How is it that it is already December?  Going back to work after a few days off for Thanksgiving Break was exhausting.  My kids were still in vacation zone and let me just say that no on was in the mood to work.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Holiday gifts for runners.  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

A few bloggers have already written about this topic so I will include the links below.  
⇒ Wendy at Taking the Long Way Home
⇒ Marcia at Marcia’s Healthy Slice
⇒ Lisa at Mile by Mile
⇒ Sandra at Organic Runner Mom
⇒ Debbie at Coach Debbie Run

A few things that I like are:
⇒ Balega Socks – I love SmartWool but now am loving Balega socks.  My favorite are the ultralight/ultraglide socks.   They’re thin but yet cushioned enough to provide enough support.

⇒ Road ID – I never take mine off.  Yes, I even shower with it.  🙂  Mine has two of my sisters’ contact information in case of an emergency.  

⇒ Gift cards – I get my running shoes from Running Warehouse or Zappos.  I love that they offer FREE shipping.  If for some reason you change your mind, you can also send them back for free.  I run in Brooks shoes and have the Launch, Ghost, and Levitate.

⇒ Garmin watch – So many great ones out there now.  I love mine.  I have a 225 and have had it for 4 years.  Mine is simple and I use it to track my shoes mileage, pace, distance, and time.

⇒ Black Diamond Storm Headlamp – I run in the morning and it is very dark outside.  My headlamp is perfect for those mornings.  

⇒ Oiselle Lightning Layer – This is one of my favorite Oiselle items.  I can wear it over another top or a sports bra.  With the vest and the headlamp, for sure you will be seen!

⇒ Koala Clip – It is a pouch that holds your phone, keys, ID, etc.  It has a magnetic clip that you clip inside your sports bra.  The Koala Clip does not chafe nor does it bounce.  

⇒ BibBoards – They’re bib fasteners.  The nice thing about these is that you don’t need safety pins hence no holes in your race shirt.  There are so many different and fun designs to pick from.  

Do you own any of the items I listed above?  It not, which one would you like to try?

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!  Also, thanks to everyone that entered my birthday giveaway.  The winner is: Marcia Kadens.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tell us why you’re thankful for running?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Thanksgiving is around the corner.  I am not one to “just” be thankful on that day.  I like to be thankful every single day for everything that I have.  After my mom’s stroke in March, I am even more thankful for so many things.  

√ I am thankful that it was a mild stroke.  She was in 3 different places (hospital and rehab) and came home on May 5th.

√ I am thankful that she is comes home with me on the weekends (she lives with my younger sister) and we get to watch TV and spend time together.  

√ I am thankful for the stories she tells me of when she lived in Mexico.  Life wasn’t easy but she did the best she could.  My dad was living in the US and my mom was in Mexico.  There were times in which she was here working while the kids were in Mexico being taken care of by family members or a neighbor.

√ I am thankful for the sacrifices she and my dad made to give us a better life.  We emigrated to Chicago in 1978.  I was 5 years old and I still remember that day.  It was July 4th and I remember seeing the Sears Tower.

√ I am thankful she didn’t give up after my dad died.  At 47 years old she became a widow with 7 kids.  I am 47 years old.  I put myself in her shoes and I haven’t done 1/4 of the stuff she had already done when she was 47.

I know I went a little off topic so now let me talk about why I am thankful for running.  🙂  Running is my ME time.  Running helps me cope with the challenges life brings me.  Things are so much better with my mother, but still it is tough being an adult.  Haha, I think we can all relate to that.  Work stresses me out and I am constantly looking for ways to help my students.  While I run I am in my zone, staring ahead while listening to music.  Sometimes I think about the different things that need to be done once I get to work.

And last but not least, I am thankful for this blog, this linkup and ALL OF YOU.  I love the support and encouragement I get from my virtual friends.  Some of you I’ve met and if I haven’t, I hope I get to meet you soon.  With each post I get inspired and I smile.  We never judge.  It makes me happy to read and see how we lift and encourage one another whether it is from dealing with an injury or from being nervous with running a marathon or another race.   I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Brrr, it is cold here.  I am not liking the snow nor the weather.  Yesterday I went out for a run in the snow and had to cut it short because it was just too much.  Winter isn’t here yet (though it feels like it), but I already want warmer weather.

This week’s Tuesday Topic: How I warm up before a run?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Even though I know I should be doing it more, I only warm up when I remember or when I have time.  However, I do warm up with a cup of coffee.  I never leave the house without first drinking a cup.  I know, I know, that is not the kind of warm this week’s topic is about.  🙂

Benefits of warm up include:
• Raises your body temperature.  Dynamic warm-up exercises raise your body temperature by heating up your muscles.
• Enhances muscle performance.
• Boosts heart function.
• Improves the load distribution in your joints.
• Prevents injuries.

Source: https://www.runtastic.com/blog/en/how-warming-up-improves-your-race-performance/

While I don’t always warm up, I do stretch my calves and quads (static stretching).  That’s it.  However, I read that there is no evidence that static stretching is actually beneficial.  Also, stretching cold muscles isn’t a good idea either which is what I’ve been doing.  I am actually doing everything wrong! 

What is actually recommended to do before a run is walking briskly, marching, jogging slowly, or cycling on a stationary bike.  Then do dynamic stretches/exercises such as walking lunges, jumping jacks, or opposite toe touches.  I remember when I was a CES pacer, we had to do dynamic stretches before our run.  So why is it that I cannot continue to do them now?  

Do you warm up before heading out for a run?   What do you do?  Thoughts from running coaches?

Happy November!  Did anyone watch the NYC Marathon on Sunday?  Wow, what a race!  For sure I thought Desi was going to win since she had a lead halfway through the race.  Joyciline Jepkosgei definitely surprised everyone!  Watching the race inspired me to enter the early drawing for the NYC Marathon.  🙂

This week’s Tuesday Topic: How do you budget for races?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Signing up for races is expensive.  Add in travel and airline cost and it gets even more expensive.  You also need to pay for food and additional travel cost.  I’ve run a total of 167 races.  I would say maybe 10 or so have been free but the rest I have paid for on my own.  

Next year I am planning to run the Kona Half Marathon and 7 additional half marathons in different states.  I would also like to run the MCM or NYC Marathon.  I know those trips won’t be cheap.  For now I am saving money using the $5 Savings Challenge.  I save every $5 bill that I get.  I rarely carry cash but use cash when I buy tamales.  🙂  I began saving money using this method in March 2018.  At first I was saving it for lasik eye surgery.  Not that important anymore.  I can wear my glasses.  🙂  I don’t know how much money I have but I plan to find out when I start making hotel arrangements.  

I know I won’t have enough to pay for it.  Plan B is to use my credit card.  I know it isn’t really the best option but I don’t have any other choice.  I am very good about paying my bills on time.  Also, I like the credit card I have (from Chase) because I get cash back every month.  Then I use that money to make a payment on my card.  I just realized that I could have transferred that money to a savings account and used it towards my traveling/race costs.  🙂

Running is definitely not a cheap hobby but I still love it.  Let’s not forget that we still need to buy running shoes, clothes, socks, and additional gear.  

Also, I remember when I would sign up for almost every race.  Not no more.  Now I am picky about the races I run.  There are a few I like to run every year and those are the ones I sign up for in advance to get the early registration fee.

Have you run the Kona Half Marathon?  Have you traveled to Hawaii?  My race will be at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast so I am looking for a good and inexpensive place to stay.