Training Supplement – October 19, 2016
Received a 24-pack of sports gels that should last me through the New York City Marathon and beyond. Continued working hard to stay motivated despite lowering race-day expectations. A podcast had me wondering, “Could I hurt more?” (Yes!) I also tried some fancy tea for athletes and learned about some future trail improvements.
Clothing & Gear
Tops. Saucony Endorphin Singlet. I’ve had a chance to wear both of the Saucony tanks I bought to see if I’d want to wear them for the New York City Marathon. I definitely prefer the Endorphin over the Racer Back. I think it’s better at wicking away sweat. But, I’m not sure I want to wear it on race day.
Oiselle New Satellite Tank. I re-ordered this tank in a smaller size. <Rant> I ordered this tank on October 10th. I received it today. I noticed this lag with my first order but shrugged it off. I’m guessing there was an option to pay extra for earlier delivery but I’m not in the habit of paying extra for getting items within a week. </Rant>
(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)
Nutrition & Hydration
Energy Gels and Electrolytes. This week, I received my box of Crank Sport eGels in advance of the New York City Marathon. It was heavy. 24 packs is a lot of long runs and future marathons! I had 4 during my long run on Sunday and they went down easy.
Pre-workout Nutrition. Honey Stinger Stroopwafle. I’ve had these waffles before but for this version, the packaging suggested placing it on your coffee cup to heat it up a little. I did so but it never really softened up so it ended up tasting like every other waffle I’ve had, which is still tasty.
Caffeine. SPORTea. This product is marketed as an alternative to coffee, soda, and sports drinks. In addition to black and green tea, it has ginseng, ginger, Brazilian mate, vitamin C, and potassium. I received a sample in my first Stridebox and got another this month. I tried it on Monday and it wasn’t bad. In fact, I liked it so much I had the other bag on Tuesday. I can’t say I felt any added benefits over regular tea, but it was interesting thinking about getting more out of my morning cup of tea.
Routes
Construction. “I-66 Widening Will Change Some Arlington Bike Trails,” by WashCycle. I stumbled upon this article while looking for information about a biker who was killed on the Capital Crescent Trail. The changes themselves seemed liked good ones. The 90 degree turn on the Custis Trail in particular is a welcomed improvement. In my experience, cyclist don’t always handle the corner very well and I’ve seen lots of near collisions over the years.
Media & Motivation
Music. “The Sound of Silence,” Simon & Garfunkel. Lately, my runs have felt more solitary.
(My “Songs of the Week” playlist on Spotify.)
Podcasts. “Guiding Principals,” The Runner’s World Show. I enjoyed the story of the Achilles International athletes. As someone who frequently races with headphones, though, I felt a defensive at the beginning. In the end, it was a very heartwarming story.
“Are You Guilty of the Biggest Mistake Runners Make,” RunnersConnect. Some common sense advice from Nancy Clark. I liked her answers in the “final kick”. Particularly, the quote by Patti Catalano Dillon, “Could I hurt more?”
Magazines. “A Sick Finish,” Runner’s World. Bob Kempainen‘s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials victory may have been the first that I watched since becoming a runner. I felt so bad for him. I’m sure it contributed to my belief, at the time, that I would never run a marathon.
Motivation. “Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like the muscles of the body,” Lynn Jennings
I struggled to say motivated once I came to terms with the fact that I’m not close to PR shape. But, I’m not allowing myself to give up on this training cycle.
