Run, Love, Yoga

Monday, May 30, 2016

"I'm a Runner too, Mommy!"

I grew up fat (you can read more about that HERE) and because of that I am very conscious of what I say and do around my daughter when it comes to my own struggles with weight and body image. She has a healthy sense of self and I never want that to change.

That being said, I make sure she sees all of the hard work I put into taking care of myself.

She watches me run, sometimes cheering me on from the living room window. When I do strength training and yoga, she does strength training and yoga. I never force her to join me. I rarely even ask, but she sees mommy doing it so it must be what women do and she joins in.

Now I just started running less than a year ago, my "runniversary" will be July 5, and it was a long time before I saw myself as a runner. In fact, I'm not even sure at what point I had finally convinced myself that I was a runner. Yes, I run several miles a week, trained and completed my first half marathon, PR'ed in a 5K and invested in all the fancy timing gadgets, but was I a runner yet? Meh.

Back in March I signed her up for her first run a "Leprechaun Dash" which was held before the Shamrock Shuffle that I pushed her in the jogging stroller during. She bubbled over with excitement about it and in the weeks leading up to the event she told everyone that she was going to run and get a medal just like mommy.

When the big day came she nearly backed out of it. The main race was quite large with 3,000 runners and there were even more people milling about with the St. Patrick's Day parade being held right after (attendance for that was estimated to be 12,000). All of the excitement, crowds, and noise got to her and she wanted nothing to do with it. Well, until she found a friend from school who was also running it and then she was all in. She happily took her position at the start line. When I screamed, "Go!" after the announcer started the race she took off with the biggest grin on her face. At the finish line I greeted her with her very own medal that I had purchased from a virtual race company. She beamed. Her little 3 year old life had been made. She finally had her medal just like mommy.

The medal I purchased for her.

Now that the New England weather is warming up and the Spring runners are back out on the road, Scarlett is quick to point them out. "Mommy! He's running just like you! Just like you, Mommy!"

The other day, however, I saw a runner first and said, "Scarlett, look! She's running just like Mommy."

Her response? "Just like me, Mommy. I'm a runner too. She's running like me."

She's 3 years old and already she sees what most women, including myself, can't - she sees herself as a runner.

I hope that never changes.

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Boston Inspired Running Playlist

I recently ran the Boston's Run to Remember 5 mile race. Coming off my first half marathon, my goal for this race was to have fun, take lots of selfies,and enjoy running through the streets of my favorite city all while listening to my music hence the reason I created a Boston specific running playlist. While preparing for this race I scoured the internet for ideas and didn't come across a whole lot so I thought I'd post what I came up with here. Bostonians love their sports teams, classic rock and The Dropkick Murphy's ever since they were featured in The Departed. I added some fun, guilty pleasures to the mix too.

For those of you who are not Boston sports fans both "Sweet Caroline" and "Dirty Water" are played at Red Sox games with "Dirty Water" being the teams victory anthem. The songs "Welcome to the Jungle" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" are played at Gillette Stadium home of the New England Patriots. I also couldn't help adding a San Francisco Giant's anthem, "Don't Stop Believin'" since my husband is a big fan.

If you can think of any other Boston inspired songs to add leave a comment below. I'd love to add more to my list.

Massachusetts - Bee Gees
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - The Dropkick Murphy's
Burning Love - Elvis Presley
I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
I Love It - Icona Pop
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson
Dirty Water - The Standells
Panama - Van Halen
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Let's Go Crazy - Prince
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
The Final Countdown - Europe
The Distance - Cake
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) - AC/DC
Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
Killer Queen - Queen

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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Global Running Day!

I linked up with Jonesin' for a Run to answer some questions about Global Running Day! Because if there is one thing us runners like to do just as much as running it is talking about running.

Why do you run?

The short answer is I run for my health.

Before I started running I had gained 80 pounds during my pregnancy. I lost 25 of it quickly, but the other 55 pounds stuck around for over 2 years. When, during a routine physical, my doctor discovered high levels of inflammation in my blood I knew something had to change. I had been experiencing migraines, intense shoulder and neck pain and excruciating stomach pains. It took a few months but I was ultimately diagnosed with leaky gut. Prior to this diagnosis I had made small changes like cutting out soda and coffee, increasing my water intake to a gallon a day, practicing intermittent fasting and following a high fat, low carb diet. It wasn't enough. Over July 4th weekend 2015 I finally jumped on my neighbor's old treadmill that she said I could have and slowly jogged a mile.

I was overjoyed! I was the fat kid in school and never ran a mile without stopping before in my life. I averaged a 15 minute mile pace but I didn't care. Besides, I didn't really know what pace meant back then anyway. It wasn't too long before I was "training" for my first 5K. Less than a year later I've completed 9 races including a half marathon.

How do you plan to celebrate National Running Day?

I think this one is self-explanatory. I'll be running.

How many miles have you run so far this year? Do you have a mileage goal for the year?

Honestly, I have no idea. I made it a goal to keep track starting at the beginning of the year with the goal of hitting 750, but to me it is just one more thing to do and I don't care that much about tallying it all up.

What big events do you have on the race calendar so far this year?

Well, I just completed my first half marathon on May 15. I didn't run it as well as I knew as I could so I didn't know if I would do another one in the fall, but after 3 days I signed up for the Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon in October.

Before I leave for a run I must have:

Oh lord, where do I start? I'm a very ritualistic person and because of all of my health issues there is a lot of prep work I have to do before going for a run. I even blogged about it HERE.

Do you track your runs? If so what do you use?

I use a Garmin Forerunner 620 that my husband purchased for me for my last birthday.

Who is your favorite running partner?

My friend, Ang. She's been running forever and ran her first marathon in the fall. I was so proud!

What races have you run so far this year?

Lowell First Run 10K
Snowflake Shuffle 3 Miles
Fat Tuesday 5K
Shamrock Shuffle 2 Miler
Northshore 10 Miler
Cinco de Miles 5K
Gate City Half Marathon
Boston's Run to Remember 5 Miler

Up Next:

If you have to give someone one piece of advice about running, what would it be?

Start small by setting small, short and achievable goals. Then, go buy yourself some nice running shoes. Talk to your running friends and find a store that does professional fittings. Your feet and legs will thank you.

Me after the first time I ever ran a mile without stopping. Took me 15 minutes. I was proud.

Describe your relationship with running in one word:

Lifesaving

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Monday, May 23, 2016

Memorial Day Recipes for the Low Carb/High Fat Lifestyle

Memorial Day is right around the corner and soon Americans will be firing up the grill in anticipation of a three day weekend. What better way to celebrate the unofficial start to summer than by barbecuing and cooking up some yummy treats? Just because it is a holiday doesn't mean you have to stray off your eating plan. Listed below are some fun low carb/high fat foods that everyone will enjoy.

If you make any of these I want to hear about it so leave a comment below. While your cooking I'll be enjoying a locally brewed beer - my adopted home town does have 5 microbreweries after all.