Role Mothers Talk: the Importance of Running Logs
There’s the running of the miles and the logging of the miles. For some, the latter is just as crucial as the former. It’s how you see performance, improvement, weak spots, and reflect on the work. Here, our Role Mothers explain if and how they keep track of running and/or training. Maybe you’ll find a kindred logging spirit in the bunch, or even a new way to keep track of it all.
Pam, the grandmother
About two years ago I got a FitBit and love that it syncs with Strava. Since I was picked to be a #RoleMother, I have been using Strava. I have toyed with the idea of keeping a written journal, but I have never been good at writing things down and electronic logs are so easy to scroll through to compare numbers. I go back and check numbers on occasion, usually comparing races. I also try to note how well a run went in the description.
Ashley, the beginner
My husband gifted me my Garmin for my birthday and it has been extremely helpful in pushing myself to run longer and faster. I log my runs with it, which sends the data to Strava. The community of runners is fantastic, especially those in the TLAM Club. You can see who is running that same long 10 miler as you, or find motivation in those runners training for full marathons that just demolished 18 miles!
Melissa, the marathoner
These days, I plan my running days well in advance, and for many years they have simply all fallen on the same days—so not too much logging involved. But things are about to change: I’ll be joining a wave of the Heart Rate Training Club soon and will use the plan to keep track of my runs, which will be a change of pace for me!
Nicole, the regular runner
I log all workouts (runs and barre/pilates) on an app on my phone called Digifit. I also wear a FitBit and keep track of my exercise/runs that way. Over the years I’ve tried a few different running apps, but have been digging Digitfit since 2013. To be honest, I don’t typically look back at past workouts I’ve tracked unless I’m training for a race or I’m embarking on this birthday thing I started doing last year. (I try to get in at least 150 miles between January 1 and March 8. Don’t know why I started it, but it’s my little quiet thing I do.)
Sarah, the triathlete
I love a good, old-school calendar notebook. Each night, I try to take a few minutes to write down the results of my workout from that day. I love to use Strava as well just for the interaction with other runners (who doesn’t love getting kudos after a great workout?!), but it’s also effective to have a tangible reminder of my efforts. Before a big race, I tend to review the past few months of training to remind me all of the work I’ve done and give me a bit of a confidence boost.
Tania, the sputterer
I’m a little relaxed with logging my training, because really I rely on my Garmin. I save my runs and then I’ll go over the data about once a month just to see how my runs compare. My sister did give me a running journal/calendar, though, that I’ve started using. The journal reminds me that, “Hey, you haven’t run enough this week, you should probably get on that.”
We want to know: Do you keep a running log? If so, what’s your preferred format?
2016 Boston Marathon Race Report
Rather than write a true 2016 Boston Marathon race report, here are answers some questions I suspect some mother runners are wondering. I’ll dive more deeply into my Boston Marathon experience—both training and the race itself—in the AMR podcast that’ll air on Friday, April 29. Stay tuned!
Smiling on Comm Ave or Beacon St. TOTAL acting. I was pretty much in agony by this point.
What was your time?
4:34:49. Going into Boston Marathon training, one of my mains goals was to beat my 2012 Boston time, which was 4:43 due to extreme heat. I’m proud I achieved that goal, although I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t dreamed of a faster finish. My coach, Briana Boehmer, told me a few days pre-race she felt I was poised to run one of my strongest marathons ever. But the weather—and I suspect the course’s net downhill in first half—conspired against me.
But I also just remembered one of my goals was to finish in under 4:15, and most folks finish times were about 20 minutes slower than they were shooting for…so by that standard, I nailed my goal! #GlassHalfFull
My face says it all: PAIN CAVE.
Heard it was hotter than expected. What’s up with you bringing stark sunshine and high temps to Boston in April?
I know, I know: I need to turn down my Mary Sunshine tendencies! While the mercury didn’t climb as high as it did when I ran in 2012 (88-degrees), it was way too hot for a late-morning start (high 60s/low 70s). And hardly any shade in the first half of the course, which was rough. It really took it’s toll, and wore me (and many runners) down. Thankfully, coastal breezes greeted us around Mile 16, so temps dropped some, but the damage had been done.
How did your ankle fare?
