Run, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

Danna again! Saturday I ran with a new 'she runs like a girl' team member for the Ogden 1/2 marathon. Amber. She is adorable. If you have a 20-30 something guy who wants a runner girl, boy do we have a sweetheart of a deal for you! We ran the Avenues- for the VERY hilly aspect. Which created a huffing aspect! Amber and K have been friends for many years. I'll need to work harder to get some dirt on K so I can post it! (Just kidding K, kinda). Kristin is in Iowa. I miss her. Poor Suz can't run right now, I miss her.

Amber and I talked about running and eating- two of my top hobbies! We talked about how we had both lost weight before, and re-gained it. I once heard Bob Greene of Oprah say that you really don't lose most of your weight from exercize, but it does put a ceiling on re-gain. I have found this to be true. When it comes to losing weight- diet trumps exercize. New years just passed, I have recently had a birthday, all the Haiti stress- I have been eating like I DID go to Haiti and came back starving. So nervously, I weighed today. STRESS!!! I braced myself as I got on the scale, but in a month of truly eating quite terribly- I only gained 1 1/2 pounds! I'm so glad my running put a ceiling on that weight gain. Of course, I have had my little (ok, huge) binge. I can be a good girl now. I think those eating episodes happen in real life, and my "diet" is all about real life eating. I call my "diet" my common sense diet. When faced with a food choice I ask myself, "Can I make this same choice for the rest of my life?" If the answer is no- then I eat it. I still go out to dinner and eat what I want once a week with Adam, I eat whatever I want. Just not as much as I want. If I want a doughnut, I eat half, and then if I still want the other half an hour later- I eat it. But, I am then mindful that I have already had a treat that day, and make other wise choices. It's all about balance.

NOW, keep in mind that I don't share all of this because I have it down. I share because I need the constant reminder and repitition to keep myself motivated. So this is my advice for the day... next time you see a piece of cake and think, maybe I shouldn't eat that... ask yourself, is that a choice I can make for the rest of my life? If the answer is no, EAT THE CAKE!! Then go for a run, and make good choices the rest of the day. Then sleep, repeat.

Friends and family are forever

Hey all- It's Danna. What a week. I was literally packed, prepared, and at the plane this week to go to Haiti with my mom for relief efforts. We had weight issues on the plane due to being notified at the last minute we needed to take all of our water for the entire team of 150 for the entire 21 days. My mom and I both really felt the right thing to do was to volunteer to not go. For every person who insisted they NEEDED to go, medical supplies were taken off the plane. We both thought, this is NOT right. We didn't want to go for our ego's, we were there to help. We waited until the last literal minute at the airport just in case the weight and balances of the plane logistics changed, but in the end, I think we chose well, to help by staying home.
It was disappointing, because we really wanted to help, but I think we did, by the choice we made. We may have to option of going in three weeks, but I think I'll decompress and evaluate if the decision comes to fruition.


Anyway- I was going to name this post "total nerds" because my mom and I obviously are, as you can tell from the above picture! We now have almost identical gear- right down to our garmins. I think when people see us running together they laugh. But we should be used to that by now!
This week we received a comment from a reader Brandi who recently lost a baby. She is a sweetheart. Her story is amazing and heart-breaking. She wants to begin running again to help heal her heart.
Over the past years- I have had disappointments, sadness, and fear. I'm sure everyone reading this has. Sometimes it can be hard to know how to feel better, or how to deal with hard feelings. I am amazed at how running clears my head. I can literally feel sorted-out after a run. I find this to be especially true with running outdoors. It seems that nature is God's domain. Just being outside when I run or walk helps. I also love running with my friends. Kristin, Suzy, Ksenia, my mom. There is a power of healing when women band together. I believe that marriages are happier when women have close friends. It's really not realistic or even fair to depend on one person to meet your needs. I think the best gift you can give a husband is to have your own, close friends. If you don't feel like you have friends like that now, here is the formula. Ready to know the secret? Here it is... Pray about it. Ask for it. Then just start running. God will work out the rest. Running has been a good friend to me. Trust God to take care of you and He will.
Of course, we would always love to run with you too!



We are all trying to be better, fitter, happier people at the end of this year. Make running with friends a central part. You will amaze yourself by who you are in December, even July. We know you can do it- just ask us!

