Go Mel, Run!

Right Foot Numbs During Runs

2011-06-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

I noticed this while on a run through the 5k route I found. My goal was 2 miles that day. By about a mile and a half or so, I noticed that my right foot began to numb. Then it got worse. I didn't want to stop because I was on a mission to reach 2 miles, so I kept on truckin. It started to feel like a stump and I began to hobble on it. My left leg and foot were pretty much doing all the work as I was trying to just quickly land on my right foot. I really wanted to stop, but I told myself I'd make it to the stop sign at the intersection. I made it and stopped runmeter. Although I should have looked at my distance prior to stopping runmeter (I was only at 1.91 instead of 2 miles) I knew I would've been able to hobble the .09miles to reach my goal. Oh well.

So I walked and the numbness went away. That was SO weird and it kinda freaked me out. What the heck would cause that? I was completely boggled. I've never felt this before. I've been running my Vibrams for a good 8 months now, and have ran in them in three 5k's. Hmmm.

The location where I stopped running was about a mile from home. It was going to take forever to walk back home. After walking for about 7 minutes or so, I decided to run for a bit. I ran a half mile, got tired and stopped. No numbness during that little run. I walked the rest of the way home. I stretched a lot to avoid any other type of soreness. The rest of the the day, I was still annoyed at what had happened.

2 Days Later
My mother in law was visiting, so i took advantage of her presence and ran outside in the morning. This way someone was at home while my son was still asleep. I ran in my monkey shoes around the neighborhood this time. And once again, after a mile, my right foot started to numb. Now I was getting really annoyed. WTH?! Here I am trying to increase my distance and now I can't run further than a mile without a numb foot. This was VERY disappointing.

During the week I started looking into what might be causing this. Possibilities were:
- a pinched nerve
- slacking off on my form and pounding my foot on the ground
- tight shoelaces

I chopped it up to slacking on my form, so I went running in my neighborhood again this past weekend. Again in my Vibrams. And yes, it did it again. Are you kidding me? I even tried wiggling my toes during the run as some suggested in the forum, but it didn't prevent the numbing.

Then I thought that maybe my right foot got wider/flatter, which is quite normal for minimalist runners. I think it was only my right foot because it was already lacking an arch. And of course while running, the foot gets warm and expands even more. So I had to test this theory.

The Test
I ran barefoot the following day. It had been so long since I ran barefoot. Probably since last year before the weather started to cool. I ran over a mile and my foot did not numb on me. Ok, that confirms it, my foot got wider. But now what do I do? I can't just order one Vibram.

Hubby told me to run in my Vibrams one more time before I go out and purchase something else. So that's the plan this weekend.

Today I did some research and read up on reviews of different variations of huaraches. I wanted my feet to be free so they're able to expand if needed. I thought about the Luna Sandals or the Invisible Shoe, but honestly, I am too lazy to deal with the tying methods. I have my eyes set on either the Unshoe, Bedrock or Branca. I'm a bit low on funds, so it's going to be at least another week before I can order a pair.

Besides Vibrams and running barefoot, what other minimalistic shoes have you tried?

Almost a Year

2011-06-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year since I started on this running path. I absolutely HATED running with a passion prior to this. But I thought I would try it to see if that was still the case. I think the whole minimal/barefoot running concept won me over. And using a program like C25k totally helped.

But who knew that I'd be starting over several times after completing the program? That was quite disappointing since I worked so hard on the program NOT to repeat a week. I was successful at that, but slacked on keeping up the time and distance after the program. I didn't do the C25K program over again, but kept having to work at getting up to where I was when I finished the program. My distance as well as speed just went downhill due to obstacles.

FIRST it was stubbing my toe and that prevented me from running for about 2 months. Man, that one really hurt. I was SO annoyed because it took SO long to heal. I would stay active in other ways, but felt I lost all the hardwork I put into the C25K program.

AND THEN I got caught up again on distance, BUT got into a funk a few more times. Now, I'm slowly trying to up my distance, and eventually work on increasing my speed again.

This morning I ran outside again and it felt AWESOME. I wish I can say goodbye to my treadmill, but I do need it. My goal today was 2 miles. I just ran in my neighborhood and when I made it back close to home I stopped. I looked at my phone and runmeter said I only ran 1.76 miles. Oh darn, I was shy a quarter of a mile. I looked at the map and now have a new game plan to accomplish that distance in my neighborhood. And my time was alright at 20:49min. I'll take a 12min mile right now. Much better than my runs on the treadmill, that's for sure.

But nonetheless, I had a great time on my run. I started off slow and just went at a speed that was comfortable. I let my body decided on the speed (unlike the treadmill) and it was GREAT! I stayed at that speed for a while and didn't tire as easily. It was definitely a good run for me today. If I had more time I would have done a quick walk break and continued for at least another mile or so, but unfortunately I had to get ready for work.

I'm going to try and get that 2mile run done this weekend. I am loving this sunny weather!

The Sun Came Out to Play

2011-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

It was windy, but the sun was out this weekend. This year's weather has been SO unpredictable lately. When you think it will be nice, the rain starts pouring. But on Saturday when I saw blue sky, I took advantage of it and ran outside. Man, did it feel good to off that treadmill.

I ran on the 5k route I found several months ago. Took it easy and ran 1.44miles (18:59min) before taking a 5min walk break. Then I ran .97miles (12:15min) and walked the rest of the way home. A total of almost 2.5miles.
(I know, it's slow. But I did say I took it easy.)

Next Saturday's goal is to make it to 2miles before my walk break. I'll continue this until I can run the whole 5k distance without a walk break.

Did I mention how much it SUCKS to start all over again?

On the plus side, cross training has been going quite well. I'm only at 34 push-ups, but I'll get that up pretty soon. Ever since I started doing supersets, I can't see doing the exercises in any other method. It gets the heart pumping and you can easily cover a whole body workout in half the time.

Lately I focus on:

arms and weights
squats
push-ups
planks (regular and side)

- I pair up 2 exercises to create 1 superset.
- Then I pair up another 2 exercises to create another superset.
- And if I'm feeling sassy, I'll pair up another 2 exercises to create a 3rd superset.

I do each superset 3 times, and it really gets the body going. If I ever get bored with that, I pick out a Turbulence Training workout, and those never fail me.

I miss using my stability ball, so next week I plan to include that into my workouts again. I never knew it would be such a great tool.

I also like to fit in calf raises, jumping jacks and end it all with yoga stretches and poses. I definitely feel good after a workout, but I need to wake up earlier.

Today, I went for a 1mile run on the treadmill. Just a mile as it was on an incline and I still tire easily. Then I did some planks, then push-ups, and that was supposed to be it. But I wanted MORE, so I did some bicep curls. I didn't want to stop, but had to get ready for work. Grrrrr......

Between running and cross training, my goal is to perform some sort of activity at least 5 days out of the week. Some weeks I will work out every day, but I don't want to feel guilty on days that I take a rest day.

So far things are going pretty well.

Staying On Track

2011-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last week I worked out every day, alternating between cross training and running. This week, I worked out 5 out of 7 days. This morning I slept in and boy did it feel GREAT, but it didn't leave any time for a workout. Still not too shabby.

Cross Training
Currently consists of supersets of:
- planks (regular and side)
- squats
- arm exercises with weights

I really think that doing supersets help a lot. Work the muscles a bunch and relax for a tiny bit. Work the muscles a bunch and relax for a tiny bit. It helps me build endurance.

Running
Outdoor running consists of running a mile.
I usually do this lap through my neighborhood which comes out to roughly a mile.

Indoor running is based on time.
15 minutes is the current goal.
I hop on the treadmill and run at a 2% incline, ranging between 4 to 4.5mph.
That 2% incline gets the heart pumping FAST!

So far the last couple of weks have already helped tighten my arms a bit. Small progress, but I'll take it for what it's worth. To help, I've also cut down on my carb consumption. I've been eating salads.

Ingredients:

Chicken mango sausage from Trader Joe's
Candied walnuts
Dried cranberries
(sometimes I'll add some cherry tomatoes)
Romain lettuce
Organic baby spinach
Lightly topped with a raspberry vinaigrette

It's delish.

Next week, I plan to introduce pushups back into my cross training. And so I don't get bored with salads, I'll alternate between a salad and a sandwich for lunch. As always, accompanied by fruit, nuts, water and matcha tea.

Looking forward to another successful week of exercise.

I Can't Believe I Forgot

2011-05-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

As far as I can remember, my mom would always tell me to stand up straight. I am not sure what causes bad posture.

Why am I sloucher?

Am I not confident?

I'm not really sure. But since I've been slouching for a good portion of my life, I find myself doing it involuntary. Sitting up straight is more of a task.

Well I am trying to work straightening on my posture. I want to have a strong back and I was working on it by doing planks. Well until I got into a funk. Several months ago I experienced pretty bad back pain. I even had to stay home from work one day. From then on, I told myself that I would take care of my back. This is one reason I need to get out of this funk.

I ran a mile last weekend. It was the first time I ran in almost 2 months. It was a short run, but surprisingly my time wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I started with my usual short walk and then ran. But my calves still got pretty tight. During the next 2 days I had quite a knot in my calves, especially the left one. It was tough to get out of bed and walk in the morning.

Ouch! I was walking like I had a stick up my butt.

I was constantly massaging my legs. I never thought I'd be one of those people who would keep starting over when it came to running. I am quite disappointed in myself. Another reason for me to get out of this funk.

I weighed myself the other day. What the heck ya know? The weight really didn't change, but my body is starting to lose the tone I was so beginning to enjoy. My biceps were starting to come out of hiding, I was forming visible hamstring muscles, and my midsection began to shrink so I can fit into jeans I haven't worn in a while. But ever since I got into this funk, clothes haven't fit the same and I just don't feel good about myself.

Come on Mel, get out of this funk!

And then it came to be. A good dear friend was in a car accident recently. The result definitely could have been much worse. But she left the scene ALIVE, and with 2 broken ribs. I went to visit her to see how she was doing. The pain is absolutely horrible, and they say it's going to take about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During this time she cannot perform many functions without pain. Even laughter hurts.

But now that I think about it, it probably wasn't the best idea to go visit her. We always make each other laugh.

All of these things that we take for granted; walking, sitting, reaching, running and laughing could be gone just like that. That's when I decided that I needed to get back into my routine.

I remembered they saying that getting fit is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Although I haven't worked out much lately, I still ate pretty well. A bit more cabrs than usual, but I still ate pretty healthy. I am so glad that my body craves good nutritious food. To help aid in getting back into my rhythem, I decided to reduce my carb instake drastically these next 2 weeks.

I ran again this weekend. Just a tiny bit longer and a tiny bit faster, but I did it. And it sure as heck felt great! I actually wanted to run again during that afternoon, but I had chores to do. I strethced a lot this time and I don't feel the pain I felt last weekend. Yay! And this morning I did squeeze in a short workout.
2 supersets of:

planks
squats
bicep curls

With life's distraction it's easy to forget to workout. It's easy to forget we should take care of our bodies. It's easy to take the simple things for granted. You miss one day, then another, then another. The next thing you know, 2 months have gone by. Like many others, I need a reminder. Or just a good ol' swift kick in the glutius maximus.

If you feel that I'm slacking once again, please feel free to bust me on it.

Mount Diablo Kicked Butt

2011-04-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

On Sunday my sister and I hiked up Mt. Diablo. We started at the Diablo Valley Overlook and up the Juniper Trail. Lots of uphill action for them glutes! Due to personal finance woes at the home front, I haven't had the motivation or energy to do any form of exercise since the 5k run. Yeah, I've been bad and I knew the hike was gonna kick my butt.

The constant uphill climb gets that heart pounding fast and I felt it right away. It was a huge eye opener. My body was telling me that I needed to get back to my workout and running routine. But we took a bunch of rest stops and went on our way.

It was nice and quiet. Quite cool in the morning, but pleasant. The fog was in so we couldn't see much of the area below, but being surrounded by the beauty of nature was breathtaking. Reading signs about how old the section of the mountain we were hiking was a joy to read. This rock, this HUGE mountain is millions of years old. and if you look hard and long enough, you'll find some fossils. Nature is so amazing.

I am also amazed by those who bike up the mountain. There were SO many of them and they make it look oh so easy. Walking up it was tough enough lol. We saw many others with walking sticks. I've never used one. I wonder if they're beneficial.

When we made it to the top we looked all around. Unfortunately the observation deck was under construction, so we checked out the visitor center. At the very top is a tiny room. In the middle of the tiny room is a hole where the true point of the mountain is exposed.

We hiked down the Summit Trail. The fog disappeared and we passed more people on the trails. We were on our downward hike which was a nice change of pace. I didn't have the greatest shoes, so I got a blister on my left pinky toe. I felt the constant painful rub as we were heading back down. Funny thing about going down is that sometimes you have to go up. Without a map, one could definitely get lost. When we finally made it back to the Diablo Valley Overlook, we were now able to see the points of interests since the sky was clear.

I've hiked from the bottom of the mountain from Mitchell Canyon Road about 14 years ago. I was in much better shape back then. But even then, the mountain kicked my butt. The trail we took was literally all uphill. It was so steep. And it was over 100 degrees that day. But I sluggishly conquered it and it felt GREAT!

Afterwards we checked out Rock City. (There's so much to do on the mountain.) It was so cool. The rocks had little caves in them. The rock itself was so soft that they were covered in carvings by visitors. The floor of the rock was so smooth it looked like marble.

By this time we were STARVING so we had to say bye to the mountain. We tried this Peruvian restaurant I've been eyeing during my commute. It's named Inca's Grill. The food was delish and comforting. It was an awesome treat at the conclusion of our day.

I was tired when I went home, but not achy. Yesterday and today, I am feeling the aches. My bad for not stretching after the hike.

Will a Mountain Hike Get Me Outta This Rut?

2011-04-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Let's see now.
I.....

- Was sick for several weeks.
- Then crammed in 5 days of running in a single week.
(which was probably the most number of miles I've ever ran in a week)
- Completed a 5k (with sad results)

And now, I haven't ran or worked out since.

Yes, it's been about 2 and a half weeks since I've done any formal exercise. I'm in another rut. It's basically due to some personal and financial issues me and the hubby are going through right now. You would think that I would be super active to help de-stress, but I haven't. And then my sis planned a hike up Mt. Diablo on Sunday which I agreed to attend. I am definitely going because it's awesome there, but boy do I feel SO out of shape.

I gotta get back into the rhythm. Tonight I plan to sleep early so I can run or do an incline walk on the treadmill. An incline walk doesn't sound that bad since the side of the mountain we'll be hiking is quite steep.

I have hiked up this very mountain about 14 years ago. It's great exercise with breathtaking views. I am hoping to experience that again come Sunday.

Official 5k Results and P90X

2011-03-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

I finally got the results of the 5k I did this past weekend. Wow, really? My official time was 42:58. I wonder why it's so off from what my runmeter app stated, which was 41:37. I started it when the volunteer said 'Go' and I started running, and I even stopped it after crossing the finish line and after I walked a bit. I actually kinda forgot to stop the app. Oh well, that's what they have for the official time, so it is what it is.

I'm taking a break from activity this week. I think I did too much too soon last week and my body has just been really tired. I figured I'd give it a rest in hopes that this would prevent me from catching another cold. Gosh, I hate being sick.

I think I'll finally check out P90X. Although for me it's going to be P180X. I can't devote 6 days a week solely to cross training. Where would running fit in? I like my current 3 days of running and 3 days of cross training. I feel well balanced with this schedule. And as I mentioned before, I've done those quick fit diets and could not keep up with them at the end. So the same applies to workouts. I don't want quick results that wither away when you stop or slow down. I want results that are manageable to maintain even after the program is done.

Well it's my lunch hour. Time for a little nap. zzzzzzz

A Rainy 5k

2011-03-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

I totally crammed for this run. After being sick for about 2 weeks, I wanted to make sure that I'd be able to finish. It's about an hour drive my house to Oakland. I went to my friend Sherry's house, and then we both headed to Lake Merritt. A few minutes after we parked it started to rain hard.

Geez Louise!

Really?!

Come on!

We sat in her car for a bit and then the rain did lighten up just a tad. We started walking to the sailboat house, and we made it just in time. With 10 minutes to spare, we got our race bibs, and tech shirts. The other 2 races I've ran, they held the shirts for us until after the race. That way, we didn't have to hold them when we ran. But not this time. Sherry asked one of the voluneteers if she could pick up her shirt after the race, and she basically asked her if it was a risk she was willing to take. She went ahead and left the shirt there.

It continued to rain. It never really let up. Then a volunteer held a flag and announced that all 5k runners follow her. Alright! Let's get this show on the road. (so I thought) She led us out from under our shelter of a tree and into the parking lot. The rain was really coming down hard. We were all getting drenched. Our monkey shoes were pretty darn soaked before the race began.

