I'm trying not to panic.

So last December I had this brilliant idea:  I'll try to register for the Ice Age Trail 50 miler.  I've already done a 50K, so a 50 miler would be the next logical step, right?  And besides, that race fills up fast.  The chances of me getting in are slim.

Famous last words.

Thank you for using the website of RunRace.net to submit your event registration.
+---  Race Information  ---+
Race Name: Ice Age Trail 50 - 2016
  Location: La Grange
    State: Wisconsin, U.S.A.

+---  Event Information  ---+
Name of Event: Ice Age Trail 50 Mile
      Distance: 50
  Measurement: Miles
          Date: Saturday May 14th, 2016
    Start Time: 6:00 AM

So like any sane person, I celebrated for a moment, panicked for a moment, consulted /r/running on Reddit for a training plan, and mapped out the mileage that I'd have to accumulate over the coming months.

The training was going very well.  I hit most of my miles and got in my most important runs.  I did Crossfit a few days a week along the way and overall I felt stronger and faster than I've ever felt.

Then the littlest plague-beast came home with a bad cough.

Don't let this cuteness fool you.  This sweet little guy became a mess of respiratory gunk.  And little people loooooove to share their respiratory gunk with their mommas.  Within ten days, I was the sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-headed, fevered mess that the Ny-Quil ads warned me about.  And with every deep breath I could hear the telltale wheeze-and-pop of bronchitis that I struggled with two years ago.

Shit.

A planned 50-mile week dropped to a 30 mile week, which was followed up with a 15-mile week - not exactly ultra-distances.  I consulted Dr. Google and learned that I should not run for at least two weeks, that I should run more, and that I probably have Lupus.  I followed that up with a call to Dr. Reddit who was quite encouraging, but only slightly more helpful.

But the good news is that through it all, I didn't break my runstreak, and I seem to be on the mend.  The bad news is that this took a very solid chunk out of my training.  I have a marathon in 9 days that I'm using as a training run, and the longest I've run this week is 2 miles.  I'm trying not to panic, but...

It's proving to be difficult.  

Right now, I'm going to try to get in one 10 mile run before the marathon next weekend.  I'll take it easy on marathon day and see how it goes.  If I crash and burn, I have another marathon/training run later in the month that I'll try to use to redeem myself.  

I guess I'm just going to go out there and hope for the best.  

Does anyone have any advice on training after an illness?

2Toms - A Product Rave and a Cautionary Tale

Disclaimer: I received some samples of 2Toms Sport Shield to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com

The dreaded chafe.

I don't chafe easily, but when I do, I do it in spectacular fashion.  After spending my first relatively high-mileage summer a few years back training in blissfully low humidity, I woke up on the morning of my first marathon to record heat and humidity.  It was the kind of humidity that fogs your glasses and makes you gasp for air.  It was ugly, but I thought I was ready for it:  I had purchased Body Glide earlier in the year - everyone loves Body Glide, right?  I decided it was time to give it a try.  I applied it to all of the necessary areas, I ran 26.2 miles, and I chafed badly.  I'll spare you the details, but let's just say I didn't even know that women could chafe there.

Yeah.  Please don't think about that too long.  In fact, let's never speak of that again.

Needless to say, ever since then I've been very interested in finding an alternative to Body Glide.

I first heard about 2Toms from the guys on the fabulous Ten Junk Miles podcast.  They absolutely rave about the 2Toms line.  Their commentary piqued my interest, but I was never able to find it in stores and I wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger on buying it online.  But when BibRave gave me an opportunity to review it, I jumped at the chance to try it.

I totally should have bought 2Toms Sport Shield ages ago.

I received the women's 2Toms Sport Shield in two forms:  a roll-on bottle, and a few individually wrapped wipes.

I couldn't wait to try it.  I've spent a fair amount of time this winter putting in miles on the indoor track at the Pettit Ice Center.  While I love having the Pettit as an option, its extremely dry climate combined with the relentlessness of long track miles (oh look, a left turn...another left turn...hey, I think I'll turn left up here...) wreaked havoc on my feet.  I started getting blisters for the first time ever.  Blisters are not an option for a streak runner.

