Author: Jill McCauslin (Page 13 of 23)

Happy Healthy Holiday

December 19, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 1 Comment

Let me wish you a happy healthy holiday!

Here it is, the end of 2019 and we’re in the midst of holiday fervor. I hope you’re enjoying time with family and friends and reaping the benefits of your year-long efforts to be fit and strong.

We are having a different kind of Christmas this year and I am getting to see my sister, nephew, and two grand nieces, as well as my parents, brother, and son and his fiancée. I don’t often spend the holidays with all of them so it’s a treat.

This year has been a challenge for me, health-wise. I didn’t realize until this December just how much pain and discomfort I’ve been in. I’ll save that discussion for the Fit Strong Women Over 50 podcast and probably a future blog post. So, I’ve gone into this holiday being grateful that I can celebrate it and hoping to be able to continue working on improving my health.

I also find myself growing melancholy around this time of year. I miss my husband and I miss our Christmas traditions. So, I try to avoid that by planning new traditions and spending time with family but those moments of grief still creep in.

Most of us don’t get to be 50 or older and not have people we miss and traditions that have changed. And I know most of us have spent the year working on ourselves, as well as caring for others.

Happy Healthy Holiday

So, here’s a few thoughts on how to have a happy healthy holiday.

Enjoy. Don’t abstain from all treats but don’t feel compelled to overindulge either. We say this a lot, I know, but I think it’s good advice. If you love your aunt’s homemade fudge, have a piece. Enjoy it. Savor it and then maybe pass on the store bought candy. Now, if you know that eating one piece of fudge will send you into a candy-eating frenzy, perhaps pass on the fudge and enjoy a different treat.

Exchange gifts. At first I suggested to my brother that we not exchange gifts this year and then I thought, he does so much for our family, I want to give him a gift. I don’t really care if he gives me one but I definitely want to acknowledge all that he does. If the person you want to give to really doesn’t need or want anything, make a donation in their name to a cause that they like. For example, make a donation to a local animal shelter if that’s what your friend or family member really cares about.

Consider giving events or experiences to people, instead of stuff. If someone needs an item, certainly that makes a great gift. Many of us, though, don’t really need anything so perhaps a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant works. Movie passes are a great gift, I think. A family with children would appreciate a membership to the local zoo.

Thank people. There are ways to give to people without buying a gift. Perhaps you share some of the cookies that your friend gave you with your elderly neighbor. Perhaps give a card to someone who has helped you out over the year. Even just saying thank you to someone is good.

Enjoy yourself. Haul everyone off to look at Christmas lights or watch a favorite holiday movie. For that matter, go to the movie theater and treat yourself to a night out.

Don’t forget to exercise! If you’re traveling or hosting family, your schedule may not allow you to make it to the gym or your regular yoga class. That doesn’t mean you should completely forget your exercise. Get in a long walk. If you’re traveling, perhaps check out the hotel’s fitness center or, if you’re visiting family, go with them to their gym. Call a gym, yoga studio or YMCA and ask about using the facility for the time that you’re visiting. You can always do some body weight exercises, such as push-ups, squats, lunges, and that kind of thing.

The important thing is to take care of yourself, acknowledge your feelings, and enjoy your holidays.

I’m enjoying my time with family and hope that you do too.

Have a happy healthy holiday!

Nuun Sport for Replenishing Electrolytes

December 12, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

I first picked up a tube of Nuun Sport tablets at the expo for the Akron Marathon. Boy, do I enjoy a good race expo. You can see what’s new in the world of running and choose from a variety of products. Lots of gadgets and accessories galore. There’s also lots of energy gels and electrolyte options. I bought a tube of Nuun tablets from one of the exhibitors, along with some other goodies.

Nuun tablets are meant to be dissolved in your water bottle. They’re similar to Alka Seltzer in that you drop a tablet into water and it fizzes until eventually the tablet dissolves.

