Training Supplement – November 19, 2017

Getting ready for ultra-marathon training, I found a good pair of trail running shoes.  I also tried wireless headphones and started imaging life without iPod products.  But before starting this next chapter, I looked back on my 2017 New York City Marathon training cycle.

Clothing & Gear

Shoes.  Mizuno Wave Hayate 3.  My next goal race will be on trails, so I need to find suitable footwear.  Since my road shoes are the Mizuno Wave Riders, I tried a trail model from the same manufacturer.  I’ve only run in these shoes once but I loved them!  They seemed like a great neutral shoe and gave me good contact with the ground.  The size 8.5 felt a little small for my left foot, even though that’s the size I wear for the Wave Riders.

Tops – Long Sleeves.  New Balance NYC Marathon Heat Hoodie.  I couldn’t resist buying something at the 2017 New York City Marathon expo and was glad I did.  This top is very comfortable and warm.  It’s fleecy on the inside but slightly slick on the outside which suggests it might be perfect for winter running.

Gloves.  New Balance NYC Marathon Lightweight Gloves.  I also bought this new version of the five boroughs gloves at the expo.  They’re so light weight that I’m not sure they’re worth wearing.  I definitely like the Asics version better.

Headphones.  FRESHeBUDS Wireless Earbuds.   I’ve been wanting to try wireless earbuds since I got them in a recent Runner’s World Box.  Set-up with my Samsung S7 was relatively easy.  The sound quality of this brand seemed a little off, but I like the wireless concept.  It’s going to take some getting used to but I think I’m ready to move away from iPod products now that I can envision easily listening to music and podcasts through my phone.

Runner’s World Box.  I thought the most interesting item from this month’s box was Drysure, a contraption that helps shoes dry faster.  The socks are supposed to be Bart Yasso, but I think they look like the Vice President.  The random item this month: more rice.

(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)

Nutrition & Hydration

Pre-workout Nutrition.  For the 2017 New York City Marathon, I ate and drank more than usual before the race.  I had a bagel with peanut butter and banana hours before the race, and a sports bar and another half bagel on the way to Fort Wadsworth – about 750 calories.  I also drank about 24 ounces of water.  In retrospect, I think I fueled and hydrated just about right.

Workout Nutrition.  During the race, I ate two-and-a-half Crank Sport e-Gels – about 300 calories – and drank water from three stops.  I probably could have used more calories.  Low blood sugar could be why I got so startled towards the end of the race when a spectator crossed the road and then later, a fellow-runner stopped unexpected.  And I most certainly should have had more fluids.  For larger marathons, I should plan on carrying some water with me so I can skip early water stops but remain hydrated.

Routes

Parks.  I went up to New York City for the marathon a day earlier than usual.  I ran two of my recovery runs in Central Park.  I thought I’d get bored running the same route two days in a row, but the fall foliage and towering buildings in the distance kept my attention.  One thing I found peculiar was that dogs roam leash-less throughout the park.  They seemed very well behaved but it made me a little uncomfortable.

Flybys.  During my runs in Central Park, I saw Shalane Flanagan, Sara Hall, Jared Ward, Emily Infeld, and Emma Coburn on Friday; and then Meb Keflezighi and Molly Huddle on Saturday!  It was amazing seeing elite runners going about their workouts just like all the other runners.  (Except for Molly – she was on her way to winning the Dash to the Finish Line 5K).

Media & Motivation

Music.  “Can’t Hold Us,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton.  This song has been out for a long while but it’s new to my running playlist.

(My “Songs of the Week” playlist on Spotify.)

News.  “Shalane Flanagan Solves N.Y. Marathon for American Women,” by The New York Times.  The only downside of running a major marathon is not being able to watch the elite race.  I was shocked to read that Shalane Flanagan had won the women’s race.  I’d seen her marketing her book on social media but didn’t recall her saying much about the race other than that she might retire after it.  That said, I was so happy for her!  She clearly works hard and is passionate about running.

Podcasts.  “Personal Best,” by Runner’s World.  This podcast relaunched this month.  It looks as though the focus will go beyond running and focus on fitness, generally.  The feature for the second episode was a cyclist.  I’m a little disappointed – this was one of my favorite running-related podcasts.  I’m guessing they decided to expand their demographic.

Books and Magazines.  “It’s Cold Outside, Make Sure to Heat Yourself Up,” by Matt Laye in Ultramarathon Magazine, November 2017.  I thought this article was interesting because I think more has been written about the benefits of taking a cold bath after a run than sitting in a sauna.  This article talks about the recovery properties of “heat shock proteins”.  The science seemed a little light but heading into winter, the idea taking a sauna for therapeutic purposes is intriguing.

Motivation.  “The mind is everything. What you think you become. – Buddha.

In the final miles of the 2017 New York City Marathon, I was running fine – 8:20 pace.  After calculating that I could run 9:00 pace for the last three miles and meet my goal…  my next split was 9:07.  I need to work on my mental training!