Change is a Good Thing -- Welcome Back

Wobble, wobble, wobble, WACK!! KaBLAM. POW!!! Stumble-tumble-roll, roll, roll. Owie owie owie OUCH! 

What was THAT, you ask? Well, that was me. Falling off the fitness wagon. I won't say I've been totally unhealthy, I haven't, but I have been slowly backsliding from where I think my potential fit level is. I've gained a little weight (no one would really notice but me), my fast doesn't come as easily, and I'm strong, but not as strong as I could be. Do you know what the awesome thing about this is, though? These are all things that are within my control, and I can choose to get back up to the level where I want to be. 

Summer really can be a tough time to train, with vacation time, kids being out of school, hotter days, and general fun things to do that pop up. Who'd rather do a long run than attend a family barbecue? Well, not this girl. This is one reason that I generally do not like fall marathons -- I just have such a hard time consistently training for them. Strange as it might sound, I'd much rather wake up early in January and knock out a 14 miler when it's 14 degrees out than run outside in the summer. 

This is in full view from my treadmill. Helps keep the mental meanies out of my way.

Falling off the wagon doesn't just have a physical effect on me -- it also wreaks havoc with my mental game. And even when I'm at my fittest, my biggest challenge is always shutting up the voices of self-doubt that can creep up on me during a run -- most especially during a race. These voices generally say, "Why are you doing this?" "This is stupid; you aren't really a runner." "Remember when you dropped out of that 800-meter race in high school? You're still not an athlete." "I can hear your heart beating. And, you just got passed. Ugh." And so on. If that's what I'm facing when I logically know I'm physically able to conquer anything, you can believe the chorus thrums louder when I start to skip workouts. 

Yes, Virginia, there really are fit girl problems. That sounds like fodder for another blog post. 

So, this is my rededication to running, my commit to fit. While our kids are over just part-time during the week, having them back in school provides more of a routine for me that I can take advantage of.  (Sidebar: I commend all of you caregivers who are working your healthy routines while doing parenting 100% of the time, day in, day out. You are my heroes and are setting a great example for your kids. Kudos.) Also, I had nothing to prepare for during the summer. There was no greater cause for me to be disciplined. Well, I am going to do at least a half in October, if not the full. I'm planning to register for the inaugural Northern Ohio marathon, which is Oct. 13 in Lake County, Ohio, home to the lovely family of Coach B. Lesson learned: Be working toward something. Set goals and don't meander aimlessly. Focus your energy, be it in the gym, on the road, at work. Know what you are working toward, otherwise you'll go in a circle and not upward. 

The swag for the Northern Ohio marathon includes a Brooks Essential half-zip pullover. I'm IN.  

As a springboard,  I'm somewhat crazily doing a half marathon this Saturday in Bowling Green. I'm not as prepared as I'd necessarily like to be, but M and I both agreed we're viewing this not so much as a "race" as it is a "run." :-) I passed the tests I'd set for myself to see if tackling this half was feasible. I wanted to run 5 on Tuesday, then 10 on Thursday. I did both of those, but on a treadmill. In air-conditioning. I'll rest Friday, and try to focus on miles and not time on Saturday morning. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. 

As far as the blog goes, I've got to be honest: The RW Streak challenge had me b-u-r-n-e-d out. The collages. The mileage. The entries ("I ran. I ran again. I ran alone. I ran with M. I ran, it hurt. I ran, it felt good.).  It just got to be too much. SO: I pledge to write once a week at minimum, on a thought-out topic. I'm not intending my portion of the blog to be a workout diary, but I'll include a little bit of what I'm up to, just to stay accountable. I know M is dedicated to her fitness and her running, and she's an Advocare rep now, too, so if you need the supplement hookup and other amazing products, she is your woman! Link to M's Advocare Site

M is so dedicated that even disgusting dive-bombing bugs wouldn't keep her from completing a muggy night run. I took the treadmill route. I'm a bug-fearing wuss. M is not. 

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, our email inbox is always open (solesisters2014@gmail.com) and we would love to hear from you and what you are up to, and what your goals are! Keep in touch!!! 

Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other.  -- V.   

A Hairy Situation -- Runner Girl Problems

No matter how much you comb, brush or condition your hair, if you are a runner-girl you know that sweaty knots and tangles are an unavoidable nuisance in the game of running.  V and I both have relatively long locks and we know first hand what it's like to have tons of breakage from constant ponytails, headband use, pigtails, sweat and frequent combing and brushing.  It's NO fun and I am here to go over a variety of hairstyles that might work for you when running or post-run that may help you avoid the knots and breakage! 

