Posts tagged run

Our race shirts for the Celtic Solstice 5 miler on Saturday! It will be my first post-knee surgery race - almost 6 months to the day. I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love best: run in the early morning, on a new route, with a buddy. This time I’m fortunate to not just be running with 3,000 other athletes, but also with my super sweet boyfriend. He skipped a bachelor party to join me! Now that’s love :D

Our race shirts for the Celtic Solstice 5 miler on Saturday! It will be my first post-knee surgery race - almost 6 months to the day. I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love best: run in the early morning, on a new route, with a buddy. This time I’m fortunate to not just be running with 3,000 other athletes, but also with my super sweet boyfriend. He skipped a bachelor party to join me! Now that’s love :D

baltimorerunning.com

Motivation to go on that #run even though it’s 8 on a rainy Sunday night! #fitness #fitspo

Motivation to go on that #run even though it’s 8 on a rainy Sunday night! #fitness #fitspo

Hurricane Sandy blew all the leaves away! I didn’t take this photo, but this scene looks just like what I see when I drive to work on the back roads through the country. I’m sure when I finally go back to work tomorrow it will look much more barren. This is a nice tribute to what started my day off right every morning for the past month! There’s just something about those orange, red, and yellows against the stark green that comes together to make my favorite nature scene. And I’m finding it hard to picture a better place to go for a run… tropicalism: Fall by NightFox9 - TouTouke on Flickr.

Hurricane Sandy blew all the leaves away! I didn’t take this photo, but this scene looks just like what I see when I drive to work on the back roads through the country. I’m sure when I finally go back to work tomorrow it will look much more barren. This is a nice tribute to what started my day off right every morning for the past month! There’s just something about those orange, red, and yellows against the stark green that comes together to make my favorite nature scene. And I’m finding it hard to picture a better place to go for a run…

tropicalism:

Fall by NightFox9 - TouTouke on Flickr.

I start a new job tomorrow! Same company, different position and location. I’m extremely excited to start a new venture, while remaining true to helping people become happier and healthier. It was sad saying goodbye to my former colleagues, of course, and all of my clients, but surprisingly, what struck me as just as upsetting to leave was the running path near my old office. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. And the soft, smooth running path was perfect for my injured knee to work its way back into shape. It’s funny how places can work their way into your life as much as personalities. I took one last jog in my little park before saying goodbye. Now it’s time to meet new colleagues, new clients, and find a new perfect little path to become a part of my life.

I start a new job tomorrow! Same company, different position and location. I’m extremely excited to start a new venture, while remaining true to helping people become happier and healthier.

It was sad saying goodbye to my former colleagues, of course, and all of my clients, but surprisingly, what struck me as just as upsetting to leave was the running path near my old office. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. And the soft, smooth running path was perfect for my injured knee to work its way back into shape. It’s funny how places can work their way into your life as much as personalities. I took one last jog in my little park before saying goodbye. Now it’s time to meet new colleagues, new clients, and find a new perfect little path to become a part of my life.

It’s almost cherry blossom season! And if you live near DC you know what a big deal it is trying to figure out the exact week when it happens. It’s warmer earlier this year, so they’re predicting early April, perhaps even late March. There’s no better time to go for a run around the National Mall than when it’s covered in pink and white blossoms (yet before all the tourists descend for the summer!!)

It’s almost cherry blossom season! And if you live near DC you know what a big deal it is trying to figure out the exact week when it happens. It’s warmer earlier this year, so they’re predicting early April, perhaps even late March. There’s no better time to go for a run around the National Mall than when it’s covered in pink and white blossoms (yet before all the tourists descend for the summer!!)

weheartit.com

Thanks to my friend Jo for the term “June-uary,” it describes the weather perfectly: 65 degrees and sunny in January! The perfect combination for a trail run :) There’s no threat of seasonal affective disorder this year with plenty of opportunities to get a natural dose of sunshine almost every day. It has been replaced by that summertime inability to concentrate on any sort of work indoors while the sun is beckoning you from outside the window. I’ll take the trade off any day.

Thanks to my friend Jo for the term “June-uary,” it describes the weather perfectly: 65 degrees and sunny in January! The perfect combination for a trail run :) There’s no threat of seasonal affective disorder this year with plenty of opportunities to get a natural dose of sunshine almost every day. It has been replaced by that summertime inability to concentrate on any sort of work indoors while the sun is beckoning you from outside the window. I’ll take the trade off any day.

A few posts back I mentioned an all day bike ride through Zion National Park. It was incredible. I left my hotel about 8 am and biked through Springdale into the park, all the way to the far end up a long, winding hill. It was tough and cold, but gorgeous, so well worth it. Once at the top I locked my bike to a tree, stripped off my bike shorts (don’t worry, I had running pants on underneath), and took off for a riverside trail run. And then just kept repeating the process for the next 8 hours! Ride bike. Lock Bike. Run. Ride bike. Lock bike. Run. It was awesome. I snacked on nuts and fruit throughout the day, but by the time I got back to the hotel my stomach was trying to eat itself, so I decided to feed it what it wanted: PIZZA. Behold, the “Good For You” pizza from Zion Pizza and Noodle Company: light sauce, grilled squash & zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, with feta & asiago cheeses. It was every bit as good as it looks. And I ate Every. Last. Bite. No joke! I ate this entire pizza :D And then fell asleep for almost 12 hours. It was incredible. I’m not sure which accomplishment I’m more proud of: the marathon bike/hike/run session? Or the prize-winning eating? I think the combination of the two is just the right balance.

