New girl, big run, little secret

PS: Check out our recent giveaway!

So there's a new girl who joined our little running group recently.  Allow me to introduce cute little Hayley.  She and I ran 8 miles together today ( I did a total of 14).  Always nice to break up the run with friends.  Hayley and I gabbed about running plans, life story-type stuff...and then we confessed.  Sometimes running makes us feel...bloated.  Do you guys relate?  I mean, could it be the sugar?  The agitation of bouncing along?  The metabolizing?  Or maybe it's not running related at all?  We need advice, runners.  Or at the very least, I'm wanting a little validation and reassurance. 

Hayley:

This was my longest long run since the Marathon back in October!  I'm so proud- my foot really held up well!  I've been trying to run more on my mid-foot lately which seems to help.  Eat it, PF!!  During the run I tried the GU Chomps for the first time and loved themmmm!  Much easier, cleaner, and yummier!  I thought they tasted like a really great fruit snack.  I'm a fan-- goodbye gels!  I also ran a couple miles with a random gentleman on the trail.  He gave me some great advice.  One of those veteran runners who's done every race out there and loved all my questions.  We're tight now.  I also found it interesting that he too runs with pepper spray.  Keeps it right in his hand, finger on the trigger!  He says he's used it several times on charging dogs.  Hmm.  Hayley and I later ran into him and he convinced us to look into the Hobble Creek half marathon- apparently the best in UT.  Anyone done it?

Well, after the run I'm just feeling great!  I felt well prepared for it, the air was clean and refreshing, Hayley and I commented that the wildlife sounds in the air were great!  And the ducks are so funny to watch as they waddle around the grass.  The book I just finished- Committed- described ducks as "walking around, muttering to each other about the latest duck scandal."  That's exactly what it seems like- I love it.  I did get cold on the run.  My bum was so numb I didn't even realize my red Gatorade had dripped all down my shirt and pants (I've washed my white stuff twice today...with both sports wash and stain sprays and can't get it out!)

Today I also watched General Conference and it was fabulous!  Matt and I hung out and lounged around the house.  Conference weekends are my favorite!  We also ate tons of Easter candy and have decided Milky Way eggs are the best.

Happy Easter!
~K

I broke down and did it, darn it.

Kristin's entry:

Alright I finally bought 'em. Dansko clogs. Everyone at work wears them and loves them. Danna swears by them for plantar fasciitis. I am so sick of these little fasciitis flair-ups, I spent the ridiculous $120.00 and now I own the black clogs pictured below. The fit is really weird and kindof loose feeling. I actually wonder if I got them too big. But I think that's how they are made. They mold to your foot over time. The first day I wore them it was not comfy at all- in fact I had pain on top of my foot/ankle for 2 days! I got them for the trip to Iowa and wore them the whole time. Now they have become one with my foot, and I have to admit- I'm liking them! My PF hasn't acted up since, and they are comfy and supportive. Sweet! The thought that my PF issues may be solved is FABULOUS!


Do you like 'em? They're not exactly Jimmy Choos, but they're not super ugly, right? Maybe Dansko should pay me for this blog entry. I swear- between Dansko and Yaktrax, we are doing some good word-of-mouth! As a side note, a company called Stabilicers commented on a blog entry where I mentioned considering buying Yaktrax. They gave a spiel about how their product is better, and I said if they gave me a pair I'd blog about it. They asked for all these statistics on the blog, such as how many hits a day, and how many comments. When I looked up the data they were unimpressed. So dear readers, help us out and peek at the blog frequently. And comment. Ha ha! (Now that I think about it I think that story was actually what happened with Newtons shoes, not Stabilicers. But anyway...) So I won't endorse them. HA!

PS: Ogden half trainees- run 5 miles Sat. SLC trainees- run 8 Happy running! Call if you need some partners. We're fun and slow- the perfect combo!

Love, K
XOXO

Ski free- and stuff you'll wish you didn't know

Hey - It's Danna! Ok, I'll be honest, before there was 'run like a girl' there was 'ski like a girl'. In fact, a little trivia point for you here- we came up with the 'she runs like a girl' name from a playlist I have on my I-pod- ski like a girl. I ski with my mom during the winter about once a week. We have a riot. Of course, all I see of her is the snow she is kicking up in my face, but cest la vie right?

