Happiness is Fall Running

It is the start of October here in CT and the leaves are changing.  When a breeze blows the leaves fall like snow.  It's beautiful.  There aren't tons of leaves on the ground, but just enough to make the trail look pretty and start crunching under your feet.

The air is crisp at this time of year.  And I love wearing capris and a tank or shorts and a long sleeve shirt.  Roxy LOVES it when I open the sun room on the way home.  I love stopping for a latte on the way home too.

As I get back into running, I'm being reminded of a few important lessons:

The first is that I need to eat before I run.  I can't go out and run for 30-60 minutes and have nothing in my system.  It's not a good idea.  So I'm relearning what I enjoy eating before I head out the door.  I'm not a big breakfast person so a coffee and a piece of fruit is winning.  However, I am going to pick up some mini granola bars in case I don't have fruit on hand.

I'm working on my systems to carry my phone with me for my longer runs/woods runs, and have Roxy attached to my waist on her leash, have my iPod and headphones and car key. It will be easier with more layers and more pockets!

I'm remembering how hard it is to remember to foam roll too.  And how important it is!  Oh, and the LAUNDRY really adds up!!

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year to run.  However, this year I'm just to happy and grateful to be running again that it is even more amazing.

Oh and Roxy's training is going along extremely well.  We can pass people with no people or barking now.  I'm hoping she remembers this and keep up the good work!

Foam Roll Like a Pro

A Little Tougher

So this week has been a little tougher than last.  Last week everything fell into place and it was a breeze.  This week is a little more challenging.  Working in some dusty environments and doing some cleaning have left me a little stuffy and battling the asthma a bit more.  Also, there was a carnival setting up at the trail Roxy and I have been running on.  While that doesn't sound like a big deal, it means carnival rides, cars as well as carnival people and dogs walking and driving by us while running.  It's just too much distraction.  Even I wasn't enjoying myself.

Okay so since I have no great running strides to report, I want to tell you what I've learned.  First of all, eating gluten free is hard.  There is gluten in everything.  And, when you go out, you have almost no chance of finding things you can eat.  I was never trying to be completely gluten free.  However, reducing it is still hard.

Dairy is also in everything.  However, it is much easier to avoid.  Soy milk is available at lots of coffee shops.  Many restaurants have alternatives as well.  I even recently found a coffee "creamer" in hazelnut made of soy milk that I love.

Roxy is loving getting back out together and as if she wasn't attached to me before, she now won't leave my side.  She sits on half of my desk while I work.  She sleeps under my feet while I read and she constantly wants some attention.  I love it :)

So, I'm still eating healthy, foam rolling and working on my patience for this internal injury.  I think waiting for your lungs to heal is more difficult than waiting for something like a sprained ankle to heal.  You have no visual or physical indicators to go by, it's all about intuition.

So right now I'm trying to find that place between peace and pushing.  It's not an easy place to find.  You want to make progress, but still work hard.  Be a fighter, but learn the lessons presented.  Buddha meets a boot camp instructor....that's the battle that is going on in my mind.

However, I know I'm blessed to be back out there, enjoying the amazing fall New England scenery and on the road to recovery.

Coming Back

So this week I have decided to get out and enjoy the fall weather.  Regardless of what I can or cannot do, I want to see the leaves change color, get Roxy a good workout (it makes her SO much quieter and calmer the remainder of the day, and start my day off outside.

So, every day I grab a cup of coffee, use my inhaler and sit for a few minutes.  I get everything into my system, wake up a little bit (and check some emails) and then we head out the door.  If the first part takes too long, Roxy lets me know by getting between me and the computer.

We've been heading to our town's recreation center.  It has a dirt/paved trail that is 1.2 and circular.  It's not very hilly, which I don't like.  However, there are always lots of other people and dogs there which is great for Roxy's training.

We've been working some runs back into our walks and as long as I focus on counting my breathing, I feel good.  I haven't had an acute attack (knock on wood) and I've been feeling great afterwards.  I've missed getting out with her and breaking a great sweat!

Afterwards, she just sits in the car next to me and I swear she's smiling. We often stop to run some errands.  Most of the places we go to know she's in the car and they offer me a treat for her. She gets spoiled by just about everyone in town.

We've been stopping to pick up some coffee or a latte on the way home.  It's not something I want to be a habit, but right now I'm hooked on the pumpkin spice soy latte and I'm rewarding myself for heading out in the morning.

Roxy will actually nap for part of the day if we go out in the morning.  Otherwise, she just runs circles around my office.

So, next week I'm looking to add more distance back to our runs and decrease the walking.  I will say, I wore my running watch today and I was terrified at what it was going to tell me and how slow I was going.  However, I'm picking back up not much slower than I left off.  So I'm hopeful!

There isn't much better than heading out into the crisp New England air on a fall morning!  My whole day is better because of it!

Did I Work Out Today?

Neat infographic...sometimes all we need is a little something to make us move :)

Kona Kase Review

If you're looking for an easy way to find new healthy snacks to your life, Kona Kase is a great idea.  The boxes are delivered to your door ever month for $15.  I was worried when the box showed up. It seemed tiny.  However, when I opened it up, there were seven items, most of them full size!  I was shocked. 

I love that I was able to try out some of the products I've recently read about in magazines without having to hunt them down at stores.  (The Rise bar was one of my favorites).  

Since you're not paying full price for these items, if you don't like something, just toss it and have no guilt.  If you love something, you can hunt it down in greater quantity.

Each month a professional in the field helps to design the box.  There is an insert with descriptions of the items included as well.

I love Kona Kase as a great gift for the runner or healthy eater in your family.  For $15 a month they get lots of new, different and healthy goodies delivered to their door.  

If you miss a month, you can even buy previously sent cases.  

If you want to sign up or just give it a try for a month, check out their website here: http://konalife.konakase.com/buy-kases-here/

Eating for Asthma

So up until now I've been a fairly healthy eater.  I try to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible with protein and complex carbs.  Just like everyone else I have treats now and again and I love to celebrate with great food.

However, it recently came to my attention that what I eat directly impacts my asthma and how I feel the next day.  My doctor suggested I use a peak flow meter to determine how my levels vary from day to day.

Pair this with doing lots of research and my dad helping me from his experience and what I found wasn't pretty or fun.  The hard truth is that bad food=less air.  And it doesn't even have to be cookies.  Anything with lots of carbs (cereal, crackers) doesn't help out breathing.  Gluten also plays a role.  I'm not striving to be gluten free, but I'm trying to be aware and gluten is in everything.

Dairy is a big no no too.  It's a good thing I had mostly switched to almond or coconut milk a while ago.

Lots of green leafy veggies help your lungs; bananas, kale chia seeds, sunflower seeds....you know all the stuff you should be eating anyway and I already have in my pantry.  So, while the asthma is a pain in the you know what, it is already getting me to eat healthier, less processed foods.

When you stop and think about it, lots of the things we think of as "food" are made up.  Don't stop and think about it, your head will hurt.  Anyway, I found this and thought I would share it.  If you have advice to share about eating for asthma, please do!!  I'd love to hear from you.