Perks Of A Morning Run

GOOD MORNING! 

Yes I know that was in all caps because I am yelling at you, it is a great morning!  I made a running friend who wants to run with me in the morning when it is dark, YAY!  We had our first run this morning and it was glorious, I am not even kidding you I'll be walking on cloud 9 for the rest of the day.  

My Starbucks secret: Tall Cafe Misto 1 pump Pumpkin Spice, half the price of a pumpkin spice latte 

Another perk to running when the rest of the world is sleeping?  No line at Starbucks and I'm home before the sun is up!  

Why run in the morning? 

- Far less distractions or excuses

- The roads are quiet and the air is fresh, early morning runs are more peaceful 

- You have the rest of the day for work, kids, errands, whatever you need to do 

- You've started your day on the right foot both mentally and physically 

- You have a jump on the day because you already logged a few miles before your neighbor had their 1st cup of coffee  

I hope you all have a great day too and if you don't already do a morning run, trust me you'll love it! 

Remember to get registered for Uberthon's Halloweenathon and share with me which race you plan on doing!

Enjoy The Run!

Good Choices and Bad Choices

Hi! 

I would call my run today more of a slogging, I just couldn't really get moving.  I ended up doing my cross training this morning before my run and my legs felt like they were filled with lead afterwards.  I normally love that feeling after cross training but not right before I want to head out for 7 miles.  Not every run will be great but getting out there always feels great.  Is it starting to get warmer when you are at?  It really warmed up this morning and was almost 60 when I hit the pavement I was so grateful to find a water fountain during my 4th mile.  I get so thirsty when I am out running if I am doing anything over 5 miles I need to start remembering to bring my water belt.  

The other day I bought a couple of the Starbucks Iced Coffees because they were 2 for $3.00 and I figured it was worth a try.  My opinion that I am sure you really value is to skip them.  

They didn't have an unsweetened option and I had hoped it wouldn't be that sweet.  The 21 grams of sugar should have been my first clue that yes they would be sweet.  I like my coffee to be the color of milk so I added more of my own creamer but it still was a no go.  I ended up pouring it down the sink, I won't waste calories on something that doesn't even taste good.  Save your money and just buy a real iced coffee of if you are talented enough make your own at home.  Then again you shouldn't really take my advice on anything because I go to the store and do things like this... 

{Instagram Pic}

So do what you want, I make awesomely bad choices!

Do you find that you are really affected by your previous days food choices when you head out for a run?  I know that certain things will affect a run the following day.  For example I normally do not drink any alcohol during the week because I know it is going to weigh me down in a major way.  I especially stay away from it the day and night before a long run because it dehydrates me.  Wine is totally off limits during the week and before any long run or race, that stuff hits me like a brick.  Wine not only dehydrates me but just 1 glass will make getting up with my 5:30 alarm clock nearly impossible.  Luckily I've never been a huge drinker so it wasn't much of a reach to now only have a drink once a week.  

Do you have a food or drink you have to stay away from because they'll affect your runs?  

Favorite flavor of ice cream?  

- I have so many!  If I had absolutely had to choose then it would be Baskin Robbin's Mint Chocolate Chip 

Are you a coffee drinker?  

Happy Pi Day!

Good morning!  

We are in the final weeks of our time here in Michigan and it is going to fly by, it is already Thursday?!  I had to recheck my calendar twice today to confirm this news.  Plus it isn't just a regular Thursday, oh no, today is Pi day, 3.14!  The only reason I know this is because I married Jess and he is all things nerd.  

Case Closed


A friend posted this on FB, couldn't resist! 


My runs lately have been pretty basic, I ran 6 miles Tuesday night and 6.5 last night.  I haven't done any speed work this week because I am trying to just feel better all around.

I thought it would be cool to run 3 different time yesterday!  Kidding, my iPod was being really weird and kept stopping my run.  As you can see I had to restart it 3 times...I love my iPod but it needs to cooperate with me better if it wants to stick around.  

It has been over a week since I got that nasty virus and it just seems to be hanging around.  My stomach is still really sensitive and never really settles down.  I was thinking before I got sick that I might have an allergy to dairy and I am starting to see a correlation.  So starting today I am going to be cutting back on my dairy, luckily I switched to So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer a while ago.

Old pic, not actually home, I miss you home!

