5 running books for your summer reading

As we know, running can be such a fitting metaphor for life, which can be reflected in literature. And whether it’s fiction, non-fiction or biography, running can take many forms in a book: the central theme, the protagonist, antagonist or diversion.

With summer and traveling seasons upon us, running is an ideal subject of books during your (hopeful) downtime. So, here are five books (in no particular order) about running to consider adding to your summer reading list.

 

Born to Run, Christopher McDougall

I put this at the top of my list. McDougall weaves multiple stories with an expansive backdrop (Mexico’s isolated Copper Canyons) into this instant classic. It could also be argued that Born to Run single-handedly paved the way for the minimalist running movement. This real-life tale is thoroughly researched, amazingly well written, and I’d recommend it for anyone who’s a runner, wants to become a runner, or knows a runner.

McDougall’s follow-up to Born to Run (titled Natural Born Heroes) was published last month.

Daniels’ Running Formula, Jack Daniels

This might not necessarily fit snug into everyone’s idea of “summer reading”, mostly because it’s not a mindless read. To the contrary, its depth is fascinating—and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Daniels conveys cutting-edge science in a way that’s accessible, readable and understandable. If you’re looking for a training program to get you to the next level (and the how and why behind it), this is the book for you. PRs all around the world were achieved as a result of Jack Daniels and his book, now in its third edition.

Racing the Sunset, Scott Tinley

Tinley was triathlon’s first international superstar, helping catapult the sport from a way for athletes to spend a weekend into a way for athletes to make a (very good) living. But, as Tinley aged, he wasn’t able to keep up with the new younger guns on the triathlon circuit. And, like most professional athletes, Tinley (a two-time winner and four-time runner-up of the Ironman World Championship) was forced to meet Father Time head-on, and find ways to deal with the transition. Racing the Sunset didn’t blow my socks off. Tinley is a good enough writer, but the book lacked a certain oomph and left me wanting more.

Duel in the Sun, John Brant

This book’s subtitle (The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley and America’s Greatest Marathon) is just half of what this book is really about. The other half is the stunning contrast between these two competitors. Leading up to the race, Salazar and Beardsley couldn’t have come from more different backgrounds. And the directions they and their lives both took post-race were also incredibly dissimilar. But for fewer than two-and-a-half hours on a historically hot day in 1982 along the world’s most iconic marathon course, they shared an experience that’s widely regarded as one of our sport’s most memorable.

Once a Runner, John L. Parker, Jr.

For anyone who’s ever run to escape for just a moment (or longer), this notable book should resonate. Running is certainly secondary in the first part of the book, and Parker’s prose buoys the story along until we get to the nitty gritty. And if you’ve ever been a track rat (as yours truly was) and loved your interval training, the chapter where the protagonist does 400-meter repeats is certainly one for the ages.

Parker’s newest book, Racing the Rain, comes out July 14.

And there you have it kids, five books I recommend hauling around (or downloading) for your summer travels. And of course, there are many, many more worthy books on running that I didn’t mention, so I’d like to know: What’s your go-to running book?

Odds and ends, here and there

We’re pretty dang lucky to live where we do. Our running community is so supportive of our athletes, local events and collegiate efforts. It's truly inspiring. And with a busy spring and summer ahead of us, here's a quick roundup of what's happening this time of year.

Boston Marathon roundup

In case you missed it, about a dozen runners from Butte County traveled to run in the Boston Marathon last Monday. Michael Daily finished in under 2 hours, 50 minutes. Robin St. Clare placed second in her age group. And finishing arguably the world’s most prestigious race fulfilled dreams.

Fleet Feet was even featured on Action News broadcasts throughout the day. Here’s the TV spot we appeared in at the top of the newscast: http://bit.ly/chico-boston-tv.

Oh, and Ric Ortner? He decided to not only run Boston last Monday, but also run the Big Sur Marathon yesterday. Simply amazing and inspiring, Ric!

Is it summer yet?

As the spring marathon training programs culminate with the Eugene Marathon on May 10, some of you may already chomping at the bit to get into the next program. Good news!

Training programs for the Summer Sizzler 5k and 10k are right around the corner. The programs include intermediate 5k, intermediate 10 and advanced 10k levels, beginning June 13 (don’t worry, we’ll keep reminding you).