Amazingly well! My ankle rarely bothered me in training, but sometimes the inner side of my Achilles felt tight. From about Mile 8-17, my Achilles decided to complain, and it caused me concern. Then it shut up. But my Achilles started shrieking as I walked (hobbled) from the finish area to the hotel. I iced it and started dosing with new-for-me Hyland’s homeopathic tablets called ArniSport. I was really concerned about the pain in my Achilles and how badly my quads (and even toes!) were cramping in the first hours post-race. Amazingly, I woke up Tuesday feeling better than I have after most of my 13 marathons. I’m giving ArniSport credit as my legs were pretty much in agony in the final miles and post-race.
Me near Mile 15, exuberant–before I started attacking the hills.
Did the Newton Hills make you their b*tch?
How I attacked the infamous hills is one of the two things I’m most proud about my #Boston2016 (the other is my strong finish). I realized early in the race—by Mile 8 or 9—it was not my day to run a “fast” race (see Heat, above). From that point until about Mile 12, I struggled. The crowds were somewhat sparse in sections (thank you, Natick, for turning out in force!) and the course was sun-baked and not terribly interesting to look at. (No disrespect.) Always wanting to pull a positive element out of a less-than-ideal situation, I decided my race-redemption would be to charge the Newton Hills, and pick off people on the uphills. I really leaned in and played flashbacks of hills Molly and I had tackled in training.
After leaving Heartbreak Hill and its sister hills in my rearview mirror at Mile 21, I knew the course was a net downhill, which wasn’t the relief it should have been. My quads and hip flexors were fairly thrashed by that point, so descents were bittersweet: easier on the cardio system, but fairly torturous on the legs. Thankfully, there were numerous climbs in those final 5.2 miles, and as I approached each one, I talked myself up. As in, I said in my head, “Excellent! Another hill: I am crushing hills today!” and “Fantastic: You can charge up this hill!” (Honestly: I “uttered” those full, silly sentences in my muddled mind in the final miles!)
Did you hear me cheering for you?
I can’t begin to express how strongly it motivated me and buoyed my spirits every time I heard someone shout, “Run strong, Sarah Bowen Shea!” or “Go, Champy!” Or “Yeah, SBS!” I tried to give a wave or thumbs up every time I heard personalized cheers.
Nicole and I at Athletes’ Village, pre-race (you’ll hear more about Nicole next)
Did you pee your capris rather than stop in a port-a-potty?
Oh, you know me so well!! I copped a squat in the starting corral (telling my friend Nicole to move as the puddle was migrating toward her shoes!), pretending to tie my shoes. Then around Mile 17 or 18, I peed a bit (on purpose) in my Saucony Bullet Capris. But the heat + wind really negated the need to pee, despite drinking a lot during the race.
Oh, and I was very impressed: I saw another female runner drop trou mere feet from the race course. I assumed she was merely peeing, but I didn’t look long enough to see for sure.
Finish line!!!!
Did you talk to yourself in the third person?
Not as much as I did in my BQ marathon. Instead, I switched things up and often used the second person—a lot of “you are strong!” and “you are crushing the hills!” (Always with exclamation points.)
Kiss any Wellesley “girls?”
Not just one, but two! Perhaps to make up for not smooching any gals in 2012.
Post-race medal and arms.
#BostonStrong Is Right: See Our Favorite Moments From the Boston Marathon
Something amazing happened yesterday. More than 26,000 runners hit the streets of Boston (our very own SBS being one of them) on an unusually warm April day. Sarah will be sharing her race report shortly—we’ll give her a break and let her eat, sleep, and foam roll (in no particular order)—but until then, check out the moments that resonated with us from Instagram.
A supportive family helps mom @gigglesandscreams complete her first marathon. Source: Boston.com
Ben Affleck cheered on hometown runners. Source: Ben Affleck
Wicked. Source: Vineyard Vines
Mile 23 reminder. Source: sarahbaumgaertner
A spectator caught this moment, as a mother grabbed her son from the crowd to run the last stretch to the finish line. Source: kjfinks
A photographer snapped this mid-marathon moment. Source: thehenrystudio
Atsede Baysa breaks the tape at 2:29. Wow! Source: integratuvida
Sarah’s post-marathon Twitter feed shows her gratitude and pride.
