family

Goldilocks was on to Something…

Posted on May 22, 2013 by therunningteacher

foot

One size does NOT fit all, and whoever came up with the idea of “unisex” clearly has no sense of fashion.

I spent yesterday talking with my bestie.  She prefers the road and is a marvelous little speed demon, though she is quite modest and will downplay any bragging I do about her. Gotta love her humility, but you have to give the girl props! This is one bad @ss mother! I would replace “mother” with “Gramma,” but she’d kill me. :P

my bestie, Elise. :) <3 you girl!

my bestie, Elise. :)

I, on the other hand, am a trail fiend and have been known to trod along like a tortoise. The thing about me is that I keep on going when others have had enough. Long distances suit me, though trying to find the training time is difficult. Have you ever had a 2 year-old wrap themselves around you like a spider monkey? That’s how I walk around the house right now, with one leg limping behind. My little spider monkey clutching onto me as if the ground is falling away behind us, repeating “Mami up, up please, up please.” When I leave the house, that chubby little face is plastered to the window with a grubby hand pressed to each side.

my little spider monkey

my little spider monkey

Some people love the smoothness of the pavement. Others prefer the soft give of a hilly trail, bouncing from one jagged rock and ducking dangling tree limbs. The one surface I absolutely can’t stand, that I absolutely detest, is gravel. To me, it feels like running on a giant litter box. You can never quite get your footing, unless it rains…in which case, the litter clumps. On the bright side, it smells better. No offense kitty.

Some runners live off the adrenaline rush gained by 5ks and 10ks, relishing in each ballistic burst of energy surging through each push-off. Others prefer to graze along casually, humming along to the Sound of Music.

Whatever your drink of choice, what unites us all is the desire to better ourselves, whether that’s a new PR, a new distance, or a heightened sense of mental will and enlightenment. When you peel off all the layers, we are all simply runners.

Flashback!

Flashback!

Categories: exercise, family, fitness, inspiration, moms, motivation, running | Tags: | Leave a comment

Vacations: A Runner’s Conundrum…

Posted on April 18, 2013 by therunningteacher
Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

We’ve all been there. You go on vacation, and when you come back home, you have to do the “penguin” dance to squeeze into your favorite pair of jeans. It can happen to the best of us.

Vacations are times of well-deserved relaxation and often include overindulging on items we do not have on a day-to-day basis. The result is excess baggage on the way home. It’s a good thing airlines don’t weigh us like a suitcase! :P

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

If your vacation is 1 week or less

Studies have shown that the average runner begins to lose fitness as quickly in as little as seven days of no training, though the loss is minimal. A week-long break often serves to rejuvenate the body, so if your vacation is only 7 days or less, I wouldn’t worry too much about a loss in fitness. Do realize that your first run or two may feel a bit harder than usual or a bit awkward. Also, realize that you will probably pack on a few pounds, if you are overindulging.

lucedu

credit: luc.edu

I can certainly attest to this, as I exercised infrequently during our week-long vacation to Puerto Rico; however, I also overindulged in traditional foods and yummy beverages the entire week. Needless to say, I gained 5 pounds by the end of the seven days! Imagine my horror when the scale glared back at me chiding, “Tsk, tsk.” The weight is coming off rather quickly. After three days, I’ve lost two of those pounds by simply reverting to my normal lifestyle.

As far as fitness goes, I didn’t notice a decrease in my endurance level in relation to running; however, I did notice a slight decrease in strength during my CT sessions. The good news is your fitness level will quickly return to normal!

If your vacation is more than 1 week

In the average runner, drops in VO2 and strength are seen at faster rates, after 2 weeks of no training. Before then, losses are minimal. Mind you, by “average,” I mean you run consistently 3 days or so out of the week for at least the past 4-6 months. For endurance athletes and very fit individuals, taking a week or two off won’t have a significant impact on training. After two weeks, beginning runners will lose VO2 and strength levels at a faster rate, as they have a smaller base.

