Friday, April 30, 2021

April Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by for a paper or test, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 201777 books in 201867 books in 2019, and 66 books in 2020). In the last year or so, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks because I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have at least two hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening this year. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in April:

  • April 4, 1968 by Michael Eric Dyson - I had this book in my "to read" list for a while, but figured I'd wait until April to check it out. I have read and watched my fair of information about Martin Luther King Jr, but this was one unlike the majority of what you come across. This book focused on death (not only MLK's actual death, but also the death threats that he had to constantly live with and how taxing and draining that must have been). I will be honest, although you 'know' death had to be a part of MLK's life when you think about, it wasn't something I really thought about. I felt like I was learning about "the man" and not just "the myth" or "the legend". Not only did I find this book eye opening, but the "interview" at the end of the book was something I L-O-V-E-D! The author used what he knew about Martin Luther King Jr and performed an interview had he not died on April 4, 1968. It was something I had never really considered and I thought the author did an amazing job. I will definitely be looking into more books by Michael Eric Dyson. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

  • Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez - I saw this book in the YA section of my Hoopla app and figured I'd give it a try. I'm not sure if you know this, but I played soccer in high school, so this book took me back. I love books with a strong AF female lead, and Camila definitely fit this role. And, don't get me wrong, I can get lost in a good romance, but I love when the female character doesn't lose herself in the chasing of a male companion. There's a decent amount of Spanish sprinkled throughout the book, but I was able to pick up on most of it (either because of my elementary vocabulary or the context around it). The story felt real, raw and relatable (even if I didn't live in Argentina with an abusive father and an extremely patriarchal culture). Camila aka Furia is an inspiring and fierce feminist (even if it is never phrased that way). She isn't look for more opportunities than the males in her society, simply EQUAL opportunities! #RealTalk - There might have been a part of me that hoped there would be a "happily ever after" where she could 'have it all', but that isn't reality for the most part, right? I did appreciate the author put a short epilog at the end to give a quick update as to where the characters were a few months after the story finished. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - Wow. I think this might be one of my favorite books I've read thus far this year. It was beautifully written and full of so much knowledge. The author is an ecologist and an Indigenous woman. She shares her knowledge of both science and indigenous wisdoms through stories and experiences she has lived. Wow. Before I had even gotten about a fourth of the way through I had already put the physical book on my Wish List because I want it on my bookshelf. Her perspective is so amazing (and, I am ashamed to say, something I have never given much thought to). I appreciate that she does not spend the book shaming society with all of the ways that have (or are continuing to) let the natural world down. She could shake her finger at us, yet instead she invites us to learn more, grow in our understanding and love the gifts given to us by Mother Earth. It is more about a spirit of gratitude and reciprocity than anything else. It's a substantial book (almost 17 hours for the audiobook), but it could have continued and I wouldn't have minded in the slightest. She kept me engaged and educated the entire time! I would give it a 10 out of 10.

  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - I had seen friends mention they were reading or had recently finished this book and loved it, so when I saw it available on my Hoopla app I grabbed it right way. Just like with the majority of the books I start, I had no idea what this one was about. The premise behind the story is a young woman in the 1600s was doomed to marry a man she didn't love and ended up selling her soul to the devil. Seeing as the devil is all about semantics, when Addie asked for freedom, the devil made her forgettable (the ability to be/ do whatever she would like). Although Addie is damned to be forgotten, this story definitely isn't forgettable. It was a unique idea and although it was fairly long (the audiobook was over 17 hours), it was a complete page-turner. I would say that some parts were a little long feeling, but overall it kept me engaged. The story bounced all over the place in time (between the 1600s and 2015), but at least the author included dates at the beginning of the chapter to try and help keep things straight (it was a bit jarring, all of the jumping, but also kept things interesting because you were switching to different parts of the story constantly). I thought adding the historical events/ people was great too. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10.

  • The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli - After the last couple longer books, I wanted something I could listen to fairly quickly, so I decided to grab another one of Becky's books. Although I've really enjoyed her other books, for some reason this one didn't grab me as much. Don't get me wrong, it was totally fine, but I just didn't seem as invested in the characters as I had in her other stories. It just felt a little too predictable. The best word I could use to describe it would be "cute", but pretty "basic" as teen love goes. I'd say it is a great book to read by the pool or swinging in a hammock, but I probably would recommend some of this author's other titles if you are looking for a better book. I did really appreciate all of the diversity in the characters, the normalization of medication for mental health and how inclusive and overall positive the story is. I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.

