Hi kids!

I am in a great mood today because I used my new Nike + iPod for the first time. But first, let’s talk weekend.

On Saturday I made two batches of pancakes because the boy and I have different dietary requirements. His are to eat healthfully and deliciously while mine are to be healthy without bothering my stomach. Therefore, the boy got Nature’s Path Organic Multigrain Flax Carob Chip pancakes and I got Arrowhead Mills Organic Gluten Free Carob Chip Banana pancakes. And I used coconut oil for the first time in my batch, since my recipe called for oil.

They came out perfectly.

Organic Multigrain Flax Organic Gluten Free

Mmmm I loved the combination of carob chips (I only buy unsweetened — these are naturally sweet) and bananas in mine. And the boy LOVES his! I am always so happy when he loves the breakfasts I make him (french toast, pancakes, that’s it) because that is the only meal I really care about cooking! And it is the only meal where I can be sure there is enough food to fill him up. Boys.

The rest of the weekend was filled with errands (the boy may have bought these shoes for running — eek) and we went to Juice Generationfor the boy to try his very first wheatgrass. The last time I had wheatgrass there, I got VERY nauseous. I assumed it was because I had a doubleshot which I don’t usually get, but after Saturday I now know that it is not the doubleshot that made me ill but the wheatgrass that Juice Generation uses. I do love Juice Generation’s juices and their pressed bottles juices (which they were OUT of when I tried to pick one up for the next morning), but their wheatgrass is just . . . bad. Their website says the wheatgrass is delivered to them fresh from a local organic farm. But it just isn’t for me. The most annoying part of this is that it was the boy’s very first wheatgrass experience. I want him to much to make this a habit and experience all the health benefits wheatgrass has to offer, but because we both got sick from it, I don’t think he will be trying it again.

I never feel sick at all when I get my almost daily wheatgrass from Elixir and I didn’t get sick when I had Greengrass Life at Beam Green. I didn’t get sick when I got it from Bean of a Green. I got sick both times I got it from Juice Generation. See the pattern? It really depends on where you buy your wheatgrass from — and where/how they buy (or grow) it!

I hope I can get the boy to try wheatgrass somewhere else another time. But I’m not counting on it.

I went to the farmer’s market and I don’t even want to know how much money I spent. I got lots of kale and cucumbers for my juice, a perfect, red, ripe, plump, juicy tomato, some peppers, an onion, eggs (farmers market eggs are the best eggs), peaches, turkey burgers, an electric purple eggplant and a zucchini. I’m probably forgetting something. I was thrilled when Chuy Bravo, Chelsea Handler’s adorably funny assistant, responded to my Facebook status comment of “Farmer’s marketing” to ask me what that is! (I love Chelsea, have both her books and have seen her perform live)

Later in the day, I got a foam roller. I’ve wanted one for awhile because of my knee. Speaking of my knee, remember how I was running so much more because the pain was  gone? Well, last week I went to Core Fusion and afterwards the pain was back, stronger and longer than ever. Walking hurt so badly, and this went way beyond the insane post-CF soreness (which I might add was more intense than ever from not having gone in 2 months).

Today’s Run
My knee was still hurting on Saturday (3 days after CF) so I decided not to work out at all so I could rest my knee. I didn’t work out Thursday or Friday either. On Sunday I had no opportunity to work out, but I could not wait to try out my Nike + iPod and find out the general distance of my run! I woke up at 6 today and couldn’t wait to get started!

I stretched and used my new foam roller. I took Naproxen before bed hoping it would still be active during my run (it is supposed to last 12 hours). I put on my knee sleeves, my HRM and had my Nike + iPod ready to go!

My run started off beautifully.I felt great and the random songs on my Running playlist were perfect. I didn’t want to mess with the Nike + iPod by changing songs during my workout, so I was willing to accept whatever came on — but I loved it all. I didn’t have it set up to have the voice tell me when I hit each mile or anything, although I plan to implement that feature the next time.

