Look what arrive today! Goodies from Honest Foods Granola Planks, Keribars and Skin Appetit! Thank you awesome sponsors. I will be telling you guys all about these great products over the next week. Get excited and don’t forget to comment on this morning’s post, so you can be in the prize drawing tomorrow morning if you are a challenger.
I had several great comments, questions and anwsers this morning. I posted them below. My thoughts are in blue and the other answers are in black. Thanks guys!
I’ve decided I am going to run 2 half marathons within 28 or so days of each other (one Mar 28th, one Apr 25th). Should I be training differently than I did for my last half since I plan to do 2 races so close together?? Or should I train as normal and just be sure to keep up my training in between races?
My advice, based on what my coaches recommended for people doing multiple half or a half and a marathon in the same month, is to train normally for the first half, and make sure to ease up on the running the week before, the more “hungry” your body is for miles before the race, the better you will do. If you run the first half hard, take about 4 days off to recover, and get a massage! Then before the second race just do your normal training. You will not lose your base, even if you do just 30 minutes every other day, and then a long run on the weekend, you will finish no problem.
How do you dress to not FREEZE while running in -6 and 5″ of snow?
Good question, I am a wuss. If there is 5 inches of snow you, risk frostbite if your feet get wet. So I wouldn’t risk running in snow/hidden ice. But, if the path is clear and it is just cold, you can run if you want to. I would recommend shelling out the dough to buy real outdoor running clothes; taking time to warm up; and making sure your hands, face ,and head are covered. Base layer turtlenecks are amazing insulators! Here are a few good articles for more advice:
Cold Weather Safety Running Tips
More Cold Weather Running Tips
Weathering the Weather
Winter Running
As for my clothes: I plan on wearing tights, on top of that sweat pants, then a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, hat and gloves.</b> I believe this will do the job!
as for winter wear clothes, i highly recommend REI, go there or online, i run in 10* weather last winter and i was never cold
i like a shirt that has a hood vs a hat (not a jacket but i shirt) and that same shirt has hand wrap things, i can’t stand running with gloves on. the end of the shirt has an extra piece of fabric that you can turn over to wrap around your hands.
What is the best stretch to prevent shin splints? Any time I up my speed above 6 even if it just intervals I get really bad shin splints.
I have never had shin splints, but this ivillage article has good stretch and prevention ideas
how do you push yourself further? I’m thinking it’s more mental than physical?
I agree with everything below. 1.) I also HIGHLY recommend signing up for a race, even before you are ready! That has always really helped me. 2.) You are right that running at least 70% mental, having a clear goal, workout plan, and race in mind is crucial to my ability to run long distances. Even if you make up your plan the day of your workout, it will help. 3.) Finally, joining an organization like Team in Training is a foolproof way to reach a distance goal. I had great new running friends, coaches, a commitment to a cause (blood cancer), honored teammates to inspire me, plus people donating lots of money to my race! I couldn’t miss practice, and I used the knowledge of all the good I was doing and people I was helping to push me through hard runs!
I have to say that music is what gets me to go further than I thought I could. 
(Love this, music is by far my favorite thing about working out)
I think the key to pushing yourself is to keep making concrete goals-be it another, longer race or a faster time or whatever. If you have a goal that is past your current physical abilities, you can push yourself more and more. Having something exciting to look forward to will help the mental part. Think of how great you’ll feel when you finish a 10K or even longer! Use that mentality and keep pushing!
Take your time when increasing speed and/or mileage. Too much, too soon will eventually catch up to you and leave you injured. I learned the hard way!
running advice: i know studies say you should or might not need to, but i think stretching is necessary; it has kept me out of so many injuries!
I always start out slow(er) and then work up to a quick pace. I like the feeling of pushing it really hard for the last half mile or so!
Is it better to increase milage by going slow and steady or doing intervals? I’ve been going slow and steady for about 4 miles, but want to increase my mileage, so what is the better way?
Slow and steady is the best way to prepare yourself for longer distances because the time on your feet is the most important factor when it comes to endurance. However, adding tempo runs, which are longer distances done at a comfortably hard pace, will give you an added challenge. Intervals are ussually done for speed work, but any runner can use them to bust boredom and mix up their routine!
For all those trying to add mileage, I would recommend finding a running buddy. The miles fly by when you’re talking, and your partner can push you on that last mile or two when your brain tries to turn off your legs.
What should I do about a blood blister under my toenail? It is at the base of my toe and the pressure is awful! I am wondering if my shoes might be to blame? Any ideas?
This is a tough one. You can get a small toe pad to put under your toe to relieve the pressure of contact with your shoe. My friend had a toe sprain and they actually have a little toe elevator to support it! I think your shoe size is the problem. If you are rubbing that much, you need to go up a size or at least find a shoe with a roomier toe box.
Where can I find this excel spreadsheet you speak of?
The spreadsheet can be found here, it is a log for everyone who signed up for the challenge. Unfortunately sign up is closed, but I will definitely do it again at some point! Like summer when I don’t have to use a treadmill
I have a question- I am tempted to get a Nike + but I havent seen anyone really on the blogworld use one so…do any of you have one? do you recommend it?
I had one, but I didn’t have the right shoes, and I tried to just tie the chip into my shoe, but it flew out on my first run. I have seen bloggers mention them. Roni at Roni’s Weigh loves hers. Now all of nike’s shoes have the little slot for the nike +
chip, when I had one, one a few pairs did, so if you like nike you can pick the best shoe for you, not just a pair that are nike + enabled. Also shoe pouches are everywhere now, for around $10. I plan to get another one, you can’t beat the price. Although I asked for a polar heart rate monitor and shoe pod for xmas, so we’ll see what happens.
Wow everyone deserves a shout out! So many are already at over marathon or ultramarathon mileage! ROCK!
Meghan-99!
Betsy-56.95!
Shane: 26.4!
Chandra: 31.6!
Maggie: 65
Melissa (TTH) 36.5
Lora-29.6
Claire-43.9!
Amanda M. 41.3!
Hangry Pants-58.25!
Tina 31.9
Maureen-26.8
Jessica G-37
Moran-26.25
Amber 46.85
Sharon 80.15
Sarah 38.3
Colleen 31
Erin C. 29.2
SallyAnn 104.9
Elsa-33.4
Gina -29.55
Matt- 101!
Wow, the month came and went so quickly. Tomorrow we get to start a new year fresh with no mistakes in it, as Anne Shirley/Miss Stacey would say.
We are in the middle of week 2. Definitely a time when energy and enthusiasm could have waned a little. It’s a good time to check in and see how you are feeling about working out and running, etc.
