Product Review: Noxgear Tracer360 visibility vest (Or how a little, light weight vest could light up my life!)

Product Review: Noxgear Tracer360 visibility vest (Or how a little, light weight vest could light up my life!)

If you haven't had a chance to check out the Tracer360 from Noxgear, check out this video:

• 360 degree illumination
• Full Color Spectrum
• 360 degree reflectivity with 3M Scotchlite reflective waistband and the edge of the light source on the back
• Unit will alert you when batteries need replaced.  When you power on and off, a green blinking light indicated the battery life is good.
• Vest is able to be worn in all seasons.  It is rain proof, snow proof and pretty much Oregon proof.  Everything I need.
• It is super lightweight an comfortable!  6.5 ounces and feels like it is hardly there.

The vest is tubing that illuminates and attached to a light source (to be worn on your back) and a stretchy waistband with the 3M reflective strip.  As you can see above, the flash on my camera picks up the reflectivity.

This vest is very comfortable and lightweight, extremely easy to navigate and adjust size with no chafing, bouncing or any other undesirable issues while wearing it.  

The possibilities are endless for this piece of "running gear".  Maybe you aren't a runner, but need to be visible while riding your bike in the twilight hours?  Ultimate glow frisbee at night?  Maybe you are participating in a night race or glow themed event...

I'll be sporting this at Hood To Coast relay along with my team mates.  

I can't express enough how much I love this.  My neighborhood is surrounded by 3/4 mile with no sidewalk.  The shoulder gets a little thin at times.  I want to be seen.  Most of the time I stay on areas with sidewalks and I've noticed cars slowing down and moving over... even with me on the sidewalk.  Bicyclists ask me where they can get one.  I can't wait to post more pictures from Hood To Coast with my team lighting up the race course!

To check out more of the features and size options, check out Noxgear's website HERE.
and when you are ready to pick one up, I have a 15% off discount code posted below... but hurry!  You want to get one before the code expires September 30th.

With cool summer runs in the evening, relays at night and the sun slipping away into shorter days with Pacific Northwest winters and rain, I am looking forward to using this vest year round.

Product Review: RoadNoise Safety Vest

Product Review:  RoadNoise Safety Vest.

As with any review, the opinions expressed are my own.  I offer my review and input of running gear and related products now and then and offer advice if it is something you should consider investing in....  Check this out:   

As the video above mentions, this safety vest is highly reflective, no batteries, cords or extra nonsense to deal with and comfortable to wear.  I have not had any bouncing or shifting on the several runs I have used it on.

  

I can't think of a single "con" with this product.  If you can't hear your music over traffic or other noise in your surroundings, that is probably a good cue to check out your surroundings.  I can hear everything around me and still hear my music.  If the traffic is loud or there are lots of people around me, then I should probably be listening to that instead anyway.

As with any piece of running equipment, order the proper size and you will be good to go!  The vest is reflective, light weight, easy to take on and off and speakers are positioned at the shoulders, so music can be easily heard without anything in the ears.  The price is perfect for what you are getting.  The vest is water resistant and the company knows what kind of downpours we get in Oregon!   Speakers and output cable are easily removed so that the vest can be washed.

This is the perfect solution to running safer on training runs or for a race that discourages headphones/earbuds.

...Such as Hood To Coast.

From the RoadNoise website: 

 THE MOTHER OF ALL RELAYS IS ALSO THE MOTHER OF INVENTION.

OUR FAVORITE 24 HOUR RACE OF THE YEAR REQUIRES RUNNERS TO WEAR A REFLECTIVE VEST FROM 6:00 PM TO 7:00AM. IN 2010 THE RELAY BANNED THE USE OF HEADPHONE/EARBUD TYPE DEVICES. RUNNERS ON OUR TEAM THAT USE MUSIC FOR MOTIVATION AND JUST PURE ENJOYMENT CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS SUCH AS SPEAKERS ATTACHED TO SHIRTS. THESE JERRY-RIGGED MUSIC PLAYERS COMBINED WITH SAFETY VESTS ADDED ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS, BATTERIES, WEIGHT, WIRES AND HASSLE. THIS LED TO THE CREATION OF ROADNOISE. THE RUNNING APPAREL THAT COMBINES SOUND AND VISIBILITY. WITH INTEGRATED SPEAKERS RIGHT BELOW YOUR EARS YOU HAVE THE SOUND YOU WANT WITHOUT ELIMINATING THE SOUND AROUND YOU.

PROBLEM? SOLUTION!

WHEN WE TESTED OUR FIRST MODEL WE WERE HOPING TO FIND A GOOD SOLUTION TO A SPECIFIC RACE ISSUE. WHAT WE DISCOVERED WAS AN ENTIRELY NEW AND PLEASANT WAY TO ENJOY OUR RUNS, DAY OR NIGHT. ROADNOISE VESTS GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO HEAR YOUR FOOTSTEPS, YOUR BREATHING, AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS ALONG WITH YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC.

