Friday Five

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So you want to hike?

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Friday Five topic this week is What you need to be a successful hiker

But just like running, if you don’t have the right stuff, it could be a nightmare.

  1. Shoes.

It depends on if you just walking a flat trail or climbing up a rocky one.

Until recently, I just wore my trail running shoes and they worked fine.

proud to have crossed a creek on that log

But waterproof boots are helpful when it is muddy or you have to cross water.  They also offer more support on a rocky or steep trail.

new boots, cheap poles, orange hat and swag bag

2. Support.

Your legs are going up and down. Over rocks and trees.  I usually just use I stick from a tree.  It’s the perfect height and weight for me.

getting to the top with my trusty stick

Hiking poles also work great.  I bought a cheap pair and they broke the first hike.  I did order a new pair.

3. Clothes.

Just like running, wear layers.  You will be cold at first and then warm up.

started out with gloves and a jacket…capris are my favorite since you can add socks for warmth

Wear orange or pink during hunting season.

my shirt is orange

4. Connectivity.

Always bring your cell phone.  Download the ALLTRAILS app so you can track your route. But know that you may not have cell service. So be prepared.

Download the trail map before you go!!!

5. Supplies.

Obviously you need water and a treat for the top of your climb (or end of your trek.)  Also bring toilet paper, bug spray, sunscreen, extra pair of socks, windbreaker.

snack break

You can carry everything in a light back pack.  I actually use ones I’ve gotten as swag from races (as you see in the photo above).

**6. Companions

Obviously it’s more fun to go hiking with someone else.  Make sure you all have the same expectations, ability and endurance. Otherwise it is not fun.

for my running friends, 3 miles with moderate climbs is enjoyable for everyone

I am sure that dogs make the best companions.  I have seen so many hikers with their furry friends that I get FOMO.

if you look closely, you’ll see some small dogs with colorful vests

Happy Running! Do you like to hike? Do you hike often? Any other helpful hiking tips?

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Take a Hike

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Friday Five topic this week is Why I Like To Hike.

By hiking, I don’t only mean climbing mountains (though they are fun too). I mean doing walking trails especially ones with a view at the end.

  1. No Pace or Distance To Worry About. 

You can go slow or fast.  Run or Walk.  You can go as far as you want and then go back to where you started.  Pretty simple.

You can do it alone or with friends. Anytime, anywhere.

2. It’s Great Exercise.

Your legs are going up and down. Over rocks and trees.  You also use your arms to help you climb or hold onto trees. It’s a workout!

3. You Get To See Nature At Its Finest.

Trees, flowers, birds, animals.  Butterflies are my favorite.

4. It’s Peaceful.

I spent quite some time on a hike just looking out. You can forget about all the problems in the world.

5. It’s FREE.

Most hiking trails are well-marked, have parking and don’t cost a thing. And there are so many to choose from.  Just download the AllTrails app and take a look.

**6. It can be Challenging.

If you are competitive, there are hiking challenges – The Fire Tower Challenge (Complete 18 in Adirondacks and 5 in Catskills) or be a 46er (climb all the high peaks in the Adirondacks).

Or climb to the top of a mountain. The feeling of reaching the top is just as gratifying as a PR.

Happy Running! Do you like to hike? Do you prefer the challenging ones or just trail walks?

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Ouch! My Achy SI Joint

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, If you are experiencing similar problems, please consult with a doctor.

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

So, my foot stopped hurting and I was running 10-13 miles every weekend pain-free.

Time for a new injury…not funny!

I guess my topic this week is: SI Joint Inflammation or Dysfunction

1. What is the SI Joint?

  • Its full name is the sacroiliac joint.
  • There are two of them in your lower back, and they sit on each side of your spine.
  • Their main job is to carry the weight of your upper body when you stand or walk and shift that load to your legs.

See the source image

2. How do you know your have it?

  • Dull or sharp pain on one side of your lower back or buttocks
  • Increased pain when standing up from a sitting position
  • Hurts to bend over
  • More painful in the morning

3. What causes it?

  • You take uneven strides when you walk or run
  • Injury from a fall
  • Too much sitting
  • Arthritis
  • Worn cartilage
  • Pregnancy

Except for the last one, I could justify this injury for all of the above. I have weakness in the left leg due to hardware in my ankle and recent neuroma pain.  Since March for my job, I sit ALL DAY!  I fell recently on a trail when running and who knows, I’m OLD so it could be arthritis and/or worn cartilage.

