Running Pop Quiz

I borrowed these questions from some other running blogs I follow - but I thought they were interesting and would be a good way to get to know me a little better!

1. FUEL: Shot Bloks, GU, Energy Chews, Candy or Other?

So far I've only tried a few of these.
Shot Blox by Cliff were my first love, but over time I've realized how HARD they are to chew up while you're struggling to get enough oxygen already. So, I've moved over to their sister product - Cliff Shot Gel. So far, no awful flavors like other brands I've tried, and no stomach issues like I hear so many other runners talk about.  I know the "85% Organic" label only means SO much, but it's comforting to me to know I'm not fueling my run with some odd chemical. 

Ohh! This one has caffeine - even better!

2. Race Length: 5k, 10k, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, Ultra or Other?
As of today, my longest race has been a half marathon. This time tomorrow, my longest race will have been a 30k. Assuming I live through the 30k, I'm almost certain my favorite will remain a half. The amount of training and the challenge are perfect for me, right now. It takes me about 3 miles to get totally warmed up, so 5ks and 10ks leave just a little too much in the tank. But, to be fair to all other distances, had I been asked this question 6 months ago, my answer would have been different. And, I imagine that in a year, my answer will have evolved again. That is the beauty of running - always changing! 

3. Workout Bottoms: Skirts, Running Shorts, Capris, Pants or Other?Totally dependent on the season. We had a BEAUTIFUL and long summer here in the Pacific Northwest, and I was able to run in shorts for about six months. The rest of the year, I usually wear capris (or crops, as Lululemon calls them). I HATE it when people wear pants and they get WET around the bottom (running problem frequent here in the rain). If I ever wear pants, they're tight to my ankle - NEVER loose pants. (I have a thing about stuff moving while I'm running. This make sports bra shopping a VITAL part of a good run for me.)

4. Sports Drink: Gatorade, Powerade, Cytomax, you stick to water when you run or Other?
Yuck. I know, in theory, "sports drinks" are supposed to taste good, but Gatorade and Powerade are gross to me. The only electrolyte drink I like is Nuun (pronounced like noon). This company was the first to separate carbs from electrolytes - therefore eliminating a drink full o'sugar. 

Delicious AND pretty.

5. Running Temperatures: HEAT or COLD?
I tend to prefer the colder temperatures to the hotter. I hate it when you sweat and then it dries on you - making you into a moving saltine cracker. ew. Plus, I love it when the air is cold and crisp, and it burns just a little when you breathe it into your lungs. :)

6. Running Shoe Brands: Saucony, Mizuno, Nike, Brookes, Asics or Other?
I used to buy whatever looked cool and/or was on sale. Now? I will never run in anything besides Mizuno. I bought my first pair about 8 months ago, and they totally changed they way I run, the way I look at running, and basically my life. Suddenly running wasn't something I dreaded. So - my Mizunoa changed my life. And, their awesome colors sure don't hurt!

My favs are Precisions - these are 12s and 13s. The teal shoes are my trail runners.

7. Pre-race meal: Oatmeal, Bagel, Banana, Eggs, Cereal or Other?
I freak out before EVERY single race and totally forget everything I know about what I should eat. Some things I've tried: Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal with almond milk, a Powerbar Harvest Energy bar, a banana and toast, and once I totally freaked out and ate Dots. Oops. (I don't recommend trying that.)

8. Rest Days: 1x per week, 2x per week, never ever ever or Other?
I don't have rest days. I have a workout schedule that includes heavy weight training 5 days a week, and I fill in the blanks depending on my race schedule, work schedule, etc. So, I legitimize it because I don't run everyday, or do cardio everyday. So, I have cardio rest days, and I have weight training rest days. They just don't happen to come on the same day (unless, I'm feeling under the weather and I know I need it - OR if I'm recovering from a day the race previous. I expect to be resting after this 30k).

9. Music: Have to have it or go without it?
Depends on the situation. Long run alone through town? Yes. Trail run with friends? No. Running in dark/dusk? No. In the country backroads where I grew up? Yes. (This is largely because nobody is around to see me dance-running. It's not pretty, but VERY fun.)

