It's the end of July, and some teachers may be ready to start setting up their classroom and utilizing all of the wonderful materials they read and skills and tips learned in trainings attended all summer. Others, like me, may be in a panic thinking that I slacked off and only read one script and didn't update any unit plans nor did I continue reading and planning after attending an awesome training. One of my flaws as a teacher is that I am constantly comparing myself to others.
I had a fellow colleague my first few years of teaching who always made me feel like I wasn't doing enough for my students. This feeling has never left me. When I leave at 5:30 pm when my students do, am I doing enough? When I don't add extra trips and parties, am I doing enough? When I step back, I can clearly see that I am doing more than enough for these kids. Our performances and contest results validate that for me several times throughout the year. But, I still have this feeling in the back of my mind that I'm just not working hard enough.
Ten hour days and spending my own time and money shopping for supplies for plays is most definitely enough. Planning field trips and parties is definitely enough. The fact is: every teacher has their own style, and their own method of doing the work they need to do in order to achieve their individual goals. As teachers, we need to stop judging other teachers for what we see them do, or don't do. We need to support one another even more now than ever. So, when your colleague leaves at the end of contract time while you're still working, don't judge. When your colleague stays until 7 every night, don't judge. How about we all work towards asking one another for help or offering it? I admit, I have a hard time asking for help, but I really appreciate it when someone does so.
I promise to work harder for my students AND my colleagues this year.
Let's get ready for another school year! (Or take more time to relax before getting ready!)
Whatever sprinkles your doughnut!
Cheers,
Kasey
Monday, July 23, 2018
Friday, July 20, 2018
Plastic is EVERYWHERE
I dare you to pay attention to the products you use for 24 hours. I triple dog dare you. How much do you throw away in an average day? How much do you recycle? Do you know what happens to your trash when you put it on the curb?
Do you even care?
I grew up in the late 80s and 90s, and I remember learning about Reduce Reuse Recycle. I remember turning off light switches constantly, making sure we didn't use too much water. Anyone else remember this, or is it just me, from my small town in Wisconsin the 90s? Have we lost our consciousness about how we are treating the Earth?
I watched this video produced by Buzzfeed a while back and I felt like her mission of producing ZERO TRASH was completely impossible. I still feel like it's impossible. I always want to have a more full recycle bin than the trash, but it's not. My city doesn't even recycle glass! I bring my own bags to the grocery store, but sometimes I stop on my way home. Or I don't bring them to Target or Walmart, or Old Navy. I use a grocery delivery service and ask for paper, but most of the time the grocery store is out of paper. My stash of plastic bags was embarrassing! I took them to Walmart and put them in the box they have at the entrance to recycle them, and I pray that they actually do recycle them and not just throw them in the dumpster in the back of the store.
It's all so overwhelming, but there are little things I realized I can do that will hopefully make a difference. The most recent trend in environmental conservation is banning the use of plastic straws. I don't really use straws at home, but we do go out to eat frequently, and I use straws then. Why? I don't need a straw. But, I bought some reusable, stainless steel straws. I use them with my water bottles and cups at home now. (In the summer heat, I always have a large cup of water near by.) However, I have yet to bring them with me when we go out to eat. Major fail on my part! Sorry, turtles! I promise to try harder.
I found that I also use a lot of plastic storage bags once, then throw them away. I bought some reusable bags from Amazon and so far they are great. One of them tore at the seal, but I super glued it back together and it's holding up well. I used the disposable ones to store the half of avocado I didn't use with my eggs, or the half of cucumber I didn't use in my salad. These reusable ones are saving us money on buying the disposable bags, and saving the amount of waste we throw out. The company that I bought the straws from was offering a deal to get a set of 15 mesh bags for free, so I added those to my cart, as well. I haven't used the mesh bags yet, but I bet they would be great for buying produce at the grocery store, or at the farmer's market. I might just use them when we go to the river on Sunday. I will put a link to these items at the end of this post.
