Salty Running - 2/68 - Get chicked.

Running is for Rich People

Written by Cinnamon on May 15, 2013 · 22 Comments

Scrooge says “No running for you!” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s all relative. Some of us are willing to do more than others to get faster.

Huh. Willing.

If you’ve read my sister’s post about recognizing what you’re willing to do to maximize your training, you know that it’s all relative: super fast runners Shalane and Kara earned their success at Boston this year because they were willing to make sacrifices necessary to pursue running as a career. Runners like them shape their lives around training: they pay coaches and therapists, they travel all over to races and push hard. But why not you? Why not me? If we’re willing to sacrifice everything, if we train as long and as intensively we could do it too, right?

Well, maybe. But a lot of us have other stuff going on in our lives that precludes all that. For me, and I know for many of you too, it’s a financial burden, and I can’t run away from that. Does that make me unwilling, or is it okay to feel like I’m not able?

This stuff is expensive! Read more

How to Salvage a Marathon Training Plan (I Hope)

Written by Cilantro on May 14, 2013 · 13 Comments

So you missed part of your training plan. Think your marathon goal is kaput?

If you miss training runs, should you kiss your marathon goal goodbye?

Say somewhere during the heaviest part of the training cycle, you missed runs for marathon training. Maybe things got busy, maybe you got sick, maybe there was an injury threat…no matter what the cause, is there a way to recover from missing workouts?

I think so. I hope so, or I have totally screwed up my Boston-qualifying marathon goal.

When I decided on a race and created my training plan, just like any of us would, I anticipated a perfect training cycle: no injuries or unexpected travel. I generally expect to exceed my planned mileage since I view a training plan as the minimum miles required, but in mid-cycle I had a big setback that left me barely training at all. Been there? Maybe you’re there right now?

Don’t worry, there’s hope for us yet! Read more

Once Upon a Time I Was a Fast Running Chick

Written by Pepper on May 13, 2013 · 12 Comments

Fast Running Chick or Turkey? you decide ;)

Once upon a time I was a fast running chick. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago I was 38th overall female at the Boston marathon. It’s hard to believe that in 2011 I ran a 2:52 marathon on less than ideal training with a bum foot and calf. It feels like I am worlds away from that stars-aligned moment in 2010 when I ran 2:49:53 and came in 2nd place at a large marathon. Where on earth is that runner chick now? Read more

When Running Feels So Insignificant

Written by Salty on May 11, 2013 · 6 Comments

I prefer a hobby of actual precious moments to figurative (or figurine) ones. (Photo credit: pchow98)

Sometimes I take my running too seriously. My husband is usually the first to tip me off that I’ve gone over the edge from enjoying it to stressing out about it. When he does this, his favorite phrase for reminding me of running’s place in my life is, “it’s just a hobby.”

He is always half joking, acknowledging that it matters to me and is important to me, but truthfully reminding me that in the end it’s not a matter of life or death. If I don’t PR or *gasp* get a day’s workout in, the Earth will continue to turn.

Lately, I uncharacteristically don’t need that reminder. Read more

Comment of the Week 5.11.13

Written by Cinnamon on May 11, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Holy wow, what a great week! We’ve been focusing on quality over quantity here lately, and it’s really showing in your fantastic comments. It’s getting harder and harder each week to choose a winner of that highest honor…

Who wins the badge this week?

This week, you may notice that we’ve split the roundup into its own post, the way we did it way back when. Why’s that?

Well, I just wanted our Comment of the Week winner to be the star of this show, that’s all! If you want to check out this week’s roundup, here it is.

And now, the Salty reader with this week’s most excellent comment was… Read more

The Weekly Roundup, 5.11.13

Written by Cinnamon on May 11, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Yeehaw! We had a great week!

Man oh man, I love a good roundup, and I rather like to do it all on its own, the way we used to.

“But where’s the Comment of the Week!?” you shout at your computer screen, wondering what demon has overtaken Cinnamon’s typing fingers, “How do I find out who this week’s lucky winner is!?”

It’s easy. It’s in the next post. You can click this link.

