Beer - What's good for you!

A balmy 40 degree run with Sandy, Jenny and Christy this morning. We all shared our "How I Missed the Big One" deer hunting stories - not! And of course we recounted every Packer play - not. But given it is WI gun deer season which means it is the week that your local beer distributors sell the most beer (not kidding), I thought it appropriate that I share some good news about beer...


I found this on another blog.... Of course it won't surprise any of you...

Beer consumed after an intense workout can actually help you rehydrate.Which is of course the exact opposite of everything you've ever read.

Researchers think the sugars, salts and carbonation in the beer assist with fluid absorption.

The beer study comes from Granada University in Spain, where a Sadistic Med School Professor apparently made 25 volunteers run on a treadmill in 104 degree heat until they were about to die but not quite. (Killing study participants is frowned upon, even in med schools where the professors could make great use of the cadavers for educational purposes).

Anyway, the researchers took some measurements from the nearly-dead participants, including their hydration levels, "concentrationability," and motor skills. (Is concentrationability even a word? Well, sure it is--at least after a few beers). Then they gave half of 'em a pint of Spanish lager, while the rest got water. Next, everyone got to drink as much water as they wanted.And guess what? Those who got beer had a "slightly better rehydration effect.


"The Daily Mail article also mentions that "sensible drinking of one or two units (of beer) a day can reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, diabetes and Parkinson's disease." And that beer ingredients are a "rich source of vitamins and minerals."

See - Wisconsin marathons which have a beer tent after the race are just looking out for our health - it has nothing to do with tradition!

I was so excited

to run this morning, because there were 6 people signed up!!! All the chatting, stories, plans for the weekend AND Mike wasn't signed up! But I was so saddened when I got there and it was just me, Jenny and Christy. Not that they aren't good to run with except for the fact I knew it was not going to be a slow, relaxing Friday run! Where is Jill when you need her???? Speaking of absenteeism, the CU Girls were missing in action also. Sandy had given advanced notice, so she gets a lighter slap on the wrist, but Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. Where were you girl??? I had been hearing that you were up for the MIP (Most Improved Participation) Award! Way to choke at the end!!!

Anyway... good luck on the Turkey Trot!

Once again...

you missed it! A new route! However, fellow die-hard Christy did not. I guess it will be our secret little route only to be used by her and I. Of course, Mike was supposed to join us (the one who always gives me grief about new routes) but Christy said that he called her last night and said he THINKS he is coming down with a cold. So apparently just THINKING you are coming down with a cold is good enough excuse to get out of your commitments. I will have to remember that the next time my boss asks why I was absent from work. It is so nice too, because Mike can't open my blog due to his work having extra stringent computer security (I guess you can't blame them knowing Mike!). No e-mail backlash from him today!

Mexico - Day 2

I mustered another 5 mile run today. It was rough. I started out thinking I would run 45 minutes. 3 minutes into it I started to think - 'I am on vacation - 30 minutes is acceptable'. Then I got to 30 minutes and I thought 10 more minutes is doable. Once again I quickly started to shorten that, but then when I was close to 4 minutes, I was over 4 Miles and I thought - I should do 5 - so I ended up doing 5 and about 45 minutes. I tell you - that dreadmill is tough even when you are looking out over an ocean. The fitness room was hoping though! There are 8 treadmills and about 6 elliptical and about the same number of bikes and pretty much everything was filled! Everyone is trying to work off the Mud Slides they had the day before.

So - here is a helpful running hint I found. It is a video that shows how to tie your running shoes so they don't come untied. Plus, you can just pull on one of the strings to untie it. This confuses me though - since I do that with my double knots too. Maybe I am just strong!

Batting 1000

I see I have had over 1000 views of my blog since I started it! Wow! Thanks Guys! I hope to keep you entertained in the coming year!

Once again I ran on vacation! Jim and I are in Mexico at a Kwik Trip meeting courtesy of Jill. Actually not - Miller was kind enough to send us. Any Whoo.... I got myself out of bed and went and ran on the dreadmill. It was tough - looking out over the ocean and all. Larry would have been proud - I persevered and made it through 5 miles...tough with that view - wave after wave after wave.

