Elite Training Ground?

When you think of American cities that are home to this country's elite distance runners, places like Mammoth Lakes, Boulder, Albuquerque and Flagstaff come to mind.  Nike's Oregon Project would also be on the list.  What do these places have in common?  

Well, altitude for one.  Great coaches for another.  And a community of great distance runners to train with and compete against.

Much as I love the running community here in Chicago, we just don't have the natural attributes of those other places to attract the world's best runners to live and train here.    

So what is one of the country's best women marathoners doing here?  Well, Tera Moody
just loves Chicago.  So last fall, after spending years living in Boulder where she went to college, she made the move back home to Chicago.  She grew up in St. Charles, and was a high school star who developed into a world class marathoner after college.

She's been on the U.S. team for the world championships, and just missed making the team in the 2008 Olympic trials.  And she's running stronger than ever now.  

But she'll be doing it on her own a great deal of the time.  Fortunately, she is well equipped to do just that.  She tells me she will be consulting with her coach often, but she is really self-coached to a great extent.  And her training is different than many of the other elites in places like Boulder.  For instance, she does much of her running on a Treadmill.

In fact when she takes an easy, recovery day, it's easy enough that she can run with some old, slow guy like me!  Full disclosure time.  Not only am I a big fan of Tera's, but I'm proud to call her my friend as well.

She has run some strong races already this year in Houston and last weekend in Florida.  But she will be making a local appearance in April at the Shamrock Shuffle.  So I asked her for some advice in this space to those of mortals in training for that big rite of spring race.  It's especially challenging this year, given our brutal winter!

 

TM:  I don't necessarily think the winter has to mean slower times for the shamrock shuffle although that may me the case for the majority of the field.  I definitely think there are ways to keep in top shape even in bad weather.  You can utlilize the treadmill or indoor track for faster paced workouts and make cardiovascular gains through cross training (swimming, stationary bike, elliptical, etc).  Also I think tougher weather can actually help those that tend to overdo it avoid overtraining and injury since its not as tempting to add on in brutal conditions.  

 

JG:  What about those beginners who might be running Shamrock for the first time?

 

TM:  For those that are unsure about completing the distance the big key is putting in the training.  If they can slowly build up to the distance before race time that will give them the confidence they can make it.  Also having the crowds and adrenaline will help a ton on race day.  People need to be prepared which means getting out there for the training NOW and not waiting until the last minute. 

 

JG:  What's up with your treadmill training?  Like most runners I know, I only use the treadmill as a last resort.

 

TM:  I LOVE the treadmill and use it in my training all the time.  Its such a great tool.  One of the biggest factors is that I don't have to worry about slipping and falling on ice and I know what the weather conditions will be.  I can run as early as I want to in the morning without having to worry if it is safe.  I can also change shoes for faster intervals and have my water bottle and gels right there for a long run.  I know there is a bathroom nearby if necessary and there isn't risk of getting lost.  For hard workouts I can just set the pace and not think about it.  I just have to keep up.   If something feels off or starts hurting I can stop immediately without having to walk several miles home.  I also find running long a good mental challenge since there is the option of just pressing stop.  I think it helps especially for marathon preparation.  A few times I have run on a treadmill next to a friend and it was a great way to train together even if we weren't running the same pace.  As you can probably tell I am a huge fan of them but I also really enjoy the outdoors.   I just love to run. 

 

And we're glad you're doing it in Chicago.  Welcome home Tera!

 

See you on the roads...........

 

 

 

Deal With the Cold!

You know it's been a tough winter when your thermometer reads 4 degrees at the start of your run, and you are excited that the conditions don't seem too bad.  During a normal winter, that temperature would call for a decision on whether to even attempt to run the 12.5 mile Barrington loop.  But on this day, we were all apparently pretty well conditioned already to the even colder temperatures this winter, because no one flinched.

The sun was out, there was little wind, and it felt relatively nice.  Except that I could barely feel my feet for the first few miles.  But that's nothing compared to some of the conditions we've had to deal with this winter.  I didn't even wear all my 'extreme cold' running gear.  At least there was no new snow, and the roads provided pretty good traction.

I hadn't been to Barrington since last month, when we put together a 13.1 mile course that constituted the 12th and final half marathon of 2013 for me.  On this day, however, we had a lot of company.  There were more than a hundred runners from the Boston-bound group organized by Chicago Endurance Sports who were going 18 miles that morning.

I had to admit I did a double take.  18 miles in February.  Now that's commitment!  But I guess the Boston marathon is about two months away, and the training has gotten to the serious stage for anyone who is preparing for what will surely be an historic, emotional run in April.  We got to run with a couple friends in that group for a while before we headed for home while they continued for several more miles.  

My friend Tom and I talked about that as we battled the hills in Barrington.  We've both run Boston before, but are not going out there this year.  In fact, neither one of us has really set any goals yet this year.  I guess I'm waiting to see if something will come to me out of the blue that strikes me as something I'd like to accomplish in running this year.  So far that hasn't happened, other than my usual goal of staying healthy, and continuing to get enjoyment out of the sport.

Running the hills of Barrington in four degree weather might seem to be a perverse way to get enjoyment.  I have no argument.  But I can say that the runners in my group get a real sense of accomplishment from a run like that.  There's nothing like hills and a long, tough course to make you feel like you have earned your breakfast that day!

I've often written about how beautiful it is to run in Barrington in any season.  In the fall the colors of the leaves are beautiful  In the spring, the trees are getting ready to sprout those leaves, and it they hold the promise of summer.  In the summer, they help shield you from the sun.  

