Plus+Runner

Choosing Your First Big Race: Guidelines and Recommendations

February 3, 2010 · 4 Comments

I am a plus-sized runner.  I run/walk at a 16:00 per mile pace, and I can carry that for a half marathon, easily.   In 1999, my younger, lighter self was a 13:30 runner.   Neither Young Sallie nor Current Sallie, however, could escape the steely gaze of the Chicago Police Department, winding down the course of the Shamrock Shuffle.   Every time I ran that race, I found myself at Mile 1, or 2, or 3, with a megaphone blasting in my ear “Walkers to the side!  You have to get on the sidewalk.”  I spent two years like that, getting yelled at.   It didn’t matter that I had paid the same amount of money as every other entrant, or that I was passing skinny runners who hadn’t bothered to train.  The third year, I realized the joke was on me.  I cut the course, (the only time I’ve ever done that) and finished angry and short a mile.  I also learned a valuable lesson.  The Chicago Police had a job to do – to re-open the streets – and races that ran on short timelines were no longer for me.

Big athletes – plus sized athletes – are, in many, many cases, slower than the “average” sized athlete.  Why?  Physics.  There is more weight to move, requiring more energy, and unless your body can overcome the energy needs and manage the cardio demands at the same time, chances are, you’re slower than someone who is exactly your height.  Just today, in fact, the New York Times shares the same conclusion, one which shouldn’t shock us, but is nice to see in print.

So how does that impact you?  Why should you care about it?  You’re out there, you’re running, you’re doing great things, right?  Well, right.  Except that when it comes time to put your money into a race, to give yourself a goal, you need to make sure you’re choosing a race that’s going to accept a slower runner, and support a slower runner.  Or you might as well just go run by yourself somewhere.

I have seen many, many plus-sized athletes go out for their first long, endurance race, (or even their first Shamrock Shuffle) only to find themselves completely overwhelmed by the fact that they are, in fact, slow – and as a result, their race experience sucks.   They begin at the back of the pack, as instructed, only to find that by the time they reach the mid-miles, the water is gone, or the police car is on their tail, or the mile markers have been taken down (all of which have happened to me). 

So, to help you pick your first, or next race, I offer you some simple guidelines.  Then, a list of recommended, plus-runner and walker  friendly half marathons. 

Choosing your first 5k or 10k is a bit simpler than choosing a half marathon or marathon. 5k races are typically run with a little bit of extra time, early in the morning on a weekend, resulting in minimal street closures.  But your best experiences may come in a race that’s run in a local park (on a path or in the streets) or somewhere else that doesn’t require street closures. 

Check out the terrain if you live in a hilly area.  Most of us, when we start running for the first time, make it a little easier on ourselves by finding a somewhat flat (or lightly rolling) place to run.  If you’ve been training like that, don’t choose your first 5k or 10k for a little hill action.  Check out the course, and make sure it’s manageable before choosing it as your race.

Check the “Rules and Regulations” section, or “Frequently Asked Questions” section of the race’s website before signing up – if the course will be open for one hour for the 5k, and two hours for your 10k, you’ll have plenty of time.   If in doubt, email the race director, and ask if the course will be supported while you’re out there.

Just in case, bring your own fluids.  If you’re training with a water bottle (which my running group recommends as soon as you go over 3 miles), bring your own fluids in a waist belt.  Then, you won’t have to worry about  not having that gulp of water when you need it – you’ll have it on you!

Choosing your first half marathon

If you’re not currently running or walking, you don’t know your pace yet.   Which means that looking at finishing times means bupkus to you.  So, take my advice: look for courses with a 3:30-4:00 finish.   A 3:30 finish is about a 16:00 mile, and that gives you plenty of room – but many plus runners will be unable to make a 3:30 cutoff.  A course that’s supported to four hours is rare, but they’re out there, and they’re a nice option for first-timers.

Pick a race that suits your needs.   The Indianapolis Mini Marathon, held in May, is a half marathon that has 35,000 people running 13.1 miles.   It’s urban, it’s crowded, it’s fun, and you get to do a lap on the actual Indy Motor Speedway – seriously cool.  Contrast that with the Door County Half Marathon, also held in May.  It’s a closed-course, 13.1 mile, hilly, gorgeous, quiet, course where you have a great picnic at the end.   Last year, 690 people completed the half.   Check out that contrast: 650 people versus 350000. 

If you think you might want some crowd support, maybe an Indy Mini is for you.  If you’re up for a bit more beauty, a Door County-type race might be your thing.  Just depends on what you love, and what kind of experience you’re going for.  (I went big first, starting with the Indy Mini, but as time’s passed, I like the closed courses like Door County, which give me a bit more time to groove into my run…)   Both of these courses are open for four hours, and both have their challenges (no shade in Indy occasionally a very warm day; hills in Door County).  Think about it, and choose a race that’s good for you.

Check out the race reviews.  Marathonguide.com has a full calendar of races held in the U.S., Canada, and abroad.  Use it to check the race reviews from other runners who have completed the race in the past year.   Marathon Guide will tell you what you can’t see when you’re poking around on a race website, including a few key points:  organization, hills, and crowd support. 

Skip a race with poor organization, as it most often affects the back of the pack runners worse.  If you’re reading the reviews, and the organization gets poor marks (or people are commenting about the lack of fluids on the course, direction, etc.), skip it.  Yes, just skip that one.  You don’t need to run your first race on a course where there’s no water or Gatorade, or where the organizer forgot to put volunteers out for you.  There are thousands of races out there- don’t spend your money on one that isn’t well-run.

Think carefully about what you want or need on a run – hills and crowd support are two biggies.  If you’ve never run a half before, you probably want a course that has some fans on it.  (Well, at least I did.)  You maybe want people cheering for you, to help you run your best time.  So pay close attention to the descriptions of the crowd support.   Small towns – and medium sized cities – do this well.   Bigger cities tend to have a hard time, due to the fact that the courses tend to be run on out-of-the-way streets to keep traffic snags to a minimum. 

Also, check for hills.  I run in Chicago, which is flatter than my stomach, fo sho.  So running the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati is always a bit challenging for me – but I do it, because there are wicked good downhills, they have a 3:30 time limit, and it’s home.  Be aware of what you’re willing to do to train for hills, and don’t let them freak you out – just be aware of them.   Two of my favorite courses are hilly monsters – the Flying Pig, and the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Fran.   But they’re both amazing races.

