Have I mentioned I like to run? Well, I do, I loooove to run, and I have my favorite race coming up next week, the Big Sur Half Marathon in Monterey, CA. I ran the same race last year. The course was so incredible I've decided this race will be my annual race, regardless if I register for other races throughout the year.
I'm an average runner and I run at an average pace, about 8:30/mile, which is not fast by any means. It's average. My goal last year was to finish under 2 hours, which I did for the first time in my 5 years of running. I've set the same goal this year, although I'm not sure if I can beat last year's time of 1:56:19, but we'll see!
Here are some of the inspirational photos from last year's race:
images borrowed from The Big Sur Half Marathon 2010
The entire course is against the Monterey and Pacific Grove coast. The air is crisp and salty, and the waves are ginormous!
I like this shot through the trees, famous redwoods of Central California
Another view of Pacific Grove's tumultuous coast, seriously breathtaking
Monterey is known for it's fishing industry, sardines, squid, etc. Here is the view of the marina, too bad you can't see the seals from here!
And once we cross the finish line, everyone receives a completion medal. Very woodsy!
Are you crazy? Why do you run?
I started running because I wanted to be fit and healthy, I mostly wanted to fit I my clothes. The gym wasn't cutting it, I felt like a hamster on the treadmill, and all those mirrors were distracting. It was really hard at first, and I forced myself out the door on most days. It got easier after a while, and after a couple months I started analyzing my results - I could hardly run a mile when I started, and now I can run three no problem?! It really got me motivated to keep it up. It took about 6-8 months for me to feel the need to run, I not only wanted to run, I needed it.
What gear do you recommend?
Keep in mind I'm no expert, there are some amazing shoes out on the market but I have to say my favorite brand of shoes are Saucony's. However, I've been running in Nike shoes for the last 2 years for convenience of the Nike+ performance tracker and app on my iPhone. It rocks, especially if you're training for an event, you want to be able to track and analyze your performance over time. It's cheaper than buying a fancy GPS watch.
These are the shoes I'm wearing now, the Nike Zoom Vomero+ 6.
For anyone who is just starting out, I usually recommend Saucony's for their light weight, technical design, comfort, lower price and durability. Overall they're less expensive than Nike shoes, you definitely pay a premium on the Nike brand.
How do you train?
When I lived in San Diego, I trained with the San Diego Track Club and participated in their twice-weekly workouts that consisted of hills, sprints, and other distance and endurance training. Other than that, I generally train by myself. I've developed the discipline to do so, but trust me I'm well aware how hard it is to run alone. I'm definitely a fan of the buddy system, having someone by your side to help motivate and encourage you to go further and faster. I'm not a fan of relying on someone else to motivate you, that never works. You gotta get off your butt, tie your own shoes, and run out that door all by yourself. It's hard, and anyone who can do it deserves a giant pat on the back.
I boost up my training about 3~4 months before a race. I usually only enroll in one or two events a season, so I start my training gradually. When I say training, I mean anything I do above and beyond my "base" workout. My "base" routine is 3.5 mile runs 3 to 4 times a week, or about 10-12 miles a week. The first month of training I like to build on my speed. The second month of training, I bump up my distance and incorporate one "long" run a week. My idea of a long run is a 6 to 8 miles, or at least an hour. The third month of training, I continue with one long run/week, but that long run turns into 9-10 miles, or an hour and 30 minutes. I try to run 2 to 3 10-mile runs in that third month. The fourth month, or whatever time remaining before the event, I taper my workouts by gradually decreasing my mileage (but still keeping up the speed). The week before the event I focus on resting and eating healthy. I might run twice in the 7 days leading up to the event, at a distance no further than 2 or 3 miles, just to keep my body in check.
Honestly, I'm no pro athlete or elite runner, I just know what works for me. I will never win a race, or be in the Olympics. I still get shin splints and I occasionally bail out on a workout. I'm content being an average runner, and I'm happy to share with you my average journey over the years from having built my endourance from nothing but a couch potatoe. I'm counting down the days and will definitely share with you the results of next week's event.
Thanks for listening!