Category: Exercise
My Go-To Pre Race Breakfast
| February 6, 2015 |
One question I always get from new runners is “what should I eat for breakfast on race day?” So I wanted to share my go-to pre-race breakfast with you: PB&J toast + banana + hydration
Technically speaking, I eat an AB&J (almond butter and jelly). And I guess if you want to get even more technical. I don’t own a toaster oven so I don’t actually eat toast unless I want to turn on the oven.
On average, one slice of whole wheat bread is around 12 grams of carbs. You can choose whatever bread you like but my favorites are the earthy nutty breads like Ezekiel bread. Adding the almond butter and jelly aid in flavor as well as providing a little bit of protein for muscle repair and extra sugar for additional carbs.
A banana is a good fruit option pre and post race because it’s a good source of potassium, B6, and magnesium. Potassium for me is very important. I am very prone to muscle cramps, especially in my toes due to my flat feet. With proper shoes, socks, and stretching I’ve been able to alleviate most of the problems I’ve come across during races, but I still struggle with the cramps from time to time and potassium is known to help prevent cramping. B6 is involved in transporting oxygen to the cells. This is vital for any athlete. Finally, magnesium helps to maintain healthy bones. With the prolonged pounding on your joints from running, magnesium is important if you plan to continue running through your 60s.
Last but not least, hydrate. If it’s race morning and you didn’t hydrate enough the past 2 weeks, this is not the time to make up for slacking off on your hydration routine. You don’t want a tidal wave swooshing in your stomach as you run. I like to drink about 1 bottle of water before the race depending on how much time I have from the moment I get up to the race start. I also like to add Nuun to my water. I’m a sucker for any flavored drink since I gave up soda and Nuun has added electrolytes – great for an athlete! Then I rely on the aid stations to provide my water along the course.
One big mistake you don’t want to make is trying something new on race day. What I shared with you above is what I personally do. But everyone is different and I am not a nutritionist. You’re training plan should have some long runs scheduled in. Plan to do your long runs at the same time of day that your race will start, that way you can get to know your own body and what it craves early in the morning.
… But let’s be honest. My race breakfast does NOT look like the photos above. It looks more like this. Packed the night before in a ziplock bag and a banana on the side.
It was freezing outside so I ate in my car with the heater at full blast until it was time to head to the start. This was before the Citrus Heritage Half Marathon. I did it last year for the inaugural event and had to come back for the 2nd annual race. It’s a beautiful run through the historic orange groves in Riverside and the sunrise was breathtaking! As I ran, I could smell the sweet citrus growing along the course.
Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for the Fitness Lover
| February 13, 2014 |
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Have you gotten your loved one a gift yet?
It’s pretty standard to buy a girl flowers and chocolates. For me, of course I like the flowers, but when I get chocolates I say, “thanks, yum” but I’m really thinking, “I won’t be able to eat these.”
For all those guys out there, do a girl a favor. Don’t give them something they can’t eat. I complied a list of great ideas for those last-minuters. So instead of turning to the nearest 7-11 to pick the shelves clean of the left over reject chocolate boxes (because by now the good ones are gone), head to the sporting goods store. I promise they won’t be sold out.
- I’m nuts about you – While a box of chocolates is traditional, a package of nuts is far more enjoyable for a health nut. Even chocolate covered almonds is more likely to get eaten than traditional chocolates. I’d eat nuts. If they were covered in chocolate, I’d just pace myself. Just don’t confuse a chocolate truffle with a whole almond with a chocolate covered almond. Still two completely different things.
- You got me all shook up – Can you really have too many Blender Bottles? I only have one, so maybe someone that has 5+ might tell you something different. But I keep loosing mine or forgetting it at the office. To me, I could definitely use a few extra bottles. Might as well get some in a few colors and sizes too 🙂
- I like how you roll – Having a good foam roller is good for any fitness junkie. Foam rolling is a sweet treat for your muscles. There are a TON of foam rollers and other similar products, everything ranging from $5 to $50. It does make a difference to have a good foam roller. Sure my black PVC pipe does the job, but having the actual thing would be a nice gift. I’ve borrowed the RumbleRoller from my trainer and I can tell you for a matter of fact – it works better than my PVC pipe.
- Your pace or mine? – What girl doesn’t love a new pair of shoes? And when they’re a dedicated gym goer or regular runner, getting new fitness shoes is a treat. If your Valentine is a runner, steal one of his/her running shoes and take it to the store with you. Tell the staff that you are looking for a shoe that has a similar amount of cushion, stability and motion control. If they are not as experienced in shoe fitting for runners, you can pick a shoe out and just keep the receipt. Pictured are the new Reebok ZQuick. Aren’t they cute?