4. How do you treat it?

  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Heat
  • Naproxen or ibuprofen
  • Massage or trigger point therapy
  • Visit a chiropractor for re-alignment
  • PT exercises

so lucky to have this outside on my deck

I immediately saw my chiropractor in addition to all of the above.

trail walk instead of a run

I walked a lot since it didn’t hurt to do so. I took time off from running and started back slowly.

Amazon.com: Muscle Massage Gun Deep Tissue for Athletes, Pokehome Deep Tissue Massage Gun Percussion Muscle Massager Handheld Deep Tissue Massage Gun, 11 Speed High Intensity Vibration, 6 Heads Included: Health & Personal

my new BRF (that I bought for my hubby’s tennis elbow – which he never used lol)

5. What can you do to avoid it?

  • See your chiropractor regularly
  • Warm up and cool down before and after your runs
  • Use a foam roller or Theragun after exercise
  • Avoid sitting for long periods of time

2 weeks later – no pain

I was lucky that my SI pain did not last long. I have heard that it can last from weeks to months (and it can re-appear). Little by little I was able to bend with less pain. I think seeing my chiro right away helped and by moving more and sitting less. But who knows?

Happy Running! Have you ever suffered by SI joint pain or back pain? If so, what did you do to get rid of the pain? Please share.

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Ultimate Coffee Date for October

It’s that time of the month…

Starbucks BEEN THERE Series BTS--New Hampshire (NH) 14oz Mug NIB

where I am right now!!

to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I said that I was over Virtual races after May’s 5k.

I didn’t run any ALL summer.

Then I signed up for this October Half Marathon one:

ZOOMA merged with Skirt Sports and I’m an ambassador

and this September 5k and 10K:

to support this local organization

and this Fall series of 8 5ks:

it was free because I ran the Steel Rail half marathon (virtually)

and of course, my budget list NH half marathon that went virtual.

and this Oct. one:

to support the Lake George Conservancy

My problem, I don’t even consider them races so I run/walk them. I don’t even want swag (unless it’s for a real race.)

I will have run at least 5 virtual halfs in 2020. Do they even count??

I think NOT.

Do you actually race your “virtual” races? What do you do with swag that you didn’t really earn? Do you count virtual half marathons as half marathons??

2.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that my friends and I decided to go to NH this weekend even though our race has been cancelled.

our rented house with ocean view – 9 beds, 3.5 baths

Don’t tell anyone in NH but if we are from NYS, we are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days.  We debated about not going because of this but then decided to pretend that we didn’t know the rules.  Ignorance is bliss.

Would you travel to a state and ignore the pandemic restrictions?

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that the weather was perfect for running 2 weeks ago and I was injured.  As you can guess, it was hard NOT to run.  I even thought that I should not walk or hike. But if you know me, I couldn’t handle that amount of inactivity.

So I did walk a lot. I did hike.

It seemed to get better the more I moved.  By last Sunday, I was even able to run.

🙂

Have you ever ignored an injury and hoped it will just get better?

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I HATE Fall.

I miss summer already!

I want to get up, throw on a skirt/tank and go for a walk and at lunch, the same, and after work the same.

too cold in the am, too warm in the pm ???

It’s too cold for that in the morning. I have to find layers or even remember what to wear in this cooler weather. And then after work, I have to rush to avoid getting caught in complete darkness.

Yes, I know it will just get colder in the winter but by then I’ll be used to it.

How do you feel about Fall?

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I realized that my running mojo is tied to racing.

I love the excitement of a race and all it entails, even the training.

my last race … sigh

In the beginning of the pandemic, I ran because I thought I would eventually race. Races got cancelled one by one but there was still hope.

Now I’ve run out of hope. I don’t know when I’ll race again.

As a result, I prefer walking and hiking.  I wasn’t even that disappointed in my SI joint injury (besides the pain) when I figured out that I could still walk and hike.

I do still run but it’s slow and less often than when I was preparing to race.

this is more fun now

Do you retain your running mojo when there’s no race?

6. (sorry I’m an overachiever) Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I think I’ve inspired my young friend, Anna, from Moscow.

In 2012, she came to visit and watched me run a race. She was intrigued. She had never seen a race before.

Then in 2016, she came to NYC to visit and told me that she wanted to run a race with me. I was surprised because she never mentioned that she ran. So we ran the Dash to the Finish 5k – her first race.

