Marathon Mom

  I feel like I am back and forth with my nutrition, I do great and then get bored and hit the snacks (massive amounts of PB, granola, etc) and add in the wine and birthday crème brulee and I need to get back on track! I’m not one to completely limit desserts and treats, heck I did that 20 years ago and the results were not great. I want to be healthy, eat to perform and fuel my body with good quality foods. I want to show O how to eat healthy and how to make good choices as she gets older but still enjoy the treats within reason. Over the last few months I spend most of my days tired despite sleeping, exercising and being healthy. I mean so tired by late afternoon that I’m nearly falling asleep! I just had labs checked on Wednesday and so far everything is normal even my sodium for the first time in forever (barely normal but it’s there!), just waiting on my vitamin D level. Plus O has continued to have GI issues, complains of headache and tummy aches on a nearly daily basis...

5 years ago my world changed as my stubborn, independent girl decided to make her appearance (on her own time 8 days late!)! She calmly entered the world, no tears at first but that soon ended. The energy started and has yet to calm! O despite your stubborn and independent personality and the struggles we have it is all worth it at the end of the day. Your strong will (like your mother) will only prove to benefit you in the future. I wish you could share some of your high energy with me some days! I love your hugs and cuddles and how caring you are. Always making sure others are okay and happy.   Pink and Purple are your favorite colors and you love playing with Legos, American Girl Doll, anything Frozen and games. You are always seeking out knowledge and love the outdoors and animals, traveling has taught you so much. Your favorite sports are gymnastics (and your tiny size is perfect), dance, soccer, swimming and running (we will run a 5K together this year!). Your career am...

After a frustrating mid week I think I am back to where I need to be. Some weird foot pain caused me some anxiety and moments of panic but it seems gotten a little better. Still mildly aches with barefoot walking but feels fine running so I’m thinking maybe a mild PF? My calf is super tight so I think it is all related to that. Monday:  P90X Back/Chest/Abs and Spin 30 min Kickboxing Tuesday:  AM- Plyometrics Sleep and PM-Intervals: 10 min easy, 4x1200 at 6:35 6:35-6:45 pace, 10 min easy 6.5 miles total Wednesday:  P90X Legs/Back/Abs and kickboxing Thursday:  Tempo Run : Skipped due to foot pain and 1 hour elliptical instead Friday:  P90X Shoulders/Arms/Abs and easy 3 mile run in 40 degree weather! Saturday:  Long Run: 12.5 miles 1:46:14 Sunday:  Yoga/Abs Remember last week's sunny long run, well what difference being home makes! Week 3 of marathon training is here and the warmer weather is sticking around a few more days. O...

Where do I start…The Good, The Bad or The Uncertainty? The Good: I’m getting a brand new treadmill for my home and even better I got a great deal on it thanks to a store sale and a corporate agreement with my work! This baby will be my new winter running partner starting on Tuesday! Life Fitness T5 Track+ The Bad: The foot! Seriously it has been fine until Wednesday night and then out of no where the pain returned but to a new area. What is this about? The most frustrating part is that I took 6 weeks off, eased back into running very slowly over 4 weeks and have now gotten to 3x week. Last week I ran 21 miles (1/3 of what I used to do). Tuesday I ran intervals pain free, Wednesday I did kickboxing and P90X lower/back/abs in the morning. That night I sat on the couch and when I got up to go to bed there was the pain. I smartly skipped my tempo run yesterday for 1 hour on the elliptical but the pain remains. I’m thinking the worst and freaking out. Last night when I got ho...

Like I said on Monday I was gone on vacation last week in warm, sunny Mexico. One of my requirements for living in the frozen tundra is a week of warm vacation every winter. After my adventures in Costa Rica in 2013 I have been cautious of foreign resort travel and opted for a cruise last winter since I knew Royal Caribbean could easily accommodate gluten free. Anyone with celiac (or a food allergy) knows it can be really tough to travel. We pack a suitcase of food looking like we are traveling to a place without stores, kitchens or food of any kind! Last spring I began researching gluten free resorts and was thrilled to see the list is growing and reviews are good on most. We came across a resort I had never heard of and it seemed perfect… Sandos Caracol EcoResort in Playa Del Carmen . A resort striving to be eco friendly, living with animals on site, growing food on site and more. Add caption Before we left I was in contact with the resort and they quickly sent me all ...

