6.12.2008

Lessons I've learned but always manage to forget

Just a few running lessons I've learned over the past few years that I always manage to forget. These have all come into play at some point in the past week's training. I'm writing them down in hopes of remembering them in this final week (!!!) before Fairfield.

  1. When you have to go while you're running you can combat it, but it takes lots of effort and concentration. And you only end up buying time until you find a bathroom--it never truly goes away.
  2. Big breath in, big breath out. Repeat. That is my running mantra. Maybe I inherited crappy sinuses from my mom, but my breathing is not spectacular. No asthma, just inefficient breathing. So I always have to remind myself to do big breaths, drawing them in/out over two steps.
  3. Always, always start off easy and you will be able to finish hard. I've done a good job of tempering the first mile of my long runs while training for Fairfield, but I could stand to improve my pacing.
  4. No matter how good you are at this running thing, you always have to dig deep. Always.
  5. You don't need to be hungry to have a GU while running.

6 comments:

Marcy said...

#2 is me as well. I say "screw breathing patterns" as long as I get myself as much oxygen as I can get in my lungs, I'm all good LOL It's also a good thing I'm plugged into the mp3 player a lot. I'd hate to hear what my breathing sounds like. Probably a big perv.

The Laminator said...

sRod - You forgot one. Trust your training. You'll be fine.

Jess said...

#4 is a good one!

Unknown said...

Like you, I have terrible history of sinus problems to this very day. Breathing is not my thing. However, I have been working on breathing in and out nicely as if I was doing mediation during my run. It does the wonder.

Nitmos said...

In fact, if you are hungry it might be too late for the GU. SHould have had it earlier. Stick with a schedule so you don't even have to think about it on race day. Good tips!

Laura said...

I'm excited to hear how Fairfield goes! I may need to come back to NYC to sign a lease for my new apartment, and if so, maybe I'll head up to Fairfield and attempt it too? It would be on the way (kind of) back to Boston... I think...