I can't have my coffee without cream, it just isn't right.  I usually drink my coffee before I eat anything and lately that has been really upsetting too, so now I'll try eating BEFORE my beloved coffee.  I don't like change especially when it relates to my food, hopefully we'll all make it through this challenging time.

I am prepping myself to run 13 miles on the treadmill tonight.  It'll be another milestone on the treadmill for me and I am excited to conquer it.  I am suppose to run it Friday or Saturday but with my race on Sunday I want to give my legs a couple days to rest up.  I missed my long run last week and I don't feel comfortable totally skipping another one.  I need to make sure I start up with my cross training again next week, no excuses!  I know for certain that doing those exercises 3-4 times a week will keep me from injury and only improve my running, why wouldn't I do it?!  Looking forward to taking Barre or TRX again!  Now I am rambling, but one more thing before I go!

Remember when I use to talk about Project Life and getting caught up and blah blah blah.  I haven't done anything but open up the picture folder on my computer, get overwhelmed and walk away.  Becky Higgins' advice is that you should just start at the present and when you have a free minute work on the stuff you have missed.  So that is what I am going to do, I am going to start with March 2013 and I'll work back whenever I have a little time.  My albums mean a lot to me and I get a lot of joy out of working in them and staying caught up.  I love having these memories to look back on of our day to day life and I don't want to much of it to get away from me.  My goal is to start in the present with my Project Life album and share it with you once a month.  Accountability is key to everything in my life.

Do you do any journaling or scrapbooking?

Any fellow peeps with food allergies out there?!  

Are you racing this weekend?  

Niagara Falls

Good morning! 

I am starting to feel so much better, that virus really took it out of me for a lot longer than I had anticipated.  I really thought it would be a day or two thing and my stomach is still sensitive even this morning.  I haven't ran since last Tuesday which threw a wrench in my training plan.  I had to miss my long run last week because I was still feeling off and we left for the Niagara on Friday.  I brought all of my running gear except for a sports bra so that idea went out the window, I let it go and just embraced the time with my family.  

Not exactly a Kodak moment 

We stayed at the Howard Johnson in Niagara Falls and spent all of Saturday exploring the falls.  We bought the Magic Pass which gave us admission to Journey Behind the Falls, Butterfly Conservatory and Niagara's Fury, plus a 2 day pass on the We Go transit system.  I have to say it was really nice to just jump on a bus to go from place to place.  We didn't have to bother with parking, loading in and out of the car and trying to find directions.  Niagara Falls was beautiful, but I was actually surprised it wasn't as majestic as I thought it would be.  I really thought it would be a lot taller, I think if we had a chance to do the Maid of the Mist I might have gotten the whole experience.  

On Sunday we checked out of the hotel and drove to Niagara on the Lake which is a 20 minute drive from Niagara Falls.  A friend of mine mentioned she had loved it there and we had never heard of it.  Let me tell you how bummed out I was when we pulled into this adorable little town!  If you ever go to Niagara Falls I suggest you stay in Niagara by the Lake and just make the drive into Niagara Falls.  We drove down the main street looking for a place to eat and passed the most adorable little Starbucks I have ever seen! 

We had breakfast at the Stagecoach Cafe and Katherine had a big ol'cup of hot chocolate.  

She gets her manners from her mother

After lunch we walked around all of the cute shops and headed down to Lake Ontario to take some awkward family photos.  Jess says he doesn't like Lucy...but his actions speak otherwise ;) 

Even Sandy knows a good photo bomb when she sees it 

Niagara Falls was neat, but the town was a little too carnival for me.  I wouldn't recommend the Magic Pass, I didn't think any of the attractions were all that exciting.  I suggest staying outside of Niagara Falls and exploring Niagara on the Lake, we walked by some of the cutest little Inns and Bed and Breakfasts.  

Have you ever been to Niagara Falls?  

Tell me about your run this weekend, I am jonesing to to get going!

Are you racing this weekend?  

- I have my first of the year on Sunday, so excited!

Importance of Cross Training

Good morning!  

It has been cross training city around here this week!  Jess has a lot going on with work this week and since we are in Michigan solo I don't have the opportunity to get out for a run.  I cannot express enough how grateful I am for my treadmill at home.  It might be on the sadder side of the treadmill scale but it gets the job done!  I won't be able to run again until Friday but I am totally OK with that because I am using the time to catch up with my good friend Chalene.  

