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.

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your favorite running movies?  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!

In no specific order, here are mine:

• Spirit of the Marathon – I love this movie!  OK, so this one of my favorites.  🙂  This movie follows the journey of 6 runners (with two of them being elite runners) that are training for the 2005 Chicago Marathon.  

• Chariots of Fire – I remember hearing about this movie when I was a kid but I didn’t watch it till about 3 years ago.  I got chills watching it.

• The Barkley Marathon – It is an ultramarathon that takes place in Tennessee.  The course is 100 miles and only 40 runners are accepted each year to run the race.  The time limit is 60 hours and to date 15 people have completed it in that time frame (one runner has finished it twice and another runner has finished it 3 times).

• McFarland, USA – It is based on a true story of a cross country team from a Latino high school in California.  With the coach’s help, the team wins the state championship.