Last week I got the green light from Linda, my peerless mother-in-law, that she and Patrick, Dan's stepdad, will be able to stay with our twins Will and Ruthie the weekend of October 21. This frees up Dan to travel with me, Kathy and her husband Eric to......Detroit for the Detroit Free Press Talmer Bank Marathon!
I chose this race because of the company (you can't beat having your husband and good friends there; Detroit is Eric's hometown; plus Kathy's friend Melissa, who is a hoot, will be running it in addition to Kathy and me); because it's late enough in the year that it's less likely to be hot (average high on Oct. 21 is 60, average low is 42); and because the course has some bridge hills but nothing horrible (here's the elevation profile).
Another fun thing about this race is that it crosses into Windsor, Canada, for part of the course, so a passport is required to pick up your bib and chip. (No, you don't have to run in place at the border crossing while customs checks your documents! The bib is enough to get you across and back.) This therefore will be my first "international" marathon.
At eight months away, it seems like a long way off, but I know it will be here before I know it.
Anyone out there run Detroit? Kathy did the half-marathon in 2010, so I have some intelligence from her, but all anecdotes are appreciated.
Sidenote about Colds
My cold is still there, not the worst one I've ever had, very much a "first-world problem," but annoying nonetheless. I went to spin class as usual this morning. At first I felt awful--runny nose, slight cough due to post-nasal drip, scratchy throat, fuzzy head--but as the workout ground on, I started to feel better and right now I'm feeling sort of decent. When I got home, I downed a vast amount of tea (I'm still downing it) and took a good steamer of a shower. I'm going to take the kids ice skating in about 20 minutes, which I'm hoping won't set me back to the morning's ugly condition.
While in the shower, I got to thinking about strange things I've tried in the past to rid myself of cold symptoms. The weirdest by far were the ones foisted on me by Russian friends when I was in the Russian Far East in the Peace Corps. These remedies included: a banya (by far my favorite; banyas are Russia's famous steam room/saunas); a menthol-smelling substance applied to my back; vodka pressed through a turnip and mixed with honey (I kid you not; it tasted bad enough to be medicine); vodka with pepper; and of course....straight vodka.
The first six months I lived over there I had a cold like clockwork every two weeks. If those remedies worked, I had no indication of it. The strangest thing I try now is Zicam. I swear it at least minimizes the discomfort.
Do you have any fail-safe cold remedies? (And Caroline, if you're reading, I confess that I've slacked on the probiotics since the Houston Marathon. I'm getting back on the horse, I promise.)
Hee hee, SO excited about this one!!! Feel better, I hate it when those cold just keep lingering on and on.
ReplyDeleteWow, Detroit as a running vacation! That's fantastic, this could be a BQ for you....
ReplyDeleteNo fail safe remedies on colds thought I've found if I start taking mega doses of Vit C when those around me are coming down with a cold, I seem to keep the worst symptoms at bay.
ReplyDeleteDetroit sounds like fun! You guys will have a blast!
One of my bffs lives in Ann Arbor! All I can tell you about Detroit is that you better embrace the U-turn when you are driving there. I do not understand their roads at all. I wish I could come up and run with you!
ReplyDeleteWhat, no mustard compress in the RFE? I had a cold the first three months I lived there; turns out I have allergies, and have had them ever since.
ReplyDeleteCaroline IS reading...of course and tssk tssk.....
ReplyDeleteyou need to get back on it. I also take PRE biotics.
Marathon going in Canada...this will bring you good luck I am sure. The good Canadian air! :)
cold remedies: BRAGGS ACV in water. Vicks under the feet with socks.
vit C but ALSO vit D (1000 mg min)
ReplyDeleteYay for good news! Wow, what a fun trip for you all-- a kid-free weekend, good friends, marathon, does it get any better?!
ReplyDeleteGood friends in Ithaca swore by raw garlic and elderberry juice for cold-prevention and treatment. The raw garlic is hard for me to stomach, but elderberry juice seemed to work.
Yay for Detroit, that will be a great marathon to run. It sure is going to come up fast, as you said. Isn't that the way summer always goes?!?
ReplyDeleteSorry you're not feeling better....I'm not 100% either and it's so annoying (I'm up in Keystone at a friend's condo...wish it were warmer and I felt better). I've never tired anything other than a few extra Vitamin Cs when I have a cold. Funny about your Russian antidotes :).
One marathon, 2 countries, a vacation and, why not, a PB.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I don't have advices for your cold. I try to prevent with vitamin C and vegetables.
Oh feel better! I love all the vodka remedies. That is hilarious because it seems like so stereotypical. I use cold ease drops and those seem to lessen the effects. Probably a lot like Zicam.
ReplyDeleteThat marathon sounds fun. I think it is great that you have to use your passport with it. That is classic!
I am really trying to stay away from anyone who even sneezes right now....I just drink a lot of water, oj and keep taking my vitamins..
ReplyDeleteDetroit is a maybe for me in the Fall..depending on how my May race goes.
Sounds like a great marathon choice! I try to take lots of zinc during a cold - I get Zycam - and I think it helps. Rest, hot tea, lying around watching your favorite movies... These things can't hurt either. Feel better.
ReplyDeleteYay!! Congrats on picking a race!! So looking forward to following the training!
ReplyDeleteExciting stuff! I'm so very behind in blog reading but wanted to tell you how fun this sounds. I'm in Florida right now but will hopefully be home soon and able to catch up on some of this stuff.
ReplyDelete