Passion For Running Part 5: Good Equipment

Every sport requires specialized equipment. Running is no exception; however, the requirements are substantially fewer, and consequently less expensive, than what you might see for other sports.

For example, think about all the equipment one needs to cycle. Not only that, but the decisions that go into deciding which equipment to buy. Road bike or off-road? Clip pedals or cage pedals? Helmet or no helmet? T-shirt or tech shirt? Gloves or no gloves? Night cycling or day cycling? I could go on and on. Each of those decisions results in a separate purchase and possibly greater expense.

On the flipside, there is swimming. While I do swim about once a week, I am definitely not what you would call an enthusiast. I have my swimsuit, moldable ear plugs, and goggles. Period. And my equipment is simply basic, and inexpensive. However, when I shopped for this equipment, I could see how a swimming enthusiast might get carried away with purchasing super expensive supplies, like $25 techno ear plugs instead of the $5 moldable ones and $30 goggles instead of the $15 version.

Other sports with high price tags for equipment are golf, horseback riding, skiing, baseball, football.

Thankfully for us, the running enthusiasts, the equipment needs are rather basic.

I would say the most important element of equipment~the one on which you want to spend as much as you can~is the shoes. Shoes provide both cushion and support for your feet and legs. Not enough support, and your whole body could be affected, from your knees to your hips to your spine.

Every athletic shoe manufacturer carries a multitude of styles to fit every need, and usually in a range of prices. In fact, there are so many styles that I get overwhelmed and rely instead on the friendly staff at my local Luke's Locker. I wear Saucony now, but don't ask me which style. Last year I wore Basics, and, way back in the dark ages of my college years, I ran in Adidas and Reebok court shoes. I don't even think there were shoes made specifically for running. If something like it existed, I didn't know about it. No wonder I suffered such horrible shin splints back then.

As you can see, it helps to do your own research and find a quality running supply store with staff whom you can trust. Furthermore, as with any purchase, more money spent does not necessarily equal better quality. The $100 Saucony shoe that works for me might not be the right one for someone else who runs better in the $60 Adidas.

Depending on how many miles and on what type of surface you are running, you can expect to replace your shoes at least twice a year. I can always tell when mine need to be replaced by gauging my shin, knee, and hip pain. Plus, it helps to focus on when it starts to feel like I am running with pancakes strapped to my feet.

And, aaahhh, to run in a brand new pair of sneakers. So light, so airy. Who wouldn't want to perpetuate that comfort?

There are other items that you might want to consider:

1. Good quality socks that not only help cushion your feet but also absorb moisture efficiently.
2. Lightweight clothing, preferably tech tops of some sort, which will absorb moisture regardless of the temperature in which you run. The benefits of this for cold weather running are obvious~cold gear is a must~but running in a heavy, wet, sweaty t-shirt in 85 degrees is never comfortable. For all the men reading this: I will always envy your ability to run shirtless (and don't mind me if I stare at you as you run past)!
3. A reusable water bottle, along with some way to carry it. This is a personal preference. I prefer to hold my bottle in my hand. Some prefer fuel belts, others a waist pouch. Pick what works best for you.
4. A ball cap works well to keep sun out of your eyes and to absorb moisture.
5. Sunglasses. I can't run without mine, even on cloudy days. I think is it part of my running persona.
6. Sunscreen. No other explanation needed.
7. Headlamp, flashlight, or other luminary devices if you run at night. Don't be that runner who gets hit in the crosswalk because the driver coming from behind the hedges couldn't see your approach.

If you are intent on growing your passion for running, as with any sport, invest in the necessary equipment for comfort and control. You will not enjoy anything if you are practicing it with missing, ill-fitting, or worn equipment. Take care of your body by supporting it with what it needs to do its job. It will then take care of you.

Solo Re-Defined

Actually, this transends solo and bridges into lonely.

I think I found a new way to do "solo" and one that would never have crossed my mind previous to this past week.

Last week, the job of my dreams landed right in my lap, for the most part. I know God was at work here. After all, everything in His timing. And, don't get me wrong, I AM grateful.

The job is through a temporary agency in my town. It is a job that I found through a job board that I subscribe to. Actually, I ran across the job listing accidentally and, on a whim decided to post to it because it was unlike any other job listing I had seen in my desired field of technical writing. It did not require any specific software work experience, of which I have none that is recent, and it did not require a slew of competencies and education. In other words, they really just wanted a warm body who knows how to write.