It can take a while for the tablet to completely dissolve. I find myself sometimes shaking the bottle, trying to hurry up the whole process. Come on, I want to drink this now! I suppose this means I should do a better job of planning how to use Nuun for replenishing electrolytes.

Nuun Sport

What do I like about Nuun? I like that it’s fairly light. The flavors aren’t overpowering. It also doesn’t have a lot of sugar or sugar replacements in it. The Nuun website says that they were the first to separate electrolyte from carbohydrate replenishment. Therefore, all of the sugars that are in Gatorade or PowerAde aren’t part of Nuun.

I also like the fact that the tablets are scored so they can be cut in half. That way you can slide the tablet into a small opening or only use half a tablet.

Nuun comes in a small tube with a screw on lid. That makes it easily transportable and it can fit in a pocket or running belt. I did throw one into my purse and the lid eventually worked its way off and I had to rummage around to find the tablets and then throw them away. I do not want to eat anything that’s been bouncing around inside my purse.

Flavors

Apparently, this product is a success because their list of flavors continue to grow. Some of the flavors they currently sell are:

Cherry Limeade
Citrus Fruit
Fresh Lime
Fruit Punch
Grape
Lemon Lime
Mango Orange
Orange
Strawberry Lemonade
Tri-Berry
Tropical
Watermelon
Wild Berry

Ingredients

Each electrolyte tablet contains the following: sodium (360 mg), potassium (100 mg), magnesium (25 mg), calcium (13 mg), vitamin c (38 mg) and sugar (1g).

Serving Size: 1 tablet in 16 oz. of water

Potassium: 150 milligrams

Sodium: 300 milligrams

Calories Per Serving: 15

Notice that some of the flavors have caffeine in them.

You can check the website for ways to buy Nuun. I noticed that it’s available around me at running stores and grocery stores, including Walmart. So, they shouldn’t be too hard to locate. Plus, you can order them directly from the Nuun website: www.nuunlife.com.

I like Nuun Sport. The flavors that I’ve tried are light and refreshing. They don’t have that cloying taste of the sweeter drinks. Also, I like that it doesn’t have a lot of sugar or carbs. That way I can separate my need to replenish electrolytes and to refuel with carbs.

I do like the tube that they come in, even if it did fall apart in my purse. Lesson learned, don’t carry it around for weeks without using it.

There’s so many flavors that I’m going to have to try a new one.

Do you use Nuun Sport? What do you think? Let me know by commenting here or on our Facebook page. You can email me at jill@becomingelli.com.

Benefits of the Bench Press

November 14, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 1 Comment

Benefits of the Bench Press? Really? Yes, I’m going to talk about why you might do a bench press at the gym.

I have been trying to up my strength training lately. I felt like I was not progressing as I should be, or, really, that I was sliding backwards. That’s one thing about being my age. It’s easier to lose muscle than to gain it. Plus, here in Ohio, it’s heading into winter. It’s becoming more difficult to run outside and it’s easier to spend more time at the gym. It’s the season of strength training.

I need to get upper body workouts in and the bench press is a great way to work on it. If you do a push/pull schedule, the chest press falls on a push day. If you go to the old fashioned schedule, it’s chest and triceps day. (The other day is back and biceps and that’s not counting leg day and abs day.)

Flat Bench Press

The names for these exercises are not flowery. A flat bench press is done on a flat bench. It’s the exercise that most of us associate with big muscular men pushing 300 pounds.

Thanks to Mike Pastva for the photo.

You lie flat on the bench, feet on the floor, unrack the bar, push it up, bring it down to your chest just below your breasts and then push it up again.

You can build muscle doing this but don’t be afraid to start with just the bar. You want to make sure you can do it before you start adding weights to the bar.

If you begin to add weights to the bar, be sure to get someone to spot you. That’s the hard part for me because I don’t usually have someone to spot me unless I’m working with a trainer. I could probably find someone working out who wouldn’t mind so I need to just ask for that help.

