Imagine

I couldn't resist sharing these fun numbers for your Thursday.

The Mizuno website has a fun interactive with these numbers. It's fun to imagine what the world would be like if everyone ran!

To add to theirs, I thought of my own, less-statistical list of benefits:
People in cars would never yell "Run, Forrest, run!" at runners.
Cars would pay far more attention to runners in cross-walks with the right-of-way.
And I would never have to be ashamed of my pedicure-less feet in sandals, because everyone would understand the importance of keeping your calluses.

Pre-Race Jitters, or: Why I'm Grateful for High School Cross Country and Track

I once had to stop and go to the bathroom twice on a fairly short van ride to a cross country meet. I was well-acquainted with the port-a-potty line at every high school meet. Why? Pre-race nerves. I was that kid. The one who gets so nervous before events her bladder goes into overdrive and inconveniences the heck out of everyone. I was almost always more nervous than the situation called for.

I used to shake on the starting line. I'm from south Texas, so it was rarely cold enough for this to be shivering. Sometimes I felt like I was going to throw up. And I always, always, had to pee.

Fast forward ten or so years, and I'm still a nervous person. Especially when I have to speak in front of people, but even before minor 5K races. But there is a difference now, and the difference is how I let those nerves affect me.

I realized this last week in Sunday school. Our class was practicing something called storying: one person memorizes a Bible story (not necessarily word-for-word), and tells it to the class. The class then goes around the room, each person saying one part of it. Then one person volunteers to try and tell the whole story. By the end, the whole class will be familiar with story in a different way than from simply reading it over and over again.

I volunteered to lead last week, along with a friend. We memorized the story of the Transfiguration, in Luke 9:28-36. I thought I would be nervous about it all week. And I was. But not in the way I was expecting. Every time I thought about it, I just practiced it to myself and envisioned saying it successfully in front of the class, and I was fine.

On Sunday morning, I was a little more nervous, but I kept imagining (and also praying for) success in telling the story. And it went well. I didn't leave anything out. I'm always critical of how nervous I sound when I speak in front of people, but I'm going to go ahead and call this a victory, because (1) I didn't have to pee; and (2) I did it!

On the drive home, I reflected on what brought about this change, realizing I am much less nervous in general than I used to be, and that I'm at a point where I can be really nervous without letting it negatively impact my performance.

Part of it, I think, is growing up. Becoming an adult means learning to do things you don't like and to do things without letting your feelings get in the way. But I think being exposed over and over to situations where I was really nervous is also part of it. And that's why I'm grateful for high school races: they were opportunities to face, over and over again, the nerves I couldn't stop myself from having, and learn how to work around them.

I don't think I will ever step up to the starting line of a race I've invested myself in, or stand in front of a gathering of people to speak, without feeling those jitters. And I'm okay with that: they're part of who I am. Now I know how to use them and how to get past them to do a good job. And I don't think I would be there yet if it wasn't for all of those teenage racing nerves.

Celebrating (Over) Halfway!

I was going to post last week, when I was 20 weeks, which is officially halfway through the pregnancy.

But last week was super busy, so I waited. And it feels a little more real this week: most first-time moms stay pregnant past their due dates, but the vast majority of doctors will induce on or before 42 weeks. So at 21 weeks, I am for real at least halfway there!

And I know. Nineteen (or as many as twenty-one) more weeks is still a long time. And I probably have the most uncomfortable weeks ahead of me. But right now, I'm choosing to feel grateful: for a healthy baby, for feeling good in general, and for still being able to run.

I wasn't sure how running would feel at this point, so I was cautious with my expectations. I'm happy to be able to say, despite some tiredness, I still feel great! I went for a 7 miler on Saturday in preparation for an upcoming trail race I'll hopefully be running, and I was pleasantly surprised to not feel much slower or much more tired afterward than pre-pregnancy.  So I'm planning to run an 8K this weekend, and the 7 mile Jackrabbit Trail Run on the west side of the Franklin Mountains the following weekend. I can't wait!