Without a doubt you can completely hear your surroundings, your foot falls, oncoming vehicles, bikes, other runners trying to pass behind you.   I have tested it in several environments and with the speakers at my shoulder, I can have my music on the lowest volume setting with my MP3 player and no one else will hear it.  You can't even tell it's a vest that plays music!

Now I can listen to music again!
"Again?"  You ask?
Well, last summer I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings and was in a situation that put me cold turkey on listening to tunes.  Music that helped get my heart pumping and get my moral boosted.

The story:  6 months into my running hobby, I was bebopping down the sidewalk with my earbuds in... It was twilight hours and most people were in for the evening.  I hear a huffing and clomping runner behind me.  I ignored it as a concern and thought it was another runner trying to run in the cool of the evening.  I aslo figured with my slow pace that they would pass me soon enough.  But I have a competitive spirit and I *might* have picked up my pace a little to make them work to pass me.

CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP

"What gives? Pass me already."

This person was right behind me in order to be heard over my music and my app spewing off splits.  (But I assure you it wasn't loud to begin with... I knew to keep one ear bud out, listen to cars... etc etc.  Still.  He wasn't audible until he was on my heels.)

I turn around to see a guy who is clearly not a runner right behind me.  (In 80 degree weather wearing dark clothes, a hoody with hood on and boots instead of running shoes.)  I should have been paying better attention.  I squared my feet, looked him in the eye and raised my arms like I was going to give him a bear hug.  I have no idea why I did that.  He struck the same pose.... actually.... I'm not sure who did it first.  After a millisecond (that felt like time had stood still.)  He turned around and ran away from me.

I was lucky.  But I stopped listening to music all together (along with taking some self defense classes).

This frustrated me because I have read lots of studies about how listening to music you enjoy will boost your endorphins and help you emotionally and physically through something that is physically arduous.  Running was/is not easy for me.  (The studies given to me years ago by my Doula when preparing for a medication-free childbirth.  Music was an anesthetic for the soul, so to speak.  At least a good distraction when facing some "discomfort".)

Anyway, to the point:

After a year has passed, I can now enjoy the guilty pleasure of rocking out to Snoop Dogg "Sweat" (David Guetta remix to be specific) or singing along to "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eye Peas while also being safe, alert, completely hearing my surroundings and quiet enough that no one has to know if there is a sugar pop tune on my playlist.

Thank you Roadnoise!

Check out the website here for more info, sizing chart or where to buy your vest:  http://www.roadnoise.com/

What is on your playlist?

Snow! Snow! Snow! (And a little stir crazy with the freezing rain...)

Well, the greater Portland, Or area (along with Vancouver, Wa) has an advisory to stay out of the streets and stay indoors.  I was hoping to get a long run in today... but I watched my husband slip and slide down the sidewalk as he went to check on our elderly neighbors.  I think I'll stay in my warm and safe house (that still has power) and cook.  :)

Thanks to "Running With Harmony" on facebook, I tried her "crêpes" and LOVED them.  They're simple enough that I can cook them!

I'm not an egg fan, but I gave it a try and these are delicious! Give it a try and tell me what variations you try! These are very versatile and can have many different options... 

You will need:

3 eggs

1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree

1 tablespoon of almond meal/flour

1 tablespoon of Gluten Free oats

Combine all ingredients except for the oats in blender, blend until smooth. Stir in oats. I also added a splash of vanilla extract and some cinnamon. 

Pour into hot skillet like you would for regular pancakes and GENTLY flip and cook other side. 

Once cooked, I drizzled mine in cinnamon and honey and ate like a pancake. 

An absolute delicious way to eat eggs! (Next time I'll try a little butter and lemon juice...)

Since we are stuck indoors with the slick ice... I guess today will be cross training on the exercise bike and a bit more cooking.  :)  I'm also going to whip up some of my "Running cookies" and you should be able to pull up the past post with the recipe HERE.

Chia seeds, oats, pumpkin protein powder, coconut flakes, cocoa powder and salt.

Pretty, isn't it?  They are super yummy too, and I hide them in the back of the fridge so that I only enjoy them while on a long run or one post run.

I did get to go out and enjoy some of the snow this week before it turned to ice.  We get small dustings of snow once every year or every other year... but nothing I'd really define as "snow".  This year, we got 8 inches!  Last time it really "snowed" (as I define it, with at least one inch accumulated) was 6 years ago!  I wasn't a runner then... So I did not hesitate to go out there and play in it!

First snow run ever!

Thursday was our first day of snow and we had a couple inches... I went out for what i told my husband would be a "quick half mile" and snuck in another mile on that.  It was glorious!  No one else had been out and no one was driving in it yet.  There was just me and the sound of my feet crunching the new snow.  It was soft and fun to feel the padded ground beneath my shoes.

Friday was a longer run and a lot more slow and slick.

Friday's run had me completely lost at 3.5 miles.

I have been using the Nike+ app to help me keep track of which shoes have how many miles on them... and I earned my "Storm" badge.  Fun little app with badges to help motivate you or competitions you can challenge other friends on the app with. Anyway...

