Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cake Pops!
We have been having lots of fun making cake pops here! There are all kinds of fun designs out there to try but we decided to make plain with sprinkles just to get the hang of it. They are super easy and I now I can't wait to try something a bit more fun!
They were such a hit that each time we made them they were gone within a day!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Why I started Barefoot Running...part 1
In the past few days I have been asked quite a few times why. Why I started barefoot running. Am I just crazy, are there benefits, etc.... Here is my story with some barefoot running info thrown in. I'm doing this in two parts because I started typing and it got really long.
Last Jan. I made a New Year's resolution that I was going make me a better me...I had a few health issues I need to take care of and then I wanted to run a 5k. In July 2010 my mom lost her job so she was available to babysit all the time so I could do the couch to 5k program.
I started the program and it starts out running for 60 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds that first week. I was so out of shape that I could not even do that much. I pushed through and kept at it. It was always hard and I was sooooo slow. It felt like my legs were lead. Those first few weeks my pace was about 17 minutes a mile. I literally could walk faster than I could run. My runs kept getting harder and harder and my knees hurt and my hips hurt. By week 5 of the 9 week program I decided that I should go out and get fitted for 'real' running shoes at a running shoe store.
I went and tried on maybe 20 different pairs of shoes and an hour later I left the store with my very own shiny orange and magenta running shoes. The next day was my day to run so I got up at 5:30 and put on my beautiful new shoes and I went out the door. I did my normal 5 minute walk to warm up and then I started running. Everything was okay for about 2 blocks. Then my toes started to get tingly. I kept going not thinking anything of it. By the time I got about a mile away from home my feet were completely numb. I thought I had laced my shoes too tight. I stopped to re-lace my shoes.
I started back up and they were still numb....you know the numb I'm talking about. If you sit just right on the floor you cut off all blood flow to your feet and you can't feel them anymore and it is like having a piece of meat attached to your leg....yeah, that kind of numb. I stopped again and took the laces out so they didn't go over the top of my feet at all in case I was cutting off blood. Still no good. Walking didn't help so I took the shoes off and turned around to head back home.
Once the feeling came back to my feet I ran home carrying my pretty, shiny, magenta, orange, and useless shoes. I made it home feeling better than I ever had after a run. NOTHING hurt. I felt energized. I didn't make a connection to being barefoot though. I took those shoes back to the store and spent another hour getting fitted for a different pair.
Pair of Shoes # 2....same result...still no connection in my head. Back to the store for yet another pair of shoes.
Pair of Shoes # 3...same result plus some blisters. This time the shoe store told me I had tried on every pair of shoes that they sold and I was out of options. They suggested seeing a doctor because of course it must be a problem with my feet.
I started researching my options at this point. I found the runners world forums and stumbled into the Barefoot Running area. I think that is when it clicked for me. I spent about a week figuring out how to "do it right" and not get injured. There are lots of how to sites out there.
I was still so new to running to begin with that my transition to barefoot didn't take anything extra on my part.
Some of the benefits of barefoot running are improved alignment of the entire body (this comes from not having a heel rise from shoes) Most running shoes have arch support and a HUGE heel rise....some can be up to an inch. Also, you heel strike while wearing shoes which sends shock waves up your legs to you knees and hips. This is why so many runners have problems with these areas. When you are barefoot you land forefoot or mid foot and the arch of your foot acts as a shock absorber. All that force never goes to your knees and hips.
The arch support is not needed. In nature the arch is the strongest structure on its own, it doesn't need support. By adding that support to your shoes you are allowing the muscles and tendons to stop doing their job and become weak. This in turn causes you to over pronate and then the shoe store tells you you need motion control shoes or stabilizing shoes. It is a vicious cycle.
There have been lots of cases of flat footed individuals starting to go barefoot all the time and suddenly they have an arch. I know in my case my arches have gotten even higher as my feet get even stronger.
Issues that are 'common' for runners are non-existant with the barefoot running crowd, for example, runners knee, plantars facitis, shin splints. And for me the hip pain went away.
Of course barefoot running comes with it's own concerns. If you start too fast and push to hard you can cause stress fractures in your feet. It is easy to avoid if you just build up the muscles and tendons in your feet slowly. I think I transitioned so easily because I have spent the last 3.5 years barefoot almost 100% of the time. I had already built up my muscles and tendons. You know if you are pushing it too much if the top of your foot hurts or feels like it needs to crack. You take a couple days off and go a bit slower.
________________
Okay, I need to go to bed so I'm stopping here for now. I will pick up where I left off tomorrow!
