Who would you run with?

Jillian at Finishing is Winning has the QOTD on TIART over at Runners Lounge.
You get to run the last six miles of your next marathon with 6 different people. They can be dead or alive; famous or not famous. Who are these people and why did you pick them? Furthermore, why did you pick them for the specific mile you did? Remember, you get an extra .2 miles with runner #6.

Let's see:

Mile 21: DH. I have always enjoyed running with him though I don't think running is his idea of enjoyment at all! I suspect the knee 'injury' he's been having for the past few months is here to stay, so he doesn't have to come up with crisp excuses every time he is wheedled into running with yours truly.

Mile 22: My dad and brothers. Ever since my brothers and I left the nest, every family reunion has involved running...lots of it. And we enjoy running together now more than ever.

Mile 23: Running buddy, Glenn. I always have a blast running with him...and I'm fairly confident he feels the same about me. I hope this mile includes hills, because we do best when we push each other.

Mile 24: Blog buddies. Your running is a big source of inspiration for me. I've run countless virtual miles with you...I would love to run one real mile with all of you.

Mile 25: Joan Benoit Samuelson. She is such an inspiring runner! I am sure I will get my butt handed to me on a plate by her, but I would cherish the opportunity, nevertheless.

The last mile and 0.2: Paula Radcliffe, of course...because if I am running the last mile with Paula, I am most likely in one of the top spots...and I really don't mind coming second to her!

Getting back to reality, I am still struggling with injury issues. I am sure I can run with no pain, but I'd rather not push it. There is this tenderness in the fibula that is annoyingly similar to a previous injury. And I know running through it is NOT the answer. Swimming was going well for a couple of weeks, till I got to a point where I could recognize every speck of dirt and strand of hair in the pool. In the interest of preserving my sanity, I am now mixing things up...a combination of the elliptical, stairmaster and the bike. I still miss running outdoors, especially since this is the time of the year when I enjoy being outdoors the most. But the important thing is, I am still on my feet.

By the way, I was trying to get into my blog this morning and got an error message, that the blog had been deleted. The message went on to say I might have violated the terms of use, etc. Well, I was pretty sure I hadn't been posting pornographic content or even naughty pictures...so I fiddled around a bit (which is what I usually do when I am clueless), and after a few minutes, was able to get in. Have any of you encountered this?

Running For Ken / Training Plan-less

Running For Ken

I cannot believe the NYC Half Marathon is only 2 days away. I have never participated in a race of this size (more than 10,000 runners) and I never would have gone for this, had Ken not been so enthusiastic about it. I got caught up in the excitement. The fact is, I've had no strong emotion about this race at all.

I'll tell you why...

I'm not too keen on
...Schlepping over to the city on Saturday to get my race packet
...Dragging poor, sleepy DH all the way to NYC early Sunday morning (he insists on being there at all my races...I've tried to convince him I can do this on my own)
...Being lost in the midst of a sea of runners (I am mildly claustrophobic)
...No likelihood of a PR (in the middle of August, on the 'hills' of Central Park...are you kidding me???)

Well, I've stopped all the whining now and I am really looking forward to the experience....and here's why.

First, Glenn is lugging himself out of bed at 4 am, and coming all the way to cheer me on. Now, he can't cheer me if I'm not running, can he?

Secondly, this race is practically a runners' red carpet...Paula Radcliffe is going to be there, and so are Deena Kastor, Ryan Hall, Abdi Abdirahman, Catherine Ndereba...you name it! Sigh! I am going to follow Deena Kastor's footsteps...literally!

The third and most important reason is, I am running for Ken. After the excitement of registering for the race, Ken unfortunately had to drop out of the race due to a knee injury. His running record is remarkable. He has been running and racing for several years and has logged in more than 41,000 miles. Practically anything you say to him will spark the narration of a running-related anecdote. This race was going to be his first after a 3-year inury break and having to drop out of it was a big disappointment, but he is taking it like he always does...in the most grown-up and pragmatic way possible. Ken my friend, I know there are still years and years of running and racing in you. But for now, indulge my corniness: let me be your legs and run this race for you.

