Finals this week! Paper due in a few hours! I’ll post next week about how my half went yesterday, the Flying Pig this morning, etc. Had to share this though. Apparently Shari Klarfeld had led for the majority of the Toyota 10k on Saturday morning but collapsed near the finish. Amy Schoenfeld could have passed her for the win but, alongside Marathon Director Iris Bush, helped Shari across the finish.
What an incredibly humble act.
Acrylic and photo-transfer on card stock. Made as a postcard to a fellow art student, I attempted to express the role of time in running. Running is an escape from a busy schedule, but time can be one of the most important elements of a run.
This equation is the inscription my mom had engraved on the bottom line of my RoadID bracelet. I wear the band to calm her nerves when I’m on my solo runs. (As a side note, I highly recommend all runners look into getting one, especially if you regularly go on solo road runs)
Acrylic on Canvas. The assignment was to depict a day in my life through the means of a still life. Any guess as to what was a crucial aspect of my day?
I first discovered my love of art my freshman year of high school when I was randomly placed in an Art class. 6 years later, I’m on my way to a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Industrial Design. What does my love of art have to do with my love of running? On the surface, not a whole lot. However, it is my love for each that has improved my love for the other.
Most people can recognize the beauty of art but don’t understand the hard work and dedication necessary for its creation. At the same time, most people can recognize the hard work and dedication needed to run, but fail to acknowledge its beauty. I feel that the beauty of art and the dedication of running can be appreciated at a higher level if both elements are fully understood.
Acrylic on canvas. An end of the year gift to my XC coach, this painting was to depict that it didn't matter where I was...all that mattered was that I was running.
Art has allowed me to become lost in the beauty of nature, barely noticing the numerous miles of a long run pass by and to be awed by the smooth stride of a seasoned runner. Running has given me the endurance to work though the night, perfecting a painting or sculpture only hours before it’s due and the understanding that success is rarely produced without hours of practice. As you can see, it has also influenced the content of some of my artwork. These paintings were all done during my senior year. A lot of the projects I’ve done this year also reflect the influence running has had on me and will be posted at a later time.
If you read the About tab of this blog, you know that I’ve only been running for about 3.5 years. Before that, I never imagined that I would one day refer to myself as a runner.
Let’s rewind about 15 years. I was a 5 year old kindergarten student who failed gym because I couldn’t perform some of the physical activities properly. A trip to the doctors revealed my left leg was slightly shorter than my right. While it was only a minor difference, I attended some physical therapy sessions and still have to stretch my left leg more frequently than my right. In high school, I found that I had not rid myself of the problem as I was told by the trainer that I favored my right leg. I’ve tried to use the off seasons to build the muscles in my left leg, but am not sure if I’ve completely fixed my stride.
I guess you could say I’m not genetically programmed to be a runner. In addition to the above physical issue, neither my parents nor siblings were ever avid runners. I’ve found this is an anomaly in the running world. Oftentimes, even mildly successful runners have at least a parent or sibling who run as well.
This is where I’ll brag about myself a little bit, but I promise, there’s a point to it. Feel free to skip this next bit.
In my first and only XC season, I finished in the top 15 of all JV races in which I ran injury-free. I finish in at least the top 20% of females in all races on Notre Dame’s campus, a university where a vast majority of students are runners. At the 2008 Indianapolis Half Marathon, I finished 2nd in my division, in the top %5 of females and in the top 12% overall. In the 2009 Chicago Marathon, even after hitting an extremely hard wall at mile 21, I finished in the top 25% of females and top 37% of finishers overall. Just 8 days ago, I finished in the top 30% overall in the Notre Dame Holy Half Marathon. Again, considering the participants primarily ND students and I cut 40 seconds off my previous half time, I was pleased.
Ok…so what was the point of all that other than to prove I deserve at list a bit of respect when it comes to running? The point is, I know that I’m not the only person who has found success despite being genetically disadvantaged to be a runner. This has taught me that while talent will put you over the edge, anyone can be a runner if he/she is dedicated. You must also be willing to push yourself if you want to improve. It’s nice to have an easy run every now and then, but on your hard days-make them count. If you’re not out of breath and tired at the end of a hard run…then it wasn’t that hard of a run. Try to decrease your normal pace. I used to run 8:30 miles on my runs. Now, I try to keep a 8:00/mile pace.
Female runners are supposed to peak in high school. Yet, I feel that I am better runner than I was at any point in my short high school career. While it’s arguably partially due to experience, I know that my dedication has transformed me from a 5 year old girl who couldn’t skip correctly to a 16 year old who could barely run a mile her first time out, to a 20 year old, running half-marathons at a sub 8-minute pace.
I know I’m not the world’s fastest runner, or even close to it. But I can promise you that hard work and dedication in the running world will always pay off.
Congrats to all those who qualified for, ran in, and/or completed this morning’s Boston Marathon! While it isn’t rare for the average college student to have a laptop out to check e-mail or facebook during class, I think I was the only one who was using it to keep an eye on the progress of the leaders. Yes, it’s true, I’ve jumped on the Ryan Hall bandwagon.
