Drying shoes after a rainy run

Running in Vancouver means running in the rain. Last night I had what will be one of many, many months of running in the rain. Some people sing "Dancing in the Rain," I sing, "Running in the Rain."

Running in the rain also means wet, soggy shoes. Here's a tip I'd like to share to get your shoes dry again and ready for your next run!

When you purchase a new pair of shoes they're usually stuffed with tissue. Keep those! Or use scrunched up newspaper and stuff them loosely into your wet shoes. The newsprint will help absorb moisture from your shoes. This should take about a day to dry. After my runners are dried out, I give them a good spritz of anti-stink shoe spray.

Wet shoes

Take out the insides

Scrunch up newsprint paper or gift wrap tissue

Stuff your wet shoes loosely with the paper

Finally, mud or sand can be kicked off easily after the shoes are dry. Happy running in the rain!

Runners' Christmas Wish List 2011

Today happens to be Black Friday in the U.S. and did you that Christmas is ONE MONTH AWAY! Yes, ONE. Can you believe it? No? Me neither, time flies by way to fast, right? Before you know it you'll be running around Christmas Eve like a madman, with money flying out of your hands!

So, here I am to help with my Runners’ Christmas Wish List 2012 edition!!! You can thank me later.. lovely husband, er... I mean Santa. Great gift ideas (with the exception of the shoes) that fit into my Christmas stocking. They're also light and won't weigh down your sleigh. Most of the gifts listed are also less than $100!

Dear Santa,
I've been a good girl this year. I've done a lot of running, incorporated yoga and spin into my activity. I'd like some new gear for the new marathon training season.

Road ID, I still don't have one. Wouldn't you want to know if I got lost and found?

New pair of running shoes - a girl can never have enough pairs of shoes. Nice bright ones, all the better for you to see me run!

Love these shorts lululemon run: speed short. Very comfortable and a flattering fit. (Size 6)

It's time I got a watch. So I can run faster AND get home faster to make you lunch!
I got a watch!!! I got a Garmin 405CX

Cashmere socks. I have discovered the luxury and warmth of using cashmere socks as my base layer sock for skiing. Get me these and you don't have to listen me whine about my cold feet. I love nice socks and I like warm feet.

I need more socks. Nike Dry-fit size small

Spa certificates! Massage therapy at the spa. Need I say more?

Gift Cards

You to come out to hold up signs and cheer for me at my races.

Because I love your support and we get to eat a big breakfast together after!

Love,
Winnie


ps. I hope you liked the cookies I baked for you and Santa, you're great!

What's in my gym bag?

I use this Goober Baby tote bag to hold my loose gym bag items like deodorant, face cream, etc.

   

Water bottle that I can use for post-workout shakes

Hair towel. There's towel service at the gym but the small towel provided by the gym is too small to wrap my hair up with and the big towel is wrapped around my body. I'm not the walk-around-the-changeroom-naked kind of girl.

Flip flops for the shower.

Headphones - if I'm working out on a machine I'll plug in and listen to the news

Socks

Running shoes!

Toque or visor.  If I'm going for a run outdoors.

Snacks. I recently recieved a Vega gift basket and tried these bars. I like them especially because they are gluten-free!

Electrolytes. I carry Nuun for the hot days or extra sweaty workouts. I find that the flavour is not too sweet and easy on my tummy.

And finally my favourite shorts, sports bra and racerback tank top. I really like the Lululemon cool racerback tank tops because they're so versatile. I can wear it for yoga, spin, or running and I can use it for layering or wear it under my sweater or suit jacket for work.

Often I carry 2 sets of workout wear because I'll do a lunch run and after work. Thank goodness my gym provides shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturizer. My bag would be so heavy!

What's in your gym bag?

My running gear

In the hall closet there is an Ikea wire basket clothes storage drawer. The top wire basket is where I store all my running gear and doo-dads. Here are the contents...

2 whistles – that I've lost in this basket. It may be inside another basket that sits inside the big basket... anyway I always carry a whistle when running on the Sunshine Coast because every now and then a bear or two may cross your path, or maybe even a Sasquatch! In my case I came across two very cute bear cubs up a tree. I stopped and cooed over how cute they were and watched them for a while. Until I realized that meant Momma bear must be around too. I walked backwards back the direction I came and still didn't see Momma and when I felt that the coast was clear, I bolted outta there like never before (like lightning!). I guess I could run with a bear bell too. But while hiking one summer a park ranger told me about using a whistle as a bear deterrent. Anyway, that experience was cool. I can now say, I saw bears while running.

Lululemon Brisk Run Gloves with the soft fabric on the fingers so I can wipe my snotty nose - Oh and the little pocket in the palm to stuff my snot rag!

Fuel belt

 

PowerBar Fuel gels
I can usually only stand the chocolate and coffee flavours and I really like the caffeinated gels. At almost every run event I've done they hand out strawberry/banana flavoured gels and it makes me gag. I think it's because that flavour reminds me of the flavoured flouride the dentist used to give me as a kid and it would ALWAYS make me sick until I discovered that you didn't actually have to choose a flavour and you could just go with NO flavour... why didn't the dentist tell me that?!?!

Nike+
I've gone through 2 shoe pods before I poured water down into my iPod insert by accident. I've run over 500km with this kit and now I'm just waiting for the Nike near me to restock on Nike+ Sportbands! Can't wait to treat myself to a new gadget. I really like tracking my running.

Toque – to keep my head and ears warm on cold days

White mesh running cap with red maple leaf (so that when I run in the US people yell, "Go Canada Go!") – to keep my head cool and keep the sweat from falling into my eyes on hot days and I'm Canadian, eh?

A headlamp – I mostly use this for camping and keep it in my running basket with the intention of using it on dark winter morning runs.

Fuelbelt High Visibility Vest
I really don't want to be road kill - it's not really my style. Dark, rainy, winter morning runs and cars can be dangerous. I use this for running on the side of the highway on the Sunshine Coast (which I haven't done yet, I just keep on planning to but I end up finding other routes to run.)

Ziploc bag – to hold my inhaler, tissues and cell phone

Oakley sunglasses - for the bright sunny days

Finally this wire basket drawer is the very top drawer and also is where my gym bag and its contents often rest.

Now should I tell you what's in my gym bag or the wire basket below where I keep my ski stuff??