Running finds

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

I've yet to find anything other than trash while running, but I made a couple of cool product finds lately -- and come to a realization.

I tried out clandestino banana bars -- clandestinobananabar.com -- 20% off with code OPRAH (not sure if that's still good). Simply banana covered in dark chocolate (or not). The bars are tiny; I thought they tasted just ok, but one of my running buddies really liked it. Still, I find it useful for long runs.

www.gogascap.com/
I swear the coolest running hats/visors ever - they have bungees for your gels! When I got mine I really didn't think the little bungee thingies were tight enough - but they stayed put thru a 9 mile run.

I got those on a deal, too; naturally. Active.com has schwaggle & competitor group has gear buzz - some pretty interesting stuff there sometimes.

My weight seems to be doing ok thru the higher mileage - no doubt due to the realization that while I need to fuel properly for runs & long runs, they don't give me a license to eat. Yes,you do need to go heavier on carbs a couple of days before a long run, but you really don't need more food - you just need to up the percentage of carbs to fuel your run.

Some of my favorite pre-long run meals are pancakes, sushi or pierogis with pretzel bread.

Depending on the length of your long run, you may need to eat a bit more than usual for a day afterwards, again going heavier on the carbs. But you don't need to pig out for days afterwards.

I've also started to try to add in an afternoon green smoothie lately. I rarely crave them in the mornings, especially as the mornings get cooler, but they often hit the spot as an afternoon snack. You can never have too many greens.

What are your favorite pre-long run meals?

What's your fav running gear?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BESSHAILE 8/30/2012 6:57AM

I don't run - but my most favorite exercise gear is a good bra. I only have one but I'm planning on getting a second one soon. Made an enormous difference in my posture of all things! Report Inappropriate Comment

KKINNEA 8/29/2012 1:54PM

Been too long since I checked in with you - great profile pix! I also eat pierogis for a long run - great stuff! Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURIE5658 8/29/2012 12:31PM

My fave running gear...my Amphipod fuel belt for my super duper long runs. I like how you can move the bottle anywhere you want along with pouches. LOVE! Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 8/29/2012 12:17PM

Pancakes :-) I'm going to be trying those out when I start afternoon runs. Report Inappropriate Comment

COOP9002 8/29/2012 10:17AM

i usually eat a bagel and some yogurt before i head out for my long run each week. Report Inappropriate Comment

ERICADAWN1986 8/29/2012 10:08AM

I maple and brown sugar oatmeal pre run. Thanks for the tips. Report Inappropriate Comment

Ending with a bang!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The year, that is. The next few months will be a real whirlwind.

My HM is in one month & all that goes with that: the training, getting everything ready for the pet sitters, researching Montreal.

Sadly, we will only spend a few days in Montreal. Arrive friday, leave Monday (the HM is Sunday - don't really want to sit for hrs in a car the next day, but there's a reason as you'll see). Altho DH has made some noises about maybe stopping off in Burlington, VT on Monday - we lived there 20 yrs ago.

The reason we won't be staying in Montreal longer is that that is the start of DH's mini-sabbatical (4 weeks). We kicked around many ideas & I told DH it was his choice, since he worked for it. In the end, he decided to go to Kauai.

So less time in Montreal = more time in Kauai. I can't really complain about that.

We will be renting a condo & friends are also going to come out for a long weekend. DH invited his mother, too, but she decided against it (whew!). The woman could certainly use the vacation, but we would be severely limited in what we could do if she were there.

Then december is my next HM. My MIL is considering coming to Vegas.

It's going to be a whirlwind - in a good way.

I am already considering the next HM after that. I'm targeting may/June; then I don't have to train thru the entire winter & I get a little break. The diva HM in myrtle beach looks real interesting, but I'm also going to look into something closer I can drive to. I need to add some more states!

I think one of the biggest challenges with all this is keeping my weight under control with all that travel. I'll have a kitchen in both Montreal & Kauai & that helps immensely.

