take it and run thursday: basics of running

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I am part of a little online running community called Runners’ Lounge. There is also a blog by the same name. Today the blog is doing an experiment called Take It and Run Thursday and the topic is the basics of running. They have invited runners (any runners) to share on our blogs what we think to be the fundamentals of running. As such, I have decided to share a list of items that I feel are essential to beginning the long journey to the marathon. I have shared this before, but in this post, I will include links to everything, as well as a song or two. Now, the things I’m listing are the items/activities that worked for me as a non-runner. Just opinions, not science. And no, I have not been paid by any of these companies (I wish), so this is free advertising for them. These are REAL endorsements.

  1. As you start on your journey, or in preparation of it, I’d recommend a little light reading, The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training. Besides being helpful, this book is quite entertaining and well written. It does scare you just a bit, but my experience ended up being quite a bit less painful than the author’s, which left me feeling totally satisfied.

  2. Pick a race that allows you a realistic time line for training. And in order to do that, you need to know what your time line is. For that, I’m a fan of Hal Higdon’s training guides.

  3. Shoes. This is not somewhere to skimp. Find your local running store. In Utah County, Runner’s Corner is my store of choice. You go, try on shoes, run in them. You’ll discover your footfall and the best shoes for you. And, really, they try to keep the prices as competitive as possible.

  4. For women who are at all endowed (in running, having a flat chest is definitely a great advantage): A good sports bra. My personal favorite, Champion® Vapor™ Seamless Sports Bra. I love it! No chaffing problems, as there are no seams, and it offers great support.

  5. A running buddy. Even if you don’t actually run together, you need someone who is counting on you and who is supporting you. For me, it’s the aforementioned Anne. We live on opposite sides of the country, but through my friend and yours, the Internet, we are able to share the joys of running, and keep each other going. And come marathon day for a beginning runner, having a friend to run with makes all the difference in the world. And I would go a step further and recommend trying to find someone who’s at about your pace. It made running the marathon so much more enjoyable.

  6. The Marathon Machine, as Anne likes to call it, which is known to most people as the iPod nano with the Nike+. Hands down, this was my single, most important non-necessity training tool.

  7. In order to prevent chaffing Sport Shield. (If you’ve never experienced the chafe before, you will if you don’t take measures to protect yourself). I know people swear by Body Glide, but I found that Sport Shield provides a lot more slip, thereby eliminating chaffing all together. I ran 26.2 miles and the only place I had an issue was under my sports bra on my back…a place I have failed to apply protection.

  8. Last, but not least (nor essential), a few of my favorite running songs:
    Clothes Off – Gym Class Heroes
    Find a New Way – Young Love
    Glamorous – Fergie
    Summer Love – JT
    Workout Plan – Kayne West

There are several other things I could list, but I think this is a good place to start. When it comes to apparel, I think it’s so dependent on your body, your style, and your climate that I didn’t want to put anything on here…other than I think Under Armor rocks.

Good luck in your running adventures. If you want to read more about my marathon training, just click here.

***ETA – Based on a comment from Anne, I realized that I forgot about fuel. How could I forget that? Oh…maybe because I’m way behind on my training schedule and I’ve been treadmill training. Anyway, two important things of note with fuel. First, the fuel belt: I love my Nathan Speed 4 belt. I like this better than the Amphipod and the Fuel Belt because of the amount it holds, the pockets, and the bottle holsters. Personal preference. Then there’s the fuel itself. I run with water, not energy drinks (which I thoroughly enjoy after a run, particularly Gatorade…but it’s too sweet during one) and CLIF SHOT ®BLOKS™ chews. I am not a GU fan. I think it’s disgusting (I’ve never actually tried it, but just the thought grosses me out). Fueling is something that takes some time to figure out for your body, so be patient and take it one step at time.

long time gone

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I met Megan and Steven while living in Europe. At the time, they were not “Megan and Steven” but just Megan, and just Steven. Megan and I hit it off. I don’t remember my very first impression of Steven, but I do remember that (for some reason unbeknown to me…and quite out of character) I loved trying to get his goat. Weird.
Anyway, eight years later, Megan and Steven have been “Megan and Steven” for quite some time and they have the sweetest little girls in the world. These are the people I stayed with in Nashville, and regardless of how things had gone at V (thankfully, they went well), the trip would have been worth it just to see them. It had been about four years since I last saw them. They were still living in Utah, with their babies (the girls are twins), figuring out what to do with their lives. Funny how things change, but don’t.
I hope you are all lucky enough to have such wonderful friends. I was the slightest bit apprehensive about inviting myself to stay with them (but not enough to not do it), but Megan was so gracious that I knew I’d be welcome…and welcome I was. From my late arrival Friday night, to my need to attend Weight Watchers Saturday morning, braving the freezing cold so I could see Nashville, homemade pasta, a super-late-night conversation Saturday night (poor Megan couldn’t stay awake), Aebelskiver on Sunday (they make good on their blog promises), the ride to my school visit and back to the airport, I could not have asked for nicer hosts. Add to that the fact that I absolutely love these people, and I was in heaven. I could talk to either of them for hours (and I did)…and I adore their little girls. They are such great parents, because truly no child is on good behavior for three days straight.
And even after a number of years of semi-sporadic contact, our relationship picked up right where it had left off (only maybe a bit better since Megan and I joined the world of blogging). In any case, this weekend was exactly what I needed. It gave me some much needed and appreciated perspective on life. And it gave me time to fall in love with Nashville…even if it was freezing.

