"Turtle Trotting Onward": Training

BONDIBANDS!!!  

For 6 months I dedicated myself to a training plan that included way more than I ever realized was involved in "training".  It wasn't just about going out and pounding pavement.  I had to eat right, get enough sleep, learn all about electrolytes & how to properly fuel myself, stretch, stretch & stretch some more, learn to embrace the foam roller, battle plantar fasciitis (PF) and win, routinely use the Foot Rubz gadget (best 5 bucks I ever spent btw) to help keep my PF in check & from flaring back up, utilize cross training such as yoga, cycling, core work & weights/strength training, engage in massage a few times a month (oh darn!), figure out what kind of hydration system worked best for me, find gluten free gels & other GF fuel sources that worked for me, endure muscle aches/pains, learn the beauty of what an Epsom salt bath can do for your muscles aches/pains, endure & prevent chafing (even in areas on the body that would be embarrassing to the non-runner/athlete), figure out which products provide the best protection against chafing (good ol' Vaseline never let me down)....the list goes on and on. 

Yoga Mat, Foam Roller, Band & Foot Rubz

KT Tape

In addition to what I was learning on my own, mostly by trial and error, our awesome coaches would email us weekly with useful information on various topics, as well as share helpful tips to ensure that we were learning about all the things that are important when training for an endurance event.  Their insight, wisdom & advice is something that I will always be grateful for.  I also learned a lot from my peers on Daily Mile.  They not only answered all my lame newbie questions, but they offered ongoing support & encouragement.  

       
I also became more knowledgeable about running gear through this experience.  From trying different hydration belts & packs, different types of water bottles & handhelds, to figuring out how many tenths my pedometer was off by, hat vs visor, finding sunglasses that didn't bob up and down, trying on a bazillion different sports bras in an effort to find one that was well made, yet comfortable, while holding everything in place, investing in a Bondiband or 3 (one of my most fav pieces of gear), enhancing my running safety by investing in pepper spray and wearing the "disco belt" (reflective military PT belt so that I was highly visible out on the roads), etc. & so forth.  

 

Lastly, one of the other components I found myself implementing on a few of my runs was what I would call basic survival skills.  Living & running out in the country is beautiful, but resources aren't as accessible like they are to those of you who run along city streets.  Here's a few examples of my adventures:  Let's see.....there was the long run one day in the dead heat of August where I had already exhausted 70oz of fluid & I still had another 6 miles to go.  I HAD TO FIND WATER!!!  I knew there was a small country church up ahead.  While I struggled the 2-3 miles to get there, I finally came up on the small white church & casually strolled around to the back of the building where thank you baby jesus I found a hose.  Granted I had to let it run for several minutes b/c it was rusty water (no idea if this church was frequented often or not), but eventually it ran clear & I was able to fill up my reservoir and proceeded onward.  Then there was the 11 mile long run where the fuel source I had just taken in at Mile 6 or so turned out NOT to be gluten free.  I had to crawl into the "woods" (i.e. lots of brush & some trees amongst someones farm property) where I was sick until my body had purged itself from being glutened.  Thank you baby jesus for wipes that I'm smart enough to carry in my pack.  My most recent adventure was a trail run.  I love to be on a trail in the woods.  That's my element.  And it makes for great training too.  Well....dumb ass me didn't time things right (this was when we were just starting to lose daylight and I simply didn't judge it right).  It started to get darker & darker on the trail and I still had a good 2 miles to go.  I was furious with myself b/c as a hiker (and I've hiked for years), I know better.  In fact, I'm typically anally retentive about trail readiness & tend to pack out in an overly-prepared fashion before I set out on any trail.  Moral of the story is you can be sure that won't happen ever again.  Obviously I made it off the trail safely since I'm here to tell about it, but not before falling down first.  My knees took a bit of a beating from a big root.  AND I DESERVED IT!!!