What were your favorite moments? Tell us below.
What Would Another Mother Runner Do? Sidelined Due to Injury Before Marathons
A shot from the 2012 Boston Marathon.
Around AMR, we have the occasional What Would Another Mother Runner Do? series, a collection of questions for collective input that are both serious (skipping a marathon you’ve trained for because you just don’t want to do it) and humorous (bringing two left shoes to a triathlon). The next in the series comes from Mother Runner Michelle, who is a long-time member of the AMR tribe. She is incredibly supportive and empathetic of all runners on our Facebook page—she’s maybe even commented on your posts. She’s also been sidelined from the Boston Marathon. Injury before marathons can be a soul-crusher. Here, she wonders whether going to the expo will lift her spirits.
Here’s the situation, as told by Michelle: I have been training since January for the Boston Marathon. An intense pain came on very suddenly about halfway through my last 20-miler. I could barely walk for two days, and was in nearly constant pain for about two weeks. I was diagnosed with SI joint dysfunction.
I was training to run a PR this year, and until this injury struck, I had an amazing training cycle, and had never felt healthier, stronger, or more prepared for the Boston course. Not a single unusual ache or pain preceded this, so I feel like I’ve been completely blindsided by this whole situation.
I ran my first Boston in 2013, which is where I set my PR of 3:30:19. I was fortunate to have crossed the finish line and was a few blocks away from the area when the bombs went off. I returned in 2014 to run again.
I live about an hour and a half from Boston and my husband planned to watch the kids for me, so I could still go to the expo this weekend. But I’m not sure if it will make me feel better or worse. Should I go?
Dimity says: I wouldn’t go. It feels too unexpected and raw to me. If the injury would have been a slow cooker, and you weren’t sure during your training if you’d be able to cross the starting line, that’s one thing. But it came on suddenly, and, as such, your grief is still very new. While most positive energy is healing and most expo energy is positive (albeit draining), I think that immersing yourself in that energy is going to be too intense and may even leave you more bummed out. Instead, I’d spend the day doing something you love (besides running), as well as taking a few hours for serious self-care: a bath, a good book, a nap, your favorite meal, whatever sounds good. You worked really hard for your race, and even though the outcome isn’t ideal, you should be very proud of yourself and treat yourself well.
Sarah says: Skip the expo. I know Michelle is on the path to recovering, physically, and her mindset is in a better place than it was a week or so ago, but the disappointment is still fresh. It’s like a fresh wound: It’s healing, but the expo would rip off the scab. Or, should I say, in my mind it would! Instead, Michelle should spend some time perusing websites to choose the fall 2016 or spring 2017 marathon where she will PR. (Of this I have no doubt!) Despite her fastest 26.2 being Boston, I believe she is capable of even greater glory at a less-crowded, flatter race. (This goes for pretty much anyone: The best PR races are less crowded and not super-hilly.) Plus, the travel to-and-from expo and walking around it can’t be good for her SI joint!
Managing Editor Maureen says: Don’t go. Being around the other racers will just make you feel like you’re missing out. But do take your husband up on that offer to watch the kids, then head out for a day of indulgence. Take in a movie, browse the bookstore, meet up with friends, go to Target child-free (sorry, I think that’s just me projecting my hopes and dreams). Remember that there’s always a next race, and once you’ve worked through your injury, you’ll make quick work of that PR.
Now it’s time for you to chime in: What would you do? Have you struggled with a similar disappointment? Tell us (and share some love for Michelle!)
2016 Boston Marathon Prep Time! See How SBS Goes All Out
SBS is hoping for a strong finish next week, too.
SBS penned a piece for FindYourFinishLine.com, and we’re sharing it with the Tribe. Read a portion here, then head to the site to finish it up. And check out our three Mother Runners featured on the site (and SBS’s most recent podcast), who are also gearing up for the 2016 Boston Marathon.
I’m a stickler when it comes to race preparation. I follow a training plan to the letter, even if it means skipping book group to make sure I get enough shut-eye to run 90 minutes before making my kids’ lunches or squeezing out 10 more lunges after my quads have started to quake.
