Top 9 Best Books About Running: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall 26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career by Meb Keflezighi Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor Life Is a Marathon: A Memoir of Love and Endurance … Read More about PILE on the MILES Challenge Day 12: Favorite Running Books
The post PILE on the MILES Challenge Day 12: Favorite Running Books appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.
Hello! This week has flown by and I have a week of marathon training (and Dopey Challenge training) to update you on tomorrow. But first – I received some great questions from other runners/eaters and want to answer them in front of the group [as in… here].
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A: Good question! I’m leaning towards YES.
I would’ve been completely on the fence about this if not for the fact that I just ran the AFC Half Marathon in San Diego. I was skeptical it was going to happen after everything has been cancelled or on hold for over a year in southern California.
But the AFC Half Marathon is a point to point course too – so all the runners had to take a bus to the starting line. [We were required to wear masks on the bus, but that was the only Covid related note about the race.] That’s an obstacle the Long Beach Marathon doesn’t have to deal with.
So, I think they’re able to host an in-person running event safely right now. The only thing that may stop it would be the city blocking it or denying permits. But, I think it’s going to happen. Are you registered?
BONUS: If you’re in SoCal – the Surf City Half Marathon is Sept 11th and registration is closing soon. I have a discount code for RER followers. Register now and save using Discount Code: MONICA10
A: It changes depending on the season and/or what I’m training for but this is right now this is what I’m wearing from head to toe…
VISOR: Visor from RunEatRepeat.com
SUNGLASSES: Oakley Women Sunglasses for long runs / Goodr Sunglasses for shorter runs
SPORTS BRA: I always pick a sports bra that has adjustable straps since they tend to stretch out a bit with use and I want it tight. I have a small chest but hate any boob bounce at all so I’m very particular about my sports bras for running. If I’m not running and just doing strength / conditioning or another workout – I’ll wear whatever sports bra I have on hand that didn’t make the running team.
Sports bras are probably the 2nd most expensive part of running gear after running shoes. But they’re important! A good sports bra can make you feel a lot more comfortable while running and if it fits you perfectly it can help prevent chafing.
If you end up not liking it – return it and try another one. It’s fairly easy to return things to Amazon, Zappos and Road Runner Sports now.
RUNNING TOPS: I LOVE Athleta Tanks and long sleeve tops for running. I randomly discovered them a few years ago when I walked into an Athleta store and realized the quality and cut make it completely worth the price. I bought a bunch of long sleeve and tanks for running in different colors and they’ve lasted and still look great after a lot of wear and sweat and miles! If they had more colors (or really, better options because I love BRIGHT colors) I’d order more and live in them.
They have a non-slip trim (hem grippers) around the bottom of this top to keep it from riding up. I appreciate this because my running belt can move around and make my shirt move up too, but the grippers make it stay put. This makes it great for yoga too (anyone else’s top ride up during down dogs??).
Tip: I’ve ordered other tops from Athleta since this discovery and don’t end up wearing them to run because they’re not as good. So, it’s not just this brand – it’s specially this design.
RUNNING SHORTS: These are in order of my current preference. This is another area where I think it’s worth it to pay more for quality. I don’t want to be running in cheap a** see-through fabric so the world can see my cheap a** bouncing around through my shorts.
1st – Fabletics High Waist 9″ Shorts
2nd – Athleta Ultimate Stash Pocket 9″ shorts
3rd – R-Gear Women’s 8″ Compression Shorts
RUNNING SOCKS: R-Gear (Road Runner Sports) DryMax Low Cut Socks
I also love ProCompression Running Socks and wear them post-run in the summer and during runs as well as after the rest of the year.
RUNNING SHOES: Right now I’m alternating between 3 very different running shoes. I switch it up based on what I’m running that day. I don’t think everyone needs multiple different running shoes like this though. Do you.
ALTRA Women’s Rivera Running Shoe (Rivera is the style) – it’s light weight, super comfortable, big toe box and good for all running (not distance or workout specific)
Brooks Ghost 14 Women’s Running Shoe – hands down Brooks has the most fun colors and designs of running shoes. This is a fairly light, neutral style good for all the runs too.
Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next Women’s Running Shoes – you may have seen a pic of this shoe after a long run with MY BLOOD SEEPING THROUGH THE TOP. The toe box on this is a little more narrow than the previous two shoes mentioned and it squeezed my toes together and made one cut into the other.
But I couldn’t return a bloody shoe (could I? No. Right??…).
