by Monica on May 31, 2010
When Piper Kerman was incarcerated for a year on a ten year-old drug charge, she ran everyday around the track to keep from losing her mind. The kindness of fellow inmates in this stripped-down world provided her comfort. This book reminded me of the redemptive qualities of running. And although this story is not about running, it plays an intimate part in the outcome. Running sometimes saves us from ourselves. It can provide peace to a troubled mind or solace to a busy soul. It can act as a catalyst to knowing that we are capable of coming back from pain. If life is like a race, we keep running, even when it really hurts.
The unexpected friendships that developed for Piper within the walls of the prison camp brought to mind threads of running friendships. Although not even comparable to prison life, a shared experience of long training hours and personal triumphs (reduced to the toughness and the kindness within us) can bring forth some of the most unlikely bonds. True colors are shown and respect is earned. Humor and connection trump competition and rivalry.
Orange is the New Black – My Year in A Women’s Prison is a really good read that opens your eyes to the injustices within the walls of our prisons. So much of it made me cringe. Piper is one tough cookie. I could not put this one down and was left wanting more.
If you’re looking for more about this book and Piper Kerman, see these videos and interviews:
[click to continue…]
“Training mode” requires a restructuring of a casual life…obsession must take hold. Part of this change involves products that aid us on the journey of soreness and fatigue caused by repetitive workouts and long hours on the run. Running is a relatively low cost sport (unless you travel to races in far away places), but we love any gear that get us through the tough moments. Sometimes discovering such things as ‘freezing your Gatorade the night before a long run on a hot day’ can be a revelation. But more often, it’s the discovery of ’a running bra that doesn’t chafe’ or ‘a recovery drink that you can no longer live without’ that brings momentary bliss. My children refer to these as “mom’s new running thing” when they discover them on a counter or in my running cubby. Training for the San Francisco marathon has begun and although some of these items have been resurrected (partially tested from another training session), these are my favorites of the moment (we are affiliates for some of the products listed below, however, we only recommend products that we personally use and enjoy):
1) KT tape : I have been using this on my foot and knee as I got back into training. I no longer need it on my knee, but continue to use a strip of it each day on my foot. On the site it claims: Supports sore or injured muscles, joints, and tendons without restricting motion like compression bands or wraps. KT Tape is like a brace, but better, and even more comfortable to wear.
2) This Wooden Foot Massager sits under my desk and really seems to loosen my foot muscles as I wo
rk. I just slip off my shoe and roll the heck out of the inside fascia. It really feels good…I mean, hurts so good:)
3) Nuun natural hydration Gogi Berry/Green Tea tablets: I add these tablets to my 
water when working out or after a run for the vitamins and electrolytes without the calories. I like the light taste and appreciate that I can keep the tablets in my bag and just add to my bottle of water.
4) Trader Joe’s Almond Butter with Roasted Flax Seeds on crusty whole 
wheat bread, Trader Joe’s Simply the Best Trek Mix and roasted and salted almonds from Wegman’s. All becoming staples in my pre and post run meals.
[click to continue…]
It’s good to be back after a much needed blog-hiatus. Running a business, a family and well, just running…for our lives…is exhausting. Getting off the merry-go-round occasionally brings perspective and vision back into alignment.
I decided to christen myself back into the racing world with two old favorites and ended up with what I call “extreme racing”. Fluke-like conditions on both accounts made for crazy adventures and incredible fun. Harsh weather conditions require us to dig deep, and although we were not rewarded with our best times, it did not diminish the sweetness of overcoming the elements. However absurd it all was, we could not help but laugh at the idea that a group of thirty, forty, or fifty-something women could be so crazy as to even take these on! And I know we are not alone on this. There are so many groups of running women out there that do the same. I saw and met many of them in New York and in Philly these past few weeks. You ladies rock!
running More
Back for MORE (Half Marathon):
A 4:15am wake up call for a 5am meeting time at the nearby grocery store. Three of us decide to make the trek that day from Philly to NYC because we have other commitments that prevent us from a night’s stay. We meet LDF’s Jamie and Jen at the Starbucks near the start in Central Park with our numbers in tow. It’s pouring outside and the temperature is about 40 degrees–so not fun. I have never had to race in the rain before, so I was clueless as to how to adjust. I am shocked that so many of the 10,000 registered actually show (about 6400 will finish). We sit in our corral as rain pellets us, listening to the beautiful Kristin Davis (of Sex and the City) [click to continue…]
