Blogger Field Trip: DexaScan Body Composition Analysis

Disclaimer: I received a DexaScan body scan in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are mine.

Sometimes blogging brings the most interesting opportunities my way. When I was first contacted by DexaScan to see if I wanted to undergo a Dexa Scan for body fat analysis, I was a little skeptical. I've had a Dexa scan in the past to determine bone density. I was not aware that the scan could yield body composition data as well. Once I did my homework and learned how accurate the procedure actually was, I scheduled my test with DexaFit in Highland Park, Illinois.

sample scan (not mine)

10 Gifts Runners Will Want Under the Tree

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

If you're a runner, I'm pretty sure you've got some running things on your holiday gift list! I know I do. It's a good time to be a runner. The offerings are abundant! Here are 10 of my favorite things. If I were Oprah, I'd gift you all with them. It's the thought that counts, right?

After the Steroids

Cue the violins and sing along!

"So it's back to the same old

after the steroids,

With stiffness and swollen hands,

As I ease out of bed, 

Stretching my knees and rising to stand. 

It's so hard to explain

everything that I'm feeling,

Without sounding as if it's a whine,

'Cause it hurts me so much

To just want to feel fine.

Thanks for making me

Realize that I'm the lucky one

And thanks for turning me

Into a grateful someone

So it's back to the same old

after the steroids,

I lace up my shoes for a run.

The feel of the road, the wind in my face,

Reminds me of what I have won.

And I know that my song 

Isn't saying anything new

Oh but after the steroids,

I  just love what I can do.

~adapted from After the Lovin' 

and apologizes to Engelbert Humperdinck,
although it was a pretty cheesy song to begin with.

Could I be any cheesier? After last weekend's half marathon, I promised myself an easy week and easy is what I did. I finished the steroid pack on Tuesday and yes, while mild symptoms of RA returned, I felt overall pretty good. It's always scary to go off the steroids and after such a painful flare, I am so grateful to basically be back at my baseline.

Runfessions over Coffee: November

The calendar says the end of November but the thermometer says January. With almost a foot of snow on the ground, coffee sounds good, doesn't it? Last weekend, I brought my Badger back to Wisconsin and came home with some of the local grounds from Colectivo. I've got a pot brewing, so let's sit down and catch up over a cup!

Race Recap: Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon

This race has become an annual tradition for me. The last half marathon of the Chicago running season, it takes place in the Busse Woods Forest Preserve, a place where I train and know well. The mostly flat race attracts a fast group of runners and many PRs are made on this course. New for me this year, I was selected as an All Community Events ambassador and was proud this year to represent the race organizer.

There's a Happy Ending

Last Saturday's snowy trail run really wrecked me. By wrecked, I mean that I was hurting worse than if I had run a marathon. I'm not sure what caused me to feel so crappy after that run. It was only 8 miles, we only got a couple inches of snow, the trail is packed dirt, but whatever it was, I paid dearly this week for that run.

It started with a rumbling down under (TMI) and over the week, morphed into a full-blown RA flare. Since I was feeling so crummy after Saturday's run, I was worried about that happening. Hoping to keep the sleeping giant asleep, I made the decision to keep my training low-key this week. With a half marathon less than a week away, it was kind of like a taper, right?

F--king RA didn't care. I didn't want to write a weekly wrap post this week, because who wants to read a sad story? There were some workouts, so I'm recapping them and trying to keep it positive. Unfortunately, every time I did any kind of physical activity this week, I paid for it.

There is a happy ending, though!

Pipeworks Lizard King IPA
My reward after a hard race.

Running in a Winter Wonderland

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Garmins beep

Are you listening?

On the trail

Snow is glistening

A beautiful day

We're happy to say

We're running in a winter wonderland

-Apologies to Richard B. Smith, lyricist

Giving Thanks for All Things Running

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's a great time to reflect on all that it is good in my life. There is so much to be thankful for--both on and off the road.

Since this is a running blog, I'm going to share a few running things that I'm thankful for!

Book Review: Chi Running: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

I'm probably the only runner who hadn't read ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer. When Amazon had a Kindle Daily Deal for the updated edition of the classic book, I jumped on it. I was curious to learn more about this method purported to reduce running injuries and improve running form.

Based on the principles of T'ai Chi, ChiRunning builds on the premise of having a strong core and fluid movements. The goal is to take the work off the legs and feet, thus preventing injuries and increasing efficiency.

It all sounds so good!

Coming in From the Cold

Disclaimer: I received pairs of Swiftwick Pursuit and Vision socks in exchange for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links.

The arrival of cold weather here in the Midwest is inevitable. No matter how much you mentally prepare yourself for winter, when the temperature drops, it's always a shock to the system. Especially when it happens so early, as it has this year. We had snow this week and we had temperatures in the 20s. This time of year brings strong winds which ushers in the change of seasons, but combined with the cold, makes for some really unpleasant running conditions.

What is a runner to do? Take to the treadmill or suck it up and go outside? You know what I did.

Running Time Machine: Throwback Race Recap

While I was writing my last post about running mistakes and looking back on old races, my mind wandered back to the good old days--to the days of running before technology. Life was simpler then and so was running.

I started my running journey in the late 1980s. I ran a lot of races back then--mostly 5ks and 10ks. Half marathons weren't really a thing and only the die-hard runners ran marathons! There were no blogs--actually, there wasn't much of an internet, and I sure didn't recap my races. I wish I'd kept a running journal back then, but the thought never occurred to me. I just ran. It was all about having fun.

