Information Nation: empowering choices and newspaper

01. August 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: helpful tips, running · Tags: , , ,

It’s Thursday already?!!! Sheesh! This week has flown by. I won’t get into the gory details but it was quite a stressful week. The straw that broke the (stuffed) camel’s back (I never harm animals even in adages) was my most disastrous commute home. I only live 25 miles from my office. It shouldn’t have to take 2 1/2 hours to get home…

OK so it’s pouring rain here in NYC. I had a 5 mile tempo run on my schedule for today. I ALMOST opted to go to the gym but the thought of an hour on the “dreadmill” made me ill. Then I came to my senses.

see the raindrops on the watch?

see the raindrops on the watch?

I ran without music since i figured the rain would short out my earphones. I really didn’t need music. I was feeling great and smiling like a nerd.

OK now to the Information Nation part:

1. When you make a choice and follow through, you won’t regret it and you will always feel good. This is not just with running but in all aspects of your life. It’s empowering.

2. When you run in the rain and have squishy, water-slogged sneakers, stuff them with newspaper to draw out the moisture. (It works for sweaty sneakers too, to take the odors out)

sneaks3. When you eat breakfast with dogs, be prepared for the “pathetic stare”. If you make the choice to share, see #1. (These kids had some of my hard boiled egg. I made the choice to share and I feel empowered. =)

give us some of that!

give us some of that!

Question: Do you like running in the rain? Any tips for drying out afterwards? 

 

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The Doodle Mile!

31. July 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running · Tags: , ,

Work has been busy and my commutes home have been long and I’ve been having separation anxiety from my dog. I know. Quite pathetic but true. Anyway this morning I was scheduled for my short run of the week….3 miles. I just couldn’t bear the thought of giving up those 30ish precious morning minutes with the doodle. It was actually cool, about 67 degrees so I decided I’d see if he could run with me. It was quite successful. He only stopped to pee once.

Good Dog!

Good Dog!

I realized as he was dragging behind me 10 minutes into it that one mile was as much as I could expect for today. I’ve only taken him running with me maybe 5 times tops and mostly it’s been much colder out. So we did it! I named my route “The Doodle Mile”.

doodlemile

I think I’ll see if we can do the loop twice next time. Granted the pace was 2 minutes slower than my normal pace, but with a bunch of training on tap from now until November I think it’s fine to let these Tuesday morning runs be a little slower and shorter. It’s most beneficial for my mental health and while Duncan is not overweight, he has been getting a few too many extra morsels of people food as of late.

The funniest part was after our run. He had all this mischievous energy. He shredded a paper towel (one of his favorite things to do) and then ran amuck with his Chanukah bear squeaker toy.

I think this pup experienced a runner's high today. lol.

I think this pup experienced a runner’s high today. lol.

 

Dogs need to release anxiety sweat out the small stuff in a healthy way too. I was glad I could share my mile with the doodle. I wonder what his “small stuff” is?

Question: Do you like dogs? Have you had a dog or do you have one now? 

You should read this article. It’s very interesting.

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test run + new kicks = success

02. July 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: injury, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

After walking through my last 2 scheduled runs to let my groin/inner thigh muscle issue calm down, I went for my first run today to test the waters. Success!!!! I decided to run out a mile and then turn back for a total of 2 miles. While I’m sure 3 or 4 miles would have been fine, I’m trying to be smart and make sure I don’t push it only to have a setback. I’ve got TOO MANY races the second half of the year and I don’t want to miss any of them. It was quite soupy out today. In just 22 minutes my entire running outfit was soaked!

I'm glistening!

I’m glistening!

The second part of my successful math equation: my new kicks!!! This was a potential crisis averted and I’m thrilled. Here’s the situation my parent’s went away on a week’s vacation: I have been wearing the Asics Cumulus 13s since training for my first marathon in 2011. LOVE THEM! The 14s came out and i HATED THEM! Total freakout. So I did what any normal crazy superstitious runner would do and found an online retailer that still had 2 pairs of the 13s in my size. Boom! I was all set for the next 6-9 months. Well, in the last week I noticed that my sneaker mileage was dangerously close to maxing out on BOTH pairs (TIP: I tend to rotate between two pairs. This is great for when one pair is wet from a rainy day or you’ve stepped in dog poo, gum etc and you have back to back running days. (I try to stay around 300-350 miles per pair. I keep a log on my phone in a note but I know they even have apps for this purpose.) By now I’ve made it clear that I can get obsessively stressed over the “small stuff”. To complicate things, they now have come out with the Cumulus 15s! Yesterday I decided to face my fears head on and walk up to the Asics store on my lunch hour (god bless the fact that I work in Manhattan just 5 blocks away from an Asics store). To my dismay the 15s were just as the 14s were. Not cushy enough for me. The guy helping me suggested the Nimbus 14s (the 15s are out but the 14s were cheaper and will still be around for a few months). I took a leap of faith and was pleasantly relieved to discover that they felt great! They actually felt like the Cumulus 13s did. So I made my purchase knowing i’d give them a few trial runs and if all was good i’d go home and order another pair or two.

Brand new Nimbus 14s

Brand new Nimbus 14s

So today was a good day. The sneakers felt perfect. The leg felt great. And I’m giving myself kudos for actually listenting to my body and giving my muscle a chance to feel better. <<pointing finger at you>> Now to all you readers please take my advice and do the same. Listen to your body. Sometimes it will say “Hey sexy.” But sometimes it will say “Ouchie. Give me a break please.”

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BX and SI to BK (Prospect Park 10 miles)

23. June 2013 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,

Happy Sunday! It’s officially summer and it’s hot and humid here in New York City! (89 degrees 83% humidity as i’m typing this) 3 of the 5 boros representing today (Staten Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn). We met up in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for 10 miles. Summer running means you have to have a “beat the heat” strategy. We started out EARLY (6:15am) while it was ONLY 70 degrees, which meant my alarm went off at 4:30am! I got dressed and had a quick bite, took the pooch out quick and then headed out to meet the peeps. Not gonna lie, it felt really hard today. It’s been becoming the norm for me to fall back and be the “caboose” of our running group. I don’t know if it’s the pollen, the heat and humidity or what but i just can’t seem to catch my breath lately. At one point I just blurted out that I felt like crap. Lisa chimed in “well at least you look cute”. I have to admit, I’ve been buying more girly type running attire lately. I’m totally on the running skirt bandwagon and this new trend of ruching up the sides…..LOVE IT! So flattering.

girly runner!

girly runner!

Both the top and the skirt i got at Marshalls. $14.99 each!!!! They are both AVIA. The shirt has a hood, ruching up the sizes that you can adjust to your liking with drawstrings. It also has some gathering at the base of the v-neck which helps the “girls” look nice and separated. So yes, Lisa was right, I did look cute!

Speaking of trying out new running gear, Lisa’s sported her new hydration pack today. It’s her second time wearing it and she’s figuring out how she likes it. So far so good.

Lisa, Mike and Elvia

Lisa, Mike and Elvia

And Elvia’s wearing the Kaleidochic skirt from Hot Chic Sports. You can see her modeling right here too. She’s a sponsored runner for them. Mike is just modeling his awesome runner calves =)

We did 3 loops of the park and then parted ways. I love seeing these guys each week.

Well, hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend. Question: Anyone get any new running gear lately? Do you purchase full price at sporting goods stores or try and find deals at stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx?

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