By Karina Reeves
No. No one has been calling me cupcake (wishful thinking) but isn’t funny how as soon as you aren’t able to do or eat something that is all you can think about? Okay, no gluten, no sugar, no fun. I get it. It isn’t even that difficult (most times) but lately I’m having crazy dreams every night.
One night during the first week of gluten detox I was watching TV and there was this commercial with the most delicious looking cupcake! It was topped with the thickest, most beautiful hot pink frosting with sprinkles … the kind of icing that has so much food coloring it will stain your face. Okay, let me note that I don’t normally eat a ton of sweets nor drool over them in commercials. But, I dreamt about that damn cupcake for two weeks! TWO WEEKS!!!! It is crazy and I’m not exaggerating at all. The dream progressed from looking longingly at the cupcake to tasting the frosting to rubbing my face in the icing. I was ravishing that cupcake like an animal. Yes, I’m completely embarrassed to admit it but it’s the truth.
Every day I woke up in a sweat, exhausted and probably in an imaginary sugar coma. As I said earlier, I was never one to eat sweets all the time but once it is off limits you can become obsessed. And, as everyone points out I can make gluten free treats but that isn’t the point. I want to be healthier and making gluten free cupcakes is a viable option but I think it’s more important to focus on not eating gluten and truly acknowledge the changes I must make for my day to day life. It’s not just about eating or not eating cupcakes.
Now, for the most part, I have just cut out starchy carbs … bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. I know, I know…rice and potatoes aren’t foods with gluten but I felt I needed to eat basically the South Beach Diet way and then add in some rice or a potato once in a while. My body sure works much better now. And…I feel and look a hell of a lot better too! I never realized how puffy and swollen I was just because of something I ate especially as I have gotten older. I knew something was wrong for 12 years and I am so glad I didn’t give up. You must be your own advocate and if instinctually you feel something isn’t right you must keep looking for an answer. Don’t get me wrong … I’m not happy to have Celiac but it’s something manageable and I am so relieved to finally have some answers. I never realized the damage gluten did to my body because it wasn’t anything that you could pick out. My weight always seemed more a consequence of being puffy or swollen more than it did from fat. Not that I don’t have any weight to lose but I am being “kind” to myself…which is a new thing for me. While I am getting used to this new nutritional path of mine, I am not pushing any other huge changes.
I have developed a few tools to keep myself focused. Every morning around 10 I fix myself a snack. I go to the kitchen (in the office) grab myself a big bowl and fill it with sliced cucumber and bell pepper with some grape tomatoes. I snack on it for an hour or two. My co-workers found it odd at first but it really keeps me sane and satiated.
So, overall I’m doing okay. I’m still pretty plain in my food choices but I’m hanging in there with not much difficulty. Now, I’ve never been someone that constantly ate bread and pasta but once I gave it up, my senses have been heightened. I have complete willpower because this isn’t a choice…gluten is poison to my body and that’s how I must look at it. There are times that the smell of bread is so tangible that I can almost taste it. For instance, last week I went to the mall and as soon as I stepped onto the marble floor the smell of Auntie Anne’s pretzels was so strong and yummy, I actually stood for a minute with my eyes closed thinking about how good it would taste. It only took a quick moment to realize how incredibly bad I would feel within a half hour. Or, when my sister ordered take out for us and I could smell the bread from her sandwich. It’s incredible how that happens. I felt bad because she apologized and it didn’t bother me but I should probably keep my every observation for my blog.
This weekend might be difficult because I’m going out to dinner for my friend’s birthday. We’re going with her family and a couple friends … did I say we’re going to an Italian restaurant? It is an Italian restaurant specializing in crazy good pasta dishes. I didn’t feel comfortable enough to say anything and hopefully they will serve other things other than pasta. I will, however, bring an Atkins bar (sans wheat) just in case.
If anyone has anything they would like to share, I look forward to hearing from you. Wish me luck at my dinner this week!

The United Front To Help Those In Need

Members of NYBLUE For Pinks

By Mairead Bokina

Life will scare and shock you,
thrill and please you,
break and make you.
It will surprise and change you,
while inspiring and humbling you to the core.
And in the end the motivation to do something above ourselves will change the world.

Sometimes things come at you in a round-about way that changes your perspective on the bigger picture, in this case it is life and how precious it is. Sure, I had heard of breast cancer but no one I knew had ever been diagnosed with it. …
That was until the end of 2007, when my friend Loretta told me that her mother was diagnosed with “Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, HER2+. Then shortly after that another friend, M.J.’s mother was diagnosed with STAGE 4 INFLITRATING DUCTAL CARCINOMA HER2 WITH MULTIPLE METASTATIC LUNG LESIONS. I still do not understand most of it. Although neither of these situations directly affected my day-to-day life, I got involved simply by helping friends who needed a shoulder and someone to listen to their troubles.