I started with just the bar and did a set of 15 reps. I then added five pound plates and did another 15. Then I went to ten pound plates, and then both the five and ten pound plates. I ended up with 25 pounds on each side. The bar weighs 45 pounds so with an additional 50 pounds (the 25 on each side), I pressed about 95 pounds. I needed some help with that last set though so I’m not really there yet.

Inclined Bench Press

For this press, you raise the bench a bit. You can start with the bench at a higher angle and then as the weight that you lift goes up, you can lower the bench a bit. So you might start with the bench at a 45° angle and end with it at a 10° angle. I just lower it down a notch at a time.

I use dumb bells when I do the inclined bench press. I’m sure you can use the bar instead but the dumb bells make me work both arms just a bit more. At least, that’s how it feels to me.

Here’s my workout:

I start with lighter weights. Right now, for me, I start with 10 pound dumbbells and do a set of about 15. Then I begin to work my way up the weights and as the weight goes up, my reps go down. Needless to say, since I start at 10 pounds and, if I have someone to spot me, I go up to 30 or 35 pounds, I end up doing about five sets. If I don’t have someone to spot me, I stop at around 25 pounds and just do a couple sets with that.

I worry that if I go too heavy on my own, I’ll have an accident.

Non-Bench Press

You can do a dumb bell or kettle bell press without using a bench. In my boot camp class, we’ve been known to lie on the floor and do a press. I’m not sure why we do that except that lying on the floor doesn’t allow you to drop your elbows any lower so perhaps that’s it. That and, of course, there are no benches in the gym.

I’ve done a press using a large physio ball. Balance on the ball, plant your feet firmly on the ground and press the dumb bells up and back down.

Benefits of the Bench Press

The bench press really works your upper chest muscles (your pecs). We’re not going to look like some muscle man but it does make you look a bit better to have stronger chest muscles.

I’ve read that working the chest muscles does help prevent sagging breasts. I think that’s worth considering. I don’t know if this can overcome already saggy breasts.

The bench press also works your arm muscles. I definitely felt it in my triceps later.

Just like all strength training, the bench press is good for bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Finally, you will feel impressive, like Elli, in the gym when you start to bench press.

Cautions

If you’ve never done a bench press, ask a trainer at your gym to help you get started. It’s not a complicated exercise but it’s worth getting some advice when you start.

I’m not a trainer or a physical therapist so I can only tell you what I’ve read and what I’ve done. If this hurts or is too hard, work up to it. There are certainly plenty of other exercises that will work the chest muscles so try those if you don’t like the bench press.

Talk to Me!

Do you bench press? If so, what do you do? Share your secrets! If you don’t, do you want to? Share your thoughts with me. Leave a message below or email me at jill@becomingelli.com. You can also leave a voicemail message at 330-970-6662.

Adventure Travels with Denise Wakeman

November 12, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 2 Comments

Adventure Travels with Denise Wakeman

In episode 45, Chris and Jill talk about adventure travels with Denise Wakeman. They discuss her travels, training for adventure, and how she began her business, Globetrotting Adventure Travel.

Denise Wakeman’s motto is “Just say yes!” After a life-changing trek in the Peruvian Andes, she embraced her inner Adventurer and ditched the black business suits for a knapsack and hiking boots. As long as there’s wifi, Denise is a happy camper.

Denise’s love of travel began when she traveled around the world as a child with her family. She has spent over 20 years as an online marketing business consultant. So, it made sense when, in 2018, Denise combined her love of online marketing and travel by starting a second business, Globetrotting Adventure Travel.

Getting Fit and Strong

Denise shares with us how She changed her lifestyle in 2007. Basically, she was a couch potato until her 40’s and then joined Weight Watchers and a gym. She then became a runner. Now she craves working out and makes sure she’s active on a regular basis. Denise combines her physical activity with her social life by meeting her friends regularly for a brisk hike, followed by breakfast.

Denise now organizes adventure trips for people looking to do more than standard vacation travel. She takes groups to various parts of the world where they experience great food, wine, and adventure of some kind.