Part 1
Last Jan. I made a New Year's resolution that I was going make me a better me...I had a few health issues I need to take care of and then I wanted to run a 5k. In July 2010 my mom lost her job so she was available to babysit all the time so I could do the couch to 5k program.
I started the program and it starts out running for 60 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds that first week. I was so out of shape that I could not even do that much. I pushed through and kept at it. It was always hard and I was sooooo slow. It felt like my legs were lead. Those first few weeks my pace was about 17 minutes a mile. I literally could walk faster than I could run. My runs kept getting harder and harder and my knees hurt and my hips hurt. By week 5 of the 9 week program I decided that I should go out and get fitted for 'real' running shoes at a running shoe store.
I went and tried on maybe 20 different pairs of shoes and an hour later I left the store with my very own shiny orange and magenta running shoes. The next day was my day to run so I got up at 5:30 and put on my beautiful new shoes and I went out the door. I did my normal 5 minute walk to warm up and then I started running. Everything was okay for about 2 blocks. Then my toes started to get tingly. I kept going not thinking anything of it. By the time I got about a mile away from home my feet were completely numb. I thought I had laced my shoes too tight. I stopped to re-lace my shoes.
I started back up and they were still numb....you know the numb I'm talking about. If you sit just right on the floor you cut off all blood flow to your feet and you can't feel them anymore and it is like having a piece of meat attached to your leg....yeah, that kind of numb. I stopped again and took the laces out so they didn't go over the top of my feet at all in case I was cutting off blood. Still no good. Walking didn't help so I took the shoes off and turned around to head back home.
Once the feeling came back to my feet I ran home carrying my pretty, shiny, magenta, orange, and useless shoes. I made it home feeling better than I ever had after a run. NOTHING hurt. I felt energized. I didn't make a connection to being barefoot though. I took those shoes back to the store and spent another hour getting fitted for a different pair.
Pair of Shoes # 2....same result...still no connection in my head. Back to the store for yet another pair of shoes.
Pair of Shoes # 3...same result plus some blisters. This time the shoe store told me I had tried on every pair of shoes that they sold and I was out of options. They suggested seeing a doctor because of course it must be a problem with my feet.
I started researching my options at this point. I found the runners world forums and stumbled into the Barefoot Running area. I think that is when it clicked for me. I spent about a week figuring out how to "do it right" and not get injured. There are lots of how to sites out there.
I was still so new to running to begin with that my transition to barefoot didn't take anything extra on my part.
Some of the benefits of barefoot running are improved alignment of the entire body (this comes from not having a heel rise from shoes) Most running shoes have arch support and a HUGE heel rise....some can be up to an inch. Also, you heel strike while wearing shoes which sends shock waves up your legs to you knees and hips. This is why so many runners have problems with these areas. When you are barefoot you land forefoot or mid foot and the arch of your foot acts as a shock absorber. All that force never goes to your knees and hips.
The arch support is not needed. In nature the arch is the strongest structure on its own, it doesn't need support. By adding that support to your shoes you are allowing the muscles and tendons to stop doing their job and become weak. This in turn causes you to over pronate and then the shoe store tells you you need motion control shoes or stabilizing shoes. It is a vicious cycle.
There have been lots of cases of flat footed individuals starting to go barefoot all the time and suddenly they have an arch. I know in my case my arches have gotten even higher as my feet get even stronger.
Issues that are 'common' for runners are non-existant with the barefoot running crowd, for example, runners knee, plantars facitis, shin splints. And for me the hip pain went away.
Of course barefoot running comes with it's own concerns. If you start too fast and push to hard you can cause stress fractures in your feet. It is easy to avoid if you just build up the muscles and tendons in your feet slowly. I think I transitioned so easily because I have spent the last 3.5 years barefoot almost 100% of the time. I had already built up my muscles and tendons. You know if you are pushing it too much if the top of your foot hurts or feels like it needs to crack. You take a couple days off and go a bit slower.
________________
Okay, I need to go to bed so I'm stopping here for now. I will pick up where I left off tomorrow!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Injured
I blew out my calf this past Tuesday. I was not running and I had just finished up day 1 of Jillian's 30 day shred. I was pretty tired from the workout but feeling fine. It was during the boy's naptime so I was down in the basement to keep quiet. I turned to turn off the light and POP! It felt like I had been shot in the calf, or maybe kicked. It hurt enough that I couldn't even keep standing.
So, there I was sitting on my butt at the foot of the stairs wondering what the hell had just happened when I realized I still had to get back up the stairs. I soon found out that the pain in my calf was so bad that I couldn't stand or walk. I'm so glad I was home alone (well, a napping 1 and 3 year old don't count) so no one would see me crawl up the stairs. I must have looked drunk!
