June Bug Running

[Crankin]

My Nathan pack came in sizes, so I guess it must vary with different models.

[OakLeaf]

skhill, hope your knee feels better.

I just wound up doing my same 8.5 mile loop again yesterday - my legs were pretty heavy from riding, and it was getting late in the day after I waited for the rain to clear out. It's a beautiful loop though, I just love running from home.

Yep, that's annoying to me too - most of the race belts, hydration belts and carry belts I've tried on are too big at their smallest adjustment, and I'm not small for a female runner. I might be smaller than your average Ohioan, but in my race pictures you can always pick out the chunky one - I take a medium in most brands of bottoms that come in both small and extra small - so knowing that this stuff is too big for all but a small minority of women runners is pretty aggravating, in this day and age. But, since I was thinking about it, Catrin - although it's probably a good idea to have water on the trails where getting lost is a possibility, I think a lot of gym rats can get married to their water bottles. I don't ever carry water on runs of less than an hour and a half, longer in cooler weather. And I typically carry more water than most runners - I think I'm the only non-ultra runner in the world who uses that three-liter Synergy pack, and I'll use it whenever I go over 18 or so, particularly if it's hot. Are you sure you need to be thinking about water carriers yet?

Speaking of how far things have come for women runners, I read Kathrine Switzer's book Marathon Woman and really enjoyed it. It's quite a readable memoir. I knew the story of her first Boston run, but hadn't realized how much she's done over the years to advance the cause of women's running, and how she unexpectedly fell into that role. I met her at the Boston expo - there was a long line of women and a few men waiting to meet her, because whoever she was talking to got her full attention, in spite of the line, the distractions, the fact that she was having to run the checkout at the booth herself ... She'd run out of copies of her book at the expo, so I ordered an autographed copy, and when it came, there was a personal note tucked into it hoping that I was okay. So I sent her a note via her website and actually received a personal response, obviously not a form reply. She truly has made it her life's work to encourage women runners at every level, not just by advocacy, not just by example, but by living it with apparently every woman runner she meets, which over the years must be tens of thousands. I'm a fan.

[Crankin]

That's so cool, Oak. Not many "famous" people would send a personal note.

[Catrin]

... But, since I was thinking about it, Catrin - although it's probably a good idea to have water on the trails where getting lost is a possibility, I think a lot of gym rats can get married to their water bottles. I don't ever carry water on runs of less than an hour and a half, longer in cooler weather. And I typically carry more water than most runners - I think I'm the only non-ultra runner in the world who uses that three-liter Synergy pack, and I'll use it whenever I go over 18 or so, particularly if it's hot. Are you sure you need to be thinking about water carriers yet?

I am indeed a gym rat, and yeah, I am tied to my water bottle I hadn't even considered not taking it - and there is the occasional water source in the park I jogged/walked to. I don't see my running outside in any other location for now so it is likely a non-issue at this time. I also didn't notice any foot pain or soreness from running on that trail with my usual running shoes - but that trail is quite smooth, very very few roots and what gravel there may have been was very small and not loose. I just walked the small sections that were more rough.

Nice that you got the personal touch from the author!