I might need a gold star.

I followed through on reading a book like I said I would! (It helps when I’m reading something I actually want to read.) Hooray for executive function actually working for a change!

As promised, I read Rise & Run (note that I may get commission from affiliate links, no cost to you) by Olympian Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. It was a good read. The gist of the book is pretty simple: mornings are a special time for runners, and we should do things to cherish that time. That whole idea was inspiring enough to get me, the world’s biggest morning hater, to try getting up early for a run! I would call that some strong inspiration!

I did laugh a little at both authors—they had a page each where they shared their morning routines, and they talked like 5:30-6:00 in the morning is early. I know it IS early in most places, but not in Houston. Obviously neither of these ladies is braving my stupid Houston commute!

This is a 3-in-1 book.

It is part inspiration to embrace the morning runner lifestyle, part cookbook, and part training plan.

I think it’s clear that the inspirational part is effective. The descriptions of that pure bliss of getting to sit down for breakfast and coffee are intoxicating by themselves. But, more important for the average person who isn’t just looking at pretty pictures in a book, the authors provide useful, actionable tips for how to make mornings work. They provide ideas like getting everything ready for the morning the night before, and they provide recommendations for kitchen tools to make breakfast prep easier. They also give a shopping list of sorts for the most common ingredients in the recipes.

The most helpful part about this book is the section where they explain which recipes are good for what occasion. For example, they provide a list of recipes that are good for a pre-long run snack, which are good for an after-run breakfast, which are ideal for weekend post-run brunches, and even which ones will help a runner recover from illness or injury. Right now I’m pretty healthy, but as someone who regularly sprains an ankle and is allergic to Texas in general, I think this will turn out to be very useful for me.

What about the food?

One of my concerns about the recipes was that they would be too focused on the types of foods that elite athletes need. I have read other athletic people cookbooks, and that’s an easy trap to fall into. But let’s face it: I’m not Michael Phelps, and I don’t need to be eating 8,000 calories in a day. I’m basically just starting out again, and I need things that are lower calorie, but dense in the good nutrients. Bonus if they are something that will help me lose a few pounds!

Rise & Run references some of the ladies’ other cookbooks, so I went back to Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. to understand more of their philosophy on food. They specifically address my concern! (Good job ladies!) Basically, they focus on whole foods that are closer to how they come from nature (so closer to what they looked like on the vine or on the hoof). Less processed food is better for us all, and it comes with all the nutrients and fiber that we actually need. Humans didn’t start eating Fruit by the Foot (my current favorite processed food—don’t judge) until relatively recently in history, so of course our bodies will be happier if we eat the foods that our bodies are actually equipped to eat. I have seen that same idea in various forms in almost all of the different weight loss programs I have tried as well, so I think that idea will stand the test of time (and science).

The other nice detail I found in all the recipes is a little note on whether the recipes are gluten friendly, dairy friendly, vegetarian, or vegan. I am gluten-free (not by choice—my intestines hate me and like to make me wish for cupcakes), so this is very helpful! They also have notes on how to make each recipe faster, how to store the food, and, for those of us with dietary restrictions, how to adapt the recipe, if we can. I wish the whole world was that friendly!

Is the food good?

YES. I tried 3 recipes—the grain-free pineapple coconut superhero muffins, the minute-mug lime-raspberry superhero muffin, and the sunrise juice. Before you ask, there are recipes other than muffins and smoothies in here, but I went with what sounded interesting to me. As I said earlier, I’m gluten-free, so maybe, just maybe, I’m craving baked goods. (Again, don’t judge me please!)

I loved the muffins. The pineapple coconut ones were easy to make, and they had a really good texture. They will be making an appearance as a dessert in the near future because they were so good. They aren’t overly sweet either—just the right amount of sweetness from the pineapple chunks.

The mug muffin has definitely become a staple of my morning routine. It’s easy and delicious, and my jerk cat likes to try to steal it from me!

Both of those recipes also have ingredients that are readily available from the grocery store. Sometimes it can be tough to find flour substitutes, but I have never had problems finding almond flour or coconut flour. Not all of the recipes are that grocery store friendly though, so you will want to do a quick check to see what you can actually find where you live.

The sunrise juice had great potential, but it didn’t quite do it for us. It’s a simple recipe: oranges, carrots, and ginger, served with sparkling mineral water. All of this sounds good. Fresh OJ is delicious, and carrots play nicely with oranges. The problem was the ginger. The recipe called for a ton of ginger, and it was just a bit much for my family. I’m sure it would be delicious with about half the ginger though.

And the training plan?

This is where it becomes obvious that this book was written by an Olympian. The training plan is definitely advanced, and most definitely too advanced for someone like me. That doesn’t mean it’s bad—it’s a great plan for someone who is at that fitness level. But that someone is most definitely not me! While the marathon training plan is way above what I can do, the stretching plan is reasonable for any runner. Most of the stretches are yoga-inspired, which makes sense. Yoga strengthens many of the same muscles as running, and pairing yoga with running is pretty natural. And let’s be honest: the photo shoot of Shalane Flanagan showing how to do her stretches by a pristine mountain lake in Oregon is enough to make any runner who lives in a Gulf Coast swamp very jealous!

