Survey

It is Fitness Friday so what better than a running survey from Running Kellometers?!

1. Best Run- probably the Run for Boston in Charleston that I did.  It was really good to see runners unite after such a horrific tragedy.

2. Three words that describe my running: fun, communal, enjoyable.  I try to keep my running fun, even though waking up at 6:30 on a Saturday for a long run is not always fun at that moment.  One of my favorite parts of running is the sense of a running community.  Getting to know runners at races and other running events is one of the biggest motivators for me.  I also really try to keep it enjoyable because otherwise I wouldn't be able to stay consistent.

3. My go-to running outfit.  This is a hard one because I really don't have a "go-to" running outfit because the weather changes so quickly and strangely here.  Really, there is not a better way to describe our weather than strange.  I really like running in a pair of capris and a tank top (loose-fitting, not tight).

4. Quirky habit while running: I do my long runs in multiple short out-and-backs/ loops rather than one big loop/ out-and-back because I think it makes the run feel shorter, even though listening to this I would think it would make it feel longer.  It also eliminates the need for me to carry fuel.  I can just store it at my house!

5. Morning/ Mid-Day/ Evening?  It depends.  When it is light outside early, I will run in the morning, but now when it is light in the afternoon, I will run in the afternoon.  

6. I won't run outside when... there is a lighting/thunder storm.  It probably just isn't a good idea.

7. Worst injury- and how I got over it: thankfully, none yet.  Knock on wood.

8. I felt most like a badass runner when... I ran 9 miles in the rain.  I really did feel like a true runner at that point.  It was like an initiation.

9. Potential running goal for 2013: run a sub-2:00 half-marathon.  Whether at this race on Sunday or in December, I will crush it.  I was feeling pretty confident about it for this weekend until I got sick.  Hopefully I will feel better by Sunday.

10. Next race is... on Sunday!  The Diva's Half-Marathon in Myrtle Beach! I am super excited because I just love racing.  Big or small.  Long or short.  I love racing!

Favorite Salad

I saw this post over on College Prepster.  She did her favorite salad, which I thought would be appropriate given the nature of this blog.  So my favorite salad consists of:

Spinach- my favorite base because of the nutritional qualities and the fantastic taste!

Walnuts are a great crunchy addition to a salad.

Apples add yet another texture to the salad, and also a little bit of sweetness.

...and some sort of soft cheese and some balsamic vinaigrette!

#prayforboston

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the runners, volunteers, families, and spectators at the Boston Marathon.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Foam Roller

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and start foam rolling after I saw a post on Homemade Strength  to make your own foam roller. I decided to give it a try because it looked promising. The idea was simple: buy a pre-cut pipe and cover it with pipe insulation and duck tape. I used a pre-cut pipe I found at Lowe's, and they don't sell pipe insulation (the little foamy 'tubes' that surround the pipe) for pipes with a large diameter, but I bought some for a 1" pipe and stretched it. It worked pretty well. It was a little hard to do with one person so you might want to have a buddy if you choose the foam insulation route. It was definitely a success! I have absolutely no idea how it compares to the commercial variety because I have never had one of those, but for my purposes it has worked really well.

 I even put a turquoise stripe of duck tape around it to make it prettier.

Bridge Run Recap

Let's just start of by saying this was not the best race I have ever run, but a lot of good came out of it.

I ended up finishing in just over 56 minutes.  6 minutes off of my goal time, but that is okay.  I was not pleased by the time, but the race itself was fantastic.  The weather was great- not too hot and not too cold, and most importantly it was not windy.  (I have run the bridge some years where the wind made it impossible).  

My warm-up was great, but I noticed that my legs were a little sore (whoops- that is what I get for trying to race a race in the middle of half-marathon training).

I am terrible at taking race pics (I typically don't carry my phone in races) so here is one from The Chart Group.  As you can see, there are a lot of people who run the bridge run (a little under 40,000 finishers).

I did the first two miles at my race pace goal, and everything was fine and dandy until I started up the bridge.  This is where I knew that I was in trouble.  I have been doing a little bit of hill work (aka once a week I run the bridge), but all of my other training is on flat land (there is not another hill in Charleston besides the bridge).  The third mile up the bridge was hard and slow, but I made it up running and I was happy about that.  It was also difficult because in a race with 40,000 other people, and only two lanes going up the bridge, it was a bit congested which made the mile even slower.  I was so excited to reach the top of the bridge because it meant downhill running, however my quads were not as excited as my lungs were.  Miles 5 and 6 were so-so.  I was tired, but I pushed through them (thank you long runs during half-marathon training).

A lot of good did come out of this race.  First of all, it was a good workout with the hills and the speed (but not speed going up the hills :).  Secondly, it got me really motivated.  My half training was becoming really tiring and boring, but the race got me excited about running again- I had gone too long without a race :).  Those two things are more important than my finishing time because my ultimate goal is the half-marathon!

One more thing, only 20 days until my half-marathon!!! This is crazy 

Expo Recap!

So the Bridge Run was today (race report to follow).

The expo was open Thursday and Friday.  I opted to go on Thursday because it is much less busy.  I also decided to volunteer at the packet pickup later in the day.  I went early on Thursday because I was trying to find some running shoes, but the selection was not that great so I decided to keep looking.

I picked up my number, my dad's number, and my brother-in-law's number first.

my bib

I then went and picked up the rest of the packet.

drawstring bag, USB with race info, restaurant coupon, Aleve, bib, and towel

The towel is going in my workout room on my bib wall!

