Zenaida Arroyo

Hey there!  It is Tuesday again and time for another fun topic to discuss.  I am actually excited about this one and hope that you still like me after reading my post.  🙂

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your running or race pet peeves?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Time to rant!  

• Runners that post their pace all of the time.  Maybe I am jealous because I will never be fast like them.  I know some people that post their Garmin AND Strava paces after each run.  I know someone that will just post her “fast” time.  Seriously?  No one cares about your pace but you.  That reminds me that I need to stop posting it in my blog too.  🙂

Source: www.garmin.com

• Walkers that start in the front of a race.  I’ve been in a few races in which I’ve crossed the start line and immediately see walkers.  Now, there is nothing wrong with walking in a race but shouldn’t they start at the back of the race?

• Runners that make sudden stops.  There’s been a few times in which I am running and the person in front of me decides to stop to either walk, fix their shorts, or tie their shoelaces.  Move to the right side!

• Runners that take up the whole path.  Ugh, so annoying.  Sometimes the path isn’t wide enough so we have to run either single file or by twos.  Yeah, some people think they own the path.

• Dog owners that don’t leash their dogs.  I know I am a cat person but do like dogs.  However, I don’t like it when I am running and there is a dog with no leash and its owner is nearby.  I dislike it even more when said dog runs towards me.  I don’t care that it is a small dog or that he is friendly and won’t bite me.  

• Runners that blast their music.  I wear headphones so that only I can hear the music.  I hate it when runners run with a small radio so that everything around them could hear it too.  Just no.

• Runners that talk non stop during  a race.  You know how I feel about talking while running.  But must you need to talk throughout the whole race?

Haha, I have quite a few.  Are any of these YOUR pet peeves or am I just a weird person?

Hey there!  Happy Tuesday again!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Taper time, love it or hate?  You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

What’s not to like about taper time?  I for one do love it and always looked forward to it when I was training for a marathon.  

So what is taper time and what is the big deal with it?  Tapering starts right after completing your last long run (which is usually 20-23 miles but depending on your training plan and/or coach).  During this time you reduce the mileage each week allowing you to rest and recover and be ready for marathon day.  Many runners think that during this time they lose fitness because of the reduced mileage.  That is not true. 

Many other great things happen during taper.  “Tapering allows muscle glycogen stores to return to peak levels.  Metabolic enzymes, antioxidants, and various hormones, depleted during training, return to their optimal ranges.  Muscle and connective tissues repair and strengthen.  And, the body’s immune system improves dramatically too.  In short, tapering allows your body to prepare for peak performance.” (Source: www.runnersworld.com)

During this time people notice a weight gain of 2 to 4 pounds.  Basically it is carbohydrate and water being stored which you will need as you run 26.2 miles.  

What else can you do during this time?
• Drink plenty of fluids and cut down on alcohol and caffeine.
• Protein is your friend.  Have more of it.  
• Eat more food with complex carbohydrates but also include traditional sources of it like rice, fruit and legumes.  

GO RUN 26.2 MILES!!!

So what is your opinion, love or hate taper time?