Product Reviews

These are the new goodies I bought (with my own money) recently and did a little test-run on my long run on Easter Sunday.  Here's what I thought of them. 

PowerBar Harvest Wholegrain Energy Bar 

I love these bars. I bought a multipack at Sam's and it has 3 flavors in it - peanut butter chocolate chip, toffee chocolate chip, and double chocolate chip. My favorites are toffee chocolate chip and double chocolate chip. I like peanut butter only on PBJ sandwiches. So, I am indifferent about the peanut butter ones here. Overall, these bars taste great and I always look forward to eating them. On Sunday when I did my 10-mile run, I ate a bar about 10 minutes before my run. It didn't give my stomach troubles and I didn't have any side stitches since I usually get those if I eat anything before a run.  (photo of PowerBar from Amazon.com)

Photo of me with my new running top from Target and handheld

Ultimate Direction Fastdraw Plus      

I probably need to learn how to suckle from this bottle since I didn't learn that when I was a baby. I am still trying to learn to draw fluid from the bottle.  At times I felt like I got a decent amount, but there were times when I could definitely use more and was left a little unsatisfied. BUT, it is a good thing that it was difficult to get a large volume of fluid. It prevented me from guzzling, which may cause me to have side stitches. 

The bottle didn't leak throughout my run, even when I was shaking the bottle pretty heavily. The mesh pocket could be a tad bigger. I stuffed 2 GU gel packets and it was full. Without the GUs in the mesh pocket, it wasn't big enough to accommodate my Nokia E63, so I still gotto hold that phone while I run if I wasn't wearing a pair of bottoms with pockets.

Considered It Done and Did.

Thought of the Day.  The difference between thinking about doing it and doing it is just doing it. 

Mental Prep.  I was a tad worried last night about the 10-miler today.  I botched the 10-miler last week and ended up with some pain in the knee.  So last night, I prepped myself mentally that if it starts hurting bad enough that I was hobbling, I was going to take it easy and not finish the 10-mile.  I learned that I have to condition myself and set a certain expectation and brainstorm different scenarios and solutions to the problems just to avoid having one goal and a one track mind.  I did that last week. I was so focused on getting 10-miles done that when I didn't do that, I was quite frustrated with myself, felt bummed the entire weekend and didn't even celebrate the fact that I had a rather fun 5K race earlier that morning. 

The Run.  I rolled out of bed and chomped down a Powerbar as I got dressed and ready for the run. Got my handheld bottle out of the fridge and off I went.  The first 2 miles were slow like I had intended it to be. I was still trying to shake the slumber off my head and I didn't want to tire myself out. Ran downtown and had my first Gu ever at Mile 3. I tore the packet off with my teeth and I thought I was some hot shot! Until I had my first taste - it was a little "hmmmm...." Not too sure that tastes good. Tried to wash it down with some water, and I am not very good at coordinating my eyes, my feet, my swallowing and everything all at one time. So I stopped and took a few seconds to finish it up that Gu and had some more water, ran to the Dumpster and threw the packaging away and continue the run.  I didn't turn my watch off at this time either.
I scheduled to run to aunt's house - just in case I needed to use the bathroom. Didn't needed it. Ran and ran up downtown, down downtown. Smelled some bleach. Saw some azaleas which made me thought of my sweet neighbor who had passed away several years ago.  She always assured me "Everything will be just fine. They will be just fine." 

Be proud of me because I actually didn't weazle my way out of slopes today. I ran up and down at least 4 slopes. Ran to the boyfriend's office to see if he is still there. He was. Took my 2nd GU and washed it down while he told me about him making headway on his dissertation. He asked about my knee. Told him it was behaving. Asked where's Buttercup. Told him I cheated on her again.  He said he was gonna go get breakfast for me and it will be waiting for me when I get done with 10 miles. I love him so much!

