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Friday Five: Favorite songs to pump up a workout

DC_linkup

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup.  Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!)  They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week, the theme is 5 Favorite songs to pump up a workout:

Here are my top 5 motivating songs to run to since I don’t work out:

1. Fight Song (Rachel Blatten)

I recently downloaded this one onto my phone.  I love these lines:

Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care
If nobody else believes
Cause I’ve still got
A lot of fight left in me

Perfect for those tough miles.

2. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

 

Any oldies but goodie.  At my age, if you want to keep running and even run half marathons, you “gotta believe!”

3.  Don’t Stop (Rolling Stone)

Another song to keep you going when those legs want to stop.

4. Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty)

Every race that I enter, I am “running down a dream.)

5.  Best Day of my Life (American Authors)

Any day that I am healthy enough to get out there and run is “the best day.”

Happy Running! What are your favorite running or workout songs?

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Friday Five: 5 Things About Me

DC_linkup

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup.  Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!)  They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week, the theme is Five Things 

1.  I am not athletic or coordinated at all.  I never played a sport growing up but in my 40s, many years before I ever thought of running, I started playing tennis.  And like I am with running now, I was obsessed.  I played everyday.  I took lessons and played on several teams. I still play but it has definitely taken a backseat to running.

me 8 years ago

in 2002

the competitive me in 2010

in 2010

2014

2.  My favorite foods are pizza and ice cream. I have no self-control when it comes to these foods. (In other words, I stop eating them when there is no more left.)

Soft Serve Ice Cream (esp. coffee) with sprinkles

3. I was a French major in college, spent my junior year in the south of France and was a French teacher for over 20 years. I still love everything French. I have seen Les Miz at least 12 times. (My dream to run a race in France.)

creme brulee = happiness

I love French desserts (and art, movies, etc.)

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4. My birthday is the same day as Billy Joel‘s (May 9). I have seen him in concert many times. We are also both from Long Island. (He actually was part of a band that played at my friend’s sweet 16 party.)

billyjoel

5. My clothes (almost) always match. Neurotic?  I used to say about tennis: “If I don’t play good, at least I’ll look good.”  Beauty before fitness?

Freihofer's 2014

too much purple?

Stockadeathon 15K

Happy Running! Tell me 5 things about you! 

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Friday Five: Favorite Fitness Tunes

DC_linkup

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup.  Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!)  They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week, the theme is Five Favorite Fitness Tunes!

Ok, I just picked ones that motivate me to RUN:

  1. Stronger by Brittney Spears
  2. Don’t Stop by the The Rolling Stones
  3. Stronger by  Kelly Clarkson
  4. Best Day of My Life by the American Authors
  5. Run Run Run by Michelle Lewis

and if you haven’t, watch this video:

Addicted to Running

Happy Running! What is your favorite running song?

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Tunes to run by

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When I run by myself, which is almost all the time except for races, I listen to music on my iPhone.

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My taste is eclectic…anything from the Carole King to Lady Gaga.  I started by downloading songs from cds but now if I hear a song on the radio that I like, I buy it.

I just heard about RunHundred.com. You can subscribe to it for FREE.

run100

Every month, in your email, you receive a list of the Top 10. The list also includes each song’s BPM. Sounds pretty neat.

runhundred.com

Happy Running! Do you listen to music when you run?  How do you choose your music?  What is your favorite running song?

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February Fitness Survey

I saw this over on Zaneta’s blog (Runner’s Luck) and thought it would be fun… since I’m tired of talking about the weather (Yes, we are having ANOTHER snowstorm!!).

fitness-survey

1. Do you have a Fitness board on Pinterest? Share it. 

 I have a RUNNING Pinterest board with pins on it but I’m not good about keeping it up-to-date.

2. What is your go to place for fitness questions? (friend, blog, website) 

I usually asking questions on my blog AND also the Sweat Pink, Philly Love and Strong Running Mamas Communities on Facebook!

3. What do you do to workout when the weather outside is too cold, snowy or icy?

The cold doesn’t bother me anymore.  I just dress appropriately and go out and run.  If it is snowy, I’ll wear my YakTrax.  But  if it is icy that’s when I stay inside and use the treadmill at work.  

4. Latest song(s) added to your playlist? 

Best Day of My Life by American Authors

Timber by Pitbull

5. Share a link to your favorite healthy recipe.  

Not exactly healthy but it has butternut squash in it and it tastes great. Click here for the recipe or

pin

6. What’s your favorite fitness app? 

I have downloaded a lot of fitness apps but lately I have been using Nike Plus for my runs. It’s not as accurate as my Garmin but it’s just an alternative to FitSnap for sharing pics on Fb and Instagram.

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Share a picture of a recent workout.

This is my long run on Sunday.

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Happy Running! What’s your favorite fitness app? What’s the latest song added to your playlist?

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Currently

Currently

Being off from work for more than a weekend is very strange for me. I am not used to having so much free time and yet, not getting things done.

Watching: TVs shows on my iPad.  I have to catch on missed episodes of my favorite shows – The Good Wife, Revenge, Grey’s Anatomy and Nashville

Reading: The Orphan Train. A friend recommended it and so far it is very good.

Listening: Pandora.  I usually only listen to music in the car and my drive to work is very short.  I love listening to oldies – Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Carole King, etc.

Making: Socks.  I have the wool so but I kinda have lost interest in knitting.  It reminds me of the time I knit because I couldn’t do anything else.

Feeling: Relaxed and rested.

Planning: Dinner.  Not working makes me feel guilty about not cooking dinner for my hubby.When I am working, I don’t have the time.  No excuse today.

Loving: Being able to run at any time of the day I want.  I can run in the daylight and can wait until the weather improves. I can run as far as I want and where I want. Unfortunately, this only happens once a year.