All in all, it’s an inspiring book, complete with tasty food! I will be using this one in my kitchen (and my running) for a while!

I made some progress this week

I completed Week 1 of Couch25K! I’m pretty proud of myself. I have had many false starts, where I do Week 1 Day 1, but then I don’t even complete the first week. I even managed to make myself get up early and run for a change! It’s been a good first week.

But the biggest progress is that I got the Hubby to run with me! Hubs has done 5Ks and 10Ks with me before, but it isn’t his favorite thing. His first race ever was the Kemah Toughest 10K in Kemah, TX, which goes over a rather tall bridge in September, when Houston still feels like an armpit. Not the best choice for a first race experience, I guess, and it’s no surprise he hasn’t done many others since that race.

But he’s running with me again now! I’m proud of him. I’m proud of him anyway, but I love that he’s out here running with me.

Shopping Spree!

Oh, if only. If you haven’t had a husband, you may not know this, but they are some very stubborn people! I get excited about running and buy myself a whole new running outfit, but Hubby? Nah, he’s good with the shorts he has, he likes his current socks, and why does he need a different shirt?

I did get him a couple of presents to help motivate him to run. Of course, gift giving isn’t his love language, so he just gave me a weird look. But hey, I tried!

One thing you should know about my Hubby is that he is a big dude. Like built like a linebacker, fills a doorframe, and can lift a small car kind of dude. This means that finding running gear for him isn’t easy. Add in the fact that he has a very long torso to go on his 6’4” frame, and it’s even more of a challenge!

I don’t know why the running clothing industry hasn’t figured out that big people like to run too. I mean, yes, we look different from the people who grace the cover of Runners World magazine, but we’re still out here, still running, and we want to be comfortable too! I was able to buy a few things to outfit Hubby for his run without him complaining, thankfully. I’m sharing what he’s wearing below. Remember, if you buy a product through an affiliate link, I may receive commission. (Also remember I wouldn’t post it if I didn’t like it, so you know it’s good if it’s on here.)

Hubby’s Preferences

Hubby’s favorite underwear are from MeUndies. He is a manager at a big box store, and his store gets super hot. But even regular MeUndies do a good job of keeping the family jewels comfortable. I wear them as well because they are soft and fit nicely. We are both at the point where our “good” underwear are MeUndies, but we keep the old stuff for times when we don’t want to mess up our favorites.

He also needs good sweat-wicking socks that give his feet support. He regularly gets 15,000 steps from walking around his store, and he has issues with plantar fasciitis if he isn’t careful. He prefers Mission socks. They look professional (black socks with dressy shoes at work, makes sense), but they also wick sweat and provide enough support that his feet stay comfortable. Those same socks work well for a run too!

As for shoes, he’s a typical guy. He has all of 4 pairs of shoes: 1 pair of sandals for the beach, 2 pairs of the exact same dress shoes that he can switch out to extend their life, and 1 pair of running/walking/living athletic shoes. He prefers ASICS for his athletic shoes. They provide plenty of support while he’s on his feet all day, and they are also nice and cushioned for a run.

Getting the Hubs to understand that he really does want something reflective for morning runs was like giving a cat a pill: it didn’t go so well, and I don’t want to do it again. But I finally convinced him, with the condition that it couldn’t be fluorescent yellow. Why the heck is he suddenly worried about fashion?! It’s out of character, but whatever. I relented, as long as what he was wearing was still reflective. We found this shirt, which has options that are fluorescent and come in extended sizes for big dudes. The white is thick enough that I can’t see his nipples through the shirt, but it still shows up when it’s pitch black outside. The material is also sweat-wicking, so Hubby will be at least a little comfortable on our runs.

Getting him into a pair of running shorts is a whole different headache. I get it—most men’s running shorts are, well, short. Like 1986 Dad shorts short. Hubby doesn’t want anyone to see him in them because he doesn’t want to show that much leg. I do understand, so I let him stick with his basketball shorts that he keeps for lounging days. If those start to drive him crazy, we’ll investigate other options, but for now, they will do.

Proud Wife Moment

I’m proud of him for getting out here and running with me! So far we have only gone once, but it was a nice run together. It was not cool out, because Houston is an armpit in the summer, but we had fun chatting and covering miles together. I’m also proud that we didn’t try to compete with each other. We’re both very competitive, and it can be a problem when we are just starting something like running. No guarantees that we won’t suddenly start getting competitive with each other and our morning run dates turn nasty, but at least we’re starting out well!

I have a confession.

I am not a morning person. Never have been. I was that teenager who would happily sleep all day and stay up all night, and I’m still a little salty about having to be awake early for things like my job and driving there. The night owls of the world have given the early birds a bit too much power, in my opinion. Or maybe they usurped it while we were sleeping in. Either way, I’m a night owl living in an early bird world, and I don’t like it.

