Running Mishaps, New Shoes and My Love for SUMOS!

Hello Readers – Hello Bloggers – Hello Runners and Yogis!

How does this fine day find you?  I hope you are well!  Remember to drink some fresh juice and take a series of long breathes!  It can do a world of good for your psyche and you blood!

How am I?  Alright.  I have this wonderful new season to make discoveries about myself and the world!

Races are WERE coming along fine….

I registred for a race, showed up on the wrong day and still ran the course.  I have no idea why I thought the March Mardi Gras Madness was on Sunday when it was on Saturday. 

Ugh!  Santa Clarita/Valencia is about 45 minutes away from home!   I was a bit pissed!  A REAL BUMMER!  I still ran the course and clocked it in as a day of running rather than a day of racing.  The only regret about this is…I looked forward to this race ALL YEAR!  It was my fastest 5k time last year! UGH! So now I have to wait until NEXT year to see my performance on THAT course! Which breaks me into a PR time ramble

PR Times

I have an issue when I hear people say they hit a PR. 

My opinion —> You can really only have a PR per race/course. 

For example: If you have been running races that are hilly and clocking in @ let’s say 30 minutes…

You run another race and you clock in at 27 minutes.  Some may say this is their PR since it is the fastest time.  But what if the race was a flat straight course or you were able to take advantage of a downhill.  Then you really don’t have a PR, you just have a faster time based on the course.

However the next year you run the initial 30 minute race again and you do it in 22 minutes. Well then you have a PR for THAT SPECIFIC RACE.  Right?

Back to races… 

I also forfeited running the “Grunion Run” this year. While I did and do enjoy races at the beach, I just could not see driving an hour or more to Dana Point this year.  My taste tester has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride regarding his health, I stayed home with him and we had great meals, laughs and a surprising but restful time change this year.

NEW SHOES

I took a MUCH NEEDED day off from the shop on Monday!

After running some errands and attempting to figure out what move I needed to make about my digital camera at our local BEST BUY, I ended up with no camera and some new running shoes!

I was about to purchase the Lunar Eclipse Model by Nike, when my taste tester appeared with some pretty light (weight wise) and VERY Happening (color wise) shoes called the Saucouny Kinvara 2′s.  He also had a pair of the Shadow Gensis in his hand and told me to try them on. 

Now prior I had been VERY skeptical about Saucony as a brand.  I had a pair about 10+ years back and absolutly them.  Since then I haven’t even looked in the direction of a Saucony display. My mind changed on Monday.

Saucony Kinvara 2

These shoes are some nice light and comfortable shoes.  They feel like I can run right out the door!  No fussing with breaking them in, etc!  They feel fast!

The next pair of shoes I bought are called..

Saucony – Shadow Genesis

Although these are not the shoes I purchase re: COLOR, this is the style.  I chose these specificaly for hill work.  i am feeling the need to do hill work.  I notice that there are always hills in a race. Granted some more than others.  Anyway, as I was saying I notice that most people slow down in a race when the hills arise…so that seems the moment to take it to the next level in the race and come in strong! I feel that I need to take my running a bit more seriously.  Even if it means I need to wake up earlier.  (Cringe) 

I am sure if I was a an athelete and that is ALL I had to do I would be just fine.  But the reality is that I am a runner on the side and small business owner by day.  I am not complaining, just saying.  Got to organize my schedule and life for what arises. Just be better.  More mature! Adulthood comes with it’s own growing pains I think!

Latest Running Food…

The SUMO Tangerine!

This delectable treat had done wonders for me! Eating it makes me happy happy happy. It is so sweet and bright! ALL NATURAL and absolutely divine. These babies are only available until the end of March here in California! Enjoy them alone or in a Citurs and Avocado smoothie!

YUMMMMMM!

For more information about this WONDERFUL FRUIT visit sippitysup!

Thanks for Reading!

