Running Archives - My Inner Shakti

Review: On Cloud Workout Shoes

I’ve been meaning to share about these On Cloud workout shoes for a while now. In all honesty, I can’t believe I haven’t yet because since I’ve been using them, I’ve had zero knee pain.

Before I go into detail about the shoes, let me share a little context…

My shoe history

Depending on what my exercise regime has looked like, I’ve gone from wearing whatever sneakers I had on hand to getting fitted for shoes.

Up until our move to Chicago four years ago, running was my primary form of exercise. Somewhere along the way, my knees started hurting. I even got an MRI at one point because we didn’t know if I had done some real damage.

Last March, I joined a local gym and started taking classes (HIIT, strength training, spin, etc.). At first, my knees still hurt every now and then, but after seeing how committed I was to these classes, Vishnu suggested I get a pair of On Cloud shoes because he’d read so many positive reviews.

I was hesitant at first because of the price tag, but Vishnu insisted, so I gave in! I ended up getting the Cloud X shoes, which are now only available in red. After using these particular ones for over a year, I wouldn’t hesitate to try the other varieties.

In terms of sizing, I got a 7.5 which is actually a half a size smaller than what I get in running shoes. 7.5 is my true size in other shoes (sometimes I can go down to 7). If you like having a good amount of toe room, I recommend going a half a size up, but otherwise, your true size should be fine.

Pros of On Cloud (Cloud X)

I’m so glad Vishnu convinced me to get these because they saved my knees. I can honestly say that I have yet to experience knee pain like before after working out. And I’ve done some pretty intense stuff over the past 15 months or so.

They don’t have a ton of cushion, but they provide a ton of support. For example, in a lot of the classes I took, we’d be jumping in one way or another for a lot of the class. These shoes took the shock of all that jumping without impacting my joints. The proof is in zero knee pain, people!

Additionally, On Cloud shoes are extremely light weight and comfortable. There’s no bulkiness, which a lot of running shoes have.

Speaking of, On Cloud shoes are pretty stylish. I didn’t think the would be, but I actually love the way they look. A nice little bonus!

Cons of On Cloud (Cloud X)

The only real con I see is the price tag, BUT I do think it’s justified now that I’ve worn and used the shoes almost every day for the past year +.

Final thoughts

Honestly, you guys, these shoes are bomb.com. I can’t tell you how awesome it is to exercise and not feel any pain in my knees. Something I got used to for years.

If you’re in the market for new workout shoes, I highly recommend checking out On Cloud. I guarantee you won’t regret it. And your joints will thank you (and me!).

Let me know if you have any questions (in the comments)!

The 2015 Miami Half Marathon

written by Parita 15 Comments

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I did it! I ran the entire 13.1 miles of the Miami Half Marathon! And believe it or not, my Achilles tendon, my knees, my calves, etc. were all fine making it a relatively pain-free race. I was 110% sure running the whole thing was out of the question, so no one was more shocked than I was.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with the day before the race.

RACE EXPO

Vishnu and I made our way to Miami Beach around 9:45 am on Saturday morning. The wedding we attended this weekend started at 2:00 pm so unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to explore the race expo much. I ran in, got my bib and t-shirt, and ran out.

MEALS

Breakfast – Protein shake (banana, chia seeds, instant coffee, cocoa powder, protein powder, spinach)
Lunch – Breakfast plate (eggs, potatoes, and toast) at OTC
Dinner – Hodgepodge of stuff from the Whole Foods hot bar (pasta, lasagna, lentil salad, chickpea cake, etc.) + a vegan blueberry muffin
LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!

RACE DAY GEAR

After we got home from dinner, I laid out all of my race day gear. I knew if I didn’t do this the night before my morning would be hectic and stressful.

earphones
knee brace
bib
fanny pack
running shorts, sports bra, and long sleeve t-shirt

RACE DAY!

The race was scheduled to start at 6:05 am, so Vishnu and I planned to leave our place at 5:00 am. This means I woke up at 4:15 am. I got dressed and made myself a pre-race snack (bread + peanut butter + banana).