- You get my blood flowing – Compression socks help improve blood flow, resulting in better, more consistent performance with less fatigue and faster, more efficient recovery. Not to mention you can get some really cute colors and designs. I picked up a pair of Pro Compression Marathon Socks from an Active.com deal and have been in love since. I’m looking forward to adding more colors and designs to my sock drawer. Compression socks are the way to go … especially for long distance runners.
- You’re whey out of my league – Whey … It’s pretty much a standard. Just like anything in the cupboard, it eventually runs out. I’m nearly out of my vanilla whey. But it could be cute to get chocolate and do a play-on-words with that … “whey better than a box of chocolates.” I had trouble with my last whey powder clumping when I used my blender bottle so I’m on the prowl for a new brand. My trainer Emily recommended I get Gnarly, so that’s why this one is on my list. Hoping to try this one next.
***All opinions are my own. I was not compensated by any mentioned brands.
The Dumbo Double Dare Disney Race Challenge
| September 29, 2013 |
When RunDisney announced they were planning to bring a multi-race challenge to the west coast, I was stoked! Without thinking, I awaited the registration date and BOOM, registered.
I had a blast at the races. I don’t want to bore you with every little detail – like how humid it was, how I loved seeing the Red Hat Ladies cheer on all the runners, how I ran with a charity team, Special Olympics Southern California, or that at one point I was running behind the oldest runner in the race.
… But I thought you might find some of my top tips for runners new to Disney races helpful.
My Top Tips for New Disney Runners
Join a Facebook group. There are a TON of running groups on Facebook. Every Disney race has one or more groups filled with runners willing to share their experiences and offer answers to your questions. It’s great to find out from other runners what to expect race day. It’s also really helpful for tourists that aren’t as familiar with the area. Locals like myself offer insight into local carb loading favorites, hotel recommendations, and more. I love being a part of the Facebook groups.
Test your costume. Running as your favorite Disney character is fun, but when your sweaty Ariel wig is slowing you down and your only options are to take it off and carry the wet mass of red fibers, tough it out, or throw away your $35 purchase at the next water station – you’ll wish you had tested it first. I know running on the streets dressed like Cinderella might be a little embarrassing on a regular Sunday afternoon, but it’s well worth it. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who owns a treadmill, you can test your costume in a more private location. Or you can even sign up for a 5k or 10k that encourages costume wearing in the months leading up to the big Disney run.
Plan for the expo. Try to get to the expo the first day. Both vendors and Disney start to run out of merchandise if you wait. If you are planning to buy specific items like compression socks, check the list of vendors and where they are located (this can be found in the official race program sent via email or posted in the “Runner Info” section of the race). There are so many vendors it can get overwhelming when looking for something “simple,” like a pair of socks.
Get plenty of sleep. A week or two before the race, go to bed/wake up early. Get your body used to time you will need to go to bed and get up for the race. Trying to fall asleep at 8PM the night before the race is tough if you didn’t train your body to do it. Consider staying at a nearby hotel the night before. I only live about 45 minutes away from the park, but that extra 45 minutes means the world when it’s 3:30AM and you’re alarm just went off.
Know your pace. While the 3:30 time limit may seem like plenty of time at a 16 min/mile, time is of the essence if you plan to stop and take photos with the Disney characters on course. A lot of people say Disney races are not about breaking your personal record and “just a fun run,” but for those of us on the slower side, these races are far from a “just” a fun run. Sure we have fun, but for 13.1 miles, we race against ourselves and our own capabilities. The slower runners are placed in the last few corrals giving you even less pacing wiggle room. Keep track of your time and don’t get picked up, because it does happen.
Get plenty of photos. Firstly, at the expo, MarathonFoto offers special pre-order deals that you should checkout. Secondly, there are a TON of photographers to snap your photo, so technically you don’t need to bring your own camera … but being able to take photos at any possible moment is a powerful thing. Charge your phone and snap away. You never know what photo op you’ll see.
Proudly wear your medal. After the race, EVERYONE wear’s their medal. Whether you’re visiting the park after the race or planning to grab some breakfast in the surrounding areas, you’ll see runners walking around with their shiny new accomplishment around their neck.
I’ve often seen people who were swept from the race, unsure if it was appropriate to wear their medal because they didn’t actually finish the race. But wether you broke your personal record or you were swept for being under the pace requirement, you earned your medal 🙂
Motivational Monday & Downloadable Menu Planner
| August 19, 2013 |
I have been on the biggest motivational downward spiral the past month or two. It’s normal to get burnt out and relapse back to old habits. The hard part is realizing it and then picking yourself back up and getting back on track.
[I’m about to admit a nerdy secret of mine]
I got a little addicted (or obsessed) to Survivor … you know, the show where a bunch of people get stranded on a deserted island in hopes of winning a million dollars? Yea, that’s the one. I can’t seem to stop. I’m streaming season after season, but my newly found nerd habit is a couch driven activity. Not to mention, I also find myself craving (and eating) the comfort foods they use as challenge rewards in the show more often than normal. This new obsession left me staying up late and missing my morning alarm to wake up early for the gym. Then after work, the last thing I wanted to do was battle rush hour traffic to head to my gym (that was over an hour away because of traffic).
You might be thinking, “just stop watching the show.” But really, the problem had been there even before the obsession. Since I moved into a new apartment further away from my trainer and got a new job closer to my house, the motivation to drive to the gym, spending more time in the car then the actual workout itself, was taking its tole.
One of my biggest struggles is making excuses. I realized after about a month straight of no gym time what I had been doing. I became a couch potato with a poor diet and no motivation to get to the gym. But I was willing to go to the gym if it was closer. So it was only a new excuse. It was time I put myself back on track!
Meet my new trainer: Emily
**Fangirl moment. I totally follow her on Instagram and realized that she’s not too far from me, so I booked a session. It feels like I’m training with an InstaCeleb! Haha. But in all seriousness, I’m super excited to get back on track. She’s kicking my butt and I’m slowly feeling more like my gym-obsessed-self again.
With new beginnings there’s new diet plans. So I made a printable menu planner that you can download (use the link at the bottom). I used to have a fridge tear pad but I have no idea where I got it and it’s all used up. But this was vital in helping me stick to my plan the last time I was following a strict diet.
When you plan out your menu, you’re less likely to have spur of the moment take-out meals or unhealthy home-made dinners. Seriously, if you’re like me, I feel so guilty when I have all the groceries and menu planned out and end up eating out instead. It’s like cheating on my fridge. I actually feel more guilty not using all my fresh ingredients than actually cheating on my diet.
But if you’re not like me, there’s still the benefit of being able to plan variety. It’s hard to think of creative things you can do with the same ingredients day after day if your stomach is screaming, “feed me!”
Transformation Tuesday
| June 18, 2013 |
I’ve never really felt comfortable or confident enough to show a side-by-side before and after photo. I think it’s because I was ashamed of how I looked in addition to not being happy with where I am right now. I am definitely not ready for a before and after photo yet. But I am finally feeling comfortable to show a side-by-side.
I refuse to call it “before and after” because it’s not. After insinuates that I am done and I am where I want to be physically, and that’s not the case. And before insinuates that there is one point or one photo that symbolizes before you began to get into shape and show progress. Well, I have had ups and downs my whole life when it comes to weight loss. Of course there were times that I was at my heaviest, but there were also times where I was almost at my goal weight. Right now, there is still a lot of body fat to lose and a lot more toning to get done. But honestly, I feel great right now and I think I look pretty good too. (Photo below is a year’s progress)
One of the biggest struggles I’ve had to overcome is to let go of the past. It’s hard to see yourself overweight and actually wanting (or willing) to share any of those photos. But the truth is, those photos exist and I can’t change that, nor would I want to. All my photos have some great memories attached to them. It’s only been recently that I can look at those photos and think to myself, “wow, look how big I was“ – versus, “wow, look how big I am.” I don’t think I will ever look at old photos and see only the good memory and not see overweight girl in addition . But the important thing is that I can recognize that it’s past. I see that I’ve changed, both physically and mentally. I’m not the person in those photos. I am much more confident, driven, and overall much happier.
Losing weight is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Our bodies can achieve so much more than we think they can. I gave up alcohol for about 5 months just to prove to myself that I could do it (and I love my happy hour.) You have to test your limits and then try to break them and climb higher and higher every time.
I used to only have my long-term goal for what I hoped to look like after losing all my weight. Now I constantly set new short term and long term goals that really don’t have much purpose or reason other than to test my limits. Currently, my goal is to do 10 pull-ups by July 4th without any resistance bands or help up from my trainer. Why did I set this goal? I just wanted to see if I can do it – and I know I can with hard work.
I won’t ever say losing weight is easy. If it was, I wouldn’t still be trying to get there. But once you learn to embrace the mental game and are willing to challenge everything you thought you could do, it will get easier.
My Carbo Loading Recipe and the Tinker Bell Half Marathon
| April 7, 2013 |
There are so many different ways and techniques people use their diet to boost their running performance. Having not really thought about a special diet for the Disneyland Half back in September, for RunDisney’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon I wanted to be more prepared. (If you read my post about the Disney Half, you know I wasn’t prepared in any way, shape, or form).
Besides preparing for the run by running, because we all know that’s a must, I was doing my regular healthy low-carb diet with very minimal cheat meals. The month of, I didn’t cheat at all (with the exception of a celebratory glass of champagne for my work’s 25th anniversary).
Here’s where the diet change starts to come in… Like I mentioned, I follow a low-carb diet. I rarely eat breads and pastas and when I do have carbs, it’s usually some quinoa or oatmeal, and this usually only happens once a week. The week leading up to the run, I added carbs into my daily diet routine. I would have a piece of whole wheat bread for breakfast with some almond butter and a banana or a sandwich for lunch.
The night before my run, I had pasta. YUM! A lot of people say you should carbo-load the night before. There’s even a Pasta in the Park party at Disneyland the night before for an additional fee. For me personally, the acidity in traditional marinara doesn’t sit well with any cardio sessions, so I made a pesto!
Note that it’s nut free for all my nutty EpiPen people out there (some of my best friends included). Not to mention that I discovered pine nuts are way out of my budget. Yikes! Sunflower seeds just seemed so much more practical.
{Nut Free} Spinach Basil Pesto
- 1/2 cup packed fresh basil
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Directions
Put the basil, 2 cups fresh spinach, garlic cloves and half of the extra virgin olive oil in a food processor. Allow the processor to run until the pesto reaches a thick sauce-like consistency. I had to do half the spinach first, then added the other half due to the size of my food processor. Add extra olive oil if needed.
Add your pesto to your pasta or pack for later use. This also tastes great on sandwiches, used as a salad dressing, or even baked on chicken.
Be sure that if you don’t use all of it, you store it with a layer of olive oil on top. Air is pesto’s worst enemy. Think wilted salad, only it’s your pesto that now has a funky wilted flavor. You can store it in a jar but I didn’t do anything fancy – just my tupperware. See how I put about a quarter inch layer of olive oil on top? The next time you use it you can just mix in the olive oil you topped it off with.
Pre-race dieting can really affect your run. The best thing to do is look at your diet. Increase your carb intake based on your current intake. Don’t eat a ton of pasta because another runner said that’s what they do. Eating more than your body is ready to handle can put your digestive system in a funk.
Another thing to look out for is to watch your fiber intake. I generally eat a TON of fruits and veggies loaded with fiber. Pre-race, loading up on fiber can be just as bad as eating too much pasta … maybe worse! Registered Dietitian Tara Gidus recommends you “cut back on those foods three days before a major race.” This doesn’t mean you cut everything out those three days – just reduce the amount of fiber based on your regular daily intake. For me, I eat about 2 cups of veggies a meal so I chose veggies with less fiber and cut it to one cup a meal those 3 days.
The final and biggest mistake new runners make is trying something new. That’s why I recommend you base your fiber and carb intake off your current diet and I don’t just straight out tell you how much you should have. New diets, new products, even new running shorts should all have a trial period before the big day. Don’t decide the morning of that you want to try some new protein shake made for runners. It’s the unwritten law – stick to what you know.
My run itself went great!!! My goal was to keep running or jogging the whole time, no stopping. Last time I didn’t train and wasn’t ready at all, so when walked for a bit I couldn’t get back up and running. That was not going to happen this time. I also made sure I had good shoes, my KTTape and everything else I mentioned in my last RunDisney blog post. When I was running, I just kept telling myself “mind over matter” and thought about how I just spent around $200 for this race so I better not disappoint myself. HA! I shed 30 minutes off my last time and finished with 3:03:26. I call that a win!
PS – Seeing that it was the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, I thought I’d be original and dress like Tiger Lily. You like? (and you can barely tell but that IS a feather in my hair)
UPDATE(4/9): Just found out that the runner wearing the Fireside Girl costume next to me has a blog too! It’s a small world! I shared my post on one of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon Runner’s Facebook groups and Patty from Margaritas, Miles & The Mouse commented that it was her.
Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013
| January 16, 2013 |
2012 was a BIG year for me! I tried so many new things and really got out of my comfort zone in all categories. First things first, I owe you the links to the recipes that I got in the mail from The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. Sorry, I have been neglecting my blog for a bit. What can I say? I don’t think I am the only one that slacks a bit during the holidays.
Peppermint Pinwheels from Wanda, My Sweet Zepol
Molasses Cookies from Faith, The Stirring Place
Chocolate Turtle Cookies from Sam, Yankee In Nashville
***Quick note: Absolutely LOVED that the bloggers sent me these cookies in single serving packs. The cookie pops were individually wrapped keeping me from over eating them. The molasses cookies were wrapped in about 3 cookies per bag so they were easy to grab for my lunch. The turtle cookies were so decadent, one was plenty to satisfy a craving. Great tip for resisting cookies during the holidays. If you are tempted to eat a ton (let’s be honest, who isn’t tempted?) then bag them up for lunches in single serving zip-lock bags.
Next up, 2012 year in review. Broke so many PRs and really embraced my goals and what I wanted to do. Here’s a few highlights of my year…
Let’s talk 2013. This year will be bigger and better! I have already started studying to earn my Certified Personal Trainer cert with plans to earn a cert for nutritional counseling as well. (I am addicted to learning. Before I die I bet I’ll have a million certs and degrees for anything and everything.) I also have my Tinkerbell Half Marathon on Sunday (YIKES!) and I have signed up for the Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare in September and plan to sign up for the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon to earn my Coast to Coast medal. I might even add a little Tough Mudder to the mix but I am still not sure. The thought of getting shocked from live wires doesn’t sound too fun to me.
In addition to all my planned runs (and my unplanned runs), I am going to focus a lot more on my diet. Less healthier and more healthy, so I hope your ready for all my recipes. I have also decided to drink less (alcohol). I have decided I will save all my drinking for special occasions like birthdays, vacation, the 4th of July… no more drinking-because-its-fun type of nights. With alcohol, you are drinking pure calories, encouraging blood sugars to spike, and when you drink enough (enough for the fun to begin) you weaken your immune system. It’s just not a good thing to be drinking in excess.
I have also been inspired by all those before and afters on Pinterest. If they can do it, so can I. This past year I have being going at a slower pace in reaching my goals. Yes, I am getting there but why not light the match and get there a little faster?
Here are a few things I plan to do for 2013:
- Alcohol should be enjoyed at a minimum
- Exercise 6 days a week
- Eat better
- 8 hours a sleep a night
- 1,000 miles run total
- Get my CPT cert
- Get my Nutrition Counseling cert
- Pledge not to use the elevator at my work (stairs only!)
…and I am sure there will be many other things I will add to this list as the year goes by. But that’s what updating my blog is for 🙂
My First Half Marathon at Disneyland
| November 19, 2012 |
Check that off my bucket list! I completed the Disneyland Half Marathon in September and wanted to relay some things I wish I knew before running. Words of advice and encouragement that you can use if you decide to run a half. (Ok, I know it’s been a while since I ran, but it took a while to get the photos I ordered and I wanted to get some good recipes up first.)
Firstly, let me tell you a little about my experience. I registered for the half marathon in January of 2012, a whole nine months before the actual run was to take place. I registered because I was having one of those moments. We have all experienced them. I was on Pinterest and pinning away – all these motivational quotes and healthy recipes and I was really in the mood to take a leap and really turn up the heat on my healthy lifestyle. I saw all those photos and I just wanted to get up and work out and eat healthy. That’s what Pinterest is for, right?
So I registered for the half marathon. Well precious training time went by and nothing happened. I continued my regular routine: gym 3xs a week, mostly healthy eating, 8hrs of sleep. But I never really started actually running. In late June, my gym trainer convinced everyone to do a 5k. I ran it with no prep but I fell in love! I loved being among other people that liked running (because I hated running). Feeling accomplished, I decided to start training for my half marathon. Too bad I still didn’t like running so I failed. I could not run more than a mile on my own without getting bored and walking back home.
I ran a few more 5ks before the Disneyland Half Marathon. I figured it might be enough. After all, a half marathon is only 4x the distance as a 5k. That meant I was 25% there! Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Day of, I woke up at 3am (more like 3:15, hello snooze!) and drove over to Disneyland. I thought I was all set with my favorite workout shirt, my iphone to keep time and for music if I needed it. Wasn’t feeling nervous at all.