SHOUT OUT TO DESIREE DAVILA!  Desiree will be running the NYC Half Marathon this weekend! Send her WINNING ENERGY!  This wonderful woman is prepping for her Olympic Debut in London this summer!  Desiree if you ever read this – Remember: YOU ARE THE BOMB!

Namaste!

Races Coming Up: Santa Anita Derby Day 5k, CATS 10k @ Lake Balboa and hopefully 2 more are in my near future! Know of an LA based race?  Let me know!

DESIREE DAVILA, Pepperdine COASTAL & Chinese Firecrackers

How are you readers? How are you fellow bloggers?

Before I begin this posting…

CONGRATULATIONS

DESIREE DAVILA!

Desiree Davila made the Olympic marathon team today!!!!

Okay just had to get that out!

The sun is out and it is an absolutely beautiful day here in Southern California!

Things here at the Veg888 blog are coming along.  Slowly at the moment, but still progressing!

The first races of the NEW YEAR are rapidly approaching!

The Pepperdine Coastal Run and the Chinese FIRECRACKER 5k/10k are are the first races I will be running for the second time!

I ask myself what that will be like for this VEG888 blogger this year? Oh dear!

I ran a 5k race in Long Beach on Christmas Eve.  I year ago I ran as well.  What was the difference? The location. I feel positive that I have continued running.  I love it once I am out there.  The challenge is getting out there and doing it! Especially in 43 degree weather! Brrr! I know I know…that is probably a statement someone on the EAST coast will think is ridiculous. But what can I say?  I am a California Girl!

The next few weeks will be dedicated to training for the PEPPERDINE COASTAL5k/10k and the Chinese FIRECRACKER 5k/10k .

Last year I entered the 10k at the Pepperdine Race.  It was my first 10k and I ran it in over 1 hour..not quite and hour and half but almost.  This year I am hoping to BEAT the EXACT time and hopefully finish the race in less than an hour.  This race is a FLAT & FAST course.  The only draw back is the smelly waste station we run past the first 5k of the race. (For those of you who have never done this race…PLEASE RUN THIS RACE! The proceeds go to some wonderful programs geared toward children! You can see their website HERE!)

I plan on running the new 2012 training course to prepare for these 2 races.  My theory?  If I can run the hills on the course for 7 miles then I will be more than prepared once the 10k Pepperdine race comes & ready for the hills the Chinatown Firecracker 5k/10k  race throws at you the initial 3/4 mile of the race!

IF any of you readers have been to Dodger stadium then you know what I am talking about!  If you haven’t…my trusty Garmin told me we climbed a little under 200 feet of elevation the initial 3/4 mile of the race! Whew!  You can read my experiences about those two races HERE and HERE!

On the food front…Introducing the newest delectable treats I have recently added to my repetoire!

Introducing…

The Yoga Bar

Cocoa Butter, Dates, Honey, Pistachios, Cashews

This wonderful bar is absolutely sublime. It is a completely CALM and delectable treat.  This bar is totally RAW.  It has honey so it is NOT Vegan.

Up Next…

I AM STRONG!

This bar is not for the weak hearted!  It is the strangest food I have ever had!  It is spicy, herby, and actually good in a strange sort of way.  After I eat this bar I usually feel like I could run around like the ROAD RUNNER!  As to if I would actually be faster…I don’t know..BUT I will say it helps me get out of the door to run.

The bar contains a blend of herbs and it based on Merlin’s Original Root Elixr as well as some RAW ingredients.  You can check out Merlins Website HERE and the I AM STRONG BAR ingredients HERE.

Both bars are GREAT additions to the day!  Try them!  Later on in the month I will be hosting a giveaway and these TWO bars will be included!

Thanks for reading!

Love and Light!

Namaste!

EXTRA – XTRA Read All About It!

Here are some interesting stories I read today!  I love to read about various topics DAILY and I thought I would share!

RAW Vegan/ Vegan News Today

1. Tennis Star Venus Williams has decided to adopt a RAW VEGAN Diet!  Venus is hoping to manage her autoimmune disease issues with this latest change in her lifestyle. This is a phenominal answer to her problem.  Very PROACTIVE!
2. Larry Hagman has decided to embrace an all VEGAN diet to combat Cancer. I am really excited to see an 80 year old man make changes as well.  Change your diet.  Change your life.
3. Fiber rich vegan/vegetarian diet help your micro flora.  This is very much paying attention what goes in must come out!
4. 8 Ways to Detox! You can’t have a headline with the number 8 and me not mention it on this blog!
5. Food Trend Pioneer from cooked to RAW!

News of Vinegar, Oil & Spices

1. Check out the book titled “Extra Virginity” by Tom Mueller.  He talks about the History of Olive Oil and the best types to eat, cook, un-cook, or dip with!
2. In the winter blahs can be highlighted with spice! This is a nice article geared toward the positive side of spices!
3. Experiment to spice up your diet and your health! We know that spices help our health, but this article goes into some options that will lead you to more adventures in the kitchen!
4. Global Warming may be threatening the TRUFFLE industry in FRANCE!A Truly sad day it will be when there are NO MORE TRUFFLES….EVER!

Running Highlights

1. The Olympic Trials will be underway this weekend.  For any information about who will be there and what’s is happening with them head over to THIS website!
2. FOUR AWESOME WOMEN are Olympic hopefuls this weekend in Houston! You can read their stories HERE!
3. Pick up a copy of the latest issue of RUNNERS WORLD and read a wonderful article about MY FAVE – DESIREE DAVILA! Go Desi!(She will be there this weekend and I wish her the very best!)

Catch Up!

Hello Longevity Seekers!

It has been some time since I posted last and I really wanted to say “Hello!” to you all!

I hope you are all well!  I am also hoping you are able to enjoy some beautiful weather this coming week!

California seems to be at it’s most beautiful when the sun is out and the there is a nice cool breeze!

Things in life have been quite hectic for me!

For the past 2+ weeks, my taste tester and I have taken to the HILLS!  Yes readers.  I am running up and down hills!

Around my store there are quite a bit of hills and I am able to design courses that are 3.5 miles to 7.4 miles.

This last Friday I did my first 7.4 miles ever.  It felt good.  Although I feel I could go another 2 miles…I think it’s better to continue taking it slow.

I had mentioned that I was having some knee issues.  There are a few things that I have been doing to stay on top of this.  First and foremost is YOGA!

I have been able to go through some dynamic yoga sessions on the days I don’t run and I am also able to do yoga for an hour prior to my runs. (As I write this post I can smell the wonderful soil in the back patio area.  My taste tester is watering the plants and I am up in the front of the store writing this post and helping people who come in.)

As I was saying… In all of the reading I have done and all of the information that is out there about proper form while running, I am learning which yoga moves are really good for the action of running.

One of the most wonderful things about Yoga is the lesson it can teach you in one move!  I have been practicing many asanas to stretch and lengthen the ligaments around the knees, stretch the ankles and especially the groin and hamstrings! Whew!

I am not as limber as I was a few months back!  But I will continue to work both yoga and running together.  I have even taken to lifting weights.  Upper body strength is used when climbing hills and for for strong surges in a race! So I read.

This next Wednesday is my birthday and I am hoping to partake in a NITE MOVES 5K run in SB!  Sounds like fun and definitely some GREAT BLOGGING MATERIAL!

What have you readers been up to?  Any documentaries you would like to suggest?

Have any of you readers heard or seen the absolute miraculous end of the Boston Marathon?  I know we are almost 3 weeks past this wonderful day…BUT it was AWESOME!  If you have the opportunity  please check out the You Tube Footage HERE!

Well I just wanted to say Hello and let you know I am still working toward my goals!

Thanks for Reading!

Love and Light!

Namaste!