Tuesday Topics: What I bring along on my run

Last week I mentioned that I was a morning runner.  I am a morning person.  I like the feeling of knowing that I am done with my workout and don’t have to “worry” about it later.

Besides a watch, there are a few things I bring along with me on my run.  I may add a thing or two (depending on the run) such as money, energy gel, or water.

• Oiselle Lightning Layer – I know I have mentioned it here in other posts, but it is one of my favorite items from Oiselle.  I can wear it over another top or a sports bra.  I love how bright it is to make sure drivers see me when it is dark.

Black Diamond Headlamp – I bought this last year and love how bright it is. 

SABRE Pink Pepper Spray – I understand why I have to carry it with me but I still hate that I “have” to.  Luckily I have not had to use it.  However, once I was testing it, and accidentally sprayed it in the bathroom.  Boy, that stuff is strong!

Pepper Spray-1

Fitletic Running Belt – I love their running belts.  I have a few other ones that I use for races or longer runs (one has two water bottles).  These belts are water resistant, do not bounce at all, chafe, or ride up while running.  The one I use for races also has toggles for my bib.  No more pins or holes on my shirt!

Running Belt-1.jpg

Running Belt-2.jpg

Wrist ID – There are so many to choose from, but the one I have is the silicone stretch.  Simple and stylish, right?  🙂  I feel better knowing that in case of an emergency, my sisters will be notified.  I also purchased one for my mother, because well, my mother is in her 70s and we want to be notified right away in case something happens to her.

Road ID-1.jpg


Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What do you bring along on a run?  You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!


Weekly Run Down: More shoes and a cold again

Weekly Runs: March 11-17

M 3 miles
T Did not run
W Did not run
TH 4.83 miles
F 4 miles
S 4 miles  
S Did not run

I am jealous of everyone running the NYC Half Marathon today. 🙂  But I am also happy.  

Remember how last week I wrote about the Glycerin 17?  I ordered another pair and those fit much better.  I ran 4 miles in them yesterday. They are very soft and feel comfortable.  Anyone else running in these shoes?

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I also received 2 pairs of Tieks.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  Love them.  I know they’re pricey but I am on my feet most of the day and these are comfortable for me.

I was sick (again) early in the week.  I did my runs on different days than I was supposed to, but I got them done.  I also stayed home from work on Wednesday.  Going back on Thursday I did feel better, but not 100 percent better.  Today I feel much better.

This week was 3 easy runs and 1 speed workout.  Monday morning I had no problem waking up after the time change, but I did pay for it later.  I was EXHAUSTED!  I did see the most beautiful sunrise on my way to work.

Sunrise-1.jpg

I was supposed to do my speed workout on Tuesday but did it on Thursday.  It was warm enough that I wore shorts!  Love that I was able to hit the required paces.  Plus, I got negative splits on the intervals!!

On Saturday the plan was to run 6 miles with the last 2 being my fastest.  I ended up doing 4 with the last 2 being the fastest.  Still counts, right?

On Friday the 2nd graders did leprechaun traps.  They brought all of the materials from home (boxes, paper towel rolls, glitter, etc.).  One of the teachers did a rotation schedule and every 20 minutes there were 2 different set of kids working on their trap.  They had a blast!  At the end of the day I asked them if they thought they would catch a leprechaun.  They responded “Yes”!  We’ll find out tomorrow.  🙂

Two more weeks of school and then Spring Break!!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Random Thoughts Thursday 63

Random Thoughts Thursday

• I have a Starbucks Rewards Visa Cards.  One of the perks is getting a FREE drink or food every couple of months.  My free item this time was the Sous Vide Egg Bites.  Wow!  These were so good!  There are a couple of options to choose from, but the ones I had were with bacon and gruyere.  

Starbucks-3.jpg

• The other day I purchased two iced coffees from Starbucks.  I put one cup on top of my car while holding the other one with my left hand and trying to open the door with my right hand.  Well, the cup on the car fell.  What a mess.  But yes I was more upset for the coffee.  I went back inside to buy another one, but the barista was nice enough to give me a free one.

• I know at one point I wrote about getting a BQ.  I admire everyone that gets that qualifying time but then feel bad when some STILL don’t get to run Boston.  A BQ does NOT guarantee that you’ll run Boston.  This tweet made me angry.  I know he means well, but shouldn’t all runs/races make you feel like you won an Olympic gold medal?  The next tweet made me even more angry.  Ridiculously easy BQ times?  I am in that same age group and to me it isn’t easy.

• I have NO idea how I have so much money in my Dunkin’ Donuts cars.  I told my coworker that I was taking a break from Starbucks and from now on getting my coffee from DD.  Note:  I make my coffee at home, but sometimes I like to get an iced coffee from Starbucks.

• Back to coffee.  🙂  I had this and it was OK.  I added almond milk and it was almost $6.00.  Yikes!  And that is why I just get an iced coffee and that alone is still $2-$4.

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Tuesday Topics: Happy to be a morning runner

Thank you again to everyone that has been linking up with us each week.  I am enjoying  reading everyone’s post whether it is on the topic of the week or a totally different topic .  I have updated the Tuesdays Topics Linkup page (as well as listed them below) to include our topics till June.  Kim and I hope that you’ll continue to link up with us!

March
19-What do you bring along on a run?
26-What are your favorite non-running or non-fitness hobbies?

