I was not kidding when I wrote that there is way more gear involved in triathlon than in running. Here is photographic proof (I stole the photo idea from Sherry, whose blog I found when I was searching for Danskin blog recaps).
Bike
Run
Extra Stuff
Last weekend I treated myself and picked up a few cold weather running items. Specifically I got a long-sleeve Under Armour thermal top, a waterproof/windproof jacket, and a knit hat with wicking lining. Although it was not really cold enough for all that gear, I wanted to try it out so I wore it on my thirty minute run yesterday, along with my long pants.
About five minutes into the run, the thermal top started riding up. Every few moments it would inch higher and higher, exposing more and more of my belly to the effects of the weather, with only the jacket protecting it. Ten minutes into the run, I was essentially wearing a jacket over a long-sleeved tube top because the shirt had ridden all the way up to my sports bra.
I lifted the jacket and reached up and pulled the shirt down, exposing half of my back to the elements and the long line of traffic on the busy street next to me. (The one day I don’t run through the desolate neighborhood streets!) Luckily the traffic was one-way coming from behind me or else the drivers would have gotten an eye-full of belly.
After the third time of stopping my run to yank my shirt down, I got a brilliant idea! I will tuck the shirt into my pants! Luckily I had my jacket on because I sure that I was quite a sight with my shirt tucked in and my pants pulled up, just like Urkel.
Aside from that incident, all of the new gear worked very well. Of course it was too warm for it all (about 40 degrees), so I was sweaty by the time I finished the run. Today I added some new running gloves to the mix because the “magic stretch” gloves that I was using made my hands sweat. I thought that the gloves were $20, but when I check out, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were half off. I like surprises like that.
Here is the official Grand Rapids Marathon race report. It is extremely long, so feel free to skim. I just wanted to get it all down for posterity. I apologize for any grammatical errors or typos, but, in addition to be a little physically sore today, my brain is not 100% either. Enjoy!
The Grand Rapids Marathon is an extremely friendly place for slow runners, run/walkers, and walkers. They have two waves and I opted to start in the “velocity-challenged” start at 7:00 a.m.
I think that the Weather Channel said it was 28 degrees when we left the hotel at about 6:15. It was pitch was pitch black and cold outside. There were a few people milling around our hotel lobby, but we did not see anyone else on our walk to the start, which was about a 10 minute walk. In addition to the outfit, I also was wearing an extra jacket for the pre-race.
When we got to the start/finish line, I was happy to see no waiting at the porta-potties. That has never happened, I don’t think. As I was walking over to look at the start/finish line, a man said, “Good morning” to me. I recognized him immediately as Don Kern, the race director. I had enjoyed his daily emails for the week I am not sure the exact number of early-starters like myself, but I think that it was a few hundred.
Here is me before the race. That jacket I have on, which I handed off to Prince E before the start, was one of the free gifts that I got at that 5k I did a couple of weeks ago. It kept me nice and warm in the 20 minutes or so I had to stand around before the start.
I did so and got in line with the rest of the group. I was pretty calm, just waiting to get started. There were a few brief words from the race director and then they sounded a horn and we were off.
Around this time, I caught my first glimpse of Neil Sauter, who was attempted to break the world record for completing a marathon on stilts! I would pass by him several times on the course (there were a few out and backs) and every time I saw him he was politely answering questions from those around him. I was happy to hear after the race that he did indeed break the world record with a time of 7:23:14. Here is a photo that Prince E took of Neil at the start line. I also like this photo because of the way all the shoes are reflecting in the darkness.
The first mile and a half were on the local streets and then onto a path next to the street. I was running a long at my nice even, slow pace when I heard the air horn from Prince E’s bicycle. I turned and saw him riding in the road. I took the opportunity to give him my gloves because my hands were already hot. My long-sleeved top has little mittens that can flip down over my hands and that would be warm enough for the rest of the way.
The first aid station then appeared, right at the entrance to Butterworth Park. Considering that it was about 7:15 in the morning, the volunteers at the aid station were very energetic and cheered us on. And guess what? They had a lot of water! And, the best part…all of the rest of the aid stations did too!
I am at the hotel in Grand Rapids. We went to the movies and then to packet pick-up. I got this fancy maroon long-sleeve tech race shirt. I also got a free magnet (I have a thing for magnets).
I am starting in the slow-poke wave, shoving off at 7:00am Michigan time. So that is about 11 hours away.
Still debating the outfit. I will probably end up wearing too much clothing and end up having to take my pants off and will look funny with pants tied around my waist or something. (Don’t worry, I am wearing my running skirt over my pants, so I won’t be completely bottomless).
