10k, 5k, Birthday!

       Fall has descended upon us!  The temperatures and foliage make for an ideal time for walking, running and hiking!  After recovering from the Moccasin Gap 10 Miler, some fun was in order!  First up, the Jost Running virtual 10k.  Virtual races are fun, convenient, and often support deserving charities.  The charity for the Oktoberfest virtual 10k was the Midwest Foodbank.  You can run virtual races anywhere and for this particular run, I chose my favorite trail, the Canal Loop at Grand Rivers, KY. For this particular virtual group, you take a picture with your bib # and email your time in on the honor system, then they mail you your finisher's medal!  My finish time was 1:46 and check out the bling!  It has a bottle opener on it!!! 

     The Saturday before Halloween was the Carlisle Co. Project Graduation fundraiser, the "Boogity Boogity Boo" 5k! It was great to have a "hometown" race.  I got my best personal time and had a great time with friends.  I hope they do this one every year and maybe have runners dress in costume next year!

     To complete our "fall fun" tour, I took my mom to Henderson KY for a weekend getaway to celebrate her birthday.  Mom has been my lead crew member over the past year at almost every race (shout out to Bobby and Zach for also being crew members) and she deserves more than this.  We visited Mantle Rock on the Trail of Tears, John James Audubon State Park and downtown Henderson.  

     Here is a section of trail at John James Audubon State Park.  Henderson is a cool river town and we had a great time. I highly recommend CKB (Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar) downtown.  The shrimp and grits along with my "smoked" bourbon was an epic meal.  I really try and focus on eating with a purpose, (nutrition and fuel for activity). I think doing that helps me truly appreciate when a special meal like this comes along!  Cheers!

Moccasin Gap 10miler Race Report

     Saturday dawned cloudy and cool with some rain on the local radar.  Thankfully, the rain moved out as we made our way to Ozark, IL.  

     The race announcer confirmed that the trail was significantly muddy from the previous night's rain.  There would be three aid stations and we would be following the pink signs and ribbons for the 10miler.  We started at 10 AM on the dot!  (I'm in the blue hoodie)

     I started strong and was even able to keep other runners in my sight for the first couple of miles!  The scenery was stunning!  I would love to go back to this trail for a hike and truly take it in!   

    There is a gentleman in a red jacket in the bottom center of this photo.  I think that shows perspective on just how big that rock/wall/cliff is!!!  

     The singletrack was perfect for trail running and I was having a lovely time until I started sucking mud! Somewhere after the first aid station, the trail became increasingly intermittent.  When you hit mud, it was a quagmire!  I was kind of glad when I hit a big rocky uphill, because the mud decreased, but I was also forced to begin mostly walking.

     At the top of this ridge was the halfway point, with a goody filled aid station #2, a big forestry lookout tower, and a water refill. I took a handful of pretzels and kept moving.  I now wish I had stashed a handful of that candy in my hydration belt!  Didn't I learn my lesson at Bernheim?!!  I still have a lot to learn about my fuel needs.  

     My next picture is of a lovely wooded singletrack.  There are pink ribbons on the trees to the right.  And my phone battery died right after I took this picture. 

     So I'm with no phone, no music, no GPS lady reading off my times in my ear, no problem!  My feet felt great, so I buckled down for some serious hiking!  I would "wog" (walk/jog, a Karla Hogancamp term, lol) along where I could and slog through mud like a pig when I had to!  I think the mud is what started getting to me towards the end of the trail.  I was sick of it!  I was also out of fuel and water by this point and I began to enter a dark place:(.  It's hard to explain but everything seemed larger than life!  This mud pit was just too much, or this one gorgeous woods just seemed unreal!  I was able to clean my shoes of most of the mud at a lovely stream.  I just wanted to stay there but a pink ribbon said, "no, come this way".  It was the last pink ribbon I remember seeing.  After I went up a huge boulder hill (also bigger than life) I came out on a camp road but there were no pink signs or ribbons.  Which way to go? Where was the third aid station? (I never did see it).  What time is it?  I'm hungry and feeling a little mad.  I pick left and trot on!  It seemed like forever before I found some cabins and campers who said they had seen runners earlier and to keep going in 👉that direction.  If they had offered me food, I would have taken it!  (No more pity party, lol, just describing how I was REALLY feeling at the time). 