With that, April has come to a close. My reading may not be going gang-busters like it has in the past, but I hope it never completely stops. If you have any suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my library wait list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read and would recommend to others. Check it out!

What was the best book you've read lately? 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Workout Recap - Week 17

Sunday, April 18th – 6.2 mile run with the hubby

Monday, April 19th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, April 20th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Wednesday, April 21st – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, April 22nd – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Friday, April 23rd – Rest Day

Saturday, April 24th – 5 mile run, 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Another week of pain-free running and I'm STOKED! Sure, I haven't ventured much further than 5 or 6 miles, but I am still thrilled that the foot feels fine, the body feels good (I mean, my fibromyalgia because of the changing weather is kickin' my booty, but that would happen whether I was running 20 miles a day or sitting on the couch) and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the injury tunnel! Still sticking with biking on most days to keep my schedule/ routine in place, but hopefully soon I'll be able to transition one of them to a longer (maybe 6-8 miles) run! #SlowButSteadyRUNSTheRace

How were your workouts this past week?

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Monday, April 19, 2021

REVIEW: Currex RUNPRO Insoles

Do you use inserts/ insoles of some sort in your shoes? Prior to about a year or so ago I never had. My shoes always gave me adequate support and fit my foot "like a glove" so I never looked for something additional to add to them. 

I've heard some running stores try to "add on" or "upsell" inserts with all of their shoe purchases. I was 'taught' that the majority of folks, as long as they are in the appropriate footwear, do not need something extra. We always say, "Let the shoe do what the shoe is supposed to do. IF it is lacking in some area {not giving you enough support, filling out your arch enough, etc}, THEN you can add something to it to make it the perfect fit for you." All that to say, some people legit need inserts {i.e. orthotics made by a podiatrist, inserts to fill out their extremely high arch, etc}, some people could benefit from insoles {i.e. taking their shoe from an 8 out of 10 to a perfect 10 in fit and feel} and some people do not need inserts at all.

Source

Anywho, enough about the somewhat common selling practices of run specialty stores and back to the point of the post... 

Source

[Note: This post is NOT sponsored in any way, although I was "gifted" my first pair of Currex Insoles from our running store's sales rep and "won" the next two pairs through social media. The company did not ask me to share my thoughts {nor are they even aware of this post}, but I figured I'd give my feedback in case it could be helpful to some of you.]

Like I mentioned, I hadn't worn any type of inserts in my running shoes (or other shoes) for the first 35+ years of my life. I didn't necessarily have anything against them, I just never felt the need to try them out (especially at upwards of $50+ a pop... #FrugalCarlee). Well, when a sales rep for an insole company we were going to start carrying in the running store I work at offered to outfit the team with a pair of their insoles I figured I'd give them a try. #PerksOfTheJob {Their hope was we'd try them, love them and talk them up/ sell them to all our customers. My thought was that at least I'd have some first hand feedback for our customers, even if it was "they didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean they won't work for you".}

Source

Loandbehold, the Currex Insoles (we carry the RunPRO version in our running store) work AWESOMELY for my feet. Now, forgive me because I'm not a tech rep for the brand or anything, so the deets of what I'm about to share are probably not exactly how the company would teach their employees to explain or sell the product, but at least it's "real" feedback.


A quick note. We say, "All the shoes we carry are great shoes for someone, not everyone... They're mass produced and our feet are unique, so we need to find the one that works best for you {your body, your needs, your gait, your goals, etc}." Just like running shoes, insoles are going to be about comfort and finding the perfect fit FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

Source

We have three distinct brands of insoles at our running store - Currex being the most flexible of the ones we carry. When comparing the three we have, I feel like Currex is the "least intrusive". It has a little extra padding in the heel (which is great for people who heel strike, like I do), a firm piece for the arch support (which comes in three different heights - high, medium and low) and some additional padding under the ball of your foot where you push off the ground.

Source

Since Currex seems (at least to me and my foot) to be the most flexible insole I've tried {but, again, I'm not super versed in the insole world, seeing as I just started using them about a year ago and have only demoed the three brands we carry}, it seems to be a great "starting" point for someone who might be looking for a little something more without jumping all the way to a super firm/ rigid insole {or pulling the trigger on an orthotic that costs a billion and a half dollars}. I have a high arch (or at least that's what the Currex board at our store tells me), but actually wear the medium height in Currex

PS If you don't have a "footdisk" you can use water and paper or cardboard to look at your arch height.

