Gear Review: Pace Crops

Posted on May 20, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

Spring is here! I experienced one of my favorite springtime traditions recently – the switching of the running clothes. I keep out of season gear in big boxes in my basement, and, twice each year, that means that I get to switch seasons of my athletic gear. The switch almost always leads to the purchase of a few new items to add to my collection.

Given my deep an abiding love of all things Lululemon (and, full disclosure, my Ambassador status), Lululemon was the logical destination for new gear. I am in love with the Pace Tights and decided to try their sister crops, the Run: Pace Crops. I bought the black/frond pair and have now tested them on a number of runs (and one race!).

I like these crops. Honestly, I was a bit confused by the crops the first time I wore them. I expected them to fit and feel like their Pace Tights sister, but they’re more like distant cousins. The Pace Crops fit differently and look distinct from the tights. But, the fit and feel are great. They are primarily Power Luxtreme, with a very lightweight feel. The back of the knees has Circle Mesh venting. I like the added touch of the Circle Mesh. It keeps the material from bunching behind the knees for a comfortable stride. The crops have two gel pockets in the front waistband and a zipper pocket in the back waistband. The inseam is 17 inches, or just below knee length.

I have worn these crops on several runs. In the cool and humid conditions that are typical in the spring in my area, the crops were just the right weight for running comfort. The lightweight feel of the material was perfect for the soggy weather. The Power Luxtreme material was quick to dry and stayed comfortable, holding its shape even when wet. The waistband felt secure and the circle drawstring enabled me to get a good fit around my waist. The flat seams ensured that my skin was chafe-free. I appreciated the small, reflective strip on the side of the leg. It was just right for lower light running. Overall, I love my Run: Pace Crops. They fit well, they’re lightweight, and they perform in a variety of conditions.

Grade: A

Suggested Retail Price: $86 on the Lululemon website (Direct link here) – and they now come in adorable, bright colors!

Details for Rachel’s outfit, above: Lululemon pullover in frond (they don’t make this one anymore – sorry), black Lululemon Speed Demon Run Hat (I LOVE this hat and its sister, the Shady Lady Run Visor), Brooks Pure Flow shoes. And, don’t worry. I’m not going to die in the picture, I’m just squinting at the finish line clock.

Ragnar Cape Cod 2013

Posted on May 13, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

You know what’s fun? Cruising around in a van with five friends on Cape Cod, one of whom occasionally hops out to run. That’s the basic premise behind Ragnar Relays and I love them!

A few friends thought Ragnar Cape Cod sounded like fun. I was quick to sign up, having loved Hood to Coast. The camaraderie, running fun, and adventure makes an overnight relay totally worth the lack of sleep. We planned and organized, rented vans and a house, and, finally, Ragnar was upon us. I packed using my super awesome Hood to Coast packing list and was ready to run the (slightly cooler) Cape Cod relay. I headed up to our rental house on the Cape the night before and met my team. Though I sort of knew most of the runners, it was pretty much a friend-of-a-friend situation and I had signed up to spend two days in a van with total strangers. Luckily, they were awesome and we became fast friends. Friday morning dawned bright and early, with Van 1 heading up the to start at Hull, MA.

It was freezing! We’re talking 45 degrees, cloudy, and 40 mile and hour winds. We underwent our safety check, flag distribution, and safety briefing and it was time for our first runner to start. Everyone else loaded into the van and I drove us to Exchange 1. Excellent. Ragnar was underway. I had 7 miles (which turned out to be 6.4 – the Rag Mag gave an update of the course that didn’t totally match what was online) of “very hard” running ahead of me. It turned out to be an amazing day to run. I loved it. I cruised along at a decent, but conservative, clip and finished my miles in what seemed like no time. I was having a great time!

After my run, it was time to hop in the van and cruise around some more. There was singing along with the radio – our van had XM!

Generally, we had a good time and made it to the first major exchange upbeat, happy, and bonded in the way only strangers trapped in a van together can bond. We decided on a trip to a nearby mall and dinner for our first van break. I bought gardening gloves because my hands were freezing. A teammate got some new tights. We were suited up, hydrated, and ready for dinner. A quick stop at a chain restaurant and we were back on the road. My view was pretty much the same.

