Foodies for Runnies

So I am totally weird about the "goo" type things...I can't eat gluten and have all other gut and bladder issues, plus process things WAY different than most people. It's funny...I can do real food, even real sort of unhealthy food like butter and sugar, way better than I can any processed stuff. Plus I have a texture thing and some of those goos make me gag. That said, I have found some great foodies for when I run. 

I use honey packs like you get at Smart and Final; individualized honey packets. I also use the solo packs of Justin's Peanut Butter and Honey and Almond Butter Chocolate. I love marshmallows and these are a quick sugar boost as well as Swedish Fish and Starburst (reds). I also mash up a banana in a zip lock, bit off the tip and squeeze in mouth. 

The other thing I use are the veggie and fruit mashed packs that originated for kiddos but now they have for adults. Some good ones are Peter Rabbit Organics, Organic Mash Ups and Go Go Squeeze. I like Happy Squeeze too but it has added fiber. Not so hot for runners.

I use True Lemon powdered drink mixes...kind of like the other brands but natural. And of course water. For races, I do drink Gatorade but normally not as I hate the after taste. 

I could also totally eat a peanut butter and jelly sammie on the road too. That would be great as long as you have water. 

Speaking of water, LOVING my Nathan female friendly (for woman) water pack/hydration pack. I don't even feel it and I have all my goodies right there. 

More Clothes and Shoe Likes

Ok, the other day I wrote about my shoes...The Asics I wear are the Asics Gel Neo 33...the black and purple and lime green ones. Love the color and the fit...very comfortable for the long runs. I wear them on dirt roads too...have the Cascadia 7's too for trail but I use them both. 

Now today, for the 10k, I wore the Pure Flow Brooks in purple and white and I wore Asics tights and a purple Brooks long sleeve T and their purple vest. Loved the pockets...was able to carry my phone with my music and apps. Plenty of room for pepper spray, foodies, keys, phone, etc.

I've been wearing lots of Brooks and Asics clothes lately; I really like the colors, the texture and the fit. The Asics tights are AWESOME! 

I've also bought some Champion stuff from Target (on-line) and they work; tanks, short sleeve T's and long sleeve T's. 

My jackets are Brooks...although I have a ton of track jackets as they are my obsession. I have Addias, Brooks, Old Navy, Target, Garmin, and I am always on the look out for more. Two craves are shoes and track jackets. LOL.

Want to check out the Inovo-8 shoes too. I have gloves from BackCountry and some Nike and Lululemon headbands...I do have tons of Lululemon tanks from 10 years ago that still are colorful and have never shown wear. I have a few of their yoga pants too.

More Miles....More Better

Have you ever noticed that running gets easier after 3 miles? For me that is totally the case....I have been putting in longer runs and I am so much more in the zone. I have been getting in this rhythm and I love it. Next weekend, when I have more time, I am going to push through on a 13 miler and even a longer one. I really like the 6 milers and above and found a great 10 miler through Poly campus. LOVE IT! 

I have found that for me, my body, more is better. That said, I am not going fast...and I am warming up and cooling down, stretching...and I also have been dressing right..not too cold and not too hot. Just right. :-)

Hansen Method

I've been following the Hansen Brother Method (great book, found on Amazon, plus they have a website where you can purchase their marathon plans) and I feel great. The book is fascinating and super technical yet easy to understand. Basically it supports cumulative fatigue. You run less weekend miles but more over all miles. So instead of doing 3 and 4 mile runs during the week and then a massive 20 miler on the weekend, you are running 5 and 6 milers during the week and then just a bit longer on the weekend. I think the max is 16 miles on a weekend prior to the marathon. Anyway, I at first was noticing the fatigue in my legs, but just for the rest of the day. After a night of sleep, I felt great. In fact, yesterday before my 10k today I did a ten miler and felt great today during the race. Really the only thing I have noticed is that my high heels for work don't feel as well as they used to! 

I will need to figure out how to link on the bog...but google Hansen Method for Marathons....I highly recommend and I think I will keep up the high mileage weeks after the marathon too. 

Run for Music SLO

YAY! Thank you to Cal Poly and the music program there for such a fun run. Today was the Run for Music which supports Poly music programs and local schools as well. A 5k and 10k, I think kid fun run. It was a cold and chilly morning and my hubby stayed up after working all night to support me and go watch. The Poly band kept our spirits up, thank you, you guys rock! Totally put a smile on our face. I did the 10k today and it was a loop completed twice. It took us through the campus, by the football stadium and then out by the baseball field. Very fun, lots of volunteers and beside the wind, it was a great race. I was faster than I thought, 55:27, and I was super pleased. Cute aqua t-shirt and some coupon cards for local places. A raffle that I hope I win...clothes from Running Warehouse are always a plus! 

Shoes I Wear

I love shoes...ok, what girl doesn't? And I especially love running shoes. So I tend to own quite a few and have an Amazon wish list for more...and local stores that I purchase from see me coming and bring them out. Here in San Luis Obispo County, my two favorite running stores are Running Warehouse, also on the web, and Go For It Sport in Atascadero. www.goforitsports.com and www.runningwarehouse.com Great prices and great sales service....Love Tara at Running Warehouse and Debbie and Scott are experts at Go For It.

Anyway, currently I have seven pair of runners...and more to come. They are my addiction and I do actually wear each pair all the time; different shoes for different lengths of runs. 

I have a pair of Asics Lyte 33 (I also wear Asics for Zumba/Turbo Fire workouts), three pair of Skecher Go Runs...these are SO light but still like walking on clouds...these are my fast flyers...love these! Feel super fast and sleek in these. I have two Brooks; the trail Cascadia 7, which are the perfect shoe for all of SLO's trails, and Brooks Pure Flow, which are my long runners....I also want the Connect and the Cadence...love these too! 

I also have New Balance Minimus. These are totally awesome and I want another pair. I love to run in these and have walked all over San Francisco last weekend and not an ache....legs were fresh at the end of each day. 

Amazing! 

Running Apps

I have a confession to make; when I run I start four apps...plus my music. It seems a little weird, and my son (a techie) gives me heck about it, but I like the fact that I have back ups in case one of them fails, each offer slightly different options from the other and I like hearing the different time and pace calls from the computer gals. Truly, each one is slightly different and I like taking the average. They are also motivational and it seems like the motivation grows with adding more apps. 

Anyway, I use EndoMondo (heard about this from my sister) and love this one...super easy to use and I like their website too. I did upgrade to the Pro at about a $1 I think...the next one I use is Strava. Heard about this one at the bike shop...they have an app for bikes and for running and I like this one too. I review the results less on this one though. 

I also use Nike+ running and love it. When I ran track in high school, I always dreamed of being sponsored by Nike and even working for them, so this has fond memories for me. Super easy to use and to read the results too. I just added RunKeeper and love this one too. Seems super easy to use and the graphics are great. I also set up an earnd it account...where I earn points that can be used on sporty spice kind of stuff...and I donated my points to the Red Cross after Hurricane Sandy, so that was cool. You get points for miles I run btw. 

I also have other apps on my phone and on my ipad but don't really use them as much. 

Poly Canyon Run

So this AM I took care of the 6.2 miles out of the 26.2 miles of a marathon...lol, now I just have to figure out the 20 mile part. A beautiful but cold morning here in SLO...much colder than we are used to. But sunny and I was bundled up, so it went well. Headed out, keeping at a 10 minute mile pace, felt good. Made sure I started up my running apps...more on that later....and enjoyed my music and also the pacing from the computer voices in my ears. Came home and stretched and showered. Trying to stay limber and not get all kinked up with the increase in mileage. Looking forward to more long runs...it sure seems like 3 and over is the key. They seem actually easier. There's something about a 3 miler...maybe I rush, maybe I get anxious, but getting past that really helps me to just get in the groove. Anyway, vowed to make the Poly run a couple of times a week. 

Runs, not Runs

So a joke my husband and son LOVE to tease me about is having the "runs" on a run...or better yet, during a race...so that is why SloLuckyRuns is the perfect title for the blog. Yes, I run....no, I hope I don't get the runs. Although, if it happens, so be it. Not too worried about it, and it certainly wouldn't stop me...although the hubby would have to pack up some towels for the drive home. That said, I am super careful about what I eat before a run....and don't leave the house in the early AM until I have visited the bathroom enough times to solve any problems with the runs...or leaks. And my diet is actually really healthy, besides my total addiction to dark chocolate and sugar.

It is funny...the older I get, the more sugar I crave! I don't drink caffeine so I wonder if I use sugar to "keep me up"? Anyway, luckily, the sugar doesn't give me the runs.

As I said in the previous post, I do need to figure out not only what to eat and drink and when during a marathon but the bathroom time. With halfs, I've never had to stop to pee, just did it before and after. 

In fact I remember when my son was a baby, I nursed him right before a half, and he (and caregiver) were waiting for me at the finish line. He didn't care if I PR'd, he just wanted the boob. 

So here's to many many runs for us all....without the runs. 

The M Word

The M word....yep, that's right, marathon. As in 26.2 miles running consistently from start to finish. Eating and drinking literally on the run, ha ha. As in 26.2 miles on April 7, 2013 at the SLO marathon. Wow, did I really just commit to this? Yep....gotta jump sometime and a hometown run sounds about right...now or never. So, signed up and will go for it. I've done half marathons...most recently the City to the Sea in SLO last October. Good fun, a little hot, but doable. Not my fastest time but my first half in a decade....a decade spent running but not racing and after having a child (ok, yes that child is now a teen) but still a great half. 

I've got to figure out a plan. Think I might use www.MarathonRookie.com and use their beginner plan. And have the new Runners World calendar to keep me motivated and track my progress. 

Most worried about figuring out the eating and drinking while running. See, on a half I've always managed to run without eating anything and only stopping for water.....a few times I've even done it without stopping at all to pee, drink or eat...depending on the weather. The heat kicks my arse. That's another reason why the April date should be groovy. 

Ok, that's all for now, gotta get used to increased mileage and this blog....hope you're SloLucky too.