Tool Time

I glanced down at the place mat on the kitchen table yesterday and was struck by the accessories that I carried with me on the run. For some reason I thought about a toolbox and the fact that this is where men keep their tools to perform repairs and build projects around the house. Perhaps runners can take a cue from a handyman and develop a toolbox of items to maintain the body so it can stay injury free and run far and run fast.

I suppose that one of the most iconic handymen of our day is Tim Taylor on the hit sitcom "Home Improvement." Aside from his wit and constant bumbling around his house and the set of "Tool Time," Tim has made some insightful remarks over the years on this show. The one I remember most is this one: "With the right tool you can fix anything." I'd like to think that this sentiment holds true for runners as well.

In my seven mile run yesterday I carried these items: an iPod and headphones, an arm strap to hold the iPod, a Road ID bracelet and a pocket knife (I periodically bring a pocket knife when I run on new roads for protection from dogs). Music provides motivation and the Road ID provides critical information to emergency personnel if I'm ever injured or incapacitated on the side of the road. I'd say that other runs, usually of a longer distance, have raised the number of items I carry slightly more, notably with the addition of a water bottle (or two) and a gel (or two).

Outside of actual runs, the contents of my toolbox, which are house in a book bag, are primarily used for recovery and healing: compression sleeves and socks; Body Glide for blisters; kinesiology tape for isolated pains; and a Foot Rubz Ball to massage the feet. My toolbox isn't complete without a foam roller too, but this stays at home for times when I'm there. Otherwise, I use the one at the gym. Since I've outlined the items in my toolbox, I'd like to know what's in yours. Is there an item you would recommend I add to mine? Use the tools in mine and create a customized kit for your running goals.

The Darth Valley Challenge

I perused the Runner’s World website this afternoon and stumbled across a unique story on everyone’s favorite Star Wars character (hint: it’s not Luke Skywalker). Apparently Jonathan Rice, a Colorado resident, ran in Death Valley, California, dressed in a Darth Vader costume this past Sunday. According to the article, Rice did this when the temperature was at its highest point in the day – 129 degrees at 4 p.m. He started doing this in 2010. Rice’s creative feat led me to start pondering the various races that take place throughout the year and leverage the power of the costume. People dress up as Santa Claus for Christmas, turkeys or pilgrims for Thanksgiving, and even characters from Disney films for the race extravaganza in Orlando, Florida, each year.

As I ponder Mr. Rice in his Vader costume further, I wonder how often costumed participants in a foot race position themselves as “racers” as opposed to “runners.” I’ve even started pondering the difference between these two words myself when it comes to a foot race. A buddy of mine at Big Peach talks about races with me in the context of whether we will decide to run or race. Is there a difference? Follow me for a moment. Running a race, at least in our perception, equals nothing but more training, whereas racing a race equals a quest to win overall, in an age group, or at least maximize the pace and push the legs to their fullest, screaming potential – even if we don’t win. But maybe I’m engaging in semantics here and this paragraph is all for naught. You decide.

Perhaps what matters most is the fact that runners, costumed or not, are taking initiative to stay physically active. What’s more, you don’t need to don a costume in many of the themed races that are taking over in popularity – The Color Run, Warrior Dash, Spartan Race, and Foam Fest all come to mind. You will just get bloodied, muddy, and powdered from head to toe in the process. One also needs to remember that costumes will undoubtedly be affected by weather conditions. Heat will facilitate more sweat loss and may cause the costume to be more of a hindrance than a joy to wear. I would surmise that this is why most costumed runners choose shorter distances like Rice has to dress up, notably a 5 or 10k – though I’m not surprised in the least to see the bold pursue longer mileage like half or full marathons.

Rice describes the experience of running in a costume best: “Some people collect porcelain kittens. I run in the heat. I do it partly because I love the look on people’s faces as they pass by in their air-conditioned cars – the bewilderment, the innocent, wide-eyed expression of pure disbelief. It’s great.” I’d certainly be one of the people with a look of disbelief on my face, and I do wonder if I may ever take up a race and subsequently strap on a costume. I tend to focus more on color coordination between a shirt and shorts for races, but I do consider myself a big Star Wars fan like Rice. I don’t foresee a day when I join forces (pardon the pun) with him to complete even a mile in Death Valley, but maybe I can do some looking around for a storm trooper costume and scope out a race in my neck of the woods. On second thought, I’m already feeling hot just thinking about it.

On the web: The Darth Valley Challenge