We waited and waited for the race to start. In the mean time, we were getting even more drenched. There was one guy who wore nothing but his shoes and a pair of running shorts. Brrrr. To kill time, the volunteer was telling us that the route was marked really well. We all responded with a....

Ok, let's just start.

Can we just run now?

Great, I'm sure we'll figure it out.

Let's go!

And then we were off. (finally!) After a few minutes Sherry said that she was going to go ahead and go a little faster. I told her in an email several days before, that she should go at her own pace and not hang with me. Especially since she just ran around the lake twice 2 days prior to the race. She totally could have done the 10k.

The first mile was tough. As with any run for me, it takes a bit to get into the rhythm. Plus, I've been running on the treadmill because it has been raining outside. Adjusting to running outside isn't always easy. The rain did not help at all. My hands were cold for the first mile and they almost felt numb. It got quite slippery in a few areas. I'm surprised I didn't fall down, but slipped a tiny bit due to hopping around the puddles and mud. I couldn't tell if my nose was running or if it was just water running down my entire face. It definitely was not a pleasant time.

I had stuffed my tech shirt in my hoodie. It probably looked funny, but what else was I going to do with it? I kept adjusting it throughout the race since it felt like it was going to slip out, which it finally did before the 1 mile marker. After picking it up, I walked some. I actually walked quite a bit. It was a bit frustrating seeing that I've been running straight for 30 minutes on the treadmill and I couldn't do it during the 5k. So the rest of the run I did the run/walk thing. I would pick an object and run to it, then walk to another object, then run to another object - you get the picture.

The hard rain turned into a sprinkle after the first mile. My hands weren't as cold by that time. And the closer I got to the sailboat house, the less I was walking. I was tired and just wanted to finish. I got to a turn and heard Sherry's cheer, and then there was the last stretch. That last stretch gives me that last needed boost.

There were quite a few of us getting in at the same time. Right after crossing the finish line, I started walking. Then I remembered I needed to stop my runmeter app. By the time I stopped it, it read 41:37, so I am hoping that my official time is a few seconds faster than that. I guess we just wait and see. Funny thing is that that's my official time from last year's Oktobrewfest in Davis.

Sherry finished in 27 minutes! My time was the usual 'right under 42 minutes' . I am actually surprised due to all the walking I did. But hey, I ran it. I didn't bail out due to the rain, and I finished it.

Are races for me? I don't know. I don't seem to do well in them. I am consistent with my time, but I don't seem to be progressing. So that's three 5k's under my belt now. I think for now, I'll just continue to run and increase my distance, or duration of my runs. Maybe I'll run another 5k when I hit the 4 mile distance during my training.

But this week's training wasn't bad at all. Ran 5 days and covered 9.68 miles according to my dailymile log. That's probably the most I've ever ran in a week. Hey, don't laugh. That's a lot for me. Ok, go ahead and chuckle.
Just as long as I'm running, I'll continue to have a smile on my face.

Crammed Training Leads To Overtraining

2011-03-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

I was sick for about 2 weeks. I still have a lingering cough. It could not have come at a worse time. I was racking up my distance due to training for the 5k this Saturday. Then I got sick.

I had one week to train for this 5k, and after not running for 13 days I was wondering how to approach this. Initially I was just going to run on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Every other day should be ok right? Well I decided to keep going after Tuesday's run because I was disappointed in the lack of distance I covered. I ran again on Wednesday, and then again yesterday. I was happy knowning that I was increasing distance with each run.

Sunday - 1.2 miles outside run (bleh)
Tuesday - 1.8 miles, 2.5 incline treadmill run
Wednesday - 2.2 miles, no incline treadmill run which seemed to help
Thursday - 2.5 miles, no incline treadmill run

I covered 7.7 miles total this week.

I covered 6.5 miles in 3 days back to back!

I usually only cover 6 miles per week, so I definitely pushed myself. By the time I got to work yesterday, I really felt it. I was SO tired. I even had a headache for a good portion of the day. It got so bad that I finally took something for it, and I never take anything.

I decided not to run this morning. I need to let my body rest. It was definitely trying to tell me something yesterday. And I got a blister on each foot due to running on the treadmill. I tried to avoid it by around in different spots, but there's only so much space to run on. I went to bed early last night and slept in this morning. I am still a bit tired and wished I could have slept in more. I'll head to bed early again tonight so I am rested for tomorrow's 5k.

Have you crammed for a race like I did?
How did that work out for you?

Being Sick Halts Training

2011-03-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

A week and a half ago my hands were super cold at work. By the time I got home, I had the chills really bad. It was Wednesday night and I ended up staying home from work the next 2 days. I hate missing work because I don't have that much time off accumulated. By that Saturday I felt much better, but come Sunday I felt icky again. I dragged my butt into work on Monday and was coughing like crazy.

Come Thursday my stomach was in knots and I had no idea what I should be eating. I felt somewhat nauseated and tired. Needless to say, I slept at my desk during lunch. I wanted to sleep the rest of the day away, but I had to work. I still felt pretty bad Friday morning and I stayed home once again. I have now taken 3 days off of work, AND had not run in over a week. This cold/flu has really put a halt on my training.

I took it slow on Saturday. I was still coughing, but was starting to feel better. I woke up faily early on Sunday morning and decided I was well enough to go for a run. I kinda forced myself because I have a 5k to run the following weekend, and I really needed to get moving again. I stayed in my subdivision as it was supposed to rain sometime during the day. I thought for sure that I at least hit the 2 mile mark by the time I was done, because it sure felt like it. I coughed some and my nose was runny as well. By the time I stopped, I was sad to see that I only ran 1.19 miles. Are you serious???? It was quite a disappointment.

It is now Monday and I have 4 more days before my 5k on Saturday. I am going to run with a friend, but I told her that I was SO not ready. And mind you, she's been averaging 20 miles a week on trails! So it doesn't look like we'll be running together for long.

Ok, so I have 4 days left.

What's the plan?

Well it's supposed to be raining this week, so that means no running outside for me. I don't need to get sick again and I'd rather not injure myself by slipping on the slippery ground. So that means I need to hop on the treadmill tomorrow and Thursday.

For some reason I cannot run further than 1.2 miles on the treadmill. Although I stream a movie on youtube or Netflix, it doesn't seem to make a difference. I even cover up the time on the treadmill display with my iPhone so I have no idea how long I've been running. But all I can do now is just force myself to keep going. I think this is the only way I've have any chance of finishing the run on Saturday.

Wish me luck!

Longing To Run Barefoot

2011-02-24T23:06:00.000-08:00

I ran barefoot on the treadmill today. It's been a while since I've done so. Whether outside or on the treadmill, I've been wearing my Vibrams. Well it's been cold as heck outside. Not to mention icky and rainy.

After running on the treadmill, I've noticed later in the day that my feet had a tiny tingling sensation. It lasted a good part of the morning. It made me aware that I really need to do more barefoot running. We have laminate, tile and hardwood floors in the house and that gets pretty cold to walk on. I can stand it to a point, but often wear shoes to keep the footsies warm.

I miss the sun.

I miss the feeling of warm concrete and asphalt under my feet.

I miss having the option to run outside with naked feet.

I think I miss it more because I just learned an old neighbor who moved away recently, runs barefoot. He came by to visit this past weekend. Not only does he run barefoot, but his teenage son does as well. The sun came out for a bit on Monday. He and his son raced barefoot down the street. And they were haulin' some major arse. Then his little 4 year old wanted to race too. He ripped off his shoes and raced his old man. I just kept thinking how perfect the little boy's form was, still having young feet that haven't been tampered much with crappy shoes. Man, I wish I would've known about their barefootedness earlier.

Ya see? You just never know what you'll learn about people.

This Week Sucked

2011-02-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

I guess we all get into funks every now and then. Apparently this week it was my turn. I started doing #365workout on November 11th last year. Other than one day, due to being sick, I performed some sort of activity. I often run 3 times a week, cross train the other 3 days a week, and have a play day doing any sort of activity I want once a week. Well this week just SUCKED.

Sunday - I did nothing. I was too busy taking care of stuff and paper work. I slept in because I was just exhausted.

Monday - Ok, let's get into the groove and workout. I started week 4 of the original Turbulence Training workout.

Tuesday - Um yeah, I didn't get a chance to workout at all. I had to start my day super early and was too tired to get up any earlier. Come night time, I'm exhausted from my commute, work, and chores to fit in a workout.

Wednesday, Thursday, and today - The pattern just continued. wth?

One night during the week my body felt stiff. I asked the hubby for a massage and he asked why since I didn't even workout that day. And maybe that's the problem. My body has gotten used to doing some sort of activity daily that maybe it just gets stiff without use. Again, my body speaks to me.

So yeah, this week totally sucked for workouts. I'm hoping to go for a run tomorrow, but I already have an appointment early in the morning. Maybe start fresh on Sunday? (Sheesh, I'm already making excuses. Man, once you fall off the wagon, it's hard to get back on.)

If I don't, please feel free to yell at me so I can get my butt back into gear.

Jimmy Freeman Inspires Kids to Run

2011-02-08T21:06:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I loved being outside. I loved riding my bike. Being inside was boring for me. But times sure have changed. With all the video games, smart phones and the Internet, there are less kids enjoying activity outside. They don't move. Their bodies are growing but they are stationary. I have a young son and yes, he does play on a computer from time to time. He plays and watches cartoons on a smart phone as well. But my hubby and I always encourage outdoor activity.

I say....

Let's go to the park.
Let's go on a bike ride.
Wanna go for a walk with me?
Ooooh, let's play with the bubbles.

Anything to get him out of the house and moving. Most times it doesn't take much. I am trying to teach him that there is more to life than sitting in front of the tube. I also teach him to eat healthy and get enough rest. As a parent, it is my responsibility to do so.

I thought that this 100 mile challenge Jimmy spoke to kids about is inspiring. More and more of us should get kids off their butts, and moving.

Healthy Grocery Shopping

2011-01-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

I enjoy food. I REALLY enjoy food. Food is yummie in my tummy. But when I started to eat clean, I started to really enjoy healthier food. I always ate healthy food, but not enough of it. It was often a struggle on how to incorporate it into my diet. But now, if I don't eat enough fruits and veggies, then my body gets upset with me.

yes, I do buy a lot of fruit

I go grocery shopping once a week. Usually during the weekends. Prior to heading to the store, I make a list of items we ran out of. Then I plan our meals for the week. Just one week, until the next shopping trip.

Why only shop once a week?
1) It is easier to budget.
2) It's enough time to eat the food before they spoil.
3) I try to avoid preprocessed food, and enjoy eating fresh produce.
4) It makes meal planning simple.

Where do you shop?
I live within walking distance to Safeway. But I drive about 8 miles, one way, to Trader Joe's. I feel that it's worth the trip. Don't get me wrong, Safeway is great and I still shop there at times. I often go there to purchase items at the deli. Usually deli meat and cheese.

But I buy everything else at Trader Joe's. I like their selection of produce. I love their organic orange juice and milk. I was quite shocked the last time I went to Safeway and searched for organic chicken. Trader Joe's was definitely more affordable. About 85% to 90% of my purchases are organic. And I like the fact that most of their packaged foods don't contain HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), nor do the ingredients read a mile long of stuff I can't even pronounce.

Why organic?
Why not? Ever since my son was born, I decided I would feed him what I thought was best. I never fed him jarred food from the store. I made his baby food. I feel that that act of love has done him well. He is a very healthy young boy, and he's quite smart. I'm sold.

Being surrounded by those battling cancer also helped me with this decision. A relative on my father's side passed from it. My first degree cousin from my mother's side passed from it. And my aunt, my mother's sister, is a 10 year breast cancer survivor. Cancer on both sides of my family doesn't quite put me at ease, so I am controlling what I can to try and avoid it.

What is your typical shopping list?
Fruits, Veggies, Sides and Snacks (90% organic)

brocolli and/or cauliflower
sweet potato
bananas
baby spinach or romaine lettuce
kiwi
apples and/or pears
dried fruit
dried seaweed
onions
garlic
protein bar

Dairy and Drinks (99% organic)

1% or 2% milk
orange juice
grapefruit juice (for the hubby)
eggs
green tea bag

Frozen or Chilled (70% organic)

Cod filets
potstickers/teriyaki chicken/orange chicken
berries
chicken
meat

Everything else

Multigrain bread
Ground flax seed (once a month)
Toilet tissue
Multivitamin (once a month)
Vitamin D3 (every few months)
Laundry detergent
Dishwashing soap

So these are pretty much my staples and I work off of that. We have the occasional treat such as tarts, pizza or cookies so we don't go crazy. And we ALWAYS have dark chocolate to help with our sweet tooth.

My budget is $100 per week. Which isn't that bad considering that I buy mostly organic. Going organic won't break the bank if you do your homework.

Where do you shop?

What are your grocery shopping staples?

Signed Up For My First 5k in 2011

2011-01-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I signed up for my first 5k this year. It's on March 19th, which is about 2 months away. I liked running Lake Merritt so much I decided I would run a real race there. It's called the Greek Independence Day Run. Once around the lake is a 5k, another lap around the lake is a 10k. Seeing that I've only been back to running for a little over a month now, I'll be running the 5k. Next month I am hoping to run around the lake again to see where I'm at on my training.

Have you signed up for races yet?

I started running outside on the weekends. This passed weekend was the second time. I really enjoy running outside. Sorry for being a broken record, but it's true. I only ran 1.02 miles on Saturday. Much shorter than I wanted. But there was a good reason. My sweats kept falling off. And they seemed to start falling off the further I ran. It got to the point where I was literally holding my sweats on with my hand. It got too annoying and distracting that I just had to stop running. Very cool that my sweats were loose enough to fall off, but it didn't help my training at all.

On Sunday I decided to wear my biker shorts under a more snug fitting pair of sweats. Ah, that worked out better. I wanted to increase my distance another half mile. I just wanted to run a mile and a half. That was my goal this weekend. And well, I did it! When I pushed the stop button on the Runmeter app it read 1.57 miles. Woo hoo! Unfortunately the weekends are the only time I get to run outside. We'll see how I do on the treadmill tomorrow morning.

Do you run outside?

What time of day are you able to fit in a run outside?

Back to pants falling off, the jeans I wore today were quite loose. I haven't worn this pair in months. Since I didn't get to finish laundry this weekend, I wore these jeans. And...whoa baby! They were super loose. Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe it. I think it's time to donate this pair.

With my pants falling off I will really need to think about what I'm going to wear during my first race of the year. I really don't want my pants on the ground.

What do you think I should wear?

Biker shorts? Spandex?

Runmeter Wins Because My Treadmill Lies

2011-01-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

Back in October I got a treadmill. Last month the foot was feeling better so I began running again. The weather hasn't been great so I continued running on the treadmill. For the last two weeks or so, I've been running for 17 minutes. Not sure why, but I can't seem to run longer than that at this moment. 17 minutes seems to equal running 1.2 miles. That's the distance I've been seeing at the end of my runs. Wow, that is super slow. I even cover up the distance display with my iPhone so I'm not distracted (or disappointed) by it.

I can either run at a constant speed, or increase the speed for a few minutes, and my distance is always the same in 17 minutes, 1.2 miles. I don't understand why this is happening, and I began to wonder if my treadmill was broken.

Does it just stop working once it reaches 1.2 miles on the display?

Was my new tool lying to me?

I needed answers.

I realized that I don't like speed controlled runs. Yes you can press a button and change the speed, but that's too distracting for me. When I run outside, I speed up and slow down when my body feels the need to. There are no buttons. This passed weekend I ran outside for the first time in months. Wow, it felt SO different because I've been running on the treadmill. But it also felt wonderful. I was happy to use Runmeter again and something shocked me.

Saturday's run

According to my treadmill, if I were to run 8min and 44sec then I'd only be at about 1/2 a mile. But Runmeter says otherwise.

Sunday's run

And lookie here. I ran a mile in right under 12 minutes. According to my treadmill I should have only ran a distance of about 3/4 of a mile.

Interesting, don'cha think? So which is more accurate?
I will have to agree with Runmeter. I have used Runmeter during my 5k runs. My Runmeter results and my official race time results are within seconds of each other. Runmeter FTW! (FTW = for the win)

But this knowledge is quite disappointing. Once again I am glad that I didn't pay $1300 for my treadmill. Sheesh.

Toss The Scale!

2011-01-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

Those who read my blog or view my tweets have asked me the ultimate question.

How much weight have you lost?

When it comes to getting fit, many focus WAY too much on 2 numbers; pounds and calories. Just hearing those words turns my attention off.

