Fitness Friday

Fitness Friday: Running Shoes- In Search of the Perfect Fit

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Running Shoes- In Search of the Perfect Fit

The first pair of running shoes I ever bought were purchased on a bit of whim.  I knew I needed running shoes if I wanted to run however instead of getting fitted for the right shoes for my feet I went by brand name and comfort.  In retrospect I should have really done more research before purchasing them because I later came to find that although great shoes they weren’t the right shoe for me. A year later (I didn’t run much that first year) I purchased a second pair of shoes but this time I visited Fleet Feet to get fitted.  I learned that I am a mild to neutral pronator however I require medium arch support.  I was given the option of a neutral shoe with a Superfeet insole (the blue or green one) or a stability shoe with medium arch support. This information is really invaluable because it is really the key to picking to right shoe, so go get fitted! All that being said I decided to go with the Asics GEL-Kayano 17 .  I really like the shoes but I guess you could say that after 250 miles on these I’m not totally sold.  I feel like I might need just a little more arch support or maybe just a different shoe.  That’s where Brooks comes in… I contacted Brooks Running about doing a shoe review and they were interested so I used Brooks Shoe Advisor to determine which shoe is right for me. So based on the Shoe Advisor and my Asics I went with the Ravenna 2. Pros:  the feel good to run in; the fit is right; I like the color; I like the support, they are light weight and breathable. Cons: although they feel good to run in they don’t feel GREAT- this is the only real con that I have.  So I went back to Fleet Feet. I was re-evaluated and in reality I should have probably chosen neutral pronation. Conclusion: I find that my Brooks Ravenna 2 are good running shoes, for now. I don’t have any issues with my knees or legs or stride like I did with my very first pair, however I am going to head to the Green Mountain Rehab which now has a new running store to discuss my needs more in-depth and try out the above four shoes to see if maybe they will be the perfect fit. Things I love about the Brooks: I love the service- I picked the wrong size because apparently I need a full size larger in running shoes and they were quick to swap them out.  I love the shoe advisor, it is quick and easy to use.  It also provides the resources to make sure you understand what they are asking for so you can choose the right shoe for you. I also love their True Blue Guarantee: Brooks products come with a no-questions-asked, 30-day satisfaction guarantee on every purchase. Who knew that choosing the right running shoe would take so much trial and error?   _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: Brooks Running provided me with a pair of their Ravenna 2 running shoes.  I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are based on personal experience. 

Fitness(less) Friday

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Yes you read that right- there has been no fitness this week. Well I shouldn’t say no fitness, the Hubz and I did get out on two

1/2 mile walks which is great improvement for him.  Honestly I did not have the time or energy to workout this week. I’m not completely happy about it because I love to have my workout time and my running but when things pile up somethings got to give. I’ve been trying to keep up on the house, take care of my husband, find time to sleep and I had to go back to work for the last half of the week so fitness (and washing my hair) have taken a backseat.  Now that the Hubz is starting to improve I am planning on getting a pilates workout in today and would like to go running one day this weekend.

 

Half Marathon Update:

As I said in previous posts this week, we will no longer be running the Disney Half-Marathon.  It disappointing on so many levels, considering this was going to be our first half, the entry fee was ridiculous, we had just made our flights down which were non-refundable (good thing they were cheap) and it means no vacation. I’m starting to think vacation isn’t meant for us. I’m not stopping my running, I have worked too hard to get where I am and I’m not giving it up but I am going to change things up a bit.  I am not doing the 10k on October 8th because really since this week was a wash there is no way I’ll be ready to run that distance in 2 weeks.  Unfortunately there are no other 10k’s in VT this year; there is a 5k though in November which I plan to run.

Now it’s time to start thinking about a new half-marathon for us to run.  I am predicting it will take the Hubz 6 weeks after he is allowed to start running again to finally get back to where he is (he has to take a month off from ALL physical activity, except slow walking).  After the 6 weeks I’d saw we are looking at 12 weeks of training, essentially 18-20 weeks of preparation for a new half.  That being said it lands us in mid-February or later. What 1/2 marathons would you suggest? We need to consider entry costs, destination and additional expenses. 

What was the most fun race you’ve ever ran? 