This was my running buddy in Puerto Rico. He was quite curious about me to say the least. I did pay my respects by NOT wearing my red running shirt. :P

This was my running buddy in Puerto Rico. He was quite curious about me to say the least. I did pay my respects by NOT wearing my red running shirt. :P

If you’re vacationing longer than a week, I recommend taking along some resistance bands for strength training and your running shoes. I would try to get in at least a few runs a week, even if they are shorter than normal. Also, add in at least two, short strength workouts to help maintain fitness levels. This may entail some early mornings or late evenings to avoid infringing on family time.

During our trip, I often snuck 15 minute sessions in the mornings (thinks squats while brushing teeth) and another 15-20 minute sessions before hitting the sack. I could also be found lunging my way across the kitchen, basically taking advantage of any moment I could throughout the day. I’m sure I was a funny sight, but hey, you have to get it in however you can.

light as a feather!

light as a feather!

My resistance band and Theraband were close companions, barely weigh anything, and took up scarcely any space in the suitcase. These are great tools for a total body workout. On a side note, the Theraband is incredibly useful in isolating the hamstring, among many other muscles as well. I had no idea what a Theraband was until my friend and chiropractor, Dr. Charlie Saboura, gave me one to strengthen my hamstrings, which became weakened after a previous injury. Now, I can’t imagine living without it!

What go-to exercises are on your list while vacationing?

Categories: exercise, family, fitness, health, running, running advice | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something…Green???

Posted on February 28, 2013 by therunningteacher
Bon appetit!

Bon appetit!

Hey Elise, how do I “wilt” this Kale again? …beat it against the countertop ‘til it flops?

I consider myself fairly healthy with my spinach salads. Now, I’ve heard of kale before, but honestly, that’s as far as it goes. Heck, I just learned how to sauté spinach within the last year and certainly won’t win Hell’s Kitchen anytime soon. My husband usually begs me not to cook. Sometimes, even I poke the drumstick to see if it’s really dead or if it will spring back to life.

Moving on…After spending a good 1.5 months out of the past 2 months sick with the flu, strep, chest infections, sinus infections, and a nasty virus, something had to change. I’m fairly big on veges and fruits as is, but I’m pretty limited as far as variety goes: carrots, peas, green beans, and spinach.

My friend, Elise, who is a fabulous cook and grows her own fruits and veges told me about a scrumptious salad they had just the night before. My mouth watered just listening to her, so I inquired as to how to make it. It sounded simple enough and this new vege, “kale,” was packed full of vitamins, not quite like Popeye’s spinach though.

They really pack a punch!

Eating spinach day in and day out tends to get boring, and kale would add some “spice” to the kitchen arena. I say “add” because, and spinach still serves kale a TKO any day; however, combine the two together and you have an unstoppable tag team that’s sure to not only give your overall health a boost but also boost your immune system as well. For runners, you can’t beat this healthy combo. Both are excellent sources of potassium, bone-strengthening calcium, magnesium, among many other vitamins and minerals.

Orange Kale Salad

Orangey Kale Salad

Orangey Kale Salad

Ingredients

1 or 2 bunches of Kale

Olive Oil

Lemon juice

Lemon pepper

3 clementines or 1 can drained mandarin orange

Cherry tomatoes

1 avocado (cut into small chunks)

  1. Rinse the kale, and take off the leaf bunches. Tear into pieces. Add a few splashes of olive oil. Massage into the leaves until they get a “wilted” look. Beating against the countertops does nothing but make a mess and makes you look like a lunatic. If you do decide to do this, don’t text anyone telling them you did. And if you did, deny it now.
  2. Add a couple splashes of lemon juice, lemon pepper to taste, the clementines or mandarin oranges, tomatoes, and cut avocado pieces.
  3. Eat as is or add some Italian dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette.

How’d it taste?

Well, it won’t pass the toddler test, but my little one sure did giggle at touching the kale. I remember when I first gave it to him at the grocery store. He leaned away and actually raised an eyebrow at it. Curiosity took hold, and he had to give it a poke with his tiny finger. After that, fits of giggles. :P He then proceeded to want to touch every other vegetable as well…

It really did taste pretty good though. It definitely has a different texture and flavor, one that takes some getting used to. To me, it seemed a bit nutty or maybe I was nuts. Still, I liked it plain. I didn’t feel the need for dressing and enjoyed the natural flavor the kale gave the salad. Next time, I’d like to add some sunflower seeds and maybe some dried cranberries to it.

