you might have a fit family if ...

Ever wonder if the rest of your family is on the active train with you? Well, wonder no more. Here is a sure fire guide to deciphering your family's fitness obsession.

You might have a fit family if ...

... no one thinks it odd that you wake at 5 a.m. just to get your run in.

... you workout twice a day and it's seen as dedication and not pure lunacy.

... your children think that you need knee high socks to go running.

... your husband (who is built like a linebacker) takes your suggestion and trains for a half marathon.

... your children cry because they aren't invited to go running with you.

... your daughter will hip check her own teammates to get the ball.

... your three-year old has tree-trunks for quads and abs to die for.

... your family collectively owns enough workout clothing to outfit a small country.

... you plan your vacations around sporting events.

... you've walked in on your children doing push-ups and sit-ups.

... it's OK to spend over $100 on sneakers, but it's crazy to spend more than $20 on any other footwear.

... your kids would happily eat Gu and Gatorade as a mid-day snack.

... you (or your spouse) has run through the pain, because you thought it might go away if you kept moving.

... you've seen your children, who aren't old enough for Kindergarten, curl a five pound weight.

... your husband wants to get you a Kettlebell for Mother's Day. And you are OK with that.

... you decided what sports your children would play before they were born. Or better yet, you already determined which one would get them a college scholarship.

... a complete diet overhaul is seen as par for the course.

... your husband suggests that you convert your rarely used dining room into a home gym. And you immediately jump on board.

... "I'll race you," is part of your everyday vocabulary.

today's run and a Recovery Socks follow-up ...

Thanks for all of your kind comments yesterday. I swear I'm not that fast. It's really the shoes. I cannot slow down in them. Trust me, I was trying. Anyway, I'm still feeling kind of crappy today. Well, actually, let me clarify. I feel fine ... EXCEPT for this wicked cough and slight nasal congestion. And although, pretty much everyone has been telling me to rest, I didn't have a choice. I was scheduled to help lead a 10K training team run and I wasn't about to miss that. Plus, I knew we would be running considerably slower than yesterday, so I figured it would be easier on my lungs (um, yeah, about that).

The group's first five miler was on the schedule today. Here I am just before heading out.

I was with the middle of the pack today, where we averaged 11:45 miles. It wasn't really a good run, but not really a bad one either. I think minus the coughing, it would have been just fine. I was, however, really excited to see everyone finish. There is just something inspiring about watching people accomplish what they once thought they couldn't.

On a completely different note, I said I would give my Recovery Socks a second chance. And I did. After the Princess Half on Sunday. Here I am waiting for the Dumbo ride at the Magic Kingdom (note the socks).

I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to see how well they work after a hard effort followed by hours more on my feet. And can I just tell you that I am now a true believer? Sure my legs were still tired (who's wouldn't be?), but when I woke up the next morning ... I felt nothing. My lower legs were 100% (my quads were still achy though). So, after much thought, here is MY professional opinion on Recovery Socks:

Get a pair if you are consistently running over 10 miles on your long runs. And wear them strictly for recovery, not during your run (I saw no benefit in that, well maybe if you are a 2:30 marathoner ...) Otherwise, save your money. These things are not cheap ...

it's taper time ...

Today was my last long run before Disney. Taper starts tomorrow. The plan for this morning was 10, but somehow it ended up being 12. Apparently, I am beginning to think, "What's a few more miles?" when asked if I'll stick around. This is good and bad. I love running. Especially with friends (like this morning). And I REALLY want to hit 1000 miles this year (I'm way ahead by the way). But have you met me before? I'm kind of competitive. With everyone. Including myself. Which generally means I am constantly trying to one up those around me. And if I keep this up, I might just end up spending four hours every weekend on my long runs and I'm pretty sure J is not going to be a fan of that.


Seriously, though. This morning's run was great (and it's finally warmer!). Here's G, D and I before the run. Note how I managed to make myself the focal point of this shot.


G and D ran the first four with me. Then we dropped G off and picked up Em (a.k.a The Kenyan) and Alyssa. The four of us ran together for the first half mile, then D and the Kenyan broke away, never to be seen again. That's when Alyssa coaxed me into two more miles. (I'll forgive her. I love her.) I finished the run in 2:01, which falls right smack in the middle of my long run zone.

