Friday Thrive

Run

My recovery is continuing to go well! We were able to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi last weekend and I started back to work on Monday. My doctor gave instructions after the surgery to rest for 7-10 days, although she said in my pre-op appointment that since I am a runner, I could start once I felt ready to run. I took 7 full days off of all formal exercise (running did not sound appealing for about the first 5 of those days) and felt almost back to normal by the end of that week.

Yesterday, I ran my first run back – 30 minutes (about 3.5 miles) without any pain or noticeable fatigue. My core is weaker and I can sense I will need a week or so before I run much more than 30 minutes, but it felt so good to get outdoors and move. And it was sunny again!

Wear

My vest in the above photo is a Christmas present from my parents – the Athleta Wind Sprint vest. I wanted something for running, winter snow sports, and hiking, and this vest is perfect. It’s water-repellant, made with the eco-friendly Primaloft down alternative, and a reflective hood that zips into the collar. Best of all, it actually fits my long torso and breathed well on my run.

Train

Beyond the winter weather conditions, training during the holidays can be tricky. Even if you have the time to run, you may not feel up to running if you drank a bit too much eggnog the night before or cannot motivate yourself to bundle up in three layers just to run. My latest post on Runkeeper’s blog provides advice on how to train through the holidays – including a sample holiday running plan and workouts.

Run (Indoors) 

Traveling, cold and snowy weather, and fewer hours of daylight, more runners pick the treadmill in winter than any other time of year. I had the honor of being interviewed for a NordicTrack piece on utilizing the treadmill for your running – you can read the full post here: How to Train on Your Treadmill. A NordicTrack treadmill got me through many winters back in the Midwest (including the Polar Vortexes of 2013 and 2014)!

Eat

I have made this quinoa vegetable soup from Cookie and Kate twice this month already. The second time I made it, I just threw everything in a pot and let it cook, and the soup still turned out delicious. It is almost more stew than soup in terms of liquid content (especially after the first day). The quinoa and beans make it protein-rich and so satisfying.

[Tweet “The last Friday Thrive round up of 2017 features #running tips from @Runkeeper and @NordicTrack, favorite gear from @Athleta, and more! #runchat via @thisrunrecipes”]

This will be my last post for 2017, so I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

How do you manage running during the holiday season?
What is your current favorite piece of running gear?