What I Ate Wednesday #18

Before I get into the important stuff I have a favor to ask of you!  Please either click that little "like" button on the right side of your screen for my facebook page, or go to MommiesRun and hit like.  I have a super awesome giveaway but I need your help first!  Mwah and thank you!

It's Wednesday and that means I'm linking up with Peas and Crayons for WIAW!  It's your weekly look into what I'm eating, so enjoy!

This is a little Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.  I split it with my homegirl Jaclyn so we could cut down on calories but still get a little caffeine boost.  I was a little nervous because I knew it didn't have soy milk.  That could spell disaster later on in the day, but down the hatch it went.  

I come up with some weird combinations for my meals but this one was so delicious!  I plopped some cottage cheese in the bottom of the super fancy paper bowl and then added some strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and watermelon.  Then I crumbled some Kashi shredded wheat type cinnamon cereal on top of that for some fiber and more protein.  It was very filling and oh so yummy. It was a nice change from what I normally eat, ahem, Chobani.

For lunch I had quinoa with lentils and chopped broccoli.  I had meal prepped a bunch of lentils and quinoa on Sunday and they made for a great lunch today.  I felt like I needed some green so I topped it with broccoli and it mixed in well with the other flavors.

I snacked on an apple and nuts in the afternoon.  I know y'all are super smart and probably know this, but please buy your nuts in the shell.  You'll save so many calories by eating them this way!  They taste just as delicious, you just have to do a little extra work to eat them.  Then you see your shells sitting there as a reminder of how much you've eaten.  Exception:  almonds.  Obvi.

When I got home from work I got #PoweredByBits before my Hill Repeats.  The good people at Energy Bits would be glad I included this because they want you to know that Energy Bits are food!  Not a supplement.  

I have no affiliation with Energy Bits.  I paid good money for those bits and I just want to spread the word about how amazing they are!

For dinner we grilled out.  I prepared the food for the grill, and my grillmaster, Josh, cooked everything to perfection!  He even had some super cute helpers.  

Um yeah.  Definitely the cutest helpers ever.

Josh grilled up some killer salmon and corn on the cob with a sweet potato on the side.  I kind of threw the salmon together but here's basically what I did:

Drizzle the salmon with olive oil.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the filet and then slice the lemon to rest on it.

Sprinkle with basil, pepper, kosher salt, and garlic.

Grill.

Eat.

Smile.

I hope you had some great eats today!  I know I did!

Are You A KindRunner?

If you are anything like me, the idea of turning your old running shoes into new running shoes is pretty amazing.  

But what if those old running shoes could help someone in need?  Someone who could put several hundred more miles on them?

That is exactly what KindRunner is about.  

But wait...There's More!

KindRunner, launching June 1st, is the only online retailer that will have expert shoe fitters to help you pick out your new shoes!  I know what you're thinking, you have a local shop you like to visit for their expertise.  Well what about when the kids are nagging, your race is in a week, and you just plain have no time?  How easy would it be to just get online and pick out your new pair of shoes?  With free shipping BOTH WAYS, how can you go wrong?

You'll receive "Kindness Cash Rewards" for every pair of shoes you send to KindRunner and in turn they will send your shoes to either 

or 

Can it get any better?  

Well it can.  Did you know the average running shoe sits 90-100 years in a landfill before it decomposes?  I believe runners, as a whole, try to reduce our impact on the carbon footprint.  It's devastating to know the tool that we need the most, our shoes, can contaminate our environment like that.  I know I can't wait to send in my old shoes so that they don't sit in a landfill.  Clearly, I have a few pairs looking for new homes.

You've still got a couple more weeks before KindRunner launches, but they are already hosting an awesome contest!  They are giving away a YEAR'S WORTH of running shoes to you and your favorite running partner!  That's 3 pairs of shoes each!  It's easy to enter, just sign up for the email list on the website, and make sure your running partner signs up also.  Also, make sure and "Like" them on Facebook!  Once they get 500 "Likes", they'll be giving away a pair of shoes!

"Your old shoes may not last another long run, but they would go the distance in changing someone else's life for the better"

For more info:

http://kindrunner.com

http://facebook.com/kindrunner

http://twitter.com/beAkindrunner

http://instagram.com/beakindrunner

http://youtube.com/user/kindrunner

Disclaimer:  I am an ambassador for KindRunner.  I will be doing product reviews and hosting giveaways sponsored by KindRunner.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

The Crud

It all started out pretty innocently.

I discovered something cool and made a video for y'all about it:

But then things progressed.

And I was officially out.

I've been sidelined all weekend with 

Source

I've missed three runs because of this disaster and I'm not happy.  A 3 miler, 30 minute tempo, and 6 miler are in the garbage.  I know it's not the end of the world as I'm not in a real training mode yet but I'm still bummed because things had been going well up until Thursday.

On Monday I had a lovely 3 mile run.  Pace was good and I felt good.  Belle was super proud of me after my run:

On Tuesday I had another easy 3 miler although the heat made it feel a little less than easy.  It was the first super hot run of the season for me and made me remember that I need to wake up early to run in the summer.  It might also have had something to do with the Crud that was entering my body.

Lululemon Tame Me Tank, Oiselle Bum Wrap, and Brooks Pure Flows (plus a pile of other Brooks shoes)

Look at how tiny the moon is in the upper left corner.  It's so cute.

I also did some work with my new Power Bands when I got home.  My hips have been a trouble spot for me so I'm trying to strengthen them.  If you have any suggestions of exercises to do with my bands, let me know!

On Wednesday I tackled hill repeats.  This was the first time I tried hill repeats and it wasn't easy.  I also might have pushed the hill a little too hard as I saw a 7:xx peeking at me on my watch.  I think I'm going to try and slow it down a little next week!

