cococa Member

My little girl is 8 weeks on Thursday and I still have 15lbs to lose. I'm also still wearing maternity pants, and having a hard time with my new body. I really thought breastfeeding would help it melt away faster, but I think it's making me hungrier so I'm eating more than I need to. That's why I'm back on mfp. I haven't…

I've actually been considering this run and few others in the area as a way to ease into trail running. Seems like you can go and train on or near most of the trails they use. Here are a few others, if you're interested: http://www.trailrace.com/crystalcove.html http://www.myownrace.com/irvine-trail-half--5k-06152013.html…

I think you're wonderful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing! Motivation can ebb and flow, and I know how hard it is to get back out there when you were capable of so much more before. With asthma, I could run 10 miles at a 9 min pace one day and then barely make 6 at a 11 min pace the next. I constantly have to remind…

Ugh so jealous of all the beautiful snow pictures. One of my favorite hikes was up Gorgonio in May in the snow. We're sitting in 80 degree weather here still. No winter for us :(

It was absolutely amazing. I posted my pictures/story on the "Anyone doing any hiking board." How did your trip go?

Congrats on the HM! How exciting! I'm one who seconds that the varied inclines during the race could explain the increased soreness. Hills really work those inner thighs. You may be different, but correct shoes, switching to a midfoot strike, and lots of ice in the beginning helped eliminate my knee pain. As for the…

Great job Brian! I can't imagine running in conditions like that! Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach, California - New PR 2:14:54. Not as fast as others, but this is the second race that I've run without an asthma attack. I teared up a bit on the last mile when I realized I was going to make my goal of a sub…

Running really messed with my cycle - it became irregular, and then it stayed for 21 days after one of my halfs (ugh). I went on birth control, and now I just skip it when I have a race or a backpacking trip. Backpacking on your period is the worst! I was especially glad for this when we hiked Kilimanjaro.

Just realized the Holiday Half is the one that goes through my hometown. Practically in my parents' backyard! I wanted to do it this year, but it fell on my sister's birthday and I figured she wouldn't really want the day to be about me racing. Did you see that it's also the final medal run for the California Half Marathon…

Sounds great. Congrats!

I HAVE to think about how I breathe. Often, it's the difference between finishing my run or cutting it short due to an asthma attack. Cold, dry air causes bronchoconstriction in everyone, asthma or not. If you're just starting to get back into shape or you have a respiratory illness/disorder, bronchoconstriction will…

Spending that time with your husband on the half in December sounds wonderful :). I think the most I'll ever get my future husband to do is a 5K. My training ebbs and flows with my work and personal schedule too (and I don't even have kids yet). When I get back out there for training, I start back at 3 miles and try to get…

Love that we can all get out there and challenge ourselves! For those of you out there with asthma, you know that it can be tough to improve on pace...BUT it's possible. I just ran a hilly half marathon in 02:16:48 without a single attack and I couldn't be happier. I've shaved 10 minutes off from where I started. I can't…

My friend paces for a lot of the races around here. Like others have said he's just another runner who has connections and is running for free. He's super fast, but usually paces slower than his average so he can be sure to be accurate. I haven't run with pacers, but I usually have my ipod nano to pace myself. At my first…

I LOVE yoga for strengthening my core and the leg muscles I need to support my joints when I run. I agree with dori, stick with bikram if it works for you - as long as you keep on hydrating you should be fine, but I also recommend vinyasa flow or power yoga classes. Maybe just try adding it once a week and see how you feel?

While I'm at it...We recently went on a beautiful 10 mile hike in Azusa, CA. The hike takes you out to what is known as, "The Bridge to Nowhere." The bridge was built back in the 30s, but it was forgotten after the road out to it washed away in a flood. Nowadays the bridge serves as a hiking destination and bungee jumping…

Here are some of my favorite photos from my trek up Kilimanjaro. We took the 6 day Rongai route with the African Walking Company, and there were 15 hikers in our group. Day 1: We spent half a day hiking to our first camp. The incline was gradual and we were all feeling great. Day 2: We woke up to our team of cooks, guides,…

I'm back from Kilimanjaro! It was such a raw, natural, beautiful adventure. I absolutely loved being out on that mountain for 6 days. The jet-lag has been tough, but I'm working on getting my pictures together to post soon. Can't wait to share the journey with all of you :)

I have a pair of Saloman's for light hiking and they do the job - no blisters. Not my favorite pair though. I swear I will take my Lowa's to the grave. My fiance now wears Lowa's too. I have a pair with good ankle support for all of the mountain hiking I do, but they have a line for light hiking as well. Might be worth a…

Heading out to Kilimanjaro this week! I will appreciate any and all good vibes and kind thoughts sent my way. Really, really hope I summit! Either way it will be an amazing trip. I'll be sure to post photos when I return!

I leave in just 4 days!!! Thanks all for the support and tips. HikerLiz - that's crazy that 2 people in your group had to turn around after just one day. I didn't train nearly as much as I wanted, but I run hills and I'm used to hiking up past 10k for 16+ mile day hikes and 5000 feet elevation gain. From the looks of it…

I know the feeling you're talking about! Thankfully, I've only felt that way after running a few times and it was more in the beginning when I first started upping my distance. I can't really pinpoint why. I can only think of one change I made. Now, I always make sure to eat a good amount of protein after running. I was a…

Oh so happy to live in southern California :). Not a question I ever have to ponder. At most there's a bit of rain, and I just run in my windbreaker. If weather was a problem for me, I imagine I would take the opportunity to do yoga - really love the core-strengthening effects and how it helps supports my joints when I run.

I was a dancer and a gymnast. I was a solid C runner up until high school. Turns out I was just running with the wrong friends. I did track and field in high school, but I was a jumper and a sprinter. Distances were always daunting to me. Even through college, I'd run a mile tops. One day after work in my late 20s, I had a…

Exact same experience switching. I've decided to rotate. I wear my new shoes on shorter runs, and my old shoes on long runs. I'm building more distance/endurance in my new shoes every week. It's tough, but I do notice that I'm now getting faster and faster.

Acorn squash is a bit on the sweet side, so you're going to want to use ingredients that complement sweet flavors. Bit of butter or margarine, sprinkle of brown sugar or maple syrup (you could also try honey), and any other spices to taste. Love the idea of stuffing it with apples - you could also add celery and raisins. I…

I live in California in a condo, so luckily weather isn't a huge factor in growing herbs outdoors here. We have a couple of pots of herbs on our patio. They're doing pretty well, but we have had to battle aphids and other intruders. One thing I wish we knew - pinch off those darn flowers! Our dill flowered, and then died.…

The Newton's Lady Isaac's made a world of difference for me. They helped me transition from a heel to midfoot strike (via a tactile prompt), and eliminate knee pain that I had experienced from an old hiking injury. I transitioned to the Gravity about 2 months ago, after using the Isaac's for about a year. I agree, there is…

I always run with my nathan handheld, music of some sort, and inhaler. I also prefer my hidden comfort socks, favorite sports bra, and quickdry clothes. It's not the end of the world if I have to substitute something on a training run, but I'm a bit pickier for races.

I also breathe "in, in" through my nose making sure to lower my diaphragm and then one long breath out through my mouth. I don't know that the pattern matters as much as the deep breathing. The second "in" helps me to breath deeper in the beginning, but a deep, single "in" would work just as well. I also choose to breath…