Anyway, I called my mom to come over and help me with the boys and I got myself to the couch. As soon as she got here she hooked me up with some ice and then kept me company until Greg got home from work. My mom was a doll, she changed dirty diapers and cooked us dinner while she was here.
I did call my family doctor and they told me that if I still couldn't walk in the morning to come in at that time. I drugged myself up with the recommended 600mg of advil and I went to bed.
I was able to stand and walk when I woke up so that is a bonus but the pain is pretty intense still. I played doctor google and I think it may be a torn calf muscle. I have an appointment for next Tuesday with an ortho doc. to check it out.
I'm really bummed though. I was just getting ready to ramp up my running to prepare for a half marathon in the spring. If my calf muscle has been torn I think I'm not supposed to run for something crazy like 8 weeks. I guess we will see after my appointment.
So, there I was sitting on my butt at the foot of the stairs wondering what the hell had just happened when I realized I still had to get back up the stairs. I soon found out that the pain in my calf was so bad that I couldn't stand or walk. I'm so glad I was home alone (well, a napping 1 and 3 year old don't count) so no one would see me crawl up the stairs. I must have looked drunk!
Anyway, I called my mom to come over and help me with the boys and I got myself to the couch. As soon as she got here she hooked me up with some ice and then kept me company until Greg got home from work. My mom was a doll, she changed dirty diapers and cooked us dinner while she was here.
I did call my family doctor and they told me that if I still couldn't walk in the morning to come in at that time. I drugged myself up with the recommended 600mg of advil and I went to bed.
I was able to stand and walk when I woke up so that is a bonus but the pain is pretty intense still. I played doctor google and I think it may be a torn calf muscle. I have an appointment for next Tuesday with an ortho doc. to check it out.
I'm really bummed though. I was just getting ready to ramp up my running to prepare for a half marathon in the spring. If my calf muscle has been torn I think I'm not supposed to run for something crazy like 8 weeks. I guess we will see after my appointment.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
8 Years...
....ago today I got married to my best friend.
He is the one person I can tell anything and everything to. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, and I wouldn't change anything about him!
We got to go out for a grown up dinner and then out for a couple drinks at a local bar. We still got home before 9 but it was great having a bit of grown up time.
We marveled at how much has changed in 8 years....as well as how much has stayed the same.
I also got hit on by a 65 year old man at the bar....with Greg standing right next to me.
He is the one person I can tell anything and everything to. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, and I wouldn't change anything about him!
We got to go out for a grown up dinner and then out for a couple drinks at a local bar. We still got home before 9 but it was great having a bit of grown up time.
I also got hit on by a 65 year old man at the bar....with Greg standing right next to me.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Buh Bye!
To the holidays and 2010.
Christmas and New Years flew by in a haze here. Our tree was only decorated on the top half because Owen took all the ornaments off the bottom half. Everyone in our house gained the 5 expected holiday pounds and the boys are so wound up on sugar they are not sure which end is up anymore.
As of yesterday all the decorations are down and packed away....waiting for next year's crazy days. The boys have so many new toys they really don't know what to do with themselves.
Here are some pictures to sum everything up.
Hugh and Owen decorating wooden ornaments by painting them...
Our tree...
Sharing snack time....
Goodies made...
Christmas Breakfast (fritatta & cinnamon rolls) and dinner (ham)
First snow fall...
Visiting Santa...
Visiting with Family...
Visiting with friends...
Naughty...(stolen broken candy cane from the tree)
Nice...
Night before Christmas & new matching jammies...
Christmas morning and gifts....
Still nursing Owen at 19 months!...
Snuggling with Hugh while knitting!...
Christmas and New Years flew by in a haze here. Our tree was only decorated on the top half because Owen took all the ornaments off the bottom half. Everyone in our house gained the 5 expected holiday pounds and the boys are so wound up on sugar they are not sure which end is up anymore.
As of yesterday all the decorations are down and packed away....waiting for next year's crazy days. The boys have so many new toys they really don't know what to do with themselves.
Here are some pictures to sum everything up.
Hugh and Owen decorating wooden ornaments by painting them...
Sharing snack time....
Christmas Breakfast (fritatta & cinnamon rolls) and dinner (ham)
First snow fall...
Night before Christmas & new matching jammies...
Christmas morning and gifts....
Friday, December 10, 2010
Soft Star RunAmoc Shoe Giveaway!
I wish I was the one that had enough pull with a company to offer a freebie to everyone out there. It is not me but running and rambling does have that pull! Head on over to put your name in to win a free pair of shoes!
