Training Supplement – July 1, 2018

This post is more travel heavy than most because I took a cruise through Scandinavia and Russia last week.  But, I also tried a few more clothing and gear options before I start training for the 2018 New York City Marathon.

Clothing & Gear

Socks.  Balega Ultralight No Show.  The Hidden Comfort is my favorite sock but I thought I’d try two of the brand’s lighter socks so that most of the cushion under my feet this summer would be coming from my shoes.  This sock certainly fit the bill for that purpose.  It fits well and cuts right under my ankle.  There aren’t any seams that would irritate my feet and the fabric is comfortably soft.

Balega Weightless Hidden Dry.  The other model I tried is essentially a liner sock; it doesn’t provide any cushion.

Sunglasses.  Goodr Running Sunglasses.  I got these sunglasses in my March 2018 Runner’s World Box.  They are very comfortable and are great for protecting the eyes on sunny days.  The moment I took them off after a run, the world was super orangey.  And at $25, it’s no wonder they are currently sold out online.

Shoe deodorizers.  Granger’s Odor Eliminator.  In addition to the active wash detergent, I got a bottle of shoe deodorizer in the February 2018 Runner’s World box.  I’ve been spraying it in my shoes (and my armband and heart rate monitor strap) for several weeks now.  It is cutting down the offensive smells a little, but I think a can of Lysol might be just as effective.

(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)

Nutrition & Hydration

Nutrition.  Last week, I went on a seven-day cruise to Scandinavia and Russia.

I allowed myself one last week of splurging before starting my training for the 2018 New York City Marathon but wondered how I would have fared if I was minding my diet.

• The ship had a buffet for breakfast and lunch.  Nutritional values weren’t readily available however, there were plenty of healthy, low-calorie choices.  For example, there was always a fruit and cereal in the morning, and a plentiful salad bar in the afternoon.
• Dinner in the dining room was a fixed menu.  However, there was usually one fish and vegetarian option.  And, the kitchen seemed flexible.  My friend asked for some vegetables one evening and got a full plate of carrots, broccoli, and asparagus.
• Finally, the all-you-can-drink package meant I drank more alcohol and juice than I might have otherwise.

Routes

Tracks.  I hoped to do some runs on the ship’s “track” during the cruise but it was only about 0.13 miles long!  The treadmills offered sweeping views of the ocean but sometimes, they seemed to lean during rough seas.

Water Fountains.  “Where to Get a Drink on the Run Around D.C.,” by RunWashington.  This is an update to a previous article on this topic.  Runners are leaving comments on water fountains that aren’t working, which is also helpful.

Parks.  Gunston Park.  I needed to do drills after a recovery run a few weeks ago and remembered there were astro-turf fields near the Four Mile Run Trail.  I noticed there were several porta-potties and bathrooms by the tennis bubble.

Media & Motivation

Music. “Good Life,” OneRepublic.  During my vacation, I fully appreciated how good my life is.  Not Peter the Great good with a palace like the Peterhof, but not bad.

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

News.  “A Runner Was Detained After She Accidentally Ran Across the Canadian Border and and Into the U.S.,” CBC News.  This story made headlines in several news sources.  Something didn’t quite seem right about the brief articles on the story I read so I found this longer version.  Ultimately, the take away for me is to definitely know where I’m going if my running route might takes me near an international border.  (Also, kudos to CBC News for referring to her as a “runner”.)

“‘Wonder Woman 2’ Starring Gal Gadot Casting Call for Joggers“.  Apparently, there will be a scene involving “joggers” in the next Wonder Woman film.  The advertisement notes, “You may be required to jog over and over multiple times. So please don’t apply if your not fit enough to do this.”  How much mileage are they talking about?  I hope someone I’m following on Strava gets picked for this so I will find out.

Podcasts.  “BethAnn Telford Ran Around the World to Raise Awareness and Spread Hope,” Diz Runs.  This was a great retelling of what it was like running the 2017 World Marathon Challenge while fighting a brain tumor.  What a strong woman!

“Race Recovery Nutrition with Dr. Art Zemach and Tailwind Nutrition,” Run to the Top.  The title of the podcast is a bit deceptive because the episode is about recovery, generally and not just limited to races or Tailwind.  This podcast covered why runners need recovery drinks (22:20) and when we need them (38:10).

My life expanded quite a bit during my vacation.  I’m back home and will start training for the 2018 New York City Marathon tomorrow!