An hour and a half in the snow, I got lost, misjudged where the curb started and ended at least twice (but didn't fall!) and trudged through a field of snow that was knee deep.  The duct tape over my shoes kept my feet dry and it was beautiful and fun to be out there... but as I neared my regular stomping grounds and was at the "one mile" landmark from home, I saw a car accident with police and an ambulance on the way.

Time to high tail it home.

As I got home, I checked the mail and got my valentines' gift for Squeakers and Bugaboo...

I decided to get them the "Love" badge with the heart on it... available for "a limited time" with RoadID.
You can get yours here:  http://RoadID.com/invite/45WZT-TAF7SCZZXBJ
(or send me a private message on my facebook page if you'd like a $1 off coupon).

I'd say it has been a "running focused" weekend of running, even if I didn't get my long run in!


And with that, here's the tune I always get stuck in my head when I think of snow...

Do you run in snow?  Own a treadmill or take the winter off?
Share your secrets!

Sadness in the running world... and be safe out there! (Road ID giveaway)

A lot has been going on in the news this week with running and all things fitness.  A new year is a start of lots of new and fun things... Panic as your favorite shoe is retired and the new model rolls out... New gear to try out...

I am seeing a lot of excitement about the winter Olympics,  a little teasing that Disney is taking on the Badwater Ultra and I am seeing the sad stories that tug at your heart or make you angry at a cruel world... or both.

I've learned that a fellow MRTT member lost her cousin on Monday when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on a run.

Runners have organized a memorial run for her on Sat. Jan. 18th

While still shedding some tears and thinking of Meg's family, I then hear about a man who purposely struck two cyclists (and only served 7 days in jail for the attack).  

The attack on pro cyclists Tyler Wren and Todd Herriot accrued last February.  The driver did not stop... and he will face lawsuits from the athletes this summer.  

Ryn Berry

Last week I learned of Rynn Berry.  His story is any runner's nightmare... being in a city full of people and laying in a hospital bed while being completely unknown and anonymous.  A family member was able to come forward and identify him... before he died.  

As I attempt to find a positive way to end this blog post, I am told of yet another runner tragically killed.  James Callaghan was struck by two cars while out on run in "dense fog conditions".

Photo credit: Randee Daddona | Police at the scene where a pedestrian was fatally hit on Route 25 near Laurel Lane in Laurel at about 5:40 a.m. Thursday. (Jan. 16, 2014)

These things are enough to make my blood boil, cry for the injustice of it all and the families left in mourning and leave me thinking in the middle of the night about my running.

The news is often full of "bad news" and things that can make someone with a nervous disposition never want to lace up a pair of running shoes again.... but we choose to keep moving forward and keep on running.

The key is to be as safe as you can and do what you can to avoid and tragedies that you might have any control over.  

You can read my blog post from last June here on safety tips.

The easiest thing you can do right off is have identification on you while you are out on the road.  With a Road ID, you can easily have any medical information also available with your ID.

If you have not yet purchased this simple, effective and cost friendly piece of gear, do so now and use my "referr a friend" code.

   http://RoadID.com/invite/45WZT-BRVKVQZR

Pictured below is the Road ID "Slim".  I wear this as well as having my children wear it even on regular, out-and-about errands.  The "x-small" slim will fit a baby and a "small" is fine for a preschool aged child.  I've also used the larger bracelets to put around their ankles when in doubt.

You can choose between "Original" with personalized text or if you have a lot of medical information that would be important to convey if you were unconscious, the interactive would be a great option.  This allows medical responders to call a 1-800 number on the id and give the operator your serial number on the back of the ID.

I have two left feet and imagine all sorts of scenarios where I trip over myself and lose consciousness.

 In November I went yard sailing over an uneven piece of sidewalk and bloodied up pretty good.  In December I was suddenly blocked in my route by a van with the driver and passenger jumping out very suddenly.  Turns out they were not trying to kidnap me or hit me.  That's a good thing.  On the same run, I was stopped by a pedestrian and then given some rude cat-calls.    

You just never know what is going to happen!  Please be safe out there.  

For this weekend only, I am offering one winner a $15 Road ID certificate good on identification products in their store.

To make this more fun, I am asking that each entrant only enter ONCE and give me your guess-estimate how many miles I ran from Jan 2013 through today, January 17, 2014.  Comment below with the miles and I will post the winner below on Monday morning.  Winner will have 48 hours to send me a private message on my facebook page.  

Have fun!  ...and stay safe out there.

Conquering "The Blerch" or my negative self talk...

The online comic "The Oatmeal"  describes the arch nemesis "The Blerch" as a fat little cherub who follows the comic author when he runs.  It is a wretched lazy beast who tells the runner to slow down.  Just stop.  Time to walk.  Let's just go home.  Go home and take a nap, eat some pie, or do something generally non productive.  Since seeing the funny illustrations to this topic, it really has made the idea more relateable.

Who doesn't have a bad run now and then?  Who doesn't struggle with negative thoughts and self talk now and then?

