So it’s odd, because I had always heard and read of others actually chafing when they ran. I didn’t understand this at all and personally thought, “This will never happen to me.” Before beginning training for my first half marathon, the farthest I think I had ever ran was around 6-8ish miles. I had never fortunately had my legs rub together to chafe my thighs, or had any type of chafing at all. I remember my first 12 miler for the half training plan I was on. I never felt any discomfort or pain at all, but right where my sports bra hit my skin on my chest under my boobs I got a rug burn looking like wound. I still didn’t notice it at all until I got into the shower to clean up after my run.

THE BURN. As soon as water hit me I thought, HOLY COW! What is going on. It was a very weird pain especially because I had no idea what had even happened. I felt like I had a cut and I realized that my cotton sports bra had rubbed my skin raw. It was a really good feeling pain in the butt. After the initial shock of what the heck is wrong with me, I realized that yes, I will chafe like the others I’ve heard about. This is when I realized that my most favorite sports bra that was cotton was also causing this problem.

Thought I loved that bra, and I don’t even know how old it was, it was cotton, thus was absorbing my sweat, getting wet and rubbing on my skin and rubbing my skin completely raw. They say the major contribution to chafing is from sweating and rubbing. Some people automatically think that if you chafe, it’s time to lose weight, however EVERYONE CHAFES, so don’t even think that at all. Chafing generally takes place around the groin, underarms and nipples (on guys especially, I’m sure you’ve seen the bloody nipples….), but it can occur anywhere, like under my sports bra, great.

To prevent chafing you can do a few different things. You can try to stay dry, but let’s be honest, how easy is that when your running and sweating? You can also use a lubricant, and wear the proper clothes. I choose to do both of those. I personally use Body Glide under my sports bra and on my feet just in case any chafing might occur. There are many other types, but all you have to do is make sure the lubricants are petroleum-free and non-staining. They can also be used on your feet and toes, in attempt to avoid blisters.

Now, onto my my favorite things, Clothes! Though loosely fitting clothes and materials might feel good at the start, on longer rungs, snugger fitting clothes are key. You might think that bike shorts aren’t for you, but they seriously help with chafing a lot. I have invested in some new sports bras that are wicking materials and also are a spandex/nylon mix. Try to stay away from cotton because that just absorbs moisture. I am IN LOVE with my Zensah Sports Bra in Small/Medium and though it was pricey, it seriously is the best support and I haven’t chafed at all with it.

Once you’re already chafed though, that’s a different story. You should treat the area like a scab, because it will scab up. Mine looked like scales. Try to allow the area to breathe until the skin underneath is healthy again. Chafing is uncomfortable, but at the same time, can also be prevented. I’ve also since my first chafe experience chafed on my thighs, my ankle and my waist from my hydration belt. Running is a learning experience, and yes, these things do happen to everyone! Even myself!

Now onto Gus. Like chafing, I also, for some strange reason, never though I would EVER have to take a gu on a run, and didn’t really understand why people needed them or what type of thing they were. I never took any gus on any half marathon I ran besides I made a valiant attempt at the Kaiser Half I tried to choke down two Power Gels gummy things and since then have learned that these are not the easiest things to eat on a run and as weird and disgusting as it is, I must say that I prefer gus due to their consistency. I personally love the Gu’s Chocolate Love ones because it tastes just like brownie batter! I just think of it like that as it goes down the hatch.

Now obviously, I had to start taking these to fuel myself for the longer runs. Still I don’t take them until I’m running more than 9-11 miles. You can learn more about the Gu Brand here. If I do run 10 miles, I will take one at mile 5. If I run a 20 miler, I take one every four miles.

At first I wasn’t into them because I thought to myself, dang, I don’t want to eat 200 calories of a GU on a run?! But then I realized, I was burning around 800-2,000 calories, so I NEEDED to have something on the run. There are many other brands of “energy gels and gus” but mostly they are a specially formulated mix of complex carbohydrates and water that are used to energize your body while you are exercising. Though it does seem scary eating 200 calories in a little packet, they are so worth it, and can really keep you going.

These little gus are very potent and are used to help your blood sugar stay high so you don’t crash while on your run, but pretty sure around mile 16 I’m crashing no matter what! There are tons of different flavors, sizes, and potencys out there, just make sure that you find some that work for you. Also make sure you are drinking water when you first try them out, because you might get an upset stomach from their potency and the fact that you are still working out.

I never thought I’d be a runner with a hydration belt, gus overflowing from my pouch, and a water bottle full of who knows what, but I so am! I’ve realized that just because I’m young and have had some running experience, doesn’t mean that running rules don’t apply to me! Gus and good sports bras are your best friend once you start upping your mileage.

I found some information on Gus here, and here, and here is a ton of different kinds/flavors.

As for some sweet runners of the day, Borsch is a biker/runner, and recently got engaged, but his weight loss story is super inspiring to me! Glenn is super cool and from Newport Beach. He always works hard no matter what is going on with him, and I like to read about his runs because he keeps it honest. Run for Wine is a hardcore swimmer and is always so positive and fun to read, annnnd TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!!! :) Turtles can run is another great runner who is getting her whole family involved. I love her outlook on life. Kim Possible is a marathon FREAK and runs them almost every weekend it seems like. She is the SWEETEST and seriously gets out there and just enjoys running, not worried about her time or anything, I love her outlook on running and life as well. Maria just finished her first marathon and I have followed her journey and she has given me valuable insight as to what to look forward too! D10 has a great running spirit and I love reading her blog too! :)

Tomorrow I will tackle hydration, well what I have learned and perhaps will find some sweet deals for all you workout fiends!

xoxo

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the last post, since I’m still learning the links on my new computer, I did the links again here, so you can check out all 11 pictures she posted here. I am still in awe of how great they came out. Also that leads to more posts about you silly people wanting to know how I look so great…which is mind blowing, but I will let you in on my secrets soon.

