Product Review: "Men's Starter Compression Shorts" from Walmart.

So, this review is going to be a no brainer for long-time runners.  I suggest skipping right over it.  However, for newer runners it might be helpful!

I have read about "compression shorts" - and thought to myself that I needed a pair for my longer runs.  I don't have skinny thighs and in my longer runs - I would end up with some chaffing.  Nothing to major, but it was uncomfortable.

This concerned me a bit - especially as I am training for a run that was about 3-4 times as long as my longest runs at the time.  If 6-7 miles left me slightly chafed, what was 26 miles 385 yards going to do to me???

My buddy Dustin (he is training to run the Marine Corps Marathon with me) has used compression shorts all along on his long runs. (I guess in addition to being stronger than I am - he may be smarter too!)  Well I finally broke down and bought a pair. I'm cheap - so I got them from Wal-Mart for $10. 

I think compressions shorts may be one of the greatest things ever created for runners.  Seriously.  These things rank right up there with Vibram Five Fingers in my opinion.  But, I do want to stress one thing. NO ONE should EVER wear compression shorts without other shorts over them unless they are on a bike.  I mean literally ON a bike. If you are going to get off a bike and walk around in them - PUT SHORTS ON OVER THEM!!!  (No one wants to see your junk.)  There are very few people who can wander around in these things and not make other people feel slightly ill. One of the easy ways to know if this applies to you - is do you question if it might apply to you? If so, don't do it.

I mention this so that you realize I run with compression shorts - but with other shorts on over them.   This allows me the benefit without making everyone else pay for it.

I haven't ever tried a pair of "good" compression shorts - only cheapies from Wal-Mart.  I may pick up a good pair to see if there is any difference - but I don't suspect that they are 4 times as good as the Wal-Mart ones (since the price is four times as much.)

To any new runners out there that don't own a pair? GO GET THEM FOR YOUR LONG RUNS!!!! You will thank me for it after your next 10 miler.

Chris Thater Race Report... JUST KIDDING!!!

So, this last weekend was the Chris Thater Memorial Races.  Now practically speaking this is mostly a bunch of bicycle races (with a motorcycle as the "pace-car."  I love watching the motorcycle "lead the pack.") but on sunday at 10 am - is the Chris Thater Memorial 5k.  I like this race a lot - as it is about 1/2 a mile from my house, and the course actually goes within 500 feet of my house.  I have been VERY nervous about running it - considering my recurring calf pain.  Sunday morning rolled around and I took stock of the situation.  My calf was still sore in one spot (about the size of the tip of my finger).  After weighing the pro's and cons - I decided to pass on it.  Then on the Face Book page - "everything is cancelled for today."  This was further followed up with:
As an endnote to this morning's 2011 Chris Thater Memorial Race cancellation, the decision to cancel Sunday's race and music events was made early Sunday morning by a group of city, county, emergency services, and race officials based on the latest National Weather Service predictions for Hurricane Irene's impact on the area. Safety was the determining factor. The events will not be rescheduled, but we hope to see you all again next year.

I would have liked to have run it - I really like the course, the race is always fast, and the crowd is incredible.  But I do feel vindicated in my choice to NOT run it.  Though, I have to admit - I do now wonder if I will be getting a refund :)

A new era in training... Using rather old technology..

So, with my penchance for injuring my calves - leading to down times of running of several weeks - I have decided I need a bicycle.  So doing the wise thing I posted on Facebook and Craigslist that I was looking for a bike!  Surprisingly I got some great offers of people being willing to lend me a bike.. As long as I traveled to Australia or halfway across the country to pick them up.  It seems my friends are comedians...

I found one I was interested in on Craigslist - but the person hasn't responded after I have pestered them for several days via phone and email.  As It kind of reminded me of trying to find a date in highschool - I knew to move on.  On a good note, one of my friends let me know he had found a bicycle in his garage when he moved, and if I wanted it he would happily let me have it.

[caption id="attachment_751" align="alignright" width="640" caption="My New (to me) Ralegh Capri bicycle from the 80's!"][/caption]

Talk about old-school!  I am very excited - it's the sort of bike I wanted as a kid (yes, that was in pre-mountain bike days.. 10/12 speeds were "all that" back in the day..)