This is right up my alley. I had landed the job in less than a day. God-thing, definitely. The right job at the right time.

But, that said, it is temporary. And I have not worked in an office environment in about ten years. The company is in the cruxt of assembling a proposal, which they received almost by accident last minute and which has to be complete in about a week. They are barely out of information gathering phase as of today. Hmmmm..... Warm body, definitely.

My first day, the president walks me around and introduces me to everybody. Miraculously I remember everyone's name, except for two of the IT guys. That is about 15 people. He introduces me to the woman I will work with. She is very nice. And then, after about an hour of sitting at my "boss'" desk learning the RFP, they take me to my desk at a makeshift counter opposite a printer, which doesn't work, and the fax machine. On the other side of the office. Upside is that it appears to be on the side of the office that houses all the executives. WhhoooHoo.

Not so bad. Like I already mentioned, everyone is VERY nice. But, they are a small group and by definition are cohesive. I have worked in a small company before and that is the only way it can function.

My little cubby is not so bad. I try to write, to concentrate on this monstrous RFP, while listening to the din and echoes of three or four different conversations going on around me and a co-worker coughing incontrollably in an office on the other side of the wall. My ADD kicks in and I consequently cannot concentrate. I pretend to look absorbed in thought as various people walk by.

But, the worst part was the morning the office suddenly became quiet. The office manager and her cohort were gone and the din was silent. The silence was overwhelming. I had a question, or two, to ask my colleague, so I walked over to her side of the building. On the way, I passed the conference room (right on the golf course with sliding glass doors out to a deck. Can't beat that!)

Every single employee was in there.

How's that for solo...hmmmm lonely. I think I tried not to shrink back to my office. I continued walking in the direction I intended. After all, I didn't want anyone to know I was suprised by their beginning-of-the-week morning meeting. I am, after all, only a temp there. But that was the loneliest I have ever felt. To be a part of a group, putting together a project, but to not really be a part of that group. Like eavesdropping or interloping, you can be physically there, enough to hear what is going on or be mistaken as part of the group, but not close enough to truly experience it.

I have since had some engaging conversations with several of the employees. I truly hope that temporary turns permanent, and that I can be considered part of the group and not just some passing face that came in and left on the wings of some project.

A Tribute To Good Friends

What is friendship?


Words like compassion, companionship, understanding, safety, support come immediately to my mind. Everyone will have a different definition and not every friend will fulfill every quality at every step of the way. Some of our friends may never do any of these things for us, yet we still call them friends. Maybe because we embody one of these qualities, or something else that friend needs, for them. After all, there are givers and takers in every relationship, a balance to be maintained.


There is also a difference between a friend, and a good friend. I would rather have one good friend than a cluster of "ordinary" friends. Here is why:

• A good friend is devoted, accessible, and always has your heart in her thoughts, through the triumphs and the challenges.


• A good friend is dependable. He is the one you can call, text, or email any time and know that he will come through for you, whether you are just checking in or are having a crisis. A good friend will find a way to at least be there by your side, cheering you on or making sense of the chaos.


• A good friend is timeless. You can pick up where you left off, whether after 3 days or 3 months, and it always feels like coming home.


• A good friend can make you laugh when all you want to do is cry; a good friend can also make you cry so that after the tears subside you can see the light.

I came across a quote that I think encompasses it all perfectly:


"Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring all out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful, friendly hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and, with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away." ~ A Life for a Life by Dinah Mulock Craik, 1859 found at http://www.xenodochy.org/ex/quotes/friendship.html.



I am blessed to have several good friends who have lifted me up through many struggles and cheered me through many victories. I can only aspire to be as good of a friend to them, to hold their hands, in any way they need.

Passion for Running Part 4: Proper Hydration

Proper hydration is a tricky issue for every athlete. A multitude of opinions are out there for how much to drink, what to drink, and when to drink. Ultimately, the perfect solution for you will be just that, unique and personal for you. The same solution won't work for your running buddy.

The most complex issue you will face is figuring out how much to drink. Most times, athletes worry about not drinking enough. Dehydration causes cramps, fatigue, decreased coordination, not to mention dry mouth. It is uncomfortable and painful.