We originally planned to take the free Metromover over to the American Airlines Arena (where the Heat play), but when we stepped outside, Vishnu suggested we walk so I could warm up a little bit. This was an ironic statement because it was a chilly 53 degrees outside.

After making our way through the crowd, we found my corral…corral H (the second to last one!). After snapping a few pictures and exchanging a huge hug, Vishnu and I parted ways.

I waited with the other corral H runners as the 13th annual Miami Marathon and Half Marathon got underway. We learned that there were approximately 45,000 runners from over 80 countries (Colombia, Canada, Australia, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, Chile, India, the UK…just to name a few!) running either the half or the full marathon. After the national anthem was sung (I definitely teared up!), the race officially started. Corral A was first, followed by B, and so forth and so on. There was a two minute wait between corrals, so I didn’t cross the start line until 6:53 am.

Here’s a little breakdown of the race (as much as I can remember anyway!):

Mile 1: I was freezing at this point (53 degrees + a strong breeze), and I quickly realized I had to pee. Even still, mile 1 went by rather quickly

RESTROOM BREAK: I hate porta potties. They are just gross. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

Miles 2-5: I don’t remember much, except that after mile 4, I remember thinking, “a little less than a third of the way done!”

Mile 6: I grabbed a glass of water at the water station and took a small sip because my mouth felt dry. However, I didn’t want to drink too much and risk having to use the porta potty again.

Mile 8: At this point, I felt like I was in the homestretch even though I had 5.1 miles left to go. The Venetian Causeway was the last long bit before we headed back into downtown.

Mile 11: I was so excited because there were so many people cheering us on at this point. And this was the real homestretch! I think I ate some fresh pineapple at one of the water/food stations!

Mile 13.1: I definitely yelled “woot woot” as I crossed the finish line at 9:30 am! Such an incredible feeling of accomplishment and relief…haha!

If you do the math, you’ll figure out that I ran the half in 2:36 (including the potty break). While this is probably super slow for many people, I was excited to learn that I finished the race in almost 2.5 hours, especially considering that I hardly ran after my 11 mile run two weeks prior. Also, as I mentioned, I didn’t feel any significant pain during the 13.1 miles. It was so strange! I mean, I had slight heel and knee pain, but nothing that stopped me in my tracks/forced me to walk. I told my mom that it was nothing short of a miracle!

THE COURSE:

The course was awesome! I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a beautiful and relatively flat race. We started in front of the American Airlines Arena, made our way on to the A1A (one of the bridges that connects Miami to South Beach), ran up Ocean Drive and Washington Ave, crossed the Venetian Causeway back into downtown, and finished in front of Bayfront Park.

I’m so glad I ran this particular race and explored Miami in this way!

POST-RACE ACTIVITY

Per my request, Vishnu and I walked home instead of riding the train. The last mile of the full marathon went right by our condo building so we got to cheer on some of the runners!

Once home, I stretched and took a shower (to warm up!). It. Felt. So. Good! I then made myself a protein shake and promptly fell asleep for three hours. I woke up a bit hungry but not starving, so I ate some strawberries (pretty much an entire carton) while watching TV. Before I knew it, it was time to leave for dinner!

Vishnu and I, along with our friends Anand, Nazia, and Aman, had dinner at Kush in the Wynwood area of Miami.

My black bean burger, fries, and beer satisfied my appetite and cravings, as evident by this picture…

This meal was the perfect way to celebrate – good food + good friends!

THANK YOU!

And last but certainly not least, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the support…not only on race day but all throughout my training! I had so much fun documenting my journey and sharing it with all of you. Your kind words (via Instagram, Facebook, email, and text) made the experience that much more awesome! THANK YOU!!!

I plan on sharing more about my post-half fitness plans in an upcoming post. But for now, rest, slow walks, and yoga are on the agenda!

Have a great Tuesday!

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training
Week 6 Half Marathon Training
Week 7 Half Marathon Training
Week 8 Half Marathon Training
Week 9 & 10 Half Marathon Training
Week 11 Half Marathon Training
Week 12 & 13 Half Marathon Training

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 + 13

written by Parita 2 Comments

When planning my week 12 workouts, I had every intention of following the original script. I even penciled everything into my planner.