Run two was a night run, so headlamp and vest were required. I suited up and headed out on a run that made our local runner shake his head. Never a good sign. I asked if it was flat and he snorted an evil laugh. Apparently there was some massive hill in the middle of my 6 miles. I got running and the course started going up around mile 2. “This isn’t so bad”, I thought. And then, in the distance, I saw the headlights way, way above me. As I got closer, I heard the steady stream of vans shifting into a lower gear, struggling to get up the hill with the cargo of runners. Let’s just say it isn’t terribly encouraging to know that vans are struggling to get up a hill you’re about to run. In the dark. I think the darkness might have helped. I couldn’t see how high or steep the hill was, only the tiny patch in front of me, so I put my head down and pushed up the hill. I passed a lot of people. Seeing their little blinking lights ahead was highly motivating and I cruised along into a town. After a quick run past some office buildings, my second run was done. Hooray! Time to sleep! Our van decided to head back to the house and sleep in our own (rental) beds and shower. It was a great idea. I plopped down in bed and was asleep right away. I got a whole hour of sleep. Actual, in-a-bed sleep. Then I woke up, took a hot shower, ate an apple, and got back in the van, ready to run.

My last run was supposed to be 5 miles, moderate. I was sore, but not terribly sore, so I trotted along and tried to focus on the rising sun. It was kind of pretty – being in the middle of nowhere and listening to the birds. I came up over a hill, and there was the exchange, 2 miles too early. My first thought was that I had blacked out. No. Not the case. My second thought was that I would just run through. There was no way my team would be there since I was only 20-something minutes into a much longer run. Imagine my surprise when I came up and found my teammate not only there, but ready and excited to run the extra two miles (making his leg 9!) that were added due to the change in exchange. I still don’t know why the exchange was moved, and I was a little sad I didn’t get my full mileage. Now that I’ve just written that I’m thinking – what a weirdo. I was sad to be shorted 2 miles in an overnight relay. I wanted to run more. Clearly I’m a crazy lady. Anyhow, I was overjoyed to be done.

My team made a morning stop at the most amazing French bakery ever. We had what I refer to as the French Food Orgy. We were all so hungry, and so tired, we ate pastry like animals. It was amazing. Before we knew it, it was time to head to the finish line at Provincetown and climb the memorial to the pilgrims. It was a gorgeous day, a well-organized course, and an overall fun adventure. I had an amazing time, met great new friends, and ran a little. If you have 11 friends, two vans, and a weekend, run a Ragnar. It’s an amazing experience!

Cox Providence Half Marathon 2013 – updated

Posted on May 12, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

Updated! I added the elevation profile, by popular demand.

Today, I ran in the UnitedHealthcare Cox Providence Half Marathon. It was not a great day. It was one of those runs were nothing works – it’s just too bad it happened during a race.

The day was dark, cool, and rainy. At race start it was 60 degrees with 100% humidity. It was foggy, grey, and sprinkling off and on. I appreciated the cool temperatures and overcast sky, but wasn’t very excited about the rain. High humidity is asthmatic hell, so I knew it would be a tough race. I got to the parking area bright and early and headed for the “Exchange Terrace” area, a little street across from a park where they have an ice skating area in the winter. According to my pre-race email and attached instructions, packet pickup was on Exchange Terrace. I wandered around for a little while, totally lost. There were lots of people, but not a volunteer in sight. There was no one to ask for help and no sign of an obvious packet pick up area. Finally, I saw someone with a goody bag and asked. Packet pick up was in the ballroom of the Omni Hotel, a block away. I walked on over to the Omni and waited in line. Wrong line. I waited in a second line and got my bib. When I got to the t-shirt station, a not-that-friendly volunteer barked “Only larges left. You want one?” Resigned, I accepted my large, men’s shirt. Not quite the extra small I was hoping for. Everyone around me milled around in a state of confused disappointment. No one got the shirt they wanted and all of us were lost. There were no volunteers to help. I pinned my bib and followed the crowd, hoping they would lead me to the starting line. They did and I got there with 15 minutes to spare until the 8am race start. It’s definitely a post-Boston world. I noticed lots of security staff. Men with huge guns wandered in the crowd, police were stationed on rooftops.

