One of the great things about running a "goal" race is getting some new duds for the big day. It's a great way to reward yourself for all the hard work. I am sure Wendy B. can explain more about this!
Anyway, if you want to go out and buy yourself a cool running outfit, or cool new shoes for that matter, for our races coming up, make sure you buy them in the near future. This will give you a chance to wear them before the race so you can make sure they fit properly and are broken in by race day. You never know, but a new outfit might just "rub" you the wrong way.
And this is especially important for shoes. The last thing you want to do is break in a new pair of shoes during a half marathon.
Any other advice from our half vets?
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If you're going to buy new kicks and/or new threads I recommend buying the same shoes you currently have now, just a different color. That way you should be safe after you've broken them in. And go with a gear brand or style that you're familiar with in an updated color/style. If it's the same fabric it'll likely work the same way for you. But Debi is right. Check the seams.
Tim was tired enough from his 12 mile run that I was able to drag him out shopping for new shoes and a new shirt! Now I just have to get those miles built up before race day!
Looking forward to the 7 mile run next week. That'll be my longest distance since the Frostbite 10-miler!
I just stumbled across your blog looking for info on Abe's Army....I'm getting inspired to be a healthy, sleek runner, but right now I'm an overweight couch potato! Where can I get info about the Abe's Army training?
gretchen@uiscsf.org
Anyone dare to predict the weather on April 1? It would help in deciding whether to get long sleeve/short sleeve, number of layers, etc.
What has the weather been like the last few years???
Where does everyone go to get good running gear at a good price?
gretchen lee, Abe's Army typically kicks off around Memorial Day. Keep checking www.srrc.net for the announcement.
And BTW, it is a GREAT program which was created by none other than Tim Butler.
And it's for all levels of runner's. As a former 40 something couch potato until last May doing my first Abe's Army, I can attest that if you follow the program you will be amazed at how strong you become - both mentally and physically! Last year I couldn't run around the block without getting winded - now I'm training for a half marathon. It's hard, hard work. But the support of these groups keeps me going!
And to what Debi said above - I agree with the mental aspect of running this long distance. If I can convince my mind that my body can go the distance, then I will be successful. I want to enjoy each and every step, though, not just the finish line!
Kohl's has some great active wear (drifit type), but you have to search for it. The prices are very good.
The weather is tough to predict for April 1. It seems to me that it is cold and windy more often than not for this race. Even if it is not cold, you can probably count on wind this time of year. And large portions of this course are run along open farm fields, so you notice the wind much more than you would in town.
Of course, all you have to do is look at this week's forecast. It looks like we'll be up in the 60s.
And last year, I ran the St. Louis half marathon the week after the LM. The high temp that day was 84! The weekend before, it was cold and blustery. So you never really know.
Of course, I guess that is all the more reason to buy clothes for all types of weather!
Barry are you sucking up??...LOL You still have to run the WHOLE thing..Just kidding,at least you will have tunes!
Of COURSE I'm sucking up! I keep hoping if I suck up enough he'll actually post a photo with me in it . . . fat chance!
We will make sure we are in a photo for the next posting!
Barry, you are in the photo by Circut City!
Target has a line of Champion running gear that's dri-fit. Jenn Gleeson is sporting some of it in the pic of me, Debi and her. She always finds some cute stuff from there. It's priced a little more reasonable than Nike, Adidas, UnderArmour, etc.
I've found some good brand name running gear deals at TJ Maxx from time to time too. I got a pair of UnderArmour capris there and some Nike tights and a few dri-fit shirts. All under $15. You've got to have the time and patience to look through alot of other junk to find it though.
But hey! Isn't everyone wearing their new HalfWits shirts for the race???
As far as weather, every time I've ran that race there was wind in my face at every turn. Last year was pretty warm and I actually thought about taking off my running pants and running in my dri-fit briefs. That would've been scary. They would've clear the way at the finish line for me and I probably would have had a better time.
I'd come prepared with a few layered options and decide what to wear right before the race. It might be a good race to have a "throw away" shirt to wear.
I have a couple of the Champion C9 gear and you can see them online at http://www.c9bychampion.com. The women's shorts have a different liner than most and are more comfortable. Their stuff has held up extremely well for me.
But the most important thing to dress yourself in is your attitude in that you're going out there to do your best. We've got an awesome support system with each other in this group and regardless of our "time", many of us have never attempted to run a half marathon - completing it is an accomplishment all in itself. No matter what clothes we wear, we'll all look like champions by just putting one foot in front of the other and remembering how far we've come to get to this step in our running journey.
I stumbled accross this tonight:
No Need For Speed: Going With The Flow
Why runners should set their sights on their next steps, instead of where they've already been
by: John Bingham
It's been said that you can never put your foot in the same river twice. Rivers are alive, flowing, and in constant motion. The river that was there a moment ago is long gone. The same is true for music, art, and movies. We never really hear the same song twice or see the same piece of art twice. What we bring to a second or third or hundredth exposure to a song or a painting is always different than the time before. We bring memories, feelings, and sensations. And the effect is cumulative.
Why is it then that runners think they can run the same route or same race twice? And why do runners think that comparisons made between running the same distance on different courses, on different days, has any validity at all?
You know what I'm talking about. I've done it, and I'm sure you have, too. We run our favorite route one day, then run it again a couple days later and beat ourselves up because we've finished a few seconds (or minutes) slower. Or we congratulate ourselves because we've run it a few seconds (probably not minutes) faster.
I hear these comparisons at races all the time. Someone will tell me, "I ran this race five minutes faster than last year," as if it's verifiable proof that they are "better" than they were a year ago. Even worse, I'll talk to runners who are completely down on themselves because they ran the race slower than last year.
The thing is, you can't run the same race twice. You can't possibly recreate the exact circumstances on race day. You can't have the same weather, the same people around you, the same amount of sleep, food, or sports drink. You just can't.
You also can't have the same training season twice. Your good and bad days will inevitably shift thanks to life. Your new job, new baby, or new focus on running will determine whether you get in more or less miles, do more or less speedwork, and arrive at the starting line more or less prepared than the year before.
It's not that all relativity is bad. It's fun to compare times. And it's certainly helpful to look at the past and try to figure out what might and might not have worked in your training program.
But it's just as important to remember that each footstrike carries you forward, not backward. And every time you put on your running shoes you are different in some way than you were the day before. This is all good news, since we have no control over the kind of runner we were in the past, yet we have a fair amount of control over the kind of runner we want to become.
In the future, will you be a faster runner? Probably, if you make weekly speedwork a priority. Will you be able to run farther? Most likely, if you gradually increase your weekly mileage. You have a say when you focus on where you're trying to go instead of where you've been.
Waddle on, friends.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-187-0-0-9342,00.html
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