A Passion for Running

This is part seven
Part one is here
Part two is here
Part three is here
Part four is here
Part five is here
Part six is here
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Two powerful realizations came out of the Red Deer experience.

The first was the thrill of passing people throughout the race. It was absolutely intoxicating and empowering. I will never forget the feeling of reeling runners in – especially during the latter miles. Woohoo!

The second realization came to me the day after the race. It was the realization that I had actually raced that marathon. Raced it. In previous marathons, my focus was mostly on surviving the experience. In every marathon previous to Red Deer, I’d gone out less than confident in my ability to reach my goal – I never felt the confidence of knowing I could be strong throughout the race.

In contrast, Red Deer was all about executing a plan. A plan I was confident in. And a plan based on abilities I’d tested amply so that on race day, I was racing at the top end of my aerobic threshold.

Red Deer was transformational. And you still cannot wipe the smile from my silly face.

This is part six
Part one is here
Part two is here
Part three is here
Part four is here
Part five is here
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Success in Red Deer was a huge win for me. A personal best for anyone at any time is a big deal, but this PB had a lot of extra goodness packed into it.

An explanation is in order. You see, since my October 2004 injury, I changed pretty much everything I did relating to running:

1. Stopped Using My Brakes: I was a deeply entrenched heel-striker. I replaced that with ball-of-the-foot running. A big change.
2. Adopted the Pose Method of Running: The method was the system I used to change lots of things including running on my heels. Total adoption of the method was long and painstaking. It took about two years before I felt fully comfortable with it and another six months before I felt ready to put it to the test by training for a marathon.
3. Ditched My Nikes: Specifically, I ditched the high-heeled-big-on-structure Nikes I’d run in for over 15 years, and replaced them with the most minimalist shoe I could find – a shoe that has virtually no cushioning or support.
4. Made the Move to High Mileage Training: For a long time, I had this feeling that magazine articles with titles like “Get a PR Marathon on 40 Miles a Week” were leading me down the garden path. I felt I needed to increase my mileage to maximize my potential as a runner. I began reading about Arthur Lydiard and shortly thereafter found my coach. Venturing down the high mileage path was the ultimate test of the other changes I’d made. If those changes were not good ones, I knew I’d pay for it – after all, prior to making the changes, I used to break down (in various ways) at much lower mileages than I was about to attempt.

To sum all this up, there was a lot riding on Red Deer. I really wanted to do well there to prove to myself that the changes I’d made were the right changes, and that they were worth the effort!

Getting a PR on the tough Red Deer course was ample validation for my efforts and the pressure I’d been feeling for far too long was quickly replaced by joyfulness. I’ve been all smiles since Sunday – you just can’t get that thing off my silly face.

Onward!

This is part five
Part one is here
Part two is here
Part three is here
Part four is here
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Click on the thumbnails to view larger pictures. I’m told the actual race photos will be ready in 7 to 10 days.

Me in my gear the day before the race

Finisher Medal

Finisher Technical Shirt – Front

Shirt – Back

Logo on Front of Shirt

Quote on Back of Neck

This is part four
Part one is here
Part two is here
Part three is here
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I had several comments asking me various questions about my fueling and hydration strategy for the race.

Pre-Race

Hydration: I drank a litre of Gatorade and a litre of water in the four hours leading up to the marathon.

Fueling: A big bowl of Kashi Organic Flakes & Berries cereal and a banana.

During the Race

Hydration: I drank water at most of the stations which were placed every 3km on the course. I’m terrible at running and drinking so I would grab a cup, drink one or two gulps down, and resume running. I never stopped running for more than a few steps at the water stations.

Fueling: I did not fuel during the run. I did not drink Gatorade or Gels or anything else. Why? During my entire training cycle, I trained without fueling during runs. My intention was to train my body to supply the fuel (glycogen and then fat). The idea is to train the body to burn fat and, if you introduce gels etc, it interrupts the body’s transition to what I (and Andrew) feel is the proper source of long distance fuel. My opinion is that gels do nothing but cause glucose spikes that energize for a few minutes and then leave you worse than before you took them. You also run the risk of getting ill due to your stomach not being able to handle the fuel that late in the marathon.

Without taking fuel, I had to rely 100% on my training and I think it paid off because I’ve never run so strong.