When I first started running I never saw the need for lifting weights or doing anything extra.  I just wanted to go out there and run come home and be done.  While running did help me lose those the last few pounds, it was my strength training that actually changed my body.  A friend of Katie's had just completed 60 days of Chalean and her transformation was just amazing.  I wanted to see results like that and so I took the plunge and ordered the program.  I've talked about my results here and I have recently restarted another 90 days.  I want to see more changes and with spring and summer right around the corner and I want to be ready.  

Strength training is vital to becoming a stronger and healthier runner.  Building core muscles and strengthening your legs and back are going to help you avoid an injury.  I cross train at least 3 times a week and an ideal week will include 4 cross training sessions of some sort.  My newest obsession are Barre workouts, that class works muscles I never even knew I had!  I love to be sore after a great strength training session, I know I am super weird.  I can feel the difference in my stamina when I run as I get stronger and I feel like I can hold myself up better with the longer mileage.  Another reason cross training has become more and more of something I enjoy is because I can do it anywhere.  Sometimes I can't always get out for a run because I honestly just don't have any way to do it.  My husband has a demanding job, he has to travel quite a bit and I am the main care taker of our kids.  With that comes some finagling in my organization.  While nothing can ever replace the feeling I get from running I am glad I can at least do something when I am home bound with the girls.  Plus as the girls get older they have actually started to do the videos with me and get a kick out of all of the funny moves.  

I have been saying it since the beginning of the year, but honestly I just don't want to hear excuses.  I especially don't want to hear them from myself.  Don't make up a bunch of excuses as to why you can't strength train or don't have time or whatever.  Make time, if you want something bad enough and you are done with the current state of your body then do something about it.  Nobody but you can make the changes and you have to start somewhere.  Muscle is going to change the way you look and I don't know anybody who doesn't look good with some muscle on their body.  With that being said its time for me to do my Burn 2 before we head to Jungle Java!  Sounds like an interesting place...I hope the java is good!          

What is your favorite way to strength train?  

How many times a week do you schedule your strength training? 

Half Marathon Training

Good morning! 

Woke up a little late this morning, didn't get to the gym till 6 and ran an easy 3 miles.  I had every intention of running longer till an amazing idea flew into my brain.  I could keep running like a good runner or I could cut off early and grab breakfast at Starbucks before heading home.  

 

Bad runner, bad bad runner!

Their spinach feta wraps are so good, I need to recreate them, it just sounded better than my protein shake at home. 

I bought this tank at a store called Meijer, anyone ever heard of it?  My description would be a step above Wal-Mart (anything is really) and a step below Target.  I bought it way to small to start with so I had to exchange them yesterday, still a little tight for me but I am not going back.  

I saved you a face shot., Lucy is doing her morning downward dog yoga pose.  

So I am about 15 weeks out from the Portland RNR Half in May and I decided to follow Another Mother Runner's Training Plan for this half.  I would really like to improve my time from last year's half marathon which was 2:29:49.  I don't know what the goal time will be but somewhere in the 2:10's would be an improvement!  The AMR Half Marathon plan is 13 weeks and calls for 4-5 days of running per week.  I am going to follow the plan as closely as possible but because of my schedule and history I'll probably be closer to 4 days a week of running.  You never know though, I may surprise myself and you and bust out 5 days a week.  I realize I am 15 weeks out and the plan calls for 13 weeks of training but I am going to start early and start the plan on Monday.  With traveling right in the middle of my training I am going to give myself a few weeks of wiggle room so I am not stressing about getting behind during our transition back home.  

Somehow its Thursday, it seemed like this week was dragging until Thursday just smacked me in the face.  We are making our Valentines today, so excited to see how they turn out.  I think the girls are excited to get to open the bag of suckers because I might be nice and let them have one...we'll see, kind of grumpy this morning.  Maybe I should have one, might sweeten me up a little bit. 

Don't forget about Sherry's run this Saturday!  Check it out here if you need more info! 

Anyone else in Portland doing the Rock and Roll Half in May? 

Have you followed a training plan before?  

-Besides making sure I get in the necessary long runs for the marathon last year I didn't really follow anything specific.  

Do you get an obscene amount of junk mail in your email?  

-I have like 12,500 messages and I swear to you at least 95% of them are junk...its obnoxious 

Change Is A Good Thing

Good morning!  