Anyone?

Everyone struggles with it at some point, and if you honestly think you don't, then pat yourself on the back or push yourself a little bit farther because I'm pretty sure even gold medalist Olympians have interviews where they have struggles in their sport.

I am so struggling.

I struggle with not getting a run in while the sun is still up and the excuses set in to skip out on my run streak and not continue since I don't really have gear for running at night.

I struggle with just wanting to be lazy.  There are about a million other things I can think of to do than get in 30 minutes of cardio.

I'm struggling with me and feeling lethargic with the lack of sun and cold weather.

I struggle at times with depression.

Probably nothing in comparison with some of the challenges others face and still get a run in.  That frustrates me too.  I can run.  I have the ability to do it.  Some are unable to and would like to.  Some have serious challenges and still get it done without complaining!

I have to conquer this laziness.  This apathy I am drowning in and rise above it.

A friend of mine gave me an early Christmas gift... and I love it.  With my new "Blerch" running shirt, I headed out last night to get the run in that I didn't want to do.

With my flashlight in hand and my sweet family following in the near distance ogling at holiday lights, I went out and pounded the pavement for a ten minute mile.

Life really isn't all that bad.  I don't know why I have such a lazy streak lately that is so hard to kick!  I hate it!  But with the crisp air, beautiful fog and lovely holiday lights, I killed my mile with a pretty fast pace (for me).    I got my run in today this morning.  Now to just keep my momentum up.  (And egg nog consumption down.)

Do you believe in "the blerch"?  How do you overcome those negative thoughts?

Race Recap: The Happy Girls Run Forest Grove. (I'm not exactly a "happy girl", but I am a half marathoner!)

 

I was fortunate enough to run the Happy Girls Run at Hagg Lake for free (minus state park parking fees) after winning a contest they had on their facebook page!

Packet pickup swag

At packet pick up in downtown Portland, I got my tech shirt (also free for half marathon participants) and my free Sock Guy socks!  (I can't wait to try those out!)  The swag is your typical fare, with ads for other races, a protein bar and such... but I feel like I'm in the big times now that a tech shirt comes FREE with registration!  Yeah!  (It's the little things that make me happy.)

Extra swag bag!

 Then I won another contest on their facebook page for submitting a picture of my outfit for the race.  Part of the spoils' description was a "race and lifestyle" goodies bag (with an LE Bandz headband... but I didn't get the headband.  It was a free prize so I'm not going to go complain to them about it.  Maybe they'll find it and pass it along to another lucky gal.)  Some of the prizes are a little silly, like a kazoo with one of the sponsor's logo on it.  Also, a pretty neat tech shirt... in size "Women's small".  I'm very happily plugging along on my weight loss journey, but that isn't a fat issue, that's a frame issue!  I don't think I'll ever be a "small".  Oh well, my daughter can have a new running shirt when she rides around in the jogging stroller.

The half Marathoners starting their race

We got a bit turned around on our way to the race, but we definitely got there before the start!  Woo Hoo!  The website said that "Happy Girls" are known for their pre and post race festivities.  I guess getting there 40 minutes before start was too late to party with the Happy Girls?  Or maybe the party was just not festive with all the rain?

We're all from Oregon, we don't rust.   What's a little rain?  No big deal!  But, I just let the pre race party roll off like water on a duck's back.  No big deal.  Maybe a little disappointment, but I needed to stretch and enjoy my family before my first half marathon anyway.  :)  

After the start, we ran on the road for 4 miles.  The first mile was a pretty steep incline and I was impressed!  That was a tough way to start out a half marathon, but I was ready and excited for the challenge.  

The race venue is a small, intimate one.  The 5K had around 87 participants, the 10K had 76 participants and the half had 203 participants.  I stayed with the same group of ladies ahead and behind me for the beginning of the race, and it made me feel like I was figuring out this whole pace thing.  

At mile 4 we got to hit the trail!  This was what I had been looking forward to.  The canopy from the trees was lush enough that I could flip my hat backwards and enjoy the view without the rain pelting me.

Rain and mud and seeing where I was going was the least of my worries....

 

After plugging away on the trail for about a mile I start to hear what I thought were cheers.  Maybe the next aid station was getting pretty excited?  I got further on the trail and heard for sure screams of terror.  Someone screamed to me to "RUN!" and I was so confused.   My thoughts were "I am... running.  Run back for help?  Keep running and get away from you.  What the....  OUCH!  What the hell!?!"  My bum was hurting.  I was going to keep forward and get the hell out of there!  OUCH!  What the hell was going on?

And then I saw one of the women screaming.  She was no longer on the path... in fact she was quite a ways from it and screaming and tearing her clothes off.  Bees.

I heard more screaming and came to another group of girls.  They were screaming and instructing me to get out of there.  We all needed to get out of there!  As I passed by one of the girls, she screamed "oh my god!" and started swatting at my back and legs.  I overheard her later tell another runner that I had "hundreds" of them on my back.  Yea.

