It seems to me that there have been a lot of incidents/deaths during marathons. Most recently in the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon. We’re not talking about unhealthy individuals either. You have to figure that some amount of training was done for these races. Age isn’t the issue either. One runner was 26 and the others were 35 and 65.

I was trying to wrap my brain around this on one of my runs. I searched a bunch of things and come up with this explanation (or closest thing I could find): Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

In an article by the PR Newswire, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Says Deaths of Three Detroit Marathon Runners Underscore Need for More Public Awareness,” it is said that nearly 300,000 U.S. deaths can be attributed to SCA each year. With the growing popularity of marathons and half marathons, you have to figure that we’re going to SCA come into play more and more each year.

As reported in Tara Parker-Pope’s blog “Are Marathons Safe?” on the New York Times website, death’s during marathons are rare (0.8 per 100,000) in comparison to triathlons (1.5 per 100,000), dying from diabetes (23 per 100,000) and dying in a car accident (1 per 6,700). But that doesn’t make it right.

As runners, we consider ourselves healthy just by the nature of what we are and what we do. This isn’t always the case though. I urge you to have yearly physicals and listen to your doctor’s advice. You can’t tell if your cholesterol is off the charts (trust me, I know). If you do get physicals, good for you. Now take it a step further and make sure you mention it to your running partner, running organization and friends. Let’s spread the word and keep runners running and not lying flat on their backs.

RMFR

Halfway thru my training for the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon I’ve run into a couple of rough training sessions. You know the ones: you didn’t quite feel right, lack of energy or sleep, weather sucked (the list could go on forever). In years past, I would have let these bad runs get under my skin and affect my attitude and overall confidence. This year is different. I already have a little moxie this time around.

I haven’t really done anything to warrant this new found determination. I haven’t run extremely fast or had great times in any of my races. I think the biggest difference is that I’m enjoying running more than ever. I’ve really dedicated myself to the sport with this website, diet and regular regimen of solid training runs. While training the body is an extremely important aspect of running (obviously), the mental aspect often gets overlooked. Bring a positive attitude into your training, believe in yourself and see what happens. I think you’ll be surprised at the results.

Two weeks ago, a 20-miler didn’t go as I planned. This Saturday I get my “Day of Redemption” on that 20-miler. I haven’t changed anything physically, but mentally I’m solid as a rock.

RMFR (oh yeah…it’s back)

If you haven’t read the previous post (A.W.A.R.E.) on running in the dark, please do (click here).

While on my run yesterday evening (yes I ran at night instead of the early morning) it dawned on me that there are a couple of things I do that might benefit you when running in the dark.

One of the most dangerous things to watch out for are headlights. If you’re running close to oncoming traffic you can be easily blinded by a cars lights. Highbeams…forget about it!!! To keep your eyes on the road and the car, look at the white line on the road. This way you can keep the car in your peripheral vision and not be blinded by the light. It also allows you to judge how close the car is to the white line and see the terrain in front of you.

After a car passes, close your eyes for a few seconds. I’ve found that this helps bring your sight back to normal and help adjust your eyes back to the low light.

If you’re running hilly routes, watch for lights coming over the hill. Don’t look directly at the headlights when the car crests the hill. Make sure you’re looking off to the side (unless the car is close, then look at the white line) to prevent being temporarily blinded.

We need to see the cars to avoid them and if you protect your eyes from a cars headlights, you’re winning the battle. RUN SAFE!!!

I have finally found my shoe. Last March I held my own version of March Madness in finding my next running shoe. Ever since I started running, I’ve run in a different shoe each time. After 400 miles, I’d come to find things that I didn’t like or things I wanted in a shoe. This ritual continued at least twice a year at the Red Rock Running Company. I’d find 3 or 4 shoes I wanted to try – take them for a spin – and choose my running companion for the next 400 miles. I was close once…until the update came out and I totally hated it.

I’m proud to announce the Pearl Izumi has won me over with the syncroFloat II and now it successor, the syncroFloat III. Now, instead of spending a good 30 minutes picking out shoes, I can ask for what I want and be done in a couple of minutes. We’ll call it love at first site.

I’ve been going Urban Warrior for the last several months in training for my fall races. When training for races, I don’t usually head out for trail runs because I’m focusing on tempo and distance. This week was different. It was basically my first and only rest week during my 12 week training for the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon so I decided to take my easy 6 mile run to the trail.

I’m a sucker for nature and just focusing on the trail (and avoiding ankle breaking rocks) and giving into natures surrounding totally rejuvenated my spirits for the rest of my training. The week before I felt like crap on my 20 miler and was a little dejected all week. I’m now looking forward to next weeks 20 miles with a passion and can’t wait to attack it with my new found energy. Here are some photos from my run on Saturday.

