Dear Garmin Forerunner 405: I love you, but I need some space

I have a Garmin Forerunner 405, which is a GPS-enabled sports watch and heart rate monitor. As I run (or bike), it tells me: my heart rate at any given time my average and max heart rate for any given session my pace at any given time my average and max pace for any given session my time how far I’ve gone When I first purchased the Garmin, I was training for the Ocean Drive Marathon. At the time, I wanted a heart rate monitor and a watch that could calculate distance as I ran – rather than trying to …

Recovery Week

I am nine weeks out from my next “A” priority race – the Bassman half ironman. I’ve completed 11 weeks of training that are specific to this race. This training has included 6 triathlon events that I’ve been using as part of my training regimen. Prior to beginning triathlon training, I spent my time training for an early spring marathon (Ocean Drive, March 30). Since the beginning of this year, I’ve biked about a 1,000 miles, run over 600 miles, and swum about 56 kilometers (almost 35 miles). The one thing I haven’t done enough of, however, is recovery. As I reviewed my training …

Marathons are a gateway drug

This time last year, I was about one month into a marathon training plan. I was preparing for my first marathon, the Atlantic City Marathon. Prior to this experience, I had only raced in a 10 mile event and maybe one or two 5Ks for charities that I supported. But, for the most part, I just ran–and had been a runner since I was 13 years old. I didn’t compete. It was what I did to stay fit, and I really enjoyed the peace and fulfillment of a good run. As we grow older, we may begin to take the …

Barefoot running

After running my second marathon, the Ocean Drive Marathon, I had some persistant pain in the outside of my left hip. A few weeks after the marathon, when all of the other aches and pains had long subsided, the hip pain remained, and seemed to be getting worse. Hmmm. So, I did some research (google is always my first opinion) and went to the ortho doctor for a second opinion. Both opinions pointed to trochanteric bursitis. I was a textbook case–which made my at-home google diagnosis much easier. The simple definition of this condition: inflammation of a fluid-filled sac that normally …

“More” does not always equal “better”

I usually start each Wednesday with an advanced yoga flow class at Yoga Nine. Today was no exception. However, what was different was a noticeable dip in my energy level. Every limb of my body felt heavy. Yoga can be an excellent way to energize the body. So, I went despite the heaviness. After 60 minutes, the heaviness remained, but I did feel looser. Laurie, my yoga instructor, led us through a variation on a Tripischore yoga series, which includes postures for lengthening and balance. This series is usually one of my favorites, but today triangle was torture. Warrier I and II …

I’m an “endurance monster”

according to an article in the September 2009 edition of Running Times. Greg McMillan, author of the article, defines endurance monsters as any runners who enjoy “long runs, marathon training, tempo runs and any workout slower than 10K” (p. 18). Yup, so far I fit the profile. He goes on to say that a monster “finds it very difficult to get her legs to go fast. Short, fast training like 200m-400m track workouts and hard fartlek runs leave EM feeling deflated” (p. 18). Yup, got me again–and today’s speed workout really emphasized my speed weakness, and my preference for strength …

My First Marathon

I ran my first marathon on October 19, 2008. The 50th Annual Atlantic City Marathon was a small event with just 250 runners. It was perfect for my entrance into the experience of marathon running. The course was my home turf. I spent the summer and early fall of 2008 completing my long runs up and down the Atlantic City Boardwalk, with the ocean as a constant companion. Other “companions” included the bleary eyed gamblers leaving the dark hole of the casino floor for a quick smoke in the early morning hours, a group of older gentlemen who met in front of the Ocean …