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Marathon Training Week 5: Glimmer Gear

by Megan

I’m still plodding along, and in some cases plodding along quite a bit. I ran 10 miles last night! That run is tied for the third-longest distance I have ever run. This was week 5 of my marathon training plan for beginners, and things are getting real!

Marathon Training Week 5

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At these longer distances, the rest days become more important. My legs are definitely sore today. It’s crazy how when I’m running, my body keeps going, but once I get home and stop, soon my legs cramp up and I’m walking around like a wooden soldier! I stretched, but probably not enough. My kids had fun helping me, though! They pulled my arms and pushed on my back and giggled like evil little gremlins when I said, “Ouch!”

I have been following the plan set forth in the book The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, and each week I have been sharing the tips that are given for each week of training. Here are the tips given for week 5:

Marathon Training Tips: Week 5

Mental preparation:

Construct mental videos that you can stream in your head while running. Make one of the best run you’ve ever had, and make another of yourself finishing the marathon. Spend some time really visualizing the sights, smells, and feelings of both situations, and call on those videos when struggling during your runs, or when having any negative thoughts about running the marathon.

In Week One, we talked about how our brains have trouble distinguishing between reality and our daydreams, so if we picture ourselves running strong and enjoying, we will soon feel that way as well!

Physical preparation:

It is vital to drink a lot of water throughout the day. Fluid replacement drinks, such as Gatorade, are beneficial to drink before, during, and after your runs. These sports drinks contain simple carbohydrates that are absorbed into the blood easily and are quickly made available to the body. While running, try to drink about 6-8oz every two miles.

Normally this is where I end my marathon training posts, but today I have an extra special surprise in the form of a giveaway!

I’ve mentioned before how I usually train in the late evenings, after the sun has gone down. I used to wear a pair of reflective bracelets or flash my phone screen when cars came near, but now I’ve found Glimmer Gear, essentials for a nighttime runner! They were kind enough to send me some products to review, and a few more to give away!

Glimmer Gear offers LED Sports Apparel such as LED Slap-On Bands and Solar LED Body Belts, which glow brightly and allow runners to be noticed in the dark.

LED Slap-On Bands

I tried out one of the LED Slap-On Bands on my short run this week, and it was perfect! I went out late, around 8pm, and I felt safe knowing that the bright light around my wrist would help cars see me. I always stop at traffic lights and wait for the “walk” signal, but I cross a lot of streets on my route that don’t have a light. I felt much safer wearing my Glimmer Gear.

Glimmer-Gear-Slap-On-Band.jpg

The Slap-On Band has three different light settings: steady, blinking fast, and blinking slowly. I kept it on steady for my run. The band’s nylon outer layer is comfortable and water-resistant, and all of the Glimmer Gear products include the flexible LED ribbon which is water-proof and heat-resistant.

I also got to try out the Solar LED Body Belt, which fits super comfortably around my waist and comes with a cord for recharging.

Solar LED Body Belt

I’ll write more about the Body Belt after I’ve used it on a run, but it seems like great alternative if you don’t like wearing something on your arm or wrist.

I highly recommend Glimmer Gear to any runner (or walker, biker, etc) who likes to run late at night or early in the morning and needs a little extra visibility. Their products are high quality and comfortable, and I will be using them for all of my dark runs from now on!

Now for the giveaway! I’m giving one lucky reader a Glimmer Gear Solar LED Arm Band AND an LED Slap-On Band!

***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

If you must have Glimmer Gear now (or in the future), you can use my coupon code SHAPEUP for 10% off!

Previous Posts:
Training Schedule for Marathon Beginners
Marathon Training: Week One
Marathon Training: Week Two
Marathon Training: Week Three
Marathon Training: Week Four

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19 comments

Nicole November 25, 2014 - 7:16am

This would be perfect for me! I commute to work on foot and have been looking for something reflective to wear for the dark walk home.

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Christine November 25, 2014 - 7:40am

Training for Ragnar again, so it will be for me!

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Rachel N November 25, 2014 - 10:58am

I love to run in the morning before the sun comes up. These would be super handy. Good work on your training!! Keep it up!

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runinboise November 25, 2014 - 3:53pm

This is perfect since its getting dark so dang early!

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Kay Lynn November 26, 2014 - 5:05am

It would be for me. It’s dark when my husband and I take our morning walk before work.

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Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes November 26, 2014 - 5:43am

So happy to find you from Running with SD Mom! Excited for you that you are training for your very first marathon! I’m about to embark on training for my 3rd marathon! I know Glimmer Gear but hadnt seen these bracelets! Awesome! I’m a zero dark thirty runner so this would definitely come in handy!

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Jennifer November 26, 2014 - 4:28am

This will be great for evening runs and workouts!

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liz l November 26, 2014 - 5:03am

Me! We run near the lakefront

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Mary Beth Jackson November 26, 2014 - 5:20am

I could use one of those! I am out running before the sun comes up! Great job on your training!

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Amy Lauren November 26, 2014 - 7:30am

I would use this for my night runs. I run downtown with traffic so it would help cars to see me.

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Tanya November 26, 2014 - 11:37am

These are FABULOUS!! I will definitely wear it for myself. Now that it’s dark out, I would love to run outside after work instead of on the treadmill.

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Kristen M November 26, 2014 - 11:54am

If I won, I’d use this for myself or gift to my running partner. We run early, usually before the sun is up.

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Keri November 26, 2014 - 3:44pm

I would love to win this… I always run super early in the morning and it can be a little scary in the dark!

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Kristen November 26, 2014 - 9:48pm

This is awesome! I would totally wear this every day running in Anchorage – in the winter the sun sets really early (and rises hours into my workday) and this would be so useful!

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Tessa November 26, 2014 - 8:51pm

I would be using this. I could really use something to make me more visible at night!!

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Justin F. November 27, 2014 - 12:22am

If I was to win I would use the band myself, but I could see my wife borrowing it as well!

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Joy November 27, 2014 - 5:24am

If I won, it would be for more as I tend to run on the sidewalks of my nearby streets or in a local park, but during the winter, it gets dark so fast that it will be nice to have these for my street runs. Thanks for hosting! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Sarah November 29, 2014 - 7:56pm

Our neighborhood is unusually dark, hardly any street lights. I am on the hunt for light-up and reflective gear now.

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Katie@Run Wild in Alaska November 30, 2014 - 2:09am

This would be so useful here in Alaska with our constant darkness in the winter! What a great invention!

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