Tag Archive for "community" -

Running and Reading

Which running books inspire you? Which ones have you loved?

I’m currently building a running library. Whenever I find a new book about running, I read it. If it’s good (or cheap), I will buy it and add it to my collection. I’ve filled two shelves with running literature ranging from Dr. George Sheehan’s and Jim Fixx’s writings from original running boom to cutting edge training concepts like Brain Training for Runners that I reviewed last month. I don’t discriminate. I also make room for running fiction like the iconic Once a Runner and Higdon’s lesser Marathon novel. Here are some of my favorites.

Once a Runner and Again to Carthage: Due to its scarcity, the original book once marked you as a dedicated follower of the running cult. Since the re-print, it now may also indicate that you follow all the Runners’ World hype. Whatever the case may be, I find Once a Runner to be magical. Parker manages to paint my passion for running through the story even though I’ll never be near a four-minute mile. I love this book. I’ve heard a few less obsessive runners admit that they don’t see the appeal. It may be more meaningful to runners who constantly seek ways to run faster and farther. If nothing else, it provides a dynamic insight into those distant specks at the front of the pack and why they do what they do.

Running with the Buffaloes and An Honorable Run are two non-fiction books that chronicle Mark Whetmore and the runners at Colorado University,one of the more storied cross country programs in the United States. These book may also appeal to more competitive runners, but I found them completely absorbing. I’m not sure I would want Whetmore to coach my sons, but I would love to have him as a running partner. His obsession with running and training are fascinating.

Advanced Marathoning and Daniels’ Running Formula are focused mainly on training and training plans. Reading these books has done more for my training and racing than anything else (other than Miles of Trials, Trials of Miles). They really give an insight into why I do different workouts. Through this understanding, I am able to get more out of my workouts. If you are looking to improve, these two books are must reads.

Life at These Speeds is a novel about a fictional half miler. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone else discuss this book, but I thought it was exceptional. The author, Jeremy Jackson, does a masterful job of crafting the narrative to feel like an 800-meter race. The main character, perhaps a younger version of Quentin Cassidy, is deep and complex. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Personal Record by Rachel Toor is a memoir that seemed to capture the essence of running. I’m drawn to writers who express feelings about running that mesh with mine. For example, I doubt I would read a book by Ed Whitlock because I once read an interview in which he stated that he probably wouldn’t run if he stopped winning his age group and setting records. Even though I am competitive, I don’t run against others as much as I seek to challenge myself. I wouldn’t really relate to Whitlock’s point of view. As I read Toor’s book, I found myself nodding and agreeing even if I didn’t always agree with her per se.

These are my top eight running books right now. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some of my favorites, but I believe your life would be enriched if you made time to read these. This time of year is great for resting and rejuvenating, so why not inspire your training this spring by reading some great literature right now. Also, I’d love to hear which running books inspire you.

14th January 2011

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Madison, Wisconsin

We stayed on an organic farm near Madison as we celebrated our anniversary last week. Staying on the farm was great. It was quiet, there was a beautiful prairie blooming outside our back door, and we could pick fresh vegetables to eat of dinner each afternoon. RunnerGirl even got to gather some fresh eggs and hang out with the chickens. We also took two day trips into Madison to explore. Madison, Wisconsin is a wonderful place.

Feeding the chickens

As we made our way into the city, the first thing I noticed was the dedicated bike lanes. Many of the streets in Madison have lanes specifically for bikes. These are so much nicer than a bike path/sidewalk. People backing out of driveways and turning onto streets often pull right through the bike path when it is place of a sidewalk. That means, a biker on the “bike path” has to constantly stop at each driveway. The bike lane gives the advantages of being on the road without the crowding of distracted drivers. Many of these bike lanes also detour onto trails.

There are many trails in Madison, too. These trails are often paved and scenic. I ran on several of these trails as they looped around lakes and ran along the river. I managed to do 16 miles in the city without getting too lost. The trails took me all over. One set of paved trails even lead me a bucolic nature preserve just outside of the city. It was clear that the trails, paths, and bike lanes would make commuting by bike very enticing.

