I've heard all of the reasons and excuses why people feel the need to run with music. The most common one, "Running is boring. If I don't have music to push me, I'll never get my run in." Um, pardon me. Did you call my beloved sport 'boring?' I'm sorry, but if you find running boring, it's probably just not for you. Listening to music isn't going to take away the 'boring' factor. What it is doing is distracting you from the task at hand. Running while listening to music is not only unnecessary, it's dangerous. Nothing that Lady Gaga has to sing about is important enough to make me replace the bull dog on top of a Mac truck, because I didn't hear it coming behind me. 

Here are some cases where I think running with music is NOT OK.

1) You're running on the road. I admit it, I used to run with my iPod blaring while I was out running in traffic. It doesn't matter if you're running head on into traffic; (which you always should be) accidents happen. You need to be aware of your surroundings. A car behind you could just as easily hit you from the other side of the road. If there is an accident at an intersection and you don't hear it, you could get hit with debris. These scenarios may seem unlikely, but why chance it? Be smart, look out for yourself. I can guarantee you that the cars on the road aren't paying as much attention to you as they should be.

2) You're running with a friend. I'm sorry, is Katy Perry's menage a trois last Friday night more important than what you're 'sole' sister has to say? Remove the ear buds and dish. Runs can be lonely, especially long runs. If you're fortunate to run with a friend, use that time to your advantage. Talk her ear off, brag about your kids, complain about things no one else wants to listen to (she doesn't have a choice but to listen). If I'm feeling low during a run and my running partner is jamming to her tunes, I have no one to push me when I want to quit. If you want to listen to music when you run, go alone. You pretty much are alone if you can't hear anything around you anyway.

3) You're in a race. Um, hello did you train so that you couldn't get the full experience of the race? I think not! Leave the music at home and soak in the atmosphere! There is nothing more inspiring than the race day environment. Get pumped and excited from the crowd, not your "friends" in the little music box. Those people aren't there running the race with you. You have actual human contact all around you, so enjoy it!

Now, I'm going to get off of my soapbox because I'm sure majority of you are huffing at your computers and calling me judgmental. I'm not! Honestly, I ran my 7 miler two weeks ago and brought my iPod with me. I mapped a course that had me running 3 miles (alone!) on the trail and I knew I would need something to occupy my time. Miles and miles of crushed stone is not very motivating and my brain tends to get exhausted from counting leaves. I'm not saying running with music is terrible, or makes you a bad person/runner. All I'm saying is, don't depend on music! If you enjoy running; try to enjoy it sans music once in awhile (and always while running the roads). I challenge you to leave your music at home for your next run. Don't worry, your "friends" will still be there when you get home.

Report back and let me know what you think if you accept my challenge!

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,

Holly

Running is probably the only sport out there that doesn't require a whole bunch of expensive "stuff." You need shoes, yes, but other than that you can just hit the road! However, there are a TON of awesome accessories, gadgets and gear that can take your running experiences up a notch.* These are a few of my favorite "must haves" when I hit the road for a run.

1) RaceReady shorts - I have both regular and compression shorts in this brand and I can't say enough great things about them. The regular shorts are very light weight and don't ride. I do choose to wear the compression shorts if I'm doing distances over 6 miles (that's when the chaffing starts to become a problem). The BEST part about the RaceReady's are the pockets. You can stuff yourself like a pack mule with these things and you hardly notice anything is catching a ride on your bum. I had 6 Gu's, my cellphone (in a plastic baggie), chapstick, and a stick of Body Glide packed into mine for 26.2 miles and didn't feel a thing. Seriously, you could stick a Tea Cup Poodle in a pouch and give him a nice tour of your home town if you fancied. You can get these at www.raceready.com or most local running stores carry them. (psst they come in skirts, too, if that's your thing)

2) Nathan Shadow Pak - This pak, that non-runners will mock and call a fanny pack, was my first running accesory purchase. I needed to carry my cellphone with me and it wasn't feeling great rubbing against my boob stuffed into my bra. Don't judge, you know you've all done it, too. This pak is small, but it will hold a cellphone and 1 or 2 Gu's. You can also stick your car key in it. I mainly use this on short runs when I'm not wearing a pair of RaceReady's. It feels best for me around my natural waist with the pouch in the small of my back. You can get these at www.nathansports.com or your local running store. 

