Because I often travel for extended periods, I cannot simply not run when I am on business travel. My fitness would plummet, my weight would increase and I'd be a bit of a crab, since I depend on running as my consistent therapy of mind as well as body.
When I am home I have all my items at the ready, on the road I need to be smart about how I pack and what I pack. This summer I was really able to put my skills to the test as I went to three cities in very distinct climates over 15 days of time and was preparing for an intensive race not long after my return, so slacking off was not a good choice.
Cold, drizzly San Francisco then warm and dry Salt Lake City and finally HOT HOT HOT Austin. I decided to pack for layers so that when I was in SF I had my long sleeve shirt over a short sleeve as well as my running jacket and thermal tights that I normally wear in winter in NC. But the moist air really sinks into the bones and even on the 13 mile runs I did Friday and Monday did not result in my wishing for lighter clothing choices!
In SLC, I skipped the long sleeve shirt and jacket, but by running very early in the morning I was able to use my thermal tights without any issues. I did one later in the day run and wore compression shorts then. I packed up my warmest items plus my used bras and socks, and mailed them home to myself from SLC.
Arriving in Austin I had only short sleeve shirts and compression shorts and extra room in my suitcase for souvenirs!
Now beyond clothing, I really needed my foam roller. I purchased a travel size roller that goes easily in my roll aboard luggage and I roll my socks, bras and shorts into the space of the roll so nothing is wasted. I use my foam roller before a long run and after any run, it has really helped keep me pain and injury free. I am a strong advocate of the foam roller!
Every hotel has offered me great running maps and I sometimes use them, but I also find that calling the running stores close to my hotels before I arrive and asking about running groups during my stay. Great way to meet fellow runners and be with a group in a new city. I know some, like SF so well that I adventure out on my own. But Austin was a new spot for me, having a group to run with was lovely and knowing there was a store if I needed something so close was very nice!
What is your favorite tip for keeping up your healthy habits when traveling?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
Transitional weather, what do I wear?
Let's face it, when the forecast looks like it's on an automated loop week after week in summer, or winter, it is fairly easy to know what to wear when you run.
Spring and autumn, they are more than a little tricky and require a lot more thought.
In my area, we've had the strangest transition to the 'cooler' months I can recall in over two decades. Even though this July and August were two of the coolest on record and this September has had some near record highs already.
The distance as well as the planned effort play into what I wear, but even if I plan on a very sweaty and hot 14 mile run, the first few miles I need something to keep my body warm as I start out, cramps from the cold are something I avoid. I used to wear a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve shirt over it that I could pull off mid-run and a pair of pants that I was cursing by the time I hit mile 6 or 7 because I did not want to have cramping cold legs, but half my run overly hot was not what I wanted, either. I still do the two shirt method, but have found a better solution for my lower half!
Doing some research and trying on many different pants, capris and shorts I found what has been the best solution for me and I hope you'll like this, too!
Laser cut capri! Mine came from Athleta and wow, I don't think I could love them more! I initially wore them as part of an over 200 mile relay race where I, like most of my team, had one run in the middle of the night and at higher elevations where it was cooler, but also my toughest of the three legs I was running. I chose these capris because the 'lattice cut' design on the sides of the legs allowed air flow and a feeling of cooling, but still kept my legs covered and let's face it, the compression of a longer pant feels so nice on a long run, too! After several washes they have held up very well, I was quite concerned about the laser cuts unraveling or stretching out. Has not been the case at all. They look brand new each time I put them on. I have a 15K early on Sunday morning, I'll be wearing them in that race and plan to wear them in the Feb and March in Wilmington and Roanoke. Hope you'll join me for those races and give the laser cut capris a try as well!
Spring and autumn, they are more than a little tricky and require a lot more thought.
In my area, we've had the strangest transition to the 'cooler' months I can recall in over two decades. Even though this July and August were two of the coolest on record and this September has had some near record highs already.
The distance as well as the planned effort play into what I wear, but even if I plan on a very sweaty and hot 14 mile run, the first few miles I need something to keep my body warm as I start out, cramps from the cold are something I avoid. I used to wear a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve shirt over it that I could pull off mid-run and a pair of pants that I was cursing by the time I hit mile 6 or 7 because I did not want to have cramping cold legs, but half my run overly hot was not what I wanted, either. I still do the two shirt method, but have found a better solution for my lower half!
Doing some research and trying on many different pants, capris and shorts I found what has been the best solution for me and I hope you'll like this, too!
Laser cut capri! Mine came from Athleta and wow, I don't think I could love them more! I initially wore them as part of an over 200 mile relay race where I, like most of my team, had one run in the middle of the night and at higher elevations where it was cooler, but also my toughest of the three legs I was running. I chose these capris because the 'lattice cut' design on the sides of the legs allowed air flow and a feeling of cooling, but still kept my legs covered and let's face it, the compression of a longer pant feels so nice on a long run, too! After several washes they have held up very well, I was quite concerned about the laser cuts unraveling or stretching out. Has not been the case at all. They look brand new each time I put them on. I have a 15K early on Sunday morning, I'll be wearing them in that race and plan to wear them in the Feb and March in Wilmington and Roanoke. Hope you'll join me for those races and give the laser cut capris a try as well!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Eating healthy on the road
I travel for work. Not all the time, and normally in clumps of time. Earlier this year I did not have a single month without travel and typically I am gone one to two weeks, though there have been times I've been away as many as 33 days at a stretch.
I cannot eat poorly for a week or more and expect to maintain good health. Restaurant eating 3x a day for a week would be visible in my size and I'd not feel my best, either. So I am selective about the meals I eat out when on the road and plan ahead, before I ever leave home, on how I am going to make good, healthy and tasty choices while on the road.
One thing I make sure of is that I know where the local markets are and will select a hotel that is closer to a grocer than one that is not OR one that is on a main transportation line. I bring at least one reusable bag with long enough handles I can sling it over my shoulder even when full. My favorite is the Thirty One Essential Storage Tote. It comes in many colors and you can choose to have it embroidered or not. http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog/product/347/catid/21/swid/347g/essential-storage-tote-in-black-parisian-pop/ is a link to this awesome bag! It folds down easily into my luggage and allows me to 'live like a local' in whatever town my travels take me. Of course, if you forget a bag, most grocery stores now sell a reusable tote at reasonable prices, because no way would I trust a paper bag when out and about and you can't give me a plastic shopping bag-yuck!
I bring with me the base essentials. I always pre-measure protein powders in pre-mixed flavors (1 scoop of cookies and cream, 1/2 a scoop of chocolate for example) and mark them on my travel baggies which I have been using for about a year now. I reuse them time and time again and so I can live with that plastic use. I bring one blender bottle. I have tried several brands, Blender Tec is my current favorite. It has a 'whisk ball' that mixes EVERYTHING so well, I can even make a smoothie by mixing yogurt and powder and a bit of almond milk! I usually bring four snack size baggies of plain rolled oats for a 7 day trip as well as a protein bar per day. Keeping a protein bar in my handbag guarantees I won't need to nibble from the vending machine or off any trays brought into the office of overly fat, highly sugared, simple carb filled foods. I bring a tetra pak of 11 ounces of unsweetened almond milk, sometimes two of them if I know I won't make it to the grocery the first day. I bring an inexpensive knife, fork and spoon that if it is lost en route, won't cause me to be upset. I bought two such sets at Tuesday Morning for 99c each on clearance.
Depending on when I arrive in said city, I either check in to the hotel before heading to the office or not until after the work day. Ideally, pre-work is best so I can unload and see what the room fridge is like before shopping. I have never had a hotel that could not accommodate a fridge in my room. I let them know I need it for medical reasons. And that is the truth...my health is dependent upon healthy foods! Some, like Kimpton properties, have mini-fridges full of mini-bar items. I remove them and fill it with my food and replace all those items before checking out. I make sure they are aware of this before I do so and leave a note for room service in English and Spanish to let them know the items will be returned the morning I depart.
At the market I typically buy the following for a week:
1 head of Bibb or Boston butter lettuce (if small, I buy two)
1/2 gallon of unsweetened vanilla almond/coconut milk or flax milk
4 oz of chevre
4 oz of cheese such as Muenster or Swiss (sliced or brick)
Two apples
Three bananas
Small bag of almonds
Four Greek yogurt, various flavors
Bag of Skinny Pop
Small bottle of bread and butter pickles
1/2 lb of sliced meat (chicken, turkey, beef...you name it!)
Salad bar mix of fresh mushrooms, colored pepper slices, olives, beets, you get the idea, that total 8-12 oz
Here is how I use these items over one week:
1) Lettuce leaves (5 or 6) spread lightly with an ounce of chevre divided among the leaves, not each. Drizzle lightly with honey (get it from a local coffee shop or the office) roll up burrito style and enjoy a 90 calorie snack that you'll enjoy tremendously. I can have this snack 4 times and use the head of lettuce and all the chevre.
2) Slice an apple and pair the apple with two ounces of the Swiss or Muenster. Any cheese will do, I like these best with apples. And I prefer Honeycrisp, Tango or Pink Lady with cheese. Two perfect snacks or mini-meals here! Someone asked me why they could not just eat the apple, and sure you can. But there must be some psychology attached to slicing it, parsing out the cheese for each slice and seeing it all laid out on a plate. I sometimes cannot finish a large apple with 2 oz of cheese. But give me bricks of cheese and a bowl of apples, I bet I could get quite a bit more in.
3) Presuming 8 slices of meat in an 8 oz purchase, roll the meat up 2 slices at a time for a 2 oz serving and then slice the roll into pieces about an inch or inch and a half thick. I find I get 4-6 slices from each roll if done lengthwise. That is then placed on top of bread and butter pickles and enjoyed tremendously! You could also buy 1/2 a lb of boiled shrimp and put a large shrimp on each pickle.
4) When lunch is ordered in I request a plain green salad and then add 4 to 6 ounces of the vegetable mix from the grocery salad bar to it to ensure I am getting clean, healthy, HFCS free toppings for my greens. You'll have enough for two fabulous salads! I have yet to find a restaurant that would not send plain vinegar on the side for my dressing!
5) A small bag of almonds and a banana is a great treat--you'll have enough for three of these PLUS one bag of almonds remaining that you can tuck in a bag or pocket easily for some good fats when you are hungry but don't need a full meal.
6) Yogurt is complete and easy, but I really like to add 1/2 cup of plain, uncooked oatmeal and let it sit for about 10 minutes after stirring well. I find it to be a wonderfully filling treat. Some friends have said it was strange at first, but they came to like (or love) it as well!
7) The almond or flax milk is what I make my protein shakes with, either in the morning or right before bed, depends on the day.
8) Skinny Pop is just a nice treat when out and about, I sometimes put it in a baggie but let's face it, sometimes I lay in bed and enjoy it!
The above would then allow me to eat only 6 of 21 meals out and I can be very smart with those choices. I do find that when I go back on a subsequent grocery trip to refresh my salad vegetables or even buy more chevre and lettuce, I can get to the point where I am eating maybe 3 meals out for a 7 day trip and those are typically required for business purposes. In a future post I'll give my best tips for how to find choices almost anywhere that are healthy and satisfying!
What is your favorite meal on the go? Do you grocery shop when you travel? Any tips you want to share?
I cannot eat poorly for a week or more and expect to maintain good health. Restaurant eating 3x a day for a week would be visible in my size and I'd not feel my best, either. So I am selective about the meals I eat out when on the road and plan ahead, before I ever leave home, on how I am going to make good, healthy and tasty choices while on the road.
One thing I make sure of is that I know where the local markets are and will select a hotel that is closer to a grocer than one that is not OR one that is on a main transportation line. I bring at least one reusable bag with long enough handles I can sling it over my shoulder even when full. My favorite is the Thirty One Essential Storage Tote. It comes in many colors and you can choose to have it embroidered or not. http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog/product/347/catid/21/swid/347g/essential-storage-tote-in-black-parisian-pop/ is a link to this awesome bag! It folds down easily into my luggage and allows me to 'live like a local' in whatever town my travels take me. Of course, if you forget a bag, most grocery stores now sell a reusable tote at reasonable prices, because no way would I trust a paper bag when out and about and you can't give me a plastic shopping bag-yuck!
I bring with me the base essentials. I always pre-measure protein powders in pre-mixed flavors (1 scoop of cookies and cream, 1/2 a scoop of chocolate for example) and mark them on my travel baggies which I have been using for about a year now. I reuse them time and time again and so I can live with that plastic use. I bring one blender bottle. I have tried several brands, Blender Tec is my current favorite. It has a 'whisk ball' that mixes EVERYTHING so well, I can even make a smoothie by mixing yogurt and powder and a bit of almond milk! I usually bring four snack size baggies of plain rolled oats for a 7 day trip as well as a protein bar per day. Keeping a protein bar in my handbag guarantees I won't need to nibble from the vending machine or off any trays brought into the office of overly fat, highly sugared, simple carb filled foods. I bring a tetra pak of 11 ounces of unsweetened almond milk, sometimes two of them if I know I won't make it to the grocery the first day. I bring an inexpensive knife, fork and spoon that if it is lost en route, won't cause me to be upset. I bought two such sets at Tuesday Morning for 99c each on clearance.