Ran to the school and did a loop there. I wanted to make sure that by the time I reached my car, I would already have completed 10 miles because it would be a cruel joke to play on my psyche if I have to run to my car and go, "uh-huh! Can't stop yet. Keep going."  Mile 7 - knee started hurting a tad but it was ok. Not so drastic yet. I can do it. The difference between thinking about doing a 10 mile and running a 10 mile is just running the 10 miles.  I kept going. Mile 8 and I thought about my friends, Judith and Rindy. Judith told Rindy while they were running their half-marathon at mile 10 that they have 3.1 bonus miles to go.  So, I keep telling myself, "Yay! I get to run another 2 bonus miles!"  And before I know it, I finished my 2 bonus miles! Limped a little to my car while I called the boyfriend to tell him, "I DID IT!" and off my way to eat some good breakfast with my boyfriend. Life is so good and I am sooo darn happy!

 My post-10 mile face

The Stats.  

Mile 1 = 12:41.48

Mile 2 = 12:38.27

Mile 3 = 12:14.90

Mile 4 = 12:31.51

Mile 5 = 12:08.95

Mile 6 = 11:58.21

Mile 7 = 11:53.20

Mile 8 = 12:30.06 

Mile 9 = 12:21.82

Mile 10 = 12:30.85

10 miles = 2:03.32.   Average 12:21/mile

Will write about what I thought about the GU flavor, my new running shirt, and my running bottle in the next post.

Weekend Eight

In A Nutshell.   I completed eight miles this morning - the farthest I have ever ran. And I feel good! I decided not to take Buttercup because we haven't got that leash issue settled and I don't know if she will be able to take it.  I had to drive myself halfway down the driveway and parked my car there to pretend that I am going elsewhere but run.

Gear. Or the lack thereof. I just had my Garmin on and the pass to the local YMCA. I thought I would swing by there midway and get a sip of water at the water fountain or use the restroom.

Fun Sights.  I tried a somewhat different route today and ran down the square. It was quite different and I had to work around some vehicles. Thank goodness I went early enough so there weren't much traffic. It was quite a good little run down around there - no gravel, no potholes, just nicely paved sidewalk. I ran past Molly's Diner and I am sure they were serving up some yummilicious breakfast! I didn't stop for anything. Bummer!  I also saw a dead raccoon on the side of the road. See what happens when you don't wear reflective while running up and down the road?

Waterbreak.  I ran to Keith's office, said "Hi" to him and gave him a kiss.  He tried out a sales pitch on me and I got some water and used the restroom. And I said, "I gotto run!"

Random Thoughts. Maybe I will need to take a cold shower later? Does a cold shower works like an ice bath? (What I did? A hot steamy shower with blasts of cold spurts on my legs. That's all I can take.) 


By The Numbers:  The goal today was to finish the 8 miles without walking and to do so within 1 hour 45 minutes.  Slow and easy is fine. I just want to enjoy the run, enjoy my thoughts, and enjoy this pretty day. 

mile 1 = 12:22/mile
mile 2 = 12:24
mile 3 = 12:11
mile 4 = 11:43
mile 5 = 12:03
mile 6 = 12:12
mile 7 = 12:24
mile 8 = 12:22
So, there you go, 8 miles in 1 hour 37 minutes.

I Need To.  Be serious about cross-training and doing things to strengthen that knees up.

Looking Forward.  I am looking forward to the 10 miles next weekend and the Shamrock 5K race. And my new handheld water bottle. And some GU gels I ordered online. And a new short sleeve running t-shirt.

What do you carry?

Questions: What do you carry with you on your long runs? How are you stashing those items?

As I will be venturing into an 8-mile run this weekend, I have been wondering what to bring with me out on these longer runs. 
These are my essentials: (a) I usually have my Garmin with me. (b) And I clipped my Sansa slip on the Garmin (but music isn't necessary: I can do without). (c) I carry my cell phone with me.  

These are what I would like to carry with me: (a)Water. (b) A piece of gum. (c) And perhaps some GU or something like that in the near future.

I am a gum-addict.  I usually chew a fresh piece of gum when I set out on a run. I find that it keeps my mouth kinda moist. So, having a fresh piece during a run will allow me to pop another one in midway through my run.
I definitely would love to have water with me but I haven't done so because I don't want to carry things in my hands when I run.  I don't think I will drink much during the run because I usually get side stitches when I introduce food/fluids into my body prior to running.  But I would like to have enough to quench some thirst and make me feel refreshed.

So, let me know what are your running essentials and how do you carry your stuff around?