And that was it for the week.  The illness hit and I was done.  

Here's to hoping for a healthier week!

Have you ever been hit by the Crud?

Hill Repeats, love them or hate them?

Surrender to the Flow

You know that moment in a run when you are basically in cruise control?  You don't have to think.  You just run.  

I love that moment.

It always makes me think of one of my favorite Phish songs, The Lizards.  There's a line in the song that goes:

"The trick was to surrender to the flow..."

Sometimes I'm in that flow and yet I don't want to surrender to it.  Maybe it's too fast, maybe it's too slow.  But today I totally surrendered to it.  I simply ran and didn't worry about pace.  I was in tune with my breathing and my footsteps.   The weather was perfect, I was pain free, and I surrendered to the flow.  I ran happy and loved every minute of it.  

I bet you didn't know that I was such a hippie.  For the record, I've been to over 30 Phish shows with my husband.  We love them.  You should too.

Belle was kind of snobby after my run.  I think she was mad that she can't run yet.  I keep telling her that she needs to let her body grow but she wasn't having any of it.

I also made another yummy salad for lunch today.  I was super fancy and cut my carrots with my teeth.  Because that's how we do it in Collierville.  Just keeping it classy.

Do you struggle with surrendering to the flow?

What are your musical preferences?

Phish, JT, Kanye, Ryan Adams, and a lot of other random stuff!

What team are you cheering for in the NBA playoffs?

Grizzlies all the way!  Grit 'n Grind!

My Personal Best + Race Pics

I want to write a separate post about this, but I kind of registered for my first full marathon. I've committed to running 26.2 miles.

I'm not even the least bit nervous about it.

Obviously I've obsessively researched different training plans. Because of the success I've had with Hal Higdon, I've decided to use one of his plans. I really love having a plan and schedule to follow, so I've decided to use his Personal Best marathon plan. This combines 2 plans into one and includes speed work and hill repeats. It looks completely reasonable which is the most important thing to me when deciding on a plan.

No plan will work unless you follow it, and let's face it, I don't have the most time in the world to dedicate to training.

I counted out the weeks (4 times) and tomorrow is the day. I've written out the schedule for the next 30 weeks and here's what I've got going on for the rest of May:

I'm so excited to get started. I'm planning to update weekly how my training is going so pester me if you don't see it.

To help keep me motivated, here are some official pics from the Zero Prostate Cancer half. I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm seriously not impressed with how flabby my arms and legs look. I'm hoping my training will help tone me up!

Rocking my Tough Chik top and Sweat Pink laces

Willing Jennifer through the last bit

My MRTT Mommies!  Me, Jennifer, Rachel, and Marley

I seriously love this picture.  

"And everybody's hands go up!  And they stay there!"

I smiled a lot during this race 

What I Ate Wednesday #17

I skipped out on WIAW last week and I am so sorry that y'all didn't get to see all the cool things I ate, like:

and

I promise I won't do that to y'all again.  

I started my day with a nice cup of coffee.  I put some Silk creamer and Truvia in it.  Good stuff.  

Hello old friend.  It's been a while since I've had my Chobani and Kashi mix.  It was still as delicious as ever.  The peach and cinnamon is such a good combination.  Try it.  You'll like it.  Moms, do I sound like this guy?  

Holy Mother of Salads.  I'm seriously considering opening up a salad restaurant.  I think I maybe create the best salads ever.  This beauty consisted of kale, cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and a ginger dressing.  With a Wasa cracker on the side.  This is my current favorite salad.  Ever.  

Hey there Iced coffee with soy milk and sugar free vanilla.  How did you get there?  And a dark chocolate Hershey's Kiss?  Not sure how y'all found your way to my counter.

When you have nothing to fuel a run, choose your kids Tinkerbell snacks.  They work in a pinch.  

After my run I refreshed myself with a Green Machine from Naked.  I love this juice.  I know you juicers out there probably look down on the pre packaged juice, but when you're lazy like me, this stuff rocks.

In an effort to keep up with the laziness, we got O'Charley's to go.  I got the potato soup with no bacon and a salad.  Plus some spinach dip and their amazing rolls.  

So to review, I made an awesome salad.  That's all you need to remember about this post if you think I'm a running/fitness/health blog.  Thank you.

And don't forget to visit Peas and Crayons to see what real food bloggers pictures look like!  Gorgeous!

It's Freggie Time!

, 

Welcome to the First Edition of MommiesRun's Freggie Garden Update!  Or FEMRFGU if you like.

Just kidding, that just sounds odd.

Anyway, thanks to the genius garden planning of DaddiesRun, or Josh as you might know him, I was able to get my fruits and veggies (FREGGIES) planted for the season!

I'll be giving y'all updates regarding the progress, but if it's anything like last year, we'll be up to our eyeballs in cucumbers and tomatoes!  

This is Bed #1 and it has pickling cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.  I went ahead and put the tomato cages around the plants because last year it was pretty difficult once the plants were huge.  We also have marigolds planted with each bed.  They help repel insects that can damage your plants.  I will not be using any pesticides.  Gross.

Bed #2 has regular cucumbers and 2 different varieties of tomatoes.

Bed #3 has more cucumbers and tomatoes (we need to get 2 more tomato cages).

Bed #4 has red peppers, green peppers, banana peppers, and jalapeno peppers.

This is the long bed and it has canteloupe, watermelon, strawberries, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and squash.  I also have a spot reserved for spinach or kale, depending on what I find.

Everything is gated off to repel one more pest:

And that's it!  I like to get my seedlings from a local nursery called Russell's Farm Supply.  They are always so helpful and knowledgeable.  Plus the place is gorgeous.  Check it out: