Last, but not least (I think)

I think I may be the very last of this group to give my two-cents worth regarding the Corazonas Tortilla Chips. You see, I'm a bit anal - probably a bit OCD to be honest. I could not just simply try each Corazonas Tortilla Chips flavor myself. I had to set up taste-tests for a few select family and friends. This was quite an interesting experiment and - of course - took a while to complete.

I started off my series of taste-tests when a friend of mine brought over her two children (ages 5 & almost 2) to play with my two girls (5-year-old twins). I put out the chips in individually labeled containers (did I mention I'm anal?) and all of us dove in. BY FAR - the Black Bean Dip flavor won out for all us. In fact, the 1 year old kept chips in each hand the whole time they were here. A close second was the Salsa Picante flavor.

The second taste-test involved my husband and my parents who were in town visiting. Now, my dad is a Ruffles man. He's not into any sort of "health" food and would be just fine never putting anything named "healthy" in his mouth (love ya Dad, but you know I'm right). I truly didn't think he would like any of the chips, because - even though they are good - they are not Ruffles (thank goodness). He actually liked the "Original" flavored ones the best. If nothing else came out of this whole "review" process, at least my Dad now knows some healthy things can actually taste good.

So, after a few more taste-tests involving additional friends and random people off the street (just kidding about that last part), we determined we really like these chips. The most popular flavors were the Black Bean Dip and Original, and we've been on the hunt for them in our local stores ever since.

women helping women

Im so touched by all the people reaching out to help kimberly with advice.
people who are willing to take their time to ponder what she wrote and offer their (asked for) .02

me? I didnt have anything too useful to add to what's already been said but DAMN it made me feel...happy? touched? hopeful for humanity? :) (Im not sure how to phrase it) just being part of a site like this where women work to SUPPORT other women.

every day I witness the other side.

I see women trying to make other women feel WORSE about themselves simply so that they (uh, woman number one :) I think Ive gotten muddled here) feel better about themselves.

I LOVE how we're all helpful supportive and encouraging here.

love.

now Im off to chase my daughter around our yard and DEEM IT A RUN.

hope you are all having good weekends as well.

Advice to Kimberly, cont. POWER

Full disclosure: It wasn't long ago that I was the person described by Kimberly, always negative and energy draining. I was fortunate enough to live somewhere where my inability to communcate forced me to observe my own tendencies in a person, namely my next door neighbor.

Chances are this person you describe is unhappy herself and is drawn to you in an effort to feed off of your positive energy. If this is the case, she deserves your utmost sympathy. My advice is to repeat what she says with a positive spin.
Ex. "The world is coming to an end."
Response. "I feel so fortunate to enjoy life now, while I can."

Also, breathing. Deep breaths, through the nose and into your abdomen, not your chest. Don't flinch and don't give her the power to affect you. This also applies to the very real possibility that she is truly just a mean person and enjoys the power of affecting people. It's hard to accept that some people are just plain old mean, I know. Just don't give her the power. Remember, breathe.

Now's also a good time for a mantra. For years, mine was: And this too shall pass.

You, my friend, are a long distance runner. Nobody's more powerful than that.

Good luck!
Steph

Response to Kimberly

Kimberly asks:

If someone makes you miserable every time you talk to them, and sucks the positive energy right out of your day, should you still talk to them?
What if you are related?
Do you need to offer up an explanation if they don't hear you anyway?
Do you continue to discuss issues with someone, when the person does what she wants to anyway?
Does a time come when you need to write someone off, even if you are related?
If so, how do you do so without guilt?

You've come to the right place. I am the absolute queen of making my own rules.

First of all, don't let other people make your rules. Just because someone has acted one way does not mean that a standard of behavior has been established. You have to then establish the more appropriate standard. I wouldn't suggest ignoring them, but do talk above them, use big words. They scare little people away.
If you are related--this one hurts. But stand your ground. Stand it, stand it, stand it. If you know you are right then that's all there is to it. You don't need to convince anybody of it. Your actions will speak for themselves.

The little guy just woke up. I'll continue this tomorrow.

Move over, Carolyn Hax!!

In Need of Advice...

In the absense of any running buddies (still pregnant), I decided to go the virtual route!

Here's my question:

• If someone makes you miserable every time you talk to them, and sucks the positive energy right out of your day, should you still talk to them?
• What if you are related?
• Do you need to offer up an explanation if they don't hear you anyway?
• Do you continue to discuss issues with someone, when the person does what she wants to anyway?
• Does a time come when you need to write someone off, even if you are related?
• If so, how do you do so without guilt?

