Hot, Hotter, Hottest

Linear Trail: Temperature 85 degrees...hottest day of running in a while (Yuck!). Splits 8:55; 8:45; 8:43; 8:56; 8:50; 8:42; 52:51 total for 6 miles; 8:48 per mile pace. (Planned pace was under 9:00).

It was hot. It was humid. I didn't want to run. I know a lot of you can relate to that. Running the NY City Marathon in 101 plus days is a good thing, because it motivates me to suck it up and run. I looked in my box of Hammer product goodies for some pre-run help. I decided to try the Endurolytes, which I had never used before. I took one pill. According to their website, "Cramping is your body's final warning signal that you're on empty electrolyte wise. However, your performance is deteriorating and you are slowing down long before you feel the slightest twinge of a cramp. To keep your body's muscular, digestive, nervous, and cardiac systems firing on all cylinders you need a consistent supply of all electrolytic minerals, not just sodium and potassium. Plus, in many instances, you require greater volumes of electrolytes than any sports drink or gel can provide. That is why Endurolytes fulfills such a crucial component of your fueling by supplying your body with a perfectly balanced, full-spectrum, rapidly assimilated electrolyte source, allowing you to meet your widely variable electrolyte needs with tremendous precision, hour after hour, no matter what the weather throws at you." Sounded good to me, especially I've been feeling like a cramp was coming on at times the past few weeks, plus the warmer temperature. I also mixed up 20 oz. of Heed and stashed it in a bottle in my "tool belt": "HEED's subtle tasting, all-complex carbohydrate formula goes down easily and supplies you with consistent, long-lasting energy and the electrolytes you need to keep pushing the pace. Because we add no citric acid to the formula, it will not burn your throat or stomach no matter how long you drink it. HEED's sweeteners - stevia and xylitol - are actually good for you, xylitol being especially beneficial for helping promote oral health. The full-spectrum, all chelated mineral, electrolyte profile helps satisfy your body's mineral requirements. L-Carnosine and Chromium Polynicotinate help to buffer lactic acid and support stable blood glucose levels. If you prefer sports drinks over energy gels or like to use the two together, try HEED and find out what a sports drink done right can do for your athletic performance." OK, you get the idea.
I started off feeling great. Although it was 85 degrees, running on the Farmington Canal trail makes everything seem so much better. No traffic to dodge, no hills to go up or down, and best of all today, it was the return of drum roll please..."roller blading, disco dancing, karaoke singing, linear trail lady." See my May 20th post for more about her. Strange thing was that she actually was skating normal-no singing out loud or disco dancing. Oh well. Anyhow, I was running a comfortable and effortless pace, just happy to be running on a summer day. I reached mile 1, and Garmin beeped and showed me a respectable time of 8:55. I was off to a good. I was saving my Heed, figuring once I started to feel dehydrated I'd start drinking it. The voice of Lindsay (http://www.chasingthekenyans.com/)always reminds me to properly hydrate ever since I was a "space cadet" a few months ago and she commented in my blog to hydrate AHEAD of time as well as during my runs. Mile 2 came quickly and easily also, and Garmin showed me an 8:45 second mile split. I was running easy, despite the 85 degree temperature, humidity, and not much available shade. I hit a flat, open, full of bright sunshine area of the trail, and started taking drinks of Heed. Around mile 2.3 (Garmin is so precise!), I felt as if I was running on a treadmill with rocks in my pockets. Worse yet, as I approached an elderly couple walking on the other side, I suddenly became light headed, staggered, and regained my balance. ( I swear Lindsay, and everyone else, I drank enough water before my run, and up to that point). I quickly explored my options: a)stop; b)stop and walk; c)run slower and see what happens. Quitting never entered my mind. I went into "marathon mentality." That is, I asked myself "What are you going to do if this happens in the NY City Marathon?" Answer: c)Slow down to a slow jog, regroup, and regain my normal pace (hopefully). So I slowed down, chugged some more Heed, wiped myself off with my favorite small running towel that I carry in my pocket, and cursed myself for not bringing my favorite energy food, my Vanilla Bean GU energy gel. I was hurting, or at least I thought I was. It was left brain vs. right brain, and I was going to make sure that right brain won. (See April 21 for explanation of right and left brain). Right brain was telling me that I could do it, that the Heed and slower pace was going to help revive me, and get my mojo back. Left brain was telling me that I now felt like I had cement shorts on, it felt like a zillion degrees, and I might be better off just walking. I continued on, using the marathon mentality of just put one foot in front of the other, and keep running. My Garmin beeped, meaning I had "finally" reached the 3 mile/turnaround point of my planned 6 mile run. I reluctantly looked at my split time: 8:43. HUH?! I thought I was hallucinating. My 3 mile split was faster than my previous two splits? I don't know how it happened, except maybe I was so spacey that I didn't realize how well I was running. I decided to reward myself for toughing it out, as well as preparing myself for the last half of my run, so I slowed to a walk, chugged some more Heed, toweled myself off, and gave myself a pep talk, all in about 15 seconds. My first thought as I resumed running was that I wasn't going to be able to run a nine minute or better split for mile 4, since I had walked. Right brain reminded me that with the Jeff Galloway method of training, walk breaks help me revitalize and run well. At about the 3 1/2 mile point, I suddenly felt great again. I indeed was revitalized! Thank-you Heed, Endorolytes, and Jeff Galloway. I wasn't feeling quite as well as I did at the start, but at least I had lost the "lead legs." I reached the end of mile 3-4, and was pleased to see an 8:56 split. I still hadn't run a 9 minute split, which was my goal. Better yet, I was now feeling as good as I did at the beginning of my run. I picked up my pace, and reached mile 5 at 8:50. I was now 5-5 with sub 9 minute miles. I certainly wasn't going to run mile 6 slower. I wouldn't allow myself to. I reached for whatever physical and mental energy I had left. I was smiling, and having fun again. I was alert, I was sane, I was almost done in what felt like a short mile. Garmin beeped and rewarded me with my best split of the day: an 8:42. I was finished. I had sucked it up, defeated the heat, humidity, and left brain. It was time for a reward. I headed to 7-11 and celebrated with a 32 oz. Slurpee. As I've said in previous posts, try one sometime after a run on a hot day. It's cold, refreshing, and delivers a wicked brain freeze. P.S. Anybody out in Bloggerland want to do a team relay of 12 runners from Connecticut to Boston??? Check out this link: http://www.ragnarrelay.com/boston/index.php