With spring and summer around the corner, I’d love to get some additional salad recipes to add to my growing arsenal of quick, healthy dinners. This cooking-challenged mami wants to know, what’s your FAV salad, and what toppings do you like to add to your salads that pack a healthy punch?

Categories: exercise, family, fitness, health, recipes | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

One Tough Runner

Posted on June 5, 2012 by therunningteacher

wearing my Marathon Tattoo at the Sutalle Trail Race

Move over biker dudes and duddettes! One bad @ss runner is coming through! Isn’t it funny how tattoos can give that feeling…even if you know it’s temporary?  (I cry like a baby at the sight of a needle. Not to mention, that my husband said getting a real tat would be grounds for divorce.) :P

So a real tat is out of the question, but I had the opportunity to try some temporary tattoos from Dennis at Marathon Tattoo. The vending machine of running tattoos, he has quite a selection from half marathons up to ultras and is working on getting some tri tats for all you tri fans out there. :)

The thing about temporary tattoos is that they almost always start rubbing off the next day, and they look…well, like a temporary tattoo. Dennis mailed the tats over to me within days, talk about fast shipping!

Looking through the assortment, I decided to give the tribal tattoo a try. The instructions were easy to follow, nothing fancy.

1. Make sure your skin is clean and dry. (I showered last night, so green light there.)
2. Put the tat against your skin, face-down, where you would like it.
3. Wet the back thoroughly and press down for 30-45 seconds. (I used the corner of a hand towel to wet it evenly and make sure it didn’t slide.)
4. Remove the backing carefully. Let air dry for 2 minutes. Do NOT move, twist, stretch the location.

Simple, right? If ya forget, don’t worry. The directions are on the back of each tattoo. :)

Day 1- Marathon Tattoo

With my tat in place, I was race ready for the next morning. My teamies, shocked and surprised, honestly thought I had gotten a tattoo! HAHA! That’s how REAL it looked! No fake-looking, kid tattoos here.

They last a good while. I wore my tribal 13.1 tattoo for 5 straight days, before it started showing signs of wear. It still looked good, but the edges became a bit ragged.

Day 5: Marathon Tattoo

After 9 days, I decided it was time to remove it. I do want to add that during those 9 days, I avoided putting the tattoo in direct contact with soap. (I would lather up all around it and rinse the tat area, but that’s it.) Removing it is easy with baby oil, rubbing alcohol, or tape. I borrowed my LO’s baby oil and off it came! No scrubbing needed!

Day 9: Marathon Tattoo

———————————————————-

I LOVED the tattoo! It made me feel stronger somehow, more hard-core. :P They definitely turn heads, and who doesn’t like that? Plus, they last nearly a week, so at $2.50/tat and a current special of buy 4, get 1 free, they’re a sweet deal. Also, Dennis is always looking for new designs, so if you’re an artist, draw one up, and send it to him. If it gets chosen, you receive $50 AND free tattoos!

Being the great guy he is, Dennis gave me an assortment of tattoos to offer as giveaways, so you can try it out yourself! Starting tomorrow evening, I’ll have 4 giveaways: 2 for the 26.2 tattoos (2 each) and 2 for the 13.1 tattoos (3 each). I may start the giveaway earlier in the day, so if you’re subscribed to my email list, then you’ll hear about it FIRST!

As always,

Run Happy!

Categories: exercise, family, fitness, moms, running, running accessories | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

“God could not be everywhere. Therefore, he made mothers.”

Posted on May 12, 2012 by therunningteacher

The beginning of it all.8 days old. :)

With Mother’s Day literally around the corner, I inevitably get asked what we are doing, and my response is always the same. We’re doing our normal activities like we would on any other day.