I could tell that she may get hooked.  And I was right. She came back in 2018 to run another 5k. Unfortunately it got cancelled due to a thunderstorm.

Fast forward to 2020. Here she is running a 10k in Moscow.

running in a skirt, compression socks, spi belt, baseball cap – I may have influenced her outfit too

I hope that she can come back again some day so we can race together.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Got anything to spill? Share it here!
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Runfessions for September

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

I cannot believe that it is Fall.  Where did the summer go??

1. I runfess…

I signed up for a series of 8 fall virtual 5k races.  I don’t normally wear a watch but you have to post your times in order for it to count.

Instead of my Garmin, I used my Apple watch.

The problem is that I am so out of shape, that I stop and catch my breath every 30-45 sec (no exaggeration).

A bigger problem is that my watch may be on auto-pause. (actually sometimes it stops when I stop and then sometimes it does not. I never manually pause it.)

You get my drift?

2. I runfess…

I also signed up for another virtual 5k and 10k.

And I actually won my age group in each.

sign of the times…no shirt but a mask instead

At least this time, the faster runners did not run the race so I don’t feel as guilty about my awards.

3.I runfess…

I intended to run last Saturday but three of my friends had decided to walk instead of run. I gladly joined them

Who am I? Choosing to walk rather than run??

at least it was 6 miles so I could earn brunch from Leah’s

4. I runfess…

I am very comfortable running intervals at 13-14 min pace.

30:30 intervals but so enjoyable to run slow and with friends

Though I know that if I raced, this would make me very unhappy.  But it doesn’t bother me enough to run alone and try to regain some of of former speed.

5.I runfess…

I’m an amateur biker… so amateur I’m not even sure that I use the gears correctly and….. I don’t have a helmet (I know, I know, I will get one soon!!)

first bike road trip – 7 flat miles

Don’t worry.  You won’t ever see me and Big Red in a duathlon.

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? So glad to get mine out in the open? Can you identify with any of them? Please share.

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Fall Lovings

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

It’s almost Fall 2020 and time for a What Am I Loving Now post so that’s my topic this week.

Some things are probably the same as previous Falls but one big thing that has changed… NO FALL RACES!!

2018:

and no BIG RACE to train for 😦

2019:

1. Cooler Temps

Of course even I, who love sunshine and flowers, appreciate that it is easier to run when it is cooler.

a run too cool for a skirt and tank…

2. My Deep Tissue Massage Gun (cheap version of the Theragun)

It’s advertised to “rejuvenate sore muscles and aching joints, greatly reduce your recovery time after sports and improve your health condition. It has 11 Speeds and 6 Heads to be used on “different muscle groups and provides targeted treatment for fast recovery.”

Amazon.com: Muscle Massage Gun Deep Tissue for Athletes, Pokehome Deep Tissue Massage Gun Percussion Muscle Massager Handheld Deep Tissue Massage Gun, 11 Speed High Intensity Vibration, 6 Heads Included: Health & Personal

I’ve used it on my calves and my lower back. My hubby has used it for his tennis elbow. Thumbs up so far.

3. A New Starbucks Flavor

it’s Medium-roasted coffee with:

  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Black Pepper
  • Cinnamon

Starbucks® Golden Turmeric | Starbucks® Coffee At Home

I like it.  The Turmeric taste is not as strong as you think. And Turmeric  (anti-inflammatory qualities, and antioxidant qualities) is healthy, right? .

4. Our Weekly Trail Walks

Our local running club (ARE) in non-pandemic times organized runs on different local trails every week.

As a substitute, my running friends (the Sole Sisters) and I decided instead to walk on a different trail each week.  These will continue as long as it stays light long enough.  Then we may have to switch to the weekend.

5. My Long Run Saturdays

I love ALL my running friends and they have gotten me through all my long runs. I used to find these a struggle but I haven’t run fewer than 10 miles since last August.  It’s my favorite run of the week and one I never miss. Who knew this 5k runner would prefer the longer distance?

last year’s pic but the same partners in crime plus Debbie

But even better than the long runs, are the conversations had over brunch afterward. We are still able to do take-out and sit outdoors … apart. Not sure what will happen when the weather gets cold.

the good ole days – pre-pandemic

6. (because I can’t stick with 5). Hiking the Mountains

I’ve been hiking all summer and wish I had more time…

but I can’t wait until the leaves change color. It will be even more awesome.

view from Prospect Mt.

