Friday Five Link-up with by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

Today’s Theme

5 Bucket List Vacations

That being said, I’m going a different direction today, so if you want to find a spot for your dream vacation this isn’t the post for you.

BUT

If you want to know,

TOP 5 WAYS TO RUN SAFELY

this is the post for you.

I’ve been thinking a lot about running safety this week.   I’ve been thinking a lot about the drivers on the road this week.   I’ve also been thinking if I wanted to do this post this week and here is the reason why.

My town like many has a community Facebook page.    This post appeared in it this week.

Now, I also thought a lot about whether or not I wanted to post this comment as anonymous.   I try to teach my children the internet is FOREVER and you have to own up to what you put out there.   Really,  I know this and yet I still keep this blog.  Up until right now, I thought I would post with his name, but I don’t think it is necessary.   Maybe he was having a bad day.   Maybe he was blowing off steam or my personal favorite maybe he is something a woman might use on a Summer’s Eve.

This post bothered me on sooooo many levels as I think that it would for most rational people, but I will tell you what bothered me most about this post.  In my community there really were only a few people that called him out on his words.   Most gave him the “he said it with sarcasm” get out of saying hateful things card.   I don’t.   You shouldn’t either.    Call me Pollyanna, but I just think that there are just some things that should just not be said.   EVER.  I also think people need to be called out on their hateful words.

It also bothered me because more people than I care to admit acted like a mother running with a stroller was doing something wrong.   That is beyond as asinine assumption and these people really should get out on the road themselves to see why we are all addicted to it.   There were more than one person who chimed in.    Again not many people called them out on this.   My one friend (yes you) said that’s because the haters are more likely to jump in and others don’t want to get in the mix even if they disagree.   I’m not one of those people.

Now even though his post was deleted either by him or the group moderator, his words and others could not be deleted from my mind.   I’m a bit of a positive person and the fact that people can behave this way really makes me sad.   The fact that there are people who can even in jest say these things makes me angry.    And most importantly the fact that these same angry people are behind the wheel scare me.

So without further ado….

5 Ways to stay safe while running.

1. DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES!   Yes, I know that you don’t listen to your music loud, but just don’t wear them.   I listen to music but it plays though my phone.    If I am on a closed course, I will wear headphones.
2. Wear reflective clothing, bright colors, or something to make you stand out.  You should see some of the things I wear running.
3. Keep your eyes open.   When I say this I mean watch the oncoming traffic, look for driveways that may have cars ready to pull out.    Just generally pay attention to your surroundings.
4. Always run towards traffic on the side of the road.   Be ready to jump.   Yes, I know that this is horrible, but it’s a fact of life if you run in the roads.   People are distracted.   I’ve said it in previous posts like I see you do you see me.
5.  If running at night wear blinkie.

What are your running safety tips?

Have you ever come across an angry driver?

I’ve been off the radar for a bit.   Not intentionally.   It really is just that life has gotten crazy busy and with Christmas coming it is bound to get a little more crazy.   That being said, I’ve not stopped running.   Yeah, running.

I actually just ran the local Turkey Trot.   Lots of my fellow Mom’s Run This Town Mama’s were running too.   That always makes for a fun time.     This is a nice event.   This is one that is nice because it’s a good course that you can just run for fun or run to push it a little bit.   Mostly flat and it happens to be in the neighborhood where I do many of my runs.   I actually said that to myself while I was running.   “These are my streets.”

I had decided going in that I was going to push myself a little bit on this course and just run.    Run, Run, Run.    I had no goal time other than I wanted to know that I was pushing myself a little.   I almost went out too fast as with most events everyone runs full speed out of the gate.   If I hadn’t intentionally slowed myself down my first mile would have been in the eights which would not have done well for the next four miles.   I kept it in check and just made each mile a little faster.   Then the last mile, you come back into the park and I just took off.   I was only able to do it because I knew it was the last mile.    I had very pretty splits and I was very happy with the way this race turned out.   I even placed 13 in my age group which means next year I have a goal of breaking into the top 10:)

Had a great time and so glad I was able to do it this year.

Then I did something that I’ve been thinking about for a bit now.   I signed up for a 50K.    It’s not till May which is perfect as the NYC Half is in March and it won’t interfere with the NYC Marathon training either.   I’m really not sure how I went from saying that I was only going to run the NYC Half & Full next year to adding more races other than that is just the way I roll.

So signed up I am and I think I’m good for the year now:)

or

that’s what I’ll tell myself today!

Do you live outside your comfort zone?

We all know what we are supposed to do to be healthy .   Balanced eating.   Right amount of exercise.   Yada. Yada. Yada.  It’s hard to get motivated sometimes.   It’s hard to get moving sometimes.     Even after getting into the routine, sometimes things happen.   Sometimes you loose your mojo to keep getting out the door.   Sometimes, you run your goal race and your are content to skip a few runs.

It happens.

The trick is finding out what your motivator is and will get you back on the road.   To each their own.   Now mine is signing up for events.   Hard events.   Events that I’m not quit sure I can do.   Events that I have to prepare for.   Events that might even seem crazy to some.    I am at that point.

Now, I’m not sure how this happened as I am pretty certain before I even finished Marine Corps Marathon I said NY would be my last and I would call it a day.    Then some time passed and even though not really enough to make me forget.   I think I may have gone a little crazy because I was toying with th idea of signing up for a 50K in January.

It was pointed out to me by a few people though that I do have a slight obsession with Christmas and a January 50K could interfere with it.    So not the fear of the 50K, but the fear of messing up my Christmas plans made me reconsider.   So I didn’t sign up for it.   I, instead, signed up for the Trial Marathon.   Figure, why no?    Besides, if I find it’s too much I will just stop.   Although, I’m hoping not to.  I will also admit the fact that there is total lack of bling made me think twice too.

So I’ve taken next year that was supposed to be only about running the NY City Half and Full and have already put some big events on the radar.   First the trail marathon in January. Then the NYC Half in March.  Followed hopefully by a yet to be signed up for 50K  and then the NYCM.   I’m also pretty certain 2016 will bring other events too.

So although I need running in my life for my sanity and such.   Without these things in the pipeline, I might not be as dedicated to training as I should be otherwise.

What motivates you?

Friday Five Link-up with by Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

Today’s Theme

5 Things about Race Day’s

But I mistankenly did that one last week.

My Bad.

That Post is here.

So Today I will do….

5 Reasons I Race

1. Bling – Admit it, you love, love, love the bling!

2.   The sense of accomplishment finishing a race gives you.   Be it a 5K, 10k, Half or Full Marathon.   Crossing the finish line is always an amazing accomplishment.

3.   Friends – Running a race is great in  and of itself, but running it with friends is even better!

4.  Tutu’s – Need I say more:)

5.   Supportive Family – My Mom, sister, and family friend surprised me at the end of the Philly Marathon.   It added to the amazement of the experience.  I think my Mom was more excited about me crossing the finish line than I was (and I was pretty happy!).

Running can take you places you never imagined.

Where has your running taken you?

They say practice makes it perfect.   I don’t think that expression applies to Yoga or at least the Yoga that I do.   My sister is an accomplished Yogi.   Seriously, I’m not talking someone who takes a lot of yoga classes.   I’m talking about someone who literally traveled across the world for a summer Yoga training program as discussed in her book The Virgin Asanas:  How Yoga, Sex, and Mother Mary changed everything.    I didn’t even know what an Asanas was and had to look it up.   Apparently to the Yoga world it is a physical Yoga position that helps master the body and enhance the body’s function.   Still not sure that I understand it.   I do understand it enough to know that I will never be one especially if today’s Yoga class is any indication.

Going into a Yoga studio for the first time is very intimidating as a non Yogi.  Yes, there were people of all levels of practice but I just happened to end up behind someone who could not only do all the moves, but all the “fancy” ones too.  But Yoga isn’t about competing with your neighbor.   It’s about taking your practice as far as you can take it for yourself.   It still doesn’t make it any less intimidating but it does help.   I also know that those other people practicing are too busy with their own poses to worry if I am able to do any of mine.

In the past, I have taken Bikram Yoga and really enjoyed it.   Still not flexible, but really enjoyed the class and always felt that the heat added to it.   The Yoga Studio that I had been taking classes at shut down unexpectedly as their new location was not ready in time for them to move.   So I’ve been going without.   Then I found a handy dandy Groupon for another studio.   The only catch is that they have limited Brikram and today I signed up for a Vinyasa class.

Going in I wasn’t sure if I would like it.   I’ve done one or two classes of Vinyasa but that was over a year ago.   I was pleasantly surprised that not only did I like it, but also as a runner I felt would be good for me.   Most people think that Yoga is a wishy washy form of exercise.   Maybe that was just me who thought that before I took any Yoga.   It really is amazing how it can make your arms or legs shake while holding a pose.  What I think that I liked regarding Vinyasa that Bikram didn’t offer were the many poses that stretched my leg muscles.    I could see how this would be a good rest day activity because not only is it low impact but it could help to loosen up any tight muscles.   Hmmmm,    going to have to give this more of a test.

Are you a Yogi?

What is your favorite type of Yoga?

Getting in under the wire with my Friday Five Link up. Thanks to Eat, Pray, Run DC,   Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What? for hosting the Friday Five link-up!

Today’s Theme

Five Five:   Five Spring Foods

I really had to think about this because to me there are warm Fall meals, hearty Winter meals, and light Summer meal; but Spring meals?   Not really.   Upon closer inspection, I did realize that there are things that are unique to Spring.

1.  Hard Boiled Eggs – AKA Easter Eggs.   I have 3 boys and each one loves to color eggs.   Doesn’t matter how old you are because it is always fun to color eggs.   Each one gets a dozen eggs.   That’s a lot of eggs.   I use them for a nice recovery snack after a workout.

2.  Cadburry Eggs – no these are not necessary nor do they speed up recovery, but I have to have at least one a season.   My favorite is the caramel eggs.  I will also admit that I usually have more than one a season.   Shhhhhh

3.  Ham – We always have ham for Easter.   Doesn’t everyone?   I wonder why….   Either way it is not Easter without a ham on the table.   What is on your table for Easter?

4.  Anything on the grill!    Spring is when we clean off the grill and fire up the barbeque.   There is something to be said about the first grill cooked meal too.

5.  Frozen Yogurt – Once the weather starts warming up, it is such a nice treat to have on a warm Spring night.

So my list isn’t necessarily a what should you eat in Spring if you want to be healthy, but it is all very Yummy:)