3) Nathan Fuel Belt - I just recently bought this because I can't stand carrying a drink in my hand. This belt has been a life saver for runs on a hot day. It took a good bit of getting used to but I don't mind wearing it now. Each bottle holds 10 oz which is plenty of fluids for a short or a long run. I only take in a few ounces every 3 miles, so I could easily do a 20 miler with this belt. Odds are, if you're running more than 20 miles, you'll pass by a store where you can refill the flasks. (Unless you're running in farm land, then just find a generous cow.) I put water in one flask and rum, I mean, Gatorade or nuun, in the other. You can also get the belt with 4 flasks but I wasn't a fan of having bottles surrounding me and jabbing my ribs. Just a warning; non-runners will also mock this item. You can get this at www.nathansports.com or your local running store, as well. 

4) T2M2R Tech Tee - This one isn't just because I drink the T2M2R "kool-aid." I honestly LOVE this shirt. Most of the time it's dirty from me lounging around in  so I don't get to wear it on my runs. However, when I do wear it, it absorbs sweat, keeps me feeling nice and cool, and it has a bright green logo that makes me feel very visible out on the street! Get this here; right on this page, under the "store" link. You'll not only be stylish, you'll be donating to an awesome cause! 

5) Garmin 305 - I literally feel naked if I go on a run without my watch. The 305 is one of Garmin's bulkier watches, though I wouldn't say I have large wrists and it fits me just fine. For the price, it's a great watch, easy to use, and it allows me to brag about my runs on the interwebz! My Garmin came from Amazon, they had the best price.

6) Go Sport ID - OK, I don't HAVE this particular item yet, but I NEED it. No really, I do. Wearing ID is probably the 2nd most important accessory to running (shoes being the first) that you should wear. Currently I have a cheap shoe tag that I got from Team in Training. I have heard far too many stories of people getting hit by cars and literally being knocked out of their shoes. Also, paramedics generally look at arms and wrists before heading south to your feet. Since I'm a mom on a budget (and I've blown it on running gear this year) I have shamlessly been trying to win a Go Sport ID in their online contests, but it's on my Christmas list, too. Please, people, wear some form of ID. You can get your ID bracelet at www.gosportid.com. They have a ton of pretty colors, too!

7) Body Glide - If you've ever chaffed while running, you know it isn't a good time. I don't care how skinny you are, you're going to chafe at some point. I chaffed in places I didn't even know I had while I was out on my long runs. Invest in Body Glide. It's cheap and doesn't leave you feeling greasy, like Vaseline or other products. I lather it on anywhere a piece of clothing ends or begins. It's also not a bad idea to carry it with you, if you can. Sometimes you need an extra layer! www.bodyglide.com has a store listing of where you can buy their products.

8) Hat/Bondi Band - There is nothing worse than sweat dripping down your face and into your eyes while you run. I LOVE my moisture wicking hat that I got from TNT, but I also wear a Bondi Band a lot, too. They don't ride up the back of my head ( I have a misshaped head, I think) and they are light weight so you don't even know they are there. For short haired girls, like myself, they keep hair out of your face, too! I even wore mine in the winter and pulled it down over my ears to keep them warm. They have really fun sayings, too. If you're looking for a Bondi Band you can get them at www.bondiband.com. They also sell hats, ponytail hats and more. Or you can contact me for information on how to get one where the proceeds go towards the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (P.S. T2M2R has their very own Bondi Band, too!) **Special thanks to my son, Zachary, for modeling for me and for not being able to read, yet.**

9) Food - Anytime I can incorporate food into something it makes me happy. My favorite running fuel is Jelly Belly Sport Beans in any flavor, and Gu Chocolate Outrage and Espresso Love. I like to eat the beans before an evening run to give me an extra jolt of energy. The Gu's I take along with me on long runs. I did experiment with the Espresso Love one morning and ate that with a little orange juice and water before a 5 miler and it did the trick! You can get both of these products at pretty much any running store or sports retailer. 