Chris and Jill discuss with Denise:

Her love of the Peruvian Andes
Her various treks in mountains and other adventures
What prompted Denise to start a second business
How to train for adventure travel
Her advice for women traveling solo
Best ways to eat while hanging out in airports and flying
Best ways to eat while traveling in different parts of the world
How to avoid jet lag

Please share with us any of your adventures in travel. You can post here on the website or on the Becoming Elli Facebook page. Feel free to email us at Jill@BecomingElli.com or Chris@BecomingElli.com.

How to Contact Denise Wakeman:

Websites: Denise Wakeman and Globetrotting Adventure Travel

Facebook: Denise Wakeman

Instagram: Denise Wakeman

Twitter: @DeniseWakeman

Recap of Buckeye Half Marathon and 10K

November 7, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 2 Comments

Last weekend I ran the 2019 Buckeye Half Marathon and 10K. Well, I ran the 10K part. Others ran the half marathon.

The 10K ended up being a bit longer than it was supposed to be because the course was set up for the half marathon and then they figured out the 10K. Instead of running 6.2 miles, I ran closer to 6.5 miles. I didn’t think that was all that unusual because races often seem to go long.

The last race I ran was in April. It was the 5K Hop for Hope. I went back and looked at my results from the spring race. My pace for the 10K was a bit slower than it was for the 5K but that makes sense since it was twice as long.

I’m happy with my results. I really just wanted to run the race without feeling injured or sore and I succeeded. Immediately after the race, my right hip was sore.

One of the things I noticed is that because we ran in one direction on the road, we never changed which side was higher on the crown of the road. My right leg was continually on the higher side and it was that hip that was sore. The good news is that by the next morning it was fine.

Early November in Ohio is likely to be cold and it certainly was this year. Temperatures were in the 30’s (Fahrenheit) but it was a beautiful sunny morning so really it was great running weather.

I wore my hat and gloves and several layers. I managed to be comfortable throughout the race. My hands were cold at the beginning but by the end, I’d taken off the gloves. Figures.

The course is a loop through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This year it was completely on roads. No trails. The 10K was one loop and the half marathon was two loops. There were a few hills though much of the course was fairly flat.

Heading to the Starting Line

I heard the announcer say at the start of the race that there were about 600 runners. Later, I checked and saw that there were 229 runners in the 10K and 355 in the half marathon. I am a bit surprised that more people ran the half marathon than the 10K. All finishers received the same medal.

Swag also included a great performance sweatshirt, which I was happy to get. Check it out!

At the finish line, volunteers were handing out the medals. An announcer called out people’s names as they crossed. I love hearing my name announced as I cross the finish line.

The food and water was in a large tent so that’s where I headed. Chris was there as a volunteer. She had the most important job in the tent. She was handing out Buckeye candies. If you don’t know what Buckeye candies are, they’re a creamy peanut butter candy dipped in chocolate. They look like actual buckeyes, which are nuts found in the Midwest part of the US. A delicious but decadent treat.

The Becoming Elli Crew: Chris and Jill

Running the Buckeye 10K made me realize that I do enjoy racing. I need to make sure that I am fit and strong for next summer’s racing season. I have work to do over the winter!

What races have you run recently? Or what motivates you to keep training over the winter months? Let me know by posting here or on the Becoming Elli Facebook page or email me at jill@becomingelli.com.

Ten Tips for Being Healthy at a Desk Job

November 1, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 6 Comments

Here you go: ten tips for being healthy at a desk job. I’ve been working in a cubicle for the past few months and I’m finding it to be hard on my body. Plus, my commute right now is about an hour each way. You figure, eight hours at work and a two hour round trip commute and I’m sitting at least ten hours a day.

It’s amazing how tiring it is to sit all day. It’s draining.

Besides fatigue, sitting at a desk is hard on the body. My neck and shoulders are sore, my arms need a good stretch, and my hips ache. I try to move around but it’s not enough. I struggle with not getting in enough movement each day.

