Let's Run!
Written by Shannon Graf
So you've taken a leap of faith and decided to run a marathon. Whether it's your first or not, you've chosen an exciting and challenging journey and will no doubt need some motivation along the way, right? Well lucky for you, I'm experiencing this journey for the first time, myself. Having been a runner for over half my life, I'm finally setting out to cross off one of my '30 before 30' items: Run that marathon. Oddly enough I'm running my first on my 30th birthday - the Maui Marathon in September. Feel free to follow my training plan over at http://shanscenetwo.tumblr.com/. Also, I like cake and TexMex if you're looking for gift ideas.
If you're like me, a first-timer who questioned and pondered and second-guessed every decision leading me into this adventure, you've considered factors such as: Training plan; diet changes; goals along the way; gear ... and what's this goo stuff I should be stocking up on? Is there some special dictionary for runners I'm missing? No worries, we'll get to all of that. I'm a big believer in variety, challenging one's self, and pushing beyond that old familiar friend we call the comfort zone. Therefore, with any post where I offer up suggestions, I will also include an 'Up Your Ante' challenge for those who need extra encouragement.
Where do you run around Charleston? Do you opt for a route with which you are so familiar you could run it with your eyes closed? Maybe you're a treadmill kind of person because you'd prefer to stay out of the I-feel-like-just-got-in-a-fight-with-the-sun, buckets-of-sweat-inducing heat and humidity. Perhaps you have a few routes you use to mix up your workouts. At any rate, marathoners incorporate longer runs into their plans as the weeks leading up to the race progress. Consider some of my faves for the middle distances (I'll cover longer runs in future posts):
5 to 6 miles
- The Arthur Ravenel Bridge; the five is guaranteed in a round trip, but if you are shooting for six, tack on a half-mile out-and-back at the end of your bridge run. The bonus is you get in a little hill work on the Mt. Pleasant side, headed toward downtown. Your legs will talk, but your running will thank you!
- Daniel Island; you can start and finish at the Water Front park toward the end of River Landing Drive, and take off going either direction on the trail; you can wind your way into an easy five to six mile flat loop without retracing your steps. Contact me if you need specifics.
- Downtown; start and finish at Colonial Lake taking a loop going from The Battery, up East Bay, and either take on the outskirts of downtown, or jazz it up by crossing through to Meeting, King, until you've reached your goal. Downtown runs may be challenging if you use these workouts to zone out - these runs keep me extra alert! Also, remember to lower the volume of your music, especially during peak traffic hours.
7 to 9 miles
- Old Village in Mt. Pleasant; you can either extend your bridge run into Old Village, or start at Patriots Point and take off down Coleman. This is a scenic run through shaded neighborhoods if you want it to be. You can also stay the path down Coleman and take the Ben Sawyer into Sullivan's Island, which I prefer as part of my Old Village runs. Depending on your goal, I typically wind my way through the Old Village, take Center back out to Coleman, over the bridge, turn around and head straight back down Coleman to Patriots for and 8-9 miler.
- Daniel Island; again, a scenic route where you can extend your 5-6 mile routes into an 8-9 miler if you incorporate more neighborhoods.
- Johns Island; start at the high school and take off down Chisolm until you reach your goal for an out-and-back.
Up Your Ante These are just a few ideas to get you thinking outside of your routine. A new route keeps you fresh, motivated, and alert. I would suggest that once a week, you try something new. If you're like me, when you're familiar with a route, you either get bored or discouraged on days you have less motivation because you know the path and how much still lies ahead of you when you reach a certain landmark.
Lace-up, get your chin up, breathe deeply, and enjoy taking in the landscapes around you. Let's get running!
Comments
6 comments postedShannon,
Very sorry to bother you but my wife and I are new to the area. I ran the 10K Saturday and I am so pumped to go further and get better but my question is?
Where can I find out what race related runs or Fun Runs or just Runs for a good reason are taking place around Charleston? I am much more motivated running for a cause and we want to support the state of SC that we just want to go and run...lol
Once again, I apologize for taking your time but Saturday got this 43 yr old Man rejuvinated.
Cheers, Terry
My daughter ran her first marathon this weekend and I went with her to be a support. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with the race but to Dianne, who was in charge of transportation I would really like to thank her. I was sort of stranded at the start line with no way to get to the finish line to see my daughter and she put me in her car, bought me coffee and drove me to the finish line. I was truly blessed to have run into her . A big thank you!!
