Elements of Training

I am constantly amazed with the climate changes between the seasons as well as from one season to the next. To feel our bodies adjust from freezing to sweltering humidity back to freezing once again is a gift. My run/walk journey through the temperature changes has only increased my awe and appreciation of the complexity of nature. It makes me feel more connected to our planet.

Clothes
Earlier in the spring I took a trip to REI for summer running clothes. It was hard for me to imagine wearing the very thin, lightweight pieces of cloth that provided no warmth. Now, with the dew point in the 70’s and the temperature floating between 80 and 90 degrees – I find these wispy clothes to be too heavy and wish I had that kind of body where I could only wear shorts and the running bra.

San Francisco wardrobe is basically built for fall. I had one or two pair of shorts in San Francisco that lasted me 10 years. (Yes, they had elastic around the waist!) Moving to Boston two years ago I immediately had to buy summer clothes and now find them worn and needing to be replaced.

Water
Run/walking in the summer means wanting to wake up early and get the days “run” in before it gets too hot. It means needing to carry water for something as short as 4 miles. It also means sweat… lots and lots of sweat. I never knew I could sweat like that… I’ve taken to keeping a towel just on the inside of my door to wipe all that hard work off – preventing drip marks on my hardwood floors. I’ve never done well in the heat. In Mexico I was in a persistent “jelly-brain” state, finding it difficult to teach in a coherent manner. But somehow – even with all this humidity – I’m able to put one foot in front of the other for anywhere between 5 and 11 miles.

Mileage
I’m currently waiting in the airport for my flight to San Francisco to participate in a journalism conference. As luck would have it the San Francisco Marathon is Sunday and I’ve decided to run/walk the first half! (13.1 miles) (update on this soon!)

The first half of the San Francisco Marathon is similar to the first half of the Women’s Nike Marathon I’m training for in October. There are long, steep grades up that never seem to end. Not quite at the half way mark, Coach Mellissa had me run 11 miles this past Sunday in preparation. Since my previous Sunday was at 8 miles, I gave myself permission to stop at 10 miles. I surprised myself by feeling pretty good and made it to eleven. My time slowed a bit as I’m nursing a sore ankle and the heat and humidity were quite high. I’m not sure how I’ll do come tomorrow in a much cooler environment, less humidity and significantly more hills.

During the week I’ve changed my route. No longer am I running in circles around the reservoir, rather I’m exploring the hilly nature of Brighton and Brookline. I’m just lacking hills on the long runs. I’ve also been experimenting with my tempo and run/walk ratio. I’m starting to feel like running for two minutes and walking for one. I’d like to build to consistently doing a 2 - 1 ratio. During the L Street 5 miler the other week (photo on this page), I got caught up in the “start jitters” and ran the first 5 minutes. In rather humid conditions I averaged a 12-minute mile. I’m glad I pushed, but my heart rate was quite high. I know I can’t sustain that pace for any length of time – certainly not for a half let alone a full marathon! Will write soon on the SF 1/2 Marathon.