Edited to add: we are spending 10 days in Kauai, not a month! His sabbatical actually starts with our trip to Montreal & he wants to decompress at home a bit, too. Not to mention how expensive the pet sitting is, especially since our dog sitter recently raised her rates.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FRECKS96 8/28/2012 3:19PM

What an exciting couple of months you have lined up!! The HM in Binghamton is in May...registration is already open. Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 8/28/2012 1:03PM

Whew!! Busy, but fun stuff coming up!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KANSASROSE67 8/28/2012 12:00PM

You have so much to look forward to! Report Inappropriate Comment

LJCANNON 8/28/2012 10:31AM

I don't think you will have too much problem in the eating department with all that Activity!! It sounds as if you have a Very Busy few Months planned!! I am looking forward to hearing all about it!! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRI_BABE 8/28/2012 9:13AM

WOW ! That sounds so fantastic. Enjoy it! A kitchen helps, but you can still only do the best you can. Just make health choices and you'll be fine! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 8/28/2012 8:13AM

One month in Kauai, you locky lady. I'm envious. Report Inappropriate Comment

LALAFLOWERS 8/28/2012 8:05AM

Enjoy Montreal!!! I grew up near there, and lived in Burlington for 6 years.... Last time I was there, it had changed alot!!! Enjoy the run. Report Inappropriate Comment

Bend it like Beckham

Friday, August 24, 2012

The rules, that is. I am not an all or nothing person: I never feel like I've blown it, so I might as well keep eating badly. But I'm a recovering perfectionist in certain areas of my life; altho in other areas I am far from perfect & it doesn't seem to bother me!

For the longest time I had a morning yoga practice -- most days just 10 minutes. And I'd beat myself up if I got up too late & didn't get it in. These days sometimes I do my morning yoga; sometimes I don't. Usually I feel better when I get it in; but if not, it's ok.

Maybe I've become more lenient about it because I do a lot of yoga & figure if I don't do it in the morning, I'll get it in later in tbe day.

Only yesterday I was going to do a 20 minute legs yoga routine . . . I got my run in, & if you read my blog yesterday you know how THAT went . . . the yoga didn't happen. Maybe I'll do it today; maybe not. I've been doing some pretty heavy upper body ST lately, so I try to do that 3 x week & lower body (which is the yoga this week) 2 x week.

I plan my meals out he day before, but sometimes I'm craving something different. Since I already have a plan, it's relatively easy to plug in what I'm craving & make any necessary adjustments. Which is exactly what I did this morning.

You have never "blown" it. You have simply made a choice. That's what life is all about -- choices; some will be good, some will be bad, but hopefully the majority will be good. And hopefully you'll learn that sometimes it's more than ok to bend the rules - it's downright necessary.

Do you go with the flow or are you a perfectionist?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ASHERAH38 8/30/2012 7:22AM

I too am a recovering perfectionist but have been transitioning into a go with the flow person. And I am getting there--some days better than others of course:-) Report Inappropriate Comment

TRI_BABE 8/28/2012 10:38PM

I am a perfectionist! But I actually try not to be, because I have seen how it actually slows me down. I am flexible on plans... but with my work I am a total perfectionist, I annoy myself sometimes! Report Inappropriate Comment

BESSHAILE 8/25/2012 7:28AM

Funny thing - I'm a flower - but I admire the rule follower. And sometimes I act like I've blown it but never for very long.... Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 8/24/2012 3:37PM

Go with the flow...for sure :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

KIMPOSSIBLE82 8/24/2012 12:43PM

You have a great mindset! I'm sometime go with it, sometimes feel like I've blown it. It usually takes me several poor choices to feel like I've blown it ... but you're right: we gotta just keep chugging along and doing the best at each chance :) Report Inappropriate Comment

LJCANNON 8/24/2012 10:33AM

I'm definitely a "Go With The Flow" kind of Girl, except when it comes to the Gym. I get there at least 3 times a week, although I am flexible about what I do when I get there. After I had surgery in October I went to the Gym (Curves) every day, even though I only Walked for 6 Weeks, and did not do ANY Strength Training. Not sure if I am "Dedicated" or "Obsessed"!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 8/24/2012 9:24AM

I'm extremely flexible and roll with the changes. Report Inappropriate Comment

Suck it up, buttercup

Thursday, August 23, 2012

That's what I did. I did my tempo run even tho I really didn't want to move at all. Maybe it's the fact that summer has returned. The run was on tbe treadmill because it's 86 outside & we're going out tonight & I had my meeting this morning so I couldn't do a morning run.

