Week in review- Sunday, February 28th

It is hard to believe tomorrow is March 1st and officially two months until the Parkway Half marathon... Now is time for the serious training to begin! Unfortunately, I had to ruin my perfect Sac Fit attendance record yesterday due to a bit of a virus but Lara braved the rain and ran her 8 miles. Yay!! She actually changed her pace group and found that it may be a better match for her. I think she should get extra credit for running her whole workout in the rain. Her tip for this week is next time she does a rain run she will put Glide on her feet so that her socks don't rub. I will have to keep that in mind myself!

This week was an exciting week on the blog and Pod cast side. We had our first official blog comments. Thanks, Jessica!!! We previously received comments from people on Facebook, which we appreciate, but it was also fun to see comments on the actual blog site. We look forward to any feedback! Lara also got our first official Tweet from somebody we didn't know regarding the Pod cast. It's fun to think people who don't know us are actually reading and/or listening!

This week also continued my search for the best Lara bar flavors. Once I finish trying all of the flavors I will let you know how it goes. Lara bars are my new favorite treat since most of them literally only contain dates, nuts, and unsweetened dried fruit. I actually first tried these as samples from the SF marathon expo (not because of the name) and now I am hooked! They are a great afternoon snack to get you through your after work workout! Lara actually ordered some new products including a gel and some energy breakfast cookies, so I look forward to hearing about those too! More to follow on this one especially as I try to eat clean and get these last pounds off. I am hoping to also better fuel my body for my workouts!

Product of the week: Sticking to the theme of sweet treats, one treat I recommend is the snack sized Pay Day. Although I wouldn't normally advocate candy bars, the Pay Day is a fan favorite of local runners. It provides the perfect combination of salt and sugar and seems to digest easily when you are literally on the run. It gives you that little boost of energy you need when you want something to eat instead of a gel. It also settles that grumble you sometimes get in your stomach after eating shot blocks or beans on a long walk/run. I do my best to ration them out and only bring them on long workouts!! So far, we have only been able to find the snack size bars (about 80 calories) each at Wal-Mart!

As Spring gets closer, I hope everyone has signed up for their goal race. Whether it is a 5K or Ultramarathon, the important thing is we are out there running our own races as well as sharing the information we learn and the experiences we have along the way!

-Lisa

Week in review- Sunday, February 21st

I am back! I am sorry that I missed last week! This week is going to be the week of focus. As Dr. Oz says, "Exercise is non-negotiable!" I need to remind myself of these words when I find it tempting to miss a workout because I am tired after work. I know I will feel better mentally and physically during and after the workout!

This week was a nice diverse week of workouts. I made it to the gym one night for my regular workout. The next night I actually walked to dinner and back with an old friend I reconnected with recently. She and her boyfriend recently became runners so we had lots of great conversation. They are both so pumped and enthusiastic about signing up for their first half marathon that I couldn't help but be "re-motivated" by their excitement. Plus, you can't feel as guilty about eating half a giant calzone when you walk to the restaurant and back!

Yesterday, Lara and I went to our Sac Fit workout. Instead of the normal workout, it was the Cooper Workout week. Basically, the Cooper Workout involves a series or warmup and cool down exercises and a 12 minute walk/run with the goal being to get around the track as many times as possible in the 12 minutes. Apparently, there is then a formula to measure your VO2 potential. I wanted so badly to walk a 12 minute mile but I must confess I had to run part of the last lap to finish that fourth lap just as my 12 minutes were up. Lara and I then had a great walk to our local Fleet Feet and back (of course stopping for lunch) to complete our workout. Again, who can feel bad about shopping or eating when you've worked hard to get there!

I also attended a nutrition class at work this week that was a great reminder about the importance of eating live things especially those with lots of water content such as fruits and vegetables. Fresh is of course the best option followed by frozen. If we remember we are fueling ourselves for our workout and think about that when we put food into our mouths we can't go wrong!

Product of the week:

I realize this week's product of the week may not apply to all but for those that it does it is worth reading! One of the most important things a woman runner or walker needs is a good supportive sports bra. For those of you who haven't been able to find a comfortable, supportive one there is one out there for you! I will never wear another sports bra... It is THE perfect high impact sports bra. It is the Maia bra by Moving Comfort. You can purchase it online or at your local REI or Fleet Feet. It is comfortable and literally the first sports bra I have ever worn where I am 100% comfortable walking or running because, pardon the expression, everything is locked and loaded! It comes in several colors (including white and black) and I promise you won't be disappointed if full support is what you need!

