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!