Friday Five: The Running Expectant Mom Gift Guide

When you're pregnant, everyone wants to give the baby gifts. Which is awesome: what is cuter than baby stuff? But if you know a runner who is expecting and want to pamper her, here are some things I have loved so far during my pregnancy.

1. A Foam Roller. I had heard people sing the praises of the foam roller for years without being convinced. But when I started having sacroiliac joint pain and a friend loaned me one, I learned they are the real deal. Rolling on this thing has helped me feel so much better!

2. Gabrialla Maternity Support Belt. After reading reviews of several different belts, I settled on this one because it had the best reviews, seemed to be most popular with runners, and because it had multiple places to adjust it. I've only run in it once (review to come soon!), but I thought it did what it was supposed to do: support the belly and lift it up off my bladder. Some reviewers even claimed it helps prevent stretch marks when worn all the time, not just for exercise, in the third trimester. We will see when I get there!

3. Maternity Running Wear. I still fit in many of my normal running tops, so I haven't been able to justify buying any pregnancy-specific running clothes. But if/when I do, it will probably be something like this cute "Running for Two" top.

4. Hydration Pack or Hand-Held Bottle. I drink tons of water now. So much water. And I don't like to run farther than three or four miles without having water with me. I'm partial to my Nathan race vest, but bottles with comfy handles are a great option too.

5. Body Glide. A growing belly means chafing in new places. Trust me.

Bonus gift idea: A gift card for prenatal massages or a prenatal yoga class membership. Haven't done the massage yet, but I plan to. (What season of life has a better excuse for massages than pregnancy? None). Prenatal yoga was the most relaxing workout I think I've ever experienced, and I wish it was every night instead of once a week.

Trail Tech: A Toss-Up?

This month's Trail Runner Blog Symposium topic is whether tech gadgets are more help or hindrance on the trails.

In a way, gadgets have made endurance and adventure sports even more cool (and safer) than they were to begin with.

Have a trail map with no distances on it? Not a problem, just wear your GPS watch, and reap the added benefits of knowing your pace and elevation change and having access to all kinds of data about your run. Those numbers can be so gratifying after a hard workout.

Going alone? Never fear, your smartphone might get service there. Your friends and family won't have to worry about you, and if something does happen, you'll be able to call for help. It handily fits in the front pocket of your hydration vest, so you'll never miss a text, and you can even listen to music sans headphones. It also doubles (triples?) as a camera, for capturing that panoramic view or inspiring sunrise.

Night racing or training after dark due to a packed schedule? Just grab one of the latest headlamps, designed specifically for trail running.

Those are all examples of ways technology has changed running life on the trails for the better. I would honestly never consider running on trails alone without my phone if I was sure I was going to get cell service. Maybe I've read too many "I shouldn't be alive" stories.

And yet...

That GPS watch can turn a refreshing run into a competition with myself, and ruin my whole day if I don't feel like I measured up.

There is nothing more frustrating during a trail run (and especially during a race) than trying to pass a runner wearing earbuds, who continues to hog the trail because he is incapable of hearing my approach.

The same smartphone that can get me assistance in an emergency and play me pumped-up music when I hit a rough patch also interrupts my focus with texts and phone calls--things I wouldn't have a problem missing if I'd just left it behind. Stopping because I feel the need to reply to a text can definitely hinder a workout.

I think gadgets have their place in trail running, for safety, knowledge, and even entertainment purposes. If you run long enough without any gadgets, I think you are going to have a run where you find yourself wanting or needing one, whether a phone to call and tell someone you'll be late or a GPS watch so you can tell your running friends just how long this awesome new trail is.

But there is also something to be said for the freedom and purity of tech-free trail running. Just me with my thoughts and the trail can be a refreshing getaway from my highly-connected Facebook-and-email-checking life. Perhaps the key is balance, and if I find myself too heavy on the tech or tech-free side, maybe changing it up from time to time can add a new spark to my running.

Grocery Wars

I found an interesting food article and wanted to share it.

We Americans love to hate on Walmart, from cringe-worthy photos of the way its patrons dress, to its ruinous effect on small business when it moves into a community, to its lack of employee benefits. But the chain's ubiquity means I don't actually know anyone, hater or not, who has never shopped there. And that's why this Slate article grossed me out a little bit.

