Tomorrow's schedule...

Well I'm awake at 12am which is definitely not great considering I have an 8am class...

But I don't have to shower before class! I'm just going to wake up, grab some breakfast and head out! I after my lovely lovely 2 hour 8am class on Anthropological Theory I am going to head straight to the gym! I plan on getting in a nice LSD. Hopefully around 70 minutes, followed by around 20 minutes on the stair stepper!

Of course I'mma hit up my core and do some burpees or push-ups, but the main focus is jump starting my stamina again after these few days off!

Wish me luck everyone!

xx

Molly

Cold-Weather Running Gear

Source: glassphotography.com

Ah winter running. The most wonderful time of the year. Nothing says "yuletide" like frozen extremities and a thin layer of sweat between you and the jacket that is too thin in the beginning of your run and too thick at the end of it.

I personally have had my fair share of cold weather days, including on race where I competed in shorts and a singlet, while running through 4 inches of snow and sleet. Cozy!

Yep that's me. I was near frozen to death after that 6k, my normal skin tone is a lot less reddish, blue, I promise. I made quite a few mistakes that day that I vowed not to make again. Namely, I run in pants now. There are tons of different things you can buy to protect you from the winter chill, and I'm going to start at the bottom.

FEET

Traction. While we all love our running flats lets face it, they slip and slide as soon as things get slick. Snowy trails? Forget it. I don't want to risk spraining, or worst, breaking my ankle. These are Kahtoola MICROspikes. A little on the expensive side at $64.95 a pop, but absolutely worth it. They come in red and black in a variety of sizes. They are intended to be kept in your pocket or running pack and taken out and slipped on for snowy or icy spots!

Warmth. Most running shoes are extremely breathable. Which is nice in the summer, and troublesome in the winter. These are Drymax Cold Weather Running Socks and I love them. Fairly reasonable in price ($11-15) and I love the higher rise. In the winter a lot of times that little piece of ankle that shows gets really cold, personally when that happens it's similar to having a rock in my shoe, annoying and uncomfortable.




LEGS

Warmth and protection. In general I'm a huge fan of SportHill. They divide they're clothes into three zones based on the temp you'll be wearing them in! (How smart is that?). These are the Saga II Tights for women. They come with 7" zippers and gripper elastics around the ankles. They come in 7 sizes (which includes 2 length options), and are not only are they warm they are also windproof up to 35 mph! Tons of bang for your buck (the newest model is $109 when earlier models are cheaper they lack the leg zipper and other details).

UPPER BODY

Warmth. Placed in Brooks "Extreme Warm" category the Brooks Utopia Thermal is such a good investment (men's version: Brooks Utopia Softshell). Both versions come in a solid black, which is the little black dress of runners. We all need the classic black thermal (I'm wearing one right now). These are priced from $75 to 150 (men's). 

Warmth and visibility. Being warm is just as important as being visible. Especially because a lot of the coldest runs are at dusk and dawn. This is the Women's Nightlife Ess. Run Vest II (men's version: Men's Nightlife Ess. Run Vest II). These Brooks vests are set a $75 and absolutely worth it. Place in their "Warm" category these vests are perfect to pair with my next piece of running gear.

Toasty arms. Complete with thumb holes and a key pocket the Asics Thermopolis LT Arm Warmers are great for runs that are going to start cold and end mild. Once things start to get warm just roll them off and stow them in a pocket. They can even be used as a base layer under a running jacket! They also come with gripper elastics so you don't have to worry about them riding up. These little babies are right around $24 (which is pretty standard for arm warmers)!

No numb fingers! If you're looking for thin mittens that are still super warm the Saucony Ulti-Mitts are made for you! At $45 it seems a little pricey for "just" a pair of mittens, but that's exactly what they are not. These little babies are mittens are a 3 in 1 miracle. Not only do they have the classic mitten to glove conversion, but they also have a convertible thumb and fore-finger option, that come with silicon grips. When not in use you can fasten them together with their magnet fasteners and stash them in your pocket!

HEAD

Warm necks and face. A gator is a must have for cold weather running. You need to protect your neck, cheeks, and if it can can convert into a balaclava that's just icing on the cake! The Mountain Hardware Hardface Stretch Convertible Balaclava can do all of that. It might be a mouth full to say, but it's definitely affordable at only $35. Comes in black and grey.

