Thursday, March 21, 2013

Reflection: My Relationship with Running

I enjoy running.  Towards the end of high school it was one of my favorite activities.  I ran in college, and participated in plenty of 5K and 10K races on campus.  I remember getting a phone call at 2am one Saturday night (Sunday morning) asking if I wanted to run a 10K trail run in the morning.  I was at IHOP eating pancakes with friends, but yes.  I did.  And I rocked it.  Fast forward a few years and I'm in the military, loving running again.  Smashed the Army female standard for the 2 mile run and maxed out my first-ever record PT test.  Loved it.  
But of course, I have gone through my ups and downs with running.  Here and there it just didn't fit into my lifestyle, my schedule, or I just plain didn't enjoy it.  I've recently come out of my longest non-running streak in a decade.  I didn't run much in Iraq, and when I got home I was just enjoying life too much to bother with running.  Then, I had my son.  There goes another year and a half of non-running.  I started running on the treadmill when my son was almost a year old.  But then I finally found a job, which made finding the time to run just too hard. I barely got to see my kid anymore, how was I supposed to squeeze an extra half hour or so into the day to run?  I tried to make it work, going to the gym directly after work, foregoing the chance to kiss my little one goodnight and see him before bed.  Eventually I got burnt out and couldn't keep doing it.  Life changes so much when you're a mom.  Priorities shift.  But eventually, I knew I would get back to running one day.   
So, I started running again at the start of 2013.  I missed it.  I missed feeling of my feet hitting the pavement.  I missed the challenge.  The sore muscles.  The feeling of accomplishment after running farther or faster that the week before.  I downloaded the MapMyRun app, tied on my running shoes, and went for a jog.  As out of shape as I was, it felt great.  I didn't do too bad, either!  I treated myself to new running shoes and started making it a habit again.  
Shortly after starting up with the running again, I got talked into signing up to run a half marathon.  I did a half back in 2007, but I didn't do very well (2:45:02) and was simply not as prepared as I should have been.  That isn't going to happen again.  I'm motivated.  I know I can do it, I just want to challenge myself and do better.  Now everything has changed.  I have a goal.  I have a plan.  I need to train.  
So when it got too cold and snowy outside, I moved to running indoors.  I have no "extra" time in my schedule, but I find the time to run.  If it means running after work and not getting home until 10:30pm, getting up early on a weekend, bundling up to face the elements on a 21 degree day, I'll do it.  I've been doing it.  And now I have less than 8 weeks left until the big race.  I'm very upset that spring is not actually here yet, because treadmill running is a poor replacement for road running.  Necessary and helpful, but certainly not the same thing.  I am looking forward to warmer weather and nice long runs outside to get prepared for race day.  I'm really enjoying this journey, and finding that having a goal to work towards makes all the difference in the world.  

Friday, March 15, 2013

Fit Friday: Vitamins and Supplements


I’m not a big “supplements” fan.  I think that food should be your fuel and if you aren't getting everything you need, you probably aren't eating the right foods.  

When I started getting serious about running again, I looked into vitamins and supplements, since I knew I wasn't getting everything I needed.  I’m not an expert, but after discussing with my doctor and doing a little research on my own, I put together my own set of daily vitamins and supplements.  These are my daily “essentials” now:




1. Daily Multi-Vitamin For Her

I've found that I train better and feel better if I take a multi-vitamin.  Also, my doctor recommended that I take one daily.  So I do it.  

2. Vitamin D-3

My doctor told me I was Vitamin D deficient the last time I had a blood test done.  This deficiency has a range of associated consequences, which includes decreased athletic performance and an increased risk for certain types of cancers.  So, she prescribed Vitamin D-3 for me (even though you can buy it over the counter).  Now I take it every day.

3. Vitamin B-12  (sublingual)

I take the B-12 for energy, on my mom’s recommendation.  The sublingual tabs dissolve under your tongue and they don’t taste too bad.  Now I feel sluggish if I don’t take it in the morning, I've gotten so used to that energy boost!  


4. Fish Oil (burpless)

For the Omega 3.  I don’t eat seafood, or any of the other prevalent food sources of Omega 3, and it is a powerful “brain food” that lowers triglycerides and lowers blood pressure.  Bonus: improves cardiac health and good for the joints. I get the “burpless” capsules because no one wants fishy burps.  Ew.  


5. Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM

As far as my joints go, my knees have really taken a beating over the years.  Running will do that.  Military service didn't help either.  Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM is a lifesaver for my knees.  This is probably because the supplement “promotes joint health”.  After just 2 weeks of taking it daily, my knees and other joints feel noticeably better.  


I might add an iron supplement eventually, but I think I have been getting enough.  (I haven’t been turned away from donating blood for low iron, so I think I’m doing alright).  

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Toddler Tuesday: Paint!