Fortunately, my 2Toms arrived just in time.  I started using the roll-on Sport Shield on my toes, and the blistering issues went away.  I've logged six runs longer than thirteen miles at the Pettit in the past few months, and the blistering issue that I was struggling with is totally gone.  I'll spare you a picture of my feet as proof (I'm rocking two black toenails right now, so my career as a foot model is on hold for the time being) but the piggies have never felt happier.

My Pettit bag:  headphones, water bottle, cash, GUs, and 2Toms.

And 2Toms doesn't seem to sweat off, either.  I'll own up to the fact that my feet get pretty sweaty, but the 2Toms didn't seem affected.  I've only ever needed a single application for a run.

The 2Toms Sport Shield single use wipes are great too - without getting too PG-13 in my descriptions, the wipes are great for getting at all of the nooks and crannies that can chafe and blister.  I was a little worried the first time I opened the wipes - they felt a little dry.  I think because they are packaged like wet-naps, I expected them to be as moist as wet-naps, but they aren't.  They aren't supposed to be.  But they work wonderfully, and are a must-have in my race bag.

And now, my cautionary tale.  2Toms is slippery - good news for your body, but potentially bad news for other things.  For instance, if you lube up your feet and then walk across your hardwood floor before putting on socks, the 2Toms may leave a slick residue on your floor.  It won't be visible, but it will be there waiting for you.  And this residue may be so slippery that, days later, when you are in a haste to get ready for work you may find yourself skidding comically across your floor in a fashion usually reserved for cartoon characters stepping on banana peels.  And in doing so you may fall on your ass in such a spectacularly noisy fashion that you wake everyone in the house.  I'm not saying that happened to me, but...well, just be careful.  This stuff is slick.

Want to try 2Toms for yourself?  Here's the deets:

Find them at 2Toms.com

Check MediDyne's Facebook page.

Follow 2Toms on Twitter.

And best of all:  get 20% off of your order through the end of April, 2016 by using the code "2Toms20"

Ten Things Pettit Runners Know

If you are a runner in the greater Milwaukee area, you are lucky.  Not only do you have a great running club and great local races, but you also have the Pettit National Ice Center's run/walk track to help you stay in top condition during our long, cold winters.  I have spent many Saturdays and Sundays this winter making my slow way around the track.  (Personal record:  61 laps).

I'm grateful to have the Pettit.  It beats running on icy sidewalks in wind chills that get into the double-digits below zero.  But like anything, you sometimes have to take the good with the bad.

Ten Things Pettit Runners Know

1.  There's always something to see on the ice.  The Pettit hosts all kinds of great ice skating events, from ice hockey to skating lessons to speed skating time trials.  When your friends ask you if you ever get bored running in circles, you can tell them about the adorable kids you saw taking their first steps onto the ice, the raucous hockey match you witnessed, or the figure skaters you saw practicing their routines.

2.  But it can be a little dull, too.  Running isn't always exciting, right?  The key to a good, long workout at the Pettit is a good playlist, some good podcasts, or some good company.

3.  After a few laps, you'll either be great at math, or you'll forget how to count.  The track is 445.2 meters long (measured on the inside lane), which makes a mile slightly under four laps.  Because that makes for some ugly math, runners going for long distances track laps instead of miles and then calculate their mileage at the end by using the handy chart by the track.  But even counting laps gets strangely challenging after about a dozen times around the circle.  Maybe we all get a little dizzy by then?

4.  Fifty-five degrees is not as warm as it sounds.  When the whether outside is below zero, a run in perfectly controlled 55 degree conditions sounds lovely.  But with the Pettit's low humidity, it actually feels pretty cold.  A hat and gloves are nice to have until you get warmed up.

5.  The Pettit Lung is real.  That dry air can wreak havoc on your lungs and you might develop a bit of a hacking cough after a hard workout on the track.  Still better than freeze-your-face-off wind chill.  Have a nice cup of hot tea after you cool down from your run - it seems to help.

