Barb T.

Is that nighttime running for you? This time of year, we have so much daylight in Washington State. But you reminded me of a time in 2007 (winter) when there was a massive power failure and we were out for 5 days. I tried to run, but even with a headlamp the darkness was scary-deep!

I actually do all of my running in the dark because it's so blasted hot and humid here right now. I usually start my shorter runs (under 10) around 3:30 in the morning and the long runs around 2:30 in the morning. Even though we run early, it's still quite warm. This morning I ran at 3:30 and it was 82F outside with humidity of 68%. My running partner almost was hit by a moto carrying bread with a very weak headlight. Couldn't see us running.

I have another question for you. It seems that often the last 6 miles or so of my long runs I really lose all my steam. Don't know if it's related to hydrating or maybe not fueling enough while I'm running. I usually just drink water and also take Succeed S!CAPS since it's so humid and I perspire a lot, then I eat Luna Moons for snacking.

hey sno...me again...just read your Wed entry and that Garmin thing sounds quite nice. Looked it up on the internet. How long have you had one of those? Is that how you track your miles as you run? Would you recommend it? Does it tell you what pace you're keeping as you're running?

Hi Barb, I don't think I know enough about you (or enough period, lol) to answer about your fading in the long runs. I think it's natural to be running with more effort at the ends, but not really "losing all steam." I do quite well with distance, just not so much with speed, so long runs are the easy part for me. You could try easing up on the pace in the first half of the run, ie negative splits. Or even take a few walk breaks in the first half to keep your legs fresh. About the fueling (Luna moons), I'm not sure you want to get me started on that topic. I am a low carb runner, and take zero carbs with me on all runs and races. This is about the time people's eyes glaze over and the subject changes. lol

My Garmin 405 - LOVE IT! The 305 is basically the same except in size and shape, plus it uses button exclusively whereas the 405 has a touch-bezel for some functions. To quote JD, another great runner here on the blog, "I love it so much that I want to have it surgically attached to my arm." Kidding of course.

The Garmin is freedom - go anywhere you want and know your pace, distance, etc. It also has an awesome interval training program that will just beep at you when it's time to recover or run faster, programmable by time, distance, or a combination of the two. Worth every penny. It will display all kinds of cool info if you choose: directional heading, elevation, calories. I do not have the one with the heart rate monitor, but I hear it's very useful.

One caution: Garmins are fussy in my experience. Buy it from rei.com and you can hand it right back to them if anything bothers you, no questions asked. I'm actually on my 3rd watch. The first one, the buckle broke. The 2nd, it was doing inaccurate splits. I have an REI store 15 minutes away, so it's easy to just walk in - I didn't even have all the original box/instructions/doodads/etc. - and they hand me a brand new watch. So Garmin=great joy, but cover your bases and get it from REI.

so, if you take no carbs with you on your long runs, you saying you don't eat at all? Hmmm, low carb runner meaning you don't eat many carbs ever? I'm curious if you don't mind getting a little started :-)

I think I just might look into one of those Garmin's as soon as I get stateside. I wonder if the GPS system would work in an unknown, unheard of country that's not very developed? I just may have to find out!

My carb intake is under 50g per day, usually under 30. In other words, ketogenic. I am running on the same fuel as my prehistoric runner ancestors used. If you have read Born To Run (a great book, by the way!) you will be familiar with the recent research indicating humans evolved as runners. But grains, legumes and most modern fruits are a very recent addition to the human menu.

Here is a key article that the Born To Run author used: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~skeleton/pdfs/2004e.pdf

And here is a fun little article about low carb running, written by a guy who tries to eat zero carbs: http://onyx-ii.com/starr-rhapsody/lowcarb/no_carb_runner.html

This one is an overview of why people started to think they needed massive carbs, and the fallacies involved: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html

I guess the bottom line is that it is working just fine. I've been low carb since nearly the beginning of this year. One no-carb marathon down, another in less than 2 weeks. If I was going to fall apart from such low carbs, I think it would have happened by now. :)

thanks for the info Sno. Interesting. I've been very 'athletic' my whole life and very conscious about what I eat, but I hadn't heard of the ketongenic, low carb way of eating. I will definitely look more into it, though, I big fall back for me is I need realistic food choices I can eat in that there just aren't a lot of 'supplements' available in Africa. We'll see...

Still curious, though, do you eat anything while you're running the long ones? Just water?

I do not eat anything during long runs or during marathons. I have a 6 oz. fuel flask with a Nuun (electrolytes) tablet in it. C'est tout. And water of course.

As you are researching you may be interested in Googling "gluconeogenesis." That's how I make my own carbs.

Thanks for asking. Most people just roll their eyes and put me on their Weirdo List I think.

thanks...I just may give the Nuun stuff a try on my next long run just to see...

I'll also take a look at gluconeogenesis on the internet. Noticed you threw some French in there...do you speak French. I live in a French speaking country.

I did not know Mali was French-speaking! How lovely. I took 6 years of French in school, followed by over 30 years of trying to keep it up despite almost zero opportunities to practice. The only French place we've been is Quebec. Fortunately, they are extremely patient and are pleased if you even just make an effort.