     The last incline was made brighter by seeing my mom coming down looking for me!  I was so tired and hungry, and she walked with me to the finish line.  I should have hugged her, but all I could think of was eating.  I rested a moment next to the time keeper and another volunteer who handed me my finisher's badge and a door prize!  I really wanted to hug them, too!  On my way to the food, a trail running friend congratulated me on finishing and I confessed I lost the pink ribbons, and I remembered at the beginning of the race he had said "you can never have enough trail markers!"  Well said my friend, well said!

~

(A special thanks to my mom, the finish line time keeper, the awards giver, and my trail running friend, Shannon, you all waited for me and that meant a lot!  

     Oh, and the fella in the red jacket in the second picture?  We met him and his wife at a local restraunt!  We all recognized each other immediately!  They were so encouraging and inspiring!  Safe travels back to Wisconsin!)

Back to the singletrack

     It's been two months since I ran on the Canal Loop singletrack and I've missed it so much!  The Central Hardwoods Trail has been smooth and bug free, but just doesn't give me the same mental and physical workout that the Canal Loop does.  

     I purchased some high percentage DEET bugspray and hit the trailhead Saturday with high hopes that the storms would hold off.  The storms held off and the sun peaked through several times as I traversed the east side of the Canal Loop Trail.  

   

     I posted this pic on Instagram and shared a little info about having a favorite poster (when i was 12), that I would have loved to "be in", especially the summer I had my lawn mower accident.  The poster was this lush green trail with a deer on the trail.  Saturday's trailrun reminded me of that poster and I just felt blessed, like my dream came true!!  

     For lack of a better word, I would also describe Saturday as "whimsical".  There were the usual number bikers on the trail, but I also saw a gentleman out training his treeing cur pups, GPS collars included!  Not your average trail user, lol, but a welcome change from the usual hikers and bikers.  

     The sun peaked in and out and birds were everywhere, but I hope the next picture shares the "whimsy" I felt while on the trail...

     The little fella in the foreground is an ornate box turtle according to my knowledgable nephew, Blake, and trust  me, he knows his turtles!  

     I had plans on doing the entire loop to prepare for the Moccasin Gap 10 miler coming up, but decided at the halfway point to do some crosstraining/biking instead.  I don't want to share the details,  but my bike is now being worked on at Dicks Sporting Goods, and I may invest in some elbow and knee pads! 

     Here is the map/recap of my trail run.

     I'm also registered for a virtual 10k later this month, the Jostrunning Oktoberfest!  Virtual racing is a different kind of fun, with the freedom to walk/run on your own day.  Most virtual races are connected to a charity.  The ones I have done so far were for Shriners, Celiac disease, and the upcoming virtual race will be for a food bank.  Here is my race bib for the Oktoberfest...

     And here is the medal, which I will receive in the mail, after I run my 10k and turn in my time and a picture with my bib # to the Jostrunning website. 

     Also check out Anywhere 5k for more virtual 5k races.  Both Jostrunning and Anywhere 5k can be found on Facebook and twitter. 

Good wine and new best time!!

Happy fall ya'll 

Autumn is definitely in the air and that means lots of races on the calendar!  I'm bouncing back from Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever, which must have been what almost stopped me at the Bernheim 7 miler.  I'm waiting on a second round of bloodwork and an appointment with the infectious diseases doc.  I'll report back on that later. 

     Meanwhile, I'm still walking/running and training.  Training now includes cycling!  The stationary bike was getting a little old, so I've stepped up the game by getting a bicycle! The old saying is true, "just like riding a bike", some things you just don't forget.  I'm going at it cautiously (my middle name) and religiously wearing my helmet.

There are lots of places to bike in our area!  Some are the same places I run!  How convenient!  My mom and myself have been researching some different areas to go biking and trail running and it looks like I'll be checking out the Tunnel Hill trail in Illinois soon!  

     While checking out Illinois natural areas, we found SO many wineries to visit, that we'll be able to make the most of each and every visit across the river!  We recently visited Owl Creek winery and and took in a concert at Rustle Hill Winery.  I have been wanting to see the bluegrass band, The Steeldrivers, in concert for years!  I was not disappointed!

     So from the good wine, to the best time, now I wanna brag...I beat my own personal best 5k time by 3 minutes this past Saturday at the United Way 5k!!  I am so pumped!  I worked really hard and now I'm seeing that hard work pay off!  

     I've got a couple of trail races this fall and a couple of 5ks.  A couple of races have been cancelled, sadly, but it just means I'm going to be focusing on longer distance runs.  I've already registered for the 2014 LBL 23k Trail run, with bettering my time from last year my only goal!  Happy Trails!

