Alameda Runners – Get After It!

I went out for a nice long easy day on Saturday as weekends are perfect for my long, slow days.  I went out for a nondescript 8 mile run with the MP striders of Fremont.  I always enjoy running with them.  After my run, I went out for a 50-mile bike ride in the Coyote Hills Park ,where I stumbled upon an ultra marathon runner who was out for a 45-mile run in preparation for a 50-mile running race.  I slowed down to chat with him for two hours while we covered 15 miles and parted ways when he was at mile 22.5, his half way point.  Think about that for a second.  He covered 15 miles in 2 hours while out for a 45-mile run.  That is an astounding pace.  He was also chatting while running that fast.

We started out talking about how lonely it gets while out for long training runs.  Four-to-six hours of training is usually done alone as it is hard to find a training partner to do these things with you.  It is also extremely rare to stumble upon a cyclist who knows what you are going through and decides to slow down to chat for a few hours.  We agreed that ice baths are good for recovery but they are terrible things to do to your body.  Ice baths are cold.  We then covered various ways to keep ice attached to sore muscles after a long training day.  We agreed that ice is good for sore muscles.

My ultra marathon friend was fast and he was still ripped.  I asked how he managed to stay toned while running the long distances.  His secret was eating a lot.  Not exactly recommended for new runners who are just starting out.  Here are some tips he gave me during our chat:

• It is nice to work abs as part of core training but it is much more important to work on the glutes and hamstrings.  You can work this area by doing single leg squats with no weights.
• Hydrate – drink a lot of fluids during long runs.
• Eat during long runs.
• Consume electrolytes during long runs.
• Cross train.

We also talked about feet.  He told me that people who are trained for a long distance event will not quit for a blister.  If you get a blister on your foot, you can pop the blister with a sanitized needle, drain the fluid, and then close the hole with super glue.  I don’t know how well it will work but I do know that super glue works well on skin.