Running through mud (or what I have learned)

Today’s run was the first early morning jaunt I took since the previously-blogged marathon. I’d been putting off the colder temperatures due to being sick. The cold I suffered (but like a man, mind you), came about as a result of running said marathon.

As I was slogging along my six-mile route, and still dealing with the after effects of the cold (manly-like), I was launching sortie after sortie of snot rockets. NASA had nothing on me. It made me realize that running is not a pretty sport. It’s kinda gross what with the sweating, spitting and snotting.

But I also came to the realization that there was a lot I didn’t know going into the marathon that I wished I had known before. There’s plenty of information online for first-timers – if you know the right questions to Google (do these running pants make my butt look sporty?). Or you can plunk down some serious cash and buy one of those daunting tomes the running mags publish, only to get bored and use it as a coffee table.

Here, then, is a list of the things I wish I had known back when I started running:

• Shoes: I knew shoes were important, but not how important. I was more concerned about price than I was about comfort or foot safety. What I learned was that shoes matter. A lot. More than any other gear. Get to a running specialty store, not a sporting good store, and get fitted. It will make your run easier, faster and you will beat all other runners the first time you run in an event (no, you won’t, but your feet will thank you.
• Immunity: My thought process has always been the more exercise you do, the stronger your immune system will be. So the longer you run, the healthier you’ll be, right? What I learned is quite the opposite. Apparently, when a person commits the body to more than 90 minutes of strenuous exercise, it begins to break down the immune system. To combat the problem, increase your vitamin C intake before half and full marathons and the like. And avoid sick wards. And sick people. Like Rotarians and Kiwanis.
• Listen to your body, part one: I’m pretty stubborn. It’s not easy for me to take the advice of others. It’s not easy for me to accept help. And, come hell or high cliches, if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. So if I say I’m going to run 10 miles, I’d better do it. What I learned was your body is very vocal. There’s no law saying you have to run until you drop. If your body says stop, then stop. If it tells you to walk a bit, by all means do it. If you gotta poop, get to a toilet. Don’t ever be that guy.
• Listen to your body, part two: Five days a week, I’m a slave to the alarm clock. Too many times I’ve committed to getting up and running, only to (pun alert) run myself into the ground. What I learned was that it’s OK to shut off the alarm. If you’re tired, sleep.
• Tunes: The only thing you should be listening to is the Best of Barry Manilow. No questions asked. Kidding. What I learned is that different tempo songs will motivate the speed you run. Build your playlist around that. I listen to everything from Pantera and The Black Crowes to 10,000 Maniacs and The Ramones. Just don’t forget the Manilow.
• What you should learn: Don’t listen to me. Find your own answers and what works for you. There are plenty of things to learn, but ultimately, it comes down to what your body reacts best to.