Pounds

Our society, if not most, are obsessed with weighing ourselves.
- We eat something, then we weigh ourselves.
- We do a workout, then we weigh ourselves.
It's a vicious cycle. If we gain a pound, or don't lose anything, we get discouraged and eventually revert to unhealthy habits. We flat out just give up. This is complete self-torture. Throw that darn scale away if you are obsessed with weighing yourself. That's exactly what I did. I've been there. I was doing the exact same thing! Constantly weighing yourself will not make the pounds go away. It's like a watched pot never boils. Tossing the scale was liberating for me.

Calories

I personally don't keep track of the calories I eat or drink. I am WAY too lazy to spend the time logging everything I eat. I think it can drive someone crazy doing so. I don't think it's a bad idea to keep a count of caloric intake at first. Initially, that's what I did on gyminee, which is now dailyburn. But it wasn't just about calories. This helped me learn more about my diet.
- Was I low in my fiber intake, or protein?
- Did I have too much fat today?
After a while, I started to understand what my body was trying to tell me. I would feed my body what it was asking for whether it was more protein, or a glass of water. Now I just use a lot of common sense by eating clean. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that the apple is your friend while the chocolate cake is your enemy. I focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, and lean meats.

So to answer the ultimate question...

Since I began running in July of 2010, I have lost a total of 8 pounds. It's now January of 2011. It has been 6 months since I started running, and 3 months since I started cross training. 8 pounds really isn't a lot. And I have no idea if I lost the pounds all up front, during the middle, or just recently. Did it fluctuate? I have no idea and I actually don't really care. Like I said, I rarely weigh myself.

But what I do know is that my clothes fit better. Heck, I just started shrinking my clothes because they were getting too loose for me to wear. (I used to wash them in cold water so they wouldn't shrink.) As I look at myself in the mirror, which is something you all should be doing, I am seeing more definition. I see that I really am replacing fat with lean muscle, and I am liking what I see.

So...for all you calorie counters, muscle is what you need to BURN calories.
And for you scale lovers, muscle weighs MORE than fat.

So the next time the scale goes up, it does not necessarily mean that you've gained more fat. Think about your activity, your diet, and how your clothes fit, because it might just be that you gained some of that awesome muscle.

And ladies, don't be afraid of gaining muscle. Lean muscle is SEXY.

Your Brain Needs To Workout Too

2011-01-14T22:16:00.000-08:00

When I was in my early 20's my HR manager told me that she does crossword puzzles. She said that she does it to keep her brain in shape. Being my 20's I didn't think much of it. I was young. Why would I need to work out my brain when I've got so many years ahead of me? Well a year here and a year there went by and now I'm in my 30's. Where the heck did the time go?

I'm now in love with running - check!
I'm also doing cross training - check!
I do some sort of activity or workout everyday - check!
My diet has improved - check!

But what about my brain? Oh my. My old HR manager was onto something. The body is complex, but the brain is....well, the brain of it all. So how does one exercise the brain? You need to feed the brain things to make the gears turn.

crossword puzzles
word searches
scrabble
reading
solve a rubix cube
take classes
work on your budget
learn a new language
tutor
...and the list goes on and on.

What are you doing to keep your brain in shape?
Currently my favorite form of brain exercise is playing Words With Friends on my iPhone. Wanna play? What's your username?

username is melygreen

Lastly....don't forget to do your deep breathing. Your brain needs oxygen. Set aside a few minutes a day (for starters) to do some deep breathing. Your brain and the rest of your body will thank you.

The Perfect 5k Route

2011-01-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last month I told you that I had planned to go running with my Vibram buddy Sherry. Well yesterday we met up. It was cool because another friend joined us. Kimmy brought her daughter Kally, so she was pushing a jogging stroller. That definitely created some resistance. Sherry wore her injini socks in her KSO's since it was quite cold.

We went for a jog/walk around Lake Merritt. The lake is 3 miles around. It's the perfect place to practice for a 5k race. But because of it's perfect 3 mile route, they hold many races there as well. Check out the East Bay's oldest running club for more info. There were SO many other runners there toughing out the cold, and boy was it cold. I've never been all the way around the lake, but now I know why people enjoy running there. It's so nice there. It's mostly flat, with a couple of tiny slopes depending on which path you take. There are 2 different types of terrain; gravel and paved. That was pretty cool since I've never ran on anything except for asphalt and the treadmill. The scenery was nice too. Of course you have the lake, lots of grass, birds, play structures for kids and more. Unfortunately I don't live close enough to run around the lake often.

Afterwards we headed nearby to grub on some yum yum dim sum. It was a pretty nice low carb meal paired with some tea. Yeah, we definitely needed to warm up. The run around the lake was my second workout of the day, since I started off with cross training in the morning. I didn't feel too guilty eating out for lunch yesterday.

Have you gone for a run around Lake Merritt before?
What did you think of it?

Dude, It Was Ginormous

2011-01-01T23:32:00.000-08:00

Great start to a new year. I did stay up past midnight, but I didn't watch the ball drop on TV. I was actually working on a blog post. (It will be up shortly.)

I completed week 2 of the Turbulence Training intermediate workout this morning, and it felt great. What better way to great January 1st? Just about all the holiday food has now been eliminated from the house. I can now go back to eating healthier. I went through our fridge, freezer and pantry today and tossed a lot of stuff out. I guess you can say I officially started on cleaning house. With the fridge being so bare I decided to go on my weekly shopping trip today.

I was super bummed that Trader Joe's was closed today. I thought they were open 7 days a week. (I guess I should have checked their website before heading out there.) I then headed to Safeway. Since I don't normally shop there anymore, my trip took longer than expected. I really had to spend time in order to buy, what I thought to be, the healthiest versions of what I wanted.

Of course, I bought lots of fruit and lots of broccoli. While in the produce section, look what I found. A ginormous green bell pepper. I almost bought it just for the sake of showing it to my hubby. But I figured a picture would suffice. It was HUGE!

I had chicken on my shopping list, but they didn't have a good selection of organic chicken. It was pretty much non-existent. The non-organic drumsticks were surprisingly MORE expensive than the organic drumsticks at Trader Joe's. And everyone says that organic is too expensive. Not this time. Needless to say, I didn't buy any chicken. I instead bought 2 pounds of organic ground beef.

Surprisingly the organic eggs were the same price. The wheat bread I bought was more expensive, but it did not contain any HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). The milk was a few cents more. And I couldn't find a comparable orange juice. Overall, I am quite happy with my trip. It just took longer than expected. But I still prefer shopping at Trader Joe's, so I'm looking forward to next week's shopping trip.

Do you have a favorite store for your grocery needs?

So You Wanna Run, eh?

2010-12-31T23:00:00.001-08:00

Ah, it's the start of a new year. I think many new year resolutions focus on getting into shape. The gyms are packed because everyone is gung ho on their new adventure. Some will change their diet, while others will weight train, some will take yoga classes, and some will start running. This is a running blog, so let's talk about running. So you wanna start running huh?

How do you start running?

Whether you're a newbie runner, or an ex-runner trying to get back into the game, you will need to take it slow. I used to HATE running with the passion. I was never good at it. I was never able to run more than 2 minutes at a time. And by the time those 2 minutes were up I would be huffing and puffing like crazy. You see, no one ever taught me how to run. I was under the impression that you just went out and did it. I assumed that some were just born to run. But boy was I wrong.

A friend told me about this running program for newbies. It's called Couch to 5k, and I HIGHLY recommend it. HIGHLY. I witnessed how much weight he was losing, and how long he was able to run. Being overweight myself, I finally gave it a whirl. I started running back in July of 2010. It starts off slow so you get used to the activity. After completing the program, you will be amazed at how far and how long you are able to run. I'd love to hear how the program worked for you.

When do you run?

This depends on your schedule. Are you a morning person, or an evening person? I decided that what worked out for me was running in the morning. For me, that sets the rest of my day. By the time I get home from work I am MUCH too busy and tired to do anything else. In the morning, I literally roll out of bed, change into some old shorts and a t-shirt, and go on my run.

Where do you run?

Are you a gym rat or a homebody? Do you prefer to run inside or outside? This also depends on when you schedule your runs. I used to be a gym rat, but the gyms aren't open when I run. And I realized that I enjoy running outside, so outside it is. Now, I do have a treadmill at home. I purchased it because I knew I wouldn't be able to run outside in the rain. Well, I prefer not to. But if you're into that, by all means, GO FOR IT!

Do I need to buy special running shoes?

This is a tough one for me because I am a minimalist shoe runner. I also run barefoot in my neighborhood. I know! It sounds crazy. But I'm not the only one doing this. I had a friend who ran for years. Well, until the pain was too much to handle. Many shod runners (runners who wear running shoes) experience lower back pain, aching knees and shin splints. I thought running was supposed to be fun, so I didn't want to experience those symptoms. From the beginning I decided that I was not going to wear running shoes, and it's been a blast for me.

Now there are some shod runners who do not experience these aches and pains. They have learned to run in shoes without doing a heel strike. One form is called The Pose Method. Another one is called Chi Running. I have not read either of these books yet, but have read blogs about those who have used these techniques. I did read the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. It does not focus on technique, but is an interesting book about running.

So if you're going to be a shod runner, I suggest you to go to a running specialty store such as Road Runner Sports or Fleet Feet and get properly fitted for shoes. Here's a post from Coyote Running in southern California regarding getting fitted for shoes.

What other gear do I need?

You'll have to play with this one. Some just go out and run without any gear. Running is a pretty minimalist activity. Me? Well I enjoy listening to music, so I went to WalMart and bought an arm band to hold my iPhone, and a set of headphones that wrapped around my ears. I also downloaded Robert Ullrey's podcasts. He tells you when to walk and when to run. It's like having a running coach right there with you.

What if I feel like quitting?

Think of why you started running in the first place. What was your motivation?

To lose those donut rolls off your waist.
To improve your health.
Increase activity in your life.
To build endurance.
To run a marathon.

We invest so much time in other aspects of our lives that we forget to take care of the most important thing we own, our own bodies. What helped me was writing a blog to journal my progress. I told my friends and family about it. I signed up for twitter and dailymile to connect with others. And I read blogs from other runners. I put myself out there so I would be held accountable for my actions. There is a lot of support in the running world. It does get easier as you incorporate running into your life as a daily activity such as brushing your teeth, taking a shower, eating breakfast and so forth.

Running is FUN! It's liberating! It's addicting! Our bodies are awesome machines. And when you run that first race, you'll finally understand what I mean. I still consider myself a newbie runner, but if you have any questions I'll try my best to assist.

For more motivation and tips, visit RunAddicts.

Happy running!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:09:00.000-08:00

This morning I performed my last workout of the year. Can you guess what I did?

Cross train?

No, I did that the night before.

Ride on the recumbent bike?

Nope. Try again.

Run?

YES!

I ended the year with a 15 minute mile run.

And yes, it's still quite slow and not far at all, but I am working on building my endurance. I just got an email stating that Tanya P, a dailymile friend, invited me to a 100 mile challenge for January. Hmm, I just don't know. I just started running again. I'd have to run 3 miles a day, EVERYDAY. That's a 5k EVERYDAY. Yikes! That would totally work for fulfilling 365 workout. Gosh, I can't believe I am actually thinking about it. Not much time left to decide, 5 more hours.

So everyone is talking about goals for this new year. Do you have any?
Mine is to....

stick to running 5k races
increase my speed
increase my distance
continue to include cross training

Basically just continue my path to a healthier me!

Well I'm staying in as usual for New Year's. Yes, I know, pretty boring. But I'm definitely looking forward to what 2011 will bring.
Wish you all a very healthy and prosperous Happy New Year! Be safe out there.

My First Trip To Yosemite Totally Rocked!

2010-12-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

Last month, the boys and I met up with my cousins in Yosemite National Park. I have always wanted to go. During the last couple of summers I kept hearing of more and more family and friends heading to Yosemite. I was a bit jealous. Once my cousin invited me and the boys, I accepted with the quickness.

As we approached, the drive was full of awesome sights. Please excuse my pictures as they do not do them justice. It didn't take much to get me and lil man excited. I couldn't believe I was finally in Yosemite. My toe still ached so I couldn't run, (sniff-sniff). But I did enjoy all the walks. And we did A LOT of walking.

We rented a spot near Curry Village. (just the sound of the name makes me hungry) A nice little spot for our tiny tent. It really is tiny at 7ft x 8ft. But it fits a full size air mattress and 3 duffel bags nicely. We were near 5000 ft in November, so we expected some rain. To help shelter us we put our easy up above our tent. We went to bed early that night. It was right before 7:30pm. It was getting chilly and we snuggled under 5 layers of blankets. In the morning, I woke up to a snowy morning. I had such a huge smile on my face. It was SO beautiful. None of us expected that it would snow at our elevation. It was such a pleasant surprise which enhanced the beauty of the area. We enjoyed every minute of play time in the snow.

But look at what I found?

What type of animal has a ginormous footprint like this?

I really do want to know.

Our camper neighbor across the way said that he saw a bear walk through our campsite around 7:30pm the night before. We had just gotten into our tent to go to sleep. I knew I heard something, and now I know that what I heard was the bear. Yes, Yosemite is full of bears. We have to store all food and anything with a scent (lotion, toothpaste, etc) in these bear lockers. None of these items can be stored in cars or campers either.

Well as it got colder, my cousin decided to rent a tent cabin in Curry Village. And well, we thank him for that because it did get quite cold. I believe it snowed another few inches. The tent cabins were cool. They literally are little cabins with a heater. There is no bathroom or sink, just beds, a chair and a set of shelves. And the bear lockers were right outside.

outside

inside

The one thing that the snow does not allow you to experience in Yosemite is hiking. So we'll have to return during warmer weather to do some hiking. It will be a different experience without the snow. But I think it will be just as fun.

I love living in California. We have the beach, desert, mountains, lakes, and snow all within hours of each other. I am blessed.

My Feet Tell Me What Shoes They Like

2010-12-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, I've always enjoyed walking around barefoot at home. But I would also wear all sorts of different shoes and sandals outside. Some with more cushion than others. Like most people, I really didn't know that less cushion is better for your feet. Many would still disagree with this, but I'm not here to convince you - just to inform you of what I've learned.

It's been about 3 months since I began re-training my foot muscles. When I started the c25k program I knew I didn't want to wear running shoes and it really worked out for me. It was not until I got my Vibrams when I really started to think about minimalist shoes and going barefoot. Since then I've noticed quite a change on which type of footwear my feet prefer. It's as if my feet are talking to me.

If I'm not walking barefoot in the house or outside, then I wear shoes that have thin soles. My favorite pair to wear now are my old Airwalks. They look exactly like chucks, but they're by Airwalk.

Earlier this month I had to get gussied up to attend my brother in law's graduation. It was a pretty formal event, so I had to wear fancy shoes to go with my dress. It had about a 1.5 - 2 inch heel and my feet were screaming. The toes were getting squished. I couldn't wait to get to the table so I could take the shoes off. We had to stand up and sit down throughout the night's ceremony. And of course each time I had to leave the table I had to put my shoes back on. There was a time when my foot wouldn't slip into the shoe anymore. It's as if it told me that it had had it with those darn shoes. Just look at them!

my poor toes were cramped, sorry guys

I feel pain just looking at this heel

I had to force it in. As soon as we got to our hotel at the end of the night, I kicked those darn shoes off and walked around barefoot. My feet thanked me. So yeah, I'm still no Carrie Bradshaw.

The other day I dressed up all in white to participate in my company's Spirit Week. I have a pair of white Easy Spirits that went well with my attire. Unfortunately my foot, the one that had the injured toe, did not like that shoe at all. I'd step a certain way or what not, and it would ache. I felt it several times that day. I couldn't wait to go home to take off my shoes. The next few days I wore my Airwalks and my foot was fine.

my easy spirits

I looked at my inventory of shoes and realized that my feet are only happy wearing 4 particular pairs of shoes.

My Vibram KSO's. My toe shoes. My monkey feet shoes. Whatever you want to call them, they are comfortable.

My Airwalks.

My sandals.

And these Cayden Sport Casual shoes by Predictions. They have quite a thin sole and my feet love 'em. Hop over to your Payless Shoe Source and try them on.

So I think it's time for me to donate my other shoes and get more chucks/Airwalks and Predictions shoes. See you at Payless Shoe Source.

A Christmas Fatty

2010-12-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

Um yeah, that would be me. Tis the season I guess. I didn't go into the Christmas season wanting to be a fatty, it just kinda happened. I'm sure many are experiencing this. Luckily it hasn't been too bad, but I admit to eating more than necessary quite a bit this month. Oopsie. You see, I'm a brown bagger. Meaning that I bring my lunch to work. I rarely go out to lunch. I'm pretty frugal and this way I have a better chance at watching what I eat. So when I go out to eat, I sometimes indulge.

