Running with the Pack Podcast

This week, we talk about running after a big event, Sports Beans and Cliff Shots, whether to wear tights or not while running, and our progress toward running the Flying Pig Marathon on May 4th.

After having “dead legs” on our run yesterday, Jeff and I both ran today and had “fresh legs”, meaning that we had a spring in our step and running came easily. I ran four miles today in just under 32 minutes (without pushing it). I can’t keep up that pace for 26.2 miles, but I definitely feel faster than in the Fall. I’m not certain that I have the same endurance though. This coming weekend should give me a better idea when we do one of our last long runs before tapering off for the Flying Pig.

Ideally, I would like to do:

• 18 miles on March 30
• 10 miles on April 6 (recovery week)
• 20 miles on April 13
• 12 miles on April 20 (taper week 1)
• 8 miles on April 27 (taper week 2)
• Flying Pig Marathon on May 4

The weather this weekend looks like some rain on Saturday and partly cloudy on Sunday (to the extent that you can trust the 10-day weather forecast this far out). So a nice slow outside run on Sunday around 3:00 sounds like a good plan. I’ll be sure to drink enough before lacing up this time.

Jeff and I had a rough week because of “dead legs”. We explain what we mean and also talk about the importance of proper hydration, finding time to exercise (even during stressful times), and Jeff’s comments on dealing with stinky running gear. We also talk a little about stretching (any yoga-runner bi-athletes out there?) and Run Fatboy Run.

I’m a big fan of Shaun of the Dead, so when I started seeing the trailers for Run Fatboy Run staring Simon Pegg, I got pretty excited. He’s playing an out of shape guy who plans to run a marathon to prove his commitment to a woman that he used to be engaged to. Or something like that — it doesn’t really matter. I’ll see it when it comes out.

The title of this post refers back to a question that we asked ourselves in podcast #2. Do I love running? Have I always loved running? The answers are yes and no respectively. The short version is that at times, I got back into running because I wanted to lose some weight and get into shape. Running used to be a means to an end — and if I could get the same result from sitting on the couch and eating cupcakes, I would have opted for the cupcake route. When you’re not in shape, running is awkward, painful, and feels a little like having a heart attack, especially if hills are involved. At least that’s how it is for me when I haven’t been running for an extended period.

And actually, I have turned to swimming and backpacking over the years as a fitness/stress activity. Both have limitations though. I love the gliding/flying feeling of swimming, but it kills my skin in the winter and the pool where I would swim has very limited hours. Backpacking is great, but it requires long stretches of time to actually get on a trail and let things go. Some of my best decisions have been made during long, quiet backpacking trips.

So while swimming and hiking are fun from the start, running took some time to really grow on me. I love it now, but it took time to build up my confidence, running identity, and a healthy endorphin addiction.

This weekend, I made a quick trip to Johnstown and was able to see a large group of relatives from my dad’s side of the family. Among them was Dave, who is one of the cousins that I mentioned in the first podcast who has completed a marathon. I talked to him about his running and it turns out that he did a lot more than a marathon. He was doing two a year for several years and I think he said that he did the Detroit marathon eight times. He has also run in Cleveland and Pittsburgh at least twice. Like me, he’s not fast, but a P.R. of about 3:30 is not slow either. He’s now approaching 60 and still excited about his running.

We talked about the potential to do an event together and I’m all for it. He’s recovering from an injury now though — if he wasn’t, I would have invited him to do the half-marathon race that happens the same time as the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati. Or if he moves to Florida at some point, we may have to join up for the Orlando marathon. I wonder if that would be interesting for my other potential pack-mates who have kids since the Orlando marathon is pretty integrated with Disney World.

This week, we discussed running rituals; runners who hate running; Buster Martin, who may become the worlds oldest marathon runner; backup marathons; and Brandon’s Marathon Podcast at brandonsmarathon.com. All of this after a 12-mile run that should have been a 16-mile run. Read more at parkedthoughts.com

I’ve been hearing a bit about Buster Martin, a 101-year-old man who is planning to run the London Marathon. I think he’s setting a great example and illustrating the benefits of staying healthy throughout an entire lifetime (he used to be an Army Trainer back in the day). Best wishes Buster!

ABC News Report about Buster

I told Jeff about my idea for a marathon podcast before our 16-mile run today and he liked the idea, so after the run, we sat down and made a recording. In this first episode of Running with the Pack, Jeff and I talk a little about ourselves, the reasons we run marathons, the people who have inspired us, a few stories about the Philadelphia Marathon, and what we’re doing to prepare for the Flying Pig Marathon in May.

 

 Running with the Pack 01 [39:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Updates to the information in the podcast:

• The name of the book is the Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer (see right sidebar, I have it listed)
• The Wired Magazine article was about ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes and it was the January 2007 issue. I have his book in the sidebar as well.

I have been thinking about creating a marathon podcast (i.e. a podcast about my running). I don’t have any grand plans for it, but I like podcasting and I like the thought that some random person may listen to what we have to say and then go for a run. I say “we” because I’m thinking about podcasting with Jeff (my running partner). I like the multi-person format. As for content, I thought we could talk about training, our runs, health, injuries, shoes (and other technical gear), books, articles, funny stories, gadgets, etc… I’d also like to have other runners on the show and talk to them about their runs, why they run, and how it has impacted their lives. Oh…and I just thought of this…I happen to know someone who has been trying out for the Olympics and a few grad students in the Biobehavioral Health program at Penn State who would have interesting perspectives.

In any case, in my thought process about this, I checked Google and iTunes to see what running podcasts were already out there. This episode looks particularly interesting, first because it’s one of only a few podcasts that have been made while someone is running a marathon, but second because it was made during the 2007 Philadelphia Marathon, which was my first.

Link to iTunes:
Phedippidations: The Philly Marathon