Run to Win

This week last year was a busy one, and ran a pretty wide range of topics.

• I began the week by continuing the discussion of technology and fitness by describing 7 ways to time workouts. This article ran the technological ladder from using the sun to using an RFID chip on your shoe.
• In a very unique race, 56 people ran blind in the Vision 5k. Half of them were actually blind and the other half were sighted runners taking the blindfold challenge. This would be a fun race for me and one that I believe that I could do well at, except that I can’t afford the time to get down to Boston multiple times for mandatory “training” sessions.
• Almost 4 months before Ryan Shay died in the Olympic Trials, I discussed whether running a road race will kill you. I still believe that running is inherently healthy and that the infinitesimal chance of having a heart attack is not something that I am personally going to worry myself about.
• On a lighter note, I followed up that morbid discussion by defining some common running terms that you may encounter. Specifically, I defined what it means to get “girled” or “geezered” in a race. Sadly, I did not hear any of the women at the Maine Coast Half Marathon complain about getting “guyed”.
• On a non-running related note, I shared my thoughts on attending minor league games, specifically baseball games.
• This week two years ago was pretty busy.
  • Nick had a great suggestion that I wish that I had done. He suggested that you take before and after pictures for new exercise programs. When you are starting a new program, there may be some aches and pains, so remember to ice early and ice often.
  • When in a training program, be sure to include some downhill running. Last year I provided a half dozen benefits to doing so. You should also remember that the best runs come when you least expect them, such as the morning after your bachelor party.
  • I reviewed the Vitruvian Running Shoes. In other shoe news, the Nike+ system launched.
• This week 3 years ago, I reviewed Thorlos socks and I got punched by an Olympic Gold Medalist. My wife also did a workout that I would never even attempt, and it was only the first workout of the day. Even 3 years later, I wouldn’t attempt that kind of a workout. I’m still amazed by it.

Photo by Thomas FanI have known of the term getting girled for as long as I have been racing. At the Four on the Fourth this year, one of my teammates talked about getting geezered, which was the first time that I had heard that term.

Getting girled basically means that you were beaten by a woman, especially in a competitive race. You may see the term referenced if you were anywhere behind the first woman to finish, but most of the time you see it when you are outsprinted.

Getting geezered means that you have been beaten by somebody who has been a masters runner for a decade or two, although it could apply on a sliding scale depending upon how old you are and what your scale of reference is.

I have never heard of women saying that they “got guyed.” Maybe they will say it at the new Maine Coast Half Marathon this year, though.