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1. FEUL: I used to eat just plain vanilla PowerBar gels, but couldn't stomach them after training for two marathons. Then I took one taste of the Mint Chocolate GU, and fell in love and have never looked back. Imagine eating delicious, mint chocolate frosting in the middle of a race, because that's the exact taste and texture of this stuff. I'm obsessed. Also, for middle-length runs where I need a little something extra, I put the GU electrolyte mix into my water bottle, since I tend to sweat like crazy and so I lose a bunch of sodium and stuff.
2. RACE LENGTH: I've done every race distance except for an ultra (one day! I think?!) I can't even remember how many 5K's and 10K's I've done, but I know I have done 5 half marathons (four of those were in the past year!) and 2 full marathons. I've also done a Ragnar and another similar relay in southern Utah. Half marathons are my absolute favorite (with relays being a close second). One day I will do a 50 mile race. And next year I'm going to shoot for St George marathon again and get at least a 4:30.
3. WORKOUT BOTTOMS: Capris capris capris. I have been blessed with a bodacious booty, and shorts just don't cut it. When I used to run in shorts, my voluptuous behind would bounce up and down like crazy and drove me just as crazy. I know, hilarious visual. And the chafing from my thunder thighs didn't help matters, either. So when I discovered the amazing things that are spandex capris (and I have earned the right to wear spandex) I have never looked back. They keep the chafing away and bouncing at bay.
4. SPORTS DRINK: My family loves Gatorade, but I've never been a huge fan of just drinking it all the time. I save it for races. I do like blue and red flavors (I sound like a little kid). For long runs I use this stuff got Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance, it's just a powder that I put in my water bottle. I feel a huge difference!
5. RUNNING TEMPS: Even though I have grown up in AZ and trained for two fulls in AZ, I still love colder weather running. Like, 40-50 degrees is ideal. But if it has to be warm, I just run at night. I hate running in the sun in general, so when I was training in AZ I would get up at 3 for my long runs. Yee haw!!!
6. RUNNING SHOES: I have these funky feet where I overpronate more on one side than the other, and it tends to screw up my knees and hips and basically everything from the feet up. So I run with fancy, personalized orthotics from my foot doctor that fit my feet perfectly and fix the weirdness. I used to run with Nike's but after I got orthotics I realized I could wear basically any shoes so I now go with Asics Nimbus. I kid you not, it is like running on a cloud! My feet used to ache so much after each run because the stability shoes I used to wear seemed to skimp on the cushioning. Now, my feet feel great all the time!
7. PRERACE MEAL: It depends. Steel-cut oatmeal, cereal (low-fiber), PB&J (easy on the PB), fruit, or a combination of all. I'm not too picky but mostly I hate force feeding myself at 4 in the morning.
8. REST DAYS: Usually two times per week, or three if it's busy week.
9. MUSIC: Long runs definitely yes. Most short runs I can do without. Some days I just need the extra excitement just to get out the door, so I'll take my music. In the month of August I noticed I was a bit burnt out, but music got me back on track. Love my tunes!
10. #1 REASON FOR RUNNING: To stay healthy and not fat. Ha ha, seriously. I think that if I were not a runner I would be pretty heavy, as it is most days I still feel over weight! :( It also makes me so so so so so HAPPY!!! There is no better feeling than finishing a hard run or a tough race and just being on top of the world. I live for that runner's high. I also love the race scene, I love that excitement in the air as everyone is standing at the starting line. Dreams are made and broken, epiphanies are made and lives are changed during those races. I know that for a fact.
11. I'm going to add one more--- FAVORITE RACE: Would have to be either the Top of Zion relay that I did in June or the one I just did a couple weeks ago, Big Cottonwood Half. Both of them went through amazing scenery, I had the time of my life both times, and I was happy for days afterwards. TOZ will probably take the top spot, because I can honestly say that was one of the best weeke
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I hope that I have many, many years of happy running! I plan on being a runner for the rest of my life and I would really like to run through all my pregnancies one day....lofty goal? Heck no! I think anyone can do it!
1 comment:
I am truly amazed that you haven't gotten burned out yet. You must be doing something right! And when you run through your pregnancies I'm going to be super impressed!!!
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