Now that I only have a month of summer left, I feel like I didn't achieve much with the goal of eliminating plastic from our house. So many items are wrapped in plastic at the store (mushrooms! They come a recyclable container but are wrapped in plastic wrap!), and Amazon items come shipped wrapped in plastic. (Even the reusable stuff I bought above arrived wrapped in plastic!) Sometimes I wish I could run with a trash bag and pick up trash on the run but honestly I would be stopping so much that it wouldn't be a run. I know the more populated an area is, the more likely trash will be left on the side of the street. It can all be prevented if people didn't throw trash in their open truck beds before driving off, or literally throwing trash out of their car windows, or making sure your trash bags are secure in your trash cans when they are picked up by waste management.
Everyone has to be all in to stop the waste. I know there were some people who thought my reusable bag purchase was silly, as they reach for their disposable bags and then throw them out the next day. And that is the problem: we've forgotten our impact on this Earth. We are just living our lives in the now and not preparing for the future. What kind of Earth will our kids have to live with in 25 years? In 50 years? What are you doing in your daily life to make sure your kids and grand kids will have a place to live in the future?
My goal of eliminating our waste is not over; it's never over. I will give you updates on what we are doing to eliminate trash and the use of non-recyclables in the near future. Hopefully I've inspired someone to bring their reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, or recycle more often. We all have to do our part.
Cheers,
Kasey
Links:
YIHONG set of 8 Stainless Steel Straws
YIHONG Reusable Mesh Bags, set of 15
E-Z Seal EXTRA THICK Reusable Storage Bags
Do you even care?
I grew up in the late 80s and 90s, and I remember learning about Reduce Reuse Recycle. I remember turning off light switches constantly, making sure we didn't use too much water. Anyone else remember this, or is it just me, from my small town in Wisconsin the 90s? Have we lost our consciousness about how we are treating the Earth?
I watched this video produced by Buzzfeed a while back and I felt like her mission of producing ZERO TRASH was completely impossible. I still feel like it's impossible. I always want to have a more full recycle bin than the trash, but it's not. My city doesn't even recycle glass! I bring my own bags to the grocery store, but sometimes I stop on my way home. Or I don't bring them to Target or Walmart, or Old Navy. I use a grocery delivery service and ask for paper, but most of the time the grocery store is out of paper. My stash of plastic bags was embarrassing! I took them to Walmart and put them in the box they have at the entrance to recycle them, and I pray that they actually do recycle them and not just throw them in the dumpster in the back of the store.
It's all so overwhelming, but there are little things I realized I can do that will hopefully make a difference. The most recent trend in environmental conservation is banning the use of plastic straws. I don't really use straws at home, but we do go out to eat frequently, and I use straws then. Why? I don't need a straw. But, I bought some reusable, stainless steel straws. I use them with my water bottles and cups at home now. (In the summer heat, I always have a large cup of water near by.) However, I have yet to bring them with me when we go out to eat. Major fail on my part! Sorry, turtles! I promise to try harder.
Now that I only have a month of summer left, I feel like I didn't achieve much with the goal of eliminating plastic from our house. So many items are wrapped in plastic at the store (mushrooms! They come a recyclable container but are wrapped in plastic wrap!), and Amazon items come shipped wrapped in plastic. (Even the reusable stuff I bought above arrived wrapped in plastic!) Sometimes I wish I could run with a trash bag and pick up trash on the run but honestly I would be stopping so much that it wouldn't be a run. I know the more populated an area is, the more likely trash will be left on the side of the street. It can all be prevented if people didn't throw trash in their open truck beds before driving off, or literally throwing trash out of their car windows, or making sure your trash bags are secure in your trash cans when they are picked up by waste management.
Everyone has to be all in to stop the waste. I know there were some people who thought my reusable bag purchase was silly, as they reach for their disposable bags and then throw them out the next day. And that is the problem: we've forgotten our impact on this Earth. We are just living our lives in the now and not preparing for the future. What kind of Earth will our kids have to live with in 25 years? In 50 years? What are you doing in your daily life to make sure your kids and grand kids will have a place to live in the future?