6.  Sometimes you have to pull over for the National Anthem.  Many of the sporting events at the Pettit kick off with the National Anthem.  You may be in the middle of an 800, but the right thing to do is pull over, take off your hat, and listen respectfully.   Your 800 will be there when the song is done.

7.  You'll see all kinds of characters on the track.  There's the barefoot guy who makes his way around the track with a slow-but-steady distinct cadence.  Army guys and gals run in between sets of situps.  You'll always see a few impossibly fast people who make the rest of us look like we're taking a leisurely stroll.  And there's nothing quite as humbling as being passed by a kid who looks like he's about six - kids are welcome at the Pettit run/walk track, and the few that I've seen there have always been super fast and incredibly awesome.

8.  Zamboni Crossing is an actual thing.  Look both ways!

9.  You may start to wonder what it would be like to run a marathon around a track.  And if you really want to see what it's like, you can!  The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon takes place every January.  94.9 laps around the Pettit will get you to 26.2 miles.  (The less cuckoo among us can opt for the half marathon, which comes in at about 48 laps.  But if 94.9 laps doesn't feel like enough, there's always the Gold Medal Challenge, where runners can do the half marathon and the full marathon on consecutive days).  The post-race cookies make it all worthwhile.

10.  We're lucky to have the Pettit.  It keeps us off the treadmill during these long, cold winters.

Race Report: Icebreaker Indoor Half Marathon

The Icebreaker race series is held on the run/walk track at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 445-meter track runs indoors around the Pettit's giant ice skating/hockey rink complex. The Icebreaker series consists of a 5K race Friday night, a half marathon and marathon relay on Saturday, and a marathon on Sunday. The race also offers a "Gold Medal Challenge" for people who run the half marathon Saturday and the full on Sunday. I participated in the half marathon. 13.1 miles was about 48 laps around the track.

How does it work?

The track has three lanes. Runners use the outside lane and pass in the middle lane. The inside lane is for passing when the other lanes are occupied. This makes for a fair amount of bouncing around between the lanes, but rarely was there any sort of backup or clog. It actually works really well.

The race is chip timed with timers that attach to the runners' ankles. This part was actually really cool: as you pass the timing mat, you could see your name on the screen with your time for the previous lap. They also broadcast how many laps each runner had left on two huge, scrolling screens.

Isn't it, like, boring?

No. Not at all. The race is limited to about 100 people (more than that would be kind of a mess), so while you do spend a fair amount of time bouncing around people, that also gives you a chance to make small talk with the same people over and over, if that's your thing.

Headphones weren't allowed, but when you registered you also got to add a song to the race playlist which would be broadcast during the race. It made for an interesting playlist: there were tons of songs that you'd expect like some Taylor Swift, Walk the Moon, etc., but along with those were a fair amount of dad joke-esque songs about running and circles (You Spin Me Round, Round and Round, Legs, etc.). I requested the Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, although I didn't hear it get played.  Bummer.  But overall, it made for a pretty great playlist. An announcer would announce runners by name as they got to their final five laps, and then again on their last lap.

My BB8 Shirt arrived in my Club InkNBurn box the night before.  Of course I had to wear it.

So, how was my race?

Eh. I'm not a fast runner (Half marathon PR: 2:08), and I only signed up for this one two weeks ago when I realized that I needed a 14 mile run this weekend so this was a training run for me. I ran a 2:08 again, although I worked much harder for this one. I run at the Pettit center just about every week and the one thing I can't get a hang of there is pacing. GPS doesn't work indoors, and for whatever reason the perceived effort of running on the track seems so much more than running outside. And because it isn't a quarter mile track, keeping track of your own mileage by counting laps is challenging. So while I thought I was running pretty steady, I wasn't. I went out too fast, got really fatigued around mile 10, and only managed to tie my PR. This was by no means my A or even B race, so for a training run, it was perfectly fine.

Fellow InkNBurn Ambassador Andrea ran the race too.  I spent my laps envying her blue Run or Die shirt.