Well, as we all know, sometimes it’s not about our plans…

Before I explain, here’s what week 12 looked like:

Monday – Arm Burner + 20 minute power walk on the dreadmill
Tuesday – Rest
Wednesday – 3.25 mile run + 1.25 mile walk
Thursday – Rest
Friday – T25 (Speed 1.0)
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – 6.5 mile run

So what happened was…

After a much needed rest day on Tuesday, I felt fresh and ready to knock out 4.5 miles on Wednesday. However, about 3.25 miles in, I started to feel pain in what I now know is my Achilles tendon. Almost like a shooting pain that started right above my heel and shot up my left leg. So I stopped and walked the rest of the way home.

When I told Vishnu and my sister about this pain, they told me I needed to rest and not irritate it anymore. So that’s why the next three days were dedicated to not doing much. Speed 1.0 incorporates stretching into the workout so I thought it would be good for my muscles. Plus, I needed to move my body in a different kind of way. Thankfully, I didn’t feel any pain.

That brings me to Sunday. I started my run at 6 pm and felt strong for the first few miles. I even smiled to myself at one point because I wasn’t feeling any pain. Then right around mile 6 I started to feel a dull ache in my left heel, and slowly but surely the pain started making its way up my leg. I wanted to persevere and keep running, but after staying with it for an additional half mile, I knew I had to stop, especially with the half coming up so soon.

And because I want to write my race recap next week, I’m also sharing what this week’s workouts have looked like/will look like:

Monday: Gaiam TV yoga with Vishnu!
Tuesday: Lots of low impact walking
Wednesday: Lots of low impact walking
Thursday: Lots of low impact walking
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: HALF MARATHON!!!

All of my short runs have been replaced with walking. I don’t want to risk injury this close to race day.

In fact, when I talked to Roshni, who’s a podiatrist, she told me to rest as much as I can, apply a warm compress as needed, and take anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the pain and any potential swelling. She also said I should wear sneakers to work. I responded to that last suggestion with a “maaaaaybeeeee!”

Fingers and toes are now crossed for a pain-free/injury-free run on Sunday. My goal is still to run the whole thing, BUT if I start to feel the slightest bit of pain, I’m going to resort to running + walking.

AHHH…wish me luck!!!

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 9 and 10

written by Parita 8 Comments

I didn’t get around to posting a half marathon update last week. I blame Aekta. Just kidding! I had it on the to do list but figured no one was thinking about my training on New Year’s Eve.

Before I share my workouts from weeks 9 and 10, I have to admit something. Even after double and triple checking my ability to count backwards, I messed up. According to my current training schedule, my half marathon is on January 18^th. But it’s not. It’s on January 25^th. I missed a week! Oops.

In a way, it actually worked out for the best. As you will read in a few seconds, training has only be so-so over the last couple of weeks. That extra week will be very useful.

With that, here are my workouts from week 9:

Monday: Gaiam TV yoga + 2 mile walk
Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 2 mile walk
Friday: 4.5 mile run
Saturday: Full-body tabata workout + 25 minute interval workout on the elliptical
Sunday: 5.5 mile run

As you can see, I didn’t run the 9.3 miles (15-K) I was supposed to on Sunday. In my defense, my sister and Adarsh flew in the night before. We went to bed late. We woke up late. My sister and I started our run WAY too late. It was hot. Blah! I know…excuses, excuses!

Anyways, here are my workouts from week 10:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Core/Cardio/Strength circuit + 25 minute power walk on the dreadmill
Wednesday: 4.5 mile run
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 5 mile run
Saturday: Gaiam TV yoga (with Vishnu!!) + 7 mile bike ride
Sunday: Rest

I bailed on my long run this week as well. Again, in my defense, I got pretty sick on Saturday night/Sunday. I was super congested and felt absolutely icky. There was no way I was going to make it through a one mile run…never mind 11.

Luckily, I still have two weekends to redeem myself. My slightly altered plan now involves an 11 mile run this coming weekend and a 12 mile one the weekend before the half.

