Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold

The tragic ending to Sherry Arnolds disappearance has touched us all in some way.  I never knew Sherry, but I have thought about her every day since first hearing her story.  I feel for her and what she went through, I feel for her family and what they are still going through.  I wonder why things like this happen, and how someone can think they have a right to hurt another person.  Somethings we will never know, but what we do know is that Sherry was a good person, a great mother, and a fantastic teacher.  Even though many of us never knew Sherry we will never forget her, I know I wont.

Beth at SUAR is hosting a Virtual Run for Sherry on February 11, 2012 at 9am MST.  Races 2 Remember has also donated there time in creating a race bib special for this event.  I encourage you all to get out there and run or walk any distance for Sherry.  Lets remember what a great person she was, and let her know that she will never be forgotten.   To get all the information on this run and to print out the bib check out SUAR's blog . 

I will be out there running for Sherry, I hope you will be too. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

I don’t know about you all but this year I am pretty lucky!  We have not really had a winter yet here in Kansas.  Usually by this time in January I am suffering the effects of SAD so bad it is hard to get motivated to do anything, much less run.

But this year, I have got to enjoy many sunny afternoon runs in the 40’s and 50’s.  I know you southern folks are thinking THAT IS COLD, I use to think that way when we first moved here from Florida but now I love running in these temps.  Don’t get me wrong anything under 40 and I am cold, but between 40 and 60 those are the best runs.

The best thing about this mild winter is that I can get outside for my runs or a walk with my girls, so we are still getting our vitamin D from the sun.  I think just the fact that we can get out at all is a huge help with SAD.  This is the first year since we moved here that I have not suffered from this disorder and I tell you I am feeling good.  I do worry about next year though and how will I keep this happy feeling through a bad winter.    

Do you suffer from SAD?  How do you cope during the winter to help with SAD?

Running in the Wind

Most of the time when you talk about running in the wind you want to start off running into the wind and then have the wind to your back on your way home.  This makes a lot of since, however in the winter this is not the best way to do it.

Today I went for a run and had to run into the wind on my way out.  And when the temps are around 20 degrees it is pretty darn cold and running into the wind just makes it colder.  After about a mile I warmed up and the wind did not feel so bad but then it was time to turn around and have the wind to my back.  The whole time I was thinking how much nicer it would have been to start my run with the wind at my back and finish my run with the wind in my face to cool me down. 

You see I am one of those people that gets very hot during a run.  So much so that I have been on runs in 10 degrees and had to remove my hat and gloves after a couple miles because I was just too darn hot. But those first couple miles I am usually freezing. 

How do you stay warm but not too warm during your winter runs?  Do you prefer running into or against the wind?

Running Safety Gear

In light of the tragedy of what happened to Sherry Arnold, I think it is important to try and be as safe as possible when we are out running.  Let’s not let her death be in vain and learn what we can from what happened to her.

I recently polled some of my fellow running moms asking them what they felt were ways to stay safe while running.  Many said the best thing is to just run on the treadmill, but I know that most of us won’t do that. Part of what we love about running is getting out and enjoying the scenery and sunshine on our run.  However we can do some basic things to stay as safe as we can.  Nothing will keep us 100% safe but I for one am willing to do whatever I can to give me the best chance possible to make it home after every run.

The easiest and cheapest thing you can do to stay safe while out running or biking is to not listen to your music.  I know it is easier to zone out and just cruse to a great song.  But that is when you are not really paying attention to your surroundings.  And as much as you think just putting one earpiece in is enough it truly is not, I know for me even with one earpiece in I can still zone out and just listen to my music and not be paying enough attention to what is going on around me. 

Carrying pepper spray is another great thing to keep you safer, or at least give you a chance to get away. Many of you already do this; I did when I first started running alone but have strayed away from taking it with me.  It is a pain to carry and nothing ever happened so I just got complacent and stopped bringing it.  Well I have been doing some research looking for a new bottle to carry and I found they actually have runner friendly bottles with a strap to make it easier to carry during your run so no more excuses; I am bringing some Pepper Spray with me on every run from now on.

A collapsible baton is another idea for a great self-defense item on a run.  It collapses to a small size so it is easier to carry and may just give you a fighting chance.  I personally am on the fence about getting one. I think it would be great to have but then I have to give up the pepper spray, because I think I can only carry one with me on my runs.  If you are not a fan of pepper spray then a Collapsible Baton  may be the thing for you.

Another great idea was to get a dog to run with.  Since I have a dog, I am for sure taking her with me running from now on.  She may not be the scarriest dog out there, but if some one is looking for trouble they are less likley to go after the person with a dog than without one.

Do yo have any idea's on how to stay safe?  Please share them with us so we all can stay as safe as possible.

Happy Running everyone and rember stay safe and aware of what is going on around you.

Help Find Sherry Arnold

One of the things that is always in the back of my mind when I go out on a run is, what if the unthinkable happens and I don’t make it home.  This is a fear that I share with my husband, and pretty much every woman runner out there.

This morning when I logged on to my Facebook to see what everyone has been up too since I last checked, I saw a post by a friend that this horrible unthinkable thing happened to a fellow runner, and mother.   I do not know Sherry Arnold who never returned home from her run Saturday morning, but she is all I have thought about since reading that post. 

I shared this post on Facebook, in groups I am in and on my websites fan page.  I think that was the least of what I could do, I certainly hope that if it were me that all of you would share my story in the hopes that maybe someone you know or someone that knows someone you know may have seen something that could bring me home. 

I ask all of you to share this story here is the link to theFacebook page, share it everywhere you can.  It does not matter that you do not know this woman, or that you do not live in the same state as her.  If we all share her story maybe just maybe someone will see it that knows something.  Remember if it were you, you would want people to do this for you and it only takes a second to share it.

Sherry, I am not a praying woman but I have been praying all day that you make it home safe.  My thoughts are with you and your family and I will keep praying. 

New Year New Goal!

I am not one who makes New Year’s resolutions.  To me if I want to do something I do it and don’t wait for the year to change to start.  But as it turns out I stepped on the scale for the first time in over a month on the first day of 2012 and was so disappointed in myself that things are changing.  So for the first time ever I am starting a new diet/workout plan at the start of a new year. 

I have struggled with a lot of things this past year and have decided that I need to get over feeling sorry for myself and just move on.  Nothing will change until I do something to change it.  And the number one thing that needs to change is my attitude and what better way to change that then to get some major endorphins going. 

I woke up today with a new attitude and a goal.  Since I work from home I find myself snaking all day which has got to change.  I have also been very lazy and not getting my workouts in.  So today I worked out and even managed to get the hubs and my girls involved, we did some weight training before dinner.  As far as my eating goes, my main plan is to eat healthy.  My plan is to just add a lot of fruit and veggies to my diet and cut back on my carbs (I tend to eat way to many carbs). 

I have also been toying around with the idea of going vegan or vegetarian, those two may be a little extreme for now but I ordered a couple cook books and will start adding some of those recipes in to my meals (shhh don’t tell my hubs).  For dinner tonight I actually tried out a new recipe for Grilled Eggplant and everyone except my 4yr old ate it and liked it.  Even my 10mo old loved it.  I will add the recipe below so you can give it a try, it is super yummy!!

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?  Why or why not?

Here is my dinner with my grilled eggplant at the bottom of the plate

Grilled Eggplant

Ingredients

 1 large eggplant

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pinch each thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper

Directions

Slice eggplant. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with the oil and vinegar mixture.

Grill about 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.

Here is my 4mo old eating the eggplant, we had to give her seconds.