Geeky Gadgets--Tips for the New(bie) Year Runner --Part 5
I am a total gadget geek. My Runner Idol (otherwise known as my awesome friend & virtual trainer) makes fun of me. He says I look like i'm going on an Arctic expedition instead of a run.
This is what I looked like at the start of the Disney Half Marathon this month:
Me before the Disney Half Marathon
When Runner Idol saw this photo, he quickly sent me a text, "You are wearing too many clothes, Girl!" Too late. By the time I got the message, I'd already taken off...not that I would have listened anyway. (Listening would have been helpful. I wasted at least five minutes stripping layers as I ran. It seems many of the runners took the same approach. Disney donated 26,000 lbs of discarded clothing to area charities.)
In my defense, it was snowing at the start (yes, in Orlando!) and there was freezing rain as I ran my last four miles. Still, I don't like to be cold, and it has been said more than once that I over-prepare.
Race gear I laid out the night before.
Most serious runners will tell you the majority of the things I pack are unnecessary. I'll admit, I'm a bit obsessive about my gear. This is what I ran with (Other than the cold weather items, I typically run with all of this!):
1. Shoes, socks, shorts/tights, shirt/tank...all obvious and necessary.
2. Four fleece layers to be thrown away at the start and as I warmed up.
3. A rain poncho...necessary this day because of the weather situation (freezing rain). People often use garbage bags for this purpose too.
4. Hat, headband, gloves ... necessary (for me) in these weather conditions.
5. Fuel Belt ... I always run with water. Many experienced runners will say you can do a short training run without water. And, most races have water stations every few miles. Maybe I just live in a dehydrated state, but I need to have my water. Actually, I carry a bottle of G2 and a bottle of water. In warm weather, I dump the water on my head when I get over-heated.
Here's what else I carry in my fuel belt. My Runner Idol, my brother and my training partners all laugh at me...but without exception, every item in my fuel belt gets used--by someone in my group--at every race.
- GU...provides a little burst of energy in 100 calorie shots. I usually take this about 45 minutes into a long run.
- Car key, and money for emergencies
- Gum ... to keep my mouth moist
- Aquaphor...in case I experience chafing
- Hand sanitizer ... for those icky porta potties (I always get the porta potty without hand sanitizer)
- Kleenex... for noses or in case the porta potty is out o TP
- Phone...for emergencies and taking pictures
6. iPod ... I HAVE to listen to my tunes when I run. A lot of races do not allow iPods, but when they do, I always listen to music. I have a lot of songs that remind me of the special people in my life, and I use those songs to get through the rough spots in my run. I usually run with only one ear bud in, so I can hear traffic, other runners and bikes on the trail.
7. My Garmin watch. When I first started running outside, I needed to know how far I was running. Three miles was still tough for me, and I had to play mind games with myself to get through a run. I had to know exactly how far I'd gone, so I could count down how much distance I had left. Now, I use my watch to keep track of my pace. I like to know how fast I'm going so I can set a new PR. I still play mind games--sometimes it's an elevation game (How fast can I run up the hill?), sometimes it's a speed game (How fast can I run? How fast can I run two miles? Three miles?)
Another geeky thing I do with my watch--the watch keeps track of all my stats and maps each run. I have "souvenir" maps from recent vacations. I have a map of my Disney run, a map from when I "walked on water" on Clearwater beach last summer, a map of when jo_no_anne and I ran on Rodeo Drive at the SCBWI conference last summer and a map of my very first half marathon.
It may look like I'm going on an expedition when I run. I'm trying to get better at running without so much "stuff." Most real runners like to run "light." All that stuff adds weight and bulk that slows you down. So, my advice to my newbie runner friends...I'm probably not a great example to follow when it comes to running gear!!!!
*In case I undersold myself...I'll add...I do run a lot of miles each week. I'm at 44.5 for the week. I'll finish the week at 55+, depending on how my legs feel tomorrow :-)
For more of my running tips, see parts one (getting started), two (getting started), three (listen to your body) and four (the power of friends) here.