HBBC Update

This is our first year doing the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge, so in an effort to stay motivated, we will be doing a blog update every Saturday until the challenge is over!  We think this is a fantastic way to get folks motivated over the holiday season to get out there and be active and eat healthy!

Here's how we did this past week (19-25 November):

Jess
19 Nov: Ran 10.75 miles (10.7 pts)
20 Nov: Biked 9.79 miles (3 pts)
21 Nov: First CrossFit fundamentals class (@ CrossFit760) (3 pts...though I feel like this one should count for WAY more)
22 Nov: 2 mile run with MIL (2 pts)
23 Nov: 4 mile run, second CrossFit fundamentals class (7 pts)
24 Nov: Oceanside Turkey Trot 5k (plus w/u) and one hour yoga class at Haute Yoga (6.5 pts)
25 Nov: 6 mile run, third CrossFit fundamentals class, one hour yoga class at Haute Yoga (12 pts)
Five Days where I got at least 7 full servings of fruits & vegetables (5 pts)
Weekly Total: 49.2


Jennifer
19 Nov: Ran 4.97 miles (4.9 pts)
20 Nov: Ran 2.26 miles (2.2 pts)
21 Nov: Ran 2.82 miles and completed Cindy (15 min AMRAP 5 pull ups, 10 pushups, 15 squats) (5 pts)
22 Nov: 5.57 mile run (5.5 pts)
23 Nov: 19 mile bike ride (6.1 pts)
24 Nov: 4.16 mile run (4.1 pts)
25 Nov: Rest Day (my calf needed it!)
Seven Days where I got at least 7 full servings of fruits & vegetables (7 pts)
Weekly Total: 34.8

Hampstead Kiwanis Park 8k Turkey Trot

On Saturday, 19 November, my running club, Stroller Warriors participated in the Hampstead Kiwanis Park 8k Turkey Trot. It was the perfect weather for a run at a cool 50-degrees and this run was definitely geared for families. There were LOTS of strollers participating, even one with dogs riding along! They had plenty of music and entertainment before the race started, including a Zumba instructor showing off her moves and hoola hoops for the kiddos.

Without nearly as much warning as I had hoped for, the 9:00 start was upon us. In fact, we barely made it to the back of the pack when the horn sounded! In typical Stroller Warrior fashion, we used our strollers as battering rams (ok, not really) to maneuver through the crowd. I quickly caught up to our lead SW and we chatted through the first 2 and a half miles. I even managed to push both of our strollers while my friend took off her long sleeved shirt:) Just before the orange turn around cone, my stroller suddenly stopped...the front wheel actually fell off and rolled into a nearby bush. My friend, Susannah came to the rescue and held up the stroller while I reattached the wheel. (Lesson learned: always op check gear PRIOR to a race!) We got right back in the game and continued to say to each other, "I've got to slow down a bit, but you go ahead." Of course, neither one of us slowed down at all and it turned out to be a great race. Susannah finished 3rd female overall in 37:06 and I followed closely behind, winning my age group in 37:12.

We had lots of Stroller Warriors in attendance and the race announcer gave us plenty of shout outs. The only bad thing about the race was the crazy finish. We had to weave around a very strange path where we could see the finish line, but didn't actually know how to get to it. 

Here are some of the SWs in action:

This is Liz, and yes, she's always that happy when she runs!

Our club leader rocking her double stroller! Go Steph!!

We all decided to wear knee high socks during this race and it was quite a site:

This decision was inspired by our currently injured, but nonetheless present SW, Jessica:

Liz and Jess showing off their socks.

All in all, this was a fabulous way to kick off the holiday season. The more you run, the more pie you can eat, right?! One of our new members rocked this awesome bandana:

This might encompass my feelings about running:)

This guy is at nearly every race I've ever done in Eastern NC, and he runs with a full pack:

Not sure what look he was going for, but he's fast enough to rock the outfit. He passed us just before my wheel fell off.

SWs pre-race photo...only missing a few in the pic.

Couldnt' have a post without a picture of my weasel with the race Turkey, could I? She was a champ throughout the whole wheel debacle too. Love my girl!

Penasquitos Creek Park

On Saturday, 19 November, I ventured down to meet up with some of the San Diego Dirt Devils for a trail run.  Sometimes they do group meet-ups and open it up to everyone.  This one was down at Penasquitos Creek Park, about 30 minutes away from where I live.


About 15-20 runners showed up bright and early at 0700 to venture out.  Some were there to run 6 miles, some were going to do 8, and the brave ones were planning on 12 miles.  By 0710 we were hitting the trail, and the leaders took off.  Unfortunately, the leaders (who knew the course we were supposed to run) were a little faster than me...ok, a LOT faster.  I got to a "T" in the trail and there was no one in sight!

As a well-trained Marine, I decided I could navigate my way through the canyon and back to my car without any problems.  I had no Garmin, no stopwatch, and no iPod...I was running naked!  So, off I trotted just enjoying the scenery and the peace and quiet around me!

So, what did I think of this new trail?

+Quiet area, not too close to a road or other houses
+Beautiful scenery, well marked trails
+Can run upwards of 12 miles without back tracking!
-It's 28 miles from my house...and gas is almost $4/gallon
-There are a lot of mountain bikers on those same trails...most of them were really polite though!

So, the pros win out!!!  I'll be back to run this again.  I took Leonie's dog, Teton, with me and he did great!  There were a few ladies running with me, so I did find out final mileage from one (it's impossible to give up the OCD of logging miles), and we did 10.75!

