Slowing down

After that first 5k, I was really looking forward to getting into the runner groove - running 5k three times a week, hopefully starting to actually enjoy it, and getting my time down to 30 minutes. And just as I was getting there...


Injury.

Nothing major. I have some pain in my right hip, and more disturbingly, and clicking/popping sensation in it when I walk or run. It's not awful, but the popping/clicking is unsettling and uncomfortable enough that I'm favoring the other hip. I think this mean running is on hold for a while.

Dr. Google has found several diagnosis for a snapping/popping hip, and none of them are too pretty. Included in the list of possibilities is a cartilage tear. Joy.

Other than rest, I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do for my hip. Ice? Heat? Doctor visit? I'm just not sure. One thing I am sure of, though. I'm older than I think I am.

Achievement

I was a smart kid in school. I always did well in classes, and I was used to seeing A's on my report card, maybe with a B in math here and there. The first C I ever got was in 4th grade, first semester, in PE. Why the C? It was the first time we had to do the mile run. I think it took me about 15 minutes. It would have been faster to just walk the thing. I'm pretty sure 4th grade PE was when I began to hate running.

Looking back, I'm pretty certain that I had exercise-induced asthma (which I was finally diagnosed with at the age of 26). I also know that we didn't do any sort of training for this - we were just sent out to the track to run. Maybe if we had done something along the lines of Couch to 5k, I might have done better. But the mile run was always a terrible experience for me all the way through school. I was the kid who couldn't do it every single time. Running was painful and embarrassing, and I had no desire to ever do it again once I was out of school.

After my asthma diagnosis I started running, but once I actually ran a mile and proved that I could do it, I lost my motivation. The mile was where I stopped.

So imagine my sense of achievement, not to mention my surprise, when I ran 5.11k on Wednesday in 32:00, and 5k today in 34:30. I feel like a runner, and I can't believe that it happened so quickly. I'm on top of the world and so proud of myself - I want to tell everyone that I can now run 5k!

There's a race on Sunday, and I think I'm going to enter. There's no fee, it's local, and pretty small. It seems like the perfect place to put my new 5k skills to the test!

Haiku Thursday

Weeks of training hard
A cool and rainy morning
Ran my first 5k

A few of my favorite things

Sweatbands and short shorts and sneakers with laces,
Sports bras that keep you from bouncing in races,
Shirts that wick sweating, an iPod that sings,
These are a few of my favorite things!

As I've mentioned before, I'm a sports accessory junkie. I love the gear that goes along with sports. I blame this addiction on Girl Scouts. There are so many cool camp accessories - does it get much better than a mess kit, which has a plate, bowl, cup, and fry pan all in one little package? But I digress.

Running has its own set of accessories. Yes, I know the saying that all you need is a pair of shoes (and I say for women a good sports bra) but even if that's all that you NEED, there are some great things that help (or are at least a lot of fun.) Here are a few of my favorites (so far).

Shoes
Running shoes are a very personal thing. Of course the most important thing is fit, so what one person recommends might be a disaster. But for what it's worth, these days I'm running in the New Balance WR 760. I'm really happy with the shoe, and will probably get it again. A close runner up was the Nike Pegasus, which I might also try in the future.

Sports Bra
Yes, I know I wrote a whole post on these, but it's a subject near to my heart. (Get it? Near to my heart?) Anyway, much like shoes, fit is everything. But my favorite by far is the Jockey C-Cup and Up Bounce Minimizer. It only comes in black and white, which is too bad, but it's a great bra for high-impact sports (if you're a c cup or up).

(No, that's not me in the picture)

Shorts

Sure, you can run in anything, but running shorts really are more comfortable. I prefer the type with the brief lining, which keeps them from riding up when you run. I'm struggling to find the perfect pair. Many that are too short ride up in the legs and cause that nasty chafing. I have one pair that a love, made by Duofold, but I can't find them anywhere now. I suspect that they aren't making them anymore, which makes me sad. They're great shorts, and I would love to buy a few more. I may try compression-style running shorts next. While I hate the way they look, I'm not finding the traditional style to fit me right now.

Shirts

Yes, you can run in any T-shirt. And I often do. But when it's really hot, it's nice to have something that wicks away moisture. No favorite brands for this one, but look for something that proclaims that it wicks on the label. I'm cheap and bought my most recent running tops from Wal-Mart. Shhh, don't tell.

GPS

This is one way that modern technology has really helped the runner. Much like GPS for your car, you can get small GPS units for running and biking. I can thank my husband for this - he already owned one and I get to use it. It's great for keeping track of time, mileage, speed, and even how to get back home (more or less). When the battery on ours died mid-run this weekend, I was really bummed. Now that I'm used to it, I can't imagine running without one.

