Training Schedule

Sunday 21 June - OFF

Monday 22 June - 3 miles

Tuesday 23 June - 4 miles

Wednesday 24 June - 60 mins cross training

Thursday 25 June - 3 miles

Friday 26 June - OFF

Saturday 27 June - 9 miles

Lesson two – applying the body glide

For the naïve and inexperienced runner, a lot of things can go wrong during the run if you are not prepared. Now most people take it for granted – and it is fairly obvious – that in order to run any distances you need the appropriate running attire. Generally this means a pair of good quality running shoes. You can run in whatever clothes you want, however one must take into consideration the general comfort level. If you are living in a hot and humid climate, short and a sleeveless running shirt should suffice. So we have shorts, shirt and shoes. The three 'SH'! The fourth 'SH' comes when you realize that now you have to actually run…. #@IT!!

I found out the hard way a few weeks back that there is more to this running thing than just putting on your shorts, shirt and shoes and heading out to pound endless miles on the pavement. After completing the second of two long runs I came limping home with severe chafing on my thighs and some minor chafing under my arms from the rubbing on the shirt. So Lesson One was "use Body Glide to stop chafing". This was an obvious solution – passed onto me by fellow runners from my Saturday morning run group and also as detailed in several running books and magazines that I have since read.

Hmmmm, Body Glide. Good, Body Glide.

Lesson Two – "apply the Body Glide liberally to all areas that are prone to chafe". This conclusion came half way into a 4 mile run (in 87F heat, and yes it was hot) as the thighs started to chafe again. Thankfully it wasn't to the extent of previous experiences; there was no bleeding this time. But, it still hurt. What had happened was that I applied the Body Glide and missed a bit on one thigh. It was only a smidgen of a bit, but that smidgen was enough for me to stand up and take notice. Ouch!

8 miles on Saturday! Body Glide will be applied correctly! I can't wait to see what Lesson Three will be!

Solution – body glide

The week before last was pretty full on with training. I was trying to play catch up for the days I had to miss due to no sitters. School is out and summer is finally starting to kick in to add to the lack of flexibility for run times. Within one week I completed an eight mile run and then backed it up with a seven mile run four days later with the running group. These runs went well – felt great and completed in pretty good times. I have got to a stage where I can complete these distances without walking, something that adds to my excitement. One issue that I have had to deal with however is the chafing.

The chafing began around the six mile mark of my eight mile run. It was sore. It was raw. It was on my thighs and due to my shorts rubbing. But it wasn't that bad and after a day it was fine. The seven mile however was another story. I decided to wear my Nike shorts which were shorter than the ones worn on the previous run. After one mile I could feel the chafing and at the end it had grown to the size of my palm and had drawn blood. And OUCH! It was sore and raw for the next three days!

The up side to this is that I found the solution. Body Glide!! An anti-chafe balm. I haven't tried it out yet, but everyone has told me that it works and doesn't stain your clothes. I am now waiting for my husband to return from his latest trip for me to head out in the heat and try it out on a short four mile run!

Training Schedule

Sunday 14 June - OFF

Monday 15 June - 3 miles

Tuesday 16 June - 4 miles

Wednesday 17 June - 60 mins cross training

Thursday 18 June - 4 miles

Friday 19 June - OFF

Saturday 20 June - 8 miles

Training Schedule

Sunday 7 June - OFF

Monday 8 June - 3 miles

Tuesday 9 June - 4 miles

Wednesday 10 June - Cross Training 60 mins

Thursday 11 June - 4 miles

Friday 12 June - OFF

Saturday 13 June - 8 miles

Which tribe?

My husband missed his flight over the weekend resulting him spending an additional day in Talloires, France. Stranded he had said as he explained that the local taxi company had forgotten to organize his ride to Geneva's International Airport. Ooops, they had just forgotten. It was close to midnight on the American continent when he called to let me know that there would be a 24 hour delay on his return. I was too tired to get cross and cranky at him missing our five year olds' Field Day or leaving me to break the news to the kids that Daddy wouldn't be home for Sunday dinner. What did cross my mind was the disappointment that my training program would yet again suffer due to his travel commitments.

I try not to let these changes affect my training. When I started training with the group and following their program I realized that I couldn't do what most people do and go for a morning run. The mornings are just too busy in a household with two young kids and a husband trying to suit up for work. For me to get out there and run the distances I needed it would mean a five o'clock start, and to be honest that thought just scares me. Even at the peak of my physical activity reveille was six o'clock and it was the potential reaction of the sergeant major that squashed any argument or tardiness. At that time it was only an hour 'boot camp' session that we called military circuits, not an individual run that could last for over an hour – or longer if I bottomed out and had to walk.

So when my husband finally got home he greeted me with a copy of the European Financial Times. In it was an article exploring the "long-distance love" written by Paris based Simon Kuper. The article looked to explore how running became a global craze and why it became trendy in the late 1960's. It was a story told through the book review of five books: Born to Run (Christopher McDougall), What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Haruki Murakami), Once a Runner (John L. Parker Jr), Blade Runner (Oscar Pistorius) and A Race Like No Other (Liz Robbins). It was a great read.

The article discussed a thought of there being two distinctive groups, or 'tribes' of runners. The first are the casual runners. Those that trudge the pavement to tick the box for a fitness goal achieved for the day; that run to keep the weight off. The second tribe is the serious runners who run longer distances. These runners choose to run for reasons beyond general health and fitness. Reasons that are hard to articulate into words. Serious runners push through the pain for a sense of achievement and exhilaration that can only be known at the individual level. Regardless, this tribe identifies with each other and rallies around with unspoken acceptance and acknowledgement of achievement.

I headed out for a run shortly after reading the article. The target was eight miles. I wasn't sure whether I was up to it although I knew that I wanted it. It started out slow and I hit the first mile marker nearing 12 minutes. I watched the cars whizzing by carrying people home after a day at the office. It dawned on me how fortunate I was to be out there and how much enjoyment I was getting. I thought of the article and debated in my mind as to which tribe I would fall under. I thought of and tried to channel a Kenyan warrior running across the Rift Valley with a heart of a lion but as gracious as a gazelle. Eight miles and the smile did not leave my face. I am sure those in their cars whizzing by were eying me with bemusement categorizing me as some warped or demented individual.

1 hr 21 mins – it felt good and I was totally exhilarated. Tribe? Well, the jury is still out and only time will tell.