Thursday, February 3, 2011

The snow keeps on comin and the training keeps on going...

If anyone ever tells you that training in the winter is easy or better they are full of crap. This is the second
time that I have trained through the winter for a marathon and you would have thought I learned my lesson
the first time. Although I must say that the first time was not nearly as cold or snowy as this year... it is times like these where you may start to fester up all of those excuses and inner voices telling you to take a day off or that it is too cold or too snowy to get out and run...don't listen. Training for a marathon in more mentality then anything else. I mean sure there is some talent, endurance and strength that truly comes into play but at 22 miles on race day there is nothing that gets you through the last 4 miles but your mind  "Mentality is Everything". What do I do in crazy trecherous weather like this??? Well.. for starters during yesterday's storm I walked in my hiking boots, lululemon fleece lined Ambition Crop, my reflective Hustle Jacket and a few other layers and walked 2 miles to BSC just so I could get on a damn treadmill and complete my training for the day. That is what I call NO EXCUSES! The snow and cold weather is not a reason to sit inside and be miserable, training forces you to embrace the cold and realize it's actually not that bad after all.
A key to getting through times like these when you can only stand being on a treadmill for so long is cross training. After my first marathon of primarily running with minimal cross training I found that running less and having high intensity cross training has made me a stronger and faster runner. Thank you to Crossfit and CrossCycle for keeping me sane and continuing my love for running. Cross training has also helped with injury prevention, I feel much less pain then I did 2 years ago when I was running  A LOT! Plus I just love other activities too besides running so I can't just run...it doesn't feel right, too much wear and tear too much muscle fatigue.
So when the weather gets tough...the TOUGH KEEPS ON GOING!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

12 mile Sunday River Run over 8 peaks...Rocking lululemon Swiftly Tech and Cross Train Run Crops!

Sugarloaf Marathon...sure why not??

http://www.sugarloaf.com/eventsactivities/marathon.html

Above you will find the link to the marathon that I am training for in this treacherous weather. Up until this
point I have only thought of Sugarloaf as a great little place to go enjoy the fresh powder and get some ski runs in or hope that you will not be blown off the rickety ski lifts as you travel up the mountain. Never in a million years did I think they actually had a marathon among other activities there. So why did I pick Sugarloaf?? Well, when I was researching marathons I had a few things to consider; 1. I was unable to wait until the summer to run a race or the next fall due to other races already booked 2. I was craving a serious training schedule that had been lacking or I was tired of running for fun 3. I wanted to be training amongst THOUSANDS of others that are training for Boston (where I hope to be next April) So with those options Sugarloaf was it!! Among one of the fastest courses in the nation I thought ABSOLUTELY!! Of course it helps that I love Maine and most of the scenery is pretty damn close to perfect, it was a great fit. So here I go with thousands of others that are pretty much swearing at the snow now and hoping for a cleared sidewalk because that treadmill is getting very old, hopefully everyone has some great music or your gym has a nice little tv to watch some trashy shows like Dash (Kim and Kourtney Kardashians show). I am not one for reality tv especially to this dramatic degree but hey, it makes the time go by that is for sure!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

The neverending question...Why do you do this to your body??

Why people choose to run marathons is still beyond me...it is crazy at times to think that I actually voluntarily chose to put myself in this situation but the reality is...I love it, we all love it. Anyone who runs multiple marathons has a passion for adrenaline, mental and physical endurance and to be honest a slight degree of pain... The truth is there is true release and there can be so much beauty you are able to see when you are a runner. Running enables you to go anywhere, and when I say anywhere I mean it. I have been anywhere from the streets of NYC to the mountains of Western Canada or just right out my back door in Watertown,MA.     Running provides you a  feeling that nothing can replace, no matter how hard you try. Anyways enough about the beauty of running, it is not so enjoyable in the dead of winter, this is when the importance of the right product comes into play!

Last night I headed out my front door in watertown for a lovely 25 degree 13 mile run at 4pm. My thoughts going into it were that it was not 12 degrees it was a lot warmer and that the sidewalks had to be cleared of snow by now... I thought wrong.
So, I dressed myself from head to to in lululemon. Head = Run Brisk Earwarmer, Bra = all sport bra, Base layer = Run swiftly LS, Jacket = Run Hustle Jacket (reflectivity was a MUST HAVE) Legs = Run Inspire tight and then I headed out to the mean winter streets. About 3 miles in a thanked myself under my breath for my choice in outfit attire not only because I looked freaking cute running around like a crazy person but because it was REALLY COLD AND WET.. snow covered sidewalks still which made for a very very difficult trek. 1 mile felt like 3. An hour and 45 minutes later, 13 miles was done and I was pooped... and product was dry within 5 minutes, unreal no cold sweaty body! Now that it's out of the way I was able to enjoy some hard xtraining by climbing up a 5,000 foot mountain in the snow, once again covered in wunder under pants, swiftly tech LS as my base layers...product does a body good. Now time for some R & R to prepare for a training week ahead, bring it on Marathon!!!!!!

Marathon Whattt?? A lululemon girl on her road to victory!

Well... it is Sunday January 30 (hard to believe ) and I am now about 3 weeks in to my training for my 2nd marathon on May 15 in Sugarloaf Maine. It is amazing to feel your muscles ache and your mind exhaust but still love every moment of it...                                                                                       
I have decided to track my journey to Sugarloaf for anyone who is thinking about or already training for a marathon or a long distance race. My goal is to provide straight from the source tips, advice and true experiences that help you understand how this truly impacts someone and how achievable it is! Oh and also to share with you the AMAZING benefits of training product and how that can truly affect each and every run.
My run gear of choice is of course lululemon athletica for so many reasons not only because it is my life and career but because it is totally worth it! So follow closely because the journey has begun and here we goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!