Would You Rather… a Runners Survey

I have read this fun survey on a couple of the blogs I follow recently, and decided to answer these questions, too.  Here goes.

Would you rather run in a thunderstorm or a snowstorm?

Definitely the thunderstorm.  Where I live these is little of both but I have run in a snowstorm in the past and found it quite visually disorienting.

Would you rather breathe through your nose or breathe through your mouth?

I would RATHER breathe through my nose but I know I am a mouth breather when I run.

Would you rather do 100 squats or 100 crunches?

Squats, definitely.  100 crunches is tough on my lower back.

Would you rather have a baked good for dessert or an extra serving of your favorite entree?

More dinner, please.  Not a huge dessert fan… well, not anymore anyway!  Wait... what IS the dessert?

Would you rather run on a treadmill for an hour or run around the same street block for an hour?

So not a treadmill fan… at least not since I lived where the winter temps often plummeted to –40C.  These days I would choose running around the same block and I would probably turn around and run it in the opposite direction occasionally, too.


Would you rather have a headache during a run or a side stitch?

That’s a tough one.  I rarely get either but I find headaches quite annoying.

Would you rather have a rest day on a work day or a day off?

Definitely on a work day.

Would you rather be a race director or a race volunteer?

I have been a volunteer a couple of times and quite enjoyed it… a race director?  I think that would be too much for me… I might consider being a committe coordinator.

Would you rather spend your money on running gadgets [HRM, GPS watch, Headphones] or running shoes?

Shoes, of course!

Would you rather run in a relay or do the run portion of a distance triathlon?

I have never done either, but I think a relay might be fun.

Okay, it’s your turn!

Lazy Sunday... Coffee Thoughts

I am enjoying a lazy Sunday morning… that means still in my jammies, with my keyboard on my lap, sipping coffee, and watching some curling on tv. 

Several of the Western provinces are having their ladies championships this weekend and the winners will be at the Scotties in Montreal in February.  I know that curling is very boring if you don’t play or don’t understand it… The Captain is a former competitive curler at a high level, and I have played so we enjoy watching it together and following the various teams we like.

Did you read my review of the The Summit Seeker and enter my giveaway?  If not, you still have time, and Vanessa will ship the winner’s book anywhere in the world.   Click here to read that post.

I got a lovely surprise this week… check out this long sleeved mock neck shirt from Tommie Copper… the styling is fabulous and the fit is perfect for me.  And of course it is made from their patented copper-infused fabric. I have been wanting a high-neck shirt to wear for running outside druing these cool, damp Winter days and cannot wait to get out there and test it out.  I do hope my foot cooperates.

I am having so much fun with my vegetable spiralizer.  I have only used it to make zoodles so far, but have tried many different sauces and toppings and am loving them so much.  These spiralizers are on Amazon right now… both .com and .ca for the lowest prices I have seen yet and I got free shipping, too.

My strength workouts with The Captain are going well…. we alternate the super sets so I am forced to take the rest breaks I am supposed to, while I supervise and count his reps.  I know he needs to be using some heavier weights so need to tend to that next week.  But at least he is getting into the habit of working out 3 times a week.

And I am seeing  my immunologist on Tuesday. He has the results of some tests I had done in November, finally, so I am a bit anxious about that… but hope there are some answers, too.

And last but not least… I have GOT to make the time to get my hair cut… decisions, decisions!  I thought I wanted long hair after having kept it short all those years on the sailboat.  Now I just find it a lot of trouble.

Okay, my coffee cup is empty and I am getting hungry… it must be breakfast time. 

What is on your mind today?

Book Review: The Summit Seeker by Vanessa Runs

If you read my first post of the year, you know that I am have a bit of an issue with the ball of my left foot bruising and swelling after I run, and apparently when after walking for any length of time, now too.  So I am giving it some rest and just doing my strength and yoga sessions this week, and not running, and no loooong walks either.

So, what does a girl do when she can’t run?  Well, she reads about it, of course.

And after reading The Summit Seeker, written beautifully by Vanessa Runs, I am beginning to think this injury was a blessing in disguise, giving me the time and opportunity to read for pleasure.  And believe me, reading this book was pure pleasure.  I loved it. I plan to read it again.

I relate to Vanessa’s story about becoming an Ultra runner in so many different ways… as a woman who loves to run, who loves dogs and cats, who found herself in unsuitable relationships she eventually left, and who now has a simple and honest bond with a man she loves and partners… as a sheltered, socially awkward, unpopular child… as someone who longs to be outdoors in the fresh air and wild, open spaces where God and Self are friends and allies.
 
Her story unfolds in short chapters – anecdotes really.  It is often a bit sad but ultimately joyous and hopeful, and left me wanting more.  It is artfully written, and easy to read.  Vanessa paints vivid pictures with well-chosen words and phrases and is brutally honest about her family, her upbringing, her shortcomings, and much too modest about her accomplishments.

I was given a paperback copy of The Summit Seeker in exchange for this blog review.  And Vanessa has graciously offered to send a copy to one of you as well.   I am so excited to be able to share this wonderful story with you.