(this is what I would look like if I were to try and run a brush through my hair after a run)

First up, the ponytail... You can call it old faithful if you would like.  It is the most simplistic of all hairstyles that runners use and it quite possibly the most effective for keeping the hair off your face.  There are a variety of elastics available at the local drugstore to accommodate the different hair types and thicknesses.  If you don't have bangs, you may not necessarily need a headband with your ponytail.  Just an elastic will do the trick and you'll be out the door!

(Plain, simple and effective.  The ponytail is as easy as it gets.)

(These are the ponytail holders that I use.  They come in a variety of colors and they hold my thick hair securely.)

Next up, the headband/ponytail combo.  This is the style I wear most since I have bangs that I am trying to grow out.  Not only do the headbands keep bangs or layers out of your face if a plain ponytail doesn't, they will help wick sweat from your noggin!  V wears headbands often as well, but hers are always sparkly and cute.  I think she likes making a fashion statement ... And trust me, we run in skirts, so a fashion statement of any kind is okay in my book!!

 (I prefer this thicker headband style since I have shorter bangs that need held in place.  V normally sports the skinny ones that will help keep any fly-aways out of your face.)

Bondiband headbands are hands-down my FAVORITE headband on the market!  They are sweat-wicking, wide, comfortable and super cute!  They are offered in a variety of solids and prints and on their website you can even customize them if you would like. Check them out at www.bondiband.com!!

I have also been informed by Sister V that the sparkly, fancy headbands that she makes such a fashion statement with are also made by Bondiband!!  She reminded me that she had to elbow women out of the way at the Glass City Marathon Expo in order to get them!! How on Earth did I forget that!?  I was first turned on to the Bondiband brand at the Detroit Marathon Expo and I have been obsessed with them since.  They are a superior product.  They are available at our local running stores and have also been available at every major race expo that I have been to.  They run anywhere from $5-$10 per band, dependent on which style you choose, but they are totally worth it.  Usually at the expos, they will run specials on price.  I like to stock up then!

Now onto braided pigtails.  This is a cute (men think they're sexy), effective way to keep your hair pulled back without having to worry about the knots that often happen from hair being in a sweat-soaked ponytail that has been flapping in the wind for an hour or so. The only issue with pigtails is that you have to be able to braid.  If you can't, let's hope you have a roommate, sibling, neighbor or spouse that is willing to help if you ever want to sport this style!!

The style shown above showcases pigtails that are french-braided, which they don't need to be.  I, for one, cannot french-braid my own hair.  I am able to split my hair evenly though and simply braid each side from the nape of my neck. I have tried braided pigtails myself and they would be effective for shorter runs, but since I have layers, some of the hair comes undone and ends up looking a little sloppy for my liking.  V can rock the pigtails without problems and looks darn good doing it (have you SEEN the Donut Dash post?!).  Her hair is one length though, which helps the braids stay looking a bit more polished.

The braided pigtail can also just be made into the braided ponytail if you choose to have a simpler, singular hairstyle and don't want the tangles that accompany the standard ponytail.  Just whip your hair up into a pony and braid it from the elastic on down and secure with another elastic.  This works especially well at preventing knots and tangles in sweaty hair if it is longer in length ... It won't whip around as much and will be easier to comb through post-run.

Next up, the hat/ponytail combo.  Personally, I don't like wearing a hat while running ... Or while doing anything really, unless I am at a baseball game. I do see a lot of women wearing them at races and they look spectacular and practical.  This allows them to keep their ponytails neatly in place or, if they have shorter hair, the hat holds it out of their face while shading them at the same time.  I get the practicality of it, it's just not more me.  Now they make these handy-dandy hats with little zippered pockets to store a key or another small item in.  How convenient!!  I think if I didn't like wearing sunglasses while running, I would give the hat a whirl.  For now, I will leave the hat-wearing to others!

  (I really do like the concept of the pocket on the hat.  Makes it very convenient for a key or ID! I just wish I liked wearing hats!)

Finally, we have one of my favorites. This hairstyle isn't necessarily for running or working out, but more for post-run or work out.  It is the messy bun.  You probably are wondering why I love the messy bun so much.  Well, let me tell you: I HATE washing my hair. It is a process and a waste of time. Wash, condition, towel dry, blow dry, straighten or curl, spray, blah, BLAH BLAH ... The messy bun allows me to go DAYS without washing my hair.  Yes, even after I sweat and run and run and sweat, I will NOT wash my hair.  That is how much I dislike it.  I own a teasing comb, dry shampoo, hairspray and elastics.  On no-wash days, these are essentials.  I can blow dry the sweat out of my hair, apply dry shampoo, tease it at the roots and pull it up into the grand-daddy of dirty hairstyles... BEHOLD!

Still cute and sexy with bedhead appeal, the messy bun is quite versatile.  To be honest, I can do this to my hair, apply makeup really well and I can look like a million bucks ... Or I can do my hair like this, stay in pajamas without makeup and look like a roll of nickels.  It is really what you do with the rest of yourself when you wear the messy bun that will determine which look you achieve.   Frankly, I just like it so much because it prevents me from having to wash my hair without having me look like a greasy-haired wild woman.  Thank you creator of the messy bun.  I love you.

I hope that some of these hairstyles and product suggestions will help some of you runner-girls out there!  Just be sure to deep condition and if you go through a training season and go on to complete a race, do yourself a favor ... Go get a trim at your favorite salon.  Your hair will thank you.  After a spring marathon training season, V and I were both due for a good trim!  Felt great to be able to run a brush through my hair without it getting stuck!  

(YIKES!)

We always think about what we put our bodies through when running and fail to think about what we are doing to our hair in the process!  Let's keep our luscious locks healthy, ladies!  No one wants a rat's nest on their head (well, unless you are purposely on day 3 of the messy bun)! Remember to comb, condition and trim when necessary!!



"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."  ~Kahlil Gibran

Be Someone Other Than Me? Heel No! -- How an Injury can Change Your Perspective

Vanity, thy name is Victoria. It has taken a minor injury for me to realize this, but I have come to grips with the fact that from this point forward, I must embrace the fact that I am not tall, and I never will be. If you ask anyone in my family what I wanted to be when I was little, they would tell you, "older, and taller." I always wanted to be 5'7", just like my Aunt Vicki, for whom I was named. Because I don't quite top 5'4" on my best posture days, I've achieved my dream of height for years with a series of ever-skyward-reaching heels -- boots, wedges, stilettos, pumps, peeptoes: You name it, I've worn it. My collection of heels is quite literally staggering, and most of them see me boosted to about 5'9," rivaling Coach B in height. 

These are some of my favorites. None of them is under 4 inches in height. In the foreground is the collection of medication and muscle rubs that now keep my foot from feeling like it's on fire.

On Wednesday, however, I was brought back down to Earth. While walking down the three flights of stairs we have at work, I felt a super sharp pain on the ball of my right foot. It was so noticeable and nagging that I ended up taking off my 4-inch boots for the night and scuffing around in my socks. I propped my foot up on an overturned U.S. Mail tub for the remainder of the shift, and then hobbled down the stairs and headed home, where I promptly put on my older pair of Virratas. I iced my foot down in bed and researched just what in the world I might have done to myself. 

My beautiful Virratas.

Well, the upshot is that the pain I was feeling was likely something I had actually caused myself. After a weekend of dancing in high wedge sandals and pounding the pavement, too, during my daily runs, I've developed a spot of metatarsalgia. This is a fancy name for  pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.   According to the Mayo Clinic,  pretty much anyone can develop metatarsalgia, though there are some higher risk factors. Lucky me: I fit into several of them. 

You are at higher risk if you:

• Participate in high-impact sports. Metatarsalgia is more likely to occur if you're a runner or you participate in sports that involve running or jumping, such as soccer, tennis, baseball, football or basketball. 
• Wear high heels or shoes that don't fit properly. High heels transfer extra weight onto the front of the foot, and shoes that are too tight can compress the toes.
• Are overweight. Extra pounds put more pressure on the metatarsals.
• Have other foot problems. Certain foot shapes — such as high arches, a long second toe or unusually long metatarsals — can contribute to metatarsalgia. These conditions can cause pain and inflammation that change the way a person walks and the distribution of weight in the feet.

Sorry Meatloaf: Two out of three are actually pretty bad, and three out of four are even worse, in this case. I obviously participate in a sport that involves running, I wear high heels, and I have freakishly long (but aesthetically beautiful) second toes. 

I had to make a decision: What can I control out of these three things? Well, I'm not going to stop running (hello, I'm nearly in the middle of a 39-day streak here!), and I'm not going to have surgery to reduce the length of my second toe (though people actually do that, as well as have surgery to remove their toenails. No joke.). 

(Black toenails lurk beneath. But, I'm not having them surgically removed.)

I hate to do this, but it's been a long time in coming. I can't keep doing this to myself. It's not you, really; it's me. And, this will hurt me way more than it will hurt you. But my decision is final. Good-bye high heels. So long, reaching things on top shelves. Farewell illusion of long, shapely legs and slightly more proportional hips and rear. 

We just can't keep causing each other pain...farewell, my lovelies.

But you know what? It's OK. Really. I'm petite. I'm short. I have a long torso and not-so-long legs. I'm vertically challenged. I'm a shrimp. I'm fun-sized. I'm not going to be asked, "How's the weather up there?" (Someone might ask me to tie their shoes, however.) 

Just me. In a pig hat. With viking braids. 

The older I get, the more comfortable I am with myself, just as myself -- not some idea of who I should be or what someone else's idea of what "pretty" is. If I'm healthy -- I'm  happy. If I'm strong -- I'm pretty. If I have friends and family -- I'm fulfilled. And if I'm comfortable being on the short side (really, I'm probably absolutely average height) AND I can continue to do what I love (run and run and run) injury-free, well, that sounds like the right thing to do.  So if you see me in a  non-running setting and think that I look shorter, I'm not, really. I'm just little ol' me. Just don't ask me to tie your shoes. 

Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other. (Be kind to your feet!!!) -- V. 

We're Going Streaking -- Day 13 Country Roads & Campgrounds

Well, V and I will officially hit our two week mark in the streak tomorrow!  Pretty remarkable for both of us!  I can't lie, there have been a couple days where it has been difficult to squeeze a run in or I just plain haven't wanted to, but I am always very happy (and proud of myself) once it's done!

This weekend is busy, busy for both of the Sole Sisters!  V is unplugged and camping for the weekend but was able to send me a quick collage to keep me updated and stay accountable.  Looks like she got a solid 5k in surrounded by nature!  Can't beat that!  I know the weather was perfect at home and where she currently is, so I am sure it felt good!  Great job, V! Can't wait for you to get back so we can catch up!

(not too fond of her staring at me like that... I may have to have a word or two with her)

My weekend is pretty busy as well.  I started it this morning with a run accompanied by fellow streaker Jodi Zeigler.  It was nice to catch up and run in her neck of the woods.  She lives in a rather rural area so it was wonderful to run and not get stuck at crosswalks and worry about city traffic!  We got a solid five miles in and Jodi said she needs to work on talking and running... She wasn't quite used to it and I think I gave her lungs a real workout today!

(those are her horses, dogs and goat you see in the above pic... I think the dogs wanted to join us, but I have a feeling they would have ran us instead of us running them!!)

After my run with Jodi, I headed into work for a brief work meeting and then hit up some local garage sales... I scored a pretty sweet set of colorful Tupperware in case any of you readers wondered.  Then it was off to lunch with a great friend of mine!  Mama Meg!  She always brightens my day and is just a great source of positivity!  I am a firm believer that real, strong women uplift each other.  It is why it is so important to surround yourself with like-minded people!

(lots of laughs and love at lunch today!)

After lunch, I had to pick up Sole Child Lu from a softball game and then it was time to head home and get ready for the sprint car races at Fremont Speedway!! A customer at work gave me the tickets so I thought I would give it a whirl! I had NEVER been to anything like it before, but it was a blast.  The kids LOVED it and we will definitely be back!  

We were joined by fellow streaker Allan Detrich, his wife Mary and their son Noah.  As you can see, the Sole Children has a fantastic time.  I was happy to catch up with Allan and Mary since we hadn't seen them in quite awhile.  Good thing we grabbed a bite to eat beforehand... Those races were no place to chat!  Super loud, but totally fun! And yes, the most important thing to little Jo was her grape sno-cone... Oh, to be three again.

Well, readers, runners and fellow streakers... Thanks for reading and we look forward to another fabulous run tomorrow in the sun!!

In the words of V-Money: Be kind to yourself.  Be kind to each other.