Tag: random

Summer Loving

It’s been a while since I’ve done a traditional “Thinking Out Loud” style post.

With the start of summer, I thought I would include some of my favorite things and thoughts.  These are all products I’ve been using frequently and all things I like.  I’m not being paid to promote anything although if there is a season 5, I would love to be on Orange is the New Black.

So what am I loving?

Cardio: 

Lately, I’ve loved the pool.  I can probably guarantee, once I’m running again I won’t go too often but right now it’s been okay and kept my cardio up.

swimming

Entertainment:

Orange is the New Black: Last Tuesday, Lindsey interviewed me for her Podcast: “Can I have Another”?  She mentioned I should get into the Netflix show: Orange is the New Black. Before last week, I had heard of the show before but hadn’t seen an episode…then I watched one episode last Tuesday.  Followed by season 1, season 2 and season 3.  Now I’m just starting season 4 so you can see how that went.  Being sick and unable to run has its advantages (I guess).

Podcasts: Obviously I like Can I have Another by Lindsey.  She’s interviewed a bunch of interesting and fun people.  I like listening while getting ready for work on Friday mornings.  Even if you aren’t a runner, you’ll enjoy the conversation.  I feel like I’m just hanging out (or evesdropping) on someone’s conversation.

Food:

I’ve basically been eating anything with Calcium and Vitamin D: As I mentioned earlier this week, both my Calcium and Vitamin D levels came back in the normal range.  That being said, I’m still attempting to get as much as possible without overdosing or getting a kidney stone.  Luckily for smoothies, milk and cheese.

Sunwarrior sent me a few samples of their latest meal replacement shake powders to try. While I’m not running, 160 calories is a nice snack.  The new Illumin8 mix has a blend of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.  It’s not a full meal, but it’s a good pick me up in the afternoon.  I’ve been blending them with ice, milk, cocoa powder and sweetener.  For one of them, I added leftover beets which surprisingly tasted great and made me feel healthier.

Sunwarrior Protein Illumin8

After trying the samples they sent, I think I’m going to go purchase more.  I like the taste, and extra protein is not a bad thing for me right now.

 

Workout Related:

I’m doing all of my walking around in the Asics Quantum 360.  I nicknamed the shoe, the tank because there is so much support and cushion.  I ran in it for a while but because it’s the most cushioned shoe I’ve ever owned in the forefront, it got the promotion of moving from my running shoe to my only shoe.  asics quantum

This weekend I plan to run in the newest Asics Cumulus.  I love my Saucony shoes, but I need a shoe with more cushion in the forefront right now.  Who knows, the newest Hoka Clifton 3s are wider and actually fit my feet..so they might make a cameo on LOLZ blog.

So that’s what I’ve been up to and enjoying the last few days. 

Questions for you:

What have you been enjoying lately?

What is your favorite recipe? 

Random Thoughts…

I had a different post for today and then I got sick and didn’t write it. Oh well, I guess…

So it’s a completely random, thinking out loud post.

On Monday around 6:30 pm, I felt extremely fatigued and tired.  The fatigue came on within 30 minutes and by 7:30, I found myself laying in bed.  I slept through the night until 5:30 am on Tuesday.  I thought I would sleep away my migraine. However, that wasn’t the case, and I felt worse on Tuesday.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I slept for a total of 30 hours.  Today, Thursday, I am feeling better but not great.  No I haven’t run, and I’m okay with that…I’ve pretty much sat on my bed or slept for the last two days.

For obvious reasons, this week I haven’t been running at all, and I’m okay with it.  I planned to take a short break this summer, and it happened to be sooner versus later.  There is no shame in that.

Speaking of running, what are my plans this Summer and Fall?