Ears. Sometimes it's chilly, but not chilly enough for a balaclava. That's what ear bands are for! The Brooks Infiniti Headband  is only $18 and uni-sex. The cut of the headband allows it to be worn like a headband while still fully covering your ears. If things get too steamy simply cuff up the ear covering section! The best part? It comes in 8 colors! So there is absolutely one in your favorite color!

HEY ALL!!

This is Molly coming to you live from the middle of my run! You might be wondering: Molly, why are you blogging and not kicking your butt into hire gear? Well I'll tell you.

While running with your dog is a beautiful thing, it does not work with my little pup, Dory. 

This is Dory.

I took her out for our first run together today, and I figured we'd start slow. I would run two miles with her, loop back to the house and drop her off, and then continue my run.

We are approximately 7 MINUTES into our run and Dory had to stop. She didn't have anything to do, just wanted to sit. She's 18 pounds and I couldn't move her. So we sat for 20 minutes. Then I decided this would not work, at least not today. So I picked her up and figured I could carry/jog her home. She loves being carried like the little diva she is, so I wasn't worried about her. And I thought "Hey it's only 7 minutes, right?" Wrong. 

I am not a carry things and run without your arms girl. I need my long swinging willow arms to push my legs, and instead they were wrapped around a hot, furry sausage that was trying to lick my face.

So the reason I'm blogging? Because I'm also walking, whilst balancing my pup on my hip. I have a mile left to go. And I know Dory isn't going to walk any of it.

Moral of the story? Have a dog that likes exercise, not a diva that likes sleep.

This is Dory after exercise lasting more than 4 minutes.

She is pretty cute though...

Be Smart, Be Safe, Be Strong: Tips for Runners

Source: thegreatillusion.com

Here are a few tips that I try to stick to when I'm running, just to keep me safe and focused.

1. Invest in a RoadID. My motto has always been to be proactive and not reactive. The time to get a RoadID and make sure that you are covered in case of an accident is before one happens. I waited until after I was almost hit by a truck. No one wants to think about the dangers that accompany running (biking, swimming, etc.) but they are there and you need to be prepared.
2. Brush up on safety tips. Again, be proactive and not reactive. You can look at my safety tips by clicking here.
3. Go watchless. We've all been there. You start a run, feel sluggish, get cotton mouth, and look down to see that you've only been running 3:27. It's incredibly discouraging. While your watch can be an incredibly useful tool in training, it is not necessary if you are just running for distance. 
4. Psych yourself in. There's a phrase: Running is mental. And it's completely true. Sometimes when you're running you can psych yourself out, your body can feel tired or heavy and negative, "I can't do this" thoughts start to creep up. It can happen in a short run or a marathon, distance doesn't matter. When this happens ask yourself this "If someone's life depended on it, would you stop?" Asking yourself questions like this seems very dark, but it prompt a psychological response and awakens your Phase II of running. It's your Phase II that carries you through most of the race.
5. Train smart. Follow the 10% Rule: Don't increase your mileage by more than 10% a week. R.I.C.E.: Take care of and prevent injuries with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Have a good training plan that includes a taper before your race and race smart! Follow the nothing new on race day rule! Make sure you've worn all the clothes you're going to wear, and make sure you've used all the clothes and products before the gun goes off.

Minimal Running Shoes: My Experience

My favorite Disney princess is Pocahontas. Why? She runs around barefoot. I'm serious! That is why I love her, and why I hated running in what I now refer to as my moon boots. When I first started running I was told I over-pronated, and I never questioned it again, however my feet have changed since I was 11. While I do have some pronation I also have the ability to control how my feet hit the ground because I have a strong lower leg.

When I ran in my moon boots it felt like I had slabs of cement on the underside of my feet. I slapped the ground everywhere I ran, and it hurt. I had runners knee, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome, and my muscles were actually pulling away from my bone up and down my leg (there was significant bruising). After she examined me, I was told by a sports trainer, that it was coming from "how your body naturally is". How my body naturally is? My body naturally hated me? I bought her little schpeal and I also bought orthopedic insoles. 

As if the problems could get worse.

I was limping instead of walking.

I was then told "try running to warm up your muscles and get them to relax". So yes. I then limp-ran on my injuries.

Eventually the pain was so bad I had to stop running. Getting out of bed wasn't painful, it was excruciating. I have run and competed on injuries, and I have toughed out a lot of pain, but there is nothing like bone pain. 

I figured that my body hated the sport, and that despite my passion for it, my running career was over at 18. Over before it began.