My Fitbit tells me that my total steps each day have dropped. That adds to my stress. Not that I have to have the actual steps but I really feel better when I’m moving.

What to do? I’m working on this so I can’t say I have the problem solved but here’s some ideas on what to do if you’re sitting at a desk all day.

Ten Tips for Being Healthy at a Desk Job

Fit in some activity at the beginning or end of your day. With such a long time devoted to working, this isn’t always possible but I find that if I can get to the gym early in the morning or in the evening, I feel better. A short run helps too. A walk around the block is better than nothing. Moving definitely helps with recovering from sitting all day.
Get up and move at work. This can be as easy as taking the long way around to the restroom. If you have a staircase, try walking up and down the stairs periodically. Right now, I’m in a place without stairs and the restroom and lunchroom are about 200 steps from my desk. I struggle with getting in much movement during the day. I do, however, park as far from the building as I can. Surprisingly, I always thought everyone does this but I see that I’m wrong. Only one or two other people park by me. Everyone else parks as close to the building as possible.
Take a walk at lunchtime. As long as the weather holds, I love to go outside to walk. Right now, I walk up and down the street where I’m working. It’s funny to see people from other buildings also out walking. If necessary, keep a pair of walking shoes in your car or at your desk.
When you go outside or move around, try to shift your focus. We spend so much time looking at things up close, that our eyes become fatigued. When I walk outside, I try to focus on things far off in the distance. I don’t really know if this helps my eyes but I definitely notice a difference when I manage to have a longer gaze.
Pack your lunch and snacks. It’s a lot easier to control what you eat if you bring your own food. You can pack leftovers from your dinner for your lunch or just make a large salad that includes some protein. I try to avoid my sardines at work because I know they have a strong fishy smell.
Pack extra snacks. Sometimes I’m just hungrier during the day and want a snack. I tend to bring more food than I might need so that if I’m starving on that long drive home, I can eat. I try to avoid walking in the house at the end of the day starving. That leads to nothing good happening.
Avoid the snacks in the office. Don’t start the vending machine habit. I find it’s easier just to not use it than to start the habit and then have to fight with myself every day over buying a snack. It’s been a while since I’ve worked in an office every day and I’d forgotten how every social activity involves food. People don’t bring in healthy choices, either. It’s things like cupcakes and cookies. Avoid them. I noticed at the last event that several people passed on the cake and nobody questioned it. I think office workers are used to there being people who are dieting or following a different way of eating. Don’t let yourself feel peer-pressured into eating things you don’t want to eat.
Drink lots of water. It’s easy to forget to drink water because you’re not working up a sweat while working at a desk. I bring my water bottle and try to refill it a couple of times during the day. For one thing, drinking more water and having to refill the bottle means I have to make an extra trip to the restroom and the lunchroom. That gets me moving just a bit more. (see step 2 above.)
STRETCH! Try stretching your hands, wrists, and elbows. Stretch your legs and hips. I think I’ll have to write another post about desk yoga or desk stretches. Do what feels good.
Maintain good posture. This means feet on the floor. Don’t cross your legs. Don’t sit on your foot. Try not to slouch. Try to keep your head upright. Make sure your monitor is high enough that you’re not bending your head forward.
Here’s a bonus tip. Practice smiling at people.Work is stressful. People are under pressure. The more you smile, the better you’ll feel. and the better those around you will feel.

So, there’s my ten tips for being healthy at a desk job. OK, actually eleven.

What tips can you add? I really need all the help I can get so please share your ideas with me at jill@becomingelli.com. Or leave a voice mail message at the Becoming Elli phone number, 330-970-6662 or just leave a message below.

Gatorade for Replenishing Electrolytes

October 24, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

It’s hard to have a discussion about replacing electrolytes without mentioning Gatorade. I wrote about electrolytes recently and thought I’d talk about some of the different sports drinks on the market. Gatorade created the market for sports drinks. It was created by a team of scientists to help the football coach at University of Florida. His athletes were training in the Florida heat and were struggling. Gatorade was created and the football players performed better.