A few recommendations

So, you’ve got some advice, now for recommendations.  These are completely biased, and based on my own personal experience, likes and dislikes.  Unfortunately, they’re also very Midwest-based.  (Sorry ’bout that…)  I’ll tell you why I would and wouldn’t run them, and you can ask me anything you like.  Consider it my gift to you.  (And, if you’ve run one you really like, send me a note, and we’ll post it here!)

Half Marathons – Spring 2010

The Flying Pig Half Marathon – Cincinnati, Ohio.  May 2, 2010.  Yes, there are hills. But the first 5 miles are a nice warmup, and you get to run over the Ohio River at sunrise, a site which can’t be beat.  The Ohio is always nearby in this race, which winds through downtown Cincinnati before heading into Eden Park.  Yes, it will kick your ass going up, but you make up the speed on all the hills going down.  I know more people who have set personal records here than in Chicago, which is flat as a pancake.  Plus, the finish at Sawyer Point is a great reunion area, and the medal is pretty cool.  Walkers are welcome.   Cost: $75 through April 1.  Three hour thirty minute course.  Run this race if:  you live within driving distance of Cincinnati, and like some pretty in your run.  Skip it if: you can’t handle long hills. 

The Country Music Half Marathon - Nashville, Tennessee.  April 24, 2010.  Great crowd support, great atmosphere, and simply the best music of any of the Rock and Roll events.  Nashville is a music town, so if you’re going to go for a RNR event (girls weekend, etc.) this is the one to do.  If you like music, and are looking for some extra motivation, run this one.   Cost: $105 through April 18.  Four hour course. Run this race if:  you live near Nashville but have never run there; are looking for a party weekend with your friends, or are a big country music fan.  Skip it if: you need a flat run.  Nashville is never, ever flat.  

The Indy Mini Marathon - Indianapolis, Indiana. May 8, 2010.  Flat as a pancake, except when you’re on the track.  The Indy Mini is a great excuse to run your first half marathon if you live in the midwest, or are a fan of racing.  The course, however, leaves much to be desired.  You start downtown, then wind through dilapidated, abandoned sections of urbanity.  You focus ahead on getting to the Brickyard, and even that, you might find challenging – it’s 2.5 miles of shuffling people, baking in the sun. (Do I sound bitter?)  Don’t count on shade, and don’t count on pretty, but do count on a fast time. This race is sold out for 2010.  (Clearly, no one listens to me :) )   Run this race if:  you need a flat course  Skip it if: you don’t like crowds, or don’t care for a desolate urban running landscape.

The Door County Half Marathon - Door County, WI, May 2, 2010.  Beautiful course, closed to traffic, excellent organization, and no end-of-race car chewing your tail as you run.  You might be last, but you’ll be very happy you came.  Plus, at less than 900 participants, you’ll know everyone around you by the time you’re finished. Cost: $48.   Four hour course. Run this race if: you live in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Minneapolis and need an affordable, gorgeous, quiet spring half.  Skip it if: you need some quality time on a football field – check out the Green Bay Half instead, where you can finish at Lambeau Field.

The Minneapolis Marathon and Half Marathon – Minneapolis, MN, June 6, 2010.  Great shwag (finisher’s jacket and stained glass medals); in gorgeous downtown Minneapolis. Free training programs, great organizers, and a course that takes you along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi river towards Fort Snelling, then sends you back downtown.  What’s not to love?  Cost: $68 through Feb. 3. Four hour course.  Run this race if: you need one last long run before summer, or live anywhere near Minneapolis.  Skip it if: you don’t run long after May.

Half Marathons – Fall 2010

The Nike Women’s Marathon & Half Marathon - San Francisco, CA, October 17, 2010.  Not a finisher’s medal – a Tiffany finisher’s necklace (um, handed to you by a hot guy in a tux and running shoes).  Women’s specific tech shirts.  (Oh, guys can run, too, and there are shirts for you, too.)  Massages and shopping to die for.  The Ghirardelli Chocolate Mile (no, I’m not kidding.)  The. Best. Views.   The Oxygen Bar at Mile 7, on the way up behind the Golden Gate Bridge.   Oh, and it’s 99% women, so it’s uber-supportive.  Literally, I have never, ever run/walked a race where I was surrounded by people – the entire way.  Yes, it’s a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training event, so if you’re not running with them, you have to lottery to get  into the race, but it’s a lovely experience, and one of the best I’ve ever had.  If you have a Nike+ system, register with Nike beforehand and you’ll get advance notice on the lottery.  Cost: $110.  Four hour half marathon, 7.5 hour marathon. Run this race if: you can get in.  It’s a lottery system, and it’s tough.  Skip it if:  you’re a moron.  Okay, if you can’t handle hills at all, skip it – but I actually thought this race was easier than the Flying Pig.  Yeah.

The Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay Grand Rapids, MI, October 17, 2010.  Three words: Velocity-Challenged-Start.  A few years back, when the Chicago Marathon imploded due to heat, people flocked to Grand Rapids to make up for the Season That Got Overheated.  They found a small race, run by a passionate guy, with great crowd support and good perks.   There were cookies on the tables! Water everywhere! Running through the woods!  And this “Velocity Challenged Start” – an earlier start time for walkers and slower runners (over 6 hours on the full marathon, 3 hours on the half).  It’s perfect – no stress, no fuss, no muss.  Grand Rapids is a not-so-big town with a big heart, and this race opens its arms to you.  Plus, the shirt is simple and good-looking, and the posters are eight sorts of inspiring.  Even if you don’t run it, you should sign up for Don Kern’s race director blog – it’s worth reading.  Cost: $68 through May 15. Four hour half marathon, 7 hour marathon (using VCS).   Run this race if:  you need a low-key alternative to the Chicago Marathon; or would like a great fall half marathon.  Skip it if: you get into Nike. Otherwise, run this one.

The Chicamauga Battlefield Half Marathon Chattanooga, TN November 13, 2010.  If you’re a fan of American history, or simply in awe of what the Civil War meant for America, this is the race for you.  Three years ago, I was at this battlefield – I visited while on an assignment in Chattanooga.  Technically, this race is just over the border in Georgia.  But the battlefield itself – and the amazing monuments which line the park – are breathtaking.  When I was there, we watched runners lacing up for a nightly run, and I remember thinking “that’s odd”. Now, I think it’s just plain cool.  The race runs you through the park, ranked recently as one of the top three by Runner’s World readers.  And, bonus for us slowbees – it has a SIX HOUR half marathon limit.  Yes, you read that correctly.  So it’s a great, historical place. It’s beautiful.  It’s course with little or no car traffic – and it’s near one of the coolest little cities in the South, Chattanooga.  I’m about a day away from adding it to my schedule. Cost: $40 through August 10.  Six hour course.  Run this race if: you like American history, quiet runs on your tree lined streets, and want to bring the kids along (most family friendly race, too.)  Skip it if: you don’t like running alone.  It’s a small field. 