10. #1 reason for running: stress-relief, endorphins, you love to race, so you can eat all the cupcakes you want, weight-loss, love running for social reasons or Other?
Time to think, and a way for me to test myself. I've achieved things through running I never thought I was capable of - but running has made me see that the restrictions I've made for myself are too limiting! Failure, or near failure, may not be as terrible as I once thought it was. 

Half Crazy, Half Awesome

Yes, I believe the title of this blog entry describes me for many many reasons.

For the purpose of this entry, I'm focusing on one part of my crazy/awesome combo. For starters, there's a few people who shall remain nameless in this blog (but know who they are) who deserve a huge thanks for helping me believe that I am capable of running a half marathon distance. My best running buddy, and her sisters, all played major roles in helping me see the light. (THANKS YOU GGUYYYSSSS)

I may able blame them a little for creating a monster.

I ran my first half marathon in May of this year, and then turned around a ran another one two weeks later.

This turned out to be a bad plan. My body wasn't used to that must exertion and quickly revolted by causing all sorts of issues (runner's knee, ankle problems, rage).

However bad that idea may have been, two half marathons in two weeks earns you entry to the elite half marathon club: Half Fanatics. This dues-paying club requires you complete a certain amount of halfs within a certain amount of time, and as you progress through the levels, you can earn different "status'" within the club. The top status you can achieve:

THE SUN          

1. 52 Half Marathons or more within 365 days.

2. 30 Half Marathons in 30 US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within 365 days.

3. 20 Countries within 365 days. 

I'm not planning on attaining Sun status until I figure out how to get sponsored... 

Since that first halfy in May, I've ran five. This is where the half crazy part comes into play. My last two races were one week apart. (In my defense, the last one was a fund-raiser for soldiers with PTSD, which TOTALLY tugs at my heartstrings. AND, they offered a military discount, which I LOVE).

Photo from the 2011 race.

While I did this because my current training plans require more and more miles every week, and for me, there's nothing quite like the push I give myself in a race (my competitive side can be sort of aggressive sometimes). So, not only did I get to race for a good cause, but it also doubled as a great training run.

My next race is a 30k (that's 18 miles. WTF was I thinking) trail run. I'll hold off writing about this until later because the mere thought of this race is still a little daunting. (Another shout out to my running buddy for getting me into this one...) This will be a PDR for me, and a big jump outside my comfort area. I've come to love my halfys, but I have to remember that for most my life, a half marathon was out of my comfort area, too.

Next up to add to the training regime? Speed work. I feel like I've built up a good endurance base, but would love to have a little "push" for race day. I'm hoping I can find a local track to do some work at next week.

"To give anything less than you best is to sacrifice the gift. " Steve Prefontaine, who was also half crazy.

So maybe I am half crazy. Crazy for running so much? Crazy about half marathons being my "perfect distance"? Crazy for listening to my running buddy when she says, "Hey, we should do this!" Or maybe even crazy about pushing myself just that little bit extra... Yup. I'll own up to every little bit of that. Oh yeah, and usually to the half awesome part, too.

What does your training schedule look like?

Do you train for races or do you prefer to run for recreation?

Are you like my husband who believes if you have to go father than three miles, you should get in a car?

Somethin' is Better Than Nothin'

Seriously, there are days I truly believe it's a miracle I even made it out of bed.

Most days, thankfully that's not the case. But on those days it can be particularly hard to motivate myself to start my workout. So, as many people will say, I make myself start my workout, even when it's the last thing I want to do (read: I'd rather lay down on the couch and watch terrible television).

Here's my thought process. If I just get started, I know I'll finish. Even if I half-ass it though the workout, it's DEFINITELY better than doing nothing.

This = bad.

On these I-don't-feel-motivated days, I also tell myself that if I start my workout and go for ten minutes, but then still don't feel like finishing... I can give up and call it good enough.  (This is particularly bad self-psychology on days when I run ten minutes AWAY from my house... and then decide to quit.)  Oddly enough, I've NEVER decided to quit after ten minutes. I figure I'm already doing it - why waste it!?