8:05 passed, then 8:10. There was no sign of an imminent race start. At 8:13 someone sang the national anthem. The crowd was getting restless. All of the pre-race materials had said 8am start. Thousands of people were standing in the rain. Finally, at 8:17 (?) the race was underway.

The first four miles went well. I was cruising along and feeling soggy, but fine. I’ve been having some trouble with my knee (the had-surgery one) and it began to stiffen up. It doesn’t like the rain, and really doesn’t like changes in atmospheric pressure. The front rolling through was not a friend to my knee. My poor knee was stuck in a half-bent state, totally stiff and not straightening well in the forward part of my stride. I didn’t think it was too much of a problem until mile 7, when my calf and hamstring started cramping. Not dehydrated cramping, but weird muscle spasm/charlie horse cramping. I resolved to slow down and start walking the water stops. A side note on water stops. What a mess! The pre-race guide said water stops would be every mile and a half. No such luck. There didn’t seem to be much of a pattern to the water stops, only that they were about 2+ miles apart. Most were understaffed, a volunteer or two per table, so runners were pouring their own water. There was no pattern to the Gatorade/water distribution. Sometimes Gatorade was first, sometimes not, and sometimes it was all mixed together with both in one area and in the same style cups. The cup styles weren’t even consistent so there was chaos at every water station. Runners were coming to a full stop to search for and find a cup that had the right liquid in it. It was a volunteer staffing and organizational problem.

I felt wheezy and asthmatic. The humidity was not kind to my asthma or my knee. The wheels fell off at mile 9. My leg muscles were firing at all the wrong times. I couldn’t seem to get them to coordinate with the bending of my knee. I felt like Phoebe from Friends when she runs in the park. I’m sure I looked normal, but I felt miserable. I trudged along. I’m sad to say there was a lot of walking while I tried to get things under control and avoid running with a limp. This race wasn’t worth an injury, or angering my funny IT band attachment point, so I slowed WAY down to avoid limping.

The course itself was well-marked, but poorly staffed. There were no medical tents or personnel along the course. The few volunteers I did see at points in the course other than the water stops were children. Children young enough that I began to wonder where their parents were and why their parents were letting them stand on a street corner on a race course in arguably questionable neighborhoods. There were plenty of police offices at major road crossings, but few volunteers. The course itself was winding, and passed through a few attractive, and a few unattractive areas of Providence and Pawtucket. Compared to the Rock N Roll Providence course, this course was more older neighborhoods with less gentrification.

Finally, mercifully, the race course curved past the river (there were swans!) and toward the finish line. I was grateful for the race to be over, but sorry to see the report from my Garmin (thank goodness I had my Garmin since the clocks were all set to the marathon time, not half). I was headed to a Personal Worst. Now, I’m always happy to run a slow race and pace a friend, or be sensible when I’m undertrained, but this PW hurt. I am fit. I tapered. I ate well. I got plenty of sleep. I don’t know what went wrong. Other than a perfect storm of bad weather + asthma + knee stiffness + muscle problems, I don’t have an explanation.

I’m still a little sad about the race. I don’t know what went wrong. I’ll go back to my training log and look for a lesson, but this just might be one race in which the lesson is that sometimes running is random. Sometimes a run just doesn’t work. Today was one of those days.

The look of resignation. A PW.

Updated – here is the elevation profile.

Cox Providence Rhode Race Elevation Profile – Half Marathon

Ragnar on the Run

Posted on May 3, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

I’m writing from Van 1 in the midst of a Ragnar Relay. We are just about done with our second set of runs in Ragnar Cape Cod. A full review will come later, but here’s what I know so far:
- The difference between a “very hard” leg and a “hard” leg is indiscernible.
- I can get lost even with flashing lights identifying every turn.
- A kids’ meal burger will taste amazing for dinner but may be a source of regret later.
- It is possible to join a van with only one person you know and make fast friends with four strangers.
- Night time pictures have a cool Tron effect.

