Training Supplement – October 31, 2017

My shoes smelled moldy after the 2017 Bourbon Chase, so I bought the new Mizuno Wave Rider 21s.  I sweated a lot during this sultry summer, but I didn’t drown.  During the race, I discovered a new caffeine product.  The next weekend, I cheered for runners at the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon.

Clothing & Gear

Shoes.  Mizuno Wave Rider 21.  It’s been so hot and humid that even my newest pair of Wave Rider 20s started smelling of mold from sweat after only 200 miles.  I threw them away after the 2017 Bourbon Chase and went to one of my local running stores for a new pair.  I tried on the 21s and they felt fine, so I went with the new model even through the 2017 New York City Marathon was only a few weeks away.   So far, they’ve been great.  I’ve logged 80 miles on them and I think they’ve felt more comfortable than past versions.

Headlamps.  Amphipod Swift-Clip Cap Light.  I got this in a Runners World Box and took it with me to the 2017 Bourbon Chase.  Rummaging around the van at midnight, I couldn’t find my Nathan Zephyr Fire 300 flashlight but got my hands on this little clip.  I was very impressed by the amount of light it put out.  I ran with it once afterwards and one downside is that it isn’t adjustable.  For running, it might be nice if the beam cast down more than out.

Sunglasses.  Oakley Commit Sunglasses.  I mistakenly put my sunglasses in the washer/dryer!  When they came out, the frames seemed fine but the lenses were ruinously scratched.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy replacement lenses on the manufacturer’s website.  But, I found a second-party selling them through Amazon.  It might be a while before I can try them, though.  The forecast for the 2017 New York City Marathon is showing rain.

(My Complete Clothes & Gear Page.)

Nutrition & Hydration

Caffeine.  Sword Energy Chewable Caffeine Tablets.  I bought these from a vendor at the 2017 Bourbon Chase.  Normally, I wouldn’t think about trying a new product during an event like this, but I was running my legs as training runs so I gave them a shot.  I tried one tablet during my first run and didn’t think I felt any effect.  I ate two before my second run and it seemed alright.  I thought it was just enough to keep me going at 4 o’clock in the morning but not so much that I felt jittery waiting for my run in the back of a van.  I might use it for the 2017 New York City Marathon next Sunday…  Each tablet has 50 mg of caffeine (a cup of coffee has about 95 mg.)

Electrolytes. Gatorade.  I try a bunch of fancy products, but plain old Gatorade came through for me during the 2017 Bourbon Chase.  It made me thing that I might be over-thinking some things.

Routes

Construction.  This week, I encountered the trail construction that I read about earlier in the summer on the W&OD Trail along Four Mile Run.

The work around George Mason Drive was a little disruptive because a small section of the trail was closed, but it really didn’t impact my running at all.

Art.  During the 2017 Bourbon Chase, I was surprised to see a number of Chihuly pieces on the grounds of the Maker’s Mark distillery.  This work was my favorite:

My teammates told me there were additional works inside but the yeast smell in the air from the distillery was getting to me.

Media & Motivation

Music. “Blow,” by Ke$ha.  This is the song I plan to hear as I come off the Queensboro Bridge next Sunday at the 2017 New York City Marathon!

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

Podcasts.  “Episode 126 – Eye for an Eye (Kieran O’Connor #2),” from Pace the Nation.  I listened to this podcast after spectating at Mile 24.5 of the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon.

I saw him leading the race at that point but could tell from his body language that he was fading.  It was a warm day and I guessed he was wilting from the heat.  The runner in second passed him shortly thereafter.  The first woman (more on that below) had a sizeable gap on her chaser.

Books and Magazines.  “San Diego 50: Scenic Reward,” by Carrie Jesse in UltraRunning Magazine.  I’m a subscriber to an ultra-running magazine!  I haven’t dug into past issues yet, but I found a race report for the first 50 miler that I’m planning to run.  I wouldn’t have guessed it could be 30 degrees in the morning for the race but then creep up to the 80s!

News.  “Galen Rupp and Jordan Hasay Lead American Contenders at Chicago Marathon,” from Runner’s World.  I rushed home after the 2017 Army Ten Miler and watched the end race.  It was nice seeing them both continue to improve their marathon results.

“Nine Days Ago, She Pleaded to Join the Marine Corps Marathon.  Sunday, She Came in First,” from the Washington Post.  From the comments, it seemed like a lot of runners don’t realize that fast runners get privileges like bypassing lotteries.

Motivation.  “No one ever drowned in sweat.” – Anonymous.

It was hot and humid for all but a few days of this training cycle.  The term “sultry” was being used in October!  I was drenched in sweat after almost every run.  But, I didn’t drown.