Sunday, July 28, 2013

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!

Monday, July 22, 2013

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!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

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