Miscellaneous Monday Mash

I realized last night that I had totally missed an appointment the day before. My email has gotten out of control and this obligation never got on my calender. This rarely happens but when it does, I know some aspects of my life are out of balance. I'm being pulled in too many directions. If my attention is not on my calendar, where is it? Time to slow down, simplify, prioritize, and hopefully stress less. Less is more. 

Does this happen to you?

Google images

I have until March 7 to decide if I'm going to do the Marine Corps Marathon this fall. It's been on my bucket list since the beginning of time. My decision seems to depend on my most recent run: solid ones build confidence while sucky ones make me wonder why I continue to run at all.  Since yesterday's 12 miler with hill repeats went well, if registration opened today, I'd be all over it. I guess we'll see what March 7 brings.

Why does the prospect of 26.2 seem so daunting right now? But if not now, when?

Do you have a fall marathon scheduled?

Are you off for President's Day? Anything fun planned?

The Diet/Exercise Equation

I found this on Pinterest the other day.

We know optimal fitness stems from a combination of diet and exercise but apparently having a super-lean, ripped body is more a by-product of dietary discipline than it is of faithful workouts.
I am proud that I've been in the workout vortex for almost 15 years now. Through pregnancies, injuries, and miscellaneous turmoil life tends to dish out sometimes, I've always managed to stay on (or quickly re-board) the workout wagon.
Before it became a lifestyle though, I'd go in fits and spurts: I dabbled in aerobics and step classes back in the day. I'd hit the gym almost every day for months but then? Hiatus. Lather-rinse-repeat.
What was the magic bullet that finally caused me to slip into the vortex?

Three Things:
1. Workout Partner: The Caveman and I were workout partners before we were husband and wife. We kept each other accountable. Although we seldom workout together anymore, we still support each other  in our efforts. Friends, coaches, running club members, really anyone can help hold you accountable.
2. Goals/Challenges: High school and college days notwithstanding, the first fitness challenge I took on was a bench press contest against none other than the Caveman. I was not on the winning end of that one  but I'm still proud of the training I did for it (hello bench press was completely foreign territory for me). Since I've gotten into running, putting races on the calendar keeps me moving toward a goal.
3. Variety: All the same training all the time invites boredom and burnout. Change it up. I'm doing more strength training and cycling now and you know what? I'm running stronger because of it.

Now for the other part of the equation: the food aspect. While essentially I eat well, I can't say that really disciplined eating is second nature for me.

I eat well in fits and spurts, much like the way exercise used to be for me. I have generally good eating habits, but sometimes they slip away. Too many sweet treats and boredom eating are my downfalls.

Oh and I'd need to end my on again off again affair with all things chocolate covered.

I suspect the very same answers I gave above in the exercise section apply to diet success as well. I just haven't applied them consistently enough for them to become habitual....yet.

Which part(s) of this equation have you mastered?

Any tips for doing so? 

Nana Smith Jewelry Giveaway Winner!

Rachelle come on down!

Please email me and the necklace of your choice will be on its way!

Thanks to all who entered and for Nana Smith for sponsoring!

TTT Sweet and Salty

1. Salt in the American Diet
According to a report by the CDC, 10 types of processed foods account for 44% of our daily salt consumption:
1. Bread and rolls
2. Luncheon meats
3. Pizza
4. Processed poultry products (like chicken nuggets and patties)
5. Soups
6. Cheeseburgers and other sandwiches
7. Cheese
8. Pasta
9. Meat dishes
10. Snack foods like pretzels, chips and popcorn
Ten great reasons to choose whole foods! By the way, the salt shaker is responsible for only 6% of American sodium consumption.

2. Now For Some Sugar
My mom taxi, fondly referred to as the Estrogen Express, is loaded to the ceiling with Girl Scout cookies, ready for delivery. Pray the dogs don't eat them while I'm in picking up Thing 2 from her after-school program. It's happened before, you'd think I'd have learned.
What's your favorite Girl Scout Cookie? I'm going Thin Mint.




3. Cool Tools
Jon over at 2 Slow 4 Boston has developed a Running Blog Database. Blogs can be sorted by title, city, state, etc so you can find other bloggers in your area, at a race destination, or simply new blogs to enjoy. Head over and add your blog!
Home exchange for marathoners? Here's a  new resource that helps you arrange just that! It's free to join and it looks to me like a viable option especially for European races.
Have you ever done a home swap? A European race?

