Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2017 - The Report

We had another crisp day for Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2017. Runners are the toughest people I know! Last year the temperature was 6 degrees at race time. This year was a bit less cold, but still quite frigid. The sun broke through the inversion haze once again and off they ran on snow covered ground.
This small town event benefits the local food bank. Participants donated food items for their registration fee. Many finished with frosty eyebrows and eyelashes.
Like I said, runners are tough!

Another fun shirt design!

Here are the results from Bust Your Bells 2016! 

Women's 5K -

1st Place - Emma Strommen

Men's 5K - 

1st Place - Alex Peterson

10K -

1st Place Female - Becky Hawkins

1st Place Male  - Stetson Beus

And they're off!

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.

 Blue skies! The sun makes all the difference!

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

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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!

Firsts of 2015

As each new year approaches I enjoy looking back over the last twelve months to see what I have done differently during the year. I especially like to review what new things I have learned and experienced.  Here is a quick look at 2015.

• I visited Canada for the first time with a trip to Niagara Falls.  It only lasted about 45 minutes because it was freezing, but it was beautiful and exciting!

• I published my first children’s book with the help of my granddaughter.  She did the illustrations for Gary Learns to Skate. She was six years-old!

• First book signing with my granddaughter.

• I published my first book about running.

• First book signing in a running store – two, actually!  Thank you to Shu’s and Pocatello Running Company for hosting!

• First speaking gig about book marketing.

• First root beer float at the Frostop in Ashton. ( I have had root beer floats before, but I can’t remember ever stopping at the Frostop for one!)

• First writers contest and event sponsored by the ICAN

• I designed and published my first website! Check it out!

• First appearance in Eagle Magazine

• First bit.ly link

• First time I shattered the screen on my iPhone. Very sad!

I would love to hear about what you did for the first time in 2015. Message me in the comments below.

Enjoy your New Year celebration!  Be safe and be happy!

Happy Running!
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Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2015 – The Report

We had another fun time at the 5^th Annual BustYour Bells Holiday Run! The morning began with pouring rain and a few decided to stay home. We are sorry they missed it. The skies dried up long to provide great running weather!

The run has been around long enough that we have collected some faithful followers! They know who they are! Thank you for your continued support! We had several new participants this year as well. We love making new friends!

 

We were able to make a generous contribution to the Sunshine Cupboard for which they are truly grateful. Thank you for your generosity!

The bright red shirts were a hit!  Thanks to I/D/E/A for another cute design! Next time you don your shirt check out the elves’ shoes. They must be Parma runners!

Thank you to Shu’s Idaho Running Company for supplying the time clock and some great prizes! Mike and his staff are always supportive of our events.  The next time you need running gear, stop in and tell them Running Granny Green sent you!

Thank you to Rivercity Roe for their donation to our prize drawing. One lucky runner ran away with some cute Christmas leggings. Stop by their Facebook page and give them some love.

The best part about the Bust Your Bells run is the friendships we continue to make. Thanks for coming back year after year. We invite you to share you race pics on the Bust Your Bells Fun Run Facebook page.

S-t-r-e-e-e-t-c-h!

See you next year!

Have a Merry Christmas and as always ...

Happy Running!

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Burned Cookies, Running Stores and Breakfast in Bed

Huckleberry Croissant French Toast

Last week was a busy one – so busy in fact that I burned a batch of cookies! I paid two visits to two running stores, and was pampered with a delicious breakfast in bed (well, almost) for Mother’s Day! 

Uh-oh!

Those that know me or follow me on Facebook also know that I bake a lot of cookies.  In some ways it is a coping skill, but truthfully, I love to bake cookies and I love to share them. I also love to eat them!  I believe these things about cookie baking ...

a) Offerings of food show love, and

b) Service, aka cookie baking, has a way of lifting ones spirit, and

c) as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.” 

That’s why I am a great cookie baker!  However, I did get a little distracted this week and this was the result!

What is the lesson?  Pay attention to the task at hand.

I visited two running stores and I didn’t walk out of either with new shoes. That required much self-control! I had the pleasure of visiting Pocatello Running Co. for the first time this week. I have noticed that Poky has a growing running community and I am excited that they now have a running specialty store, as well. Be assured I will be directing all my running and walking friends in that corner of the state to pay a visit to Pocatello Running Co. Give them some love and follow them on Facebook.  I will be visiting again in July for a book signing event to promote The Hard Run. I am looking forward to catching up with some old and new friends. I was so excited about the store that I forgot to take photos!  However, I did snap this shot of McKee’s Pet, Garden and Feed Centers!  I know someone there who likes to run!

Shoes at Shu's!

My second visit was to Shu’s Idaho Running Co. where I was fortunate to spend a few hours at a book signing on Saturday.  In addition to selling some books, I witnessed many happy faces as they walked out of the store with new running shoes!  I was tempted to do the same, but I really am not in the market right now.  My newest pair of Asics have not logged enough miles to warrant another pair!  Thanks to Mike and the gang for a warm welcome and a fun afternoon! Give them a follow, too!

