Race Report: Beat the Blerch Inaugural

The Details:

Race Name: Beat the Blerch
Distances offered: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
Distance I ran: 10K (hubby ran the half)
Timed? Yes, chipped.
Location: Carnation, WA
Traveled? Yes
Recommended? Definitely!










In order to fully understand this race, you must first understand Nutella and birthday cake, demon bees and magical purple fizzy drinks, and above all The Blerch. If you do not yet read The Oatmeal, allow me to introduce you. Before you go any further go read this, it's okay, I'll wait: The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances.

*Cue terrible elevator music.....*

All done? Good! The Blerch has an understandably rabid fan base, and so it was only a matter of time before a Blerch themed race was born. The announcement that a race was coming was made early this year and when registration opened in the spring, the entire race sold out in under 30 minutes! I was not one of the lucky few who got in. I did however, sign up for the waiting list that same day just in case they opened up more spots or some runners canceled. They did eventually open up more spots, and then they decided to just go ahead and open up a whole 'nother day of racing! The original races were scheduled for Sunday September 21st, but with so much interest and a several-miles-long waiting list, they went ahead and created a whole second day of racing on that Saturday the 20th, which was the day I ran.


Pre-race communication: 4/5
All pre-race communication from the race organizers went smoothly and was very clear. I received update emails periodically, but certainly not annoyingly often. I also followed the race on Facebook, which I feel added a lot to the overall communication. The only reason I'm not giving it the full 5/5 is because I never had any problems that required contacting the organizers, so I can't speak to how quickly or how well they responded.

Packet pickup: 4/5
Packet pickup was at Road Runner Sports in Greenlake, WA. The whole store had been more or less sacrificed to the descending rabid fans. The staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. They also handed out 20% off coupons at the door, which came in handy since my Body Glide somehow got crumbled to pieces en route to Seattle. One frustrating thing was that this store is nowhere near where the race was held (as in several cities away). For those of us not from the area, that was confusing. Also, Greenlake is a neighborhood of Seattle itself, so there was very little parking, crazy traffic, and the parking that there was required validation. All minor annoyances, and the organizers warned about the limited parking, but it would have been nice to know the extent before-hand.

The schwag: 4/5
The race shirt is awesome! It is a quarter-zip long-sleeve pullover tech shirt complete with thumb holes in the cuffs. Noticeably absent? Ads! Not a single sponsor name to be found! The shirts were different for each distance, but only in super minor ways. The appropriate distance is listed on the shirt, and on the back, there was a slice of cake for the 10K, half of a cake for the Half Marathon, and a whole cake for the full Marathon.

Front

Back

In the bag: race bib and safety pins, race shirt, 'I Believe in the Blerch' magnet, coupon for Road Runner Sports, and a card advertising several other local races. Similarly to the shirt, there was no junk - no trial size any thing, no half-a-pound worth of ads for other things.

Blerch Magnet

Race parking and getting the race started: 5/5
Parking at the race was handled very well! An interactive Google map of potential parking areas was made available well ahead of time. Volunteers were present, not only at the park where the race started and finished, but also at each of the potential parking areas (a middle school, nearby dog park, grocery store, etc). My one minor gripe was that you could apparently buy a parking pass to park right near the starting line, but I didn't hear anything about that option until the night before packet pickup when the final reminder email went out.

The course: 5/5
The course was beautiful! For the 10k and Half Marathon the course was out-and-back, and for the Marathon it was a loop. The first 3/4 mile was on a paved jogging/biking path, which then gave way to a more rugged (though very wide and well maintained) gravel trail. With the exception of one very steep 10-20 yard section, the course was mostly flat. It ran along a river, over a bridge above the river, through farmland, into a forest, and back again. I loathe any kind of uphills, and I found the course to be beautiful, pleasant, and very manageable.