Once I got back, I put on my Recovery Socks. And they definitely are super comfy and my legs feel quite good. I'm still not sure they are worth $35 a pair, but I might feel differently tomorrow morning. We'll see.

Recovery Sock Review ...

For my birthday, my mom and little sister were kind enough to each purchase me a pair of Recovery Socks. I have been interested in trying them out for a while (since I am such a sock lover). But to be honest, the $34.90 price tag has deterred me. So, I was super psyched when I received both the fuchsia (to match my hair) and the lime socks in the mail yesterday.

If you don't know what Recovery Socks are, here is the lowdown from their website:

The Recovery Sock® is not simply a graduated compression sock, but a totally new concept of health for your feet. It is the result of studies and research conducted in the medical field as well as in the world of sports. This synergy has produced an international patent leading to a new concept of FEETNESS.

The Recovery Sock® advantage is that it's compression socks incorporate a Patented Graduated Compression design that enhances and stimulates circulation in the lower leg - making it a superior sock. Recovery Sock's Running and Recovery Socks can help anyone looking for a boost in athletic performance!

- Worldwide Patent
- Exclusive wicking and antibacterial fiber
- Improves oxygen delivery to muscles
- Lactic acid production reduced
- Proven cramp relief
- Tested and used by World Class athletes

Compression is not a new technology; it has been used for years in medical patients with venous and arterial insufficiency. However, the application of this technology to athletics is relatively new. There is clear evidence to support compression use in promoting recovery. Using compression socks after a race or hard workout provide a substantial benefit. These garments will help to avoid venous stasis (blood pooling in the legs) and swelling. Compression is particularly helpful in depended areas of the body, such as the feet and lower legs where gravity has a greater effect on blood return. Improved blood flow after a workout results in enhanced nutrient delivery and removal of waste products to and from muscles. This creates a situation optimal for muscle repair, reduced stiffness and heaviness in the legs and possibly less soreness. Several studies have demonstrated that post exercise blood lactate levels were lower with compression sock use both during and after exercise. Other studies have demonstrated that compression socks do create a major fluid shift in the body. Compression garments are believed to improve venous blood return to the heart and allow for better cardiac output (flow of oxygenated blood from the heart) thereby aiding oxygen delivery to working muscles and increased endurance.

I decided that I would test one pair while running and then the other post-run. Here I am before sweating it up:

So, how did they work? Well, let's say I had high hopes. The socks were challenging to get on, as they are COMPRESSION socks after all. But once they were on, they were rather comfy (and SUPER CUTE might I add). But, if we're being honest here (and you know I always am) I was expecting more. Once they were on, I didn't feel like they provided any more "support" than my standard knee high athletic socks that I usually rock. With that said, I was still interested to see if they made a difference. I planned on a five mile tempo run. I figured that this would be ample time/distance/speed to test them out. Now, I'm not sure if it was. During the run, I noticed no difference from the socks I am currently wearing. In fact, I felt like there was almost too much compression on my Achilles. Not painful, just kind of annoying. I was really aware of it. (Note: this might be due to the fact that I was really paying attention to how they performed.) Overall, I'm kind of on the fence about running in them. They didn't hurt, but I'm not sure that they helped either.

For the second part of my test, I decided to wear my other pair immediately after the run and overnight to see if they helped my recovery time. Usually, when I wake up the morning after an evening run, my legs are tired. I feel it as soon as I get out of bed. Then once I get up and moving, I'm fine. On most days, I am ready to hit the pavement by 9 a.m. (two hours after waking). Today, I woke up and my legs were still tired. But, I noticed it much more in my quads than in my calves. And because of this, I was ready to run by 8:30, instead of 9. Which initially I didn't think of as much of anything. But then I thought about it. If these socks shave 30 minutes of recovery off of a five mile run, then that would be an hour off a 10 miler and two off a 20 miler. And I can see the value in that. I can also see the value in all the things that compression use has been connected to (i.e. reduced swelling, optimal muscle repair, etc.) And because of this, I am going to test them again during my long run this weekend and the recovery period afterward. Maybe then I'll be convinced. But as of right now, I'm not sure that the slightly shorter recovery is worth the hefty price tag, at least for me.

*This review is solely my opinion. I was in no way compensated for my review.