The Smells of Running

I bet you thought I was going to talk about stinky running clothes, huh? Well, I'm not.

I'm going to talk about food!

While on my run this afternoon I got to thinking about all the foods I've smelled while running. It seems to me that many of my running routes have taken me by restaurants or bakeries or other places that emit yummy odors.

As I've mentioned previously, I live across the street from a candy factory and any time I run in my neighborhood I run past their building. Frequently the air smells of orange or lemon or grape.

Another place I run by frequently is the bakery in my town's little downtown area. And, yes, it often smells like donuts. Or pastries. Or something sugary. Something about the smell of donuts gets me every time. It's a good thing I don't carry money with me when I run otherwise I fear I'd end up in the bakery instead of running. And I don't even LIKE donuts!

Speaking of donuts, the year I started running regularly I ran with a women's running group once a week. We were training to run our first 5K race. Our usual running path took us past the local county fair grounds. Since our goal race was in September, we ran that path through the height of fair season. Any idea how difficult it is to focus on running when the smell of funnel cake and corn dogs is wafting past?

Several years ago I belonged to a gym that shared a building with various other retail establishments. One of those establishments was a Chinese restaurant. I would dutifully walk from my office to the gym, do my work out, and then walk to my car. Past the Chinese restaurant. Which always smelled like heaven at 6PM. Yet, believe it or not, I never once stopped in for take-out.

Other than the lovely smell of donuts, there was nothing good about today's run. I felt like a slow, plodding mass. My legs felt heavy, my intestines rumbled and threatened to do something horrible with every step, the wind blew in my face both out AND back. Looking at my splits it seems I ran a reverse tempo run. Started out fast, slowed down in the middle, and ended with a fast mile. Very strange.

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 628 ft Location: Forest Park, IL Elev. Gain: +0 ft Date: 04/22/09 Up/Downhill: [+88/-88] Time: 02:08 PM Difficulty: 2.1 / 5.0   Weather: Partly Cloudy and Breezy   61 F temp; 26% humidity   61 F heat index; winds W 24 G 31 Performance Distance: 5.01 miles Time: 0:50:09 Speed: 6.0 mph Pace: 10' 01 /mi Calories: 513 Map   Elevation (ft)   Pace (min/mile)   Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 9' 41 -0' 20 6.2 +0.2 +3 ft 2 9' 54 -0' 07 6.1 +0.1 +10 ft 3 10' 13 +0' 12 5.9 -0.1 0 ft 4 9' 57 -0' 04 6.0 +0.0 -10 ft 5 9' 47 -0' 14 6.1 +0.1 -3 ft end 9' 20 -0' 41 6.4 +0.4 0 ft Versus average of 10' 01 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

Welcome to My World

First of all, I'd like to say hello and welcome and thanks for coming to those of you who clicked over from one of the various blogs I've started commenting on. Wherever you came from, I'm so glad you're here!

I admit, I LOVE comments (although, don't we all? I mean, why else do we put our thoughts out there in a public forum??). So, please, I hope that all of you who found me one way or another keep reading and commenting.

Keeping that in mind, I thought I'd pimp out my audience participation post. Jedi Dad asked if he got extra credit for audience participation. Well, I can't promise extra credit, but I can promise something!

For everyone who asks a question and references my audience participation post, I will send you a little something from my neck of the woods:



Don't like Lemonheads? How about an assortment:



Why would I send you Lemondheads (or Orangeheads or Grapeheads or any of their other friends)? Because I live across the street from the factory that makes them! When you receive your candy you can open up the box, take a big whiff, and imagine what it's like to go for a run with me in my neighborhood. Because, yes, it frequently smells of lemon, grape, or orange candy around here. Thankfully, I like those smells.

So, hit me up with a question, and I'll make sure you get your candy. Although, you should probably email me your address, too. I'll probably post answers to the questions this weekend, so let's say you have until the end of the day Saturday to get your participation points.

Tomorrow I'll post about tonight's 4 mile run and possibly my love of bandannas. Last night's Pilates and elliptical workout wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Except we did side planks! I love side planks. Although, it appears I'm the only one in the class that does since everyone else groaned and complained during our set of six (three each side). Wimps.