I have no desire to celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers, jewelry or with special brunches. Maybe it’s just me, but the greatest and most priceless Mother’s Day gift I will ever receive is my son, my little man.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll wake up at 6 a.m. like any other day and prepare the coffee, sprucen up the living room, get Alejandro’s milk and breakfast ready; and then, sit for a few minutes and enjoy my morning cup of joe.

At 7 a.m., my little man will wake up. As I enter his room, a genuinely happy smile will greet me. Clutching his little blankie, he’ll stretch his arms out towards me and squeal with delight when I pick him up.

giggles and kisses!

All the roses/carnations, diamond-studded earrings, and special brunches will never equal the way his little, chubby arms wrap themselves around me when he’s giving me a hug. Or how he rests his little head and nestles into my neck. How he giggles enthusiastically, as mami nibbles his little toes or blows raspberries on his belly. The roar of laughter as we run around the house, Alejandro piggy-backed on my head.

And finally, how his little hand reaches for my eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks, when it’s time for his bedtime bottle, and how he listens intently and babbles with approval at his nightly bedtime story.

…This is what Mother’s Day is all about. It’s about the smiles that light up our wee ones’ faces, the time spent reading, laughing, singing, and playing with them, and about hugging them and smothering them with kisses all throughout the day. …and tomorrow…that is exactly what we will do.

Happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere! You are truly a blessing to your children as they are to you, whether they are as wee as my little Alejandro or all grown up with families of their own. May your day be as blessed as mine.

My handsome little man

Categories: family, moms | Tags: , , | 4 Comments

Peanut Butter? YES, PLEASE!

Posted on May 5, 2012 by therunningteacher

I’ve spent the past 3 months staging a comeback from my initial IT injury, while safely trying to build a solid base for my impeding 50k training. The savvy bookworm that I am, I’ve also spent this time researching the types of supplements I want to use, GU Energy gels being one of them.

I never write a review on a product that I haven’t used consistently and in differing situations, which is why I don’t churn these suckers out like a vending machine. I’ve used GU energy gels for several months now on EVERY medium to long-distance run (6-13 miles) and can confidently add my 2 cents.

GU: The Ben & Jerry of Energy Gels

Peanut butter, Espresso, Chocolate, Peppermint…with 12 flavors to choose from, it’s hard not to find AT LEAST 1 flavor that you wouldn’t like. My personal favorites are mint chocolate, jet blackberry, and mandarin orange. …and out of the 12 flavors, I’ve tried 8 of them and LOVED them all! I personal prefer the caffeinated ones over the ones with no caffeine because of the extra kick. Sometimes I just can’t have a cup of joe before a run OR I don’t have time for that cup of joe to work…if you know what I mean. :P So I make sure to shove several Jet Blackberry gels into my pack before heading out. They give me that extra “oomph” that I crave at 6:30 in the morning.

Like frosting or melted peanut butter (but thicker), they go down smooth and easy, nothing sticky or runny about it. It dissolves instantly and washed down easily with no left behind residue. I personally love this because I never have to worry about getting squirted in the face on a run, which happened to me once when I tried the Powerbar gels. Nothing like a sticky face decorated with splotches of gnats.

Their latest flavor is peanut butter, which I wasn’t quite sure about. I mean, I love peanut butter sandwiches, but could GU actually make a peanut butter, flavored gel taste good? Skeptical, I tried it out, and I was NOT disappointed! It DEFINITELY tastes like peanut butter! So for you peanut butter lovers, you gotta give it a try!

Does it work?

YES! It DEFINITELY gives you the energy you need to get through those challenging or long haul workouts. A mixture of complex and simple carbs means your body is better able to absorb the energy it needs without diverting as much blood away from your muscles to help in digestion. You’ll get a nice, steady drip of energy much like an IV, meaning you won’t crash and burn from an instant sugar rush. That being said, I’ve never timed it to see how fast it works, but I would say along the lines of 5-10 minutes.

