Happy National Running Day!

That's right, today is a National Running Day! How did you celebrate? I took a nice little jaunt through my neighborhood and it was great! The sun was starting to set, there were neighbors taking out garbage and watering their lawns and a couple other folks like myself getting their run on. And on top of that, I had a great run - felt energetic and had it not been getting dark I think I would have put a few more miles in. While I was running I was thinking about how I run and what makes a good run for me. Thought it might make a good blog post so here goes.

First and foremost are the shoes. A good pair of running shoes is critical to having a good run, enjoying your run and preventing injury. My current pair of shoes are the Brooks PureFlow shoes and I'm a big fan! These are a neutral running shoe that offer a slight cushion. I like to have athletic socks on too to minimize moisture and blisters. These Nike performance socks have treated my toesies quite well on long runs.

Keeping with the apparel I use for running, let's talk tops and bottoms. I like to wear form-fitting pants to keep everything nice and tight and to avoid any distractions when hitting the pavement. I have a variety of crops and shorts and am not really partial to any pair over another. Tonight I was running in my Lululemon Athletica crops. They are mucho-mucho comfy and fantastic but also mucho moola so I don't have a whole drawer of these babies ;) As for shirts, I am all about moisture wicking! I can't even express what a difference it has made to switch from a traditional cotton t-shirt to a moisture wicking shirt! No sticking, no bunching, no distractions. Again, I'm not partial to any brand or style but recently picked up one from Target that comes in a variety of colors and is a great price too.

On to the accessories. Or equipment? Either way, it's the stuff that completes the run ensemble for me. I always bring my phone on a run for two purposes - music and tracking my run. For the tunes, I turn to the Pandora app and I'm not ashamed to say I tune into pop music for a run. Usually it's Britney Spears, Lady Gaga or Flo Rida for some high energy music to keep me pumped up on those long runs. And for tracking I love the MapMyRun app. Been using it a few years now and love the capabilities. I can see my average pace/mile, my total distance and time and all kinds of other stats to mull over. I also like the community and the weekly emails with my totals for the week.

Now to keep my phone on my bod while I run, I use the SPIbelt and LOVE it!! When I got my HTC Evo there wasn't a case that would fit on my arm without being a major drag so I trolled some chatboards and came upon the SPIbelt. For $20 buckeroos I definitely got my moneys worth. I can fit my phone comfortably into it and then its snugly around my waist and not bopping around on my arm. I have stuffed in my ID and credit card for a run to the grocery store too.

Those are some of my goods for an enjoyable summer run. In addition to the goods I like to put a little thought into fuel as well. Pre-run I like to make sure I'm well hydrated (duh.) and have a little nosh for energy. Not too much or I get cramps or an upset stomach but enough so that I have the energy to burn. I'm kind of obsessed with Luna bars and love the minis which could seriously win an award for cutest and tastiest nutrition bar. The S'mores/Nutz over Chocolate are the best hands down.

Post-run I like to reach for a little protein and am a big fan of either hard-boiled egg whites or Chobani greek yogurt. I also like to toss back some coconut water (chalked full of natural electrolytes and more potassium than a banana!) and have heard great things about chocolate milk for runners though I don't usually stock up on it personally.

So there you have it, just a few of my favorite running goodies for the summer. Lace up the shoes and hit the ground running.

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Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

I can officially check off one of my 2012 New Year’s Resolutions as complete. I’ve been to not one, but SIX Bikram yoga classes! And I’m happy to report that I am a huge fan and will continue to be going back for more. But first I will back up a little to talk more about this unique form of yoga.

Tree Pose

Bikram yoga. What is it?

Well, put simply its hot yoga. Created by and named after Bikram Choudhury. And when I say hot, I mean HOT. To be a true Bikram yoga class, the studio must be heated to 105 degrees with 40% humidity. Yep, I bet you are sweating just hearing those stats. The reason behind the heat has to do with your bod. In the practice of Bikram yoga your body will bend, stretch and hold postures. With the heat you are able to do these things more deeply as the heat creates elasticity in your muscles and joints. In short, it warms you up.

During the 90 minute class (that usually flies by), you go through a series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. Each pose is designed to work on certain points throughout your body. Some are restricting blood flow and I love hearing all of the things that are happening - helping your digestive organs, strengthening your immune system, the list goes on and on and its great!!

Major differences. (from the yoga most are familiar with)

Eagle Pose

In addition to the heat, the class must be taught by a certified Bikram yoga instructor and the instructor doesn’t model the postures but rather speaks consistently through the entire 90 minutes motivating you, explaining postures and encouraging you to get all of the health benefits Bikram has to offer.

That’s definitely my short and sweet "Reader’s Digest" version of Bikram yoga but it touches on all of the basic facts.

Additional reading and information can be found here, here and here.

Yoga mat from Lululemon - The Mat and I love it!

Swimsuit season is fast approaching...Eeek!

Can you believe it? We are already a quarter through the year and for those of us in the Midwest, spring is just a pit stop between winter and summer...which means its almost time to dust off those swimsuits and put 'em on. I have to be honest, every winter I put on a little "insulation" and come spring, I'm watching my eats and making trips to the gym. I was referred to an AWESOME website recently (thanks Laura!) that helps keep track of calories, fat, protein and carbs with a database of some 500K food items, and guides you to your limits based on the goals you set. It's called The Daily Plate and it's your new best friend!

Check it out here: The Daily Plate

Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation is behind it and I promise, you'll be shocked when you start plugging in the food you're throwing back. It will keep you motivated and hold you accountable for that second glass of wine. Even better, its free!