We normally advise folks that you want to put a shoe on and not have to think about it. If something draws your attention to it (whether it's the arch being in the wrong spot, it being too firm, your toes being squished, etc), it's not the right one for you. The same is true for insoles - you want comfort {unless a medical professional is telling you otherwise, of course}. When I use the "high" height I can "feel" it, whereas when I use the "medium" it feels like it just complements my foot.

Source

[Now, I'm going to say this is NOT how Currex advertises their insoles, nor is it something I'd actually suggest, but it's the best way I've found to describe them...] These insoles seem to give my running shoes more life. The shoes we carry tend to be "rated" between 350 and 500 miles (if you run in them daily without giving the cushioning enough time to rebound fully or use them for everyday shoes instead of strictly for runs/ workouts, you'll probably get closer to the shorter end of the spectrum but if you rotate them with other shoes, only use them for your runs and give them a day or so of rest in between uses you'll tend to get closer to the further distance). I normally get about 450-500 miles out of a pair of shoes {I usually have a few pairs in rotation at once and I'm a lighter runner, so the support and cushioning isn't compacted as much per foot strike vs someone who may be heavier}, but with the insoles I feel like I can get closer to 650 miles before my lower back and knees {the first things to tell me it's time to switch my footwear} remind me I need to retire my shoes. 

Me with my last round of shoe donations (which I did during #Carlees36 --
36 days of intentional acts of kindness leading up to my 36th birthday)

Again, because I'm talking about personal experience, I figured it might be important to tell you that I'm a neutral runner (meaning when I walk/ run, my ankles stay straight over my foot from the point of impact to toe-off). My hubby, on the other hand, prontates (meaning when he walks/ runs, his ankles roll inward upon landing to absorb the shock). {FYI: They actually say upwards of 70% of the population pronantes. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to run, you just need to be aware of your gait so you can get the appropriate footwear for however your body works.} With that said, the hubby recently started wearing Currex Insoles (he uses the "low" height) and is loving them as well. This is not to say everyone who tries them will have an amazing experience, but more to say they can potentially work for you no matter your gait. 


Like I said from the jump, this post is not to tell you these ARE the insoles for you (or even that you should wear insoles in the first place), but just my feedback on the RUNPRO Currex Insoles. I'd say I'm still a fairly new runner in comparison to others I know (I "only" started running in 2012), so this just serves as a reminder that I don't know everything there is to know about running {or, #RealTalk, any topic for that matter ;)} and there's always more I can learn/ try/ experiment with. 

Source

Do you use inserts of some sort in your shoes?

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Workout Recap - Week 16

Sunday, April 11th – 3.1 mile run, 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, April 12th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, April 13th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Wednesday, April 14th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, April 15th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Friday, April 16th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, April 17th – 4 mile run, 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Excited to report another pain-free week! Like I mentioned last week, I'm keeping my mileage low and getting back into running slowly. I'm sticking with the biking because it's helpful to get the legs moving, break a bit of a sweat and keep a workout schedule. I'll probably keep with the every-other-day 5K for the next couple weeks till I know for sure everything is back to 100% before I bump a run or two up in mileage (maxing out at 6 miles or so) for a couple weeks after that. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Workout Recap - Week 15

Sunday, April 4th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3 miles with the hubby

Monday, April 5th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, April 6th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Wednesday, April 7th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, April 8th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike, 3.1 mile run

Friday, April 9th – 75 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, April 10th – 4 mile run, 90 minutes on the stationary bike

I AM SO EXCITED! I was able to start running again this week. Not only that, but my runs have been PAIN FREE! This feels like deja vu and I was just saying this (probably because I was), but this time around I plan to get back to running very, VERY slowly! My first run was with the hubby and we took it nice and easy. We actually drove over to a nearby bike path so it was flat. The next two runs I did this week were simply laps around our complex so I could avoid hills (wasn't sure if that would impact my foot or not but I would much prefer to be safe than sorry!). I finally bumped it up to 4 miles at the end of the week, but don't plan on doing more than 15-20 miles a week for the next month or so. I'm trying to be {more} cautious and smart about returning to running this go around in hopes that I can avoid re-injuring myself.

How were your workouts this past week?

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Workout Recap - Week 14

Sunday, March 28th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, March 29th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, March 30th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, March 31st – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, April 1st – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, April 2nd – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, April 3rd – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Another week of solely biking, but my left foot has stopped being painful (or at least I haven't noticed the ache that I had before when I am walking around). Here's to hoping that I can slowly start adding running back into my daily routine, because, golly gee, I have missed it and am going a little stir crazy without having that outlet. #IJustWannaRunAgain

How were your workouts this past week?