Ahhhhmazing!

I purchased a foam roller today.
Since I started running, I've become a smidge obsessed w/ reading running blogs (ok, maybe VERY obsessed!). One thing that kept popping up was proclaimations of love for foam rollers. Many people said that they wished they had started using one as a preventative measure so I decided I needed one. Because, you know, I read things & suddenly HAVE TO HAVE THEM. :)
So I found that Walmart sells them & they're inexpensive. I packed the kids up (right before lunch & all 3 of us still under the weather from colds) & off we went. Found the rollers right away & also came home w/ 2 new Hot Wheels (there is no such thing as too many Hot Wheels in this house!) & an open box of Annie's graham cracker bunnies (because that's what happens when you go shopping right before lunch!).
As soon as I got M down for his nap (sadly, R, my 3 year old, no longer naps. *sob*), I ripped the roller out of its plastic & looked over the enclosed instructions. I had originally got it to help loosen tight IT bands (which supposedly get super tight from running), but there are quite a few other ways to use it. I tried out the stretch for the IT bands &, holy cow, did it HURT! It says to pause 30-45 seconds on each painful spot but I couldn't last that long. Afterward, though, my legs seriously felt amazing. I honestly didn't think I was really needing it yet, since I've only been running for a bit, but it really made a difference. I'm excited to continue using it & feel the relief!

And last but not least, my 1st 3 miler is tomorrow. I don't know why, but this number makes me totally nervous. I'm running it w/ my training partner (no group run since it's Memorial Day weekend) & I really think I'm going to need her support. My fingers are crossed that we both do well!