Gatorade is now owned by Pepsi and is one of its best selling products.

Ingredients

According to the Gatorade website, the following ingredients are in the lemon lime flavored regular (original) Gatorade:

WATER, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, CITRIC ACID, SALT, SODIUM CITRATE,MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, GUM ARABIC, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN,NATURAL FLAVOR, YELLOW 5

Here are the nutritional facts for a 20 ounce (591 mL) bottle:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Bottle (591 mL)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 140

Total Fat 0g

Sodium 270mg

Potassium 75mg

Total Carbohydrate 36g

Sugars 34g

Protein 0g

Benefits of Gatorade

Most of us don’t need to worry about replacing electrolytes until we’ve been exercising for an extended period of time or are pushing ourselves at a higher pace. Of course, there’s also heat to consider. Basically, when you’re doing some heavy sweating, you probably should consider a sports drink.

Also, the sugar in the drink provides a boost in energy. It’s a quick and easy way to get sugar back into your body.

Gatorade answers both of these functions: energy and replenishing electrolytes.

Downside to Gatorade

Some people dislike Gatorade due to its use of sugar and food dyes. If you’re trying to follow a whole foods diet, this is probably not the product for you. Food dyes can be problematic for people.

The amount of sugar is pretty close to a serving of cola. So, it may have more sugar than you need for your sports performance.

To be fair, you’re going to find sugar of some kind in almost every sports drink. That’s part of drinking something to boost your energy.

Gatorade does also make a non-sugar version. It replaces the sugar with an artificial sweetener.

I think the downside is really that people think this is a healthy drink so they drink it as a regular beverage or they overestimate their activity and think they need this when a glass of water would probably be sufficient.

Parents give Gatorade to their children, thinking it’s a healthier choice but it’s not really all that different than giving them a soda.

Conclusion

I just cruised through the lunchroom where I work and noted that there are four different kinds of Gatorade being sold in the cooler, next to cans of soda, juices, and coffee-based drinks. I can tell you that nobody here is working up that big of a sweat.

If you need to replenish electrolytes, go ahead and have a Gatorade. It’s served at many races at the water stations. If you can be selective, there are other sports drinks or mixes that have fewer food dyes but Gatorade will certainly do what it’s intended for.

Chris wrote about using Gatorade when she’s biking or running in the heat. It works for her. What works for you? Do you have a favorite sports drink? Please let us know here on the website or on the Becoming Elli Facebook page. Feel free to email me at Jill@BecomingElli.com.

Condescending Compliments or Am I Too Sensitive?

October 17, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

Did you ever get what you thought were condescending compliments? It sure seems to happen to me.

Boot Camp

Recently, I’m at boot camp and the very fit looking 30-something-year-old woman who is paired up with me looks less than pleased. But we proceed to work through the different stations and we speak pleasantly to each other. She asks me if I want her to put a lighter weight on a bar for me. I say no thank you. She asks me if I need help putting a harness on for pulling the prowler sled. I say no thank you.

She periodically says, “oh, you’re doing so well.”

At the end of the class, she said she couldn’t believe how well I did with the prowler pull. I said thank you and did not roll my eyes even though I wanted to.

There was another woman at boot camp who used to do this to me all the time. She would seek me out after class to say, “You did such a great job.” She didn’t go up to others to say that so I think it was a comment on my age. It really irritated me. I finally changed my response from just “thank you” to “thanks, you did really well too.” That made me feel better because it felt as snarky coming from me as it did from her.

Condescending Compliments

Of course, I know it’s nice to be told you’re doing a good job and that it’s good to be encouraging to your fellow class members. I have no problems with the high fives and fist bumps I get from people in the class. And I have no problem when someone yells out, “you go, Jill!”

But why do I object to being told, usually by a young woman, that I’m doing such a good job? I feel like the subtext is “I can’t believe a crone like you can do this class.”