10) nuun - This is another new product that I just learned about. I got a sample at an Expo and fell in love with it. Gatorade is a little too sugary sweet for me and tends to mess up my stomach, especially on long runs. nuun is very light and refreshing. It has all of the electrolytes in it, without the sugar. All you have to do is add 1 tab to 16oz of water, too! Check them out at www.nuun.com for more info! 

*You do not NEED any of these products to be a runner. These are just some products that I have found to make running more fun, enjoyable and well, fashionable in some cases. Hey, anything to get you out the door, right? 

Leave a comment and tell me about your must have running accessories! 

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,

Holly

"Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"~ Peter Maher 

You all know the scenario. You're scheduled to do a run, the weather looks uninviting, you're feeling unmotivated and your head is saying "stay home." You've convinced yourself that you can just do the run later; tomorrow even. A few hours pass and you're sitting there horking down donuts in your pajamas. You've got white powder down the front of you and guilt sets in. The brain that only hours earlier convinced you not to go is now saying "Those donuts are making their way to your hips. You're such a big fat sloth."

That was me last weekend. Well, minus the donuts because I don't allow those in my house. (I usually eat them in the car on the way home from the grocery store, shhhh). Saturday I was supposed to do a Full Moon 6 mile fun run on the trail. It was a monsoon that entire day and didn't look like it was going to clear up, at all. I chose to forgo the run, for red wine and safety purposes. I had no doubts they would cancel the run because the conditions were just not ideal. Plus, from my view from Earth, I saw zero moon at 9 pm. I'm not sure how a Full Moon "light the trail" run qualifies when there is no moon to be seen, but I digress. I planned on getting in my 6 miler the next morning. The weather was still supposed to be gross, but at least I would be running in the daylight and not dodging an attack of werewolves.

I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rain, lots and lots of rain. It was treacherous out there. I was sleepy, grumpy and in no mood to get my brand new kicks soaked. Basically, my brain was telling my body, "Just don't do it. Stay home, drink coffee, wear pj's all day." I started chugging my coffee and conceded to the fact that I wasn't going to run, again. I figured I could do my 6 miler on Monday. Are you noticing a trend?? Also, how is it I am depressed for 6 weeks because I can't run but then I start slacking once I'm able to? Talk about confusing! Anyway, a few hours later the guilt started to seep into my brain...

Around noon, I noticed the rain was slowing down. I checked the radar and it looked like there was going to be about an hour lull between storms. I quickly threw on some clothes, laced up my shoes and headed out. It was then or never! I headed out to a road I've been eyeing up for a few months. It's long and windy with some pretty big hills. I figured I needed to punish myself for having such a slacker mentality all morning. I NEEDED to get in the 6 mile run and I couldn't just push it off for days and days, completely messing up the rest of my schedule. The weather was ideal. It was cloudy, cool and there was a little breeze. It was slightly humid out from all of the rain but it didn't feel terrible. As I was about to climb the first hill I noticed some pretty nasty clouds. I figured I needed to kick it into high gear and get home, fast.

Around mile 3, as I was climbing yet another hill, the sun started to peak out from the clouds. Since it was close to 1 pm at this time it was a scalding heat. I made it up the hill onto a very flat, but scenic, back road. The sun was so hot that I felt as though my shoes were melting into the road. I started weaving back and forth trying to find shade under trees, or even get a drop of rain on me from the leaves. Thankfully, I was smart enough to bring my fuel belt along with me. OK, that was all thanks to my husband who insisted I take it with me. I think it was more the cost of the belt than the desire to keep me hydrated, but whatever.

So, I'm melting. I have never felt sweat come out of my body the way it was that day. The only motivation I had to keep going was the idea of soaking in an ice bath when I got home. Also, the faster I ran, the quicker I would get out of the heat. By the time I made it home the entire neighborhood was completely dry. The sidewalk resembled the Sahara desert. I stopped in front of my house and looked around. Dark clouds were rolling in and another storm was starting up. The lull in the storm wasn't just Mother Nature taking a break from drowning us. It was my punishment for thinking I could push off my run because of some measly rain.

The thing is, I always have guilt if I miss a run. I will beat myself up about it until I get out there and make up for it. The guilt will always find me, but I can make the choice to run away from it. If only I could find a way to hide from the rhythm...


Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,

Holly

Right before I got hot and heavy in marathon training, I took the advice of a few very intelligent people and got fitted for shoes. Apparently, going to the local retail store and picking out the prettiest pair was not the best way to go about things.

I ran on a treadmill and had someone analyze the way I stood, walked and sashayed (OK, not really but I totally felt like I was on a runway). The very kind man at the running store had me try on a few versions of a similar shoe. After walking in each pair, a few times down the "runway," I decided on Brooks Adrenaline's. The shoe felt like it was made for my feet. They were a little more supportive than I was used to, but the running man assured me that after running 10+ miles my gait would change and the support would be needed. 

Fast forward to post marathon. As everyone knows, because I won't stop talking about it, I broke my foot running a marathon. *Gasp* My assumption is that I went into it with a stress fracture, because I had been experiencing some pain while in my peak weeks. Since I had six weeks to dwell and pine about not being able to run, I started to second guess my shoes. Brooks are not a very cushioned shoe and they have to be changed pretty much around the 300 mile mark. I notice as soon as I reach 250 to 300 my knees start to ache, my back hurts and well, my feet get broken and shattered into a thousand pieces. OK, that last part was just a bit of dramatics.

When I was released to run, I marched right back to the running store with a plan! I told the girl my sob story; she didn't care, at all. Then we got to work on finding me a padded shoe, with support, that would feel as good as the Adrenaline's. I don't know about you but when I put on a brand new pair of shoes, especially after wearing a pair for a couple of months that are worn down, smell like a men's locker room, and don't even look remotely close to the color that you bought them in, they feel like HEAVEN. It's so hard to pick apart a new shoe. Thankfully, I'm high maintenance in the shoe department because I must protect my precious feet bones!

The wonderful sales lady and I worked through a ton of shoes and I even ran outside in them. Oh, may I add that I was wearing a tank top that showed far too much cleavage for a woman my age, and some skinny jean capris? Excellent running attire to jaunt in front of the store in! I left the store with a pair of Brooks (yay!) Ravenna's. Well after a few runs and massive blisters, that ate the back of my heels, I had to return them. They were GREAT shoes, otherwise. I was so upset that they didn't fit the back of my foot the right way. Since I had the kids with me that day I decided to forgo the challenge of trying to find a new perfect pair and went a few days later.

I got a new sales person this time, a man. He looked less than thrilled with me when I came in with my "plan." I explained to him that I need my shoe to have cushion, but support, and not break my bones, and oh, if it could stop my period on the days I have to run for a long long time, that would be an extra bonus! He abruptly said, "Please, let me do my job." I knew he and I weren't going to be running the trails together anytime soon. So after a couple of HOURS, no lie, he fitted me in neutral Asics and added a supportive insert. His method was to work from the inside out. I liked his way of thinking, until I hit the road the next day. Everything from my toenails to my shins were screaming at me to take the shoes off immediately. Sob. For my next run I decided to wear my trusty Adrenaline's, even though they needed to be replaced, badly.

Are ya'll bored yet? I swear this is going to get remotely interesting! OK, maybe not, but thanks for sticking it out. I go BACK to the running store, and I get ANOTHER sales person. I can't say I wasn't relieved that "Mr. Personality" wasn't available to cram my feet into another pair of death shoes. I briefly explain the drama that I had been having with shoes to the very kind and patient running shoe expert (can you tell I liked him?). He pretty much told me that I was over thinking the entire shoe dilemma, and that if the Adrenaline's caused me no issues, and he did not believe that the shoe broke my foot, I should have never abandoned them in the first place. Um, insert very embarrassed red face here. 

He marched back to the magical shoe room, brought out a shiny new pair of Adrenaline's, grabbed an insert that is designed specifically for people with metatarsal injuries (THAT'S ME!), shoved them in the shoes and said "Here!" I slipped them on and I was in shoe Heaven once again. He told me, "Your shoes are only 1 tool to running. If you find what works for you, stick with it."