Winter, though is when the trees have shed their leaves for a few months.  They are not there to shield you from the wind, of the bright sun.  The bare trees provide no privacy for some of the homeowners along the course.  

But it is perhaps more beautiful in winter than at any other time of the year.  It is also a great time of the year to run.  There are few cars out, and the runners who are out there are the pretty serious.  I guess that just makes sense.  

In any case, I'm not going to attempt to give you tips for running in the cold.  Whether you try it or not is likely a decision you've made long before now.  I'm always a little amused at some of my non-runner friends who express dismay that some of us run outside in the serious cold.  I guess you have to do it to understandeven in a tough winter like this, it's a great feeling to be able to get out and run in the cold.

But once you do it, watch out.  You might get hooked.

See you on the roads.........

Flying into 50

 

The number on my treadmill says it all.  I'm not big on birthdays.  I have nothing against them, but I'm one of those people who feel pretty blessed every day.  Birthdays are just another day to count those blessings.  So, while my family and some dear friends helped me celebrate my 50th birthday in overwhelming style Saturday night, I planned no big stunts.  I realize lots of people celebrate landmark birthdays in many different ways.  Some run marathons or other distance events equivalent to their number of years.

Well, I was not about to run 50 mles on my birthday just to say I did it.  The fact is, I probably couldn't!  But as I drove home from work Friday night, on the eve of my birthday, I hatched a small plan with a friend to at least enter my new decade doing something I love to do.

So I dedided to run 5.0 miles on the treadmill right at midnight.  I'm not a huge treadmill fan, but I'm even less a fan of running outside in sub-zero temperatures in the dark.  So the treadmill it was.  I had a little incentive to help me get through it.  New running products to try!  Two necessities for the treadmill for me:  Shoes and earbuds!

I got a pair of the latest shoe from New Balance Chicago, the New Balance Fresh Foam 980, just that morning.  It's a lightweight, neutral, cushioned shoe that uses new technology to shave ounces from the weight, but still provide support and cushion.  At least that's what New Balance says.

I found that to be mostly true.  Though I've worn shoes offer a softer ride and more cushion, this shoe offered support and a good fit.  Check.

I don't know how people train consistently on a treadmill.  A number of my friends are avid treadmill runners, but more are like my friend who calls it the 'dreadmill'.  It's a necessary evil sometimes.  And Friday night at midnight was one of those times for me.  So the best way to endure it is with good music.  And the new Relays ear buds by Sol Republic provided a great way to listen to that music.  They are lightweight, stick firmly in my ears, and delivered really good sound quality.  check.

I generally go with pretty cheap earphones, and get pretty predictable results.  The sound quality is poor, and I'm fidgeting with them the whole time to keep them from falling out.  That was not the case with the Relays.  They helped me get through an otherwise boring run in my basement!

So back to the run.  There's really not much to report about a run on the treadmill.  I ran pretty easy and didn't fall off!  But I did note the personal significance of starting a news decade doing what I love.  I did not, however, take stock of my life at this age in some reflective way.  I'd like to think I do that pretty regularly anyway.  I feel pretty blessed to have my health, and ability to run and do other sports throughout my life.  That feeling applies to other areas of my life as well.  My young children keep me feeling younger than I used to think 50 should feel.  I'm incredibly fortunate and grateful.

But at this point, I'm moving forward.  There are  races to be run, new roads and trails to conquer, and adventures to enjoy.  I have to admit my speedier days are probably behind me, but you can always improve your fitness at whatever level you are.  I hope to continue doing that.

Maybe I'll write another entry like this in another 50 years.

See you on the roads.........

 

Midnight Madness!

As we were running down Wells street at midnight Friday... a number of folks walking from one bar to another offered comments.  Something about how crazy we were.  They were probably right!  Friday night is probably a more typical time to be out enjoying yourself with friends or maybe safely tucked away in bed.  It's not the time when you would normally see more than a hundred runners in brightly colored clothing running down the snow and slush covered sidewalk.  But that's what we were doing Friday.

Some of us were also posing for pictures with astronauts.  Well, sort of.  The costumes were part of the release of the newest Brooks Running shoe, the Transcend.  So the mascot was actually called 'Transcend-a-naut.  Kind of a futuristic theme for the shoe, which boasts new technology to make it the company's most cushioned shoe.  Despite the cushioning, however, they say it is also light, and technically in the 'stability' category.  

I didn't get a chance to try it, but the concept sounds great.  I wear neutral stability shoes, but I also like cushioning.  From what I gather, that is the largest market of shoe buyers these days.

But back to the run.  Running is supposed to be about fun.  That's always been my philosophy.  But there is also an element of crazy to it. I would argue the event at Fleet Feet Sports in Old Town qualified as both.

They had pace groups for everyone from 7:30 to 11:00 minute milers.  Everyone headed out to the Lakefront path through the Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot to the turnaround spot, a hot chocolate stop at the Brooks truck.

It was a pretty easy three mile jog, but doing it on Friday night after I got off work at 10:30 made it more interesting.  And the fact that we got some fresh snow that night to go with the several inches of slush already on the path, made it challenging.

But despite that, they had a great group of runners show up.  We were rewarded with a fun party back at the store when we returned.  They had the store wrapped in laser lights, with food and beverage tables set up.  So we got our fill of Friday night partying without guilt, since it was preceded by a run!

Brooks apparently hosted launch parties like this in several cities around the country Friday night.  From what I'm told, however, the Chicago event was far and away the best.  I'm sure that's in large part because the running community in Chicago is dedicated and fun.  In fact, some of the runners who did the midnight run made it back out Saturday morning for their regular long runs.  That goes to prove we can take our training seriously, but still have a little fun!

See you on the roads..............