Happy Thursday everyone! I guess I would say this week is moving right along, although today and tomorrow will likely drag because I will be stuck sitting in a conference all day. But it’s all good because then on Saturday I head to the beach! As usual I’ll be thinking out loud with Amanda today…
1. Week 1 of marathon training has been going well, except for a storm getting in the way of Tuesday’s speed workout. The plan was to head to the track around 5:30, but we had to be back by about 6:45. I woke up at 5 am and saw a flash of lightening outside. The storm got worse and at 5:30 we decided to do a strength workout at home instead. Kind of a let down as I was all excited to do a harder workout, but it’s summer and storms like that happen all the time. I got my 400s done on Wednesday, without any rain/thunder/lightening.
2. This week I got a pedicure before going to the beach. I would have liked to get it on Thursday or Friday but the conference may run later than I usually work and with traffic and such I just didn’t know if I would make it. So I am sure with all the running I am doing between now and Saturday that my toes will be destroyed before I even cross the Maryland border.
3. Should I be offended that the lady at the nail salon wanted me to pay $5 to have my calluses removed? Runners should probably have a special pedicure deal or something because we all know our feet aren’t going to stay callous free for more than a few days.
4. Oh and I got this nasty bruise on my shin a few days ago from hitting my leg into the car as I was getting in. Very attractive. Also, I couldn’t get my pants over my calves after I was done with my pedicure so I walked around doing errands like this until I got home.
5. Should I be worried that my husband doesn’t know what Pig Latin is?
6. Speaking of learning languages, I downloaded an app to re-learn Spanish. I’ve had some down time at work lately so I feel like that it a somewhat productive thing to do.
7. I have had my car for 15 years and just got a notification of an airbag recall. That’s really comforting, right?!
8. The other day at work someone was talking about her boyfriend’s car getting broken into. My coworker said that now there is a device that can activate a fob from inside your house to open a car door and easily break in. Apparently the only way to prevent this from happening is to keep your fob in the freezer. I told this to Rob and he pointed out that no one would want to break into my car. Good point.
9. Do other people still do static stretching before they run? I haven’t for years, but Rob still does. There’s so much talk about stretching but I feel like the one thing everyone agrees on is no static stretching before running. But he runs well, stays healthy, and sets PRs without really training so I don’t see any reason to tell him to stop.
10. Whew! That was alot of randomness today! Wish me luck as I sit in a freezing cold hotel conference room for 9 hours. I might need to sneak away and do some yoga because my hips will hate me for sitting that long.
Do you know another language (besides Pig Latin)?
What is your stretching routine?
Do you get embarrassed about pedicures?
Don’t be embarrassed. They probably even aren’t that bad, they just like to make money off of you like when they offer the massage and to wax every part of your body lol.
That’s true! And I wasn’t that embarrassed. I think I was just shocked that they would want me to pay $5 extra for that!
I have also texted to get other people’s opinions when Adam didn’t know something that I thought was obvious! Also static stretching pre run is an old thing and I’ve also seen Adam do it. I think it’s hard to give up old habits like that.
Its definitely hard to give up old habits like that. And now that I wrote about it on the blog I have Rob all worried that he shouldn’t be doing it. But if it’s working, then why not?
I just did a CEU on stretching and exercise and the new school approach definitely is anti-static stretching pre-workout, but I don’t necessarily agree. I think for some people it may be beneficial. If it’s working for him, then I say just go with it!
I NEED a pedicure, but there’s rarely an opportunity to show your toes off in Scotland, so I’ve just been doing my own. It’s so not the same though!
I have definitely been reading all over the place lately that static stretching pre-run is bad. But like you said, if it works, then he might as well continue with it!
There’s nothing like getting a good pedicure…I tried to do my own for a while this spring and its definitely not the same.
$5? You must have had some baddddddd calluses haha. I think we should get a discount for having fewer toenails!
Agreed! And don’t worry, it wasn’t just me- I saw a sign on the wall that said callous removal was $5. That made me feel a little better:)
I hate that feeling when sitting in a conference all day…
I took 8 years of French, but it would take me a while to get back into it now. THat was a LONG time ago.
It’s weird to try relearning a language. Most of it is coming back easily but there are some things that I don’t remember at all!
Umm, doesn’t everyone keep their car fob in the freezer?? Just kidding. That would be weird and I would never be able to find it.
Haha, me neither! That sounds like the worst place to keep anything important.
$5 dollars to remove calluses? Isn’t that the whole point of a pedicure? I don’t let them remove my calluses…I need them. Usually they just pumice them away.
