Fit Five Friday – Page 8

Category: Fit Five Friday

14
Jul
2023

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite running resources

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up! This week’s topic is “5 favorite running /fitness resources”. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

I’ve been running for over 10 years and have used many different running items. Some work, some don’t. Some I like, while some I don’t like. For this post, I will list 5 of my favorite running items I use.

✅ Garmin GPS Watch. I know there are other brands but Garmin is the one I’ve used since I began running. I’ve used several and am currently using the 265. Before that, I had the 235. I didn’t need another watch but a few months ago Garmin reached out to me to test one of their new watches. It was a fun experience and as a thank you, they sent me the watch. I like it a lot and there are a lot of features I haven’t used yet. What I like the most about it so far is that it has a walk option.

✅ Koala Clip. I’ve used several belts. I loved the one on the top because I could carry my water bottles. But then it just got bulky and then I discovered the Koala Clip. It is the best thing ever and I use it for every run.

✅ Energy Gels. There are so many options. I’ve tried a few and wrote a post about it. For now, I am using Tailwind Nutrition and Hüma Gel.

✅ Gear. I mainly run in the Brooks Launch and the Brooks Ghost running shoes. My tops are a combination of Oiselle and Brooks. I love the Oiselle Flyout tops for the Summer. They’re light and airy and they never stink. I wear the Oiselle long rogas and the pocket joggers. The pocket joggers are perfect to store my water bottles.

✅ Recovery tools. I have a few that include a calf/foot massager, foam roller, foot roller, and massage gun. The latter is my favorite.

The topic for next week: 5 favorite rest/recovery tips. We hope you’ll link up with us!

07
Jul
2023

Fit Five Friday and July 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the July edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I almost took 4 books from the Free Library. I was walking back home and stopped to check out the books. There were many kids’ books that I liked. I picked 4 but then I remembered that I am supposed only to take one. And I am supposed to put one in there too. I took one book. The next day I took another one. I haven’t taken another one yet, but I am tempted.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Tuesday I ran my 5th race for the year. It was a great day for a fun race! I went out too fast and ended up with positive splits. Isn’t that the way to do it? Regardless, I enjoyed it. July 4th is special because we emigrated from Mexico to the US on July 4, 1978 – I was 5 years old. I will forever be grateful to my parents for making this decision.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that in May I switched insurance plans from HMO to PPO (effective July 1). Imagine my surprise when I checked the website and saw that it is still showing up as me having HMO. I reached out to BSBS and was told they hadn’t received the updated information from my employer. I don’t understand how or why. We had to make any changes (or confirm our current plan) by May 31st. That is plenty of time to submit the changes to BSBS. I am not the only one that this has happened. Someone dropped the ball and we are paying for the consequences.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I recently switched website host servers. What a stressful process! I switched from SiteGround to HostGator. They were using many words that I didn’t understand and sometimes I became frustrated. At times I regretted making the change. After spending hours with someone from HostGator, I got it transferred. So far I haven’t had any issues and hopefully it says like this because I paid for 3 years.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I do not understand why people don’t use their real name on Facebook. A few times I’ve logged in to see a random name. And I don’t mean just a name I didn’t recognize but it wasn’t even a name that made sense or it was a condensed version of their name. I get that some people want to keep their profile private but isn’t that what the privacy settings are for?

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – Your 5 favorite running/fitness resources. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!

16
Jun
2023

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite running gels

categories: Fit Five Friday

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up! This week’s topic is “5 favorite /fitness fuels”. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

Happy Friday! I hope you are having a great week. This is my first week of Summer School and it’s been a busy one. I was very tired on Monday and wondered what I had gotten myself into. 🤣 🤣 I am working with 13 kindergarten students. Well, they will be in August. I also have 3 program assistants working with me. During the regular school year, the kindergarten teachers have more students in the room and no program assistants. It is an eye-opener and I wish more administrators could see these classrooms before deciding to put 20+ students in a classroom.

Anyway, back to the topic. I have a love/hate relationship with gels. I understand the importance of them but finding the “right” one is no easy task. I’ve tried many of them throughout the year and these are the ones I like.

✅ Hüma Gel – These are 100% natural and they taste great. There are two versions: original and plus (some with and without caffeine). The latter has double the electrolytes. I’ve tried many flavors and my favorite ones are Strawberry Lemonade and Lemons and Limes.

