This week in running

There's a lot going on this week for me in the running realm. So much so that I can't focus exactly what to blog on, so you are going to get a smorgasbord of stuff. Ready?

Olympic Dreams:

When I first started running and bought my first Canadian Running magazine I read about a woman named Krista Duchene who was attempting to appeal to make Olympic standards and was not successful. At this point, as a new runner I couldn't name a single runner. Wow how things have changed. I would now acknowledge Krista as my "running hero", as a woman I deeply respect and look up to for her speed, dedication, hard work, balance and love of the Lord. Krista proves that with hard work and dedication anyone can achieve great things! She is a working mother of 3 who is a real person. She's endured her fair share of trials and tribulations but just recently ran a super fast marathon and just this week the Olympic standards were posted and she's in! Krista is the first female to make the near impossible Olympic marathon standards in 20 years! I feel like I am just as happy as she is. Read more about it here:

Injuries:

All runners ignore pain and hope it goes away. I've been having foot pain and general tightness in my whole left leg resulting in consistent pinpoint pain and when I run this pain is amplified and my toes go numb then hurt. On my last serious run I kept telling myself, you need to call your physiotherapist. I am afraid of 2 things: that I will be told I need to take a rest from running and that it's going to cost a lot as I do not currently have benefits. I finally booked an appointment for next Monday. Pray for good results (aka cheap therapy and quick solutions that allow me to still run :))

I am currently icing it and decided it was a good time to write a blog post as it would keep me sedentary for more than 10 minutes :)

Life as a Race Director:

I knew organizing a race would be a lot of work but I've gained a new respect for race directors as I've worked with some colleagues to plan out and organize a fundraising run for our school. You see, I work at a private Christian school that aims to teach those students that couldn't be taught properly in the public school system. I love that we have the opportunity as a Christian school to be open about faith and teach the kids how much the Lord loves them. We keep our tuition low and do what it takes to give the kids the education they need. What that means is we rely largely on fundraising efforts. So, since I love my job, my kids and running I decided a fundraising run would be a great opportunity to get the community involved in a fun, active way. Plus we live in a super beautiful area with Blue Mountain close by and Georgian Bay. The run follows the trail systems of the Wasaga Beach provincial parks. Wasaga is the world's longest freshwater beach. To say the views are breathtaking is an understatement.

So I've been trying my best and giving my all to make this race the most successful event it can be. It truly has been draining me as I've seen my fair share of high moments (we have received so many awesome donations for our bib raffle, lots of people have signed up and I've truly realized how blessed I am to have some supportive friends and family) and low moments (costly insurance, facilities, lack of help, last minute course changes etc). Last week was incredibly stressful for me and I wasn't myself. I prayed for peace and had a friend pray as well and this week I have felt a peace that could only come from God. This week has just been draining as it has meant long hours spent in preparation, sorting and organizing shirts, signage and race kits.

We are 2 days away from race day and I am very excited for it. I will be thankful when it is over. To learn more about the run visit the race roster page here or the facebook page here. We are still happy to receive donations :)   Stay tuned for a race recap!

StrideBox Ambassador perks:

I received this fun package in the mail today.

I was so pleased to be chosen to represent such a fun company. I've loved receiving my monthly StrideBox. It is a box of an assortment of fun running items like chews, gels, hydration mixes, hard goods and other fun things. I feel like I get to be a product tester without having to do the research or having to go out and find these new products on my own. StrideBox is like the wise running friend that introduces you to products you will love for life. StrideBox has introduced me to SkratchLabs, JTree and Picky Bars, all companies I would have never known about before and swear by now. Thank you StrideBox for the fun new socks. I plan to be able to wear them as I run the charity race I planned this Saturday!

To learn more about StrideBox visit their website here. BONUS: If you want to give them a try sign up today with the code "aal2508" before May 8th to receive $10 off your first box!

25 Signs You're Hooked on Running:

I just came across THIS post today and had a good giggle as I can agree with mostly all of them.

Speaking of hooked on running, last weekend I got my second tattoo. I knew I wanted something running related and decided on the symbol of the Goodlife Marathon. I decided on this because the image is neat as it is a runner and a canadian flag but also because this was my second half marathon (so my first one where I knew what I was doing). It is also similar to symbol of the sister race, our local half marathon, the Collingwood half-marathon. Also, the Goodlife full marathon is on my bucket list for sure. I got it on my quad because these quads were made from running and it will be visible when I run in shorts.

Fun fact: my other tattoo is Ecclesiastes 3:4 on my back in memory of my Papa Jack.

Try Something New: April 

It's on hold for the time being due to illness and because both of us have been exceptionally busy this month it seems. So May will be 2 in one! We will do Heather's pick for April and then my pick for May. I already have it picked- stay tuned!