That fun fiasco was around mile 5.  I trotted ahead with the woman who rescued me from all the hornets clinging to me.  I'm not sure where the other six or seven ladies were, but we needed to get out of there fast.  

As we made a bend in the trail we saw a young woman wondering in the path.  She seemed drunk.  This race was only getting "better".   

I called out to her, "Are you okay?"
"No.  I don't know..."
As I got closer I asked if she had been stung.
"Yes!  All over!"  And the poor thing started to weep.  It became clear fast that she had been in a daze from shock.  We all were taken by surprise by it.  Then she started screaming, "My mom!  We have to go back for my mom!  She's allergic!"

Crap.

Me or my new running friend said something like, "I think the best thing for us is to move forward so we don't get stung anymore and go get help."

I lead the way while my rescuer explained very soothingly to the young girl that her stings looked very small "like mosquito bites" and she was going to be okay.  I told her we were just going to take this one mile at a time and hope for an aid station at mile 6.

It honestly seemed to take forever, but I started to hear cars again on the road aove us and started screaming at the top of my lungs for help.  No answer.  "Can you hear me?"  And I got an answer! "Yes!"

At mile 5.5 we had finished that bit of trail and were on a wide shoulder of the road.  Two race volunteers or officials were parked there greeting us with big smiles on their faces.  I wanted to smack them!  Did they not hear me saying "help" not, "Hi, how are you?" ?  They were just sitting in their trucks with the doors open with ear-to-ear grins.

"There's..."
"Bees.  Yeah we know."  He cut me off.
"There's people injured!  They need help!  They are still back there!  Her mother is allergic to bees and still back there!"
Then my poor little friend went frantic again.

One of the men asked his coworker, "Should we call 911?"

A pause of thought and then "Yeah."  and he pulled out his walkie talkie and called for help.

If they knew there was an issue of bees from other runners passing through, why on earth did they not send an official down there to see if they could see any runners down or injured or in need of assistance?  

With my backside inflamed, I ran on and hoped that the young lady was going to be okay and that her mom and her would be reunited (safely) very soon.

The race continued again back on the trail and I watched the ground, looking for holes that might be hornet nests.  I was a bundle of nerves.  I started to settle into a peace of mind and calmer demeanor when I noticed some garbage in the bushes bearing the Xterra logo from my last race in August.  Bummer!  Just as I was reaching for it to minimize the footprint racing in the area is causing, I heard screaming.

Mile 7 was un passable and another woman was covered in stings... or bites.... or whatever it is these tough yellow and black fighters do.  It hurts bad!  She instructed me that no one should under any circumstances attempt to get past mile 7 on this path.

So, I turned around and told every runner I passed to do the same.
"Turn around!  Bees on mile 7!  We can't get past.  Go to mile 5.5 and take the raod!"

When I got back to mile 5.5 where the guys had so chivalrously called 911, there were paramedics and firetrucks on the scene checking the runners over.   They asked me "Are you stung?"
"Yes, but there are more bees at mile 7!  We can't get past them and more runners have been stung down there!  We need to take the road past this section."  So, with that, the race had been rerouted.

We ran on the road again until mile... well, according to my garmin, I had gone 12 miles.  Someone ahead of me stopped during a torrential downpour to put on her jacket.  She turned around and saw me and exclaimed, "It's so good to see you still smiling!"  I think I might have been gritting my teeth with the pouring rain and the chills setting in, but I'm glad she thought it was a smile.

Smile, because you never know who you are inspiring.

We got back on the trail at mile 12, I think mile 10 of the race course and stayed there for 2 miles.  It's amazing how much can happen in a little space of distance.  I was getting very turned around with the poor marked trail.  There were some places where the trail forked in three directions and I had no idea which path to choose.  Remembering my 10k race, I tried to hug the paths closest to the lake.  I remember the Xterra race mentioning to stay away from the stream.  The stream meant we had gone the wrong way.  Well, another three part fork and I look over to see the stream.  I cursed out loud and was feeling completely lost and angry since I had already done more than 13 miles and looking forward to some warm clothes and someone to check over these damn bee stings.  What was i supposed to do?

"Are we lost?"  We?  What?  I turned around.  A group of women had been following me.  Crap.
"Yup!  Which way do you think we should go?"  What was I going to do?  I didn't want to lead anymore.  I was tired and cold and getting disheartened.  Someone looked to the steep monster of a path on the far left and we saw a small white sign on the top.  I ran up it and could see the happy girl logo.   "Mile 12".

We weren't going to freeze to death at Hagg Lake!

We entered back out onto the road and finished our race...

I hurt so bad, but I gave it my all at the end.

 The icing on the cake for this race was when I crossed the finish line, I asked the gal running the packet pickup from the day before where the "first aid tent" was.  "Oh.  Are you stung?"  I replied I was and would like some help.
"Well, if you go down there, someone will get you an ice pack."
Perfect.
I go "down there" where the awards assembly was held earlier and where the vendors used to be.  Everyone was packing up to go.  The brewery who was a sponsor had cosmos and cocktails lining his card table, so i asked him, "Do you know where to get an ice pack for injuries down here?"
He had no idea.  He was clearly the only one in the area with any ice at all, so he gave me a cup of ice.

