Category Archives: Athleta

Holiday Gift Ideas

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Just in time for those who have not finished Christmas shopping and the first night of Chanukah (there’s still 7 more nights of presents to go, so I’m not really late!)…

Looking for a gift for anyone is never easy, especially for someone like me, that ends up buying most of it myself. However, here are some of my top favorites for the year:

71hkZemrihL._SL1500_ (1)Gilmore Girls: Complete Series – I forgot how much I loved Gilmore Girls until I read a post months ago about it coming to Netflix. As a spur of the moment gift, Josh ordered the entire series for me on Amazon and we’re slowly making our through all the episodes. I really appreciate the humor, relationship dynamics, and language so much more as an adult now. Also, after the long training runs, it will be nice to lounge on the couch to the some relaxing television!

41YYjLdOsxL._SL1024_EOS lip balm, especially the lemon drop flavor – I love, love, love the EOS lip balms, but I love the lemon drop one that has SPF even more. It’s perfect for someone like me who carries lip balm everywhere they go and SPF protection is an added bonus, especially if they’re running outside for hours. The only complaint I have about this is how big the size is, so it doesn’t easily fit in a pocket, but the egg shape is also what it makes so much fun!

71JqxkgZqELBelieve Training Journal – Okay, I’m cheating a bit here since I haven’t actually started using mine yet, but I am super excited to once I get the chance to map out my next training cycle. Even though so much is online these days, and I’m totally one that takes advantage of that, I still like the idea of looking at a hard copy training plan and documenting (in two places) how it’s all going. It’s also so much cooler that it’s by Lauren Fleshman.

Entry to a race (only if you know they really want to do it) – I’ve had debates about whether this is a good idea, and I think generally the consensus will be only if you know they want to run the race soon. If your runner has a wish list of races for 2015, then maybe that is a good place to start! You never want to surprise someone with a marathon if they’re not sure they want to train for one, but a 5K or a shorter distance may be a good place distance, and hey if they need a training plan, you can throw one of those in too! Here are some of my favorite training plans (and they’re free): Coach Jenny and Hal Higdon.

Classes for their favorite workout spot – Every runner should be cross-training, right? But not every runner does, for many reasons, including that it is so much easier not to, but also because lack of time and money to spend on more classes. In case, you’re wondering, my favorite cross-training options are Local Barre and Prime Cycle! For those in the NYC-area, ClassPass seems like a great option to try many different classes.

81tPspaXqjL._SL1500_Sparkly Soul headband – These are the only headbands ever, that stay on my head! I don’t run outside with them, because I usually wear a hat, visor, or ear warmer, but for any other activity including running on a treadmill, barre, and spin classes, I swear by the thin ones. I already have four different colors, so I don’t know why I added more to my wish list, but they are the best and cutest headbands. Even if your runner does not like cute, Sparkly Soul also offers plain wide satin ones.

81D0mysKpKL._SL1500_Feetures! socks – I used to love the Thorlos socks but ever since I discovered the Feetures! ultra light socks, I cannot go back. These socks have supported me through the last three marathons and I have been fortunate to come out of each one without a blister. The Thorlos socks are very cushioned so I didn’t think I would like these, but I think given how light they are helps with lack of movement while on your feet and thus preventing friction that causes blisters.

71yg3-bDRJL._SL1500_Oiselle Long Flyte short – These are my absolute favorite running shorts. They are not only compression-like, but they do not have the grips which I find helps with those who have muscular thighs. Additionally, these shorts are seamless so there is less worry with chafing. I have run two marathons in these and they do not ride up at all. The only downside to these shorts is that they do not have any pockets, so if your runner wears some other kind of belt, then this really isn’t a concern.

cn8305595Athleta Interlude Ankle Pant – I love how lightweight these pants are and I especially love how Athleta carries petite sizes! These pants are perfect to slip on to/from a workout and the wide waistband makes it extremely comfortable. The slouchiness is especially nice for those with more muscular thighs as it hides that but also looks slimming on.

Gift card to their favorite running store – I know some people are not a big fan of gift cards because it is less personal, but I love gift cards. Runners are so hard to shop for especially when trying to pick out running clothes. If they are anything like me, they are generally picky about what fits right but also what would be the most comfortable to wear on a long run, so why not just gift them the shopping experience at their favorite store?! Some of my favorite places to buy running clothes are Lululemon, Athleta, and Oiselle.

71oFbP3YSqL._SL1500_Kleen Kanteen stainless steel water bottle – I love this water bottle and I love staying hydrated. Carrying a water bottle around with me really helps with the reminder to drink a lot of water and it is more environmentally friendly. These stainless steel bottles are also dishwasher safe, and since they are not plastic, there is no need to worry about BPA. Additionally, they’re easy to carry since the base is not too wide and will easily fit in a car cupholder but also in the side compartment of backpacks. This bottle was also reviewed by The Wirecutter as the best water bottle.

61qo3qbYTYL._SL1200_Nuun – I love drinking Nuun so much more than Gatorade. It has less sugar, contains less calories, and you can also measure how much water you’re drinking since you need to add it to water. I drink Nuun during the days to prep for a tough workout but also as a during and post-run drink. It may be a good alternative if you don’t like to drink water by itself. It adds a light sweet flavor that makes water easier to drink.