and again

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I love that I have realized that my life really is a beautifully orchestrated series of events that align in such a way as to make the lowest lows bearable and the highest highs appreciated.

I heard from T today. I was denied. My number one choice for so long rejected me. But it wasn’t all that painful, surprisingly (and being rejected from a graduate program would never make my “lowest lows” list). First of all, it simplified my decision. Fewer choices, less fear and risk of choosing the “wrong” one (I really don’t think any of the schools I applied to would be “wrong”). But more than that, the interview at V made me realize that a) I probably wouldn’t get into T, as my interview was probably even worse than I had first thought and b) I actually like V just a little better. So, it’s not as highly ranked. I still like it better, for various reasons.

And that is why it was so perfect that I heard from T today, after V, after B. I love that my life works this way. Maybe every life could be like this, if people chose to hear the beauty of the dissonant chords.

confirmation

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I have lots to blog about from this weekend, but as most of it would be enhanced by the pictures that I have yet to download, I’m going to stick to the one thing that does not require pictures.

I flew to Nashville Friday night for an admissions interview at V on Monday (if you do a little search with the city and MBA, you’ll satisfy your curiosity). Over the course of my two flights (connecting through Chicago), I started to freak out just a little. In fact, freak out maybe a little extreme. I started to doubt. I started to think about my 17-year-old thoughts of being a dermatologist, and while I have no desire to got to med-school, it made me think. Is business what I really want to do? What kind of stress and pressure is my future career going to hold? Can I really do this and be successful? Etc, etc.

You would think that I would have nailed down this decision with absolute surety given the 100s of hours I have put into the research, application and interview process. But, no. The doubt crept in, which led to a little anxiety. Granted, I have proven to myself that I am willing to interrupt my life and completey change course when I feel like a chosen path is not the right one for me, but the thought of turning my back on all of the work I have done, the contacts I have made, the money my dad (yes, I’m totally spoiled) has spent on the process…well, it was enough to make me freak out just a little.

I spent most of the weekend with this on my mind. I had a great conversation with my friends about my thoughts and concerns, but I think I spoke as a person who was much more sure about her decision than I really was. And then add to that the decision about which school to attend…I was a little overwhelmed.

And then I went in for my interview on Monday. I was a little nervous, although the beauty of doubting my overall decision was there was this little part of me that thought, “Well, if this doesn’t go well, maybe that’s my answer.” It kind of took the pressure off.

The interview went really well. So well that I realized that my interview at T was probably even worse that I had thought. I knew it wasn’t great, but…it really wasn’t great. During the interview, I felt myself getting so excited about all of the things we were discussing. This was the beginning of the calm that was coming.

It was during my class visit, though, that complete and total reassurance came. I was sitting in Sales, Promotions and Personal Selling with my student host. The class was discussing a case: foil and plastic wrap. I was in heaven. As the professor asked a question, I responded with a head nod. He then called on me to share my thoughts, since I was obviously having some. So I did. In that moment, all of my doubts were gone.

Yes, business school will push me. For once, I will be doing something where I will really have to work my tail off. I’m sure there will be days and nights when I question everything again, but for now, I’m so excited! And even though I have not yet decided where I’m going (especially since I have yet to receive many acceptance and rejection letters), I cannot wait for September.

some things (or people) i’d like to share

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I always have a million posts in my head, but as I’m leaving for Nashville for the weekend (and not taking my computer) and I have much packing to do, I am going to leave you with some links to enjoy in my absence.

Cristin’s post about the race to the White House and family pictures. It’s worth checking out.

Robin’s “photo-a-day” blog. She is just getting into photography and makes me jealous that I have no idea how to edit pictures.

Katie’s exciting news! I seriously idolize this girl. It’s kind of sad and pathetic, really. And also look for the great music she loves to share.

And a great post from Amy about her Moral Foundations class.

I really could put several more up, but these are the ones that came to mind. If you are not a regular visitors of these blogs, maybe these posts will tempt you…because I’m sure you all need four more blogs to stalk.

And WWs and budgeting updates will be coming…just a little delayed.