Depending on when I arrive in said city, I either check in to the hotel before heading to the office or not until after the work day. Ideally, pre-work is best so I can unload and see what the room fridge is like before shopping. I have never had a hotel that could not accommodate a fridge in my room. I let them know I need it for medical reasons. And that is the truth...my health is dependent upon healthy foods! Some, like Kimpton properties, have mini-fridges full of mini-bar items. I remove them and fill it with my food and replace all those items before checking out. I make sure they are aware of this before I do so and leave a note for room service in English and Spanish to let them know the items will be returned the morning I depart.
At the market I typically buy the following for a week:
1 head of Bibb or Boston butter lettuce (if small, I buy two)
1/2 gallon of unsweetened vanilla almond/coconut milk or flax milk
4 oz of chevre
4 oz of cheese such as Muenster or Swiss (sliced or brick)
Two apples
Three bananas
Small bag of almonds
Four Greek yogurt, various flavors
Bag of Skinny Pop
Small bottle of bread and butter pickles
1/2 lb of sliced meat (chicken, turkey, beef...you name it!)
Salad bar mix of fresh mushrooms, colored pepper slices, olives, beets, you get the idea, that total 8-12 oz
Here is how I use these items over one week:
1) Lettuce leaves (5 or 6) spread lightly with an ounce of chevre divided among the leaves, not each. Drizzle lightly with honey (get it from a local coffee shop or the office) roll up burrito style and enjoy a 90 calorie snack that you'll enjoy tremendously. I can have this snack 4 times and use the head of lettuce and all the chevre.
2) Slice an apple and pair the apple with two ounces of the Swiss or Muenster. Any cheese will do, I like these best with apples. And I prefer Honeycrisp, Tango or Pink Lady with cheese. Two perfect snacks or mini-meals here! Someone asked me why they could not just eat the apple, and sure you can. But there must be some psychology attached to slicing it, parsing out the cheese for each slice and seeing it all laid out on a plate. I sometimes cannot finish a large apple with 2 oz of cheese. But give me bricks of cheese and a bowl of apples, I bet I could get quite a bit more in.
3) Presuming 8 slices of meat in an 8 oz purchase, roll the meat up 2 slices at a time for a 2 oz serving and then slice the roll into pieces about an inch or inch and a half thick. I find I get 4-6 slices from each roll if done lengthwise. That is then placed on top of bread and butter pickles and enjoyed tremendously! You could also buy 1/2 a lb of boiled shrimp and put a large shrimp on each pickle.
4) When lunch is ordered in I request a plain green salad and then add 4 to 6 ounces of the vegetable mix from the grocery salad bar to it to ensure I am getting clean, healthy, HFCS free toppings for my greens. You'll have enough for two fabulous salads! I have yet to find a restaurant that would not send plain vinegar on the side for my dressing!
5) A small bag of almonds and a banana is a great treat--you'll have enough for three of these PLUS one bag of almonds remaining that you can tuck in a bag or pocket easily for some good fats when you are hungry but don't need a full meal.
6) Yogurt is complete and easy, but I really like to add 1/2 cup of plain, uncooked oatmeal and let it sit for about 10 minutes after stirring well. I find it to be a wonderfully filling treat. Some friends have said it was strange at first, but they came to like (or love) it as well!
7) The almond or flax milk is what I make my protein shakes with, either in the morning or right before bed, depends on the day.
8) Skinny Pop is just a nice treat when out and about, I sometimes put it in a baggie but let's face it, sometimes I lay in bed and enjoy it!
The above would then allow me to eat only 6 of 21 meals out and I can be very smart with those choices. I do find that when I go back on a subsequent grocery trip to refresh my salad vegetables or even buy more chevre and lettuce, I can get to the point where I am eating maybe 3 meals out for a 7 day trip and those are typically required for business purposes. In a future post I'll give my best tips for how to find choices almost anywhere that are healthy and satisfying!
What is your favorite meal on the go? Do you grocery shop when you travel? Any tips you want to share?
Monday, September 22, 2014
Knowing when less is more
I had planned to run 11 miles with two ladies yesterday. Due to various schedule constraints, they could not meet until 2p.
I normally do not run mid-day unless it is a very cool day. It was close to 90.
I normally do not do more than a moderate run mid-day. I was doing my long run of the week.
I normally drive a route before I run it. I went on this one blindly.
We had a moderate hill in bright sun and by the time we hit the 2.87 mile mark, I was already feeling wiped out. Thankfully, so were the other ladies. I hate being the one that flakes out! We decided to go 3.2, get some ice for our hydration bottles and then head back. I am here to tell you...we made a REALLY good decision in shortening our run.
My heart rate was telling me my body was working harder than it normally does on a run. My need to wear a hat in this bright sun, even with my 100 SPF sun block, meant I was warmer than normal.
Usually I beat myself up when I don't achieve my goals that I've carefully planned out. But yesterday I made the right choice in stopping early, we ended up with a hair under 7 miles all told due to a variance in the 'back' of our out and back route, and I'll do 11 miles solo tomorrow instead, so my long run will still be done this week.
When I woke up this morning I realized that I had done the right thing, I wasn't chastising myself over the abbreviated run, if anything I was happier with myself for knowing when to say enough is enough and being able to be okay with that. I have a 15K this coming Sunday and that will be my long run for next week and it is, thankfully, in the cool morning hours.
Less was more yesterday and while I can't abbreviate every run or I'll never keep up my ability to do half marathons (three left this year!) I was, and am, proud of myself for knowing when to cut something short and be okay with that.
I normally do not run mid-day unless it is a very cool day. It was close to 90.
I normally do not do more than a moderate run mid-day. I was doing my long run of the week.
I normally drive a route before I run it. I went on this one blindly.
We had a moderate hill in bright sun and by the time we hit the 2.87 mile mark, I was already feeling wiped out. Thankfully, so were the other ladies. I hate being the one that flakes out! We decided to go 3.2, get some ice for our hydration bottles and then head back. I am here to tell you...we made a REALLY good decision in shortening our run.
My heart rate was telling me my body was working harder than it normally does on a run. My need to wear a hat in this bright sun, even with my 100 SPF sun block, meant I was warmer than normal.