When Opportunity Knocks, I Mean Sprints

Chris, a fellow FitFluential Ambassador and gifted videographer, was in town last week. He invited me to a gym where he was filming. Though it wasn't far away, I'd never heard of it before.
He told me many NFL and NBA stars train there and dropped names like Devin Hester and Luol Dang. Being a fair-weather fan who typically climbs aboard the fan wagon around playoff time, this wasn't a huge draw for me. But remember what I said yesterday about the Caveman and his NFL obsession? I knew I had to to this. For him. I know. I'm generous that way. So I ventured out on a field trip.

I followed the signs and soon I was there. Ok kidding. You knew that right?

The place had a scaled down football field in the center of it, teeming with sinewy football types, sprinting, strength training, basically all phases of workout. Turns out they were prepping for the NFL combine: top prospects for the 2012 NFL draft.

Me? I sprinted too--for the door to get outta dodge.
Negative self-talk gremlins screamed in my head: You have no business here! Why did you come? They'll laugh you right out of here. What were you thinking?

Before I could make my escape, I met Kyle, my trainer for the day. 

He showed me the 'wall of fame' and told me that no less than five athletes who played in the Superbowl a couple of weeks ago train here. I fought hard to not inch toward the door. 

I toured treatment rooms where the players go for their angry hamstrings, massage and such and was intimidated impressed by a menacing collection of strength training equipment.

Walking piriformis stretch to lunge

My personal workout began with a dynamic warm up sans shoes. We actually worked the bottoms of my feet: something I never do.
Then there were sprints...
...and lunges...
...and high knees...
...with pushups in between...
...then more sprints...
...oh and squats...plenty of those.

I pulled the sled...

...then dragged it some more.

There were heavy ropes so badass but ouchie...
...and a TRX-like contraption I was too tired to recall the name of.

The party was far from over. Next up was the pushup ladder. Up and down those squares I went, thanking my lucky stars for upper body strength and praying my guns wouldn't fail me now. Were the NFL combine guys staring? Laughing? Does my butt look fat? My negative self-talk gremlins were too tired to care.

At last it was time for core/balance work. 

Before it was over, I spent quality time with stretchy bands, medicine balls and even a mini trampoline.

Maybe I missed it but I heard no snickering from the NFL peanut gallery. They were pretty wrapped up in punishing workouts of their own.

Chris and I.

It was a fantastic workout, very different from anything I'd done before. I soaked up tons of information, especially about the importance of strengthening smaller muscle groups (like around the knees, ankles, hips, shoulders) to help prevent injury. This was completely out of my comfort zone. Had I let my inner critic prevail, I would not have dared to go on this adventure at all. And I would would have regretted it.

Thank you Chris for inviting me!

Do you have an inner critic? What does it say?

What takes you outside your comfort zone?

My Crazy Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you get into it or consider it merely a Hallmark holiday, I hope it's everything you want it to be. Frankly I've had my fill of helping Thing 2 get her class Valentines done. As a 5th grader, Thing 1 wants nothing to do with any Valentine's festivities anymore. That'll probably change as soon as her class party starts.
I heard a thing on the radio yesterday where people were sharing their most memorable Valentine's gifts. One was a handcrafted wooden box with the couple's 'song' burned into the top, one was the woman's name done in pipe. No stories about jewels or luxury cars or tropical islands came up.

My most memorable Valentine's gift is one the Caveman gave me years ago. I still have it,  still use it and it still makes me laugh.

He created a playlist for me when I was quite new to running. Before I share the list you need to know that the Caveman is a Neanderthal of few words. What Caveman isn't? He is not one to pump me up verbally or tell me how great I am. He shows his support through his actions more than his words.

That's what made this playlist so special. Some of the highlights:
More Than a Feeling, among others by Boston. At that time the Boston Marathon was not even on my radar.
Don't Stop Believing from Journey
and here's where it gets even better:
It has Galvanize. You may know it from a certain beer commercial.
But here's the topper:

In the Caveman's world, this is the pinnacle of toughness and motivation. It communicates his intention for me. I always pony up and run a little harder when I hear it. Ok I laugh a lot little too.
In short, it was a gift that broke all the rules. It's a playlist so gritty and dude-ish and exactly what the Caveman thought would be motivating for me. I can't help but think of him when I hear it, I can't help but love it.

