Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs
Here are a few that I remember seeing:
Happy Running! Do you have any favorite running signs?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Weight Loss or Maintenance While Distance Running
I signed up for 4 half marathons – one in January, one in April, one in May, and one in June. That means I am running long on the weekends from October-June.
My goal is to maintain my weight although losing 5 lbs would be nice.
Each mile you run burns, on the average, 75-125 calories. For me, I think it’s around 100 calories. So you need to eat but not overeat. Seems pretty logical.
However, I realize that everyone’s metabolism is different.
But here’s what works for me:
Yes, it’s the most important meal of the day. I never run on an empty stomach. I always have oatmeal–2 or 3 packages with almond milk.
You need energy to run. I always eat one packet of Gu for each 4 miles of running and only drink water.
I am a dessert person. I crave sweets.
During the day if I need something sugary, I’ll eat a protein bar or if I want a treat, I’ll buy a latte or frappuccino at Starbucks but I’ll have it non-fat and without whipped cream.
At night, if I crave a snack while watching TV, I’ll have a cup of herbal tea. (and yes, I do cheat and have ice cream.)
You burn calories when you run. If you don’t eat right away, you will wind up overdoing the calories later.
After a run, I might have some fruit, a bagel or chocolate milk.
I usually do except when I eat in a restaurant. (Everything goes out the window when I see my choices on the menu, especially the desserts.)
Healthy eating to me means dinners consisting of lean meat or fish, lots of veggies and brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
Lunch – bagel, yogurt with granola, apple, cheese (I eat at my desk between 10 am & 2 pm)
Happy Running! How do you maintain your weight when training?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Favorite Post-Race Treat
Unfortunately, you don’t get it very often. That was one of the reasons that I enjoyed Sean’s Run (pictured above and below) so much.
I’m not fussy, I don’t care what kind. After a race is the only time I drink it.
Happy Running! What is your favorite post-race treat ?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Treadmill Running Tips
As much as I HATE running on the treadmill, it is a necessary evil this time of year.
So this is what works for me:
Happy Running! Do you have any tips for running on the treadmill?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Runner’s Nutrition
I should preface this post with the fact that I do not eat healthy most of the time. I love my carbs and my desserts (esp. ice cream).
That being said, here’s what me, the runner, eats :
I don’t like too much cheese or sauce. I prefer a thin crust.
Again, I don’t overdo on the sauce or the cheese.
Sometimes I make instant and sometimes I make the real stuff. My favorite flavor is maple or brown sugar cinnamon.
If I run after work, I usually eat one of these before I run. On days off, when I run in the morning, I eat one after my run. My favorites are Balance bar (yogurt honey peanut) and Kind (vanilla blueberry). I also like Cliff bars (pumpkin & gingerbread).
I love salted caramel and peanut butter. Now there are 2 new ones – chocolate peanut butter & root beer!!
I usually take one GU before a race and every 4 miles during a long run or race. I have never had any stomach issues with GU,
Just plain water…nothing added. And usually from the tap. I don’t like to carry water so I drink it before and after or loop back to my car. Races are perfect since they provide water.
Not fuel but refuel. For some reason, after a race, this is the only thing I can eat/drink right away. It doesn’t upset my stomach.
Non-running related Nutrition:
I like this brand when I can find it.
My downfall is eating in restaurants and at other people’s houses. I have NO WILL POWER!
Happy Running! What do you eat as a runner? Do you eat healthy?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: My Worst Race(s) & What They Taught Me
Worst races can happen for many reasons. So here are a few of my worsts:
Worst Weather – this would be a tie for the Lake George Half Marathon and the Love Run Half Marathon. Both were run in a COLD downpour for the whole 13.1 miles. I was freezing and wet and very uncomfortable.
Love Run 2014
Lake George HM 2011
Worst Pain – this would be again a tie for the Runner’s World 5k and the Freihofer’s Run 2013. Both were run with foot injuries. I had a stress fracture in my right foot for the RW race and a broken bone in my left foot for the FRW.
TW 5k 2012
FRW 2013
What I learned: I am stronger than I thought. I can push through anything if it is important enough. I enjoy racing enough to run even through less than optimal conditions.