Usually I beat myself up when I don't achieve my goals that I've carefully planned out. But yesterday I made the right choice in stopping early, we ended up with a hair under 7 miles all told due to a variance in the 'back' of our out and back route, and I'll do 11 miles solo tomorrow instead, so my long run will still be done this week.
When I woke up this morning I realized that I had done the right thing, I wasn't chastising myself over the abbreviated run, if anything I was happier with myself for knowing when to say enough is enough and being able to be okay with that. I have a 15K this coming Sunday and that will be my long run for next week and it is, thankfully, in the cool morning hours.
Less was more yesterday and while I can't abbreviate every run or I'll never keep up my ability to do half marathons (three left this year!) I was, and am, proud of myself for knowing when to cut something short and be okay with that.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Consigning your items, my best tips
There are likely 100 other ways to plan out your consignment items that you are looking to remove from your closet and hope will find their way into closets in the homes of women who will coo and fawn over these items as they deserve.
No clothing wants to live on the Island of What Was I Thinking, in shame!
The first thing I do is hoard hangers of every type (except children size!) at every opportunity. Buying running gear at Target...keep those white plastic hangers! At the dry cleaner and see a box of discarded wire hangers? Ask if they will let you have them! Heck, I even put out an all call on Facebook asking friends if they had any extra hangers and got them in bags, bins and boxes! The skirt/pant hangers are the most precious and I won't let those leave my house unless they are attached to consigned items!
Many consignment places, both pop-up and brick and mortar, will allow you to track and catalog your items in a single system year round, so the consignor number you get is yours for life. That leads me to the next step....
Tagging your items is likely the worst part of consigning. I used to put it off until the last possible moment, but now I sit down once a month with any identified items and make tags, print them out, attach them with a gun (more on that in a moment) or safety pin, depending on the item. I avoid the pins when possible, but sometimes you just cannot help it! I buy heavy, 130 lb cardstock that is 12x12 and I cut it down, 20 sheets at a time, to 8 1/2 x 11 so it will go through my printer.
Tags on thin paper or lesser weight cardstock are easily ripped and can lead to headaches of items not sold, sold for incorrect prices/other sellers credited when they look a fairly common item up or being given for donation when you had wanted it back but they did not know who it belonged to because the end of the sales are not times they are typically doing a lot of extra searching. The organizers and volunteers are worn out and just looking for things to be finished.
I purchased a tagging gun for 15$ along with 5,000 of the attachers. When I bought the gun I asked if they sold extra attachers. The woman looked at me and asked "Just how many things do you have?" and I realized...I likely won't need a refill for a very long time! I consign an average of 200 pieces per sale and if something doesn't sell the first time, I often leave the tag on it and bring it to the next sale, since the pop up sales in my area use the same online system and my consignor number tends to remain the same from sale to sale.
If the pieces are a set, decide if you want to sell it as such or break it into separates. There are pros and cons on each side. If the entire outfit is one size, I tend to keep it together, if I had to buy a 10 top and 8 skirt, I normally put them as separates. I also think about how 'mixable' something is. I had a great skirt and jacket that I bought as separates from the same collection but they did not mix with anything else very well, at least not for me. So I chose to keep them together and sold it as a 'suit' even though that was not what it truly was. It was one of the first items sold at that event!
Hopefully the pop-up sales are using electronic scanning sales equipment. If that is the case you should, each morning once the sale begins, look online to see what sold the day prior. I try very hard to match my spending to less than my earning. If I am going to get a check for 500ish dollars after the sale, I try to spend in the high 400s or less at the sale.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but I cannot begin to tell you how many things I pass over because they are horribly wrinkled! I used to wonder how they got in such a condition, but then I saw people bringing their items stuffed in trash bags and realized that not everyone treats their clothing well. I pass over the wrinkled items 99% of the time. I only consign freshly laundered items and while I am very anti-ironing, I will put it through a steam cycle to release any wrinkles that I see. If only I could put my face through the steam cycle!
I have considered buying a steamer, I think they are genius now that I have talked to a few friends that own them. Next time a good deal is to be had through Woot or Tuesday Morning, I do believe a steamer will be coming home with me!
Because items cannot be returned or exchanged at any consignment I know of, be VERY careful in checking them. I make sure buttons are all there, zippers are easily functioning, hems are intact and so forth. If it is not a discount day but I find some serious errors with an item, I will ask if they will either contact the consignor or just make an on the fly decision to give it at the discounted price. MANY of the sales do a 50% on the last day or two, so asking early isn't going to hurt. I'm willing to shell out for a set of buttons with an additional discount, not so much at full consignment.
KNOW YOUR RETAIL!
Some consignors are very good about knowing what an item cost and what it should be selling for once used or past season. Others are almost crazy with wanting close to full retail. These people need to be on eBay, in my opinion. Those are the clothes I am putting back in huge piles for the consignor at the end of the sale. I try to always be on the last shift and if I see something I love, I scoop it up before it goes in the 'return' rack to the consignor. This is a super way to make sure you did not miss anything! So volunteer for that last shift and then work in your size on the racks!
So there you have my best tips, let me know if you have any questions!
No clothing wants to live on the Island of What Was I Thinking, in shame!
The first thing I do is hoard hangers of every type (except children size!) at every opportunity. Buying running gear at Target...keep those white plastic hangers! At the dry cleaner and see a box of discarded wire hangers? Ask if they will let you have them! Heck, I even put out an all call on Facebook asking friends if they had any extra hangers and got them in bags, bins and boxes! The skirt/pant hangers are the most precious and I won't let those leave my house unless they are attached to consigned items!
Many consignment places, both pop-up and brick and mortar, will allow you to track and catalog your items in a single system year round, so the consignor number you get is yours for life. That leads me to the next step....
Tagging your items is likely the worst part of consigning. I used to put it off until the last possible moment, but now I sit down once a month with any identified items and make tags, print them out, attach them with a gun (more on that in a moment) or safety pin, depending on the item. I avoid the pins when possible, but sometimes you just cannot help it! I buy heavy, 130 lb cardstock that is 12x12 and I cut it down, 20 sheets at a time, to 8 1/2 x 11 so it will go through my printer.
Tags on thin paper or lesser weight cardstock are easily ripped and can lead to headaches of items not sold, sold for incorrect prices/other sellers credited when they look a fairly common item up or being given for donation when you had wanted it back but they did not know who it belonged to because the end of the sales are not times they are typically doing a lot of extra searching. The organizers and volunteers are worn out and just looking for things to be finished.