I speak passable spanish. I take care of a large population of spanish speaking patients. 90% of the time, I can manage without help. My medical assistant is a native spanish speaker, and she helps me out when I need a word.
I am happy enough with the pumice too!
That’s great that you can speak some Spanish. I think my goal is to just to get back to the point where I have a good understanding of it and can speak it when needed.
Never had a pedicure, although I love manicures – been months since I had one. Since I don’t work I do have to be choosy about indulgences. Not working is nice, though. 🙂
I have heard you shouldn’t have the calluses removed.
I once decided to use some callus remover pads 2 weeks before a half. This was not a good decision. Just another of my stupid ideas!
I’ve also heard not to have callouses removed…I usually don’t, especially if it costs extra!
There has been a lot of talk around static stretching. Sometimes I am constantly confused on if I should stretch or not, but my coach has helped me to build a general understanding of it. I do static stretching on my shakeout/down days, when I don’t plan on doing anything particularly hard. These days usually come after hard days when I either don’t stretch at all or do some dynamic stretching. However, if I feel like something is tight, I’ll stretch it. I’d rather be safe than sorry. I think just do whatever is working and he should be fine 🙂
fitness/running blog @ activelygemma.com”
I do think that its all about figuring out what works for you! I like to do a little stretching after my runs, but dynamic stretching before, and that seems to work well…along with some foam rolling most days too.
This post made me laugh and laugh! The part about the airbag recall is *dark* funny, and the comment Rob made to you about nobody wanting to break into your car made me giggle. I totally relate. We have so many kids and do so many things that our minivan is…let’s just say…unappealing. You’d need a tetanus shot after breaking into that thing!
I think that considering that my car is so old it could be alot worse. Anyone stealing a car would probably want a nicer one than mine!
If I ever decide to steal a minivan, I will remember to avoid yours:)
I’m cracking up about your car – both the recall AND they key fob issue! I have a 2007 model and I still get recall notices, too…like that my seat might suddenly move forward or backward without warning; I actually got that one fixed – ha! I don’t have electric door locks, so I’m safe on the key fob thing; one more great thing about having an inexpensive car, I guess. Um, isn’t getting our calluses removed the reason we go get pedicures? JEEZ! Highway robbery! Once, at a pedicure, the guy doing it told me that my feet would look much better if I’d stop running as much…wow, really? I had to laugh. Hope you have a great Thursday, Lisa! Good luck with your conference!
I can’t believe the guy doing your pedicure wanted you to run less! How could he say such a thing?!
I can speak a bit of Swedish, but haven’t used it in a long time… not so sure how fluent I am any more : ( Um…. totally static stretch. I walk outside my building in the morning, do a few calf stretches and then hang down like a rag doll to stretch my hamstrings until my watch picks up the signal… then I’m off. Really, really bad. Ugh maybe I will work on this someday… haha
Like I told Rob, if it works for you, you might as well stick with it!
That’s pretty cool that you can speak some Swedish!
I still static stretch! I don’t know if it helps or not but I’m so used to it that it’s simply part of my routine.
What app is that? In Montreal the other day I was thinking how great it would be to brush up on my French, especially when working/living so close to Quebec!
The app is called Duolingo….you should definitely check it out!
I got a pedicure a few weeks ago and they actually said runners shouldn’t get their calluses removed because it’s protection for our feet! So it also saves you an extra $5 🙂 They always offer to do that to me too though. In school, we did a mix of dynamic and static stretches but I’m the WORST about doing any of that stuff now. I just want to run. All. the. time. Tuesdays storm was intense!! You were smart for not heading out there.
I’ve heard that about the callouses too so it make me feel better about saving some $ and not getting them removed!
Is it crazy that I’ve never had a pedicure? And that I’ve only ever gotten my nails done -once- when I was graduating high school? 😆 I guess I”d rather just do them myself… especially since I’m not huge on people touching my feet! And I speak Polish fluently, and French kind of choppily. I studied it in school for probably something like 10 years, but never really immersed myself in it enough to pick it up.
I can’t believe you have never gotten a pedicure…for me the best part is the foot massage! I am terrible at doing my own nails so it usually just makes sense to have someone else do them so at least they will look good:)
I can’t believe how fast this week has gone! It’s crazy that it’s already Thursday. I am getting a pedicure next week for our trip and I’m looking forward to them scrubbing my feet. I totally agree that runners should be hooked up with an ugly foot removal special.
I had a Spanish minor and I used to be really fluent. That has unfortunately gone away due to non-use, but being in the schools has helped! I have been working with English as a second language students and I have been practicing. Unfortunately I speak at a kindergarten level….