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This is a pretty cool thing if you haven’t seen it yet. Ed Norton, three Maasai warriors and a cast of 30 other runners (including David Blaine and Alanis Morissette) will be running in the ING New York City Marathon to raise awareness for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. Click here to visit the website and learn more about this great cause. You can also follow Ed Norton on Twitter and get constant updates on how you can sponsor a runner and win prizes.

My sister says I have the knack for “running” into interesting situations on my training runs. After looking back at the many things and people I’ve met, I’d have to say I have been pretty lucky.

• I’ve run during an lunar eclipse. I planned my run so I would see the eclipse – before, during and after. You really don’t realize how bright the moon is until it’s gone.
• There’s been numerous encounters with animals. Whether it’s the wild burros that roam Nevada State Route 159 or my countless run-ins with coyotes. They always seem to be hunting. I’ve caught one with a cat in it’s mouth and on a trail run, they were hunting desert cottontails.
• I’ve met some really cool runners on my many solo trips around Las Vegas. Some with interesting stories and others that have tested my stamina and speed.
• One early morning I tracked the International Space Station across the entire Las Vegas valley. This and countless shooting stars.
• I’m a sucker for sunrises. If I could have a photo of every sunrise I’ve seen I would be a lucky man. Earlier this week I witnessed an electric sky with Mars peaking through an opening.

All of this and I think I finally encountered the  piéce de résistance last weekend. Around 5 a.m. on Saturday I was making my way out on a 19 mile run. At mile 2, I saw a car parked along the edge of the road. This isn’t a rare site as many people park on the roadside and go hiking. There was no traffic and as usual the desert was silent – that is until I was near the car. The windows were closed; the car was on the opposite side of the road and a woman was thoroughly enjoying herself (trust me, I think she said it in many different ways). Since nobody was around, I pointed my flashlight at the car to scare them. The second my light hit the car the woman screamed that it was her dad.

I’ve never laughed so hard on a run in my life. Please share some of the cool things that have happened to you on your runs.

I love my shoes and this is just bad ass.

To be brutally honest with you I’ve been scared to run for the last week. The tragic and needless death of Jeremy Kunz in this years Las Vegas Ragnar Relay effected me greatly. Over the past couple of months we here at One Runner’s Brain have tried to advocate runner safety. Whether it’s rules of the road or wearing the correct clothing, there’s a lot we need to do to make sure we can be seen by motorists. I’ve tried to lead by example but I decided the amount of reflective clothing I wore was not enough.

Most of my long runs are on Charleston Blvd./Nevada State Route 159 which treks thru the beautiful Spring Mountains and The Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area (if you’re ever in Las Vegas you have to run out here). This is a popular route (especially for cyclists and more and more runners) because you can take this road to Blue Diamond Road (about 15 miles) and back and not have to worry about one single stop light. What you do have to worry about (especially in the dark, early morning hours) are vehicles seeing you on the shoulder of the road.

This weekend I went out and purchased a Nathan Night Fall Vest and I’m sleeping and running with a much clearer mind. Knowing that I’m going to light up like a Christmas tree to oncoming drivers is much more comforting than wondering if they’re going to see you. I still carry a flashlight and prepare to launch myself into a gully at the first sign of lights heading my way, but I know they can see me.

If you’re not wearing reflective gear, please go out get some. There are many inexpensive items from reflective tape, wrist bands and vests. Don’t leave it up to chance. We can’t stop drunk or reckless drivers but there are steps we can take to make running a whole lot safer!!!

A lot of runners (myself included) are gearing up for our last race of the year. This means we’re putting together our last long runs of our training and being the end of the year, we’ve put on a lot of miles!!! With all the time spent on the road and trails your body can be wearing down. When you wear down, you’re more prone to injury. When you’re injured, you can’t run/race to your full potential. Herein lies the question: When is it time to push thru pain and when you should you stop and get medical help?

As runners, we’re all had to suck it up on a run when we haven’t felt our best – developed a cramp or run on sore/tight muscles. Some of us can suck up the pain and work thru it – benefitting from our “don’t quit” work ethic. But what if the pain is something more serious such as stress fractures? It’s a fine line and one that only you can answer. For me, I lean on the side of caution. Any sharp pain is a warning sign and something to be closely examined.

Liz Robbins recently wrote an article on this subject: Marathon Runners Mull the ‘D Word’ (you have to love real writers that our runners. It makes what I write look like something you scrap off the bottom of your shoe).

I’m not a medical professional and would never pass myself off as someone with any medical knowledge whatsoever. The only advice I can give you is thru experience. Push yourself but listen to your body. If you can make it thru a grueling workout you’ll be better off in the long haul. If it’s a pain that just doesn’t feel right, stop. If it turns out it’s something minor, there’s always tomorrow’s run.