But did you know that an even bigger issue is drinking too much? The condition is called hyponatremia and it occurs in even the most elite athletes. The danger is low blood sodium, which can result in brain swelling and possibly seizures and other life-threatening complications.

The factors that most impact proper hydration are sweat rate and length of exercise. How long you are going to run will obviously mean more hydration. But, determining your sweat rate is important as well. How do you do this?

{fluid loss} ...can vary between 1 to 4 quarts per hour. Weigh yourself nude before a timed training run and then again after. One pound of weight loss equals 1 pint of water loss. Calculate your sweat rate and use this to determine your fluid needs during a run or race. For example, if you lose 2 pounds during an hour run, that's 2 pints or 32 ounces. Thus, you need 8 ounces of water or sports beverage every 15 minutes. ~ excerpt from http://running.about.com/od/nutritionandhydration/a/hydration101.com

To be honest, I avoid anything that involves mathematical thinking, much less calculations. So, let me tell you what works for me: knowing how much drymouth I experience in relation to how much yellow is in my urine and how often I pee. It's that simple.

There IS one other thing you might want to consider in terms of how much to hydrate. I feel the most important issue is to keep hydrated all the time, not just when you work out. Don't wait for that 6 mile run, or that 5K race, to worry about hydration. Maintain proper hydration all the time, even on rest days. This includes, by the way and I hate to bring it up, watching your consumption of both alcohol and sodium, both of which drastically impact hydration. If you do these things, proper hydration won't be so much of an issue on race days.

Now, on to what to drink. I am here to tell you that water is not enough during your workout. Water is fine during your rest days. During workouts, some form of electrolyte drink is imperative to restore minerals that are lost when you sweat. These minerals are critical in fighting fatigue and muscle cramping. If you want to make it through your workout, it behooves you to drink an electrolyte replacement drink and not just water. Just try to keep the sugars low. Try Physique by Shaklee.

When to drink...refer back to paragraph 7. My suggestion is basically all the time. However, on my running days I try to drink eight ounces of water about an hour before. In this way I get the benefits of the hydration, and then my body gets to pee out the excess before I get going.

Now, some of my suggestions may differ from what you have heard. For example, my yoga instructor suggests drinking only a mouthful every 10 to 15 minutes. The key being that if you are peeing it out, you are basically taking in more than your body needs. I agree with some of that, but I am not sure whether he is has ever been an endurance runner. I know for certain that I would pass out from cramps or dehydration if I were to only take in that amount of water. Sometimes I would like to just hook up a mobile IV...but that might look a little funny.

The bottom line here is that you need to know your body and do what works for you. Seek out information, new theories, and experiment with them. And, most important of all, keep working at it.

"To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." ~ Buddha

Hills, Headwind, And Going The Distance

Being alone as much as I am has its pros and cons. Without going into detail, one thing is certain.


I tend to think too much.


Possibilities, ramifications, and consequences swirl like a maelstrom inside my head. Most times they stay there, confined and secure; other times they seep out and interact with others in my life. The storm eventually blows over, leaving me calm and peaceful; most times it refuses to stop or even to slow down. And it wears me down.


While many of you reading this now might think of that as a disadvantage, I am here to tell you from first hand experience that is not always the case.


Sure, over the years this has proven burdensome. But, on the flipside, it continues to enable me to survive and overcome the worst situations, given time and patience. If I think enough about a specific situation, I can think of it metaphorically and it helps me to move through it. Not just move through it, but rise above it to become a better, stronger person.


Usually, I have alot of time to think. But, I do most of my best thinking when I work out. Cycling and running provide me a fertile ground for analyzing my life against any manner of metaphor.


Today's metaphors come courtesy of yesterday's 25-mile cycle. It was a picturesque midday with crystal blue sky punctuated by wispy clouds and long-awaited sub-70 temperature. I almost wore my new long sleeve jersey but was glad, as I heated up mid-ride, that I had chosen a short sleeve.


Despite these parts of the ride for which I was thankful, there were elements that were less gratifying...at least on the surface.


The rides I take around home don't have many hills. If there are hills, they are low grade and gradual enough that I don't always realize that I am actually on a hill. But yesterday, I took a route that has steeper hills in quick succession.