We saw many people doing just this. There were many large and lovely bike shops in Madison. These shops rented bikes and provided guidance on places to ride. They also organized rides, social bike groups, and other interesting suggestions. Everyone we saw in the bike shops (yes, we visited several) was kind, enthusiastic, and eager to spread their passion for cycling. We saw many bike commuters traveling to the Dane County Farmers’ Market.

This market is wonderous. It is on the lawn of the capitol building. They are very strict that everyone selling at the market is the actual producer of the goods for sale. They had a huge variety of baked goods, meats, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, cheese (it is Wisconsin, after all), and many other fruits and vegetables. It is a great use of the capitol grounds to actually benefit the community.

We loved Madison and are already planning to go back. Maybe I’ll run Crazy Legs or the Madison Marathon. We’ll see.

28th July 2010

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June 2, 2010 is National Running Day

Clear your calendar for June 2: It’s National Running Day. How will you celebrate? Will you run to work? Bring a box of Gu to the staff meeting at your office instead of a box of doughnuts? Send flowers to your local running store (we prefer pizza to flowers)? Whatever you’re doing, make it a special day. I’ve brought this idea up before, but we are all ambassadors for our sport. We run for a lot of different reasons, but most runners would agree that it makes us happier, healthier people. Most would also agree that runners tend to be friendlier and more supportive people. We see this in force when we attend a race. Runners are out there cheering like mad for EVERYONE in the race. Whoever said, “Second place is the first loser (possibly Dale Earnhart),” never ran in a road race. In fact, the later runners often

receive more cheers and support than the winners. Why wouldn’t we want to encourage this supportive friendliness in everyone we know? That is why I’m calling on all of YOU to reach out to your friends and family on this National Running Day.

Tell your friends and family about why you run. I started running for stress relief and to live a healthier life style. Someone else I know ran to meet a girl. Others run for competition. Talk about how you got started and how you improved. Make sure they know that it is some thing they can accomplish, too. It seems like some people are intimidated. They hear about someone who runs marathons and immediately shut down because there is no way they could ever do that. They don’t realize that the marathoner didn’t start out with a 20-miler. He began as someone who couldn’t run a mile. Our sport should be accessible to everyone; make sure your friends and family know that they CAN do it. Here are some more tips for beginners.

Next, invite them out for a run. Set a date (ideally June 2). I’m writing about National Running Day now, so you can plan ahead. Have them write it in their calendar. Planning ahead with a date and a time makes it a priority. Make sure they know that you WANT to run with them. Another deterrent to new runners is that they assume that current runners are too fast for them. Make sure they know that you will run (or even run/walk) at their pace. Having qualified for the Boston Marathon, I feel like I’m somewhat speedy, but I would definitely take the time to run/walk with a new runner at whatever pace they were comfortable with. That’s where we begin.

When you do run with your new runner, make sure they are comfortable. Most new runners become discouraged because they start too fast. Within 100 meters, they are huffing and puffing because the pace is too quick. General aerobic runs should pass the “talk test.” That means that runners should be able to speak in short sentences without getting out of breath. As the more experienced runner, it is your job to keep the pace slow enough for the new runner. Avoid one-stepping. One-stepping is the act of always running one step ahead of your running partner. This has a tendency to push the pace because the partner is always trying to keep up with the one-stepper. I confess that I have been guilty of this action. Sorry. Also, no matter how tempting it is, don’t run backwards in front of the new runner. I am not proud, but I did this once when RunnerGirl was first starting to run.

Finally, after the run, CELEBRATE. Brag about them. Tell them how great they did. Plan the next run. Let’s build an even bigger running community.

21st May 2010

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Community of Athletes

Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

and they’re always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows

Your name.

As I begin my taper for Boston, I thought the old theme to Cheers would be an appropriate way to begin this post. Seriously, though, we do all want to go where “where everybody knows [our] name.” I know I crave to be welcomed and remembered. Humans are built to be social and to build community. How can we build this community?

One way is to recognize each other on the run. I love it when I see other runners and we each give that little nod of recognition. It happens everywhere I run. Runners don’t have to know each other personally; we recognize the drive and desire. If we’re going the same direction, we may share a couple sentences, but it’s not required. The connection between runners is even stronger when the weather is at its worst. Probably because it is a smaller community and, just like a small town, smaller communities offer tighter bonds.