My goal of eliminating our waste is not over; it's never over. I will give you updates on what we are doing to eliminate trash and the use of non-recyclables in the near future. Hopefully I've inspired someone to bring their reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, or recycle more often. We all have to do our part.
Cheers,
Kasey
Links:
YIHONG set of 8 Stainless Steel Straws
YIHONG Reusable Mesh Bags, set of 15
E-Z Seal EXTRA THICK Reusable Storage Bags
Sunday, July 8, 2018
My CG Fit Experience
I first learned about Camp Gladiator two years ago, right before our wedding. I received a postcard for a teacher appreciation deal and decided to give it a try. A year and a half later, I signed up for their 9 year Birthday Deal and went Bold after that 4 week camp. (Going Bold means you've signed up for at least a year instead of just a 4 week camp. There's a shirt and everything!)
Since September I've been making time to get to camp 2-3 times a week, along with running. I'm at 89 check-ins at this point and hope to hit 100 before school starts. I'm choosing to stick with Camp Gladiator because I believe it really helped me to train better for the half marathon I ran in February. I only ran 2 days a week, did CG 3-4 times a week, and ran faster than my previous record by 11 minutes!
Every few months they run a special program called CG Fit. There's a fee to join and it depends on your Bold status. I also used points that I acquired by checking in to workouts since September so I didn't have to pay the full price.
I was skeptical at first. I didn't understand what I was paying for, but I wanted to use the body composition scale, be serious about meal planning, and increase weights at camp. So, I signed up.
I was really surprised with my first body composition test. I know I need to lose fat, but I thought my percentage was lower than the scale showed me. As I get older, I'm finding it increasingly harder to lose the weight I need to lose. My body just wants to make sure I always have a cushion-like seat with me everywhere I go!
I really wanted CG Fit to meal plan for me because my husband and I were in a food rut. We were tired of making the same things every week and feeling like our options as vegetarians were small. You can purchase planned meals from an outside company through CG Fit, but I can't afford that on my teacher's salary. So, I did lots of research online (Pinterest, mainly) and found several recipes to try. I printed them all, added them into MyFitnessPal, and wrote down their macro nutrient content. I printed a meal planning page and wrote down what I would be eating at every meal, including snacks.
CG Fit advised that if I wanted to lose fat, I needed to increase my protein intake. That was the super challenging aspect of meal planning. Even when I wasn't a vegetarian, I found it difficult to get 40% of my calories to be protein instead of carbs. If I worked out that day, I didn't beat myself up about going over on carbs.
The end of the school year is so tough, but I'm glad I signed up for CG Fit to make me stay on track. That doesn't mean that I didn't skip happy hour on the last day of school, but I considered it to be balance. Yes, I need to lose weight, but I also need to train my body to learn what balance feels like. I didn't exclude treats, but I made sure to eat in moderation during CG Fit.
I was concerned about paying for the program, but I felt it kept me going knowing that I did pay for it. If I ever felt like quitting, I told myself it would be a waste of money to do so. I paid for it; I better see results!
Overall, I lost 7 lbs and increased my weights at camp. I didn't run as much as I would have liked because it's so damn hot here in the summer, but I know that will change when temperatures cool in the fall. That being said, I would love to do CG Fit again because it keeps my results so I can compare to different points throughout the year. It also forced me to find new recipes and sit down to really meal plan for nutrition instead of just for a shopping list.
Now that CG Fit is over, I need to create new fitness goals to carry me through the rest of the year. I know I will be running the Wurst 5 Miler in November, but I want another longer race to train for this winter.
Thanks for reading about my experience with Camp Gladiator and their CG Fit program! If you follow me on Facebook you may be tired of hearing about it! If you are interested in trying it out, I have a code that will give you the next three weeks free. If you sign up to be a Bold member, ask me for my email address; I can't "level up" from Bronze to Silver until I get 2 referrals. :)
Cheers!