That’s it from here! Take a look, lock in your spring races, and share your plans!  We’ll see you on the path!

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Overweight? The Case for Running.

January 27, 2010 · 3 Comments

The idea of becoming a Runner is overwhelming to most people.  For your average American, who is anywhere from 20-50 pounds “overweight”, bombarded with daily articles about how lazy and out of control Obese people are, thinking you can become a runner starts to seem just plain foolish.  But an article published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association makes me think that for those of us who are overweight, running is one of the few tools in our aresenal that can actually help stop the progression of weight gain. 

The article, “Extra Calories Cause Weight Gain But How Much”, concludes that certain theories about weight gain over the course of your life aren’t quite right.  Historically, research has suggested that, since there are 3500 calories in a pound of fat (technically, fat tissue), eating an “extra” 60 calories a day, over the course of a year, would result in a 6 lb. gain – and then again, the next year, and again, the next year.  Lo and behold, the researches found that instead, the weight gain levels off, because your body has to move more to move more (get it?).  Conversely, when you reduce your caloric intake, your body has to work less, to move less, so once you drop the initial poundage, you find yourself at (the ever-present) plateau. 

To get off the plateau, the authors tell us what any good Weight Watcher already knows: you have to eat significantly less, OR work out much harder, to continue to lose weight.

The authors go on to explain a few other key factors about reducing body mass.  In the end, a few key points stuck with me:

  • Since we tend to gain weight over a period of years, if we want to halt the increase (of even 1-2 pounds per year), small changes in how much we eat, or the exercise we do, will have little effect on on the increase, because our body will compensate for these tiny adjustments. 
  • Even the experts have given up on suggesting that “small changes” make a difference.  ”These calculations suggest that small changes in lifestyle would have a minor effect on obesity prevention.  Walking an extra mile a day expends, roughly, 60kcal compared with resting – equal to the energy in a small cookie.   [The current amount of calorie overage for the average American] is between 5 and 10 fold greater, far beyond the ability of most individuals to address on a personal level.”(JAMA 2010; 303(1): 65-66)

So where does that leave us?  Well, it teaches us one thing.  First, as we all know, weight is a tricky thing.  There is no simple answer, and yet we know that exercise, in combination with some magic nutrition formula, helps us to lose weight, increase muscle mass, and be healthier. 

We also know that cutting out that teaspoon of sugar in your coffee, or skipping the dinner mint, doesn’t really matter.  But working out harder does.  (At least, that’s how I read it.)  And though I’m currently not at an “ideal” weight, I can say that running, and running regularly, has always been the best exercise I’ve found for reducing or maintaining weight, keeping fitness at a high level, and lowering blood pressure.  For me, running is the easy half of the equation, and I’ll keep doing it till I get the other half right.

Running is not easy.  I would never claim that it is.  However, studies like this remind me that running is an incredibly good, challenging way to participate in an activity that is very, very good for evening up the playing field with The Calorie Intake Team.  Put simply: it’s hard work – the kind of hard work you need if you’re serious about weight loss.  So if you’re contemplating a way to kickstart a program, or to get off a plateau, or to simply test out your own mettle, go run for 30 seconds.  Walk for 30 seconds.  Tomorrow, go 1 minute and 1 minute.   Use these studies to motivate you, and to also keep perspective.  Don’t be afraid to aim high.  Becoming a runner is incredibly, incredibly possible for you – just start small, and use a smart approach to doing it, and you’ll find that you, too can be making big changes that stick.

One final note – at the end of the article, the authors noted that preventing obesity in the first place will require a complex approach to regulating food, food manufacturers, and increasing a focus on public health and exercise.   As my friend Joyce has also reminded me, weight is about more than just calories – it’s metabolism, your historical approach to food, and medication that also impact what you can and can’t lose.   Weight, and obesity, are complex issues, with multiple social and environmental factors impacting our ability to lose and maintain weight.  It’s messy, and complex.  But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.   

My friend Karen has a saying.  She likes to say that lots of people, standing in a room, admiring a problem, doesn’t get anyone anywhere.  You can talk about it a lot, and you can all agree it’s a BIG problem, but until someone starts taking it apart, piece by piece, nothing will ever get solved. 

We can admire the “obesity epidemic” all we want.  We can talk about healthy weights, and the impact of chemicals in the food supply, and the advent of the DVR and what it means for the size of our asses.  But we can also just start moving.  We can try, and try, and try again to find some activity that captures our hearts and our bodies, until we find the one that’s right for us.   I did it with running, and maybe you will too.

It can’t hurt to try.

→ 3 CommentsCategories: Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete
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Getting Lost

January 19, 2010 · 3 Comments

Did you ever notice that when you get lost in a car, it leads to some serious anger and frustration?  

What about when you’re lost in a new city? Same thing, right?  You meant to find that cool art museum and instead you’re stuck in the Red Light district, trying not to get arrested.

When we were kids, getting lost was okay.  Growing up in suburban Cincinnati, if I got lost, I was pretty sure I’d find my way out of the backwoods of Darke Court.  After all, I only had about two acres to stumble around in before finding a cookie cutter house and someone’s mom to send me home.

But something happened to me when I moved away for college, and lived in a small town…and then again when I moved to Chicago.  Living in a city, on a grid, I learned to always pay attention to where I was – to orient myself to Lake Michigan (or Michigan Avenue) or the nearest North/South street, or, on a Friday night, to the nearest watering hole.

But I also found it was really, really easy to stop exploring.  Oh sure, initially I had the excuse that I didn’t own a car, and there was only so far my pudgy legs could take me.   But even with a car, I find that I’m still a creature of habit. I find a great place for breakfast, and I go again and again. I find a nice place to run along the lakefront, and I don’t want to run anywhere else.   I’m not alone like that – we all seem to think that routines are the magic ticket to becoming more active, more fit, less fat, and more happy.

But someone pretty famous (uh, I’ll get back to you on who) said that the definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.

So why do we continue to do the same things we’ve always done, and expect something different? 

For years, I talked about wanting to be more active, but it wasn’t until I actually started trying out new sports that I found out something key: I might not be great at the new sport/activity/whatever, but damn if I didn’t start having some more fun! 