My Weekly Update

I'm baaaaaack! It's been a crazy week, and I apologize to anyone whose blog I've neglected. I really do make an effort to read and comment on everyone's posts.
This past Sunday was the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Bike Ride. I rode on a team called Simione's Ridemonkeys. My wife works for a company with Simione in its name, and they sponsored the Ridemonkeys team this year. Last year we got cool Ridemonkeys t-shirts. This year we got Ridemonkeys beer mugs. I know Lindsay and "Irish Creme" are jealous! I was psyched because I didn't get the wicked ass ache riding my bike like I did last year. I refuse to buy spandex shorts with built in ass padding. It just isn't right for this 52 year old man. I ride wearing the same clothing that I run in. Also, wearing my Garmin I discovered the "25" mile ride was actually just under 28 miles. Guess how much swearing I did as I reached mile 25, nearly out of water, in the hot sun? Overall, a great experience, and I finished in about 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Tuesday's run was a scheduled 45-50 minutes at a 9:40 per mile pace. I ran for 5.25 miles, and averaged a 9:23 per mile pace. Wednesday was a warm-up of six "Acceleration Gliders" (AG), followed by a 3.6 mile run at an 8:21 per mile pace, which was 19 seconds per mile quicker than necessary. Maybe my new running shoes helped?! I am now wearing the Asics GT-2140 running shoes. They're the first running shoes I've worn that aren't for runners who overpronate when they run. I was mistakenly believing that I overpronated when I ran. My podiatrist told me that I don't, so after three years I'm finally running with the right type of shoe. I really don't notice much of a difference, but I will say my new shoes are very comfortable. Plus the price was right: $76 total at Kelly's Running Warehouse, including free shipping. I wanted to buy the Asics Gel Kayano 15, but $125 was out of my price range. Today's run was a tough one. We had our (almost) end of the year staff party, and of course I drank too much. My training schedule required me to do four to eight AG's, so of course I dogged it and did four. I decided I needed to conserve energy, since my goal was an 8:40 or better per mile pace today. I'm very happy to say that despite sweating large amounts of Coors Light I completed 5 miles in 42:46, for an 8:33 per mile pace. Perhaps I should contact the Coors Brewing Company and see if they'll sponsor me. Hey beer has carbs, right?! By the way, I received 2 different six-pack samples of the Clif Shot Bloks at the bike ride. One was Black cherry, and one was orange. Both are soft and chewy, and tend to stick to my teeth. Both flavors tasted like Jello shots. I felt as if I was chewing on alcohol laced chews. So I won't be buying any Clif products. I'm still loyal to Hammer products, and as I've said before, if you order any of their products, please click on the link to the right, and we both will receive a discount. I must also say that I'm still addicted to the blueberry flavored GU Chomps also. Nice thing about them is they dissolve quickly, and don't stick to your teeth.
**Team Autism Speaks update: I received my first e-mail from them. Check out what I'll be wearing: "We are working with Asics for our team apparel. It will consist of a runners singlet/tank to be worn the on race day as well as a long sleeve unisex top to wear before/after the race. The singlet/tank will be customized on the front with your FIRST name unless you state differently. We place your name across the front so spectators can cheer you along, by name, on race day and the Autism Speaks logo will also be on the front and back." SWEET! Plus I get a free Team Autism dinner the night before the marathon. They also have 2 private buses to take all 125 of Team Autism Speaks runners to the starting line. My fundraising is going well so far. I have raised $40 online, with $15 of it being my own $$. The teacher I work with gave me $50 cash, a co-worker at Weight Watchers contributed $5, and I made $60 at my company party last night by having a 50-50 raffle. So far, I've raised $155. Not bad for my first week. Next Wednesday I'm hosting a cookout at lunchtime at the school I work at, and am selling hot dogs, hamburgers, and soda. I'm hoping to raise $100. If any of you want to contribute, the link is to the right. Just click on it, and it will bring you to my fundraising page. If you would rather mail me a check, e-mail me at cotaman@yahoo.com and I'll give you my address. Also, if you can, please forward my info. to any friends, family, co-workers, fellow bloggers,etc. that may be willing to contribute. Thanks again everyone for your kind and supportive words. OK, time to catch up with what everyone's been up to.

OK, Everybody...PLEASE Support Me!

Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed an unprecedented $128 million in new research funding through 2014 to uncover the cause(s), prevention, treatments and cure for autism, making it the nation's top private funder of autism research. Since my job involves working with students with Autism, I have joined and will run with "Team Autism Speaks" in this year's New York City Marathon on November 1st. This will be my third and last marathon, so I want it to be my most memorable by raising the required $2600.00 in support of Autism Speaks. Please donate to this worthwhile cause as generously as possible. Thank-you in advance for your donation. Rick UPDATE: I'm 52, and no longer wish to spend 6 months of my life training for marathons. Therefore, assuming I run the NY City Marathon, I'm done running marathons. It will be a great way to end it, don't you think?! However, God willing, I will continue to run half marathons and shorter races.

PLEASE follow the link on the right to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Autism Speaks. Thank-you in advance for your support...Rick