Some random thoughts on nutrition, hydration and British heavy metal.

 

Yesterday's run  was rough.  The start of the run was hard, probably due to the heavy omelette I had for breakfast.  I estimate that it took me about 4-5 miles to really get beyond the point where I was struggling to run for lack of energy rather than muscle fatigue or pain.  Though I know that it shouldn’t surprise me, it really is amazing how choices in diet can affect performance.  I’m not even talking about the difference between a salad and deep fried Twinkies: eggs and home fries were heavy enough to noticeably impact my ability to run. 

Again I’m aware that I’m not having groundbreaking insights into anything but as they say, seeing is believing.  It’s one thing to hear that a change in diet will positively alter your energy levels and that eating crap will make you feel like crap but it’s something else entirely to be able to actually measure the difference yourself.  

I did make a smart decision regarding nutrition yesterday.  In my route planning, I included a trip to Landry's Bike Shop to pick up some Shot Bloks from the makers of Clif Bar.  After reading on line that the Gu-type gels upset some people’s stomachs, I decided that I really didn’t want to risk that, so at the recommendation of one of the helpful folks at Landry’s I decided to use the Shot Bloks for the Gloucester Triathlon.  They’re not hard on my Prilosec dependent stomach and give almost instant energy.  They come in a sleeve with 6 - 33 calorie pieces.  Over my 16 miles, I ate 10 of them.  After the practice I’ll have over the next 10 weeks of long runs, I could probably have a pretty good idea of how to use them without getting the point of having my energy flagging.  

The other part of body maintenance during the run that I have to worry about is hydration and I’m trying figure that one out.  It seems like a 16 oz water bottle will last me roughly 6 miles.  This wasn’t a problem training in the warmer months as there are bubblers all over the place to get a drink or fill up a water bottle, but the public works departments shut them off in the winter to avoid the pipes freezing/ bursting.  This led me to make an in-run decision to change my route in include the Newton Fire Station station on the corner of Comm. Ave. and Washington which allows you use their bathroom and water bubbler (enter through the side door on the right and make sure to say hi).  This decision led me to wind up running 16 miles rather than the 14 Hal wanted me to run this week but without it, I would have been rather thirsty and I’m not sure how I would have gotten water since there aren’t terribly many convenience store on that stretch of road.  

But anyway, on to the hilarious segment of the blog.: last week, I mentioned that Heartbreak Hill came too early in my run to accurately gauge how difficult it would be come race day.  This week, I was about 10.5 miles into my run when started the climb and considerably more drained (though well hydrated!) than I had been the first time.  Oddly enough right as I crossed Centre Street, which is about halfway up the gentle slope leading to what I guess is the business end of the hill, Iron Maiden’s  Run to the Hills came on my headphones.  It was just what I needed to help me get up and over it.  

I’d also like to state, for the record, that I’ve never had a deep fried Twinkie.

The new fund raising page is up!

http://www.rarediseases.org/helping/boston-marathon

I’m wicked spoiled...

...this much is obvious.  Over the past week I’ve had an opportunity to reflect on this a little.  I’m healthy and I live in Boston and until recently these two facts have been utterly wasted on me.  The only barriers to my running the Boston Marathon are in my head.  This is in stark contrast to the barriers the patients of rare diseases such as Gaucher, Pompe and the myriad other diseases that NORD supports face.  The woman for whom I’m running the marathon has had multiple surgeries to repair the damage Gaucher has done to her bones but throughout all of this, she remained far more active than I was for at least a third of my life.  She remained undaunted by what Gaucher was doing to her and continued to be active and even exercising.  When I think of this, I’m humbled beyond words and I’m energized by this on a regular basis.  Once again this past weekend I found strength in this to continue during my long run.  More on this later, though.