Here are some other things I've found help me get started:

1) Play music I like to "dance" to (I say dance in quotes because I'm not sure what I do can really be classified as dancing).

2) Just put on my workout clothes. Sometimes that's enough to get me in the right mind-set.

3) Worst case scenario: I set my alarm for 15 minutes and take a power nap. I'll admit, sometimes you just need a little sleep. My suggestion? Fall asleep in your workout clothes :)

What things do you do to get yourself motivated on days you don't feel like getting started?

Does it make a difference what time of day you workout, to be most motivated?

The Commercials-Only Workout Plan

Two things bum me out when the end of summer comes around.

1) The sun rises later and set earlier. This severely cuts into the time I can be safely running or biking outside, and also effects when my body thinks it's bedtime. 

2) All the good TV shows come back. And, then there's the new shows premiering. *sigh*

By itself, #2 would be a good thing. But, with season finales that left me crying, or dying to know what happens next (I might be a little wrapped up in some of my favorite shows...), it's hard to miss out on season premieres. 

So, to solve my problems, I challenged myself to a commercials workout. Here are the rules:

-Every commercial break requires one round of the below listed workout.

-I have to complete each round, no matter how short the commercial is. 

-Form is the most important thing, but this workout is meant to be done quickly.

-Added weights optional.

Here's the workout I made up:

Last night I even spiced it up by throwing in some cycling on my indoor trainer. 

So, there! Problem solved. Now neither the temptation of prime-time television programming, nor the ever-sooner onset of night-time will be able to slow down your workouts!!

What are some of your favorite shows? 

How does your workout schedule change when the season do - or is your schedule season-proofed?

Pre Race Jitters

The night before a race, no matter how big or small, is consistently the worst night of my life.

No matter how well I plan, or how much work I do in advance, I always freak out.

It seems pretty simple when I plan it out. Hydrate, eat good foods, set out my clothes and gear, paint my fast nails, load up my water bottle...

Somehow instead of going to bed at a decent time, and chugging 60 ounces of water, I end up vacuuming inside the closets, reorganizing drawers, or cleaning out the cupboards.

Right now, I'm fighting the urge to clean the house, and instead I set up my bike so I could spin out some nerves while I catch up on some new TV (So far, Guys with Kids is pretty funny. Love Jimmy Fallon!)

Who says printed books won't always be useful!?

I did manage to have a DELICIOUS dinner, courtesy of Trader Joe's and what happens when you go there for ONE thing. I bought their frozen salmon patties, their guacamole/greek yogurt mix, and their corn/flour tortillas (weird combo, I know). I grilled up the salmon patty and made a wrap with the guac and tortilla. So good!

If you like avocados, you gotta try this stuff. Immediately.

Tomorrow, I'm running a half-marathon and I'm attempting to PR with a time less than 1:50. My reach goal is 1:45 because I know it's a flat and fast course, but that means I'd have to run almost :30 faster a mile for most of the race... and I'm a realist.

Cross your fingers for race bling!

I also know it's going to a smaller-than-normal race; I'm thinking there will be less than 500 people there. So... my odds of placing are either super awesome, or super terrible because I'll be again some FAST rangers and army wives. 

What are your pre-race rituals? Do you have a certain dinner before important races or something special you always do? 

UPDATE: PR'ed on the course! Was the sixth woman in my age group, with a 1:46. There were a TON of really talented and fast runners at this event. But, the best part was the band after the run. Called Heavy Left, I believe it's a group of soldiers. The did an awesome rendition of Rock Candy by Montrose, complete with a falsetto chorus. 

Just Jump.

There's something that has been on my to-do list for the majority of the past six years (ok ok, there's like 4 things, but this post is only about one of them). And, in three weeks, I'll be able to cross it off my list.

Yup - I took the plunge and signed up to get my certification in TurboKick. (TurboKick is a format of group fitness, often taught in gyms and community centers, based on kickboxing-style moves with a heavy emphasis on cardio) By itself, it doesn't really sound that scary. BUT, my type A brain is capable of breaking everything down into minuscule and minor details.