Sunday. Mother’s Day. Breakfast in bed.  And see by the photo that this fancy breakfast prepared by my husband may have been a little messy in bed – however, he did prepare it while I slept in! It’s a variation of a French Toast recipe from OurBestBites.  He added huckleberries (my favorite) to the filling and topped it with fresh huckleberry syrup.  Notice the orchid garnish? He also fixed dinner and dessert and presented me with a coupon for a massage with this therapist. The kids all called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day and I received chocolates at church!  It was a great way to top off a busy week.

It’s Monday now and I am back to my usual Monday tasks – lawn mowing, correspondence, lab work, and laundry – and I am looking forward to another busy week of writing, running, and of course, cookie baking. No more breakfast in bed! Have a Happy Monday!

Happy Running!

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Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2014 - The Report

Starting line

What a great day for a race.  I am sorry if you missed it.  Today was 4^th Annual Bust Your Bells Holiday Run in Parma, Idaho and we had unseasonably gorgeous weather! This year’s commemorative gear was a beanie hat.  It was fun to see so many little blue heads bobbing up and down along the course. 

 

 

Here is a picture of our leader, Susan, sporting the blue beanie!

 

We collected all of this food for The Sunshine Cupboard, Parma’s food bank.

Donations for the Sunshine Cupboard

Thanks to Shu’s Idaho Running Company for donating the timing clock and prizes, our local law enforcement for helping to keep us safe, and Parma’s Fire Department for donating and preparing hot chocolate for the after race snacks.  I few cookies to go with the cocoa and we were well fed post-run.

It was good to catch up with my summer running buddy, Kelli.  We haven’t been running together since August, but it was just like old times – only slower.

Me and My Buddy

You can still participate in a fun run in 2014.  Here’s one for the Canyon County Crowd. Ugly Sweater 5K on December 20 in Caldwell, Idaho. Register HERE.

Remember, it’s called a fun run for a reason.  You don’t have to run, you can walk.  The fun part is celebrating your ability to get out and move!

Follow the Bust Your Bells Facebook page to see pictures and keep informed when next year’s run rolls around.

Happy Running!

Review: The Pulse Running & Fitness Shop

Doesn't everybody shop for running shoes on snowy days?

Seven inches of new snow on the ground and biting temperatures in the middle of November means it’s time to go buy new running shoes, right? That’s what I did yesterday and I’m here to report on my experience.  I have taken my son and a couple friends to get fitted for the right shoe and I refer anyone who asks and many that don’t to The Pulse, Shu’s IdahoRunning Co, or Bandanna Running and Walking.  They always have positive experiences.

Here are some explanations of the three most important running shoe features.

Neutral – No built in features to correct behavior of the foot and ankle on impact.

Cushioning – Soft stuff in the sole.  Ah, yes!

Stability – This feature prevents the foot from rolling too much on impact. There are various degrees of stability available.

Confession: I have never been fitted for shoes! In fact, I stumbled upon some Asics with a little stability in them once and I have continued to use a stability shoe (except for these) ever since. I discovered something yesterday.  I don’t need a stability shoe!  This is how I know.

I chose to visit The Pulse for two reasons.  First – They use a treadmill and a video camera.  Second – Location. The owner (I apologize that I didn't catch her name) first checked my arches and had me walk across the floor in my stocking feet so she could see what my ankles, especially my Achilles tendon, did when I walked.  It was neutral – it stayed mostly straight while I walked. (This is important as I have been struggling with some tendonitis and sciatica.) She began bringing several pairs of brightly colored shoes for me to try.  I donned a pair and hopped on the treadmill to look for a couple of things.  First – how did the shoe feel? Second – what happened with my Achilles as I ran?  The second purpose was aided by a video camera aimed at the back of my feet that could be slowed and stopped to evaluate how my feet, ankles, and the shoes behaved together. She was very patient and allowed me to take as much time as I needed to make the best choice possible.  There was no hard sell!

After trying out five or six pair – I ran in each pair and even ran in two different shoes for comparison – I chose the Asics Gel-Cumulus. They have some nice cushioning and I am excited to see how they perform for me.  I tried other brands – Saucony, Brooks, and Mizuno – but I went back to Asics.  Now, if the weather would just warm up so I could take them for a ride!

My new shoes!

Reasons to visit a running store:

• The owners are runners.
• Treadmills and video cameras.
• A better fit means more success on the run.
• Performance shoes are more comfortable and less likely to promote injury than cheaper models, saving money in the long run.
• Performance shoes wear longer than lesser models.
• Your feet and ankles will thank you!

If you have never visited a running shoe store it might be time.  Whether you are a walker or a beginning runner, there is no need to be intimidated. They are there to help. Visit ThePulse and tell them Running Granny Green sent you!