Recently,  I found the same thing applies to running.  I’d been doing half marathons for six years, twice or three times a year like clockwork – and it wasn’t until I got hurt that I had to look for something else to drive me.  I went back to triathlon training – and LOVED it.  I started hiking more – and LOVED it. 

I think it’s the same concept that applied when we were kids – that every once in awhile, you have to give yourself permission to get lost.  No, not that way.   I don’t lose the GPS.  I don’t set out in the forrest, compass-less and wandering, hoping that someone will spot me in an airplane in three days waving my MAC compact.  No, every once in awhile, I just set a different path, and see where it’s going to take me.  It’s what the swim team signup was all about, and my stab at Pilates, and the Nordic walking, and some day soon, the Bikram yoga class I’m going to try.  It’s about throwing caution to the wind, dropping all the excuses, and being absolutely certain that if I fail, it will not be the end of the world, and I will find a nice house nearby with a mom to send me home.

In 2006, a good friend recognized that I was a sucker for getting lost, and encouraged me to take a trip down the Colorado River.  In case you don’t know, the Colorado is the same river that runs through the Grand Canyon, starting in (ahem) Colorado, and running through Northern Arizona as it carves out the Canyon, more than a mile deep at some points.   I jumped at the chance.  It was a 6 day “float” trip (meaning I didn’t have to even paddle, but I did have to hold on for dear life all day), riding through rapids that are so huge, they are beyond categorization.  Every day there were optional “side hikes” up into the canyon, and chances to explore waterfalls and ancient ruins and all kinds of things you don’t see in Chicago.  I thought about it for about two seconds, and booked it.  I was at a point in my life where I wanted a little bit more from myself, and the trip seemed like a good time to do it.

Moi, at Redwall Cavern

I signed up solo, and the trip itself could not have been more fun.  I met amazing people whom I’m still friends with today; and I learned that even a city girl from Chicago can shoot a rapid in the front row of a two-ton boat and hold on.  I slept outside every night, and learned that there is nothing more amazing than going to sleep to shooting stars, every night (without finding scorpions in my shoes in the morning).  I was super proud hat I could swim, upstream, through slot canyons and jump out of waterfalls…and that I could hike to amazing heights to see one of the most incredible places on the planet.

Approaching one of the rapids, looking at the North Rim

And if I wasn’t so comfortable “getting lost”, I’d never have done it.  I would have worried about traveling solo, or the whole bathroom thing (it’s not so bad) and what’s with washing my hair in a 50 degree river??? Let alone the whole rattlesnake and scorpion issues, and um, can we talk about the really scary rapids?   But I just went with it – and it truly changed my life. 

The interesting thing to me is that, mostly, I was well-prepared for the trip – because I had tried on lots of different activities before I got there (and knew that even if I wasn’t The Best at any of them, I was Okay.)  As a runner, I knew how to pace myself on the trail – how to monitor my effort and cut back when the altitude got to me.  No one had to pace me, and no one cared when I got to the top.  (And lots of people never left the campsite).   

As someone who had been swimming in the open water of Lake Michigan for years, I was one of only four people who could swim up the slot canyon to shortcut the ledge-hike at Havasu Falls.  Because I’d once lost my mind and attempted (and failed to complete) the Steelhead Aquathon in St. Joseph, Michigan (where I had to jump off a ten-foot breakwater into open water to begin a 1.25 mile swim), I wasn’t intimidated to jump out of a (in retrospect, pretty small) waterfall that required some climbing to get to…and even when I lost my grip on the boat in Tapeats Canyon, (an unclassed rapid where I found myself just a bit too lax on the grip late one afternoon) I wasn’t too worried about getting tossed in the drink.  I knew I’d be okay, because I can swim, and hey, personal flotation devices work just fine.

Getting ready to leave the flatwater...

Getting lost – and trying new things – hadn’t just prepared me for races and events. It prepared me to take this amazing trip – and to see amazing places, and to really experience them – in a way I simply could not do if I were afraid of trying new things.  It also let me trust that my body – at 235 pounds at the time – by no means slim, but by all means strong – could carry me through the trip.  After my 6 days in the canyon were up, I tacked on a 6 day hiking trip around the rest of Arizona, and it still ranks as one of my best vacations ever.  All in all, getting lost – and, just as importantly, trusting this body, and myself, to get myself found- has prepared me to see things close-up.  I gotta tell you – it’s REALLY fun that way.

So as you look at your “fitness goals” or your “race plan” or your “holy crap I have to fit in that bridesmaid dress by May” attack for this year, stop for a minute.  Take a deep breath.  And give yourself permission to get lost - to try new things, to fail a little – and to explore the boundaries of what you think you’re capable of.     Think about testing out a kayak, or trying a trail run, or learning to swim, or any of the 8,000 things you think you can’t do – just because you don’t currently know how.  

I gaurantee you’ll find your way home.  And you might have a stronger body, stronger will, and a better sense of yourself when you get there.

See you on the path…

→ 3 CommentsCategories: Athlete · Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner
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Winter Clothing Deals: Get Outside!

January 9, 2010 · 4 Comments

If you happen to live North of the Mississippi, things are a little frigid for you right now.  And if you’ve come to love the outdoors at all, you’re probably wondering how to stay warm AND do what you love.

Maybe you’re starting to train for a Spring half marathon or your first 5k and would like to do it outside. Or you’ve taken up the goal of walking a few days a week with friends, but Mister Cold is nipping at your heels.  Enter moi, with a few deals for you.

Mile Marker Sports carries a full line of Sporthill clothes.  Designed for three temperature zones, (including what we call “beyond reasonably cold”) Sporthill is also one of the few brands who for years has designed quality, technical clothing for plus-sized women.  As you might imagine, I like them because of that. 

In November, flush with cash and entering the winter running season, I purchased this top at full price.   For you, dear readers, I give you The Sale.

Sporthill Infuzion Top:

1/2 zip top, fleece-lined, windproof outer shell, side arm zip pocket (great for nano) and back zip pocket (great for Gu, keys, etc.). 

Original Price: $119

Sale Price: $64

Available in blue and black, sizes left include 2X and 4X (check website for measurements and sizes).

I cannot say it enough – I LOVE this top. I’ll be wearing it tomorrow as I snowshoe in Palos Park, and I wear it running and walking down to about 20 degrees with a couple of shirts on underneath it.  Without overstating it, this is the best half zip winter technical top on the market for plus size women who do aerobic activity in cold weather climates.   And trust me, at $64, it’s probably the cheapest we’ll see all season.