April
2-What’s the best and worst race swag you ever received?
9-What’s your favorite cross training activity?
16-What are your favorite recovery tools?
23-What are some new fitness gadgets you’d like to try?
30-Free topic

May
7- What’s your favorite cheat meal?
14- How has running made you a better person?
21- Are you a solo or group runner?
28- What are your tips for surviving your first {pick a distance}?

June
4-How will you celebrate Global Running Day?
11-What are your Summer running tips?
18-What are your Summer running plans and/or race schedule?
25-Free topic

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In previous years I remember doing my runs after work.  However, since about a year and a half, almost all of my runs have been in the morning before work.  I am a morning person.  Even on days when I don’t have to go to work, I am up between 5:30-6:00 am.  But there are days that I do like to sleep in.  Who doesn’t?  I also prefer running in the morning because then I am done with it and don’t have to worry about getting it done later.  Sometimes I have plans after work with no time for a run or sometimes I am too tired after work and just want to get home and rest.

I am not training for a marathon so my runs on the weekdays are no more than 5 miles.  My long run is on the weekends.  On the days I do run, I wake up at 4:30 am.  I hate rushing and waking up that early gives me enough time to make coffee, use the bathroom, and get ready.  Sometimes I sleep a bit longer for about 5-10 minutes.  I like to be back by 6am so I can shower, get ready, and leave for work.  I get to work by 7am even though my official start time isn’t till 8:30.  

There are days in which I have absolutely NO desire to run in the morning.  It is either too cold or I am tired.  In that case I run after work either outside or at the gym.  And if that doesn’t happen, then I don’t fret about it and see if I can run the next day.  My coach tells me to “Move on”.

Below is what I do to prepare for my morning run.  You may think “Well, duh”.  🙂  I know, I know.

• I have my clothes ready for the next day.  I check the weather for the next day so I’ll know how many layers I will need (during the winter).  Warmer weather is the best because all I need are shorts and a top!

• I have a mug and pod ready to make my coffee in my Keurig.  All I do is turn it on.  Sometimes I drink my coffee while getting ready.

Keurig-1.jpg

• Along with clothes, I need my watch, belt, headlamp, lightening layer, pepper spray, and headphones.  I have a crate in the living room where I keep those items and put them on before walking out the door.  That crate is also Lola’s condo.  🙂

Morning Running Essentials-1

Lola-17.jpg

• I keep my shoes in the hallway.  Actually, I take them off before coming inside my apartment.  No sense in walking inside with them since I will use them again the next day or sometime that week.  

Brooks Shoes-11.jpg

• Go to bed early!  To me that means in bed by 9pm.  

Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Are you a day or night runner?  You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Weekly Run Down: Running and my upcoming races

Disclaimer:  I received a free entry to the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and the Delaware Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

Weekly Runs: March 4-10

M 4 miles
T Did not run
W 3.60 miles
TH Did not run
F 3.01 miles
S 5 miles  
S Did not run

I am finally back to running.  It wasn’t easy since we are still dealing with cold and windy weather.  How much longer till Spring?

This month I am excited to run my first race of the year and one of my favorites in Chicago – Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.  I have been running this race since 2005 and I think I’ve missed 2 or 3 years?  I love the distance and the location.  I was planning to sign up anyway but when a race entry become available through BibRave, I immediately requested to sign up!  Check out the medal, hat, and shirt!  If you want to join me and thousand of other runners, sign up HERE.

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Next month I will run the Delaware Half Marathon which will be my 39th state in my Race in the 50 states+1 goal.  I am even more excited because I will see Kim (KookyRunner).  I first met her in 2017 when she ran the Chicago Marathon, but only got to talk to her for like a minute because she had to keep running and other family members were waiting for her too.  The picture below is from the second time seeing her on the course right before the finish line.  Join us!  Use code DelawareRave19 for 10% off the registration fee.

KookyRunner-1.jpg

On Wednesday I received my newest Brooks shoes.  I got them in purple and they’re so pretty.  For some reason they fit me weird, so I ordered another pair in a different color (some of the Launch 5 are like that too).  How awesome is this video!

My runs this week were mostly “easy”.  My coach has me running them between 11:56 – 13:04 pace.  It is a nice and comfortable pace and many times I welcome it when I am very tired and just want to run “slow”.  I did have one speed workout and those I actually enjoy.  The plan was 15 minutes warmup and cooldown with 8×2 minutes at marathon pace with 2 minutes jog/recovery.  I ran out of time and managed only 4 sessions .  <<Not sure what they’re called?  Workouts?

I had another easy run on Thursday but was too cold and decided to do it instead on Friday morning.  However, it was the same temperature on Friday morning but didn’t feel as cold.  Weird.  It actually felt good running!  We also got a bit more snow but it quickly melted.

Saturday was 5 miles and I waited as long as I could for it to warm up.  It didn’t.  It was 40 degrees but yet windy and cold.  

This week we had a week of various Dr. Seuss activities (4 days since we had no school on Monday).  One of them was crazy socks day!  I received many compliments from teachers and the students just laughed.  🙂  The rest of the days were crazy hair and crazy hat, with one day for students to submit a drawing of anything of Dr. Seuss.  Definitely a fun week!

Crazy Socks Day-1.jpg

Overall it was a good but busy week.  I maybe not have done all of my runs on the days that my coach asked me to, but I got them done.  

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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