WoW Wednesday: Heat Therapy

I can totally be down for this- 

especially when all of my outdoor long runs feel like ice baths anyway.

WoW Wednesdays: Tart Cherry Juice

I completely agree, Runner's World! 

I used it during my 1st marathon training season and noticed a huge difference the next day in my recovery. This combined with ice baths and foam rolling really helps with walking the day after an 18 miler.  It's a little hard to find (my Trader Joe's was refusing to restock it for months!) but it's definitely worth the hunt!

Do you have a lesser known recovery tip?

WoW Wednesday: Looking Good

Clearly, I follow this advice to the T often:

photo: Kimberly

As Pam mentioned on facebook, "Fashion at it's finest!"

What do you wear that makes you feel good for a race? 

WoW Wednesdays: Help me build my marathon playlist!

I'm sure yall already knew that ;)

Coincidentally, I just went through my running playlist and decided I hate all but a handful of songs, which is fine, but I have a marathon to run next weekend.

Although, I will admit- I listened to Rock my run's Fist Pump Mix on repeat for my 20 miler so maybe I'm ok with listening to a handful of songs. But I digress.

According to the most influential interwebs- here and here-  (at least to me!) the new song is Pitbull/ Ke$sha Timber. Seeing as I live in New York and hardly have a chance to listen to the radio, I'm going to have to trust them-

OR YOU!

what's new on your running playlist?

WoW: Don't go to bed early.

I know it sounds weird, but it's true. I've noticed especially on the long run days when I want to get out early to beat the heat. I'll get in bed an hour+ earlier than normal and just lay there an hour+ after my regular bed time. It's usually more beneficial to me to just go to bed at the usual time and then just nap after.

Does this happen to you as well?

WoW: Overwhelmed by training

Chocolate usually helps me. How about you?

WoW: Iced Green Tea

Tea! It's always tea time.

Sorry. Had to :)

I'm a big fan of anti-inflammatory and tea, so this is awesome news.

Do you have any natural cures for marathon training aches and pains?

WoW: Bad Run

OR you run a 10k the day before a half marathon along with
being on your feet too long playing in theme parks? 

Sound familiar to anyone else? :) 

WoW: The headphone trick

Dear Runner's World,

Please stop giving away New Yorkers' secrets! ;)

And speaking of New York, we don't generally have that problem. 

Have you ever had someone talk to you while on the treadmill? 

WoW: Post Race must-haves!

My addition to the list:

flip flops (or Crocs!), travel-sized deodorant and some wet wipes!

What do you like to have as soon as you finish a race?

WoW: Alternatives

Substitute soccer/flag football/ ultimate frisbee with a cardio class at my gym and you have one of my secret weapons. It usually does the trick and most of the time I'll even squeeze in a couple of miles after. Hence, last night!

What alternate secret weapons do you use to get yourself out there?

WoW: heat acclimation

I hate to agree with this, but it does help to think like that. Especially since NYC is up to it's second official heatwave of the season (3 if you count the one in May!) and it won't be letting up until Friday according to the weathermen. I still have another month and a half of summer training; gotta think positively!

Would you rather train in the summer or winter?

WoW: Ice Bath recovery

aka The ICE BATH!

It's about that time in training; I can't wait! 

 

I know, I know. I'm a weirdo, but I swear by them. I am able to bounce back so much faster than if I wouldn't have. Don't worry, I didn't love them at first but I have definitely grown to appreciate all the good things it does for my body. Now, I even start to look forward to them when I have about a mile or 2 left in my long run or when I'm really hurting.

A few tips:

-Put the ice in AFTER you get in and the more the better. Fill the tub with cold water, get in and then add the ice. I usually get 2-3 bags of ice from the bodega before I come in to the apartment, or if I'm in a hotel, I bring a heavy duty plastic bag (Or just my runDisney bag check bag ;) and fill 2 of those.

- Wear a sweatshirt/ long sleeved shirt. I roll mine up so the bottom doesn't get in the water. I also usually just get in with my running clothes on, too, depending on my mood. I'd also suggest remembering to keep your socks on. My feet and toes get wayyy too cold without the socks and it's really painful.

- Bring some tea/ coffee in there with you. It will warm your insides. 

Do you have any tips to add?

WoW: Tricks!

This is definitely a trick I use and abuse- and it works! 

ps- it's a great day.

WoW: Sports massages

Just in case you need an excuse/ reason to justify!

WoW.

I think this is the only time I'd be ok being associated with a cat (I'm a dog person) 

but it depends on my mood, really. I think it's healthy to have a mix of both.

You?

Special Edition: WoW. Happy National Running Day!

Happy National Running Day! 

Running has taught me to love myself for who I am, which I've discovered is the ultimate key to happiness. If I hadn't watched my best friend run Boston or if I had dropped out of training with TNT for the NYC Half, I don't think I would be in the place I am today. I don't think I would've learned the true meaning of happiness or who I am. I'm thankful everyday I am lucky enough to realize that. 

Tonight in honor of the holiday, Run by Foot Locker in Union Square was hosting a run from the store. I signed up in the excitement of the day and then I realized: hello lady, you are slow. I debated for most of the afternoon if I was actually going to go, but in the end I went. I'll be honest, after I checked in and got my tshirt, I almost snuck out of there. No lie. These are pretty much THE situations I dread being a slow runner.  

Luckily, there was a fabulous woman who was willing to slow down for me. We ran about 3.5 miles from the store to the Westside highway, up to 23rd and then back. Thank you, Baby Jesus, for creating crosstown red lights; that helped us sort of keep up with the group. 

Holy cow, guys, I did it! I survived to tell the tale after all that anxiety! I'm super proud of myself. On top of that, I didn't bring my gymboss and ran as much as I could- which means one walk break not counting all the red lights. What What?! And that my friends, is why I run. 

Did you do anything special for the holiday? 
Why do you run? What's one thing about running that scares you? 

WoW!

Some seriously good advice. 

Honestly, when I saw these on other blogs, I would just glaze over and skip the post. I thought they were super boring, until I realized it wasn't for my viewing pleasure, but more for their accountability. That's why I started the weekly log for Dumbo training and it has definitely worked! Every time I just want to go home and lay on the couch (coughyesterdaycough), I remind myself I'm going to have to put that in the weekly training log on the internet. And the internet never forgets.

Do you have a training post? Why/ why not?

WoW!

Summer training is here. 

Boo.

WoW!

Totally a fan of recovery :)