✅ Tailwind Nutrition – This is mixed with water to provide “all your calories, electrolytes, and hydration for sustained efforts. Simple to use with a clean, light taste. Just pour, shake, and go!” I like this for longer runs because I fill up a bottle with regular water and another one with Tailwind and carry them to use with my hydration vest. Sometimes I fill up the whole bladder with Tailwind and also carry another water bottle with plain water.

✅ UCAN – I’ve only used the energy powder to make the drink and energy gels. What I like about these is that one scoop is enough for 90 minutes of energy. I know UCAN has energy gels but I haven’t tried them yet.

✅ SIS Gels – I know a few bloggers that like these gels. I tried these at a race and like them a lot. I cannot remember what flavor it was but it wasn’t sweet – it was just right. What I liked even more is that there was no need for extra water.

✅ Other ones I’ve tried are Maurten, Clif Gel, GU, Honey Stinger, and Hammer Nutrition. I am sure I have forgotten a few. I know Maurten, GU, and Clif Gel are popular with the former being more expensive. I didn’t like the consistency and couldn’t get past it.

Have you tried any of them? What other ones have you tried that aren’t on my list?

The topic for next week: Half year check-in. We hope you’ll link up with us!

02
Jun
2023

Fit Five Friday and June 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the May edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is my last day of school. How many times have I mentioned that already? It will be an easy day today. However, I am running out of ideas with what to do with my students. After work, I have plans with my coworker to go out for drinks and dinner.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am happy that when I tried to sign up for a half marathon on Sunday, it was sold out. I have a graduation party on Saturday and know I will be up late. When that happens I struggle the next day. I need a full day just to recover. I will have little energy to run on Sunday. Well, maybe a few miles, but not 13.1 miles.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I paused my Peloton membership (effective 6/15). I was using it for running and not worth paying the membership monthly fee. I know, I know, I need to use the bike. Sigh. I have no reason as to why I am not using it. Hopefully, I will once I get my life together.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that it is so fun seeing all of the graduation pictures on Facebook. It is also fun remembering my high school and college graduations from way back in the 90s.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you’re interested in running a half marathon in Fargo, ND with me next year. Let’s take advantage of the early bird special of $64 for the half marathon (regular is $99). I still need 8 more states to run in to finish my 50+1 state goal.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – Your 5 favorite fitness power songs. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!

26
May
2023

Fit Five Friday: 5 things about the Spring Trail Chase 10K

categories: Fit Five Friday, Race Recap

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida so be sure to link up with us. For this week’s Fit Five Friday we don’t have a topic but instead, invite you to also join in Runfessions with Marcia.

Happy Friday! I am pleased about it because it is payday, I am off on Monday, and next Friday is my last day of school. I have one week off then will start Summer School. I will be doing a similar program that I did last year working with incoming kindergarten students. I enjoyed it last year and I hope it goes well this year too.

On Sunday I ran my 4th race of the year. I almost skipped it because I was not ready for it. I am glad I didn’t because I enjoyed it and it went better than I expected.

Here are some fun things about the race:

🍃 It was my 1st time running this race. It was also a new to me location – The Forge: Lemont Quarries. I had never heard of that place! I got lost driving there. I should have followed the directions sent by CARA but instead chose to use Google Maps. The funny thing is that when I made a right turn that supposedly would take me to the race location, there were about 5 other cars behind me. That right turn led us to a no-trespassing area. We turned around and I ended up following another car. Whew!

Instead of a shirt, I got a pair of socks. I haven’t worn them yet but love the idea.

🍃 It was warm and the course was mostly shaded. It was great to run in shorts and a short sleeve top. Finally!

🍃I didn’t train for this race. I was doing really good in April with my running but then lost my motivation this month. Then it was chilly in the morning and I didn’t want to get up. I know, excuses, excuses. I knew I was not going to PR and ended up with a 1:13:49 finish time. The last time I ran a 10k was in 2018. I think this has been my fastest race this year.

🍃 The course was on a trail. Running on a trail means mosquitos. We were all ready because the race organizers provided insect repellant for us.

🍃 I used the run/walk method. I did really well and was proud of myself.

Will I do it again next year? Definitely! There are other races taking place at the same location that I am interested in doing. The Forge Fest Night Races looks like it will be fun!

The Forge: Lemont Quarries is an adventure park. There are a bunch of activities you can do such as zipline, archery, kayak/canoe, and axe throwing.

The topic for next week: Ultimate Coffee Date with Coco and Deborah. We hope you will link up.