So, in sum, we are having a great time and enjoying a total adventure!

Running for Boston

Posted on April 23, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

Since the tragedy in Boston, I’ve been keeping up on the news, following the recovery efforts, and generally staying informed. What’s been most inspiring to me is the amazing outpouring of support for the One Fund Boston and the Boston Strong/Run for Boston campaigns. All across the country (and the internet), runners are coming together to support the citizens of Boston, law enforcement, and our running brothers and sisters who were impacted by the tragedy. I have heard so many stories of runners who have been inspired to donate, run, and speak out to support our community.

Never one to pass up an opportunity to run in support of others, I immediately sought out opportunities to lend support to the various causes. Immediately after the tragedy, I wore my races shirts in support of the running community. The Tuesday after the tragedy, I led my usual Lululemon Run Club run and our little group ran 4.09 miles, the last few moment in silence for Boston.

Early this week, I had a work obligation that took me to another state. With a group of non-runners, I was worried that no one would understand my desire to observe a minute of silence at 2:50pm (right in the middle of a meeting). When everyone immediately agreed to my request, it hit me. The Boston bombing was about more than just running and its impact is far-reaching. My non-running colleagues wanted to hear about my experience and learn about the running community. To them, all runners are Boston marathoners. I love being a part of my strong running community and being a Boston marathoner at heart.

I was far away from my running home and my community’s efforts to gather a group and run for Boston on Monday night. Undeterred, on Monday I set out on my own private run for Boston. I left my hotel room and ran 4 miles in silence with Boston on my mind. I’ve donated to the One Fund for Boston and bought my BAA tribute shirts. Today, and every day, we are a strong running community. We are Boston Strong. I couldn’t be more proud to call myself a runner.

A Sad Day in Boston

Posted on April 16, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

Yesterday, Patriots’ Day 2013, a running friend and I had the honor of being spectators at the Boston Marathon. We started the day bright and early, driving to Riverside and then riding the T into Newton. We were super excited, runners heading to our holy land. Our plan was to walk out to the course in Newton, around mile 20, to view the race. We were delighted to find that we emerged from the T just past mile 20, at the foot of Heartbreak Hill. We had plenty of time before the elite athletes were expected to arrive, so we walked around and took pictures.

Our excitement only grew as the race updates indicated that the lead runners were getting closer and closer. Before long, the lead group was in front of us. It was amazing to be so close to the elite athletes I admire.

The women’s and men’s leader groups passed by, and then came the rush of sub-elites and “normal people”. It was thrilling. I loved cheering for the runners and seeing their joy as they came up and over Heartbreak Hill. I sent my mom this picture, and the message “I want to do this one day”.

We watched for hours, cheering and ringing our bells. Back at the T station, we began getting text messages. Friends and family were worried, asking if we were safe, ok, and not near the finish line. We had no idea what had happened. I immediately got on social media to find out what had happened. I was horrified. Explosions at the finish line had killed some, hurt hundreds, and ruined what, for many people, was an amazing, empowering, and beautiful day.

In the midst of great achievement and euphoria, there was all this horror and suffering. It was so incongruous that it was difficult to understand. Today, I still don’t understand how something so terrible could happen at an event that is truly about the power of the human spirit. And today, none of the wonderful moments are quite as wonderful. All of my beautiful memories are tarnished by the sadness of what has happened.

But Boston is strong and resilient. Runners are strong and resilient. We will not be defeated. We are united. We are Boston. And, one day, I will run Boston. I’m Boston-bound with 4.09 miles tonight in honor of those who were harmed by this senseless tragedy.

Mini Race Recap: Hartford 1/4 Marathon

Posted on April 6, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

The Greater Hartford Quarter Marathon, hosted by the Hartford Track Club and benefitting Blazeman Foundation for ALS, was a great race. With wonderful weather, a big group of friends, and a beautiful course, it was just about perfect.