As I was driving home that afternoon, super excited to try out my new shoes and insert, I thought about all of the trouble I went through to find the right shoe, when all along I had been wearing it. The main thing is, the shoe didn't break my foot. While it's smart that I want to prevent another injury like that, and take care of the bone that is still healing, I don't need to over complicate things. However, it is smart to get fitted, find out if you're a supinator (made up word), over pronator (also made up), or even a spawn of the Terminator. Though, I suppose if you were part Terminator, you wouldn't need shoes at all. I am pleased to say that after three longish runs in the new shoe with insert, I have had zero problems! Cheer!!

Now, what have we learned here? 1. Feet are crucial to running. 2. Shoes help to protect your feet, but they are not going to run for you. Wait, did we learn that? Anyway, it's true. I love my Brooks. The End.

  

Thursday I wished I were out running a marathon instead of being at home with my kids. Some days I swear it would be easier to just run nonstop than to be a mom. Motherhood is so overwhelming sometimes, OK, a lot of the times. It's also extremely messy.

So, Thursday is my grocery shopping day. I have been grocery shopping on Thursday morning for as long as I can remember. I work on my list through out the week, and then Thursday morning I finalize my menu over a cup of coffee and make sure my list is complete. I'm slightly anal retentive about it, but it's what works for me.

Last Thursday was no different than previous Thursdays, except 1 thing: Kid Cooperation. My children were plotting against me. As I sat drinking my coffee and trying to come up with new and exciting meals to serve in the upcoming week, the kids were at the kitchen table having breakfast. Olivia was enjoying a bowl of cereal and Z was finishing up his applesauce. The normal table mess was there, it makes me slightly twitchy but I deal with it. Suddenly, Olivia decided to throw her full bowl of cereal onto the floor. Do you know what milk does to hardwood floors? It makes a disgusting film that takes about 26.2 cleanings to fully remove. Following the cereal, she heaves her full sippy cup of milk at my head, while I'm on my hands and knees collecting soaked cheerios, and pleading with the dog to GET THE HELL OUT OF THE KITCHEN LEST YOU MAKE MORE OF A MESS!!!!!

Zachary had jumped ship at this point. He was cozy on the couch watching his cartoons, which is a very safe place to be. I get that mess cleaned up, forgoing actually cleaning, with cleaner, until we returned from grocery shopping. The store was generally the same scenario that it is weekly. Z asking for anything and everything he sees. Olivia taking off her shoes and throwing them in the general direction of the elderly. Me rubbing my temples and throwing out empty threats in my most sweet, public mom voice. Did you know if you throw the word 'sweetie' into a sentence it makes the lazers shooting out of your eyes and the steam billowing from your ears look a lot less scary to nearby shoppers? Just a tip!

We get home, I leave Olivia strapped in her seat in the car (parked in the
garage) so I can easily carry the 90 bags of things inside. Also, so I don't
have to shoo her away from the door and deal with the obstacle of her 17 month old self. On my final trip to the garage I witness Zachary carrying his sister  to the back of the van. (How in the world he got her out of her seat, out of the van and is CARRYING her, is beyond what my brain can handle.) He then proceeds to DUMP HER into the back of the van, head first. Thankfully, I have cat like reflexes and jumped to rescue her before she actually hit the bottom.

I usher everyone inside with promises of sugary drinks and snacks if they
 would just let me pee in peace and get the cold groceries put away. As I am putting away groceries, I told Zachary he needed to go clean up his bedroom. That turned into him wanting to change his sheets RIGHT NOW, NOW, NOW, because apparently he was "tired of the safari ones and wanted orange ones." I told him, "No, we will not be changing sheets at this very moment, continue cleaning your room." Then, I realized I lost Olivia. I'm seriously thinking of installing a bell on that child. Apparently she made her way upstairs during one of the 75 times that Z came down to beg me to change his sheets.

At this point, I am separating turkey ground and have hands full of
 salmonella poisoning. I manage to get them both back downstairs where they proceeded to run around me in the kitchen. After begging and pleading with them to go play in the room FULL OF TOYS. You know the place? It has hundreds of dollars worth of colorful items in it, collecting dust. Apparently I am far more fun unloading groceries and making lunch than the 9 million matchbox cars and kitchen set they own. Finally, I win and they are playing. Serenity.