Kasey
Other dieting things I like or have tried:
Diet Bet: Find a game, pay your part of the pot, lose 4-6% of your body weight, and win! I played a game led by Chris and Heidi Powell and won $40, which gave me a $6 profit. :) If you play with higher pots and less people, then the payout will be greater, though!
MyFitnessPal: This is my favorite calorie counting tool to use. I mainly use the app on my phone to scan and add foods I eat throughout the day. It breaks it down into macro and micro nutrients, as well. I used the website on my computer to copy and paste recipe links to load into my database so when I ate that food for dinner, all of the ingredients were already there in the recipe title. Super easy!
Nike Run Club app: Before I got my Garmin watch, I loved using the Nike app to track my runs. Great data break down and I could see my pace on my phone. I stopped using it because I didn't want to use phone data, but it's still a great app!
Recipes We Liked:
Pinch of Yum: Spicy Sofritas Veggie Bowls
This was really spicy (we added a 2nd pinch of sugar the third time we made it and it wasn't so bad!) but we LOVE putting this stuff on rice with pico, guac, cheese, etc. It's like Chipotle has come to your kitchen!
One Pot Cheesy Mexican Lentils, Black Beans and Rice - Recipe Runner
Delicious, chili-like meal that's full of protein and very filling. We cooked the lentils and rice ahead of time to cut the cooking time down.
Greek salads:
I created a greek salad with seasoned tempeh, lettuce, black olives, cucumbers, and italian dressing.
Taco salads:
Taco seasoned tempeh, tortilla strips, red bell pepper, and cilantro-avocado dressing.
And greek yogurt as a snack for protein!
Since September I've been making time to get to camp 2-3 times a week, along with running. I'm at 89 check-ins at this point and hope to hit 100 before school starts. I'm choosing to stick with Camp Gladiator because I believe it really helped me to train better for the half marathon I ran in February. I only ran 2 days a week, did CG 3-4 times a week, and ran faster than my previous record by 11 minutes!
Every few months they run a special program called CG Fit. There's a fee to join and it depends on your Bold status. I also used points that I acquired by checking in to workouts since September so I didn't have to pay the full price.
I was skeptical at first. I didn't understand what I was paying for, but I wanted to use the body composition scale, be serious about meal planning, and increase weights at camp. So, I signed up.
I was really surprised with my first body composition test. I know I need to lose fat, but I thought my percentage was lower than the scale showed me. As I get older, I'm finding it increasingly harder to lose the weight I need to lose. My body just wants to make sure I always have a cushion-like seat with me everywhere I go!
I really wanted CG Fit to meal plan for me because my husband and I were in a food rut. We were tired of making the same things every week and feeling like our options as vegetarians were small. You can purchase planned meals from an outside company through CG Fit, but I can't afford that on my teacher's salary. So, I did lots of research online (Pinterest, mainly) and found several recipes to try. I printed them all, added them into MyFitnessPal, and wrote down their macro nutrient content. I printed a meal planning page and wrote down what I would be eating at every meal, including snacks.
CG Fit advised that if I wanted to lose fat, I needed to increase my protein intake. That was the super challenging aspect of meal planning. Even when I wasn't a vegetarian, I found it difficult to get 40% of my calories to be protein instead of carbs. If I worked out that day, I didn't beat myself up about going over on carbs.
The end of the school year is so tough, but I'm glad I signed up for CG Fit to make me stay on track. That doesn't mean that I didn't skip happy hour on the last day of school, but I considered it to be balance. Yes, I need to lose weight, but I also need to train my body to learn what balance feels like. I didn't exclude treats, but I made sure to eat in moderation during CG Fit.
I was concerned about paying for the program, but I felt it kept me going knowing that I did pay for it. If I ever felt like quitting, I told myself it would be a waste of money to do so. I paid for it; I better see results!
Overall, I lost 7 lbs and increased my weights at camp. I didn't run as much as I would have liked because it's so damn hot here in the summer, but I know that will change when temperatures cool in the fall. That being said, I would love to do CG Fit again because it keeps my results so I can compare to different points throughout the year. It also forced me to find new recipes and sit down to really meal plan for nutrition instead of just for a shopping list.
