Tip for Today

Here is the running tip for today... and I threw in some stats as well :)

Break it down: here are some tips from other runners on Active.com
Forget the big picture; think small.

"When things get tough, I know I can always run just one more mile," says Jess Norton of Seattle.

Adrienne Ramsey of Hingham, Massachusetts, tells herself, "You can do anything for one more minute."

Jeff Rothman of Los Angeles targets landmarks. "I say to myself, 'Get to that building 300 meters from here.' Then, 'Now get to that tree 200 meters ahead...'"

Harry Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, uses moving targets. "I make a game of trying to pick off people who are ahead of me one by one," he says.

I do all of these things when I have a tough run one day, or during the half and full marathons. Your can just think to yourself "If I came this far I can go another mile" or two and so on.

Here are some stats on tough runners. Are you one of them?

"The Tough Keep Going"
85% have never dropped out of a race
70% say a bad run doesn't ruin their day
63% would never take a pill to PR
46% say their brains give out before bodies on long runs
40% have never cried during or after a race - I came close my first marathon I'm not going to lie

Happy 4th of July Weekend

There is almost nothing better than a 3 day weekend filled with great food, an annual 10K, family and fireworks! I'm am ready to hit the road to Cincinnati then Ashland KY for fireworks on the river... first I have to finish the lat few hours of work though... can I make it?

I found some fun and easy recipes for a light snack and dessert for your holiday weekend. Let me know if you have any other ideas that will keep the pounds off but still satisfy the tummy (yes I said tummy :))

First... the snack/side/fruit dish:
Patriotic Fruit Salad. Gorgeous and so fun to create.

I would use:
Watermelon (cut out with star-shaped cookie-cutter)
Raspberries
Blackberries
Grapes
Bananas
Strawberries

Next... Dessert: small, yet satisfying.
Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

Nilla Wafers: maybe try the chocolate flavor :)
Ice Cream: any flavor works great
Sprinkles: could be like fireworks, but for the 4th I would use red, white and blue

Happy 4th everyone!

You Know You're A Runner When...

You know you're a runner when you don't have to be drunk to pee in public...

You forgot that socks are sometimes made out of cotton...

You know you are a runner when your home stretch is two miles long...

When you have a debilitating knee injury and everyone tells you how bad running is for your knees but all you can think about is getting back out on the road!...

You know you're a runner when you start using handicap toilets the days after long runs. They're higher, and it just hurts so much less to stand back up...

You have an old pair of running shoes to cut the lawn, another pair to wash the car, another pair you wear when painting, etc...

You know you are a runner when you call 5 miles a "short run" and people look at you funny...

You know you're a runner when you buy Gatorade in bulk and you have tried every flavor...

For running beginners here are a few tips I found that may be helpful :)

1. Cotton socks will only lead to blisters; invest in socks designed for running.
2. Volunteer at a local race—meet runners support runners and connect with them. Also if you haven't run a race before this will put you in the mood and really motivate you, I promise.
3. Remember that you will have plateaus in your progress and tough days along the way.
4. It gets easier
5. Be prepared to remove the words “can’t” and “never” from your vocabulary.
6. Don’t expect every run to be better than the last one; some of them will hurt.
7. Do not compare yourself to others. Run within yourself and for yourself first.
8. Running is not an excuse to triple your intake of doughnuts (only some days :)) because runners gain weight too.
9. Buy the powdered sports drink mix instead of premixed. It’s cheaper and more similar to race drink mixes.
10. Each pound you lose makes running a little easier.
11. On long runs eat something every hour—whether you feel like it or not.
12. Make sure you cut your toenails short enough so they don’t jam into your Shoes! This will help prevent blisters under toe nails... oh yeah that happens
13. When you pick up drinking cups at aid stations, squeeze gently so it folds slightly and is easier to drink from it while you are moving.
14. A plastic garbage on race day is a very fashionable cheap disposable raincoat.
15. Lift weights.