2011 Boston Marathon… Are YOU training yet??
Ever found yourself in a lucid state, thoughts thoughtless, unable to walk straight, speech slurred, feeling as if you’re drifting away and flying on a high?
Lucid Is as Lucid Does
Well I did after my last run on Saturday. I severely neglected the impact of Massachusetts frost. I ran myself into a small case of hypothermia after a 14 mile run. But I made a couple mistakes that I’m about to tell you right now to help you not make the same mistakes as me. Let me tell you what I did first though.
I wore a pair of running tights with a pair of wicking shorts on over them. I also wore 2 layers of cold gear compression long-sleeve shirts. I accessorized with a pair of gloves, compression skull cap, Robert Belley Fitness winter hat, iPod sleeve and one 16.9 ounce bottle of Poland Springs water.
For a 14.2 mile run along 45 mph routes 27, 106 and 36 through Pembroke, Kingston, Plympton and Halifax, back into Pembroke.
So here’s what happened…
Careful, could lead to hypothermia 🙂
After the first 6.4 miles in 18-22 degree temperature I went into a Cumberland Farms on the corner of route 27 and route 106 in Kingston because I was starving from my body working harder in the cold and the last meal I had was about 5 hours prior. Well this store was about 70-75 degrees and walking around soaked from sweat in cold temps I now felt like heaven as I grabbed a Power Bar and Gatorade recovery drink.
Leaving the store I was freezing when I stepped outside, but, I still had nearly 8 miles left to run. It took me about 10 minutes if not more just to feel slightly warmer again during my run. Unfortunately I had already begun creating the damage.
By the time I reached my cool-down I could barely function properly and realized what I accomplished accidently. My body was shutting down and I was struggling making my way back home, walking through people’s yard to pick up fresh snow and eat it for hydration.
Could Save Your Life 😉
Now that’s a party!
Maybe not Charlie Sheen, duffle bag of cocaine, porn star, vodka ATV party but a party none the less.
Thank you for the $30,000 check Charles =)
So let’s bullet point my demise:
- Drank too much on Friday night leading to dehydrated state on Saturday
- Ate breakfast of apple sausages (fat and protein are inefficient fuels and require more water than carbs to digest properly)
- Only had one meal, no snacks for 5 hours before run
- Wore only running tights and wicking shorts.
- Forgot lip balm
- Did not moisturize face before run while exposed to elements for 2 full hours
- Walked into a really warm room long enough for heart rate to return to normal
- Only brought 17 ounces of water with me. Body works harder in colder temps thus needing more water to stay hydrated.
The entire above was extremely careless and foolish of me. It took about 2-3 hours for me to warm up to normal temp afterwards and my fingers tingled for up to 2 hours after my arrival. First thing I was strip off my wet clothes and jumped into 3 layers of warm clothes and sat under a fleece blanket while drinking a huge recovery shake.
So what did I do right? Bullets please…
- Brought $5 cash with me just in case I needed to buy extra water, GU packets or something to eat
- Brought one of my cell phones with me just in case I needed to call for help because of an injury or accident while running over ice
- Told my roommate the exact route I was running, how long it should take and to come get me if I were more than 30 minutes late
- Listened to kick-ass music to increase motivation and energy while running
- Wore my big boy pants and didn’t give up or give in when things got tough
And what should I have done extra to ensure I didn’t hypothermia?
- All of the above 4 bullet points
- Had an snack 30 minutes or more prior to my run of fruit or healthy quick acting carbohydrate
- Hydrated relentlessly the entire morning after a night of drinking, or not drank alcohol at all the night prior
- Put lip balm on, moisturizer for exposed skin and brought lip balm with me
- Had 2-3 times more water during my 2 hour run
- Brought GU packets or other carb-spiking energy chew/shot for every 45 minutes of running
- Wore an extra layer of track pants or similar over my running tights and shorts
All of that would have prevented my reaction to cold.
So there’s your New England Winter running survival kit during colder temps.
Live the lucid dream,
Belley
Train Hard? Think You Can Train Harder?
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Robert Belley Fitness