GU recommends taking it 15 minutes before you begin your workout. Personally, I ONLY do this when I haven’t had a chance to have a pre-run snack before my evening run, missed my morning meeting with Joe, or prior to a long run. The rest of the time, I like to take it every 5-6 miles. So on a 6 mile run, I’d take one at mile 3-4 just to have that extra boost. A normal 12 mile run equals 2 gels. For races, I take them more frequently. For instance, at the Country Music Half, I popped a GU at the 5k, 10k, and 10 mile mark. The heat was on that day, and the sun gave me a SUPER NICE runner’s tan. Won’t I look hot in a bikini this year? :P

Everyone is different. You’ll have to experiment to find out what works for you.  I have running buddies who will easily go 8-10 miles before they even consider taking a gel.

***Make sure to chug some water (not just a sip, be generous) after you take one. It assists in absorption. Some have commented that they end up with cramps when they didn’t take it with water. I’ve never had that happen. Then again, I’ve always drank water with it as well. ***

Ease of Use

For the most part, I have little difficulty using gels. Think of yourself as a lion or as a lioness for my gals out there. Forget about daintily trying to tear the tip off with your fingers. Put on your big girl panties and rip into it your teeth! That’s pretty much the best way I’ve found to do it, especially when your fingers are like a sweaty slip n’ slide.

***Please be considerate of the environment and consider stowing your empty gels in a pocket or pack instead of on the ground.***

If you’re looking for a reliable source of energy that’s easy to stomach, tastes great, and works fairly quickly, check out GU’s selection of energy gels. Start with a few to see if you like it. I’m sure you will, so after that, check out their online store OR head over to runningwarehouse.com. Both sites will offer special pricing at various times.

They also have a Roctane line meant for high-intensity workouts and long-distance runners. I haven’t tried those yet but am looking into it for my 50k training come July. I’ll make sure to post a review of those AFTER I’ve tried them out myself. Nothing like letting someone else be the guinea pig! J

For more detailed information about GU gels, their recommended usage, and key components click HERE.

As always,

Run Happy!

 

 

My views are independent of GU Energy. I am not an affiliate. Nor do I receive compensation for my review. I am solely a member of the Pro program.
Categories: 2012, Brooks ID, education, exercise, family, fitness, health, jogging, running, sports, training | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A spoonful of sugar…

Posted on April 12, 2012 by therunningteacher

“Wow! You’re Supermom! How do you do it?!,” a question asked by an acquaintance of mine a few days ago. Honestly, I have no idea, and I am F-A-R from being supermom, so I’m often dumbfounded when other moms ask for advice.

Their biggest question is about how I fit in exercise. It’s definitely not easy. Then again, no one said it would be. Sometimes, I’m able to kick myself out of bed around 5:30 or 6 and get in a strength training workout. However, on nights when Alejandro wakes up like a pogo stick on a trampoline, I have to do a smattering of it here and there throughout the day. Sets of calf raises while washing dishes, lunges while sweeping or mopping. Squats while preparing and cooking his meals for the day or for the week. (Since I stay at home, I prepare all of his meals at home. I do have a few packaged meals stashed in the cabinet for the days when we’ve had ROUGH nights.) Squats while holding him at the grocery store checkout in front of total strangers looking at me like I have two, green heads. Basically, WHEREVER and WHENEVER I can get it in. Some days are just like that.

Running, on the other hand, is something I do NOT split up. If you’re not worried about training for an event, then I say get the running in when you can. This might mean 1.5 miles while LO (little one) naps and 2 miles with LO in a jogging stroller.

I pretty much do ALL of my running after LO goes to bed ~7 p.m. DH (dear hubby) usually babysits, which is easy in the evenings. I head out around 7 and get back around 8:30-9, spend a bit of time with hubby, and hop into bed, saving the shower for when I wake up in the morning. I’m just too pooped by this time to spend 30 minutes showering, when I could spend 30 minutes sleeping. It constantly weigh the two, and sleep usually wins. If I’m covered in mud, the shower grudgingly wins.

I truly wish I could run while LO naps, but his naps are like a box of chocolate. You bite into one, and it’s filled with annoying, amber-looking goo that sticks into every nook and cranny in your mouth to delicious, oozing morsels of dark chocolate yumminess. You just never know whatcha gonna get.