It’s nice that you have the opportunity to work on your Spanish again! I wonder if being around people who are speaking the language will help it come back to you more quickly than relearning it on your own. I would imagine so!
Enjoy your pedicure and trip if they haven’t happened already:)
I would be just mortified if I had to get a pedicure. My feet are HoRRIBLE. I don’t even try to get the callouses off my feet because I fear whatever rubbed there to cause the callouses would be sore if I removed the callouses, you know what I mean?
Yea I think that we need our callouses! Might as well save the money they would charge for them:)
I won’t get a pedicure if I’m training for something…which is always, pretty much, cuz I NEED those callouses! French was mandatory from grade 1 to 8 in my school. Everytime I go to France the French comes out of mothballs and I’m amazed people understand me!
If I didn’t get pedicures in the summer I would never be able to show my feet in public…its probably better to not get those callouses removed anyway. They would probably come back during my next run!
I’m using Duolingo too! haha! We’re going to Peru in the spring and I took Sign Language in high school, so I figured it would be smart to have a few phrases in my back pocket.
That’s awesome! I am really liking the app. Although I haven’t opened it in like a week:/
I do static stretching because I’m used to it from growing up as a ballerina/gymnast. Which leads me to the pedicures…as a dancer I never got them because I was SO SCARED they would take away my hard earned calluses. I do sometimes now as a runner, but never feel like I get my money’s worth because I don’t want them removed still!
I also danced when I was growing up and wouldn’t get my callouses removed for the same reasons! And yep- we did so much stretching in dance. Now I feel like I have no flexibility!
Most of the time I feel like my calves are too big to fit into that calf part of pants that don’t stretch. Runner calves are a good thing! No shame in that! I didn’t know static stretching was still a thing. Haha! My hubby is old school too, but I prefer to warm up by just starting slower than normal to loosen up.
Haha yes to runners calves! I was also surprised about the static stretching because it seems like no one does it pre-run anymore! I prefer dynamic stretching or some easy squats/lunges to warm up.
I am so overdue w getting a pedicure. Your toes look very nice! I love getting my caulouses scraped off. I’m surprised that was extra
I thought that was always included. Have a fantastic wkend at the beach!
Thanks! I guess sometimes its included, but not at the places I have been too lately.
My Honda got the same recall! That just adds to the list of car things I need to do, including emissions test and getting Washington plates.
I still haven’t gotten a pedicure ever. My habit of hoarding Essie nail polish comes in handy at least then.
Make sure you get that recall taken care of! I heard that they are really low on the new airbags (at least on the east coast). Luckily when I went they had 1 left. Someone even told me that people are breaking into Hondas to try to steal the new airbags!
I used to spend 10-15 minutes static stretching before long runs… now I hardly stretch ever (before, during or after!) which is so terrible!
I do alot less stretching now and foam roll instead! Unless I stretch for a really long time, I don’t feel like it does a whole lot. I think we all need to find what works for us!
Ha…I don’t think you have to worry about him knowing Pig Latin! But it is sort of funny how you can be with someone for a while and still learn new things about them. 🙂
It was definitely a surprising thing to learn:)
$5! That’s crazy… and a little rude. I don’t do pedicures too often cause i’m super ticklish haha.
I am kind of ticklish too but I just try to deal with it because they make my feet look so much better. I usually laugh when they scrub my feet with the pumice. But I always really enjoy the foot massage:)
That’s hilarious he doesn’t know what pig latin is. I know a little bit of Spanish but have been using duolingo to work on it some more. I definitely think it helps.
I typically stretch after running not before. Also I like do yoga here and there to really get a good full body stretching in. This reminds me I need to stop skipping my yoga classes. =/
I agree that a full yoga session definitely helps with flexibility mare than just a few minutes of stretching.
And I’m glad I discovered Duolingo- its a great app to help relearn a language!
My nail salon is the same way – extra massage: $5, want your eyebrows waxed? $10, hand massage? $5.
They are always trying to make more money and I always end up saying “No thank you.” They probably don’t love me …
Ideally, I’d love to run a one mile warm up and then do a dynamic stretching routine, but I never have time to stop after 1 mile!!
Excited to get back to yoga – it really does make me feel better and my body stronger. Language… Took Spanish for 4 years and Spanish is huge here is So. Cal. I need to take some classes, because my son already knows a ton and wants to have conversations with me 🙂
Those nail salons are always trying to rip us off. I turn down all the extra stuff too, but I do tip so hopefully they still like me:)
You look so strong in the first pic and your toes look great, I hope you have a great time at the beach. Also, that app sounds awesome, what is the name of it?
Thanks! The app is called Duolingo.
