Near the starting line

What a great way to start the day! More than 2,500 people participated in this year’s Miracle Miles for Kids 10K walk/run from Morro Rock to the Cayucos Pier.  It benefit the Family Care Network which serves foster and high-needs kids/families on the Central Coast. The weather was beautiful, the people were great and it was just an all around great time. I would have posted earlier, but I was pretty exhausted afterward and ended up taking a short snooze just seconds after hitting the couch at home. 

View from the Course

The entire 6.2 miles was on the beach, and beach running is a whole other experience. I’ve done a bit of beach running here and there on my longer routes, but I have to admit having the sand the whole way was quite a challenge. Not to mention there were also “rock-climbing” intervals throughout the course. Needless to say, I was not going for time this morning! I did a combination of walking and running and finished in just over 90 minutes. I actually crossed the finish line barefoot! My shoes got soaking wet from a little stream that was running down the beach around mile 1.5. There was no way around it, had to go through it, and when I did my socks and shoes took on a bunch of water. Around mile 5 I could feel blisters starting to form from my wet socks, so I just took them off and kept right on going!

We left some serious footprints in the sand!

As if running or walking the route were not hard enough, the real heros today were the parents running/walking with baby strollers! There were some points of the race where I saw them pushing with all their might to get through the thicker sand, and the rocks were definitely a challenge. But it was great to see people stopping to help! Overall, it was a great event and I’m so happy to have been part of it. KSBY’s Andrew Masuda was also there handing out awards and giving annoucements, meanwhile our photographer Ross Gracia was flying overhead in a helicopter shooting video for a story that will air tonight at 6, 10 and 11.

Me with KSBY Director Ryan Wilkinson at the finish!

I have the rest of the day off, Monica Quintero is filling in for me, so for the rest of the day it’s all about stretching and relaxation! Thanks again to everyone, all the volunteers,  all the people who lined the race route just to cheer us on, you made today’s event so much fun! Hope to see you out there next year!

This week has been a great running week for me! My calendar has 5 “X’s” on it, and 4 of those are runs. After a 5.2-miler on the treadmill the other day, I set out this morning determined to hit 6 miles before work. The Chains of Love 15K is in less than one month, and I know I need to run at least a few solid 7-8 milers before I attempt more than 9 miles on race day.

So, I set out this morning with my still-sore legs. If there is one thing I’ve learned during my brief running career, it’s that the first couple miles can be the absolute worst. My legs weren’t feeling too great and my breathing wasn’t all that great either. But, I kept chugging along, slowing down when I needed to and speeding up when I felt good enough.

I brought a GU power gel along too, just to give me an extra boost of energy around mile 4. My route today included a bit of everything. There was sidewalk running, beach running, stair climbing… the works. I used the GPS on my phone to keep track of my mileage and literally ran in circles for the last .2 miles, just to get that final distance number up to 6!

It was a slow, steady run but there were definitely times I wanted to stop and walk. I think that’s what I’m most proud of on long runs like today’s, not the fact that I physically completed the mileage, but the fact that I kept the mental toughness necessary to do so. Maybe next week I’ll be blogging about a solid seven… stay tuned! Here are my stats from today:

Distance: 6.000 mi

Time: 1 hour 11 minutes

Average pace: 11:53/mi.

Calories burned: 673

Well, here they are in all their glory, my new running shoes! Seeing as my current shoes are 4 years old, and have been through two 5K’s, a half marathon, and countless training runs, I figured it was time.

As one of my stocking stuffers this year, my parents gave me a gift card to Running Warehouse here in San Luis Obispo, so I decided to venture in and browse their running shoe selection earlier this week. I went in expecting to simply “browse,” but walked out with the beauties you see above. Maybe that is a testament to the selling abilities of their storefront staff! In all seriousness though, it was a great experience.

I walked in and immediately gravitated toward the shoes that had pink on them. However, I was quickly reminded that choosing running shoes is more about fit, than color. The Running Warehouse rates its shoes based on support, motion control and other factors, so I had no idea what shoes would be right for me. Luckily, Andrew came to my rescue! He was extremely knowledgeable and informed me that he couldn’t really help me find the right shoes until I hopped on the treadmill they have in the store. As I focused on trying to run without falling (how embarrasing would that be?!),  he was checking for pronation. That link explains it way better than I ever could, but basically he was checking the movement of my ankles and heels. They record a tight video of your feet while you run, and then they play it back and analyze it. I know now I have just the slightest amount of pronation so I should do best in a shoe with moderate support and motion control.

Again, Andrew was a saint! I picked out four different shoes in my category and tried them all on, some in different sizes. That is when he suggested trying the Brooks Ravenna. I can’t explain it, but the fit was absolutely perfect and I loved how they felt when I walked. You could say it was love at first try! The shoes even go up in the front to help propel you forward a bit when you run, very cool.

So in the end, the shoes for me were not pink, they were purple! I look forward to hitting the pavement with them this weekend, and using them to run the upcoming Chains of Love 15K in Feburary!

In life, we are often faced with the decision of taking the road less traveled, or continuing along a familiar route. That ever-present fork in the road analogy if you will.  Opinions differ on what one should do when standing at that fork. For example, Robert Frost once said, “I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Then again, Jerry Seinfeld once said, “Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.”

I know, I know, comedians may not be the best people to consult when it comes to life choices, especially since my “fork in the road” has more to do with my running routes than life-changing decisions.

When it comes to personal preference, I like running the same route over and over. I think it helps me gauge my fitness level and if I’m feeling tired, I know exactly how far I have left to go. For example, I decided not to set my alarm clock this morning so I could have the joy of waking up “naturally.” Well, I woke up “naturally” at 11:45 a.m! I had just enough time to hit my quick 3-mile route and still have enough time to get ready.