I get lunch in the oven and decided to get rid of the milk film before the
next round of meals with Gallagher begins. I turn my back for 1 second, just 1, and Olivia has Zachary's full glass of apple juice sloshing all over the floor.  She's soaked, her feet are soaked. The apple juice mixes with the milk film and she has created her very own Double Dare inside of my kitchen. Oh and here comes the dog!!!! So, at this point I need a power washer and a stiff drink to get this mess under control.

Finally, I manage to get lunch on the table, the floor cleaned and kids down
for a nap. All of this took place in 5 hours. In less than 5 hours I could have
managed to run a marathon, but there was no need, because I'm pretty sure I did, and I lost to a 17 month old and a 4 year old.

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,
Holly








~My Cleaning Crew~

I still get giddy before a run. It doesn't even have to be a race, it can
just be a regular jog around the block by myself. Even when the alarm goes off
at 6 am and my head is telling me to hit snooze and sneak a few more minutes of
sleep, my heart starts to race with anticipation. Instantly, once I lace up my
running shoes, I feel energized and happy.  I just love running; I love the freedom, the unknown, the passion during and the euphoria after. 
 
What I especially love, and missed, is meeting up with friends to share in my
passion. Nothing makes a run more enjoyable than catching up with a friend and having her dish about everything in her life. It's always fun to get to dish
about what's going in my own world, too. Uninterrupted chatting, now that's
something to really be excited about!

Last week, I met up with my friend, Carrie, to do a nice easy 2 mile run. I told her she could set the pace and we'd just chat and enjoy our free time. Since it was one of my first runs since being released from the doctor, I had a hard time getting out of my head. I kept thinking about my foot and how it was feeling. I was worrying about why I had a pain in my hip and if my knee was supposed to feel achy. I finally told myself to knock it off and just move my feet and chat. I enjoyed those 2 miles, though they felt way too short; I had so much more catching up I wanted to do!


 

 I am so blessed that I have many close friends that also enjoy running. No
matter what the reason we are out there running, we are there for support. We
cheer for one another, we push one another, we laugh together and sometimes even  cry. Sometimes we spend miles without even talking, and that's OK, too. I am eternally grateful for the time and the miles I get to spend with my girls. Having an injury and taking time off was terrible, but now I realize just how important having that bonding time was for me, and my sanity. I have a happier heart, more patience and so much more energy than I did while I was unable to run.  
 
So a big thank you to my "sole" sisters, near and far. If it weren't 
for you ladies, I would be hitting that snooze button a lot more frequently in
the mornings!


Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,
Holly

 "You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance but not through
pain." - George Sheehan

10. Finding the perfect non-chafing outfit

9. Feeling accomplished post-run

8. Mapping a new route and enjoying the exploration that comes with it

7. The sound of my Garmin ringing after each mile

6. Chatting with my friends and having many laughs

5. Hearing people say "You ran HOW MANY miles?" after a long Saturday run

4. Sweating

3.Guilt-free eating

2. Hills

1. RUNNING!
 
Thankfully, as of today, I don't have to miss those things anymore! I have
officially been released to resume activity. If you know me, you know I am
elated with that news. I was tempted to run home from my appointment. It was  just a little over 30 miles, I feel like I could have done it. OK, maybe I'm
getting ahead of myself.
 
Now is the time when being patient and listening to my body is most
important. I have to gradually build back up the miles and not push myself too  hard. I have a really hard time doing both of those things, but I don't want to  re-injure myself. So for now, I'll be sticking to a walk/run schedule and  forcing myself to stay at a 10 minute per mile pace. In a couple of weeks I will  increase my miles and go from there; after all it's a 1/2 marathon that I'm  training for, not a sprint!
 
Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,

 Holly

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” ~ La Rochefoucauld 

I have a HUGE fear that pertains to running. OK, I have two huge fears. One of them is running into snakes, which I have done on a few occasions. If you were with me during one of those times, you probably laughed, hard. The other fear is, are you ready? Having to go #2 out on a long run. Yes, I am afraid of my bowels. 

