![Post image for The Ugh![ly] Truth…checking into holiday/running rehab](http://www.remanents.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BookFair1.jpg)
by Monica on December 27, 2009
Maybe it’s the snow on the ground…or the high caloric intake…or even the general exhaustion from the late nights and last minute preparations. Maybe it’s just all that being nice. But holidays are not good for my running. Went out for a 7 miler this morning and felt like I was crawling. The moments of denial that found me saying “as soon as the holidays are over” rose up to greet me this morning on the run. Ugh! I need running/holiday rehab.
I once read that Bill Gates takes a week off every year to catch up on his reading. He shuts the whole world off and just feeds his soul. I have always thought this was a brilliant idea. I stayed in yesterday and read a book (Little Bee–great read…highly recommend it) and snuck out with my husband to see a movie (A Single Man–Tom Ford’s 2 hour long Gucci movie featuring the sublime Colin Firth as a gay man in the 60’s…loved it!). Now to just add the running element and a de-tox diet free of butter and sugar. A declared stay-cation of exercise in the AM and nothing after that…nothing pressing anyway.
So maintenance runs and strength workouts by morning, books (so many “best of 2009″ lists to tackle), movies (so many Oscar contenders to view) and family games by night (children to talk to–gameboys to shut off)…holiday/running rehab at my house.
And perhaps, if I have time on a break from doing nothing, I will work on my running New Year’s resolutions…maybe not.
![Post image for No Time [for] the Present…Jamie’s gift ideas for running friends](http://www.remanents.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_1250179203438_321.jpg)
by Jamie on December 16, 2009
The LDFs vow to scale back, but inevitably there are holiday gifts to be given. A lofty goal; connect with the inner elf and provide a little joy to the runners in our lives without breaking the bank (an obsolete phrase!)
My suggestions:
The buzz in athletic wear this year is Lululemon, thanks to funky designs, alluring textures and their claim that everyone’s butt looks fantastic in Lululemon pants. The prices are quite steep….. there is an alternative though, the Lucy stores (and user friendly online site.) The colors are vibrant, the design, quite hip and the prices…much less expensive. What’s more, there are frequent and considerable sales.
Even back of the pack runners like me fancy our Garmin’s. The watch happily feeds my OCD/running tendencies. It’s instructive to see how far I’ve run and how fast (or most likely, slow.) It’s simple to use. After the run, I plug the watch into my computer for recharging and the Garmin provides a nifty chart detailing the workout (and a running log.) I purchased the less expensive model, the Garmin 205, on Amazon for about $100.00 dollars (no tax, free shipping.)
If the runner in your life is on the fence about a running skirt, provide the impetus they need. The skirts are quite smart and easy to find. After all, professor and running guru Rachel Toor considers the running skirt her BFF.
For those runners with aches and pains (every one of us out there?), a gift certificate to Newton Running would make our hearts glad. They are currently the “it” sneaker, as people embrace the barefoot running philosophy or seek the next big thing in running. Personally, I love my light and responsive Newton’s. I will never go back.
Consider purchasing running gloves or a hat for all of those harried moms who grab their kids’ stuff on the way out the door. They will value the silky feel and wicking properties.
And finally, as we look towards the new year, what fun Monica’s run in the stocking (a race entry) would be!
by Monica on December 12, 2009
My kids have a Christmas list deadline–Santa can’t deal with any last minute requests. So this year they requested I do the same. I really can’t think of anything as great as being able to run injury free. So that’s what I am asking/wishing/hoping for Christmas and in the new year (besides the obvious…healthy family, a little extra income and world peace). It would be a beautiful thing to run an entire race without pain. Some LDFs and I braved the sub-freezing temps this morning for my first 9 miler in a very long time. I am a happy girl because of minimal soreness and have a renewed hope for the new year of racing. So I asked my husband to give me a run in my stocking this year…
Now the task of deciding which race to choose. I figure I will have to take it in the form of an I OWE YOU so I can monitor my progress back to more mileage. If all goes well, a summer marathon sounds nice. I would love to try one of the ZOOMA Women’s Races and the 13 Cape or Ragnor Relays. And yes, an international race is on my life list.
Some possibilities that have crossed my mind:
I would like to try the west coast…
San Francisco, Seattle or LA all sound intriguing. The Malibu Marathon boasts that it passes Brad Pitts’ house and ends next to a Starbucks on the beach (ok–that sounds fun!).
Doing all Five in the World Marathon Majors Series would be an awesome feat. I have two down, three to go…Chicago 2010?…the problem is they are all in the fall.
A marathon in another country is on the life list…
A destination marathon like Paris, Rome or Barcelona sounds so fantastic…the after race meal/wine would be worth 26.2.
The Big Five in South Africa or any of the Adventure Marathons (except maybe that Polar Circle one…brrr)
And then of course I would like to do Boston one more time…
So many marathons so little time…any recommendations for a girl who likes a big race?