With that said, I also know how refreshing it can be to discover a new trail. Like when I did the Bob Jones trail for the first time a couple of weeks ago. There’s an element of surprise, w hich can make the run (or walk, or bike) go by faster.

Either way, does it really matter in the end what route you take? It’s just great to be out there, right?

Feel free to pass along your thoughts on the matter, and if you have any good running spot recommendations pass those along too! I suppose I can take the road less traveled from time to time

I am happy to report my exercise “tracking system” is working very well! I used to log all my workouts in a small, spiral-bound notebook. After about two weeks I noticed that small notebook spent more time in my purse or work bag than in front of my face. So, I decided to literally put the writing on the wall! (Okay, not exactly LITERALLY) I dug out a kitten-decorated wall calendar my mom sent me a while back, just as a fun gift, and tacked it up on a highly-visible portion of my wall. Now, each day I workout, I put a red “X” and a short description of what I did on that day. So on a good week, my calendar has lots of “X’s.” I am shooting for 4-5 days a week, whether it is running, hiking, going to the gym, you get the point. It proved especially motivating this morning, when I looked at the calendar and saw 3 days without an “X.” It was the kick I needed to get out the door for a nice and easy 3-miler. It’s a simple and easy way of keeping track, but in the end, I really think it’s helping me stay on track!

Okay, having lived in the Midwest maybe the word “frightful” is a bit dramatic, but it is COLD and pretty soon it will be RAINY again! This may force me to adjust my running schedule just a bit. I have come to love running outdoors and the thought of pounding away on a treadmill doesn’t exactly get the motivation flowing. But then again the thought of shivering my way through a 3.5 mile run along the beach doesn’t sound too fun either. Any tips on varying up a treadmill workout to make it more interesting?

The weather will no doubt have me altering my running attire as well. So long tank tops and shorts, hello pants, sweatshirts, gloves and ear warmers! At one point I was actually looking to buy some new winter-appropriate running clothes when I realized just how expensive it can get! So, I mosied on down to Marshall’s a while back (other discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx have similar deals) and found a pair of Everlast workout pants and a nice zip-up long sleeve shirt for under $20! I actually wore my blue zip-up during the City to Sea half marathon. Any other tips on finding winter-proof gear without breaking the bank? Until next time, happy running and stay warm!

Danielle Here:

During my last few long runs I’ve found myself walking, or wanting to walk, from time to time. It’s never for very long, I try and keep it between 30 seconds and 1 minute. However, I find that once I walk the first time, I find myself wanting to walk again not too much later. I walked .25 miles during the half marathon back in October, and I really think that small break helped me finish strong at the end. But just from my own experiences I’m starting to realize that walking can either help or hurt your run. On one hand it can re-energize those tired legs and help you regulate your breathing, but on the other hand, it can make you think about nothing BUT walking for the rest of your run! So, how much is too much when it comes to the walking break? Is there a set amount of time or distance that works best? Feel free to pass along your own experiences with “the walking break” and let me know what you think. Until then, happy running and/or walking!

Danielle Here:

Ouch. That is one of the first thoughts that went through my head when I got out of bed this morning. My calves are killing me, in a good way of course, but it’s all because I decided to change things up a bit yesterday. As I was looking over my workout calendar it was clear I needed to do a run of some sort, but I didn’t feel like doing my regular 3.5 mile route. So, i jogged about a half-mile to a good size hill and decided to do hill sprints instead. It’s a pretty long hill with a steady incline, until you get toward the top, when it goes real vertical, real fast. I sprinted up and jogged down three times and felt like my chest was going to cave in! I then jogged/walked the half-mile back home and called it a day. I felt really good the rest of the day, but boy am I feeling it now. Still, I know it’s a good kind of sore. It means I’m not only working different muscles, but I’m also working on my endurance and lung capacity- things that can only help on my future runs. Plus, I’m planning to go for five trips up and down the hill next time around! So while it’s definitely a challenging, somewhat painful experience, I highly recommend taking on the “uphill battle” sooner rather than later. Anyone know any good uphill sprinting spots in the Pismo Beach/San Luis Obispo area?

~ Dean Karnazes, Ultra Marathon Man

Danielle Here:

It’s a cheesy and stereotypical saying but it’s so true! Attitude is everything!As I struggle to get back to my half-marathon status, I’ve realized that I have the ability to psych myself out of a good run before I even leave the house. I’m sure you know that feeling, you wake up and the last thing you want to do is go run. All you can think of is how uncomfortable you’re going to be around mile 4, huffing and puffing, wanting to stop. You can probably already feel the tightness in your chest and that burning sensation in your lungs! Since I haven’t had too many stellar runs since the half, that’s been my mindset every time I head out, just dreading how I’ll feel once I start to push my distance.

The last two times I’ve run, however, I’ve made a point to keep those negative thoughts away. I’ve also made an effort to wake up earlier, or plan my running schedule so that I’m not “fitting it in.” When I do that, all I can think of is getting the run over with so I can go on with everything else I have to do that day. I’m happy to report the last two runs have been much better than expected. I even pumped out 6.5 miles this morning, with just a couple walking breaks worked in (only on the super steep hills).

Now I have been working out more recently so my body is probably stronger already, but the run takes on a whole different feeling when I’m simply in the moment, not thinking about what I have to do the rest of the day and not dreading how I’ll feel a few miles down the road. Also, scheduling my runs is allowing me to relax, go slow, and not feel pressure to finish in a certain amount of time. Sure there will be days when even the most positive of attitudes won’t get me past 2.5 miles, but I figure with this way of thinking, at least I’m giving myself the chance to have a great run! So, until next time happy running and think positive!