Socks Socks Socks

I say that with the Monty Python saying of "SPAM SPAM SPAM" running through my head.

I need new running socks for this ridiculously hot weather. I have all kinds of socks, none of which I really like. I have two pairs of the Sugoi R+R socks, but they give me blisters. I have some thicker Wigwams that are great in the winter, not so great in the summer. I have other pairs, too, but they aren't really worthy of a mention. My favourite pair so far has been a pair of yellow Thorlo Experias, but I'm always left wondering if there's a better pair out there...

Do you have a favourite brand of running socks? Tell me about them. My only criteria is that they have to be ankle socks. Fire away!

Breaking through the mileage barrier

These last two weeks of my training schedule marked a new milestone in my running career: long runs over 13K. It's an awesome feeling to push your body further and further each week.

I've hit new highs for my long run, at 14K last Saturday and 16K yesterday. I had to resist the urge to eat everything in sight yesterday and needed an hour-long recharge nap in mid-afternoon. I really hope that the post-run tiredness goes away as I condition my body to run the longer distances. Oh, and I'm still ravenous today. My coworker's softboiled eggs are looking and smelling mighty tasty right now. This coming Saturday's long run is 18K.

I'm also really looking forward to next week's cutback week. I don't think I'm overtrained at this point, but I'm definitely feeling the need for a bit of a break from the mileage increases.

Update to the Fuelbelt bottle situation: I gave up and bought new ones. They are so much better than my old grimey ones. The dude at the RunningRoom said he replaces his every 6 months and joked that the old bottles could be used to throw at cars that cut you off. LOL.

Fuelbelt bottles

I cleaned my Fuelbelt bottles last week. If you haven't done this, you might want to. I pulled them all apart and found all kinds of awesome black mould in the tops. Gross. Some I couldn't get totally clean. I soaked them in hot soapy water and they are still gross. Now the thought of drinking from them is making my stomach turn.

I'm trying to decide if I want to keep on trying to clean them or if I should just toss them and buy a new set. I've had them for 2 years after all...

If you have any cleaning suggestions, please feel free to post them.

Back Back Back!

I was finally able to start my return to running plan yesterday. I was supposed to start last week, but I managed to get a horrible cold. Said cold turned into a sinus and throat infection. I still have a cough, but the congestion I have now is likely seasonal allergies.

I started last night with 5 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, for a total of 30 minutes. I run again on Saturday, with 3 minutes walking, 7 minutes running, for a total of 30 minutes. And it slowly increases from there. I hope to run Emilie's Run 5K on June 19th. I have no plans for a personal best or any kind of record... just to run!

In order to motivate myself some more, I bought some new running clothes. Yesterday, I picked up a RunningSkirts.com camo skirt and a couple of new tanks at the Ottawa Race Weekend running expo. I love Runningskirts.com's skirts - they have tons of pockets, a great fit and really creative patterns. One of my new tanks is a Sugoi tank in white and the other is Asics and it's BRIGHT PINK. Both are perfect for summer... and they were 50% off!

It feels so good to run again.

Free Schwag

Woohoo! I won free custom armwarmers from Sugoi this afternoon! I answered a question on Incredible Jane's twitter feed and won a free pair. This is a perfect ending to this week... more on that later.

Now you all know I love armwarmers. I really do. And now I get a custom pair. I'll be sure to post a pic when I get them.

Unfortunately it's a little too cold here right now to wear them with just a singlet or tank, like Kara Goucher. But these will totally come in handy come Spring!

2010 is coming up fast

I can't believe it's December already. This year has gone by so fast! It doesn't really feel like December, thanks to our unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow.

Naturally at this time of year we runners start to look back on the year and we also start setting goals for the coming year. I'll save those exercises for later posts. But I do have some good news.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a Sugoi Brand Champion. It's a program that the company developed to support elite and not-so elite athletes alike. We have a blog where we can post our race reports and share our stories. I even met two other champions at a race earlier this year, as our exclusive brand champion logo-ed gear was a dead giveaway!

Speaking of gear, one of the perks of the program is the discount on gear! I love that part because gear is so expensive, especially the nice stuff.

