freedom 5k

If you are in the Wakefield, MA area on Saturday, Sept 15th I highly encourage you to join me in attending, running, walking, strolling, or somehow participating in the Freedom 5K. It is an easy loop around the scenic Lake Quannapowitt - I know you've read of my love for this lake and route. The cost is $25 and all profits will go to Route One Ministry - helping women in the sex industry for 4years.

Not only will we be racing a loop around the lake, we'll also have a cash raffle for things like gift cards to local restaurants, a signed Red Sox baseball, gift package from Starbucks, a massage, and much more! The kids can participate, too! Our kids race begins at 9:15am.

Find out much more information HERE, but feel free to ask me about any more details in the comments! I'm on the planning team so I've got the inside scoop!

bananas, b.a.n.a.n.a.s.

Pure Cardio is one of the DVD workouts in the Insanity program.  Shaun T, the instructor, says repeatedly throughout the warm up that he is nervous about the upcoming intensity of the workout.  When the creator/instructor of the program says he's nervous, you know that what's coming is no joke.

Let me tell you honestly, it is indeed not a joke.  Pure Cardio is 20min of non-stop plyometric exercises that work every muscle in your body.  It is not for the faint of heart.  It leaves me a sweaty, exhausted puddle on the floor. Shaun T says at the very end, "That $#!@ is bananas!" Which is the only reason I get up off the floor - to get my banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein recovery shake.  I love hard workouts, but I also love bananas. Just as much as this little guy:

Now, being a runner and participating in endurance events, I know a thing or two about bananas. They're full of fiber and potassium. They help with recovery from muscle cramps and also help prevent them. Studies show they also help reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. They help protect against ulcers and ulcer damage - I didn't know that! It's like nature's version of TUMS. We all know that eating carrots can help protect your eyes, but did you know that eating bananas will do the same thing? They also help with building stronger bones. Source.

All this to say that not only are bananas sweetly delicious, but they are also a superfood! I have no idea where or when the word bananas came to mean crazy, various websites are divided, but I'd like to believe it's because they are crazy awesome. In short, bananas are bananas, in the very best way!

good mornings

Whelp, week one of Insanity is in the books.  And week two began this very morning! While it's pretty intense, I am loving it so far. I've realized there is no better time than first thing in the morning to get this over with, I mean enjoy the work out. With running, I found that the best time for me was in the afternoon, it's a great de-stresser. But with Insanity, it seems that 6am is a sweet time for me. Not sure why, but it might be because I look forward to that yummy protein smoothie afterwards!

Another great reason to get this done in the mornings is I have evenings free to do fun stuff, or to work at REI. One fun thing I was able to do recently, because I got my workout done in the morning, was go to the last pre-season Patriots game!! I got to see Tebow in a Pat's jersey for the last time. He threw the winning touchdown pass with just 6sec left in the game. It was a pretty sweet experience!

I know I've written about getting up early to run but it never lasts long. Pretty sure this morning thing will have to be the norm for Insanity...and I like it!

smmmmmmoothies!

I once had an Odwalla protein drink and it was the most horrible thing I'd tasted in a long time and that turned me off to any kind of protein drink I ever encountered - super thick and chalky.  However, for a while now, I've been very curious about protein powder. Everyone is drinking it and I have been interested in getting on that train.

So last night I headed to Macy's to pick up a Magic Bullet (quick note: Macy's will price match, I got the bullet for $30 less than it rang up for!).  It's a snappy little blender that blends your smoothie, shake, what-have-you in the cup you drink it out of - which makes clean up so easy!!  Anyway, I also stopped by Market Basket to pick up some frozen fruit, chocolate protein powder (yum!), and milk.

When I returned home I threw together some frozen raspberries, a whole avocado, some orange juice, vanilla powder, and water - kablammy, this:

Maybe it looks a little gross, but trust me: so good. And so filling!  Perfect for a quick on-the-go dinner (or, in my case last night, watching-tv-while-doing-laundry dinner). The avocado added some incredible smoothy-ness and the raspberries gave it a sweet flavor, while the OJ added just the right amount of tartness.  I will be making this again (and again and again...)!

This morning, post-Insanity Cardio Recovery workout, I threw together a scoop of chocolate protein powder, a whole banana, a cup of milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter.  Whoa yum! And so filling! I had this at 7am and as I write this at 11am, I'm not super hungry - usually if I eat cereal or a whole wheat english muffin, by now I feel like I could gnaw my arm off.  Protein power smoothies work!