Why we haven't run or blogged

It's Kristin.

I haven't run since Monday, and haven't blogged in a week. My life has been crazy! I got called as YW president (in my church) which has suddenly taken over my life in a major way. Hopefully it will settle back down soon, but it's been very very busy. Danna got asked to go on a volunteer mission to Haiti with one days notice, further rocking my world. Then she was told nevermind. Then again, yes we need you. Then again- no nevermind we miscalculated our numbers. So you can imagine she's been busy in a crazy way too! See her on the news HERE. She's in several shots- can you spot her? It's like Where's Waldo! How about "Donde's Danna?" I like it.

My work stuff is really busy right now too. I have a relatively new student which can be a lot of help or a lot of extra time depending on the situation. Also, Matt's 30th Bday is coming up and I've been doing "30 Days of Birthday Surprises" for him each night. Like "30 Cupcakes," or "$30 to spend on ebay" or "Look- I organized the fridge" since the fridge being packed and messy drives him nuts. I think that may have been one of his favorites. It's been so fun to see Matt get so excited. Should I throw him a party too? A funny over-the-hill party? Or a traditional one? I'm so indecisive.

And now, running. Ah running- I need you right now! I need to run off some stress, and I need to be with Danna. You know that feeling where you're about to part with someone super close to you for a month or a summer? And it's right when you really need them and you feel all desperate and selfish ("Haiti?! What about ME?!")? And you realize your reaction to their news is not right, but you feel like your tongue has a mind of its own ("Ok, so I know you're leaving for Haiti tomorrow and it's 1 am and you are going to be camping on the ground, debriding wounds, comforting orphans, and eating 2 granola bars and an MRE as you hike 12 miles to the city each day?" **Note: these details are all true!** "Well, what are some other things that I need to put on my presidency meeting agenda? I need help, sister! I'm stressed!")? Well, I've been there this week. Missing Danna already, and now she and her 25 lb. backpack aren't even going to have to leave me afterall! I'm so sad for Haiti, cuz homegirl is a FABULOUS nurse and a dedicated hard worker like you've never seen!! And so's her mama, who almost went too!

K, don't be offended of my seemingly light treatment of the Haiti theme. I really feel so sorry about the pain and suffering going on there and would gladly give up Danna and lots of other stuff to help them out. I donated here if you wanna join me. 100% of the money goes to the people themselves for their needs and care. I just did a tiny bit of inward whining about being without her for so long in such a crazy time. Suzy's not able to run for a while either due to some health issues, so I'd be out there on the trail. Just me and the guy in the bushes (and the cops). :)

Anyway, this weekend is my trip to Iowa- it's a business trip, but I get to stay in my own hotel room for the first time in my life! I'm totally psyched, and you will most definitely be receiving a blog entry summing up the sweet experience. And get this- the concierge has located a fun river pathway I can run on! Cool, eh? My boss said he would run with me. Not sure that's gonna work. 1)I'm super slow compared to most athletic men. 2)Awkward? 3)What if I want a walk break? "Um boss? Can we walk for a minute? You can run on ahead if you don't wanna walk with me..." I dunno.

Well, blog readers. Thanks for being faithful and asking for new posts. We feel loved and needed. And remember- this is the year to run!

This weekend's training (from Galloway's "Novice" schedule):

SLC, UT 1/2 Marathoners
Saturday: 3 Miles


Ogden, UT 1/2 Marathoners
Saturday: 4 Miles

Buffy- I wanna learn the foot taping method you mentioned in your comment! I wanna buy clogs too. I think I also wanna buy one of those ties or boots that stretches your calf and plantar fascia all night.

XOXO
~K

you asked for it...

Hi- It's Danna! Well, I have been asked a lot about my crazy family since my last post. So, I thought you might like a couple pics. These are from last Easter:

Matt and K found the coveted chocolate bunny. Notice Ksenia in the background.
The easter egg hunt is CUT THROAT! Small children are pushed aside, and "adults" throw hissy fits over things like, "that was my chocolate bunny! give it back....." Lowering of standards would be entered about at this point.


The official lighting platform for each person's rocket. The police were not here yet at this point.
Notice all the sane people standing BACK at a safe distace.