A few weeks ago I received an email from Sugoi stating that all curent Brand Champions were automatically renewed for the coming year! Woohoo!

I love arm warmers

I've converted to a new religion: armwarmerism.

Exhibit A is Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner.
I like to think I look like this when I'm wearing my arm warmers. Now if only those abs were sold along with the arm warmers!

I've worn my Sugoi arm warmers a few times now and I can't rave about them enough. They're a fantastic piece of gear for windy days and days with temperature below 10C or so, depending on the conditions. Wearing arm warmers also lets me wear tanks or t-shirts longer than I'd normally be able to. And you can roll them down or take them off if you get too hot!

The ones from Sugoi are lightly insulated and have non-slip bands at both the top and bottom. I love them so much that I just ordered a second pair: their new black and white Tatu design!

Back on the Wagon

Well, the wedding is all over and my life is about to get back to normal. It's hard for me to imagine what my days were like before wedding planning took over my time. The last month to six weeks were particularly brutal. But, I kept up my runs at 3x a week, minus the 6K scheduled for the day before the wedding. I'd slept particularly badly the night before and didn't want to risk an injury caused by exhaustion.

I also ran during our little mini-honeymoon to the Niagara Region of Ontario. The run was early in the morning, about 10C and a misty rain fell as I ran through the quiet streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake. I really enjoyed the new running route and the change of scenery.

Now that I'm back home, I'm jumping back into training and getting back the healthy eating wagon. I was spoiled with three course meals and tons of great wine over the past week. To tell you the truth, I'm afraid to step on the scale tomorrow. But I know that I'm catching the bad habits early enough to prevent any major damage. I'd ideally like to drop another 5-10 lbs. before I start in on my half-marathon training in the winter. Some studies suggest that each pound lost can translate into a 2 second/mi improvement in race times.

Speaking of winter... it's coming! As much as I'd love to hibernate, it's just not possible. It's gotten quite cold here and there's talk of frost most nights this week. Even though I complain, I do like to run in the wintertime. But, I've realized that one set of capris won't get me through the next couple months before winter and I'm going to need a second set of tights (Sugoi was sold out of the Mid-Zero tights I'd ordered in August) to get me through 4 runs a week during training months.

The one thing that gets me excited for this week is the fact that I get to wear my arm warmers. I heart my arm warmers.

Sugoi, how I love thee

I did some major damage to my credit card yesterday on the Sugoi site. I was accepted as a Sugoi Brand Champion early in 2009 - I get discounts on Sugoi gear, wear it to races and promote the product wherever I can. I love their colours and designs, though the sizing is a little on the small size, so ordering can be a bit humbling at times.

In anticipation of the winter running season, I ordered a couple long-sleeve shirts, one with a full-zip, as I only have 2 that are heavy enough to wear the through the winter, and I only have one light one that's suitable for Fall running after mid-October. These should be great for layering through the Fall as the weather gets progressively colder.

I'd also been coveting their k-Scope tank in Citrine (an awesome yellow pattern). A pair of arm warmers also jumped into my shopping cart, so that I can get more wear out of my short-sleeve shirts. And a pair of running tights, as I got tired of washing my running tights two or three times a week... oh dear, it all adds up quick.

And I'm done buying running gear for the next year. I think my Visa's being revoked. Keep your fingers crossed that it all fits!

New running skirt!

I took advantage of Runningskirts.com's anniversary sale last week. I ordered myself a new skirt in black and hot pink. I bought one of their skirts at the Race Weekend in May and I'm absolutely in love with it. It's comfortable, fits wonderfully, has huge pockets and it's made in Canada!

I can't wait for the skirt to arrive so I can wear it out on a run. There's a lot of controversy over running skirts... some women think they're too girly, while others refuse to wear them. I was skeptical of them at first. That is until I went running in one. I got some strange looks, but they are so comfortable! No chafing. No having to fish it out of your nether regions. No riding up.

Now I hate running in shorts or capris... that is unless it's the dead of winter. If I could run in a running skirt in February, I totally would!