Wowzer Wednesday - When Injury Strikes... (And the winner)

I seriously think I shouted WOWZER...or some other choice term, when I started the second 200m sprint of my crossfit workout yesterday. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Stroller Warriors gathered at a local community center for our Pre-Thanksgiving Day workout. We ran for 50 minutes (out-and-back). I ran with a few friends and we made it 5.75 miles. I felt a little tight during the run and told myself, "You better stretch when we finish." HAHA! Try telling that to my 1-year old who wanted to cruise the playground. So stretching took a backseat to playtime and we hit the jungle gym and swings for about 30 minutes. Then we drove home and I transferred my sleeping girl to her crib for the rest of her nap time. I decided that it would be good to go ahead and knock out my crossfit workout for the day. (My husband is coming home in just over a month after being gone since May 12th and I'm trying to look HOT!)

The workout should have been quite simple: 50-40-30-20-10 box jumps and sit ups with a 200m run starting each round. During the first run, I felt a small twinge in my left lower calf. I kept running and then continued to the box to complete 50 jumps without a break. I moved to the blanket on my garage floor and knocked out 50 sit ups. Then I started the second 200m run. I didn't even make it out of the driveway. My calf seized up and I could hardly stand, let alone walk.

That was around 12:30 and it's currently 9:25 and I still wince when walking and cry a little when I have to navigate the stairs. As soon as it happened, I grabbed an ice pack from the freezer...

I think this would have been more help if I had opened it up and drowned my sorrows.  Then I tried stretching and self-massage while Reagan finished her nap. Once she was up, it was increasingly more painful as I added 25 pounds to my load. We headed out to Walmart later in the afternoon where I picked up these items:

Great piece of gear! Not only did it help my calf, I got a back rub too!

Seriously, is there a runner out there that doesn't have a tube of this magic cream in their arsenal?

Overall, I think it's just a serious cramp or small strain and it's going to take a rest day or two to fully recover. And, as illustrated by my very artistic note on my Buddha board, with time, it will fade away and become just something that once was...

And finally, the reason you're all even checking this post, the winner of our nunn giveaway is SeRunIty!!  Congratulations!  Please email Jessica at ryutwin2@gmail.com to coordinate details for shipping your prize! Thanks everyone for participating. 

Need to set the bar lower next month...

Jennifer's Goals
1. Run 5 days a week. Ran all 7 days this week.  And completed an 8k turkey trot!
2. Do speed work once a week.  The 8k wasn't exactly speed work, but it sure felt like it.  So no legitimate speed work this week:(
3. Go to bed by 10:30 every night!  I'm so happy to be home and have access to my computer again, but it is NOT a good thing for my early curfew.  Feeling rested enough though.
4. Learn about fueling/nutrition for before/during longer runs.  Thanks to my dear sister, I've started using nuun and trying to drink tiny sips throughout my runs.  I'm not sure it helps, but I know it's what I'm supposed to be doing.  And that's a start right?
5. Eat sweets no more than three times a week.  I should never have made this a goal.  It's totally not realistic.  I've got the world's worst sweet tooth. To make up for it, I just try to run more.  And that should count.

Jess' Goals

1. Complete speed work once a week.  FAIL...didn't get this done this week...stayed off of my feet most of the week and on the bike.

2. Add two yoga workouts per week.  FAIL...yeah, not looking good so far this week...

3.  35 miles per week.  Definitely got this one done this week, as I've decided biking most definitely counts.  Once my feet are not hurting so much, I'll be able to work on 35 miles of just running!

4. Eliminate Monster energy drinks from my daily intake.  Still going strong here!  I had a tall mocha, so I did have some caffeine, but no Monsters!

5. Find one new trail to run every week. DONE! My review of Penasquitos Creek Park will be coming this week!

Hooray for Holiday Giveaways!

Nope, this is not a giveaway from I RUN, THEREFORE, I AM...but it is an awesome chance to win a Garmin Forerunner 405!!

This sweet piece of flare will give you accurate readings on distance, pace, calories burned, and elevation...and so much more!  I'm hoping to win because right now, I just tote my iPhone along on every run to use the free RunKeeper app. And while it provides me with great running log info, it's not exactly the best piece of gear to have to carry while on the move.  

So, what are you waiting for, go here and sign up!

Surprise: An Early Christmas Gift

Yes, I know it's mid-November, but since Jessica is deploying to Afghanistan sometime in December, she sent me an early Christmas gift. She had always been a generous person. Whenever she finds something great, she typically buys two and sends me one! It's great to be the same size as someone else:)

This year, she outdid herself! We are always talking about getting the latest gear for running because in the back of our minds, we think that someone out there has created a product that will make us faster, make us run longer. And though in reality, we both realize these products don't exist, there are some things on the market that can improve our overall performance (or just make us look cooler).

Here's the loot:

Test packets of Ultima drink mix which provides electrolyte replacement with no sugar. Brooks bag for race day supplies. A tube of nuun drink tablets which we're giving away but I've never tried. Honey Stinger wafers and chews. Running Skirts arm warmers in an awesome paisley pattern! Full-fingered biking gloves. 2XU compression socks.

Seriously, BEST SISTER EVER! And I'm definitely going to be faster now!

Can't wait to try these. Jessica says they should be relabeled as "Crack Waffles" because they are that good!

I recently purchased what I thought was a pair of compression socks from Under Armour. When I put them on fairly easily, I thought it was a bit strange. Then I tried these 2XU socks and WOW...what a difference. I immediately noticed a huge difference in the level of compression. So here's a tip: save yourself the $20 on the great deal for Under Armour socks, and splurge for the real deal.