I'm Running!!!

Now that I've completed my first 10 km run, worked through some IT band problems and started training for my first 1/2 marathon which is now only 2 months away!! One book that is really inspiring me right now is called "Running Like a Girl"- by Alexandra Heminsley.

She has a hilarious and frank attitude about her journey and struggles through the learning curve that can inspire anyone to see their ability to run and find passion in the daily struggle to pound the pavement. This book will have you giggling away in harmony with quips and silly witticisms on everything from lactic acid build up, the struggles of squishing your boobs into a sports bra, to runners IBS and finding her passion in her feet. Here is an exerpt:

"My first run in the shock absorber bra was life changing. It felt like home... I felt as if my legs were finally free to create momentum that might push me forward rather than engineer propulsion to encourage my boobs into evermore exciting formations. Similarly my arms were to move my body in the right direction, rather than being on standby as emergency dignity shields. It was liberation like I had never known."

Love her!!! Can't wait to finish the book, I highly recommend it (you can get a great price on Amazon).

If I had the money I would buy this book for everyone I know that is starting to run or even just thinking of running.

Some of the important things I have learned so far:

- Eat at least 1 hour before run: not eating or eating too close to the run (especially if its a long run) makes me nauseous.
- Warm-Up: necessary for my body to do a 5 min brisk walk and some quick exercises to get the ligaments and muscles warmed up
- Stretching Post-Run: I find that I have trouble with my left IT band and that using a foam roller on this as well as doing some great stretches for everything else (hold every stretch for 30 sec each for it to be effective!).
- Cross-Training: my sciatic nerve starts to hurt (among other things) if I do long runs without having done core work and other cross training. I have been doing a lot of hiking this summer (as seen in pic below with my pup Scooter).
- Hydration, hydration, hydration: I have found that my body needs electrolyte replacement on those long runs (especially in the summer heat), or else I feel sick for the next few hours after the run.
- Refuel properly: right after the run you need to refuel protein and carbs. I like eating half a protein bar  and then going in for lunch or dinner or a healthy snack, that way I get the quick refuel and still get the satisfaction of a healthy meal afterwards.
- Give Yourself a Break: Some runs are gunna be crappy. That's just how it is, but remember that you just got your butt off the couch and if you hadn't run at all you would be feeling worse. A bad run is not a failure, it is just a goal that you did not meet that day; it's a goal that remains for tomorrow and today was just a training run.

Have a Great Run Every Body!