Thanks to my brother for the nice blog wishes!
I decided to photograph my planned outfit, the same way I did before the Chicago marathon. As you may recall, my cat decided to inspect the outfit while I took the picture. Well, the same thing happened today, only with a different cat. You can’t quite see it, but in the second photo there is an ear band warmer thing I will be wearing. Also, notice that the sleeves of the shirt have built in hand covers, but I will be supplementing that with the little gloves.
The latest forecast for next Sunday is below.
I am taking suggestions on wardrobe choices.
I used the Runner’s World “What to Wear” guide with those temperatures and it said: shorts, long sleeve shirt, vest, and gloves. I don’t own a vest. And shouldn’t I wear pants?
I ran 65 minutes today as my last long run before the Grand Rapids marathon. It was the same amount of running that was on my schedule the week before the last marathon two weeks ago. Has it been two weeks? In a way it seems like yesterday, but on the other hand it feels like so much time has passed since that time.
I tried out my “cool” weather outfit. The same thing I wore to the Chicago marathon plus an added long sleeve top that has cool flip over hand warming things. It was 48 and sunny when I left, about 50 when I got home. I think that the outfit should be perfect if I have similar weather. I will probably ending up giving the top layer off to Prince E at some point because I was warmed up by the end of the run today.
Of course if it rains, I have no idea what I will wear. Probably pants? Not sure.
I noticed on my run today that it was Canadian Geese sports day! I saw geese playing soccer and baseball! Photographic proof below.
I decorated my hat so that I will stand out more in the crowd so that my spectators can find me easier. I also wrote my name on the front of my shirt.
I went for my last run before the marathon yesterday. I only went about 15 minutes and was a ball of sweat and beet read. Same temps expected for Sunday. Fun!!!!! I love running in hot weather!! (did that sound convincing?)
Due to the weather, I think that I am going to adjust my run/walk interval. I trained at 7-1 or 6-1, but I think that I will do the marathon in 6/2. Or maybe 5/2. Or maybe 5/1. Obviously I have not decided that yet.
I just hope that they do not run out of water because they planned according to last year’s numbers (it was cold last year).
About a two weeks ago I started putting things in a box that I wanted to take with me to the hotel. As I thought of something I needed, I would put it in the box. I went through it last night and laughed. It was clear that I had started putting things in there when the forecast was for 50s and rainy. The box contained gloves, an earwarmer, and two choices of long-sleeve top. Looks like I won’t be needing any of those.
Family comes in today, then we are off to the Expo.
I laid out my outfit and accessories today to take a picture and kitty decided to inspect it. There will be some additions, like bright orange stickers on the hat and my name written on the shirt.
I am impressed with myself because I managed to put a drawstring in my running skirt all by myself.
I have to run 20 miles tomorrow. Think about how that sounds for a minute. TWENTY. TWO-ZERO. Yes, I realize that the time will come when I will have to run 26.2 miles, but then there will be cheerleaders and bands so it will be fun. Tomorrow? Will not be fun.
I spent twenty minutes running around my house this morning throwing clothes and digging through the laundry basket trying to find my running skirt. It will be my official marathon bottoms so I want to wear it tomorrow for my “dress rehearsal.”
I tried to remember the last time I saw my running skirt. I was filled with horrible dread when I realized that the last time I remember seeing it was at the hotel following the 10 mile race. Oh no! Would I have to go all the way there this afternoon to get it? What if they did not have it? What if one of the hotel worker suddenly looked a lot cuter on her runs because of a new skirt she “acquired”?
Then I decided to check the bedroom one more time and there it was : hanging nicely on a hanger behind a shirt. Not only had I brought it back from the hotel, I had already washed it and did not even remember.
I won’t tell you the litany of curse words that I yelled at the Fed Ex truck as it sped out of my parking lot after I had buzzed the delivery man in and gotten no response. I figured that he had left one of those stupid “we missed you” stickers downstairs.
My new shoes, the ones I will be wearing in the marathon that I am also supposed to wear for my 20-miler was what they were delivering. I ran downstairs, prepared to call the number off of the sticker and give them a piece of my mind. I already had it prepared in my head, “Do you think I would PAY for OVERNIGHT if I wouldn’t be home to get the F-ing PACKAGE??” (Never mind that the overnight delivery was free from Zappos). When I got downstairs, though, there was no sticker. Just a pretty box from Zappos.
So, two major freak-outs over two small things has led me to realize that I am indeed freaking out about tomorrow’s 20-miler. I pity the husband tonight when he will (no doubt) have the nerve to suggest that I stay up until the end of the Cubs game because it is ONLY 9:30.
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