The atmosphere: 5/5
The whole atmosphere of the event as a whole, was different than any race that I've been to (as a runner or a cheering section). The general sense of comedy and tongue-in-cheek that you get from the original Blerch comic, was pretty much how it went. People came to run dressed as cupcakes, McDonald's french fries, hot dogs, and of course Blerches. There were also 'official' Blerches on the course reminding us to 'Slow down Captain Speedypants, no need to rush!' The announcer at the start gave frequent course reports of Sasquatch sightings, but thankfully no Giant Japanese Hornets. Matthew Inman himself ran the Half Marathon on both days and was on hand to meet people, take pictures, and sign autographs at both packet pickup and the race. All in all it was a giant party!

The aid stations: 5/5
So, you know how I said it was a giant party? The aid stations were less 'aid station', and more 'celebration of all things Blerchy'. There were things that you would expect any aid station to have like water and electrolytes, but there was also Nutella, birthday cake, couches, Blerches, and a Sasquatch!

The bling: 5/5

 'Nuff said.

The finish line: 5/5
Coming up to the finish there were awesome spectators and already finished runners, and an announcer that called out each person's name as they crossed the finish line. The finish line area had more of everything that the aid stations had, plus purple fizzy drink! There was a foam rolling station, Muscle Milk, and Blerchy photo ops. Plus The Oatmeal himself signing autographs!

Overall Fatty appeal: 5/5
Come on, there was Nutella and couches at the aid stations! Add to that a gorgeous, nearly all flat course and a laid-back attitude that encouraged all runners, and generally disdained the gym-rat, fitness freak mentality, and it was a fat runner's paradise!

Final thoughts:
I loved this race and I would do it again in a heartbeat! As it turns out, I may get the chance too. Due to the huge amount of support for the race, and the number of runners that wanted to race, but couldn't travel, the organizers have announced that The Blerch will be coming to multiple cities next year! There are already events planned on the east coast, and there will be at least one somewhere in the center of the US - likely somewhere in Colorado. So lace up your shoes, and get ready to Beat the Blerch!


Have you run any good races lately? If so, I'd love to hear about them!

Stumbled Upon Gem of the Day

Ok, so I may be the very last one to this party, but today I discovered dailymile.com . In case you haven't found it yet either, I thought I'd share.

I only discovered this today, so I'm not by any means an expert, but along with a mapping feature for planning routes (which can be saved and re-used), the site allows you to store your workout history and also works like a social networking site for athletes.

If you haven't joined yet, head on over and take a look. If you're already a member, do you have any tips for us noobs?

Break it Down: Half Marathon Training Programs

There's something eye-popping about a half-marathon. I told one of my coworkers that I don't see all that often that I planned to train for, and run, my first half-marathon in October. He was pretty stoic when I said I had just run a 5k, and that I will run a 10k around the end of August, but when I said 'half-marathon', there go the eyes.

And its no surprise. I mean, face it, if it were easy everyone would have done it by now - not everyone can run 3.1 miles, let alone 13.1. And it is due to this difficulty that one needs a training program - at least if you don't want to hurt yourself along the way. Fortunately, half-marathon training programs are widely available for free all over the internet. Being on the path to the next big thing will also allow for the sense of working toward something bigger, which will keep me motivated for the long haul.

So, having just completed my first 5k, and already being registered for another, I began my search for a good program. I decided that with the plethora of plans out there, I may as well look at as many reputable ones as I could, and a couple obscure ones too, just to pepper in some excitement. I wound up doing this comparison with the training programs from Runner's World, Jeff Galloway, Hal Higdon, Kendrick Fitness, Fitness Magazine, About.com, MarathonRookie.com, and Cool Running (the developers of the Couch-to-5k program).

Factors that I used to compare programs included whether or not they adhered to the 10% rule (to prevent injury, increase weekly mileage by no more than 10% each week), number of running days, rest days, whether or not cross-training was integrated, the length of the longest long run, and the total number of weeks the program lasts. Being a very new runner with no history of running at all, it was important to me for the mileage buildup to be very gradual so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed. Because I run with plantar fasciitis, rest days are critical, so a balance of run and rest was also important. Related to that point, cross-training was important as well so that there would be cardio going on, while not necessarily pounding my feet - and also for variety. I also considered the length of the longest run, because despite the notion that if I could make it 10 miles in training, the last 3 on race day wouldn't be a big deal, I would feel more comfortable getting closer than that. And lastly, my chosen half-marathon is on Halloween weekend, so the total length of the program needed to correspond reasonably well with that timeline. Lastly, because I train with my husband (who is far more athletic than I am) we were interested in possibly doing speed-work, so we looked at that as a factor too.