     

Temptation

     I had difficulty bringing this blog post together, but I resisted the temptation to just skip on the idea and wait until next weekend to write a post.  

     I also resisted the temptation to quit during yesterday's trail race!  It's coming up on one year since I started doing 5k and other races.  The only other race I even considered quitting was the 23k in March, due to IT band (knee) pain.  (But I resisted the temptation then). Yesterday was different though.  My feet and knees felt great!  I'm not sure how to describe the temptation to quit...maybe it was low blood sugar, maybe my immune system is under siege from a recent infestation of tick and chigger bites.  Either way, I seriously thought I might not finish this race.  I did learn at the Badasstraildash to always have a little something stashed for a boost of energy.  My fruit leather (healthy fruit roll up) and almonds were put into action, but the problem is, I felt the need to eat them 1.5 miles into a 7 mile trailrace!  How on earth was I going to make it 7 miles in the middle of nowhere!  There was only one aid station and that was at mile four! This is where I resisted the temptation to quit!

Look at that bench, beckoning me!  There were no other benches along the rest of the trail.  Why was it here, out in the middle of nowhere?  I think God put it there.  He wanted me to put my trust in him, not my water belt or my fancy fruit roll up.  When I made the decision to continue on, I knew I was totally leaning on Him.  I truly believe that, but I still argued with myself, knowing my only other chance to stop would be at the four mile mark, the only aid station for this race.  As I continued to struggle with energy, or lack of, I began to wonder if they would still be at the aid station when I arrived.  I knew I HAD to make a decision about continuing for three more miles, unsupported, at the aid station.  God knew what I needed.  When I reached the aid station, I was greeted with encouragement, plenty of fresh water to refill my belt pack and HEED electrolyte drink.  Temptation stares at me again.  Stop here and admit defeat, or rest a few minutes and GO FOR IT!  I'm still feeling like my feet and legs can do it, but my inner energy has doubts.  I knew I couldn't do it without divine intervention.  It was different at the LBL race, because there were SO many chances to stop.  I could tell myself, "if you just make it to the next station, then we'll see how you feel".  Once I left this aid station, I had to be committed to the finish.  So me and God hiked the rest of this portion of the Millenium Trail, to finish the Bernheim 7 miler.  And with Bobby waiting for me at the finish line, I'm so glad I resisted the temptation to quit! Psalms 40

Running Community

    There are many areas in our nation that are considered "running communities".  I automatically think of Colorado, or maybe California, even Oregon or Washington.  I'm sure there are many great communities near our state and national parks that cater to runners, hikers, and various outdoor enthusiasts.  Even the most recent issue of trail runner magazine has an article on "top trail towns" (watch out Lynchburg, I see a visit in out future!)

     I didn't see any western kentucky towns listed in that article, but you could've have fooled me Friday night, if you informed me Fancy Farm KY wasn't listed!  The Fancy Farm 5k (my first in its 32 year history) felt more like a street party than a 5k running event!  I've done several 5k's, a 10k, and a 23k, but the spectator gallery at Fancy Farm was incredible!  I did have my personal best time, by only a few seconds, but I will continue to strive to break that 45 minute mark! (Haters don't hate, I'm old, and have improved my 5k time in the last year by 10 minutes, I'm getting there!)  

     Here's a pic of me with my nephew Zach and friend Sharon Downs, before the race.

Here's a picture of Tammy and Blair Terry and Sharon after the race.  Both of these ladies did a fantastic job!  Keep up the good work girls!

And I do want to give a shout out to Grand Rivers KY.  Their little village comes out full force in March of each year for the LBL trail races!  I'm looking forward to reporting on that race, for 2014, with a better time at the 23k.  Meanwhile, next is a pic of me at the end of this year's 23k.  I not only want to finish with a better time, but less pain, too!!

So come on West Kentucky, (heck, the whole quad state region) lets become a running community!

30 years ago....

My husband graduated from high school! This weekend was the Carlisle County Class of '83 reunion. In my opinion, it was their best reunion yet. There was a great turn out and we all got to catch up and share a great meal together. Below is their group picture.  

Bobby is on the far right.  

     We are so blessed to have many friends in his class and we're looking forward to my 30 year class reunion next year! 

     I also got to run on the Canal Loop trail this weekend! I needed practice for the upcoming Bernheim 7 Miler, near Louisville. It will be the furthest I've traveled, so far, to participate in a race.  I hope my readers don't get tired of my trail pictures, because I love going out on the trails and taking them. 🏃

   

     The Fancy Farm 5k will be this Friday night. Maybe I'll see you there!

Fitness and social media

    Here is an update to my original social media and fitness blog entry. 

    Have I mentioned virtual races? Do you want to keep motivated but have no races on your upcoming calendar? Try a virtual race! Most virtual races support a charity and have great medals! Jost Running has been my favorite virtual website, but there are many others. 

     I've also been participating in a running team challenge on Facebook. This Facebook group has really helped me push to meet my goals. Check out secret running community on Facebook if a monthly challenge sounds interesting! My team this month is "Where's the Finish?" 

     Good evening blog readers! I thought about tonight's subject while checking my own social media outlets. I rely on several websites and a variety of social media to help in my fitness journey. 

    My first and most reliable website I use is myfitnesspal.  I religiously use the iPhone app to record my daily intake. It helps me keep my intake less than my output. When I log my food and activity, it automatically keeps up with my calorie deficit so I can tell at a glance if I have calories to spare. I also use it to keep track of my fluid intake. I drink no less than 12 cups of water per day and usually more!

     Twitter was a pleasant surprise in "social fitness". I "follow" several fitness sites and athletes. I look forward to both the information they provide, but especially the inspiration I find from people with similar interests and athletes of varying degrees of fitness.  

     Instagram is one of my favorite social media outlets!  Instagram is all about "the picture".  The old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" is true. Pictures from Instagram have inspired me to try new things. (Check out #plankinggonewild) Sharing my own photos allows me to document my own journey. My favorite hash tags to use are #countryfitness and #singletrackcollection. I especially like to document my trail running adventures with #singletrackcollection as noted below.

     I couldn't write a post about social media without mentioning Facebook. It's a great tool for sharing information and connecting with others. Most charitable 5k races have their own Facebook sites. It's a great way to get information about upcoming races and other events. Below is a pic from our recent "Run for Babies" 5k at St. Charles Church.  Sharon Downs  was one of several friends I was privileged to take the course with.

     Last but not least is my walktracker app. I use it to document my time, speed and even elevation gain. My favorite part is the route map. Below is an example from a trail run at LBL.

     These are just a few examples  of how social media and fitness can come together to move us forward, both in the tech world and in the real world. Get "out there" today!

Upping the exercise ante

     Sorry it's been a few weeks since the last blog post.  We've been on vacation and my free time continues to be used mostly by exercising!  I knew time was going to be my enemy when I started on this fitness journey last year!  Even vacation wasn't a break from daily physical activity, but I didn't count calories on vacation this year.  It was the first time in a FULL year that I did not count calories. 
     My favorite part of exercising on vacation was walking and running on the beach!  I decided I would walk/run to the Cherry Grove Pier, north of our condo this year.  The online info said it was 3 miles, but I now know that's by the road!!  When you follow the curve of the beach, it's 4 miles, so I got in 8 miles on that day alone!!  Here was my reward at the halfway point...

    
      Since being home from vacation, I've been able to get back on the trails at LBL, TWICE!  I love trail running, especially on wooded single tracks.  Who would have thought at my age, that I would want to go run through the woods, but it's really my favorite way to exercise.  I know it's cardio, but if the trail is technical, you'll get a muscle workout, too!  I've been posting pictures on instagram with the hashtags #countryfitness #singletrackcollection #landbetweenthelakes and #canalloop, so check me out on instagram, too!  Zach even had his first trail run fall yesterday.  Don't worry, he's fine, not a scratch!  They say a fall when trail running is a matter of WHEN, not IF.  I don't look forward to that at my age, haha.  I am very, very,  cautious when running.  I think it's because of my partial foot amputation, but I have always been cautious with my physical activity. 
     Today, I tried something new, a "mini" triathalon!  I walked/ran 30 minutes, did stationary bike for 30 minutes, and swam for 26 minutes.  I spread them out through the day, but one day I will put them all together, back to back to back!
     This coming Friday, July 19th, is the "Run for Babies" on the eve of the St. Charles Picnic.  I have to work, so I'm not sure if I will do the 5k or not, I will have to wait and see.  I am signed up for the Fancy Farm Picnic 5k.  Zach is going to do it with me!  He's been doing a great job and has great running form, especially for trail running.  Other races coming up for me are, possibly the Bernheim Forest 7 Miler, the McCracken County United Way 5k, and the fall Badass Trail Dash and Camp Ondesonk Mocassin Gap 10 miler, both in Ozark, Illinois.  I am still waiting on information for the fall 2013 Battle for the Bluff 5k and Pearl of the Purchase 5k/Half Marathon, and eagerly anticipate the opening registration of next year's Canal Loop trail run!

and

      As promised, here is further info on chia seeds.  I have not tried the gel yet, but it sounds like an effective way of using chia seeds.  I continue to put them in my oatmeal and yogurt!  The following information is from "eating with purpose" website.

Chia gel is whole chia seeds soaked in a liquid, usually purified water. Chia gel is even more easily digested and absorbed by the body than just eating dry chia seeds. It helps the body to capitalize on chia’s amazingly balanced ratios of macronutrients and creates a rapid transport of nutrients to the tissues for use by the cells.
Making chia gel is a snap! Put 1/3 cups of chia seeds in 1 ½ – 2 cups of water or liquid (slightly warm will gel quicker) into a container with tight fitting lid, l use a wide-mouth mason jar. Stir to incorporate the seeds into the liquid. Let it sit for a minute and stir again. Let the liquid thicken for about 10 minutes or overnight. Chia gel will store in the refrigerator for over 2 weeks.
Experiment with using more or less liquid, depending on your preference, or the consistency of the food item to which you’re adding it. Add chia gel to sauces, drinks, smoothies, yogurt, salad dressings, cream cheese, salsa, creamy buckwheat, amaranth, dips, soups, baked goods or whatever your imagination can come up with! For every 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, you get 9 tablespoons of chia gel, so chia seeds are cost effective too! A little goes a long way, and you only need a tablespoon or two a day to get the benefits!


Read more: http://eatingwithpurpose.com/2011/10/how-to-make-chia-gel/#ixzz2Z48Ol0Sj

WINE ?

     When I was trying to decide on a name for my blog, the eat/walk/run part came easy...but I also wanted to have a section that could be about anything, or everything!  I chose the word WINE to represent hobbies in my life, cooking, gardening, etc. 
     This year marks the second spring for our small vineyard of chardonel grape vines.  They are growing beyond my expectations.  We will need to get the trellis up this year to help the vines grow in the direction that is best for grape production.  Here is a picture of our chardonel grapes.

Chardonel is used in winemaking, but can be used for jelly.  I look forward to seeing the vines reach their full potential in the next 2-3 years.
     We also have a variety of other fruits and herbs on our farm.  We have apples, blackberries, peaches, and strawberries.  I have a small herb garden that includes lavender, oregano, and mint.  The oregano is blooming, so I should have already harvested the leaves.  They are at their peak flavor just prior to the plant blooming.  Here is my very healthy oregano...

     Wouldn't it be cool to be able to combine today's topic and pictures into a future EAT blog entry? One day I'll be able to drink my very own chardonel wine with a delicious pasta dish that includes my homegrown oregano.  Yes, that would be very cool indeed!

Friends along the trail...

     My journey into renewed fitness has brought some surprising benefits, aside from the obvious.  Losing weight and having more energy is the outcome I expected, but I honestly didn't think I would have so much fun!  Yes, it's been fun, walking miles and miles while watching the sun rise and set.  It's been fun watching it rain so hard, I wished I had windshield wipers on my glasses.  It's been fun running through mud puddles like a little kid and meeting box turtles on the trail. 
     It's been fun meeting new people that I might not have ever met until I ventured out onto the local trails.  After tackling a few 5k's, I decided to enter the local trail race this past March.  I met many wonderful people, volunteers and runners, who made the whole experience something I treasure.  Let me tell you about two young people I met at the Land Between the Lakes trail race.  Matthew and Julie Urbanski are a couple I had the privilege to meet the evening prior to the race, at packet pick up.  They had a table set up for selling her books, "The Trail Life" and "Between a Rock and a White Blaze".  I greedily bought both books and talked with Matt and Julie for a few minutes before visiting the "Friends of LBL" table. 
     Fast forward to the next morning, race day!  The LBL trail races are actually five races that all start at the same time!  The distances include a 10k, 23k, marathon, 60k, and 50 miles!  Matt and Julie were registered in the 50 mile race, which would be four laps on the Canal Loop single track.  Since I had done a few 5k races, I wanted to take on a bigger challenge and had signed up for the 23k.  It was no surprise to me when I started getting lapped by the fastest runners before I was even halfway through my one and only loop but it was a pleasant surprise to be recognized by Matt and Julie when they lapped me!  To be recognized and called by name, suddenly made something that seemed like a big mistake, into something more fun!  The camaraderie in the ultra distances is unique and I now recognize that as part of what makes the trail running community so special. 
     Matt went on to win the 50 mile race with Julie finishing a very respectable 23rd overall!  I finished last in the 23k, but I'm more than all right with that!  Being the last in the 23k put me in a unique position amongst the runners doing 3 and 4 laps that day.  I even got a second (or 3rd or 4th) wind at some point and was able to run a long ribbony downhill with a whole group of 60k and 50 mile runners.  For a few minutes, I felt like I was unstoppable, invincible, but then the single track widened enough for me to move over  and I applauded as they all went by.
     So, here is to Matt and Julie, friends along the trail. May the longtime sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way.
(Read more about Matt and Julie Urbanski at Urbyville.com)
trailrunnermag.com
    