I’ve wear-tested two other tops in comparison: REI’s Power Stretch 1/2 Zip Top is warm, but don’t bother wearing it on a sweat-producing run in cold weather – it’s too bulky, and doesn’t block the wind at all.   And Moving Comfort’s No Chill 1/2 Zip top lacks the windblocking technology (or, in the alternative, the thermal weight) to truly take out on a winter day.

But the Sporthill people have it down.  You can hike, run, bike, kayak, snowshoe, walk, cross-country ski, etc. etc. etc. in this puppy.  So if you haven’t bought a reliable top yet, give it a go.  And if you don’t happen to be plus-sized but are looking for a great top to add to your wardrobe, Sporthill makes the same top in regular sizes, too.  The men’s top can be found up to an XXL here.

What about pants? 

These cold temperatures may have you reaching for your “outdoor pants” only to find they don’t really cut it right now.   As my friend Lisa noted this morning on our run (my walk), when it’s under 20 degrees, the tuckus and the thighs tend to be pretty cold, long after you’ve come in from the run.  (As said tuckus and thighs tend to be reservoirs of “adipose tissue” - otherwise known as “FAT”.  Since FAT doesn’t get warm, you want to do your best to keep it toasty while you’re hauling it around.  Hence, a tight that is lined in fleece, tightly woven, and has wicked cool reflective stuff on it so people don’t hit you when you’re out enjoying a quiet night on the road. 

Sugoi’s Mid Zero Zap Tight below is my newest purchase for cold-weather running and walking and it’s, quite frankly, the best pair of tights I’ve worn in the winter running season in about 6 years. 

Gone are the days where my skin was freezing to the touch, red and angry after a run. Instead, the fleece interior here keeps my legs pretty toasty.  These are great tights down to 15 degrees, or about 5 below windchill with a windpant over top.

And, because I’m a genius, I’ve found them for you ON SALE.  The Zap tight isn’t available in an XXL anymore on the Sugoi site, or at Team Estrogen where I found them for $90.  Lucky for you, I’ve snagged them at another site for a mere $40.

Why buy them?  Well, let’s start with the 7 inch leg zippers which make putting on a compression tight simple.  Then let’s talk about the reflective piping for night or morning runs; the key holder for your ID and that indespensable $20; and don’t forget the baby-soft fleece interior with JUST the right amount of stretch to make these easy-on/easy-off.  And to finish, let’s finish with the fact that they support you where you need it thanks to a 6-panel construction that moves with your body.  You simply won’t find a better tight for cool and cold weather, and YES, the XXL will fit you if you’re up to a Size 22.  If you’re over a 22, I’d refer you to the Sporthill Traverse Pant (also available at Mile Marker) which can take you anywhere. 

Get the Mid-Zero Zap here at Bike Sport in Seattle for $40, down from $79.  This is a BARGAIN PEOPLE!!!  And if you find them anywhere else online, let me know so I can post. 

And with that, I’m off to recover from this morning’s 5 mile nordic walk on Lake Michigan, and rest up for tomorrow’s snowshoe in the park. 

See you on the path!

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Those Fat People are Delusional. Or Not.

January 7, 2010 · 3 Comments

There is no such thing as Fat and Fit.   If you’re fat, I found out yesterday, you’re doomed to a life of heart disease, so don’t go trying to convince yourself that everything’s okay, just because you can run a half marathon, or complete a triathlon, or walk 26 miles.

At least, that’s what you’re lead to believe if you read the New York Times’ Well Blog, which yesterday highlighted a study of a bunch of 50 year-old white men in Sweden who were overweight, and eventually had much higher rates of heart disease than their non-blubber-coated friends.  If you have a burning desire to read the article for yourself, check out “Phys. Ed: Can You Be Overweight and Still Be Healthy” for yourself, (or the commentary, which will likely make your head explode).

I am not about to criticize the writer of the article, or the authors of the study.  Far be it for me to determine whether 1700 white men in Norway are a representative sample of health as compared to, say, 30 year-old women and men living in the United States.  And who am I to contest the author’s statement that it’s borderline malpractice for doctors to suggest that just because you’re overweight, you’re not a walking health nightmare.   I mean, she’s got a SINGLE quote to rely on here:  “Some scientists and doctors began speculating that healthy people who were sporting extra pounds didn’t necessarily need to worry about losing weight. As one researcher told a reporter in 2004, “If a fat person or obese person has normal blood pressure, if their total cholesterol and glucose levels are normal and they are healthy, there is no reason they should necessarily have to lose weight.”

And who am I to be somewhat annoyed that she thinks the poor, overfed, overweight and obese are “comforted” by the knowledge that they can be just as healthy as others who are not carrying extra poundage?  (“… several new studies are raising questions about that comforting notion at a very inopportune moment, with the holiday overindulgence season barely behind us.”)

So why am I annoyed?  Simple.  This premise is ridiculous.  I don’t think any of us believe that we wouldn’t be better off if we were slimmer.  But for many of us, the constant, daily struggle to manage our weight, calories, emotions, and lives, is something that we fail at just fine, all on our own, and are already judged on daily, thank you very much.  Unlike, say, alcoholics, who have to go on a bender in front of someone to prove their addictions, we have the dubious distinction of living our problems right out front, for all the world to see.  There is simply no hiding in a big body, and most of us are pretty used to it, right?

Right.  So I’m annoyed, (again) becuase I read between the lines to find the following message:  “look, you can do what you want to work out, but stop lying to yourself.  You might think you’re “fit” but you’re still a fatty, and you’re basically a walking death trap.”   So not only is the tone condescending, but it essentially says “don’t even try getting fit, because we’re still just going to put you in the “fat” category.  Stop trying to join us skinny people who do nothing but still have less body mass.  You’ll never be as good as we are, so just quit it already.” 

Yes, I’m rambling.  But I also read the article to assume that, for the past few years, we’ve all been wandering around in slothful overindulgence, grateful in the knowledge that even though we’re overweight, everything will be okay because we’re “fit”.  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. 

I don’t know about you, but I think about how much better life would be if I were thinner every day.  When I search for something flattering to wear in the morning; when I try to take up as little space as possible on the train; when I break into a fine sheen of sweat walking the 6 blocks from the train to the office; when I sit in front of the videoconference and try to be seen from the most slimming angle possible; when I stand at a vending machine for a post-lunch cookie and hope that no one sees me; when I get home and consider my healthy versus quick cooking options.  And on, and on.

Given the fact that over 12,000 of you have come looking to this site since March, I’m also betting that you’re pretty aware of how the fat cookie crumbles.  You come here looking for clothes that fit overweight runners, and walkers, and triathletes, on a daily basis, because you can’t go into a store to buy them.   According to the New York Times, you should probably just stop shopping, because everyone knows you’re just fat.

