Feeling Crafty: A Running Toolbox

Back for a second project designed to get the Dallas Galloway running group a little more organized.

Last season, our medical supplies were tossed into a box.

And our medical supplies were pretty basic: Advil, band aids and a bottle of insect repellent. Hardly as thorough as we would have liked.

So after the season ended, I picked up an inexpensive storage box (just $4). I went with red because that's a universal first aid color.

Then I filled it with all types of things that come in handy during the running year, from avoiding chafing to fixing ripped clothing, and from cuts and scrapes to depleted electrolyte levels.

Contents: 

• KT Tape
• Bandaids
• Non-stick gauze pads
• Non-stick medical tape
• Advil
• Electrolyte pills
• Personal-sized anti-chafing lotion (for the days that runners forget!)
• Vasoline
• Insect repellent
• Safety pins

Now we've got everything we need in one handy small container. More importantly, our runners know exactly where to look if they are in need of emergency supplies.

Feeling Crafty - And Organized

We've learned a lot after our first season leading the Dallas Galloway marathon/half marathon training program.

One thing I learned was that I needed to be a bit more organized with our running supplies.

First up: Organizing the piles of training shirts that our runners receive at season kick off.

To keep the process simple, I purchased several self-seat laminating pouches - the kind you would use to create a quick and easy luggage tag.

Then I used Canva to create tags for each type of shirt. The photo is one our runners took during the running season. I just changed the color overlay to blue for guys and pink for gals. That way we can tell at a quick glance which is which.

Tags go into the laminating pouches, press to close and attach a hanging strap. Very easy!

I fastened each tag to a separate bag of shirts - no more fumbling to find the right size when we're distributing shirts next season!

Running Basics: Working on Form

One of my 101 goals was to work on my running form. I was doing a good job of that - until I broke my foot, of course.

I won't let that discourage me.

Back to running form: Kelly and I took a 4-week class with several members of the Dallas Galloway training group. Taking a class like this with friends is a great way to bond as a group.

After all, now we all know who prances (Kelly), who has great hair (Joe) and a host of other funny things. Seriously, I feel very bonded to this group because everyone is now in agreement that I need to buy a new running bra.

Yes, it was that kind of filming experience.

Running form class involved lots of short running, filmed segments that were later analyzed (as a group, as noted above) and drills to help us improve.

Kelly and I have to go back to take the final 2 classes from the 4-week series. We were out of town for one session and I'd broken my foot for the other.

And that, my friends, is why I'm not discouraged. There's always a new opportunity to continue focusing on improvement. Plus improvement is a continual process, so I know that I'll pick up something new the next time through the course.

Catching Up on Two Months

My blogging has been pathetic of late. Hayley Daily? More like Hayley Whenever.

But to be fair...this is what happened during the last two months:

First week of September | We went to a Cowboy's preseason game. It was in no way spectacular, other than the people we spent time with in our suite.

Labor Day weekend | We had our first ever downtime in months. No Galloway running group. No obligations. So we spent our time on mini-road trips exploring and eating.

Second week of September | I went to Cleveland for Content Marketing World and had John Cleese as a keynote speaker. It was as awesome as you might imagine it would be.

Second weekend of September | We hosted former Olympian Jeff Galloway for a weekend packed with activities.

Third week of September | We went to Addison's Oktoberfest.

Third weekend of September | We started a four-week running form class in addition to our regular Galloway running activities. Plus we ran a half marathon.

Fourth week of September | We went to McKinney's Oktoberfest.

Fourth weekend of September | We hosted the Dallas Marathon's Executive Director for a run with the Galloway training group.

Fifth week of September / First week of October | We said goodbye to our Ben. Plus I had a presentation, a kick off planning meeting at work and a huge special event in downtown.

 

First weekend of October | I broke my foot.

Second week of October | Helped with a large city-wide special event.

Second weekend of October | Tami got married. I made lots of signs. And a speech. Then Kelly hit a huge raccoon on his way to run a marathon. He ran the marathon anyway and we towed our car from nowhere East Texas to Tyler to be repaired.

Third week of October | Big work meetings and photo shoots. I get my first Stitch Fix box (I'm in love!) and I have the best Boss' Day ever. Oh, and we adopted Oliver.

Third weekend of October | Kelly runs the Haunt Jaunt 1 miler as Mr Pumpkin Head, to the delight of children and his wife. He then runs the 5k and places 4th in his age group...less than a week after a marathon and hours after a 15 mile training run with the Galloway group.

Fourth week of October | We spend all week playing with and taking photos of Oliver. There's also lots of reassuring for the Bridget-boo.

Fourth weekend of October | We adopt Jasper. We also hung out at Steinfest.

Fifth week of October | Another photo shoot, a grand opening and a memo of understanding issued between Bridget and the kitten boys.

Fifth weekend of October | The first weekend we've had at home to rest in forever. And ever. And we didn't even stay home the whole weekend - on Sunday (November 1), Kelly ran the DRC Half and since I was still booted, I handed out finishers medals to all of our Dallas Galloway runners. Now that was fun!

Anyway, that's my excuse for falling so far behind in blogging and I'm sticking with it.

I'll try to catch up over the next month or so - but no promises.

Galloway Update: Running Fun

We've just finished week 12 of our 28 week training program. (Holy cow - we're nearly halfway through!!!!)

So far, no one has fired us and we still feel like were having fun.

Hill training indoors because it's gotten hoooooooot:

Magic Mile testing - and speedwork - at the track (ugh):

Selfies at the lake:

Kitties begging for treats at 5:30 a.m. after our morning training runs:

Homemade treats (oooh yum) from our resident sweet-treat maker Karen:

Saying goodbye (for now) when members move away mid-season:

Learning how to recognize your group members when they're wearing clothes. Non-running clothes, that is:

Modeling club gear - and trying to remember who we've handed it out to already:

Early wake up calls (and drives) to Saturday runs:

Water jugs, sign in sheets and bug spray at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday morning:

Birthday brunch with our PGLs and friends:

Beautiful sunrise views over White Rock Lake: