Firsts of 2016

Perplexus Rookie

It’s time once again to review my year and see what things I have experienced for the first time during the last twelve months. I’m a believer in lifelong learning. A look back helps me evaluate how I am doing in this lifelong quest. Here are a few of the things I experienced for the first time in 2016.

• I made Crème’ Brulee for the first time using this slow cooker recipe.

• 

  Brooks Ghost

  I owned my first pair of Brooks running shoes. I think I’m hooked!

• First visit to Detroit, Michigan. With that came my first road trip through the Midwest, first ice cream cone at Great America, and my first Michigan Left. (The latter was a hair-raising experience!)

• I published my first blog post from my iPhone.

•  I went on my first run Down Upper Targhee during Grand Teton Relay 2016 and sustained only one black toenail!

• I had my first paid cross country coaching gig. I’ve been volunteering for years. The pay was a nice perk!

• 

  Part of my team!

  Ran into a stranger while he was reading one of my books in the Costco food court!

• First Christmas Day without my youngest child. He was caught in a snowstorm and couldn’t make it home. We missed him!

• I also published with Power Point for the first time (sometimes I’m a slow learner), mowed a lawn with my grandson for the first time (he’s two), and solved a Perplexus puzzle for the first time!

I can’t wait to see what’s new in 2017!

Tell me about your year. What did you do or learn how to do for the first time?

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

- Carol aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2016 - The Report

Jingle Bells adorn our shoes!

Runners are the toughest people I know. Bust Your Bells FunRun 2016 proves it. The morning dawned (Well, I guess it dawned. We hadn’t seen the sun in a while) breezy and cold! By race time the winds that were gusting to 22 mph the evening before had slowed to under 5 mph. The temperature? That was another story. I worried that no runners would show.

As I checked and rechecked my weather app I prayed the sub-zero temps would rise. I awaited phone calls from participants apologizing and begging off. None came. I watched the temperature climb, ever so slowly. I checked our facebook page. There were expressions of dread, but nobody was backing out. The race was on!

Food Bank Donation

This fun run is a small town event with the local foodbank as the beneficiary. Runners donate non-perishable food items as their registration fee. Commemorative shirts can be purchased, but they are not necessary for participation. However, who wouldn’t want one of these?

The starting bells jingled at 10:09am or 10:11am sharp, just like always! Hey, we were waiting for warmer temps. It was a balmy 6 degrees above zero with very little wind. The sun even attempted to break through the cold haze. Runners slipped and slid their way along a 5K, 10K, and a modified 1.34 mile course. Most of those brave souls opted for the 5K with a handful of particularly tough folks running the full 10K course. Times were slow and faces were frosty, but everyone was smiling as they slid into the finish line. Nobody froze to death and nobody was injured.

As I mentioned previously, runners are the toughest people I know!

Here are the results from Bust Your Bells 2016!

Women's 5K -

1st Place - 31.20 Lydia Stevenson

2nd Place - 39.25 Kelsey Noble

3rd Place - 39.30 Sonia Basterrechea-Maggard

Men's 5K -

1st Place - 23.38 Alex Peterson

2nd Place - 23.40 Stetson Beus

3rd Place - 28.25 Grant Stockett

10K -

1st Place - 42.13 Dennis Atkinson

2nd Place - 46.26 Britton Parker

Special thanks to Shu's Idaho Running Company for donating the timing clock and prizes.

To view more photos and stay informed about future Bust Your Bells Fun Runs, follow our facebook page.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

- Carol aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Affordable Reflective Running Gear!

Can you see us?

In my last post, Winter Running Motivation for Beginners, I mentioned a runner’s need for reflective gear during the winter. Reflective running gear is essential any time you are on the road in low visibility whether it be early morning, evening, or in the middle of a snowstorm. (Yes, I’ve done that.) I’ve listed below some of my favorite reflective items that will keep you safe and won’t slow you down!

Adjustable Headlamp –

You need one of these for two reasons. First, it helps oncoming cars see you. Drivers are sure to spot a bobbing LED light headed their way! Second, you can adjust the beam so it lights up the road in front of you. This is very important for runners like me who tend to locate potholes with their feet! The lamp can be worn directly on your head or over a running hat.

Reflective Running Vest –

I like Amphipod’s Xinglet running vest (pictured). It is light, super reflective, and adjustable. The strappy design doesn’t interfere or impede movement. It’s great for summer running, too, because it doesn’t add another layer to an already warm torso.

Reflective Snap Bracelet –

Yes, it’s a bracelet … or an anklet. The one pictured is from Bell. You can even wear it on your upper arm if you want. Slap it around your wrist or ankle and off you go. Moving even more than the bobbing head lamp, the snap bracelet will also catch a driver’s eye.

Flashing Arm Light –

This adjustable light by Duracell can be set to glow white, red, green, blue, yellow, or purple! It has a steady beam or you can adjust it to flash. This is another lightweight and affordable safety item that can be worn on the upper arm or attached to a belt or vest. Set it to flashing red and wear it on the back of your reflective vest for added visibility from behind.

These items are all well suited for running or biking in low visibility. They are lightweight, adjustable and affordable. ($5 - $35) It’s a small price to pay for safety!

Do you have a reflective safety item you would like to share? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

- Carol aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Winter Running Motivation for Beginners

Uh-oh! It’s winter and you may have lost your motivation for running! Perhaps you began running in the summer and adjusting to the colder temps is proving quite a challenge. The wicking t-shirts and capri running tights you obtained to help you look and feel like a runner aren’t going to help when the thermometer dips below your comfort zone! The winter holiday celebrations are sure to present their own challenges with piles of goodies, not to mention the crunch they present on your discretionary time.

How are you going to stay motivated? How will you stay warm enough to run? How will you find the time to run while your To-Do list continues to grow? Here are some Dos and Don’ts that might help.

Don’t panic …

Running, like everything in life, has its seasons. Consider winter the maintenance season. Unless you live in the tropics, you won’t find many marathons to join in the winter months. Stick with a lighter schedule logging fewer miles and perhaps 2 – 3 running workouts per week. Remember, the weather will warm again and race season will be in full swing! You’ll get back in shape.

Do participate in a Fun Run on occasion …

Remember, it’s a “fun” run. Join your friends in a local holiday walk/run, gather for lunch or hot cocoa and cookies after (Yeah, you earned it), exchange gifts, and knock that task off your To-Do list. You may have to be the encourager here, but I promise it is a rewarding role.

Do join a group …

Running clubs, running buddies, even virtual groups can be effective in keeping you honest and accountable. Find a local group or create one of your own. Mark Zuckerberg did it and so did I! Check out A Mile for MyHeart on Facebook and feel free to join me.

Do dress in layers …

Read this blog post for some helpful hints for cold weather gear.

Don’t forget to be seen!

Shorter days present a real challenge for runners, especially if you work an 8 to 5 job. If you are going to run outside, invest in some affordable reflective gear. A head lamp might look and feel goofy, but it will keep you visible and light up those pesky potholes. Be safe out there!

Last of all …

Don’t feel guilty!

You’ve got a lot of living to do and running might help you buy some extra days or years. Be sure to enjoy every one!

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.