I know you've all heard stories about people who just drop their pants on the side of the road, do their business in the middle of a run, and get right back out there. Sorry folks, that just isn't the kind of gal I am. I want my business to be done in a barricade. It doesn't hurt to have a little Charmin either. The problem is, I am blessed with overactive bowels when I run. Listen people, I'm giving it to you straight! Yes, I get the "runner's trots." If you think I'm making this up, Google, it's a real thing, and real people are suffering from it right this very moment. Not me though, ha ha!

Anyway, this problem really stressed me out because almost every single training run I did was sans potty. Can you imagine being 10 miles away from a facility, in the middle of a field and hearing the grumble of your stomach? It's not an enjoyable time, especially when you have cows as an audience! 

My point? Nutrition before a run is VERY important. You have to make sure you're fueling your body properly so that it has enough "gas" (but hopefully not gas, gas) to get you through a long, exhausting run, without upsetting your stomach and giving you bowels of fury.

I obsess about what I eat a few days prior to a long run. No grease, no milkshakes (hello dairy overload), no Fiber One bars (trust me on this one). I try to make sure I'm eating easily digestible foods; salads, whole grains and then of course carbs on Friday evening.

My Saturday morning ritual is most important. I get up an hour and a half prior to having to leave the house. Generally, that puts my run about 2 hours after I eat my breakfast. When I first started training, I would eat a whole grain english muffin with about two tablespoons of peanut butter and a banana. Once we started running over 10 miles, I realized that it just wasn't enough fuel. Even with eating a Gu around mile 6, I was still starving and bonking around mile 8. Not to mention I burped banana the entire time. Not really pleasant for myself or my teammates! 

About half-way through training, I got up enough courage to try a new pre-run meal. I started eating a generous bowl of oatmeal with half of a sliced up banana. I also drink a cup of warm tea with a teaspoon of natural sugar. This combination works perfectly to fill me up and um, get things going prior to leaving the house. While in the car on the way to the course, I sip water and pop an Imodium, it does a bowel good. 

While out on the course, I find that alternating Gatorade and water every 3 miles; making sure the water stop coincides with my Gu, every 6 miles (every hour), kept my nausea at bay and kept me from feeling hungry or bonking. Each week I experimented with different forms of fuel to see which one worked best for me. My coaches really made it a point to tell us to find what worked well and then stick with it. 

Having never tried a Gu, Gel, Block, Bean, etc I was really nervous about them my first time. The first brand I tried was the Gu TriBerry and I wasn't a huge fan. The texture was much like vaseline and I felt like I was choking it down. The flavor was great though so I just stuck with them for a few weeks, instead of experimenting. Remember the 10 miles from "home base," stuck in a field with a bovine audience I was talking about from before? The culprit from that day was a TriBerry Gu. 

The great thing is that I realized what was causing my body to react in different ways, and I adjusted as needed. Right now I think I have a winning combination. I only eat Chocolate Outrage Gu's while out on the course, and I follow my pre-run rituals to a T. If you're just starting to train for an event, NOW is the time to experiment. Go to a running store and ask them for a bunch of different types of fuel and try them! I highly recommend Jelly Belly's Sport Beans with caffeine, as well. I like eating them before an evening run to give me that extra boost of energy that my children have sucked out of me all day. Of course, what works for me isn't necessarily what will work for you or your bowels, you know, if you have that problem!

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run For You,
Holly

 

“I know how to do anything - I'm a Mom.” - Roseanne Barr

One of the things I think most mother's can agree on is that finding the time to exercise is almost as exhausting as the exercise itself.

While I was training, my average run day was so stressful for me. The only way to get in a run was to do it in the evenings after my husband got home, or hit the treadmill at 5 am before he left. Being a mom is a full-time job,* add in a 30 to 40 mile training week and you've got yourself two jobs.

Generally, I found that running in the evenings fit into my schedule the best. Of course, that meant forfeiting dining with my family - which was not always a bad thing! I spent all day playing with the kids, cleaning, playing, driving from play date to grocery store, and cleaning some more. Oh and add in diaper changes, fighting with my oldest about anything and everything and then having dinner on the table so that when my husband walked through the door I could give him a quick peck on the cheek, give him the run-down on the days activities (he's in time-out, she's fussy and GOOD LUCK WITH THEM!) and run out the door.

Exhausted yet? I am!

