Just want to point you toward a great blog post:
I know that I can definitely see myself there - my constant struggle to build muscle AND mileage comes instantly to mind :)
How about you?
Obituary for a Binkie
On Monday, July 26th, the 32oz Blue Nalgene bottle with the green sipper top and the pink smoothie straw was reported missing. The beloved bottle was inadvertently left backstage at a theatre Monday night, where it had graciously provided it's owner with refreshment during a short concert she was performing in. It has not been seen since.
During its all to short life, the bottle enabled its owner to drink an entire bottle on the way into work without spilling all over herself when they hit bumps in the road, or stop and go traffic. She was able to walk from my office to the gym, sipping away. It was easy to keep hydrated at her desk all day long, and keep it going on the commute home. Once there, the Blue Nalgene was a familiar sight either at the couch or on the dinner table. And it had a space of honor beside her on my nightstand.
The Blue Nalgene bottle is survived by a Pink Kleen Kanteen and many other bottles (too numerous to count) that are merely a pale shadow of portability and ease of use.
It will be missed.
Under the Hood
IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW:
- Potassium Chloride is a type of salt that adds flavor but not sodium (see Nutrition Facts for sodium content).
- Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate that comes from potato or starch.
Intrigued?
The above definitions were listed beneath the ingredients of a can of Campbell's Select Harvest Soup (New England Clam Chowder). And yes, I did eat it. Advertising "Real Ingredients. Real Taste.", the website also includes an ingredient glossary.
Since these descriptions are relatively vague, I went off in search of more answers. Being a girl with a notoriously short attention span, I quickly got sidetracked when I found the following two websites:
and
The first link takes you to a .pdf listing common food additives and explains why they're added to our foods. If there is even a smidgen of the geek in you, you'll bookmark this.
The second link is to a blog that I would marry if I were single and it was legal in New York to marry a website. Really. It's full of common sense, some unexpected eye-openers and sprinkled with just a touch of attitude. Did you know that a Chipotle burrito is nutritionally worse than a Big Mac? Or that there is no actual coconut in M&Ms coconut (for shame). Click through the blog and take a look. Let me know here what piqued your interest or threw you for a loop.
There you have it kids, your homework for the weekend :)
disclaimer: I eat processed foods. Not often, but I do. And I enjoy them thoroughly. I certainly don't want to demonize them (Let's face it, you can't make an oreo out of whole foods) :) However, I do think that it behooves us all as consumers to at least recognize when we're eating a Frankenfood.
disclaimer: I eat processed foods. Not often, but I do. And I enjoy them thoroughly. I certainly don't want to demonize them (Let's face it, you can't make an oreo out of whole foods) :) However, I do think that it behooves us all as consumers to at least recognize when we're eating a Frankenfood.
A must-see:
ULTRA RUNNER from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.
Many thanks to Senator Brett for passing this along!
ULTRA RUNNER from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.
Many thanks to Senator Brett for passing this along!
Summer in the City
How hot is too hot? When it comes to outdoor training, at what point do you draw the line?
New York has been in the grips of a heat wave all summer - when it's not raining (or dark out) - the temperature is consistently in the upper 80s to upper 90s, with a few triple digit days thrown in. That's hot. Granted, it's not Badwater Ultramarathon HOT, but it's certainly danger zone hot for us mere mortals who aren't necessarily accustomed to running in this weather.
Personally, unless I'm knee deep in marathon or ultra training, I avoid running outdoors in this weather. If I can, I'll get out there for an early morning run (starting before 7 am) or an evening run (once the sun's gone down). I'll also take pains to plan routes that incorporate as much shade as possible (trails by me are great for this) while avoiding spots that I know are notorious for pounding you with sunshine (portions of my Lake run are killer).
Another strategy that I find useful when it's overwhelmingly hot during long training runs - loops. They're boring, but they're virtually fool-proof. Hot weather means more liquids. I make sure that in addition to whatever I'm carrying, I have stashed liquids that I pass by at least once per hour. Just make sure you don't pass your car too often - the temptation can be too great to call it a day and head home :)
The toughest thing to remember in this heat is that you've got to dial down the intensity. Put away the watch, stop looking at your pace, and just listen to your body. Unless you're well acclimated to heat and humidity, you're going to have to slow it down. Perhaps even trim the distance.
Remember that we run because we like to. Keep it enjoyable, keep it real and keep it safe.
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