I don't know about everyone else, but my kid loves to paint.  He does it at school, but hadn't really at home, since I don't keep many "craft" supplies around.  I thought that painting in the house was just going to be too big of a hassle, and too big of a mess.  I was wrong.  It was easy, and tons of fun.

For our first painting project at home, I decided we would paint picture frames.  I found wooden craft frames at Wal-Mart for 99 cents each.  I also picked up a bag of assorted brushed for under $5 and a primary colors set of acrylic paint for $4.  So, I spent about $12 total since I got 3 frames.



I put a trash bag over my son's table and a couple more on the floor, since we had no newspaper to protect the carpet.  I used a paper bowl for water to rinse the brushes, and a paper plate as a palette for his paints.  Then we went to work!

We went with no shirt, much easier to clean up afterwards.

This was a fun activity that lasted over an hour, ended with some neat original frames, and kept the little guy entertained without the TV.  I had a great time too, and next time I'm picking up more things to paint, since he wanted me to do it too.








Sunday, March 3, 2013

Bringing Baby to Yankee Stadium

Opening Day is just around the corner.  You love going to Yankee Stadium for a few games a year, but now you have to decide whether to get a sitter or take the little one along.  You toil over the questions that run through your head.  Is it okay to bring a baby to a baseball game?  Am I going to be able to stay the whole time?  What can I bring with me into the stadium?  Is it even worth the trouble? 

Simply answered: YES, maybe, everything you need, and definitely.

I wanted my son to be able to say he had been watching the Yankees play since before he could walk, so bringing him along was the obvious choice when we got tickets for Old Timer’s day in 2011.  He watched his first game at Yankee Stadium when he was exactly 10 months old.  We went to a game at Yankee Stadium just nine days before the little guy was born.  He kicked and bounced around in my belly throughout the game – yes, he was born to be a Yankee fan.

Anyhow, I frantically searched the web looking for a guide of some sort to help me out with bringing the little man to Yankee Stadium for the first time.  I found little to no information that could help me out.  I scoured the Yankees website looking for all of the rules and regulations to plan out the day.  Could I bring the stroller?  Should I?  Are they going to give me a hard time with the diaper bag?  Finding all of the answers I needed took so much time.  Hadn’t some parent out there chronicled their trip to Yankee stadium with their little one?  Why wasn’t there a guide for this?  So, here it is. 





Bringing Baby to the Baseball Game
A Parent’s Guide for Yankee Stadium

Step 1: Be Mentally Prepared

You are a parent.  You know your baby better than anyone.  You also know that the unexpected can happen.  Be ready to have fun at the game, but also be ready to cater to your baby’s needs.  This might mean taking a walk around the stadium to calm down baby, even at a critical point in the game.  The better prepared you are, both physically and mentally, the more fun you will have. 

Step 2: Get Tickets

Maybe you already have tickets, but if not, please try not to sit someplace that the ball might end up flying at the baby’s face.  I suggest getting aisle seats, so you can make a quick exit if necessary.  Babies don’t need their own tickets, by the way.  Children under 3 do not need a ticket, but they must sit on an adults lap and not obstruct the view of other guests.  

Step 3: Pack What You Need

You should bring a stocked diaper bag for the game.  Try to pack everything in the smallest diaper bag you have.  You don’t want to be lugging around a huge bag all day.  Bag policy at the stadium is one bag per person; it must be soft-sided and be smaller than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches. They have bins at the gates to “test” whether your bag is too big.  No coolers are permitted.  That being said, no cans, thermoses, or glass or aluminum bottles are permitted.  BUT they do make exceptions for baby bottles.  So if you use glass bottles, they shouldn’t give you a hard time.  (For the game, I would suggest leaving the glass bottles at home though.) 

Diapers (at least 1 per hour that you expect to be there, and then 2 more just in case)
Wipes
Changing pad or blanket to cover changing table in restroom
Sunscreen (non-aerosol – learned this the hard way)
Hat for baby
Bottles/Formula (I suggest getting “on the go” premade bottles or packet mixes.)
Bottles of water (unopened. For you and for mixing formula)
Nursing cover (if necessary - nursing is permitted in all public areas, but the Guest Relations Booth in Section 128 is typically available for a more discreet location)
Baby Food and Snacks (The pouches of baby food that you can squirt into baby’s mouth are perfect for this!)
Baby spoon
Bib
Extra Clothes (two complete outfits, a spare for messes and one for weather changes)
Baby Carrier and/or Stroller (your preference – baby carrier is easier.  Depending on your seats the usher may make you check your stroller with guest services, even if it folds and fits under the seats)
Food/Snacks for YOU (yes, you can bring in sandwiches, snacks, etc…much easier than braving the concession lines with the baby, not to mention more cost efficient)

Step 4: Get infant fan gear to dress up your baby (you really should already have this)

Step 5: Don’t forget your camera

Dress up your baby in Yankee pinstripes and take tons of pictures.  Take them everywhere: before the game, on the way to the game, in and around the stadium, in the seats.  Guess what?  We forgot the digital camera for our little guy’s first game.  Had to make a stop at a drug store on the way and pick up a Kodak disposable camera.  Got some great shots, but really would have liked to get high quality photos.  Seriously, take a ton of pictures.  Your baby won’t be this little forever.  And he or she might grow up to be a Mets fan.  So enjoy it now. 

