<p>Have a fun run, MOfWC! Rye bread and beer. Mmmmm… Forbidden fruit. 
I’ll get my load of carbs/sugar from the huge watermelon we bought last night (I managed to eat 1/3 of it already). The tonight’s plan is an easy 5 miles as soon as the bus finds its way to my town, then a short run on Sunday, then the entire next week is a complete slackerfest until the following Monday. Yay.</p>
<p>6pm has some great deals on Hokas, and my size is still available. </p>
<p>Watermelon! Yummy. Make me want that…and mango…and grapes…I just want all the fruit now!</p>
<p>My anti-running life may just soon come to an end. I got challenged to do a Spartan Race. I don’t know how I feel about it…It’s rather enticing. Training is going to be hell, though. It’s military ROTC all over again pretty much. I’ve done it once…not sure if I have the motivation (insanity) to do it again. :))</p>
<p>All this talk about beer reminded of something I read many years ago. Can’t remember if I’ve told this story and if this is a repeat, my apologies! </p>
<p>About 30 years ago, when I was an avid runner, the American Heart Association published a report finding that drinking a glass of red wine produced the same blood chemistry benefits as running a mile. That same week, Runners World Magazine did a report on the best post race liquid replenishment and concluded that beer ranked up towards the top with its combination of water and carbohydrates. Always looking for new ways to enhance my fitness program, I promptly informed my wife that I had a new fitness routine. Four days a week I would drink 3 glasses of red wine for the cardio benefits and immediately follow up with a 6 pack to recover. For some reason, she wasn’t impressed with the rigor of my scientific analysis. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to apply my theory and prove the skeptics wrong! :)</p>
<p>70 degrees, blue skies and I’m off to do a 4 hour ride with a retired pro level coach and my favorite members of the Sturdy Girls Race Team. It doesn’t get any better than this. Quite a better way to start my Saturday than last weekend’s hospital stay which resulted from me jumping out of bed at 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure and falling face forward into my bathroom medicine cabinet! (Fortunately nothing worse than some stitches but the damn hospital wouldn’t let me go because they couldn’t understand how a 60 year old’s normal blood pressure was 105/62 with a 52 pulse. All tests were negative and I finally left “contrary to the ER docs advise” to be admitted for 48 hours observation.)</p>
<p>Omg Michael that’s awful! What an experience! </p>
<p>While I’m not one to jump on the scale much, I’m having a “down a size” party or whatever - going to be 70 this weekend so decided to pull my shorts out and try them all on to find keepers. Only have one or two pair I can wear - all my Eddie Bauer shorts bought last summer pull right off! Love it! My hips and legs are definitely an area where I had inches to spare so I appreciate some leaning going on there. On the down side, now have to find some shorts that fit! </p>
<p>
Is that why at the end of some races they give you beer? Or is it just because the races have been crazy enough you need one?!</p>
<p>Thanks for the shopping advice! I am at the lake so will try some online shopping for the Hokas. Cool, rainy and windy this morning so will wait to see if it clears to get a walk in. Thanks again for the help! :)</p>
<p>So much good news! (Well, except falling and hitting the medicine cabinet)</p>
<p>I ran two miles. I haven’t been running since some of the exercises I have been doing have caused my hip problem to flare up. I think it is time to put the running back in, even if it is just two miles at a time. Doing a little makes me feel better than doing nothing, that is for sure. My hip is lubricated and I move better, and I really enjoy the time alone to think. Tomorrow I am volunteering at a little neighborhood 5K, so probably won’t get to run. </p>
<p>Drinking and running: my only ultra I did drink a beer toward the end. I had a what the heck attitude by then and was eating and drinking whatever I wanted. I had a gin and tonic toward the end of a marathon in which I wasn’t going to make my goal time. Eased the disappointment! Isn’t there a wine drinking marathon in France? Marathon du Medoc maybe?</p>
<p>Good luck with the Hokas. I have a pair but don’t like them. I don’t pick my feet up high enough. I am more of a shuffler I guess. Others rave about them, though, so certainly worth a try. </p>
<p>Ordered from Runners Warehouse. Should be at home when I return from the lake. Keep your fingers crossed! </p>
<p>Happy that the run was better for you Deb!</p>
<p>OMG, Michael! Glad that you are OK. </p>
<p>As far as beer as a post-recovery drink, the idea is not that far-fetched. A company even created a special brew for athletes - with reduced alcohol, added electrolytes, and, most importantly, higher protein content:</p>
<p><a href=“Beer As A Post-Workout Recovery Drink? Not As Crazy As It Sounds : The Salt : NPR”>Beer As A Post-Workout Recovery Drink? Not As Crazy As It Sounds : The Salt : NPR;
<p>I think a glass of non-alcoholic Becks and a slice of steak will have the same effect. ;)</p>
<p>I am enjoying the great weather in San Francisco. for the last two days, I have done some fitness walking–30 minutes out and back. at a somewhat leisurely pace–16 mph. I also have been paying attention to my Polar activity app and have been trying to move more in general. Whenever I get a message to move, I do 20 squats that my trainer calls frog squats. </p>
<p>Deb—glad you found a solution to keep you running.
Idad–loved the hike video–we have some Audubon trails in Central MA that I’ll have to check out.
Lizardly–ouch! How did you fall?</p>
<p>Michael- that’s scary! Glad you are OK (except for the stitches). I bet today will be great for your ride. My son went to Ironman Orlando to sherpa for a teammate and meet his remote coach for the first time. He is not ready at all to compete- still having some recovery issues from the surgery. </p>
<p>I managed to somewhat nail my 5K this morning and ran my fastest time since March 2012 for 1st in my age group and a helpful score for my corporate team. It felt SO hard- I thought I was going to die! I didn’t die or throw up, and I had to turn right around (after a drink of water) and head out on the 10K. I accidentally did this perfectly. NOT entering the 10K was the right thing for me. I didn’t hold back in the 5K (no excuse to) and I was able to sort of race the 10K but without any pressure since I wasn’t crossing the finish line. It was a hard tempo effort but I didn’t feel that “OMG, I’m in a race so I need to push more” stuff I usually go through. My daughter went out too fast and sort of blew up, but had a PR by about 10 seconds. It was a little warm for what we are used to (I liked it)- 57 to 66 degrees or so while I was running. Clear skies and pretty day. DONE! (walked the dog to get the steps on my Vivofit…)</p>
<p>MKAT:</p>
<p>Ouch. A trip to the emergency room is no fun at all. Glad to hear that you got your stitches and walked out of the place. Sounds like you should start eating more “bad stuff” to raise your blood pressure! I tend to run a little high.</p>
<p>I do have to watch it once a year when I have a bout of inner ear dizziness. Standing up quickly sets the room spinning and I could easily go down without something to hold onto.</p>
<p>Yay, MOWC. Congratulations on your fast 5K.</p>
<p>MKAT…I missed your post concerning the accident! Glad it wasn’t more serious and that you are recovering. Scary stuff!</p>
<p>Congrats MOWC! </p>
<p>abasket, congrats on skinnier bod and smaller sized shorts!</p>
<p>We are walking the Tidal Basin tomorrow to see the cherry blossoms. Will be gorgeous. We go early in the AM before the throngs of tourists and buses arrive.</p>
<p>Abasket- shopping time! Way to go!</p>
<p>abasket:</p>
<p>Yippee. Party time. Buying new (smaller) shorts for warm spring weather! It don’t get any better than that! :)</p>
<p>countingdown:</p>
<p>Enjoy the cherry blossoms. When I walked the tidal basin visiting my daughter, it was a little chillier (November). Still, really really nice. And, I even managed a couple of really cold burpees:</p>
<p>MKat–didn’t see your recent post before. Glad you are OK. Your blood pressure is amazing–I’m jealous. Even taking one medication, mine is higher!</p>
<p>MOfWC, congrats on perfectly executed races!</p>
<p>abasket, don’t you love this problem - a closetful of pants that fall right off of you? ;)</p>