A cup of ice.  Lovely.  Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but that was a little more awkward and hard to deal with for icing injuries on the back of me.  The website stated this would be a "fully supported race."  I guess they define that by having water tables, porta potties and booze at the end.  I'd think it meant having a cooler full of ice packs... if not an actual first aid station.

It's a race on a trail, for goodness sake!  Apparently no other sport has as many injuries as running does, and on a muddy, wet trail nonetheless.  It would be very beneficial to have a first aid station for those sprained ankles, sore IT bands... and god forbid, attacks from hornets or other wildlife.  

I didn't finish with a stellar time, 14+ miles in 3 1/2 hours, but wasn't the race cut off 4 hours with the finish line open for 5?  Where was everyone?  I guess if you're slow and have to back track to avoid being attacked, you miss out on the after party.  So, I took my ice, that the bartender kindly dumped into a soggy cocktail napkin and snapped a few pictures before going home to recoup there.

If you sign up for a race for the "bling", you can pass on this one.  It is poorly made, with pockmarks on it's surface from the mold it was made with.  It's on a cotton thread of a cord and the words are too small to read.  The letters run together.  

Which is bigger?  My finisher's medal or the welts from my adventure?

This is a poor picture, but you can take my word for it that the welts are bigger.

If this race has you interested for the view, just go run Hagg Lake on a weekend and save the registration fee for another race.   If this race has you interested for their festive environment, there is none.

But to be fair, everyone's spirits were pretty damp with the rain and the hornets... which are two things that are not the race director's fault.

One girl crossed the finish line with a hornet still in her shoe!  Ewww!

As we pulled out, a runner called out in general "I'm NOT a 'Happy Girl'!"
That pretty much sums it up.

At least this race was free?

Have any race horror stories or mishaps to make me feel better about this one?
What do you think about races not having medical staff, basic first aid or anything like that?  Is that fair to the participants?  Or is it a silly request that races have that?

At The Heart of it All... (Or "Why I won't let pain steal my long run.")

It seems like most people who are training have their long runs on the weekend...  I know with my family's schedule, it works best for me to get that done Sunday morning.  This last Sunday was to be my longest distance ever.  I don't know why, but I suppose I look to each Sunday now with a little bit of trepidation.  "Can I go that far?"  "Will I fail?"  "Will I have to give up and call my hubs for a ride home?"

Granted, maybe 8 miles isn't much for some.  But I was also excited and looking forward to the challenge.  "I CAN do this!"  "Here's to all the doubters and people who told me I couldn't..."  "Here's to my bum knee and other issues that have tried to hold me back..." etc.

Perhaps I worked myself up a little too much?   Whether anxiety or a physical issue or a combination of both, I woke up earlier Sunday morning than I had intended.  I was going to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the summer heat...  but I didn't plan on waking up to searing chest pain.  This was grab-your-chest-and-moan type pain.

What the hell?

Deciding it best not to wake the husband, I tried to sneak out of the room and woke him anyway.  It became very obvious to him fast that this wasn't something to mess around with.

He is a trained "first responder" at his job and went through his checklist with me.  My heart rate seemed normal, I wasn't sweaty or clammy.  I looked pale, but I had just woken up (very rudely too).

What I didn't have going for me was this terrible chest pain and pain deferring down my left arm.  I felt like my left shoulder had been bashed with a baseball bat.  It was very clear to me that it hurt much worse with every intake of breath.  Was that a heart attack?  Or an anxiety attack?

Having 2 out of 5 symptoms was enough for him to call 911 and I realized he was being more than cautious when he started to stutter at the operator's questions.

Uh-oh.

If he was losing his cool, this was more than just a little acid reflux or panic about running in the heat.

It seemed like he had just hung up the phone when the fire fighters started walking up the driveway.  They recommended an EKG in an ambulance... while on my way to the ER.

"Okay."  I wasn't able to think much between stabs of sharp pain.  Just do whatever you need to in order to make this stop!

After the first few blood pressure readings and a 12 point EKG, I was instructed to chew some baby aspirin and dissolve nitro tablets under my tongue.  This is not the breakfast of champions and I do not recommend it.

On the way to the hospital and getting an iv bag placed on a bumpy road, I couldn't help but stare at my feet and think, "Well, crap!  There goes my long run."    

At the hospital I had another EKG and chest x-rays.  My nurse was a trooper to commiserate with me on how terrible it was to not get to go on a planned long run when on a tight training program.  She did however know that some runners might like to over do things a bit and not take well to being sidelined with an injury or illness.  "You already went 8 miles today.  IN AN AMBULANCE.  Why don't you take the day off."  

She had run 8 full marathons herself, but her favorite distance is half marathons and has done "too many to count".

