by Monica on February 7, 2010
LDF Helene and I decided testing out our new YakTrax this morning was the perfect medicine for cabin fever after a day inside (“snowmageddon”!). I even gave her the courtesy text in the evening offering up an excused absence, but she wouldn’t have it. Helene is the mother of three small (beautiful!) children under four–enough said. After figuring out where to put the car when there is only a few feet of street, we got her set in her YakTrax and off we went. We started cautiously over the icy-cold road, but became confident after the first few miles that we were not going to slip. We discussed the possibility of over estimating the effectiveness of YakTrax (Helene also happened to mentioned that I looked like a socialite in my parisian scarf…OK, I grabbed whatever looked warm in the dark!), but we had no problem increasing our speed. Although the ice on the road was chunky in some places and slick in others, we felt no sense of slipping. Not worrying about the road gave us a chance to take in the glorious quiet and picturesque scenes we passed. If you live anywhere where the snow blasted these past few days, these are worth the investment ($21.95 on Amazon for SZ sm). They make a snow, even one like the recent “snowpocalypse”, no excuse for not getting your run in…we are giving them the big thumbs up!
![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 November 17, 2009
A new running craze is taking hold–arm warmers! You don’t have to be an elite athlete anymore to wear them. They keep your arms protected from not only the chill, but the UV rays. They double as a snot rag (sorry…lack of a better term..tissue seems too demure) and can be easily moved up and down as the air flow requires (acting as a temperature regulator). Here are some of my favorites…
What kind of arm warmer –wearer are you?
For the rocker runner: The Tatu arm warmer from Sugoi (pictured above-they look like art!). Sugoi also has nice looking non-rocker Mid-Zero and Sub-Zero arm warmers in red and black.
For the happy runner: Moeben’s butterfly fleece sleeve or Defeet’s Daisys
For the funky types: Moeben has a few fun patterns including camo and a zebra stripe that offer UV protection.
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by Monica on November 3, 2009
Brrr…a little chilly in the am on the run. Now that I am back out there I had to retrieve the fall running clothes out of the basement. I have several fabric weights that I ”run my way” into as the days progress and the air gets colder. In the depths of the winter, having warm layers can make all the difference for an enjoyable run (especially on the most frigid days). Runners are forced to consider how to dress as the weather changes…
It can help to check the temperature ahead of time on weather.com and adjust accordingly. But like the weather man, I am not always on target and have learned to layer. If you have time, you can check out Runner’s World “What to Wear” tool that suggests the appropriate running attire after you enter the weather conditions. I tried this using a 30 degree cool/sunny day and they still suggested shorts! (Perhaps their gauge is set for manly men–I would have been in tights…but maybe real men… ) Over time (I am always on the lookout at TJ Maxx and Marshalls–they have great bargains on these things), I have built the following base running closet that helps keep me well dressed…
Monica’s Fall/Winter Running Closet: (shoes and running bras are a given)
lightweight running tights for fall (comfort is key–lightweight so you are not too hot on the run)
my fast light weight running tights (I know this ridiculous, but I have tights that make me feel fast that I wear on my tempo/track days–they are very fitted)
thermal running tights for the cold/snow days of winter (I have a fabulous pair of Pearl Izumi thermal tights that are so warm in any weather)
lightweight dri-fit running tops for fall
warm soft long sleeve dri-fit outerwear for winter (my favorite is one my LDF Jane gave me from Sugoi–it is so soft with a hood with a hole in the back for my pony-tail)
running vest for fall (I love this on the cold but not so cold days–keeps you warm but not too hot–perfect on a fall day coupled with a knitted hat and light gloves)
light rain jacket (for wet days)
winter all weather running jacket (I have an Adidas Supernova Jacket that was so great last winter–I love that thing)
knitted hats: more than one as they can take some time to dry ( I like a men’s hat so it goes over my ears–some of the women’s ones are too short)
light weight dri-fit gloves for fall
warm frost-resistant gloves for winter (I wear mine over my dri-fit gloves on the really cold days)
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