I’m currently tossing around different ideas of half marathons in the Fall.  I had thought about committing to a full marathon this fall, but I’m not entirely sure I want too.  I’m happy where I currently am and don’t have any complaints.  Half marathons seem to be my “sweet spot” right now. I have plenty of years to try a marathon again…if I even want too…

This summer, I’ll be running local races.  The only major race I’ll be doing is the Boilermaker 15k in Utica on July 10th.  Knock on wood of course, because everytime I sign up for the Boilermaker I get injured.  There are a lot of local 5-10ks around here this summer so I’ll be running those.  Do I think the hot and humid summer will bring PRs?  No, probably not but I’ll enjoy getting out there and racing.

So what else have I been up too in the last two weeks?

As most people have figured out, my Instagram and Twitter have been more of my daily life updates.  Blogging about life is pretty boring for the most part…go for a run…go to work…go to a diner…something along the lines.  One line social media posts are a bit easier for that.

lauren and I

I went to a wedding last weekend down in Maryland.  Despite the rain, the Bride and Groom had a beautiful day. I didn’t let the rain affect my attitude either.

me umbrella rainy day

Finally here are A Few Recent Posts incase you missed them:

Quick Core Ideas for Runners

Track Meet Mile (5:40)

Random Musings of the Week

Oomph what a week but I decided to participate in a thinking out loud post and update you on my life!

This week has not been optimal for sleep.  I don’t know why I’m not sleeping well, but I’ve found myself tossing and turning most days of the week.  I need 8+ hours of sleep to function well.  I’ve said before, some people can function on 2-3 hours, however, I’m not one of those people.  

Hopefully I can focus on getting some sleep for the next few days. 

So what else is going on?

Let’s start with the good news.  I was recently selected to be on the Rock N Roll #rocknblog team.  I’ve run a few Rock N Roll races, including Virginia Beach in 2014 and 2016 as well as Philadelphia this year.  I’ve always had a great time and so when I saw there were applications, I decided to apply.  I thought, why not me?

Rock N Roll RockNblog

I received an email a couple of days ago saying I was accepted.  To be honest, I was surprised!  I don’t apply to be an ambassador unless I already like something a lot…to me, it’s too much commitment.

So what does this mean for my running and racing? 

I will run a few more RnR races.  I’m hoping to travel a little bit, and RnR Denver, Chicago and Seattle have all peaked my interest.  Since I’m not made of money to fly for every race, I probably won’t make it to all of them (or maybe any?).  I will do RnR Virginia Beach again.  Surprisingly though, the timing of Philadelphia probably won’t work for me.

I will say, I don’t have plans to take midrace selfies and will still race as if I’m paying for the race.  My only obligation for #rocknblog is to have fun and of course promote the race series too.  To me, “having fun”, is running well and being able to smile at the finish line.  For others “having fun” is about posing at various signs and statues during the race…whatever floats your fun boat!

I feel like that is my big and exciting news of the week…can the rest of my post even compare?

I found a mysterious crack at the bottom of my windshield.  My guess is a rock hit directly underneath my wiper causing a huge crack.  It was invisible to the driver or passenger.  I was cleaning my windshield from the salt only to lift the wiper and see a noticeable crack.  The entire windsheild had to be replaced, and it was not cheap.  Much cheaper than my previous Pontiac Firebird, which I do believe half of the car was a giant windshield.

One of the few photos I have left of my car...seriously all windshield
One of the few photos I have left of my car…seriously all windshield

Moving on, a few people have asked how my skin has been since my antibiotic problems.  In summary, I went on a new antibiotic which took over two months to feel good again.  Before October, I had never had any issues with antibiotics.  I never had any reactions and I honestly have a stomach of steel.  Then in October, everything was thrown off and even after going off the medication I felt off.

Now I’m not longer taking an oral antibiotic and just using topical gels.  My physical health and my skin have been a lot better since just using the topical gel.

Questions for you:
Have you run a Rock N Roll race? Is there one I should look into traveling for?
What’s a random fact about your day?

The Most Random Post

I haven’t done a traditional style “thinking out loud” for a while.  What am I thinking about this week?