Now that CG Fit is over, I need to create new fitness goals to carry me through the rest of the year. I know I will be running the Wurst 5 Miler in November, but I want another longer race to train for this winter.
Thanks for reading about my experience with Camp Gladiator and their CG Fit program! If you follow me on Facebook you may be tired of hearing about it! If you are interested in trying it out, I have a code that will give you the next three weeks free. If you sign up to be a Bold member, ask me for my email address; I can't "level up" from Bronze to Silver until I get 2 referrals. :)
Cheers!
Kasey
Other dieting things I like or have tried:
Diet Bet: Find a game, pay your part of the pot, lose 4-6% of your body weight, and win! I played a game led by Chris and Heidi Powell and won $40, which gave me a $6 profit. :) If you play with higher pots and less people, then the payout will be greater, though!
MyFitnessPal: This is my favorite calorie counting tool to use. I mainly use the app on my phone to scan and add foods I eat throughout the day. It breaks it down into macro and micro nutrients, as well. I used the website on my computer to copy and paste recipe links to load into my database so when I ate that food for dinner, all of the ingredients were already there in the recipe title. Super easy!
Nike Run Club app: Before I got my Garmin watch, I loved using the Nike app to track my runs. Great data break down and I could see my pace on my phone. I stopped using it because I didn't want to use phone data, but it's still a great app!
Recipes We Liked:
Pinch of Yum: Spicy Sofritas Veggie Bowls
This was really spicy (we added a 2nd pinch of sugar the third time we made it and it wasn't so bad!) but we LOVE putting this stuff on rice with pico, guac, cheese, etc. It's like Chipotle has come to your kitchen!
One Pot Cheesy Mexican Lentils, Black Beans and Rice - Recipe Runner
Delicious, chili-like meal that's full of protein and very filling. We cooked the lentils and rice ahead of time to cut the cooking time down.
Greek salads:
I created a greek salad with seasoned tempeh, lettuce, black olives, cucumbers, and italian dressing.
Taco salads:
Taco seasoned tempeh, tortilla strips, red bell pepper, and cilantro-avocado dressing.
And greek yogurt as a snack for protein!
Friday, July 6, 2018
My Running Playlist
Do you run with headphones? Do you listen to music, podcasts, or books? Personally, I need to have music playing, and I rotate out my playlist every few months to keep it fresh. There are a few songs that I've kept on my list for the last 9 years, like "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga, but for the most part I need to have a good beat to keep me going.
Below is my Running List from Spotify; this is my time to listen to those guilty pleasure pop songs that make you move! Enjoy, and happy running!
As always, safety should be your number one priority when you're out running, so make sure the volume is low enough for you to hear your surroundings. Or you could purchase fancy Aftershokz headphones so you can still hear your music and surroundings. Maybe if I make enough in my side gig I can splurge on those!
Cheers,
Kasey
Below is my Running List from Spotify; this is my time to listen to those guilty pleasure pop songs that make you move! Enjoy, and happy running!
As always, safety should be your number one priority when you're out running, so make sure the volume is low enough for you to hear your surroundings. Or you could purchase fancy Aftershokz headphones so you can still hear your music and surroundings. Maybe if I make enough in my side gig I can splurge on those!
Cheers,
Kasey
Monday, June 25, 2018
How I Fell in Love With Running
For those of you who know me, you know that I am a runner. I plan my life around races. Seriously. I have a second job to help pay for running gear and races. (Did you know that half marathons are around $100?? It's nuts.) However, I didn't know I loved running so much until I actually did it, 9 years ago.
I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, with my parents after not finding a job after graduate school. Summers in Arizona are scorching hot, so I honestly don't know why I thought this was a good time to start. But looking back on it, if you are going to do anything that's hard, you might as well do it when it's REALLY hard. Like in the Arizona summer heat. I found myself tired of looking at a computer screen applying for jobs, tired of being stuck inside in the air conditioning, so it really was a Forrest Gump moment for me. I just felt like running!