A few posts back I mentioned an all day bike ride through Zion National Park. It was incredible. I left my hotel about 8 am and biked through Springdale into the park, all the way to the far end up a long, winding hill. It was tough and cold, but gorgeous, so well worth it.

Once at the top I locked my bike to a tree, stripped off my bike shorts (don’t worry, I had running pants on underneath), and took off for a riverside trail run. And then just kept repeating the process for the next 8 hours! Ride bike. Lock Bike. Run. Ride bike. Lock bike. Run. It was awesome.

I snacked on nuts and fruit throughout the day, but by the time I got back to the hotel my stomach was trying to eat itself, so I decided to feed it what it wanted: PIZZA. Behold, the “Good For You” pizza from Zion Pizza and Noodle Company:

light sauce, grilled squash & zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, with feta & asiago cheeses.

It was every bit as good as it looks. And I ate Every. Last. Bite. No joke! I ate this entire pizza :D And then fell asleep for almost 12 hours. It was incredible. I’m not sure which accomplishment I’m more proud of: the marathon bike/hike/run session? Or the prize-winning eating? I think the combination of the two is just the right balance.

Have you been to Zion National Park out in Utah? No? GO THERE NOW. I was just out there for a wedding and it blew my mind. The red rock made for some really fun rock scrambling and some very different trail running than I’m used to. The peak season had just ended so hotel prices were quite reasonable. I highly recommend the Best Western Zion for very comfortable accommodations, or the Canyon Ranch Motel for some local rustic charm. I rented a bike for $35 for the whole day from Zion Cycles and was able to bike the whole lower part of the park from my hotel. It was so much fun!! I’ll put up more pics of the individual hikes soon.

I went back out to Scott’s Run this morning to catch the leaves before all the gorgeous colors fell away and was not disappointed. The colors were amazing! There’s still a lot of green, but the yellows and reds and oranges were brilliant, especially in the sunshine.

What really surprised me, though, was how great it felt to run on the leaves that had fallen! It was so nice on my knees. The cushioning really made a difference in each step. My feet are usually a little tired after an hour from the pounding, even when on dirt trails, but I felt great all the way to the end.

(by Darrell Wyatt) Let’s go for a run :)

(by Darrell Wyatt)

Let’s go for a run :)

Flickr / darrellwyatt

The Runner's Pie

Thanks to Runner’s World for some simple, yet useful tips on how to build a perfect pizza pie. This is sure to satisfy after a grueling run and give you all the protein, carbs, fat and nutrients you need to replenish your muscles. And the best part? It’s just as gooey and cheesy and tasty as the less-healthy comfort foods you may be craving. So follow the steps below to assemble one great tasting pie (or go to the end of the article for some more convenient frozen choices - there’s no shame in putting the microwave to good use!)

The Runner’s Pie

Feel good creating (and eating!) tasty, low-fat pizza. By Liz Applegate Ph.D. Image by Mitch Mandel From the April 2011 issue of Runner’s World

Runners love pizza so much that most eat about one medium pie every month. Trouble is, many are high-fat disasters with few nutritionally redeeming qualities. One solution? Make your own at home and load it with good-for-you ingredients. Choose your crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings, then assemble the pizza on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 450° F for 10 to 15 minutes.

CHOOSE YOUR CRUST
Look for uncooked whole-wheat dough in your grocer’s refrigerated or freezer case. Or use prebaked options, like focaccia, naan, whole-wheat pita, or French bread. Sprinkle crust with flaxseed meal or wheat germ for an extra boost of nutrients.

SPREAD ON THE SAUCE…

Continue reading here!

runnersworld.com

Murphy and I at Difficult Run! I chose to use the stones to get across, Murphy plunged right into the water, whatever, we both made it and had a great run down the path, through the woods. I’ve said before how much I love my job as a Program Director for Jenny Craig, but after days  of deep, emotional talks, no matter how excited I get after motivating people, I’m completely drained by the end of the week. Nothing recharges my batteries like an hour spent out in the woods under the sun with my bf. Knowing how to relieve stress is vital for a healthy life balance. Whatever stress relief method you use, just make sure it doesn’t cause more stress. For example, if you’re stressed about finances, but then relieve that stress by going on a fun shopping trip…well, you can see the contradiction there. Exercise, on the other hand, gets blood pumping to your brain, which increases productivity and mental clarity. Your energy levels increase and you get into shape. I don’t know anyone whose stress wouldn’t be lessened a bit if they were thinking clearer and felt hotter in their jeans (and that does not just apply to the ladies). What are some productive, healthy things you do when feeling stressed out?

Murphy and I at Difficult Run! I chose to use the stones to get across, Murphy plunged right into the water, whatever, we both made it and had a great run down the path, through the woods.

I’ve said before how much I love my job as a Program Director for Jenny Craig, but after days  of deep, emotional talks, no matter how excited I get after motivating people, I’m completely drained by the end of the week. Nothing recharges my batteries like an hour spent out in the woods under the sun with my bf.

Knowing how to relieve stress is vital for a healthy life balance. Whatever stress relief method you use, just make sure it doesn’t cause more stress. For example, if you’re stressed about finances, but then relieve that stress by going on a fun shopping trip…well, you can see the contradiction there.

Exercise, on the other hand, gets blood pumping to your brain, which increases productivity and mental clarity. Your energy levels increase and you get into shape. I don’t know anyone whose stress wouldn’t be lessened a bit if they were thinking clearer and felt hotter in their jeans (and that does not just apply to the ladies).

What are some productive, healthy things you do when feeling stressed out?