    

National Running Day

     How appropriate for my next topic, RUN, to happen on National Running Day!  I got up extra early to run/walk 3 miles, before work, to celebrate national running day and to get my music and endorphin fix for the day!  It was a great run, full of a beautiful sunrise, clouds reflected on the surface of our pond, and my running buddy, Sparky, chasing rabbits! 
     Twitter and Instagram have both been full of great pictures and tweets about how everyone was celebrating this day.  From Asics retweeting their follower's pictures to Scott Jurek posting his "meet the moment", there certainly was no lack of inspiration for runners today.  I must confess, watching the trail run videos that are posted on twitter can be very addictive.  Watching them makes me want to go run a trail ASAP!  I can truly call running here at home trail running, because Sparky has made me some trails running rabbits, but there's nothing like the 11 miles of single track at LBL Canal Loop!!!  I ran the trails last Saturday in the rain...it was epic! 
     Btw, there are a variety of apps and websites that can help you keep track of mileage, speed, and time spent.  I use Walktracker Pro and then convert the time and speed over to myfitnesspal to keep track of my calorie expenditure.  I also love the map part of walktracker.  It is so cool to actually see where you've run!
     Here is a picture of my run today.  I hope you got out and enjoyed your run today, too!

Walk

Good Morning!!! 
     I considered waiting until tonight for today's post, but I hope I'm doing what today's topic is...WALKing!  Several friends and family members have asked me to help them start running.  I have to remind people, I walk first, run some.  Walking seems so simple, almost like you could tell someone, just go for a walk!  Though walking seems simple, there are some things that can "make it work".  First, make a goal!  A goal that would be easy to keep would be to walk for 30 minutes for two days a week and do an alternate exercise for two days a week.  These four 30 minute segments will increase your metabolism, boost your confidence, and give you something to look forward to.  I think looking at exercise in this manner makes it more fun and less like work. 
     So let's solidify these goals...what works best for you, walking in the morning or the evening?  Do you need music or do you prefer the sound of nature?  Do you like to walk alone or with a friend?  These are all considerations that can affect your success rate.
     Next, what to wear?  Wear comfortable clothes in the beginning.  If you're not comfortable, who would want to walk a couple of miles (or more!)?  You can buy more specific athletic wear after you've gotten comfortable with your walking "groove".  Shoes, and socks, I think, are the MOST important items in any walker's closet.  The shoes should be made for walking and/or running.  Socks should be moisture wicking and also designed for sports.  Putting good money in your socks and shoes could be a key factor in keeping you "on track" in your walking endeavors.  I've had a lot of success with both Asics and Brooks brand of shoes.  My favorite socks for walking/running are Saucony compression socks.  They aren't very pretty, but they do help my legs feel like I could walk/run a 100 miles! 
    

In the beginning....

 (First blog ever)   
      I'll be honest, I'm not sure how this blog thing is going to go, but I thought it would be interesting to have a place to store and share information, especially about eating healthy, exercising, running, being in the outdoors, and discussing other hobbies!  So, let's start with EAT....
     I've recently discovered CHIA seeds!  Yes, just like on the "chia pet" commercial, "cha cha cha chia".  Chia seeds are high in the healthy omega-3 fatty acids, help our bodies absorb calcium and other nutrients more efficiently, and are touted as an "endurance" superfood, due to the way it changes carbohydrates absorption rate.   So far, there doesn't seem to be a downside to these tiny little seeds!  I've recently viewed a video for making chia "gel", but so far, I've just used them in my oatmeal and yogurt.  I can definitely tell a difference in my energy levels on the mornings I use it in my oatmeal.  I will report back here if I find any other specific information on chia seeds, but in the mean time, I encourage you to surf the internet and learn how chia seeds can help you in your daily diet! 
     And, I want to wish my hubby a happy happy birthday, today! 

mtoon6/2/13