Thank you to the Florida Department of Citrus for sponsoring this post!
Hi guys! You know what I’m loving lately? The fact that this gorgeous warm and sunny weather in DC has arrived right when I’m able to start doing casual runs with friends again! Hooray – it’s amazing what some sunshine and sweat-filled miles will do for my mood.
I had the best run on Saturday – I met two of my best friends from college for some miles around the monuments in DC and it was THE most beautiful morning for it. Gorgeous weather + endorphins + chatting with two best friends = fabulous way to start the day.
As you guys know, I’m still cautiously getting back into running now that Riese is 5 months old. I started running again about two months ago, but very sparingly. I started at about a half mile, and since then I have been doing about one run per week, steadily increasing distance (with walking breaks in the mix, though, too). My goal isn’t to do anything super long or to train for any big races right now, but running is amazing for me in terms of stress relief and helping me feel amazing inside – not only because of the endorphins, but also because I use it as social time – and so I’ve wanted to get to a place where I can comfortably meet friends for 4 to 6 mile runs again. Slowly but surely I’ve been getting there!
The farthest I’d run before Saturday was 3.5 miles, so I was thinking I’d do around that or maybe up to 4 miles depending how I felt. Well, what do you know – with the great company and the weather I felt good and didn’t want to stop, so I actually did my longest run in over a year – 5 miles!! Man, it had been a LONG time since I saw that distance on my watch. We took a ton of walking breaks for photos, stoplights, dodging tourists, etc., which definitely helped – I don’t think I could have run 5 miles straight through – but I was really excited about it. I forgot to stop my watch during a bunch of our breaks so the pace isn’t accurate, but I wanted to document my longest run in nearly a year. 🙂
Now that I’m starting to get back into running again, and with the summer heat on its way, one thing I’m going need to make sure to prioritize is staying hydrated! I’ve always made staying hydrated a priority (I never go anywhere without a water bottle in my purse), and I drink water all day at home, too, but now it’s even more top of mind because I’m extra thirsty due to breastfeeding! And breastfeeding thirst on top of getting back into running in summer thirst is going to require some serious fluid.
To stay adequately hydrated when exercising in the heat, you’ll want to take in about 16 to 20 oz. (~475 to 600 mL) of water/fluid per hour. This number will vary based on how much you sweat and how hot it is outside, but it’s a good starting place and you can adjust as needed.
I love water, but it’s nice to mix it up. Staying hydrated is crucial, but also remembering to re-hydrate after a workout helps re-fuel your body for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is National Orange Juice Day, so I decided it was perfect timing to throw together my old fave homemade sport drink! I’ve made variations of this for years and it always hits the spot. It is such a simple and delicious way to re-hydrate after a long run, and I know exactly what is going in my drink because it is homemade.
To make this single serve quick and easy homemade sport drink that gives you a serving of fruit (rather than food coloring…), simply mix together 1/2 cup of Florida Orange Juice, 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup, and a hefty pinch of salt! 100% orange juice provides fluid and simple carbohydrates that are easy to digest, resulting in a quick blood sugar boost for immediate energy, and the maple syrup adds some extra, slower burning energy. The Florida OJ also adds vitamin C, folate, and potassium to the mix, in addition to being delicious. 🙂
And now, just for fun, my friends at Florida OJ are offering one lucky fANNEtastic food reader an awesome surprise fitness-themed gift bag to help you celebrate National OJ Day and feeling #AmazingInside! I’m helping to pick out the gift bag goodies and you won’t be disappointed, I promise. 🙂 To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below. U.S. residents only, please! Good luck!
p.s. I’m taking over the @FloridaOrangeJuice Instagram account today – I’d love if you popped over to say hi! And in the meantime, learn more about National OJ Day and ways to celebrate by visiting the Florida Department of Citrus website, and by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
