Guest Post: Using Your Imagination to Make Running Fun!
My name is Katie, and I write a blog called Chocolate-Covered Katie. I’m so excited to be a guest on Carrots-n-Cake!
First off, I have to give a HUGE “thank you” to Tina for letting me do this guest post. Tina, I love your blog, so it’s a real honor to be associated with it.
It took me a long time to choose the topic to submit for my guest post. Did I want to write about one of my many crazy oatmeal concoctions?
(Chocolate chip cookie dough oatmeal)
My fun blended-grain technique that’s taken over the blogworld?
(Blended Snickerdoodle grains)
Or maybe ooey-gooey S’more Muffins?
I couldn’t pick a recipe, so I decided to write about a different love of mine: running.
I adore running. And people ask me all the time how on earth that’s possible. So I tried to think of all the reasons I love running, with the hopes that maybe some of my ideas will help others to love it too!
Running is truly something I look forward to doing-I doubt I’d have been able to stick with it if it felt like a chore, because I’m really bad with chores (just ask my mom about my aversion to doing laundry!). It’s a really great time to get my thoughts in order. And I have a wild imagination, so I love to pretend I’m on an adventure when I run.
- I imagine that the houses I pass are castles, or caves, or mountains (and that I am a princess, a bear, a tree blowing in the wind…)
- I try to think of all the crazy running costumes I could wear to a race. Have you heard, for example, of the elderly man who runs marathons in a pink tutu? How embarrassing would it be to have him pass you?!
- I become the characters or singers from my favorite songs. On many a run, I am the Eye of the Tiger, chasing after my prey.
- I imagine that my legs are bicycle wheels (I read this idea in Runner’s World magazine).
And to all the passersby who have seen me running: I am sorry to inform you that you’ve probably been transformed into Bugs Bunny, Elvis, or a giant broccoli stalk at some point. My apologies.
If none of the above ideas enable you to see running as fun, do not despair! There’s still one more no-fail strategy you can employ to turn your dreaded run into an exciting adventure: Think about food!
Before you set off on your run, plan a really delicious post-workout meal or snack. Then think about said meal/snack while you exercise.
How could running not be fun when you have Homemade Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Ice Cream on the brain?
Or Banana-Bread-in-a-Bowl ? Or maybe even Brownie Batter Oatmeal? (I’d run reeeaally fast to get home for that!)
You can transform your run from dull to delightful. All you need is a little help from your imagination!
Posted by: Tina 22 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized, guest blogger
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
What a great post Katie!! Thanks for making running fun!!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I don’t know if I have the imagination for this, but banana bread in a bowl sounds tempting enough for me!
I can’t wait for warm weather so I can try running outside!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
banana bread in a bowl? mmm!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I can’t thank you enough, Tina, for giving me this opportunity! I know I sound like a broken record, but you are the sweetest!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Great post Katie! You’re adorable!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
[...] TO ADD: Check out my guest post over at Tina’s beyond-awesome blog, Carrots-n-Cake!!!! I’m so excited!!!! (As if you [...]
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Love the delicious creations!!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Oh so many fun recipes! Thanks for the tips too
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Cookie Dough Oatmeal!! I need that now! Great post!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Tina,
Thanks for having such great guest bloggers!
Katie,
I am one of those people who dutifully logs a few miles a week on the treadmill in hopes that maybe one day I’ll fall in love…maybe with these suggestions I will!
With Love,
Emily
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Your ideas are so cute!! They may inspire me to try running.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Great post and great ideas! They look great.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Great job Katie! Your posts are always enjoyable to read:) Using your imagination while running! I like that:)
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Katie great post! Your food sounds and looks great.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I love Katie and her blog. What a great guest post!
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 8:13 am
this is such a great post! actually its perfect timing too for me because I am about to go for a run/jog! thank you!
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Yay Katie! I like the think-about-the-snack strategy… Sometimes thinking about my post-workout eats helps my workout go by a little easier!
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
That’s so funny – I literally woke up this morning thinking about brownie batter oatmeal, and then I saw your post! Love all the running ideas – so funny!
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
This will DEFINITELY get me through a long run. Thanks Katie!
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Aww, thanks, everyone
on Mar 31st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
[...] In this post, what two characters are in the thought bubble over my [...]
on Apr 27th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
[...] I’m equipped with the proper weapons to make treadmill-running fun. (‘Course, I’m always looking to expand my repertoire: What do you do to pass the time on the [...]