everything...but the kitchen sink

Sometimes you just have to try, keep trying, and try again in that quest to find out what is better without wasting time, money, and your hair.  Yesterday, I did a familiar co-wash, de-tangled my hair, twisted it, rinsed the conditioner out without untwisting.  Sounds familiar?  Yes.  It's something I learned and it works.  But that's usual.  What I found to be wonderful was mixing my new finds: Cantu Shea Strengthening Treatment and Organic Root Stimulator Pudding, mixed with old faithfuls: Carol's Daughter Hair Butter, Melaleuca's Envia Nature's Salon Scalp Therapy, and found a wonderful soft twist out this morning!  I love it!  No frizzes. When I untwisted my hair I made sure that my hands were oiled with Doo Gro Mega Mega Thick Growth Oil.  

cross training

Don't get greedy with one routine or two and dig into those, forgetting about other things you can do to maintain your svelte physique!  An oversight we often neglect, but are forced to correct.  I did it.  I admit it.  For two months I virtually abandoned the Arc Trainer and the Bike for the treadmill.  And yes, I was on a schedule that should have included those machines for the month of October.  However, the Brooksie Way 5K pretty much dictated and forced me to deviate from my schedule.

But I'm back.  It's an eclectic month.  I'll just call it that.  A hodgepodge.  A 31 day trial and error.  Yes.  That's a good name for it.  I guess, I need to get into a yoga class as well to complete the set.  I planned on working out at Bally's 2 days a week for November and December.  I might as well, since it's free this year and will soon (January 2011) I'll return to paying a small fee to continue the membership.

I'd like to do a step class.  But, I think I need to wait and not push myself to revving up the workouts, simply because, technically speaking I'm still overweight.  I don't know this from a scale, but from clothes.  Until I get into those size 12-14 jeans, I will consider myself over.  Not obsessive, just simply stating a natural fact.  I'm a comfy 10-12.  It's been years since my closet was filled with 8's.  So that's a transient size in my opinion just like 16.

Cross Training can be accomplished many ways.  I really do this already with incorporating Cardio in between my training sets.  You can be strong.  You can be fast.  You can even have great endurance.  But if you're stiff and inflexible...you're not addressing your weakest link.

less can be more

I was reading a blog question from Facebook.  A blogger wanted to know about the 'best running shoes'.  It's probably the hardest question to answer because you naturally think that a great shoe would set you back a few dollars.  Then when you see the price tag you start to rethink this 'running thing'.  Well have no fear.  I'm hear to tell you that since I became a gym rat at 19, I must have collected more fitness shoes than a bargain bin can hold.  Some expensive, some for court, but mostly cross-trainers.

You can't go wrong with a good cross-trainer.

Have nothing to dread, I'm here to tell you that I have spent a mint on what I thought was a great shoe and it wound up being a fashion statement.  No.  Seriously.  When I set out to run my first 5K, I knew I was headed for some intensive make-up training sessions because I only had 4.5 weeks of work from a 9 week Couch to 5K model.  So I needed a great shoe...really bad.  I couldn't afford to waste time testing a faux runner and wind up in casts, braces, or on crutches from injury.  I headed to my closet of over a dozen pairs and after trying each one on a session, some were utter disappointments.

You can't know a great shoe just by trying one on.  So my advice to you is to find the brand that you can trust, then a model that could be dependable (this is having to do with your wear pattern).  As time goes on, the brand will continue to build upon that model.  It's comparative to Chevrolet and it's Malibu.  Similarly, I had never run in an Nike Alvord before, since I've only had Shox and Air Max in my arsenal.  However, Nike was the trusted brand (like Chevrolet).  Since my 'cute' shoes didn't quite give me a satisfying running recovery, I went to Champs online and sought a good trail runner since I would ultimately require this shoe to get me through some fall terrain on the 5K path.

I'm sure I looked silly on the treadmill at Planet Fitness running in a trail shoe.  But the most important thing was transferring that training into the real show.  So I ran in the shoe that I could really hit the pavement in.  Seriously.  This 5K was going to be my very first outdoor run in over a year, due to my allergies.

Nonetheless, it turned out to be the best 60 dollars ever spent.  I purchased two pair coincidentally.  I'm backing off my running a bit, minimizing my training to more cross training to avoid injury.  Yes...it's true.  After running the 5K, I got a burst of adrenaline and kicked the treadmill up some points.  Don't worry!  I'm not retiring from my runs.  I'm simply strengthening up my supportive connective tissues so that I can sustain my speed increase.   Check out the shoes below.  They do have more colors for the fashion conscious, so don't worry if black isn't your color.  LOL.

stay warm with cold gear

Well, yes I had a successful run in Brooksie Way. I WON! I didn't cross the finish line first, but I crossed it! And that was my goal. I was a little concerned because I barely ran 2 miles straight during training. But, I did it! I'm so proud of myself! The morning was a chilly 45 degrees. I had about an hour drive. The line getting into the Oakland University Campus was long, but they didn't start without me. I parked, hit the port-a-potty, checked in, got my bib, and lined up for the 5K. I even had a handshake with L. Brooks Patterson, whose late son "Brooksie" is who the race is named for.

I finished with a 49:15 time. I felt really good, never winded. A little challenging going uphill, but thank to my intensive cross-training, I fleshed it out! Overall, I'm thanking myself for making an investment in Under Armor Gear.

 

I wore UA pants, bra, and long sleeve shirt underneath a shoulder-less t-shirt and sweat shorts. I tried my very best to wear nothing extravagant or heavy, but I needed to be warm. I ran in the shoes I had trained in, taking this advice from COOLRunning.com. Special Thanks to everyone who supported and cheered me on!