Getting Involved
But Loretta had other plans. While becoming “educated” on breast cancer, she came across the “Avon Foundation”. That is the same company that sells cosmetics door-to-door. In 1992, they started the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It is a 501(c)(3) public charity, which raises donations to help men and women with breast cancer. Yes, men can get breast cancer also!

Funds raised with this organization go to five key areas. Education and awareness, support services, screening and diagnosis, accessibility to treatment, and medical research. The majority of the donations collected go back into the community in which it was raised.

Getting Me Involved
So here goes Loretta’s sales pitch. In October you have to walk 39 miles throughout New York City in 2 days, sleep in a tent on Randall’s Island, and each walker needs to raise $1,800 just to participate! To say the least, I was not thrilled. I am definitely not a “city-girl”, I did not exercise and as for raising money, I did not have the first clue how to do that! The only thing I didn’t have a problem with was the tent because I enjoy camping. Always the cheerleader, Loretta got me to agree to this and along with a few other hesitant friends we formed our team “NYBLUE for Pink” for the 2008 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York.

Life Can Change That Fast
Believe it or not, through only an email and letter writing campaign, we reached out to family and friends for support. The first year we easily reached our required $1,800 per person to participate. As for the exercise part, walking has become a way of life for me. So when the day came for us to head into the “Big Apple” for our 39 mile walk, I thought I was prepared. … I was not.

From start to finish it was an unbelievable experience. The opening ceremony at Pier 84 at 6 a.m. was incredible. Thousands of men and women all gathered with one goal in mind. To be “In It To End It”. I was moved to tears. A totally moving and motivational ceremony to begin our day. Along our walk, we had tremendous support from the “Crew”, volunteers to help us cross streets, give out food and water, medical care, set up rest stops and our “Wellness Village” on Randall’s Island, and they cheered us with every step we took. But what has impacted me the most was all the incredible people we have met during our 2 day journey. While everyone walks for a different reason; themselves a survivor, a loved one taken from us, or so that future generations may not have to know about this horrible disease, there is a camaraderie in this battle to end breast cancer. A united front to help those in need. And an unwillingness to give up without a fight.

Walking With A Goal
Tears and joy walked hand-in-hand those days. Sometimes the struggle to keep walking was hard but when you look at the bigger picture and the enormous struggles that anyone with cancer goes through, a few blisters or being tired is ultimately meaningless.

In a sea of pink we made our way through the streets of Manhattan, every step of the journey was bringing us closer to the finish line and our goal of trying to eradicate the words “breast cancer” from our vocabulary.

This will be team “NYBLUE FOR PINK’S” 3rd year participating in the New York walk. Collectively we have raised $56,687 towards ending breast cancer. Please if you can, donate to this year’s walk by clicking on the link below. No donation is too small. Every bit helps in finding a cure for breast cancer and helping to meet the medical needs of men and women with breast cancer.

It Doesn’t Get Easier Having To Ask
It doesn’t get any easier having to ask for money for a charity or cause, but it has to be done. October is breast cancer awareness month. This is also your time to be proactive in your own lives. Let October be your month to remind yourselves to get a mammogram. Donate to the “Avon Walk for Breast Cancer”. Consider joining the Avon Walk. It is held in many cities all across the United States, just check out the website at www.avonwalk.org. And if you are in Manhattan on October 16 and 17, you will surely come across men and women walking to end breast cancer. Please cheer them on! We are all “IN IT TO END IT!”

Please consider clicking here to visit my personal secure page and donate what you can.
Click Here To Donate

High heels to work boots – just about covers it. Mairead Bokina is a hardworking mom of two boys (11 & 8), as well as, a manager of a local pharmacy for 17 years.
No job is too large for this highly energetic, detailed oriented woman – Don’t ever tell her “You can’t” because she will prove you wrong! Mairead has rediscovered herself and has become proactive in her own life lacing her sneakers up every morning. If you want to catch up with her try to keep the pace on her 5:30 am walk!
She doesn’t know where her sneakers will take her next … but life has become a journey ready to be explored.

Allowing Time For Life To Sneak Up While Still Getting Your Miles

By Greg Albert

I am a creature of habit. I believe in self-discipline and holding myself to goals that I set out. That self-discipline helped me immensely in law school when I could have been watching TV and playing video games all the time. (Truth be told, I did a lot of both over the last 3 years.)

