Running
Bras With No Blah’s!
Gotta keep the girls happy. And these days it’s so much easier than ‘the olden days’! I actually ran track and played field hockey in high school while wearing a regular old blah bra. The biggest problem was keeping the straps from falling off my shoulders…oh, and the incredible lack of support. In college, my roommate used to laugh at me for the number of bras I would wear to track practice. I give myself high marks for figuring out my own darn way to keep the girls stabilized!
These days, thanks to a number of awesome companies led by women who actually ‘get’ it, there are many, many fabulous options. My all-time favorite is The Frog Bra from Title Nine for the no-bounce effect. I also really like the CW-X Sports Bra for a less flattened look…although getting it off after a long, sweaty run is an exercise itself! I have also heard amazing things about the this Donna Karen bra, which will be my next sports bra purchase.
And if you are going for a long run, no matter what bra you are wearing, I highly recommend Body Glide under hot spots where bras can rub over the many miles. I swear by the stuff.
Here’s to happy girls!!
Of Energy Chews, Gel Blasts and Other Goo
I have a favorite energy chew. It’s the tart, moon-shaped, pomegranate-flavored Luna Moons. I have a others that I like well-enough…the Power Gel is good for bike rides and a super-easy-eating goo of a snack…Clif Bloks are flavorful and in a much easier-to-use package these days. But for long weekend runs, where I can stop and take a few moments to enjoy the flavor and texture, the Moons are the best.
Always on the lookout for something better, I like to try new things when they appear on the market. The options are pretty endless and I’m sure I’ll have a new favorite some day soon. In the meantime, it’s fun to sample.
Today’s test was the PowerBar Gel Blasts. I’ve heard they are easy to digest and easy to chew…both pretty important on a long run or ride. Let me just say Mouth Full of Bubble Gum! I felt like each and every bite was comparable to putting a big, not-so-fresh piece of Hubba Bubba in my mouth and took me a few good chews to feel like I could even keep it in my mouth. The flavor was okay, but the chewiness factor was very high!
So back to Luna Moons I go…preferably Pomegranate as I’m not very fond of the Strawberry…and the Blueberry is okay, but not fabulous. The Clif Bar Shot Blox and Power Gels will hold their second place slots…at least until someone comes up with some incredible new chew - which is only a matter of time.
Your Groove Thing
I love hitting your groove with something. It can be at a job, as a Mom, in the pool or as a runner. What that groove is differs for each person, and from day to day for any one thing.
Over the years I’ve had some amazing grooves as a runner. Truly amazing seconds. Truly amazing workouts. They will always stay with me…motivating me to find the next good groove. When things just click and everything seems magical. When you feet aren’t even touching the ground. I likened the feeling once in college to flying…everything is so right that you feel weightless!
I’ve just hit another groove…nothing stellar in the world of running, and really nothing super-new for me. But it is a place I haven’t been in a long while.
Today I hit the running consistently groove. I’ve been running consistently enough that I feel like I can hold my own on longer runs and that feels so great! So today I’m enjoying that groove thing feeling! And I’m hoping you are hitting your groove this summer too…whatever that may be for you.
Ah, Summer! What’s Your Pace?
I love the slower pace of summer! Less kid activity, less school activity, warm weather and more time during the day to do the things you want to do. And, this summer pace also applies to running.
During the school year there is always something to get back home for…a conference call, carpool, someone’s soccer game…but during the summer, I’ve found the running pace can be a bit slower since there is a touch more time to actually enjoy the run itself as well as getting the benefits of the exercise.
Last weekend I did a long run — not a super long run, but longer than I’ve gone in a while. I was with two very fast, amazingly talented runners, who’s company I absolutely enjoyed and who’s presence, when they could have been miles ahead of me, I so appreciated. Our pace was slow-ish and got progressively slower as we got towards the end. We were enjoying the conversation, and the slow pace helped ensure I didn’t have to stop and walk, which I do not like to do. Knowing these gals are speed superstars and yet they were humble and happy to go at my pace meant so much to me. Thanks Gals - you made my day! Here’s hoping next weekend I can do the same distance - a little faster!!
Don’t Try This At Home…
Or on your next run. I recently wore a stylish and fitted workout top I found at the bottom of my drawer. Looked hip and cool at the outset of the run….by the last mile I was hurting. And later that day, I looked like this:
Three sleepless nights later, it finally started to heal. I am happy to say I gave the top away, and have heard from a number of runners that Body Glide is a great way to prevent this. I’ve used it with my wetsuit for easy triathlon transitioning, but not thought of this!
Happy running!
Flying with Fins
I do love a good swim workout…but I mostly love a great sprint swim workout - with fins! There is nothing as fun as putting on fins and flying from one side of the pool to the other. Your arms can hardly keep up with your legs and, despite the fact that your lungs are searing and on the verge of exploding, you keep going.
Why? Because it’s FUN! And fast! And I love fast. Well, my body loves fast. Long and slow, not so much. I am a Fast Twitch muscle kind of gal and I love it. And while I love all of my many friends who are Slow Twitch gals, I’ll never, ever be able to run the kind of marathon they can, or swim the kinds of distance they can.
Back to those fins…they make the short and fast 25’s and 50’s super-speedy and fun. And they make the distance swims fun too, since no matter how fast you are going regularly, you’re going to go a whole lot faster with fins on.
So give em a try the next time you get to the pool. I have my own Zoomers, which are short fins and great for strengthening your legs and giving you an added speed boost. But the really fun ones, the ones you’ll find in the equipment room next to any Masters workout pool are the long blade babies that make you fly!
Loran Wyman
is CEO and Founder
of Snug Bug Bag -
a Mompreneur based business
creating warm, hip and functional
fleece stroller/jogger blankets
