Get Out of My Head!

I have had to revisit my Big Fat Midlife Crisis marathon goals:

Goal #1:  Run Grandma's Marathon and Twin Cities Marathon before I turn 40 in December

Goal#2:  Have fun and finish Grandma's without a time goal.

Goal#3:  Have one hell of a PR at Twin Cities.

I felt the need to restate these goals because I had a couple of weeks of bad running.  It was a bunch of different things that contributed to the craptasticness of my running (doing a Superman style fall on a busy street, getting pelted in the face with pine cone, and having to make a call of shame pick me up call for help) but the icing on cake was freaking out about a time goal.  It all started when I met this woman who mentioned that she was running Grandma's and she talked about how slow she was....a 4:30 finisher.  My heart sank....she calls that slow?  For some reason she got into my head.

I am working on resetting my thinking.  I am not sure why her commenting on her personal time affected me.  It wasn't like she was boasting.  We simply were having a nice conversation and my guess insecurities we poked.  I am just going to keep repeating:

Goal#2: Have fun and finish Grandma's without a time goal.

(Plus, I am confident that she won't have fun marathon toes and awesome friends to run with her)
Sunday was the one of the greatest days ever!  Kelli (my marathon life partner) and I have a blogging friend that was planning on being spectator at Grandma's Marathon.  We voiced our concerns to her that being a spectator was not acceptable and that she NEEDED to run with us.  She ignored us and kept turning us down despite our constant badgering.  We took matters into our own hands and ambushed her.  We signed her for Grandma's.....which is 4 weeks away.  We then let her find out about it on Facebook.  Yeah, we are kind of evil that way.  She took it in stride and was a really good sport about it!
By the way...I really need to brag for a second.  I finished my first semester of school with a 4.0!!!!  My final project was to build a website using html, style sheets, and javascript.  I put more hours into this project than I care to admit but it paid off and I nailed it.  FOUR POINT OH!  Student Carly from 1992 would not know student Carly 2013.  I can't wait to take more classes.

I thought that life would calm down after school ended and after hockey season was done.  Nope.  At the last possible second my children decided they NEEDED to play baseball (ugh).  I didn't argue because they have a never ended supply of energy that needs to be expended.  So yeah....baseball.  Four nights a week are now devoted to the most boring game on the planet.  Being the mother of the year, I often cut their games short to go for a run (well.....I have 2 marathons to train for!!!).



Diva's Debut as Catcher


If you are interested in winning some Shaklee, stop by and leave a comment on my review.

Shaklee Review and Giveaway

When giveaway ends, another begins......

I am very flattered that my friend Carrie reads my blog. She is a friend from high school and we reconnected over facebook. It turns out she only lives a few miles from me (and she blogs, too)! She reached out to me after reading about some of my crazy health issues. She mentioned had some "all natural" Shaklee products that were a must try. I hmmmmed and haaaaaed because when I see the words "Independent Distributor" I usually spin on my heels and run the opposite direction because I don't want the high pressure sales. This was not the case with Carrie. She urged me to try them and promised I would love them. So we met up one night, our daughters started wrestling in a Panera and became life long friends, and......

...I did just that, I tried them.

I first tried the Energy Chews. I was kind of excited to try something new because while I like Gu, it is not easy on my stomach. My other energy methods I have used in the past weren't so great....Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy shots. I decided to try these on all of my runs over the course of a week and these are my thoughts: 

• Liked the taste. It was mild citrus flavor.
• Mellow energy. It sounds like an oxymoron but was a nice burst of energy that lasted but didn't give me the jitters.

• Easy on the stomach. I get "Gu gut" pretty easy and if you know what I am talking about it is not fun. I had no issues with these.
• Easy packaging with little waste.
• Natural ingredients (no artificial *anything* in them).
• I just felt good. I can't articulate it further than that. It could have been a runners high, it could have been the weather, it could have been in my mind. But I do know that when a popped a couple of these my runs were better than when I didn't have them.

Carrie also told me that over 100 Olympians have used Shaklee products, and 60+ have been gold medals. Apparently their products are on the Anti-Doping list. She also said she has stories of runners who have had their best times ever after switching to Shaklee products. If that is the case I am going to eat an entire bag before Grandmas!!!

The only down side is that they cannot be purchased in a store and they are not cheap. When you break down the cost, it is only a few cents more than Gu.