Who really cares…I doubt anyone was at the edge of their seat waiting…

It’s been a rough welcome back to New Jersey.  I’m not shy about admitting that snow is my thing.  After going to college in the tundra of Upstate, NY where it was too cold for snow, I’m done with it.  At least in Upstate, they plowed the roads efficiently.

LOLZ red dot indicates where I went to college
LOLZ red dot indicates where I went to college
I will admit, however, I was extremely impressed with how well the roads and the Philadelphia airport parking lot was plowed.  Not having to dig my car out at 11:30 at night was a nice surprise.

It was Christmas!
It was Christmas!
Complaining about the weather doesn’t change the fact that is winter so realistically we just need to make it through February.

In addition, to the weather change I’m transitioning back to East Coast time.  Now I feel “young again” because I’m up until midnight and wake up at 8-9.  Versus crashing at 9pm…that will be next week.

A little late but I don’t know if I’ve ever discussed on the blog.  I’m a Panthers fan and the team is going to the Super Bowl.  Am I die hard, scream at the TV type of person?  No but I have followed the team and games since freshman year of college.  This year was the first year I didn’t do a fantasy football team with them winning every day (literally I have for the last 6 years…) and of course this happens.  Oh well, Kevin and I might not be freinds after this game.

I’m a Panthers fan, and we are going to the Super Bowl.  Am I die hard, scream at the TV type of person?  No, but I have followed the team and games since freshman year of college.  This was the first year I didn’t do a fantasy football team with them winning every single game (literally I have for the last six years…) and of course, this happens.

So what else am I thinking about?
A Spring Race schedule of course! I’m going back to my two favorite half marathons.

Shamrock Half (Virginia Beach) 
This is one of the best, and well put together races.  If you are looking for a good Spring half or full marathon, this is your best bet. shamrock 3

April Fools half (Atlantic City)
I am going to run the April Fools half marathon in Atlantic City.  It was my favorite race in 2014, unfortunately (LOLOLOL), I got married the same day last year.

I guess that is all I have for now, and I’ll go for a run.

Question for you: Tell me a random thought you’re having right now. 

Rotating Shoes

My current rotation of running shoes includes all of the following:
Saucony Triumph ISO 2 (for long or easy runs)
Saucony Zealot and Nike Pegasus 32 (for race warmups, workouts or a daily run)
Saucony A6 (for workouts, races)
Occasionally the Asics Quantum for recovery runs when I want to feel nothing.

Rotating Shoes

As you can see, I use six pairs of shoes.  There isn’t a single shoe that can do every workout.  I wouldn’t want to do a long run in a racing flat, and I would prefer not to race in a trainer.

That leads to one of the most common running gear questions:

Should you train in multiple pairs of running shoes?

The answer is yes!  No single shoe can serve the purpose of all of your training needs.  Plus rotating through multiple pairs shoes can extend the life of a shoe and help to prevent injury.

Rotating through two pairs of the same shoe will prolong the lifespan of the shoe, but you will still be working the same muscles.

How does it reduce injury?

By rotating through a few pairs of shoes, your gait and running form will change slightly in each pair of shoes.  The cushioning of each brand and each shoe varies from shoe to shoe.  Your muscles will work slightly differently which will cause different muscles to become stronger.  It will also create fewer overuse issues because you’ll be using different muscles.

How does it extend the life of a shoe?

If you use the same shoe daily, the cushioning will continue to compress.  The cushioning or foam will break down instead of bouncing back to recover.  Having multiple shoes allows each pair to have their own “rest days” even if you don’t.

An important thing to note:

It’s great to rotate through several pairs of shoes, but you should be using shoes that are still fit and appropriate for your foot type.  Using a very stable shoe and a minimal shoe could multiply your ability to get injured versus reducing it.  Make sure that the shoes you are using are compatible for you.  Not every running shoe works for every person.

Questions for you:
Do you rotate through shoes?

Random Thoughts

Something I’ve learned in the last year is most of the time life is boring, and that’s okay. Sometimes there is nothing exciting going on that merits a blog post. I post the majority of days, but most are about running and training and, of course, diner reviews. I haven’t posted about personal life in a few weeks, and that’s because I’ve just been boring.  While I have other interests outside of running, for the most part, it is a running-oriented blog.  I’ve been racing so much that between racing and training posts, half of my blog week is filled!