While I’m looking forward to the half itself, I’m at the point where I just want the training part to be over…

Oh man. Wish me luck on my 11 miler. Haha.

And in case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training
Week 6 Half Marathon Training
Week 7 Half Marathon Training
Week 8 Half Marathon Training

Half Marathon Training (Week 8) and Running to Lose Weight

written by Parita 8 Comments

Happy Christmas Eve! Even though we aren’t going home to Atlanta this year, Vishnu and I have plans to relax, watch Christmas movies, and spend time with friends. Should be a great couple of days!

Oh and I have to fit some running in there as well!

With that, here’s what week 8 looked like:

Monday: Gaiam TV yoga
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 4.5 mile run
Thursday: Total body strength training workout – one of my favorites!
Friday: 5 mile run
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 10 mile run – first double digit run…dun dun dun!

I ran almost 20 miles this week. Phew! I felt strong all week long, especially during the 5 mile run. Lots of positive emotions around this whole training thing.

Until Sunday…

…because my long run this week was the absolute worst! My legs felt heavy the entire time. And to top it off, my mental focus just wasn’t there either. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did it! I ran 10 miles and couldn’t be happier. But the run itself was just so-so.

While the running part genuinely sucked, I didn’t feel tired at all afterwards. I was absolutely exhausted after my 9 mile run the week before (to the point where I napped), but this week I grocery shopped, cleaned, cooked, etc. Weird how that works.

Running to Lose Weight

I wanted to address the topic of running to lose weight because I’ve gotten a few questions about this over the past couple of weeks. I’m no expert but have been running for a few years, so I naturally have some thoughts! Just remember every body is different. What works for me/doesn’t work for me may not be the same for you.

First of all, I partially attribute my initial weight loss in college to running. I regularly started running my junior year and lost a lot of weight. However, during this time, I didn’t make the best food decisions (re: under eating + lots of running). Sadly, this habit continued for the next few years, and I was able to not only keep the weight off but lose a few more pounds.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS METHOD TO ANYONE!!! Looking back, my behavior was stupid and dangerous. I did so much harm to both my body and my mind during this time.

Fast forward to my first half marathon. Overall, I was running more then than I am now, but I actually gained 3 ish pounds. I attribute this to a little bit of overeating. For example, after a Sunday long run, I went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant with my parents. I ate chips, guac, salsa, an entire entree, and even some of my mom’s entree. This was a regular thing. Mentally, I thought I deserved huge amounts of food because…duh…I ran a lot!

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS METHOD TO ANYONE EITHER!!! And not because I gained weight. Three pounds is really nothing when you think about it. I just wasn’t eating the right things during this time. I ate a lot of junk food because I thought I deserved it. Again, not good for the mind or the body.

[I honestly don’t remember much from my second half, so I’m going to skip that!]

Fast forward to this half marathon. I’m running, doing a little bit of yoga and strength training, and taking two full rest days a week. And…I haven’t gained or lost a single pound (on average of course). Nada. I attribute this to the fact that my focus is not weight loss. Instead it’s been to fit in solid runs/workouts, remain injury free, listen to my body, and fuel properly. By removing the “I deserve this or that” mentality, I no longer link my workouts to my meals. And I can’t discount the fact that my eating habits are much…hmmm…cleaner now than they have ever been.

So, I’ve lost weight running…the wrong way. I’ve also gained weight running…the wrong way. And I’ve maintained my weight while running.

With all of that being said (this is turning out to be a wordy post!), I do think it’s possible to lose weight with running. Shorter (maybe even faster) runs plus strength training, in my opinion and experience, is the best way to lose weight and/or lose inches. I’m a huge proponent of strength training – helps reshape your body, is so good for your bones, etc. And when paired with running (and good eating habits), it can be a huge catalyst for change.

In fact, this is exactly what I’m planning to do after my race at the end of January. I want to strength train (hopefully) 3 days a week and run 2-3 days a week. But my runs will only be 2-3 miles during the week and between 4-5 miles during the weekend. This is the perfect balance for me.