Week in review- Sunday, February 7th

Hello again. I am back! Exercise should be a priority in your life but

sometimes life does take a priority over exercise! I made it back to the
gym Monday night for some desperately needed cardio. It wasn't the best
workout, but at least I was there.

We had a good workout last Saturday with Sac Fit. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't find people who wanted to walk as crazy fast as I am trying to but
there were some great people out there. My coach kept us going at a good
pace. It is still so hard for me to start slower and get that negative
split in. I am always afraid I am wasting valuable time! I really would
like to walk the Parkway Half marathon in under 3 hours, which means keeping up a
13:40 minute per mile pace. Wish me luck! I always seem to do better
when I have a goal to work towards.

Another nice thing is the days are staying lighter out slightly longer
which means soon we can get some outdoor workouts in after work and still
see the sun I definitely prefer walking outdoors over being on the
treadmill but both serve their purposes. It is much easier to get those
running shoes on and get moving when it isn't cold and rainy out! Now is a
good time to pick that spring race and start training for it!

Product of the week:
A few weeks ago I recommended a great pack. I am a firm believer you need
a good pack to tote your water in but there are times when you fly out the
door for a quick 30 minute walk or run and only want to grab your keys (and
Road ID of course) and go. A great accessory for those days is the Spibelt
The Spibelt is a very small pocket on a waist belt that expands to fit your cell phone, keys, and iPod. It is perfect for a quick run or walk outside when you need the bare essentials! The Spibelt is often sold at race expos for major marathons/half marathons. Otherwise, check out www.spibelt.com and for a few dollars extra you can even get the extra cords to hook your race bib/number to it.

Have a great week!

-Lisa

Week in review

It has been a crazy week with lots going on at work! I will be back tomorrow night with a belated week in review (after I go to the gym of course!)

-Lisa

Week in review- Sunday, January 17th

I can't believe it is already Sunday night and time to blog again. It has definitely been an odd week in terms of workouts. Monday night I went to the gym and it seemed like every bone and muscle that could possibly ache in my body did while I was on the treadmill. At first, I thought it was all in my head.. that mental game your body plays when it doesn't want to exercise but after completing 40 minutes on the treadmill and still being in pain I called it quits for the day. I was disappointed to not get my strength training in but sometimes you just have to listen to your body when the message "I can't do this today" persists.

I had a good workout on Thursday but I must confess I missed my third mid-week workout. I guess that happens sometimes! Saturday was our first official Sac Fit workout for the season. Although we were only on the trail for 36 minutes, it was great to be back training with a group again. I look forward to a longer, faster workout next week.

Stay tuned for a new Square Peg Running logo in the next few weeks or months. Lara and I met this weekend with one of my friends, a designer, who is going to help us come up with a great logo! We look forward to enhancing the look of the site and who knows what will come next... would t-shirts be going overboard?

A number of my friends and co-workers are training for the American River Parkway half marathon in May, so I wish everyone luck on your training. I definitely believe having a goal, whether a 5K race or a marathon, keeps you motivated and actually raises the fun level of your training. If you aren't registered for an upcoming race, try finding one in your area in the new few months that looks fun and grab a training buddy and sign up! Happy training!

Product of the week: It is inevitable that we won't always be out training with a friend, so it's especially important on those days we just grab our keys and run out our front door for a neighborhood run/walk that we have identification on us. This is where the Road ID comes in! It is available in various bracelet, anklet, and necklace styles in a number of colors. Road ID allows you to have your contact information and even a personal motto or medical information engraved right on it. I particularly like the pink bracelet style because it is not only functional but pretty fashionable. The Road ID is easily recognized by emergency personnel and can make a big difference in getting the proper medical attention. It is available on-line just search for the Road ID website.

Week in review- Sunday, January 10th

I hope everyone is having a great year so far! Yesterday, it was back to Sac Fit running/walking club for the new training season! I am pleased that some of my co-workers and friends signed up this season. The more the merrier! Yesterday, the group met for our orientation and one mile pace run/walk. I was absolutely thrilled to walk a 12:22 mile. Now if I can only keep that up for 13.1 miles! I am setting my goal this year to hopefully walk the Parkway half marathon in under 3 hours. I am hoping with the right training and mind-set it is an achievable goal as it means cutting 11 minutes off of last year's time. We will see!

Yesterday's orientation program was great! We listened to a variety of speakers including an ultramarathon winner talk about goal setting, a PT talk about avoiding injuries and strength exercises, and a local author who completed a 153 mile race across the Sahara. Talk about inspiration and a wealth of information! It was extremely motivating and surely provided everyone in the room with a great kick start for the new year. I look forward to next week's training!

