Category: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite running gels

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!  This week’s topic is “5 favorite /fitness fuels”.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

Happy Friday!  I hope you are having a great week.  This is my first week of Summer School and it’s been a busy one.  I was very tired on Monday and wondered what I had gotten myself into.  🤣 🤣  I am working with 13 kindergarten students.  Well, they will be in August.  I also have 3 program assistants working with me.  During the regular school year, the kindergarten teachers have more students in the room and no program assistants.  It is an eye-opener and I wish more administrators could see these classrooms before deciding to put 20+ students in a classroom.

Anyway, back to the topic.  I have a love/hate relationship with gels.  I understand the importance of them but finding the “right” one is no easy task.  I’ve tried many of them throughout the year and these are the ones I like.

Hüma Gel – These are 100% natural and they taste great.  There are two versions: original and plus (some with and without caffeine).  The latter has double the electrolytes.  I’ve tried many flavors and my favorite ones are Strawberry Lemonade and Lemons and Limes.

Tailwind NutritionThis is mixed with water to provide “all your calories, electrolytes, and hydration for sustained efforts.  Simple to use with a clean, light taste.  Just pour, shake, and go!”  I like this for longer runs because I fill up a bottle with regular water and another one with Tailwind and carry them to use with my hydration vest.  Sometimes I fill up the whole bladder with Tailwind and also carry another water bottle with plain water.

UCAN – I’ve only used the energy powder to make the drink and energy gels.  What I like about these is that one scoop is enough for 90 minutes of energy.  I know UCAN has energy gels but I haven’t tried them yet.

SIS Gels – I know a few bloggers that like these gels.  I tried these at a race and like them a lot.  I cannot remember what flavor it was but it wasn’t sweet – it was just right.  What I liked even more is that there was no need for extra water.

Other ones I’ve tried are Maurten, Clif Gel, GU, Honey Stinger, and Hammer Nutrition.  I am sure I have forgotten a few.  I know Maurten, GU, and Clif Gel are popular with the former being more expensive.  I didn’t like the consistency and couldn’t get past it.

Have you tried any of them?  What other ones have you tried that aren’t on my list?

The topic for next week:  Half year check-in. We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Fit Five Friday and June 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the May edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is my last day of school.  How many times have I mentioned that already?  It will be an easy day today.  However, I am running out of ideas with what to do with my students.  After work, I have plans with my coworker to go out for drinks and dinner.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am happy that when I tried to sign up for a half marathon on Sunday, it was sold out.  I have a graduation party on Saturday and know I will be up late.  When that happens I struggle the next day.  I need a full day just to recover.  I will have little energy to run on Sunday.  Well, maybe a few miles, but not 13.1 miles.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I paused my Peloton membership (effective 6/15).  I was using it for running and not worth paying the membership monthly fee.  I know, I know, I need to use the bike.  Sigh.  I have no reason as to why I am not using it.  Hopefully, I will once I get my life together.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that it is so fun seeing all of the graduation pictures on Facebook.  It is also fun remembering my high school and college graduations from way back in the 90s.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you’re interested in running a half marathon in Fargo, ND with me next year.  Let’s take advantage of the early bird special of $64 for the half marathon (regular is $99).  I still need 8 more states to run in to finish my 50+1 state goal.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – Your 5 favorite fitness power songs.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

 

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Fit Five Friday: 5 things about the Spring Trail Chase 10K

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida so be sure to link up with us.  For this week’s Fit Five Friday we don’t have a topic but instead, invite you to also join in Runfessions with Marcia.  

Happy Friday!  I am pleased about it because it is payday, I am off on Monday, and next Friday is my last day of school.  I have one week off then will start Summer School.  I will be doing a similar program that I did last year working with incoming kindergarten students.  I enjoyed it last year and I hope it goes well this year too.

On Sunday I ran my 4th race of the year.  I almost skipped it because I was not ready for it.  I am glad I didn’t because I enjoyed it and it went better than I expected.

Here are some fun things about the race:

🍃 It was my 1st time running this race.  It was also a new to me location – The Forge: Lemont Quarries.  I had never heard of that place!  I got lost driving there.  I should have followed the directions sent by CARA but instead chose to use Google Maps.  The funny thing is that when I made a right turn that supposedly would take me to the race location, there were about 5 other cars behind me.  That right turn led us to a no-trespassing area.  We turned around and I ended up following another car.  Whew!

Instead of a shirt, I got a pair of socks.  I haven’t worn them yet but love the idea.

🍃 It was warm and the course was mostly shaded.  It was great to run in shorts and a short sleeve top.  Finally!

🍃I didn’t train for this raceI was doing really good in April with my running but then lost my motivation this month.  Then it was chilly in the morning and I didn’t want to get up.  I know, excuses, excuses.  I knew I was not going to PR and ended up with a 1:13:49 finish time.  The last time I ran a 10k was in 2018.  I think this has been my fastest race this year.

🍃 The course was on a trail.  Running on a trail means mosquitos.  We were all ready because the race organizers provided insect repellant for us.  

🍃 I used the run/walk method.  I did really well and was proud of myself.  

Will I do it again next year?  Definitely!  There are other races taking place at the same location that I am interested in doing.  The Forge Fest Night Races looks like it will be fun!

The Forge: Lemont Quarries is an adventure park.  There are a bunch of activities you can do such as zipline, archery, kayak/canoe, and axe throwing.

The topic for next week:  Ultimate Coffee Date with Coco and Deborah.  We hope you will link up. 

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Fit Five Friday: 5 tips for Summer running/fitness

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!  This week’s topic is “5 tips for Summer running/fitness”.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

It is beginning to feel like Summer.  It isn’t my favorite season but I do my best to deal with it.  This year I am not looking forward to it because of my hot flashes.  I am having a hard time with them already.  Why do women have to deal with them?

Here are some Summer running tips that work for me. 

☀️ Run early in the morning.  I am a morning person and enjoy the quiet time in the morning.  I remember years ago one Summer running in the middle of the day and it was in the high 80s.  I’m not sure what I was thinking.

☀️ Wear protection for the face, body, eyes, etc.  I wear sunblock on my face and body.  Sometimes I wear a hat when it is sunny.  I don’t wear sunglasses since I don’t wear my glasses when I run and can’t really see clearly with sunglasses.  

☀️ Have fun.  It will be warm or hot.  There is no point in going too fast.  If I have to walk more than usual then that is OK.

☀️ Use body glide in various parts of the body.  Chafing is the worst.  The combination of the skin rubbing and sweat will most likely cause you to chafe.

☀️ Hydrate.  Being dehydrated is a horrible feeling.  Depending on how long I am running depends on whether or not I take water with me.  But no matter what, I always make sure to drink water all day.

The topic for next week:  Runfessions with Marcia! We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Fit Five Friday: 5 fitness power songs

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!  This week’s topic is “5 favorite fitness songs”.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

I always listen to music while running.  I also listen to it in the car and during “free” time in my classroom.  It was hard to pick 5 but I truly love the ones below.

🎵 Como La Flor/Baila Esta Cumbia – I can listen to this como several times a day.

🎵 Girls Like You – I also LOVE the video!

🎵 Danza Kuduro – I have mentioned this song quite a few times.  Even my students like it!

🎵 Tennessee Whiskey – I know this isn’t exactly a power song but there is just something about this song that I love.  I like this song for going for a walk or relaxing.

🎵 Beautiful Life – I just love how this start starts “You can do what you want just seize the day.  What you’re doing tomorrow’s gonna come your way.  Don’t you ever consider giving up”.  This song puts me in a good mood.

The topic for next week:  5 tips for summer running/fitness.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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