I also tried the Joint Health Complex. She gave me a sample of 5 days worth to try. I took it, but rolled my eyes because my joints are "fine". Somehow I forgot that my knees, ankles, and hips can get angry from time to time (more often than not these days). I didn't want to waste the sample so I took it. She emailed me a few days later and asked how I liked it. I wanted to say she was full of it but I couldn't. I told her that it was perhaps my imagination, but I have not had any issues with my joints letting me know that I have abused them. She didn't say it but I know she was thinking it...."I told ya so". (I guess we WERE on High School dance line together, so our knees are probably in similar shape, as we were doing a lot of knee drops back in the day).

 

Shaklee has a whole line of products devote to active lifestyles. They also have a "Pure Hydration Drink" called Performance. Apparently it's clinically proven to hydrate better than water and it has more electrolytes and provides more energy than the leading hydration drink. Oh yeah, and it has nothing artificial in it. Hmmm. I might need to try this next! 

One lucky winner will win a canister of Performance! Wanna win it? Hit me up in the comments as well as give her facebook page a thumbs up! Additional information and a catalog of products can be found at soup.myshaklee.com~~ you can gain further information from her on the "Contact Me" section of that page. Hit Carrie up-she's great about trying something for the first time at member's price, before joining, and she helps out in the shipping department, too!

I will choose the one lucky winner at random next week. 

Thank you Carrie for the samples and for introducing me to a great product that I truly did not want to like but ended up loving!

Winner Winner!

I have got some catching up to do. But first I need to announce a winner.


The winner of "Honey Do You Need a Ride-Confesions of a Fat Runner" is:

****Drum Roll****

Al's CL Reviews

Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway!

Image from www.jennifergraham.com

Honey Do You Need a Ride, Confessions of a Fat Runner is Jennifer Graham's hysterical, heartbreaking, honest,and inspirational memoir about life and running.

I have a confession, the first thing I did was look at the photo in the back of the book to see how chubby Jennifer really was (Truth:  I pulled a catty woman move and I wanted to see if she was bigger than me).  What I saw was a pretty woman who looked like she had a nice figure. I was a little miffed as a chubby chick that she didn't look like a "fat" runner.  How could this woman write about being "fat"?  As I read more about her life, she does/did struggle with her weight and she does know what it is like to be in a much bigger body.  In fact she disclosed that she has been in a range of sizes up to size 20.  She's been there.

Jennifer is not fat in terms of what society would define as fat.  In fact, I think she looks fabulous and healthy (and a lot smaller than I am).  But to the running community she is an Athena....aka a more "robust runner".   She is not a person that you would immediately pick out as a runner.  I know from experience people treat you differently when you don't look like "real runner".  Her stories made me laugh and nod with agreement.  


Jennifer and her Donkeys

To say I LOVED this book was an understatement. I folded the corners of pages where I could directly relate to something she wrote and by the time I finished the book it looked like ALL the pages were folded. I think I have found my chubby runner kindred spirit!! 

• Gaining two pounds after running a half marathon? Yes!
• She has Pre and George Sheehan.  I have Hal Higdon.
• She has real donkeys and my pet name for the kids is the Serbian word for Donkey. (It is sweet term in our house)
• A stranger pulled up and asked if she needed a ride.  A stranger stopped and told me they were proud of me while I was out running. (hmmmm....good intentions).

I felt like I could sit down and have a glass of wine and share crazy running stories with her.

It is hard for me to pick out a favorite part of this book.  I think what I loved the most was that she gave a voice to the runners that are the mid and back-of-the -packers.  I am in this group.  It is a common misconception that slower runners and ones that have a bit more girth, lower the bar for the running community.  I know from my own blood, sweat, and tears this could not be further from the truth.  Jennifer Graham is the same way....she is every bit as determined and bad ass as any front of the pack, "shirtless wonder".  The Cinderella moment that made me cheer out loud was when she came in "70th" in her age group...a true middle of the pack moment.  One that I hope to achieve one day myself. 

The short review....this book is hysterical, inspirational, but as real as it gets.  It is a must read for anyone that has never felt like they have fit the mold of a "real" runner.....oh hell...it is a must read for EVERY runner! 

Interested in reading it? 

Now here is your chance.  I am excited to be able to giveaway a copy of Jennifer Graham's book. I will select from the comments randomly next week.

Thank you to Emily Hedges for making me a stop on this virtual book tour.