But while self-discipline is generally a positive thing, I have found that I have a tough time moderating it. It’s the old saying: moderation in everything, including moderation. Instead of giving myself a break and running or biking another day, I go out and bang out the miles even if I’m not feeling up to it. Again, that’s generally a good thing, but it creates absolutely no flexibility into the schedule to allow for, well, life to sneak up.

It’s almost like the movie, If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. If it’s Tuesday, I’m running or biking. And I’m doing that whether it’s hot or cold, raining or sunny, thundering or snowing. And I do it because it’s on the schedule. If it’s not on the schedule, I don’t do it.

During the bar, this type of discpline was critical. My days were heavily structured and scheduled, so I put exercise into the schedule and stuck to it. But, as of late, I haven’t had much of a schedule as I have had a couple of weeks off.

And you know what? It’s actually OK to miss a run or bike ride. It’s OK to change it to a different day because your stomach is upset or there’s something else to do. I know it doesn’t sound like much of a revelation to most of you, but for me, it’s like the first I’ve ever heard it. We’re so funny that way, aren’t we?

But with everything else, I can’t let too many runs or rides slide. I still need to hit the road as often as possible and get my miles in. At least for now, I just don’t have to be so incredibly rigid.

I guess there’s a first time for everything.

Greg recently completed law school in Concord, New Hampshire. He ran from Philadelphia to Los Angeles during his years at law school (all virtually). Those 2,736 miles have kept him motivated to hit the roads in the summer heat and the winter cold. He’s run two marathons, a self-created ultramarathon, numerous 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons, and most recently did a century bike ride across three states. Catch Greg’s Blog located at Greg’s Blog

When the phone rings no one hopes that it is the doctor.

By Karina Reeves

So, I thought that my 40s were going to be the best years of my life. I’m not saying this year has not been good but it’s definitely been filled with loss, grief, discovery and growth. A growth spurt, in the spiritual sense but just as painful as that physical growth you had in the sixth grade. But, the most important lesson of this year was learning to live within the moment. To really LIVE.

I’ve always been a dreamer and while many things have come to fruition … I haven’t accomplished as much as I’ve wanted due to fear. One easy example of this is my fear of being thin. Most of my life, I’ve been what I call a “chubbette.” The fear of being thin was always greater than the familiarity of being overweight. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been playing with the yo-yo of weight loss and gain practically my entire life but I’ve also learned to be honest…and, that is the plain ole truth.

Sometimes what we need but can’t achieve is taken out of our hands and instead of something we’d like becomes something we need. This brings us to the subject of this blog. A month ago I went to the doctor’s for a check-up, which usually includes a little blood work. The week after my blood work, the doctor’s office calls and lets me know that I have a Vitamin D deficiency but everything else looks good. This isn’t a big deal, just need to take a supplement and not avoid sunlight like a vampire (which if you knew me would be hilarious because you can’t get much more “white girl” than me.) So I think, “Okay, two caramel calcium chews with vitamin D and I’ll be good.” I asked her the result of the other tests and was told everything else was in the normal range.

The very next day the doctor’s office calls again and tells me I am borderline diabetic. (And for those of you that do not know what that is, the America Diabetes Association defines it as when the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy). The nurse says that I must get my sugars under control or I will develop full blown diabetes. I know this to be true because diabetes runs rampant in my family. For once in my life, I was actually frightened about the possibility of diabetes if I didn’t get my ass in gear. My father’s diabetes is so severe that at times his retinas bleed. He describes it as looking out and seeing streams of blood coming down as if he was watching it happen outside himself. There was no way in hell I was going to let this happen to me especially when it can be controlled with food. Before hanging up, I asked the nurse if that was the only thing that was abnormal (because I can’t handle them calling me every day with a different thing!) She said that nothing else was out of range.

Two weeks later, the doctor’s office called me AGAIN!!! “Are you kidding me? Really?” What the hell was the matter with me now? I specifically asked what the results of the other test were and was told everything was fine. I mean, come on!!! The nurse said that the gene panel came back. I thought all the tests were already back but apparently not. The gene panel showed that I do have Celiac Disease. (According to Celiac.com, Celiac Disease is also known as the body’s intolerance to gluten which is food grain antigens such as wheat, rye and barley.)

Recently I’ve done some reading about Celiac Disease and it turns out that most of the odd medical symptoms I’ve had for over a decade are also symptoms of Celiac. I’ve had medical oddities that no doctor in any specialty has been able to figure out for years (actually 12 years). I had given up finding out what I actually had because over the years I’ve gone to as many doctors practicing as many specialties (all passing me off to another doctor/specialty.) I was thrilled to maybe have an answer to my 12 year mystery. Not that I wanted Celiac but idea of knowing and not living with the frustrations and symptoms of a medical mystery is exciting. Yes, it changes everything about my life and how I will live but it reinforces living in the present. I say this knowing that this part of my journey is starting and not every blog will seem like a pep rally but I hope to give you worthwhile information, make you laugh, maybe give you some tips and hopefully get some tips from you that we can pass onto others.

