Book Review - The Complete Book of Running for Women

January Book

The Complete Book of Running for Women

By Claire Kowalchik

413 pages

This book has so much information in it. I don't think I can give a full summary of the book, except that it has everything you need to know about starting to run. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for any woman starting to run. I did breeze through the chapters on menopause, pregnancy, running over 50. But the chapter on running with family was super helpful--even just reading about other moms who really have to work to fit running into their day. And about getting your kids involved in the sport. It's an easy read, and despite being 413 pages, it only took me a couple weeks to get through it.

Some of the things I found particularly interesting were the Parts titled Why Run, Becoming a Runner, and Getting into Gear.

Why Run?

Because it's good for your body and your mind. It helps relieve stress, facilitates interruption-free thinking, and helps you lose weight and maintain good health. It's easy to start, and you don't need any special gear. You can do it anywhere in any weather, with or without friends. It doesn't matter if you're fast or slow--you can run, and you'll feel good.

Becoming a Runner

If you think you're a runner, and you feel like a runner, then you're a runner. Again, it doesn't matter if you're doing 10-minute miles or 6-minute miles. If you run consistently, you're a runner. Kowalchik writes about changing your self image from "fatty, out of shape mom" to "getting in shape, runner in training." And it works! It changed how I view myself on the treadmill and in races. I'm not thin and fast (yet), but I'm working on it, and a positive mindset is huge in meeting that goal.

Getting into Gear

Shoes, shirts, shorts, running skirts, socks, hydration belts, hats, sunglasses, tights, GPS watch. For a sport that you can do it whatever clothes you have laying around, there are tons of options for running-specific gear. And the more serious a runner you become, the more you enjoy the special gear.

      I have these running shorts that I've tried out a couple times, and I love them. They don't ride up between my legs at all. They don't chafe. They are slinky and smooth. And I feel like a real runner when I wear them. Same with my new lock laces. My shoes never come untied anymore, and I think I look like a pro. Next on my list is a hydration belt, watch, and a running skirt.

Nursing Bras

Why? Tell me why! It's so hard to find nursing bras that fit well, aren't ugly, and are functional and supportive. Oh, and don't cost a fortune. I refuse to pay $70 for a bra. While I'm sure I'd love a $70 bra, I'd rather have four $15 bras. Because who wants to wear the same bra every day? Especially if you're getting milk all over it all the time. Gross.

I found a Gillian & O'Malley bra I like at Target, but bless their stupid hearts, they rarely carry my size. And it's not like I'm looking for a huge mondo thing.

Because I hate shopping with the kids in tow, I ordered some of these great inexpensive bras at Target.com. I'll rant about that another day. I do not like the new Target site. And once I find a piece of clothing I like, I really want to buy 2 or 7 of them so I am "stocked up."

I have to go downstairs now. The kids are watching Charlotte's Web, and Jamey is freaking out--all I can hear is "Ivy!! What is happening? Tell me! What is going on??"

Lose Your Mummy Tummy

I picked up Lose Your Mummy Tummy by Julie Tupler to help with my self-diagnosed Diastasis. I'm still reading it, but so far, it seems like a go-to exercise is sucking in my gut. The author talks about imagining your abs as an elevator (from front to back) and getting your elevator to level six--which sounds like maybe your belly button is pressed against your back. These elevator exercises are supposed to strengthen the transverse abs, which will hold together the obliques and recti.

There are a couple short workouts in the book, but so far, I haven't read them. And I'm not sure how to fit more workouts into my day. So I'm doing Kegels (which there is debate about the efficacy of) and sucking my gut in.

I've set the book next to my "Nursing Station" so I can pick it up when I sit with Livy.

Pray for Rowan

I do not know this family, but it's heartbreaking to think of it. They are in my prayers!

Rowan, is a 1 yr old who had a cough and fever over the weekend. He went into cardiac arrest and is now in a coma.

Say a prayer for him and his family!