Now that my cold is better I am back to the gym tomorrow to start the weekly Sac Fit training schedule, which involves three shorter training sessions during the week and the one longer Saturday session. I want to say kudos to my co-worker and her husband (you know who you are) who are training on their own for the Parkway half. I am so proud of them and wish them and all of you the best of luck with your training. Although it is difficult sometimes to get these mid week training sessions in, our Sac Fit director reminded us yesterday what critical building blocks they are for the longer Saturday training sessions. We just do the best we can but having a set plan and a goal to achieve seem to make those training sessions much more "doable."

Product of the Week: One of the most important things is to stay hydrated when running and walking. Therefore, you need a good waist pack or fuel belt to carry your liquids. I actually seem to have a pack for everything. You name it I have tried it! From a single shot pack to a hand carry bottle (which strangely enough many ultramarathoners seem to use) I have tried them all! I finally found the perfect pack, which is versatile enough for any distance walk/run. It is lightweight and ergonomically fits your back so it is very comfortable and doesn't bounce. It comes with two 16 0z bottles so you have one for H20 and one for electrolytes and the nice thing is you can actually buy little accessory pouches as add ons in case you want to carry something extra like a cell phone or lip balm that you need easily accessible. It is easy to get the bottles in and out of the pack while still running/walking and the single pocket is large enough to fit your necessities but still keeps the pack small and light. This amazing pack is the Amphipod Profile Lite 32 which retails for about $48.50. It is available at some Fleet Feet and REI stores but you can check amphipod.com to find a location near you. It is literally one of the only packs I use now. It is a little pricey but worth every penny!

Have a great week! Remember to run your own race!

-Lisa

Week in review- Sunday, January 3rd

Happy 2010! I can't believe it is already the new year. Welcome to the first Square Peg Running "week in review" post. My goal for this year is to provide a weekly Sunday update on my/our weekly running and walking adventures as well as review a "product of the week." As a running/walking "product enthusiast" I am happy to share what I've learned as I continue on my quest for the perfect products to make my workouts easier (and sometimes more stylish)!

Unfortunately, this year did not start with a bang for me in the walking department. The walking gods always seem to know when I have a few days off, and of course I came down with a cold. Although that meant the Auburn New Year's Day resolution run was a "no go" for me it gave me plenty of time to think about my goals for the year. I've always heard it takes 3-4 weeks to create a habit, so I won't let a few little "sick days" get me down.

Fortunately, I got a few days in at the gym with my mom before I got sick as I start my quest to re-incorporate strength training into my regime. I definitely need to strengthen my core which should help with some of the lower back pain I experience occasionally when walking longer distances. I can't lie that I hope the addition of strength training to my routine kicks my metabolism into gear as I look to lose the last 35lbs this year. When I discovered my mom uses about twice the weight I do on machines I knew I needed to get to work. I will let you know how it goes!

Next week, we are back to work with Sac Fit (a local running/walking club) to train for the American River Parkway half marathon this spring. Joining a walking/running club (with or without a buddy) really keeps you motivated. Also, we've learned a tremendous amount of helpful exercise and nutrition trips from training with a group, which we can share as we go. I highly recommend joining a group if you can! I will report in next Sunday on our first session of the season.

I know those of you who know me have have all been anxiously waiting for the following:

Product of the week:

A product that is key to any pleasant and productive workout is "the sock." The wrong sock can lead to painful blisters, slippage, and pesky seams. After trying many different brands with little luck, I found the perfect sock! It keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and despite the fact it is made from wool it is not the least bit itchy! With this sock, I never get blisters and never have to interrupt my run/walk with sock issues. It is the Smart Wool Phd blister free women's ultralight running sock. Don't worry it comes in a men's/unisex style and has larger women's sizes for those of us who need it. They are available at REI for around $11.99-$13.99 depending on the style. I prefer the shorter style in summer (looks better with capris) and the crew style in winter because it keeps my feet warmer and keeps the rocks out of your shoes. I know several other people who won't wear anything but this sock either. Try it out! You won't be disappointed!

Well, that is it for this week in review. I know Lara had a great run this week that hopefully she gets a chance to share. Please feel free to submit a comment for any of our blog entries. You don't need any special kind of account. Perhaps you have a comment on something you would like to see done differently or you have information to share. We are happy to hear from you!

Have a great week!

-Lisa