I ran, excited for the run to be OVER so I’d know all the stats! I want to add that I am aware that this is not the most accurate measure of distance. But I don’t need anything perfect right now. I am new to running and just want a general idea. In a few months I’ll be constrained to treadmills (ugh) anyway and won’t need a GPS. Next spring, if I decide to get more into running further distances (which I hope to!) then I will revisit the idea of upgrading to a GPS HRM.

Back to my run! I knew I was going a little bit faster than usual, but I just felt great. The sprinkles were on and I had no choice but to run through them, which I would have been fine with towards the end of my run, but it was annoying at the beginning! The clear screen cover on my iPod got wet so I wasn’t able to glance at any stats during the run.

I did get a minor cramp a few minutes in, but luckily it didn’t last long. I was able to do some very quick sprints (think one line in a song) a few times to try and work on my speed. When I reached minute 26 my knee started hurting badly. I didn’t want to cut the run short because I was so set on determining the distance and I knew I had about 10 minutes left, so I stuck with it. I didn’t even feel the pain of the very last long hill at final point of my run because I was so happy that I was about to find out the stats! I had even more energy than usual at that point and went slightly faster uphill than normal. When I reached the end, I stopped my HRM and Nike + iPod, went home and recorded my results.

I didn’t have time to upload the Nike + iPod into my computer yet. I know it gives you fun information like graphs of your pace and which points you went faster and slower and all, as well as my splits. I am excited to try those features later and maybe I will be able to post these charts on here.

But using pen and paper, I will now tell you my results. Keep in mind this is not 100% accurate — and I didn’t calibrate it yet — but I do believe it is within 10% accuracy based on my research and the fact that it is literally straight out of the box. And I also want to note that I always guessed this run was about 3.2 or 3.3 miles.

Here are my stats:

Miles: 3.87 (!!!!!!)
Time: 32.54 (also !!!! — I usually complete this same run in 36:00!)
Pace: 8:29 minute miles (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i thought i was the slowest runner ever. my goal for the 5K was 10 min miles)
Calories: 305 (nike), 329 (HRM)– The HRM is obviously more accurate except that I realized I never updated it to reflect my current weight, which the nike is using. I must do that!
Average HR: 179
Max HR: 196 (it was hot out — already 80 degrees at 6am!)

YAYYYY! If the pace is accurate, I just might finish my 5k in 26 minutes (interestingly, the same time my knee started hurting). So exciting! This made me so happy! I thought I was the slowest jogger ever, but I am now thinking that might not be the case. I definitely got much faster from my first runs a few months ago. And now wherever I am and I want to go for a run, I can have a general idea of my distance.

Being Crafty
I didn’t buy the special armband to use with my Nike + iPod. I have an armband and didn’t feel like spending money on a new one. The Nike + iPod band at Urban Athletics downstairs was $20. I figured I could make my current armband Nike + iPod compatible myself. I purchased velcro at Rite Aid for $3.79. My current armband closes using velcro, so I figured an extra little strip to fit around the sensor and close it up would do the trick! I will try it out later, but I can’t see any reason this wouldn’t work. I’ll report back on this!

Speaking of being crafty, I purchased a pair of Craft running shorts. I never heard of this brand before. Anyone? I had a $17 credit at Urban Athletics and after being disappointed by the Nike Tempo shorts I tried this weekend, I figured I’d take a look there. I have been running in Soffees and while I do love them, I’d like a pair that can breathe a little and has a little pocket for a key and maybe a couple dollars.

I went right up to the sale rack and saw the Craft shorts. I tried on a pair and was surprised that they fit perfectly, were comfortable and didn’t have weird folding up-ness all over like the other shorts I’d tried. And the best part — they were 50% off their regular price of $40.00! So they were only $20 and after my $17 credit, only $3!

I did wonder for a split second if I should use my credit on the new armband, but I am sure I made the right choice. I am excited to try the shorts out! I love getting new gear!

