Yesterday, I ran a half marathon. I change my running shoes every 200 miles, which equates to a new pair about every 2 months. It’s hard to throw out a perfectly good pair of shoes even if they are not supportive anymore, so I tend to hold on to them. This past Earth Day, I made a resolution to recycle them back to Nike or donate them to the needy. Even though these shooze do not give me height, I love them nonetheless and appreciate how they have carried me through miles and miles.
I was apprehensive about yesterday’s run because of the weather forecast…it was predicted to rain and rain and rain and rain. I was not looking forward to it at all, but because I didn’t have to travel far and because the territory was familiar (Central Park, New York), I decided to suck it up and just go for it. I woke up at dawn, made some scrambled egg whites and coffee for breakfast and made my way to NYC. It was pouring by then, but I had a lightweight anorak on and was resolved that I would probably get wet. I parked the car on the east side and as I scrambled to the west side where the start line was, a cab splashed me completely via a puddle and I was drenched…all this before the start of the race. I started to contemplate going home -- this was utter bullshit --but instead, I soldiered on to the start line. Kristin Davis of Sex and The City announced the start…and we were OFF. I should add that this was the More Magazine Half Marathon and was a women’s only event. It was a difficult race, but I’m proud to say that I finished it. Here are my tips on how to get through a challenging half marathon.
• Leave the kids, hubby, dog and house responsibilities at home. Give yourself a two hour vacation from all domestic responsibilities and do not allow them to penetrate your thoughts. Don’t make mental to-do lists, don’t feel guilt about not making breakfast for the family on a Sunday morning. Just let your mind go, experience your breath and enjoy the solitude.
• Have a great playlist. Depending on your mood and the weather, create a random and varied kickass playlist that is going to transport you through this run. Since the forecast was gloomy, I needed a playlist that was different from most of my “sunny-run, bouncy, happy music playlists”. This was my playlist and I loved every single song:
Crimson and Clover - Joan Jett
Stairway to Heaven - Mary J. Blige
Lost - Coldplay and Jay-Z
Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry
Everybody Hurt - REM
No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley
Faith - George Michael
Some Time Around Midnight – Airborne Toxic Event
All Summer Long – Kid Rock
Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Hey Ladies – Beastie Boys
Desiree – Neil Diamond
Gone - Madison South
Girls L.G.B.N.A.F. – Ice T
Lick - Joi
Ka-Boom-Ka Boom - Marilyn Manson
I Want to Hold Your Hand - T.V. Carpio
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Rehab (Hot Chip Remix) - Amy Winehouse
Single Ladies - Beyonce
• Hot Guys. If you let hot guy imagery permeate your run, I guarantee your performance will improve. Here are a few examples of how I’ve used and abused some hot guys in my races. I was on mile 9 of a half marathon last spring when I suddenly developed a painful blister. It sucked because I was in Brooklyn and there was no easy way to stop the run, hop a subway and quit. But it hurt way too much to continue. So what did I do? I scoped the choices that lay ahead of me and saw two guys. I never knew what their faces looked like, but they had some pretty well defined calf muscles, the back of their quads were rippling and their butts were firm and ready to be chased. So that’s what I did. I hear when you go through labor and childbirth (I’m not speaking from experience because if you will remember, I am too posh to push), you are supposed to have a focal point that you concentrate on to avoid the pain. So this is exactly what I did. My focal point became the backsides and lower half of these two running gods and I chased them for 4 miles until I crossed that finish line. Not only did I not feel the pain of that oozing blister, but it was one of my faster finishes. Another example? Last year, I ran the More 2009 Half Marathon in the middle of a heat wave. It was 90+ degrees by 8am and a really miserable run. The best part of the run was in certain areas throughout the park where some firemen opened up the fire hydrants and sprayed cold water up into the air for the women to run through. Let me tell you, it’s pretty hot when a kneeling fireman unleashes a big hose on you. Mmmmm. Ironically, this year’s More Half Marathon was a far cry from the heat of last year. But the fun part about this all women’s race is that all of the onlookers and supporters are men. It’s so great for your ego to have a bunch of random strange men cheering you and whooping out support. But as I thought about what was really going on, I had to laugh. You see, these men set their alarm clocks, awoke early on a rainy Sunday morning and positioned themselves all over Central Park not primarily to cheer us on. No. They were enjoying the Wet T-Shirt Half Marathon. I mean, what is a better formula to showcase 10,000 hard nipples than to hold a race of 5,000 female runners in rainy, cold and wet weather conditions?
• Enjoy a good suck. There are so many varieties out there. So many flavors to choose from. When you feel like you’re getting weak in the knees, pull one out, rip it open and suck it dry. I discovered a new favorite yesterday – GU’s Chocolate Mint. I don’t know what kind of nutrients or ingredients go into that gooey mess, but it’s such a treat in the middle of a run. It tasted like a girl’s scout cookie. Delish.
- Check out other people’s shooze. I always love playing this game. I love to check out bystander’s shooze. Depending on the season or weather condition, there is always great variety. In yesterday’s rain, I saw so many wellingtons boots- Burberry plaid wellies, J. Crew wellies with brightly colored laces and Hunter wellies in every color imaginable. There were plaids, polka dots, paisleys, silver, white, navy, green, froggie boots for children, and more. Just because it rains, doesn’t mean footwear has to be dull.
After finishing the race as wet and wrinkled as a prune, I felt invincible. Was I surprised that I finished? Of course not. You see, I know that I can do anything…I do, after all live in the Delta House with three guys – anything is possible.
Nike Zoom Structure, Triax +12 running shooze
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