So the (very) long and the short of it is that in my experience running can help you lose weight, but it really does depend on a bunch of other stuff. If you’re really looking to change your body, pair moderate amounts of running with some form of strength training.

What are your thoughts about running and weight loss? I’d love to hear them!

In case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Half Marathon Training (Week 7) + What Do You Listen To?

written by Parita 5 Comments

Week 7 wiped me out! Well, my 9 mile run this past Sunday took me down. I was SO exhausted. When I tried napping on the couch, Vishnu jumped on me and talked to me as if I was wide awake. Gah! I may or may not have told him that I would punch him in the face if he didn’t stop bothering me! Haha. Don’t mess with a tired Par!

Here’s what week seven looked like:

Monday – Gaiam TV yoga + 2 short You Tube dance videos (this one and this one)
Tuesday – Rest
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – Full body strength training
Friday – 4.5 mile run
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – 9 mile run

My long run wasn’t as fast as I would have liked it to be, but I’ll take it. At this point, I’m focused on endurance, pacing myself, and finishing strong. Double digit runs here I come!

What do you listen to?

What the heck do you listen to when you run? I get this question a lot. Because running is so mental for me at this point, I need to be distracted. While most people probably create running playlists, I create podcast playlists! Music is secondary for me.

Here’s a list of the podcasts I listen to:

Serial
The Jillian Michaels Show (she still annoys me sometimes, but I like her fitness approach)
The Smart Passive Income Podcast
This American Life
No Meat Athlete Radio
Katy Says
Dishing Up Nutrition
Kimberly Snyder’s Podcast
The One Your Feed

With quite a few podcasts lined up, I’m almost guaranteed to have something to listen to!

What do you listen to when you workout? Music, podcasts, nothing?

In case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training
Week 6 Half Marathon Training

Half Way Through Half Marathon Training (Week 6)

written by Parita 5 Comments

Week 6 is done and done! I can’t believe it…half way through with half marathon training. It’s going to be January 25th before I know it. Eek!

I think I can say with a fair amount of certainty that training is back to normal, meaning I don’t foresee anything that will derail it. Fingers crossed!

With that, here’s what week six looked like:

Monday – Gaiam TV yoga + 2 mile power walk
Tuesday – Rest
Wednesday – 40 minute treadmill run
Thursday – Full body strength training
Friday – 4 mile run
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – 8 mile run

Lots of variety this week. All in all I think I did ok, especially considering the fact that I was at a pretty busy training for three of those days!

Sunday’s long run went well. I ran it at a 10:41 average pace, which is a lot slower than I’d like to be at this point. But honestly, I’ll take it because even though I’m slow, I’m injury free (knock on wood!) and running the entire time.

So with this being the half way point, I thought I’d share some of my training highlights and lowlights.

Highlights
– Being able to complete the majority of my runs OUTSIDE!
– Learning to be flexible because as we all know life’s plans ultimately trump our own
– 100% running all my runs with no walking breaks
– Maintaining balance by incorporating yoga and strength training into my plan
– No worrying knee pain (will talk about a brace Vishnu bought for me in another post)

Lowlights
– Not running as much as I would like to during the week – would like to fit in one more weekday run
– Not strength training as much as I would like to – would like to fit in one more day of ST
– Running on the treadmill has to be the absolute worse thing ever – have only had to do it twice so far…thank goodness

Like I said, it’s going good so far! And I’m hoping it only gets better from here.

Do you enjoy running on the treadmill? Any tips to make it bearable?

In case you’re interested, here are links to my weekly recaps:

Week 1 Half Marathon Training
Week 2 Half Marathon Training
Week 3 Half Marathon Training
Week 4 Half Marathon Training
Week 5 Half Marathon Training

Review: On Cloud Workout Shoes

My shoe history

Pros of On Cloud (Cloud X)

Cons of On Cloud (Cloud X)

Final thoughts

The 2015 Miami Half Marathon

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 + 13

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 9 and 10

Half Marathon Training (Week 8) and Running to Lose Weight

Half Marathon Training (Week 7) + What Do You Listen To?

Half Way Through Half Marathon Training (Week 6)

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