Monthly Archives: May 2021

Running, Running and real estate, Running Strong and Injury free, Running stronger and faster, Swim, Taking time off from running, The joy of running, Training for your marathon, Women runners, World Marathons, Worldwide running

Four reasons to take time off from running between training cycles

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My awesome friend Annalisa Co showing me a new hilly route loop from Quarry trail in Auburn to Cool after I took a week off from running.

“So you took a voluntary week off from running? my friend Annalisa asked me with great surprise at my resolute decision to put myself in time out.

“Yes, I have, because I want to start my London marathon training strong and avoid injuries. My shins needed a break, too, and it is good for my body and mind,” I replied.

“It takes a lot of patience and discipline to do this, ” Annalisa remarked.

“Yes, it does.”

I thought of our conversation after our run, and although I am not as patient as my father used to be, I am disciplined and willing to make changes in order to achieve my highest potential. To me, scheduling regular time off in our running schedule should be as important as scheduling our speed workouts and races, as we need to let our bodies repair themselves after months of pounding and training.

Four Reasons to Take a Week Off from Running

I swam and did aqua jogging workouts four times during my week off from running. Water is great therapy for my body.

  1. To avoid injury and let the body heal itself. According to Runner’s World, it actually takes about three weeks for our bodies to fully heal, repair, and recover, which is why they recommend taking a three-week layoff once a year.
  2. To come back stronger and better prepared me for peak performance. During my week off I swam, I did Pilates and some light strength training, and did a 20 mile-bike ride once that week, but I mainly rested. With each day of rest, I felt my body relaxed, rested, and happy. As Friday came, I started to get excited about my easy 3-mile run the next day, coming back to running after my week off, which was a great decision.
  3. To provide a mental break from the demands of weekly training five to six days a week. Our mind needs as much as a break as our body, if not more sometimes, so just taking a week off will be refreshing and make running so much sweeter and exciting.
  4. To practice patience and gratitude. We runners can take our bodies for granted when things go our way, and instead of waiting for an injury to happen, we can be proactive and treat our bodies with kindness and appreciation for how much they are working for us. Also running is the perfect avenue to express our gratitude for fresh air, for strong bodies and minds, for healthy lungs and hearts, for the gift of connecting to others, and for our ability to put one foot in front of the other. When taking a scheduled break, it is easier to reflect and be grateful for the simple gift of moving one stride and breath at a time.
A nice 20-mile bike ride the day before going back to running. Smiling in anticipation of the joy to come from running in the weekend.

The beauty of taking only a week off from running is that it is not too short and not too long to really affect performance and getting back to running. Lead researcher Charles Pedlar, Ph.D. said in an interview with Runner’s World that the lack of decline in VO2 max and hemoglobin mass “suggests that with the resumption of training we could see a fairly rapid return to form. Plasma volume can rapidly expand since it is composed mostly of water.”

Five days after coming back to running, my awesome friend and training partner Bryn Mumma and I did a great speed workout 10X1 min hard/1 min easy, followed by 4×30 sec hill repeats. To my surprise, I felt amazing and not out of breath, as I had expected. I am sure my aqua jogging helped a lot. Not only did I feel physically recharged, but I was also mentally ready for the upcoming hard marathon workouts. The best thing is that my shins were not hurting anymore, which was the main reason for the voluntary time out, as well as the fact that I have run for five months without a longer break.

Bryn and I back at it, doing a fun speed workout and enjoying the lovely company of deer during our cool down.

To sum things up, if you are asking yourself whether to take a break, or not to take a break, the answer should be YES! Your body and mind will thank you, and you might just prevent an injury lurking out there and striking when you least expect it. Be smart and kind to your body, and don’t be afraid to put yourself in time out, because we adults need it sometimes just as much as our kids. Happy feet and happy resting when needed!

For more inspiration on how to let “AIR,” which stands for adaptation, inspiration, and resilience guide and uplift you during these uncertain and crazy times, please consider buying my print edition or e-book The PR- The Poetics of Running, A Book of Poetry in Motion on Amazon, or buy it straight from my blog by clicking on my books link, which will take you to Amazon. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book is going to Girls on the Run Sacramento chapter organization.

For more info on running and real estate, whether buying or selling, please e-mail me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com, or call me at 916-342-2446. Also mention this blog and receive a great offer whether buying (credit for closing costs), or selling (commission discount). Running for real estate with joy!

Accessory Dwelling Units, ADU, Post Pandemic Real Estate Trends, Pricing your home right, Real estate, Real Estate agent, Real estate and home ownership, Remodeling, Running and real estate, Sacramento buyers, Sacramento real estate, Sacramento sellers, Sacramento spring real estate market, Seller's market, Selling Your Home

Sacramento’s HOt real estate market – Five reasons to build an ADU (accessory Dwelling Unit)

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Carmen Micsa, Broker/CEO with Dynamic Real estate touring the anchored tiny homes, an event organized by our Sacramento Association of Realtors with Sacramento City and County officials explaining the requirements and approval process for homeowners looking to build an ADU (Accessory dwelling unit) on their property.

Two years ago I sold a home to a runner friend, and the house had more than six offers, even though it needed work. When my buyer asked me why was the house so attractive, I responded that the bigger lot and the large detached garage meant that someone could build a mother-in-law unit, or guest home in the back, which automatically increased the value of the house. During my 21 years in the business, finding two homes on one lot was almost like looking for the needle in the haystack, as the permit process was not conducive to allowing homeowners to build another in-law unit up to 1,000 square feet on their property.

However, more than a year into the pandemic, the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento have a much easier permit process, as they want to alleviate the housing crisis and increase affordability in our super hot Sacramento real estate market. For instance, the City of Sacramento is working on waiving any set-back requirements for the ADUs by the end of summer 2021, while Sacramento County will still require them, and you will need to do all the necessary research and go through the building permit process, which can take up to three months. Additionally, if looking to build a second unit for rental purposes, know that there are strict rules about that, and there is a difference between short term rentals, or vacation rentals, and year-round rentals.

Five Reasons to Build an ADU:

  1. An ADU, or a granny unit, can increase affordability without requiring new infrastructure for the neighborhood/community.
  2. Building an ADU in one’s backyard can help out family members, such as college students, older parents, or disabled relatives.
  3. Building an ADU can increase the income of the property owner, who can potentially rent out the back house, provided that they applied to obtain a rental permit and are following the city and county rules on rentals. In Sacramento County, ADUs might not be allowed as long-term rentals, but check on all the pertinent information before building.
  4. Building an ADU can increase the property value of the original house by more than $100,000 depending on the square footage of the ADU and the quality of construction.
  5. Building an ADU can provide extra housing opportunities in a real estate market where supply is much tighter than demand.

With so much flexibility in how an ADU can be added to an existing home, such as turning a basement into living quarters, turning a big shed into a small office, or artist studio, or building a brand new structure in the backyard, this might be the best time to start building your own ADU that can increase your family well-being and keep expenses under control for your college kids, aging parents, and so on.

For more inspiration on how to let “AIR,” which stands for adaptation, inspiration, and resilience guide and uplift you during these uncertain and crazy times, please consider buying my print edition or e-book The PR- The Poetics of Running, A Book of Poetry in Motion on Amazon, or buy it straight from my blog by clicking on my books link, which will take you to Amazon. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book is going to Girls on the Run Sacramento chapter organization.

For more info on running and real estate, whether buying or selling, please e-mail me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com, or call me at 916-342-2446. Also mention this blog and receive a great offer whether buying (credit for closing costs), or selling (commission discount). Running for real estate with joy!