I DID IT!

I did it friends! I went for my first run in way too long. It wasn’t long, and it wasn’t pretty, but hey, I did it!

When it comes to running here, well, Houston, we certainly have a problem! It’s hot as all get out in the Houston area, and this summer has already been brutal. Yes, I know it gets hot in Texas, and yes, I know we can expect to sizzle in the summer, but 103 before July 1 is just unpleasant! Add in the humidity, and it’s just bad.

Luckily, my hubby bought me a cheap, used treadmill on Facebook Marketplace a few years ago. Someone else had bought it and never used it, so we were glad to give them back their garage space and give me an at-home indoor running option. It isn’t anything fancy, but it has more than paid for itself in the last few years.

If you are anything like I was, I highly recommend doing this to try out what you like. Later on, you can upgrade to something fancier if you want.

Presents for Mary (AKA the Gear)!

When I first start running after a long break, I like to treat myself. I only allow myself to wear my new special gear when I’m actually running; otherwise I’m not allowed to enjoy it. But, unfortunately for me, I’m a bit into the Plus-Sized category right now. If you’ve never tried to find running clothes in Extended Sizes, please be thankful, because it’s a pain! If you’re a larger lady who wants to run, I’m providing you with links to what I like below. (Please be aware I may receive commission if you buy these products through my links.)

The Foundations

I have always had a bit extra up top, so finding high-impact sports bras that don’t feel like I’m wearing a Medieval suit of armor is its own special challenge. Running bras are also very specific to each person, and because running gear companies apparently like to make things easy, they change what works frequently. The best ones I have found are these Champion Sports Bras (Here ), Brooks Sports Bras (Here ), and these New Balance ones. I prefer sports bras without underwires, personally, and I like a U-back shape. I have tried racer backs, but they tend to make my shoulders ache. I think that’s a unique problem for those of us who are more blessed in breast, at least for me, born of the fact that for many years that was all I could find.

Depending on distance, I may or may not wear special running underwear. Some women prefer to run commando, and while I get it, I just can’t do it. It feels wrong, somehow. If I’m running a short distance, I just wear whatever I pull out of the drawer and change as soon as I get done with my miles. But, if I’m running a race or a longer distance, I will wear special sweat-wicking, low chafe undies. My favorites are Runderwear . I really like the boyshorts because the don’t feel tight on my legs, and they don’t chafe at all.

Footwear

Shoes are also super important. You’re trying to cover miles, and that’s a no go if your shoes are no bueno. I recommend going to your local running shop for your first pair, in case something has changed about your gait, but if you like living on the wild side, have at it!

Here is what I prefer: Brooks Adrenaline.

I tend to need the extra stability, especially on my right side. That’s the ankle I sprained when I was 16 that has decided to make my life a little more annoying ever since. But hey, at least that ankle will cooperate and let me run long distances! I also like that they have a big toe box so I can wiggle my feet, and they have plenty of padding. They also come in fun snazzy colors!

Socks also matter. When I first started running, I thought that was nonsense. I mean, hello, socks are socks, right? Ha. Nope! Having supportive socks helps a ton! Here are the socks I like the best.

Feetures are the best I have found for cushion . I notice that the balls of my feet get sore after I run, so cushion helps a lot for me. However, I hate that these socks are foot specific. In other words, there is a specific sock for the left foot and another specific one for the right foot. What if I lose a sock in the laundry? Even worse, what if I lose just the left ones and end up with a pile of unmatched right ones? (I know, I’m neurotic.)

Balegas aren’t quite as cushiony, but they are decent, and most importantly, they aren’t foot-specific! So, if I wash a load of clothes and the sock fairy takes off with one of my Balegas, I’m not a neurotic mess.

I tend to wear the Balegas for everyday runs while I save the Feetures for longer runs and races. That makes my sock-losing neuroticism less of a problem for all of us!

Everything Else

As for pants, I prefer knee-length running shorts. Any shorter, and I totally get chub rub. (Yes, they sell goodies to help with that, haha!)

During the summer or anytime I’m running indoors, I want shorts. These are pretty comfortable. They have a little compression, and they have pockets! I strongly prefer pockets! I’m a typical woman—if there are pockets involved, I will twirl and show them off because pockets are much too rare in women’s clothing.

In the winter, I like the Baleaf carpris. Remember, I live in Texas, where it only gets cold for a weekend or two a year. I almost never actually wear long pants here because it just doesn’t get that cold!

Shirts are a while different animal for me. If I can bring myself to run outside, I want something that is brightly colored so that the crazy drivers who speed through my neighborhood can see me and maybe won’t squish me. These shirts have some nice fluorescent options that will keep me cool.

In the winter, I will want sleeves, and when mosquito season comes, I may opt for long sleeves, but these will do quite nicely for now.

I find hats to be very important when I run too. I have the kind of hair that will make a cloud around my face, even when I have it tied back, and it drives me crazy. It gets in my eyes, my mouth, my nose, and it sticks to my forehead. There is nothing fun about this. In order to combat this problem, I prefer to wear hats. But, of course, I can’t be easy. Nope, my head is enormous. Even better: it’s a funky shape. I need a very soft hat that won’t pinch my temples (which is the widest part of my noggin) and will also stay put while I run. This visor is the best one I have found so far. It does all the thing I want, doesn’t squish my face, and they have fun designs!

I run with my iPhone and my AirPods. Some people prefer different types of headphones, but I like mine to sit on the edge of my ear. They have done well on longer runs, as long as I make sure to charge them ahead of time. I discovered that running on airplane mode is the best bet if you are like I am and have tons of spam calls, but if you need to be more available for family or work, then you can at least screen calls while you run. It’s just not ideal, but my phone has the best options for my apps and my music.

But, Wait…

You probably noticed something missing. I haven’t posted about what my kids are wearing when they run! There’s a reason for that: they are focusing on the cross-training until the summer heat dies down. If I don’t want to be outside running, I don’t want to force them to be outside running. So instead of running, they are swimming for now and doing yoga. Swimming is a lot more pleasant in this weather anyway, and it will give them a head start when we really start running as a family.

My Run Today

I ran on my treadmill today, because it’s so blooming hot. I have always used Couch25K to teach myself to run again, and that’s what I used today. I like it because it’s flexible enough for my crazy schedule, and it gradually ramps up from nothing to running a 5K in 8 weeks.

I don’t love some aspects of it though, like the fact that the app developers really thought a chunker like me could run a 5K in 30 minutes. That didn’t even happen when I was in my best shape! I do have faith that it will happen eventually, but probably not today.

Luckily for me, the C25K app I use has a sister program to train for a 10K. I try to follow the time requirements from C25K, and then I continue on to the 10K trainer portion to catch up on the distance. It has worked for me at least 10 different times over the last 10 years, so I don’t see any reason to change what I’m doing.

Today was Week 1 Day 1. It wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be, and I’m excited about my next run!

Now to cook, stretch, and enjoy being the world’s coziest cat bed (not in any particular order)…