Thursday, June 21, 2012

Finding the fuel.


I’m sitting on the floor of my apartment with a glass of red wine. On a hot night like tonight, I probably should’ve opted for something colder - like a nice beer or a fruity white but I have 1/3 of a bottle of 90+ malbec left and it’s not going to drink itself, or be good much longer. So here we are, helping each other out.  Earlier this evening, I spent a solid hour at a running store staring at fuel belts, aka “the mini-van of hydration systems” and just could not bring myself to purchase one.  In doing so, I felt like I could hear other runners murming as they ran past, “Seriously? Who’s the gear dweeb?”  “Oh. Marathoner coming through” ...Would I be the equivalent to the mom with the 4-car seats and the dvd player at the soccer game?  Not that I’d mind...  See?  THESE are the thoughts that kept me staring zombie-like at the wall for an hour.  Well, and I was also looking at short-shorts.  You know, the kind that are shorter than short, that basically just cover your butt, and just barely.  Maybe it’s this incredibly hot weather, or the thought of what I think my legs would look like in boy-shorts that made me step into the dressing room with seven different pairs. Florescent lighting at all the wrong angles and i had my answer.
I left with 6 gel packs and a tank.
Anyway, HI.  I’m back.  Want to catch you up on a few things:
1. i bought an iphone (womp, womp)
2. i now like hoppy beer (ish)
3. i went to boulder to visit my twin (if you know me, this is a regular thing but i just got back and continue to ride the high.  THE HIGH!!!!
4. i’m doing my first marathon
5. YES. I AM DOING MY FIRST MARATHON.
on the trail with Moo, boulder CO

I am beyond excited and really really look forward to the training.  So far, I’m in about 4wks and it’s been great.  The marathon is early September, so this Summer is going to be a complete recentering and focus-shifter for me.  Weather-wise, I’m up at the crack-a-lacka of dawn to get the miles in and to be honest I am LOVING it.  It’s a different kind of hard.  To those who know me, you know i h-a-t-e the heat. I loathe humidity.  My fingers blow up like sausages when I run and I go through about 4 emotional, mental and physical meltdowns.  This is not a joke.  I thrive in cold weather.  It’s just how I’m made.  Now that I’ve committed to an end-of-summer marathon, it’s added a new challenge; one I’m stoked to have accepted.
So anyway, I wanted to share the good news with you guys - whoever you are.  I am a runner, but I’ve always told myself that I would never run a marathon until my heart felt like it.  A few months ago the urge came, and it never let up, and a few 17-miler saturday runs have plopped me on a course of distance, strength, speed, and endurance.  I can’t wait.
Harvard Steps, every Wednesday at 6:30am, November Project
I’ll probably share some of my learnings with you. This is completely new territory for me, so if you have suggestions, or words of wisdom and encouragement - it’s gladly welcomed!  
Mostly, I just want to say that going after something bigger than me has opened up a level of confidence that I didn’t know existed.  I’m finding new ways to get Strong - mentally, physically, spiritually. Not just in long runs, but in stadium climbs, in the foods I eat and the drinks I drink, in morning devotions and in the ways I communicate with the people around me.  Love and encouragement and faith - in who i am and what I believe in.  This is what I’m finding to be powerful.  If I only I could wear THESE on a fuel belt...then I may consider buying one:)
x-to-the-ohs,
KAY
**no but seriously: if you have any suggestions for hydration on long runs - please share your thoughts. i am in the market!

6 comments:

  1. Nathan running vest (more like a backpack than a vest, but the call it a vest). Carries about a liter and keeps the bounce out, you also score some pockets to stash your new iphone and some gels etc. It also gets the stuff off of your waist if you don't like having something around your waist.

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    1. Thanks so much! I am a big fan of Nathan and have their 10oz flask.
      i carried a 20oz bottle for my 17-er this weekend....and filled it up twice!! it's the HEAT. In the late winter months I can go 15 miles with 10oz. love learning new things about how i roll...

      thanks again,

      kay

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  2. Hi there,
    I am new to blogspot having just started my own. I did a random search for people who liked some of the things I like and came across you. I have only read a little bit of what you have written but you are my kind of people. Just thought I'd introduce myself and say "hello"! i will look forward to reading some of your older posts. Visit me if you wanna hear a story about travel. That seems to be where my writing has started although I have note books full of stories. http://organicgirl74.blogspot.ca/

    Cheers,
    Jen

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    1. Hi Jen,

      Thanks for the kind words! I'll definitely check out your blog, too:) Love it when the world gets thismuchsmaller and you get to acknowledge and learn about other cool people rocking out in this world with all sorts of positivity and passion!

      Hope the day is great!
      Kay

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  3. for long runs in the heat, I try to make a route that has water available (water fountains or buildings I know I can get into). Alternately, stashing water out there in a shady spot is an option - or making a loop course that brings you back home to have water available. that throws the whole mental toughness "i'm already home" wrench into it, though, which I try to avoid.

    Great stop I have used is MIT Student Center - enter on the side by the loading dock / right by the ATMs and go down one level. One of the coldest water fountains around. (Bathrooms there, too). No one sees you / questions you.

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  4. Thanks, Brendan! Appreciate the advice. Last weekend I did a looped course that brought me back to my house where i picked up my fuel, said hi to my dog and headed back out for more. It's definitely a different mind set, but always good to "stretch the mentality" part of the run, too. It's just as important as the physical:)

    sidebar: I'm part of a running club called Community Running (communityrunning.org) We meet at the MIT track every Mon/Wed at 7p. you should come join us! If you decide to - just yell my name. We get a lot of people and it's tough to see who's new vs. returning.

    Best of luck with your runs!

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