Rave Review: 2XU Hyoptik Thermal Compression Tights

Disclaimer: I received a pair of 2XU Hyoptik Thermal Compression Tights to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

The two biggest challenges to keeping up my run streak during the long Wisconsin winter are darkness and cold. I'm an early morning runner, and currently sunrise is after 7 a.m. which means that I am running in the dark five days a week. Visibility is a big, big issue for me. And since I live and run in Wisconsin, it goes without saying that cold is the other issue.

So when I was given the opportunity to review 2XU's Hyoptik (think "high-optic") thermal compression tights, I jumped at the chance. Reflective? Sweet. Thermal? Yes! Compression? Fantastic! Three of my favorite things.  I was definitely excited to try these out.

Sizing

And then I got the tights in the mail and pretty much had a panic attack. Despite my careful measurement and selection of Size Medium based on their sizing chart, these looked tiny. Like, super tiny. Itty bitty. This is something that is always a struggle for me. I have super long legs and I'm...shall we say..."gifted" in the thighs and calves so I often have a really hard time finding tights that fit properly, that don't have seams that split or chafe, and that are long enough for me. And when I saw my much-anticipated Hyoptiks, I thought there was no way they would fit.

Fortunately, I've never been so happy to be wrong. They fit perfectly. In fact, I have to rave about the length:  I wasn’t constantly struggling with them riding down while I ran, nor was I continually stopping to pull them down because I was getting cold ankles.  Until now, I have experienced at least one of these annoyances (and often both) with nearly every pair of compression tights I’ve owned.  There’s nothing more irritating than having to hike up tights that are riding down, or finishing a run only to find that your ankles are red and raw from windburn because your tights rode up too high.  To be free of those issues was a huge relief. 

So trust the size chart! 

Running in the Cold

I decided to test out my new Hyoptiks on a short six mile run in 30 degree (fahrenheit) temps.  Because I am totally a skeptical nonbeliever, I used the tights as a base layer with a pair of Adidas sweatpants over them.  After all, my other thermal tights seem to work best as a base layer, so why should these be any different?

Well, I learned my lesson.  They aren’t called “thermal” compression tights because they like lots of words in their name.  By two miles in, I was warm.  Really, really warm.  Almost too warm.  For someone who always suffers from cold legs/cold butt during my winter runs, it was a new experience.

I wised up for my second foray with the Hyoptiks and wore them with nothing over them.  The temperature was about the same – 30 degrees with little wind – and I felt fine.  I wasn’t uncomfortably warm, but I wasn’t cold. 

Unfortunately, those 30 degree days came to an abrupt end and January brought on new blasts of cold.  As the temperatures dipped below 15 degrees I found that wearing the Hyoptiks as a base layer under either yoga pants or sweat pants was perfectly adequate, even when the wind chill brought the temperature down to about zero. 

Comparing and Contrasting: 2XU versus Old Navy

I had a great opportunity to compare the Hyoptiks to my Old Navy “thermal” tights that got me through last winter by doing some back to back long runs over a cold weekend.   My Saturday run with the Hyoptiks as a base layer went quite well – the Hyoptiks under yoga pants did a wonderful job of cutting the sharp wind, and I made my mileage with minimal complaints about the weather.  I even got snowed on!  My Sunday run with the Old Navy tights as a base layer was less stellar.  The wind cut right through them despite wearing heavier sweatpants over the top, and I again had the ankle-rise problem, despite the tights being otherwise properly sized for me.  I feel like the Hyoptiks have spoiled me a bit – while the ON tights seemed fine before, I now realize just how inadequate they were.  

Of course, the counter to this is that the Old Navy tights come with a much smaller price tag.  In most areas of life, I don't mind pinching a penny, but when it comes to running I have no problem paying more for quality products.  After all, I run every single day.  Why wouldn't I want something that keeps me warm and comfortable when I'm getting those miles in?  This is one of those times where paying a little more is well worth it.

Overall

The 2XU Thermal Compression Tights are a great option for those of us who live and run in cold climates.  They make an incredible base layer, yet they work well alone.  They are comfortable and well made (no splitting seams, no rough edges to chafe the skin) and the reflective pattern is actually rather flattering.  