Yesterday was a run day and I know at some point I should making my runs more specific.  You know easy run, speed work, etc, but I just like to run.  While I was at the gym yesterday morning I knew I was going to shoot for a 10 in front of my pace, even if it was 10:59 average pace.  It took a lot of restraint to keep from jumping up and down when I looked at my stats and saw this: 

Happy Dance!  That is a good pace for me and I was really excited to see I could average a number like that.  It was the boost I needed to show me that speed work WILL get me where I want to be.  

After I got home it was time to get ready for our day ahead, we had story time at the library, lunch with Daddy and some errands to run.  If we are going to get dressed and be out we might as well make the most of it!  Since we don't have an entertainment system in our rental the girls have been falling asleep while we are out and about.  So I do what any normal mother would do and get myself an iced coffee, hang out on Pinterest and take pictures.  

Yesterday was a good day for a few reasons, but FINALLY finding the only Starbucks drive-thru in Michigan was the biggest highlight.  They have Starbucks here, don't get me wrong, but this girl needs the drive thru if she is going to get one.  I can't justify unbuckling both girls, tromping through the cold and then having to re-buckle both girls for a coffee.  Iced Coffee no sweetener light cream made for a happy girl yesterday, that and the napping cuties behind me.  Sarah can breath I promise!       

Sunday was our Sesame Street Live day and the girls had so much fun!  The Grouch is Jesse's favorite charactor, Sarah seemed pretty excited to see him too.  As you can see all Katherine wanted to do was push that glowing button, don't worry she got her chance.  

This morning I decided to take a run rest day and will do my CLX Abs instead of my Burn 3.  I also wasn't able to go to the Barre class because they totally changed up their schedule on me, so I'll go this weekend.  See, write everything in pencil because it will change, it is the only thing certain.  

Also this Saturday February 9th is the 2nd Annual Virtual Run for Sherry.  This race is put on by her cousin and fellow blogger at Shut Up + Run.  I wish I had some pals to run it with but I'll be doing it on the treadmill Saturday morning, but I am grateful I can do that.  My Father in law and both of my Brother in laws work in Sidney MT and Williston ND.  I remember when Sherry first went missing and my heart sank, along with every other runner out there I am sure.  I know how tight those small communities are and what an impact her death had on their lives.  I'll run Saturday in memory of Sherry and hope our nation can get a grip on the senseless acts of violence seen everyday on our women and children.  

Let me know if you plan on running in the virtual run for Sherry!       

Anyone else find they have to change up their workout/running schedule during the week?

Do you have a lot of drive thru coffee places where you live? 

- Oregon is coffee headquarters, I didn't realize how spoiled I was! 

Coconut Milk Versus Daily Milk

Hello!  

(This originally said good morning...annnd that has been my day)

Yesterday I had a split run, 3 miles outside 2 miles on my treadmill.  I left a little late for my run and don't like to be out pass a certain time so I headed home before my 5 miles.  Luckily I had my treadmill to make up for those 2 miles because I really wanted to hit 5 yesterday.  Since my run was broken up I didn't have time for Lean 1, the day just got away from me so its on the books for this morning before preschool.  Which means my tempo run might be pushed out too, but we'll see!  I don't have a run planned for Friday so I could easily move it there or tomorrow.  If you can't tell I write everything in my planner in pencil...my whole life plan is written in jello.  

I am getting pretty sick of my bad eating lately, its been like post marathon binge eating.  It hasn't been pretty and now its starting to not look very pretty either!  I don't do diets because I can't stick with them I try to make little changes that'll make a difference.  I've tried all the diets...All. Of. Them.  Plus I am not interested in a bunch of pounds lost, I am 5'5" and weigh 134 most of the time, its not like I have 30 lbs to lose.  Could I lose 30 and weigh 114 lbs, ya sure, I would look scary and Jess might leave me when I go all Walking Dead on him so I'll skip that!  One little change I am adding to my diet is coconut milk and coconut creamer for my coffee.  I stopped adding sugar to my coffee almost a year ago and I don't miss it at all.  I've tried almond milk but I just don't like it, it doesn't taste right to me.  I do like coconut milk and I buy the unsweetened unflavored just regular coconut milk.