Maybe it's because TOM finally started & I'm tired & now TOM is right on track to hit during my HM next month. Can't worry about that much since I can't control it.

The bottom line is I had no desire to run. Even tho I was inside with AC it still felt hard & I did not feel the least bit energized afterwards; quite the opposite.

Some days will just be like that; some will be even worse. They say sweat (or is that pain?) is fat leaving the body - boy, I ought to be a whole lot thinner right now!

They say heroes are normal people who are afraid but do it anyway. I guess healthy people are people who do it anyway, even if they don't want to.

Does that make me a healthy person???

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SLIMMERJESSE 8/28/2012 9:43AM

What fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHOCOHOLIC2276 8/24/2012 7:20AM

Yes it does Ha ha- the title of your blog caught my eye, that is my favorite motto Report Inappropriate Comment

MILLERGIRL719 8/24/2012 6:06AM

I need to take a lesson from YOU! Report Inappropriate Comment

INTHELOOP 8/23/2012 11:28PM

YES!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LALAFLOWERS 8/23/2012 6:40PM

Good for you for sucking it up, and doing it any way. It will pay off during your half!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 8/23/2012 4:37PM

A/c drains me as much as the heat does. I have a hard time with forced air, although I appreciate having it on hot days. You did the treadmill nonetheless - way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

JESSYVIRGINY 8/23/2012 4:23PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 8/23/2012 4:10PM

YOU ROCK !!!!! Sometimes "sucking it up" sucks the life right out of ya - good job on doing it anyway Miss Buttercup. Report Inappropriate Comment

LTMURPHY7 8/23/2012 4:10PM

I don't know Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 8/23/2012 4:09PM

Yes, it totally makes you a healthy person!! Great job getting it done, especially since you didn't want to :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

Second verse, same as the first

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

That's sort of how I feel about this week. For different reasons.

Last week I got a horrible attack of the hungries for a few days. I thought it was because TOM would be starting, but I'm still waiting on that. Maybe this is the month I finally skip a month - but I've been this late before too.

This week there were no hungries, if you don't count the extra half serving of PB filled pretzels I tacked on to last night's snack after speed work at the track, which I dutifully tracked (tracked? Get it?). Which will put me just slightly over my points for the week (but of course I have oodles of activity points I haven't yet touched). Unless I play around with today's food.

Which I am disinclined to do . . . how do I feel I've done? Dunno. I feel a little thinner, maybe, but lately I haven't really been able to tell.

Last night was like Friday Night Lights: the HS football team was practicing on the inside of the track and there were at least 50 people watching them & cheering them on. I feel like I time warped back to Austin.

I got my answer on the Nuun, too - I have a runner's world daily calendar I picked up very cheaply at the beginning of the yr - guess what tip it had for me? If you use both, use the Nuun one hr, the GU the next. Which is sort of what I did. Need to do a bit more research on that one for myself as well.

Do you know how you've done without stepping on a scale?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NATPLUMMER 8/22/2012 5:19PM

You know I'm going to have to listen to Herman's Hermits now ;-) Report Inappropriate Comment

SKFEREBEE 8/22/2012 12:24PM

When my wedding ring feels a little loose, I know I'm on the right track. Report Inappropriate Comment

KANSASROSE67 8/22/2012 12:19PM

I can't really tell accurately where I'm at without the scale. Some days I feel like a blob and I don't weigh any more than the days I feel skinny and powerful. But I'm only weighing once a month now and it really works for me...I'm more motivated to see a good result and not as tempted to celebrate a loss with food, or comfort a gain with food! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 8/22/2012 9:08AM

I was thinking about this the other day. Some days, I feel huge. Other days, I feel light as a feather. Scale says I'm on-track, but I only weigh every other week now. Report Inappropriate Comment

SEPTEMBERSPIRIT 8/22/2012 8:52AM

I am still bound by the scale - habit mostly and step on it every morning. I've tried to put it away and do feel the differences but my curiosity gets the best of me. I can so relate to your 'hungries' and how the arrival of TOM is not so timely anymore. I guess that is all 'normal' - but happy I just finished mine so I know I should have a few weeks of relatively normal weeks without those insane cravings. Hope you have a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 8/22/2012 8:39AM

Unfortunately I do know before I step on the scale . Ahhh, high school football season - love it. Report Inappropriate Comment