Hills are representative of any troubles that exist in life on a daily basis. The low grade, gradual hills are the easier, daily challenges that tend to be forgotten the next day. These hills have greater visibility, which clears the way toward the target on the other side. The high grade hills, the ones I need to throw my bike into low gear to power through, are those more intense challenges that punctuate everyone's lives and tend to hang around longer. The other side of the hill is not visible on higher grade hills. Energy loss, decreased stamina, and a need to slow down to crest the hill are some of the symptoms that result.

But, the downhill thrill is so much more exhilarating. Bigger challenge = bigger success. More than that, the downhill is like a renewal, a breather and time to relax before the next challenge presents itself.

Headwind is always an issue. The obvious impact of headwind is that you slow down but work harder to go the same distance. One interesting side effect when cycling is that it makes it difficult to hear what is going on around you: the birds, the rustle of the leaves, the spin of the pedals, and the beat of your heart. I imagined on yesterday's ride that it was God's whisper trying to break through the chaos of my life. If only I could have deciphered all of His word.

The traffic further complicates the ride: more noise, more dangerous diversions, more near misses. Attention to the details is critical to avoid injury or instant death. Yesterday's ride seemed more dangerous than most as I almost ran myself into a ditch trying to make room for a passing car and almost fell off my bike two different times while maneuvering at traffic lights.


There are frequent straightaways. Straightways are not challenging, unless they go on for miles at which point they become boring. Then, the challenge for the cyclist is to stay engaged in the ride. But, straightaways are restful and dependable, even necessary. Too many of them, though, and you tend to get bored and complacent.


Overall, life is like a long bike ride. The hills, the headwind, the traffic, and the straightaways combine to make life interesting, exciting, fulfilling, exhausting, and enjoyable at intervals that God designs and sees us all through. And, on either side is a beginning and the end.


No matter the length or destination, I intend to enjoy the ride and to go the distance.

Passion For Running Part 3: Healthy Nutrition

One of the more critical ways in which I maintain my passion for running is to keep my body strong and satisfied. There are three tenets: healthy nutrition, proper hydration, and good equipment.

Today, I will focus on nutrition because, frankly, I do love to eat. Anything goes, too. I have a major weakness for any kind of cheese, nuts, chocolate, desserts, pasta, and sauces, particularly the gourmet, creamy, fat-laden ones. I love to eat out, too, which means extra fat, sodium, and cholesterol, all of which I try to keep to a minimum when I cook at home but indulge in elsewhere.

It would not be too much of a stretch to say that I have a passion for food.

My passion for food is dependent on my passion for running for one obvious reason: I can only eat the way I do because I run. I can't imagine returning to my previous weight or losing my size 5 jeans. I worked too hard to get where I am.

So, yes, I run to eat, as pathetic as that sounds.

Over the years of learning how to eat healthy, I have lost a taste for many things that I used to love, like fried food, bread, and soda. When I do eat these things, they tend to make me nauseous and leave me unsatisfied, or at least a bit guilty. They also inhibit my intiative, make me lazy and lethargic. Lazy and lethargic do not support running. It's a little hard to get out there to run~~especially if it is too cold, too hot, drizzling~~if I can't get up off the couch or out of my bed.

Everyone has their own food habits. The first part of healthy nutrition is to know and/or learn what foods are healthy and why. That is relatively easy. Check out Grains & More at http://www.grainsandmore.com and http://grainsandmore.blogspot.com for some great advice. After that, it is up to each person to determine which healthy foods she likes and can eat regularly and which she doesn't really like but can eat occasionally, just for the nutritional value.

Over many years of practice, I have learned to like things like oatmeal, muesli, yogurt, multi-grain bread, dried fruit, and raw green vegetables of every variety. Not that I didn't like these things before. These types of food were never at the top of my list. Now, they are and because of it I have more energy, better body function (if you know what I mean), and lower cholesterol.

In other words, my body is satisfied.

Furthermore, make a friend of healthy protein. It is critical in building muscles after a workout and can help one slim down. For helpful hints on proper nutrition for runners, check out http://www.runnersworld.com.

Another critical element of nutrition is a good multi-vitamin supplement. The reason: no matter how good your diet is, you will never get appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals from food alone. I use and recommend Shaklee Vitalizer.

