Tuesday Training Tips, Topics, and Other Random Stuff... aka Endurance, Thorlo Socks, and Getting Started Running

The Complete Runner's Day-by-Day Log/2010 Calendar
TRAINING TIP:
"Your low-intensity run is crucial to building endurance, in part because it increases blood volume over time.  It also trains your joints for high-intensity work, reducing your risk for injury."    **Exactly what we talked about last Tuesday!.... Have you slowed down your long runs yet??


TOPIC:   Socks that R-O-C-K......  (and the just-right fit!)

I believe there are some things in the running gear drawer that you can cut corners on slightly in terms of price or long-term quality....Socks are NOT one of those items..... at least not in my world! 

Several months ago, I was introduced to Thorlo socks by BusyRunningMama, when she offered a very nice pair on her blog, as a cool giveaway gift.  Unfortunately, I didn't win the socks, but I did get to read a recommendation for running gear I had not yet tried, and when I visited their website and left a comment about being a diabetic and needing rolltops, I received a terrific e-mail from Thorlo representative, Tracy Harris, Marketing Coordinator and Product Manager, who not only understood my diabetic needs, but offered to send me two pairs of Thorlos to try....  SCORE! Within a few days, a package arrived and I had the opportunity to try a pair of Experia and a pair of Thorlos thick cushion running rolltop, each being very different from the other. You can read about my testing here.  

For diabetics, anything that restricts bloodflow is problematic, so as cool as they looked (and felt), the Experia didn't work out for me, but The Hubby loved their design; we purchased four pairs for him. He swears by them! And the rolltops?? Well, LOVED the thick cushioning, but as Tracy had warned, an extra shoe size was required to accommodate the all-over padding.  .... bummer ......

Enter style #3 that I stumbled upon during the holidays:  Thorlo everyday walking socks.  These fit the bill perfectly....just right! Thin enough to wear with my running shoes, but with thick padding across the top of the foot (where the skin thins as our feet age....weird!), and across the heel (oh-so-tender sometimes!), these socks are p-e-r-f-e-c-t for long runs! I even put a pair in the Turtles blog giveaway box last month, compliments of Tracy and the Thorlo Crew.... thanks, guys! 

So, are your feet happy? Are you looking for a great pair of socks that are made in America, come in lots of colors and styles, and come with lots of customer support???  Look no further than a great pair of Thorlo socks...worth every penny.

RANDOM STUFF:

My youngest sister, mom of three, turning 30 in mere weeks... (yep, I said it. Sorry sis!) has been dabbling with the notion of running. She listens to me go on and on about it, listens to her husband tell his high school track star memories, and now, has her oldest son entering races.  She says she's running through him! Hmmm... I say, "Run for yourself, girlfriend!"  And she's trying. Just this past Sunday, she called me to say, "Hey Rob, I bought Women's Health magazine yesterday, and shared with me what she learned about learning to run:  Run 2 minutes. Walk 2 minutes.... and so it goes.  She seemed to kick the idea around, and with that, we hung up.  She was headed into the gym and I was headed out for my long run.  A few hours later, I got this text message: "You run 12 miles and I can't run 2 minutes" with a sad face behind it. I couldn't help but smile and think to myself, "If you only knew!"  So I texted her back to say, "Sweetie, my first time out, I barely made it to the end of the street!" (And my current 12-milers are a work in progress, thank you very much.  Each week is slightly better than the one before....)

Now, friends...fellow blogging, running buddies - let's help this 'runner-under-consideration' out.  I told her to read the Wednesday Winner posts because she'll find that everyone says the same thing: Start where you are. Don't compare yourself to others.  Start slowly.  We ALL start at the beginning - whatever the beginning may be.  It might be 30 seconds. It might be 1/4 mile. It's different for each us, but the point is: Find your starting point and start charting your progress.  Right or wrong?  

I'm wondering: 

What do you say to people when they ask, "How did you get started? What did you do in the beginning?" Or maybe, as I know many of us are, you're still at the beginning.

What are you doing? What advice can you give??  

 

My Thankful Three

Today, I am thankful for:

-  Finding a new place to run!  :-)

-  Great weather while many of you are digging out of snow (sorry!)

-  Our Wednesday Winners... look for tomorrow's!

Happy running, friends.....

Robin