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Training Plan-less

Today's TiaRT topic on Runners' Lounge speaks directly to me. I have never followed a training plan. Don't get me wrong...I have nothing against training plans. I love looking at training plans other people follow. They just don't work for me. For shorter races (5K to half-marathon), I just keep running the same distances I am used to. For the marathon, my previous attempts at following a specific plan have ended either in injury or in a desire to shoot myself in the foot, so I never have to run again!

One thing I have learned about myself in the process is I am NOT a creature of habit. Though I have painstakingly trained myself to run 5 days a week, I need the flexibility of planning these days as I go along. I cannot awake every morning, knowing I am going to run the same distance as I did the previous day or a distance that has been predetermined. Heck, I cannot even wake up the same time every morning for a run!

I have only run one marathon so far, but this is the structure that has worked for me in the past, and what I feel most comfortable with:

- Pick a goal marathon sometime in the distant future...it could be 6 months from now.
- Set a target weekly mileage to work my way toward.
- Study different marathon training plans, depending on what level I am at, especially paying attention to long runs and speedwork.
- After that, plan each week planned loosely, and modify extensively as I go along.
- At any point in the year, I am either training for a race or building up to it.

The constants are:

- Each week will contain a long run (in my definition, anything above 11 miles).
- Never run more than 3 days in a row.
- Never flout the 10% rule.
- Try my damnedest to listen to every little thing my body tells me, and never push myself beyond what I deem my limits (I strongly believe no one can know your body like you do).

Recently, my running weeks have alternated between one high mileage week (in the mid to high 40s) and one low mileage week (high 20s to high 30s), more out of convenience than effectiveness. But I have noticed my body is responding well to this routine, providing me a fresh pair of legs for every high mileage week.

A typical week looks like this:

Monday: 9-11 miles (medium long run)...substitute with 5-6 miles on low-mileage weeks
Tuesday: 5-6 miles
Wednesday: 12-16 miles (long run)
Friday: 5-8 miles
Saturday: 5-8 miles

By quite frankly, there is no typical week! I switch runs to different days of the week (though I try not to move the long run day, and if I do, I give myself atleast 6 days between each long run). Tempo runs are thrown in the mix, whenever I feel up to them. I try to get trail runs in on weekends, to mix things up a bit. Spinning, swimming, core work and hiking are added whenever possible. I aim for at least 2 cross-training workouts every week. And I wake up every morning with a delicious feeling of uncertainty...how many miles will I run today?

I know this plan may look too random to a more organized runner, but it is a plan that keeps me serious about my running, while having loads of fun. Though I love setting PRs and being the fastest runner I can be, the bottomline is "I Run For Fun"!

Salute to My Running Dad

When I saw this topic announced on TIaRT last week, I knew I had to write about my remarkable running dad.

As long as I can remember, my father has been running. He started running when he was 30, a mile every day. I don't remember the progression, but for a long time, he ran 5 miles, 3 days a week. As with everything else, he was extremely meticulous about running. While we were still sleeping, he would don a T-shirt, shorts and shoes and drive to the beach, park his car by the side of the road, and begin his run. A neatly-ironed pair of pants were placed on the car seat next to him, in case of emergencies (he was a prominent surgeon in the small town we lived in and almost everyone knew him. As he explained, if the car broke down, he would be forced to walk into town, and it would not do his reputation any good to have people see him in running shorts).

My father was always interested in games (he has plenty of stories of the games he won in college, and medals to prove them), but his induction into running was gradual. His passion for a healthy lifestyle was gradual too. He now boasts cleaner eating habits than anybody I know (boasts is right...he takes pride in them). After a back injury left him bed-ridden for a long time and almost crippled him, he began to pay careful attention to stretching and strength training.

He believes in a scientific approach to everything. He still lives in the little town in South India I grew up in, where most people believe that running is only done by professional athletes, and jogging is an activity you indulged in half-heartedly, when your physician pronounced you obese (it's usually a cross between a shuffle and a limp and rarely lasts longer than 20 minutes). Of course, gizmos like Heart Rate Monitors, and gels, energy beans and blocks, well-cushioned running shoes, moisture-wicking clothes and socks are unheard of. My dad still wears cotton shirts and shorts, rubs liquid paraffin on his feet to prevent blisters and wears thick cotton socks in the blistering heat; and he jokes that his 'running' shoes are the most expensive item in his wardrobe.