So, since I've signed up for the certification class, I've been inadvertently focusing on the scary parts. For example: remembering every move for a 60-minute class, remembering all the moves well enough to properly  communicate each move to a class of expectant students, AND on top of it all, doing all the moves while trying to breathe through a high-intensity cardio class.

NO PRESSURE.

BUT. Then, I have to take a breath, and a step back to look at the bigger picture.

I absolutely LOVE TurboFire (which is the at-home version of this class, by the same trainer, Chalene Johnson). And, memorizing a new set of choreography every few months might not be my strong suit, but I'll never know unless I try right?

At some point, you have to realistically look at your goals and dreams. understand that they'll be hard, and then go at them full-speed.

So, in three weeks, I'll walk into that gym, introduce myself to everyone (does everyone hate those introduction circles as much as I do?), and mentally super-size my courage.

Is there something on your to-do list that scares you? What is holding you back besides your fear?

My Five Favorite Fitness Accessories

It's taken me a long time to accumulate all of my various "fitness"-related accessories. In fact, sometimes my living room looks more like a home gym than a nice place to relax and watch a movie.

It all started innocently enough. I think the first thing I bought was when I moved into my first apartment and it seemed really important to have a yoga ball. I think it served more as an extra chair that it did as a workout tool.

Regardless of all the unused and/or stupid hard-to-use items I've hoarded over the years, there ARE some I think were a good investment.

1.) Foam Roller: These are awesome for so many reasons. Most importantly, they're an important part of me being able to continue running. Like many runners, I've had problems with my IT band. But since I added in rolling out my legs two or three times a week, it hasn't bothered me at all. Best of all? They're cheap. And, if you're resourceful, it's a pretty good ab workout. Here are some pretty good videos about the various areas you can stretch out and massage with a foam roller.

2.) Bosu Ball: This thing has so many uses, and can be added into any already-existing workout.

They can be used this way, or with the ball-side-down for more of a "balancing" element.

For example, if you're doing bicep curls, just standing on a Bosu will engage your core. It requires your legs and core to be a part of the workout, just to keep you standing upright. It's also great for lunges, pushups, and if you're not accident prone careful, plyometrics. You can purchase them on Amazon, sometimes on sale.

3.) Bowflex Select Techs: Probably THE best investment I've made as far as in-home fitness goes (emphasis on the investment part). It's like having 15 sets of weights, ranging from 5 pounds to 50 pounds. Other pros: MAJOR space-savers (they take up less than three square feet if you don't have the rack), the handles aren't huge like some dumbbells can be (which is great for me because my hands aren't very big), and they're easy to change between weights. I know it seems like a lot to pay for some weights, but think about it this way: generally, weights are $1 per pound; a 12 lb. weight is $12. So here's the breakdown: (2x5)+(2x7.5)+(2x10)+(2x12.5)+(2x15)+(2x17.5)+(2x20)+(2x22.5)+(2x25)+(2x30)+(2x35)+(2x40)+(2x45)+(2x50)=$670  If you think about it this way, you're saving 50% compared to how much you would spend if you bought each weight individually. (At least, this is how I legitimized it in my head. Also, I found them on sale somewhere.)

The bad-ass factor also plays a role in how cool I feel when I'm using these. They make five pounds look like  thirty. It's awesome. 

4.) Gymboss: Simple and cheap. Perfect for HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts. This little gadget costs about $20, and is worth every cent (maybe more). It allows you to set two different times, different alarms or a vibrate alert, and the amount of rounds you want to go. So, if you're doing ten rounds of 45 seconds on, 10 seconds rest, three times through, this little gadget lets you preset all that so you don't waste any time resetting the clock or watching a second hand. (Sorry all you cheaters out there that use that time as extra rest - the jig is up.) Also, they come in different colors. Always a plus.

5.) UGI Ball: Last, but not least, this weighted ball is a workout all in itself.

Also comes in different colors, depending on which weight you order. 

Ranging in weight from six to twelve pounds, these balls are designed to help you build strength, stability and endurance. Check out what their website has to say about the UGI ball. It's a perfect weight training addition to your workouts, and also fund to play with when your friends come over to drink beers watch movies. 

What are your favorite fitness-related tools? Or, are you an all-natural (no accessories at all) type of exerciser?