For Take It and Run Thursday: Running In The Heat.

Here in Maryland, our summers get pretty hot, humid and disgusting. Running is not without its challenges and surprises. A couple weeks ago, on a particularly humid day, I chafed someplace new. Nice. Another area for Body Glide.

Anyway, back to my summer-running tip.

It seems obvious, but I always carry water when temperatures start getting uncomfortable.

We usually set up our training runs to have a water stop halfway. But a few years ago, when training for a 10-mile race at the end of August, we started running loops where we couldn’t put out water. We had to take it with us.

I got used to having my water (or Gatorade), and drinking whenever I wanted it. I found myself struggling through my first (short) race that summer. Even though they had water stops, they didn’t always fall where I needed them!

We found Amphipod water bottles have a nice shape to them, and with the strap you barely have to hold on. Mine has a zipper pocket that usually holds my keys, a gel, and some lip balm. (They also have some other hydration options, I just haven’t tried them.)

I switch hands while I run, it’s really no big deal. Once the temperatures start to rise (or if I’ve got a particularly long run planned), I’ve always got my water bottle — whether it’s a 5K or 26.2 miles!

Oh, and I checked. They’re OK (#4).

For Take It and Run Thursday: Cross Training.

Before I started running, I hadn’t been regularly exercising at all.

So once the running thing stuck and I found myself hitting the pavement three days a week, I was satisfied with my activity level. Taking that step got me more active than most Americans, right?

I knew I should cross train, but I didn’t. Every once in a while I’d pop in an old exercise tape for some abs or arms, but not often enough.

Then last summer, my office started bringing in a yoga instructor twice a week. Yoga was something that I tried at home, once, with a DVD. It seemed pretty good, but I didn’t stick with it.

I signed up for the class, and have been a regular member ever since. It feels good to stretch out those leg muscles, and strengthen the ones that running doesn’t hit!

Once yoga became a habit, I became satisfied with my five weekly workouts.

Until I signed up for a triathlon.

I’m still just getting started (the race is at the end of August). My bike has been dusted off, and I’ll be hitting the trails for my second ride this weekend.

I’ve also purchased a pass for a swimming class at a nearby gym. They have a section specifically geared at triathletes; I’m going to the beginning lap swimming class.

Fortunately, I could pay a non-member rate. Between yoga, a treadmill at home, and a gym at work, I don’t really need to join! Though, I’d probably be more motivated if money were involved…

My first swim class was on Saturday, and it went pretty well. But I have a long way to go. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to swim properly. I can usually just float over to the pool bar to get another daiquiri!

Anyway … I’m still pretty new to swimming and biking, but I’m hoping this race will help me to create some good cross-training habits!

For the Runners’ Lounge Take It and Run Thursday: It Was So Obvious.

When I first read what this week’s theme would be, nothing came to mind. And then it hit me; it was like I erased these stupid problems from my mind!

Anyway, I know everyone’s writing about shoe issues, but it seems to be a common problem for me!

Shoe Problem #1
It started with my first pair of running shoes. I did the right thing – went to a running store. Had the guys at the shore fit me. Tested them out on the treadmill. The shoes felt good. They sent me on my way with some Mizunos.

I was just starting out, following a plan that was gradually moving from walking to running, and gradually increasing the distance. But one day, I had to stop abruptly due to a sharp pain in my knee.

Next run, the same thing happened. I seemed to be able to get about a mile into a run before the pain came.

With training I was able to get farther before the pain hit, but it always came. This probably went on for the first six to eight months of my running.

When it was time for a new pair of shoes, I went with the Asics 2090s. I was hoping for a miracle, but the pain came back after the first run.

After the second run, however, it was gone.

Shoe Problem #2
I was happy with the 2090s. I bought a second pair when the first pair was showing a lot of wear. I had about 250 miles on them. I’d been told you can get more mileage out of running shoes, but I didn’t want to push it.

I was well into the second pair when I was training for races on back-to-back weekends. A 10-miler would take place the first weekend, a half marathon the next.

A week or so before the first race, I started playing around with some new insoles because I thought I wasn’t getting enough cushioning. My shoes should have had plenty of play left in them, still having less than 200 miles on them at the time.

Well, that was a bad idea. I did wear the insoles for the 10-miler, but ended up bruising the second-smallest toenails on both feet, probably due to the insoles taking up more space. I also rubbed some nasty blisters.

Oddly enough, the following half-marathon (Rock and Roll VA Beach, 2005) is still my half marathon PR. I didn’t use those insoles this time, but my little toes were still sore, and got worse. The nails turned from red to purple to black. At least by the time my toenails fell off (months later), new ones had grown back underneath!

A few weeks after those races, and I ran a metric marathon (26.2 K / 16.3 miles). I figured those shoes were still OK since they had just over 200 miles. I retired the previous ones at 250.

After that race, I realized the inside of my left heel hurt. A lot. I was a bit concerned until I realized the outside of my right foot was also really sore.

This was a road race, and the streets weren’t closed. We ran 16.3 miles in the shoulder, and there was a slope on most of the roads. The inside of my left foot and the outside of my right hit the ground first!

I was still shocked at how much my feet hurt. After I got home, I put one foot in an old shoe, another in the current shoe. The “newer” ones were noticeably more broken down, even though they had fewer miles.

I should have realized something was wrong when I started using different inserts. It would have saved me a lot of pain and two toenails! Though, I’m told you’re not really a runner until you’ve lost a toenail!

Shoe Problem #3
I switched over to Saucony Hurricanes when Asics was on a model I didn’t like. (Every other one seems to work for me, which means I may like the 2130s. I’ve just about worn through my last stockpiled pair of 2110s!)

We were marathon training, and increasing our distance. I was having a problem where my left foot was getting numb around the 10-mile mark. I’d loosen my shoe, but it didn’t help much.

I was worried, thinking it could be something serious. I Googled a lot of scary medical problems.

And then I realized on long runs, after my feet had swelled, I couldn’t spread the toes on my left foot.

Even though the length of the shoe had plenty of room, the toe box started to narrow before my feet did!

I switched back to the Asics (up a size and a half from my street shoe – my toes have plenty of room now!), and the problem hasn’t come back. Duh!

So, there you have it. I’m sure it’s not the last time I’ll make a stupid shoe mistake!