Tuesday Topics – Page 50

Category: Tuesday Topics

14
May
2019

Tuesday Topics: Changes in my training

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Missoula Half Marathon and the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

I am excited about my races this year. So far I’ve run an 8k and a half marathon. My next race is the Missoula Half Marathon on June 30th. Yesterday I signed up for the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th in July. It is another of my favorites and have been doing this race since 2013. My PR is from 2014 (39:39) and each year my time has been slower (40:47, 41:24, 42:37, and 44:17). Can I get a PR this year? Who knows since I will be running a half marathon a few days before.

The Missoula Half Marathon is flat, fast, and point-to-point. The course looks so pretty! Check out the video below. If you want to sign up, use code BibRave19 to save $5 off your registration fee. I am excited that this will be state #41 for me.

Another race I am looking forward to is the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon. At the moment it looks like it will be state #45 (depending if I do end up running 3 half marathons in August). I have never been to Detroit and am excited to run in the U.S. and in Canada (I signed up for the International Half Marathon). I read online that runners will be required to run with their passport. I am a bit nervous about this because it has been years since I have used my passport for travel. What if I forget to pack it? 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Want to run with me? Use “2019DETROCK” for 10% off your registration fee.

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I don’t know what the course is like, but I’ve written about how I’ve recently started running in a new place (The Morton Arboretum). I was so frustrated during my last race because of all of the ups and downs. Chicago is FLAT. See below for a comparison while running 6 miles by my house (top) and 7 miles at The Arboretum. 🙂 The Arboretum has lots of hills and my plan is to go there every Saturday morning. For sure it will help me, right?

Another change I’ve been doing is watching what I eat. My goal is not to lose weight (thought I could benefit from losing a few pounds), but not overeat so much and to eat more fruits and vegetables. For breakfast I make overnight oats with strawberries, almond milk, and nuts. For lunch I usually take spaghetti, beans, or a salad. Dinner is where it gets tricky. Baby steps.

I am working on drinking more water and getting more sleep. I take my Contigo water bottle (32 ounces) to school and usually finish it by lunch time. The problem is “going to the bathroom”. I have a break in the morning and during lunch. The rest of the day I either have to call the office for an administrator or ask a teacher to watch my class while I run to the bathroom. Sleep is hard too. I am usually in bed by 9pm since I need to be up at 4:30 to run. Sometimes my body likes to play games and I wake up at that time even on the days I don’t run.

I used to be very good about taking a multivitamin every single day. I don’t remember the last time I took one. I need to read Wendy’s post again about the various supplements for inflammation. With the hard workouts I’ve been doing, sometimes I’ve had to take a couple of pain pills. No bueno. I remember I was very sore after running the Delaware Half Marathon. Kim’s mom gave me Motrin and while it did help, I don’t want to make it a habit of taking something after a tough run.

I am hoping these changes help in my training. I know I could add a few more things but am OK with these for now.

Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a How has running made you a better person? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

07
May
2019

Tuesday Topics: To cheat or not to cheat – My favorite indulgences

categories: Tuesday Topics

EDITED: The original title was “Tuesday Topics: To cheat or not to cheat – My favorite cheat meals”. I changed it to indulgences because I don’t want to classify any food as “good” or “bad”.

My mother loves to cook. She enjoys cooking for her family but rarely eats any of it. She likes to see other people enjoy eating the food she makes. Every year on her birthday she makes mole and invites people over to eat and celebrate. No one says no (unless they’re out of town). Her birthday is in September and last year she made 2 different kinds of mole and tamales. Yummy!

As you can see, I am all about the food!! Haha, no wonder I cannot seem to lose weight. 🙂

While I enjoy my mother’s home cooked meals, I also like other foods.

* Cheeseburger and fries from Portillo’s. Let’s not forget the chocolate cake.

* Pizza. I am a big fan of it and could eat it every day. There is a place on the corner from where I work and my coworker and I sometimes order pizza and cheese fries.

* Tacos! Steak tacos for me.

* Wine and beer. I know they’re not meals but I enjoy them (not together) after a long or hectic day at school.

Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What is your favorite cheat meal? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

30
Apr
2019

Tuesday Topics: 2019 Delaware Half Marathon Race Recap

categories: BibRave Pro, Race all 50 states, Race Recap, Tuesday Topics

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Delaware Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

On Sunday I ran the Delaware Half Marathon. It was also state #40 in my goal to run a half marathon in each state. I am hoping to be done with this goal next year.

I left Saturday morning and took a flight to Philadelphia. When I arrived I waited about 20 minutes for a shuttle bus to arrive and take me to my hotel in Wilmington.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-5

Luckily my room was ready. The front desk clerk gave me a bag that had two bottles of water and a cookie.

Then I unpacked and went to the expo. I love it when the expo is in the hotel I am staying. I got my bib and shirt but did not buy anything. I signed up to get FREE race photos. I began talking to the volunteer that was there about my 50 states goal. I mentioned that I planned to run in Hawaii next year. He asked me if that would be my last state. I said “no” and the idea was born to make it my last one. Currently, it will be my 48th state.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-20

Then I got something to eat. I ordered a chicken wrap and a beer flight. Yummy! I also ate my cookie at the hotel.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-19

Later I met Kim for dinner. We ended up going to the small restaurant in the hotel. We talked and laughed. We had a good time. Once back in my room I got my stuff ready and went to sleep.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-22

Race morning it was in the mid 50s. No rain and no sun which makes it perfect for running. I made coffee, got ready, and ate a Clif Bar. I met Kim and her mom in the lobby and we walked to the start line (about 15 minutes away). The race started and ended at the Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park.