In thinking out loud, my day consists of I going for a run, going to work and then coming home watching TV and sleeping. Lather, rinse, repeat with a few a diner dates in there too.

Here are a few random blurbs:

Music I’ve been enjoying:
I recently downloaded a Ke$ha remix CD, and I love it. The music is fun to listen to while running.  If you are looking for something fast, slightly vulgar and pop…this is your CD.

kesha remix

Running Shoe Rotation:
I’ve gotten a few questions about my running shoe choices Right now I’m currently running in these:
Saucony Triumph ISO 2 (majority of runs)
Saucony Zealot (warm up and cool downs, occasional weekly run)
Altra Paradigm 1.5 (once a week)
Nike Pegasus (sporadically 1-2X per week…review to come)
Saucony A6 (racing)
That is my current shoe rotation.

Most used shoe wins for photos
Most used shoe wins for photos

TV Shows I’m Watching:
America’s Next Top Model: I’ve watched every season of ANTM, and I’m sad this is supposedly the last season. Now what I will do?
Bar Rescue
Restaurant Impossible

What’s been going on life wise?
Honestly like I said, I’ve just been running, working and getting ready for the Philadelphia Marathon weekend. Not only for myself but with work too. We’ve been a little bit busier with the end of cross country season as well as the end of North East marathon season.

Yesterday I opted to run a 5k on base instead of doing my “regular” one-mile repeats. I’ve always wanted to get a turkey from a turkey trot and the stars aligned.  I ran a 19:30 and felt completely awful.  I’ll probably do a race recap since it was technically a race but, in summary, it was windy, my legs were still sore from my deep tissue massage, but I still had a good time.

me win turkey

Questions for you:

What has been going on in your life?

What music are you enjoying? 

Friday Thoughts

I felt like this week went by slowly.  Did anyone else? 

Current Thoughts: 
This weekend the Pope comes to Philadelphia.  They have estimated 2 million people will go see him on Sunday morning.  People are walking from my area and over the Ben Franklin bridge.  Running that route would take about an hour and a half…walking will take about 10 hours (with security).  Just leave your selfie sticks at home because those are band…

I think it’s good that the area is going into lockdown and protecting him but I do think it’s been overhyped too.  They closed far too many roads, streets and highways in NJ so I’m interested to see what the traffic will be like.

In Nonrelated Pope news: 
Unpacking is harder than packing.  We have now lived in our house one week but due to all my issues I haven’t unpacked my end.  All in due time (or before the next move).

In related to me not unpacking news: My shin is doing well and I’m recovering…I’m just frustrated that I cannot do normal things as fast as usual.  Basically I want to do everything faster and I can’t.

I was able to run a little bit and it didn’t feel any worse.  My stitches are still in tact and not inflamed/swollen. The doctor said due to the location of the stitches I could run.  If it was in an area like the knee that moves or bends with running I would not be able to run because the stitches would loosen and come out.  So in summary my shin was the best place to take a chunk out.

I was glad to see a coworker of mine on a run.  She was leading a stroller run and pushing a double but it was nice to see her.  Surprisingly the cuts on my face are healing quickly as well.

julie and I

Blog Posts from LOLZ:
Falling with Style
Fall Training Goals

Music I recently downloaded: 
Lady Gaga: Until it Happens to You

I’ve always admired Lady Gaga’s ability to conquer certain topics and talk openly and freely about various issues.  In her latest music video she brings awareness to sexual assault on college campuses.  20-25% of females on college campuses have been sexually assaulted.

Weekend plans:
Tonight is the Air Force Ball. Even though it looks like I got punched in the face with my cuts, we are still going. I’ll probably post a photo on instagram but you might not recognize me without runderwear I guess.

Questions for you:
What are your plans this weekend?
Have you ever had stitches?