Happy Running! What are you loving right now?  Please share.

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Remembering 9-11

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic for this week appropriately is: Remembering 9-11

1.World Trade Center

1991

I had the luxury of visiting the Twin Towers before 9-11-01.  I brought foreign students there to visit several times. So glad I did. I even saved the ticket stubs (and I am not a saver.)

The World Trade Center opened in 1973

2. September 11, 2001

I remember the day it happened and actually watched on TV live when the second tower was hit. It was shocking. I’ll never forget what I saw.

9/11: Second plane hits South Tower - YouTube

3. January 2002

My hubby and I visited NYC 4 months later and there was still smoke in the air. We visited the Ground Zero. It was very sad.

4. Recent NYC Visits

Since then I have visited the Memorial and often run near the Freedom Tower.

Every time I see the new tower, I think about what used to be there.

5. Remember and honor today as runner

  • Run or Walk a Virtual Race:

https://www.thevirtualrunchallenge.com/virtual-race-event/2020-9-11-memorial-virtual-run-walk/

  • Run or walk at 8:46, 9:03, 9:38 or 10:03 am EST.

At 8:46 am on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and crashed a passenger jet into the north tower of New York City’s World Trade Center. A second plane slammed into the south tower at 9:03 am.  At 9:38, a third airliner dove into the Pentagon right outside the capital. At 10:03, fourth jet, bound for Washington D.C., crashed in Pennsylvania.

  • Run or Walk 9.11 kms or 9.11 miles.

I plan to walk 9.11k.

I’m also linking up here:

Formerly the Running Coaches’ Corner, it’s back with new co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Running on Happy, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Fauxrunner.

Happy Running! Do you remember 9/11? How do you commemorate the day? Please share.

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Ultimate Coffee Date for September

It’s that time of the month…

Starbucks BEEN THERE Series BTS--New Hampshire (NH) 14oz Mug NIB

still optimistic for Oct 2-5 vacation

to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I said that I was over Virtual races.  I hadn’t run one since May.

I asked for a refund for both of my September Half Marathons and asked for a deferral for the August one BUT my October race has gone VIRTUAL with no refund or deferral option.

So I guess I’m doing another virtual race. Reluctantly. I really don’t care about getting a half-zip or medal when I have not run a “real” race.

How do you feel about this?  Do you want swag from “virtual” races?

2.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I was okay when I heard that Skirt Sports was going out of business. I have made quite a few friends in past years by being an Ambassador and I have enough skirts to last (my lifetime).

As you may have heard, the company was bought by Sarah R, the owner of the ZOOMA race series.

I ran ZOOMA Bermuda last February and met Sarah.  This race was one of the best race experiences (and I have run a lot of them lol).

And there were quite a few Skirt Sports skirts at the race.

Perfect match, right?

Have you run a Zooma race recently? If so, did you enjoy it? Do you wear Skirt Sports?  How do you feel about its future?

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that related to the above 2 updates, I signed up for another virtual race. I signed up with two other Skirt Sports ambassadors…

and it’s a ZOOMA race.

virtual swag

Have you done any virtual races lately?  How about any ZOOMA virtual races?

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that although gyms in NYS were allowed to open, my free gym has not.

It’s not that I was a frequent gym goer but I do worry about when winter comes.  I do not own a treadmill or a stationary bike.

Have you gone to a gym yet?

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I have unearthed my old bike.

 last ridden in 2012!?

You won’t see me at any duathlons.  I will be just be a casual biker. So far, I have only ridden around the neighborhood.

I need to get a bike rack for my car if I want to ride it on any of the bike paths. But it turns out bike racks are like toilet paper in March …None to be found 😦

How often do you bike?  How far?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Got anything to spill? Share it here!
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Self-Care

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic for this week is: Self-Care

I’ll admit that I stole this idea from @runstrongrun’s IG post. I hope she doesn’t mind.

It’s always been important to take care of oneself but even more crucial during these stressful times.

Since it is Friday Five, I’ll pick the first 5 on this list:

1.Exercise

Run, walk, hike, work out. Whatever works for you. It may only be for a short time but try to fit in some form of exercise each day.

I rarely work out but I do try to run or walk or hike every day.

2. Alone Time

It’s important to carve time where you are completely by yourself.