The race course is a two-loop course run around the paved trails in the MDC Reservoir in West Hartford. It’s a gorgeous course. The first couple (and middle couple since it’s a loop) miles have a number of what we New Englanders call “rollers”, gradual hills that make for a smooth up and down experience.

About 2 (and 4.5) miles into the race, the course comes around a bend, giving runners a picturesque view of the runners ahead as they pass beyond a lake and around a curve. It was gorgeous. The sun was shining on the water and the birds were chirping. Beautiful! The course was extremely well marked, with accurate mile signs and sand markings noting the course direction. It would be difficult to go the wrong way given that the course is a well-planned loop on paved trails. A runner would have to work hard to get lost in this one. The wooded views were magnificent and the lakes, ponds, and reservoir areas were the picture of New England beauty.

To check out the pictures from the event, head on over to the event’s Facebook page.

Details for Rachel’s outfit, above: Lululemon Pace Crops in black/frond, Lululemon Rise and Shine Pullover in frond, Lululemon Speed Demon Run Hat (best hat ever, by the way – it has a short, curvy brim that keeps sun out of your eyes from the side!), and Brooks Pure Flow shoes

Randomness

Posted on April 5, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Not for lack of ideas, but for lack of time, energy, motivation…I don’t know what. Things have been a little extra crazy at work, but that isn’t it. I was sick for a while, but that isn’t it, either. I think that it’s one of those perfect storm situations – everything was a little off for a while, making my schedule a mess and throwing off my usual flow. But, I’m back, and hopefully more organized. So, here’s a little post about what I’ve been thinking about lately.

Did you see this amazing Running Times article? In “An Elite State of Mind”, David Alm writes about what he learned from his foray into the ranks of elite runners. While running as an elite is something I can only dream about, the ideas David presents really resonated with me. I loved it so much I read it three times. In a row. David says there are four keys to an elite attitude: 1) Don’t treat training runs or race times as indications of your self-worth, 2) Value every runner’s efforts, success and potential, 3) Don’t beat yourself up in training or in evaluating your workouts and racing, and 4) Recognize that your running ability is a result of many factors, not just how serious you are or how hard you push. It was two and four that really got me. Every runner deserves recognition for her efforts, success, and potential, with the recognition that any success is the result of a combination of factors. Too often, at the slower end of the spectrum, I see runners devalue other runners for any number of ridiculous reasons. So often, it’s because of speed. Now that I’m in the mid-pack, I’ve written about my thoughts on back of the pack life. It isn’t always friendly. Why does this happen? As runners, we should build each other up, support each other, and value each other. Speed isn’t the most important thing, nor is your training log, your PRs, or any other marker of running “success”. What’s important is how running makes you feel. If you love it, and I love it, that’s enough for me.

Want to be inspired by the power of running to give back to a community? Check out the write ups (here and here for good ones) of the Hartford Marathon Foundation’s Sandy Hook Run for the Families 5k. The inaugural event raised over $40,000 for charities associated with the Newtown shooting tragedy. What’s even more wonderful than the huge response and the fundraising was the spirit of the race. Thousands of runners and spectators, all wearing green, holding hands, running together, and being with the families of the Newtown tragedy in spirit. It was a great event, and one that made me proud to be a runner.

It’s in the Manifesto

Posted on March 25, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

Stress is related to 99% of all illness.

It’s a line from the Lululemon Manifesto and it couldn’t be more true for me right now. If you’ve been following, I said yes and became a Lululemon Ambassador. I had been planning to blog about the many bits of wisdom in the Lululemon Manifesto, but sickness intervened. Then the idea came to me – I could write about being sick because Lululemon has that one covered. Stress is related to 99% of all illness.

The last few weeks have been stressful – work drama, challenges in my professional life, running injury, and a to do list a mile long. On top of that, I had work travel scheduled. Any time I so much as step foot on a plane, I get sick. There’s something about the whole process that triggers an immune system meltdown. Maybe it’s the stress of packing, or the rush at work just before the trip, or the thousands of people with exotic germs at the airport, or the canned air germ festival on the plane, but the whole thing just makes me instantly ill. Overall, the stress of travel is too much for my feeble immune system. Add in asthma, with lungs that attract every germ within a mile radius, and I’m sick. Again. Time for rest, recovery, and lots of water.