Friday's Wintery Mind Dump

• I have been really trying to be good and not bitch about Minnesota weather this year but today I am having a full blown meltdown.  It is May 3rd and it is SNOWING.  I might add it is not a flake here and there but full on snow.
• Adding to my meltdown is my to do list over the next 10 days.  Hockey is ending, baseball is starting, field trips and music festivals, there is Chubby Hubby's birthday and Mother's Day,  a final exam and final project.....oh AND a bunch of marathon training thrown in.  Like a dork I told my friends I would be MIA and made a flow chart of how to do everything and try not to lose my mind.
• I am in salad euphoria right now.  I have been really trying to do well and bring my own food and watch what I am eating because of the diverticulitis.  I threw together this salad:  Mixed greens, broccoli slaw, craisins, bleu cheese, and a drizzle of Panera's Fuji Apple Dressing.   It is the small things in life.
• Last night's run really blew.  Meh...some are good, some are not so good.
• My favorite song on my playlist right now is Hall of Fame by the Script.  Not new and slightly over played but I love love love it!
• Next week I will be a stop for a virtual book tour for an awesome book and hosting a Shaklee giveaway.  Stay tuned for details!
• Tonight as I do crazy amounts of homework I will be cheering on my Minnesota Wild and razzing one of my favorite Blackhawk fans (cough cough Bobbi).

I guess that is all I  have for on my mind right now.  I hope the weather is better wherever you are and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Wrap-up-An Awesome Long Run

One problem that I am having being a repeat offender marathoner is that the long runs feel so daunting. I have memories tied to certain running routes and while I haven't had horrible experiences, the thought of running someplace that takes 25 minutes by car makes me cringe knowing I have to cover the miles by foot.  I usually end up procrastinating and putting off the long run for as long as I can.  I hit the pavement when Chubby Hubby starts making snide comments about me  putting the rest of the weekend on hold.  It is funny how my perspective changes on the day of the marathon because my thoughts shift to being only 26.2 miles away from a cold beer.


This weekend brought more of the long run fretting. My goal was to run 8 on Saturday (I am making up my own schedule).  I did a 3 mile run/walk on Friday and I feared that my long run would be just as awful....lets just say there was a lot more walking than running.  I decided to change things up a bit and do an 8 mile by breaking it up into two 4 mile loops. I ran basically a huge figure eight around my neighborhood. The mid-point of my run was my house where I stopped and grabbed some water.  I have to say it was kind of a slick way of doing things.

Minneapolis has TONS of cool running routes but as I mentioned when you do them all the time, the distance can feel daunting.  Exploring my own neighborhood was more fun than I thought.  I live in a cool area because there is a lot of nature reserves and we are smack dab in the middle of the city about a mile from MSP airport.....a good mix of wildlife and city.  With this diverse scenery, I got to see a mother duck with her ducklings waddling next to me on a wooded trail (they were moving faster than me) and then I saw some dude dancing in droopy drawers on his front porch singing at the top of his lungs while I was waiting for an endless stop light to let me cross a busy intersection.

My eight mile run ended up being  AWESOME.  My changed up route paired with an amazing spring morning and a kick ass play list on my ipod made this a perfect run!  I am by no means a fast runner and I covered this distance at 11:47 average pace (really fast for me)!  Also, I did not stop to walk (unheard of).  I needed this long run to go well because I needed the confidence booster.  When I got home, my marathon confirmation card came in the mail.  Normally I start dry heaving when I see it, but this time I am EXCITED! 

The run set the tone for a great weekend.  We officially kicked off deck season with our friends, watched the kids play baseball and hockey, and I hit up hot yoga on Sunday evening.

What do you do to make your long runs bearable?

Random Thoughts

The temps are in the 60's and the sun is out! It is something to be extremely happy about because we haven't had the temps in the 60's for a very very very long time.



You know how some runs are just awesome and feel like you could go forever? Yeah, last night's run was not it. Spring allergies were in full force and my legs felt like they were on backwards. With the help of some (a lot) of walk breaks, I covered 3ish miles. Some runs just suck and this was one of them.



I am going for a short run tonight because it would be a crying shame not to get out and enjoy this spectacular day! 



I am contemplating running a half marathon next weekend as my "long run". I am not quite at a half marathon distance but it would be nice to have something organized to get miles my miles in and to have water along the route. I am going to see how my long run goes the weekend before I make that decision.



Aside from my long run and one hockey game, I have a free weekend! I think I will finally get some spring cleaning done, work on some homework, and hit up some hot yoga. I know you are jealous of the extreme life of glamour I live.



I only have 3 more weeks of school left! If I can do decent on my final exam and successfully complete my website project, I will walk away with an A. I am holding strong with an A average now. I got an A in my other class and that would mean a 4.0 GPA for this semester! Woo Hoo!  

Have a great weekend!!!