I already have a pair of the RunAmoc Lites with a 5mm trail sole and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I special ordered mine so they are black and pink. Who doesn't love pink on a shoe! If I win this contest I will get a suede pair with a street sole for more every day wear.
The leather that the shoes are made of is the softest leather I have ever had the opportunity to feel. Once it is on your feet you forget they are there because they are so soft.
Anyway, go to the site above and try to win your own pair!
I already have a pair of the RunAmoc Lites with a 5mm trail sole and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I special ordered mine so they are black and pink. Who doesn't love pink on a shoe! If I win this contest I will get a suede pair with a street sole for more every day wear.
The leather that the shoes are made of is the softest leather I have ever had the opportunity to feel. Once it is on your feet you forget they are there because they are so soft.
Anyway, go to the site above and try to win your own pair!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Slacking
It seems I have totally given up on blogging that 30 days thing. I'm just going to move on at this point. I may revisit it when I am not so busy with the holidays and life in general.
Running update.
I have completed 5 5k races so far and I have an 8k race this weekend (that is 5 miles for those of you that would rather not do the math). The race this weekend is Cross Country Challenge and I can't wait! It looks like so much fun. I have a good friend from college coming into town to run this with me as well as a neighbor. I actually met the neighbor through the Daily Mile website. We got to meet at my last race...the Turkey Trot here in town.
As of right now my personal records for time are 12:41 on the mile and 39:42 on the 5k.
I have had to buy some minimal shoes for the winter. I love running barefoot but it seems that for this winter my lowest temp is around 40 degrees. I hope to be able to run in colder temps next winter. For shoes I have a pair of Soft Star Run Amoc Lites and a cheap pair of water shoes from Sports Authority. I am working on my shoe review for the Run Amocs now, I'm expecting to be done and have that up in the next couple of days.
Life Update
My mom and I are making fun fabric items and hitting the local craft fairs. We are also selling them online to anyone who is interested. If you are interested just send us a message as to what you want and then send us money to paypal using the e-mail address momnmefabrics@hotmail.com the prices are all listed on the facebook page. If business picks up enough then we may get a "real" website.
On the eating front....Greg and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. The day went as well as can be expected. We only had one major issue and it had nothing to do with the dinner.....our main sewer line backed up and the basement flooded. We were able to call in a plumber and have the line routed out. Turns out that one of the boys flushed a wash rag down the toilet and then the wash rag got stuck in the line because of all the tree roots growing through the pipes from our HUGE tree in the front yard.
The turkey turned out amazing and it was all because of a tip from a friend. We covered the surface of the turkey with bacon before we put it in the oven. As it cooks the bacon fat bastes the turkey so you don't have to. Oh yum it was great!
Here is my gratuitous food porn picture
Running update.
I have completed 5 5k races so far and I have an 8k race this weekend (that is 5 miles for those of you that would rather not do the math). The race this weekend is Cross Country Challenge and I can't wait! It looks like so much fun. I have a good friend from college coming into town to run this with me as well as a neighbor. I actually met the neighbor through the Daily Mile website. We got to meet at my last race...the Turkey Trot here in town.
As of right now my personal records for time are 12:41 on the mile and 39:42 on the 5k.
I have had to buy some minimal shoes for the winter. I love running barefoot but it seems that for this winter my lowest temp is around 40 degrees. I hope to be able to run in colder temps next winter. For shoes I have a pair of Soft Star Run Amoc Lites and a cheap pair of water shoes from Sports Authority. I am working on my shoe review for the Run Amocs now, I'm expecting to be done and have that up in the next couple of days.
Life Update
My mom and I are making fun fabric items and hitting the local craft fairs. We are also selling them online to anyone who is interested. If you are interested just send us a message as to what you want and then send us money to paypal using the e-mail address momnmefabrics@hotmail.com the prices are all listed on the facebook page. If business picks up enough then we may get a "real" website.
On the eating front....Greg and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. The day went as well as can be expected. We only had one major issue and it had nothing to do with the dinner.....our main sewer line backed up and the basement flooded. We were able to call in a plumber and have the line routed out. Turns out that one of the boys flushed a wash rag down the toilet and then the wash rag got stuck in the line because of all the tree roots growing through the pipes from our HUGE tree in the front yard.
The turkey turned out amazing and it was all because of a tip from a friend. We covered the surface of the turkey with bacon before we put it in the oven. As it cooks the bacon fat bastes the turkey so you don't have to. Oh yum it was great!
Here is my gratuitous food porn picture
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