So, needless to say, at 40 years old, I’m trying to figure out who I want to become and how I’m going to get there. I am hoping you will share this journey with me or at least read it to see what happens (the good and the ridiculous) as I change everything in regards to my nutrition. I’m sure some crazy stuff in the other areas of my life will seep its way into the blog.

And Drinking On Sunday

By Jim Calder

As I am writing this I just watched the completion of the Pro Cycling Tour TD Bank North Philadelphia International Cycling Championship. This year I was a little busy with some other projects and didn’t make it out to Manayunk nor a quick walk down the the Ben Franklin Parkway art museum circle to watch this race. But I had it on in the background of the house for the last six hours plus. I have been following/attending this race since 2002 when I first moved to Philadelphia. My appreciation for this race has changed greatly over the years. Years ago it was just a great excuse to drink all day on a Sunday and it still is for many!

The race is known as one of the most difficult one-day events in the US. The course is 156 miles long starting and the art museum down Kelly Drive through East Falls, Manayunk and Roxborough. According to Wikipedia, top cyclists have participated including Eric Heiden, Gred Lemond and Lance Armstrong. Armstrong actually stared his professional career when he won this race in 1993. Nine American cyclists have won the men’s portion of this race since its inception in 1985, even though this year an Australian took it home.

One of the best places to see the action (because it is the slowest part) is the Manayunk Wall. This also make for the best party and drinking spot. The steepest section of the wall boasts a 17-percent grade. This race represents the best of the city that we call home. In days past we would fill up water bottles, Gatorade bottles, etc with the liquor of our choice add some soda or juice throw it in a book bag full of us, which also worked as a self cooler on hot race days.
We would show up late and sometimes only able to catch one lap up the the wall, and end up drinking till it got dark. Sure back then I appreciated that these riders were doing something that I wouldn’t be able to do on my best day, but it was more like wow, where are we drinking next. Ah the memories come rushing back. I remember one year my future wife and some friends were trying to get on an outgoing Septa train that was too crowded. A friend to remain nameless and I jimmied a door to the train open an lifted the ladies onto the train until we got yelled at by Septa.

Today, watching it from a distance with the temperature at 87 degrees I feel real respect for these racers. Screw this respecting the race crap, next year I am going to refill the soda bottles with booze and join back in the Par-T.

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com

By Lora Erickson

Race Report: Canyonland Five mile 2010 – Moab, Utah
Lora Erickson aka Blonde Runner overall first female
1st overall female: 35:13
729 finishers

The weather was still a question as it had rained the day before the race. I checked temperature at 6:30 a.m. on race morning and since it was 33 degrees and clear (and the forecast showed a possible high was 56) I decided to wear shorts, my blue TeamBlonde Runner race tank, arm warmers, gloves and my racing flats – no hat. It was a little cold at the start, especially after peeling our warm-ups and tossing our sweat bag into the truck and waiting another half hour for the race to start in while standing in the shade. They finally allowed us to jog down the road to the start and I found a sunny spot to hang out until the start. As I looked around and chatted with many runners at the starting line, I could not identify anyone that I might be able to pace off and it dawned on me that I might be on my own. Finally the race was off and the lead runners spread out quickly. I ran a very comfortable first mile hitting it in 7 minutes. Considering I was in 8th or 9th place with only men in front of me and no women around me I decided to keep the pace steady instead of pushing it. I ran the hill strong but still was passed by one man, but I passed him back and another man on the other side using the downhill. The pace again was very comfortable…and no other women where around so I decided just to maintain the pace for the next mile. My original goal was to run for time, however I could see by now that was not necessary. I picked it up a bit for the forth mile and I was cheered by many spectators saying “first female – good job.” One man cheering even said “I think you got it” alluding to the fact that there where no other women around me or close. I admit it was difficult to feel really motivated to push the pace, but I decided to picked up the pace for the final mile. I finished as 1st overall female with a time of 35:13 of 729 finishers. I was pleased to be easily run negative splits; running the second half faster than the first half. I felt really strong and knew I could have ran much faster if I needed too. I felt good about my choice of running attire as it was a very comfortable temperature for runners, but a little chilly for spectators. I was delighted to have my family there cheering for me. It was a pleasure to meet the race director and receive a trophy and I was especially excited about the green embroidered bag they gave me that claimedCanyonland’s Fiver Mile, Women 1st overall 2010. I love usable items! They also gave all racers a bright green shirt and hat at the packet pickup/expo the night before. Great safety color – I can wear it and be seen. Love it! After the race I cheered in several friends including Julie Thomas, a former college team mate, who finished the half as the third place women bettering her last years time by 50 seconds. It was nice to catch up with her on the cool down we ran together. Her husband and children where there too, as this is a traditional race for her. I think this may become that for my family too.
My family enjoyed the little vacation as we swam in the pool at the hotel, went out to eat and visited the rock shop (the boys especially loved this). We even brought our little sugar gliders along for the adventure. We hiked to the delicate arch lookout and enjoyed the beautiful scenery thatMoab has to offer. It was a great get away for us. We had a fun time.