I purchased a tagging gun for 15$ along with 5,000 of the attachers. When I bought the gun I asked if they sold extra attachers. The woman looked at me and asked "Just how many things do you have?" and I realized...I likely won't need a refill for a very long time! I consign an average of 200 pieces per sale and if something doesn't sell the first time, I often leave the tag on it and bring it to the next sale, since the pop up sales in my area use the same online system and my consignor number tends to remain the same from sale to sale.
If the pieces are a set, decide if you want to sell it as such or break it into separates. There are pros and cons on each side. If the entire outfit is one size, I tend to keep it together, if I had to buy a 10 top and 8 skirt, I normally put them as separates. I also think about how 'mixable' something is. I had a great skirt and jacket that I bought as separates from the same collection but they did not mix with anything else very well, at least not for me. So I chose to keep them together and sold it as a 'suit' even though that was not what it truly was. It was one of the first items sold at that event!
Hopefully the pop-up sales are using electronic scanning sales equipment. If that is the case you should, each morning once the sale begins, look online to see what sold the day prior. I try very hard to match my spending to less than my earning. If I am going to get a check for 500ish dollars after the sale, I try to spend in the high 400s or less at the sale.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but I cannot begin to tell you how many things I pass over because they are horribly wrinkled! I used to wonder how they got in such a condition, but then I saw people bringing their items stuffed in trash bags and realized that not everyone treats their clothing well. I pass over the wrinkled items 99% of the time. I only consign freshly laundered items and while I am very anti-ironing, I will put it through a steam cycle to release any wrinkles that I see. If only I could put my face through the steam cycle!
I have considered buying a steamer, I think they are genius now that I have talked to a few friends that own them. Next time a good deal is to be had through Woot or Tuesday Morning, I do believe a steamer will be coming home with me!
Because items cannot be returned or exchanged at any consignment I know of, be VERY careful in checking them. I make sure buttons are all there, zippers are easily functioning, hems are intact and so forth. If it is not a discount day but I find some serious errors with an item, I will ask if they will either contact the consignor or just make an on the fly decision to give it at the discounted price. MANY of the sales do a 50% on the last day or two, so asking early isn't going to hurt. I'm willing to shell out for a set of buttons with an additional discount, not so much at full consignment.
KNOW YOUR RETAIL!
Some consignors are very good about knowing what an item cost and what it should be selling for once used or past season. Others are almost crazy with wanting close to full retail. These people need to be on eBay, in my opinion. Those are the clothes I am putting back in huge piles for the consignor at the end of the sale. I try to always be on the last shift and if I see something I love, I scoop it up before it goes in the 'return' rack to the consignor. This is a super way to make sure you did not miss anything! So volunteer for that last shift and then work in your size on the racks!
So there you have my best tips, let me know if you have any questions!
Thursday, September 11, 2014
It's only a measure of gravity people...don't fear the scale!
There came a time when I achieved my initial goal weight. And it was clear that was still not the right number, so my doctor, nutritionist and I all determined that the best number was 14 to 15 lbs lighter as an ideal goal. I recall in that meeting my nutritionist saying that if I were 15 years younger, they would have moved the goal down THIRTY pounds, but at my 'advanced age' this was a better overall weight.
At *barely* 47 I found that a little offensive, but did not make a big deal of it.
So it took me MONTHS to reach my new goal and I was really happy when I did and while I think 5-7 more pounds lost would be fine, the feedback of many around me is that I am at a fine weight. And truthfully, I likely am, just wanting to convert some fat to muscle. :)
For about two months I trained for the relay race I've written about previously. I was running twice a day most days and longer than normal runs on my single run days. I lost weight and was not feeling my full self the final few weeks, so I was encouraged to add more carbs to my daily intake than I normally would. As I always do, I weighed myself each Monday and on weigh date prior to the relay I weighed 161 lbs. On my weigh date after the relay I was 167 lbs.
SIX POUNDS after all that running? Gah!
And yet my clothes fit fine, I did not feel like I was larger, when my husband saw me late on the second night he did not jump back and say "WOW, someone ballooned up!". In fact, no one commented I was getting bigger. So, in an uncharacteristic move, I weighed myself today. And I was 161 lbs. today and I could literally feel myself relax, knowing I was back to the 'right weight' again.
Then I had another epiphany moment. I had already reached a place of peace with the scale months ago, that it did not define me, it was just a guide. It doesn't tell me anything but the force of gravity on my being. The fact that I was back to fearing the scale after a demanding race told me I still had some headwork left to do on this topic.
Yes, the scale is a good way to know if you are on track or not, but a one week change isn't a life definer. Especially after a big change. I recall the Monday after my first Half Marathon I was a bit heavier as well. Not six pounds, but still. I know after a big race I am a little more gravity prone, and yet I let it bother me and if given the chance to fester...define me.
I am far more than the force of gravity on my physical self! So tell me...do you fear the scale? Do you let it define who you are and make or break your day? How have you broken free from the scale as your enemy and embraced it as one of many tools to help you? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
At *barely* 47 I found that a little offensive, but did not make a big deal of it.
So it took me MONTHS to reach my new goal and I was really happy when I did and while I think 5-7 more pounds lost would be fine, the feedback of many around me is that I am at a fine weight. And truthfully, I likely am, just wanting to convert some fat to muscle. :)
For about two months I trained for the relay race I've written about previously. I was running twice a day most days and longer than normal runs on my single run days. I lost weight and was not feeling my full self the final few weeks, so I was encouraged to add more carbs to my daily intake than I normally would. As I always do, I weighed myself each Monday and on weigh date prior to the relay I weighed 161 lbs. On my weigh date after the relay I was 167 lbs.
SIX POUNDS after all that running? Gah!
And yet my clothes fit fine, I did not feel like I was larger, when my husband saw me late on the second night he did not jump back and say "WOW, someone ballooned up!". In fact, no one commented I was getting bigger. So, in an uncharacteristic move, I weighed myself today. And I was 161 lbs. today and I could literally feel myself relax, knowing I was back to the 'right weight' again.
Then I had another epiphany moment. I had already reached a place of peace with the scale months ago, that it did not define me, it was just a guide. It doesn't tell me anything but the force of gravity on my being. The fact that I was back to fearing the scale after a demanding race told me I still had some headwork left to do on this topic.
Yes, the scale is a good way to know if you are on track or not, but a one week change isn't a life definer. Especially after a big change. I recall the Monday after my first Half Marathon I was a bit heavier as well. Not six pounds, but still. I know after a big race I am a little more gravity prone, and yet I let it bother me and if given the chance to fester...define me.