I was not going to return the bloody shoe. And I’ve worn this style before so I think it was a combination of things that caused the issue (new shoes on a long run so they weren’t broken in at all, a healthy toenail that grew too fast, hot day couldn’t cause my feet to swell more than usual). So, I’m still wearing them and I like them (outside of the blood stain, but I’d like to believe I’m tougher for it).
A: It’s kind of 50/50… I prefer to run in the OC and have places to crash in the area so I’m there A LOT. But my official address isn’t in the OC.
A: I pretty much take my watch off as soon as I’m done running so I don’t know my resting heart rate. (When I go to the doctor and they check it’s usually low and they think I’m dead.)
When I’m running…lately I’ve been going by effort level because I’m really out of shape (for me) so pace would be frustrating.
But, I usually would use pace over HR in the past.
Also… someone asked a related question recently, “Are you concerned your watch HR is inaccurate since you wear it on the inside of your wrist?”
Basically, I wear my watch weird. But I’m okay with that because I don’t use HR to inform my training right now.
A: I created RunEatRepeat.com over 10 years ago to document my weight loss and training for my 1st marathon. I think it was lucky timing and it grew a big following of readers.
Around the same time I was laid off from my 1st job out of college and had more time to work on it.
I became a certified Running Coach and Health Coach to be a better resource for my followers.
By that point I was making enough money with banner ads and sponsored posts that it didn’t make sense to look for another job.
So…I’m a full time Running & Health Coach online via RunEatRepeat.com & @RunEatRepeat
A:
1. Trust the taper! Follow the taper length on your plan. A good plan is designed to include enough rest and recovery so you show up on race day feeling great.
2. Use this time to work on your mental strength. Practice positive thinking and visualizations.
3. Make sure you have race day gear and logistics nailed down. Your main job before the race = Relax.
Your main job on race day = RUN YOUR BEST. Don’t distract from that with last minute location or gear issues.
That’s it for this round of Q&A!
Well… when I decided to register to run the Dopey Challenge last week I was mostly surprised that it wasn’t sold out (yet) and my decision to go for it factored in logistics and travel dates more than anything. So, I didn’t realize the Disney World Marathon Race Weekend (really, it should be Week – since it’s 5 days) is only 20 weeks away.
Most Marathon Training Plans are between 16 and 20 weeks long. The Dopey Challenge is a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon on consecutive days. And that requires even more training than running the marathon alone!
Run Disney does have a few free training plans for running the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Goofy’s Race and a Half and Dopey Challenge. But, the plans are best for someone who wants to use the Run/Walk Method (written by Jeff Galloway).
The Dopey Challenge Training Plan for experienced runners has only 3 runs per week for many of the weeks. Then, it increases to 4 days per week with a few 5 runs per week thrown in toward the end of the plan. The great thing about this plan is it’s easier on your schedule and body.
But if you want to complete any of the distances FASTER, go for a PR or just RUN the entire distance – you need a training plan made for your goal. And I think there are a few IMPORTANT parts missing in most 5K, 10K, Half and Full Marathon plans – strength/conditioning, mental training and nutrition.
So, I’m designing training plans for each distance with those KEY features. *Stay tuned for that if you’re running any of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Runs and want more training plan options! It will be available next week.
Now for my training update…
When I decided to register to run the big beast of the WDW Marathon Weekend aka Dopey Challenge… it was a lil last minute. I love ‘Team Run Disney’ posts on social media and saw other runners on Instagram and Facebook started training even before registration was open! They’re in it to win it.
Luckily, I was already training for a few upcoming half and full marathons – so I have a solid base of endurance. I was going to start working on speed next but the Dopey Challenge is a true test of endurance with back to back races. That means I need to reevaluate my current training plan and adjust according to this new addition to my race calendar.
Week 1 of Dopey Training was… um, unofficial in that I didn’t change anything about my current training plan because I also decided to run a half marathon last minute. And it was my FIRST IN PERSON RACE since before the pandy. [You can read the Race Recap here – AFC Half Marathon Recap]
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel physically and mentally as I don’t have any recent race results to let me know my current running fitness. So, the smart thing was to keep everything the same, run the race, give myself some time to recover and then move forward with a new training plan.
I’m less than a week out from that half marathon and my legs did feel a bit tired on this morning’s run. But, I’m trying to be diligent about recovery and hope to start Week 2 feeling 100%.
My LOVE of Watermelon is alive and well!! Or maybe it’s alive and obsessive to an unhealthy level? Either way, I’m happy so please let me live. Thank you.
