RUNNING FOR BEGINNERS WITH JAMIE CAMPBELL

i recently started running again.  i ran track in high school, i’ve run two half marathons and a handful of 5 and 10k’s.  i’ve never loved running, i only did it because my friends wanted me to and i was certainly never any good.  i don’t know that i can say i love it yet but i love the way i feel after.  i love the form of therapy it is for me.  i love that i’m a better mom + wife once i’ve cleared my mind.  i’m not fast and i’m ok with that.  i don’t run to compete.  i run to show my kids that its important to take care of yourself, to take time out for the things you enjoy.

i’m not a seasoned runner.  i don’t know why everything hurts after i run or why sometimes i get an awful stomach ache halfway through.  but i am lucky enough to have an amazing best friend jamie campbell, who happens to be the race director for the BMO Harris Bank Phoenix Marathon and coached cross country at mountain view high school for 7 years.  not only can she put together an awesome race, she’s run boston the past two years (the last being 10 weeks after having a baby!).  she’s fast, really fast.  she’s my go to for all things running and i was lucky enough to have her share some tips for beginning runners.

1. Invest in a pair of running shoes. One of the great things about running is that you don’t need a bunch of equipment to do it. That being said, you do need a good pair of shoes. Don’t pull an old, ratty pair of shoes out of your closet from your high school track days and expect to have good results. The rule of thumb is to replace shoes every 300-500 miles. If the shoes are old, have lost their cushion or if you’ve been wearing them to the gym for more than six months, its time for a new pair. If you’re unsure about what shoe you should be running in, visit your local running store and get fitted. If you don’t live near a store that can fit you, stick with a neutral shoe, like this one http://www.saucony.com/en/ride-7/13593W.html?dwvar_13593W_color=S10241-1#cgid=womens-running-neutral&start=1 Finally, lace you shoes up, snugly. If you are able to slip your shoes on, they’re not tight enough. Loose shoes will result in a lack of support and lead to injury.
2. Stay Hydrated. Drinking lots of water will reduce muscle cramping, and help fuel your metabolism. At a minimum, drink 1/3 of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weight 150 pounds, try to drink 50 oz. of water per day, more if you live in a particularly dry climate.
3. Fuel- you’ll be burning extra calories when you run. Make sure you’re eating healthy carbs, and include extra protein in your diet to build muscle. Avoid eating too much before a run, and stay away from things like dairy prior to running.
4. Get a running partner or join a running group. This will help you stay motivated and hold you accountable. Plus, it’s more fun to run with a friend!
5. Have a goal, or sign up for a race. What are you running for? Speed? Weight loss? Overall health? Decide why you are running and the results you want. Running for weight loss is different than training for a marathon.
6. Start with 20-25 minutes of running. Run out 10-12 minutes, turn and come back. Try to get a little farther each time, and don’t worry if you have to walk in the beginning. If you’re serious about running, invest in a GPS watch like the Garmin Forerunner 15 https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-15/prod145621.html or Forerunner 220 https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-220/prod129397.html. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, stick with a simple stopwatch or use your smartphone. One of my favorite apps is Strava. Check it out here: https://www.strava.com/running-app
7. Gradually build your mileage. Just because you can go run eight miles doesn’t mean you should. The majority of injuries are a result of weak muscles (quadriceps). Your quads are crucial in walking and running and providing stability to your knee and hip joints. Give you muscles some time to build up and you’ll be less likely to strain other parts of your body.
8. Listen to your body. If you are experiencing pain, you may need an anti-inflammatory and ice. Consider taking a break or cross training. If the pain persists, see your doctor.
9. Your body needs time to rebuild your muscles, Consider a running schedule in the beginning like:
   1. Monday – run
   2. Tuesday – run
   3. Wednesday – rest or cross train
   4. Thursday – run
   5. Friday – run
   6. Saturday – rest or cross train
   7. Sunday – rest

10. Invest in some running clothes. Technical clothes will reduce chaffing and wick moisture. Reward yourself for committing to a new healthy routine. And as my Cross County runners always say, “Look good, feel good, run good!”

these tips have helped me find a starting point.  i’ve been able to gain mileage fairly quickly and safely.  jamie put together a running schedule for me a month before the BMO Harris Bank Phoenix Marathon and i was able to run the 10k faster than i thought i’d ever be able to and finish without walking once.  it feels like a great accomplishment to complete a race and have your family cheering you on as you cross that finish line.

UNCLE MARK

lately i’ve been in a mood.  i’ve got a lot going on in my head.  too much going on in my head.  i feel out of sorts.  i hate feeling this way.  i hate feeling like things are beyond my control.  i’m a pretty fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl which makes me most happy, but its because i’m making the decision to not have a plan.  waiting around for things beyond my control torture me.  i have a lot going on with commitments and family and life in general, like we all do.  but lately it feels like too much.  i’m ready for school to be over.  i’m ready to have no commitments.  sometimes its nice to just wake up and decide what you want to do that day, not already have 10 places you have to be.  today my only activity is tonight when i have to speak at a rs activity about journaling.  i thought why not sit and journal about how i’m feeling at this very moment.  though this isn’t a personal journal this is my life. the good and the bad.  its the season i’m in and i have to remind myself its a good one.  the booger noses and spilled drinks.  they’re all good.  theres nothing id rather be doing.  not one single thing.  so i’m trying to slow it all down.  stop fighting it, stop rushing through it.  because who cares if i’m still in my pajamas or my car is a mess.  not me.  but i do care that my kids know i love them.  that my husband knows i’m here for him and i’m happy.  i love this life.  i took the kids to visit my uncle mark at the cemetery today.  its been 19 years to the day since he passed away.  how’d that fly by so fast?  his kids are grown.  they were babies when he passed.  i was 12.  i remember so many details of his last bit of life.  he was the first person i was really really close with to pass away.  mark is my dads baby brother.  he looked like my dad.  he was kind and funny he would play card games with me every weekend.  he was passed away from brain cancer.  i remember the surgeries and scars.  i remember hospital visits and eventually hospice.  i can’t imagine knowing you’re going to die.  knowing you’re leaving your babies here.  knowing you won’t see them graduate or get married.  wondering how much of you they will remember.  he was only 35 when he passed away.  as i get older i realize just how young he was.  how short his life was.  today i took my babies to put flowers on his grave, i wish they could’ve met him.  i wish they could play cards with him.  death is hard.  his death was really hard.  i remember speaking at his funeral about how much he meant to me.  how much he touched my life, tears streaming down my face trying to get through the talk i wrote.  some people impact you so much even after they are gone.  that was my uncle mark for me.

SPRING WARDROBE

spring is here or if you live in az summer is here!!!  i’m ready for a wardrobe change. thought i’d share a few things i’m loving, just in time for mothers day. wink wink….ivan.