Runner's World

Prerequisites: Have run at least 1 year, able to run 5 miles without trouble, have completed at least one 5k (more is better), average 15-20 miles weekly.

Pros: Runner's World is a highly respected publication, and their book for beginner runners is absolutely indispensable. The first week of the program started at a mileage that I could be comfortable with, and the total length of the program, at 12 weeks, was perfectly reasonable.

Cons: I don't exactly meet the prerequisites, there is vigorous speed-work (hubby could probably keep up, but I don't know if I could).

Jeff Galloway

Prerequisites:None. The beginner program is designated for those who have been running for less than 6 months.

Pros: Jeff Galloway is a legend, an Olympic one. As the official trainer for the runDisney race series' (some of the most beginner-friendly distance races), beginners are par for the course. Also, Jeff Galloway's run-walk method is nearly as famous as he is for getting people to the distances they want to go, injury free.

Cons: I don't especially relish the idea of walking if I don't absolutely have to. I am perfectly fine with those who choose to use a run-walk method, but for me, it feels like cheating unless I physically have to. Also, at 18 weeks, this program is easily the longest one, and frankly, I'm just not that patient.

Hal Higdon

Prerequisites: Able to run 3 miles, 3-4 times per week.

Pros: Jeff Galloway may be super famous in the running world, but Hal Higdon isn't that far off himself. In fact, he has written numerous books about running and training, has run over 100 marathons himself, and actually holds several running records. Of even more note is the fact that his training programs are known for being easily approachable, and for turning out beginner distance runners with little to no injuries.

Cons: Not many. At 12 weeks, the timeline is, again, just right. There is ample running, and adequate rest as well, and opportunities for cross-training should you so choose. At the novice level, there is no speed-work, however.

Kendrick Fitness

Prerequisites: Able to run 30 minutes continuously, weekly mileage of at least 15 miles, have completed several 5k races and at least 1 10k race.

Pros: Gradual increase in mileage, plus speed-work for variety. 12-week plan, again, fits well into my timeline.

Cons: Here we are with the 10k requirement again, sheesh! So, right off the bat I don't meet the prerequisites. Also, with only 2 days of non-foot pounding in the plan, this one could be tough on my plantar fasciitis.

Fitness Magazine

Prerequisites: Able to run 2 miles without stopping.

Pros: This program goes quick! At only 8 weeks, this is the shortest program, which plays well to my impatient side. With 2 days full rest, and 1 day of cross training, there is adequate rest.

Cons: This program goes quick! Training for a half marathon is no joke, and 8 weeks could be too much, too fast. Also, the week-to-week mileage seems to multiply pretty quickly. Lastly, 2 days per week are spent with a walk-run-walk where the longest run is only 3 miles, and the walks are either 1 or 2 miles each. I personally am a bit anal-retentive about getting in a good warm-up and cool-down walk, and I don't know why I would want to walk that much or what the benefit would be, so I don't know how well this walk-run-walk thing would work out for me.

About.com

Prerequisites: Have been running at least 2 months and have a weekly mileage of 8-10 miles per week.

Pros: Weekly mileage addition is comfortably gradual - an addition of just 1 mile on the long run of each week. Rest days are either 2 or 3 days per week, and there is some cross-training peppered in too. Also, the longest long run clocks in at 12 miles - the longest of all of the plans.

Cons: While undeniably straight-forward, this plan seems tedious and monotonous - if you are a running purist, this may very well be the plan for you, but I bore easily and this plan nearly screams monotony.

MarathonRookie.com

Prerequisites: Have been running consistently for at least 4-6 weeks and can run at least 30 minutes continuously.

Pros: This plan is in-between in length at 10 weeks - enough time for me to be done, and pushing my distance, or bettering my time. Like the About.com plan, the longest long run is again 12 miles.