Running With Podcasts

I'll say it:  I'm not sure I'd be a runner if not for podcasts.  Listening to podcasts has gotten me through some of my most tedious treadmill slogs, my most gloomy runs at the Pettit, and my most arduous training runs.  I used to be committed to my music playlists when I ran, but now I rarely turn on the tunes (unless I need a little extra burst of speed  - then you betcha I've got some Taylor Swift ready to go. #trueconfessions).

To state what might not be obvious to everyone, a podcast is an episodic digital audio file not unlike a radio show or serial.  There are podcasts out there about everything:  running podcasts, human interest story podcasts, Star Wars podcasts, Sudoku fan podcasts, hiking and mountaineering podcasts.  Basically, choose your interest and there's probably at least a half dozen podcasts on the topic.

Podcasts can be downloaded to your iPhone either through the iTunes player or through a third party podcast app.  I use an app called Podcruncher.  Podcruncher has a simple interface and a lot of options that make it easy to download and listen to podcasts.  My favorite feature is the playlist creator.  (If you have an Android phone or some other device, sorry: I know nothing about them but I suspect through the use of voodoo and good vibes you can listen to podcasts on your weird non-Apple device too).  #nothelpful

So, how about some podcast recommendations?  I have plenty.

Running podcasts

If you are reading this at all, you probably have at least a passing interest in running, so let's start out with some great running podcasts.

Ten Junk Miles - TJM is my favorite running podcast.  The podcast is created by a group of mostly ultrarunners who talk about everything from chafing to karaoke to some of their weird and crazy race experiences.  (I want an invite to the Retaste of Chicago someday!) They typically have guests from the ultrarunning world who are always interesting and entertaining.  The podcast can get laugh-out-loud funny at times, and it really makes the miles go by.  I save this one for my long runs.

Ultrarunner Podcast - URP takes on ultrarunning from the speedy side of things by interviewing mostly accomplished ultrarunners.  While I can't relate to their speed, I enjoy listening to their take on various races around the world, and it is a neat glimpse into how the other half lives and runs.

Trail Runner Nation - This podcast is a little more diverse.  It has interviews with accomplished trail runners, but it has plenty of episodes featuring Q&As with sports medicine folks, nutritionists, coaches, races directors, and people from all sides of trail running.

Okay, it can't all be about running, can it?  Let's switch it up.

True Crime Podcasts

True crime is all the rage right now.  The Netflix documentary Making a Murderer is everywhere, there has been a surge in true crime podcasts of all stripes, and Serial, the podcast that added the word "podcast" to the lexicons of millions of people is in its second season.

Serial - You just can't talk about podcasts without taking on Serial.  In fact, if you are new to podcasts, Serial Season One is probably the best place to start.  Created by the creators of This American Life, Season One featured journalist Sarah Koenig's investigation into the 1999 murder of a young woman named Hae Min Lee.  Through compelling storytelling, Koenig leads listeners through the evidence in a way that calls into question whether the man who is doing time for her murder is really the killer.  It is a great listen and it truly deserves the accolades that it has received.

Sword and Scale - This is one of the grittier and more graphic true crime podcasts that I have come across.  Each episode features a strange and awful crime, ranging from the Jonestown massacre to "satanic panic" to more obscure and strange murders.  The episodes can be a little hard to listen to as they often include "real" media, like 911 calls and interviews, but that's also part of what makes this podcast so compelling.  I have actually fallen out of love with this podcast recently as I feel as though the quality has declined a bit, but I still recommend the earlier episodes as they are very well done.

Criminal - Criminal takes on the subject of crime from all angles.  In one episode we hear about the beautiful relationship between a police officer and his retired K9 partner.  In another we hear about a woman who was duped by an online love interest.  In another we learn more than we ever wanted to know about the theft of wood from the Petrified Forest National Park.  You never know what you'll get with Criminal, but it is always a solid, entertaining listen.

Too serious?  I'll admit that I scared the heck out of myself when I made the mistake of listening to a certain episode of Sword and Scale while on a long, lonely run on the Glacial Drumlin Trail.  #boo! If true crime is too real for you, there are other options.

