Cyril!

Thanks, guys!

Nice job Cyril.

Congrats!

I don't run unless someone's chasing me! Haha!

The Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon were about a week ago. The Las Vegas newspaper has had several letters, and a feature article, about some people getting sick during and after the race. Apparently the running community, especially on Facebook, is blaming the stomach upsets on water from an aide station. They were running water from a hydrant into a can lined with a garbage bag, then dipping cups into it to pass to the runners.

Is this common at races? At the St. George triathlon there was bottled water supplied by a sponsor.

I believe Peter Hessler won the Half Marathon a few years ago. He was not expecting to win, but one of the race staff wasn't paying attention, and all the frontrunners took a wrong turn. When Hessler got to that intersection, he asked which way to go, and the race person pointed him in the correct direction. He won because all the Kenyan runners were running a different course. Then he found out the prize was $40,000, but he didn't stick around to collect it.

(This weird story was told in the New Yorker.)

Phil wrote: "The Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon were about a week ago. The Las Vegas newspaper has had several letters, and a feature article, about some people getting sick during and after the race. App..."

Hydrant to garbage-bag-lined-can sounds kind of gross to me. I have to admit I have not thought to ask where the water at the aide stations comes from.

I don't think I can run.

Did she move?

SQUIRREL!

Took a nice run yesterday morning, trying a new route and new tights for the cold weather. At first I was a little uncomfortable with how tight they were, and then I said "Wait a second. I ride horses. I have worn breeches since I was eight years old. I have had a well meaning cafeteria lady tell me I forgot to put on pants. I will NOT be defeated by a pair of black thermal tights."
Anyway, they worked nicely.