Pony and Pig Tail Headbands

I had previously reviewed the headband by Bondi Band and loved it so I had high hopes for the pony and pig tail hat.  When I first felt the hat, I thought it was thin and wouldn't keep me warm.  Well I was wrong.  It was just the right thickness to keep me warm throughout my run.  I was even surprised by a sudden snowstorm during my run and it kept me warm and dry.

The dryness is the best feature of this hat.  While keeping me warm, the hat stayed dry and kept me dry.  When I took it off, my hair wasn't a sloppy, sweaty mess as it is when I've used fleece hats, etc.

When I first put the hat on I was concerned about how it was going to be to pull my ponytail or pigtails through it.  Well it was easy as pie.  I just made my ponytail, put the hat on and it nearly pulled itself through.

Bondi Band's hats come in all sorts of patterns, colors and with adorable and motivational slogans on them.  The best part is they are only $20.00.  By the time I was home from my run, the hat was dry and I would have happily worn it again before washing.  Despite, this, I suggest you get yourself a few!

http://www.bondiband.com

Nathan Quick Draw Water Bottle

If I could have made a list of everything I wanted in a running water bottle and given it to a company to make, they would have come back to me with the results it would be the Quick Draw Plus bottle by Nathan.

The bottle itself is 22 ounces...not too little and not too much.  I think its enough water to sustain you through your activity, but not too much that the bottle becomes heavy.

The attachment around the bottle that allows you to hold it on your hand slips right off when pulled so you can put the bottle in the dishwasher easily.  I've had others in the past that are impossible to wash except by hand and who has time for that?

Let me next address the hand grip.  It is large enough that you can COMFORTABLY put your whole hand in.  I even carried it this morning with mittens on and it stayed on with no adjustment throughout the run.  The hand hold does also have the ability to be adjusted smaller or larger, because let's face it our hands aren't all the same size.  The adjustable strap is also reflective, great for road running.

The other side of the bottle has a small pocket designed to hold a small ID or your key.  The zipper is large enough so that you can put a car key in it that is large (like mine) and there is even a small hook to which you can attach your key.  However, I will tell you that the zipper didn't budget and I don't think the key would fall out.  The bottle is even equipped with a small ID and medical information section.  You can fill this out and never have to remember to take your information with you on your next run.

While running with the bottle, it stayed put.  I didn't have to adjust it and it was comfortable.  Those are all complaints I'd had after using other bottles. And although this may seem small, the nipple on the top has a ridge in it.  Its perfect for opening and closing the bottle with your teeth should you not want to stop your run to drink.
I'm not only going to use this bottle to hydrate while I run, but I think it will make the perfect hiking companion. I also intend to throw one into my work bag.  This easy to use bottle will take away my excuses to "hydrate" throughout the day :)

The bottle retails for only $18 and is worth every penny.  You can take a peek at it and get one here:

http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/handhelds/quickdraw-plus

This color is part of their 2011 product line and will be available online in January 2011.  Who doesn't love a cute AND stylish water bottle?!  Take a peek at the picture here:

New Tutu

I love my pink tutu.  It came from Target and while I will always have it, I wanted some variety.  Not being close to Halloween anymore I needed to get creative.  Through the wonders of Etsy, I found someone to make me one for $10!  I've been meaning to post a photo so here it is!  I will surely be getting more as time goes on!

Membership

This is an essay I wrote this past April.  I never did anything with it and although life is a little different now, I figured I'd share.

My membership card had been revoked. Every month when my Runners World arrived it was painstakingly clear I was no longer part of the club….of runners.

I used to run, in high school and then I started again a few years ago.  Although I loved owning the cutest running clothes and knowing who was favored to win the next marathon, I was never very good at running. 

I would read about short runs, long distance runs and speed work and wonder how I could manage all this, when I was focused on making it through the first mile. 

Just as I was making progress (or so I felt), I got mono.  And as the doctor said “its just not so easy at your age”.  For the first time in my life I was be faced with the realization that I was no longer “just out of college” and I could “push through it”. 

We all know how the story goes, weeks became months and months became two years.  Every month my magazine would arrive and bring with it a reminder of the potential I was not reaching.  It would also taunt me a little, showing me a glimpse into a club of which I was no longer apart, runners.  People who went out and punished themselves day after day in the pursuit of happiness and being a better runner. 

Sure I still worked out.  I hiked and used the ellipse and spin bike I have in my living room, but it was never the same. 