I had lunch with coworkers TWICE in 2 weeks. One was at this neat pizza restaurant called Rocco's. It was good. I inhaled my 10-inch personal pizza. Good thing I got veggies (onions, olives and mushrooms) on a thin crust. The price was awesome too. I'd definitely go back.

The other lunch was at a Thai restaurant several coworkers rave about. Wat Phou Thai. Cool, now I got to try it out. The prices were awesome and the food was good. We had chicken satay and fried tofu as an appetizer. My meal was yummie chicken curry with white rice and egg rolls. I don't eat much rice anymore, let alone white rice. But it just goes hand in hand with curry. I was stuffed. It was good and I'd definitely go back.

Oh, and we can't forget the goodies at work. Orange Nut Bread and cookies. Yum! I mean who can resist these delicious cookies from C-Dog and his wife? Mmmm. It was like a cookie buffet!

Initial thought was to eat a few and bring them home. Um no, that didn't happen. They were just TOO darn good. I ate them all in a span of 2 days. By the second day I was completely sugared out. I actually did bring home 2 cookies for my boys.

Tonight I'm sure there will be awesome food to grub on for Christmas Eve. I can't wait. And tomorrow we're smoking 3 racks of ribs and a tri-tip. My mouth is salivating. Yeah, did I mention that I really like to eat?

But even though I have been eating food that is not normally part of my everyday diet, I am still incorporating the good stuff. And my food portions haven't expanded much. I am drinking lots of water and green tea. I still have eggs every morning, and bring lots of fruit to work for me to snack on and help me stay satisfied. And I am still working out every single day. If you follow me on twitter, dailymile, or my 365 Workout page - you would see this. I've also started running again, so that's definitely going to help.

Like everyone else, it will be back to the grind once the new year begins. Good thing I'm still eating alright, so getting 100% back on track won't be terribly difficult.

So from my family to yours.....

11 Days Back and a 15 Minute Mile

2010-12-22T13:36:00.000-08:00

11 days ago I ran on the treadmill for the first time in almost 2 months. To slowly ease back into running again I was doing a walk/run drill. Each time I would increase my running time by a minute or two, while the walking time stayed at 2 minutes. I was feeling better each time. You can check out my log here.

I can't believe what 6 or so weeks has done to my running form and breathing. My form feels ok, but I am constantly thinking about it. And I am wiped out. Phew! But I am slowly building up my endurance again and the progress I am making feels gr-r-r-r-r-eat.

I am not worried about being speedy at this point. I'm only running at 15 minute per mile pace. I just want to be able to run for a certain amount of time. The goal is 30 minutes. Then from there I can work on getting back to my 12:06 - 12:16 mile pace. Eh, it's not fast at all, but that's where I was before I stubbed my toe.

Today I decided to run again. I ran yesterday so I thought about doing cross training, but the body wanted to run. (listen your body, it knows what it wants) I originally had planned on running for 10min without stopping. After 10min went by, so did another minute and then yet another. I started to get a bit tired, so I stopped at 15 minutes. But it's 15 minutes, yo! I am super happy with this accomplishment. 15 minutes without stopping. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. Could ya tell that I'm happy? Yay me!

But now I've set a base and need to run for more than 15 minutes in my future runs. I'm always looking for motivation to help pump me up. Don't be shy, wish me luck!

Arctic Ease Review

2010-12-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

Shortly after receiving the samples, I had injured my foot. In the dark, I kicked my son's step stool with my 2nd toe. OUCH! It hurt so bad. And why couldn't it have been the big toe? Well the pain spread to TOFP after attempting to run on it. I was sidelined from running for over a month. I tell ya, it was quite convenient to get those samples when I did.

Opening The Package

I actually found it a bit difficult. The perforations did not seem very pronounced. I grabbed a scissor to cut it open.

Appearance

It has a bit of a slimy feeling. It looked like rolled up gauze made from haupia. It was a bit cool to the touch, as it should be. Finding the beginning to unwrap from was not so clear, it looked seamless. I turned and felt for it a few times and finally found a spot. Upon unrolling, both sides looked very similar. But the further you unroll, eventually you see the logo which is not the sticky side. Cut what you need and put the rest back in the resealable bag.

How To Use It
Per the directions, you 1) must make sure the area you want to cover is clean. Placing a piece on the area to be iced does not always work the best. But that depends on what area you need to ice. 2) Wrap it around so it fits nicely and is held together. I took both hands and cupped the area I wrapped. I put pressure and held it there for about 45 seconds. It will still feel loose, but after about 5 minutes or so, it will begin to dry.

How It Felt
It's not freezing cold, but does feel good and provides enough of a chill to get the job done. I kept my foot as still as possible. To move I either hopped on the other foot, or took a few soft steps on my heel. And then it hit me why this was a great product. It allows you to be mobile! I've read it on the website time and time again, but actually experiencing it made a world of difference.

Other times I had to ice, I had to sit and fiddle around with the ice pack until I found the perfect placement for it. In addition to that, I had to wrap the ice pack in a towel to avoid freezing my skin. With Arctic Ease, you just wrap it, put pressure on it and then you're free to move around.

I am thoroughly impressed and will be telling my friends and family about this product. If you haven't tried it yet, I suggest you should. You can find them in several retailers. Or you can visit their website for more info.

www.ArcticEase.com

If you have tried this product, I'd love to hear about your experience with it. Please comment.

Trader Joe's Kettle Corn and Spiced Cider - Me Likey

2010-12-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

I do about 95% of my shopping at Trader Joe's. It's the closest health food grocer in my area, and I still drive a good 8 miles each way. But it's worth it to me. I have my staples that I buy there each week, but if you suggest I try something then I'm up for it. Bring it on!

Earlier this week Di over at The Treadmill Diaries mentioned the Trader Joe's Spiced Cider. I've seen it all the time since I always grab their Cranberry Apple juice. And as you read in the comments, I said I'd give it a whirl. Well last week the boys came grocery shopping with me. (it's a rare event as they both grab items and toss them in the cart) Hubby actually picked up the Spiced Cider. Later that night we tried it.

Son: mmmm, this tastes like apples.

Hubby: It's good.

Me: It tastes like apple pie.

And with that said, I think we found a winner. Although it does not have any added sugar, it is quite sweet so I can't drink too much in one sitting. Yes, I'm one of those people that dilute my juice. What?! I love my water and don't require a lot of flavor in my drinks. Well, smoothies are a different story.

As I'm always looking to mix up our snacks, I finally decided to grab a 6 pack of Lite Kettle Corn. Me and my son LOVE kettle corn. Not the best snack, but it tastes super delish. I pack our lunches because it's cheaper and healthier. I opened up a bag for snack today. And let me tell you, this stuff was YUMM-O! It tasted just as good as the bags sold at carnivals. And at about 50 cents a bag, you can't go wrong.

Ding Ding Ding - we have another winner!

A Runner Once Again - YES!

2010-12-12T10:59:00.000-08:00

I RAN YESTERDAY!
I did. I really truly did. Yippie! It was awesome. I felt such a sense of accomplishment. I strapped on my Vibrams and hopped on the treadmill.

walked for 2min
RAN for 5min
walked for 2min
RAN for 3min
walked for 5min

Yes, I know. I only ran for 8 minutes total. But I did it! Boy of boy. It has been a super long several weeks I tell ya. I went through so many different emotions during this time.

Envious - I was envious of those who were running longer and faster.

Frustrated - Frustrated at the fact that it was taking so long for a stubbed toe to heal.

Mad - Mad at myself for being so clumsy and getting hurt in the first place.

Annoyed - Annoyed at the fact that I had to miss out on my first Turkey Trot.

Depressed - Due to that fact that I would have to start all over and build up my endurance again.

Sad - Sad because something that made me happy was missing in my life.

Who knew that running would make me feel like this? It was quite a roller coaster of emotions. Some days were better than others. But I'm glad to FINALLY be over this ride. I am back! And I can't wait to start logging the miles again.

During this time, I learned....

- how to deal with my emotions
- that I needed to find a way to see things in a positive light
- be patient
- how important it is to cross train
- WATCH WHERE I'M GOING !!!!

I am going to take it slow. (a lesson that is constantly being thrown in my face) It's going to be hard, but it's a price I must pay. In a few months I'll be up to my old speed and distance, which wasn't that impressive to start with, but was for me personally. I am now in a place where I can start thinking about runs I want to do next year. Maybe even starting off with a run with my friend Sherry.

My Vibram Buddy

2010-12-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

Status On My Foot
So it's been a week since I started walking on the treadmill. I'd push it a bit doing a faster walk with a form that's similar to how I run. I actually jogged for a few minutes this last go round. The foot itself feels fine, but the toe feels a tab bit weird as I lift it off the ground (treadmill). Still has a bit of soreness which is frustrating. But still, I'm walking barefoot as much as possible and doing barefoot activities to keep my foot muscles strong. While in the parking garage in my Airwalks, or even barefoot at home, I'll do a bit of sprint here and there. My body is still aching to run. I'll continue to walk on the treadmill and evaluate the foot again this week. Stay tuned!

Vibram Buddies!
Next month, I plan to visit my good friend Sherry who has returned to running thanks to her new Vibrams. She stopped running because she was experiencing all those awful aches and pains that shod runners face. To stay active she would walk. But walking was boring for her, and she would end up running. And of course, the cycle continues and she would be in pain again. Sherry started doing more hikes locally and during her travels abroad.

I am hoping that during my visit, our Vibrams can meet. LOL Do you have a Vibram buddy? I am hoping to go for a run with her. That is yet to be determined. Stay tuned!

My First Race Next Year?
I haven't really thought about next year's races. I have been reading that many are getting excited and signing up for them. But with somewhat of a bum toe, I didn't want to depress myself. There are several races around Lake Merritt, and I asked Sherry if she wanted to one of the 5k's with me. She gladly agreed, and that's the only race I've really thought about so far.

It will be fun to run with a friend. I won't be going for PR, but for fun. I've never ran with anyone before. I do all my runs solo. I think it's because I'm slow. That's one reason why I haven't checked into any running groups in my area. Heck, I have no idea if I'd be able to talk when I run. (another reason) I guess I'll be finding out in a few months. Stay tuned!

Do you prefer to run with others, or alone?
Do you try to break your PR with every race? Or just run for the heck of running?

Thomas Jane - A Minimalist Runner

2010-12-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Punisher. I wrote a post about his interview on the George Lopez Show. I've noticed that he pronounces the toe shoes wrong. He says 'vigh-brams' instead of 'veebrams'. Just something that stuck out to me.

If not wearing his monkey shoes, he prefers walking in his bare feet.

Pumping gas in bare feet.

Save darfur launch party.

Well here are some other links of him and his Vibrams.

wearing Vibrams

He gets crap for not wearing shoes. (contains video)

Playing guitar barefoot.

Wearing Vibrams at 'Hung' premiere.

Foot Test Went Well

2010-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday as I rolled out of bed I noticed that there was no pain in my foot. Normally I'd feel a bit of pain as I put some pressure on it. But not on Saturday. That was a good sign and lifted my spirits. Yay!

On Sunday, the same thing happened - no pain. Yay!

Come Monday, again no pain. Yay!

So today I decided to walk on the treadmill and see how the foot felt. I've been walking around barefoot in the house, walking in my chucks and sandals outside, so I hope I maintained some of my foot muscles during this recovery period.

I just walked slow and it felt alright. After a few minutes I could feel a tiny bit of soreness so I didn't push it. I continued to walk. Then I started to lift my feet to simulate my running form. Gosh, it was hard to hold back and not run.

Got off the treadmill and did some arm workouts with weights. I'll continue with the 10min walks for the rest of the week to evaluate my foot. Then maybe speed up the walking and get into running. But the rule that keeps kicking me in the 'B' double-O 'T' 'Y' is something I must listen to now.

Start s-l-o-w-l-y.

Oh man, it's been a long time. What? 3 weeks now? Yikes! Yeah, I DO NOT want to go through that again.

At night I am super cautious about walking slow. Many times I do turn on the light because I have this fear of stubbing my toe again. I miss running and I want to get back into the groove. While on the treadmill I can tell that my calves missed their workout too.

I did do a tiny run in my chucks this morning as I was dropping my son off at school. Hey, he made me chase him. What's a mom to do? It felt alright. I considered the act as a baby step.

10 Year Cancer Survivor - Join the fight!

2010-11-28T00:13:00.000-08:00

Last month, October, was Cancer Awareness month. I celebrated LIVESTRONG Day by wearing my yellow LIVESTRONG shirt during my first 5k. I also wear my yellow band everyday. I donated to Lee Denim Day at work. I also promoted #beatcancer on Facebook and Twitter. And Team Lagade walked in the ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in San Francisco. I do what I can to help spread the word. Not only in November, but throughout the year.

me before the walk

I H8 CANCER!

I really do. So many people I know are affected by this horrible dreadful disease. So may people I know, know others who are dealing with it. My cousin's friend's husband just passed recently. Why? My father in law lost a toe due to an infection that wouldn't heal. Why? Why does this have to happen?
Unfortunately, your medical professionals won't help you prevent this. Yes, the check ups are a good starting point, and they'll tell you eat right and exercise, but that's all they'll do for you. DON'T just count on your medical professionals. They see a great number of patients daily, so they can't keep track of you or check up on you unless you're in a hospital bed.

I spoke to my primary physician about my concern about getting breast cancer.

Why?

My cousin had it, along with brain cancer, and she passed this year. RIP coz. She was in her early 40's. My aunt had breast cancer and is now a 10 year survivor. How remarkable is that?! Woot! Woot! I just had to share this info and express how I feel about this disease.

Susan G. Komen Walk 2009

Susan G. Komen Walk 2010

So what are the chances I'd get it? According to my doctor, she wants to start breast exams when I'm 35. Ok, cool. She told me about the BRCAI and BRCAII tests. Ok, cool. Let's do it! Doesn't it make sense to take the tests to see if I'm a carrier of a breast cancer gene? You know...try to be preventative here. But get this, if I am a carrier then it's noted in my medical record. AND if I do get cancer, guess what!

I would be UNINSURABLE.

Yup! Can you freakin believe it?! UNINSURABLE. Say it with me...

un-in-sur-able

Yeah, so I'd pretty much get a big freakin EFF YOU from the insurance companies. What would you do at this point? Give it a think. It's pretty hard to swallow. Because of this, I opted not to take the tests and do all I can to be preventative.

Note: I have heard that there was an act that would make the insurance companies cover you even if you are a carrier. If it's true, it would be a great start. If you have info, please contact me.

YOU need to take care of yourself. I've said it before and I'll say it again - YOUR body is YOUR temple. Yes, eat right and exercise. Include cancer fighting food in your diet. Get enough sleep. One of the best sources of info is by Dr. David Servan-Scheriber. He had brain cancer. After conventional treatment, he beat it. But his doctors told him to go back to living his life as he did before cancer. You know what happened? His cancer came back. You see, even doctors don't have all the answers, so you must do your own research. If you've gone to his website and want more info, he has written a book called, Anticancer: A New Way of Life.

So what am I doing to be preventative?

I exercise daily. I keep moving.
I buy mostly organic food.
I eat lots of fruits and vegetables daily.
I limit red meat.
I eat clean.
I limit intake of high fructose corn syrup.
I do not smoke.
I do not drink alcohol.
I drink lots of water and green tea.
I even limit items I apply to my skin in order to be a natural as possible.
I examine my body.
I try to get 7 hours of sleep a night. (this one is difficult for me)

As you can tell, I'm very passionate about spreading the word about cancer. Life is WAY too short and precious. I was a teen once, and thought I was invincible. Even in my 20's, I figured I had lots of time. But in all honesty, you don't. More and more kids are dying of cancer. More and more adults are dying of cancer. It does not discriminate.

What are you doing to prevent cancer?

How are you spreading the word?

Join the fight. Lets #beatcancer!

Turkey Lunch, Dinner and the Aftermath

2010-11-26T16:05:00.000-08:00

Hello to all the full bellied shoppers out there. I am avoiding Black Friday by hiding out at home. I'm not one for standing in long lines and crowds. But most of all, I'm not one for spending money as I am quite frugal.

How was everyone's Thanksgiving yesterday?

Did you over eat?

Did you fit in a workout?

Did you watch some football?

Thanksgiving Lunch
As mentioned, the hubby did quite a bit of smoking yesterday. He slept a few hours and then got up at midnight to place the turkeys in the smoker. We got up at 6:30am and he put the tri-tip and ribs in the other smoker. By 1:30 it was time to get our grub on.

