Special Idiot

• First things first. Warrior Dash = 3.22 miles of muddy greatness! I recommend anyone to do the Warrior Dash or any type of obstacle race of such. Don't let the 3.22 miles intimidate you if you don't run. You are preoccupied by everything else to realize the distance. How often do you get to run through water, climb cargo nets, crawl through mud under barbwire, and jump over fire?! Only downfall, they ran out of Warrior Helmets... I mean, really?! Receiving it in the mail isn't the same. Just saying.

• According to the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) American Fitness Index Atlanta ranks as the 15th most fit city. Just another reason why I love Atlanta! There are some good looking people in Atlanta! I mean, I'm not implying I'm one of them or anything ;-)! Georgia overall is ranked high in relation to obesity, but Atlanta alone is a very in shape-fitness-crazy city. When you go on a morning run at around 5:30AM and you see other runners getting their miles in, you know you live in a fit city. Now as a state, lets get fit!

• June 2, 2010 is National Running Day! This is the perfect opportunity for those people who want to start being active and need that push to get out there and do it. You don't have to run, you can simply walk, swim, jog, bike, or anything that makes you move. Get out there and do something. Mark it on your calendar to get some exercise in before, during lunch, or after work. Go with a friend, family member, or a coworker. Also, some cities around the nation hold events just for this occasion. Do it for yourself. Just think, this is the first step to your healthy life!

• Okay, so I am one of those people who likes to see how far I can push my body. How much pain can I inflict on my body through exercise before "hitting the wall"? I've completed a 5k, a 10k, then a half, and finally a marathon. I told myself that the marathon was the furthest I would go. Well, the past month or so I have been contemplating doing a 50 mile Ultra Marathon. Yea, I said 50 miles. Who runs 50 miles for fun? I am about 50% committed right now. If, when, I fully commit I believe I will sign up to complete it next year in Atlanta. I sit here and think to myself "I got this in the bag, just a year of training and I know I can do it." Then I go for a run and I think to myself "What the fuck (sorry, but it's my thought during the 90 degree Atl heat with high humidity around mile 4) am I thinking, 50 miles?!" Then I finish my run, come inside, take a shower, and begin to think. Training for something is never easy. While training for the marathon I thought the same thing. I thought 26.2 miles was impossible and had a hard time training. However, I did it. Training for a distance that you have never completed is scary. You don't know what it will feel like until you do it. The human body is astonishing. It's able to adapt to further distances, or increase in strength, over time with proper training and nutrition. The problem to completing isn't going to be the physical aspect (it will be tortuous, no doubt), but it's going to be the mental battle. After mile 26 I will have complete a marathon and have 1 more marathon to go before being complete with the race. Talk about mind torture. I have no good logical reason for wanting to do this, but simply just to see how far I can push myself. I'm not doing it to raise money for a cause, or for some deep emotional reason, but just the plain fact to see how much pain I can inflict. I'm sick, but isn't every endurance runner? I say now that 50 miles is my cap. No way will I ever be a person who completes a 100 mile ultramarathon. Just wait until I complete 50, I may have a sick and twisted desire to double it and do the 100... I am open to any suggestions, or even a partner to train with. Ross already denied. Furtherest he will go with me is marathon distance. :-). I think it's going to be hard to find a 50 miler running buddy... After doing some research on ultra running I came across this quote by Alan Cabelly: "Any idiot can run a marathon, it takes a special idiot to run an ultramarathon" I want to be a special idiot. It's going to be a long journey, and I will definitely keep you updated.

Training Exercise: Triceps Extensions. I know I am guilty to neglecting my triceps when working out. Being a female I should be all about it since women are known to have saggy arms. That was harsh, I apologize. Let me rephrase: Women typically hold fat in the triceps area and spend less time working out the weak muscle. You need a balance between all muscle groups. You can't only work out your biceps, you need to work your triceps to have a well balance arm and decrease the risk of injury such as muscle strains or shoulder dislocations.

Training Tip: Wear sunscreen if you are going to be out in the sun for a long run for more than 20-30 minutes. I am guilty for not taking my own advice and have a runner's tan to prove it. After the Warrior Dash I noticed how bad of a sports bra tan I have in the back. I say wear sunscreen because I also have a hideous sunburn mark around the straps of my sports bra. I would say it stings a little when changing clothes. You think I have learned my lesson, but no. Don't be stubborned like me, please. Protect your skin from not only the UV rays but also the pain that will just linger along due to the irritation you will inflict on it.

Training Songs: I found my Nelly Furtado CD from years ago and added some to my playlist for old time sake. Enjoy!

1. Man Eater- Nelly Furtado

2. No Hay Igual- Nelly Futado

3. All I Do Is Win- Dj Khaled ft. Ludacris, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, & T-Pain

4. Woohoo- Christina Aguilera ft. Nicki Minaj

5. OMG- Usher ft. Will-I-Am

Upcoming Races:

The upcoming races are on the side of my blog via dailymile. I'm going to try to tweak it to have the next race show on the countdown and not the already completed. Anywho.

Next race: Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2010!

Happy Running,
Jayme Bergeron, BS

ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist

(Yea, this will happen for awhile :-) I'm a dork, I know it!)