2:22 amLast Year, , , , , , ,

RF Alumni Racing SingletThis week last year I began my final preparations for the New York City marathon and completed my marathon preparation series.

  • I finished up the series on rest by describing how to time rest during a workout. I described different types of rest, and gave a few tips that I use to measure my rest as I am working out.
  • I got out in my neighborhood for my first Halloween run. The nice thing about Halloween is that drivers are being careful as they drive. The not so nice thing is that there are twice as many drivers as usual. I did not run on Halloween this year, though, as I felt a few days off after my marathon were called for.
  • I described how the starting corrals work at New York City. It is a good thing to understand how they work, especially when you want to run with a friend in a different corral. I also provided a guide for how to single me out and cheer for me at the race. The article is made more useful by the fact that it linked to quite a few resources for cheering for any runner, and not just me.
  • This week two years ago, I wrote about planning your workouts. You are much more likely to stay on track if you know what you are supposed to do ahead of time. I also wrote about The Bike Shop, where children can build their own bikes and learn how to maintain them in an effort to teach fitness and responsibility. The owner “sells” the bikes for $5 to local kids, teaches them how to maintain them, and brings them on group rides. If there is not a similar program in your community, perhaps you could consider starting one?
6:36 pmFitness, Personal, , ,

Jack o LanternThis evening is Halloween here in the States. As such, I decided that since drivers would be watching for kids on the side of the road that it would be a good night to run. Of course, I did not consider that there were more than twice as many drivers as usual.

All in all, it was a great run. I only had one kid yell “Run, Forrest, Run” at me. Usually, I hear that at least 2 or 3 times when I run by more than a few people. The weather was perfect, but I did run into a tree limb that is right at eye height. I did that last time I ran at night too. Most of the kids that I passed were amazed by somebody out running, and most of the older kids and young teenagers that were out couldn’t figure out what was coming at them until I was right on top of them.

I ran at a fairly good clip; definately faster than I needed to. I took off my long sleeve shirt, and was running in a short sleeve with a reflective vest and a head lamp. I highly recommend going out for a run tonight if the weather is as fair where you live as it is where I live.

10:35 pmEquipment, , , ,

Tonight was my first run with a headlamp. Normally, I run right after work. Tonight, however, I had an electrician at the house and by the time he left I was hungry and had dinner. I did not get out the door until after 9 o’clock, when it is very dark in my neighborhood. Last time I did a night run I forgot to wear it, so tonight was my first night run with my new headlamp that I bought a few months back.
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