The final element is to know when to eat. As with everything else, this is different for everyone. I eat a small snack ~ yogurt and muesli, or oatmeal, or a bowl of Cheerios ~ about an hour before I run. I drink an electrolyte mix (also by Shaklee) while I run. I drink a protein shake (a Shaklee product) within 30 minutes after I run. For the rest of the day, I keep my portions small but frequent.

If I neglect any of the above parts of my healthy nutrition, my body lets me know.

If you can spend some quality time with your food choices, your body will return the favor by staying energized and strong to maintain your passion for running.

Fried At The State Fair

Check out http://grainsandmore.blogspot.com for my nutritional review of The State Fair of Texas.

My apologies for infrequent posting of late. I have been out living my life AND failing to blog about it.

A new post is forthcoming ~ tomorrow.

Laptop Withdrawal

I love and hate technology. The details of this distinct dichotomy came to light over the past two weeks when the hard drive on my beloved laptop crashed and the Geek Squad at Best Buy had to step in and save the day.

Unfortunately, the only way they could save my day was to pry my laptop, blue screen and all, from my fingers, and ship it off to the manufacturer with the promise that as long as the crash was not caused by a virus, the fix would be free of charge. Great!

"And, by the way, it will take about three weeks, " said the young girl behind the counter as she whisked my computer off to the back room.

As I walked out of Best Buy, I wondered what I was going to do with all that time.

Until these past few weeks, I never realized how much time my computer sucks from my day and how much I rely on it to feel productive.

I could have reverted to my desktop. After all, it has the potential: most of my files that I use daily are there and it is hard-wired to the Internet so I don't have to deal with the WiFi, which at times can be a hassle. But, here again, technology has me by the shorthairs. Via my laptop, I have become accustomed to getting things done quickly, and from any room in my house (even the bathroom, I dare say) at any time. Sitting at my desktop -relegated to one venue with only one view and operating an antiquated system utilizing a hard drive with limited space and roving spam - seems so limiting to me now after the freedom afforded by my laptop.

And, like I mentioned, the view from my laptop offers more variety and comfort, with views of the pool, or the TV, and sitting in bed or on the couch.

I opted for waiting for my laptop. And....

...basically, I did nothing productive:

• I did not update my blog (gee, did you notice?)
• I did not work on my book or any of my stories
• I did not research grant information
• I did not work on my estimated corporate taxes
• I did not order new ski gear for my upcoming trip
• I did not order refills for my animals' flea meds
• I did not post my status on Facebook

Like I said, I was hugely unproductive. It does not help me to think that if I really wanted to, and I promise I did, that I could have also done all of these things from my relatively new SmartPhone by Verizon. I know how to use it now, so lack of knowledge is no excuse. But, I did not because the screen is way too small and even when I zoom in my fingers are much too big and clumsy to be anywhere near effective.

Excuses, excuses. Say it, I know you want to....just quit whining.

That said, however, one big advantage was that I did not waste time surfing the internet, as I am wont to do in between items on my usual to-do list. This can be as much of a time-sucker as not having the computer. Laundry can be done tomorrow, or the next day, and don't worry about emptying the dishwasher or even cleaning the sink out. Clean windows, forget about it.

It can all wait.

I did do sorted other things, no less unproductive in many peoples' eyes:

• I spent more time sleeping, both after the kids went to school and midday napping (ssshhh...don't tell the kids!)
• I spent more time studying the Bible
• I spent more time (not alot!) cleaning
• I spent more time thinking
• I spent more time working out and exercising with a clean conscience

...did I mention sleeping already? I think I did way too much of that.

Now that I have my laptop back, I am faced with re-loading my software. This has become a whole other battle, which will consume time, and thoughts, and not a little mental energy. And, it will most likely re-chain me.

Bottom line to all of this is I love technology because it makes my life more fluid. Dare I say, easier...

...to try to cram too much in, to be over-productive, to lose touch with many of the things that ground us to who we are and what our purpose is. The time on the computer, even on the phone, not only supports us losing touch with ourselves, but actively pushes us farther and farther away from many of the things that are important to solid mental health, to well-being. The computer can lure us away from rest, from thought, and from meditation.

I will try to maintain some of the extra rest I have had over the past two weeks. But, I can guarantee that the whisper and moan of my laptop will eventually overwhelm me and will lure me back...

...as it is doing now. Past my bedtime and still typing....tsk, tsk, tsk.