I am far more than the force of gravity on my physical self! So tell me...do you fear the scale? Do you let it define who you are and make or break your day? How have you broken free from the scale as your enemy and embraced it as one of many tools to help you? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
208 miles in a day and a half?
I was asked to be part of a relay team in the summer and said yes without even hesitating. That was likely a good idea, because if I had really thought about it, the good, decision making portion of my brain would have given a resounding NO.
And I would have missed out on a super experience!
But I did say yes and then as I learned more, I realized that it was going to be more than any running activity I had done and that others were counting on me to do my best.
The way it is set up, teams of 12 seemingly normal people all climb into rented vans and go without sleep, showering, flushing toilets or actual meals, hopping out three times to run up or down steep hills, gravel roads or busy mountain highways.
And it was one of the best times of my life!
We set out late Thursday evening and drove within an hour of the starting point and slept a few hours before waking at 4a for a 5a departure. The team I ran on was divided into two vans, my van was all women and while I got in only really knowing one of them, by the time we exited the following afternoon, I had 5 new friends!
Legs are assigned to you based on your race bib number, so you take the good with the bad, some are long and up steep hills, or down steep hills, which can be just as difficult as up! Others are shorter and on flatter ground. I was fortunate that my first leg was reasonable. My middle of the night run was by far my hardest, but also my most enjoyable. The elevation change was much, much more than any I'd done before. I can say without even having to think about it that it was the only run I've done overnight. The fog and drizzle made the road a bit slick, but was refreshing to have the cool envelop me, especially up the steepest point of my race leg!
We only saw the rest of our team, in the other van, at the exchange points between 'our' runner and 'their' runner, but we still had such a sense of having been in it together the entire time.
Sleep was not anything we really got, but we did have times of rest in the van and I think there were points we were going solely on adrenaline and excitement, but I also believe that made it more fun, too! We were all 'in it together' and only two people had ever done a relay before, it just so happened there was one veteran in each van. So when we had questions, it was nice to have a resource to ask and better understand things.
I returned home after 49 hours away. I was stinky, worn out, hungry and ready for a hot shower and bed. But as we unloaded the vans and got ready to depart, from the organizers home, I realized a bit of sadness was present that this time was over...for now!
Absolutely I will do more relays!
I might not do this particular one again, the elevation and busy roads were perhaps more than I realized and now, having experienced it, know that I would like rolling hills, not steep climbs and that there is a benefit of having a more 'protected' route when on the roads. This whet my appetite for future relays and for that I am thankful!
Stepping out of my comfort zone, figuratively and literally, was exactly what I needed!
And I would have missed out on a super experience!
But I did say yes and then as I learned more, I realized that it was going to be more than any running activity I had done and that others were counting on me to do my best.
The way it is set up, teams of 12 seemingly normal people all climb into rented vans and go without sleep, showering, flushing toilets or actual meals, hopping out three times to run up or down steep hills, gravel roads or busy mountain highways.
And it was one of the best times of my life!
We set out late Thursday evening and drove within an hour of the starting point and slept a few hours before waking at 4a for a 5a departure. The team I ran on was divided into two vans, my van was all women and while I got in only really knowing one of them, by the time we exited the following afternoon, I had 5 new friends!
Legs are assigned to you based on your race bib number, so you take the good with the bad, some are long and up steep hills, or down steep hills, which can be just as difficult as up! Others are shorter and on flatter ground. I was fortunate that my first leg was reasonable. My middle of the night run was by far my hardest, but also my most enjoyable. The elevation change was much, much more than any I'd done before. I can say without even having to think about it that it was the only run I've done overnight. The fog and drizzle made the road a bit slick, but was refreshing to have the cool envelop me, especially up the steepest point of my race leg!
We only saw the rest of our team, in the other van, at the exchange points between 'our' runner and 'their' runner, but we still had such a sense of having been in it together the entire time.
Sleep was not anything we really got, but we did have times of rest in the van and I think there were points we were going solely on adrenaline and excitement, but I also believe that made it more fun, too! We were all 'in it together' and only two people had ever done a relay before, it just so happened there was one veteran in each van. So when we had questions, it was nice to have a resource to ask and better understand things.
I returned home after 49 hours away. I was stinky, worn out, hungry and ready for a hot shower and bed. But as we unloaded the vans and got ready to depart, from the organizers home, I realized a bit of sadness was present that this time was over...for now!
Absolutely I will do more relays!
I might not do this particular one again, the elevation and busy roads were perhaps more than I realized and now, having experienced it, know that I would like rolling hills, not steep climbs and that there is a benefit of having a more 'protected' route when on the roads. This whet my appetite for future relays and for that I am thankful!
Stepping out of my comfort zone, figuratively and literally, was exactly what I needed!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Closet organization, Part I
One of the things I hear from my girlfriends pretty regularly has to do with closets being out of control. Doesn't matter if they live in multi-million dollar homes with walk in closets that are as large as my first apartment after college or a tiny reach in with a 30 inch door...closet organization is vexing.
I've tried a few different things over the years. ROYGBIV, cold/hot, outfits vs. separates...you get the idea! What I am doing now is what I've liked best for me an I hope that if you give it a try that it will be what you have liked best as well, it took some time, to be sure, but it has been worth it in that it has saved me a great amount of time getting ready, packing for trips and knowing what is IN my closet.
The first thing I had to do was pull everything out. EVERY SINGLE THING. My closet was bare and my bed was covered, as was every surface in my room! I was not going to get anywhere fast this way.
So I bought a freestanding rack. GENIUS! How I have lived without such a device for nearly half a century, I have no idea! The first one I bought was a little pricey and can hold 450 lbs of clothing. I needed a second one and bought a less expensive one, it's barely worth the money because it holds so little. BUT when I need just a little bit more, it is fine. My recommendation though, is to invest and buy a metal one that will fold flat and has strong rolling wheels. Makes a tremendous difference! You do NOT need to buy new though--one that was used for two years is going to work as well as a brand new one. I bought mine about 60% off from a woman closing a consignment business. I wish I'd bought two!
Anyway....
So I first had to sit down and be very real with how I put together outfits, what works, what I struggled to find to complete outfits, why I did not wear some pieces at all or rarely (even things I loved) and how I really needed my closet to be arranged for efficiency. I say this to say to you that if my method of FINISHING doesn't work for you, go with one that does...but everything above is a great starting point for any closet redo!
