Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Where's Fed Ex?

My new Garmin should come today. I am counting down the hours. Fedex: usually around 4:37 p.m.

My son looked at the pictures on amazon.com of the watch. He laughed his ass off. It looks pretty ridiculous on the wrist (so big) but I don't care. I can't wait. I would have loved to have it on my trail run the other day 'cause I got lost a few times and wanted to know my actual mileage. And like I said before, if I fell or got eaten by a mountain lion, I was hoping my link to the sky and the satellite (however that works) would save me. Just see Mall Cop if you don't believe me.


I am stir crazy this week. The weather in CO has been absolute perfection for running. I, however, have been stuck inside with a sick child. I worked out to a DVD yesterday (Jillian's Shred - she just yelled at me the whole time, but good workout). Today I am bound and determined to get out in the sunshine. The kids have a "late start" day today (they don't start until 10:30 a.m. due to teacher planning or partying or something). Em is still sick but I think Sam can hold the fort down for an hour while I run. I'm sure an 11 year old could do the Heimlich if necessary.

Two subjects I've had on my mind: a friend of mine who is training for a marathon said she has gained four pounds. Why is it that in intense running training you sometimes gain weight? I know it is muscle, but you are also burning a tremendous amount of calories, so what the hell? I'm luckily and naturally thin (don't hate me - I have really small boobs and am not especially pretty), so I don't run to lose weight, but just curious. Second issue: I was part of Team in Training but now that is over and I find myself without a team, a coach or a group to run with. How do you find such a thing??

Input..input..please comment...

11 comments:

  1. Ooh, how exciting that your Garmin is coming!

    I wrote about the subject of marathon weight gain today. (Well, I didn't really say much about it, other than that it's happening to me!) I can't explain it, either. (Ooh, and at the same time, my boobs have gotten smaller. Go figure!)

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  2. Geez gaining weight and getting smaller boobs. What's good about that?

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  3. I can't figure out the weight gain thing either, but it has happened to me. I'm trying to keep it from happening this time around by being really good about my calories, but we'll see.

    So exciting about the Garmin!

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  4. I hope you get your Garmin and are able to go and test it out. Sorry to hear that your child is not feeling well, I just went through that two days ago myself with my nine year old(no fun).

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  5. So true that many gain weight..sometimes it's a mental hey I ran so I can eat and you over do it... sometimes it's more water in your muscles and sometimes it's gaining more muscle than you have lost fat... still annoying

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  6. i love love my garmin... not sure if it is the same, mine is red/maroon though. You will love it, and wonder how you ever ran with out it. I always struggle with my eating while I am training anf logging so many miles. I feel like I can eat what ever I want and be fine, but for me I still have to be so careful.... My body likes to gain weight, but I don't.... ;)

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  7. I've put on quite a few pounds since Christmas, but that's b/c I'm eating too much!

    As for running groups, check out Runner's Edge of the Rockies (http://runnersedgeoftherockies.com/jmain/index.php). Some of their runs are probably a little far away from you, but if you've got a long run scheduled, you may be willing to drive for the support!

    It's quite a large group that's well-organized and -supported (water stops, etc). There are even different pace groups. Your first run is complimentary, after that you either have to join for the season or pay a la carte. All the info is on the website.

    I ran with them a few weeks ago and really liked it. I'll be running with them this Saturday, hopefully!

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  8. YAY for garmin!!!

    I didnt gain weight, I just made sure to eat good foods, but get enough calories for all the miles. I think some people eat too much of the wrong things during marathon training because they feel like they can.

    I did a group like TNT and I met 2 girls who I still run with, plus through blogging I have found a great group of girls (ROHOs) to run with... I feel VERY lucky!

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  9. Weight gain is usually due to some combination of the following:

    *- Person intakes a lot more. This does happen. They actually get fatter despite marathon training.

    *-Increased glycogen stores. Glycogen retains a lot of water with it, so this adaptation can contribute a lot to weight gain.

    *-Muscle mass. I gained 4 pounds of muscle mass with high mileage training one time. It's not something to discount.

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  10. OK, I am very pretty with big boobs - sorry you aren't. (Yes you are!, at least the pretty part.) I think I am the "friend" you mentioned with the weight gain. Initially when I started training for distance running a year a go I lost about 15 pounds. I am of average size and build and my weight was on the high end of healthy for my height. I am now probably where I should've always been. Did I mention I had breast reduction surgery 8 years ago. All jokes aside, I would've never been able to do what I am doing with those puppies. Within this year, I have run 3 half marathons and am currently training for my first full in three weeks. It's the training for the full where I notice the 4 or 5 pounds on me. I have bigger appetite for sure and I have been hitting the cookie dough pretty hard. Hmmmmmm. What could it be? I think what I need is a little more discipline where eating is concerned - I have it for training.

    Enough about me. I am grateful for the comments about weight gain from others because I have been concerned. I am considering this Garmin contraption too. Can't wait to hear about the experience. Should I get it this close to my first marathon? I'm concerned I won't have time to get used to it and it may actually throw me off. What do you think?

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  11. Yay on your Garmin!

    I gained 3 pounds during the recovery weeks leading up to marathon. We do burn a ton of calories, but are constantly hungry too.

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