I started on the random program and after it took me to 3.5% incline I said "enough of that!" and switched to the manual program. 1.0% is good enough for me... supposedly that is the incline you should be at to best compensate for the advantage of the treadmill. Of course the last 15 minutes I took it down to 0% - I am on vacation after all.

Miller really was asking a lot when they asked us to come here. Laying by the pool all day, drinking 'Mud Slides' (No Miller Lite is available so I am okay". We don't have to even get up and get our drinks - they bring it to us. Our only complaint is that the drink cups aren't quite big enough. I thought the Mexicans were generous! Of course I managed to somehow get a nice red hue to my skin although I was being careful. Jim somehow managed to avoid this - we still haven't figured out how - no it is was not due to excessive Mud Slides!

Hope all is well in WI - we saw it was 26 degrees today!

Wind Sprints?

A blustery day! When the cousins and I were on the back side of the Middle School it felt like we were standing (running) still! But as always, when we were done it felt so good. It has been so tempting to not show when I heard the wind outside, but I am so glad I did~ And not just because I won't get any grief from Mike.

Of course!

Of course my computer is down on the day that Wendy comes through for me and meets me to run in the morning. We were the only two, so she was committed! We enjoyed a 5.5 mile run without enduring all the harassing from those other people!

Now, if you have been lax in your morning commitment or you know someone who has been thinking about starting to run in the morning (We are always trying to steal people away from that Wednesday night group!) next week is the week to start! It is daylight savings time! So on Saturday we gain an hour. No excuses about it being too early! Get the word out!

Full of Information

I nice run with Kwik Trip Gal and New Job Woman! We missed Jenny and Wendy - but know they are still recovering. They probably missed one of the last semi warm mornings - not to rub it in or anything!

Tonight at 7:00 PBS (Channel 12) Nova airs its Marathon Challenge TV special. It should be a good show for all us runners.

I saw this video last and couldn't help but wonder - Sandy, has this ever happened to you?

And just to prove it is hard to find good help these days (as Jill knows) apparently they all work at Wal-Mart:
"Some people that work here had a going away party the other day for a woman that is leaving. One of the supervisors called a Wal-mart and ordered the cake. He told them to write: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that write “We will miss you”. Here’s the cake that was delivered."

(Just for clarification - this was not from the local Wal-Mart - I think!)

You missed...

a beautiful run this morning. There was a little bit of a breeze, but nothing to create misery. It was the same temperature this morning as last night when I went to bed.

I hear there is the flu going around and I am pretty sure it is not the excuses flu. Hope you are feeling better!

Don't miss the annual YMCA Winter Running Series. Here are the dates:

Jingle Bell Run/Walk
Saturday, December 8th – 8am start

New Year’s Resolution Run/Walk
Saturday, January 5th – 8am start

Valentine’s Heart Throb Run/Walk
Saturday, February 9th – 8am start

Part II - Wendy, Wendy, Wendy

I was so sure Wendy would be there, as promised, this morning. But at 5:01 (true to Morning Running Group code) Mike and I took off with no Wendy. He was trying to hold me back and wait, but the code was calling. I even reminisced with Mike about the time (way back when we had to walk 5 miles through snow just to meet to run) when Wendy would ask all of us to start at 4:45! Just goes to show you that times change!

Last night when I was surfing the web, I came up this motivational advice. I didn't think I would have to pull it out this morning, but here it is. Just for you Wendy....

(5.5 Miles with Ethanol Man this morning)

Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: I'm Too Tired
Wed, 10/24/2007 - 11:30am by FitSugar

We all have a favorite excuse for not working out. If yours is "I am just too tired," I have something to tell you. Exercise will give you energy. For reals!

When you are tired, it is difficult to remember how great you felt at the end of your last workout. Chances are really high you felt better post exercise than you did before, and you probably felt more relaxed too. Exercise promotes oxygen exchange, out with the stale air and in with the fresh. Motivate yourself with the carrot of the post exercise euphoria!