The turkeys came out quite moist, the ribs were falling off the bone and the tri-tip was full of flavor. The sweet potato casserole was as yummie as always. The sweet potato pie from my mother in law got rave reviews as always. The dressing was a hit. And my dripping-less gravy turned out alright. I used the broth in place of water which I think really helped with the flavor. I'd say it was a success.

fall of the bone ribs

moist smoked turkey

flavorful tri-tip

group pic

my lunch plate

Thanksgiving Dinner
As the hubby took the Coasties back to base, me and the little man headed over to my grandparents for a small Turkey Dinner. It had a bit of a filipino twist to it since we had 2 types of rice, stir-fry and lumpia. Mmmmm.

During our dinner conversation, the topic of fitness came up. My son was showing my dad pics from my iPhone4. (yes, this gadget is my 5th limb) It started with a pic from my first 5k. Then a pic of me in my Vibrams in Yosemite. Yeah, my dad is one of those people who does not want to feel anything but cushion under his feet. And, like many, question why I prefer to feel the ground.

I am happy to say that I did squeeze in a bike workout in the morning, and did not over eat. As soon as I felt full, I quit eating. I'm definitely listening to my body more nowadays.

Unfortunately I came down with a cold. Yes, I blame the hubby as most wives normally do. It started to progress throughout the night and I went to bed early on a vacation day. Ugh. I tried to stay in bed as long as possible, but I was home alone with the little man and I knew I couldn't leave him alone for long. Although he's pretty self sufficient, he's just 4. I plan to hop on the recumbent in a bit here, and spend the rest of the day nursing this cold.

I'd love to hear about your holiday feasts.
My one friend Andy had 35 people over. Yikes! Brave man.
My sis and her boyfriend headed to Sin City.
One of my cousins had a quaint dinner for two.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T23:54:00.000-08:00

In a few minutes, it will officially be turkey day. I am sad to say that I won't be waking up early to attend the Turkey Trot 5k I signed up for. I am super bummed about that. But in order for me to run again, I must continue to let my foot heal. This experience has taught me patience, and I can't wait to reap the rewards.

On a plus side, Turkey Day will be quite eventful for me this year. We are hosting a lunch at home since my brother in law is in California for Coast Guard training. We're smoking some ribs to feast on, as well as smoking TWO turkeys. I am bringing the other turkey to my grandparents for a Thanksgiving dinner.

DOUBLE the turkeys

2 different homes

TWO gatherings

I have never had a smoked turkey before, so this will definitely be interesting. Dan will be waking up in a few in order to start smoking them. About 30 to 40 minutes per pound. And we have a 18lb and a 19lb turkey. I am SUPER excited to try them out. Only downside is that I won't have the drippings for my gravy. I hope the broth from the neck provides enough flavor.

I know this will be a cheat day for most people. It may even be a cheat weekend. No matter what happens, be sure to get back to the grind come Monday. We've worked SO hard in our fitness journey, that we must continue on that path. So have your dark meat, gravy, potatoes and pie...but just remember that this is just a time to cheat and not to revert to our old unhealthy eating habits.

What's Thanksgiving Day without a word of thanks?

I would like to give thanks to those who motivate me. I read your comments on this blog and on twitter. It helps me stay focused on my goal to a healthier me.

I am thankful for my supportive husband. He doesn't understand the whole barefoot thing, but seems to accept it.

I am thankful for my son who understands that running and exercising is important to me.

I am thankful for the Lord. He has blessed me with this awesome experience we call life.

What are you thankful for?

And how did your turkey come out?

The Barefoot Running Book second edition Book Review

2010-11-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to read this book for quite some time, and now there's a second edition. Where have I been? Thanks to Jason, I got the opportunity to read it. I spent my lunch hours at work reading this book. I have a cubical job which does not help with being active during the workday. But reading Jason's book kept me in the running spirits. Yay!

physical aspects of the book
Although the cover of the book is in color, the rest of it is in black and white. I felt that eliminating the use of color in the pictures kept a minimalist tone throughout the book. I believe that minimalism and barefeet definitely go hand in hand.

what I liked about the book
I enjoyed reading about his screw-ups when it came to barefoot running because I think many of us experience them and get disappointed. But it really is a learning experience. Although I did my research, I still pushed myself too hard and ended up with TOFP. There is WAY more to it than just taking your shoes off and going for a run as you normally would. Jason provides a multitude of tips on how to get started right. But the detailed descriptions really helped reveal whether my technique was correct or not. His experiences gave the book a human voice. It definitely was not a scientific article which made the reading enjoyable.

Something else that reminded me that this book was written by a human were the spelling mistakes. OH MY GOSH! Those stuck out like a sore thumb. I would find myself focusing on that misspelled word. I asked myself if this book was even reviewed before being published. Having experience as a software tester and a document reviewer, they caught my eye immediately. After the third misspelling, I did find it humorous and reminded myself that that was just Jason's humor. (which he did mention the book would be full of)

Jason added muscle to this book by including articles from doctors, professors, and other barefoot runners. He definitely bled the social theme of his websites into his book. He doesn't take credit for all of the information, but pulls in resources in addition to his knowledge.

who should read this book
If you want to read about history and a story about barefoot running then you should read Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. I've read it and it is a good read. But if you're ready to begin your journey to becoming a barefoot runner, then get a copy of THIS book. It will provide you with the right steps to running free.

Jake Gyllenhaal - A Minimalist Runner

2010-11-18T23:13:00.000-08:00

I just had to share. It's a pretty entertaining video.

Gyllenhaal likes running barefoot. Read the article here.

Yes, This Is Still A Running Blog

2010-11-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been posting my runs lately. Well if you've been reading, that's because I haven't been running at all. It's been over a week since my last (and very short) run. It's annoying and I REALLY miss it. I'll have to start off slowly once again, but I think come after Thanksgiving I'll be able to start.

Current status of my foot is that it's better, but not in running condition. For some reason I have some TOFP on the same foot. The toe no longer seems to be an issue, but now TOFP. Gosh, will this never end? I know Lindsay Knake knows what I'm feeling. Hey, it's happens. I really think it's some delayed onset from running on it that Saturday. I was trying to land on different parts of my foot in order to keep running.

Right now I feel a little squishiness on top here, so something is a bit irritated and swollen. Similar to the feeling I got when I had TOFP on my right foot a couple of months ago. So all I can do is wait it out.

I have been trying to keep my legs in shape by biking outside and using the recumbent bike at home. I keep my foot muscles strong by walking barefoot inside the house, and picking stuff up with my toes. To remain active I am doing cross training. Hopefully all of this will make my transition back to running smooth.

But what's disappointing is that it looks like I won't be able to run my last 5k of the year. It would have been a fun one too. A Turkey Trot. I was even going to dress up.

Has anyone had to miss a race due to an injury? Please share because I'm feeling pretty down about ending my racing calendar this year by not showing up to a race.

My Weekend

2010-11-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

I had a crazy busy weekend. But then again, most of my weekends are pretty crazy busy even if they're just filled with chores.

Saturday
Went out for a nice and easy bike ride in my neighborhood. It was pretty chilly. I was in shorts and a shirt and my Vibrams. It was nice to get out of the house for some activity. Foot is feeling better. It actually feels like it did last Saturday before I ran on it. Yeah, um, I'm not running on it now. I'll let it continue to heal.
Cleaned like crazy. Shopped for some stuff for Thanksgiving and our Yosemite trip. Got us an 18.31lb turkey at Safeway for $9. Turkey Day is at my place this year again. My brother in law is in town doing some training at the USCG station in Petaluma.

Sunday
Rode the recumbent bike for a bit. Yeah, I focused on legs this weekend.

Headed out to Petaluma to visit with my brother in law. Went out to eat at Black Bear Diner and went to a couple of sports stores. And look who I found at Sports Authority?

I had to take a pic because I was with both of my sister in law's men that day. Paulie and her hubby. She got a kick out of it. I also bought a stability ball....finally.

Then we headed to the beach near Bodega Bay. Hiked down a muddy path to the beach. It was super nice out. It didn't feel like November. Even the fog decided to take a break and let us enjoy the day. We hiked back up and realized there was an easier path which wasn't muddy. Oh well. My foot was feeling pretty good. I have been putting more weight on it and it hasn't complained....at least not yet.

After dropping off my brother in law we went to Big-5 to buy some gloves. Apparently it's going to snow in Yosemite this weekend. Yeah, it's going to be rainy/snowy and cold for just the 4 days we're going to be there. What can I say? We're just lucky like that I suppose. While we were there, I saw this ginormous camping chair. It was so funny that I had to take a pic.

I also bought my pull up bar. YES! I can't wait until I can actually do a pull up. My gym is coming together nicely.

I'd say this was a pretty productive weekend. But I've been so tired lately and not getting my 8hrs of sleep. (I know, so bad. And I really enjoy my sleep.) I went to bed at 7:15pm. I got a good 10hrs of sleep that was well needed. I wish I could've stayed in bed longer, but duty calls.

I Joined The 365 Workout Crew, and You Should Too

2010-11-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

Yes and today I logged in my third day. So far, so good.

So what is this 365 Workout thing?

Are you on twitter? Do you see #365workout from time to time? Well they're part of the crew. Or as Daman Lovett would say, 'Da Crew'. Read about how he came up of with this program.

So far I am enjoying it! It helps keep me motivated to do some sort of activity each day. Even on my rest days, I do a little something to keep up my activity level. And like Daman, I hope it just becomes second nature to me.

I find it easy to incorporate because I have the freedom to choose what I want to do. I could run, do a strength program, bike, hike, kayak, climb steps...anything I want. This way you can easily do different workouts so you don't get bored with the same routine. Keep it FUN and you're more likely to stick to your fitness goals.

Come aboard and join 'Da Crew'.

Splint, Cross Training and Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last Night
As soon as I got home I took off my shoes as usual. I was feeling a bit warm so I changed into some shorts and a tank top and walked around barefoot. Mind you, we have pergo and tile at home. My hubby thought I was crazy walking barefoot and dressed in summer clothes since it was cold. It was cold, but it felt great for me.

While at work I continued to prop my leg up. I even massaged my foot using my itty bitty basketball which is the size of a golf ball. I was hoping that the cushioning from my shoes would help, but as I walked around barefoot it felt SO much better than walking in shoes. Darn, did I screw up this healing process? I searched online and found a couple of videos stating that the foot/toes should stay flat. And well, walking barefoot at home, my feet do stay pretty flat.

I found another video of woman who broke her pinky toe hitting it against the bricks surrounding her fireplace. She said there is no need to go see a doctor since they won't do anything anyway. Maybe prescribe some drug for pain, which I personally hate. So she just taped her pinky toe to the toe next to it and just let it heal on its own. Other articles mentioned the same method.

Well my toe isn't broken.

I can move and wiggle it.
I can pick things up with my toes.
And I've felt it and nothing seems out of place.

I think it's still bruised. So I figured I'd try the taping to the next toe and see how that works today. So here it is, taped up with a cardboard splint underneath. Hey, I figured I'd try anything at this point.

This Morning

I woke up early, at 5am. I got on our recumbent bike, picked a workout and did it. I biked 3.5miles. Yesterday I read on John Romaniello's blog that using a recumbent bike can help firm up the glutes. Sweet! I'll let you know if it works for me.

Then I did the last intro phase Turbulence Training workout. Again I incorporated a tip from John Romaniello's blog. He said that during squats, go WIDER. Spread the legs wider. Makes sense, so I did just that while doing prisoner squats. Oh yeah, now I'm psyched to start on the beginner workout this weekend.

And lastly, Happy Veteran's Day! Please take a moment and thank those who have served, or are currently serving. On my mother's side, someone is/was enlisted in every branch of the military except for the Coast Guard. That was complete when I married Dan, as his brother, and his brother's wife have served for 20 years now. And their kids are also in the service. On my father's side, my uncle has served and currently my cousin is serving. I thank them all.

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!!!

When Sidelined, Cross Train!

2010-11-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

C-Dog said I was slacking on my blog posts. Hey, I gotta listen to my readers and motivators....so here ya go.

I have been RICE'ing my foot throughout this ordeal. Yeah, I'm still disappointed. I'm going crazy not being able to run. (I've been reading RunMeter updates from C-Dog and Andrew on their runs. So jealous!) And when I can start running again, I'll have to start off slow ONCE again. It's a bit frustrating, but I'm sure I'm not the only runner who has gone through this. Grrrr.... this is NOT looking good for my last 5k of the year. As of now, I'm not even thinking of beating my already slow PR.

Today I noticed that my foot's feeling a little better as I walk on it. I'm receiving this as a sign of progress and healing. Normally having a cube job (sitting in a cubical for 8hrs a day) makes it difficult to stay in shape. As I sit I imagine, and I swear I can feel, my booty expanding. Not the bodacious J-Lo or Kim Kardashian expansion, but like a wide load on a semi. But during these times of recovery, I can prop up my foot for most of the day.

I am glad I started Turbulence Training because it is helping me stay sane while I'm sidelined. I feel great after a workout. I started with the introductory workout which is aimed for those who haven't exercised in a while, or EVER. I could have started with the beginner workout, but figured I would ease into it slowly. Starting slow. Just like barefoot running, you need to start slow. I think the whole 'starting slow' thing is finally clicking with me. Plus, this intro phase of my cross training only lasts for 2wks for a total of 4 sessions. The rest of the time you are doing light activity. For me, it's running...when I could.

And since I'm doing the short intro phase, I didn't feel the need to announce or log them on here. I logged my c25k runs because each run was a little different and I was completely new to running. I'm not sure how different these workouts will be, so I'll be updating my progress sporadically. But if you want to know what workout I've done, you could always check out my status on dailymile (feel free to add me as a friend) or follow me on twitter, as I usually announce my completed workouts on there.

A Missing Workout Revealed

2010-11-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

Today was a day full of joy and learning. I met up with a good friend for breakfast. She has a very demanding job so it's really difficult for us to get together. Sadly our visits are too few and far between, but always enjoyable. Since I haven't seen her in a while due to working crazy hours, she doesn't have time to read my blog, let alone respond to emails. It's hard on a friendship, but we make do with what we have. I finally saw her smiling face sitting at a booth, so I walked on over. And then it happened.

Highlight #1

Friend: "Did you lose some weight?"

Me: "Can you really tell? I see myself everyday and am not sure what others see."

Friend: "Yes, you look slimmer." (motioning with her hands)

I was extremely delighted when she noticed the fruits of my labor. It was a true and genuine compliment which made my day. I mean, someone could have said anything rude to me today and I would have brushed it off because of this very compliment.

This compliment couldn't have come at a better time. Here I am disappointed because I can't run due to stubbing my toe. And then today I was not able to ride my bike due to the rain. I guess you can say I was in a funk. But the simple words from a dear friend made it all better. It felt like my mom was kissing my boo-boo after a fall.

We caught up during our yummie breakfast at Country Waffles. The California Omelet is my favorite. When we finished our meal I accompanied her to her church. I am a saved Christian, but have not found a church in my area where I felt comfortable. Nothing has called out to me. Sadly I have drifted away from His word. The guilt began to set in as I walked into church. We sat, and the service started.

I enjoyed the simplicity of the church. I'm not a huge fan of mega-churches, and this definitely was not one. The congregation was small, people wore casual clothing, and the pastor was FUNNY! It was actually easy to pay attention to his sermon since he was full of energy. He didn't just stand there like many other pastors or priests I've witnessed. Having been to many different churches, this was actually one of the best. I felt comfortable there, and it was a pleasant experience.

Highlight #2
As I sat there listening to the pastor, it dawned on me. I am on this journey to a healthier me.

(1) I'm eating healthier and watching my portion control which takes care of my internal organs and assists muscles.

(2) I'm staying active by running and cross training which takes care of my muscles and helps organs do what they need to do.

But there is another part of me that I'm not taking care of - my soul, my spirituality. I have been so busy taking care of other aspects in my life that I have neglected His word. I guess you can say that I fit it in when I have the time. I need to make the time, but I have lost sight of that. I about teared as I made that revelation since the guilt sunk in even deeper. It's not going to be an overnight transition to include more of this workout into my already active life, but it's important for me and will be done.

Who knew that having breakfast with a friend would make me feel this good, and help reveal what was missing in my life?
Her beauty not only resides on the outside, but more importantly, on the inside - her heart and soul. Which, in my eyes, makes her a true angel.

Thank you dear friend.

What To Do When You Can't Run?

2010-11-06T22:27:00.000-07:00

Ah, the weekend is finally here. When I was younger I looked forward to the weekend to party. (I enjoy rockin' out to Loverboy's 80's hit Working For The Weekend) I look forward to the weekend because I have more time to run, workout, and focus on my health. Seeing that I have my last 5k coming up on Thanksgiving morning I was really looking forward to upping my distance by running longer. But as some of you have read on twitter, that wasn't a go today.