I work from home now. That’s means I’m home with the hubby more than usual.  Driving to a local preserve is my alone time. Sometimes it’s my daily run or walk.

3.Read a book.

It doesn’t have to be for a long time…maybe just a few pages before bed or while your dinner is cooking.

I do read every night before I fall asleep but I especially enjoy reading on the lake.

4.Spa Day

This can be just soaking in the tub, getting a manicure or pedicure or even a facial (home mud mask). Try to find some time to pamper yourself every day.

I do get monthly manicures, always have my toes painted but some days I am lazy. I need to remind myself to take a long bath rather than a quick shower each day.  We have an outdoor hot tub (that I unplugged to set up my laptop on the deck). I need to set that up again for a post run spa.

5.Friends

Humans are made to be connected with other humans. So call or text a friend, ZOOM or Face Time with him/her, meet at a park. Connect with at least ONE friend each day.

my college friends

I’m pretty good with keeping touch with those important in my life.  I text friends whom I can’t see or ZOOM with those who live too far away to see in person.  Of course, I do try to see my close friends at least weekly at dinners/brunches

and on runs/walks.

We are all busy especially if you work full-time or have young children at home.  You may not be able to do all of these self-care items every day,  But several can be combined such as:

1 and 3 – Download an audio book and listen while you exercise.
1 and 2 – Spend your alone time walking, hiking or running.
1 and 5 – Run/walk or work out with a friend.
1 and 4 – Run or workout and follow it with an Epsom salt bath or massage.

Have you noticed which number works with the all the rest??

And remember

Self-Care Strategies for Holidays — Rape Recovery Center

I’m also linking up here:

Formerly the Running Coaches’ Corner, it’s back with new co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Running on Happy, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Fauxrunner.

Happy Running! How many of these do you do Daily? Please share.

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Enjoying the Summer Runs

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic for this week is: Running during the Hot/Humid Summer Months

I’m not going to list the obvious because we all know about these tips:

  • Carry Water
  • Wear Moisture-Wicking Clothing
  • Run early or late when the temps are cooler
  • Wear Bug Repellent and sunscreen
  • Wear a cap to protect your scalp and face from the sun
  • Choose a shady route

It may be August but those hot temps are still around. So what else can we do to enjoy our runs at this time of year?

1.Embrace the Suck

Stop whining about how the heat and humidity are sucking the life out of your runs.

hot hot hot

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!

Soon we’ll be complaining that it is too cold and icy and we have to resort to a treadmill.

Either just Run or Don’t run.

Walking, hiking and biking are great ways to move if it is too uncomfortable for you to run.

96 degrees on the ground. Cool and breezy on the top of a mountain.

2.Use Intervals

I’m not one to use intervals when I run but this summer, I wanted to do more walking and hiking during the week and run longer on the weekend.

weekly group trail walks

The only way to get this done for me was to run using intervals.

If you do already and you find that the run parts are too long and the walk parts too short, just shorter the run and lengthen the walk.  The only person who cares about your pace is YOU!

30:30 – 14 mm pace – got it done and barely sweat

3.Provide Rewards

That is for post run.  Rewards are always an incentive.  But in the summer they are necessary (at least for me) and they should be cold ones.

Mine seem to be either ice cream or a thick shake or iced coffee – it depends on the time of day.

Just choose something to motivate you to get out there and get it done!

BTW: It doesn’t have to be food. LOL

4.Distract Yourself

Runs are hard and they are even harder in the heat.

I prefer chatting with a friend or friends.

But if this is not possible, you can listen to music, a podcast, focus on nature or even your own thoughts.

Whatever works for you.

Sometimes I do wear my After Shokz and listen to a podcast or Hamilton soundtrack

But if you read my blog, you know that flowers are my preferred distraction.

5.Avoid Comparison

Maybe this means avoiding social media or not uploading your runs to Strava or Garmin.

In other words, run for yourself and don’t compare the distance or your pace to others.  The heat may not affect other runners in the same way it affects you.

I don’t wear watch but most runners could not do this and still run.  (My runs still count!! I record only the distance and on my blog.)

happy to just squeeze in a run during my lunch break – sometimes 3 miles take the whole hour lol

I’m also linking up here:

Formerly the Running Coaches’ Corner, it’s back with new co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Running on Happy, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Fauxrunner.

Happy Running! Have you found ways to survive the hot humid summer runs? Please share.