Notice my cool helmet! It has speakers in the ears, so I had to have a ski play-list. Actually the helmet came to be because I have these brothers that are super crazy insane.

Case and Point(s): We snorkled in Florida- they were reprimanded by the captain of our boat for "hasseling the sharks". They have installed a zip-line from the top of my parent's property to the back, and then when new babies are born in the family, they have contests to see who can get the youngest kid down on it. Preferably alive. They build home-made rockets and light them off scaring neighbors and police alike every Easter. They rock climb stuff that pro's wouldn't. These are the examples I can think of on a whim. Back to the helmet... They are the kind of skiers that you only see as they fly off the cliff above you. They break new skis every year, get kicked out of resorts, and break legs as a general practice. Ask me sometime about the calls I get at all hours...
Misc brother: "hey"
Me: "hey. do you know what time it is?"
Misc brother: "he, he yeah, so uh, whats up?"
Me: "what now?"
Misc brother: "so I was just wondering what you think I should do, cause I think I can see the
bone almost through the skin on my leg"
Me:" well, I think I would see a doctor"
Misc brother:" yeah, well, I'm kinda in the middle of the mountian. (insert painful little laugh)
Me:" so get patrol to pull you out on a tobaggan"
Misc brother:"Well, I think I'll try to ski down on one leg, uh, what do you think?"
Me: "Sounds stupid, but whatever."
Misc brother "ok, thanks, talk to ya later"

And then he really does ski down.

S0- the norm in our family is slightly off-kelter. When I skiied with them 2 years ago- I was stupid enough to try to keep up with them, long story short- went off an unmarked drop-off, LANDED IT(!) then quickly tried to not meet some trees close up, and the end result was two very injured thumbs. Adam then insisted on the helmet. Hence the ski play list!!!! Long story to explain a play-list right? These two really are the ones responsible for all the craziness. It's their fault. We all agree on that.

We do, as a side note, pick up strays too. Ksenia- you've seen her on the site, she is training for the SLC Half with us. We got her from Russia- and we kept her. She is my sister now.
We also have "the hobo" he just moved in downstairs one day, and we kept him too. He is now one of the crazy brothers referred to in the above stories.

So, I am skiing with my mom and dad for cross-training. Something else you should know about us- we don't pay for anything you don't have to. So here is the ultimate FREE cross training tip of the year- Ski Alta. You can ski every day there after 3pm for free. Yep- free. The lifts are limited, but hey- it's free. Most Utah ski resorts have some variant of this program, but Alta is the only one who does it every day, the same way. We love it- free skiing. That is our kind of sport.

So while we are on the subject of family- we received this question from my sister Buffy: she has her own brand of craziness, but it translates into 7 minute miles, so... why didn't that speed demon kind of crazy happen to me is the real question here. But here it is:

"Ok, She Runs Like a Girl Runners, I need some help and advice... I have BAD feet! I have always had bad feet, but now that I am long distance running, my feet really hurt and I need to baby them NOW and prevent major damage, so I can keep running. Does the tennis ball theory work? Should I soak them in cold epsom salt after runs? Should I take Ibuprofen??? Any other ideas? Thanks for your help!"

So, this is my answer. Yes- ice. Kinda yes- Ibuprofen. Yes- Epsom salts. Sure- try the tennis ball. NOTHING will make the difference that wearing Dansko clogs will. Nothing. I'd like to bear my testimony of clogs. (ha ha, but not really) All the girls in the fam have bad feet. I tried all those things, plus cutom fit VERY expensive orthotics, Designer drug prescription anti-inflammatories, and anything else I could think of. Nothing actaully FIXED the problem until I started wearing clogs most days. I still wear stillettos and wedges and boots with a great heel etc, but for my day to day shoes, it's the clogs. I actually think they look really cute and I can be on my feet all day, and my feet don't even twinge any more- ever. Clogs will FIX your feet. We can shop for them when you come out to visit!

Does anybody else have some ideas for foot pain? Let's hear what you all think!

Don't forget to get a run in today!