Cons: This plan is regimented running - no cross-training, just you and the road. Again, that means risk of boredom for me. The long runs also seem to taper very soon - the 12 mile run is in week 7, and the weekly mileage decreases from there. Also, the plan seems a little random, and disjointed - the weekly mileage for example increases by 2 miles, then 1, then 3, then 2, then 3, then 2, then decreases by 4, decreases again by 4, and finally increases by 3 during race week.

Cool Running

Prerequisites: Be able to run this schedule comfortably for 4-5 weeks:

Mon.Tue.Wed.Thu.Fri.Sat.Sun.
Off 3M 4M 4M Off 3M 5M

Pros: 1 day per week of speed-work adds variety, without being overwhelming. The total program length is 12 weeks, and as with the previous 2 plans, the longest run is 12 miles.

Cons: The mileage of the long run bounces around unpredictably - good for variety, tough for new runners to do a jump of 2+ miles week-to-week. Also, with 5 days of running per week, this was the least plantar fasciitis-friendly plan.

For your reference, here is a chart I made in order to compare them all side-by-side:

So, what did I decide? Well see that's a funny story. Since hubby was so intent on speed-work, that was the first thing we used to narrow the list. So initially, I decided on the Kendrick Fitness plan - the mileage was nice and gradual, the speed-workouts offered a good amount of variety, and despite the fact that I didn't meet the recommended prerequisite, I was ready to tough it out anyway. But then you all came to my rescue :)

In an earlier post, I talked about my new challenge of finding a half-marathon training program and asked for your recommendations. I was happily surprised when I received several. I was even more surprised when they all recommended the same one. Eerie, right? Well, not really. I mean if something is good, word gets out. All of those recommendations were for the Hal Higdon plan, so I went back and looked it over more closely. In particular, one comment had said that the importance of each week is explained, and I was curious to see what kind of explanation was given. Upon doing that additional reading, I came across an important fact: new runners should NOT try to improve distance endurance and speed at the same time - doing so is a certain recipe for injuries. Whew! Glad I dodged that bullet! And I have you all to thank, so THANK YOU!!

So, in the end I have decided to go with the Hal Higdon plan. Its not perfect (it topping out at a 10 mile long run is my biggest concern), but I will finish it with a couple weeks to spare, so there's time for some tweaking where necessary. The plan seems well rounded, incorporating cross-training, strength training, and copious amounts of stretching in addition to piling on the miles - but in a slow, healthy way.

Displaying your Bling

Ok, I admit it, I'm in it for the bling.

Race medals are cool, and are a tangible, visible reminder of your accomplishments - of how far you've come. Not nearly enough 5k races award their runners with medals, but if you can find one, I highly recommend it. As the race distances get longer, the medals get to be more of a given.

I often just peruse message boards and forums about running. Sometimes I'm looking for something specific, but most often not - I just like to absorb as much knowledge as I can on any subject that I love. On one of these perusals I stumbled upon some amazing medal display racks. Allied Medal Displays makes amazing die-cut aluminum medal holders. With designs from personalization such as your name (or whatever else you want it to say), to standard designs that say things like "Always Earned, Never Given", "Runner Girl", "I Run This Town", and my personal favorite "Pigs Fly", there is an amazing rack for nearly everyone. My only minor complaint is on the pricing - and even then, the price is perfectly appropriate to the product, I just happen to be a broke grad student.

I do however happen to have a very modest amount of creativity, so I set out to find a way to make something at least approaching the clean elegance of Allied Medal's designs. Here is what I ended up with:

Not nearly as cool as the Allied Medal ones, but at less than $15 total, it fit my wallet better. Maybe I'll ask for one of the Allied Medal ones for Christmas :)

How about you? How do you display your medals? If you haven't gotten any yet, how would you like to display them?

Prepping for Longer Distances

With my first 5k behind me, I find myself ready to move on - at least mentally. So this morning I spent some time looking for half-marathon training programs. Little known fact: if you can comfortably run a 5k and do training runs at least 3 miles long, 3 times per week, you can begin a beginner's half-marathon training program.