Now I have reach in closets and never appreciated how lovely a walk in was until having reach in. But going from a giant walk in to two smaller reach in was doable once I got smart about space and set up.
I turned one into a full length and shoe closet, the other into an over/under closet. I used the smaller of the two for the over under, since I was going to get double the space from it.
Then I went to the local home improvement store and bought a Rubbermaid closet system. If you have put up the old kind that had the clips and the perfect measuring required and the cutting of metal...it's orders of magnitude better now! I bought the no cut system and installed it all by myself! It is the Home Free series and it is GENIUS! I had enough to do my 6 foot closet up and down plus a few pieces left over...which I used to extend the 6 foot kit I bought for my larger (10 foot) reach in closet without having to spend the extra money on the 10 foot organizer.
Because my husband insists on hanging things in MY closets (humor people, humor!) I thought that giving him mostly full length item space made the most sense and for now, that is working! Ultimately, I'd like him to just keep his things in the spare bedroom closet. A girl can dream, right?
So he hangs his tall shirts and long pants on the far left of our closet, the space for shoes is in the middle and then all of my long things go to the right. It is a nice, clear divider of space between the two which is nice (for him) because I can't encroach without being obvious.
I had a set of Joy Mangano hangers from HSN, the thin, flocked kind. They were a tad pricey, but love that even the silkiest items won't fall off. But I did not want to wait for more to arrive and figured I could find something similar for less...and I did, at Home Goods! I got them for about half of what the HSN hangers sell for and in a TON of colors, too! And that got me thinking. I was not married to the color, just the style of hanger! I started looking and had one of THOSE moments, color could be SO helpful in organizing!
All my Lilly Pulitzer, which I rarely mix with non Lilly pieces, are all hung on (of course!) hot pink hangers. Evening pieces are on black, work pieces are on a steely blue, casual weekend are on purple, sets are on emerald green. I then made a list of my clothing before it went back in the closet. EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. I did this in an Excel spreadsheet and assigned categories to items and could then go back to sort them on a variety of data points and have found that I can mix and match outfits on my spreadsheet easily and identify new outfits that I can create without standing there with the doors flung open and me feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. When I come up with a new outfit idea, I save it on another spreadsheet in the same workbook.
Was it quick and easy to do this? No. But the time savings after the initial investment has been well worth it! One nice benefit is that I can easily see what is ready to move into the consignment rack and I make notes of what I need to fill holes in my wardrobe as well.
Phase II is all about handbags, belts, scarves and shoes!
So tell me...what method have YOU used and are you going to try this one out? Would love to hear feedback/questions/ideas!
I've tried a few different things over the years. ROYGBIV, cold/hot, outfits vs. separates...you get the idea! What I am doing now is what I've liked best for me an I hope that if you give it a try that it will be what you have liked best as well, it took some time, to be sure, but it has been worth it in that it has saved me a great amount of time getting ready, packing for trips and knowing what is IN my closet.
The first thing I had to do was pull everything out. EVERY SINGLE THING. My closet was bare and my bed was covered, as was every surface in my room! I was not going to get anywhere fast this way.
So I bought a freestanding rack. GENIUS! How I have lived without such a device for nearly half a century, I have no idea! The first one I bought was a little pricey and can hold 450 lbs of clothing. I needed a second one and bought a less expensive one, it's barely worth the money because it holds so little. BUT when I need just a little bit more, it is fine. My recommendation though, is to invest and buy a metal one that will fold flat and has strong rolling wheels. Makes a tremendous difference! You do NOT need to buy new though--one that was used for two years is going to work as well as a brand new one. I bought mine about 60% off from a woman closing a consignment business. I wish I'd bought two!
Anyway....
So I first had to sit down and be very real with how I put together outfits, what works, what I struggled to find to complete outfits, why I did not wear some pieces at all or rarely (even things I loved) and how I really needed my closet to be arranged for efficiency. I say this to say to you that if my method of FINISHING doesn't work for you, go with one that does...but everything above is a great starting point for any closet redo!
Now I have reach in closets and never appreciated how lovely a walk in was until having reach in. But going from a giant walk in to two smaller reach in was doable once I got smart about space and set up.
I turned one into a full length and shoe closet, the other into an over/under closet. I used the smaller of the two for the over under, since I was going to get double the space from it.
Then I went to the local home improvement store and bought a Rubbermaid closet system. If you have put up the old kind that had the clips and the perfect measuring required and the cutting of metal...it's orders of magnitude better now! I bought the no cut system and installed it all by myself! It is the Home Free series and it is GENIUS! I had enough to do my 6 foot closet up and down plus a few pieces left over...which I used to extend the 6 foot kit I bought for my larger (10 foot) reach in closet without having to spend the extra money on the 10 foot organizer.
Because my husband insists on hanging things in MY closets (humor people, humor!) I thought that giving him mostly full length item space made the most sense and for now, that is working! Ultimately, I'd like him to just keep his things in the spare bedroom closet. A girl can dream, right?
So he hangs his tall shirts and long pants on the far left of our closet, the space for shoes is in the middle and then all of my long things go to the right. It is a nice, clear divider of space between the two which is nice (for him) because I can't encroach without being obvious.
I had a set of Joy Mangano hangers from HSN, the thin, flocked kind. They were a tad pricey, but love that even the silkiest items won't fall off. But I did not want to wait for more to arrive and figured I could find something similar for less...and I did, at Home Goods! I got them for about half of what the HSN hangers sell for and in a TON of colors, too! And that got me thinking. I was not married to the color, just the style of hanger! I started looking and had one of THOSE moments, color could be SO helpful in organizing!
All my Lilly Pulitzer, which I rarely mix with non Lilly pieces, are all hung on (of course!) hot pink hangers. Evening pieces are on black, work pieces are on a steely blue, casual weekend are on purple, sets are on emerald green. I then made a list of my clothing before it went back in the closet. EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. I did this in an Excel spreadsheet and assigned categories to items and could then go back to sort them on a variety of data points and have found that I can mix and match outfits on my spreadsheet easily and identify new outfits that I can create without standing there with the doors flung open and me feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. When I come up with a new outfit idea, I save it on another spreadsheet in the same workbook.
Was it quick and easy to do this? No. But the time savings after the initial investment has been well worth it! One nice benefit is that I can easily see what is ready to move into the consignment rack and I make notes of what I need to fill holes in my wardrobe as well.
Phase II is all about handbags, belts, scarves and shoes!
So tell me...what method have YOU used and are you going to try this one out? Would love to hear feedback/questions/ideas!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Clam SquashRoom saute or bake, here is the secret recipe!
