The Weekly Pep Talk A Running Commentary About Women

Sponsored by Ask About Running
Volume 2, Issue #18
This week is dedicated to Gini H (consistent and very humble)
Monday, March 24 - 30, 2008, Week 13 in 2008
Send comments to: Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com

Dear Running and Walking Buddies:

Oh this weather. Isn’t it glorious!! We had a super run last Saturday at Tilden. Noel set the course and she and Jane were both excellent guides. The Wildcat Creek route will definitely be added to the roster. It was super.

We missed most of you last week. I hope you were having a great time with family, friends, and/or in some tropical place. All are good and justify missing a weekend with AAR (Ask About Running - not to be confused with AARP – American Association of Retired People). I think they need to change that name since most 50 year olds these days are not into retiring!

This weekend’s runs and walks
are scheduled for Alameda’s Robert Crowne Memorial Park for the East Bay and the Marina/Crissy Field at East End Beach for San Francisco. Both offer beautiful runs. Directions are posted at http://altbgo.blogspot.com

Shoes…
Most of us have a favorite brand of shoes. I recently changed over to Nikes from Saucony to try out the Nike Plus System. Surprisingly, I like my Nikes quite a bit. However, I ended up buying men’s shoes and men’s shoes almost always weigh more (like the men they accommodate). So, to allow for the extra width I wanted, I am lifting extra weight with each step. This is a trade-off, something to think about. Nothing more or less.

Get a Pro to Fit Your First Pair of Real Sports Shoes
I strongly recommend that you get someone who knows what he/she is doing to fit you in your first serious pair of sports shoes. Don’t buy those bargain basement shoes because they’re on sale unless you have an experienced sports shoe person fitting them for you. That being said, I highly recommend going with the less expensive model of your favorite brand and changing them on a regular basis – like once every 3 months or so, depending on how much mileage you do.

There Is Nothing Worse For Your Body Than Wearing A Pair Of Sports Shoes That Have Lost Their OOMF. Good shoes get pounded down and out and stop offering the cushioning and support that we all need to protect our precious feet! Our feet are “where the rubber meets the road”. We need to be as kind to them as possible.

Don’t wait until you notice the sole of one shoe almost worn away before you buy a new pair! Maybe even mark your calendar for every 3 months or so and buy yourself a new pair of shoes – good shoes, but not top of the line shoes. Good brands with last year’s models are just fine. $79.00 (or less on sale) instead of $129 or up will do just fine, thank you. This way you can justify a new pair more often. You are worth it! Your feet deserve that kind of care. I’m willing to wear last year’s Orange over this year’s Green to save $50. But I knock on wood (my head’s always right there) almost every day to be so lucky to be able to move well after running for more than 35 years!! I want to take that record another 35 years so, guess who changes her shoes fairly often. I’m worth it! So are you!

Upcoming Runs and Walks
I’m adding a few new events to the calendar this week because I truly believe that, even the non-competitor can “refill the well” by pushing herself physically every so often. It just gives you a boost when you participate in a 1 mile, 3 mile, or 6 mile event (or something longer for the more hearty athletes) and see how good you feel afterwards. Lots of people walk at these things and of course, lots of people run really fast too. There is a place for everyone.

The first event, and we’ve already got some of our gals participating, is the Martinez Brickyard 4 or 8 mile race coming up on April 13. Rumor has it that this is a hilly course that doesn’t give up easily. The good thing about it is the location. Martinez is pretty close to where some of you live.

I’ve mentioned the Ohana Group before because they put on great local races that are small, well organized, and always contribute to some local cause. Their schedule currently includes a 5K and Mile run or walk on July 4, The Hook and Ladder on August 24, 1 Mile and 5K Run and Walk for the Hungry on November 23, and The Christmas Classic 5K and Miracle Mile on December 21. I’ll keep you updated on details but, MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! These races are fun! They are all in San Francisco or near-by.

Tell Me About Nike
We should hear by April 1, I believe. For any of you, who entered the lottery, please let me know if you got accepted. I’ll post it in the Weekly Pep Talk.

Club News and Views
The See Jane Run Half Marathon Training Schedule is ready! http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com
Look in the archives

The Bay to Breakers Training Schedule is also in the blog at http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com.

SIGN UP NOW!!
The time is now!! We’re out there every weekend, walking or running 3, 6 miles, and longer runs for those hard core ladies. Join us!! Newcomers and drop-ins are always welcome!

1 Person/6 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$110 ____$165 6 months from date of sign-up
1 Person/12 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$200 ____$300 12 months Best price!
Your name
Your buddy’s name
Email Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com and you will be billed through PayPal or send a check to ALTB International, Inc., 58 W. Portal #227, San Fran CA 94127 (800) 457-4574

P.S. Drop ins are always welcome any Sunday. The fee is $6.

The San Francisco 5K, Half and Full Marathon in August is a great goal for training.
I encourage all of you, who might be interested in a race, to train for the San Francisco Half and Full Marathon and 5K held on August 3. I’d like to try Sarah’s training method of Less is More. By that time she will have tested it with her own training for this spring and can give us her personal comments. Let’s talk about this more as the season goes on.

Sign up for the Bay to Breakers – We need 25 names to get a discount!
We’re not there yet but we can extend the deadline just a few days…. I’ll be doing a special mailer later in the week as a reminder.

Here is our current list:
Dena G
Jeanetta M
Stephanie A
Michele A
Noel Y
Sarah K
Gini H.
Danielle A.
David Lau
Natalia Lau
Rachel Lai
Sharmaine Moody
YOUR NAME BELONGS HERE!

The list is growing…Full Bay to Breaker details at bottom of this newsletter.

UPCOMING RACES – Let me know if you are training for any of these
The London Marathon April 13, 2008
www.london-marathon.co.uk
See Training Schedule in http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com
Also The Martinez Brickyard 4 and 8 Mile Run April 13, 2008
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=1523893
Participants: Noel P, Sandra O,
The Boston Marathon April 21, 2008 http://www.bostonmarathon.org
See Training Schedule in http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com

The Bay to Breakers/San Francisco May 18, 2008
http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/main.html
See Training Schedule in http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com
Participants: Dena G, Jeanetta M, Stephanie A, Michele A, Noel Y, Sarah K, Gini H, Danielle A., David Lau, Natalia Lau, Rachel Lai, Sharmaine Moody

See Jane Run Women’s Half Marathon & 5K May 31, 2008
http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Run-Half-Marathon-and-5K.aspx
See Training Schedule in http://www.altbgo.blogspot.com
Participants: Sandra O, Jeanetta M,

Freedom Road 5K and Jefferson Mile Runs & Walks
for the San Francisco Food Banks July 4, 2008
http://www.PeopleEvents.org

The San Francisco Half & Full Marathon & 5K August 3, 2008 http://www.runsfm.com/home.html

The Disneyland Half Marathon and 5K August 30/31, 2008 www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com


The Chicago Marathon October 12, 2008 http://www.chicagomarathon.com


The Nike Women’s Half and Full Marathon October 19, 2008
www.nike.com
Lottery notification on April 1, 2008

The New York City Marathon November 2, 2008
www.ingnycmarathon.org
Registration opens January 28, 2008
Participants: Dena G,

Carpooling & Willing drivers
Stephanie Atwood, Coach (San Francisco) Stephanie@askaboutrunning.com
Add your name here!

Have a great week. Get out there and enjoy!
Stephanie


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