I'm a Runner? & PJ Sports Drink!!!

Two discussion points for today...
1) Pickle Juice Updates!!!
I contacted Pickle Juice Sports and asked if I could try some of their product. They sent me 3, 8 oz bottles! I'm going to bring them with me and hopefully they'll help! The instructions said to take one bottle before physical activity and if needed, continue to take during activity. I'll have to find a way to carry the small 8 oz bottle with me-- very convenient sizing!!! I'm liking it already.

I also tried some that my co-worker gave me and guess what? 1. They don't make my stomach sick at ALL.. actually its kind of relaxing on the stomach and 2. It's actually really good. I can tell that I'm really craving the salt, because I don't think pickle juice is normally something people should find appetizing! Also, after about a half of a cup my body wasn't craving salt and it was tasting a little bad. I'll keep you posted on the PJ as much as possible!

2) When am I "A Runner"?
When did you start thinking of yourself as a "runner"??? Once in a while I make the remark "I think I'm a runner"-- surprising myself. But I never really say I "AM" a runner. And I think I know why-- BOSTON! I know, it sounds crazy! After 13 marathons and 14 years of running long distance, one would typically consider themselves a runner. But, I think in the back of my mind, I'm waiting to hit a BQ time before I can officially call myself a runner... don't even get me started on when my warped mind considers myself a "marathoner." Now don't think I'm talking about you all out there. With other people, my wacked out brain calls people runners as soon as they run a single race (be it a 5K, 10K or marathon). Yes, there is something very wrong with me, but couldn't you tell that by now???

I don't know who or what put these thoughts in my head. Maybe it's all the non-runners asking "sooo, have you ever done that Boston marathon thing? Isn't that supposed to be hard to get in?" ... with my forced sulking response of "no... I missed it by 14 seconds." I firmly believe it's the cause of the undo pressure I put on myself race to race! Normally, I do better with a little extra pressure, but in my mind I've made "Boston" much bigger than it actually is!

Thoughts? We all need to relax about Boston and take some of this unneeded pressure off ourselves. On marathon mornings, if you feel great then run hard. If you don't make your boston time-- or any goal time, enjoy the race and appreciate that you've accomplished something only 1% o the US population (and much less for the world) have ever done!

Leg Cramps... Bloggie input???

With California off the list I'm looking to my next Marathon in a week!
And the next state will be....

South Dakota!!! *Cheer & applause*

If you've been reading along then you've probably noticed my small hitch in running... leg cramps! Particularly, hamstring cramps. I seemed to be getting pain in my hamstrings anywhere between mile 16 and mile 26 that feels as though someone is jabbing knives into me. I've been told these are cramps. So... I'm looking for YOUR help!!! Below are my list of problems/solution, but if you have any other tricks/tips to add please feel free! I'm desperate and will try anything... even if that involves drinking a bottle of pickle juice-- apparently!!!! I'll post the accumulated list early next week and we can play guinea pig... with myself acting as the guinea pig. I'll try anything... well nearly anything!

Problems... (what is causing the pain)
~ Cramps... from dehydration
~ Cramps... from lack of Salt
~ Muscle fatigue... from lack of muscle strengthening (with these tree trunks?? Please!)
~ Muscle fatigue... from running 9 marathons this year idiot (toward me)!!!

Possible Solutions...
~ Constant influx of cytomax for a week before the race. This is supposed to help with hydration.
~ Pickle Juice... I'm not even kidding. MB threw out this tid bit. It's an old school remedy, but I'm willing to try. The idea is to get salt directly into your system. Anybody know how MUCH pickle juice??
~ Strength training those hammies!!! (with the number of marathons I've been doing and my speed workouts, its been difficult to get a lot of strength training in). So I've added in a few workouts posted in runners world that Ryan Hall does! I'm a HUGE proponent of strength training for both adding speed and for injury prevention!!! What do I normally do?...
... Walking lunges... forwards and backward*** my favorite
... Box step-ups--- ryan adds a twist with uneven weighted box steps. This is supposed to help your hip muscle and IT band issues.
~Salt Tabs? These are not easy to transport while racing so I'll have to figure something out.