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These Are a Few Of My Favorite Things

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Brand loyalty on such a profoundly amateur level as where I am at currently with my running seems somewhat arbitrary. I am not sponsored, I am not invited to running events or blogger events (I think some amount of blogging is required for that), and I have minuscule social media presence. But there is something to be said for finding something you love and making it a staple in your running life. Here are a few of my staples, without which I’d undoubtedly still be a mediocre runner, but certainly a mediocre runner who’d have suffered more.

  1. Shoes. So. Many. Shoes. Yeah, I’m that girl now. But at least my husband never has to worry about me spending money on some ridiculous pumps that I’ll break my neck in if I try to walk. I have discovered and mastered the art of proper shoe rotation: See something new. Buy*. My brands of late have been Brooks and Mizuno. My journey with Mizunos started with the WaveRider 14, but I fell out of love with the 15’s. The 16’s are my new favorite with the Wave Sayonaras as a close 2nd. The problem is that I need Mizuno to make a Sayonara-like model with a more rugged outer sole so I can beat them up more on the trails because with the sturdy arch plate and heel cup, they are perfect for mixed terrain.
    Bonus style tip: Bright colors go GREAT with mud in any season!

    Bonus style tip: Bright colors go GREAT with mud in any season!


    Brooks are my other lovers. Specifically, the PureFlow 2’s and most recently, the Ghost 6’s. They weigh in mere ounces heavier than the PureFlows but according to the trusty people at Big Peach Running Co. here in Atlanta, 
    should last me a good 150 miles further than the lightweight trainers I typically gravitate toward. My PureFlows have been a go-to for speed work and tempo runs, but I’ll take them up to 20 miles without a problem. They are great for packed trails, too but I avoid using them when I know I’ll hit some jagged gravel. The Ghosts have a tread that looks like it can take a little bit more of a beating, so I think I may venture into ultra territory in those.

    *If other financial obligations are a concern, just do what I do- buy everything else at Goodwill or on clearance.

  2. Food. Duh. Gotta eat to run, not the other way around. Through years of experimentation (aka learning the hard way) I’ve learned what is best to eat before long runs and races, and what is best for me to avoid. Everyone is different, so I tend to shy away from any hard-and-fast rules, like “always eat ___” or “never eat___”.For long runs, my husband and I have typically been taking it easy, so there is less stress about what to eat and when. Still, I know how important it is to practice for race-day fueling. Leaving things to chance when any number of factors could be different from your training conditions is a recipe for disaster and major GI distress. I have never been one to enjoy gulping tons of Gatorade so I don’t carry that on me. I opt for Nuun mixed with ice water, a separate flask with just water if I decide to carry two, and then Gatorade/Powerade from the aid stations should I need the extra glucose fix.
    My favorites: Tropical and Cherry Limeade.

    My favorites: Tropical and Cherry Limeade.

    For additional calories, I’ve tried a few different things. Knowing that my stomach does not like to handle much, even over ridiculous distances, I know I need to stay away from things that are too heavy or overly sweet. My tummy has been the happiest so far with simple carbs before – like half a bagel with just a little butter and some homefries/potatoes, Clif Shot Bloks during, and a banana + chocolate Zico Coconut immediately after.

    Delicioso!

    Delicioso!

    Aside from fuel for running, I know my day-to-day diet is just as important. Everywhere I turn there is some new piece of literature telling me to eat this or skip that if I want to be THE BEST AVERAGE RUNNER EVER! but honestly, I have too many hats to wear to worry about trying to go vegan (not knocking it, it’s just not for me) or *shutter* eating raw. Sometimes, I just need some damn fries at the end of the night. Ya hear me? So I try to make sure I’m good for 80-90% of the day- eating fruits and whole-grains and veggies and lean protein. There’s a lot of egg and avocado. The most important thing for me is to feel full because between my two jobs, bad things happen when my tummy grumbles. I lose count of reps for my clients if I’m distracted with thoughts of what I can get from the juice bar at the gym on my 3-minute break, and I cry at the restaurant when someone “just wasn’t hungry” and throws away 3/4 of a trout.

    I have drawn some inspiration from Scott Jurek’s “Eat And Run” (find it here on amazon). He includes some great recipes and inspiring anecdotes from training runs and races. I could never go vegan but I have definitely been a bit more conscious of my vegetable consumption. And one of these days, I kind of want to try nori-wrapped rice balls (Onigiri) as food for a long run.

    Bet this could bring a smile to a weary runner's face. (source)

    Bet this could bring a smile to a weary runner’s face.
    (source)

     

  3. Clothes. I can’t imagine ever getting into the naked running movement, so clothing is equally vital to a successful run. Long gone are the days of just throwing on an old cotton T-shirt, or worse, an old Hanes Her Way cotton “sports” bra. I want to partially attribute my lack of success as a runner in high school to the fact that I was worried about my boobs hitting my face and that compression wear for muscle recovery wasn’t really a thing yet. Not NOW though! Now I have everything I need to practically glide through the air and just DOMINATE the race…. or, maybe get in the top 10 for my gender and age group.Moving Comfort is absolutely my bra of choice. I have others that work well, but when the mercury rises and the top layers come off, I will only strip down to my sports bra if its by this brand. A few tips- their sizes run small, so go up a size in inches, bust, or both. If at all possible, try some models on at your local running store. Otherwise, order online through their website or a retailer with good return policy. While nursing, I work the Fiona and LOVED the adjustable velcro straps because some days I needed more support than others, and I often needed to go back to my motherly duties before I could even change out of my running clothes, so it doubled as a nursing bra. Recently I was thrilled to try out  the Rebound Racer. I am a 32-B and ordered a 32-C. It’s a little tight getting over the head and around my shoulders, but once on, nothing moves. Not a fraction of an inch.

    moving comfort
    Since I am willing to shell out a little moola for the girls, I try to be thrifty for everything else. The one compromise I won’t make is on material. It has to be a sweat-wicking fabric. Fortunately, I don’t have to spend a ton of money on big name-brand clothes. I’ve been highly satisfied with what I’ve been able to find on the racks at Marshall’s, especially the MPG (Mondetta Performance Gear) and 90Degrees brands. They have a variety of work out clothes and more comfortable yoga-type attire in coordinated colors and outfits. I don’t really care about looking too girly, but I also don’t want to look like I dressed myself in the dark. On the flip side, I am not about to drop a paycheck to full my drawer with Lululemon.

  4. Technology… in small doses. This one will get tackled in a future post, as I am awaiting the arrival of my Garmin Forerunner 110. Over the years I’ve usually slaved away at the computer for dozens of minutes trying to accurately map out my route using an online service like MapMyRun or the USATF mapping tool. I know, terrible. I felt like a caveman. Sometimes I unplug everything, sometimes, I really want to know exactly how hard I am working rightnow. I’ll speak on the advantages of both in a post to come.


Tell me a few of your favorite things!

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All products featured here were purchased by me. I was not asked to review anything. I just wanted to share if anyone out there is in the same boat I used to be in- scratching my head while spending hours on Amazon trying to figure out the best most perfect piece of apparel or gear that I needed to improve my running… as much as it could be improved!



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