bib number from today’s run: we are all marathon runners

What is the biggest misconception people have about runners?

- all runners run marathons. Nope, you don’t have to run a marathon to be a runner. You can run 5km on a treadmill and be a runner. We don’t have badges or admission distance. You run, you’re a runner

- all distances are called marathon. Very often I get questions on how are my marathons are going meant as: how is your running going on. Honestly that bugs me a lot, I knew history and actual distance of a marathon before i was a runner: that’s what you learn at school. You know, the story of a first marathon runner who actually died after his performance. That actually is not very encouraging for a distance runners but you know what I mean.

- all runners are fast&fit. You tend to get fitter if you run but being fast is optional. Some of us are incredibly fast but after all what it means to be fast? Maybe you’re faster that your friends but then you move to another city and find a new group of runners who are faster. Then you look at the professional athletes and you realize you’re one of many runners who just try to do the best they can.

- runners are people who don’t have family and do have a lot of spare time. No, if you like it you make time. Noone says it’s easy and very often the most difficult thing about running is making that time and making it all work: family, friends, running and life in general

- if you’re a runner you must have ran NYC marathon. Not true: it’s not the only one and even if you’re not a runner you probably suspect there are different marathons than that (and Boston marathon).

- runners are insane. Can’t argue with that.

Why we get angry/annoyed about the above mentioned misconceptions? Probably because we’re so into running that we forget that our reality is not common to everyone. If it’s possible be patient and just explain to a non-runner that we’re not a bunch of white Kenyans with one-way ticket to NY. Maybe a person asking could start to run but has this weird image of running.

If you’re not a runner try to understand that runners are not an elite group of incredibly talented and self-focused people. We get cranky when we can’t run, we overreact when a workout or a race goes wrong but in the end we do what we do because we’re passionate about it. Try not to treat us too seriously and we’ll try to do the same

Tagged: running misconceptions stereotypes about running fast runners NYC marathon

Posted on April 20, 2013

Want To Run Faster? Make Sure You Recover
Mario Fraioli, competitor.com

Photo: Scott Draper/CompetitorMaximize your training and progress with optimal recovery practices.Runners love to talk about their training. Epic long runs, tough hill sessions and killer track workouts are all very exciting, and they make …

Posted on April 18, 2013 with 1 note

Daily reminder: mileage_shoes

Have you checked recently how many miles/km are on your shoes?

You should change your shoes every 400-500 miles (700-800km). If you are wearing lightweight shoes that mileage might be even lower (300-400 miles).

How to keep track of your mileage?

- an excel file where you can log your runs. At the beginning of the training cycle enter also a new pair of shoes with the date you first put them on.

- Daily Mile. If you are a member of this community every time you log your run there’s an option to ‘add details’. Besides the weather and your mood you can add your gear and it will automatically add your miles on your shoes.

Changing your shoes regularly will save you a lot of pain and possible injury!

Tagged: running injuries running shoes mileage running

Posted on April 8, 2013 with 2 notes

what will happen in your taper week

I’m almost in my taper week, waiting for my 6th marathon. Seriously, 6th? I don’t feel like I know more about running a marathon than I knew a year or two ago. The only thing I know that in that week before marathon weird things are happening. Things that only few people talk about.Yes, I’m one of those people. I guess I wrote this post to calm myself down a bit.

What will happen in taper week?

1. You will freak out. That is the biggest part of it. You will think that you won’t make it, that you’re not ready, what you were thinking, there are many great runners out there, on the start line and you among them and it doesn’t make sense. That is panic in small doses and it will happen every day of your taper. The only thing to remember is that fear can play on your advantage if mastered well.

2. your body will freak out. Every single injury from the past will come back. Every muscle that some day were sore will be sore again. You’ll discover that parts of your body that never posed any problem now want to have a say. This is partially tension partially your body taking care of itself, regenerating. All the tissues start to rebuild but while previously you wouldn’t notice now you do because you’re resting and you’re so focused on your body’s every need.

(yes, I know it’s an Easter bunny but you get the idea)

3. you will gain some weight. You won’t be running so much and you still want to eat, carbo load for your race. Gaining 1kg is ok and maybe you won’t even notice it. Don’t weight yourself. If it makes you feel better, your muscle will seem less ‘bulky’ at least that is what I notice on my legs.

(I won’t post a related photo that would be mean)

I just realize that tapering is like being pregnant…Anyway, if you’re a women who continue to ran during her pregnancy the following should sound familiar

4. running will suck. Big time. I don’t know about you but the closer is my race date the more difficult is for me to keep my race pace or any pace. I remember one run I did 5 days before my latest marathon: after 5 km I stopped trying to catch my breath and I felt like I would normally do after 40km into a race. You ran too fast or too slow either way these last runs don’t count (of course if you twist your ankle that counts and you should better stop running) if not as a reminder that you do in fact know how to run.