To be eligible to win this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter form below for all of the entries which include the following:

There are 2 mandatory entries:
1.  Leave a comment telling me what you do to amuse yourself when you are sidelined from running by an injury, or weather,  or on rest days.
2.  Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

There are 4 ways to get bonus entries, too, after the mandatory entries are complete:
1. Follow @eatrunsail on Twitter.
2. Like eat run sail on Facebook.
3. Tweet about the giveaway.
4. Like The Summit Seeker on Facebook.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will email the winner on Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 ...  If you cannot wait to see if you win the giveaway, and want to order right away, check out this link to The Summit Seeker on amazon.com.

UPATE!  I have emailed the winner and want to say thank you to everyone who commented and entered.


I would be so very interested to hear what you think of it, too.

Food as Fuel, My January Focus

During the month of January I am zeroing in on food.

Actually I am pretty much always focused on food.  I love to cook and I love to eat… too much sometimes!  However, I have decided that I would be treating myself - my body and my spirit - much better if I concentrate on food as fuel.  In the past, I have fueled myself, of course, but I have also used food as a soother, as entertainment, and as a time filler.  I am really making an effort to start starting some better habits, and taking this month to make that my primary focus.

I have started another Whole 30 Paleo Challenge, and I am working it within the guidelines of the new Weight Watchers Simple Start program, in order to keep tabs on the amount of nuts, nut butters, nut milks, and dried fruit I am eating.  And I am also watching my macro nutrient percentages, thanks to Tom Venuto's new book, Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle. Whew!

And then, just to give it all an exclamation point, I have started Laura’s Winter Reset today as well.  It is going to compliment my efforts quite nicely… with one teeny tiny little hitch.

For the first 3 days (at least – preferably up to 7) Laura is asking that we give up meat.  I am already not eating legumes or dairy products or corn or any grains, or protein powders or bars, this month at all, so I have been wondering where I am going to get my protein from for these 3 days. I am a meat eater but am really going to give it up for 3 days, and I am assuming that means fish as well.

The first things that came to mind were eggs and egg whites.  And I have looked up the food values of several of my favorite veggies and see that they all have at least a bit of protein.  And of course the few nuts I will have do contain protein as well.  Then I remembered a go-to source of almost pure protein that I have on hand… ENERGYbits.  Pure spirulina algae. 

I have been taking bits before I do my strength workouts and I love them.

Oh, and I almost forgot... nutritional yeast. Will be making up a new recipe tonight with some butternut squash for my zoodles.

So, add at least 64 ounces of pure water to all the whole, real food I am eating, and keeping my good intentions in mind, how can I not be off to a great start on my January goal of setting some good ‘food as fuel’ habits?

When I eat whole, nutrient-dense, REAL foods, I am satisfied and don’t feel the need for sugary treats or between meal snacks.  I am happy with a cup of tea or coffee while reading or watching tv in the evening and don't need to keep grazing.

How about you? How healthy is your relationship with the food you eat?

Getting 2104 Off to a Great Start

Happy New Year!

I got the new year off to a great start this morning with a glass of immunity-boosting lime water and a lovely cup of dark coffee… then a serving of 30 ENERGYbits to fuel my strength workout.

I actually started my new 12-week strength program on Monday… and The Captain has opted to join me in this round so I was completely thrilled by that development. I did workout A on my own and then put him through the paces afterward.   Today, I took the same tack, and did my own workout B so I could concentrate on him when it was his turn. 

This program alternates between the 2 workouts, A and B, so now that he is familiar with the exercises, I think we can go ahead and do them together.  I know it won’t be long before he will need to increase the weight he is using though (likely needs more already) so we will be shopping for equipment soon and I am very excited about that.

Then I had a good refuelling breakfast and am ready to conquer the first day of the new year.  I think a beach walk is in order... after lunch.

I have not made any resolutions for the year.  I have not set any particular goals. I did not choose a them word this year.  What I am going to do instead, is focus on a particular area of my health and fitness each month.  Call me fickle if you like, but I need to have change to stimulate me and keep me interested. 

For January my focus is on my food!  How I do love to create and cook and eat.

Last January I did my first Whole 30 Paleo Challenge and fell in love with this way of eating.    Over the course of the year I did some experimenting and found that grains do not agree with me at all… but that I can eat edamame occasionally, and also Greek yogurt without any consequences.  But I overdid the nuts and the nut butters, and the dried fruits… I also did some experimenting with paying more attention to the breakdown of my macronutrients, and I  was part of the focus group for the new Weight Watchers Simple Start plan which concentrates on whole, natural foods.  

With all of this new knowledge, I have decided on a plan of attack for this month, which I hope will give me the fuel I need to keep myself energized and nourished, using a combination of these tools.  I am excited and energized and eager for results.

On another note... there is one niggly little issue… the last couple of times I have run, I have developed swelling and soreness on the ball of my left foot.  It lasts an hour or so and then seems to disappear.  I have had a couple of pieces of advice about what may be causing it and am going to try some different shoes and also some thicker socks the next time I go out… but it is annoying because I had been hoping to increase my runs as the weather warms.  Oh well, there is always golf!

Do you have anything special planned for January?  Have you joined in any challenges?