Training Supplement – April 16, 2017

Training Supplement - 041617

I brought out my compression tights this week to help with recovery.  Tomorrow’s Boston Marathon will help me select a shoe for the Eugene Marathon.  The water fountains the Custis and W&OD Trails are on!  And, I was on the Pace the Nation podcast!

Clothing & Gear

Shoes.  Saucony Ride 9.  I’ve worn the Mizuno Wave Riders for my most recent marathons.  Tomorrow, I’m going to try the Saucony Rides.  I didn’t love these shoes when I bought them but they’ve grown.  If all goes well tomorrow, I’ll buy a new pair to wear for Eugene.

Recovery gear.  2XU Recovery Tights.  I bought these a couple of years ago to help me recover from the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon since I was running the New York City Marathon the next week. Wanting to do anything I could to recover, I wore them after my long run this past Sunday.  They didn’t seem to help me much this week, but maybe I would have felt even worse if I hadn’t worn them.

(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)

Nutrition & Hydration

Gels.  Crank Sport e-Gel.  I trained with these gels and plan to use them tomorrow for the Boston Marathon.  A lingering problem I have with them is that they’re so bulky!  I’m going to carry them in a SPI-belt tomorrow and will determine if that might work for the upcoming Eugene Marathon in three weeks.

Post-workout NutritionGeneration UCAN Snack Bar.  I haven’t been a fan of the Ucan products but tried this bar as a post-workout snack since I was in a hurry.  I liked the flavor of the chocolate bar, but it was so chalky that I didn’t finish it.

Stridebox.  There are a few items that look interesting.  Given the rough training week I had, I probably should have tried the recovery accelerator.

Stridebox - April 2017
Stridebox – April 2017

Routes

Construction.  It’s been a while since I’ve run through Crystal City and checked on the construction project at 400 Army Navy Drive that I’ve been following since last year.

400 Army Navy Dr - 04122017
400 Army Navy Dr – 04122017

 

 

It looks like the underground supports are finished and the structures for the above-ground floors are taking shape.

Water Fountains.  The water fountains on the Custis Trail were turned on recently.  And, I saw a tweet that the all the fountains on the W&OD were operational as of Friday!  With some recent runs in the 60 degree range, this was welcomed news.

Media & Motivation

Music. Radioactive“, by Imagine Dragons.  I’ve had four days of easy running and felt quite tired on my shake out run until this song came on.

(My “Songs of the Week” playlist on Spotify.)

Podcasts.  “Our Hundredth Anniversary Show (Superfans),” Pace the Nation.  I have been a loyal listener to Pace the Nation since the early episodes.  So, I was delighted when I was asked to be on the 100th episode of the show which included some of their many “superfans”!  I have to admit, I was very nervous.  And, I thought I’d hate the sound of my voice.  But, I think it turned out well.  The entire show is great, but if you’re interested in my segment, it starts at the 1:01:52 mark.

Duel in the Sun,” The Runner’s World Show.  Although I read the book and listened to Dick Beardsley describe the race on the RunnersConnect Run to the Top Podcast, this story never gets old for me.  So, I found the video:

What am amazing race and finish!  (It is odd how many bicyclists were following them and how close the motorcycles and spectators were to them.)

Websites and Blogs.  “Time to Say Goodbye: When You Have Grown Apart From What You Love The Most,” from Running for Real with Tina Muir.  The RunnersConnect Run to the Top podcast has been one of my favorites, so I was sad when Tina Muir announced she was moving on.  But, the new host seems promising.  I’ve listened to a couple of her episodes – including one with Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray – and she a very good interviewer.

NewsNike’s Sub-2-Hour Marathon Attempt Will Be Run in Early May, Runner’s World.  I’m very excited about this race, which will happen in Italy the first weekend of May.  They haven’t named a specific day.  The idea is to pick the best weather day from the three.  I hope they don’t choose May 7th when I’m running the Eugene Marathon.

Motivation.  “”Dreams don’t work unless you do.” – Unknown

I’ve been having some doubts about the wisdom of running Boston when it’s so close to Eugene.  I’ve had it all along and have been pushing myself so hard in part because I want to be fit enough to do it.

What are some of your favorite podcasts?
How do you physically recovery from a tough workout or race?