Gearing Up for Long Chilly Runs

Having just returned from an early Saturday morning, frigid, icy, yet beautiful run through Rock Creek Park with the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. I am feeling just that much more prepared for the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach on March 20, 2011.

For those avid runners who have not experienced an early, winter run through Rock Creek Park, you MUST. The snowy creek babbling in the background and the mammoth trees covering you over head makes for a serene and peaceful environment.

Crazy as it sounds, I have come to realize that running outdoors in the winter is awesome. By generating my own internal heat, I feel like I have somehow defeated mother nature temporarily. Seeing my own breath, sweating in the below freezing temperatures, breathing the crisp air, I feel tougher after every run.

Despite a few times of not being able to feel my fingers or toes (thank goodness for my running gloves and smartwool socks!) and thinking my lips were literally going to fall off my face from being so chapped, this training run was hands down my best yet.

Due to the increase in mileage this week, our coaches asked us to a wear a fuel belt for the run, so I did. In training we learn that you should take in four to six ounces of fluids every twenty minutes you run. The fuel belt allows that sans water stations, so I definitely understand and appreciate their purpose. That said, I could not help but feel like a human vending machine. There's just something odd about having a candy-like substance followed by a tall swig of water right on the go at my finger tips.

The particular fuel belt I was wearing has a pouch for energy gels (i.e. the bloks, gels, beans, chews, or goo of choice) as well as the obvious water bottle. I was also surprised how light weight it was. I'd say my first fuel belt run was a success,  I just need to remind myself include my chap stick next time.

Mastering the art of layering clothes is a must when training this time of year. My coaches have the general “rule” that you should dress like it’s twenty degrees warmer. The base layer usually consists of a technical shirt to wick sweat away from the body. It’s funny to think you will still be sweating on your run, given the frigid temperatures but you will notice very quickly the amount of sweating you have done when you develop the chills afterwards and immediately want to change out of your clothes.

Next is an insulated fleece and possibly a running vest to block any wind you encounter. My most cherished and favorite running accessory is by far my Turtle Fur Wool Tube. Like I said in , never did I think I would be investing money in something so crazy sounding, but I refuse to run outside without it. The Turtle Fur, made by a Vermont-based clothing line, is spun from 100 percent virgin acrylic in double or triple layers. It's versatile, doubling as a neck warmer or head/ear warmer.

As March 20th inches closer and closer, I am trying to focus mostly on my pace runs. Training theorists advise that as you get closer to your goal, you focus more and more on workouts that closely match the demands of your event. In the marathon, this means running more economically and relaxed at your goal marathon pace--grooving it in your muscles and your mind.

Part of the reason I felt so great about my Saturday morning run was that it seemed like I kept a solid, steady pace the entire time. There was no burning out or feeling over-exhausted at any given point, and I left it all out on the trails when I was done.

Problem is, I have no idea what pace I was running and didn’t check my departure or arrival time. Smart, I know. To avoid this in future runs and to help educate myself on what my pace should be for any given run, I have added a new “toy” to my running wardrobe.

I introduce to you, my new Sportline Dual-Use Heart Rate Monitor. I have to admit that in the past, if I were to spend a couple hundred on a watch, it would have had a name more like, Marc Jacobs or Bulova, but this baby does it all. It tracks speed, distance and strides,  it offers continuous heart rate monitor, calorie-burn monitor and goal tracking. While the watch itself is somewhat overwhelming to set up and understand, it’s going to help me immensely in my training to come.

Fundraising is going great and I think I will spend some time brainstorming this week about putting some sort of bigger fundraising event together to benefit LLS. After all, I’ll have plenty of time to brainstorm while I’m out on my endurance/pace runs this week with all my new gear. Bring on the miles!