My two goals for this race were to enjoy it and to finish it. I remember at one point I was hoping to make this race my PR race. My training hasn’t been going that great so that idea went out the window.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-38

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-41

This race is not flat. Well, for about 4 miles it was flat. Then it was all downhill and uphill. I thought I was going “fast” in the downhills but my watch told me something different. We ran in Brandywine Park and that was simply gorgeous. Lots of trees – very peaceful and relaxing.

A little after mile 6 it was up, up, and up. I saw Kim and she was in her zone. This is when my legs started to hurt.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-28

Beginning at mile 7.5 was the Munchkins Mile. Lots and lots of munchkins. I grabbed two and kept going. It was here that we ran through a nice neighborhood. The houses were beautiful and I remember what seemed to be like a small park/lots of trees in the middle of the two streets.

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I remember that after mile 9 someone told me that I had already run the most difficult part of the race.

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Then it was back to Brandywine Park (more downhill).

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I almost cried when I saw the mile marker for mile 12. I was very sore and tired. The last mile was uphill for 1/2 mile and the rest downhill to mile 13. That area is “Lawyer’s Row” and I saw a bunch of law firms such as Richards, Layton & Finger; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP. I used to work at the American Bar Association so I recognized those firms.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-32

I was so happy to see Mile 13. I did stop for a few seconds to catch my breath and then ran to the finish line.

Finally done! I got my medal and a bottle of water. I kept walking and saw Kim and her mom. It started to drizzle and at first I was OK, but then eventually I got cold.

I sampled two different Dunkin iced coffees. The pistachio almond fudge was good but the butter pecan was even better. Then we got some beer and pizza.

2019 Delaware Half Marathon-36

Our hotel was at about mile 12.5 of the race course. During the race it was nice running downhill, but heading back to the hotel it was all uphill. That was rough.

Once I showered and changed, I met Kim and her mom for lunch. We ended up going back to the same place I had been to the day before. This time I had a cheeseburger and a mimosa.

Overall, I thought it was a great race. The weather was perfect. It was well organized. There were plenty of water stations and the volunteers were wonderful. There wasn’t a lot of crowd support, but the views made up for it. Again, Brandywine Park is gorgeous. What I did not like were the hills. I was very sore. My left leg was bothering me and I stopped a couple of times to stretch. Want to know what was going through my mind throughout the race? I told myself over and over again that I should start training on hills. Someone asked me if I would do it again. The answer is “yes”, but I would train on hills. 🙂

I definitely recommend this race. Two thumbs up from me!

Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

23
Apr
2019

Tuesday Topics: Some new fitness gadgets I’d like to try

categories: Tuesday Topics

As a runner, I make sure I have the “best” gear for me. I like my Brooks shoes, Oiselle clothes, Smartwool socks, and Garmin watch. I don’t think I need anything else. I am horrible when it comes to stretching and I rarely use my foam roller. Hopefully that will change soon since many of you have commented how much better you feel when you use it. I have a couple of them and honestly I don’t need that many. Or do I? I forgot to mention that I also have an R8 Roll Recovery (older version) but that thing HURTS!!!

However, there are a few other things that I would like to try or buy.

• A Peloton bike. It will be one of the first things I buy when I move to a house. I love reading about Kim and Deborah’s fun classes in their bike.

• PowerDot Electrical Muscle Stimulator. It provides therapy for tired muscles and aching joints no matter where you go. This little gadget helps you:

• Recover faster
• Massage out knots
• Avoid training fatigue
• Relieve muscle and joint soreness
• Increase muscle strength and endurance
• Increase blood circulation
• Warm up muscles to prevent injury
• Feel your best

• High Intensity Vibrating Fitness Roller. OK so I just wrote that I rarely use my foam roller, but this one looks so cool! I remember a few months ago someone told me about a heated foam roller.

• Compression boots. I have used them at expos and they are truly amazing! I think one time I almost fell asleep.

• Whole Body Cryotherapy. Why not? I read that the benefits of it outweigh those of a traditional ice bath. Should I believe everything I read online? 🙂

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are some new fitness gadgets you’d like to try? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

16
Apr
2019

Tuesday Topics: My favorite recovery tools

categories: Tuesday Topics

Who watched the Boston Marathon yesterday? Wasn’t it awesome!!! The best was the men’s race!!!

I was rooting for Desi to win again and was bummed she came in 5th place. However, whether it is 1st or 5th or 10th place, she is still AMAZING!!!

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So far most of my runs have been less than 6 miles. I do not miss marathon training AT ALL. I had a chance to sign up for the NYC Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and/or the Chicago Marathon through BibRave and was tempted for a bit, but at the end decided not to. Right now I want to focus on finishing up my Race in the 50 States +1 Goal. In a few weeks I will run in my 40th state.

Since almost all of my runs are in the morning before work, after each run I recover by drinking lots of water with Nuun or UCAN Hydrate (Watermelon is my favorite). I make coffee and drink that on my way to work. Once I am at work I eat overnight oats or chia seeds with Orgain Protein Powder (chocolate is my favorite), Moringa, and almond milk.

On the weekends I will eat whatever I can find at home (not the best strategy) or sometimes I will make a smoothie or drink an Orgain shake. If I am really tired (whether from running or work), I will spend the day on the couch watching TV. Sometimes I will also take a nap. Lola and I love to nap.

After a longer run or a race, I crave a burger and beer. 🙂

I have a few recovery tools but rarely use them. I know I should. 🙁 Once in a while I will use my foam roller but that’s it. However, I prefer to use The Stick.

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your favorite recovery tools? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!