A Case of the Runs

Since I've been essentially doing my runs in the dark these days , I was excited to be able to try Panther Vision 's Power Cap.  Sadly, I haven't really run with a lot of lighting products (I wear reflective stuff, though!), probably because I didn't used to run in those kind of conditions, and when I did, it was on well-lit streets.  I haven't rolled my ankle since my first run out, but I often wish for more lighting during some parts of my run. Included with the cap was an LED light that can be pinned or attached magnetically to clothing.  I found the whole thing to be a little heavy for some of my thinner running clothes, but placed strategically, it's always good to be visible with a noticeable red color. Now for my review of the cap itself.  I was sent a women's size, so it did not want to stay on my head.  I'd put it on, make it tighter, etc., but within 10 feet, it'd start slipping off.  The "head" box just was too shallow to...

I am not sure I've ever done any "throwback" posts, but I stumbled upon this picture when I was helping my "buddy" out with her wedding slideshow. And she's getting married this weekend!   Now that she lives up north, I maybe get to see her once or twice a year.  The last time was when I flew up there for work after a half-maratho n last year.  Still, as I was writing her card, the "inside jokes" came flooding back, and I believe that we will always be a part of each other's lives. On a less sappy note, here are some random/general life updates: - As you can probably guess, I'm super busy!  My days consist of waking up, squeezing in a workout, shower, commute, work, commute, dinner, getting ready for the next day, unpacking/laundry/car washing (or niece visiting), break down, and collapse in exhaustion.  There hasn't been any time for TV, lounging, or my usual number of sleep hours, decent food preparation, etc.  I hop...

First morning run in the new (hilly!) neighborhood.  No peacocks this time -- only a cat. Armed with my Garmin , "The Ukrainian" showed me some of the ground he covered when he went running the afternoon before. The run was supposed to be short and quick, just to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings. It was around 5:30 AM, as dark as you'd expect, and somewhere in the first mile, I avoided some uneven paving only to hit an abnormal bump... abnormal in that it was on top of the uneven part, about the size of a really large grapefruit. Rolled my ankle... and had to limp around for a while... but after a while, I was generally fine.  This isn't the first time I've rolled my ankle on a run, but this one definitely hurt the most and scared me a little.  I expect it will be sore for a day or so. In our last mile, the Ukrainian kicked a small uneven portion of the sidewalk as we were going up a long uphill.  I have never seen him take a tumble before (I...

Well, it's certainly been a while.  I have wanted to write, but each time I start, I change my mind about posting what I've written.  Things on the running front have been pretty quiet.  I have a couple of big races lined up in the first half of next year, which kind of scares me, because I can feel that my running endurance is nowhere near where it should be.  After a 5K on July 4th, my racing for this year pretty much ended, due to a combination of factors such as lack of races that allure me and our big trip in November that leaves us kind of strapped for time... and superfluous race funds.  Speaking of funds, I'm a homeowner now! Now that we've at least got a bed and refrigerator, I consider ourselves moved in, because we finally got to spend the night, on the nine-month-i-versary of our wedding . The couch, dining room table, and TV can wait... right?! I'm still in that weird mode in which doing anything takes much longer, because I am unfamiliar...

Dear Dairy , This is an overused and abused quote/phrase, but "I just don't know how to quit you." You see, a few weeks ago, I went 12 days without eating any (at least 99.9% the way there as far as I can discern) gluten, corn, eggs, dairy, peanuts, add sugars, and soy.  Slowly, I started reincorporating these things into my stomach. This week, I had a bite of dairy here and there.  Granted, I had been eating a bit of baked goods before that, which surely contained dairy, and a sprinkle of feta in my salads...   However, with a bunch of events and festivities, I may have had a taste of froyo from the machine (in a sample cup), a small amount of cake, and a third of a wrap with Caesar dressing in it. I've felt disgusting for days, and gained about four pounds.  Granted, I know it's not possible for me to have gained so much from a bite here and there, especially since I've been more running lately -- but my skin has flared and I'm constant...

I quit my gym today.  Yep, that's big news... #royalbaby , eat your heart out! ;) I didn't go to the gym for three days last week, which is totally out of the norm, as I am usually there at 6:35 AM every weekday morning.  Instead, I worked out at home, the way I had been for most of 2012 when I decided that the company gym was WAY too small and overused to utilize. My relationship with this gym was fairly short -- started in mid-March and now leaving in mid-July.  Although having a gym nearby my new job was a useful part of my transition, it's an expense that I don't want to keep incurring, among other things. *cryptic emoticon here if I had one* Now that I've gotten more comfortable with my morning routine and fitting in workouts with my commute and job, I discovered that it was entirely possible for me to work out at home, enjoy my own shower, and still make it to work on time.  I swapped a train transfer for a bus transfer, and although the ideal park...

So after doing Ab Intervals , Lower Focus is the second workout to do on the first Friday.  This basically means that you're following up an ab-whopping with an.... ah, never mind. This video consists of a lot of leg and hip-flexor work, as you might imagine.  Think: squats, lunges (oh, the lunges!), lunge pulses, and even some calf-specific exercises.  For me, lunges are not normally a problem, but my legs were definitely screaming through this.  I think the bigger challenge for me is some of the hopping exercises -- my flat feet aren't that flexible, so when Shaun T tells you to stay on the balls of yor feet, my poor inflexible feet are tortured. Not a TON of sweat, but a LOT of "focus." Other than that, this video is not exactly eventful, probably my least favorite so far, but I'm sure beneficial to my leg strength (for running!!). Caloric burn (without stretch): 169** ------ **Calorie burn measured by my heart-rate monitor and will vary for peo...