I have looked through several half-marathon training programs, and I will try to take notes and give you all a run down over the next couple of days. In the meantime though, I came across this excellent article on Web-MD about how to mentally prepare, and things that long distance runners wish they'd known when they were starting out:

Marathon Training Tips for Beginners

Where are you in your running journey? What are you training for right now? Do you plan to stop there? What is the distance you'd ultimately like to do?

Gear: Sports Bras

Ah, the dilemma of women runners (or athletes in general): how to find the perfect torture device to hold down your ta-tas while still letting you breathe, and not requiring a degree from MIT to get into/out of.

First, a little info on sports bras in general. The first thing to look for in a sports bra is impact level. Low impact sports bras are for things like walking and yoga. Medium impact sports bras are good for just slightly more vigorous activity, such as hiking or skating. High impact sports bras are for very vigorous activities like tennis and, of course, running.

The next thing to know is the style of sports bra that you're looking for. Compression sports bras do just that: they squish and flatten your ta-tas into your chest to keep them from moving. This typically works best for smaller breasts. Encapsulation sports bras keep each breast in its own little padded cell. They are molded for specific cup sizes and are best for larger breasts.

After those points, its all about personal preference. Sports bras come in all sorts of fabrics, colors, patterns, and cuts. It may very well take a significant amount of trial-and-error ( I went through 3 or 4 before finding the one that I use now). If you have big boobies it can be more difficult to find a bra that is both comfortable, and fits right.

A few tips:

1. Try them on (duh), but then jump up and down, run in place, ask an associate if its okay if you jog up and down an aisle. Really road test it as much as possible.

2. Be patient. This is going to take some time.

3. To avoid the contortionist act, look for a sports bra with a closure of some kind (not strictly the pull-on kind).

4. For an absolutely-no-motion encapsulation sports bra, try the Enell. Enells are a little pricey, and aren't the prettiest things in the world, but they feature a front snap closure system and are the most recommended bra for big-breasted runners. Check them out here: www.enell.com

5. Be willing to look in unexpected places. Being a C/D cup myself, I had quite the search for the right sports bra. My previous ones ranged from soft cotton with nearly no support, to a compression one that required my husband's help for me to get out of. Finally, I took to the web to see if I could find a recommendation for a good sports bra for big boobies. I tried an Enell, and while tons of women absolutely swear by them, they weren't my favorite - I felt a little like I was wearing a bullet-proof vest...but then I came across an interesting recommendation. A couple of runners on one forum recommended a Danskin Now sports bra, carried by WalMart. Now, I know what you're thinking, and I don't buy anything at WalMart besides soap, razors, vitamins, and the occasional DVD either. But, having gone through 4 or 5 top brand sports bras, and having already dismissed the Enell, I figured it was worth a shot. So I went and found the bra in question, and fell in love! It has a back closure, good fit, and good support. This is it: Danskin Adjustable Sports Bra The website says that it only comes in the blue and the pink, but if you go into a store they often have other colors (mine is black and silver).

Above all, don't compromise! I am incredibly picky about my bras. For my sports bra, I wanted a decent amount of separation, and also for them to not be so plastered to my chest that it would be hard to even be able to tell that they were there! But at the same time, they are big, and I needed support. It took time, patience, frustration, persistence, and an open mind, but I finally found one that I love!

Gear: Shorts/Pants/Tights, etc.

Since your legs do most of the work of running, it is understandable that there are a multitude of options for how to clothe them while running. Firstly, know that as long as it is made from some sort of active-wear type fabric, it will probably do. After that though, come the options.

Tights

Guys - don't worry, they're not see through, and usually aren't pink or have flowers on them (although I understand that pink ones can be found for support of breast cancer research) . Nope, running tights are those things you see runners wearing that look like a sleek swimsuit for legs. They are meant to be worn like a second skin, and are surprisingly warm despite the lack of appreciable amounts of fabric. However, because of this inherent warmth, they are really meant for cold-weather running. They are perfect for late fall, winter, and exceedingly early race mornings. Running tights come in several lengths from all the way to your ankles, to just above the knee, and everywhere in between.