I bought new tennis shoes (not even RUNNING shoes!) and a new sports bra. I loaded some songs on my click wheel iPod, and I told myself I would make it to the light post around the block and back. I did it, and it was HARD, but I did it. The next day, I told myself I would make it to the light poll two blocks away. Every day I pushed myself a little bit further. I did walk, don't get me wrong, but I covered the distance I set out to do every night.
Almost immediately I could feel a difference in my lungs and overall sleep. I fell asleep faster, felt like my lungs were clearer, and with a new goal to hit every day, I was motivated to do more.
I didn't have a GPS watch, so I used MapMyRun.com to map out a route with a specific distance around our neighborhood. Pretty soon I was covering a 2.5 mile distance every night and it felt awesome!
I ran my first 5k in October of 2009 after only a few months of running and it wasn't timed, which was for the best! I felt so awesome being able to cover that distance. I'm competitive by nature, so I continued to challenge myself to go further and faster.
I'm not going to sugar coat it: running hurts. Even for someone who is in shape, it hurts. But those are the runs that make you better. Learning to push past the minor pain and discomfort makes you a better runner, and makes your body better.
Running isn't everyone's cup of tea, but even if you cover a couple of miles a day you will notice a difference in your overall health. And who knows; maybe you will find something that gives you your "You time", something you will make time to do just for you. Because you deserve it!
Cheers!
Kasey
I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, with my parents after not finding a job after graduate school. Summers in Arizona are scorching hot, so I honestly don't know why I thought this was a good time to start. But looking back on it, if you are going to do anything that's hard, you might as well do it when it's REALLY hard. Like in the Arizona summer heat. I found myself tired of looking at a computer screen applying for jobs, tired of being stuck inside in the air conditioning, so it really was a Forrest Gump moment for me. I just felt like running!
I bought new tennis shoes (not even RUNNING shoes!) and a new sports bra. I loaded some songs on my click wheel iPod, and I told myself I would make it to the light post around the block and back. I did it, and it was HARD, but I did it. The next day, I told myself I would make it to the light poll two blocks away. Every day I pushed myself a little bit further. I did walk, don't get me wrong, but I covered the distance I set out to do every night.
Almost immediately I could feel a difference in my lungs and overall sleep. I fell asleep faster, felt like my lungs were clearer, and with a new goal to hit every day, I was motivated to do more.
I didn't have a GPS watch, so I used MapMyRun.com to map out a route with a specific distance around our neighborhood. Pretty soon I was covering a 2.5 mile distance every night and it felt awesome!
I ran my first 5k in October of 2009 after only a few months of running and it wasn't timed, which was for the best! I felt so awesome being able to cover that distance. I'm competitive by nature, so I continued to challenge myself to go further and faster.
I'm not going to sugar coat it: running hurts. Even for someone who is in shape, it hurts. But those are the runs that make you better. Learning to push past the minor pain and discomfort makes you a better runner, and makes your body better.
Running isn't everyone's cup of tea, but even if you cover a couple of miles a day you will notice a difference in your overall health. And who knows; maybe you will find something that gives you your "You time", something you will make time to do just for you. Because you deserve it!
Cheers!
Kasey
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Tips for Running with Your Dog
Let's face it: dogs are the best! If you are a runner, they can be your best running buddy. I got our dog, Daisy, with the idea that I would train her to be my running buddy and she really is the best there is! It didn't start that way, however. You do need some time, patience, and helpful gear to train your dog to run with you. You won't regret it!
