Why run during this busy season?
I covered it some here, but my life is a like a big pile of puzzle pieces right now. Not necessarily busier than anyone else with kids and a job / homeschooling, but lots to fit in every week going in many different directions, and anything that's an "extra" can only be added for good reason. The good reason with running is that this is what helps me keep my head on straight for everything else. The crazier life gets, the MORE I need the activity that helps my brain feel calm, focused, and able to work through things. Plus, as an introvert, I relish the alone time where it's just me and my music.
For those who are contemplating running a half marathon, here's what it's like for the recreational, could-be-better-trained, over 40 runner:
-This might just be my over 40 personality, but I am prone to avoid all activities that involve changing your sleep schedule, strategizing to find parking, and standing in line for a Port-a-Potty. Somehow though, for races, this all adds to the fun of it. Running in a big pack of people is fun, the music is fun, the race bibs are fun, and picking out your music is fun.
- For the first 7 miles, you feel really good, and you have to use self control not to blast off to a faster pace. You enjoy the scenery and your fellow runners and the funny spectator signs and the kind people at the water stations.
- Somewhere between miles 7 and 10, your body might give you the equivalent of the Check Engine light. Something will start hurting. At this point, you have to decide if it's a genuine injury, or if a slow down / stretch might help, or if it's your mind playing tricks on you and you should keep going. So far for me, it's usually one of the latter two, and if you just keep going you will feel better (or numb to the problem enough to get through the race). If you train really diligently and include stretching, strengthening, and active recovery as part of your training plan, then you might be able to skip this step. But who has time for that?
- Miles 10-13, your body will for sure hurt, and you have to start finding little tiny mini-goals to keep going. Just get to that tree in the distance; that water table down the block; another quarter mile on your Garmin. You will also note that it hurts as much to walk as to run, so might as well keep running and get the better time.
-Mile 13 - you see the finish line in sight and turn on the gas for 1-3 blocks. It feels amazing to cross and get handed the finisher's medal. I usually collapse on the grass for a few minutes, then find some water, then hobble to my car and start thinking about the next race :).
For those of you who are wondering specifically about the Rock Reno Half Marathon, here's a review with some of the distinctives:
Time of year: Early October is a great time for a half marathon. As your training runs get longer in September, the mornings and evenings are significantly cooler. The leaves are starting to change color, so it's pretty. The only big wild card with this (in Reno) is whether there is a bad fire season, as that can really affect the ability to get out and do long runs in August and September. Thankfully, even with a big fire right in town this year, our air quality stayed extremely good.
Location: This one starts in South Meadows, goes up Veteran's Parkway, and then goes west along the Truckee River until you get to the Aces stadium. Most of the half marathons in Reno go from downtown to Mayberry Park, so it was nice to get a little variety. It was also nice that 90% of the run was along bike paths. The view usually included either mountains or river, the second half had some decent shade, and the elevation was very gently rolling, no killer hills. This was a point-to-point marathon, so they took us in buses from the finish line to the start - that was a pretty smooth process (except when the bus driver got lost and we did an over-the-curb U-turn, but what that lacked in smoothness it made up for in hilarity).
Atmosphere: Positive environment, easy access, on the small side (there were around 400 that ran the half marathon portion of this race). They call this Rock Reno, but the only music was at the start and finish lines (however, that music was dope, credit where credit is due.)
Overall: This was well run and pleasant - if you live near Reno and this works out conveniently for your schedule, I would give it two thumbs up.