Do you have a product or service you would like to know more about?  Comment below or message me on Facebook and we will see what information we can find.

Happy Running!

More shoes, please!

It’s my birthday week and guess what I want for a gift?  That’s right, running shoes.  My hubby doesn’t think that new running shoes sounds very exciting, but he doesn’t understand. Nor do I understand why he needs so many ski jackets.  I have two – an old one and a not so old one.  They work great for me. He has many more.

My running shoe collection is something like this …

One pair of neutral (no stability) road shoes that are light and fast and feel very slick in the rain.  They are about ready for an upgrade.

One pair of stability shoes that have a tendency to jam a couple toes.  These are bright and pretty and also about ready for an upgrade.

One pair with lots of cushioning and better tread for dirt roads and trails.  Also on the “needs replaced” list.

Three more pairs that have been retired to yard work, camping, and hiking duty.

Okay, so maybe I can have more empathy for his ski jacket fetish.  He has one for blizzards, one for warm days, one for windy days, another for super cold days … If I get a new pair of shoes, I may need to get him a new coat – just to keep it even.

I am hoping to make a trip to The Pulse or Shu’s Idaho Running Company in the next few days.  They are my favorite running stores.  They both give great service and can help you find the right show for you. I promise to post pictures of my fancy new shoes once I have obtained them!

Do you have a fitness item you love? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Happy Running!
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About my new Pearl Izumi Runners

There's mud on my new shoes!

I promised a product review of my new Pearl Izumi Project Emotion running shoes courtesy of Shu's Idaho Running Co. so here it is.

I have been running in Asics Kayanos.  They have a lot of stability and cushioning and I LOVE them!  I thought that a free pair of shoes meant it was a good time to try a neutral runner.  I was right!  I recently competed in the 2013 Burley Spudman Triathlon – more on that later.  I took my new shoes for two short runs before the 10K leg of the Spudman and decided to try them out in a race.  So, after about ten miles with the new shoes, this is what I know.

The Pearl Izumis are LIGHT and comfortable! The upper is soft all over and I have no toe/nail/blister problems after a six mile run.

Definitely a road shoe as the sole is very smooth.  They were okay over 2 miles of dirt and gravel during the race. We had a little rain and they felt slippery on the wet pavement.

The verdict?  The Pearl Izumi Project Emotion is a great road racing shoe, but I wouldn’t recommend them for wet conditions.  It is oh, so comfortable!  I will stick with my Asics Kayanos for off-road and inclement weather.  They are heavier and I still think they are a very good training shoe.  I will save the PI’s for days when I need speed or I am feeling self-indulgent or when my toes feel beat up from a long run in the Asics.

Two great pairs of shoes - one happy runner!

Mud.  Proof that they've been worn off-road.

Fit for Life 2013 – The Report

 

Ready to roll!

 

Well, here we are all pre-race smiles. We trained. We carbo-loaded.  We got up at 4:00am to eat breakfast and went back to bed for an hour.  We prayed!  I even cried a little bit at race start because I was excited to have Marie running this race with me.  I just knew she could break two hours.  It was almost like old times!

State Track 2005



Then we ran, and ran, and ran for 13.1 miles.  I could see her for awhile trotting up ahead of me while I labored along. I was ever so grateful for the shaded Boise Greenbelt because I had forgotten my sunglasses!  There was a guy ringing cow bells and I thought perhaps he was just my fan because I saw him at three different locations.  Hey Cow Bell Guy, I know you weren’t there just for me, but “Thanks for the support!”

I saw Marie again a half mile before the turn around point (my mile 6 – her mile7).  She was wearing the watch and called out my time.  Right on pace!  Too bad I didn’t drink Gatorade instead of water at the water stops.  I ran out of fuel about mile 10.  That’s when the walking breaks increased and I fell off pace.  My quads were killing me at the 11.5 mile mark.  I crossed Home Plate (finish line at Hawks Memorial Stadium) at 2:23:04.  That’s 26 minutes faster than last year’s High Desert Trail Run.  Respectable.

Marie was waiting for me with our other fans.

Some of the fans.

Some really great things happened!  Marie finished in 1:58:12!  I knew she could break two hours!  We both received finisher medals like this one.

T-shirt and finisher medal

 

And … we stayed at the after party long enough for me to win a pair of Pearl Izumi shoes from Shu’s Idaho Running Company!  A report on the shoes will follow.

My new Pearl Izumi's courtesy of Shu's!

 

The verdict is … Fit for Life is a great race!  Flat. Shady.  Friendly.  Fun!  Thanks to Jeff and the folks at BlueCircle Sports for a great time.  Thanks to Marie for running .  Thanks, especially, to Shu’s for the new shoes!

P.S.  No after photos due to a dead camera battery.  I am ok with that.  I don't look so good after!