Step 6: Be ready the night before

You will be running late on game day.  You already know this.  So do yourself a favor and lay out your clothes, the baby’s clothes, and pack everything you need the night before.

Step 7: Get to the game and enjoy it!

Get to your seats and enjoy them for as long as you can.  Take walks around the stadium.  Visit the family bathrooms for diaper changes (locations below – take note!). 

Family restrooms are in the following locations:

Field Level: Sections 106, 124 and 130
Delta SKY360° Suite: Section 221B
Main Level: Sections 219, 227A and 234
Terrace/Grandstand Level: Sections 311, 316, 327 and 333
Bleachers: Section 201

Step 8: Don’t give up easily

Don’t leave early.  Stay as long as you can and enjoy the fun and chaos of bringing a baby to the game.  Don’t leave in the 5th inning saying “I think he’s had enough”.  Babies can adapt quite well – better than we can!  My son stayed up and watched the Old Timer’s game, then slept in the baby carrier on my chest for almost 7 innings of the regular game, sitting in our seats.  Let your baby surprise you. 

Of course, if your baby is an inconsolable crying wreck and you’re out of diapers and formula, it’s probably time to leave.  Don’t worry, that won’t happen. 

Step 9: Get a “first game” certificate at Guest Services

This is something I did not know about until my son’s 3rd game.  We went in to pick up the stroller, and a couple was getting their First Yankee Game certificate.  Wish we would have known about this…so do it!!

Step 10: Buy your baby a souvenir from their first game

We bought a pennant, and put the date of the game on the back.  Daddy bought the program and kept score during the game as a keepsake. 


I think that is it.  Below is the Yankee Stadium A-to-Z guide I got most of my specific information from.  They’re currently making changes/updates for the 2013 season, so if anything pertinent changes, I will be sure to update this guide!


Please feel free to share other tips for bringing baby to the stadium.  Comments, questions, etc. are welcome.    Planning to write a toddler tips guide after we bring the little guy to a game this year!!

Friday, March 1, 2013

Fit Friday: Finding Workout Clothes



I love new workout clothes.  But I hate paying a ridiculous amount of money for this stuff.  Really?  Fifty bucks for running capris?  No thank you.  I do a lot of bargain shopping for quality workout gear.  It definitely helps that I can walk to TJ Maxx from my apartment (I find some really great stuff there) but there are also a few places you probably didn’t think to check online.

Where to Score New Workout Clothes


Forever 21
I haven’t purchased anything from here yet, but I did check out the website and sure enough, they have a ton of activewear.  Some of the stuff is really cute, so if you’re looking for something a little different, you can pick up a workout tee or some bright capris here, average price per piece is around $10.


Champion
While Target carries the C9 brand by Champion, the website has a great clearance section. Go to their website and click on the “outlet” tab.  I found great running tank tops and sports bras marked down to just $9.99.

Discount Stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Burlington Coat Factory (not available online)
This goes without saying, but you will find some of the best stuff here.  I have a ton of name brand workout clothes that I paid at least 70% off the retail price.  In fact last month I bought a pair of running capris at the Nike outlet.  Thought I got a great deal paying $23 for a pair of $60 pants.  Not a week later, I saw them at TJ Maxx for even less than I paid at the outlet ($14.99).  I wasn’t sure whether to get mad or to buy them!!!  Anyway, you have to go in to these stores a lot if you are looking for something specific, and resist the urge to settle.  And always try it on before you buy it.


Old Navy
Seriously, I have gotten some great deals on extremely comfortable workout clothes here.  Yes, I bought a long sleeve running shirt for $3.97 this month.  And it is awesome.  Also got some cute and comfortable compression pants for $10.  I tried to buy another pair at that price but they were completely sold out days later.  The trick is to know your size and visit oldnavy.com often.  And, if you have an Old Navy outlet near you, go there too.  I have found stuff on the website that they don’t have in my size, then taken the trip to the outlet where they actually did have the size I needed, and at a better price!!

JC Penney online
Yeah, you read that right.  I had no idea.  They have good prices on their workout-wear line Xersion.  But then I checked out their clearance, and realized they have GREAT prices.  I spent $24 on printed capris, a matching tank, and a performance tee.

Also worth mentioning:  6pm.com, clearance sections in sporting goods stores (like Sports Authority and Dick’s)