Months later, when I could walk normally, I had a bad day. As most runners know, a bad day can be a perfect running day. I didn't have my moon boots at school, but I had some Nike Frees that I had bought because they were pretty, and I figured, why not? A 2 miler won't kill me. 

The first thing I noticed was the silence. I didn't slap at all, the soft Frees molded to my little lady feet that were too weak to bend the sole of my moon boots. It was freeing, I felt amazing. It didn't matter than my cardio was weak compared to how it used to be or that my legs were tired before I made it to the end of the block, I was running and I was thrilled. So then...

A two miler turned into a 7 miler. When I got home I felt great, but I figured it was the calm before the storm and decided to RICE anyway. Aside from muscle soreness I was aces the next day. I thought it was a fluke, but curiosity got the better of me, and I went for another run. Just 3 miles. Just to see.

Again I was completely fine.

I continued running in minimals for the remainder of the semester, never once experiencing anything that a day of rest or frozen peas couldn't fix. 

The day I returned from break I put on the moon boots, to see how it would be (I'm a sucker for experiments). By the end of my road I knew something was up. It wasn't pain, it was just like I was having a harder impact with the road...and something was way off. Dull aches were coming back and I didn't want to push it any further, so I turned around, and walked home.

I refuse to run in a shoe that is not minimal from now on, I don't need the extra support, my body is done forming itself! I don't need the extra support and stability and orthopedics -- I'm no longer a growing 11 year old! The moral of this story is to get your feet rechecked frequently, especially if you've been running in the same model for a long time.

I ran in the same model for over 8 years, and changing that was scary, and I still have a lot of nostalgia for those shoes, I mean, I ran my first race in them, I won my first medal in them. But at the end of the day, they didn't love me as much as I loved them.

If you want to learn more about transitioning to minimal running and all the benefits it can yield click here!

Review! RoadID Slim Band

I never used to think about my safety when I was running. I live in the middle of nowhere and on my runs I'll see maybe four cars the entire time, however, this also means that I rarely have a shoulder to run on. It took one time of turning a corner and having a car nearly clip me to wake me up (damn hybrids being all eco-friendly and super quiet). Actually, as much as I would like to blame that car and that driver the fault was mine, cars are supposed to be on the road, sweaty, 20-somethings, who look dead after their 9 mile run, do not. 

I tried carrying my license and I hated it, and honestly it wouldn't have given a first responder much more than my name. I was looking for something that was small, slightly discrete, but recognizable (so a first responder would actually look at it). I've been running with a paper on the underside of my shoe sole that has information, but let's be real, people who get hit by cars can lose their shoes, and if I'm unconscious how many people are going to check there right away?

Then I heard about the RoadID (this is where my rambling stops and the review begins!) and I immediately had to have one. RoadIDs come in every shape and size: from dog tags for you to dog collars for Fido.  There are also several wristbands, I chose the Slim Band which is the same size as a cause bracelet and which contains a little plack (removeable so you can change your band color) with information vital to first responders if there is an accident.

I blanked out the phone numbers, but you get the idea of it. RoadID also has helpful tutorials that show you what is important to put on your band, as well as what abbreviations first responders will understand. Without their guidance I would not have put NKDA (No Known Drug Allergies) or DOB 1993, two important pieces of information.

The plack itself is laser engraved and RoadID stands behind it 100%. 

The band comes in a variety of colors:

These are the classics, as you can see I chose a newer color! Teal!

The band is super soft and stretchy! It's more comfortable to wear than my hair ties that seem to live on my wrist... 

You can also accessorize your RoadID. And of course I had to flaunt the biggest achievement of mine!

All of this was under $20! Which is incredibly affordable, and important. This little piece of equipment could save my life one day, which is why I not only bought one for myself, but I also bought one for my little sister.

RoadID is not a company full of money-grubbing rich guys looking to make a buck. They are runners, the company started in a basement, and the owners still answer e-mails personally. It's a company that keeps you, the runner, at the forefront of its mind. Their customer service is unparalleled (none of that Don't Respond to this Automated Email crap)! I personally had a 6 or 7 email conversation with one of their staff members who was extremely helpful and made sure that I was happy, even though that meant tons of work on her end.

In conclusion: smart and safe product, amazing company, and outstanding customer service. Everyone should have a RoadID.

Company:	5/5
Affordability:	5/5
Quality:	5/5
Usage:	5/5
Overall:	A+