Here is a breakdown between regular Dairy 2% vs. Coconut Milk
Serving Size 1 Cup
2% vs. Coconut Milk
Calories      130 vs. 80
Fat             5g vs. 5g
Carbs         13g vs. 7g
Sugars        12g vs. 6g
Protein     8g vs. 1g

Honestly it is all personal preference.  I don't mind dairy milk, but it does make me feel really full and bloated.  I had a protein smoothie with coconut milk after my Lean 1 today and I didn't have the lethargic bloated feeling afterwards.  Also I didn't notice a difference in my coffee with the coconut creamer, score!  Another thing I am going to add to my routine is having green tea after meals, I like green tea so it should be a good addition.  I've heard it helps with digestion and can curb over eating or for me curb the instant hunt for sugar I usually want after I eat.  Basically I feel like I work out a lot between running 4-5 days a week and my cross-training 3-4 times a week and I have stopped seeing any results.  That can be really frustrating so I was eating crap food as way to say "screw you" to myself LOL, good plan right?  Well enough of that!  Chalean always says in her video that 1. We cannot starve ourselves strong and lean, we have to eat  2. It has to be lean, healthy foods.  The eating was never a problem I am not one to starve myself (bahahaha) but the food I was choosing while most of the time were great, it was those cheats that were catching up with me.  Time to reign it back a little and get to where I should be, no sense in putting in all this work if I am just going to throw it down the drain at meal time.      

Do you drink alternative milk?  

What kind do you like?  
-My friend really like almond milk

Do you plan your runs and workouts?  
- I write mine in my planner on Sunday night and schedule them mostly for the morning

Running in the Dark

Good morning!  Just finished CLX Extreme Abs while waiting for the sun to come up!  Its now to late to head out for a run so I'll be busting out a few miles on my treadmill later today.  Lately I've had some anxiety about running in the dark, so has Jess.  So I thought I would wait till close to sunrise annnnnd then 7 AM rolled around so I nixed my outdoor running plan and put on my AB workout.  Luckily I have my treadmill and can get in a few miles later today.  I can kill two birds with one stone and watch some of The Spirit of the Marathon on Netflix.  I watched it many months ago but I want to watch it again since the marathon is less than 2 weeks away, its like runner's Rocky.  If you haven't seen it I really recommend watching it even if you aren't doing a marathon its so inspirational and moving plus its free on Netflix Instant, score!  

I was able to have my favorite breakfast this morning and I made myself a sad version of a pumpkin spice latte, not the same but also not 5$ so I think I still win in the end. 

I really should look into food photography, I think I have a gift, no?  

Since I wasn't able to do my outside run this morning because of my own fear of the dark it really got me thinking about other runners out there.  Fall is here and winter is never far behind especially in the Northwest and that means dark mornings, do they bother you at all?  I ran Monday in the dark and I was more nervous about tripping over something I couldn't see more so than being attacked.  Maybe because of where I live I have a false sense of security or maybe it was because I passed so many other runners but I never got scared.  I also run with pepper spray, am lit up like a Christmas Tree and always have my cell phone, not like any of those things would thwart a would be attacker honestly.  I have thought about a headlamp because I must add to my cool factor for the purpose of being able to see whats ahead and on the ground, but I wonder if that would do anything to fend off someone trying to hurt me?  I hate the idea of living my life in fear but I also have 2 little girls to think about and anything that happens to me will affect them.  Its not just me out there in the dark running I have a family at home I need to think about.  It seems like a personal preference but it got me thinking and my instincts this morning told me to stay home so I listened.  

I would really love some other opinions on this, what do you feel about running in the dark hours?  

Do you carry pepper spray or any other type of personal protection?  

Headlamps?  

- I can hear Katie cackling at me right now...

An Ode to the One I Love

Good morning!  I am drinking a cup of coffee before I head out for my last week day run this week.  It  itn't a very good cup :(  I use the single cup coffee makers and I ran out of K-cups this morning, I didn't know I had run out of K-Cups.

The whole thing has been extremely unsettling.  So I had to use my back up which is regular grounds that I have to manually put into another device and use with my Keurig, which makes for a weak cup of coffee and to be honest, a lot of work for me.  

Then not realizing that cup of coffee would be weak, I put the same amount of cream I would in my regular darker blend...its just so sad.  Going to choke it down and head out for my run this morning.  

Coffee is my friend, its something that I'll probably never to give up for any sort of challenge.  I was able to become a vegetarian relatively easily which surprised me and am getting close to kicking my sugar habit which I thought was just a pipe dream, but coffee...no.  You see coffee and me, we are friends.  Actually very close friends and you don't just turn your back on those you have supported through so many years.  

See you all soon!  I'm off!

Edited to add: 

Fun surprise when walking into my kitchen this morning, 2 K-cups taped to my sliding glass door, I live next to the sweetest woman!!!