Now the bad news.. Tires? Dry rotted.  Cables? Not all are hooked up to where they are supposed to be.  Brakes? Need to "Shoes"  Chain? TBD.

Might be biking... pushups stink.

[caption id="attachment_743" align="alignright" width="121" caption="My buddy on his bike he is lending me. Ok.. not really."][/caption]

So, one of my friends has a bike I can borrow.  Hopefully I can pick it up tonight and see if it is rideable.  I have been wanting to see how I like riding a bike now - so it's a great opportunity to try it, before buying one with taxes this spring.  If I find I do, then I am thinking of trying to do the Pan-Mass Challenge in 2013 with Darryl, a family member of mine that has done it for the last two years.  (mind you - by do the pmc with him - I mean he will finish WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY ahead of me, and we can talk about it then...)  It also has the added bonus of getting Yankees fans at work to contribute to something sponsored by the Red Sox.

Bad Run! Bad Run! NO COOKIE FOR YOU!

[caption id="attachment_735" align="alignright" width="213" caption="The cause of my Alcohol-Induced-lllness."][/caption]

So, as you my readers may already know - I was a complete slacker last week and did not run like I should have.  This trend continued on sunday when - due to my alcohol-induced-illness (combined with countless family visits), my long-run did not happen.  However, since i am such a conscientious runner (with an over-active sense of guilt), I felt I should make up my long run last night.  Luckily - we have a the Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half-Marathon course that was mapped out and certified right in town AND it goes right by my house.  How perfect is that?

So after my wife got home from work, off I went with my trusty water bottle!  I was a little frustrated as my Droid X doesn't seem to have a functional GPS anymore.  I'm not sure if it is a hardware error, or something with a recent update to the Maps/Navigation. 

[caption id="attachment_734" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Map of the Bridge Run Half Marathon Course"][/caption]

  For this run - I was using a pre-mapped course so while I wouldn't have my splits (Frustrating), I would at least know exactly how far I went! 

I took it nice and slow, with no worry about how fast/far I was going.  (This was very easy to do as I didn't have a phone with GPS to give me splits or let me know what my pace was.) 

Vacation Week!

So I have not been consistently posting this week, and I have no doubt that you are wondering why.  First off I want to reassure you that I have not been testing out the effectiveness of a RoadID, nor ran off to Switzerland to try to avoid extradition for some heinous crime. In reality it has simply been a hectic vacation week that has/is including such exciting things as root canals, cave exploration, sister's weddings and not as much running as I had hoped.  After the warrior dash my knee has been bothering me - though I am not too sure if I banged it on a log, wrenched it on the steep down hills or if my wife did something while I was sleeping.  Regardless, I have been trying to give it (and my ever-present Achilles issues) a chance to heal.

I did a nice 4.2 mile run on Weds. and my quads were STILL sore from walking the ski trails at the Warrior Dash.  Yesterday was spent walking through Howes Caverns and the Old Stone Fort - a fantastic but tiring day spent walking - still great exercise!

With my sister's wedding this weekend, I am not too sure what running will happen.

Sorry about any misspellings or grammatical errors, I wrote this one on my  phone!

Saturday's 12.2 miles - my longest run to date!

So, although I already posted about Sunday's run - I thought I would come back to saturday.  I will admit - it wasn't nearly as exciting however, it was noteworthy!  On Saturday, I ran the farthest I have run to date - going .7 miles beyond my previous record!  Having topped my previous "record" - I am feeling quite pleased with my training plan thus far!  This weekend should hit the "half-marathon" distance - probably my biggest single milestone to date!

But about the run - it was a beautiful day for it - and I felt good out there.  The temperatures have cooled a little which means my trusty water bottle lasts much longer!  I headed out through glorious down town Binghamton, and at the 2.2 mile marker - I went by a demolished building.  Luckily for you my readers, I KNEW you were going to ask - "Can I see the demolished building?"  And I took a picture for you!

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="A freshly demolished building in downtown Binghamton!"][/caption]