Hi friends! Is it just me or is it all of a sudden summer? I feel like we skipped spring and went straight to July, but I’ll take it over ice and snow any day. Check it out – honeysuckle, seen on my run this morning! That smell takes me right back to childhood. Anyone else? 🙂
I got in my long run for the week a day early and headed out this morning for a solo 10 miler! As you guys know, I’m training for the Seattle Half Marathon right now, and I needed to get in a long run this weekend, especially since I blew off last weekend’s long run in favor of shorter runs and hiking in Colorado Springs. That said, I didn’t want to have to worry about it this weekend, so early it was! This way I can go to my fun running boot camp tomorrow with friends and then sleep in on Sunday – Matt and I are headed on a fun overnight adventure with our families on Saturday.
It was a warm but lovely morning for a run. The Mt. Vernon Trail views never get old!
To keep me occupied for part of the run, I listened to an episode of a podcast that I’ve really been enjoying lately: The Psychology of Eating. I do a lot of work in my AnneTheRD practice with clients struggling with disordered or binge eating, and this podcast has been really helpful. Each episode has you listen in on a real counseling session that helps the person discover the true causes of their disordered eating. Fascinating – I’d highly recommend it if you’re interested in this field, or struggling with disordered eating yourself. It’s free and relatively new – they are adding new episodes each week.
As for the run, it was a good one! As I tend to do when I run alone, I definitely took a couple (untimed) walking breaks (especially on the hill of death), and I stopped for some photos, too, but overall I felt good. 🙂
I brought along some salted dried tart cherries with me for fuel – I don’t need much on a 10 miler, but a little something definitely helps. (I ate before I left, too – my standard sprouted grain toast with nut butter.) These are easy and taste really good while on the run! As you guys know, another real food favorite fuel of mine is dates stuffed with a little nut butter and sprinkled with salt.
I can’t believe how green it got all of a sudden – I feel like everything just exploded!
10 miles, done. My coaches told me to do a “casual” pace, so I went with a comfortable 9 to 9:30 minute mile for the whole time.
On the run, I rocked a new pair of shorts (the versatile 3.5 inch low rise shorts) that Brooks sent me to test out this month as part of my Run Happy Ambassadorship, plus a tank top (the versatile printed racerback – isn’t the print on the back cute?) that they sent me back in March that I’ve been wearing around a ton.
I have been doing a lot of spring cleaning of my clothes lately, including workout clothes, and really wanted a good pair of basic black shorts to replace some of my older ones. These are perfect – not too short (I’ve decided I’m officially too old for really short shorts) and comfortable.
Speaking of spring cleaning, Brooks (along with their sister company, Moving Comfort) sent over some helpful tips for spring cleaning your running gear that I wanted to share. I’m really bad about this – unless something fits weird or is uncomfortable, I basically wear it forever and only get rid of it if it has massive holes or something. My sports bra drawer is the biggest offender – a few of my favorites should probably get the toss – they are seriously from like 2005 – but I love them so!
Tips & Tricks for Spring Cleaning Your Running Gear
Sports Bras (from Rebecca duRivage-Jacobs, Associate Product Line Manager Moving Comfort):
· How should you wash/clean your sports bras?
o Hand washing is ideal, but not always possible. If you plan to machine wash your sports bras, it’s best to use the gentle or delicate cycle and be sure to fasten any hooks or straps to avoid snags. Even better, place your sports bras into a lingerie wash bag. After washing, reshape the cups and hang to air dry. Dryer heat can really take a toll on the fabric. If you must tumble dry, we recommend doing so on a low temperature. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can clog up the fabric and shorten the life of your bra by limiting its ability to wick sweat and resist odors. For best results, use a gentle, lingerie-friendly detergent.
· Approximately how long should each bra last before you need to throw it out?
o On average, we recommend replacing your sports bra every 6-12 months.
· How can you tell when it’s time to replace the item?
o Pay attention to key signals such as stretched bottom band and straps, faded tags, possible chafing spots, and a less-than-fresh scent are all signs it’s time to replace your sports bra. Appreciate what it has done for you, say your goodbyes, and get fitted for a new style to keep you moving without skipping a beat. At a minimum, we recommend woman have three sports bras in her wardrobe at a time. Not only will this give her options for different outfits and workouts, but rotating them can extend the life of each sports bra.