Another way to forge bonds as a running community is to meet up and run with others regularly. Running groups offer advice, encouragement, and motivation. The communion of sweat and gu opens up lines of communication that would never be explored over coffee. One explanation for this is the sheer amount of time groups spend together if they’re training for a marathon. Another possibility is that physical labor breaks down our inhibitions. Or possibly it is a corollary of the video game rule. I read once (maybe in Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) that women communicate face-to-face, and men prefer side-to-side. I saw this was true immediately because my buddies and I always talked more openly while watching sports or playing video games. Now I see that running offers the same dynamic. Could it be that we don’t have to watch for glimmers of judgment while we bare our soul if we’re watching for some crazed SUV driver on the streets? Maybe. I’ve been hungering for a running partner lately and two opportunities have just been introduced. I met with someone who is running his ninth Boston Marathon this spring. He has been running with a few other folks for years and invited me to join them. I’m excited to get out there and meet his group. I also met a fellow runner from just up the Lakeshore. I met this runner on the Runners’ World forums while discussing the Boston Marathon. I hope to do a long run or two with him soon, too.

Another great way to build more community among athletes is to be involved in local races and at the local running store. Running in local races is a great place to meet and talk with fellow runners in the area, but you don’t have to race every Saturday. In fact, you’ll probably meet more runners by volunteering at the local race. You won’t be so focused on yourself, and you’ll be able to talk to people at all different paces. Just like any community, though, you have to participate regularly to be a “regular.” You can also attend great clinics at Gazelle or just hang out and get to know the staff. We love to talk about running and want to get to know runners in the area. Please come in and talk to us even if you’re not shopping for anything in particular. Gazelle should be a meeting place for the running community.

Help build the running community. Get to know your fellow runners. Hang out with them. Mentor a new runner. Train together. Chat with a Gazellian. We may not always know your name (I’m trying to get better at this part), but we’re always glad you came.

Monday: 6 miles

Tuesday: 6 miles

Wednesday: 5 miles a.m./10 miles p.m.

Thursday: 7 miles w/ 5 X 1000 @ 3:40 w/ 400 m recovery

Friday: 6 miles

Saturday: 5 miles

Sunday: 19 @ 7:35/mile

Total for the Week: 64 miles

Total for the Year: 652 miles

31st March 2010

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Thank you

Everyone loves a sense of community. That feeling where you walk into a room and more than just the person you’re meeting up with knows your name, the feeling were people understand and can relate to what is going on in your life, a feeling of acceptance. Runners are such a community that care. Since my last blog, a various FaceBook status updates, countless amounts of people have asked me about my foot and how my running/cross-training is going.

Some examples:
a friend that I used to ride bikes with FB chats me daily and wished me luck on my first run back.
Jenni, a regular at Gazelle and serial Gazoom member saw me while I was working and checked up on the status of my foot and how I was feeling.
My Dad, of course texts and calls me to see how my recovery is going.
A random friend I run with sometimes asked me if I was sure I wanted to go 8 on Friday.
A new friend that doesn’t know me very well continuously asked me all week how I was feeling.
Co-workers, random customers that have read the blog, my Dad’s friends…the list goes on and on.

It’s hard to get to the point with some people to have this community feeling. Often groups are hard to break into. Here’s a secret: your local running store is a perfect place to start. If you come into the store and are friendly, I may not remember your name right away but I will remember what race you’re training for, what shoe you love and probably the size. So come in and chat with us, we don’t bite! We’re runners too and are always looking to make our community grow in one way or another!

With all this being said, runners are such great people. I get concerned when a fellow runner friend of mine isn’t feeling great. But then I also get SO excited when one calls me, while at work to tell me she just “RAN SIX MILES” for the first time in her life, then comes directly to the store when I got out of work (still in her running clothes) to grab a…errr coffee, to celebrate! I love every second of being a runner because every runner loves every second of it.
So I guess the purpose of this blog is to say THANK YOU. Thank you to all the runners that care, ask, and support. I believe if you give support you will get amazing support back, and that’s what it’s all about—the support from the sidelines of a race is often what gets us through a race. Well, let’s all be cheerleaders for each other along the way and we can go even further.

Happy running. Happy cheering!

23rd March 2010

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