But he is constantly looking for more information on running, and is willing to try out new running-related products/techniques/concepts. He used to wait until the soles of his shoes wore out completely before replacing them, but has recently started replacing running shoes after a few 100 miles. He has always believed that every run should leave you exhausted, so he was surprised and excited when he heard that unless you are doing a speed workout, you should be able to hold a conversation while running. My dad has been a regular participant at local Veterans Athletic Events for years, competing in the 5K and 10K; on my suggestion, he recently tapered for a 10K race and tried a mild version of carb-loading, after which, he reported that the results were satisfactory.

When we were young, my brothers and I were initiated into my dad's running routine. A couple of days in the week, he would drive us to a local college track. When my dad's alarm went off, we would start inventing excuses to stay in bed. Most of the time, the excuses were ignored, though after we trailed behind him for a mile or so, most of the time half-asleep, we would grudgingly acknowledge how great running made us feel. Later, he built a 150 meter dirt track around the house, so if we missed our morning runs, we could run at any time of the day. I enjoyed participating in races and the adrenaline rush they gave me, but I could not understand why people would run for exercise or for fun. As a kid, I've often wondered how my dad could be up at 4 in the morning, 5 days a week, to run the same boring route he has run for ages. Now, I understand. My parents were part of my cheering team 2 years ago, when I ran my first half marathon. I still remember my dad videotaping the start, and proudly narrating the experience later, to anyone who cared to listen.

My father has been running for about 40 years. There is now a running stadium in my hometown, which he and my mother drive to 4 days a week; my mom walks while my dad runs. My older brother runs and swims when he can. My younger brother is an avid mountain climber/skier and when he can't do either, he is out on long bike rides. And as you know, I am on a mission to run as many miles as possible in a week without getting injured. At family get-togethers, running, table tennis and discussions on fitness are invariably on the agenda. And we all firmly believe The family that plays together, stays together.

Happy Father's Day in advance, dad! I think you'll be happy to know I ran 6 miles on Monday, 5 miles on Tuesday and 6 miles today, all in the pouring rain.

Now, don't forget to head over to The Happy Runner to celebrate her blog birthday and her cool giveaway.

Relays

The TIaRT topic on Runners' lounge and J's post on the topic reminded me of my track running experiences in high school and college. I was a mediocre runner at best, but I took my running very seriously. I participated in 400, 800 and 1500 meter events. And I ran to win. So, track meets meant hard work, sweat, tears, pain, nausea, and at times, exhilaration.

The event closest to my heart was the 4x100 meter relay. It was an event where the sweat, tears, pain and nausea were quartered and shared with 3 others; and the exhilaration was quadrupuled and shared with the same 3 others. I loved the drama of running the relay and the glory of winning it.

In college, the focus shifted to academics and sports was just a diversion. I did attend the rare intercollege competition, but they were low-key events and not a big deal at all. But once a year, our college hosted an athletic/sports event, that was open only to post-graduate students of the college. The number of students totalled 200, and less than one third participated in the events, so finding men and women for each event was challenging. The rule was, if you found enough students to participate in an event, the event was conducted; if not, it was dropped. We didn't have a proper track, so we converted the college soccer field into a rough, dusty 200 meter track, by measuring and marking it with white powder. But despite these 'minor' inconveniences, the competition was intense and spirits were high. It was like our academic rivalries had found physical expression.

Now, the men in every team far outnumbered the women. One year, after evaluating our teams, we discovered there were only 4 girls on our team who were willing to run the women's 4x100 meter relay (and only 2, including me, who had ever run before, let alone raced)! One of us, my best friend, was prone to attacks of wheezing. The other teams were stronger in number, health, and some of them even had a back-up or 2 (but very few had competed in races, so all teams were more or less at the same competitive level). Our team strategized and trained as much as we could for a week (during which time, the 'non-runners' ran for the first time in their lives) and motivated each other. By race day, we were all pumped. My team-mates were confident we had trained well enough to pound the other teams to the ground.