Fitness Friday: Safety First

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 Fitness this Week

Goals from last week:
  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days. – Improved by 13 minutes per day (36 minutes per day) from last week but not up to where I want to be. This will continue to be a goal for next week. 
  • On passive rest days do yoga, go for a walk or do a gentle swim. –I did yoga this week! Wahoo! I did have one rest day that I didn’t do anything.  Again this is a continuing goal. 
  • Get back to meal planning and work on eating foods that will benefit my health, my running and my body.- This week has been great for food! I created a meal plan this week and came home with lots of yummy nourishing food.  Favorite meals of the week: Huge green salad and whole wheat penne with ratatouille sauce, and huge green salad and a quinoa bowl with tons of veggies and cheeze sauce. 
  • Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently.  That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.- I have been drinking a lot more water, a lot less coffee and a lot less beer.  
Conclusion. This week went really well.  I still need to make improvements but I am on the right track.  Yesterday my hips and knee were bothering me some so I decided to do hip opening yoga instead of going on my run.  Today I will do that run and shift my other runs a little bit over the next week so I am gong every other day.

Goals for this week:

  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days. (Passive rest days = gentle walk, yoga (non-power or hot), easy swim)
  • Continue to Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently. That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.
  • Drink less coffee and less alcohol.  Neil and I have decided that we are going to cut back on these two things to improve our health, our energy levels and (hopefully) our running.  We have decided that we can have a coffee on Saturday and we can have a max of two alcoholic beverages per week and only on Thursday, Friday or Saturday and not before a run day.

Safety First: Road ID 

When I first started running my husband and I always went on your runs together.  Although he is faster than me he was always just 2-3 minutes ahead of me and I felt safe knowing he was near by.  Nowadays I often do my running alone, many times in the early morning or afternoon and since I don’t have my husband or a friend with me I always wondered what if something happened to me.

A few weeks ago I made the poor decision to go out on a run even though it was hot and I knew I had not hydrated well.  By the last half mile of my run I started to feel a little dizzy but I pushed through.  As soon as I arrived home I had to get some water and sit down for awhile because the horrible combination of heat, humidity and lack of hydration made me feel like I was just about to pass out.  I lucked out that I made it home before that feeling hit but fear set in anyways and I couldn’t stop thinking about the what ifs.  That’s when I looked into getting a Road ID.

I talked with the team at Road ID and they decided to send me a Road ID of my choice to have for my safety and to try out for review.  I had a choice between a few different styles: the Wrist ID Sport, the Wrist ID Elite, the Wrist ID thing, the Shoe ID, the FIXX ID or the Ankle ID.  I decided to go with the Wrist ID Sport because it seemed like the perfect one for running.  After measuring my wrist I chose my size, color and what I wanted on my ID.  I put my full name, location, my husbands number, my parents number, I noted that I have no allergies and lastly “Follow Your Bliss”.

I now run with my Road ID on every outdoor run.  I have a Garmin on one arm and my ID on the other and even though it looks a little silly I don’t care because it’s all about safety first.

Do you run or do outdoor activities with an ID? If not when will you start to? 

Fitness Friday: {Giveaway} Be Seen

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Workouts since last Fitness Friday

Thoughts:

  • Not enough time spent working out. Over a 7 day period I only averaged 23 minutes a day. That is way less than I should be doing.
  • No yoga this week. One of my goals is to do yoga at least once a week. I find that it improves my running, my mind and keeps me balanced.
  • Poor fueling before runs=not so great runs. This is one thing that is going to be fixed starting now, yes right this minute. In the last week I fell off my normal workout routine because our gym was closed, hurricane Irene came for a visit and because I chose not to put as much dedication into my workouts as I should have.
Goals for this week:
  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days.
  • On passive rest days do yoga, go for a walk or do a gentle swim.
  • Get back to meal planning and work on eating foods that will benefit my health, my running and my body.
  • Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently.  That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.
Conclusion.  I see the improvements I need to make and I know I have the power to do them, we all do really.  I will take the time this week to support my body and mind so that it is at it’s healthiest.

Moving on…

Since I started running I have been on the lookout for running gear that fits well, is comfortable to run in and of course it needs to look cute. I have been slowly accumulating new items, some that work really well and some that are not so great and have resulted in chaffing or just don’t fit correctly.  One of the newest tops I have tired out is from Be Seen the creators of active gear for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as running, biking and walking.

