Gear head

I was looking at my running gear the other day:  My Garmin, Camelbak, IPod Nano and arm band, etc. and realized these are all over 5 years old.  They have taken a beating but still work just fine.  I find the only running gear I buy regularly are shoes.  I am pretty religious about "retiring" a pair of running shoes around the 400 mile mark.  Some manufacturers say to get new ones at 250 miles while Runner's World magazine says you can get up to 500 miles from a pair of shoes.  Honestly, I feel it in my knees at about 400 miles so that's my personal number.  Like any girl, I enjoy getting a new outfit here and there but really, for me, it's all about the SHOES!  I get the same brand - Asics Gel Nimbus 12's - since I wear orthotics in my running shoes.  I have been fitted at two different running stores (each one recommended the same shoe) so it's the only brand I wear.  After reading articles in Self, Fitness and Runner's World about running gear I always get amped up to buy new stuff.  Then, I strap on my old Garmin, Camelbak and IPod  to go for a run and realize these are all I need.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Beat the heat

I just got back from another mini-vacation to try and beat this Arizona heat.  It was heaven!  I was staying at my sister's home in Show Low which is around a 5,500 foot elevation.  I ran twice in the 4 days there and could really feel the difference.  Let's just say it was like breathing through a coffee stirrer!  I was alone so I didn't get any pics but you will have to take my word for it - those pine trees are gorgeous.  The 4th of July wasn't the same without fireworks (they were not permitted due to the extreme wild fire danger) but all I cared about was being able to sleep with the windows open at night and running at 9:00 am instead of 6:00 am to beat the heat!  I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July holiday.  Did you go anywhere fun and, most importantly, did you RUN?

Kauai trip

Well, Kauai was everything I'd hoped it would be.  This is our 3rd trip to the island, but my first as a serious runner.  It was absolute heaven!  Our resort had a 4 mile cement path which ran all along the beach and I took full advantage.  Yes, Kauai is called "The wettest place on Earth" for a reason.  It rains a LOT there but the rain is so light and it goes as quickly as it comes.  Plus, in Arizona it never rains so it was a pleasant departure from the norm.  How are all you running moms doing?  Any fun running/vacation destinations planned?  Where is your favorite place to run outside of where you live?  Let me know and be sure to share photos too!

Summer runnin'

Hey there moms!  Are you surviving summer so far?  With the temperatures rising and the kids out of school it's really hard for me to find time to run unless it's at 5:00 am.  My 3 year old seems to be an extra early riser with the sun so I need to be home by 5:45 to get her going before she wakes the whole house!  It's this time of year I find I'm on the treadmill more.  Between finding time to run before it gets too hot and finding childcare which my gym provides, the treadmill is my best bet if I oversleep.  Here in Arizona, there aren't too many races this time of year so most people head indoors or go on vacation.  I, fortunately get to do the latter.  We are heading to the beautiful island of Kauai this Friday.  I will be sure to post some pics when I get back.  Until then, don't let the boredom of your kids keep you from doing what you love - keep running!

World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run!

What a blast my friend, Tina and I had this weekend!  We drove to Oceanside, CA on Saturday for the world famous Mud Run at Camp Pendleton Marine Base.  It was only a 10K, but the hardest one I've ever run.  I had been serious in the weight room for 3 months thinking the obstacle course would be the most difficult portion of the race.  Boy, was I wrong!  The run was mostly uphill in deep sand!  When I say "uphill" I mean serious hills here people.  Not at all was I was expecting.  Of course, my little Tina chugged right up and kept asking "Are you okay?"  I finally told her to stop asking because people would look at me every time she did.  It was as if they all thought I would keel over face first in a mud pit and give up.  By the way, the term "DNF" is NOT in my vocabulary and we finished together (which I KNOW bothered Tina, but I made her swear to do the race with me) with a respectable time of 1:13.  The women's first place time was 49:52.  All in all, we would do it again in a heartbeat.  I've attached some photos.  Keep in mind, they gave us baby wipes immediately after the finish which is why our faces look so clean :-)

Camp Pendleton Mud Run

I won't be posting for a few days because I'm heading to San Diego with a friend this weekend.  We are participating in our first Camp Pendleton Mud Run.  In case you haven't heard of it, here is the link:

www.camppendletonraces.com

This is the original Mud Run.  There are many others out there now, but this is the famous obstacle course held at the Marine Training base.  I'll be sure to get photos and post them when we return.  Until then, keep running moms!

"Barefoot" running

I'm sure you've all heard of the latest fad.  The "barefoot" running shoe (if you can even call them "shoes") is taking the running community by storm.  From what I've seen, these shoes leave people injured and in physical therapy so I think I'll keep on wearing my heavy-duty, sole protecting running shoes.  When I completed my last marathon, the Marine Corps. Marathon in Washington, D.C. we were forced into corrals at the finish since there were nearly 40,000 runners.  While waiting for my medal in the corral, I heard two men talking behind me.  One said to the other, "What did you think of running in those?"  The other guy replied, "Not good.  I think I broke my foot."  At that, he could no longer bear any weight on the broken foot and we called for medical assistance.  They came and helped him out of the crowded corral and laid him (appropriately) on the Iwo Jima War Memorial.  The only other person I know who's tried these out is my Pediatrician's husband (who is also a Pediatrician).  At first, he said his calves hurt but that just meant the shoes were working new muscles.  After training for a full marathon and barely being able to run 15 miles in them, he ditched them and put on his regular running shoes.  He's glad he did because he now thinks these things are a gimmick.  I'm inclined to agree.  Your thoughts?  Do you know of anyone who has improved their running by wearing these "barefoot shoes"?