So I’ve been getting some questions regarding running, how I started, what I eat, how I run etc. I wanted to address them all but that would make for much too long of a post, so I wanted to start off the week, or posts with how I started and why I run. Also what I personally do to get myself going and what I use to help me out when I run.

First off, I kind of mentioned why I came back to running in this post, where I talked about losing my mom and all sorts of emotions that running really helped me explore.

First off, I think one of the most important things when you run or are going to run is your mindset. Honestly, I don’t always want to run. Some days I do, and some days I don’t. It’s the days that I don’t want to run, and I get out there and do it, I realize how much I do love it. Running isn’t always fun, or easy, and it’s not the most favorable thing for many to do, but at the same time, it’s almost like those sayings, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” and “Whoever said anything worth something would be easy,” (or something along those lines) and I feel the same way about running.

I signed up for the Long Beach Half Marathon last year in July when the race was in October. I felt like I needed something to focus on in my life. I needed a ‘hobby’ of some sort. I’m not artistic, or musically talented and I did run cross country and track in high school. I do enjoy food often and I felt like I was getting unhealthy. When I graduated from college I weight 155, the highest I ever had. That wasn’t the reason I started running though, that was just an added bonus item. I had gained that much weight from drinking like a fish my junior and senior year in college, being addicted to my best friend Cheese, and eating fast food like it was my job. I didn’t look overweight but I carry most of my weight in my middle. My arms and legs stayed pretty skeletal. I was wearing a size 30 pants which I never even really realized nor was that my big issue.

Today it’s shocking to many but I still weight 136. I wear size 27-29 pants depending on the brand. Right now, I’m completely happy with my weight, and that’s what I realized has helped my running. Being happy with myself. I mostly lost my weight by stopping drinking so much alcoholic beverages and not eating fast food for every meal. Duh right? Everyone thinks I weigh much much less, or I wear a size zero, which isn’t farther from the truth. I wear a size 7-10, J.Crew, yup 10. I don’t like to think of it as a 10 though, I like to think of myself as a dime piece. Cracks me up every time.

To enjoy running, you can’t be worried about the calories burned, how fast your going, your pace, how far, but just to be able to go out and go run is something that some people cannot enjoy at all. I think the main things for beginning runners, and every runner is to realize that what you are doing and can do is special. You may not even love running, if you want to do yoga, seriously, that’s amazing because yoga to me is way more hardcore since I have the flexibility of a tree branch. Just do something that you love.

I think these things really allowed me to appreciate running, instead of going into the mindset of I hate running, I hate working out, etc. Getting up early and running isn’t a favorite thing of mine. When I groggily open my eyes and realize that I have to go out, in the cold, and run I really question my sanity, but once I’m done, I feel amazing and empowered. Give yourself a chance to have that feeling too.

Here’s what I think people need to remember when starting out running.

1. Believe in yourself, you CAN do it, you CAN run, you have to let yourself do it

2. Start running outside and enjoy the scenery around you, some of the best runs for me have been in new areas, where you can get lost in things around you

3. Don’t start out by overdoing it, you’ll just get too sore to move, hurt yourself, or hate running. Walking while running isn’t a bad thing, taking breaks isn’t bad, not everyone is a little speed demon. Take your time.

4. Do it for yourself. Try to enjoy it and relax.

5. Sign up for a race, it’s motivation that will make you run, and you might even enjoy it!

6. Not every run will be great, and not every run will be bad, take the good with the bad, running is a huge learning experience.

7. Think of the accomplishment you are making!

8. Buy really cute stuff so you feel good while running :)

Seriously, running is a mind game. You have to be stronger than your mind when it tells you that you’re too tired to keep going, that you want to quit, that this is just too far.

As for some other great runners sites check out Oz Runner, I think he’s so insightful. Runner Dude has some great advice for all types of runners, and very scientifically proved advice (unlike myself cough cough) The Happy Runner is a running mom who really inspires me as well. :)

Do it and enjoy it. Enjoy anything you do and it will bring you joy and once, maybe after you run for a while, you’ll get the ‘runner’s high’ or this euphoric state that makes you love running like all us crazy long distance runners do. I don’t keep running because I have to, but because I want to.

That was a lot of random posting in one post, but this week we’ll sort everything out, including ice baths, gus, clothes, chafing, training ect, and I’m warning you in advance, I honestly am just going off my own experiences. There are so many other great resources out there, but I’ll have some links in every post that could possibly help as well. If anyone has any more questions, feel free to shoot them over to me @ [email protected].

xoxo

PS I totally forgot to add my earthquake story! So last night there was an earthquake, I was doing what I do best, creeping on face book, and my TV in my room started to shake, along with the floor. I live in an apt. building that was built in the 1920s and just looked around and thought to myself, Oh F! I *usually* run outside during any earthquake which isn’t the smartest idea, but me and my co-workers, who have also oddly enough experienced 2 earthquakes together and work in the oldest building in the city that we work in, have decided that we’d rather die trying to get out than sitting at our desks. Risky, I know. Last night though I wasn’t wearing pants ( this is a whole different story, but I’ve been asked by a police officer to put on pants… maybe one day I’ll share that one ) and couldn’t run outside! So then, for the first time EVER during an earthquake, I did what the experts tell you to do! Ran to the door frame! I stood there and my little heart felt like it was going to die. My roommate was actually out of town so I was all by myself, then it stopped shaking and I went back to my creeping, naturally. Everything was fine, even though I envisioned our walls literally cracking down our home. Too funny, and for the record, I’d take earthquakes over any other natural disaster any day of the week. Shakin’ not stirred baby!