A new race, a new gadget

Nothing like signing up for a half-marathon to get an adrenaline rush.

I’ve been plodding through daily runs for the past few months without a short-term goal. That wasn’t good. It meant that I could drift along without pushing hard. I didn’t have to watch my diet. I could skip two or three days if I felt like it.

Ha. No more! Now I have to step up and perform.

I just signed up for the Geist Half Marathon on May 19. It’s a popular road race that runs around a scenic reservoir. I’ve never run it, but I’ve always been curious about it.

So now it’s time.

I kind of struggled at the options. For the longest time, I was tempted to sign up for the “Run with Foxes” trail half marathon, also on May 19. It’s a wonderful race. I’ve run the 10M or 10K distance options three or four times. But it’s a rugged course and my leg isn’t ready for the steep hills and the 26 creek crossings. I need to start easy, with a flat road race.

So this is it. Geist: it’s me against you.

Next step is a weekly training plan and a little discipline. Hoo-ya!

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Measure for measure

Like a lot of runners, I’m a data geek. I love to measure my routes, paces, elevation profiles, and everything else I could possible measure.

But for the last six years, all I had was a low-tech Garmin 201, which was almost as big as a dinner plate.

For years, I’ve wanted a better GPS, but I’ve never felt justified in plunking down another $200 or so to buy a new sleeker model, with all the computer uplink capabilities.

That just changed.

A few weeks ago, I got an iPhone. One of the first things I did was to download the Map My Run app. It records my route (map and elevation), gives workout details (date, distance, time, pace, etc.) and stores it all on a dedicated webpage.

Now I can immediately measure my course, check out the elevation profile, see if I’m getting faster or slower, etc.

It’s a real treat.

Above is a screenshot of a short run I did a few days ago to test it out. I started and ended near my home and ran an out-and-back lollipop course. The route included local roads, a few modest hills and a turnaround at a local soccer field.

I like it a lot.

I also tried one other feature: the Pandora internet radio. I’ve never run with music before, but as long as I was carrying the iPhone, I thought I would try it just one.

I didn’t care for it. The music was great (I was on the Paul Simon channel), but I just didn’t like the distraction.

When I run, I want to hear real stuff: my footsteps, my breathing, the wind blowing through the trees, traffic around me, birds overhead, etc. etc.

I also want to let my mind wander. Running a great outlet for letting your mind run wild. I’m always amazed at the ideas I come up with when I’m out running for a half-hour. I almost always come up with one or two good, completely unpredictable thoughts about work or family or travel or home repair or something completely out of the blue.

I don’t think that’s likely to happen when I have earbuds jammed in my ears.

Sometimes, you just have to get away from the noise of the world. Running is my time for that.

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