Have you ever given or received a unique Valentine gift?

NSDesigns Athlete's Jewelry Giveaway ends tonight!

Weekend Rewind

Run for Sherry
Like so many runners everywhere, bright and early Bobbi and I got out to honor Sherry, the Montana woman who went missing while out on a morning run.
It was a windy, icy morning. 16 degrees with biting single-digit wind chills. I took my hat, gloves and balaclava out of hibernation for the occasion.

Bobbi and I met in Cary, IL home of the illustriously hilly March Madness Half Marathon, to 'practice' on the course. 10.25 miles on a tough course + tough weather = fitting tribute for Sherry.

Piece of my heart
It was sleepover central here this weekend. I made this cake for a special treat. It was moist and chocolaty. Everyone enjoyed it, despite a special extra ingredient. Nobody needed to know that it was packed with grated beets. Yes, I'm that person who sneaks healthy foods into not-so-healthy treats. This was not my first run-in with beets. My long-time readers may remember these 'red-velvet' cupcakes from a couple of years ago.

Double Chocolate Red Beet Cake

Adapted from a recipe in The Costco Connection

2 large beets
3/4 butter, softened
1-2/3C sugar
3 eggs
2t vanilla
1C plain Greek yogurt
2/3C cocoa powder
2C all-purpose flour
1/2t baking soda
1/4t baking powder
1/4t salt

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
4oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2C butter
1/2C cocoa powder
5C confectioner's sugar
2t vanilla

Grease two 9" cake pans and line them with parchment. All the better if you've got heart-shaped ones like these laying around. Actually I have no clue where these came from...must have been my grandma's. Preheat oven to 375F.

Cut beets into quarters and place in an oven-proof pan with 1/2C of water. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool, peel and grate until you have one cup of shredded beets. Set aside. Lower oven temp. to 350F.

In a mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add Greek yogurt. Add beets. Stir together cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Fold into wet mixture.

Spoon batter into cake pans and bake until cake springs back when lightly touched, 35-40 minutes. Cool cakes well.

To make frosting, blend cream cheese, butter, cocoa, confectioners sugar and vanilla. Add a touch of milk or water if necessary for a smooth consistency. Frost cake and chill 30 minutes.
Serves 10-12.

Enjoy!

Winner of the PureFit Bars is Jill R.

Please email me with your shipping address and they will be on their way!

Remember Nana Smith Athlete's Jewelry giveaway ends tomorrow! Are you in?

PureFit Review and Some For You

I was sent a stash of PureFit Nutrition Bars to try.
I realized recently that I wasn't doing my body any favors by not refueling soon enough after a workout.
However, there are times when it's nearly impossible to get to a blender to whip up a protein shake.
Cue PureFit Nutrition Bars:

• 18g protein
• 40/30/30 carb-fat-protein ratio
• Wheat and gluten free
• Non-GMO soy
• Kosher and vegan
• Nondairy
• Low glycemic
• No artificial sweeteners
• No trans fats or hydrogenated oils

In short, they fill the bill very nicely on nutritional requirements and they taste great. I enjoyed them all but I ranked them in most to least favorite for you:

1. Granola Crunch
2. Almond Crunch
3. Peanut Butter Crunch
4. Berry Almond Crunch
5. Chocolate Brownie

I was surprised I liked the granola one so much as I'm not usually a huge granola fan. The Almond Crunch had a very nice natural almond flavor. I think I tasted actual berry seeds in the Berry Almond Crunch.

Bonus: The kids liked them too! This is huge as I am hard-pressed to find good on-the-go sources of protein for my carb-loving spawn. I keep some of these in my 'mom bag' so I always have something decent on hand, whether we're at the gym, the pool, or the ice rink.
Double Bonus: They don't crumble or melt into a mess like so many other bars do.

WIN IT!

I've got 5 PureFit Nutrition Bars, one in each flavor, for one lucky reader to try. Just leave me a comment below if you want in. I'll randomly pick a winner at the end of the day tomorrow, 2/10.

Not feeling lucky?

Hurry and take advantage of the Active.com Schwaggle Deal

or use PROMO25 for 25% off your first order placed at PureFit.com