I know, I should stop ranting.  So here:

I have news for the New York Times: the fat people are not delusional.  We already know that life would be better if we were slimmer.  But many of us, after years of struggling with our weight, have also come to a detante with the evil voices in our head that told us we were never going to be good enough.  We decided it was better to accept ourselves for who we were, and to work within the confines of the bodies we inhabit, than to constantly beat ourselves up and demean ourselves for not having the courage, or the tenacity, or the emotional ability to get to the body we want. 

My arrival at that destination has been hard-fought, but it does not mean I am an idiot.  I know very well that eventually, my weight will result in higher risk factors for a variety of medical issues.  But I have also come to the conclusion that I will not simply throw my hands in the air, and abandon all hope.  I will continue to be active because I LOVE it.  And becuase it’s wonderful for my body, and my mind. 

So please, have a little class.  Recognize that we aren’t deluding ourselves – we’re simply coping, the best way we know how, with an imperfect mind, and an imperfect body.  So you can keep your studies, and your condescension, and we’ll keep doing what we know best: plodding along in our plus-sized bodies, exploring new paths, and doing the best we can, with as little judgment as possible.

We’ll see you on the path.

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Revolution, not Resolution

January 3, 2010 · 2 Comments

Few things in life hold less meaning for me than a New Year’s Resolution.  In my thirty-five years, I can count on one hand the number I’ve ever kept.

There was the year I promised to be a nicer person (that worked for mere hours.)   Then, the year I was going to give up chocolate (I substituted with sugar cookies instead.)  The year I was going to write down everything I ate for at least six months (I think my record is six days.)  And, can’t forget the year I was going to work out every other morning in my apartment with that new yoga DVD (I made it about ten minutes before I realized the woman was a gumby with 2% bodyfat and the exercises were most certainly NOT designed for a “weight loss” regimen of more than 5 pounds, as someone with 100 pounds to lose most certainly couldn’t hold a plank pose for more than 2 seconds.)

What I’ve found, instead, is that over the course of a year, the slow, steady work it takes to maintain a fit life (or even, to begin living one again) is something I enjoy.  So, though January first is typically a day to resolve to do many things, I’m settling for that quiet, long-term, liberating goal I KNOW I can achieve:  a personal Revolution.

Revolution is a big word.  When I hear it, I think about what our American forefathers did to break free from jolly England:   the uncertainty they faced as they thought about living a life without the restrictions of someone else’s rules;  the courge it took to defy a government so powerful, so rich, that they knew they’d be facing unthinkable challenges to stand alone;  and the intelligence that they brought  to bear to craft a new way of living, with new rules, a greater government that was balanced, and represented the will of the people.

Maybe it’s a stretch, and perhaps it’s just my political science background coming through, but I think that creating a Revolution in your life requires many of these same attributes.  First, you must be willing to deal with the uncertainty of what lies ahead.  Will you find relief, and strength, and enjoyment on a track, running through the woods, or climbing stairs?  Maybe you’ll hate it, and have to find something else – paddling, or swimming, or basketball, or tennis.  Will you be comfortable throwing off the chains of your existing life, habits, and the things you enjoy with others?  Who knows.  But if you can handle the uncertainty – and make the most of finding the activities you like, you’ll have one key facet of the Revolution process handled.

And what about courage?  Maybe you think you don’t have much.  Perhaps, like me, you’re thinking that the last time you displayed any was when you went mano a mano with the Daddy Long Legs residing on your windowsill.  But believe me, you might not be defying a government – but you are defying the life, the habits, and even, sometimes, the people around you who don’t quite get what all the fuss is about.  Sure, you’re big, or slow, or you like your couch a lot - but that’s okay, the establishment says.  Accept who you are!  Embrace it! (they say).  And yes, they’re right.  You should be able to look yourself in the mirror and truly see what’s staring back at you.  But you should also have the courage to break free of the hold of the TiVo, of the kids’ homework, of the requirement  that you continue to live a sedentary life.  And yes, that takes courage.  It takes strength to try something new, and to know you might suck at it – but that you’ll keep trying until you find something you’ll like.  It takes courage to always finish last at your running or walking group, or to show up to the gym in your faded sweats, with a red face, and a jiggly stomach.  But that’s courage you HAVE.  You just need to give yourself a chance to use it. 

And what about intelligence?  Does engaging in your own fit Revolution require intelligence?  Hell, yes.  This stuff doesn’t happen overnight.  Becoming fit requires a lot of things – not the least of which is figuring out how, in today’s day and age, you’re going to overcome all of the excuses you have for NOT doing this.  You’re going to have to assess your life, and be smart enough to realize that the Revolution takes time.  It doesn’t happen in one day, or even one month.  It starts with dipping your toe in the waters, to decide if this is what you really want.  It continues when you realize that feeling strong and powerful is what you deserve in life.  And it becomes a part of who you are when you get up each day and find a way to move one step forward to the new life, the one without restrictions.  

My Revolution starts anew every year.  I examine where I’m at, review what I’d like to accomplish, and set short-term goals to help me get there.  Today, I went to the gym for the first time in 2010.  I walked for thirty minutes on the treadmill, and did 45 minutes of physical therapy, which I haven’t done in quite awhile.  Then I walked downstairs and signed up for the Masters Swim Team, which meets 2 mornings and 4 other days a week.   Did I display the traits I just discussed?  I think so.  The gym has 15,000 square feet of options – many of which are intimidating as hell.  When I arrived this morning, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.  I walked around for a bit.  Should I join the pump class?  Nah, too hard.  What about the pilates class?  No, I didn’t really like it last time.  The treadmill was open, but could I do thirty minutes with a broken toe?  Let’s try. 

And maybe it’s not courage to sit in an open-ended workout room, doing abdominal and strengthening exercises for all the world to see, but it sure felt like it to me.  And then, there’s intelligence.

You see, I know my fitness personality quite well. I do very well when I have a group to meet, or a goal at the end of a program.  But I’m not training for anything right now – just building a base of healthy fitness activities.  I’ve had ZERO success getting to the gym in the morning, which is when I would really prefer to go.  So today, I checked out the Masters Swim Team (which is a swim program where you can still kind of  suck, and be permitted to swim with a team).  They meet twice a week in the morning, from 5:45-6:45, and four other times too.  For $100, I can join for three months (did I mention that cash motivates me?).  So I signed up.  And now, at least two mornings a week, I’ll have my swim workout – with a team.   Couple that with my running/walking group, and I’ve got three days a week of activity.  Add in at least two days of outdoor activity, and I’m up to five days a week of steady, fun, fitness.  