Worst Feeling (Physically) after the race – This would be after the Saratoga Springs Half Marathon. I had a virus and it was hot and very humid. I felt sick the whole race but stuck it out. After the race, I almost passed out twice. UGH!
Saratoga HM 2014
What I learned: Hydration is very important. Summertime may not be the best time for me to run a half marathon.
Worst Feeling (Mentally) – This would be after the Santa Clarita Half Marathon in CA. It was my 5th half that year and I trained really well for it. I was expecting a PR. Well, it didn’t happen for whatever the reason (rain, jet lag, altitude, etc.) When I knew I wouldn’t, I kinda gave up. Afterwards, I felt very disappointed and that ruined the whole race experience for me. My friend also did not run well. So we both just wallowed in self pity.
St Clarita HM 2011
What I learned: Do not place so much importance on getting a PR. Anything can happen during a race and completing it is a victory in itself. Just enjoy every race experience.
Happy Running! What did you learn from your worst race?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: 2015 Race Plans
I run so many races (33 last year) that I am just listing some of the races I plan to run in the first 6 months of 2015:
January 17, 2015
February 7, 2015
March 14, 2015
March 29, 2015
April 11, 2015
April 26, 2015
May 2, 2015
HALF MARATHON – June 13, 2015
June 20, 2015
Happy Running! What are some of your 2015 races?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is:
So here are my 15:
I think my goals are pretty conservative. I think they are ALL achievable.
The toughest will be #10 & #11. The most important will be #1. If #1 happens, then #6 and #14 can follow.
Happy Running. Happy New Year! What is your biggest goal for 2015?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Show Us Your Year In Pictures
January:
10 mile race with a friend in Palm Springs CA
February:
4 mile race in Lake George with blogger AJH
March:
5k race while visiting friends in St. Augustine, FL
a wet half marathon with new friends in Philly
April:
1st in my age group (and winning a pie) at a new 5k
May:
tennis vacation in Naples, FL
1st in my age group again at a 5k on Mother;’s Day
June:
day in Staten Island
finally running a bucket list 10 miler
July:
Jimmy Buffet concert
my 9th half marathon
August:
a scenic but tough 10K with a new FB friend
many warm weekends on our boat on Lake George
September:
Running in Central Park, NYC
finally a 5K PR
October:
college reunion in NYC
Perfect 10 Miler in NJ & a PR
November:
PR at a 15K
10K PR at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
December:
a rainy 5k race through the lights in the park
a day in NYC with friends
Happy Running! What are some highlights of your year?
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Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Open so I chose – Running in Snowy Conditions
Of course, I live in the Northeast. This is the story of most of my winters (except for 2012 – the one when I was injured.)
There are several things you can do as a runner when it snows:
This is probably not an option for more than two days — especially if you are training for a race.
I did this my first 2 years of running. I stopped running in Nov and started again in April. I was not a serious runner, obviously.
This is probably the most logical one.
If you belong to a gym where there is a track, you can run there. I think a track is boring but it is better for me than a treadmill and you can do some creative speed drills.
You can also run on a treadmill. I personally hate them but I have used them when it is impossible to run outside.
You should have a pair if you live where it snows a lot. They really work. You can run in the snow and not slip and slide.
Sidewalks are unreliable. Sometimes they’re shoveled and sometimes they’re not. The bike paths are the same way. You never know. On main roads, there is too much traffic to run in the road. So you have to look for a road that is plowed and doesn’t have a lot of traffic or a trail that is shoveled.
Perform the following workout on a clean, plowed, well-lit, low-traffic, half-mile-ish stretch of road in your neighborhood, a large parking lot, or on a path.
Begin the intervals on one end of the road. This will be your starting point for every rep and the finishing point for every recovery period.
Repeat this ladder interval set 1-2 times. (Each set includes 8 minutes of hard running.)
and of course, if you are lucky and able, find a destination race where there is NO SNOW!!
Me on January 17!!
Happy Running! Any other suggestions for running in snowy weather?
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My First 5K and More... 