I think what I find objectionable about it is that these feel like condescending compliments. Is it possible to be condescending at the same time as you’re giving a compliment? The compliments would probably mean more if they weren’t paired with her trying to help me.

Why would I be in a boot camp class if I need help changing a plate? That’s what I want to ask.

Am I the Problem?

But perhaps my discomfort says more about me than her. Do I dislike the compliments because I feel like I don’t really belong? I am struggling with this.

There are a couple other women around my age who also attend boot camp. One of them out performs me on just about everything (that, of course, is Diane who we interviewed on our podcast) and the other is behind me in performance but is gaining strength quickly. It’s not like I’m the only woman there my age. The majority of people, though, are younger than I am, that’s for sure.

I have gotten compliments from people at the gym that felt genuine and those comments didn’t offend me at all. In fact, they made me feel great.

What’s the solution? What’s the best response?

Do you get condescending compliments? Do you think I’m being too sensitive? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just leave a comment below or call our voice mail at 330-970-6662.

Nita Sweeney Depression Hates a Moving Target Podcast 42

Depression Hates a Moving Target with Author Nita Sweeney

September 24, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

Episode 42 Depression Hates a Moving Target with Author Nita Sweeney

In episode 42, Chris and Jill talk to Nita Sweeney, the author of Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink. Nita Sweeney is a writer and runner who lives in Columbus, Ohio. Her memoir was published this year and an audio version was recently released. In it, Nita describes her transition into a runner and how she overcame both physical and emotional obstacles.

Nita earned a journalism degree from The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, a law degree from The Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College.

A product of best-selling author Natalie Goldberg’s “writing practice” method, Nita has taught writing for nearly 20 years and is a member of the National Association of Memoir Writers and the Ohio Writers Guild.

Nita started out running for 30 seconds at a time using a kitchen timer. Through training and having supportive family, friends, and running communities, she has become a true runner. She has run three marathons, 27 half marathons and over 80 other races. Her memoir describes how she became a runner and able to participate in all of these races.

Chris and Jill’s conversation with Nita included:

How Nita took up running
How it improved her mental health
Dealing with pain and injury
Being a slow runner
Meditation
The value of communities for running
What kind of shoes she likes

Nita’s memoir is available at the various online book stores and your local bookstore. Nita says she loves seeing the waiting list for her book at her library system.

Links

Nita Sweeney

Chi Running

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nitasweeney/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/nitasweeneyauthor/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nitasweeney/

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/nitasweeney/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nitasweeney/

End of Summer

September 19, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 2 Comments

It’s now the end of summer and in just a few days it will be the first day of autumn. Summer in Ohio is key training time, if you do anything outdoors related. Soon, it will be time to get back on the treadmill or head to the gym for more strength training.

Before I do that, however, I thought it is worth looking back at the summer to see what I accomplished.

Summer Activities

I managed to keep attending boot camp and training sessions at the gym. Did I really gain any strength? I don’t know but I went often enough that I don’t feel that I lost anything.

I ran a fair amount and managed to run in a variety of places.

In the early summer, I spent a few days at the beach and got a couple runs in there. My ankle and hip was still bothering me so I walked on the beach and ran on sidewalks and boardwalks. Sand running was too challenging for me.

I spent a couple weeks in South Carolina with my parents. I found a few great trails for running on and managed to get in some runs. It was extremely hot so I had to adjust to that.

Back in Ohio, I ran in several locations. I enjoyed some parks, some road running in neighborhoods, and did some trail running.

This was the first summer in a few years when I didn’t run any races. I missed the races but never managed to sign up for one. At first, I was feeling too slow and out of shape to race and then I began to improve but just never managed to sign up for one.

End of Summer

A lesson learned is that it’s good to have some races on the calendar. It really does improve training because there’s a goal and an actual date on the calendar. I think next year I’ll sign up for races in the spring so that I know I have to do them.

How was your summer? Did you reach your goals? Do something fun? Share a comment here or on the Becoming Elli Facebook page. You can email me at Jill@Becomingelli.com.