The Summer Sizzler (which takes place August 9) is currently open for registration.

The No Boundaries 5k training program is also open for registration. We’re not jiving you when we say that this training program is a LIFE CHANGER. This summer’s NoBo program begins June 3, it also targets the Summer Sizzler, and registration is open.

Road trip anyone?

And the Chico State track and field team begins its quest for postseason excellence at the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference meet. Just a short drive to San Francisco State University, the meet runs from Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2, as the Wildcats try to lock up as many NCAA qualifying marks for the NCAA Division II National Championships, which take place May 21-23 in in Allendale, Mich.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on locally this time of year. Be sure to keep up to date with local happenings by visiting our race calendar. 

Starting from scratch

At one point in my life, I considered myself a pretty decent marathon runner. But I fell off that wagon hard in recent years and into a colossal puff of dust.

I long knew it was time for me to get back into shape and run again – or at the very least, seek some semblance of fitness after largely doing nothing for the better part of three years. So I decided to do something about it.

Instead of keeping it private (which, incidentally, is a fantastic way for it to NEVER happen), I made a public intention in a blog post that I was going to run the California International Marathon on December 6, 2015. I required accountability, and that’s the path I chose.

My reasons for choosing CIM:

• It’s geographically close (relatively)
• It’s fast
• It’s familiar
• I wanted to do a marathon in 2015, and, in spite being nearly a year away, CIM qualified

That last one was a biggie for me. I thought about tackling the Eugene Marathon. I have friends making the trek to Eugene (road trip!). I PR’d at Eugene. Hayward Field would be a memorable place to celebrate the end of my sedentary self.

If only Eugene would have been later in the year to give me more time. So I opted for CIM.

I'll lay out exactly what I mean when I say I'd been "largely doing nothing": After many years of integrating 60- to 70-mile weeks into my life, I probably averaged five or six runs a year over three years.

That’s not a lot. And I spent birthdays Nos. 40-43 lamenting my injuries, laziness and subsequent weight gain (and plummeting self-esteem). I allowed circumstances to control me, instead of me controlling my circumstances. And that was a crappy feeling.

So, how’s the training going? So far so good. A couple of weeks ago I strung together a week-plus consecutive days. I started at two miles a day and have moved up to three(-ish). Easter week was a bump in the road, and I’ve returned to the road/trail/dirt that I realized I missed so much. And I don't feel like I'm wearing a fat suit when I run, so there's that.

[It ain’t much, but I’m on Strava if you care to follow me. Even if you don’t care to, I’m still there.]

The training is getting easier (even if life isn’t, which continues to throw me curveballs), and I know I’ll soon push up against and through barriers (three miles, five, eight, 10, etc.). Because I was always running from a decent level of fitness, I took for granted just how difficult is to start from scratch.

I’m finding joy in running again – and it reminds me to care for myself, that those around me (namely my children) might actually benefit from seeing me do that. 

Instead of making excuses, I’m making the most of what I have, right now, in this life.

My New Year's Resolution for 2015

I’m running the California International Marathon in 2015.

While that might not sound like a big declaration to some, it is to me, since I last ran a marathon in 2011. And, in all honesty, I’ve probably run around 100 miles in the four years since (most likely less).

It’s time to change.

I’m saying it here that, barring catastrophe, I plan to toe the line for CIM in exactly 11 months and one day.

The last time I started a marathon (my 10^th marathon), I didn’t finish it (the first time I’d ever done that). In Dec. 2011, I tried what’s playfully called a Daily Double: running two separate marathons in two different states in the same day (I did finish the first one, though, so there’s that…).

At the time I saw it as a fabulous failure, but now I recognize it as a necessary part of the work-in-progress called Me.

Those who know me know that running was a tremendously important part of my life. After my DNF in late 2011, I’ve had physical, personal and professional hiccups, all of which forced running to the back burner. And I’m OK with that.

What I’m not OK with is the lack of focus in maintaining my general health that hitched a ride like a hobo on a train. I need something to point to. I require a goal. I must be accountable.

It’s time to change.

And that’s why I’m outing myself here, saying publicly that I’m ready to train for, run and complete another marathon. If you read my last blog post (5 Ways To Stay Motivated During Winter), you’ll recall that No. 2 was “Make an intention, go public.”

