Zone: Perfect

Fifteen thousand of my best friends and I ran through the finish of the Philadelphia Rock N Roll Marathon yesterday. The day was slightly warmer than what is optimal for running but overall the run was pleasant. Well, as pleasant as running 13.1 miles can be- I am still trying to figure out how I ran 0.4 miles more according to my Garmin 405 Forerunner. This extra mileage accounts for my time being five minutes slower than I had hope but still it was the fastest per mile time I have run in a race. (I’ve clocked faster in training runs).

I am happy with my performance and always am because I feel great that I am able to do these activites as many people cannot do due to health problems or a problem even more prevalent today-motivation problems.

But let me tell you about getting into the Zone, give you a place to go, and some food to try.

For the first time I was able to see the beginning of the race. I was excited to see the elite athletes with single digit race bib numbers start. I did not start until twenty minutes later since all the faster people begin before me. Its interesting to think that as I was finishing about five miles these runners were finished and on their way back to the hotels.

I rose in the morning and took in the view from my hotel room. I was on the twentieth floor of the Sheraton City Center which gave me the view up the parkway where I could see the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the distance, the Franklin Institue on my left, and the two building of the public library on my right. I could see the thousands of people making their way to the race start line walking past the fountain in Logan Circle.

My pre-race food is simple. I drank a Gatorade Natural and ate a pear. I had had Chicken Pad Thai for my dinner after a fresh vegetable filled Lobster roll accompanied by some jasmine green tea. I decided that I want to stay as fresh and natural as possible even when I am doing events, so have tried different foods to see what makes my body feel the best while also giving me the fuel needed to carry out a good performance.

Music was playing in my ears as I crossed the start line and headed downtown. I checked my pace and realized that I felt good but was, as many of us do, running at a very quick pace. How I wish I could have sustained that. Next time. I already talked to my friend Russell on the way back to the Sheraton about how I need (yes, need) to sign up for the half marathon in November when it is cooler to regain that lost five minutes. I ran behind City Hall past Broad Street then back up town past the Consititution Center.

I took in the Cytomax. Not a bad drink, except I can’t find it in a regular store that I frequent regularly. It worked well though with no adverse reactions. There are some sports drinks I just cannot stomach. They send me straight to the port-a-pottie. Yuck, yuck, and yuck.

I ate one half of a Zone Perfect bar at around mile four. The cholcolate was a little messy but as I ran uptown with the Art Museum in my view, my energy level increased. Just as I passed on the other side of Logan Circle by the fountain, my moving meditation song began. You know it from before Eternal Odyssey by Delirium. I smiled and waved for the camera as I passed Russell right by the Eakins Circle on the way up Kelly Drive. This was my best part of the race. Kelly Drive is also know as Boat House Row as it is were the crew teams of the Unversity of Pennsylvania have houses along the Skuykill River. On any give day in the spring, you can run by and see young men and women rowing. Kelly Drive is a fun place to “site see” . I’ve seen some absolutely perfect looking men run by me, so I always wear my fabulous running clothes when I go there for a training run.

I digress. Around mile 9 is when there is a left turn on Falls Bridge. There was a GU station. I took in some Clif gel. Clif products are natural. Now this is the part of the race that was more challenging, as the heat was getting to me a bit. But, the rush of energy kept me going to the end. My emotion was elation with slight irritation as the last 0.1 mile goes up a hill.

Now I have to find out how to get my medal that shows that I ran two Rock N Roll events this year. I will get a medal that says I completed 39.3 miles! For those of you who think this is minor – yes, it is about the medal. It is something I can look at that is a tangible way of seeing how far I have come.

For those of you on the other end of things who believe that all of us runners of longer events are crazy and you will never do it, just get up and move. It’s how I started. Then it actually becomes fun. I am more aware of the scenic places I run and the people around me sharing my enthusiasism. I have experienced Zone Perfect. I take in this Zone Perfect as body food and I get into the Zone Perfect for spiritual food.

Just take the first step.

Dr. Veronica

http://zoneperfect.com/

http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx#g-series-natural

http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_gel/