On the weekend, I get up early around 5:30 or 6 a.m. and head out to get a long distance run in. This puts DH on baby duty until about 10 to noon, where I’m immediately greeted at the door upon my arrival. Time to put my mommy hat back on! J DH really is good about it. J I have to give him props for being so good about giving me some “me” time on the weekend, especially since Alejandro is in full-blown, hyper-separation anxiety mode atm. It can definitely make for long mornings for DH.

I’ll never win the mom of the year award, and the dust bunnies reproduce like mice, despite sweeping three times a day or more! O.O Picture books are often strewn across the living room floor, a collage of Eric Carle and Thomas the Train.  And much to my dismay, I often find Alejandro eating Cheerios or cheese cubes off the floor. Apparently, they are much more appetizing than in the dining room sitting in his booster seat in front of a freshly, cleaned table. I’ve even caught him dropping food onto the splat mat just so he can gobble them up later like a squirrel stashing his nuts.

I’m definitely NOT Mary Poppins, although I DO have a song for EVERYTHING. J …and I can’t accept the title of “Supermom,” but I’m flattered nonetheless. I’m just your ordinary, everyday mom trying to keep her sanity, while keeping the family happy, and the house in semi-decent shape.

Signed,

An Ordinary, Everyday Mom who Runs Happy

Categories: 2012, Brooks, exercise, family, fitness, moms, motivation, running | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments

Join the Band!

Posted on March 25, 2012 by therunningteacher

Bondi Band Headband Review

Run a mile in these shoes

“No Slip, No Drip!” If you’re like me, you have bought and tried so many headbands, you could probably open your own eBay shop. I go into a store, see a headband, and say, “Gee, maybe THIS one will do the trick.” Then, I get home, try it on, and quickly discover that it simply slides right off.

I can honestly say, from first-hand experience, that Bondi Band STAYS PUT! When I first saw it, the size of the band was similar to other wide headbands. I liked how it gathered in the back a bit.

What really caught my attention the moment I felt the Bondi Band in my hands was how so soft and stretchy it was. It looked like it was SUPER comfy. Looks were NOT deceiving. The Bondi Band Headband is just as comfortable and snug as it looks and feels.

As I pulled it on, I couldn’t help but be just a tad narcissistic, as I stared at myself in the mirror, standing like a rooster. “I Eat Hills For Breakfast!” How can you not feel tough with a saying like that plastered on your head. …your own mantra, a reminder to yourself and a motivator for others who read it as well.

As a trail runner and soon-to-be-ultra runner-in-training, I needed a headband that could keep up with me. Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my caps and visors, but I run into the same problem with both of them, sweat. They start off as little beads tickling your forehead and quickly turn into monsoons of salty needles, cascading into your eyes. OUCH! That being said, I ordered the “heavy sweat wicking” (link) band.

“These bands will absorb EVERY bit of sweat you have to give them!” It’s true! I admit that I was skeptical, at first, seeing as my visors and caps have not even been able to do this. “EVERY bit of sweat?” I thought. I couldn’t wait to put it to the test!

Over the past week, I’ve worn it on 3 trail runs of varying distances: 5, 6, and 8 and NOT once has the Bondi Band disappointed me! It has stayed put without any readjustment AND it has gathered EVERY bit of sweat! Not a single bead of sweat has rolled off my forehead and into my eyes. I am definitely a Bondi Band believer!

As I said before, the sayings on the hats really are like mantras. They can be fun, silly, comical, serious, etc. With a saying like “I Eat Hills for Breakfast,” I couldn’t help but power up those hills and barrel down the other side. When I hit the B-I-G hill that usually ends in me stopping to walk, I pushed through the negative thoughts and OWNED that hill! Sometimes it just helps to have that little something extra with ya.