The physical prep manifests itself in countless other ways, too. No matter how desperately I want to jump in a hot shower, I always eat a combination of protein and carbohydrates after a long run to ensure my muscles are replenished and ready for the next workout. (Current fav: whole-grain French toast with vanilla Greek yogurt and a little maple syrup.) I hydrate well with Nuun the day before a long run and right before starting every sweat-session.
I recently started practicing a new on-the-run fueling strategy, based on advice from a sports nutritionist. Instead of waiting for mile 4 of a longer workout, I ingest a GU gel at mile 2, then at miles 4, 8, 12, 15, 18 (and, on race day, 21 and 24).
Read the rest of Sarah’s feature on FindYourFinishLine.com.
Bonus: Going to be in Boston? Meet (up) with SBS at the Hyland’s booth, #520, at the John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo this weekend. She’ll be there on Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm. Stop by and say “hi”!
7 Unexpected Places To Stash Your Layers on a Run
Last month, we posted a “What Would You Do?” featuring what turned out to be a very common issue. After a fellow #MotherRunner’s sweatshirt disappeared after she tied it to a pole, Dimity asked, “Do you leave layers along your route or tie them around your waist?”
Almost 90 comments later, we it’s clearly a hot topic. About half of you don’t stash at all and tie tops and layers around your waist. Of those who do stash, most get a little help from their friends, mainly friends’ mailboxes, front porches, and yards, as runners toss ‘em mid-run and come back for them later.
A few useful, unusual (and funny) answers came from the Tribe, so we’re sharing them here for all. Your call whether you try them out or hang on to them. Here’s to transitional running weather!
Use the guard rails
I used to leave stuff on an electrical box or around trees, until my arm warmers disappeared. Now I stash stuff between guard rails and the posts. Out of sight and safe thus far. —Liz Vollmer-Buhl
Wave down a friend
I have my route designed so that I pass by houses of people I know. I’ve often thrown jackets/water belts in people’s backyards or in my parents’ mailbox. The best was when I saw a friend driving and waved her down to take my jacket (and she very kindly dropped it off to my rather shocked husband). —Laural Adams
Wear sleeves
I wear sleeves. Arms are protected and they come off easy and stash easy. —Wendy Ravinski
Go for an unappealing location
A week and a half ago, I ditched my gloves in the grass behind a portapotty at the park (dangerous spot, maybe, but i washed them when i got home) during my 9 miler at about mile 4. I haven’t ever ditched anything before… —Lauren Haramic
Loop
I park at a good “looping” spot, then stash stuff in the trunk! —Trisha Muro
Disguise it in poop bags
I live in a super small town and run along county back roads so I toss them in poo bags and pick them up on my way back. —Candice Johann
Use cheap knee socks
I buy cheap knee high socks and cut the toes off and use them for arm warmers. When I get hot I toss them in a trash can or to the side of a curb and pick them up on my way back through. —Ashley Pryor
While the below aren’t tips or tricks, we had to share . . .
Sometimes it doesn’t work out
I always stash my water bottle in a subdivision’s community mailbox about 4 miles from my home. I usually run early, so I never have problems with the mailman. Well, one Saturday it was cool enough to go in the afternoon, and when I came back, the mailman locked my water bottle up in the mailbox! I was so sad! (And thirsty!) —Crissi Damelio Brandhuber
Or sometimes, you see the culprit!
I shed a pair of gloves and put them in a tree I would be passing again. On the way back, met a very nasty looking man wearing my gloves. I didn’t try to fight him for them. —Jennifer Pope Edwards
I always leave LS tops on fences or trees to be picked up on the way back on a well trafficked trail. Once I was running with 2 friends, and we noticed her water pack & shirt were gone. Just then, 3 (non threatening) pre-teens on bikes came towards us wearing her things! I went into Teacher Mode, stopped them, and scolded them for taking the items, and got them back. Needless to say I was packing a set that day for sure! —Jennifer Wally Blystone
And sometimes you end up with a nice surprise
I’ve also been known to stash water bottles in the yards of friends, imagine our surprise and laughter when my running friend and I found 2 cold bottles of beer and a bottle opener next to our 2 water bottles in a friends yard! —Jane Collins
Tribe: Any other tricks or spots we’re not thinking of?