Donation to their charity of choice, especially if they’re running for a cause – There are so many charity runners these days and they’re all running for great causes that are very important. If you’re out of ideas on what to get your runner this holiday season, consider donating to their charity of choice. I promise you it will be a gesture that will not be forgotten or go under appreciated. If you want to donate to my causes, I will post a link in a future post about my next marathon! 🙂

There were so many other great gift ideas that I did not add to this list but hopefully this is a good starting point.

Happy Chanukah to everyone celebrating and a very happy and healthy start to the holiday season!

What are some of your favorite running gift ideas? – I need more to add to my wish list! 🙂

 

Running in Indianapolis (and pointers for running while away)

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I’ve decided that traveling for work is never really easy. You’re uprooted from your weekly routine and usually work hours are much longer while away than they are while in the office. It’s especially worst when you’re marathon training and in the last week before the taper period.

Two weeks ago, I went to Indianapolis for three nights and was fretting about my running and eating schedule. Fortunately with a little preparation, I was able to maintain a decent diet and fit in two planned runs. Some pointers I found that worked for me are:

  • –Monitor the weather for the city you’re going to. In my case, I was lucky that the weather was nice and breezy so I didn’t have to wake up too early to run outside.
  • –Pack light. I am not a light packer but I’ve found that when I overpack especially for a couple of days, I get overwhelmed when deciding what to wear. For this trip, I packed one pair of running shoes (even though I would have alternated between two if I were at home) and just enough running clothes.
  • –Research running routes. Usually for big cities, you can find routes on MapMyRun or even Garmin (if you have an account). Unfortunately, since I didn’t know the area too well and the routes for Indianapolis weren’t terribly recent, I had to dig a little deeper. Lucky for me, the hotel I was staying at had a running route published on their website and they gave me a laminated hard copy version at check-in. Thank you RunWestin!
Thank you RunWestin!

Thank you RunWestin!

  • –Get a tough workout done at home first. My schedule worked out where I had a later flight on a Tuesday so I was able to get a sprint workout in earlier in the day. Knowing that I got one of my tougher workouts done and out-of-the-way, I felt better knowing I didn’t have to fit that in an unfamiliar environment.
  • –Plan your workouts. I mentally planned what I wanted to accomplish each day before I even left. Granted I only had two runs to plan for, so it was much easier, I find that it helps you know what exactly what you want to do in advance.
  • –The treadmill is your best friend. Book a hotel that has a treadmill, even if it is in a small gym. If you can’t run outside for whatever reason… weather, safety, lack of route, timing… knowing that there is a treadmill in your hotel will be a savior.
  • –Ignore your GPS watch. When running a foreign route, especially with a map in hand, I find that I am stopping a lot, either to take pictures or to make sure I am on the right path. That is when I just ignore the watch for pacing and just go by the distance I want to cover. There is no need to fret about pacing when you should enjoy exploring a new city.
  • –Take lots of pictures. I love exploring by foot and am guilty of taking running selfies but I was good about not doing so this time. I did however, take a lot of pictures along the way. It’s a great way to take the focus away from your watch but also to capture memories.
Picturesque route

Picturesque route

  • –Find colorful meals to eat and pack snacks. This part is the hardest. Some meals are preplanned already and a ton of cocktails or socials you need to attend. Where possible, I tried to find an escape for meals that I could control… hence Qdoba and Panera, neither of which are the healthiest options but at least I could count on getting in carbs, protein, and veggies. I also always travel with snacks, my favorite are LaraBars (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is the best flavor).
Qdoba burrito bowl with guacamole

Qdoba burrito bowl with guacamole

  • –Travel in comfortable clothes. I absolutely cannot sit still, so even an hour plane ride is too long for me. I find that it helps to wear comfortable clothes while traveling. It’s hard to do so for work trips. To make sure I was comfortable on the way home, I changed out of work clothes before checking out of the hotel and put on something that doesn’t look too casual but super comfortable. If you’re looking for a pair of pants that don’t look like workout pants but are just as ridiculously comfortable, try Athleta’s Interlude Ankle Pant (they’re even on sale now, I may need to get an extra pair or two).
  • –Read a running book or something inspirational. If you’re mental like me, you’ll need something to take your mind off the fact that maybe you didn’t run as fast as you would have liked and/or can’t handle waiting at an airport. Fortunately, I had my signed copy of Nick Symmonds’ Life Outside the Oval Office. It was such an easy, fast and inspirational read. Nick is a clearly an accomplished runner but I really enjoyed learning more about his background, running goals, and what it’s like at the Olympics from the athlete’s perspective.
"Lounging" at the airport

“Lounging” at the airport

Indianapolis Water Company Canal

Indianapolis Water Company Canal

Indianapolis was a gorgeous city to run in. I opted to run one day on a treadmill since I had an earlier meeting and was able to fit in some light core work as well. The next day I followed the route that the hotel recommended and added in an extra mile along the canal. It’s a very scenic route which includes the Eiteljorg Museum of Western and Indian Art, Victory Field, Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions, IUPUI campus, and the Indianapolis Water Company Canal. The route is relatively flat with the exception of the pedestrian bridges and the weather was perfect for running when I was there. Running through a city is one of the best ways to see it and I am so glad I was able to do so in Indianapolis.

See work travel isn’t all that bad, right?!?