That’s the best I can do to plan my Revolution.  It’s how I stay motivated and accountable, and engaged.  It’s what works for me.  Maybe your Revolution starts in your living room, or at a local Weight Watchers meeting, or on the bike you haven’t ridden in four years.  Wherever it begins, remember this:  you have the skills, the courage, and the intelligence to succeed.  Your Revolution has just begun.

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A look back…and forward…

December 22, 2009 · 3 Comments

Sometimes it’s hard to keep perspective on what you have in life.  You run in twenty-five directions every day, trying to remember simple things (like whether the kid is on the roof of the car in the car seat or actually strapped down).  You feel excited if you can remember the easy things (permission slips, the bus pass, the lunch you packed last night, the reason you last gave for not donating to National Public Radio); and sometimes, you get a chance to think.  But not often.

We’re in the home stretch of 2009, and it’s time for a bit of reflection.  I’m not sure about you, but the days are flying by – frankly, according to my hairdresser, the years are, too.  (As she woefully informed me last week, I’m FIFTY percent gray in the front of my head – and only 30% in the back.  I feel like there should be a post-it on my head that says “but I’m ONLY 35!”   But I digress.)  As I screech to a halt to look back on ‘09, I’m trying to figure out what’s worth celebrating – and maybe you are, too.

I don’t know about you, but if your economic and personal fortunes reflect the rest of America, this was a year when we all got back to basics.  Some of us struggled.  Some did amazingly well.  And many are just putting one foot in front of the other, even still, just trying to keep a job, keep a smile, keep our focus on what matters – our health, our family, our friends.   Maybe you worked in working out more.  A lot of you started to run – and shared the joy/fun/what-the-hell-ishness of that with me…and for that, I say thanks…

So what did I have to be grateful for in 2009?  A lot.  This community – this great, wonderful group of runners and walkers, kept me energized and focused while I was looking for work in the past year.  You rock, quite simply, in a way I could NEVER have anticipated – so thanks!

What else?  Well, there were a few great moments.  My fastest time at the Rock n’ Roll Arizona 1/2 marathon in January was most CERTAINLY not on the course- but on the highway, as the the speeding ticket attests…

In February, I got to help celebrate my friend Becki and Steve’s son Eddie’s first birthday.  A year before, Becki was fighting off breast cancer and managing a newborn – and today, Eddie’s this crazy happy kid with two of the proudest parents I know.  To top it off, Becki fed me and entertained me throughout the winter with fresh meals and fun – something I desperately needed while I was looking for work.   So for that, I’m grateful :)

In May, I got to work with a super cool group of women who were training for their first 5k with the Weight Watchers Momentum Challenge.  I had the opportunity because of my friend Jenny – but those ladies were the ones who schooled me, working in their workouts for 8 weeks to walk their first 5k.  That feeling? Pretty good too.

In June, I started training for the Big One – the Chicago Triathlon.  In what was truly one of the highlights of my year, there were sunrise bike rides and evening swims in Lake Michigan and training rides in the burbs.  And DAMN was it the most fun I’d had in years!  In July I had one of the best feeling (and worst photographed) races ever at Lifetime Fitness in Minneapolis…and followed it two weeks later with the other Most Rewarding Job In Sports, pacing the last pace group at the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon in Chicago. 

And then I took a breather.  I stood on the path on a Saturday morning, in the middle of a 6 mile run, and realized I couldn’t do it.  My body was broke, and I needed to figure out why, and fix it.  Actually, what I really remember was crying to my coach, who was completely startled, absolutely human, and helped me realize that whatever it was, it wasn’t the end of the world. 

Of course, the whole time I was out of work, I don’t know that I ever got as upset as I did that day, because I always knew I would be fine (job-wise).  But my body breaking – that’s something I couldn’t just fix on my own.  And it was really, really hard to admit that I needed help.

Thankfully, I had a good doctor, and a good PT program, and I’m mending.  I had back-to-back inspiring experiences in the Colorado Rockies, and witnessing my friend rock the North Face 50k in Madison, setting up a goal for me for next year.  And I’ve also been lucky to be working a recovery program (though slow and steady, and sometimes lacking in motivation, I swear I’m going to build momentum on it…)

But what I’ve learned most this year might sound simple – and maybe, for all you parents out there, it’s what you do every day.  But for me, it was an amazing thing to give when I really thought I had nothing to give.  I had nothing but my time and energy to throw out to the universe from January through July, and I know, looking back, that engaging in even a small way – writing, pacing, making it to a group workout once a week – all of it made a difference.  And by August, when I needed to take from the universe, just a little, the universe gave me what I needed -  friends, and family, and a job that made a difference.

So as I look into the next year, that’s what I’m thinking about – how to give to the people around me, and the people I don’t even know – and how to take something back to complete a circle. 

For those of you out there who give, and give, and give – I can only encourage you to open the door – just a bit – and see what the universe has to give you back.  You might be surprised.  And for those who take more than their fair share, and are finding life a little empty – look around.  Seek those opportunities to give some of your talent and time to those around you.  You might find that next year was even better than this one.

Thanks again for a wonderful year – I promise to be back in full force in 2010!!!

Sallie

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The Best Gift to Give – No, Not Scotch.

December 9, 2009 · 2 Comments

We’re approaching the holidays with somewhat frightening speed, and it’s got me concerned.  Not because I have lots of presents to buy (I do) or because I haven’t lost that ten pounds I said I was going to lose before Christmas (I haven’t) but because I’m experiencing something I haven’t experienced in quite awhile:  fear of the cold.

Yes, you heard me right. 

Somewhere in the past two weeks, I lost my winter MoJo.  Two weeks ago, I was all “bring it on! I heart the snow”. Now I’m all “what sane person goes outside when the snow is blowing sideways?”  I think it has something to do with the fact that I still haven’t cracked the nut on early morning running (or walking) – and that when I get home at night, it’s craptastic weather, and I’m tired and want to bake cookies.  Or whatever.

So you’re probably thinking “so go to the gym.  You have a membership, just go.”  And you’d be right.  But I don’t wanna.  I wanna go run on the lakefront.  RUN.  But I’m not quite ready for that – especially in snow.  I want to go snowshoeing – but we don’t have enough snow.

Do I sound like a petulant five year old? Because that’s what I’m channeling right about now. 