Footwear (from Jena Winger, Associate Product Line Manager, Footwear)
· How should clean your running shoes?
o We recommend not washing your shoes in a washing machine as it breaks down important components in the shoe (such as DNA, which is the cushioning technology) that help you run safely and comfortably. If you’re looking to remove mud or dirt we suggest doing so with a toothbrush and some soap. If smell is your enemy, we have a few tips on our blog for reducing the stench.
· Approximately how long should each item last before you need to throw it out?
o We recommend replacing your running shoes every 300-400 miles.
· How can do tell when it’s time to replace the item?
o Unusual aches and pains which can’t be attributed to a change in your training are a sign that you may need to replace your shoes. The key aches and pains to look out for are knee pain as well as shin splints.
Apparel (from Lauren Hallworth, Apparel Product Line Manager):
· How should you wash/clean sweat-wicking apparel? How often?
o It’s best to machine wash cold, tumble dry low, unless otherwise marked on the garment. Using a sport or tech wash will also help prolong the lifespan of the garment. In fact garments with a DWR coating can be rejuvenated by a round in the dryer on tumble dry low and if that doesn’t work, then washing using a tech wash and dry. It’s best to stay away from fabric softeners and dryer sheets which can clog up the fabric and shorten the life of your apparel by limiting its ability to wick sweat and resist odors.
· Also, approximately how long should each item last before you need to throw it out?
o A well cared for garment should still be running strong after 50 home launderings.
· In general, if the tag says hand wash, do you really need to do that? Why or why not?
o If a tag states hand wash, it is because of the delicate nature of the fabric or the type of treatment that has been applied to the fabric. It’s always best to follow marked care instructions.
· How can you tell when it’s time to replace the item?
o Similar to bras, it’s important to pay attention to the signals—stretched bands and straps, faded tags, possible chafing spots, a less-than-fresh scent, etc. are all signs it might be time to upgrade your running apparel.
I hope you guys found those tips useful, too! I didn’t realize until reading these tips that I shouldn’t be machine drying my sports bras… and that dryer sheets are the enemy of tech gear! Oops! Good to know. 🙂
Anyway! When I got home, I made myself a variation of my Wild Blueberry Protein-Packed Recovery Smoothie (<—recipe) while I foam rolled. I followed the recipe but swapped hemp seeds for chia seeds. Tasty!
After showering and getting ready to go, I had some of Matt’s banana walnut bread with a smear of peanut butter. I love smoothies right after runs but they don’t keep me full/satisfied on their own!
To round out this random post, I’m excited because I got a new Stitch Fix (<—affiliate link) box last night! My wallet and I decided to put my account on hold for awhile, so I hadn’t gotten a box in ages, but I decided to treat myself to one in honor of spring. They always send such cute stuff… I LOVED this dress, which I am already wearing today! Awkward selfie:
I also really loved and decided to keep this shirt and dress – both were gorgeous, comfortable, and very versatile in terms of transitioning from work to dinner out. Perfect!
The fourth item in the box, which I decided to send back, was a white jean jacket. Cute, but not over the top cute, and for $88 I decided it definitely wasn’t worth it. The only thing I’m on the fence about is this skirt:
Super cute (it fits well, like a pencil skirt up to the waist), but it bunches up a little bit when I walk. That said, I feel like all pencil skirts kind of do that, don’t they? What do you guys think – keep or return? It’s $68, so definitely not cheap, but I have almost no spring/summer work appropriate skirts and I like the pattern a lot. Thoughts?
And with that, this random post shall end. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, my friends – eat something delicious and get out and enjoy this warm weather. And if you’re looking for something to make, don’t forget about my Savory No Bake Honey Mustard Granola Bars!
What’s the oldest item of running/workout gear you still have and refuse to throw away? Mine is probably those old sports bras from 2005. When you find the perfect ones, they always discontinue them, don’t they?!