The first 5 miles or so was all fun and games because we ran through the park and I was totally pumped with all that Disney music feeding my inner Disney Fanatic. At one point, I realized I had so much adrenaline that my legs were numb. I was having a blast! It was after we left Disneyland when the fun started to fade.
Up until that point, I had no doubt I would make it. But at the 6th mile marker, I was thinking I might want to take a break. BIG MISTAKE! I am not a walk jogger by any means. Stopping to walk, for me, makes it so much harder to get back and run. I never walked in any of my 5ks (not even my first one). MIND OVER MATTER! But I stopped. I stretched. Then kept running. About a mile later, I stopped again… and so on. My goal was to run that last 5k so around the 9th mile I was all set to start running again. But the muscles in my legs were spasing and going crazy. I ended up only being able to run that last mile instead of 5k.
But I finished, and that is the most important part! I did it! My time was 3:33:45. (Ignore the time on the photos. That’s the time for corral A, and I was in E.) With little training and no experience, mission accomplished. Besides more training, here are a few things I wish I had known I needed for the half I thought I would share with you:
- Running Belt – I saw this Spibelt at the RunDisney Health Expo but I didn’t think I needed it, especially for the price. But now I wished I had gotten one. They expand to hold however much stuff you need to carry. Great for holding your snacks, phone and travel vaseline. And I would have preferred this for my phone over my arm band because I ended up not needing my music and my arm band just became an annoyance. There are so many options/brands, so get one that suits your needs.
- Vaseline – This is a MUST! There are also brands like BodyGlide made specifically for runners that I hear do a better job than vaseline. But there are also a lot of runners that tell me Vaseline does the job just fine. Your call. Rub some in between your legs, under your arms (where your arms rub against your shirt) and if you’re a guy you might want to put some on your chest. It keeps the chaffing at bay. I would also suggest carrying a small bottle with you just incase you need to reapply. Take it from me, I was in some serious pain!
- Lara Bars – Half way through I was craving Lara Bars. Pick whatever snack you choose, but have it on hand for when those cravings hit.
- Good Shoes – Hopefully you train more than I did so you are able to recognize how bad of shape your shoes are in before you run. I didn’t, and by the end my feet were killing me. Wear good shoes. End of story.
- Sweat Band – I saw the HALO head band at the expo and thought I’d try it. I sweat a lot and would get sweat in my eyes (ouch) during 5ks. So I could only imagine what it was going to be like doing a half. So I splurged and got one. It has a Sweat Block Seal that is basically like a rubber sweat catcher that makes it so your sweat falls on the side of your face versus into your eyes. It worked like a charm! I highly recommend this.
- KTape – Also known as kinesiology tape. At about the 7th mile, my muscles were throbbing and cramping and there was nothing I could do. In my attempt to stretch, another runner suggested next time I use my KTape. Well if I had KTape and knew what it was, I would have used it. Basically it’s a fitness tape that gives a little extra support to the applied muscle. Some tape brands are pre-cut to give you the right shape for the right area and some provide a how-to for each muscle location on the body. I haven’t tried it yet but I will give it a go next time I do a long distance run and let you know. It’s best to get to know your body during training so that you know where you need to apply the KTape. Most commonly, KTape is applied to support the knees.
**This post is in no way affiliated or sponsored by RunDisney or any of the companies mentioned. All content is of my own opinion.
Sunday Runday: The 5k
| September 20, 2012 |
Running has never been my thing. When I was in middle school, I used to fail every mile we ran (if you took more than 13 minutes to run the mile, you got an F). When my gym decided to get together to run in a 5k, I was skeptical. I hate running. But then again I did, for whatever reason, sign up for the Disneyland Half Marathon. So I joined in on this 5k. Mentally preparing myself, I decided that my goal was to not stop. If I stopped, I was worried it would be that much harder to start back up again. My only stop was for a sip of water because at the 1.5 mile mark, I failed at drinking water because I was running and ended up pouring it all over my face. But I had so much fun running with everyone, I am now addicted.
I’m not going to lie and say that I miraculously now like running. I still hate it. But I loved the feeling I had after the race, the natural high and feeling of accomplishment. AND it is so much easier to run when you are running with a bunch of people that do like running. If you haven’t tried a 5k yet, I suggest you do so. You might just surprise yourself. I’ll post about my Disneyland Half Marathon weekend as soon as I get my photos in the mail, so sit tight.
My First 5k Time: 39:28
My Second 5k Time: 39:10
My Third 5k Time: 36:38