I'm glad I finally got over the fact that I *might* hate protein drinks!  I have been missing out for far too long. This is also a really great option for a quick nutritious snack/meal for after work at REI - It's surprising how hungry I am at 9:30pm.  If you have a favorite smoothie recipe, leave it below in the comments!  I'm looking to expand my repertoire!

oh, hey.

Life keeps moving, even when we feel like standing still.  That's how the past few months have been for me.  I've wanted things to slow down - stop, even! - just for a while.  It's not because I've been so busy that I'd like a pause button, but more so because I'd like to just figure out my life and what comes next before it comes!  But that's not the way of things.  Life goes on and so must we, whether we know what the future holds or not.

To catch you up on a few things:

• I ran a Tough Mudder with a 11 other people.  Short end of it: it was fun in the beginning, torturous in the middle, and exhilarating at the end.  Would I do it again? Yes, but not any time soon.
• I started working a part-time job at REI-Reading.  Swing by, say hello, and pick up some sweet gear for your next hike, paddle, ride, campout, etc.
• I deferred my participation in the New York City Marathon to 2014.  I knew I wouldn't be ready by this November, and this is not a race I'd like to go into unprepared.  
• I recently started an Insanity challenge.  12 people, 6 guy/girl teams of 2.  It's harder than I thought to do these workouts every single day.  But throw the word "challenge" on anything and typically I will not back down.  (Unless it's some kind of strange eating challenge, that's just disgusting and my response is always, "No, thank you.")

While I had a full, fun summer I can say without a doubt that I am looking forward to the fall.  I'm looking forward to cooler weather, the leaves changing color, and a different wardrobe!  I'm also looking forward to a couple fun fall races with some good friends.  The Tufts 10K for Women is on Oct 14th and the Feaster Five is on Nov 28th.  If you like big, festive races, these two are for you!  I don't particularly care for crowded races but I do like running with friends, so I take the bad with the good.

Life is marching on and I'm glad to have some things planned in the coming months.  It may seem cliche, but life really is a marathon - sometimes it's awesome and fun, sometimes is a slow slog and you feel like you're going nowhere, sometimes you wonder if you'll ever really get there, and sometimes you can just enjoy the journey.  I'm hoping to do more of the last in the the coming months.

truth

I read this little gem of a quote this morning from one of my very favorite professional runners:  

"That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is." -- Kara Goucher

There is so much truth in these words!  If I measured my great runs by how well I do at races, I would surely have given up long, long ago.  But what keeps me going is knowing how incredibly blessed I am to be able to, simply, run.  To feel the sun on my face (or sometimes snow, rain, and sleet), to feel the wind at my back (or fiercely pushing me in the face), to effortlessly (or not so sometimes) tick off mile after mile after mile.

Just yesterday, during a particularly brutally hot 4mi race, I was thinking how amazing it is that there is shade, that there is breeze.  That there is cool, clean, crisp water to quench my thirst.  I am blessed!

I can run with friends who help push me, I can run alone with my thoughts and prayers.  I am blessed!

I run along busy roads, down empty trails, along shaded paths.  I am blessed!

Many times I get grumpy thinking how unfair this or that is.  Then I go for a run and things seem to fall back into perspective.  Running absolutely helps me see how wonderful my life is.  Don't take my word, or Kara's word, for it though.  Take a walk, or a run, or get outside and do something active and you just may see the truth in this quote that I see. 

 

i blinked, it's july

Well, June flew by in a hurry!  As a kid when I heard adults talk about how time flies, I did not believe them.  Especially if it was during the school year.  Now that I'm an adult, I hear myself say the same things..."That week flew by!" "Is it Thursday already?!" "Wait, how old am I??!!"

I could recap some things from June for you, but I don't really want to.  Let's just look ahead.  Today is Independence Day and I will be celebrating with things I like best:  a race, friends, the beach, and fireworks over the lake in Wakefield.  Probably some ice cream, too.  Let's just be honest.

It's been a while since I've had my weekly mileage add up to double digits but that will most certainly change in the next few months.  Marathons don't run themselves, I have to put in the work.  With just about 18 weeks until New York City (and about a month until the Tough Mudder!!) I've got my work cut out for me!

Happy 4th to you and yours!!