House Rules

I recently heard some moms talking about their House Rules. One mom claimed they only had three rules: No singing at the table, be respectful, and something else. That "Be Respectful" encompasses about 57 things I can think of that I say to the kids all the time.

But hearing this conversation got me thinking about our rules. I wonder if we have too many rules or if we're too strict. My mom said that parents are strict about things that are important to them. And that no one ever thinks they're being too strict.  She said I'm strict about cleaning.

I do not like clutter at all, and I really think the kids should pick up their toys and clothes. I value a clean house, so I'm making sure the kids do a part of that. Now, when they're grown up and living somewhere else, I don't think I'll care if they keep a clean house or not. But as long as they're living here, they will put their clothes in the laundry and books on the shelf.

I also think we're "strict" (Jeremy says "consistent") about listening. When we tell the kids to do something, they have to do it. If they're having a hard time doing whatever we've asked, like "Put your clothes in the laundry," we actually hold their hand and walk them through it. Or they get short instructions: pick up your shirt; walk up the stairs; go into my room; put the shirt in the laundry; come back downstairs." We sometimes make a game out of it. But however it happens, they've listened.

I don't want to be a "No" Home. I want a Yes Environment for our kids, but it seems like they want to do things we don't want all the time. I mean, seriously, what is so fun about screaming and running in the house?

So, I try to balance our rules with levity in other areas. I feel like (within our rules) they have free reign of the house.

• Want to read, color, paint, play playdough, make pancakes, go outside, take a long bath alone, make a fort, or collect pine cones? Go for it! 
• Want to take the couch cushions off and pretend it's a mountain? Yeah. 
• Use all the dining room chairs as a train? Absolutely. 
• Let's go to the park, beach, play area, bounce house, pool. Sure.
• Want to wear a dress? Or go naked? That's fine. 

Hopefully, they'll have good memories of growing up. Not just too many rules and no fun.

Busy Day

Whew! We had a busy day.

• Last night, Livy was a challenge, so today I decided to start the 2-3-4 schedule with her. She's almost 7 months, so she can do it. 
• I hadn't really cleaned the main floor in a few weeks, so I spent a good chunk of the morning cleaning crud off the stovetop and mopping.
• I spent almost an hour on the bike trainer. Ouchie tush. 
• I finally washed a load of "baby poop" clothes from the weekend. 
• I framed some awesome collage posters for Jeremy--using racing pictures from 2010 and 2011. Two posters.
• Framed & hung some pictures of the kids. 
• Tried to introduce the kids to the Von Trapps. They weren't interested. 
• Played playdough.
• Read 7 new stories from the Five in a Row level one book. 
• Watched the kids outside for almost an hour. They got stuck in the mud pit that used to be the garden. 

Now it's time to make dinner. And tell the kids we're not going to play our part in this Hide & Seek game. :) 

Diastasis Recti

I think I have Diastasis Recti. I haven't been to the midwife for the official diagnosis yet, but when I try to do a sit-up or ab crunch, I can feel a split above my belly button. My fingers sink in a bit.

I asked the fabulous Twin Cities API group for help, and here's what I got.

• Loose Your Mummy Tummy is an excellent book. It will tell you just how to identify separated abs and how to fix them (special e-z modified 'sit-up')
• Here's a YouTube video discussing diastis and how to identify if you have it (I recommend that you skip to 3:20 into the video)
• Tupler Technique 
• Separated abs are easy to fix, but beware, it's also easy to prevent them from knitting back together. This can happen when inappropriate ab exercises are done. Correcting diastis is important and so underrated. Separated abs cause back pain and problems, and cause a 'weak pelvic floor', meaning a woman thinks her pelvic floor is weak, or she feels some prolapsing, when actually the pelvic floor is doing ok--but it's being recruited to hold up the ENTIRE body which it was not intended to do. So check out the book, google for videos, quit doing that ab crunch nonsense at yoga class for a while, and your abs will come together after doing some quick dorky exercises that are easy.

Because I dislike watching videos on the internet, I read the Tupler Technique info and have ordered Loose Your Mummy Tummy.