Why?
I go to bed later than the rest of my household. Before I go to bed I made it a habit to check on my son and plant a little kiss on his forehead. I did just that one night, but as I was walking out of his room I stubbed my 2nd and/or 3rd toe on his step stool. I hit it quite hard and it stung for a bit.

Man, that hurt like a ___________ (you fill in the blank)!

I did a quick 10min run on the treadmill on Thursday night, and after the run it did feel a little sore. I wore shoes to work on Friday hoping that some cushioning would help it feel better.

I woke up this morning eager to run. I still felt a little soreness in my foot, but it wasn't bad. I warmed up with some drills at home, slipped on my Vibrams, and took off. There was a bit of dull pain so I continued on. Then the pain started to spread so I tried shifting my weight off the foot as much as possible, and even tried landing more on either side of the foot. Yeah, neither position was working. Darn it! I learned that instead of pushing through the pain I had to stop before it got worse. I ran for about .92 of a mile, then hobbled home with a huge frown of disappointment.

Have you ever gone biking barefoot?

I was super bummed, but knew I couldn't go any further. After sulking, I decided I would continue with my workout plans today and switched gears to strength training. That did help me feel better. And since I didn't get to run much I went on a bike ride with the fam. That gave me the idea of riding tomorrow since I won't be able to run. I'll still get some activity in, which is better than moping around feeling bad about not running.

So for a good portion of the day I've been RICE'ing my foot. I went grocery shopping and my foot wasn't happy. I was so happy to get home, wrap up my foot with some Arctic Ease and elevate it. Let the RICE'ing continue.

ah - much better now.

What is RICE?
Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation
Read more about it here.

Good thing is that I can actually walk on it. But I am still a bit disappointed that I can't run. Anyone up for biking with me tomorrow?

Note to self: Be sure there is a safe path to walk through at night.

Is It Possible To Be ADDICTED To Fruit?

2010-11-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Do you think it's possible to be addicted to fruit? Because I think I am. Please don't call FA on me (fruit-a-holics anonymous). If you know me, then you know I really ENJOY the act of eating.

Chow Mein

Lumpia

Tri-Tip

Butter Chicken

Adobo

Baby Back Ribs

Pasta

Papusas

Crab Legs

Shrimp

French Toast

Vegetables

Corn Bread

.....ok, I'm getting hungry listing all this food. It could be a buffet, or a single serving sit down meal, a drive thru, or what have you....and I can easily over eat to the point where it looks like an alien plans to come out of my stomach like on that tv show V. And even after being completely stuffed, I won't feel complete without some fruit. I'll have a piece of fruit less than an hour of that meal.

I love my fruit. I can say that I even CRAVE fruit. Between 1/4 and 1/3 of our weekly grocery list is fruit. Me and my family eat several servings daily. I pack it in our lunches, and it makes a great dessert after dinner. I love all sorts of fruit. Right now I've been munching on a lot of persimmons because my grandparents have this ginormous tree in their backyard. My hubby really enjoys his Granny Smith apples. My son enjoys bananas. I feel so blessed that my family enjoys fruit. Maybe not to the extent that I do, but enough to assist in healthy living.

Did you have your fruit today?

Running the LA Marathon Barefoot

2010-11-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Not me, this guy in the video. Heck, I'll be in the 5k world until I can run faster and further. Nothing wrong with that since I'm having fun and getting fit.

Just thought I'd share the video.

I Officially Started Cross Training

2010-11-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed weight training, but learned how to run this year because my endurance SUCKED big time. Now I enjoy running. I'm not trying to the be the fastest person, (I am quite s-s-s-s-low) but I want to have fun with it. Plus, I find it a good way to reach my goal of reducing body fat and creating lean muscle. My clothes fit better now! (pats self on back)

You've probably heard the term, but what is cross training?
Per the Encarta(R) World English Dictionary

NOUN
cross train-ing
training in different sports: fitness training in different sports, e.g. running and weightlifting, usually undertake to enhance performance in one of these sports.

I have been following the Turbulence Training creator Craig Ballantyne on twitter, reading his newsletters, visiting his site and watching his videos on youtube. I really like his attitude, techniques and simplicity of his workouts. I was first introduced to interval traing with one of his videos. It just made sense. I don't want to spend 2hrs working out as I have in the past. I used to to enjoy going to the gym, but that's before I had a family. Now I want to be home more. As you have probably read on here, I am slowly putting my home gym together. And with Craig, it doesn't take much at all. You can still get fit in a small space.

Having watched Craig's youtube videos and such, I started doing some of the workouts. But I never stuck to the workouts. I would do planks here and there, do some bicep curls every now and then, bird dogs on occassion...blah blah blah. I realized that I needed some structure - a plan to follow. And I think that's why Couch-to-5k worked really well for me. There was a detailed schedule to follow.

Finally I decided enough was enough. I needed to start cross training in order to work on the rest of my body, and possibly improve my running. I've been reading that a strong core helps runners. Running does work your whole body, but it works some parts more than others. My other body parts are feeling a bit jealous. I purchased Turbulence Training and started the program early this morning.

This morning's workout went as follows....

Treadmill:
(barefoot of course, duh)

2min walk

10min run (2% incline @ 3.5)

2min walk

Then I jumped into the first workout.

It felt GREAT to do a full body workout. Gosh, what the heck took me so long? Scheduling. I already run 3 times a week.

How the heck was I going to fit in another 3 days of working out?

Well I decided that I had to mesh my running with my workouts. First I'll run and then I'll do my Turbulence Training workouts right after. That's what I kind of did when I was younger. Cardio first, then weight training after. So far that's the plan Stan (gosh I've been watching too much Spongebob with my son)

So there you have it. This is day1 of my cross training journey. I know there are other cross training programs, but so far this is the program that called out to me.

Do you cross train?

If so, what program are you using?

Do you recommend your current program?

Did Someone Say GIANTS and World Series?!

2010-11-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'll be frank. I'm not a baseball fan. Been to a couple of games, watched a little on TV, but don't have a team I root for. Unless you're at a game, or playing the game, I find baseball quite boring. Yes, I know some of you are boo'ing me right now. Plus, I actually don't even have to watch the game. My friends and relatives give me a play by play on Facebook. They literally do!

I am a Bay Area gal and yes, the San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series. But I'm not gonna say I'm a fan just because of that. I still find baseball boring. But what I do love is the energy of the fans. I think that's the part of sports I enjoy most. The Bay is celebrating and lovin' life right now. I think even some stayed up late last night and decided to take the day off. There were more empty spots in the parking garage this morning. I'm afraid to check out #BayArea on twitter today. I may not be able to get through all of it during my lunch break - ha!

So congrats to the Giants. And if honor of all the supporters, my son dressed up in his jersey today.

Am I Starting Over?

2010-11-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

If you've been following my runs lately (via this blog or dailymile) you've probably noticed that I haven't been running as far, or as fast. My runs lately have been under 2miles and under 20min.

So what the heck is going on?

Am I slacking?

Have I just lost the urge to run?

Am I injured?

No, no, and no.

There is a reason for this.

In previous posts I've mentioned having some TOFP (top of foot pain) which is common when one transitions from shoes to no shoes, or minimalist shoes. Since I was running in my sandals I thought I was ready for Vibrams. The first time I put them on they felt so good that I just kept running. I realized that I pushed myself too much, too early.

I've been reading that one should take it slow, which is what I didn't do. So I am kind of starting all over. My runs are shorter and I am slowly increasing my distance and time. I have been incorporating barefoot running as much as possible, and running in my Vibrams when I'm not barefoot. I am running on both the treadmill and the asphalt outside.

It's a totally different feeling on asphalt. You really have to pay attention and sometimes you have to adjust where you're going to place your feet. I think running outside is more of a workout due to the different terrain, surprising little obstacles in your path from pebbles to CARS that don't see you, etc etc etc - you get the drift.

So yes, the distance I run will gradually get back up to 5k. Slowly. I want to do this right this time around. Who knows, I may even run my first barefoot 5k next year. You'll have to continue reading to check out my progress.

HaPpY hAlLoWeEn

2010-10-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween time once again. We had a pot luck at work and I decided to dress up at the last minute. I blame my buddy Winnie for that, ha. But I'm glad I did. It just made the day more fun. And it was a perfect excuse for me to wear my Vibrams! Some pointed at them. Some told me they really liked them. While some told me that they were just plain weird. Hey, can't win 'em all.

One gal started laughing as soon as she saw my toe shoes. Later I was able to decipher (she was really laughing hysterically), that her hubby owned a pair of toe socks. Now I wonder if her hubby will get a pair.

Back to Halloween. I didn't have time to shop, nor did I really have the funds to splurge on a last minute costume. I dug out my old tae kwon do uniform. I took classes in college, which was about 10yrs ago. I can't believe that I fit into it because I was MUCH thinner back then. Score!

Well that was yesterday. Today we decided to finally carve my son's pumpkin. Hubby carved out the top and scooped the guts out of the 33lb pumpkin. My son didn't want to get his hands dirty so he supervised. I drew the outline, which was a super small image that was on the carving kit.

the outline

all carved out

lit up in the dark

I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was about 9yrs old. A super long time ago. Not sure why though because it was actually quite fun. I got to get a bit creative, and I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think? To see some awesome pumpkin carving, check out Ray Villafane.

My lil man was Spiderman. He really liked the costume with the muscles. We'll take him trick or treating and then head home to hand out some candy.

Did you dress up? Would love to see pictures.

Did you do anything fun? Please share.

Treadmill vs Asphalt

2010-10-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

Due to lack of time and the weather, I have been running on my new treadmill. I'm slowly getting used to running barefoot on it. Got a couple of blisters the second time I ran on it. Could be form since I don't get these blisters while running barefoot on asphalt. I needed the treadmill in order to work on overcoming hills on a course.

Today I slipped on my KSO's and ran outside. It was wonderful. I missed running outside. It's been too long. Being so used to the treadmill now, running outside felt different. I felt like I had to get used to it again. Kind of a downer. But I continued on. Didn't go as fast. It was a bit slippery since there was a bit of mud on the paths. That's one of the huge differences between treadmill running and running outside. You really need to pay attention to your surroundings.

Stopped running after 20min since it started to rain. I had to remove my iPhone from my armband, and my headphones since I didn't want them to get wet. I stuck them under my shirt and sprinted back home. So yeah I ran a bit further than the 1.66miles Runmeter posted.

I definitely prefer running outside, but as I mentioned, the weather is not helping. And I'm not really one to run out in the rain. At least not yet. The plus for the treadmill is for practicing hill running.

It's going to take a while to get used to running on both surfaces. They're just SO different. Currently I feel like my feet, and maybe my whole body, need to adjust to each surface.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I wonder how long this adjustment will take.

Barefoot Running Book: Read 52 pages for FREE!

2010-10-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I won't lie, I enjoy getting things for free. Who doesn't? Well right now you can read the first 52 pages of Jason Robillard's The Barefoot Running Book (Second Edition) for FREE! Just click on this link.

I am actually reading the book myself. Jason was looking for bloggers to review his book and I jumped at the chance since it was on my 'to read' list. This will be the second running book I've read. The first one was Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. Funny, how both are about running barefoot.

After emailing Jason I didn't realize that he was the founder of the Barefoot Running University and co-founder of the Barefoot Runners Society. You know this guy has a plethora of knowledge regarding barefoot running. And as a newbie barefoot runner / minimalistic shoe runner, I'll take any advice I can get.

After reading the first 52 pages, I'd love to chat with you. Comment on this post!

Oh NO, My Vibrams FAILED Me!

2010-10-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

I know. It's hard to believe. One of my current favorite possessions has failed me.

This past weekend I attended a surprise 80th birthday party for my aunt. Yes, I know, 80! It was awesome. She was definitely surprised, and you could see it from the reaction on her face. *sigh* One of life's great moments.

The party had a Hollywood theme. Many wore glamorous dresses, some came as newspaper reporters, many wore super high heels (ouch!), while I was in my KSO's. Yes, I was wearing them to this shin-dig. I dressed up as a Hollywood bum. I guess I took the idea to the extreme, but no one set any limits. I got a few laughs, so it was all worth it.

In my family, when there's a big bash like this in a hall, you definitely know people are going to be getting their groove on. Oh yeah. I got out there a few times myself since I just can't help but let the music move me sometimes. But trust me, I'm not a great dancer at all. THEN we all started to do the electric slide. Oh snap! It's been forever since I've done this. I had to refresh my memory. And this is where my Vibrams failed me. They are NOT good for dancing. How does one do the electric slide if they can't slide? The rubber was sticking to the dance floor like a magnet. After a few movies I remembered how to do the dance, but you couldn't tell because my feet were sticking to the floor. I kept screwing up! It was a tiny bit embarrassing, but all in fun.

Yes, these things are awesome. But they're just not awesome at everything. They do have their limitations. People did get a kick out of my toe shoes. My mom, who wears elevated heel shoes often, actually wanted a pair. I had to explain that is no heel cushion, so it would take some getting used to.

My 2nd cousin, who plays football and runs track, actually knew what my toe shoes were. He asked me how I liked them. I obviously raved about them. He said that he's been wanting to get a pair. I told him to let me know once he did so he could inform me of how he benefits from them.

Some other cousins were pointing at my feet and saying, "There they are!" I had a few good conversations about barefoot/minimalistic running that night. Good times.

Note to self: remove toe shoes while on dance floor.

Podiatrist Suggests Vibrams? Say What?

2010-10-28T00:36:00.000-07:00

I walked the MAKING STRIDES Against Breast Cancer walk on Saturday in Golden Gate Park. I walked it with my sis, cousin, his girlfriend and his son. Yay for Team Lagade! We walk for our aunt who is a survivor, and our cousin who has moved on to be with the Lord. RIP dear cousin.

Upon arriving in the city we found a suh-weet parking spot. Yay! But as we started walking to the park we got this weird feeling that we parked too far away. I ran a block to see what our closest cross street was. AH!!!! It was only 2nd Street and the entrance to the park we needed was on 25th Street. We sped walked back to the car. Buh bye not-so-close parking spot.

We were lucky enough to find a spot on 22nd Street. Nice! We then hiked into the park. I was wearing my KSO's. We tracked over mud, dirt, grass, tree roots, gravel and small rocks. It was neat to walk over different terrain in them. I felt like I had quite a warm up before the walk. Would've been perfect if I was running it. (Good thing I didn't because the walk was actually 5miles instead of a 5k, lol)

I love seeing people come together to support a cause they believe in. As mentioned, cancer stricken too many people I know, so I feel passionate about finding a cure and creating awareness.

We waited for our cousin and his crew. When we finally met up we took a few pics and were on our way. This was the first time I had met his girlfriend Mae. She quickly noticed my toe shoes. She even knew them by name. Mae mentioned having issues with her ankle and that her podiatrist suggested that she get a pair since they may help correct her problem. Say whaaaat?!?! Really? I was stoked to hear that because most would want you to wear some sort of insert or other correcting mechanism. But she said that he has a pair of Vibrams and actually wears them himself. She asked me more about them and I shared my experience with her. Can't wait to hear if she ends up getting a pair.

I've been reading more and more about foot doctors taking a closer look and stating that being barefoot can possibly cure foot and ankle ailments. I follow Dr. Hurless on twitter and he shares the same opinion.

Vibrams and other minimalistic footwear, and being barefoot seem to be creating a stir within the medical community. It is interesting to read which doctors believe in its benefits, and which completely disagree. BUT, if you are getting shin splints, experiencing knee pain and back aches, then I suggest reviewing your form and/or try the barefoot/minimalistic approach. If you do, please share your experience with me.

A Race Or A Final?

2010-10-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

School. Do you remember it? Are you still attending it? My cousin is in school and mentioned having a final yesterday. Ick, the word just gets me anxious hearing it. I hated finals. You try to memorize everything you’ve learned in the past few months and your brain gets overloaded. Like her, I hate having limited time to take a final. Each time I spent more than 3 seconds to answer a question, I could hear an annoying tick-tock, tick-tock playing in my head. The pressure always gets to me.

And then it hit me. Running in a race is similar to taking a final. Since I know I’m being timed, I seem to choke come race day. Before each race (I’ve only ran two 5k’s), I would tell myself to just run as if I was running at home. Well that didn’t work out so well since my times on race day are always slower than my times when I run in my neighborhood.

Two days after my first 5k, I ran 2.9miles in about 35min. That’s only 2 tenths shorter than a 5k, which is 3.1miles. But my time for the 5k was 41:54. Those times are minutes apart! Yes, I have a problem with hills but I’m starting to think that maybe I’m thinking of a race as a final. I’m being timed. And all my training (like studying) will be reflected in this race. Oh the pressure.

