"LOVES Me a New Pair of Shorts!"

Yep! And I deserved them... for some reason I'm sure! Here's my back story, surely you'll agree.
I, like many of you, thoroughly enjoy Lululemon. Their products' fabrics, sewing, versatility, and long-last wear have past lead me to purchase several items over the year.
A brief sampling:

Scuba Hoodie, $108.00



Cool Racerback $39.00



Run: Tempo Crop II $86.00

Several of these products as well as those not listed have lasted me not months but years! That's a tall order in the fitness industry! With stretch fabrics like spandex and nylon, it's tough to get a good pair of running crops to last a year without either stretching out or falling apart due to shotty sewing. Not with Lulu's, no sir.

I digress. My past several months have filled with more of a running schedule than a gym schedule, largely due to my somewhat healing piriformis syndrome and definitely healing GI issues. My running wardrobe, however, left much to be desired. My shorts were boring and slouchy. The warmer temps left running crops out of the question. What was a girl to do??

Exhibit A:

Run: Turbo Speed Short $54.00

Don't you LOVE??? OK, I know what you're thinking and believe me, I can respond:

1: No they're not as tiny or tight as they look. They're just right on me and I'm on the taller side of the scale. The waist band feels non-existent. The moisture-wicking, light-feeling fabric keeps me cool. There's even that oh-so-handy zipper pouch in the back of the waistband to fit a car key or phone.

2: Yes, I know they seem pricey. But to be honest, a normal pair of running shorts (that fill the 4th drawer down in my dresser) are priced between $30-$40. None can compete with the Run: Speed Short in comfort, style, wear- ability, fabric, and quality. I'd probably replace those cheaper shorts 3x more frequently than the Lulu's. Let's face it, I saved money!! Right?

3. No, they don't ride up. They don't move. No chaffing. No slouching. It's seriously like they're not even there. Did I say that already?

Have I proven my point? One special shout out to my sis-in-law, Jamie, for gifting me a $25 Lulu gift card for my BDay. Thus, giving me all the more reason to shop till I drop!!

** Nope, Lululemon has no clue that I just spent a good 20 minutes gushing about their amazing products. No sponsorships needed! Pro-bono props!**

Surround Yourself with those who Challenge You...

Let's just say I won't be skipping any remedial 8 mile runs anymore!!

"My oh my..." is all I could say as I read more about Lisa Bliss. A local woman, someone who I have yet the pleasure of meeting, will set out Monday morning to tackle a feat few have even thought of tackling before.

On July 25, 2011, Lisa plans to attempt to be the first woman and second person ever to cross Death Valley solo, unsupported and self-contained—meaning she will run alone, without outside help of any kind, carrying all her food water and supplies in a 230-lb cart custom designed for her by Glen Copus of Spokane’s Elephant Bikes.

The journey from the Badwater Basin to the summit of Mt. Whitney will take her from the lowest point in the contiguous U.S. to the highest—an altitude change of more than 14,000 feet. Lisa will cross more than 135 miles of asphalt followed by an 11-mile climb to the summit of the mountain for a total of 146 miles in blistering desert temperatures up to 130 degrees.

Why would Lisa want to do such a thing? To help the homeless youth at Crosswalk.

“I believe with all my heart and mind and body and soul that there is no failure in trying, for as long as we keep trying.” That’s something she wants to prove to the youth at Crosswalk teen shelter—both by making this attempt and also by attempting to raise $10,000 to fund the GED and college scholarship programs at the shelter.

Lisa wants to show the youth that when you choose to keep moving toward a glimmer of hope, focusing on any minute possibility of success—rather than focusing on the obstacles in the way—you succeed simply in the trying. Join Lisa by making a tax-deductible donation.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK!


Information and excerpts from  http://www.voaspokane.org/LisaBliss

Who Do You Run For?

What if you were told tomorrow,

"You will never run again"?

Would you go for a run today? Maybe walk to the grocery store rather than drive the 2 blocks? Take the pups for a much needed walk?

