Marathon Monday: Wear it out

I am training for the Columbus Marathon and following a schedule based on the "Train Like A Mother" finish it plan. These posts document my training. 

The week, in running:

Monday: 3 miles, easy (+stroller)
Tuesday: 3 miles, easy
Thursday: 8.4 miles, negative split
Friday: 5.35 miles, easy (+stroller)
Sunday: 20 miles, long run

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It had been (what seemed like) forever since I had seen my Victorious Secret teammate C so I couldn't have been more excited to see her at the BODYPUMP launch party.

We chatted about the upcoming Fort-4-Fitness race, the lake and Miles. We also talked about Columbus. C will be running the half, and I am doing the full. She asked about training, my long runs and, most importantly, gear.

"Do you have your outfit picked out?" she inquired excitedly.

Then ... the sound of silence. Seriously, you could hear plates dropping on the floor as I searched for an answer. It seems like I have so much time to plan what I'll be wearing in 27 days but the truth of the matter is that I should have tested out my marathon outfit during yesterday's long run. After all, you never try anything new on race day.

"Not sure yet," I finally dug up. "I keep thinking that I'll get something new."

That was the plan, in my head at least ... until our dishwasher, garage door and toilet all needed to be repaired in the same week. Add in a yearly vet visit + shots, and any money that could have gone to that brand new outfit has flitted away like my train of thought.

And that's fine. For one, I don't need a new outfit for every race. Two, I can assemble a cute look at little to no cost.

For yesterday's long run, I dug out my favorite Nike capris from last year, my RnR NOLA shirt and armwarmers from the HUFF. The outfit worked well during a chilly-ish start: it wasn't too hot and I was only a bit cold; there was no chafing; and I was able to ditch the armwarmers for the last few miles.

I can make the whole thing marathon special by picking up an Another Mother Runner shirt and swapping the HUFF warmers for the Running Skirt ones my BFF gave me for Christmas last year.

The bonus to the outfit is that I ran a strong half marathon in Dearborn in the capris and felt good during my long run. It's quite possible that Nike weaves good ju-ju into its clothes.

Of course, having all of this decided hasn't stopped me from planning imaginary outfits for the race - especially when Mark sets me loose in Dick's Sporting Goods so he can look at weapons. Outfits that would get me noticed.

 Nike Printed Pro Victory Compression Bra and Shorty Shorts

I'm pretty sure this outfit was made for me ... not. I love Nike but I'm pretty sure my thighs would rub off if I attempted this. And, to add insult to injury, Mark didn't realize I was JOKING when I had this hanging from the cart. Does he even know me?

Nike Women's Twisted Running Capri and Pro-Fitted V-Neck Shirt

My running friends have always been happy when I wear brightly colored outfits that stand out. It makes it easier to spot me for cheering and photographing purposes! Orange is also a favorite color and the gray top is classic.

Nike Fast Pace Run Shirt, Twisted Running Capri and Dri-FIT Feather Lite Cap

OK, this might not stand out but the long-sleeve shirt is light weight and I think wearing a hat always makes you look bad ass. It's also the colors (orange and blue) of the Columbus Marathon.

Before I could do too much damage, Miles started checking out the Honey Stinger Waffles and chasing balls. The bouncy kind. The outfits went back on the rack and I went back to my marathon outfit. It's cute and practical, and it's special because it will take me across the finish line at the 26.2-mile mark.

Weigh in: Do you get a new look for a new race?

A cautionary tale on safety and fear

It's a rare occurrence that a headline makes me angry. Having spent nearly the first 10 years of my career as a copy editor, where one of my main duties was to write those headlines, I became kind of ... well ... numb to them. Unless there's a blatant spelling error or it doesn't fit the story (and appears in my section), no headline is likely to raise my eyebrow.

Except this one.

Of all the stories we've heard about concerning attacks on female runners, this one hit home. A woman who was "jogging" (don't get me started on that one) was attacked on the trail system on Saturday. The trail system that I regularly use.

Mother figgin shit heads.

I had heard a snippet of the story on the evening news and immediately went to the newspaper's website to check out the story. I had to know what happened.

Was she out at dark?
Was she on a secluded part of the trail?
Was she doing something wrong?

And before I answer the first two questions, I will answer the last. No. No, she was not doing anything that would seem outside the norm. She was running at 11 a.m. in an area that is not particularly isolated. In fact, it travels alongside a fairly busy road and it was a driver on that road who saw what was happening and intervened.

I can't imagine how this woman feels. To be so violated and scared during a time when she had a reasonable expectation to feel safe and happy. I say that because even though it wasn't me - it very well could have, I feel violated and fearful. The section of the trail where the attack occurred is one I'm familiar with, and I use it on a somewhat regular basis when I'm finishing up the last six miles or so or a long run. I would have been running it by myself and in the morning but, admittedly, quite a bit earlier.

In an instant, the uneasiness I felt about my long run today was no longer about the distance but my safety. No longer did I feel confident just winging it, and I wanted to avoid the connection sections of the trail that used to be blissfully lonely. After poring over the news,  Mark and I gave a second thought - and a fifth - to how my 20-mile run would play out.

Thought 1: I would carry my cellphone. I know a lot of people do this but it always seemed a bit unnecessary to me. I usually am within a mile of home at any given point and stick to fairly well-traveled areas. However, I learned that no place is safe.

Thought 2: I would plan each section of the route - turn-by-turn - and share the maps with Mark. Usually, I will tell him that I'm going to head to a certain neighborhood or toward downtown but he would now have the smarts (if needed) to drive around looking for me.

Thought 3: In addition to knowing the route, Mark also had a fairly specific time frame to expect me. I break up my long runs into three sections, running the first and last parts by myself. Mark knew that I would take 100 minutes to run the first part and about 60 minutes for the last but he was to give me a 5-minute cushion each time for pee breaks.

Thought 4: Maybe it's time to look into a defensive spray as Mark has periodically suggested. Alas, it is 8:30 on a Saturday night and I'm in my sweatpants and oversized hoodie. Make mental note and carry key between fingers to act as a weapon.

Thought 5: You can't live your life in fear but you can't live your life in ignorance. Be mindful of your surroundings.