Last week, I also had an opportunity to meet a Pompe patient.  Like Gaucher, Pompe is an enzyme deficiency disorder.  It impacts the body’s ability to break down glycogen, which accumulates in the lysosomes, weakening muscles in the respiratory system, the heart, as well as those necessary for mobility.  This woman has also shown an incredible amount of resilience.  For ten years she lived with an incorrect diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy and once the doctors identified that the diagnosis was erroneous, she had to leave her home in Las Vegas and travel to Minnesota… in December… in a blizzard.   As I was listening to her story, I realized that nobody I know has had to leave Boston to gain access to a hospital with medical treatment they needed.  We have them all here: Children’s, Brigham and Women, MGH, all of these world class hospitals that I’ve always taken for granted.  

These are not earth shattering revelations: that I’m healthy or that I live in an area with a large number of hospitals, but I’m sort of ashamed when I stop to think of how I have taken these things for granted.  I think this realization that I’m a spoiled brat might be the most important thing that I will get out of this experience.  I’m thankful for having this opportunity to have my eyes opened to these blessings that have been bestowed on me. 

Now to this week's run:  For the first time, I ran with members of the NORD Marathon team during my long run.  We did the last 9.3 miles (I don’t know whether to trust MapMyRun.com or my teammate Frank’s Garmin) of the Marathon route which includes Heartbreak Hill.  This came after only about 3 miles, so I’ll refrain from commenting on how it felt.  I did consider how I’d feel about it on April 18th as I started up it, though and decided I could totally see how it would be intimidating after 21 miles.  

After 7 miles, I had just about used up whatever benefit the Cliff Bar I had 3 miles earlier provided me and was, again, as close to the point of exhaustion as I think I’ve ever been (I’m noticing a pattern, how about you?) and almost like clockwork, I thought of Suzanne and all she had overcome.  Once again, I was able to draw on her as the motivation I needed to continue on and complete my run.  It’s amazing how easy it is to convince yourself that you’re not as tired as you think you are.

So, in closing, I guess I’ll tie this week’s post together with a quote from John Quincy Adams: “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”  

Well put, sir.

February Fundraiser! Hope you can join us!

The 2011 NORD Marathon Team is having another fundraiser on 02/11/11 at Lir on Boylston.  Hope you and all your friends can make it.

Let me get you back up to speed... and me back on track here.

So, it’s been a very long time since I’ve written.  Just shy of a month, but rest assured that I have indeed been training and that I’ve also been raising funds.  Thanks to all my lovely, generous, good looking friends who have donated so far.  To the rest of you good looking people, I hope you can find the time and the scrilla to donate to help ensure that research for therapies for rare diseases continues to be well funded.

Since we last spoke, I’ve extended my long run to 12 miles, ran through Manhattan and Central Park and even managed to squeak out a quick 10 miles on New Year’s Day despite the presence of both bourbon and rye in my house the previous night.  The run through Central Park was pretty fun despite not seeing any famous people (this is more to Stef’s chagrin than my own) and not winding up with a cool story about getting mugged.  All the same, it was a pretty sensational experience.  Running through Manhattan before the throngs descended upon the streets and seeing the city as close to quiet as it gets was interesting.  Halfway through Central Park, I came upon an outdoor hockey rink where there were a few youth hockey games going on.  I stopped to watch the kids play for a few minutes and reminisced about playing when I was young.  As

I was standing there watching the game, a father was walking his daughter to the car after her game and commented, “I don’t think you’ll realize this until you’re older, but it’s pretty cool that you just played hockey in Central Park.”  I totally agree, sir. 

This past weekend, since the huge snowfall that decided that it wasn’t going anywhere, I was forced to do my long run on the treadmill.  Ugh, the treadmill, is anything more boring?  12 miles with nothing to distract yourself from the fact that you’re running is not my idea of fun.  This is something I’ve noticed about myself, if I’m not paying attention and allow my mind to wander the run goes so much faster.  However, if I focus on the time or the distance or that my feet or sore and my legs are tired, it makes the run seem to drag.  Indeed, losing myself in the run is part of what I like so much about this new hobby of mine.  It’s also part of why I thought it might be a good idea to write a blog summarizing my thoughts.  

Oh, and also, for the first time in my life, I have actually worn through a pair of running shoes. 

Big day.