Lightweight workout pants

These are sort of the catch-all workout pants that seem to be good for everything - running, yoga, ellipticals, chasing those damn kids off your lawn, whatever you want really. I personally like to wear them when its a bit chilly for shorts, but not cold enough for tights. These are arguably the most flexible of lower-body running wear. They come in all sorts of lengths, colors, designs, brands, and so on. In fact, you probably already owned some before you even started running!

Shorts

Ah, running shorts. We've all seen them. Some of us even have nightmares about them. But as a runner, they are absolutely indispensable. As noted in another post, there is no need to wear underwear with them. They come in a number of different cuts and styles. There are the ones that look like the love child of boxer briefs and a swimsuit, the ones that are flowy, brightly colored daisy dukes, and there are the ones that combine the two (yep, it looks like you're wearing the daisy dukes over the boxer swimsuit, but its really one piece). Then of course there are ones that come to about mid-thigh. They are loose and airy, moisture-wicking, and excellent for keeping you cool. They come in all sorts of colors, patterns, and levels of ridiculous-ness. And they are absolutely essential.

In general, for a year-round runner that plans to run outside, all of these are necessary additions to the running wardrobe. There will be days when each is most appropriate to the current weather.

A note on sizing

As aggravating as it may be, most running clothes run small. I know, right? So that means that if you are normally an XL, you'll likely need a 2- or even 3X. As if that isn't demoralizing enough, most stores that carry running clothes don't stock extended sizes. Its not that they're not out there, the stores just don't carry them. For example, Nike makes running shorts all the way up to 3X, but good luck finding them in a store. An exception may be a factory store, but that will depend greatly.

However, there is hope! Reebok has managed to stay sane. When I first started running, I was an XL (about a size 18 or so). However, when I tried on Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, etc, not only were their XL's too small, they fit tighter than my underwear! It was ridiculous! I couldn't even pull some of them on! And then came Reebok...as far as I can tell, Reebok fits true to size. Sure enough, their shorts fit! Last weekend, I went to my Dick's Sporting Goods (which has an enormous running wear section) to see if I could find these mythical extended sizes. Nope, they don't carry them. They carry men's sizes up to 3- or even 4X, but no women's sizes over XL. Dick's even carries the extended sizes on their website, but come on! Running shorts are sized weird, and frankly, most bigger people are shaped differently than the bean-poles that they design these shorts for, so if anyone needs to be able to try on running shorts, its fatties! I would love to start a campaign to demand appropriate exercise wear for bigger sizes be carried in stores, but where to start?

What do you think? What's your preferred running bottom? Have any suggestions for the rest of us?

Where to Run: Creating a Route

I have to say that I'm a little weird about choosing my running routes. See, it either has to be a loop or it has to have a destination at the end. Also, I've found that knowing where I will stop is a good motivator to keep going. This is especially pertinent if you've been following the Couch-to-5K plan. For simplicity, I ran for time instead of distance. But after a while it got to be mind-numbing. There was no end in sight - literally, it turned out that my problem was not being able to see where I would stop. For me, it is a lot easier to keep going if I know that its only 2 more blocks, than knowing that I still have 8 minutes. Plus, by running for time, I found myself slowing down and just waiting out the time. The result: when I got to the part of the plan where you're not walking anymore, I wasn't making anywhere near the distance that I was supposed to in the time given for each workout.

So now, I carefully map my routes. There are lots of sites online that will let you map out a run and will tell you the distance, elevation gain/loss, and all sorts of other things. I recommend the one on Livestrong.com . You've heard of this before, right? Lance Armstrong, yellow rubber bracelets, etc, etc. Well it turns out, that as part of the foundation's activity they curate a whole site devoted to healthy living. They have a section called 'My Plate' that works as an online food journal and has an insane number of foods in its database. And if a food you're looking for isn't in the database, you can add it. On top of that, you can set daily goals for total calories, fat, carbs, all sorts of things. But back to the loops...On the homepage of Livestrong.com, at the top of the page, hover on 'Get Fit', to the right of the drop-down are 'Get Fit Tools', click on 'Loops'. From here you can create your own loops, view loops created by others in your area, and add a loop to your 'My Plate' (if you have one). A free account is needed to create loops, but even if this is the only part of the site that you use, it is totally worth it.