The author compares food products sold at Walmart to those sold at Whole Foods, focusing on a list of ingredients Whole Foods will not sell (but which are all approved by the FDA--Walmart is not doing anything illegal). The banned list includes the much-maligned high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), and several artificial sweeteners and flavorings. The article is worth reading just for the interactive graphics. My favorite is the photo slider showing Walmart shelves and which products would not be sold at Whole Foods. (I couldn't find the slider at first--it's the gray bar on the left). Obviously all the cookies were going to go, but when all of the bread disappeared, I was sad. And it's mostly because of HFCS.

HFCS is similar to sugar, and our bodies probably react to it in the same way. I don't mind eating it if I know I'm buying a sugary snack. What upsets me is its pervasiveness in packaged foods: why does any kind of sugar need to be added to bread? When you bake bread at home, you add at most a tablespoon, and can omit it with no consequence. Grocery store breads pass themselves off as healthy with prominent claims on the packaging like "Whole grain!" and "7 grams of fiber per serving." These statements can be true even while the fine-print lists HFCS as one of the first ingredients. So a shopper grabs a supposedly healthy loaf and unknowingly adds five grams of sugar per slice to their diet.

In Walmart's defense, maybe there are loaves not pictured which have lower sugar contents. And lacking HFCS does not automatically make Whole Foods' breads healthier; they can still contain sugar or honey, which can add just as many grams of sugar as HFCS does.

What's disturbing is not that Walmart (and most other grocers) sells groceries with these ingredients, but the sheer number of products that contain them. The article mentions that Walmart's aim is to provide an array of options and let the consumer decide. Which is great, if you know what you want to avoid and have time to read ingredients lists. But many people don't know what's in their food and are easily swayed by a product's "healthy" packaging. Even if you do know you want to pass on, say, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, it is really difficult to ensure avoiding these ingredients at stores like Walmart without spending hours poring over each ingredients list.

Also, Walmart's prices are lower on many items, and the vast majority of neighborhoods don't have a Whole Foods. Which means Whole Foods is catering to a more high-end demographic. But shouldn't we all have the option to make healthy choices, regardless of income? These aren't dilemmas to which I have solutions, I just wish healthy foods were more widely available, easier to differentiate, and more affordable.

Friday Five: Pregnancy Cravings

People keep asking if I've had any cravings yet. And the answer is...sort of, I guess.

Before I was pregnant, I thought a pregnancy craving was a sudden, urgent need to eat a strange combination of foods. Like pickles and ice cream. Maybe it is that way for some, but for me, so far, it's been things that I just want to eat more often than normal.

1. Pizza. I've talked myself out of ordering delivery almost every night this week. I'm not telling my craving no, I'm just holding out as long as possible. I know I'll give in eventually, and it will be delicious. (Also I've been holding out for a day that I go for a longish run, because sometimes cinnamon sticks find their way into my order. I have no idea how this happens).

2. Cheeseburgers. If I'm driving home from church or anywhere, really, and I'm hungry, it's almost always for cheeseburgers. Mmmmm, cheeseburgers.
Which reminds me of this:

Oh, Veggie Tales. You take me back.

3. Quiche. Finally, a more healthy craving. A friend recently had me over for quiche and  sent me home with two slices. I ate them both for dinner and I have no regrets. And then I had to make one for myself because I just wanted more.

4. Bagels with cream cheese. We live near a bagel shop. Specifically, one of El Paso's The Bagel Shop locations. Their bagels are perfect. And they have so many bagel varieties! Before the pregnancy, bagels were a weekend treat. Now I keep them in my fridge and try not to eat them every single day.

5. Whatever my neighbors are grilling. Seriously neighbors: hungry pregnant lady nearby! Please invite me to your house to eat whatever smells so delicious when I'm walking my dogs in the evenings. I'll even bring dessert!

I noticed none of my cravings are for sweets--odd, since non-pregnant me has not one sweet tooth, but a mouthful of sweet teeth. Pregnancy is weird.