exercise
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!!
What Running Tastes Like…And Other Fun
On today’s menu, bugs. Lots of bugs. Big bugs, little bugs, icky, icky bugs.
First up, Mr. Helicopter: something flying fast and with an ample wingspan flew directly into my mouth. Luckily, I was able to get rid of him before he was able to kamikaze down my throat. Not more than a minute went by before I inhaled some other gross thing that I didn’t even see coming and this one tasted BAD! Let the spitting commence.
A few miles went by without further incident, but I did get to enjoy the smell/taste of freshly cut grass which is one of those childhood memories most of us have, but mine is a direct association with track in-fields and field hockey fields ready for some fun.
And, while I’m happy to say I have no idea what this tastes like, I did come across (I am NOT kidding) a guy dressed in a hot pink gorilla suit climbing out of his car. Yes, I stopped. Yes, I stared. And as those of you who know me will of course expect, yes, I had to talk to the guy. Turns out he goes to birthday parties, office parties and does singing telegrams…dressed as a hot pink gorilla. ummm. I think I’ll stick to the bugs part of the run next time!
A Bedtime Story, For Me
Getting out of bed early to run, after the recent time change, has been mighty tough for me. I’m a night owl, so dark, cold mornings are challenging enough. Toss in a time change and I am just about a lost cause. Or, really, a complete lost cause. But there’s hope! My Favorite Lane Mate has offered to pick me up. And not only that, she said she’d come over the night before a run, take away my list of things to do, tuck me into bed and read me a bedtime story. I love having such wonderful and motivating friends!
I think I’ll skip the tuck-in, but I just might have to take her up on the early morning ride! Thanks, friend!! Whose afraid of a little cold and wind with friends around? Not me.
And, Running Stuff, Of Course!
Lest you think I forgot about the running list, I did not! Some of my favorite things in the whole world are running things. My favorite STUFF!
~ Most importantly, my required shoes, the Asics Gel Nimbus. I ran in the Asics Gel Light in college and have been a huge Asics fan ever since
~ My favorite shorts are these Nike Tempo Shorts….LOVE them. And Nike just came out with a new style that looks very retro, with a wide waistband and pockets - COOL!
~ Life is no fun without these Balega socks…which I run in and wear for every day socks too - they are the BEST and will treat your feet like the rockstars they are
~ Runs are just a tad more fashionable (and, very truly, comfortable!) with one of these Nike running skirts, which just happen to be on sale at the Nike online store right now…
All of these things can be found in my favorite running store, Fleet Feet Davis, or online for you non-Norcal folks. 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!
Lovin’ Team Jelly Belly!
With all of the media buzz going on, you can’t have missed the Amgen Tour of California being in town. Oh, and the rain. That came too. But we didn’t care! Our family headed down to Central Park in Davis for the start of Stage 1 of the Tour. Davis to Santa Rosa. 107 miles. In the pouring rain. Yes, the riders were really going to have to earn their money in this weather!
We love anything Jelly Belly so we had to head straight over to the Jelly Belly team bus. The cool, cool racing bikes of the team were lined up next to the bus. So sleek!
The kids got some Jelly Belly samples (always a hit!), some photos next to the killer bikes…
and then Brad Huff came out of the bus to talk to someone. The kids (okay, and the Mom!) were in awe of this amazing cyclist who then turned to the kids, pulled a big handful of Jelly Belly Sport Beans out of the back of his racing jersey and handed them to the kids with a smile and some upbeat words. SO cool! Thanks Brad!
The rest of the team emerged soon after and we were front and center for watching them double check equipment, pull on their feet warmers and finish up some interviews. (would you look at the quads on that guy?? Unbelievable!)
Ir was amazing to be so close to such stellar athletes. Calvin loved standing by, taking it in while sippin’ hot cocoa! We had a great time cheering for ‘our’ team when the riders took their slow laps around the park before headed out into the certain misery of the rain.
I was so inspired I wanted to get on my bike and follow them! I can’t wait for my next bike ride. Thanks guys! You inspire and I wish you lots of luck in the days ahead!
Movin’ On UP!
You may recall my FLM (Fabulous Lane Mate) of the cold, cold days of swimming a while back. Well, she’s DITCHING ME! What I mean is, she has re-worked her eating time before workouts - which has refueled her body so effectively that she’s now able to kick harder, and go faster. Oh, and she’s been going to swim workouts three days and week for quite a while now. So she’s moving up a few lanes!
While I’ll admit to a bit of jealousy, I will also admit to a great deal of admiration and appreciation for what my hard-working swim and run buddy has accomplished. I dream of moving up lanes, and know it will happen someday. I’m going to heed her advice and eat a really solid meal an hour before we swim. And yesterday I worked on kicking harder throughout the hour. (ummm - yeah-but it’s harder and makes you tired!!!!) And I know that getting in the water three days a week really helps you see improvement!
Heck, doing anything three days a week really helps you see improvement. So get after it! And for the record, the pool was light on swimmers yesterday so the both of us got to swim in lane 3. I still did excessive amounts of chasing…but it was fun to see where I can go when I grow up!
Splish Splashing Around
One of the reasons that I love swimming so much is for the great workout you get while going easy on your body. Huh, you say? Well, your body is working while swimming laps (the most obvious sign being that your body warms up and doesn’t feel cold once you’ve been in the water for a few minutes) but since you are literally floating through the water, the pounding your body takes from other sports isn’t there in the water.
So when I had knee surgery in college and couldn’t run, I was sent to the pool to rehab. And while I considered it pure torture at the time, being forced to swim in a lowly pool instead of run around my track, it did keep me in shape and allow my knee to heal.
And now, as an adult, I do see the value for myself and many others. There’s my husband, who completely destroyed his knees playing basketball many years back. Running for him is extremely painful, and basketball is out of the question. But swimming gives him a great workout while leaving his knees in comfortable swim bliss.
There’s a running friend who hurt her calf in a race a while back and it flared up again on a recent run. She’s been staying off the roads, but in the swim lanes and is healing wonderfully.
And there is my Aunt, who came to exercise very late in life, but she now walks, runs and swims on a regular basis and loves to slowly stroke her way through the pool with her pull-gloves on.
And my two big kids who just started swim team in the last few weeks. They are loving it even though the concept of getting in the pool in January seems outrageous!
So if you get the chance to join in the fun, I really recommend integrating swimming into your workout routine. It will add a wonderful dimension and go easy on all of your pieces and parts! Happy Splashing!
Ah Bliss!
Sunny day. Warm water. Friends abound. Fun workout. Great coach. Feeling good. ‘Nuff said!
Ah Bliss!
Loran Wyman
is CEO and Founder
of Snug Bug Bag -
a Mompreneur based business
creating warm, hip and functional
fleece stroller/jogger blankets
