The Silicon Valley Geek

I don’t run particularly well. At least not compared to a lot of people. But then neither am I an all-show-no-go runner.

So I am not too ashamed to go out running while being decked out with different brands. See the pictures below.

I am really not brand-conscious. However, I value comfort and safety while running. At my age, I am also concerned about short and long term injuries. As a result, I look for equipment, apparel and consumables that will help me run the distance I want to go while keeping away the effects of heat and other bad stuff.

The question is how would I know if a particular piece of equipment is good for what it claims to do? The answer is: the brand. By wearing a Adidas running cap, for example, I am assured that I will be comfortable and not overheat. It sounds really dumb and I agree that I could have gone out to Target and bought a Champion-branded cap. It will probably work equally well, but Champion is an unknown brand. Do I want to take a risk with my health? I have run up to three hours at a stretch in that Adidas cap, sometimes finishing the run at noon. It gets hot in San Jose at noon!

This is something to bear in mind as Under Armour launches a range of athletic shoes which they term as “trainers”. It is not clear if Under Armour is positioning these shoes as running shoes or cross-trainers. One thing I am certain of is that I will not buy them for running. If you were to look at all the articles and forum postings on the choice of running shoes, you will realize that it is difficult to get the right pair of running shoes: something you can run for miles without shinsplints, ITB and other pains. Furthermore, runners tend to be rather loyal to particular models or brands that have worked well for them.

So Under Armour will have a tough time selling running shoes. It is not that other companies have not succeeded. Pearl Izumi launched their running shoes 4-5 years ago and have made inroads.

We will see.

The Haas Student Association is forming a team for this year’s Bay to Breakers. So we have a whole bunch of people who have never joined a road race signing up.

After looking at the email exchanges, I think it is time for a first timer’s guide.

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So you want to run or walk a road race. Your friends are begging you to join them for a one. What do you need to do?

1. Discovery. The event would normally have a website. Go to the website and find out more about the event.
2. Date. Are you free on the day of the event? Most road races are held on Sunday, but some are held on Saturdays. So don’t assume anything. I signed up for the Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon and then realized that it was being held on a Saturday, a day when I had class. It was throwing money away.
3. Distance. Make sure that the distance is something that you can handle, physically and psychologically. Most events have a cut-off time after which the roads re-open for vehicular traffic and all support facilities (drinks, first-aid) are closed. So make sure that you are able to walk/jog/run fast enough for that distance.
4. Race packet pickup. The race packet contains your bib, last minute instructions, timing chip etc. Some races will mail you the race packet if you sign up early enough. Other races will allow you to pick up the packet on race day. Still some other races require you to pick up the packet the day before the race. Some races require a photo ID before they will give you the packet. So make sure that you or a friend can pick up the race packet before the race.
5. Sign up. Registrations are generally not refundable for any reason. So once you are very sure that you can handle the race and related logistics, sign up using the registration link on the event website. In addition to the basic registration fee, you may need to pay extra for transportation to/from the start/end points. So read the race information carefully and make the right choices. You don’t want to be stuck at the finish line and unable to get back to your car…!
6. Pre-race. On the day before the race, prepare your equipment, bib, shoes etc. Make sure you have directions to the parking areas around the start line (if you are driving to the race). Make sure that you plan to start off early enough in the morning so that you have enough time and not arrive in a rush and panic. There may be thousands of people going to the same place, so plan on arriving early to get a parking spot. Drink a lot of water!
7. Race-day. Get your stuff together. Don’t panic. Get down some food, especially if the start time is a couple of hours away. Drink a lot of water. There will always be porta-potties at the race. Most importantly, enjoy the race.

The Big Sur Marathon is this Sunday.

So I’ve been “tapering” i.e. running less.

I’ve also been “carbo-loading” i.e. eating more.

The shocking part is that I’ve been gaining weight: 4 pounds over the past 4 days!!!! I am now 6 pounds heavier than normal.

Am I doing something wrong somewhere?

Or is it perfectly normal?

I am also planning to run with a hydration pack containing something like 2 liters of electrolyte water. So I am going to be running at a total of 10 lbs over my normal weight.

Adding to that, I ran a fast 5 miles with the Palo Alto Run Club yesterday wearing cheap Target socks and ended up with a big blister.

It looks like Big Sur is going to be miserable: overweight and running with a blister.