So one day, when the snow was still on the ground here in New England, my shoes started calling me.  I’m not sure what made me think of running, or more importantly, what possessed me to strap on my shoes, some thermal pants and leave my heated car seats for the trail.  Once I started running the story was typical.  I panted, stopped running and almost cried.  But at the same time I woke up something inside of myself.

I felt that although I wasn’t a runner in anyone else’s eyes, I’d become on again in my own.  When my next magazine arrived, it wasn’t scolding or a painful reminder; it was a welcome back hug.

As time had gone on, I’ve improved.  I’m not running a marathon or breaking speed records.  I’m a busy, small business owner who desperately tries to carve out thirty minutes to head into the woods to run.  This makes me a runner.  We all use a lot of subjective adjectives to describe ourselves, runner is one of mine.

I don’t have abs or buns of steel and I’m not training for a race.  Everyday and every run is a batter of woman versus herself.  My mind still races when I put on my shoes and gear up my iPod. 

The moral of this story isn’t mine alone.  The moral of this story is that we are all runners.  No matter how fast are or how far we can go.  We face our own challenges each and every time we head out for a run.  Whether it’s a marathon or a mile, we all have the same spirit, determination and possibly, craziness that gives us all membership to the same club.  

Turkey Trot

I had my second race on Thanksgiving day. It was a Turkey Trot.  I was very nervous.  I had only raced once before as an adult (on Halloween of this year).  As it was my first race I had a PR on Halloween.  I was coming back from injury so I was pleased with just about anything I did.  Finishing thrilled me.

And so I felt the pressure was on for this race.  I was worried I wouldn’t beat my last time.  I was worried the colder weather would make my asthma act up.  I was worried that I would be tired from holiday activities. 

Well it was colder and I was very tired from going into NYC the night before the race to see the Macy’s balloons inflated.  I had a horrible meal and I barely slept the night before. 

I showed up at the race and figured I’d do my best and if it was a PR or I came in DFL, who cared, I was awake in in running shoes while most of the town slept in their warm beds.

Well I beat my last PR by almost 3 minutes!  I was thrilled!  Again, I don’t remember a lot of the race. I don’t remember being out of breath.  I don’t remember feeling like I was running any faster than I do in my training runs.  I just remember running, enjoying being with “my people” and loving the fact that I was blessed to participate in an event like that on Thanksgiving morning. 

I love racing.  I feel like when I attend a race I’m with “my people”.  I love the excitement.  I love the fact that to each and every person running or walking, the event is a challenge and together we are all going to do the best we can and find victory in our own way. 

Since my first race was on Halloween, I wore a tutu as my costume.  Well I’ve decided that its my thing.  Its my race skirt.  I wore the tutu today with a matching pigtail hat.  (My pigtails come out the side of the hat.)  I love the fact that lots of people complimented me on it.  I love the fact that running is fun and even the fastest runners can be silly and support others.  So for this Thanksgiving I’m thankful for so much, my friends and family, my health, the love I have in my life and for the sport of running.  I’ve posted some photos of me at the race today as well. 

Happy Thanksgivining!

Its not a typo, its my "thing" to spell it like that.  And every year it reminds me that something that is mortifying at the time can teach you some great life lessons (and provide great story telling) later on.

May you be close to those you love this holiday and find peace, joy and happiness.

Enjoy your holiday and all is has to offer.

Injury

Lots of people run, and lots of people call themselves a RUNNER.  However, for many of us, we feel like there is an elite club to which we don't belong.

When I ran my first race since high school, I stopped and looked around and thought "there are my people", I had found my home.  But that's not when I thought of myself as a runner for the first time.
It wasn't when I bought my first shoes or anything like that.  It was when I got injured.

When I become hurt so badly that I couldn't run, I know it was part of me.  I longed to get out and struggle against myself, huff and puff and feel like I was going to die.  I longed to slip into my unflattering running tights and muddy shoes.  I knew at that moment that I need to run.

And the next two months would teach me so much about myself.  I had to find a new outlet to express myself, a new outlet to deal with my emotions and a new outlet to break a sweat.  Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who were supportive of my recovery and I found the best physical therapist.  His name was Steve and he knew about "people like me" who go crazy without working out and quickly designed a program for me to follow that would allow me to feel better mentally, and continue to allow my injury to heal.

Now that I'm on my way to a full recovery I look back and I'm so thankful the injury occurred.  I learned patience.  I learned how strong I was to deal with this.  I learned how much those around me love me and support me.  I learned that physical therapy is harder than any run I will ever go on.

Now I'm a stronger runner because my workouts are more diverse.  I've learned that taking days off are a part of training, not a break from it.  And I now know that unless something drastically changes, I will run the rest of my life.

For all of these things, I'm thankful.