Lora Erickson is a competitive runner and triathlete with over 25 years of experience. As one of Colorado’s top distance runners, she was heavily recruited by various colleges throughout the US. She graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Health Education and duel minors in Nutrition & Chemistry. While running for college on scholarship, Lora earned the title of All-Conference Runner (top ten of all western states colleges). She is the owner ofBlonde Runner Health LLC in Bountiful, Utah where she currently resides with her husband and four children and has been coaching since 1996. She has a true passion for health promotion and welcomes questions and comments. Contact her directly at lora@blonderunner.com or visitBlondeRunner for more information on services available.

By Lora Erickson aka “Blonde Runner”

I remember my first pair of what I thought was a “good” pair of running shoes. I was a freshman in high school and the coach noticed my shoes and encouraged me to buy some good shoes for running so my Mom took me to the local department store to purchase my first pair of “running” shoes. The selection of athletic shoes was slim at best. As I looked through the few athletic shoes they had only one that claimed “running” shoe. I remember the name of the shoes distinctly; they had the inscription “the winner” on them and were completely white – soles and all. Silently I chuckled at the name and resisting the temptation of holding up the all popular “L” finger sign on my forehead, but not being well-to-do folks, they would have to do. They seemed relatively expensive compared to the regular cheap “tennies” I had grown accustomed to wearing for most the cross-country season. So we purchased them. Although they were not your typical name brand shoes, I was still excited to have something that was new and better than what I had. Now 25 years later I have learned the importance of good running shoes.

There is a lot of hype lately about running in bare feet and I do believe that is valuable to allow your body to learn how to run efficiently with proper form. I can often be found at an outdoor track running barefoot and working on my form. I would have to admit that on a regular basis I prefer to wear shoes. Not only do they protect my feet and keep them warm in cold weather but they are comfortable. I have suffered very few injuries over my many years as a runner and I believe it is due to always having good shoes along with practicing proper stretching, resting enough, eating healthy and staying hydrated. I truly believe it is important to buy good shoes. Good is a relative term, but I am not talking about your department store “the winner” shoes, but your name brand shoes found at a specialty running shop. You see, even if the shoe you are buying has a swoosh on the side, if it’s purchased at a all-in-one type shopping establishment it is not the same quality model you will get at a specialty running shop. Simply put, shoes at running shoes stores are designed to last and are built for runners unlike the all-in-one store shoes labeled “running” shoes. A good quality shoe should last 3-500 miles.

Being the value minded person that I am, I see the value in spending a little extra money on quality running shoes and getting 3 times the use out of them. Not only will this save you time, it also saves you money. The time that it takes for you to shop and buy the three pairs that you will have to purchase in the time the quality pair has outlasted your three department store “running” shoes. My time is valuable and I don’t like to waste it. I do love to shop, but choose to shop for high quality gear. So, when you are shopping for shoes, go to a specialty running shop. Our local shops have knowledgeable staff; most being experienced runners themselves. Many shops offer a biomechanical analysis to get you in the right shoes for your pronation type. I encourage you to take advantage of this service. Without proper shoes you will likely find yourself injured frequently. So, treat your body right and get a “good” pair of running shoes from a local specialty running store.

DISCOUNTS: Several shops offer discounts to members of the South Davis Road Runners & Northern Utah Triathletes. Visit Discounts for details.

Lora Erickson is a competitive runner and triathlete with over 25 years of experience. As one of Colorado’s top distance runners, she was heavily recruited by various colleges throughout the US. She graduated from Utah State University where she ran on scholarship and was honored as an All-Conference Runner (top ten of all western states colleges). She is the owner of Blonde Runner Health LLC in Bountiful, Utah where she currently resides with her husband and four children and has been coaching since 1996. She has a true passion for health promotion and welcomes questions and comments. Contact her directly at lora@blonderunner.com or visit BlondeRunner for more information on services available.

Journey From Philadelphia to Myrtle Beach to Run 13.1 Miles

By Lauren Grant

Let me first begin by saying that everything that could have gone wrong on this trip, did. To tell this story, I should probably start from the beginning.

Several months ago, I tried to convince my boyfriend to run a half marathon with me, but he declined. So when a friend mentioned she would be going to Myrtle Beach to run a half with a friend who lived down in North Carolina, I jumped at the chance to go. And so we began planning our days off from work, our flights there and back and our hotel, much to the dismay of my boyfriend and my parents who declared this trip a waste of money as there are other half marathon closer to Philadelphia. I should have known.

We soon learned that the friend, who we would be meeting down there, had asked her mom and sister to come down for the race, but since they live nearby, the four of us (me, my friend, and her friend’s mom and sister) booked the flights and hotel rooms. I started training for the race and as it quickly approached. I learned training in the Winter is not the most enjoyable thing to do, but I had to because I was paying all this money to go to Myrtle Beach. I couldn’t back out even if I wanted to.

There was a threat of snow for the day before we were schedule to fly to Myrtle Beach. The amount predicted increased from a few inches to over a foot. We began to get nervous our flight would be canceled, but never thought it actually would. The snow came and we were pounded with over a foot, which meant my friend and I couldn’t drive to the airport the next day as both of our cars can’t handle snow well.

Eventually we learned that our 7am flight had been canceled. Our layover (which we didn’t know we had until that day) was in Michigan, a mere 7-hour drive. Long story short, we were stuck with only a few options: drive, try and get another flight, take a train or forget the whole trip. The sister and the mom spent the rest of the night on the phone and my friend and I learned that they had decided to get us a flight out of Norfolk, VA, a 6-hour drive from us and about halfway to Myrtle Beach. Despite the fact that the roads were barely plowed, we were picked up around 7am, and then rented a car to drive down. The rental company, who will remain unnamed, was so backed up as 7 of their employees called out that morning, that we waited for a half hour to get a car. We were told the information would be added into the system later in the day as that took too much time with only a few workers. We didn’t think anything of it.

Since we left Philadelphia around 8am, that gave us exactly six and half hours to drive to Norfolk, drop off the car, get through security and make our flight. Over the course of the next five and half hours, we ran out of windshield wiper fluid (which when it snows and the salt flies up, makes it impossible to see and therefore drive) and the one store we stopped at was out of the fluid. We used my full water bottle to refill the empty wiper fluid. We switched drivers once from the mom to the sister, who proceeded to drive 90 MPH for most of the way. Then we hit traffic -twice- and we thought we were done for.

Everything seemed fine after the traffic in Northern Virginia until the car told us we were only 10 miles from an empty tank and riding on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, not the smartest thing to do but the sister refused to stop. As the gas went down, she kept going and driving at very fast speeds. She eventually stopped and put in $4 just to be able to make it to the drop off at the airport. When we finally got to the drop off, we did the quick checkout and ran for the airport. Thank God this was a small airport or we would not have been able to get through security and check-in as quickly as we did.

We made our flight and flew into Georgia and then hopped on a little “Puddle Jumper” to Myrtle Beach, where we learned they were calling for snow the day before the race.

It would be the first time in 10 years it snowed in Myrtle Beach. Of course it would. At this point we didn’t think it could get any worse, but it did.

Because of the impending snow, the race director decided the day before the race to push back the start from 6:30am to 7:00am. As the night went on, it began snowing, lightly at first and it wasn’t sticking. A decision for the race was to be made at 5:00pm, and then that was pushed back to 10:00pm. Finally at the end of the 10 O’clock news the anchor announced that the city decided to cancel the race because of the snow.

This was the worst news. Everything we went through up to this point to get down there was in vain. Still, we didn’t want to waste all of our training efforts so decided to still run the 13.1-mile course at 7:00 am. We began a little late but started near the planned start line and tried to follow the course. There were tons of runners out on the course. I felt proud that we were still out there, but sad I wouldn’t receive my medal I had worked so hard for.

I ran alone for the majority of the run and turned around at the spot my friends and I had agreed on, but I never saw them. I got back and was picked up by the rest of our party who informed me that several people were wearing medals. I ran down the finishing chute and no one was there. We drove around for a while looking for the other two and for those medals with no luck. We drove back near the hotel and found the other two. Then we drove back to the finish to see if there were any medals there, and there were. So we all ran down the chute together and got our medals. I felt like I really accomplished something, even though the time wasn’t official. I had a great time that day. Despite the snow that was the cause of all our cancellations and the interesting trip down, I had a good time and I’m happy I was there.

Lauren A. Grant graduated from Albright College in 2008 with a B.A. in Communications. She is interested in many different aspects of communications including writing, editing, design and layout, public relations, as well as photography and website building. Lauren recently picked up bicycling and is a volunteer for the marketing initiative of the Tour de Cure bike race for the Philadelphia area. After her first half-marathon in February, she will try to train for a triathlon. Lauren enjoys reading, running, cycling, shopping and puppies.