Pedicures rock! Sorry about the bruise. I’m so bruised-prone, too, as I’m always bumping into things. I had a few like this, too, this Summer 🙂 Take care of the airbag recall. Safety first! No stretching for me before any runs, it doesn’t work for me, but I would never tell anybody not to do it, because it does work for some people very well. We’re having lots of storms, too, lately in this area. I constantly have to adjust my training schedule for that reason. Have a wonderful weekend!
I know what you mean- stretching works for some but not others!
I am very clumsy, so I am surprised I don’t have more bruises:)
I got a pedicure about a month ago, and that was the first one I’d had since last summer. I just made an appointment for a “regular” pedi, and when the nail tech came over, he looked at my feet and asked, “Regular? Or deluxe?” I answered, “just regular.” He said (in his very thick Asian accent), “Ooooooh nooooooo, honey, you need deluuuuuuuuxe.” LMAO it was hilarious
Haha that is kind of rude…in a funny way:) I’ve had those types of comments too and I just tell them I run and then they seem to understand.
I loved this post but forgot to comment 🙂 Oh well, better late than never!
– Pig Latin – that was a huge cultural thing when I was a kid in the 70s … can’t imagine someone not knowing. Not as big with my kids, but they still know it (yes I did check 🙂 )
– Feet – I am reminded of the Frank Zappa song “Valley Girl”
“So like I go into this like salon place, y’know
And I wanted like to get my toenails done
And the lady like goes., oh my God, your toenails
Are like so GRODY
It was like really embarassing
She’s like OH MY GOD, like BAG THOSE TOENAILS
I’m like sure…
She goes, uh, I don’t know if I can handle this, y’know.
I was like really embarassed…”
– Recalls: same thing happened to me – I have an 8 year old Ford Escape Hybrid, and earlier this year got 2 recalls, one for power steering and the other for the cooling pump. The cooling pump failure can basically cause you car to shut off the gas engine without warning (meaning you will no longer go over 40MPH, even on the highway). As I waited for the parts – it actually HAPPENED to me! Scary to be doing 70 and have the engine shut off, the car slow down, and the light say ‘pull over safely now’. Um, yeah … fun. And my steering felt much better after the recall as well! Whew!
– Stretching – I don’t do much, but used to do a bit as part of my ‘waiting for GPS’ routine, but they lock so fast I don’t have much time. But will still do a bit, not much for my legs, but the rest of me. Old habits and well, it just feels good 🙂
I do feel like everyone knows about Pig Latin but I guess it’s something we don’t talk about much, so interesting that your kids know what it is!
That is so scary that your engine shut off while you were driving! It’s crazy how they can figure out problems like that so many years later.
Happy to hear marathon training is going well! I do dynamic stretching before I head out and then static stretching after.And I’ve never had a pedicure…so you can guess my answer to that question haha 🙂
I do pretty much the same stretching routine as you! And I can’t believe you haven’t had a pedicure….the foot massages are the best part!
I’ve had the same thing happen getting a pedicure…not sure why they have to charge for that but I never get them removed anyway…keeps me from getting blisters!
Yep, I figured that I need my callouses anyway so might as well save a few bucks!
I need that app! I want to re-learn French too. I love that the woman at the nail salon said that hahahaha not embarrassing at all 😉 battle scars, my friend! wear them proudly!
You should definitely try out the app- its called Duolingo.
I think at this point I am used to comments about my feet when I get a pedicure- I just say I’m a runner and usually that helps them understand:)
Ha, I hear ya, I always get the callus remover treatment when I get pedicures… because I ALWAYS NEED IT!
I think I’ve just learned to live with my callouses because they would just keep coming back if I got them removed…not worth the extra money.
I danced ballet for 12 years before college so static stretching is all I knew when I started running. After a little research, I’ve now transitioned entirely to dynamic stretching before running but still prefer some static stretching afterward or just to relax. Makes my body feel good and unwounded!
I am the same way as you! I used to dance and did all static stretching up until a few years ago when I learned to warm up with dynamic stretching. Now I just so some stretching after but mostly use the foam roller to keep my muscles loose.
Hahaha it’s been so long since I’ve heard reference to Pig Latin! I knew the rules but my mind couldn’t think fast enough to actually speak it. But I do know Spanish pretty well – I should considering part of why I was hired was to sometimes translate! I’m definitely not perfect but I can get by with it 🙂 That’s amazing that there are Apps for languages now – I think I should try to learn French…or Swahili – I always thought that would be cool!
It would definitely be cool to learn a language like that- although I’m sure challenging and time consuming! Spanish is much more manageable since I took it in high school.