Friday Favorites

Don't you love four day work weeks? I think every Monday should be a holiday.  It's Friday again and here's a few of the things I've been loving this week.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I believe there are two types of people- those who love pumpkin spice lattes and those who hate them.  I am on Team PSL and I love that it's Fall again at Starbucks.  I know Fall doesn't officially start for a couple of weeks, but the PSL is one of my favorites.  It's a little taste of happy in a cup.  (I prefer them cold with an add shot and two extra pumps of pumpkin.)

Road ID

As a runner, I am always concerned about my safety.  Whether I'm running a race or running with friends, I want to be prepared for the "what ifs." RoadID helps me with that.  With my name, age, emergency contact and important medical information readily available my RoadID bracelet talks for me in case there's ever a situation in which I can't talk.

Photo Credit: Road ID

   
There are several RoadID options available.  I prefer the slim wrist ID and have several band colors so I can still be #RunMatchy.  I know that a bracelet doesn't replace being aware of my surroundings and other safety issues, but it definitely helps ease my mind.  Frankly, I hope to never have to use my Road ID bracelet.  But I like knowing that it's there just in case.

Cooler Weather

I've gone out a few times this week and have actually needed a hoodie.  It's finally a bit cooler in San Diego and I love it! (What's with the heat wave on the West Coast?!). I know San Diego doesn't experience weather changes the same way other places do-- I'm very weather spoiled and my "cooler" for needing a hoodie was 60 degrees.  

Running Blogs

It seems silly to ask if you read running blogs because you're reading this, but do you?  I love being inspired by other runners and their adventures.  I'm blessed to have met some of the bloggers I read in person and they are just as fantastic in real life as they are online.  My list of blogs I love is too long to post here (and I'm afraid I would forget one the same way people forget to thank people in their Oscar speeches) so I'm asking for your help.  What are some of your favorite running blogs?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1 

Run Streak- Day 100

A few weeks ago, I posted about my run streak.  (If you missed that post, you can read it here.) At that time, I said my plan was to streak for 100 days.  Well today, I reached 100 days-- here are some of the things I've enjoyed most about the streak.

#RUN619

A couple months ago, the local running Store Movin' Shoes started a Friday morning running group.  We meet at Heartwork Coffee Bar at 6:19am, run a few miles, have coffee and then continue onto our Fridays.  This Friday morning run has become one of my favorites.  The miles are always great and the other runners have pushed me to be a stronger, faster runner.  It's a great group of people who are supportive of every runner with us, regardless of pace.  And who doesn't like to start their Friday with a good cup of coffee?!  If you're ever in the San Diego area on a Friday morning, join us!

Trail Running
In the past 100 days, I've run more trails than I have the entire time I've been running.  I'm discovering a love of trail running-- it's the perfect combination of running and the beautiful trails in San Diego County.   



Running Happy

Before I started my run streak, I felt as though I had reached a fork in the road with my running-- I wasn't loving it as much as I had been and I needed to make a decision on which way to go.  With my run streak, it made that decision easier-- I had to run.  Soon enough the idea that "I have to run" changed into "I get to run."  I was enjoying the run again.  I was running happy.

So I've reached the 100th day of my Run Streak-- I've run at least one mile every day for the past 100 days. 100 days, 433 miles.  Now what?


I'm going to keep on streaking.  When I originally started my streak, I said 30 days.  That changed to 50 which then changed to 100.  I've decided that until I'm unable to, I'm going to keep running. 


Until next time, happy running!
Jenn13.1

Friday Favorites

Another week and it's already September.  As fun as my summer was, I'm definitely looking forward to Fall-- it's my favorite season full of boots, scarves and everything pumpkin spice.  I ended August with 144.5 miles and I'm looking forward to seeing what this month brings.  Here's a few of the things I've been loving this week.

Pro-Compression Lows and PC Runners

If you’ve seen my running pictures, you know that I love my ProCompression socks.  Not only do they make a difference when I run and for recovery, they come in so many awesome colors and designs.  

Photo Credit: ProCompression

With the warmer temperatures in the past few weeks, I’ve been wearing the lows and PC runners on more of my runs. I love them just as much. And I can still be #RunMatchy with the colors.  They also make the transition from run to errands a little easier.  And let's be honest-- even though I am excited about fall, I live somewhere where the weather will continue to be warm and our cold spell means it's 60 degrees.

The Public Library 

I grew up in a household of readers—if you were to hear my mom tell the story, I started reading at the age of four.  The truth is I probably just memorized the Tweety Bird book since I had her read to me every night before bed, but there isn’t a time in my life that I don’t remember loving to read..  Our weekly trip to the Public Library was something I always looked forward too—I don’t remember when life got so busy that I stopped going, but I realized this past week it had been a long time.  I wasn’t even sure if I would still have a library card on file—turns out I didn't.  But I changed that this week.  I need to do a little research on something and found myself at the library to make that happen.  While I was there, I got a new library card and checked out a few books.  So many awesome services are offered at the library that are often taken for granted.  I remembered why I loved coming to the library so much as a kid—I’ve already read the four books I checked out and can’t wait to go back to get a few more.  

Trader Joe’s Pickle Popcorn

Last week, someone strongly encouraged me to try Trader Joe’s "Pickle Popcorn."  I love popcorn and I love pickles, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the idea of the two tastes together.  I took a piece, held my breath and tried it.  It is delicious!!  Since that day, I’ve gone to Trader Joe’s and picked up my own bags (yes—multiple). It’s a strange taste and may be an acquired taste, but I love it!  

Running Naked

I love my Garmin Forerunner 235 and there are days that I feel naked when I forget to put it on in the morning.  (It’s not just my running watch, but also my activity tracker).  I like having access to the information during my run—my distance, my pace and my heart rate.  But sometimes the saying is true—ignorance is bliss.  As much as I like having this information during my run, there are times that it’s too much.  I start focusing on the details rather than my run.  So in the past few weeks, I’ve made an effort to do at least one of my runs naked—naked as in without my Garmin.  I run by feel, push myself when I feel like I can, slow down when I need to and simply enjoy what’s around me.  These naked runs have me feeling refreshed and more in tune with my runs.  

Noah Galloway’s Living With No Excuses

Earlier this week Noah Galloway had a book signing in Los Angeles—I had hoped to make it up there but life took over and that didn’t happen.  I still picked up his new book, Living With No Excuses,  because I was intrigued by  his story (And wishfully thinking that if he’s ever in San Diego, I’ll be able to get my book signed). 

I think like many people, I often assume celebrities live the life that we see portrayed in the media.  It’s easy to forget that they are people who have lives beyond what is shown and lives that have led up to the persona we “know” now.  That is the story that Noah Galloway tells in his book—he’s more than the Veteran who lost two limbs and appeared on Dancing With The Stars.  I won’t recap the book because I think you should read it- I will tell you that I laughed & cried and his dad is my favorite person he talks about in the book.  What I enjoyed most about the book is that he’s real—he tells some truths about his life that most people would rather keep to themselves.  He’s honest and he’s open in his dialogue—as I was reading the book, it felt like a conversation you’d be having with a friend.  By sharing his  truths, I think Galloway will make a difference in someone’s life, even if that’s not what he intended when he wrote the book.          

What things are you looking forward to most for Fall?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1