The women's 4x100 meter relay was the last event. We had managed to scrape together 4 teams, and 50% of the women students were participating in this event. There was a lot riding on the relay...scores from other events were tallied and the Best Team trophy would go to the team that won this event. As the first runner in each team took off, the rest of us roared in support. The first and second legs of the relay went off flawlessly, and our team was in the lead. Then, the baton was picked up by the third runner in our team, my friend. She worked her legs faster than I've ever seen her run before, gaining on the other teams, carried along by all the crowd support. But she had covered hardly 20 yards, when she tripped (till this day, we don't know what she tripped on...her own feet?) and came hurtling to the ground. The impact of the fall, the physical exertion and the dusty track brought on a wheezing attack. She lay wheezing for a few seconds, too shocked to move. All the other runners passed her. Everyone went silent. Then when she moved and seemed to be unhurt, the cheering started again...this time, everyone was encouraging her to get up and run. I thought our race was over, so my jaw dropped as I saw her rise, a fierce determination lighting her eyes, and race all the way to where I was waiting at the final baton exchange. In the final leg, I was able to beat 2 other runners, and our team bagged second place, but nobody cared about the trophy anymore. We were too busy celebrating the hero of the day.

And that was my long-winded way of saying, you GOTTA LOVE RELAYS!

Running Injuries and Treatment

Every runner can write pages about today's TIaRT topic...Running Injuries and Treatment.

Most of us have been injured at some point. Some of us suffer severe injuries while others are tortured by persistent, nagging pains. Running builds into us a higher pain threshold than normal, so we learn to ignore slight twinges, and sometimes even run through severe pain. Eventually, we all learn to live with injuries, accept them as part of a runner's existence and a small price to pay for the health, well-being and runners' high we get in return.

Since I started increasing my weekly mileage, I have been frequently visited by injuries. Of the minor, nagging kind. It started with achilles tendonitis a year ago. That's when I realized the benefits of cross-training and started adding swimming, biking and core stregthening exercises to my workouts. Recently, I recovered from tendonitis in my left foot, which was soon replaced by tendonitis in the right foot. I am still struggling to find the exact cause of these injuries, but they were most likely the result of more speed or steeper hills than I could manage. I had switched from running 4 days a week to 5 days a week last October, after which both these injuries occured, so I am considering going back to running 4 days a week for a while. I stretch, but I always wonder if I stretch enough. Dealing with injury involves understanding your body better, learning to take things easy and altering goals when necessary. It is a learning process.

I am sure all of us have spent hours on the internet, agonizing and self-diagnosing; visiting the sports doctor, then doubting his/her prognosis/treatment. I have done all this. I have nursed myself back to health each time with RICE, stretching, healthy eating habits, lots of sleep, balanced workouts. This week, as I return to running after my most recent foot injury, I am forcing myself to go slow; and trying to remember that the best possible treatment for injury is good old common sense.

Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: Spinning, BodyWorks
Thursday: 5 miles + swimming 1000 yards

Running & Blogging

Now it's my turn to suffer a dry spell or blogger's block as coined by the word-adept Felice.

So, I have been patiently waiting for Thursday to try out a solution other word-deprived bloggers have found effective - Runners' Lounge's TIaRT. And thankfully, this time, the topic is not Technology Tips (I am a technological neanderthal) or Tips for getting faster (I am woefully slow) or How to Qualify for Boston (I wouldn't know...sigh!). This time, it's something right up my alley, having bared my soul for the past 8+ months on this blog...Running Blogs - How and Why?

How to blog...well, even a chimpanzee can start a blog, given a computer and pointed to blogger.com, so I won't pretend to be the authority on this. And as long as you stick to the general theme and maintain a steady stream of semi-relevant posts (everyone is allowed to ramble once in a while, no?), voila...you're a blogger!

Let me focus on why.

I started a blog, tentatively at first, to track my runs and report my race experiences, as most runners do. Soon, I felt confident enough to branch out to other topics...food, books, travel and other random events and experiences that fill my life. But the central focus has been and will remain, running.

Why do I keep blogging? Because I love this amazing virtual community I have discovered and become a part of. I never realized there were so many crazy running fanatics out there, who identify themselves as runners and derive comfort and pleasure from the number of miles they've run. Heck, I am beginning to think, I may not even be as crazy as I thought!