Janis
Races are meant to be run. If you plan on entering a race (5K, 10K, or marathon) please be in good enough shape to run the entire race. If you plan on walking the majority of the distance, stay out of the way of the runners. Better yet, save your money and stay at home.
Paul
Just a tiny bit of advice from an avid racer to those running in their first marathon, half marathon or other distances being offered. Be mindful of what I like to refer to as your 'energy tank'.... The human body, based much on what it has learned and prepared for up to any given point, has limited amount of stored and available fuel to be used during any specific stress producing activity. I like to refer to it as our 'energy tank' which works just like a gas tank on a car.....with three major exceptions. I will call them the GOOD....THE BAD.......and the U-G-L-Y......((WAAAA....AAAAH....AAAAH.....AAAAH...AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH))................ lol......oops sorry...I got to thinking about that movie for a moment. LOL anyway like I was saying... The GOOD... Based on how it's made...Your car will not use all of its energy at any one particular mile of its journey... The BAD......HOWEVER....your car also will have absolutely, positively no other chance in ‘Hades' of moving one more inch, much less another mile or completing its intended journey, when its energy fuel has been depleted…..and finally………(wait-for-it……wait-for-it)….the UGLY….. or the sight of the poor stranded vehicle and the look on the faces of those poor (runner’s)….uh I mean riders…excuse me…..lol ..that find themselves ‘stranded…..out in the middle of nowhere…..left for dead’ {just like Clark eventually did to Cousin Eddie}…dang it.. im sorry, I did it again..but you know that’s another movie classic too…lol So what does this all mean… Well when you begin your race, your journey from step 1 to mile 3.1……6.2…..13.1…..or even 26.2…. Be mindful of your ‘energy tank’ and the story of “The Little Engine That Could”..’n’t’ …lol (ok.. that was the last one….I promise!!……LOL) Don’t get swept up in the start by the incredible onset of adrenaline you’re hit with by the crowd’s good cheers or other runner’s ‘engine roars’. Stick to your trained pace and to your ‘race plan”… abut Most importantly ..Have A Race Plan!!!…..Because unlike the Car…. A Runner’s GOOD is….that a Runner can dig deep during those seconds, moments or even hours and find energy in the tank which may appear to read empty….. The Runner’s BAD…..A runner CAN use all or more of their energy during the start, the middle or along any other mere section of the entire journey and then….there’s the BAD….WELL..here.. the runner and the car are very similar….. they both become stranded….out in the middle of nowhere….BUT here’s the two major differences…. The CAR feels no sense of pride or hubris…….lol….. and thanks to the great Charleston Riverfront Race Festival Directors and all the wonderful volunteers it takes to put on a marvelous event such as this……..A RUNNER will never be ‘stranded …or…..left for dead’……………..lol Hope all of you have your ‘HAP HAP HAPPIEST’ Race experience ‘SINCE BING CROSBY TAPDANCED WITH DANNY @#&%*&# KAYE’……… …..LOL ;) you know I haddddd to throw in just one more didn’t you?.... :)
Here we are ladies and gentlemen, less than 2 weeks away from this exciting race that approaches us all! The Sunday of this race weekend will be my 38th birthday, and my 3rd Half Marathon. It is my goal to run my 1st full marathon by the time I am 40. I can not tell you how excited I am that we do not have to run any hills. Hills are the devil. I am sure that this pleases all of you as well!
This race is important to me for many personal reasons. I am not only running for my health or for a special cause...but running because I simply can. You see, I have been training with a personal trainer a few days a week at a physical therapy business. There are many people just like you an me that are in serious chronic pain. Some can not walk or even turn their heads. As my personal trainer pushes me hard and I feel like moaning and groaning...I look at those around me and realize that we should not take for granted the great physical state we are in. We should be thankful that we CAN RUN! That we CAN walk!!! That we CAN raise our arms as we cross the finish line! Good luck runners! Have a great run and while you are pursuing your personal goals, be thinking of those who can NOT.
I've been waiting to run my first half marathon since I ran the Riverfront 10K last year. Unfortunately have an IT band injury and will have to wait. I hear the race is sold out, so I would be willing to transfer my registration to someone at par value.