Strength Workouts
I generally rely on classes like Core Fusion for my strength training. I have no motivation to do any of it on my own. After being out of commission for the last 2 months while allowing my shoulder to heal, I didn’t attend any classes. Last week I went back to Core Fusion for the first time. I was very careful about my shoulder, but I was overly confident about my knees being better. That, and when I went to the instructor at the beginning of the class to tell her I can’t do planks, pushups and certain movements holding the weights, I didn’t want to tack on the knee problem too. It would have been like “Why are you even here if you can’t do any of the exercises?!” I was also confident that my knee was better. Wrong.

I did the plies full blown. And as I said above, my knees paid the price. I rested for a few days, but they hurt during my run today and now are killing me. Walking hurts. Sitting hurts. I will need to rest much more to get them back in good running shape again.

Which makes me sad, because Physique 57 emailed me a special offer — 2 classes for the price of 1. I was so excited to use this since I love a bargain, especially on $35 exercise classes that lots and LOTS of people pay full price for.

I had signed up for tomorrow and next week. (I had signed up earlier in the summer a few times but had to keep moving it due to scheduling conflicts — including that doctor’s appointment that was a big waste of my time). Finally, I had no conflicts and I was excited! Except that I took Core Fusion and I now know how much the class hurt my knees. CF is similar to P57. I want to focus on running right now. Injuring my knees even more would be a bad idea. So, unfortunately, I canceled tomorrow’s and next week’s class. The offer expires August 31, so I will not be able to take advantage of it.

The good news is that I went to CF first. If I went to P57 and realized after how much pain I was in, I wouldn’t have been able to go a second time, and I would have had to pay full price for my one session. I am glad I avoided that! And I have a package at CF so I can use my classes when I feel better. Although I am sad I couldn’t use my P57 discount, I know I made the right decision. I need to rest my knee so I can run while the weather is still nice!

And I believe Physique 57 sent me the email because I haven’t been there in a very long time. Hopefully in a few months they will run the promotion again and I will be able to take advantage of the offer.

Although I love Core Fusion more than ever now. Not only because of my all time favorite instructor whose classes always fill up, but also because of the founders. Remember when Missy and I took a free class with Fred and Elisabeth, the brains behind Core Fusion (and the people you see on the video!)? It was an incredible class and an exciting experience. Well, after class last week I tweeted about my legs feeling like jelly from the class and Fred replied to my tweet! I followed him and then yesterday he began following me as well. And I must say, his tweets are awesome — full of interesting information about wellness, healthfulness and spirituality.

So when I tweeted saying that Core Fusion did a number on my knees, Fred DeVito (bio here)was kind enough to send me a direct message. His first message asked about my knee and if he can help. Wow – how nice!  When I told him I have Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome (FYI – the bursitis from spinning is gone, but i have had PFPS for many years) he said to let him know when I am ready to go back to CF and to please let him help because he wants me safe.

This is the owner, founder and brilliance of Core Fusion, the man in the videos, who I am sure is super busy since he is so successful — telling me he wants to help me return to class safely! How amazing! I am touched and honored and I am so pleased with the way he runs his business. He really seems to care about the clients getting the most out of the classes.

I am going to rest my knee from Core Fusion until after the 5K or until I am ready, and then I will let Fred know I am ready to return to class! I will have all winter to take classes since the treadmill doesn’t cause the same kind of pain that running outside does, and I can tone up then! I have lots of Core Fusion classes to use and I am excited.

Sorry for the monster of a post. I had lots to say. I do have to add that I really am loving running. I still find it hard and I still can’t imagine how people run long distances, but I do see the addictiveness of it. I am already thinking about signing up for a 10K next year — although we will have to see then how things are. I like not being shackled to a gym membership and being about to be outside while working out, especially when I can add a goal like a race on to it. I never in a million years would have thought I would ever be a “runner” and I always wondered how other people did it, but each week my running gets better — longer and faster. Improving is possible, even though it doesn’t seem like it at first. And by next year I should be incorporating more Core Fusion classes so I hope to be even stronger.

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