Blogging has become my morning cup of joe.
I chuckle as I read your posts....they brighten my day.
I draw inspiration from talented, seasoned, hard core runners, who brave the elements to get their workouts in.
I look forward to Mondays, to read Race Reports.
Posts on food make me drool.
I enjoy reading about your lives and lifestyles...you might as well be celebrities.
I am constantly learning tips and tricks of the trade, how to deal with injury, how to run faster (oh, I promise you, I will get faster!).
As I run, spin or drive, my mind is churning out blog posts.
Blogging keeps me accountable. I have to run, so I can blog about running.

Ah, my blogging family, what would I do without you?

Swimming is the answer

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, blog buddies! I owe much to you. You see, in my pre-blog days, if I was injured, I would have just moped around, been a grouch and polished off all the chocolate in a 100 yard radius.

But now, seeing you all so perky and full of life and energy has given me a fresh new perspective. After work, DH & I headed to the gym for a nice hour-long swim. We figured the gym would be crowded from 5-7 pm, so we went at 8...but it was so packed, we had to drive around a bit to find a parking spot. I cannot believe so many people work out at that time! I haven't swam since September, so I felt rusty and slow, but with a couple of breaks, I managed to flap about for an hour. I am sure you'll get a kick out of watching me swim...I am a comical and inefficient swimmer. I've never taken swimming lessons and am a self-taught swimmer (er...not that I call myself a swimmer!). But, I don't care...I love the water and it felt so good to get my cardio...I've missed it so much these past 4 days!

The only problem with the late workout is an even later dinner. Dinner time is usually anywhere between 6:30 and 8, but today it had to wait till after 9. I've tried eating earlier, but if I do, I end up having 2 meals instead of one!

Somehow, swimming makes me hungrier than running. I was ravenous by 9 pm. Dinner was Top Ramen noodles, cooked with mixed veggies, egg and curry powder, and stir-fried onions and potatoes. It took 20 minutes to prepare and was quite tasty. Of course, by then anything would've tasted delicious!

I am late again for Take It and Run Thursday...but couldn't resist commenting when I saw the theme...Running Dreams & Wishes. Hmm...what would an injured runner wish for?

I wish I could keep on running for as long as humanly possible...with no concern about running style; with no orthotics, arch supports, braces, inserts...damn, I wish I could run with no shoes!!!

Running and Living Green

Thursday is almost over. I have been assigned a project at work that is consuming most of my waking hours and will most certainly take over my life for the next few weeks at least.

But I really feel the need to contribute to this week's Take it and Run Thursday at Runners' Lounge. This subject is very appropriate for someone like me. I'll explain why.

I am not the most environmentally conscious person you will find. This does not mean I don't care about the environment...I really do. I am grateful for the wonderful world we live in and am constantly amazed by it's beauty. What would we do if we didn't have lovely wooded paths and untouched mountain trails to run on?

It's just that I happen to be one of those people so wrapped up in the joys and challenges of everyday living that I sometimes tend to forget that the world around me needs loving nurturing. There, I said it.

I am not entirely at fault, though. I do a few things unconsciously that can be considered 'green' (only some of them are associated with running, but might as well add them to the list).

- Wasting things bothers me. I never fully grasped the concept of a disposable society. Except toilet paper and paper towels, everything else at home is reused - including water bottles, grocery bags and take out containers (OK, just the plastic ones). I recycle my running shoes (or reuse them as walking shoes).

- Since I started running, most of my grocery shopping is done at the Farmer's Market (that counts, right?)

- I am not a shopaholic. I have one pair of work shoes that I will wear till they are worn out on the outside (the inside doesn't matter; I can live with that). Now, running shoes, they are a different matter!

- One of my pet peeves is littering in public. I cannot stand it when people casually toss garbage by the side of the road, just because they are too lazy to find a trash can. I try to pick up trash that I find strewn about, but don't do it often enough. I carry banana peels or used GU packs with me on long runs, until I can find a trash can to toss them in.

- I recycle - though I admit, I don't do it all the time. Laziness often takes over.

- I have never calculated my carbon footprint, but am willing to bet the amount of greenhouse gases I leave in my wake are less than those produced by the average individual living in the United States.

- I rarely fly

- I drive a battered Hyundai Accent 4-door that has absolutely no snob appeal and gives me close to 35 miles per gallon on the highway.

But, in the spirit of making a conscious attempt to go green, when my faithful Accent finally gives up, I will buy a hybrid car.