So this is what I’m going to do:  I am going to go home.  I am going to do ALL of my PT exercises, while watching some seriously poor television.  Tomorrow morning, when the windchill is going to be NINE BELOW at 6:00 a.m., I’m going to the gym (planning for that extra half hour to clean off my car from the frozen ice/snow mess which it will be encased in).  And that’s the best I can do.

So why did I call this post “The Best Gift to Give”?  Because I know, in my heart of hearts, that taking the time, and not making excuses, and getting in some activity IS the best gift to give yourself during the holidays – hell, during any day.  It forces us to slow down, take stock and consider what’s important – our own health and welfare. 

So I need to make time for it, even if what I really want to be doing is baking Snickerdoodles and escaping into a good book….and you should too.  This is the time when most of us fall off the wagon. 

Let’s get back on together!

Have a great Thursday, and I’ll see you on the path!

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Turkey Trot RR – Short, Sweet and Full of Stuffing

November 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment

For those of you who were wondering how the Trot went on Thursday, a few comments.

First, congrats to everyone out there who got it done – whether you were cooking that day, feasting on the treats of others (moi) or just plain having fun.  I’m proud of anyone who laces up during the next six weeks to put their health first.

Second, a few questions have been thrown my way, and I thought it might be a good time to answer them.

Do those sticks work?  What’s with those poles?  Are you injured?

I had quite a few questions on Thursday from folks lining up near me – and man, was it fun.  First, there were the two girls next to me at the start.  As I dropped the sticks while pulling out my iPhone, one of them picked them up and (I’m pretty certain) expected me to be seriously injured.  When I explained that I was just using them to burn more calories and come back slowly from an injury, their eyes perked up.  “Forty percent more calories? Seriously?” they blinked.  Suddenly, I looked like a Mensa candidate with poles. Cool.

Did you hit anybody with those things?

No, I was too busy toasting them.  Okay, not really, but the interesting thing about the poles is that if you’re doing it right, when you place the pole on the ground, it’s even with your back foot – then you push off, and move forward.  While the poles do drag behind a little bit, you’re never really using up more space than your standard walking motion.  If you were, you’d be pretty inefficient.  So unless someone’s clipping your heels, you’re not going to poke them.

Now, when I reached the three mile mark and was sweating like a piglet, and tried to take my top layer off (only to find out my race number was pinned through BOTH layers), I had to put the poles aside, lest I smack someone while I tried to unpin myself.  Eventually I gave up and decided to enjoy the sauna-esque feeling of the morning and move along.  But overall, the poles didn’t get in my way (or anyone else’s).

Did you feel like a spectacle?

A little bit. But I convinced myself they were all just jealous because I was passing them up.  And more than that, people were curious.  And funny.  When I told the one man he could use the sticks and burn more calories, he said “so would that mean I wouldn’t have to hold in my gut anymore?”  In my dreams, I said. 

Then there was the finish – I was just happy to be there, and when I came across the line, I don’t remember what music was playing, but, checking to make sure there was no one around me, I celebrated by flipping my sticks into the air.  “We even have a skier on the course today!” said the MC.  Yep, that was me. 

Would you do it again?

Yes, I think I would – but you have to realize, this is Hard work with a capital H.  It doesn’t burn 40% more calories than walking alone for no reason.  I wore my heart rate monitor, and according to that little gem, I was “outside” my target heart rate zone for most of the day.  I was pushing it, and if I ever wanted to do anything longer, I’d have to scale back a bit on some portion of the effort in order to make it.

How’s the hip/ab injury treating you?

Why, thanks for asking!  I felt pretty good most of the day.   Around Mile 3, after I was warmed up, and after I had gone over a couple of larger bridges, I could feel a bit of strain, but I focused on form (sucking those lower abs in, engaging my lower back) and I felt okay.  I also stretched out and did some of my PT exercises after the walk was finished, and didn’t dawdle around the finish line.  I think that helped.  Compared to prior years when I’ve run/walked, I felt much better throughout the day, too.  I still think that for now, 6 miles is a good upper limit for me, and I’ll continue to swim and walk and do yoga to help come back…

What’s next?

My friend Kelly and I are signing up for a New Year’s Day run here in Chicago – just a 5k.  I’ll still be walking – which should be even cooler with some snow on the ground.  And between now and then, I’m hoping to take in some great trails as winter descends on us in the Windy City.

So that’s it from home – later this week, some thoughts on fitting in workouts around this thing we call Life. 

See you on the path!

 

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Top Ten Things About Completing Your Turkey Trot

November 26, 2009 · 2 Comments

Before you fall into the Turducken/Vegan/Turkey coma of the century, I want to say congrats to everyone who completed the Gobble This challenge and ran or walked your Turkey Trots today.  I’m hearing good news from here and far, and wanted to say thanks to everyone who ran on their own today!  You inspired me, as much as I inspired you!

Had a great morning in Cincinnati – finished right around 1:40 for the 10k, which is about 16:00 miles. I walked the whole thing (with the sticks!) and felt pretty good the whole way through. We even had sun….

So now, as a little thanks – and a little reward, my slightly snarky offering of why it’s so great that you ran that Trot. 

10.  A chance to listen to someone else’s drama on Thanksgiving morning.  Overheard today “What was she THINKING???  Those jeans were WAY too tight.”

9.  That sense of community that only comes when you’re surrounded by 20,000 other people, wondering whose idea this was, anyway.

8.  Sense of moral superiority which you take with you for the mid-game nap, in front of company.

7.  Excuse to eat more pie.  Dutch apple? Pumpkin? Derby? Why, yes, I will!!

6. Pleasant “runner’s high” (walkers, too) which buffers the impact of recognizing you’re still seated at the children’s’ table. And you’re 35.

5. Recognition that, no matter how fast or slow you are, you still won’t burn enough calories to cover the meal you’re about to eat.  Immediate slow-down means you actually ENJOY the race.

4. Random humorous conversations with strangers.  “Tell me, do those sticks really work?” asked a guy walking next to me today. “Yes, and they burn 40% more calories than walking alone.”  “Does that mean I wouldn’t have to hold my gut in anymore?” “That’s what I’m dreaming of.”

3. Opportunity to see your city or town on a foot-by-foot basis.  Amazing how much you notice when you’re not in the middle of a lane-change war, managing children in the backseat, or talking on your cellphone while driving, isn’t it??

2. One word: METABOLISM.  Start the day right, and it will do the work later.  At least, that’s what I count on.

1. Because you get to see, for three or five, or ten miles, just what your body is capable of.  And that’s something to give Thanks for.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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