Using Your Resources

I thought I'd take a little while to talk about some of the resources I've found really helpful over the past half a year or so. Aside from the priceless advice from my friends and from some of you, as well as the few books I've perused (mostly Jeff Galloway), these sites and their subsequent publications/apps have been hugely useful.

Runner's World

Screen shot of the Runner's World website.

I subscribed to this magazine a few months back through a family member's fund-raising campaign and it was probably one of my smarter decisions. Yes, the magazine is probably most useful to people who have been running for some time. There's lots of talk about race pace versus casual jogging pace, taper workouts, ultra marathons, compression tights, nutrition gels, and lots of other business that beginning runners don't need to know. But that's kind of the cool part.

I am so nowhere near the point where I need to worry about my pace for a daily workout versus my pace for a 5K versus my pace for the half Pig, because I only have three paces -- not-running pace, "let's try to run and not die" pace, and "look, there's the finish line" pace. But I'm moving forward. I have so much room to grow in this world of running and I truly hope that someday, this wealth of knowledge I'm collecting about things that are currently outside of my reach will be useful. I may need to worry about these things in the future. In fact, it's from either this magazine or one of Jeff Galloway's books that I realized I should probably start thinking about those gel pack thingies if I'm going to do the half-Pig.

Anyway, my point is, this is a good magazine. It's an even better website, chock full of HOARDS of information, entertaining and helpful blogs. Need new shoes? Check out the shoe section. Sore muscles? There's a section for that. Need info about food? Yep, that's there too.

The magazine alone has played a big part in keeping me sane during the winter weather. Somehow, just reading about running helps. It keeps me wanting more.


Active.com

Screen shot of the Active.com website.

I'm not too familiar with this site yet, but I've done a little browsing. There are lots of forums too, which usually isn't my thing. But when I found one for 200+ lb runners, I got interested. That's where I discovered the Finally Airborne blog. Very inspirational. They also have several mostly not annoying e-mail newsletters you can sign up for.

Women's Health

Screen shot of the Women's Health website.

I subscribed to Women's Health Magazine back in the summer, I think, at the recommendation of my friend, Sarah. It's pretty great. It includes lots of info about nutrition and general women's issues, but also includes strength-building workouts, some of which I plan on trying before winter is over. I haven't tested the usability of the website. For the guys, try Men's Health.

MapMyRun.com

Screenshot of MapMyRun.com.

This website and its companion app (iMapMyRun) are amazing. Many thanks to John for sharing the love this summer. The app uses GPS to do what you have to do manually on the website, but both are great. Use a map of the area you run in to trace your running path. The path doesn't have to be on roads or sidewalks or any sort of plotted land. You can trace your path through the woods and across a lake and the site would still track your miles and provide you with an elevation chart. The app keeps track of handy things like your current pace, your whole-run pace, your distance, and your time, and then it talks to you while you're running. I believe the site has other useful information on it, but I haven't gotten around to checking it out yet (except for the 30-in-30 challenge, which I'm failing miserably).

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So, like I said before, these sites/magazines/apps are keeping me sane through the winter and are really educating me on the world of running. They've helped me stay excited are responsible for my running habits surviving the winter. I recommend giving them a spin!

Time for your input! Are you reading anything now about running, working out, and/or generally staying healthy? Have you in the past? Will you please share with all of us? THANKS!

Warm Goopy Feelings In Week 9

I love, love, LOVE the warm goopy feeling I get after running. Actually, it sets in immediately following any physically demanding exercise. I sit down after a run and I just want to melt away. It's so relaxing.

I firmly believe that there's no better way to relax your mind AND every muscle in your body than to beat the hell out of it. Sometimes it's hard to remember this excellent side effect of running, most notably when it's 26 degrees and dark outside. I forgot about the warm-goopiness today. I was too scared of the potential for black ice in my parking lot and of the equally frightening potential for yet another running failure.

Well, good news. I'm currently in the warm, goopy post-run stage and I didn't encounter any ice to get here. Ladies and gentlemen, I just completed a Week 9 workout of Couch to 5K (run 30 minutes without stopping), and I truly did it this time--without stopping!

[applause]

Thank you, thank you ...

Actually, I was seriously starting to doubt if I could do it at all, at least until the weather warmed up. My body is just not dealing with the cold very well. I feel like I've gotten used to the cold much quicker in years past, but maybe I'm getting old. Or maybe the cold just got here much faster this year? Who knows. What I do know is that I've been miserable in the mornings this week. I just can't seem to get warm, inside and out. I don't think it helps that my winter coats are like tents on me now and let all kinds of cold air up inside of them. BRRRRR!

(Who wants to buy me a new coat?)

My co-worker and fellow running newbie passed an article along to me today. The blog is for marathoners (and desperately needs to be proofread), but I think we can all find something to help us cope with the cold.

Here it is: Top Winter Marathon Training Tips

And I'll also share a link to Runner's World's website, which is FULL of info. There's so much on there that I don't think I'll ever get through it all, but it won't stop me from trying. By the way, the magazine is pretty fantastic. I recommend it. This particular page has links to all kinds of extreme weather articles/blogs, etc.

And, here's that one: Runner's World Running in Cold or Heat home page

So, that's all I have today. Don't give up through the cold stuff, and PLEASE don't let me give up either. Special thanks to the person who bargained with me this afternoon to make sure we both ran. I really truly appreciate it, and all the warm, goopy feelings I got because I took your challenge. =)

By the way, have I ever talked to you all about what happens after the warm goopy-ness goes away? No? I get absolutely freezing cold, complete with shivers. Sad, freezing Beckey. I want the warm-goopies back! And a heated blanket.