#LikeAGirl

I am a big fan of this #likeagirl movement. It all started from an emotional commercial for Always feminine products. If you live under a rock and have yet to see it, the commercial has an unseen director figure asking a range of people in a typical studio setting what it means to perform a number of actions "like a girl" such as throwing like a girl, running like a girl etc. The first to be asked are adults and they all perform the acts in an overly gentile, weak, degenerate way. Then the questions are asked of young girls. These girls present these acts as best their bodies can.

The whole idea of course is that the idea of doing something "like a girl" is a put down. In one of my favourite movies, The Sandlot- a movie about young boys playing baseball in an empty lot- the main group of boys are having an exchange of words with their rival team. The words go back and forth with words like:

But of course, the ultimate put down that ends the entire argument: 

But why? Why should that be a put down? I should add here that part of my Bachelor of Arts includes not just a major in English but a double minor in Psychology and Women's Studies. I took Women's Studies because I thought it was fascinating. I will never forget my first class, first year when the professor said "What is a woman?". As a room full of 17 and 18 year old mostly girls and a rare boy list elements we've come to know as "girl" the professor debunks them all. Things like long hair, makeup, wearing dresses, having breasts and lady parts are what we know to be "girl" but you aren't any less of a girl if you lack these. Girl can mean whatever we want it to. I quickly came to learn how much of a social construct gender truly was. My line I love to use is "gender is just your parts". I am not saying go and do all the opposite of what we know to be "girl". What I'd really love is for people to realize how much of a social construct gender truly is so  that no one feels like they are wrong or less of a girl if they don't fall within the stereotypes and constructs. Men and women alike should feel empowered to express themselves as who they are. 

So even though it's an advertising ploy I like the whole "like a girl" movement because as women, no matter what we are doing, we are doing it "like a girl", because we are girls. I am happy to be a girl, happy to be strong and capable and fit and active. I certainly do run like a girl and all that means is I am a girl who runs. I absolutely ski like a girl because I am a girl and I ski. 

My car, Denise, has a new bumper sticker. I am not a big fan of bumper stickers because I don't want my car to get too cluttery but a friend gave a "runner girl" one and I loved it so on it went. Then, this past week I spent skiing real mountains for the first time in my life out in Alberta and BC.

So naturally I had to pick up a souvenir along my travels. As soon as I saw the bumper sticker I knew Denise needed it. 

'

Boy or girl, no matter what you may be, do what you do with all your heart, with all your might. God has blessed us all with bodies that are made to move. Do what you love. I do, I run like a girl, I ski like a girl. I do a lot of things like a girl and that is no put-down because I know many boys I could smoke. Not that it's a competition. 

February StrideBox Review

I have been a StrideBox subscriber for nearly 2 years now. As a small town Canadian I don't have access to many different running products with only 1 sporting goods store in the area. We have recently gotten a SportChek as well but our horizons are still limited. However, I live in nature's playground. It is a very active community with lots of opportunities as we have Blue Mountain Ski Resort, Georgian Bay and the Georgian trail all at our doorstep, to name a few. So I am always looking for fun products to enhance my workouts. I am mostly a runner (3-5x/wk) but also attend a women's bootcamp class 2x/wk and love to be outdoors and active (I ski, swim, bike etc). My idea of a good day is trying something new and physically demanding with my friends.

In my StrideBox I am able to be exposed to new products including gels, chews, hydration mixes, bars, you name it. Also, who doesn't love mail...not just regular mail but a monthly package! They are always so nicely put together, wrapped in tissue paper and with a sticker in each. That's a topic in and of itself as I cannot decide what to do with my growing sticker collection. I want to put them somewhere special but haven't decided that special location yet. I've considered my laptop, helmet, waterbottles, notebooks etc and have reasons against them all.

The REAL exciting news came this week when I received an email that I'd been selected to be a StrideBox Ambassador. I'm still not overly sure of the parameters of the role, but will happily represent a company I love! So expect a monthly review from me of each StrideBox. They will improve with better pictures as I go :)

Also I need to mention I LOVED February's box. It may just be my favourite to date.

Drink Mix: There were three! Skratch Apples+Cinnamon and Chike High Protein Coffee Mix and a Nuun Tablet.

Chike Coffee Mix:


I didn't try this one right away. I am not entirely sure why. I drank it this morning and mixed it with the 10 ounces recommended of water. You can choose water or milk. My water wasn't overly cold and I think had it been cold with ice it would have been more enjoyable. The taste was good- I am a big fan of cold coffee drinks. But I don't think I should have drank it as my morning coffee (aka my battery for the day) as it didn't sit nicely in my stomach. This would have been nicer consumed in an afternoon. I find it strange to believe that coffee can be a high protein drink. I should have had it after today's 12km run, not before. lesson learned. This is a product I would consume again!

