running a half marathon without training: what i wore, ate and learned

what i wore

leggings : i decided to get a pair of swift speed high-rise tights because they feel great and have a drawstring, two deep side pockets (for a phone and energy blocks ) and one small back zippered pocket (which i used for a key and a “just in case” advil).

shirt : i wore the train to be short-sleeve shirt because it’s technical but not tight. i’m no olympian — i don’t need to reduce wind resistance — i need to be comfortable, cool and dry. this shirt isn’t too loose or tight and is the perfect length (i like to tuck my shirt into my leggings — it just feels right). the swiftly tech short-sleeve shirt 2.0 is another good option. 

bra : i like the energy bra because it’s comfortable and keeps everything from moving. i have a small chest, so i don’t need a ton of support. finding a good sports bra can be difficult for those with a larger chest — our team is working on an extensive list to find the right fit for all shapes and sizes. if this is you, please reach out with your favourite suggestions.

shoes : i wore a version of the new balance fresh foams because that’s my current running shoe and i wasn’t about to switch that up. it’s not a technical race shoe, but it’s cushiony and it was my gift to my knees.

socks : i like the power stride crew socks because they’re tight and cushioned. they aren’t subtly lululemon, with the brand’s name written across the sock, but it’s easy to spot many other (much more experienced runners) in the same pair.

thoughts on my outfit : what i wore was perfect. looking around at my competitors before the race, it seemed like they’d done this before — they belonged. i stealthily copied their warm-ups as we were waiting for the race to start and noticed my outfit was very similar to the “real runners,” right down to the identical style and colour (black leggings and white shirt and socks, so nothing too original).

what i ate

an hour and a half before the race, i had some iced tea and a banana. so many people were eating bananas before the run started. i’m pretty much a professional now. while i ran, i ate a clif blok every three to five kilometres. they did the job, but i also saw many people use:

honey stinger
gu gel
huma chia energy gel

a rainbow of energy gel packets. postmedia

what i learned

before event day, i consulted a few runners — the least i could do. luckily, i have a wonderful runner colleague, andrea hill (who has also reviewed the tracksmith eliot runner ), who gave me some pointers. i gathered a few other tips and now can speak firsthand about what worked and what didn’t.

• downhill can be tricky on your quads, use a midfoot versus a heel strike (meaning, hit the ground with your midfoot) to avoid breaking after every stride. i decided that i could run this half marathon because it was downhill, but my colleague informed me that can be the most difficult part of a race because it can create quad strains. i was cautious when going downhill and ensured that i took smaller steps and activated my core and glutes. i didn’t get any prohibitive cramps during the race.
  
• start slow. i knew this one from training for the 10 km, but it was a needed reminder. i needed to stay true to my abilities and avoid getting swept up in the energy at the start line. when i jog in the city and end up next to “actual runners,” i appear to be standing still. my pace is slow. and on race day, my pace was slow. this was the right call.

• mixing up pace to avoid overuse of the same muscles. this was a last-minute piece of advice from a team member at lululemon. she said that she had run two half marathons and the first time she ran at the same pace the entire time and quickly fatigued her muscles. the second time she ran, she mixed it up and felt much better. i learned from her experience and periodically changed pace and feel like it really helped my mental and physical game.

• what i wore and ate. i’ve worked out in lululemon clothes for decades and know it works for me. i’ve also had clif bloks before, so i knew they sat well in my body. i had zero intentions of using the portable washrooms along the route, so didn’t want to introduce anything new into my system.
  

• didn’t drink enough water. i didn’t carry any water on me and trusted i could hydrate along the route. i was right and wrong. there were enough water stations, but i didn’t drink enough at each opportunity. i grabbed a small cup of water and jogged slower while sipping it down. i was dehydrated by the end.

• i didn’t train. this is the crux of this article, but it’s still worth noting under “what didn’t work.” considering i was naive about running long distances, my brain felt like it had an advantage — an “ignorance is bliss” vibe. however, my body could not take advantage of the axiom. my legs felt like they went numb at the 16 km mark — i just tried to put one foot in front of the other and hoped my body was moving. this seemed like a good recipe for an injury. luckily, i only have temporary aches, but i feel like conditioning could have made for a safer run.

my brother and i smiling through the aches just after crossing the finishing line. postmedia

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rmann@ postmedia.com

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