10 Things A Runner Should Not Leave Home Without

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Man they fly by don’t they?!

Friday night I had an awards ceremony called the Addy’s for the local Advertising Federation of America, although we didn’t bring home any awards this year, it was interesting to see the work of some very talented designers in the area and enjoy one of the best dinners I’ve had out in a long time! With Lent, I went for the Vegetarian option (chicken and prime rib were the other choices), and I am so glad I did! I got a plate full of spaghetti squash, marinara, and a large grilled mushroom with a side salad, garlic bread, and a mini cupcake (and a half…my boss and I split an extra one that was left on our table during the intermission), it was delicious. I wish I would have snapped a picture but 1) I was starving because it was almost 7:30 by the time we ate so I dove right in and 2) it felt a little weird snapping a picture of my food in front of the other people at my table – but TRUST me it was awesome!

I made these cookies today. They are full of protein; no flour, no eggs, no oil! They are pretty good but if you make them, expect them to be super doughy. They taste like a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie but the texture is definitely like cookie dough. Would be pretty good broken up into vanilla ice cream…I’ll have to try that! Mine didn’t end up looking as pretty as her’s but I followed her recipe to a T and she’s right, I tried the cookie dough before it was baked and it was NOT good but the baking really does bring out the sweetness and the chickpea taste disappears.

This picture looks really cruel, I did end up giving Gizmo a taste of the peanut butter…his puppy eyes always get me!

Yesterday we had some nice weather. I think it was somewhere in the high 30’s low 40’s but the sun was shining, the snow was melting, and it felt really nice having a break from the cold and wind. While on a walk I couldn’t stop thinking about how bad I wanted to just run but not wanting to set myself back right now, I stuck with walking which was still good! There’s no doubt spring will be the hardest time of the year for me to get through.

But while my mind is in runner’s land, I was remembering the pet peeves and mistakes I learned along the way on my journey with running.

Here’s a list of 10 things that a runner should not leave home without:

1) A good pair of running shoes: this is a must! When I first started running, my tennis shoes were from Kohl’s. They were just basic tennis shoes. After suffering from shin splints and knee aches, I went to a proper fitting at a running store and got a shoe that fit my foot and stride. If you have a proper running shoe, make sure you don’t go too many miles before replacing them. My Sauconys have barely any tread left on them and the meshing is all ripped, I love those shoes but it’s time to part with them when I get back into running. O yes, and they are now tie died from this fall’s Color Run…

2) Warm Up: Whether this is stretching, yoga, walking; anything to get those muscles warm and loosened up. A gentle stretch and walk before going in to a run also helps to mentally get me in the zone.

3) …some bathroom meditating…another must! Before a run if I wasn’t able to go to the bathroom, I knew my run would be shot. Even if this meant waking up a good hour before heading out in the mornings, I had to get that in. It’s not fun to have a bad run based solely on this issue. Definitely not something you want to suffer through!

4) Good ear buds: I absolutely hate running with music when my ear buds constantly fall out or get blown out by the wind. I went on Amazon one time and got a really nice pair. Not only was the sound exceptional but the buds stayed in even on the windiest days…until I listened to my music a little too loud on too many runs and they blew. Time for a new pair! I’d love to get some of those cool new sweat proof, wireless ear buds like Jay Bird or Iron Man makes…anyone have those and swear by them? It really is a huge pet peeve of mine when I have to constantly fix my ear buds!

5) Clock: Knowing when I start running and when I stop makes me continue to set goals and stay competitive with myself to push a little further each run.

6) A pre-run snack about 45 min to one hour before hand: You.MUST.fuel! If I had a snack much under an hour before my runs, I would get side cramps so I would try to eat my snack or a small breakfast with plenty of time to digest and make sure I get in #3 🙂

7) A bottle of water: If you are doing a long run or it’s really hot, this would be good to take with you, otherwise you will want  (and need) it when you are done.

8) Music: There are some days I just want to enjoy silence, but there are other times when I need music to keep me going and pump me up. Even these days when I am walking by myself, music keeps me going so I don’t get bored or think too much about what I am doing. The mind is a powerful thing and if you get it to stop thinking about quitting, you will keep going!

9) www.mapmyrun.com

10) A goal: No matter if you are going out for an easy, leisurely run or to train for an upcoming race, having a goal keeps you going and on track. If I set out to run 4 miles and get around to the 3rd and want to stop, it was harder to quit and most days a lot easier to just do the last mile because I knew how good it felt to hit that goal. My goals were always set on my PR’s but signing up for a few races will help you as well.

I hope if you are a runner, these tips help to remind you of some important things that I think are necessary to enjoy running as well as meet your times/distances. If you are considering taking up running, this list will help you get yourself, mind and body, ready to hit the pavement.

I have a Christmas cactus at work that was given to me by a coworker who moved away, the plant was not doing too hot for the first 2 years but recently it’s been really taking off! I think I finally have my blinds filtering just the right amount of light and I now have this flower and 6 more blooms ready to go! My mom has an amazing green thumb but that is one thing I have not found yet. We did landscaping last year and minus the summer drought and the crazy rabbits who ate my hostas down to the roots, I am pretty sure I will have to re-landscape it all this year!