Tag Archives: Fivefingers

Chia Test Drive

Image

After a fabulous vacation in Mexico, I am recharged, revitalized and re-energized.  I was able to run several times while on vacation.  It was a treat to only pack my slim Vibrams and not a pair of bulky running shoes, but the terrain was not as Vibram friendly as I hoped.  I really had only 2 choices, the sandy beach or cobblestone road.

A quick side note about running on the beach: Sara and I typically stay on the boardwalk and avoid running on the sandy beach at all costs.  Our main reason is the paranoia of twisting an ankle or knee.  And, it’s so much more difficult! Now with my Vibrams I can add getting sand in my barefoot shoe as a second reason to avoid sand on a run.  (I can remember only once that we ran on the beach and that was after the crazy snow storm in December of 2010.  The beach was frozen and the boardwalk was ice covered!)

Therefore, in Mexico, I selected the cobblestone road.  By the end of my 45 minutes I was feeling the pounding on the balls of my feet more so than normal.  From a running aspect, my feet were glad to be home from vacation.  Plus, it was also great to catch up with Sara over a 12 mile run yesterday and 4 miles this morning.

Let’s get back to my Chia seeds that I used once before going on vacation.  I have two bags of Chia seeds that I am going to incorporate into my diet.  Each night, I soak one tablespoon of seeds in a pint of water.  I have found if I dilute the mixture with additional water, it goes down a lot smoother.  I also added one NUUN tablet to my secret potion.  In the morning I slurp down half the energy juice before the run and the other half after.  The NUUN definitely helped with flavor (pink lemonade).

20120416-063529.jpg

What results should I expect?  Reading articles on the Internet there are claims for weight loss, leveled blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and higher energy levels.  I am two days into my Chia Test Drive and honestly don’t notice any difference.  Give me a couple of weeks and perhaps I will have more to share.

Princesses Not

Image

We are not normally princess types. We pride ourselves on being strong and capable, not at all meek and mild. However, when it comes to things in our shoes, we are total wimps. Like that princess and the pea, I can feel the tiniest pebble stuck in the sole of my shoe, and I don’t care if we’re doing a speed workout, I’ve got to stop and get it out.

Today, Julia out-princessed me in the biggest way. Can you tell what she got stuck in her “footwear”?

20120401-124856.jpg

Yes, that would be a buttercup. Okay Julia – you’re princess for a day! Thanks for a great long run!

We Shamrocked It!

Standard

What a weekend! Yesterday we ran the Shamrock 1/2 Marathon in beautiful Virginia Beach with several thousand runner friends.  The weather could not have been more perfect, and the company was delightful. Particularly so because they liked to talk, and any runner knows how that makes the miles slip by. Often this race is plagued by wind and cold, especially after the turnaround in Ft. Story. This time, if anything we had a slight tail wind. It was shirtsleeves and shorts (or skorts) for us the whole way home. Adding to the fun, we bellied up to the bar around mile 10, and accepted a cup of beer offered by generous neighborhood supporters. What a perfect way to hydrate AND get your carbs in a couple swigs. That was just the liquid courage we needed to keep those Sauconys and Vibrams pounding the pavement past King Neptune at 31st street and across the finish line. As we walked the several cool-down blocks, we were bestowed with waters, medals, hats, snacks, and best of all, these awesome hoodies, which are most quilt-worthy:

Then it was off to the tent to meet with friends new and old and celebrate a job well-done and fun well-had!  We hope all your races and activities this spring are just as quilt-worthy!