I was craving mushrooms soooo much recently. I would have done just about anything for one! I had some sliced baby bellas (cremini) on hand and as I was pulling them out I saw a fresh bag of butternut squash I had purchased the night before. I love squash and I love mushrooms. So I did a saute of mushrooms and a cup of the butternut squash. I added one tablespoon of drippings from zesty Italian brats I'd made earlier in the day. The TONS of flavor was well worth the bit of fat! And nothing makes a soft interior, crispy exterior mushroom quite like a bit of pig fat!
Then I started thinking about what I would be a good protein pal for this mixture and remembered I had a can of clam sauce on hand. There are many, many things I make from scratch. Clam sauce is not one of them. Bumble Bee white clam sauce is just fine and dandy with me! 1 cup has only 100 calories!
I lowered the heat, added the clam sauce to the butternut and mushroom mixture and 2 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan. I then put a lid and let it cook on very low heat for 5 minutes, gave it a solid stir and then served it. DELISH!
My son was due home soon for lunch. I quickly made a pie crust and lined a 2 cup casserole dish, baked the lower portion and then filled with the mixture, put a top crust on and baked for 18 minutes. He loved it and asked for the ingredient list. He said he'd never have thought to combine them, but that he loved it!
So you can serve it as a saute or as a bake...delish either way!
If you make 6 servings with 8 oz of baby bellas, 1 cup of butternut squash, 1 tablespoon of drained fat (it would be great with coconut oil, too!), 1 tsp of pretzel salt and 1 cup of the white clam sauce they are 50 calories each and very filling!!
I think next time I will try some sauteed onions in there as well. This is now in our regular rotation!
Then I started thinking about what I would be a good protein pal for this mixture and remembered I had a can of clam sauce on hand. There are many, many things I make from scratch. Clam sauce is not one of them. Bumble Bee white clam sauce is just fine and dandy with me! 1 cup has only 100 calories!
I lowered the heat, added the clam sauce to the butternut and mushroom mixture and 2 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan. I then put a lid and let it cook on very low heat for 5 minutes, gave it a solid stir and then served it. DELISH!
My son was due home soon for lunch. I quickly made a pie crust and lined a 2 cup casserole dish, baked the lower portion and then filled with the mixture, put a top crust on and baked for 18 minutes. He loved it and asked for the ingredient list. He said he'd never have thought to combine them, but that he loved it!
So you can serve it as a saute or as a bake...delish either way!
If you make 6 servings with 8 oz of baby bellas, 1 cup of butternut squash, 1 tablespoon of drained fat (it would be great with coconut oil, too!), 1 tsp of pretzel salt and 1 cup of the white clam sauce they are 50 calories each and very filling!!
I think next time I will try some sauteed onions in there as well. This is now in our regular rotation!
Monday, September 1, 2014
When should you skip a run?
I had plans to meet a group at run at 7a last Saturday morning. It was going to be one of two long runs between Saturday and Monday to get ready for my big relay race the following Friday. Before the alarm went off I had already woken up with a terrible sore throat and burning in my upper chest. I thought I would feel better if I had something warm to drink and walked around a bit to drain whatever was causing me issues out of my head.
WRONG!
When I went to ask my husband for a cup of tea, I literally could not make a sound. With an evil glint in his eye he then began to ask a series of questions in his voice and then answer in a falsetto version of mine with things I would never ever say or agree to...then he helped me get a cup of tea made and I returned to bed. I knew then I really needed to slip into low gear and not head out for that run. But I got dressed, everything but shoes, just in case I felt better at the last minute.
My husband brought me a second cup of tea and before I finished it, I had fallen fast asleep. That right there told me it was not the right morning for a run, even one that was foggy, cool and practically perfect in every other way. I do not normally pass up a Mary Poppins of a run time, but glad I chose to this time.
I took a Day-Quil when I woke. Correction, when I was awoken asking me when I was going to wake up. Love the man, but gee whiz, let the sick sleep! At that point I decided to get up and stay up. More hot tea and I got my voice back, began to feel better but still not great.
By the late afternoon I did feel well enough to run and run I did. Half of what I'd planned to run, but felt it was a good idea to get out there but not to overdo it. I have got to be in good health for the relay and I already know I can do the amount of running needed, so a day or two missed won't upset that applecart.
At one point I would have forced myself to do something simply because I had created a schedule that said to do it. But listening to my body on a real issue...not just that I did not want to get out of bed...and taking cues from me about me was a growth point for me. And I was actually proud of myself for not forcing myself into a situation where I might have been letting my whole team down the next week.
For me to skip a run I need to know I have a way to make it up within 24 hours, that it makes sense to delay and that it is not an excuse, but a reason. Now if I had gotten sicker and sicker that day I certainly would not have run that afternoon. Applying some common sense...even though it isn't so common any longer can go a long way in training!
WRONG!
When I went to ask my husband for a cup of tea, I literally could not make a sound. With an evil glint in his eye he then began to ask a series of questions in his voice and then answer in a falsetto version of mine with things I would never ever say or agree to...then he helped me get a cup of tea made and I returned to bed. I knew then I really needed to slip into low gear and not head out for that run. But I got dressed, everything but shoes, just in case I felt better at the last minute.
My husband brought me a second cup of tea and before I finished it, I had fallen fast asleep. That right there told me it was not the right morning for a run, even one that was foggy, cool and practically perfect in every other way. I do not normally pass up a Mary Poppins of a run time, but glad I chose to this time.
I took a Day-Quil when I woke. Correction, when I was awoken asking me when I was going to wake up. Love the man, but gee whiz, let the sick sleep! At that point I decided to get up and stay up. More hot tea and I got my voice back, began to feel better but still not great.
By the late afternoon I did feel well enough to run and run I did. Half of what I'd planned to run, but felt it was a good idea to get out there but not to overdo it. I have got to be in good health for the relay and I already know I can do the amount of running needed, so a day or two missed won't upset that applecart.
At one point I would have forced myself to do something simply because I had created a schedule that said to do it. But listening to my body on a real issue...not just that I did not want to get out of bed...and taking cues from me about me was a growth point for me. And I was actually proud of myself for not forcing myself into a situation where I might have been letting my whole team down the next week.
For me to skip a run I need to know I have a way to make it up within 24 hours, that it makes sense to delay and that it is not an excuse, but a reason. Now if I had gotten sicker and sicker that day I certainly would not have run that afternoon. Applying some common sense...even though it isn't so common any longer can go a long way in training!
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