How much running gear is too much??

But first, it's Long Run Sunday!

These deer were watching me.  Not my house.

My horse friend.

Big field I run by after the horses.

1.5 miles before the end of my run.

52F and sunny when I started out at 4pm.  10.49 miles in 2 hours.  Avg Heart Rate: 172; Max HR 183.  Went well.  I had an "island nectars" gu at about 5.5 miles, after stopping to photograph my horse friend (reflected in my lap 6 pace).  Cool down was a jog for .3 miles; walk for .2 miles.

As I was preparing for my long run both last week and this week, I asked myself:

How much stuff is TOO much stuff to bring with me running?

I got my snazzy little ifitness pouch back in the fall after seeing that at my half marathon expo.  It is great for running with my small camera, not to mention holding my license, keys, and maybe some shot bloks or gu.

I just recently got the hand held water bottle which I em enjoying for my longer runs, as the weather is warming up and my long runs are getting longer.  It has a key hook and room for a gu in the zip pouch.

My Garmin accompanies me on all my runs.

And I run with music about once a week.  I don't want to become too dependent on music for keeping me motivated, but I'm starting to consider running with music for my upcoming half marathon (I did not run with music for my previous two halfs).  It's going to be a more low-key half marathon, through a park, without spectators lining the course.  I might require a little extra motivation to get me through the hills, too.  I don't play my music loud enough to drown out other noises, so I am not concerned with the music making me oblivious to my surroundings.

I don't always run with ALL this stuff...but last week I did run with the watch, my water bottle and the mp3 player.  Which meant I had something in each hand, which wasn't really an issue but I felt kind of ridiculous. 

Today I ran with the ifitness pouch, which carried my camera, license, and mp3 player (set on a play list so I wouldn't have to hit any buttons).  Also wore the watch, and carried my water bottle which held the gu & apartment keys.

Questions:
1. What do you bring with you on your long runs?
2. Do you run with music??  What are your thoughts on music during races?
 

Speedwork + Snow = Treadmill

I resorted to the treadmill yesterday for my speed work because of all the snow.

I was supposed to do 5 x 400 @5k pace.  For me that's in the 9:28-9:45 range.

I set the treadmill at a 1% incline and ran the following...  

Note, the distances are + or + .01 of a mile, as I tried to watch the treadmill closely so that I could hit lap as soon as it ticked up to the next number.  
-Sometimes I missed the lap button.  
-Sometimes I missed the treadmill distance turning over.

Distance	Time	Pace
1.0	12:51	12:51
.25	2:23	9:32
.2	2:21	11:45
.25	2:24	9:36
.2	2:49	14:05
.25	2:25	9:40
.2	2:59	14:55
.25	2:26	9:44
.2	3:00	15:00
.25	2:21	9:24
.2	2:14	11:10
.4	6:12	15:30
3.65	44:29

My first four 400s (bold) were done at 6.3 mph on the treadmill  (I attribute the range of 9:32-9:44 pace while on the same speed to be due to me not hitting lap right as I hit .25 miles...or an inaccurate treadmill?).  

For my first .2 rest interval, I jogged (5.1 mph). Then I saw my HR and decided I would walk for the other rest intervals.

 

To make things interesting, for the 5th 400, I kicked it up a notch to 6.4 mph (~9:22).  And I could do it!

For my final .2 rest interval, I did .05 miles each at 6.3, 6.0, 5.7, and 5.4 mph; then switched to walking for the last .4 miles.

While I don't love the treadmill, I will admit it is very helpful for speedwork since you can just plug in your speed and go.  It is definitely harder to hit specific speeds when you are just running outside, looking at your watch every so often (intervals would be difficult without my Garmin!). 

I brought along my mp3 player and watched FoodNetwork to distract me from staring at the numbers too much.  My mp3 player is in need of an update though.  I've got a bunch of playlists that have been shared online that I have been meaning to look through, but haven't had a chance yet.  Here's a handful of them--

Tone It Up's January playlist

Tone It Up's December playlist 

The Hungry Runner Girl's January 8 Spin Playlist 

The Hungry Runner Girl's January 6 Spin Playlist 

Lululemon blog 10k Playlist

Lululemon Best of 2010 Playlist  

Any good playlists out there, or good upbeat song recommendations?  

I'm going to need some to get me through some future treadmill speed workouts over the next two months...