Tips for Running With Your Dog
1. Start off SLOW! When we got Daisy, she was a tiny little 6lb baby, so we definitely started from the beginning. Our mailbox is a community box two blocks away so I would take her there and back to get her used to the leash. (We never check our mail that much, lol!) As she grew, we took her out for longer walks, always in the same route so she gets used to smells. Our neighborhood makes a perfect mile loop so that worked out great for training her. Soon, all of my neighbors knew me because they would stop to pet her! There are several studies that say to wait at least a year before you run with your little pup because they are like human infants whose bones are not fused together just yet. They need to grow into their skeleton, and running can cause injuries. (Links to reference articles are below). So, when she turned 1, we finally went out for a run. By that point, she was wearing the harness pictured because she was pulling too much on her collar around her neck, and the harness offers more control from me. When you start running, go shorter distances, just like you would for yourself. Remember when you started; each time increase your distance with your dog. I've gone 8 miles with Daisy and she loved it!
2. Get the right gear. As mentioned before, harnesses are better for running. They don't pull at their neck and offer more control. I purchased this one at Petsmart because it matches her collar and leash, but you can find one that works best for you. I also purchased a doggie bag holder from Amazon that has velcro that attaches to the back of her harness. Gotta pick up after your doggie! (And let me tell you-- running is a catalyst for poop!) After about 6 months of training her on the same routes, I purchased a hands-free leash that clips around my stomach. I was nervous about this at first, but she is a champ on this thing! She runs in front of me so I can see her and make sure she is ok, and if we need to turn, I just pull the leash like reigns on a horse. It's awesome to have hands free while running with her. When we run in the summer evenings, I purchased little lights that clip on the front of her harness from Amazon. (Really, Amazon is just the best!) They come in a 6 pack of different colors. I have the green one on her harness and it's lasted for two years now. They have different types of blinking modes, as well. I just wish she had saddle bags to hold the filled poop bags when we are not near a trash can. Running with a bag of poop is a bit awkward...
3. Be aware of your running environment. I live in the south where it gets extremely hot in the summer, so I need to make sure my dog is ok while we run in the heat. I always carry water in a Nathan's water bottle and let her drink from it every mile and a half or so. She has the tendency to slow down and lick me when she's thirsty, too! Be careful of the heat on the pavement in the summer. You may not feel in through your shoes, but the dog can feel it on their pads. Touch the pavement before you head out. Would you run barefoot on it? If not, then don't take your dog on it. I have seen little booties you can put on your dog's feet to protect them (good for rocky trail running, too) but honestly, I don't think Daisy would let me put those on her! It breaks my heart when I see someone out with their dog at 4pm when it's 100+ degrees outside. Poor doggie! On that note, you also need to watch for broken glass or anything on the road or trail that could hurt your dog's feet. I see broken glass a lot (so sad!) so I steer her away from it as much as I can. I'm always looking at the sidewalk ahead of us to make sure it's clear for her (and me!).
4. Have fun!! Sometimes I can get caught up in making sure I complete certain training workouts, but they don't always happen. A lot of the times, I get out there because I know she wants to. Daisy knows where my running clothes are and gets excited, and it's the best thing!
There are so many benefits to running with your dog. You both bond on these outings, you both get healthier, and your dog could make you a faster runner! I know that she has increased my relaxed pace over a minute per mile faster since we started running together. The vet comments on her body weight and composition when we take her in for a check up. We're better together!
I hope these tips were helpful for you so you can take your dog out on your next run and find a new running buddy!
Cheers!
Kasey
References and Links:
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Global Running Day: My Favorite Running Gear
1. Brooks Ghost. My first pair of shoes that I bought when I started running came from Kohl’s and were ok for the short distance and time I was covering at the time. When I realized I wanted to run more, my friend suggested I check out Brooks running for shoes. I went to a running store and they fit me with Adrenaline. I loved those shoes! They carried me through my first 10k and half marathon. When I realized you need to replace your shoes more often than I thought, I tried Brooks Ghost. I’m hooked! I wait very impatiently for them to go on sale at the beginning of every summer. Good running shoes are important; they can prevent injury and keep your posture and form strong. If you cover long distances, getting the right shoes is imperative.
2. Spotify. When I first started running, I created a playlist in iTunes and imported it to my click wheel iPod and I ran with it in hand with headphones attached. Now, I use Spotify to create a running playlist that I can download on my phone to save data from streaming. I also strap my phone to my arm so I can have a free hand. As a woman, I will never run without my phone. But that’s another blog entry.
