Hey guys,
Yesterday was such a beautiful day. The temperature got up to 60 degrees and it was rather sunny for Ithaca, New York. It was such a great day that I knew that I had to go outside. Instead of studying or just hanging outside I decided to go on a run with my friend Vasia.
We started a little late (I fell asleep of course) and it wasn’t very fast but it was a lot of fun. We ran for 5000 meters, also known as a 5K. 5Ks are normally the shortest distance that one would run in cross country or for a “fun” run and is equivalent to around 3.11 miles. We took about 40 minutes and ran 12:30 mile pace. Nike’s Running app for the iPhone (which is completely free) makes it really easy to see how long you’ve been running , how fast you’re going, and the distance in both miles and meters. It was nice to run past the waterfalls, around Beebe Lake (the picture is actually one of the waterfalls on Beebe Lake on Cornell campus but I didn’t take it, was too busy running), and through the Cornell plantations. Vasia and I both ran cross country in high school and we joked about all our least favorite courses and the fact that some races feel like you’re going uphill the entire time. Afterwards we had some ZICO water, super refreshing after a run. I’m glad we went because I was able to finish my exercise early and then had someone to eat dinner with. We were supposed to run again today but since Ithaca decided to change things up and rain we had to reschedule.
While we were running, it came to my attention that I wasn’t taking enough care of my body. So here’s a good little guide on how to keep your body feeling good.
Feet: I just recently got new shoes from New Balance and thought it’d be a great idea to run in them yesterday, bad idea. Just like any other type shoes, you should ALWAYS break them in. Like heels, you need to walk around in them for a while before they become molded to your feet and feel a lot more comfortable afterwards. When breaking them in, make sure you wear thick socks and tie the laces super tight so that your feet don’t move around in them too much and cause blisters. When buying shoes make sure that there’s a lot of room in the front so that your feet can expand when they run. I also cut my toenails short so that they don’t rub against anything because if they get too long they are easier to fall off. Trust me, losing your toe nails suck!
Legs: Before, during (after a few minutes), and after your run, you should ALWAYS stretch. Stretching is really important so that you don’t hurt your muscles. I have a runner’s stick which I roll over my legs to work out the muscles. It feels amazing but it also costs $50. I bought mine here because my body was always sore when I restarted running last semester. They come in different sizes and are used for different things.
Butt: This might sound really silly but remember to stretch out the extremely high muscles in the back of your leg that are right underneath your butt. While lying down, put one foot on top of the other knee and pull the knee towards your chest. This is important because if it gets too tight you won’t be able to walk very well. This happened to me when I was in high school. I had to cut my cross country season short, was not allowed to go to gym, and to get physical therapy at the trainer’s office everyday afterschool so that I could loosen up the muscles and be able to walk normally again.
Misc.: SLEEP! Sleeping is super important because your body will be tired to run the next day if you don’t get enough rest. Also, the more you sleep, the more you lose weight. This can get pretty hard for us collegiates especially during exam weeks or when you have a lot of problem sets but you have to sleep. I nap when I have even 20 minutes to spare. Nap for 20 minutes, 1 hour, or 1.5 hours to feel really refreshed afterwards. Remember, even God rested.
If you guys are doing the DietBet, I’m super excited for you. I can’t wait to win me some money :)
Love ya loads,
Danielle
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