Back to Basics

Today I went back to the lake where I first started running last April. I've been having a hard time staying motivated and have been feeling a wee bit sluggish and I thought I could use a fresh perspective on this running thing.
I only did a few laps around so it wasn't a long run by any means, but it was good for the brain. Good for the soul. It was just a nice relaxing run. For the first time in a very long time, I wasn't looking at the clock or the mileage or thinking about the half marathon. I just decided to run for the fun of it and stop whenever I felt like it and most importantly, not to stress about how little miles I had run. I've been spending so much time beating myself up over the mileage. I know I've got to log those miles in order to be prepared for May but sometimes, it seems to do more harm than good to constantly say to yourself "I can't believe you only ran 7 miles today! You'll never be ready!!" Seriously. Chill out woman and try to remind yourself that you started running because you enjoy it!

Run Around

As I've suggested before, I love my Polar running computer. I love analyzing and meditating on the mathematics of running: pace, distance, heart rate. Though an artist at heart, I can't help but be fascinated by the science of improvement & accomplishment...plus I manipulate the mechanics of math as a way to distract myself during the challenge of the last few miles. I never said I was cool.

The watch has played an integral part in me going from a Nervous Inexperienced Neophyte to a Confident Apprentice Spouting Off Random Running Statistics. On my early morning Running Checklist, my Polar running computer is number two (shoes being first). I could go on and on about how and why I like it...

But I'm going to use this post to lament that the Polar company neglected to allocate enough resources to customer service. That's the only explanation I can come up with on why, when I was forced to send it to New York in order to change a battery**, it took them nearly two weeks to acknowledge that they had even received my package. USPS told me it arrived 3 days after I sent it and who signed for it.

And after e-chatting with their Online Help , I learned that I'm apparently utterly ancient because I can't type out a real time conversation when I'm upset, but I didn't find out anything about my repair status.

Nearly two weeks after inquiring, I received a form e-letter promising to look into my case. I'm still waiting and wondering. I'm still trying to find out anything! Will I get it back for the next big race in 2 weeks? I wonder what it will cost (They insisted on authorizing a $75 charge and say that it will cost less than that, but there is no clear pricing). And how can they strong arm me into mailing it off 10 states away for a simple repair?


I love what my Polar watch has done for my running, but I could do without the run around.

**I'm insanely furious about there only being a handful of "authorized dealers" to change a friggin' battery, but that's beside the point.

Hello, My name is Sherry and I am an......

I am an addict to the dang electronic log on SMR. Thanks alot Katy!! Since I started using it nearly a month ago I became obsessed. I knew I had crossed the line today when I still ran. You see, I am VERY allergic to Kiwi and Latex which puts me at risk for other Plant protien allergies. I knew that.....I still ate the dang Mango and I reacted. But STILL, I had to achieve my weekly goal to contribute to my yearly goal (once again....THANKS Katy....yes...I am being a little sarcastic.....) So off I went, baby in stroller, hives and angioedema all over my face and did an easy-go-it 3 miler close to home. The cool wind felt pretty good on my swollen face but the antihistamines make me feel like I was in the 70s..............

Fa: A Long Long Way to Run!

I’ve recently taken to doing nap time runs. My 2-year-old son has given up napping, but could use the break plus it is much warmer than the morning. AND I only have to push a single stroller since his sister is at school!

Without his older sister to distract and entertain him, however, I have come to recall the power of SINGING!

Some examples that my 2-year-old is particularly fond of right now:

“Bumpity, bump, bump. Bumpity, bump, bump. Look at (fill in child(ren)’s name(s) here) go! Bumpity, bump, bump. Bumpity, bump, bump. Over the rocky road!”

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great FAAAALLLL (tip stroller back). All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again!”

“Old MacDonald” – using an animal for every letter of the alphabet or every animal he can find in his animal crackers, if applicable.

And of course, all the old stand-bys like “ABC” or “I’m a Little Teapot” (you can tip them over for that one too) or any other song that could continue indefinitely…

• What are your favorite songs to sing with your kids?

My first time...

it's still fresh in my mind. The year was 1970-something and the nation had just caught jogging fever. My father, who also became entangled in the pop psychology craze of the day, became an immediate and (briefly) dedicated runner. Every time he donned those blue satin short with gold piping and oh-so-cool Nike jogging shoes, I was right there.
"Can I go? Can I go??"
He would have told me no had it not been for my mother, elbow deep in dinner preparation, who made it clear that I should be allowed to tag along.
And I ran. With my father.
I don't know if he slowed down for me, but I always managed to keep up through the golf course and across the base.
I'd caught the bug. I was a runner.

Tell me about your first time...