Alarm, Coffee, Run, Repeat

Sports bras, friends, family and runners all offer a slightly different level of support. In my most recent event, the Carlsbad Half Marathon, all if the above presented in droves to get me through my run. Sports Bra was there for me on the closest literal level. Supportive and comfortable, she neither chafes nor allows movement thus allowing me to focus on the pain in my knees and ankles so much better. However, I do not have to use the dreaded Body Glide because she knows me so well. Thanks Sports Bra for your daily attention and race ready attitude! Then friends are the next layer in the onion of my running life's suport. My friends wished me good luck all weekend and brought a smile to my face. They support my addiction even though they think I am a loon sometimes. Some of my friends run and some do not but they know how important running is to me and will always encourage me. They make me a better person for knowing them. Thank you friends!! My family has always considered...

I am addicted to running. Even on the days when I am taking a rest or I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning, running is still on my mind. I am constantly playing a game with myself to change it up; make it seem brand new. Like that new relationship feeling, or that new car smell, or the new shoe excitement. Running is the one relationship that I am not afraid to work on; we may take a break from each other for a spell but when we hook up again, it’s like we were never apart. Running will always leave me breathless with anticipation for the next fix. Endorphins are my friend. Keep running, Stacy

I am having so much fun training for my upcoming 1/2 marathon!! The Carlsbad Half is my favorite race because it’s on the coast, it’s flat and it’s fast!! I am running at all odd hours of the day to prepare but the weather is so amazing during the day that running at o’dark thirty is no longer necessary or agreeable! With the kids sound asleep at 4:45 AM, I was running on the hamster mill and grooving to my favorite Pandora station, when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. I, of course, had a heart attack (because nothing moves in my house that early in the morning), until I realized it was my son. Apparently, the kids are now old enough that noise wakes them from their normally coma-like sleep. He said he had heard the treadmill and got up to see what I was doing. He didn’t know how early it was and so I sent him back to bed; however, my run was over, at least inside. I added some outer wear and cruised down the road but with it being really dark and a bit chilly, it wa...

There are a lot of reasons to keep running during the winter; even though it’s cold and dark and…yatta, yatta, yatta. Complaints aside, and really, what does complaining get you anyway; so what do you get if you run during the winter months? Improved mood from exercise. From personal experience, the cold and the dark sap me of all kinds of motivation and energy, seemingly wanting to sleep all the time…you would think I lived in Seattle! But running almost every day helps keep my mood even and gets me outside. In order to get this done, I use my lunchtime (40 minutes) or some time before the kids get home (30 minutes), or I get up in the morning and either jump on the treadmill or gear up and feel the morning chill on my face. Giving myself options for running time (or jogging, or walking or riding a bike) keeps me motivated and happy to exercise. In order to get warmed up in the morning, I do sun salutations (yoga) and then jump into a run, it gets my legs warmed up! I get to eat Tha...

Ok. This is easily the most fun you can have on two feet! The Color Run is a complete free for all of unabashed happiness and complete amazingness! My friend Jean and I ran with wave 1 of the 9:00 AM start for 3.1 miles of happy faces, color throwing, drumlines and lively music. I would seriously recommend this run to anyone who wants to simply enjoy a morning run with 15,000 of your closest friends. There is no sense of competitiveness; no time to worry about, frisbees and shwag flying about, and a rUnicorn waving the starting flag. The memories are going to be around for a long time and I am looking forward to talking a few more people into this run next year. The Silver Strand 5k next weekend will be another beautiful event. Hope to see you there, constant runner! Happiness on two feet, Stacy

As much as I love summer, this past season was warmer than I can recently recall (my age aside, Lakeside is hot in August…just August…and usually for a week, not a month and a half…ugh!). Now that fall seems to have finally arrived, I am loving that the nights are cooler and that the air in the morning is crisp and cool. My lungs love it, my feet love it, and I am sleeping so much better! If there is one detractor between now and the time change is that it’s just dark at 5:00 AM. The dark is different. You are not quite sure how far you have until the next cross street, your light is limited to a flashlight or headlamp, and sounds are much louder…coyotes, bunnies, birds in trees, footsteps of other walkers and runners all seem ominously louder in the dark. It’s good in a way because adrenaline is coursing through my veins due to my constant vigilance and hyper hearing and that makes my feet move ever so much faster . It makes me happy that my times are better but then I giggle at the...