By Lora Erickson, B.S., CPT, CES

As an athlete my body is always being challenged and is in a constant state of repair. Recovering from a run or workout in a short time is important to me. One of the ways I speed recovery is by eating healthy everyday. Many sports nutrition articles focus on supplements and how to eat right before a race or on race day. While this is important on race day, ProLong Magazine and I believe that we stand to benefit more on a whole from how we eat on a daily basis. Personally I feel like the best foods come from nature in the form of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality proteins such as fish, nuts, beans, legumes, and seeds.

As a runner and triathlete the need for antioxidants, quality protein, iron and water is greater than a regular person. There are many antioxidants, but one I feel has particular importance for a runner is ascorbic acid or Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to synthesize the protein collagen and is important for tissue healing and immune function. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which can help clean up free radicals produced from exercise. Free radicals are believed to initiate the cancer process and Vitamin C can help limit our exposure to them by donating the electron they are seeking (this topic deserves its own blog post – so check back). Cardiovascular exercise challenges the immune system so it is important to give the body the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Major sources of Vitamin C include green peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, strawberries, papayas, romaine lettuce and citrus fruits. While the adult RDA is 60 milligrams per day, an endurance athlete may require up to 200 milligrams per day. Consuming Vitamin C also helps with non-heme iron absorption making it alkaline in the small intestine.

Another important nutrient is iron which forms the hemoglobin of the red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle cells. This is important for respiration, immune function and compounds of energy production. Low levels of iron in the body can result in anemia which decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Anemia can also cause fatigue, loss of appetite, poor temperature regulation and a weakened immune system. Obviously this would be a vary hazardous condition for any athlete. Getting enough iron is important and being careful not to over consume foods that decrease its absorption are key. For instance polyphenols (tannins) found in tea can reduce iron absorption.

In an effort to get enough iron we may be tempted to use iron supplements, however we must remember that high levels of iron at once can affect the absorption of other important minerals such as calcium and zinc. The best way to ensure nutrient balance is getting enough quality protein, fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, which is not as difficult as some might think. Iron can be found in red meat, legumes or beans, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, peas,bran and enriched foods (bread).

A great way to ensure a balanced diet is to keep a food journal. By logging what we eat daily it is easy to see where adjustments need to be made. Focus on increasing water and fruits and vegetables gradually. The goal is to consume and combination of 7 (women) to 9 (men) servings of fruits & vegetables per day. This may sounds like a lot, but it is really quite reasonable to get this amount. Generally a serving size is ½ cup or small piece of fruit. I suggest getting 2 fruits and 5-7 servings of vegetables per day. However, if you are not even close to that, just add 1 or 2 servings a day and work up to that level. Honestly sudden changes in diet can cause a lot of gastric distress and intestinal issues. Small improvements over time allow your body time to adapt to the increased fiber.

So in short, incorporating more quality protein, fruits and vegetables into the daily diet and maintaining the proper hydration levels will help speed recovery and help you perform better as an athlete.

Happy Training,
Lora
The Blonde Runner

Lora Erickson aka Blonde Runner is a competitive runner and triathlete with over 25 years of experience. She is the owner of Blonde Runner Health, LLC in Bountiful, Utah where she currently resides with her husband and four children. As a USATF certified running coach since 1996. She is also a certified personal trainer, health educator and nutrition consultant. Lora welcomes comments and questions. Contact her directly at lora@blonderunner.com or visit The Blonde Runner for more information.

Essential Tips for Planning Your Ski Vacation

By Brianna Dean

Although the 2009/2010 ski season is halfway over, many would agree that the best skiing is still to come. In addition to a great workout, skiing and snowboarding is a excellent way to share unforgettable experiences with family and friends.

It is not too late to book a trip to a ski resort to take advantage of the numerous events and attractions that the mountain towns have to offer.

Spring Break is typically associated with white sand and tropical drinks, but those who seek a more unique getaway flock to the mountains and trade in their sandals for ski boots. Still, don’t forget to pack your bikini and board shorts so you can relax in the hot tub after a long day on the slopes.

Never planned a ski vacation before? No worries. Working at a ski shop in the Mountains of Colorado has given me hands-on experience with frustrated first-timers. The frequent phrase repeated by most travelers is, “Help, I’ve never done this before”. Don’t worry, I am here to help. Below are tips I have gathered in order to ease the stress and confusion while trying to enjoy your ski vacation.

1) RESERVE AND CONSERVE…STRESS

You may think that a ski town’s most available item are ski rental packages, and that waiting till you arrive won’t be a problem to attain. Well, think again. Although there are typically a plethora of ski shops in most mountain towns, waiting until the last minute to walk in for rentals will leave you waiting…and skiing less. I highly recommend making your reservation in advance so your rental package is guaranteed to be ready to go upon arrival. Most places will require a small deposit for insurance (that will go towards your balance) and 24 hours notice so they can prepare your package. Some places, like Christy Sports, even offer a discount for advance reservations. Save yourself the hassle of a walk-in and reserve today.

With rising baggage costs, renting skis may be even less expensive than paying to fly your equipment across the country. Plus, you will most likely get to slide on some newer, more advanced skis than the pair that’s been collecting dust in your garage.

2) WHO’S WEARING WHAT?

Skiing and snowboarding gear has become increasingly stylish over the past few years, but warmth and protection should be your main focus. I’ve been asked over and over again what the temperature will be like on the slopes. There is no simple answer to this question as the conditions on the mountain are constantly changing. Preparation is key. Since weather is as unpredictable as the Dow Jones these days, I recommend the following gear:

Start at the bottom: Always wear a base layer like Smartwool or Patagonia under your ski clothing. Wear both leggings or tights and a wicking shirt for full-body warmth below your outerwear. Thick socks made for skiing are a must. There is nothing worse than frigid toes after riding the lift to the wind-crested mountain top.

Work your way up: Wear water resistant pants and a coat with a warm liner in case of a potential powder day. Knitted gloves? Don’t even think about it. You’re asking for frost-bitten fingers if you select those. Choose high-quality gloves or mittens. If you have poor blood circulation, like me, I would recommend mittens (they will keep your fingers close together to create more body heat to keep the blood flowing).

Top it off: Find a good material to hug your neck. A Turtle Fur Neck Gaitor is basically the “neck” part of a turtleneck. These can be purchased at most sports equipment stores and can be pulled over your mouth and chin to block the wind when you are racing downhill. Some people use a scarf, others use a handkerchief; just be sure to bring something to protect you neck and throat from the piercing wind.

Goggles are just as important as your coat and pants. They protect your eyes from sun, snow, and wind.

Helmets are optional yet advised. They provide both safety, warmth, and some (like Red’s Hi-Fi Audio model) feature built in speakers so you can rock out on your way down the hill. If you plan on packing in all of your extreme skiing into a 3 day weekend, just remember that even Johnny Knoxville wears a helmet in most of his stunts. It’s not worth adding yourself to the number of head-injuries that occur every year out on the slopes.

Last but not least, suncreeen with SPF 15 or higher is definitely needed to fend off the intense, high-elevation rays. A goggle tan may look wicked-awesome when you come back from your vacation, but serious sun exposure on the slopes can damage your skin just as bad as a hot summer day.

3) CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF

Altitude sickness can hit without warning. Entering a higher elevation should be gradual, but for visitors it’s understood there just isn’t enough time. The best advice is to listen to your body’s warning signs when you arrive. Thirsty? Drink more water (yes, water) than you think you need. The air is dryer up there and not as rich is oxygen and will dehydrate you faster than normal. Bring a water bottle on your trip and fill it up at an airport water fountain, or spend the extra dollar on an Aquafina.

Getting drunk faster than usual? Take your drinks with ease your first night there, alcohol will hit you harder at high elevations, make you feel worse in the morning, and amplify the symptoms of altitude sickness. Drink slowly and moderately until you know how your body will react to the new altitude.

Tired? Take a short nap. Exhausting your body won’t get you to the slopes any faster. In fact, it may ruin your trip or endanger you while on the mountain.

Click here to learn more about acute altitude sickness.

Hopefully these small tips will help you with your travels. I know just as well as all the other mountain dwellers that tourism keeps our resorts open and functioning. It is wonderful to see happy tourists enjoying themselves on Colorado’s slopes. Follow these tips and you will be sure to have a warm, safe, and happy ski vacation.

Colorado Ski Resources

Visit Colorado Ski Country USA for more information about skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.

To reserve ski and snowboard rentals online, click on Christy Sports or call 877-754-7627.

Click here order the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide.

Brianna Dean is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. She grew up in Southern California and frequently moved as a child until she and her family settled in Kansas, much to her dismay. Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a comfortable, mundane life, she packed up and moved to Colorado. Although she now calls Denver home, Brianna is currently spending the winter at the base of a mountain while working for a ski company. She enjoys biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and playing with her dog, Pali (who is named after a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin). When not working you will find her mastering a 360 at the terrain park, cooking vegetarian dinners, or discussing epic powder days at a dive bar.


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