Be Seen is the vision of Eric and Lisa Fenstermacher. As dedicated age-group triathletes living in Dallas. TX, they appreciate the need to be safe and aware on the roads. Unfortunately it seems everyone involved in an outdoor lifestyle knows someone that knows someone with a tragic story. Eric and Lisa want to help these stories change to tales of accomplishment. The most effective mechanism to achieve this is through education and awareness. They firmly believe that awareness is the precursor to change. Be Seen out there and stay safe.[1]

Eric and Lisa have created a fashionable and effective way to improve the safety for outdoor activity lovers with their Been Seen athletic tops. The large designs on all sides of the garment brightly reflect vehicle headlights and other ambient light. They are made from sweat wicking fabric, moisture moves quickly to the surface where it evaporates.

Reminder: Don't take photos at 5am.

My thoughts: 
As soon as I received this top I tried it right on and headed out on a early evening run on the bike path.  The things I love about this top:

– The Length. I have found that my biggest issue with woman’s running tops is that they are many times too short or way too long.  I was happy to find that this shirt was just the right length, hitting at the hips and it was perfect because it didn’t ride up while I ran (my other huge issue).

– Safety First. I really love that the large design that is both on the front and back is not an eyesore.  I am all about safety first but I cringe at the though of florescent orange and neon green tops. This top is great because it’s cute and promotes safety.

– Overall fit.  I know I mentioned above that I like the length but the overall fit is also worth noting.  I was told in advanced that the shirts tend to run a little big so when ordering one you probably want to go a size smaller, I had to. I also loved that it was fitted but not tight or hugging and the sleeve length was perfect.

–The fabric.  I thought the fabric was perfect. I went on a hot run in the top and I felt great.  The fabric breathes and doesn’t chaff. I did find that fabric to be a bit heavy though especially for 75F+ and 50%+ humidity (welcome to VT summer), however I do think that it will be perfect now that it is cooler in the mornings and evenings but not cold enough for long sleeves (although Be Seen has those too).

Overall. Overall I love the top.  I would recommend it to anyone especially those who are avid bikers, outdoor runners and walkers.  It is comfortable, cute and of course promotes safety first.

{Giveaway Time} Closed

Winner:

 

Guidelines:  Giveaway for your own Be Seen top is open to US residents only. Giveaway will close at 8pm on 9/6/2011.  You must do the mandatory question, for additional entries you MUST leave a separate comment for each entry.

Mandatory:

1. Visit the Be Seen site here  and complete this sentence: Been Seen is ______

Additional Entries: 

  • “Like” Be Seen on Facebook.
  • Follow Be Seen on Twitter
  • Tweet: “I want to win @cookveganlover @beseenforlife giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2xo”
  • Follow my new running blog on twitter @LindzNeilRun
  • Subscribe to my new running blog in a reader.

[1]: Been Seen|About

 

Fitness Friday: Vacation Workouts

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This week I had to take a break from the gym. No seriously I had to because our gym decided to close for a maintenance week so that meant no classes, no gym workouts and worst of all no pool. I was really looking forward to some swim workouts but oh well there’s always next week. This week so far I have done one run, one walk and one run track workout. Tomorrow we are going to tons of walking around Philly but Neil and I plan to get up early and use the gym or pool at the hotel before we head out on our day. Saturday the goal is to do a 4-5miler along Kelly Drive but that will be weather dependent. If the predicted storms come then it will be a hotel gym workout and I’ll probably do 2-3 miles on the dreadmill and 20-30mint on the elliptical plus again more walking around Philly. Lastly, my Sunday workout will probably be elliptical or whatever other cardio machine the hotel has.  Trip cancelled due to Irene. I have no idea what my workouts will be this weekend- all depends on the weather. Do you workout on vacation? 

Fitness Friday: Half Way Through August

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We are just over the half way point of August and things are going pretty well with my fitness goals.  I got a little hung up this week due to our hike last Saturday.  I ended up really straining my calf muscle which resulted in not being able to do my planned four mile run on Sunday and put  me out of commission for running most of this week.  That being said no more hiking until next summer since my half training official beings in 11 days.

Below is my workouts in August up until yesterday; still to come this week are yoga, 3-4 mile run and possible a swim and/or pilates.

What do you do to stay fit? 

August Workouts So Far: