In It for The Long Run

My running tends to hit a low-point during the summer months. This may seem counterintuitive because of the great weather, but it happens every year. Maybe it’s my body’s way of slowing down to rest before ramping up for a big fall race. Maybe it’s the hot and humid weather, which frequently renders me lazy and prone to midday naps. Call me crazy, but it’s really much easier for me to hit the road on a chilly November morning than a languid July day.

I usually can convince myself that this is ok. It’s normal to not feel like running every single day. Besides, this downtime with temperatures that are conducive to being outdoors is perfect for trying out some other summer activities and hanging out with friends.

• Biking. Try a tandem for extra fun. There are several places in Chicago that rent tandems for the day. At Bike and Roll, a tandem is $20 per hour or $50 for the day.
• Kayaking. Chicago River Canoe & Kayak cardio workouts are only $15 per class. There are also fun outings like the Moonlight Dinner Paddle, which includes a picnic, for $45.
• Swimming. Maybe even in the lake. Not a swimmer? Try aqua jogging; it’s easy and really is a good workout. Order an aqua jogger belt online for about $50.
• Walking. Yes, it’s ok to walk sometimes. Grab that friend or significant other who never wants to run with you and go for a long walk on a weekend morning.

Making another activity a part of your weekly routine can have a positive impact on your running overall. By varying your workouts, you can avoid metal burnout, strengthen muscle groups you don’t normally use running, and spend more quality time with friends and family.

Running the 13.1 Marathon on the South Shore this weekend got me thinking about race swag. When I crossed the finish line Sunday morning I was promptly handed a bottle of water, a banana and a pair of Blues Brothers black sunglasses. Even in my semi-comatose state after immediately running a half marathon, I knew those sunglasses were a good race freebie.

In my opinion, quirky and fun race paraphernalia always beats a boring, white t-shirt.

So what other races across the country have the best goodie bags and gifts for participants? I did a little research to find out.

• Akron, Ohio Marathon – Brooks running shoes
• Seaside Half Marathon in Seaside, Florida – Vera Bradley tote bag
• Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco – Tiffany necklace
• Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race 20k and 5k – Loaves of freshly baked, organic artisan bread
• Zooma Women's Race Series in Austin, Annapolis, Denver and Atlanta – Brunch, mini-spa treatment and custom-designed silver necklace
• Bix 7 in Davenport, Iowa – All you can drink beer, admission to a jazz concert
• Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon – Wine tastings, discounts on wine purchases from participating vineyards

 Next Wednesday, June 3 will mark the first National Running Day to promote running as a fun, healthy, easy and affordable activity.

"Everyone can run. That’s the message of the day," said Mary Wittenberg, New York Road Runners president and chief executive. I couldn’t agree more. Everyone can run. It’s not about speed or distance or looking good in a bikini. It’s about being happy and healthy and strong. I’ll admit, it took me a while to realize this myself and while it may sound overwhelmingly cliché, it is entirely true.

The Chicago Area Runners Association is hosting a run on June 3 at 6 p.m. starting at Grant Park. Runners can take in evening lakefront views while getting in a workout. There’s even a gear check.

There’s a women’s only training run in Lincoln Square sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. as well. You’ll run along the Chicago River. Walkers are welcome too.

Even if you don’t participate in an official event next Wednesday, just get outside and run or walk. Take a friend or family member or significant other who’s never run before and show them it can be fun!

 (Haku/FLICKR)

Looking for an upcoming race where your race registration money will go to a great cause?  

Share Your Soles, a non-profit organization in Alsip, is putting on a 5k and 10k race May 31, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

The charity was started by Mona Purdy after she traveled to Central America in 1999.  While there she saw local children brushing tar on the bottoms of their feet to run a race during a village festival.  Returning home, she started collecting new and gently used shoes and took them to an orphanage in Honduras.

Since then, word has traveled and Purdy has continued to gather and send shoes all over the world.

The $30 entrance fee to the race, which starts on the east lawn of Soldier Field, is enough to clean, pack and ship 10 pairs of shoes.  Last year the race was small, with only 150 runners, but successful.  Share Your Soles is hoping to double participant numbers this year.  Race day registration will be available.

Most think of marathon training as grueling and intense. Frequently, social lives become non-existent and significant others feel slighted by all the running.

But it needn’t be this way for everyone, says an article in the Chicago Tribune Sunday. In fact, a three-day a week training program may be ideal for some people who burn out easily or are especially injury prone.

So, what’s the right number of days to train? Running veterans and experts disagree on the ideal number of days to run per week when gearing up for a 26.2 mile race. The answer is: there is no answer, at least not for everyone. Personally, I like to run five or six times a week. For some, that’s too much.

