Starbucks Giveaway - Just Because!

A long time ago, there was a commercial on TV where a woman was ordering a latte.  I don't even remember what the commercial was for, but she walked up to the counter and proceeded to order her drink with all sorts of crazy demands.  The other customers watched in amazement with their plain old cups of coffee.  I could not believe that anyone was THAT serious about their coffee.  Well, guess what?  I've become "that person." 

Inspiration

I have an amazing family, which includes two incredibly awesome brothers.  When I started running, my oldest brother was my lifeline.  He was the one I went to with questions and he was the one who helped me train (through text and e-mail) for my first half-marathon.  I had two goals during my first half - first, not to walk and second, to finish.  With his help and encouragement, I accomplished both of those goals.  He was much fast than I was at the time, but ran at my pace so we could run and finish it together.  Since then, I've gone on to shatter that race time as well as complete other races.

A Little Picky

It takes a lot for me to find a breakfast/energy bar that I like.  I eat them a lot, mostly as a post-run breakfast on the go.  So many bars masquerade as being “healthy,” but I find myself struggling to pronounce the majority of the ingredients.  That doesn't seem very healthy to me, so I steer clear of those.  I have found several that I really like: LÄRABAR, Clif Kit’s Organic, and most recently, Picky Bars.  The downside of these healthier versions is that they tend to be more expensive.

Hope

Last night's blog post was very jumbled because at that moment, that's how I felt - one big ball of jumbled thoughts and a mixture of emotions.  In my post, I said that I did not personally know anyone running yesterday.  As I was running this morning, the events of yesterday kept replaying in my head.  All of a sudden something connected and my heart fell into my stomach with a sickening thud.  It had somehow slipped my mind that we did have friends there.  My son's basketball coach was running, and his wife and son (one of my son's best friends) were there to cheer him on. 

United We Stand

I write this post with a heavy heart.  It may be somewhat jumbled and unorganized, but it is what's running through my head and heart right now.  I was not in Boston today, nor did I have any friends or family members who were running.  Here's the reality, though - each and every one of those people are my friends, whether I've met them or not.  Some are fast and some are slower.  Some are young and some are older.  It doesn't matter.  We are all part of a tight-knit community of runners.  We stand up for one another, cheer each other on, and in horrific instances like today, we cry together and send our thoughts and prayers from all over the world.  

Boston Bound and Determined

This was an actual conversation between my husband and me this weekend:

Me: I can't WAIT until Monday!

Husband: Why?

Me: It's the Boston Marathon!!

Husband: Who cares?

Me: [insert frowny face here] I do - it's exciting!  I want to run it someday!  Maybe I should wait until I'm 40 so I get an additional 5 minutes...

Husband (with a sigh): All you ever talk about is running...

Running Essentials

Running "could" be considered one of the cheapest sports in which to participate.  Let's be honest - all you truly need to run is a pair of shoes, a t-shirt, and shorts.  I know there are purists, but how many runners really run that way?  Certainly not me, much to the dismay of my husband.  I can't have just one or two pairs of shoes, and I have to have plenty of running clothes.  After all, variety is the spice of life, right?  Let's set aside the clothing and shoes for a moment, though...

Expo... Crashing?

Kansas City's "Rock the Parkway" race is this weekend.  Originally, I had previous plans so I didn't sign up.  Said plans then got cancelled, and I thought I might add another half to my schedule.  Due to the popularity of the race, the half was already sold out.  I decided to "crash" the expo, because who doesn't love a bunch of booths filled to the brim with the latest running gear and gadgets?

Kinvara Love

I had an amazing run this morning.  No, I wasn't running on a tree-lined trail or on a beautiful beach.  In fact, I wasn't even outside.  I was running on the treadmill in my basement gym, and everything but the mileage on my iFit Live screen was refusing to work.  Should have been frustrating, right?  Ah, yes - it would have been, if not for these little beauties...

Running Safety

I rarely watch the news, but happened to turn it on last night.  Sadly, the top story was a tragic ending to the search for a young man who hadn't been seen since going out for a run Thursday night.  This happened about 5-10 minutes from where I live, which is otherwise a very safe, quiet community.  They haven't released many details, but it got me thinking - what safety precautions do you take when you head out for a run?

Switch it Up!

I tend to be a creature of habit.  As a runner, that means I stretch before my run and once I'm finished, stretch again and drink two full glasses of water.  I don't leave without my iPhone, Garmin, Road ID, and if I'm going for a longer run, my handheld bottle and sport beans.  It also translates to having my favorite running routes.  I know exactly how long they are and how much time it takes to run them.

What's on Your Running Playlist?

There are some runners who choose to run without headphones and instead, listen to the music of nature.  On most runs, I am part of the other camp – the group that prefers to have music pumping through headphones. Since I typically run alone, music is my running companion. On those days when it’s tough to get moving, it can also give me that extra boost of energy to push through to the end of a difficult run.