After my fingers snapped those words out on my laptop, I realized that was what I needed to do. And well, this is me following my own advice.

Having hardly run over the last three years, I’m essentially starting from scratch, and it’s just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other over and over and over.

I know my body will hate me for a while, but to me that’s better than hating my body. I’d rather be in shape than existing as a shape (like, round). I want to get lost in my head during a run, instead of losing time on electronics.

Knowing me, I’ll want to attempt a Boston- qualifying time, but I’m not even there yet. And if I don’t qualify for Boston, if I merely finish, I’ll be ecstatic. I realize I took for granted the commitment it requires to train for and complete a marathon, but I’m ready to it again.

It’s time to change. 

Nutrition: Treat your temple well while you're training

Maybe the entire plate of fettuccine alfredo isn't the best idea right before the race

During my first attempt at the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey (a famous 36-leg, 178-mile race around Lake Tahoe) back in 2008, we (Van 1) were stocking up on food to eat prior to our first legs. While I procured a bland offering from Subway, a teammate went more exotic. He opted for a Vietnamese sub sandwich, something he admitted he’d never tried before. I thought that was a little ambitious, but hey, who was I to discourage him?

After he promptly puked his sandwich back up after his first leg, he astutely suggested that his lunch might have had something to do with it.

Running is hard. Training for a race is hard. And training for a longer endurance event, like a half-marathon or full marathon, is downright challenging. One of the most vital pieces of cobbling a successful training program together (especially for longer distances) is nutrition. 

We’ve all heard the refrains before: Your body is a temple. Take care of your body. Be careful what you put into your body. Well, this is especially true if you’re in a training program. Eating and hydrating correctly are essential to putting together a solid and healthy training program and getting you to the starting line in the best position possible.

Nutrition (whether good or poor) is all about percentages, and adding the right amount of nutrients to your diet. Coach Susan Zepernick at Fleet Feet Chico has done the latest research, and this is what she recommends for her athletes and a little about each nutrient: 

Carbohydrates: 

• 55-65% of daily caloric intake
• A runner’s primary energy source and primer for fat metabolism
• Humans hold a limited supply of carbs, so replenish them appropriately during high-intensity workouts for maximum benefit

Fats:

• 20-35% of daily caloric intake
• A runner’s secondary source of energy and largest store of energy
• Humans have unlimited capacity to store fat (awesome, huh?)
• Delivers fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), promotes healthy skin and hair, provides insulation, among other benefits
• Sources include nuts, avocados, fish, lean meats, low fat milk or yogurt

Protein: 

• 12-15% of daily caloric intake
• Vital for muscle recovery and repair, and represents 5-6% of energy used by runners
• Humans hold a limited supply of protein, so replenish adequately after a workout for optimal muscle health
• Most foods have some amount of protein, and great sources include nuts, avocados, fish, lean meats

Fitness loves its buzzwords. And a buzzword that floats around fitness circles is “superfood”. A superfood is defined as a food packed chock-a-block with nutrients, that’s believed to even help certain medical conditions. A few suggested superfoods to add to your shopping list include:

• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Potatoes
• Avocados
• Beets
• Nuts and seeds
• Salmon
• Bananas
• Tomatoes
• Legumes

If planning what to eat weren’t enough, we long-distance runners have the joy of planning when we’re going to eat it. 

Before a run, be sure to get something in your body, especially if you’re stepping out first thing in the morning. There’s a reason why it’s called break-fast.

During the run, if you’re running for longer than 60 minutes, take in easily digestible items like gels, blocks and energy bars. Bananas are a fabulous little food that we typically digest easily that provide a quick energy boost. And, of course, hydrate.

Post-run, replenish glycogen stores as quickly as possible, and try to get around 300 calories in as soon as you finish your workout. High-glycemic carbs like mashed potatoes, corn flakes, honey and orange juice are best. Add protein to aid muscle repair. 

Experiment with meals and snacks. See what feels good and sits well in your gut, because we’re all different and foods can affect us in unexpectedly upsetting ways. But, just make sure you figure out what helps you the most before race day. 

And no Vietnamese subs for breakfast if you’ve never had one!