Exercise can help you sleep better, and a night of restful sleep will help you stay more energized the next day.

When I am feeling weary and therefore wary of exercise, I have to work through the mind games I play to talk myself out of exercising. Once I finally get moving, I find my energy is there and I am for a full workout. So fight the "too tired" excuse with the mantra "exercise to energize." It may be a little cheesy, but sometimes all it takes is two words to get me off the couch.

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy

Last night when we were running Wendy said she would DEFINITELY join the morning running group. She told me that if she didn't too feel free to send out a ridiculing e-mail about her. I however, decided to take the high road. In my ever constant effort to aide my fellow runners, I did an EXTENSIVE on-line search for motivational tips to send out to Wendy. The tips were originally for weight loss, but is just substituted 'running in the morning' for "weight loss'. What the heck - it is all the same... right? After all how much time do you think I have in the morning!

Here they are:

• Post a picture of yourself running in the morning if you are trying to run in the morning.
• Post a picture of yourself running at the time of morning you and would like to run at.
• Post a picture of a running celebrity you would like to emulate. Jessica Biel perhaps? Here's a pic of her in a bikini. Maybe Jackie Warner is your motivation, here she is.
• Post a picture of something that you would like to do while you are running in the morning, and thus extend your life, for example chatting with Mike about how good it feels not to have to run through the sprinklers for once.
• Post a picture of an outfit you would like to feel comfortable in while running in the morning, maybe some cute jeans or a hot string bikini?
• Post a picture of a reward you'll give yourself after you've stuck to it for a while. Maybe a brochure to a resort, a new necklace or it could even be something as small as a new CD... as long as it motivates you.
  
• Fit's Tip: I would post the picture (or pictures) someplace that will really motivate you such as on the fridge, in the pantry, where you keep your gym clothes, in your home gym, on your mirror, etc.

Here are a couple more:

• Buy a packet of small, smiley-face stickers from Office Depot. Choose six different colors-one for each fitness achievement. Put them on my office calendar after your workouts. A red face stands for a morning you had to run with Mike. A yellow for days below 30 degrees, Green for days Mike isn't there, and so on. This way, you can really entertain your office mates with your colorful wall decorations! I am sure that the stickers will fit with in the CU's decoration rules.
• The absolute best motivator is the astonished look you often get from your fellow morning runners when I’m show up to run in the morning or on really cold days much less on a regular day!

On a side note... my foot is doing good! I ran 5 miles two days in a row and it feels pretty good!

Two days in a row

I took a chance and ran two days in a row, but kept it shorter today - 3.5. I felt it more than yesterday, but not too bad. However, I think it was wise not to go the full 5.

I have been interested to read the blogs of people who experienced the Chicago Marathon this year. There seems to be a growing backlash aimed towards the race due to the race director not apologizing and essentially saying it was the fault of the runner's that there wasn't enough water. I have heard to things - due to the runners using water to cool their bodies (dumping it over their heads) they ran out of water. Second - that it was due to poor preparation by the runners. I find it interesting that the Twin Cities marathon run the same day did just fine. True, it was probably a little cooler that far north, but still it makes you wonder.

4.8

Up to 4.8 miles this morning! I was feeling it in my foot a little bit, but that is okay. I am not sure if I will run tomorrow am or not. I might, but go shorter distance. I haven't run two days in a row in a long time, so it will be interesting.

I can tell that I haven't been running. I am experiencing muscle soreness again! It is odd how it feels good - at least I am running so no complaining from me!

I hear people talking about marathons.... will be interesting to see what people have planned for next year!

3.8 and counting

Sandy did such a good job of guilty us in to coming that we were all there this morning. Unfortunately it backfired on her since she was sick, but felt that she couldn't miss after she gave all of us a hard time! Mike even skipped his favorite activity (second to watching Packer Games, of course) Beer Tasting! He was not going to chance the wrath of Sandy!

The running seems to be going well. Part of the adjustment is just getting into the rhythm of early mornings again!