I then lolly-gagged around the expo.  I went to the TrySports booth, but they only had Newtons which I have heard are great and the whole midfoot-strike thing, but I don't know if I am ready to go that radical yet.  I then looked at another booth, but I think I just need to go to the running store and have time, and not have to worry about keeping up with packets, ect.  I went and got some samples from Bi-Lo (having a big grocery store as a sponsor is great).  They also had Front Porch Ice Cream Samples which were really good.

I then volunteered at the expo.  I handed out packets.  They were already pre-stuffed with the towel, coupon, USB, and Aleve.  The runners handed us their bib, we got their t-shirt, and put it all in the packet.  The process worked really well and I was glad to volunteer in a race and still be able to run in it.

a box full of packets

I was slightly disappointed in the selection of the expo, but I had a good time and it was fun to be around so many other runners to share experiences.

Last Run before the Bridge Run

I went on my last run (a "shake-out" run) before the Bridge Run tomorrow.  I meant to wake up and do it this morning, but that just didn't happen.  I covered 1.5 miles with my dog.  I normally don't run with her, but she was begging to go so I took her.  It would keep me at an easy pace anyway.  I went at an easy 10 min/ mile pace.  

my feet ready to go

I have been resting this week as I hope to get sub 50:00 in the 10K.  I am not 100% sure I will make that goal, but I am going to give it everything I have while I am out there.

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 3 miles

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest day from exercise, but I was on my feet all day.

Thursday: Same as Wednesday, but I was volunteering at the Bridge Run packet pickup instead of shopping :)

Friday: 1.5 mile shake-out run

I had pasta and mom's meat sauce for dinner tonight and it was oh-so-good.  This is my typical pre-race dinner so I have confidence that it will sit well with my stomach.

food prep

Tomorrow's Plan:

2 mile warmup run

some food- probably some sort of apple/applesauce and some dry cereal and water and maybe some peanut butter on the apple- I do not have a 'set' pre-race meal, but I know that a combination of those things works for me so I don't worry about it too much.

6.2 miles at an 8:00 pace

2 mile warm-down

We will see how all of that goes.  This is kind of in the middle of my training for the Divas Half Marathon on April 28 so I haven't been doing a whole lot of race-specific work outs, but I feel like with all of the people and all of the excitement, I should be able to run fast.

Homemade Larabars

Yummy...

I have recently fallen in love with Larabars but at $1.50 a pop, they are expensive.  Good news, I have found an alternative (thank you Pinterest).  Larabars only have a few ingredients which is why they get my approval as a snack food.  This also makes them easy to make.  One of my favorite flavors so far is chocolate chip cookie dough so I made that one.  I also made a Samoa Girl Scout Bar (that I had to tweak the recipe for) and an attempt at a Thin Mint Homemade Larabar (more on that later in the post).

First off, I just had the Easter bunny come to my house so I was snacking on the unhealthy, but oh so delicious Sweet Tart Jellybeans while I was making my healthy Larabars.  (Give me a break about the jellybeans, I gave up sweets for Lent).

Next, I tried the Girl Scout Cookie Larabar recipe.  It did not have any nuts like all of the other Larabar recipes I saw, so I added a 1/2 cup of walnuts just to please my taste buds.  It would have worked without the nuts, but I just preferred them.

My mess of a kitchen midway through Larabar making.

Following the Girl Scout Cookie Larabars, I made my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabars.  These taste exactly like chocolate chip cookie dough.  They are delicious.  I could (and do) eat them all of the time. So good. Yum.  You must try this concoction of cashews, dates, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, walnuts, and salt.

A giant food processor is useful.

Lastly, I had an attempt at Thin Mint Larabars.  They came out chalky and unsuccessful.  I currently have a huge batch of dough sitting in my refrigerator that hopefully I can thin out and salvage.  I don't know if I butchered a recipe or just didn't like the recipe.  I will provide updates as to whether or not the salvage was successful, but for now the dough is sitting in my refrigerator.   

I have a ton of other Larabar recipes that I am really excited to try (especially because I have leftover dates in my refrigerator and I won't eat those by themselves).

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I really like the interface of Bloglovin- it shows which posts you have read and which ones you haven't.  I wish I had known about this a lot sooner :)

Music Monday and Happy (Late) Easter

It is already Music Monday again! I did not even realize how much time has flown since that Monday!  I really haven't listened to that much new music, but I have made Music Monday a thing (by the one previous post :).  I will post some old favorites then...

1. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons  The lyrics are a bit weird, but I really like the actual music part of the song.




2.  It's Time by Imagine Dragons  I had no idea these songs were by the same band.  Hmmmm... I might have to check out some more of their songs.




3. Some Nights by Fun.




4. Titanium by David Guetta and Sia




5. TED Talk I love that I can stimulate my mind while on a run!!!! You HAVE to watch this one.  This guy grows public vegetable gardens in LA for people that can't afford veggies!





Also, happy Easter! (I can finally eat sweets again so I am a happy camper- especially because I have had girl scout cookies calling my name for all of Lent)

One more thing, my newest found blog Yo Momma Runs is having a giveaway for Injinji toe socks.  I really want to try these because my blisters on my feet are horrific (anybody in my family will tell you that).  I really want to try these (have I mentioned that) because my blisters are driving me crazy!  So head on over to her blog to enter this giveaway for running toe socks!

http://www.yomommaruns.com/2013/03/injinji-review-and-giveaway.html