Thank you again to everyone that has been linking up with us each week.  I am enjoying  reading everyone’s post whether it is on the topic of the week or a totally different topic .  I have updated the Tuesdays Topics Linkup page (as well as listed them below) to include our topics till June.  Kim and I hope that you’ll continue to link up with us!

March
19-What do you bring along on a run?
26-What are your favorite non-running or non-fitness hobbies?

April
2-What’s the best and worst race swag you ever received?
9-What’s your favorite cross training activity?
16-What are your favorite recovery tools?
23-What are some new fitness gadgets you’d like to try?
30-Free topic

May
7- What’s your favorite cheat meal?
14- How has running made you a better person?
21- Are you a solo or group runner?
28- What are your tips for surviving your first {pick a distance}?

June
4-How will you celebrate Global Running Day?
11-What are your Summer running tips?
18-What are your Summer running plans and/or race schedule?
25-Free topic

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In previous years I remember doing my runs after work.  However, since about a year and a half, almost all of my runs have been in the morning before work.  I am a morning person.  Even on days when I don’t have to go to work, I am up between 5:30-6:00 am.  But there are days that I do like to sleep in.  Who doesn’t?  I also prefer running in the morning because then I am done with it and don’t have to worry about getting it done later.  Sometimes I have plans after work with no time for a run or sometimes I am too tired after work and just want to get home and rest.

I am not training for a marathon so my runs on the weekdays are no more than 5 miles.  My long run is on the weekends.  On the days I do run, I wake up at 4:30 am.  I hate rushing and waking up that early gives me enough time to make coffee, use the bathroom, and get ready.  Sometimes I sleep a bit longer for about 5-10 minutes.  I like to be back by 6am so I can shower, get ready, and leave for work.  I get to work by 7am even though my official start time isn’t till 8:30.  

There are days in which I have absolutely NO desire to run in the morning.  It is either too cold or I am tired.  In that case I run after work either outside or at the gym.  And if that doesn’t happen, then I don’t fret about it and see if I can run the next day.  My coach tells me to “Move on”.

Below is what I do to prepare for my morning run.  You may think “Well, duh”.  🙂  I know, I know.

• I have my clothes ready for the next day.  I check the weather for the next day so I’ll know how many layers I will need (during the winter).  Warmer weather is the best because all I need are shorts and a top!

• I have a mug and pod ready to make my coffee in my Keurig.  All I do is turn it on.  Sometimes I drink my coffee while getting ready.

• Along with clothes, I need my watch, belt, headlamp, lightening layer, pepper spray, and headphones.  I have a crate in the living room where I keep those items and put them on before walking out the door.  That crate is also Lola’s condo.  🙂

• I keep my shoes in the hallway.  Actually, I take them off before coming inside my apartment.  No sense in walking inside with them since I will use them again the next day or sometime that week.  

• Go to bed early!  To me that means in bed by 9pm.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Are you a day or night runner?  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!

I first heard about StepBet from Kim in this post.  But it wasn’t till later on when she wrote about her experience that I actually signed up.  I asked myself “How hard can it be?”  Well, it wasn’t easy but it wasn’t hard either.  🙂

What is StepBet?
“StepBet is a fitness game that motivates you to be more active.  Players “bet” on themselves to meet their personalized step goals during every week of the game, and win money if they do.  The cash prize, accountability, and community support help you build a more active lifestyle.”

Each game is $40.  If you win, you automatically get it back.  Depending on the number of players and the money in the pot, you can also win more money.  I cannot remember how many players and money was at the beginning of the game, but when it was over, there were 365 players and $21,680 in the pot.  StepBet retains 15% of the gross pot to pay referees, transaction fees, game hosts, and administrative support.  For this game I received $50.49.  Overall, I made $10.49!!!  🙂

How does it work?
Your weekly goals are calculated based on previous data from your FitBit, Apple Watch, Garmin, Apple Health, Google Fit, or Samsung Health.  You will get an Active Day Goal and a Power Day Goal.  You need to hit your “active” steps at least four days a week and “power day” steps at least 2 days per week.  You also get one free day per week.  My step goals were 15,310 for an an active day and 18,511 steps for a power day.  The first week is a warm-up week to get you used to the game.  You do not have to meet any of the goals.  The next 5 weeks are the interesting and challenging ones.  

Thoughts
• I enjoyed the accountability and support.  When you sign up for the challenge, you are in a group (similar to a Facebook group) where you can post and “talk” to other members.

• It got me walking more than usual.  As a teacher I do walk a lot.  However, there were days in which I left school with less than 10,000 steps.  I would then walk for about 1-2 hours to meet my daily goal.  Luckily the weather was decent and nice enough to walk outside.

• Is it worth it?  Yes!  I didn’t do it for the money.  Well, maybe just a little since I didn’t want to lose my $40.  There were days that I was exhausted (especially the day of and after a power day) but I didn’t want to quit.  I am glad we had one free day to rest or simply not worry about meeting the daily goal.

• Will I do it again?  Maybe.  For now I am taking a break from my FitBit (haven’t worn it since January 1st) but might start wearing it again in the upcoming months.

I’ve been wanting to do a RunBet and signed up for one hosted by Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner.  It is a 4 week challenge where you’ll need to run 4 days each week for at least 30 minutes.  Interested?  Sign up HERE.  The challenge starts Monday, March 4th.

• People get injured and couldn’t participate anymore.  They would submit a doctor’s note and would get back their $40.  With this the money in the pot would decrease and there is less money available for the winners.  I know this is wrong (and greedy) of me to say it, but I think that money should have been left in the pot.  More for the winners!  Or maybe half of it should have been refunded?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  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!