Between tests and checking on her other patients, she told me bits about her marathons.  Victoria was her favorite , simply because the people were wonderful and her worst marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon.  With a slap stick sense of humor she relayed to me all the mishaps of the race... including the water stations running out of cups, so runners dipped their hands in the water barrel.  Eww.

After the tests and hanging out in my room on oxygen, the Doctor came in to let me know that it was what he anticipated all along.

Costochondritis.

That increasing, terrible pain with each breath?  Inflamed cartilage in my rib cage.  Seems that this was the after affects of a little virus I had last week.     

I still have a lot of research to do on this, but it seems that for some people it can also be brought on by stress, as well as viruses (such as something simple like a common cold).  Nice.

Still a bit sore 2 days after the ordeal, I've decided that I'm not going to give in to it.  I'm going to "listen" to my pain and not over do it, but I'm not going to just give in to the temptation that this is a perfect excuse to stop.

Stop training.  

Stop trying.  

Stop running.

No.  Stop listening to that negative voice in your head that thinks you can't do this.  You already have done it.  7 miles last Sunday.  6 the Sunday before.  What's one more mile this week?  So, after discussing the pain with the Doc, he said go out and run.

Monday morning I pushed that voice that tries to derail me away and laced up my shoes. And I did it.  I ran.  8 miles.  I'm ready to do it again.  And when I've woken up since then with that stabbing, sharp pain that makes it nearly impossible to breath?  I no longer have that impending sense of doom and know now that it's something funky with my cartilage attached to my breast bone.  
So weird.

What obstacles, physical or mental, do you have to hurdle over?  How do you overcome?  

Running Safety Tips

It's officially Summer!  We can celebrate with longer days and more sunlight to go out there and do what we love to do... including running.  I don't want to get all doom-and-gloom on y'all and take away the joy of summer... but I have seen an increase in news stories and personal stories on social media involving attacks of one kind or another.  Some involve loose dogs, others might be traffic related or worse, of a predatory nature.  Some common denominators to all the stories is that the runner was 1. Alone.  2.  A woman and 3.  In an area where there wasn't a lot of people around.  It might be a friendly looking neighborhood, but are people out mowing lawns or visible?

I'm no expert, but it seems like maybe I ought to just throw out a quick list of a few things I've thought of to help keep each other safe.  Please feel free to add your own two cents too in the comments below.  I don't want to cause fear or make people feel like they can't go outside to run... I just think there are a few tips to keep the sport fun and keep you safe.


Always tell someone where you are going.
Tell your spouse, room mate, or call a friend and tell them your route you are planning to take and be sure to communicate when to expect to hear from you after the run.  There are also lots of GPS specific apps available so that a loved one knows exactly where you are during your run.

• ReactMobile enables you to report suspicious incidents or send your current GPS coordinates to pre-selected contacts with the push of a button if you’re approached.
• StaySafe allows you to enter your expected running path and timing, and if you don’t check back within the allocated time, your pre-set emergency contacts will receive your GPS coordinates—even if your phone is switched off.
• bSafe turns your phone into the ultimate safety device. One touch of a button sounds a siren, records a video, alerts authorities, and informs selected contacts of your GPS location.
• MyPanic is a free app that lets you trigger a piercing alarm and flash bright colors to grab the attention of other people who may be nearby.
• Guardly sends emergency alerts to your selected safety network, who will be informed of your real-time location and whether you’ve called 911.

If possible, run with a dog, a group or at least one other person.
I'm not ready to commit to the demands of dog ownership, nor do I think my cats would appreciate a new housemate... but I know a few people who might loan me their dog!  There may be a local running group in your community to join for runs and you might meet some new friends.  Check with your local running store for free group runs.  If you can't find a running group or free running club, start one!  :-)  That might be easier said than done in some cases, but I love my MRTT group and glad I started a chapter in my area.  My running partner has gotten wicked fast, but I bet she'd put up with me on a couple runs now and then.  Running with someone else challenges me to be better at my sport and we are all a bit safer.

Running with someone doubles your chances of survival in an attack situation.  Two people are harder to control for one person.  A dog is a great deterrent for someone with criminal intentions.


Stay on well travelled and well lit roads. Don’t take short cuts through woods, poorly lit areas, avoid running at night... etc.
Some of this might seem like common sense, but we've all been in a situation where we knowingly did what we shouldn't have and then regretted it.  That's part of being human.   I got really sick once licking the cookie batter spoon.  But some things aren't worth the risk.  Stay in well lit areas so that traffic can see you.  If you run at night, wear bright colors with lots of reflective strips.   While driving in my neighborhood one night, a runner decided to cross in front of our moving car.  He/She misjudged our speed and how much time they had to cross.  Unfortunately they were wearing all black and I didn't even know someone had jumped in front of our car!  Fortunately their shoes had a reflective swoosh and I screamed "Shoes!"  And my husband with ninja reflexes understood what I was thinking:  "Oh my god!  A Runner!  Please don't hit them!" and slowed the car as we watched the shoes pitter-patter on their merry way.