Skratch Apples+Cinnamon. Hot!

I love Skratch Labs products as much as I love StrideBox. It is a company I would absolutely represent. Skratch is all natural made from real products. Compared to all other drink mixes I've tried it is hands down my favourite in taste, texture etc. I like that the packages aren't huge like some drink packages and that the ingredients are real foods. Skratch Labs is a company I learned about through StrideBox last summer and immediately went out and purchased a large package of their Raspberry Hydration Mix. So I was overjoyed to try another Skratch product and intrigued that this one could be consumed as a hot beverage.
Need I remind you I live in Canada. In Canada it's cold. This winter has seemed especially cold. Most of my runs have been on the treadmill as I had a bit of a fall earlier this winter and didn't enjoy it. But I find I am always cold. I love a nice warm drink to warm up and the Apples+Cinnamon drink mix did not disappoint! The flavour was not overpowering, it was just right. I wanted to purchase a full bag of this as well but due to packaging changes it wasn't yet available in canadian stores. So when it is conveniently available again I will purchase a bag. I also have to mention that SkratchLabs as a company are awesome and responded to my tweets about trying to find a distributor right away, on a saturday! I can't say enough how much I love all things SkratchLabs and how I wish I could afford one of everything that they sell.

Nuun Tri-Berry
I am sorry to say I am not crazy about Nuun. I was excited to try it as I see a lot of Instagram friends that absolutely love it as a product. I've tried a few different flavours now at races and through StrideBox and it just doesn't appeal to me. It seems to taste carbonated and fizzy with a lack of taste. Carbonated beverages are not what I want to hydrate with when I am working out. I am sorry Nuun.








Protein Bar: Picky Bars

I have always wanted to try Picky Bars. I love Oiselle and follow Lauren Fleshman's every move on Instagram. Again, as a Canadian I don't have affordable or easy access to these products so I was SO excited to see this in the February StrideBox. So excited that I instantly tore into it and consumed it right away. Naturally it was delicious and not heavy in my stomach. It didn't taste mealy like protein bars often do. This here is a picture of an empty wrapper- that's how fast I ate it. An empty wrapper that I've kept, might I add. I just love these small companies that use real products, that personalize their products and put their heart and sole into them. StrideBox, Picky Bars and SkratchLabs all fit that bill in my mind. 

Hard-goods: iGloves and Joshua Tree Lip Balm

iGlove
I have a few pairs of running gloves. I have anywhere from the 88cent thin gloves to more expensive brand name gloves. I was excited to receive these for many purposes. Who doesn't love the ability to use smart technology without having to take off their mitts? My hands are always cold so this is especially appealing to me. I also thought of the excitement of being able to wear these under my mitts when skiing for again the purpose of being able to use my phone without having to have bare exposed skin (even if my iphone seems to consistently freeze when I go skiing). I got the grey pair which is slightly disappointing considering all the colours available. But I wore them on today's run and they worked like a charm! It was a brainstorming run with a friend as we are planning a fundraiser run in the spring so I had to keep pausing my watch, pulling out my phone and snapping pics of potential areas of interest. Not once did I have to take off my gloves. They aren't made for -20C temperatures by any means, but neither am I.



Joshua Tree Lip Balm: Healing Mint

I love lip balm. Seriously. I am not a lipstick or a lipgloss person. I am a lip balm person. Last November I received a Joshua Tree lip balm in pumpkin pie and still have it. This is impressive as I tend to lose all lip balms I've ever owned. I absolutely loved it and attempted to seek out how to purchase more. So getting another one in a StrideBox seemed too good to be true! This is a product I'd definitely use again and again and again (and will!).














Gel: Chia Surge

Unfortunately you will not be seeing a review from me on this gel or likely any other gel. When I first started experimenting with energy products I started with chew and liked them but tended to get some issues with gas so I switched to gels. They worked great for a bit but at some point along the road I lost the ability to handle the texture and would gag immediately as soon as it found its way into my mouth. I could gag right now just thinking about it actually. I have nothing against those who love and use gels, I am just not that person. If you are that person let me know, I've got a bunch of gels saved up from StrideBoxes you can have :)












So February's StrideBox comes in as a huge positive with 6 products of 7 I enjoyed, 4 that I absolutely LOVED! I am excited as I've already been notified that my March box is in the mail. Now it's the waiting game of checking the mail daily and avoiding social media lest someone ruin the surprise of what's in the next package. Stay tuned!