But I remember reading that running should be fun. And it usually is, except for race day. I need to find ways to get around this and just have fun on race day. Maybe it’s because I’m still a newbie runner and that I’m not as fast as most. Or maybe it’s because I’m always hard on myself in whatever I do. I must get passed this. I’ll let you know what I come up with after running my next and last 5k of this year.

I'm SO Not Carrie Bradshaw

2010-10-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Me and my hubby really enjoyed watching the Sex and The City HBO series. We really couldn't relate to a lot of the glamorous and expensive city life, but it was entertaining to watch. Carrie Bradshaw was the main character played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Her character absolutely LOVED shoes. Not sneakers or sandals, but shoes with heels.

I thought of Carrie as I put my 'dressy' shoes on this morning. Today was dress up day at work. We had some important people visiting the office, so we had to dress our best. I had to dust off some 'nice' clothes. If you know me, I enjoy wearing comfy clothes. I don't like my clothes to feel as if they've been plastered onto me. I enjoy being able to move my limbs in all directions. Although what I'm wearing is somewhat comfortable, it's just not my usual attire.

But what's killing me now are my 'dressy' shoes. They're slip-ons, but still not comfortable. I mean, how can one go from wearing sandals all summer to wearing business casual shoes? My feet want to be free. Not only do they want to move around and enjoy some fresh air, I have a blister! Can you believe it? Walking in them for less than 2hrs and I now have a blister on my 2nd to last toe on my left foot. I cannot wait to get out of these clothes and especially these shoes. I put some scotch tape around it, but I can still feel it rub against the shoe. Ha! Didn't think you'd get so up close and personal with my feet, eh? Well get used to it. I'll be blogging about my feet more.

I am no Carrie Bradshaw. I never have been. Even at formal dances in high school, or at weddings, I would always kick off my shoes during the reception or when we were seated at our tables. I have forced myself into these nice shoes time and time again, but all I got in return was pain. I've always loved being barefoot in my home, and now I know why. It's because we were supposed to be barefoot. We need to listen to our bodies more often.

Tim Ferriss' post has pretty cool pictures on how shoes change the shape of our feet. When you compare the images you'll notice how awful we've been treating our feet. But society has somehow deterred us from having free feet. The shoe shaped foot is now considered normal, whereas the shoeless 'gorilla feet' are considered hideous. But then again, no wonder why people have so many foot problems. Ah, some now see the light as walking barefoot or in minimalistic shoes is being mentioned more and more in the media.

If you've never walked barefoot, do your feet a favor and try it.

The Almost 42Minute 5k Gal

2010-10-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

That's what I was thinking about renaming my blog to. After yesterday's 5k (my 2nd one), it just seems that I was destined to be the Almost 42Minute 5k Gal. Let me explain.

I ran a 5k in Davis early last night. I even did a quick warm up run back to the car since I forgot my paperwork. My lil run felt good. I warmed up again as they did a quick warm up session right before the run. We started on an overpass, heading up. Great, that just left an icky feeling. I figured that after the overpass we'll be running on level ground. We just had to get to the other side. Boy was I dead WRONG.

The run was mostly on the greenbelt within the residential area. It was nice but where the heck did all these rolling hills come from? Really? In Davis? In one of the flattest cities in CA. Why did they have to be on my 5k route? The hills really killed me. I can't run hills. All my training is on flat land due to my neighborhood. I think it's time for me to finally break my new treadmill open and run with an incline.

About 1/2 a mile into the run my left side started to cramp. What the heck? I've felt this on my right side before, but not on the left. It actually made it difficult to take deep breaths. Each deep breath hurt, so I had to walk and catch my breath. Wow! What was this? I have read that side cramps were due to not being hydrated, but I really thought I was. This and the rolling hills just killed me.

I must say that this run was by far more difficult for me than my first 5k in Martinez. Wow. This really kicked my butt. I couldn't even ramp up speed towards the end. It looks like I'm walking, but I really was jogging in. I beat my PR by 17 seconds (I know, sad huh?), but I don't think it counts. So yes, overall I was quite disappointed. Hubby said that I should do two things:

First Suggestion
Instead of running a 5k during my training runs, I should run a longer distance. This way running the 5k would be considered very doable.

Second Suggestion
Cross train. And I have read this time and time again. That's why I plan to start today. I'm still trying to schedule running and workouts since I don't have enough time to do both in the mornings.

My hubby is not a runner at all. But from hearing me get down on myself, and seeing what I'm doing, his observations resulted in these suggestions.

If anyone knows of a race that's on flat land, please let me know. I need to do a run that helps build up my confidence in running a 5k.

Walked Barefoot and Prepped

2010-10-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have my 2nd 5k early this evening in Davis. I thought I'd prime my feet and walk barefoot around the neighborhood. Took the lil man with me. He wanted to run, but I knew I shouldn't. Stopped at the park so he can play and I ran in place for few minutes. Practiced my form by jogging about 6 feet in one direction, and then back. Did that about 3 times. Then walked all the way back home. It was really hard NOT to run around the neighborhood. But I knew I needed to save that for tonight.

Got home and trimmed the toe nails. I was reading that it's important for runners to keep the toe nails nice and trimmed. Cut my finger nails too since I was at it. My hair needs a trim, but that's another story. I also massaged my feet and calves. Now just elevating my feet and resting up for tonight. It's weird having to wait all day for a race. I am anxious to go and get it done.

#beatcancer

2010-10-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Out of all the diseases in the world, cancer surrounds me. I am taking steps to take care of myself and my family by eating right and staying active. This does not guarantee that we won't get cancer, but I believe it decreases our chances of getting it. This is my personal opinion.

I do walks, donate, and hopefully will start running to raise money for research. I just came across this and I thought it was pretty darn cool. And it doesn't cost any money. I stress that because when something costs money, people are hesitant to give it away if they don't get anything back. So again, this DOES NOT COST ANY MONEY.

When you post to Facebook, Twitter, or a blog post, a nickle is being donated to beat cancer everywhere. But you MUST include #beatcancer in your posts. Check it out http://www.beatcancereverywhere.com/ It starts today and they're trying to beat last year's results. So get on Facebook, Twitter and read those blogs so we can....

#beatcancer

Eat Your Breakfast

2010-10-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is such an important meal of the day. Actually it's the most important meal of the day. Your body has been at rest and fasting throughout the night. Come breakfast time, you fuel your body.

Just as morning runs and workouts set the rest of my day, so does breakfast. I usually have eggs every morning. This is what I had this morning. mmmmm.

Corn tortillas, 2 eggs over medium topped with salsa. Some call it Huevos Rancheros. I practically lived off of these during my Senior Trip to Puerta Vallarta, many moons ago. Ha!

I have a routine in the mornings. After my run or workout (stretching and shower), I take a vitamin D with some organic OJ, and a multivitamin. Why do I drink OJ with my vitamin D? I have read that work well together by helping each other get absorbed my our bodies.

So what did you have for breakfast today?

Safety On Your Runs

2010-10-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

It is wise to think about safety while on your run, bicycling, or when performing any other activity. If you were hit by a car and unconscious, would bystanders know who to contact? If you run when it's dark outside, as I often do, how do you prevent vehicles from running you over? We often forget about taking these steps.

Just recently Abby's husband was hit by a car. Fortunately his bike took the hit. But what if it was worse?

It doesn't take much to protect yourself while doing an activity you enjoy. The birth of RoadID came from an incident the owner had while he was running. So these products are made with the runner's safety in mind. They want to help spread the word, and so do I. They have ID bands, reflective shoelaces, shoe pouches and more.

So please....be safe while running, and help spread the word.

Foot Feels Better

2010-10-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

Well I thought it was going to take a while for this TOFP to go away, but it feels so much better today. I didn't run yesterday. I wore my sneakers so it had some cushion and I elevated it much as possible.

When I woke up this morning I noticed that the minor swelling has really gone down. I went for a run in my sandals. I kinda baby'd the foot a tiny bit, but it felt fine. Running in my sandals is such a different experience than running in my KSO's. Felt heavier, clunky. I felt like I really had to lift my foot. It seemed as if I was running slower, but according to RunMeter I averaged the same pace as when running in my Vibrams.

I'm still plan to take it easy and build up my foot muscles. I read about a few exercises that I can do such as picking up a pen or a golf ball with my feet. Now where are those golf balls I was hitting off of the houseboat last month?

Walking on different surfaces can help build foot muscles also. Well, I do have my work cut out for me. I mean, I have over 30yrs of correction I need to take care of. But the reward will be oh bitter sweet.

Backing Off Of My VFF's

2010-10-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I think I have to. I am sad. About a day after my first 5k (which was a week ago), I've had some TOFP (top of foot pain) on my right foot. Prior to my first 5k, I've only ran in my Vibrams about 2 or 3 times.

To get used to them I walked with them on the treadmill, and ran short spurts. The first time I ran in them, I just went. It felt SO good and I ended up running my fastest time ever. But I didn't stretch enough before and after the run and my calves got tight. I didn't run for a few days.

I've been running in them, but the pain is still there. I decided to look into it. I've read all sorts of posts about it and have come to the conclusion that I started off too fast in them. I didn't ease slowly into them and now I'm paying for it. I knew you had to ease slowly into barefoot running, or wearing Vibrams. But I thought that since I was already running in my sandals, and already walk barefoot inside my house on tile and pergo, that I could just make the switch to Vibrams. My sandals are minimalistic running shoes, so what's the difference? Apparently a lot.

After reading Abby Normally's post, I thought I should take care of my feet before I ruin them to the point where I can no longer run. Ugh. I couldn't do that. That would just destroy all the work I've done thus far and stall my path to becoming fit.

During my next run I'll run in my sandals. Then I'll run in my Vibrams on my next 5k in Davis, which is this Saturday. After that, I won't use my Vibrams for a few weeks, and just run in my sandals. Once my TOFP is gone, then I'll slowly (yes key word: s-l-o-w-l-y) ease back in the Vibrams.

sniff-sniff. This is going to be hard. Yes, I feel like I'm taking quite a few steps back. I'll have to start all over. But I need to listen to my body. Plus, a few weeks is a small price to pay for many running years ahead. And I'm still not wearing shoes, so I've come to grips with this.

Anyone else suffer TOFP due to rushing into Vibrams or barefoot running?

Finally In The Water

2010-10-10T01:50:00.000-07:00

Well more like on top of the water. We used to kayak often. The delta waters aren't too far from my place and best of all - it's FREE! Life has been passing me by and besides Shasta Lake, I haven't had a chance to go kayaking.

We went today. Finally! It's been so long. I've been very focused on running, but I've missed doing other activities. Kayaking is a good way for me to exercise my arms, and core. Just squeeze that core as you paddle to help maximize your workout. I just hope I can squeeze in a bit more paddle time before the weather gets cool.

In addition to the kayaking today, me and the fam went for a nice stroll through one of the three corn mazes at Dell 'Osso Family Farm. We went through the witch maze. And my son picked out a 33lb pumpkin!

Almost a 5k Run

2010-10-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Who knew? I set up RunMeter to inform me when I've ran for 30min. I did hear something, but the volume was too low. I kept running to finish my route. When I stopped, I stretched. Then went inside to check how I did. Well, well, well, not too shabby.

Distance: 2.9 miles

Time: 35.34

Average: 12:16

I think I'll be beating my first PR with next Saturday's run. Come run with me in Davis.

If you want updates on my runs, please follow me on twitter. Or you can follow this blog as I update my info on dailymile as well.

birthdayshoes.com sticker

2010-10-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

What did I get in the mail today? Yup, my birthdayshoes.com sticker.
Thanks Justin!

I can't wait to shop for other items.

Worked The Arms A Tiny Bit

2010-10-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

Prior to learning how to run, I really enjoyed weight training. Well since I started running, I haven't found much time to lift the dumb bells. Today was a rest day from running. I took advantage of the gym in my building and spent 10min on my arms and back.

Using 15lb weights:
    3 sets of 10 bicep curls (alternating arms)
    1 set of lifting the dumb bell over my head (one for each arm)

70lb weight on lateral pulldown:
     1 set

Stretch (muy importante)

Trust me, I really wanted to get on that treadmill and do an incline workout. But seeing that I plan to run tomorrow morning, I knew it was best to rest my feet and legs.

What did you do for a workout today?

One More Mile Running Apparel - FREE Shipping Day!

2010-10-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for some cute running apparel, then I suggest you visit One More Mile and shop today. To get your free shipping, just add the code

FS100710

Take a pic of your cute shirt and share it with me. I'd love to see them!

Could I Have Tendonitis?

2010-10-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I ran my first 5k. I was a bit disappointed in myself because my time wasn't anything to envy. Mostly that I walked most of the hill. I tried to make time by taking advantage of the downhill slope. But I think that I may have also forgotten about my form.

Why? Because I've been having this soreness on the top of my right foot. After doing some research on the web, I learned that it's called TOFP - Top Of Foot Pain. I couldn't believe it! Here I am promoting barefoot running/minimalist footwear and I get hurt. I blame my lack of form. I've only had my vibrams for about 3wks now, and the 5k was the longest I've ran in them. So I think I need to work on my form again.

This morning's run was fine. I kept thinking of my form. That's all I was thinking about. So if I do that, then I hope to correct this. But if you do experience this pain, then here's a remedy that someone posted. I have yet to try it, but may give it a whirl.

Faster Short Run with RunMeter

2010-10-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

After several weeks of comparing what to use, I downloaded RunMeter. Check out the comparison chart here. I think I made the right choice. For $4.99 the user interface is nice and easy to navigate through. It has a lot of capabilities. I'm still exploring and I'm liking what I see.

I have it set up to report my runs to twitter, so we'll see if I have it set up correctly. But since I didn't have it set up today, here is today's quick run.

Yes, it was quick because I was learning how to use RunMeter and ran out of time to run. But it was a good and productive run. I picked up my pace which is a definite plus for me. Woo hoo!

Omega3's for Lunch!

2010-10-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

I just found these at Trader Joe's the other day. I cooked one this morning to use in my sandwich for lunch today. mmmm, salmon burger. They look small, but they are over an inch thick! And they taste delish. It's a good way to get some Omega3's in your diet. I just may have to add this to my weekly grocery shopping list. Trader Joe's rocks!

What foods do you eat to get your Omega3's?

Sorry I Lied

2010-10-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I lied. It was supposed to be a rest day, but I did workout today. Well it was on my break so it was short. I just had to move. I blame it on this RSS feed from OnYourMarkEvents. There’s a 5k run in Fremont this Sunday. I am literally holding myself back from signing up.

Must

Have

Will Power

I still might depending on how tomorrow’s run goes. I’ll work on my tempo, while Fridays’ run will be fartleks. It’s a good way to spice up your runs so they’re not so b-o-r-i-n-g.

Sooo, back to my little workout. I got on the treadmill and ran barefoot. I forgot my KSO’s at home. I just kept thinking of my form. “Lift, lift, lift, lift”. I was reading about cadence last night, so I was trying to keep that rhythm.

incline of 0:
     2min walk at 2.5
     9min jog at 3.6
     2min walk at 2.2

Stretch

Live fit and live healthy.

My First BAREFOOT Run

2010-10-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last night I read that after a long run, one should do an easy run the day after to avoid stiffness in the legs. I decided to go barefoot today. I ran with my 4yr old son. He started off fast and got burned out fast too. But he was a trooper. I think I took an easy stroll, but I don't really know how to pace myself. These are my results for today's quick run per RunKeeper.

Not bad really since I've actually never ran barefoot outside before. I think I'll actually try to start incorporating barefoot runs into my schedule.

Actual Results from Shell/MEF 5k

2010-10-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

I checked the website and here are my final results:

So I actually clocked in a second earlier, I won't argue with that. Ha!
In the scheme of things, it wasn't that bad seeing that I did walk up the hill.
I'll take an average pace of 13:31/mile.

If you're interested, the complete results are here.

I Got A Treadmill

2010-10-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

I do enjoy running outside, but there are a couple of pluses of getting this treadmill.

First:
As Fall approaches, so will the rain. I don't plan to run outside in the rain.

Second:
I don't have any hills in my area, it's all flat. Since I hear that running on a hill can help increase speed, then I'll try it. I've been doing just that on the treadmill at work, but I can only do that for 10min at a time.

I found this video to help make the treadmill fun.

My First 5k

2010-10-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

I didn't know what to expect on my first race. We got up early, left early and arrived in Martinez early. I got my bib and chip timer and put them on. Then we just waited. We had over an hour to wait. la de da, la de da. The high school band started playing. Slowly, more and more people showed up. This is me before the race, posted on livestrongday's posterous page. I wore my LIVESTRONG shirt since it was LIVESTRONG Day. And I always wear my LIVESTRONG wrist band.