Ditch the headphones.
When I first came across this advice, I was unhappy.  I feel like i need music at times to drown out that voice that tells me "You can't do this.  Your knee hurts.  You're too slow.  Go home."   But the more I look into it, the more this advice seems to be well founded.

If you can't let go of the ipod, keep only one ear bud in and switch up which ear it's in during your run.

A distracted runner is an unsafe runner.  Be alert to your surroundings in an audio sense.  Can you hear cyclists requesting right of way around you?  Could you hear someone else's foot steps approaching you?  Are you able to hear traffic?

Face oncoming traffic.
Don't assume drivers out there are not distracted.  Despite my local driving with cellphone laws, I see drivers chatting on the phone all the time.  They may also be late, distracted by the radio, etc.  Don't assume they see you and will give you the right away.  Make eye contact with them and wave a "thank you" or a friendly head nod to them.  Chances are this will cheer them up a bit and encourage them to share the road with another runner in the future.

Facing oncoming traffic allows you to be easily seen and make any split decisions that may be needed if you have to respond to the traffic.

Carry some essentials with you (besides hydration and fuel).
Always have identification with you.  Carry your driver's license and insurance card in your pocket in case of an injury and have an I.D. tag on your shoe laces or as a bracelet with an emergency contact phone number listed.

Carry your cell phone with you on all runs.  You might need to make an emergency call for yourself or someone else.  I ran past a house on fire once and was the first to report it.  Another feature besides a handy phone call, is if your phone is on, your phone company can track you by your phone's GPS feature.

Carry a little cash with you.  If you twist your ankle or some small injury that will limit your mobility, a little bus fare or cab cash will go a long way to recovery.  You may need to stop and buy more water/fuel or some first aid supplies.    

It might also be a good idea to carry pepper spray/mace.  Check if it is legal in your state.  It is effective up to 8-12ft away (depending on aim) and usually one burst will stop someone (or a dog ready to bite).  3/4oz. canister has approximately 10 bursts in it.

BE WARNED that it could end up being used against you or the wind working against you and a gust of the stuff getting in your eyes.  A self defense class instructor told me to buy some on a long weekend and spray myself directly in the face Friday night and take the rest of the weekend to recover.  this sounds crazy, but if you know what to expect when it get's you, you'll be more apt to keep a clear head and get out of the situation that called for the spray in the first place.  Also, buy more than one canister so you can take the practice can (after squirting yourself) and test out using it during a run and right after.  this is because physical endurance pulls blood from the brain and effects our ability to think and aim.

If someone looks shady to you, cross the street or go the other way.  (Or if you are paranoid like me, if they smile too wide and greet your hello a little too enthusiastically.)
In all seriousness, listen to your gut.  If someone doesn't seem right to you, don't push it off as you being too quick to label an innocent person.  Your gut instinct is there to protect you, let it.  I might be a bit jumpy at times and watch the guy who smiled really big as I said "Hello."  But with statistics of sexual assault always on the rise, I'd rather be a bit jumpy and see the mofo coming than be taken by surprise.  I'm going to put up a fight!

If you are being heckled or threatened by someone, keep running!  Don't stop to tell them off or flip them off, keep your distance and continue to an area with lots of traffic or other people around.  Don't appear vulnerable.  Hold your head high and stay strong.  If they try to stop you, be forceful.  Tell them to back off and keep moving!  Since you now run with your cell phone, call the police.

When someone stops to ask me for directions, I always stay at least 8 feet from the stopped car.

Vary your routes. Don’t be predictable.
This does a couple things.  Besides mixing it up for stalkers or weird ex boyfriends, it keeps things fresh for your mind.  If you get comfortable in a routine, your mind becomes dull and you aren't fully in your senses and aware of your surroundings.  This can make things pretty hazardous when dealing with cars, other runners, cyclists or perhaps the random loose dog.

Perpetrators also look specifically for people who aren't 100% aware of their surroundings.  Don't be distracted.  Know where you are going.  Don't look confused or lost- that can make you a target.

Consider taking a self defense class. You never know when you might need these skills.
It's a good idea to refresh that college self defense class you took back in your freshman year.  Taking a self defense class every 5 years helps you stay fresh with the moves and key info.  Check with your local community college or police department for classes and workshops.

One tip I specifically remember from my last class is to avoid wearing a pony tail.  It's an easy thing to grab and pull.

If attacked, do everything in your power to not be taken to another location.
If you’re approached, establish the impression that you’ll be a terrible victim: loud, fearless, and willing to fight,  Be verbally and physically assertive—look the person straight in the eye and speak loudly, saying, “Stop right there,” “You’re too close,” or “Leave me alone.” An attacker is likely looking for someone who will be easy to overpower, not someone who’s willing to get physical.



Bottom line:  Trust your gut. If something/someone doesn't feel right, it probably isn’t.
If you get that prickly feeling that makes you feel uncomfortable about something, someone or a location.  Don't ignore it.  We were born with the flight or flight response for a reason.  Our survival.  Run the other direction.

What are your helpful hints to staying safe?