Made in the U.S.A. where Fashion meets Function

Bondi Bands offers hundreds of sayings geared towards a variety of sports AND causes. If sayings aren’t your thing, you can get a glow-in-the-dark band  or a solid one. Looking for a fashionable band to showcase your mane, as you go about your daily business? Bondi Band has lycra fashion bands in a variety of colors and designs! Don’t see anything that catches your eye? They even allow you to DESIGN your own band!

courtesy of Bondi Band

My heavy sweat-wicking band felt so cozy, I literally wanted to keep wearing it ALL day long. I resigned myself to taking it off because I felt I would take attention away from my LO, Alejandro. He was all decked out in polo tee, golf hat, khaki shorts, and suede tennis shoes. :P So cute!!!

I’m lovin’ these spring temps and the weather, but I wouldn’t mind it feeling like winter for just one day because I’m DYING to try out the Ponytail hat. However, with the heat, I prefer as little on me as possible. The pigtail hats look cool too, except that I don’t wear pigtails. :P There are so many choices: hats, neck gators, swim caps, bands for your babe (1-5), bands for man’s best friend, and sweat towels.

Finally, another aspect I LOVE about Bondi Bands is that they can be worn in a variety of ways. For trail running, I like to spread the band out wide and dip it down just a bit over my forehead. I’ve even tried it under my cap for when I needed to keep the sun at bay. It worked like a charm! Others like to pull it down all the day like a bandana. Whatever floats your boat! :D I’ve seen other people roll them or wear them folded. Bondi Band adapts to YOU!

I’ve already ordered half a dozen of these to give away as birthday gifts throughout the year. Their prices are UNBELIEVABLE with the headbands going for about $8 (sale prices can be as low as $5!!!) If you’re looking for a gift for the runner or person that has everything, you can’t go wrong with these!

So, are you ready to become a Bondi Band believer too?!?! Stay tuned for your chance to win a Bondi Band Headband courtesy of Kelly from Bondi Band LLC!!! Contest will be announced in the next 5 days.

As always,

Run Happy!

Categories: 2012, Brooks, Brooks ID, exercise, family, fitness, jogging, running, running apparel, running reviews | Tags: , , , , | 5 Comments

Moms are Athletes too!

Posted on March 12, 2012 by therunningteacher

Moms are wearers of many hats. We’re not just mothers. We’re also sisters, daughters, full-time workers, wives, etc. In my case, I’m also a notoriously, horrid cook whose best dishes come out burnt to the core, so we often end up eating smoothies with salad, or on a lucky day, take-out.

We’re also athletes. Wikipedia defines… Sorry Webster. It’s out with the old and in with new! It’s funny how that happens. Gone are the days when high school students used ACTUAL dictionaries to look up the meanings of words. Now, it’s “Hold up. Let me get my iPhone out.”

Continuing on, Wikipedia defines an athlete as “a person who is involved in Athletics” or “a person who participates regularly in a sport.” That means we are ALL athletes in our own right. It doesn’t matter if you’re pulling a 12 minute mile or a 6 minute mile. It doesn’t matter if you race or if you prefer to run away from the bands and cheering crowds. What matters is that you get out there as often as you can, and run with your heart and your mind.

Albany Marathon and Half 2012

Stay as focused on your goals and training just as you are in catching that wriggling tushie as it crawls as fast it can across the carpet with you following frantically behind it, thinking “Don’t poop on the carpet, Don’t poop on the carpet!” As a running mom, you ARE an athlete.

So without further introduction, my name is Isabel, and among the many hats I wear throughout the day, I am also an athlete. I invite you to visit and would be honored for you to click “Like” on my new Facebook page, The Running Teacher, by clicking HERE. Here, you can join me on my journey in training for my 1st ultra, my journey as a first-time mom, some other exciting opportunities, and all the bumps and bruises along the way. :P

As always,

Run Happy!

Categories: Brooks, Brooks ID, exercise, family, moms, running | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cuties Luckie 5k Offer!

Posted on March 9, 2012 by therunningteacher

Check out my latest post on the Back on My Feet Atlanta blog by clicking HERE for SPECIAL SAVINGS into the Cuties Luckie 5k!

Categories: 2012, exercise, family, fitness, Georgia, running, sports | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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