Mothering is my number one priority. I take care of them in every capacity to make sure that my runs are that much easier. I can't leave the house knowing my son is upset, or that my daughter has her head stuck between the stair rails. I have to make sure everything at home is calm (as much as I can) so that I can fully focus on ME while I'm out there sweating and unwinding. However, mothering is EXHAUSTING. Most days it takes all I have to get myself out the door in the evenings. As much as my brain needs the escape my body is saying "Go directly to bed. Do not pass go. Do not fold another load of laundry. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT make me run tonight!"

Getting myself out the door is as much of a chore as it is to bathe a kid who hates water. I know it has to be done but I dread it. Having this boot on has been absolutely horrible for me. I miss running in every capacity but with summer in full force I am also *slightly* thankful. Yes, you read that correctly, I am thankful for a broken foot. Summer adds a new level of insanity to my already hectic life. We go to the pool, extra play dates, museum tours, vacations, cook-outs, so on and so forth. I still have the cleaning and the cooking and the playing to do as well. Mix that all in with heat and humidity and it's all I can do to stay awake past 7 pm most nights!

I can't wait to get back out there and run, especially to start training again. I miss my regimen and scheduled time for myself. For now, I am just enjoying being a mother. I love dedicating all of my time to the kids and making memories with them. My kids exhaust me, but they are the ones who give me fuel to run. After all, most days they are the ones who chase me out the door and help me accomplish my goals. OK, I may be running out the door away from them but that's besides the point.

*This is where I bow down to the working mother. I have more respect for you ladies than you will ever know. I know my job is exhausting, but I can't fathom working outside of the home, inside of the home and adding running into my schedule. You are all my heroes, truly.

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,
Holly

I will fully admit I judged bikers. (Please, bikers refrain from throwing your helmets in my general direction.)

I used to scoff at people on the recumbent bikes at the gym while I was pounding along on the treadmill. I'd look over, glaring, and thinking to myself "How lazy are those people? They aren't doing ANYTHING sitting there pedaling those machines. They look like recliners with rotating leg relaxers. Look at them reading their books, this isn't a library!"

Yes, that was me until now.

This past Saturday I decided to finally go try out the recumbent bike (even though I felt I was totally wasting my time). I figured if I wanted to continue shoving food into my pie hole with no regards to calories I'd want to burn a few, lest I gain back all of the weight I recently lost.

I strutted into the YMCA. No really, my boot makes me strut. I mounted (?) the recumbent bike, jammed my feet into the pedal stirrups (OK, I really need to Google bike terminology) and scrolled through the programs to pick something similar to what I did on the treadmill. I saw a hill workout and naturally chose that one. Of course, if I do hills on the bike it MUST keep me in shape to run hills when the time comes for me to get back out there. I do naive really well.

I decided to do 30 minutes to start. I started pedaling and opened up my book. Hey, if everyone else can do it, why can't I? The first 5 minutes went pretty well. I felt like I had a pretty good pace and I was enjoying my book. Then the first incline came. I kept pedaling around the same pace, but concentrating on my book wasn't as easy. Suddenly my legs were on FIRE. I felt pain in places I had never experienced before while running.

Another increase in the incline and I reached for the resistance button quickly turning it DOWN. I looked at the time and I had only been on the bike for EIGHT MINUTES. EIGHT! I had to put my book down and really focus at this point. My boot kept slamming into the side of the machine and I had sweat pouring off of me.

By the time I hit another incline I resolved to the fact that I wasn't finishing 30 minutes on this thing. I was on a ride from HELL and wasn't even moving. I finished 15 whole minutes on that bike and couldn't dismount (haha) fast enough. I honestly couldn't believe what a workout I got in just 15 minutes from a machine that looked like something out of a La-Z-Boy catalog.

If you're like me and have a total comfort zone with running, I challenge you to try something new. Branching out, though not because I wanted to, has given me a new respect for another sport. Cross-training is not something I ever thought was important while training. I figured I should stick with the sport I was training for. However, I now see that other forms of exercise are not only good to work out different body parts, it's a very humbling experience.

So bikers, my sincerest apologies for mocking you. I will be walking around in shame, with the proverbial tail between my very, very sore legs for weeks to come.

Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run For You,
Holly