I felt the need to take a pic the 1 time I actually served myself some watermelon on a plate and didn’t eat it straight from the tupperware container at the kitchen counter like a savage. I was so proud of myself.
(Then, I wanted more and ate it straight from the container.)
After spending the night at Stuft Mama’s house last weekend I remembered how much I love this simple combo – rice cakes (or corn cakes) with laughing cow cheese and turkey. I topped it with Sriracha and was as happy as a laughing cow.
(Wait… should I be offended that someone just called me a cow if the guilty party is – me?)
And I made a WHOLE CHICKEN!! It looks burnt but it as perfect.
In other less delicious food news…
I hit up Grocery Outlet and was so excited to see La Croix for the same price as the grocery store brand sparkling water I usually buy. They had a few different flavors and I wanted to try new to me flavors like this Limon Cello and Passionfruit. The Kroger sparkling water I usually buy doesn’t come in these flavors so I was all about it ’bout it.
Unfortunately, I’m NOT a fan of the Limon Cello sparkling water. It tastes like lemon vanilla??! For some reason this combo doesn’t seem to work and I don’t know what to do with the 2 cases I bought.
I also shared these thoughts on my Instagram Stories (@RunEatRepeat) and got a lot of comments that others didn’t like it either. So, it’s not just my taste-buds.
I vote: Skip it on the LimonCello La Croix. You’re welcome.
I randomly decided to make a vison board the other night. I was going through a big pile of magazines I haven’t read and realized… I’m probably not going to read them.
I’ve been moving them from place to place when cleaning because I don’t want to recycle them or give them away – I want to read them! But at this point they’re from a long time ago and I’m getting new magazines I could read if I want. And it’s went through my head to make a vision board a few times recently (I randomly heard about it twice in one week and think it’s a sign).
Yes, it seems very 2014 to make a vision board. But it’s not like manifesting stopped working. If anything – we stopped manifesting! (Maybe if we would’ve all manifested an amazing year of health and wealth for 2020 – everything would be different today!)
Anyway – I’m making a vision board, it’s not just about running but I mostly have running and travel magazines so everything I’ve ripped out so far seems very run focused. I’m going to work with what I have and just go with it.
The place I worked at in college had everyone make vision boards at one point, but I was an executive assistant and in charge of organizing the project and getting supplies, so I didn’t participate.
What a FAIL! If I would’ve made it back then I’d already have run all the marathons and hit an amazing PR and own a watermelon farm and a mansion by the beach and 26 golden retrievers and a red Tesla and there’d be world peace. Dang it.
I probably had a bowl of cereal with milk every morning before school from growing up. My mom is a teacher and our school started 15 minutes before hers did – so mornings were often rushed as my mom, brother and I got ready, ate and dashed out the door with seconds to spare.
Luckily, a bowl of cereal is an easy breakfast and I loved it (actually, I still do!). At the time I just loved how it tasted. Now I appreciate that a serving of milk with whole grain cereal provides a great combination of protein and carbohydrates to keep you full till lunch.
And today I’m sharing a fun twist on this classic breakfast with a Cereal Milk Smoothie. I’m using Real California Milk because it’s sustainably sourced and comes from California dairy farm families.
The first step is to make the Cereal Milk. It’s the base of this smoothie recipe, but you can also use it in other recipes, lattes or just drink it.
Cereal milk can be made with most corn flake or wheat type cereals. The classic version is made with corn flakes, but I’ve also made it with a random mix of leftover cereals and it works great. Basically, use whatever cereal you have on hand.
We often had a few boxes of cereal with less than a serving left or a lot of crumbs… so we’d push it to the back of the cabinet (sorry Mom!). This abandoned cereal would end up getting stale and thrown away.
Now you can use it in this recipe. I love finding delicious ways to avoid food waste.
Okay… let’s make cereal milk!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Tip: Make your cereal milk ahead of time so it’s ready to go for a quick breakfast smoothie. Just keep it in the fridge and give it a good stir before using it in a recipe.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly. (Add more ice for a thicker smoothie.)
Serve in a bowl and top with your favorite cereal, fruit and nuts.
Enjoy!
Remember to look for the Real California Milk seal to support farm families. I really appreciate that California dairy farmers are world leaders in sustainable farming practices.
You can learn more about Real California Milk Sustainability on their site here.
Visit the Real California Milk site for more RECIPE INSPIRATION here.
This post is in partnership with Real California Milk. All opinions are my own.
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