Runner’s World has a "less-is-more plan" for runners looking to really capitalize on quality workouts and save time. Junk miles are thrown out in favor of a Tuesday speed session, a Thursday tempo and a Sunday long run. Cross-training during off days is encouraged.

In recent weeks, graffiti of shamed Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been popping up all over Chicago. And he's running. Actually it looks like he's running away from something or someone, perhaps. Either way, he's in his signature black jogging suit, peering back over his right shoulder, looking rather worried.

No artist has been nailed yet. But Pilsen graffiti artist Ray Noland, who also created Obama campaign artwork, is selling a poster of the image on his Web site right now for $75. The poster is titled "Run, Blago, Run!" Speaking with the Chicago Tribune, Noland declined to comment how his Blago image has made its way onto the sides of buildings.

Want to see some of this graffiti in person? Make your way to an alley near the intersection south of Washington Street between State Street and Wabash Avenue downtown. Or head to the viaduct on the corner of West 16th Street and South Union Avenue.

Who would you like to see in graffiti form?  Take the poll!

I finished the Boston Marathon on Monday and while I feel great about it, there is always a bit of a let down afterwards. It’s similar to how the blues can set in after a major holiday. Having completed a few races I’ve come up with a few strategies to help curb those feelings.

• Rest. I know this sounds obvious, but take days (weeks if you’ve run a marathon) to let your body recover.
• Treat yourself. Get a massage or a haircut, anything to really pamper yourself.
• Do some cross training. Now is the perfect time to try swimming a few laps or going for a bike ride with a friend. Just don’t do anything too strenuous.
• Find another race. Pick out another race to train for. Ideally, make it a different distance than your last one so you can vary your workout routine.
• If you feel like it, do some short runs (20-30 minutes) on grass or soft surfaces.

A few more notes about Boston. It was wonderful weather this year, about 40-50 degrees with a slight wind. My sister and I finished together in 3:33 after slowing down a little on Heartbreak Hill. The fans, as always, were inspiring and really made the race worth every step. On the course, fans handed out orange slices, jelly beans, tissues, sponges with water, Vaseline and water. Without the people of Hopkinton, Natick, Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and of course Boston, the race would not be what it is!

Read more about Boston’s 2009 marathon stories here.

Women are encouraged to wear skirts in the SkirtChaser race in June.

Spring Racing Season is upon us. Here are some local races to get going.

• Sunday, April 26: Ravenswood Run 5k
• Saturday, May 23: Soldier Field 10 Mile
• Sunday, June 7: 13.1 Marathon Chicago
• Sunday, June 7: Run for the Zoo 5k (sponsored by the Lincoln Park Zoo)
• Saturday, June 13: SkirtChaser 5k – I did a race like this when I was younger. The women get a three-minute head start and then the men try to catch them. It’s fun to see how men will kill themselves to try to beat a woman.

Please post comments and add other races that you know of coming up!

I visited my sister in D.C. last weekend, so of course we did a run together. I usually run alone, but whenever I run with another person I am confronted with some kind of running etiquette issue. For example, the path is narrow and another person approaches from the opposite direction. Do you go slow down and go behind the person you are running with or speed up and go in front of them? Luckily, my sister and I are very close (and bound by blood) so we don’t worry about offending each other. But for new running partners, one running etiquette mistake could be a deal breaker.

Running Etiquette

• Don’t take up the whole sidewalk or path. The Lake Shore path can be gridlock this time of year. Be mindful that faster people may be attempting to pass you.
• Don’t run more than two wide on the Lake Shore path (or any sidewalk). If it’s busy, single-file it!
• If you are running in the street (not recommended), run against traffic.
• Don’t litter. For the most part in Chicago there are trash cans every block.
• If you are running with a group, agree to meet at a certain place after the run should you become split up.
• If you are running with someone who is a little slower than you, don’t pressure them to speed up. Either allow them to set the pace or meet up later after separate workouts, perhaps for a cool down.
• Don’t complain about the workout to your partner or group.
• Look around before your spit.
• If running with someone else, try to work things out beforehand so you won’t have to make unnecessary stops – double knot your shoes, get dressed or undressed, go to the bathroom.

Racing Etiquette

• Don’t run as a bandit. Pay for your spot in the race. Don’t take sports drinks and other freebies intended for paying athletes.
• Line up according to your ability, be honest. Don’t go to the front of the race with the elite runners unless you are one.
• Don’t stop suddenly in front of a water or fuel station. Keep moving until you are out of the way if you need to stop and drink.
• Thank the people helping out with the race; most are volunteers.
• Don’t take more than your fair share of food and goodies at the end of the race.
• Don’t wear headphones. You can’t hear what’s going on around you and will be much more likely to have a collision with someone else or miss an important announcement.

Just grab a credit/debit card and be on your way to fit in a run and get some errands done too.

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