I would. All of the above.
I like to keep my "Home Life" seperate from my "Work Life" for several reasons. However, I make an acception after experiencing one of those "A-Ha!" moments a few weeks ago. My 9-5 job consists of planning events to benefit and fundraise for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The best part of my job is meeting the beneficiaries of these fundraisers: the clients and their families who battle this terminal disease every hour of every day. You can probably understand why it's difficult to leave work emotions at work; some days tax my heart strings more than others.
An interesting facet to my job occurs every Wednesday at clinic. We have the opportunity to sit in on doctor's appointments where new MDA clients receive initial diagnosis and counseling. Ok so it's a little intense.... but I love it. One gentleman stood out to me a few weeks ago. We'll call him Ed.
Ed caught my attention for a few reasons: He arrived alone. He seemed physically fit for his age (67). He had a sense of humor much like my own, which made him all too relatable. Ed didn't say much but when he did his commentary remained dry and synical. I liked him.
Unfortunately, Ed had been in and out of doctors and specialist's offices for nearly 2 years. No diagnosis as to why his legs could no longer bear his body weight. Ed's an athlete. A marathoner, to be specific. Why aren't his legs working the way they should? Within the 40 minute appointment, Ed received a diagnosis of ALS (aka Lou Gehrigs disease).
Enter the not-so-fun portion of my job. How do you offer a smile to someone who just received a terminal diagnosis? Ed will die from this muscle-wasting disease, one where your muscles are viewed as a sort of bank account that never get's replenished. Once you've used them, they're gone.
One of the few questions Ed asked perked my ears. "You mean I'll never run again?" He had hoped that some sort of rehabilitation could give him is legs back. ALS patients- and most patients with muscular dystrophy- are instructed to avoid tiresome activities because their muscles don't rejuvinate themselves like ours do. No trips to the mall. No evening walks through the neighborhood or on the beach. No marathons.
I didn't talk with Ed much but I knew I liked him. Like I said, we have similar personalities and could have possibly run the same race in another life.
Ever since my visit on that particular Wednesday, I think of Ed while i tie my running shoes. How many times have you talked yourself out of a run for one reason or another? I can tell you that ever since my visit with Ed, I can't think of any reasons that override the feelings I felt that day. Which raises the question,

Who do You Run For?

Top 10 Reasons to Run!

In an effort to keep up with the trend of the New Year's holiday, I found it only necessary to publish my own Top 10 list. I'll avoid boring you with 2010 flashbacks. Instead let's gear up for 2011 with a strong list of reasons to hit the road!!!... or trail, or treadmill....

10. Running keeps you going. What's that supposed to mean? Ever heard of the "runner's high"? The endorphins released during and following a good run differ from those produced from any other extracurricular activity like weight lifting or golf. This is truly a natural "high" and I invite you to discover it!

9. Running leads to weight loss. (If that's what you're going for.) Depending on your body composition, running for 30 minutes can burn anywhere from 250-500 calories!! Click here for a link on calorie burning specifics.

8. Running leads to involvement. A great way to get involved with your social atmosphere lies in joining a running club comprised of like-minded individuals. Man or woman, teenager or senior, active-mom or lazy single, your likelihood of finding a group with common interests in your area ranks pretty high.

7. Running leaves your wallet alone. My husband may disagree with you, seeing how much cute
active wear and fitness gadgets I MUST purchase, but all you really need is a pair of running shoes. I tried thinking of other sports as economically efficient as running and I only came up with some pretty sorry forms of baseball (stick, pine cone), football (shoes, rock), or skiing (sticks and bigger sticks). We win again!!

6. Running can be different for everyone. And that's why it's great. Run slow, run fast, run in circles! We still call that running, which is yet another reason why #9 makes me smile!

5. Running contributes to society. It seems that every weekend, a race to benefit a great cause takes place locally. This way, you not only run for fitness and socialization but also for insight into a cause needing fund-raising. Warms your heart!! Click here for some recommendations.

4. Running is weight-lifting. Double-whammy score! In a day and age where multi-tasking remains the largest, most prevalent trend out there, it's no surprise that more Americans seek the easy- street than the alternative. Two-for-One deal? Sold!! By now we know all about how weight-lifting tones muscles, prevents running overuse injuries, and improves bone density as we age. Just picture your body constantly carrying it's own weight, battling with gravity, achieving ultimate balance every nano-second you're running. Ah, how I love the efficiency of multi-tasking.

3. Run anywhere, anytime, any day. Business trip, holiday, morning, afternoon, nighttime. Whenever, wherever you are. Your shoes sit by the door or in your suitcase patiently waiting for your cute 10 toes. Rain or shine, running takes no excuses because you can do it anywhere. Genius.

2. Running reduces stress. Yes, I know. Most forms of exercise attain some endorphins. But running is one of the only sports that endorphins increase and remain at a sustainable level, which leads to a consistent rise in serotonin. We like serotonin. For more information on the relationship between stress reduction and serotonin production levels, click here.

1. We LOVE Running! What better reason do you need than those listed above? Read them again! And again! Got it? Good. Let's go!