Happy Running! What’s on your ‘Currently’ list?

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I is for Iphones & Ipads

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look what’s in my hand – my iPhone, of course!

I hardly go anywhere without my iPhone. (This comes from someone who resisted for a long time buying a smartphone & I work in the IT field.)

I started out only using it as a phone.

That meant that I still carried a camera.  (And I still prefer to take pictures with my camera.) Eventually, I got lazy and now I frequently use my iPhone as a camera.  In fact, my last half marathon was the first time that I didn’t carry a camera to a race.

Sarasota Half Marathon

my iPhone is in my SpiBelt

Until recently, I listened to music on my iPod Shuffle (I love how small it is) but now I even use my iPhone for tunes (since I carry it anyway.)

3-3-13b

iPhone is in my pocket

I do have some running apps (walkjogrun & runtastic) on it but I have yet to use them,  I am pretty content with my Garmin 205.

As for my iPad (I got it at least a year before my iPhone), it is invaluable.  I download books on it (though I do read real books for the most part), play Scrabble on it and most importantly, it keeps my sane on the treadmill.

dreadmill

 I hardly ever watch real TV anymore.

I even prefer (if I have wifi) to read my e-mail or check Facebook on it.  Maybe it’s my “old” eyes but I just like the large screen.

Happy Running! Do you have an iPhone or an iPad?  If so, what do you use them for?

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Friday Ramblings

Quote from Runner’s World:

“I spent four weeks in total numbness. Six months later, I started running. I could only do ten minutes at a time, but I kept going because I knew that running would get me my life back.”  — Ryon Lane, who shattered his C4 vertebra in a 2008 diving accident

My injury is not as bad as some….though not runnning is frustrating.  Give me patience until I can get my life back!

me now

 

the day I died

 

 

On another note — Watch this video:

Run…run..run  by the Explorer Club

Lyrics

Love it!!

Also love the new TV show Smash so far.  Loved Debra Messing in Will & Grace.   Katherine McPhee‘s voice is amazing!

Happy Running!  Enjoy your weekend!

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Thanks Steve Jobs

My first computer use was on a Mac.  I used Macs for many years.  Unfortunately,  finances forced me to buy a PC when I needed a laptop for grad school.  A career switch from teaching to IT also changed my computer use from a MAC to a PC, as well.

However, for running, I am eternally grateful to Steve Jobs.

my iPod Touch

The iPod Touch has made running on the treadmill possible.  I download my favorites shows such as The Good Wife and Fairly Legal and watch them while I run to keep me sane on the treadmill.

my iPod nano

When I first started running, I bought this nano off my friend’s daughter and used it with the Nike+ chip on my shoe to tracks my miles as well as listen to music.  I used it for several years and right up to my first half marathon in January 2011 (when I bought a Garmin) to keep track of distance and pace.

my iPod shuffle

Now that I use a Garmin to keep track of mileage and pace, I use this shuffle to listen to music when I run outdoors.  I won it in a blog giveaway and I love it because of its size.  It clips onto my shorts or fits into a key pocket.

the phone in my future

No, I don’t have a iPhone (yet).  I bought a new phone last December before I found out that Verizon would be offering an iphone.  So now I have to wait…. The iPhone would be perfect for running since I like to take photos when I run.  If I carry a camera, then I don’t have room to carry a phone.  If I carry a phone, then I don’t have room to carry a camera.  The  iPhone would allow to me to have both options in one device!! (Actually it could even replace my iPod touch & shuffle if I store videos & music on it.)

on my wish list

I don’t have a personal laptop.  I have one for work (which occasionally I bring home.) It is heavy so a iPad would be great to have to surf the Internet and update my blog and facebook posts when I am away from my desk.  It also would be even better for watching TV while on the treadmill.  Will I see an Ipad2 under my Christmas tree??

Happy Running!  Do you use  an ipod or iphone when you run?

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ClipE Review & Some Running

mine is Black

I almost always run with my iPod (except when I’m on the treadmill) so I agreed to review ClipE when I received an e-mail offering to send me one to try out.
 
According the website:
 
ClipE is a small and simple solution for managing headphone cords in a stylish way. The design, mechanics and ergonomics were the brainchild of an avid runner and professional pilot, Jess Bylsma. Just like pilot’s headsets have a clip on them to keep cords away from the flight controls and switches, Jess saw the need for a similar concept for runner and athletes. After exploring all options in the market that didn’t quite meet the practicality and aesthetic requirements, Jess took matters into her own hands and designed the ClipE.
 
I was planning to run before work yesterday but the rain deterred me.  Today I had no excuse.  I was anxious to continue testing my injured heel as well as the ClipE.
 
Results:
 
I personally do not find that my headphone cords get in my way when I run.  I sometimes find that they are too long but the ClipE wouldn’t help with that.  I think it’s because I hate armbands and I put my iPod in a pocket or clip it to my waistband.
 
Anyway, I put the cords through the ClipE.  I did want to wrinkle my tech shirt but I clipped it to my shirt as shown on the package anyway.  I had a little trouble getting the cords to stay in when I tried to clip it but I finally figured it out. 
 
The ClipE stayed in place throughout my whole run. 
 
I ran 3 miles with a 1/4 mi walk before & after.  My heel didn’t hurt!!  It stills feels tight & achy but no pain… I am not running fast but once the fear factor of a re-occurrance wanes, I’ll try to pick up the pace. 
 
My PT guy feels that I need at least 5 more sessions but he says I can run but not 2 days in a row and not more than 3 miles at a time…
 
 Back to my recommendation on ClipE:
 
 It’s light, stays put and if your headphone cords get in your way when you run, this is a perfect solution for you!
 
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 Disclaimer:  I was sent this free of charge.  The opinions of my review are mine and mine alone.
 
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Happy Running!