To create your loop, first follow the directions above to get to the 'Loops' page. Then, under 'Create a Loop', click on 'Create'. Now, center the map over where you want to run. Ok, here's the little bit of a tricky part: first, click on your start point, then click your end point and a line will appear between them - now drag the line to where you want your route to go. So, for example, if you are planning a route that will start and end in front of your house, click for the start in front of your house, then click right next to it for the end. It is most convenient to put your start pin to the side where you will be going to, and the stop pin to the side you will be coming from (so that the route line doesn't have to cross itself). Then, grab the little line and pull it where you want it to go. Along the route line will be little boxes - use these to drag your route around and fit it to where you want to go. Also, below the map will be a graph of elevation change. The dots on the elevation graph correspond with the boxes on your route - so you'll know in advance where you go up and where your route goes back down again.

How about you? How do you plan your routes?

Page to Stalk: Kendrick Fitness

Need some encouragement? How about some expert advice from a professional that specializes in runners (especially women)? Then Kendrick Ribeiro is your guy.

With an impressive resume, and as the official coach and trainer for the Run Like a Diva half marathon series, Kendrick certainly doesn't need to be as awesome of a resource as he is, but he does it anyway. In addition to daily (sometimes multiple daily) K-Tips, he also readily answers your questions, and offers all sorts of resources. Check out the Kendrick Fitness Facebook Page to find everything from recipes to downloadable training guides, and a core workout. So, how much does all this cost? Nothing, naturally, 'cause he's just that cool.

If you do like his page, tell him I sent you!

Running for Fatties on Facebook!

Wow, you guys are great! I got a request to make a FB page for the blog, so I did! You can find it here: Running for Fatties on Facebook Or, click the 'Like' button in the right column.

Thanks again you guys, and I'll see you on FB!

Body Glide: Your New Best Friend

One of the worst things about being over-weight and taking on vigorous exercise is the chafing. Bloody nipples, chapped thighs, blistered feet...the list goes on. Enter your new best friend: Body Glide. No, its not something one would find while lurking around an 'adult bookstore'.

Rather, Body Glide is this miraculous waxy substance that creates an anti-chafe barrier on the skin. Very long distance runners use it to protect against the inevitable chafing that comes with 26+ miles of rubbing waist bands and sports bras. For those of us that have more areas that rub up against each other, Body Glide is excellent from the first run. I use it liberally on my inner thighs. I know of others that use it on their feet, nipples, etc.

Body Glide comes in a deodorant-like container, and rolls on the same way as deodorant. It is not greasy, not slippery, and has no scent or odor at all. It is not visible on the skin unless you really look for it (and lets be honest, its likely to be under your clothes or covered in sweat anyway).

Ladies: Body Glide does make a women's formula. However, its a big fat attempt to get you to spend more money. It is exactly the same thing, but with a slight perfume-y scent, and costs a decent amount more than the original formula.

Body Glide can be found at running specialty stores, or at some outdoor and sporting goods stores (including many REI's). Click on the picture to read more about Body Glide, including a zip-code search on where to get it near you.

A Running Program for People Who Don't (or Can't) Run

I mentioned in my first post that I had stumbled upon a beginner's running program. This program starts you off at nearly nothing. Seriously, jog for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, repeat. Yep, its that easy. The best part: its free. Click the image above to go check it out.

TIP: there are apps that will tell you when to start jogging, and when to start walking for nearly every mobile platform. They are often called 'couch25k' or 'c25k'.

The program claims to get you to running a 5K (3.1 miles) in just 2 months. This would be absolutely true if you did every workout exactly on time, with no injuries, illnesses, and without 'life' rearing its ugly head.

TIP: Give yourself at least a couple weeks longer than that - just in case.

There is a large FaceBook community of couch-to-5kers. Feel free to post what workout you're on, how you feel, or if you're having problems. Often, other fans will reply. Also, feel free to post those things here! I'd love to hear how you're doing!