Offbeat Podcasts

The Mystery Show - The Mystery Show tackles a new, slightly wacky, totally inconsequential mystery each episode.  Despite the stakes being about as low as they could possibly be, every single mystery unfolds in such a compelling way that you can't help but be engaged.  From reuniting a weird belt buckle with its owner to figuring out what Britney Spears is reading, The Mystery Show is always delightful.

Reasonable Doubt - I can't say that I'm a huge fan of comedian Adam Carolla or attorney Mark Geragos, but when they are together for the Reasonable Doubt podcast, they put on a great show.  They tackle the legal side of current events without ever getting dull or bogged down in the uninteresting side of the law. Mark always has great insight from some of his high-profile cases, and Adam's off-the-cuff remarks make the show very listenable.  New episodes are released every Saturday, and before I take on my Saturday long run I always make sure I have the latest Reasonable Doubt loaded up.

The Moth - The Moth is about all about storytelling.  Great storytellers share their stories that are sometimes grand, sometimes mundane, but always entertaining and often moving.  I have been moved to tears by this podcast and I have been reduced to laughter by it as well - sometimes within the same episode.

Limetown - Limetown takes Serial's compelling investigative format and turns it on a fictional storyline.  The result is an incredibly immersive adventure which goes well with a good, long run. I can't say much about the plot without giving it away, but I suspect you'll be hooked after an episode. Season one recently ended with little closure and I am looking forward to more Limetown in the future.

The world of podcasts is booming right now, and because I listen to so many podcasts, I'd like to make podcast reviewing a regular feature on the ol' blog.

Do you listen to podcasts?  What are you listening to these days?  Recommend something - I'm always looking for more things to listen to.

Not just cold: Wisconsin cold.

Disclaimer: I received a Buff Hoodie to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Winter in Wisconsin is no joke.  As I write this, I'm looking out my window at a temperature of -7 degrees Farenheit with a wind chill in the negative thirties.  While this is a particularly cold spell, December through March can be pretty brutal here.

But we're mostly used to it.  And that's why we run outdoors every chance we can.

I am always in the market for new cold weather running gear, especially now that I'm in the middle of a run streak (day 230 #whatwhat) so when I had the opportunity to review a Buff's new hoodie, I couldn't say no.  I absolutely love the Buff headgear (some might say I have a bit of an addiction) but crazy enough, I hadn't tried any of their cold weather products.

Why did I wait so long?  Of course Buff hit a home run in the cold weather department.  I am in love.  The Buff Hoodie is a winner.

The Buff Hoodie three parts: a soft, stretchy, double layer that goes around your neck, a super soft Polartec® Thermal Pro® hood, which may be the softest material on the planet, and a stretchy wool collar that you can pull up over your face or tuck down around your neck. The hood has adjustable drawstrings so you can pull it tight or wear it loose. Like all of Buff's products, it is super-versatile.

The stock photos of the Hoodie from Buff's website make it look a little weird. I promise, it is actually really cute. Here's a picture of the Buff Hoodie in action out on the Ice Age Trail:

The temperatures were in the high 20s but sunny with almost no wind for my first outing with the Hoodie, so I was able to tuck the facepiece down around my neck comfortably. With temps down to the low 20s I didn't even need to wear a stocking hat under the hoodie - the hood was warm enough by itself. When the temps fall to the lower twenties and below, I prefer to have a stocking cap under the hood, although I often find myself either ditching the cap or tucking the hood down because it really is that toasty.

And tucking the hood down doesn't mean making a time-wasting stop to readjust anything - I can literally whip the hood up or down and adjust it on the run with no difficulty. The hood isn't bulky either, so tucking it down isn't cumbersome.

I've used the Buff Hoodie for runs as cold as 0 degrees, and I've run with it in the snow. I actually find myself reaching for it when I need to go run errands in the cold because it is cute and unlike most running gear it actually looks just fine with regular street clothes. I took my son to the art museum last weekend and got lots of compliments on my cute hood (#thathappened).


If you are in the market for that one piece of running gear that will make winter running much more tolerable, the Buff Hoodie is the way to go. It is versatile, it looks great, and most important: it is so very warm.