It takes A LOT of concentration ok? Devan is a ring leader.

The big one. Notice it's propped up with duct tape. typical




Houston- we have lift-off! It's officially a holiday with Danna's family.

Working on the blog, working on the bod

Hey, it's Kristin.

Browsing around and reading other people's blogs has become my favorite hobby lately. And not just runners' blogs (though I do enjoy those quite often). I like blogs full of eye candy and ideas, blogs about moms' lives (even though I don't have kids yet), and blogs about my friends and family. Blogs are so cool! You can read about people's lives, and ideas, and creations, and advice- all for free! It's crazy. And I love the novelty of them. I like thinking about things to blog about, and reading people's comments. Ok, I'll stop being blogsessed now.

Today D and I went for a run. It's been a bizarre running week for us. One day the ground was slick with new snow and slush and we couldn't run cuz we were sliding all over the place. Out of kindness, D didn't wear her Yaktrax (so we could be equals) and we forged the trail together. Instead of running we walked up and down a hill we call "glute hill" for it's tendency to work our bums. We must've walked up and down that thing for over an hour. Then yesterday the mad howling wind scared me back to bed (Danna will run in anything though. She was probably disappointed). I could just imagine coming home all face-chafed and frazzled after trying to run in that insane wind. And my bed's comfy-ness didn't help. I probably should've stayed up and done a work-out video, but...I didn't occur to me since I was part zombie still. PS: Runners- do you run in crazy wind? Advice?


Today we finally got in a good run. It was an afternoon/evening run. (Suzy's kind of out of commission for a bit right now and that's why we haven't run with her lately.) I love night runs. Totally different that AM runs. That ethereal fog and moonlight are so cool in the mornings! But at night the city is alive, and the air is warmer. So refreshing. Anyway, we just did 5 miles, but it was fun and a nice way to end our crazy work weeks. Our bodies really needed that run too! After skipping too many days we can really feel the lost conditioning!

Side note: I called the cops on a guy on the trail whom I saw sitting in the bushes. I actually call the local police quite often. I think they must roll their eyes when they look at the caller ID: "It's her again!" I call them when there are suspicious lurkers in the bushes (tonight), or obnoxious drunk people on the train, or people trying to start fights, or teens with illegal substances, or even people without a leash whose dogs are running (and pooping) rampant all over the parkway! Yes, I'm that lady. And proud of it, darn it!

Oh!! This week I'm going on a business trip to Coralville Iowa. We're checking out the nearby hospital and tring to implement some of their technology. I'm definitely going to have to find a cool place to run. Anyone know the area?! Running trails? Cool spots?

XOXO
~K

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!

Tuesday Night Musings

Kristin again.

Ahh, the rest day. Yes I love to run, but I love my rest days!

Poor Matt. Now that I'm training for some half marathons, he's back to the duty of going up and down the stairs to get things for me when I'm trying to "lay off the feet." I also ask for a "mini massage" every night as part of the whole tucking me in process. YES, I make my husband tuck me in. I highly recommend it. He's always hovering over his laptop while I do my get ready for bed process. This involved many things, from heating my pj's up in the towel spa D gave me as a gift for finishing the Marathon, to reading my scriptures, and goofing around until he starts nagging me to get to bed. Even though he stays up, I like that he makes me go to bed. Otherwise I dilly dally for hours, and play around on the blog, FB, and nieniedialogues. I start "over grooming," like touching up toenail polish, and looking at every one of my pores in the mirror.

I have decided not to run the Wasatch Back, but I feel a bit of anti-buyer's remorse. Krissy, have you run it? I'm scared of the intense hills! All the people on their website said it was the hardest (and most fun!) race of their lives. Harder than a marathon! If only you didn't have to stay up all night and then some!

This week, I have decided that it's time for me to start icing my foot again after runs. It's not so bad if you are wondering. I get cold really easily, but for some reason, icing always becomes very tolerable and almost comfy very fast! Must be the numbing effect.

I also really want to work on my running form this week. Short strides, pushing off with the toes, keeping my feet parallel (an issue of mine), and keeping my chest up and out so I'm never leaning forward. It's time to start getting ready to rock the Spring races!! I'm excited to run with so many friends in the races this year.

XOXO
-K