Running | A Rendezvous with Sneakers

Gu, anyone?

27 Aug 2010 2 Comments

by rendezvouswithsneakers in cycling, duathlon, Running Tags: Running, triathlon

Everywhere you look, literature revolving around the subject of supplements can be found. Sports literature, whether it be online, in magazines, or the ancient paperback books, has a plethora of information on what to consume during a long workout. A friend of mine introduced me to energy gels a couple months ago. These gels contain the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, and are easily digested by the body. From my research, depending on the brand, they usually contain about 100-140 calories, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium (which are quickly depleted from the body if you sweat a lot like yours truly), and contain 8-10% carbs, which is needed by the muscles to function. I’m saving you from my nursing/scientific explanation of what exactly the carbs do.

The gel packets are small, easy to carry in a pocket, and come in different flavors. All the major brands which produce energy bars, such as PowerBar, Cliffbar,etc., now have energy gels. I must admit after trying my first Gu on our run, I did feel a bit of a jolt of energy, but I felt as if I was trying to swallow strawberry cream frosting.

I am not a frosting person.

It is vital, however, to replace what you lose on a long run. Some runners find when their sodium levels (basically, salt) drop, they have more muscle cramping. If you are similar to me and don’t have the palate for uber-sweet frosting like food, perhaps fill up one of your water bottles with an electrolyte containing fluid. I won’t go into sports drinks, because hydration is a whole other post in itself. Although, I tend to only drink water on my runs, again, because I dislike sweet things.

Nowadays, to go with the gel, there are also sports energy jelly beans which are easy to carry on a run and pop in your mouth. I believe Jelly Belly makes a sports jelly bean. Go ahead, take a guess as to whether or not I like jelly beans.

The main point here is, if you are exercising more than 60minuntes (depending on what source you read), your body needs some sort of replenishment, and there are plenty of options out there you can try.

As for me, I’m still trying to figure out what to snack on.

Sole, sole sad

27 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by rendezvouswithsneakers in Running Tags: Running

What the bottom of your sneaker should NOT look like.

Some people have babies…I have bikes

26 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by rendezvouswithsneakers in cycling, Running Tags: Running

Well, for the first time in four days, there is no sign of rain, and the sun decided to make itself known to us again! And you know what that means: bike ride and run in dry conditions!

A couple weeks ago I signed up to do the 2nd annual Vassar medical Center Tri/Duathlon down in LaGrange, New York. I told you a goal of mine is to complete a triathlon, so competing in duathlons is my way of “babystepping” to triathlons. I completed my first duathlon in July which was incredible. Ohh, FYI, in a duathlon, you run, then bike, then run again–unlike triathlons which have swim-bike-run. In this event, the run will be 1mile, followed by 14 miles of biking, then a 3 mile run. Does not sound too bad. However, I am notorious for not training for long distance events. But I am actually trying to get my body a tad bit prepared for this event. I purchased a new Scott road bike last week in preparation for the race, and it really is a beautiful bike. I consider it my baby. Some people in their 20’s, 30’s, and more often nowadays 40’s, decide to have children and start familes. I on the other hand, just purchase really amazing bikes (if you are a cycling enthusiast and watched the Tour De France, Cavendish won the last stage of the tour on a Scott).

It’s a Scott CR1 Team road bike. Carbon Fiber. Light. Fast. Yes, it really is a beauty, isn’t it? Eventually my drooling with stop.

Proper duathlon training encompasses weekly rides and runs, of various distances, starting weeks before the actual race. This type of training is similar to that of running races. I know this because I have started numerous training plans for marathons I have run, but never actually continued to follow the plan for more than a couple weeks. Either work or some other excuse would arise. Starting today, though, I’m back on the plan, which means bike ride with my baby, and run.

I am also going to re-start my training for a marathon I signed up for September 26th and I have a feeling I will die completing it. I told myself after running two marathons in the past without training, that this one would be different: I would be prepared. I would follow a training schedule. And that is what I began to do a couple months ago. Follow a training plan (which I’ll post later). But the training candle kind of fizzled out once I started work. How hard can another marathon be? Piece of cake, right?

Secretly, I am terrified.

And for you readers, please consult your physician before doing any type of strenuous activity to make sure you have no known medical conditions which might be affected by your new athletic regime. Furthermore, do NOT follow my non-training training. NOT training for athletic events is stupid and you can do quite a bit of damage to your body. Train. Train. Train. Get your body used to the activity. It will reduce the risk of harm. Trust me, I know.