Anyone who pays attention to running news knows what happened at last year’s Boston Marathon. Hall was expected to win but took the lead too early. This year, Hall made his move at the half-way mark. Again too early? Possibly. Hall finished, respectably, in 4th place with a time just 3 minutes behind Robert Cheruiyot, this year’s champion. It’s also worth noting that Cheruiyot was the first to break 2 hours, 6 minutes in the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:05:52. Even though Hall missed a spot on the podium by just a few seconds, his time of 2:08:41 gave him the fastest time for a U.S. runner at Boston. Not bad Mr. Hall, not bad at all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ randysonofrobert/ / CC BY 2.0
So, let’s think about this. 26.2 miles in under 2 hours and 6 minutes. That’s a 4:48/mile pace. If you aren’t that familiar with mile times…let me assure you, most runners would be thrilled to be able to run just one mile at this pace. From the perspective of a girl who was able to just barely break 6 minutes in a 1-mile race at a high school track meet, maintaining a sub-5 minute pace for 26.2 miles is hard to comprehend. How much of it is talent and how much of it is hard work and training? That sounds like a topic for another post.
To get back to Boston..once again, congratulations to all those who ran this morning. A special congrats goes to those Notre Dame students who made the trek to Boston in the last few weeks of school to beat out a tough 26.2!
Ready to run http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenickster/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
In my most recent post, I introduced the idea of running without any shoes. The idea most likely sounds daunting and an injury waiting to happen to the vast majority of people. I for one share Kevin Kirby’s fear of burning my toes on hot asphalt or cutting my heel on a piece of glass or sharp rock. While some barefoot runners are against them, “minimalist shoes” are the next best thing for those who want to rid themselves of a bulky shoe but still maintain a sense of safety. Examples include the Vibram Five Fingers and ecco’s BIOM running shoe. While they wouldn’t prevent a nail from going into your foot, they certainly could prevent some otherwise nasty injuries.
My other fear is that a shoe with little to no support would ultimately lead to a rolled ankle. I have weak ankles as it is…but maybe that’s only because I need to strengthen my leg/foot muscles? After watching the following video originally from www.parkcitytv.com I realized that a free set of toes, as they would be in the Vibram Five Fingers, allows for a better grip of the ground. The video also echos Saxton and Kirby’s advice to not switch to barefoot running in a hurried manner but to allow time for your feet to adapt to their new found freedom.
I love being barefoot. It’s a bit backwards for a girl who loves a sport where her feet are constantly constrained…or is it? I had seen the toe-socks shaped footwear in running stores before, and had heard of the 1960 barefoot Olympic Marathoner before, but it wasn’t until I read this February 2010 Runner’s World article that I realized barefoot running was a growing trend. In the article, avid barefoot runner and owner of runningbarefoot.org, Ken Bob Saxton and sports podiatrist-biomechanist Kevin Kirby, D.P.M., a runner for nearly 40 years, discussed the benefits and drawbacks of barefoot running. Saxton enthusiastically supports barefoot running (and I mean completely barefoot; he is even against the minimalist shoes I’ll discuss in Part II). Saxton describes the main benefit of barefoot running as the following:
It’s the process of being more interactively involved in the running—we feel it on our feet. We don’t just robotically pound out the steps. And we enjoy the freeing effect of air blowing across our feet. In short, it’s fun.
Saxton, like many other barefoot supporters, finds that running naturally is the best way to experience the sport. Kirby seems to be more concerned with the safety of the runner and injuries that may result from rough surfaces or debris on the path.
Both men agree that one should not take off his shoes/socks and begin running at the same intensity and distances as with shoes. As humans in the 21st century, our feet are used to being in shoes for nearly 12 hours a day. Most individuals need to build the muscles required to run without footwear support. For those first time barefoot runners, Saxton provides the following advice
“Take advantage of the fact that your soles are tender and sensitive. That’s going to teach you the most. Start by going out and standing on a gravel road or trail, and getting used to it. Stand straight, bend your knees, and notice how your heel lifts up. It’s an experience of discovery…You need to be aware of what’s going on with your own body. Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good thing. Listen to them and they’ll keep you from doing something stupid.”
I have to admit, there have been several times that I’ve had to run barefoot. It feels natural. The absence of 12 oz shoes are definitely noticeable as well. While I may not be ready to consider running a marathon without shoes on, I’m not against the idea of running barefoot. Maybe I’ll give it a try this summer.
Lance Armstrong, a member of ABBA, Katie Holmes, the former lead singer of Van Halen, and, of course P. Diddy are all able to say they’ve finished it. And this fall, as long as my training goes according to plan and I’m able to prevent any injuries, so will I.
The start of the NYC marathon on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. http://www.flickr.com/photos/36665622@N00/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
The ING New York Marathon will be held on November 7th, 2010. I’ve never been more excited for a race. Despite the incredible crowd support, including over 100 bands along the way, I’ve heard that it can be a tough course between the bridges, congestion, and wind. The start itself is undesirable. The danger of missing the start due to large crowds, the inability to warm up once you’ve reached Staten Island, and the first mile incline aren’t ideal conditions for the beginning of a 4-hour test of mental and physical endurance.
While the rest of the course isn’t much easier, one must be confident in his/her months of training. While I’m looking forward to running through the streets of New York City, I can’t wait until I cross the finish line. Even if there is a “serious climb” beginning at mile 26, all I’ll be able to think about is finishing. The ING New York Marathon site describes the finish:
You can’t even see the grade. All you can see are marathoners—your fellow heroes and heroines—bordered by the massive cheering crowd. And soon all you see is that wonderful, long-awaited sight: the finish line clock. You may have felt and looked awful a few yards back, but now is the time to look great for all your fans, and for the finish-line photo that will stir memories for many years. Painful memories, for sure, but proud ones. Because conquering a marathon is a serious accomplishment.
Training starts mid to late June.
(image found on flickr)
What people are saying