This is not great.

There are lots of reasons I probably should become a morning person. For one, the earlier I get up, the shorter my commute is. If I get out of the house before about 6:30 am, my 22 mile drive to the office only takes about 25 minutes. If I leave after 6:30 am, it’s more like 45. If I get there earlier, I also get to come home earlier, and that’s only a good thing! Don’t get me wrong: I love my job, but I HATE commuting, and the less time I spend doing it, the happier I am.

I’m also more productive early in the morning. I know that sounds weird, coming from an extreme non-morning person, but I can get more done between 7 and 9 am than I will get done over the rest of the day. People leave me alone earlier in the day, and meetings usually don’t start until at least 8 am.

Another good reason to train myself to wake up early is that, if I get up early, I can get my run in before anything can derail my running plans for the day. The most stressful part of my day is walking through the front door after a long day of work and a commute. Picture it: I walk in, obviously tired and ready to change into a comfy pair of yoga pants and flipflops instead of heels and dress pants, and the first thing that hits my senses is the sound of my kids arguing over a video game. Or, as happens frequently with my kids and my animals, I come home to find out that my 2 idiot dogs are out on an unescorted adventure and need caught. It’s tough, and whatever shenanigans I walk into have squashed many planned runs.

However…

I suck at mornings. I can maintain a regular morning routine for a while, but it doesn’t take much for my morning routine to implode. A poor night’s sleep, a late night for the hubby, or even, I don’t know, the wrong moon phase maybe? And my morning routine is POOF! Gone.

I’m not proud of this. In fact, it’s a real problem. And, if my anxiety is less controlled than usual, it’s even worse.

So what’s a girl to do?

Inspirational Reading

I have been reading Rise & Run by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky, and it inspired me to actually set up a morning routine. (Note that I may receive commission if you use my affiliate link to buy the book.) The inspiration was more jealousy that those ladies had time to sit down with their coffee in the mornings, but hey, inspiration is inspiration, right?

I also read a wikiHow article on having a good morning routine (complete with the awesome pictures you usually see in their articles!), and I decided to give it a try. Step 1 was accepting that maybe I can be a morning person. I’ll be honest. I don’t think I will ever accept that I am a morning person. But I can certainly pretend to be one. They say “fake it till you make it,” right? So I will fake it and see what happens!

I continued to follow the wikiHow suggestions on setting myself up to be a morning person—laying out my clothes, getting everything ready for breakfast the night before, and making sure I had a fun playlist ready to go for my morning run. Then I went to bed close to on time, set my alarm, and told the Hubby he was getting up with me at 4 am for a run… OUTDOORS!

One of my favorite running hacks (and one of the only ways I have ever made it out of the house in time for a 5K, back in the days when I was running all the time) is to lay out my Flat Mary. That’s where I lay out everything I plan to wear the next day for my run. I also place my phone and my earbuds with my running gear so I don’t forget them. If it was an actual road race, I would put my bib and the pins with my running gear, but there’s no bib for a run around my neighborhood at 4 am!

And then the morning came…

4:00 in the morning is early y’all. Oh so early. I always hear not to snooze in the morning, but it’s a hard habit to break. It’s even harder when it’s 4 stinking am.

I did hit snooze once, but I quickly realized that I needed to get up if I was going to run today. This was my crazy day—the only one where I have evening activities as well as a full day of work. I usually just assume my crazy days are rest days for running, but if I get up early, they don’t have to be!

Once I was conscious enough to realize that I needed to run (and that I needed to pee), I dragged myself out of bed and over to where Flat Mary was laid out (with a pee stop on the way–don’t worry, my bladder doesn’t get ignored). Hubby barely stirred, so I realized quickly that this was going to be a solo run. I grimaced and made the executive decision to run on the treadmill instead of outside. If I have a buddy, I can risk the early morning run outside, but without, it’s not going to happen! I got dressed, grabbed my water, and stumbled to my treadmill, which is in my office on the other side of the house. I turned on both the treadmill and the Couch25K app, and I did it! Week 1 Day 3 is complete!

After my run, I went back to the kitchen and added the wet ingredients to my breakfast, a raspberry-lime mug cake from Rise & Run that sounded delicious. I threw it in the microwave, threw my running gear in the washer, and sprinted in the buff all the way to my shower (which isn’t exactly far because my laundry room, master closet, and master bath are all connected). I took a glorious shower, got dressed, and had time to sit down and enjoy my coffee and mug cake. The only challenge I ran into was the kitten who thought my breakfast was his and was very upset when I informed him that his breakfast was in his food bowl, not in either of my mugs.  

Off to Work

After breakfast (with assistance from my furry little helper), I grabbed my purse and planner and headed out the door. Even with the snooze button struggles, I was out before 6:15 am, and I made it to the office at 6:45. It set me up for a great day, and even better, I had a little time once I got back home!

Maybe this morning business isn’t so bad after all.

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)…