3. Garmin Forerunner 230. I am obsessed with data. I loved the Nike Running app when I first started running and loved seeing my pace, elevation, etc. However, I didn’t want to use phone battery and data to track runs, so I got a new Garmin watch. In 2010, my parents got me a Garmin and I can’t remember the model, but you needed to add a foot pod to your shoe and then plug it into a computer. The screen and function was so archaic that I just stopped using it when I downloaded the Nike app. Technology has changed in leaps and bounds. I love the look of this watch and the functions are much easier to control. I love that I can download different faces, track steps, see weather, see my calendar, as well as emails and texts. The coolest feature is you can download speed workouts and it will tell you when to speed up and slow down. This is super helpf
4. Hippie Runner headbands. My sister-in-law bought me my first handband and I was so happy that it stayed on my head after a run that I bought 5 more! My head is shaped weird; headbands tend to ride up and off, but not these! They come in all kinds of patterns and colors with different slogans, too.
They recently added a bunch of new designs that I have yet to get my hands on but I can’t wait to order some for the summer.
5. Old Navy running capris. If you haven’t tried any of the athletic gear from Old Navy then you are missing out! I find it’s good quality stuff for half the price of most big name running brands. I’ve had a pair of their running capris for several years and they are still going strong! (Girls with thighs, you know this is a big deal!)
I only buy my running capris from Old Navy; most places have cute ones but they are totally see-through when you stretch them over your butt. How embarrassing! Old Navy also makes cute tops and durable socks.
6. Brooks sports bras. I am well-endowed when it comes to busts, so I bought two of the Juno bras two years ago and was hooked! I loved how this bra fit from the start. However, I bought two of the newest Juno model and I’m not that impressed. The band is a lot wider and I need to use the last hook, which means I don’t have room to wear them out. The band also rolls up, which is really annoying. Good sports bras are hard to come by and are rarely affordable. If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments!
7. Nuun hydration tablets. I'm a vegetarian and not a fan of sugar so these tablets are perfect for making sure I have electrolytes after long runs, or summer running. I go through a lot of them in the Texas summer months. Sometimes I'll add one to my water even if I'm not working out that day! My favorite flavor is Strawberry Lemonade.
And of course, I have to have sunscreen before those summer runs, as well as an old visor and some sunglasses. I hear Goodr makes excellent sunglasses for running, but I have yet to try them. Maybe I will buy a pair as the summer goes on.
I can't wait until the sun goes down so I can head out the door with my dog, Daisy, for our #GlobalRunningDay run!
Cheers!
Kasey
5. Old Navy running capris. If you haven’t tried any of the athletic gear from Old Navy then you are missing out! I find it’s good quality stuff for half the price of most big name running brands. I’ve had a pair of their running capris for several years and they are still going strong! (Girls with thighs, you know this is a big deal!)
6. Brooks sports bras. I am well-endowed when it comes to busts, so I bought two of the Juno bras two years ago and was hooked! I loved how this bra fit from the start. However, I bought two of the newest Juno model and I’m not that impressed. The band is a lot wider and I need to use the last hook, which means I don’t have room to wear them out. The band also rolls up, which is really annoying. Good sports bras are hard to come by and are rarely affordable. If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments!
7. Nuun hydration tablets. I'm a vegetarian and not a fan of sugar so these tablets are perfect for making sure I have electrolytes after long runs, or summer running. I go through a lot of them in the Texas summer months. Sometimes I'll add one to my water even if I'm not working out that day! My favorite flavor is Strawberry Lemonade.
And of course, I have to have sunscreen before those summer runs, as well as an old visor and some sunglasses. I hear Goodr makes excellent sunglasses for running, but I have yet to try them. Maybe I will buy a pair as the summer goes on.
I can't wait until the sun goes down so I can head out the door with my dog, Daisy, for our #GlobalRunningDay run!
Cheers!
Kasey
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