But first, here’s this week’s oldskool roundup:

Chipotle kicked us off with a swell post about a swell buddy. She’s found a running friend so perfect she thinks they’re Sole Mates! If you have a sole mate too, tell us about her (or him)!

At 22 Weeks, Salty’s Postpartum Running Update heralds Salty‘s return to racing, with a 5k for her local YMCA. And finally, her “big” kids are old enough to race too!

And since it’s racing season, a lot of us can use a reminder that Getting Faster Is Simple. but It’s Not Easy, so we reran this classic Salty post. Shakeweight!

Cilantro has been an accidental vegetarian for weeks, and now she’s Embracing the Label. It’s just the kick in the pants she needed to get her nutrition back on track. Does labeling your diet help you eat right?

Just one week after tying the knot, Mr. and Mrs. Ginkgo had their first race together as newlyweds! (Congratulations, you crazy kids!) But what happens when you spend the weeks before your half marathon planning a wedding instead of sprinting a track? Find out in her Cap City Half Marathon Race Recap!

And just in time for Mother’s Day, Vanilla brings us a sweet Friday 5 with 5 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day by Running. None of the suggestions will smell quite as nice as the flowers you’ll be buying last-minute, but they’re sure to encourage some serious togetherness.

And someone very special won Comment of the Week! Who was it…?

5 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day by Running

Written by Vanilla on May 10, 2013 · 9 Comments

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and what a wonderful day it is to show our moms how much we appreciate them in our lives. Moms are special: they are there for us through the good and bad times. They usually give us the best advice (even if we don’t want to hear it), and when we fall down, they pick us up, dust us off and encourage us to keep going.

Flowers, candy, jewelry and even helping with chores are all great gifts to show our moms that we care. But why not incorporate running into your Mother’s Day gift? Think it’s tough? Here are 5 ways to celebrate a running-themed Mother’s Day whether or not your mom already logs her own miles. Read more

Cap City Half Marathon Race Recap

Written by Ginkgo on May 9, 2013 · 6 Comments

Pre-race photo with my HUBBY.

Yep, I’m gonna say it. I have a … HUSBAND (and here I was finally getting used to the whole “fiance” label). I took the plunge and became “Mrs.” Gingko last weekend! The wedding was all that I imagined – just like everyone said it would be – my own little fairy tale surrounded by friends and family from every stage of my life!

Reality hit quick though. I had a half marathon to run just one week after walking down the aisle. As you mgiht recall, I work for the American Cancer Society and raced the Capital City Half Marathon with the American Cancer Society Endurance Team. My hubby took one for our team and ran his first quarter marathon to support me. Happy wife, happy life…eh…well, he’s off to a good start!? I was so PROUD. Just gleaming.

And that wasn’t the only thing that had me gleaming about this race!
Read more

Vegetarian Runner: Embracing the Label

Written by Cilantro on May 8, 2013 · 13 Comments

Stuff I eat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today I didn’t eat any meat. I didn’t yesterday either. Or the day before. Or the day before that.

You didn’t know I was a vegetarian, did you? That’s okay. I didn’t either. But I am. And have been for a while.

In order to put this story in context, let me give you a a little history and explain why what I eat matters. Read more

Getting Faster Is Simple. It’s Not Easy.

Written by Salty on May 7, 2013 · 12 Comments

Having a hot bod might be a one-way ticket to a job as a pole-dancer, but pole-dancing is not a one-way ticket to a hot bod. Image via Wikipedia.

This post was originally published on April 5, 2012. Now that my first race post-baby #3 is in the books and I’m staring down the barrel at months of training to get back to PR shape, I need this one!

Sometimes when I can’t sleep after one of the kids wakes me up I like to turn on the tube. For some reason I prefer infomercials for shake-weights, freaky belts, pole-dancing workouts and humpy ab machines. I think the pitches for these products are so amazingly good and ludicrous at the same time. I mean seriously, losing weight is simple math: calories in < calories out. Yet so many people disregard this simple formula and instead throw money at these strange contraptions, “wonder” drugs or magical sexy workouts to lose weight. Losing weight is simple, but it’s not so easy money can buy it.

The same is true for running. Read more