We have a Garmin Forerunner, which has been great for us. It's a few years old, so I'm sure that the newer models have more bells and whistles and I know that they are much smaller - like a big wristwatch. I really just care about the time and distance, so I'm fine with ours.

iPod

You know that this is already. I find running (especially on a treadmill) to get a little boring, so bringing along my favorite tunes really helps. I'm sure that the tiny nanos and shuffles are great for running, but I just strap my big old classic to my arm and go for it. I suppose you could also use another brand of MP3 player. Does anyone actually have another brand of MP3 player?

So there you have it - a few of my favorite running things. Be sure to stop back when the weather turns cooler, as I'll be reviewing my running in cold weather favorites (once I have some).

Oh, and my updates - I had a crazy early morning at work yesterday and today, so I skipped running. And I have an appointment after work, so I can't go tonight. Tomorrow, I promise!

My sneaky husband

Well today was a surprise, especially for me! B and I went running like we usually do on Monday mornings. Today I grabbed a banana first, under the theory that I needed some fuel for a long (for me) run. My goal was 28 minutes, no walking breaks.

When we run together, B is always the time keeper. He has this super-cool GPS unit* that he wears on his wrist to keep track of time and mileage. I also helps if we get turned around in the neighborhoods around ours. Anyway, I was doing really well. As I was nearing the end of the run, I began my usual round of complaining about how much I hate running, how bad I felt, etc. I told B to let me know when I was at some "inspirational" amount of time left, like less than two minutes. Not long after, he told me we were a 1:30. "Sweet!" I thought, "I can do that! I'm going to finish this run!"

A minute and a half past, and I thankfully slowed down to a walk. That's when Brian showed me the GPS. The time read 30:02! He pushed me to 30 minutes! He said that I didn't start complaining until 27:30, so he knew I could push through. I can't believe that I actually did it. Amazing how well deception can work!

Haiku Thursday

It's hot and humid

Running outside is no fun

Going to the gym

The most important running equipment a woman can own!

Yep, this is a post about sports bras. Gentlemen, there's really nothing for you here, so you can skip this entry. But you like to read about breasts? You might think so, but we're venturing into territory today that most men fear. Be warned.

To paraphrase my friend M, you can run barefoot on the beach, but not without a sports bra! This was in my response to my acertation that a good sports bra was as important as a good pair of running shoes. And I hear women make the following statements all of the time, that make me cringe:

"I have to wear two sports bras at once."

"I have to wear a regular bra under my sports bra."

"They don't make sports bras in my size."

Au contraire, ladies. There is a sports bra out there that will work for you, no matter how big you may be. Don't give up! But do give up looking in your local retail stores. There's nothing for you there. This is a job for the internet! Yes, I know, you can't try things on when you buy them online, and you might have to pay shipping. But for something as important as a sports bra, it's worth it. My good friend J, a big-busted lady, and I have spent some hours discussing the merits of different types of sports bras, web sites that sell them, etc. Here are some of the ideas that our combined genius has generated.

There are a lot of styles of sports bras out there, intended for a lot of differently sized breasts and different sports activities. A "minimum impact" sports bra might be great for yoga, but don't take it on your next run unless your cups are very close to the beginning of the alphabet. And buying a bra too large in the band and small in the cups (as many women do) will result in a whole lot of discomfort. So where to begin?

First, find out what your bra size is. The best way to do this is go to a specialty lingerie shop and have a proper fitting. You might be shocked that while you thought you were a 38C, you're actually a 34DD. The difference is huge. Make sure you buy a sports bra that will fit your correct bra size! The wrong size sports bra will not do for you what it should!

There are some fantastic websites for buying sports bras. My favorite is Title Nine Sports. (If you can't figure out the reference in their name, Google is your friend.) The wonderful people at Title Nine have a fantastic selection of sports bras, all of which they have reviewed and rated in a 1 through 5 barbell system. They have bras for the biggest- and smallest-breasted of athletes in a variety of styles. They aren't cheap, but aren't your boobs worth it?

Another great place to look is at specialty lingerie stores, like Bare Necessities. They carry bras in a variety of sizes for all activities. Again, you're going to pay, but if you're looking for a good quality sports bra in a tough to find size, this is another great place.

There seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to sports bras. The first group is concerned they their sports bras enhance their busts, and don't give them a mashed-down, or "uniboob" look. The other group doesn't care how flat-chested they look, they just want to eliminate bounce. I fall into the second group. Most of my sports bras flatten me out to almost nothing. And I'm ok with that. I'm running, not competing in the Miss America pagent. I tend to purchase "compression" type sports bras, not the underwire or "encapsulating" styles of bra.

Another thing to condier is underwear as outerwear. When it's hot out, it's nice to run in just shorts and a sports bra - but I won't do that with those that look like underwear. Please, do yourself a favor and only wear your sports bra as outerwear if you have a cute sports bra. The bra tops that you see everywhere are great - if you have tiny boobs. If you're a C or better, move on for high impact activities like running.

Where do you buy sports bras? Any recommendations for your favorites? Please post them below!