Wildwoods Challenge 2009 Results:

I am please to announce that I got my first career win as a distance runner.  The Wildwoods Challenge 25K Trail race was a lot of fun.  The only complaint was that the course was not marked really well, but only a minor detail.  It was a great race and a lot of fun.  It was a bit more challenging of a course then I thought, but still had a lot of fun.  I'd like to thank Ryanell Johnson the race director and all of the volunteers, there was some kinks to workout, but for a first run it was a great event.  I will definitely be back next year.    

Overall Place: 1st

Time: 1:44:23

Garmin Follow Up

I have to say that I am more than impressed with my new Garmin 405.  It not only syncs very quickly and easily but the amount of data that it stores and the functionality of the device is great.  Once you are finished with your workout you sync it to your online profile and it will display your entire workout, from your heart rate, speed, elevation and pace at any point during your run.  Plus the Touch Bezel and during the run functions are really easy to see and use.  

I have a race on Saturday, the Wildwoods Challenge, that I am excited for and will be really excited to see the results that I get from running a race.  I have never gotten data of my HR and Pace throughout a race so it will be very interesting.  

New Watch!

I finally got a new Heart Rate Monitor.  After putting it off all summer and combing through product reviews and online sites, I finally go one.  I went with the Garmin 405, the big selling points for me were the all-in-one GPS and the great reviews the GPS system got.  Apparently it is good for running on trails and under trees without losing signal.  Both of these are big selling points for me because I'm going to be doing a lot more trail races and not having to strap an additional arm band on is great, not to mention the majority of the setting are controlled but the Touch Bezel, which is similar to the ipod touch wheel.  It definitely is bigger than your normal watch quite a bit bigger than the Polar FT80 that I had an lost.  But functionality over fashion any day in the running community.  

I'm even considering getting up tomorrow morning and going for a run just to try it out.  I needed to charge it today, otherwise I would have done use it today.  By the way I went for about 8 miles total with 2 set of 3 miles at a 6 minute mile pace.  I had to try and squeeze some speed work in for my 25K this weekend.  

50 Miles

For those of you who remember I posted a link to a video about a 13 year old girl who complete a 50 mile race.  I have also found out that Wilt Chamberlain, nicknamed "Wilt the Stilt" ran a few marathons as well as a 50 mile race.  I have heard the excuse that I'm just not build for running, well you have two examples from both extremes now, Being over weight is not an excuse, run a train for a 50 mile race and it won't be a factor any more.  Anyone from a 13 year old girl to a 7'1" 275lbs. man can run and run far.  No excuses.  

Beat the Heat!

I didn't have to go to work this Saturday, so I decided to get a good run in.  I guess I know I'm in pretty good shape know when I can run nearly a marathon in a spur of the moment.  I didn't quiet make it a marathon about 25 miles, but I took off after learning I didn't have to go to work with a 1/2 of a smoothie in my stomach a cup of coffee and a danish to fuel me.  I, quite foolishly didn't take any water, gatorade or any type of replenisher with my.  All I had was a cliff bar, and my ipod.  I didn't even stretch just headed out and it was hot I think it was around 75 degrees when I started, 11:40am and it ended up around 90 when I was done, 3:25pm.

The humidity was pretty bad the heat index was around 95 degrees I guess.  I should say that the route I was running had plenty of water fountains to drink from and plenty of other runners, walkers, and bikers the whole way.  I do not recommend this for anyone, you should carry a replenisher, something with electrolytes and sodium, if you are going to run for more than an hour, especially in the heat.    

I actually felt pretty good and ran the thing pretty darn fast, I definitely would have been a sub-4 hour marathon.  With all the running I have done I do feel that I run better then most in the heat.  It doesn't really seem to effect me nearly as much.   I don't really plan to taper much for the Wildwoods 25k this weekend but I'm looking forward to it and will probably try and get in some good tempo runs just to get the legs moving so I remember what it's like running a 6:15 mile pace.  

Here is a nice video for some general hydration tips.

Staying Hydrated:

Wildwoods Challenge

I have decided to enter a race next weekend it is only a 25K, or about 15 mile, race so nothing too crazy, but it should be a lot fun.  It is in Itasca State Park where I recently did some trail running and it is a great area.  

It should be a a pretty fast race, I haven't done anything under a marathon this year so I'll have to pick up the pace.  My Dad is running the 10K which I think starts 20 mins after the 25K, so I figure if I can run around a 6:15-6:25 mile pace I should finish right around his time, depending on how fast he plans on running.  I have been doing a lot of trail running, so I should be able to keep a pretty good pace.  

Green Smoothies!

As I have said earlier, nutrition has been a big part of my focus this year.  I do not have a specific diet but I tend to eat what allows me to run better.  I find that a lot of fresh fruits, veggies and lean proteins seem to do the trick.  

One thing I do almost every morning and often as a post workout refueling is a Green Smoothie.  A green smoothies is defined as a fruit smoothie that has some sort of leafy green incorporated into it.  There are tons of recipes out there just google it, here is the recipe that I use.  The main advantage of a green smoothie is that you can get the benefits of those leafy greens without having to eat them straight.  Plus I add in a few extra ingredients for protein, vitamins, minerals ect...  

Jordan's Green Smoothies recipe:

2 bananas

1/2 cup of berries ( I often use frozen blue berries or strawberries)

one medium leaf of Kale

1 tablespoon of hemp seed

1 tablespoon of dulse flakes

1 tablespoon of bee pollen

1-2 cups of water or coconut water (amount of water depends on how thick you like your smoothies)

Blend them all up in a blender and enjoy.  It doesn't have to be a expensive one, I have a $15 one from Kmart.   Hint: use frozen berries and your smoothie will be ice cold if using fresh berries add a few ice cubes.  

 

Impressive!

Kara Goucher wins the Rock N' Roll Chicago 1/2 marathon, finishing 1st overall.  Her time 1:08:05, which is about 5:12 minute mile pace.  I honestly don't think I could beat that time, or at least I would have to train pretty hard to get that fast.  I'm impressed.  Here is the article.

Article:

A Case for Bare Foot Running

Here is an interesting video that examines a side by side video of a runner with shoes and without.  I guess take it for all its worth, it is youtube but it is interesting none the less.  

Video:

Born to Run

I just got done reading a fascinating book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It is a book that describes an amazing adventure that stemmed from one question, "Why does my foot hurt?"  The author has had consistent running related injuries from only light running and is told by doctors that running is the cause of his injuries.  

He sets out to find whether or not humans were really made to run or not.  Along the why he encounters some of the top ultra runners in the sport today, including Scott Jurek, and the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico.  The Tarahumara are an tribe of people know for the peaceful but harsh existence in the Copper Canyons of Mexico and for their ability to run long distances at great speed.  

The author tells of a great race pitting some of today modern ultra runners against the top runners of the Tarahumara tribe.  A race that allow us really pit modern science against the warriors of the past.  McDougall as make a pretty strong case that humans were made to run and the "problem" is our shoes not our inability as a species.  It is somewhere in between an adventure tail, documentary, science experiment and spiritual realization.  He make a lot of strong points for ditching those over engineered and over priced running shoes.  

I strongly recommend this book for any runner, but the book also does a great job at captivating you with a great story while getting the authors point across.