Week 1 of marathon training was interesting on a few levels; mentally I’m having a tough time with the lower mileage but am convincing myself that I need it, I ran on vacation in weather that was 60 degrees warmer than I’m used to (sorry that’s why I was pretty scarce last week) and I managed to injure myself during my long run on dry ground! Run views Despite being on vacation I think I managed to get my workouts in and eat pretty healthy, just forget about those glasses of wine, mojitos and margaritas! I also had no GPS so all runs were by time which I have a tough time mentally with. Monday:  P90X Back/Chest/Abs and 1 hour hiking Tuesday:  Intervals: 10 min easy, 8x 1:30 hard run 0:45 easy 10 min easy and Yoga Wednesday:  P90X Shoulder/Arms/Abs and 1 hour hiking Thursday:  Tempo run: 10 min easy 25 min harder 10 min easy and P90X Plyometrics (just 30 min) Friday:  P90X Legs/Back/Abs and hiking Saturday:  Long Run: 1:30:00 complete ...

This is it Week 1 of marathon training, #27 here I come and for some reason I’m feeling much different about this time. I’m doing everything different and feel good about it. My plan is written and is much different than before with less running and a lot of cross training and strength… Plan: Monday: P90X Back/Chest/Abs and either swim or bike Tuesday: Intervals and Yoga Wednesday: P90X Shoulder/Arms/Abs and cardio Thursday: Tempo run and P90X Plyometrics Friday: P90X Legs/Back/Abs and Yoga Saturday: Long Run 10 Miles and Stretch X Sunday: Yoga My goals are to stick with my plan and nutrition and see how I feel. In my nonfitness life I start my 2 nd to final semester of grad school today and ready to get this done! I also need to get everything planned for O’s 5 th birthday and wait for the final info on kindergarten! Yikes when did she get so old? What are your plans for the week? Who else is marathon training?

I get a lot of questions on choosing a marathon (or half marathon) training program. How do you know what is best for you with so many programs out there. There is not a one size fits all program. Which is why I believe it is all about personalizing to best meet your life, goals and needs. So how can you pick the right program when a personalized program is not an option? What is your goal? Is it just to finish, then a simple beginner plan is great, minimal speedwork is needed and the ultimate goal is to build the endurance to finish. Is it to PR or BQ, then there is a need to push beyond your comfort zone, add more speedwork, higher intensity and probably more strength training (if you aren’t already). How much time can you commit? Are you a busy mom like me who needs to workout early and can’t commit hours daily like I used to. Look for something that has less running days and more flexibility. If not then opt for more training days and longer workouts. How much running ...

The focus this week is healthy eating so why not join up with What I Ate Wednesday and share my recent eats and a new recipe. My goals starting this week are to make everything possible from scratch that means soaking and cooking beans, making hummus, granola, snack bars, breads, etc. What do you make at home? Marathon training starts next week and after the holidays I want my nutrition to be back on track for the 16 week training cycle. This time I am doing everything “right”! No excuses, no taking the easy route, I’m going to make this my year, get myself the race times I have been striving for and the strong body I’ve been lacking. Now this doesn’t mean I won’t indulge at times or have some wine, the 80/20 rule will be my friend. Breakfast: Banana protein oats (my go to breakfast 99% of the time) Lunch (usually salad or leftovers) Roasted beet and arugula salad with pecans and balsamic Chickpea wild rice soup Orange Dinner Potato bean gnocchi with spinac...

This week things are a little different, it is my last week before marathon training starts so no real plans or goals other than to start P90X (Day 1 done!) and increase longest run to 6-7 miles. My main focus is nutrition this week after the holidays of treats and wine! Instead I’m sharing my accomplishment last week… I finished a triathlon! Okay so it was an indoor tri but still this nonswimmer got herself in the pool! It was actually kind of fun (after the swim was over). 10 Minute Swim = 325meters, I’m not a fast swimmer and somehow this short duration knocks me out! I know I need to do it more but just can’t seem to convince myself to get in the pool. Quick 10 minutes to change into dry clothes and grab my bike shoes, a little water and get the bike adjusted (the worst part of indoor tris is not having your own bike). 30 Minute Bike = 9.8miles (19.6 mph!). Looks like my months of injury have helped the bike! Quick 5 minutes to change shoes and get to the t...

2014 brought many changes and new adventures into my life, some great and some not so good but times to learn. I have gained a lot of insight and know it will make me a better, stronger runner, a better mom and better in life. So here’s to an amazing 2015!  So far 2015 is off to a great start, O let us sleep in (6am was wonderful!) and now a relaxing morning watching Sleeping Beauty with my girl. Fitness Goals Sub 3:30 marathon (okay actually 3:15 is what I really want) Run 2015 miles just for fun Write marathon plan with 3-4 days of running, don’t run without purpose Complete P90X and P90X2 Finish a triathlon Stay injury free!! My NYE prseent! Signed up for a 2015 race: Eau Claire Marathon Life Goals Focus my blog on my life and trials, write 2-3 times weekly Finish grad school! Plan a fun girls weekend Grow my Thirty-One business with 1-2 parties monthly ( Email if interested in online party) Have fitness/nutrition challenge groups monthl...