Fingers are crossed that this illness makes its way out of my life as quickly as it came.

Stretching and Yoga and Rolling, Oh My!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by DrRachelRuns

This week, I began coaching a half marathon training group. I was not too surprised to see that the pre- and post-run routines of many of my runners included a bit of awkward shuffling, and a half hearted calf stretch. Most runners underestimate the value of a good stretching, warm up, and cool down routine in injury prevention. And, for many newer runners, or runners transitioning to a distance at which recovery becomes super important, just don’t know what to do. Enter the awkward shuffling. This post is dedicated to pre-rehab, in hopes that it will inspire just one of you to begin cultivating a stretching. rolling, and strengthening routine that promotes injury prevention.

Pre-Run
Before beginning a long run, it’s a good idea to warm up. Most runners know this, but few heed this sound advice, myself included. My desire to warm up properly when it’s 10 degrees outside is limited, but ample research supports the value of a dynamic warmup in injury prevention. Maybe you’ve heard the stretching cold muscles causes injury advice. That’s true, but a warmup that includes dynamic (read: not static) stretching can activate stabilizing muscles and warm up large muscle groups – both good things. A good dynamic warm up includes key movements that activate muscles in the legs and core. Start with a few walking lunges. Do some old school butt kicks. Try a few leg swings to activate the glutes. Finish up with a few tippy toe walks or toy soldier walks. Simple. Spending 5 minutes on this easy series will not only help with warm up and neuromuscular activation, but will likely prevent simple strains and other nagging injuries from taking hold. Here’s a video of another version of a dynamic warm up that focuses on neuromuscular activation (especially good if you’re training on uneven surfaces. like trails).

Post-Run
After your run, cool down properly. I can’t emphasize this point enough. It isn’t good for the body to come to an immediate and complete stop. The muscles and circulatory system do not see stopping the Garmin and lying on the grass as a cool down. Cool down with a few minutes of gentle jogging or walking, then, return to the pre-run dynamic movements. Stretch the body with dynamic moves before static moves. After the run, stretch the key running tight spots – glutes, hamstrings, quads, IT band attachments, and calves. Like yoga? Try a few poses. The best post-run poses for runners include triangle, pyramid, pigeon (or reclining pigeon), happy baby, and spinal twists.

Maintenance
Keep loose in between runs with a strengthening and stretching routine that highlights key muscle groups used in running. I may be biased since I am a yoga teacher, but yoga is a great way to improve muscle activation and build stamina while increasing flexibility. Yoga classes which feature vinyasa, or movements linked with breath, can be particularly useful for runners, as they emphasize dynamic motions and more complicated muscular movements in a series. Look for a yoga teacher who is an athlete, or ask other athletes which yoga classes they prefer. With so many styles to choose from, there’s a yoga class for everyone.

For muscle maintenance, nothing beats a regular session with a foam roller. A foam roller is just what it sounds like – a cylinder, or roller, made of foam. By positioning the roller on the body and then rolling the body across the roller, the runner loosens up muscles and breaks up adhesions that can cause painful injuries. Foam rollers are inexpensive and easy to use. If you’re new to foam rolling, check out this helpful article and video series about self-massage with the foam roller. Aim to foam roll between once a day and twice a week. Many runners also like The Stick for self-massage. The Stick is a thin pole with a number of rolling beads set into it. The Stick is great for precision massage in tight spots that might be inaccessible to the larger foam roller. The Stick is also much smaller than a foam roller and easily transported. I carry a Stick in my running bag so that I have it for every run.

The bottom line – a good system of pre-rehab that includes massage, stretching, and strengthening, can be an important step toward staying healthy and injury free. Thinking about injury prevention before and after every run can not only help in preventing nagging running injuries, but can improve performance through muscular activation. So, instead of shuffling awkwardly before your next run, try a dynamic warm up to give your body, and your mind, a boost.

Tag Archives: running