What do you carry?

Questions: What do you carry with you on your long runs? How are you stashing those items?

As I will be venturing into an 8-mile run this weekend, I have been wondering what to bring with me out on these longer runs. 
These are my essentials: (a) I usually have my Garmin with me. (b) And I clipped my Sansa slip on the Garmin (but music isn't necessary: I can do without). (c) I carry my cell phone with me.  

These are what I would like to carry with me: (a)Water. (b) A piece of gum. (c) And perhaps some GU or something like that in the near future.

I am a gum-addict.  I usually chew a fresh piece of gum when I set out on a run. I find that it keeps my mouth kinda moist. So, having a fresh piece during a run will allow me to pop another one in midway through my run.
I definitely would love to have water with me but I haven't done so because I don't want to carry things in my hands when I run.  I don't think I will drink much during the run because I usually get side stitches when I introduce food/fluids into my body prior to running.  But I would like to have enough to quench some thirst and make me feel refreshed.

So, let me know what are your running essentials and how do you carry your stuff around?

The Bad and the Good.

The Lowdown. Buttercup and I completed another weekend long run. Here's the breakdown of our 5-mile run today:
Mile 1 = 10:33.25
Mile 2 = 11:29.61
Mile 3 = 12:04.95
Mile 4 =11:27.95
Mile 5 = 11:08.78
Total: 5 miles in 56:46 minutes at an average pace of 11:21/mile.

Buttercup - all pooped out right after our run

Buttercup still lounging around after 5 hours.
She got excited and hyper when I went outside to give her yummies.
.

The Bad.   Let's start with the bad for this run. 
1. I woke up with a headache. But I decided to go ahead because Ms. Sandra said a good run usually takes care of the headache. I trust her. 
2. Period cramps. Yes. Today. Need I say more? 
3. Allergies. I had to swallow clungs of yikey stuff. And I can't breathe through my nose.
4. Gee. What's the temperature out there today? 70? Okay, I checked weather.com and it said it is
AND it feels like 60. But it sure didn't feel like 60. 
5. I didn't attain my "Under 12:00/mile goal for each mile. On Mile #3, I went about 4 seconds over that goal.

The Good. 
1. I did go under 12:00/mile for the rest of the laps, AND ...
2. My average was 11:21/mile.
3. I finished quite strongly. I thought to myself, "Man! How can I be so slow on my final lap?"
4. Buttercup was quite a good companion today. No stress from her on me.
5. Knee wasn't hurting.
6. It was a pretty day. The sun is out. I didn't freeze. 
7. I didn't have to worry about other dogs or walkers or runners. It was just Buttercup and I. A really peaceful, quiet run.
8. My Forerunner (Rennur) didn't die on me.  He was a little weak today cos' I didn't charge him up good. So glad he didn't give up on me.
9. No scary encounters. I came home alive. 
Overall ... A great run! I gave it all I have until I really didn't have any more to give. I finished it. And I felt good after I caught my breath.  I hope you are/will be having a good weekend run.

Running with a wild child.

The Wild Child.   I ran with a wild child today. The usual sweet, docile, stay-by-my-side Buttercup thought she knew what in the world was going on and was all over the place. She chased squirrels, chased vehicles, tripped me at least on 4 separate occasions. Seriously? This was a stressful run. I just wanted to get my miles in and dash my way home so she won't piss the neighbors off, who in turn, might be angry with me for being that "crazy Chinese girl with that crazy dog."

(On our way home with Wild Child in the front) 

The Route.    I came home after work and had to drop off some drill bits at Keith's office. Instead of driving there, I thought, I will run to his office. It is about 3 miles away from where we live, so I can run there and make a loop back. So, I delivered the drill bits on foot, and plopped a sweaty kiss on Keith's cheeks before I made my way home. There were 2 slopey-slopes. Going down makes the knees a little uncomfortable. Going up makes me breathe and gasp harder. I take the gasping for air because I will still get to run. When I hit the 4th mile, I just walked and unwind a little more.

The Gear.   I had to wear something with pockets to put those drill bits and their respectiveful cases. My fleece pockets were filled with my cellphone and drill bits. Quite a paunchy bulge. I ran with my new mp3 player today - a SanDisk Sansa clip. I like the clippy part because I don't need to get an arm band for it. I had an iPod (actually I have 4 iPods) and the arm band always slides down that it aggravates the heck out of me. With this Sansa clip, I just clipped it onto the strap of my Garmin Forerunner. Neato.

Just Data.

Mile 1=11:06.44
Mile 2=11:29.21
Mile 3=12:11.83
Mile 4=11:40.10
Total: 4 miles in 46:30 minutes. Average pace = 11:36min/mile.
I was surprised I made decent time despite all these crazies that were going on.

The Plan. Gonna hit a 3-mile either tomorrow or Friday.
Gonna figure a way to leash Buttercup up during our runs from now on. I am not running with her without a leash (and the thought of that saddens me. I feel happy when I see her run free. But I know I made some drivers and a passerby upset.)