But it's not too late for a race recap, is it? Let's hop in the time machine and revisit a race circa 1993!

The 8 Worst Racing Mistakes I've Ever Made

Disclaimer: This is a republication of a previous post.

Racing mistakes? I've made them. We all have. I truly believe that the best lessons are ones learned the hard way. They say experience is the best teacher and after almost 30 years of running, you'd think I'd have a Ph.D. in running. Instead, I consider myself to be a life student at the college of hard knocks. Running just keeps handing out lessons!

Here are some of the more stupid things I've done at a race. Maybe there's something to be gained from this...

Falling Back into Running

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I received The Original Worm in exchange for my honest review. 

See what I did there? Did you turn your clocks back and enjoy your extra hour of sleep? I woke up at 5:30, but consoled myself with the reminder that my body thought it was actually 6:30.

I wrapped up October with 80 miles running, which isn't bad considering that I've only been running 3 days per week. I've really been enjoying running this fall. I struggled so much over the summer that I started having dark thoughts about running. I worried that my running days were over. Thankfully, with the arrival of cooler weather, I found running to be enjoyable and rewarding again. I've also found my mojo which was sorely lacking. I'm starting to think ahead to 2019--looking at races and setting goals.

What a difference the weather makes!

Let's wrap up the week. Holly is taking a much needed week off. Marcia is graciously co-hosting. Be sure to show her all the love you always show Holly and me!!

Coffee Talk

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Let's have a cup of coffee and catch up! I love coffee so much that you don't have to ask me twice. Let me get the Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Protein and some half and half. What do you take in your coffee?

What would you tell me over coffee?

Did you read the recap from my trip to Nashville?

If You Could Run the Perfect Race....

If you could run the perfect race, what would you look for? After running many races over the years, there are certain things that, while not necessarily deal breakers, make me think twice about registering for a race. And there are some races that almost offer everything this runner could ask for!

One of my favorite races, the Lakefront 10 miler which is organized by the Chicago Area Runners' Association, comes about as close to perfect as it can be, at least for me. With the exception of a garbage hill in the middle of a park that runners have to run up, this event has just about everything I'm looking for in a race. I have no doubt that is because this race is organized for runners by runners.

Here are some of the things I look for when I'm considering whether or not to run a race.

Weekly Wrap: Here I Go Again

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Rockay Accelerate Socks in exchange for my unbiased review.

After my fun long weekend in Nashville, it was right back to reality. I always feel that after a vacation, I need a vacation to recover. My sister and I did pack a lot in those few days we were away and I was exhausted at the beginning of the week. But with a half marathon coming up in 4 weeks, I needed to get some miles in.

Runfessions: October

Time flies when you're having fun and this has been a really fun month! The next thing you know, it's the end of October, the Visa bill is due, and it's time to runfess. Let's head to the runfessional and cleanse our soles. Thankfully, it's pretty painless.

7 Things I Loved About Nashville

Seven years ago, I hit a birthday milestone that I didn't want to celebrate. Instead of having a party, I wanted to take a long weekend vacation to the beach with one of my sisters. Who better but my sister Lisa, who celebrates her birthday 8 days before I do and for those 8 days, we are the same age! Or as they call us, "Irish Twins".

Since that wonderful sister weekend away, we have continued the tradition of an annual sister trip. We go somewhere different every year. This year for sister trip #7, we headed to Nashville, Tennesee!

Kelsey Montague "What Lifts You" Street Art
Found in Nashville Gulch Neighborhood

Book Review: What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan

This post contains affiliate links.

I chose this month's book club selection, What Made Maddy Run, based on its connection to running. As I read it, I realized that the book was less about running and more about growing up in a life filled with the pursuit of perfection. Maddy just happened to be a track standout. But her struggles were more about her adjustment to college and as an Ivy League athlete.

It was a dilemma. Do I choose another book that was more of a traditional "running book", the kind that my blog readers are accustomed to? Or do I review this book, less about running and more about the struggles of coming of age in a competitive world? The book is also about the impact social media has on how we see ourselves.

This book was so well written and the subject matter too important to pass up. I think you'll agree.

8 of Best Things I've Seen at a Race

I've run a lot of races and they are all memorable, not just for my own experiences but for what I've seen during the race. I've been passed by lots of superheroes and costumed runners. I saw Dr Dribble, a guy known for dribbling a basketball for entire marathons. I always push the power button on those signs and I high five all the little kids. These spectacles and sightings help keep things light and take my mind off my own misery, especially during a marathon.

Since a marathon is 26.2 miles, runners have plenty of time to take in the sights. If you've never run a big city marathon, it's an experience unlike any other. Besides the running, the entire experience is entertaining. I've run all the distances, but for some reason, it's my marathon experiences that stay with me the most.

Today I'm sharing some of the best things I've seen while running races. Thanks to Tuesdays on the Run for this great writing prompt that gave me a fun ride down memory lane.

A Roll of the Dice

Disclaimer: I received a case of YQ by Yoplait yogurt in exchange for my honest review.

This week really was up for grabs. Nothing went as planned, but it was a great week. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. I'm not much of a gambler, but a runner's gotta just roll with it. Which is what I did...

Friday Fartlek

Happy FriYAY!

I didn't have a topic for today's post, in fact, I'm in kind of a blogging slump lately. I have a few drafts in the folder but I'm just not feeling those posts right now. I always have stuff on my mind, though. In the spirit of the Friday Five and keeping it brief, I thought I'd do a post of 5 random things.

So here's what's on my mind...