Training Supplement – November 17, 2016
Bought a few pieces at the New York City Marathon. “The world is but a treat when you’re on Easy Street”. (Sorry.) Mentally, trying to steel myself to train for yet another attempt at sub-3:20 in the marathon. Caught up on podcasts, too.
Clothing & Gear
I bought three pieces at the New York City Marathon Expo.
Outerwear. Asics Storm Shelter Jacket ($145.00). I already own a previous version of this jacket in pink. It’s great for Washington D.C. mornings when it’s not freezing cold but there’s a little moisture in the air. There are vents to let the warm air out if I get overheated. I bought it in white for increased visibility. This jacket is one of my favorite outwear pieces.
Tops. Asics Marathon Pull Over w/Hood ($85.00). I’d been wearing this pull over as lounge wear all week but finally wore it for running on my first day back. I wore it over a light long-sleeve shirt. It was warmer than I thought it would be. The biggest downside is that the pockets don’t have zippers.
Tights. Nike Power Epic Lux Tight ($115.00 but USATF charged $145 for the tights at the expo). I already bought a pair of USA Track & Field tights that just say “USA” But, these were blue instead of black so I bought them.
(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)
Nutrition & Hydration
Weight & Nutrition. I spent the week after the marathon eating everything in sight. So many French Fries! But mostly spicy foods that I denied myself for the past four months like Thai and Mexican food. On Sunday, when I topped 130 pounds, I decided it was time to reign myself in a little. It’s a benchmark I try to keep myself under even though it’s just a few pounds heavier than I’ve been most of the year.
Electrolytes. I ate five Crank Sport e-Gels during the New York City Marathon, which is surely a record. Even though I faded at the end, I think they helped me handle the heat. I may switch to the Accel Rapid Energy Gels during the winter, though, since I’ll be sweating a little less.
Media & Motivation
Music. Sorry to do this to you, but this song from The Walking Dead was definitely the song I listened to the most these past two weeks.
(My “Songs of the Week” playlist on Spotify.)
Podcasts. “New York City Marathon, Parts I and II,” by Pace the Nation. I met up with the podcasts hosts in New York City after the marathon, so I had already heard some of the details. The strangest thing about the evening was that, even though we hadn’t met, I felt like I were were old friends.
“Molly Huddle: Why New York Was the Marathon for Molly,” by RunnersConnect. I enjoy almost anything about Molly Huddle, so this was a treat. I took to heart her advice about focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. I think I want to carry that with me into my next marathon training cycle.
“Running While Female,” by The Runner’s World Show. I thought this was a great discussion of the harassment and safety concerns so many women face when they go out for a run. The women recounted their experiences touching on how they responded and how it made them feel. The men were good, empathetic listeners.
Books. “Science of Running,” by Steve Magness. I put this book away when I reached the “How to Train” section since I was being coached at the time and didn’t want his philosophies messing with what my coach was telling me to do. I picked it up again this week. I’m thinking about following his approach, which isn’t much different than Hudson, when I start crafting my next training plan.
Motivation. “How long should you try? Until.” – Jim Rohn
I’ve been chasing sub-3:20 for a few years now. After another disappointing marathon training cycle, it’s a challenge to mentally prepare to try again.