Finally 30min til start time. I decided to warm up a little. Jogged in place and stretched. I saw my coworker Corey and met his friend Andrew. This was Andrew's first 5k also. People started to line up and I found my little spot in the crowd. And then we were off. It took a little bit to start going, but we soon slowly spreaded out. It was hard for me to find my pace. I couldn't tell if my pace was too slow or too fast. I didn't want to wear myself thin too soon.

I didn't see any mile markers, so I didn't even know when I completed the first mile. I didn't stop, I kept going. Then I heard a very loud "God damn it!". It came from a guy in a red truck. He was pissed that the road was closed due to the run. Wow! And then we had to stop! I was quite ticked. The cop told us to stop so he could let traffic pass. Um hello? Didn't he know this was a timed race? I was SO annoyed. I ran in place to keep moving, but it wasn't the same. It felt like we where waiting there for 45seconds. Doesn't he know what 45seconds can do to someone's PR? Then I saw the red truck and he was flipping people off. Hmmm, some people.

Ah, it was finally time for us to cross. FINALLY! But my run wasn't the same after that. It was hard for me to get back into the rhythm. And then there it was, the hill. I started to ran up it and then I lost power. I couldn't push it anymore. I had to walk it. It was a long arse hill. I was super disappointed about walking it. First having to stop to let traffic pass, and now walking the hill. But my spirits lifted a little bit as I neared the top of the hill for there was this beautiful view of the Benicia bridge. A nice Kodak moment, if I had a camera.

After topping the hill I ran and ran and ran. We went down the hill and then up again. Gosh, I must admit that I walked a bit when heading up the hill. It was really disappointing. Apparently, when I stop to walk once, I easily fall prey to walk again. Gosh! What was I doing? Then I ran. I had to try and make up some time. And then it was downhill. I was picking up some speed, but leaning back a bit so I didn't biff it. What a major let down that would've been. And then during the last turn, the last stretch, I pushed it! I ran my max speed and it felt great. But as I was heading towards the finish line, I saw that my time really sucked. All I remember was seeing 41min on the clock. Ugh. But now I wonder what my time would've been if I didn't stop or walk. I have that to keep me going.

My hubby was there and took this shot of me as I crossed the line. Oh my. Not the time I was expecting to do at all. But with the stop and the walking, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Definitely need to run for distance now and not for speed. I haven't ran a long distance in over a week since I was working on speed.

It was quite an experience. Normally I roll out of bed and run. I always thought I was just using some raw energy during my morning runs. But today I had to eat breakfast, drive out there and wait before running. Definitely a different feeling from the start. But it was a learning experience and now I can be prepared for my next 5k in 2wks. I am no longer a 5k virgin.

That Kicked Butt

2010-09-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

I tried something different during my 11min workout today. Read on.....

Treadmill
incline of 3.5
   2min walk at 2.5
     4min run at 3.5
   4min walk at 2.5

incline of 0
     1min walk at 2.5

Stretch

Yes, I increased the incline by a whole degree. I ran at a slower pace of 3.5, but that still kicked my butt. I went longer too and it felt good. I totally felt a difference. I thought about going another round, but I was still breathing a little heavy so I figured I'd just walk the rest of the way. Plus, I don't want to wear myself out before my 5k on Saturday. That would be muy bad.

2010 Minimalist Footwear Review

2010-09-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, I just read it. It was written by the Barefoot Runners Society. It's pretty interesting and very detailed. Check it out. It's about 7.19mb, so give it a few minutes to load.

I'd try the FeelMax Niesa. Looks cute for everyday wear also. I would definitely rock those.

I do plan to get a pair of The Invisible Shoe Huaraches. They just look so free and probably the closest thing to actually being barefoot. Or do I want the Lunda Sandals? I just don't know. Or the Unshoes Wokova Sandals? They are all very similar. Anyone have any advice on which to get?

The VFF Bikilas had a pretty good review. But I just got my KSO's, I don't need another pair of VFFs. Funny thing is that I was just messaging a runner who just got a pair. He does run barefoot, but got the Bikilas for trail running, and he loves them.

So read the review and let me know which ones you've tried, or which ones you plan to try. Happy shoe shopping!

AWESOME 25-Minute Workout

2010-09-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

I did an 11min workout on the treadmill earlier. Then just got back from a 25min workout involving running and weights.

Treadmill
incline of 2.5
     1min walk at 2.5
     7min run at 4.5
     2min walk at 2.5
     5min run at 4.5
     2min walk at 2.5
incline of 0
     2min walk at 2.5 then down to 1.9

Weights
Bicep curls - 2 sets of 10reps with 15lbs
(slowly bring dumbbell back down for an efficient workout)

Lat Pull Down (back) - single set of 10reps with 70lbs
(sit down and pull it behind your head)

Lat Pull Down (triceps) - single set of 10reps with 40lbs
(stand up, elbows to sides and push it down)

S-T-R-E-T-C-H !!!!!!
You don't want to hurt, so do your stretches. Every now and then I like to go a bit further and give my muscles a quick rub down. I like to think muscles enjoy a good massage.

Weird thing was that the treadmill had a mind of its own. It was possesed! No matter what incline I was at it kept resetting itself to an incline of 1.5 every couple of minutes. It was getting annoying, but luckily I was able to continue with my workout.

I wanted to go longer on the run, and I did. It felt awesome. I am trying to simulate the hill I need to run up during this Saturday's 5k. So far so good.

So there you have it. One can do a lot in 25min. Staying fit does not always have to take a lot of your time. Just be sure to stay active and eat healthy.

I HATE My Gut

2010-09-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

I do. It makes shopping much more difficult. For instance, I went to Fleet Feet today to get a top. The tops fit fine all over except for my gut. Ugh, it's so annoying and SO not attractive.

I think it's time for me to really focus in this problem area. More planks! (to start) And yes, I've read that if I give up wheat and dairy I can lose this muffin top. But you know what? I don't choose to do that. As I've mentioned throughout my blog, I like to eat. I like to be able to indulge in junk food from time to time, I am human for crying out loud. I have failed in other very strict diets that say you can't eat the food you like, so why should I start doing that once again? If I have to work harder on my body in order to eat the food I enjoy, then so be it.

In addition to bettering my 5k time, I need to start on Craig Ballantyne's Turbulence Training. He has a program which works all aspects of your body, AND you don't need to spend hours in the gym doing it. I love reading his tweets and emails. They are so motivational.

Is anyone doing Turbulence Training now?

I Got The Route Info

2010-09-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday is my first 5k. I searched high and low looking for the route info. My hubby and son want to see me cross the finish line. (blush) Finally I clicked on a link in the event page and emailed someone. I got a response from the timing coordinator and he sent me this link. Yes!

Shell/MEF Run for Education

I checked it out and yikes, there's a hill. I kinda had a feeling there was, but without seeing the route it was hard to tell. I was hoping my time would be about 36min, but I think it will be longer. Ok, I'll now predict that I'll finish in 40min. Ugh. But after the hill is all downhill and flat, so maybe I can make up my time.

One good thing is that I've been doing short 10min interval trainings on the treadmill using an incline of 2.5. I sure hope that will help. I guess we'll see.

Fleet Feet ROCKS!

2010-09-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

I bought my Vibrams at Dom's Outdoor Outfitters. Pretty cool store. Had lotsa stuff for hiking, hunting, camping, etc. Been there twice so far. BUT when I finally went into a Fleet Feet store, I was amazed. A store focused on running? OMG, what took me so long? Ah, I fell in love with it. I wanted to buy everything, AND they sell Vibrams. I think they had a better selection and stock on hand.

They had tons of footwear, great apparel, accessories, and other nifty items for runners. They carried One More Mile running apparel. The sayings on the shirts were so cute and funny. And the shirts themselves were very lightweight, which is a plus for me! I also liked the table they had full of running material; upcoming runs in the immediate area, maps, etc. I cannot wait to return to the store.

Fleet Feet is not just a store, but many have weekly group runs. That just really tells you that these stores know about running, and can help you find what you need. Check them out!

My Body Talks To Me

2010-09-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Yes it does. Me and the fam went out running errands today. One of the stops was Wal-Mart. While waiting in line I noticed these new coconut M&M's. The bag was 67cents so I grabbed one. My hubby grabbed an 8-pack of tiny Almond Joys. Then he grabbed a 1-liter of a grape Welch's soda.

I ate a handful of the M&M's, one of the lil tiny Almond Joy's and took a couple of gulps of the soda. Mind you, I RARELY drink soda. I can't even finish a whole can. I love my water! Anywho, I started to get a headache and I just started to feel weird. The heat didn't help either. I knew it. I was putting stuff into my body that it normally does not consume and it definitely noticed it. Ugh. Once we hit Trader Joe's, I gulped down a couple of cups of water. That helped some and I started to feel better. The body always amazes me. And good thing that I listen to it when it talks to me.

We feel our body speak to us when we consume something bad. But the body also speaks to us when we do something good for it. Are you in touch with your body?

You Gotta Have A Rest Day

2010-09-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

And today is mine. Although I am traning for my first 5k which is in a week, I know I need to rest. I am telling myself not to run today and let the legs recoupe from yesterday's run and incline training.

So today I may walk a bit to get some fresh air and create some blood flow. Definitely needed when you have a desk job like me.

I also massage my legs and feet to help with blood flow also. I have an awesome hubby who gives me massages almost on a daily basis. It's so relaxing, and who better to give you one than your life partner.

Have an awesome Friday everyone.
The weekend is upon us.
Enjoy!

Why I Choose To Run In The Morning

2010-09-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

I shared my RunKeeper results from today's run to a couple of co-workers. One of them noticed the early time post. Yes, I run around 5am.

What?!

Am I crazy?!

Why would I do that?!

Yes, I understand that it's way too early for many people. But that's my "me" time.

It's quiet in the morning. No one is walking or playing on the road. The early commuters are awake, but that only accounts for a few vehicles during my run. Occasionally I see the garbage trucks, but it's not a big deal.

It's nice and cold. Yes, I do enjoy the coldness of the mornings before the sun rises. It's like running on a treadmill with the fan spinning to cool you off. But since I'm starting to do 5k's, I think it may be time to learn how to run while the sun is up. Yikes, that will be quite an adjustment.

And if I don't get my run in first thing in the morning, then there's a really good chance that I won't get to it. The run helps set the rest of the day for me. I feel awesome knowing that I've accomplished that, and any other exercise I do during the rest of the day is the cherry on top.

When do you do your runs?

OMG! Faster AND Longer!

2010-09-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

First off, I ran 30min in my KSOs today. And I just gotta tell ya, WOW! They were so comfortable. Yes, I felt more of the ground than I did in my sandals but that's OK because I'm supposed to. I didn't have to worry about any rocks or pebbles getting stuck in them because they fit like a glove. I am really impressed with them.

Not only are they comfy, I feel they gave me an edge. I ran much faster today. I felt like I had more endurance today. My legs were going faster for longer periods of time. I ran around those group of houses which I call my lap. I believe the most laps I was able to run in 30min was 6.75 laps. Well today, I ran a little over 7.5 laps. It felt awesome.

Having run the 7.5 laps, I was sure that I'd complete 3.1 miles, but I was wrong. I mean it was the highest number of laps I've ran. But.....

Per RunKeeper, this is today's results.

(Sorry, I still haven't bought the app to report on Twitter.)

That means my estimated calculations for my previous runs when doing the c25k program were not as close as I thought. What a bummer. But now I know. And an important tip is to download an app on your smart phone, or find a tool to track your distance and time. I definitely wish I would've done this earlier. But I'm learning.

The app is really cool since you get to see your average pace on a particular minute. I was so stoked to see that on minute 27, my average speed was 10:01min/mile. SO STOKED!

So my first 5k is in about a week. My goal was to run it under 40min. At this rate, I think it's very doable. On my next run, I'll have to run for 35min to see if I really do finish a 5k in my goal time.

So what was it that really gave me the edge today?

Was it....

my carb loading on seafood pasta last night?

not having ran my laps in a while?

the vibrams?

my short incline trainings on the treadmill?

a good night's sleep?

all of the above?

What do you think? Please share your thoughts.

I Joined BRS!

2010-09-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yeah, thanks for Corey. BRS is short for Barefoot Runners Society. Open to those who run barefoot or in minimalistic footwear (that's me!). I signed up for the SF Bay Chapter, so I'm waiting for confirmation on my request to join.

I just think it's time for me to start running with a group. Not all the time since I do enjoy my individual runs. But sometimes it may be nice to run with others. Maybe the group to keep me motivated, or to learn about runs, technique and so forth. There' s a lot of good info on the site, but I haven't had a chance to read it all yet.

Check it out!

Does Coffee Give You Energy?

2010-09-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Back in the day I used to drink coffee all day long not knowing or caring about my health. I don't think it does anything for me, irregardless whether it's decaf or not. But the smell and taste is yummilicious. Now I rarely drink it. If anything 1 or half a cup a week, and many weeks I just don't drink it.
But if I do drink, then this is how I do it:
     - fill cup up with soymilk and drink half of it
     - add a tiny spoonful of a creamer for flavor
     - fill the rest with coffee
Yes, it's a bit watered down but I get the taste and smell of it.

About an hour after I took a 15min break and headed to the gym for a quick workout. Mind you, these little workouts just help keep me moving since I have a desk job. I really don't want my rear end to resemble a Mack truck! So not pretty, unless you're like Sir-Mix-A-Lot!

This is what I did today.
incline of 2.5:
     walked 2min
     ran 2min at 4.0
     walked 2min
     ran 2min at 4.5
     walked 2min

incline of 0:
     walked 1min

stretch (I keep forgetting to add this part)

Usually when I run, the first 2min or so is a lil tough when it comes to breathing. But afterwards my body adjusts and I'm fine. So the first 2min run at 4.0 pushed me. But the second 2min run at 4.5 wasn't so bad. It actually felt pretty darn good. Now is this the coffee kicking in? I don't know. I've read reports where some say that they'll consume some caffeine 30min or so prior to their run for a boost of energy.

Does this happen to you?

Do you always consume caffeine prior to running, biking, swimming, etc?

What I also did today was change up my routine. I've been reading that starting out slower and then increasing your pace will help one not tire out so easily. So maybe this was the trick. Ahhh....guess we'll find out tomorrow.

And no, I didn't do my 30min run this morning. I left my vibrams at work. I was so looking to run in them. Tomorrow's another day.

Fresh Healthy Vending

2010-09-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

Awesome, awesome, awesome!
This is total common sense, and someone finally brought it to life.

Vending machines are EVERYWHERE! Malls, strip malls, hospitals, schools, airports, etc. And they're all full of CRAP! They're full of candy, cookies, chips and sodas. And apparently we are all ok with that. But why are we ok with that? It's the norm.

I am hoping that this company will make a difference and begin the change to healthier eating. If all we're surrounded by is junk food, then that's what we gravitate to. But what we don't realize is that we're killing our bodies. We are constantly poisoning this temple that the Lord has given us.

Some schools have removed the vending the machines. That's a start. But what about all those other locations? The vending machines full of crap are still there.

Fresh Healthy Vending is going to STOMP on those high fructose corn syrup filled machines. (They even have a franchise opportunity if you're interested.) Let's give our kids, and the rest of us, a chance to eat healthier. And I hope in return, to live healthier.

TJ's Fiberful is Ick!

2010-09-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

I love shopping at Trader Joe's. I do about 90% of my shopping there, including toiletries and laundry detergent. (I'd shop at a Whole Foods too if one was closer.)

My son always gets those dried fruit strips. He calls them his fruit roll-ups. Right next to them were these FIBERFUL dried fruit and veggie strips. Figured it would be good. I mean dried fruit and veggies together? How perfect is that? Well I tasted it this morning, and ewwwww. This was not good at all. Sorry TJ's, this one gets a thumbs down from me.

Luckily I brought a bunch of other goodies to munch on today!

Ran on Treadmill with my Vibrams

2010-09-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well I ran in the halls to get to the gym and it felt really good. In the gym I got the treadmill for 11min.

incline of 2.5:
    walked for 2min
     ran for 2min at 4.5 (this will get your heart pumpin!)
     walked for 2min
       jogged for 2min at 3.5
     walked for 2min

incline of 0:
     walked for 2min

I really wanted to run on an incline of 0 to see how it felt compared to the incline of 2.5, but time was up for my lil workout. Thinking of going for a run tomorrow morning. Then I'll let you know how it feels to run in Vibrams.

Even The Punisher Likes Vibrams

2010-09-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm, Thomas Jane. He totally kicked arse in The Punisher.

He was interviewed by George Lopez and mentioned that he wears vibrams. He said that shoes are like prison for your feet. Even George Lopez is wearing a pair. You just gotta watch the clip. I wonder who else in Hollywood runs in their fivefingers.