Saturday, May 19, 2007

Of Gloves and Gatorade, Gu and Gummie Bears

ORN: 18.0 miles, 3:12:22, 10:40/mile, R4/W1

Life is complicated. Witness
Darrell trying to find a doctor to see him when he happens to be in town. Witness David trying to manage the hectic end of a school year. Witness your own life. It’s nuts. It is often too complex.

So, I was in a receptive mood to read
Money-Saving Tips for Runners from the Complete Running Network last week. There were some good simplification tips in the money saving ideas as well.

I really like my $1 cotton gloves from the hardware store. I was out the door this morning at 6:20am in calm 51 degree temps with my
Portland Marathon Finisher's Shirt and my $1 gloves. It was perfect. I have a pair of $15 polyester gloves with a cool logo on them and I really like the simple gloves better. And if I lose them, so what???

I have mixed my own Gatorade for a couple of years now and suggested that as an additional money saving tip. Why buy water? Plus, I can make the concentration that works for my stomach. I strapped on my
Thunderbolt belt with 20 oz of Gatorade and was off.

With the bounce-back process I’ve been working on, I haven’t done a lot of really long runs. A year or so ago, I always packed a Gu or two to gulp down along the way. But the CRN article got me thinking about if this was necessary. Nearly two years ago, I remembered
the Running Chick wrote about her secret weapon; Gummie Bears for sugar input. I decided to pull those in, rather than the $1/pack Gu.

And the simplification worked, at least today. The schedule called for 17 miles. I messed up figuring my turn-around point and ended up with 18 and glad of it. I did a consistent 4/1 run/walk ratio and felt very good. I took a couple of swigs of Gatorade every other walk break. I popped a Gummie Bear about once a mile. I ended with gas in the tank, even though I was about 25 seconds/mile faster than what Galloway specifies for long runs; I could have easily done a few miles more. Further, this evening I umpired the plate at a Little League game tonight and the legs felt fine. Amazing. What a gift to run pain free. I am so grateful.

Two weeks to the
Sunburst half marathon. Speed work next Saturday, then a short taper and we go for a sub 2 hour halfsie.

Persevere. And simplify, where possible.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I use both gummys and gels. I let the gummys get hard. Then when I take them I let them slowly dissolve. That way the last longer and the sugar effect is "time-released".

Wes said...

Gummie bears! Who'd a thunk it :-) Nice job on the 18 miler! That's longer than my longest. I'm looking forward to starting my marathon training at the end of summer. Sub-2 half is in the works... Sweet. Can't wait.

IronWaddler said...

I love the gummy bears- I also use Gushers. Great run.

Unknown said...

It sounds like you are back to full speed. I like the money saving tips as well. I often use gummy bears at ultras and love the treat at the Portland Marathon. I am never prepared enough to actually plan to have them on a training run with me though.

Backofpack said...

I like my soy milk and pnut butter crackers. Strange, but it works for me - either a couple swigs of soymilk or one cracker with some water or iced tea on every walk break gives me a steady flow of energy, plus my delicate tummy can handle it. I might add some gummies just for fun though!

Darrell said...

Life IS complicated but life IS good, too.

Running 18 miles, painfree, and baseball in the same day. You must be one happy gentleman.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder that life can be simple!

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Anonymous said...

Nice run. Even though I have run a few marathons, it still amazes me when I think of running 15+ and then going on with life that day like nothing happened. Sounds like you are ready to roll in your upcoming half. Make that sub 2 happen!

Sarah said...

Glad you are enjoying the simple life! My tube socks arm warmers (6 pr for $6) worked well for me at my last ultra. I even carried them with me this time instead of dumping them when I didn't need them any longer. Sounds like your training is progressing nicely. I think a sub 2 hr 1/2 is in the cards! : )

David said...

Sub two HRS is cake. If you're running 18 milers with gas left in the tank and all you have to do is run a measley 13.1, then this is a no brainer. You are pain free. You are in command. You will persevere (on the cheap too).

Unknown said...

great post, joe!

i'm all about the cheepie gloves, too. you're going to have a great race, i FEEL it in the confidence you write with.