Keeping the spark alive!

Let's talk about running! I love running, it's fun, rewarding and a great way to get healthy. However I am one of those people that needs a goal to train and push myself for. I recently did three half marathons in 84 days. My first half was a challenging uphill course. My second half was flat and fast. My third was just to say I did three in under 90 days. After that I wasn't sure what to train for.

The next half marathon in the area was October. I toyed with the idea of training for a full but procrastinated and didn't increase my distance so that flew out the window. In the whole month of August I didn't run any distance over 6 miles! 

I have a 10k at the end of this month. Normally not a challenging distance but with me being a slacker and it being a hilly course I realize it is time to get my butt in gear.  I would also love to PR on this race so I can possibly move up a corral placement at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon. It is a Wine Run so I get to celebrate my PR with Wine after the run. I can not wait! 

Somehow, over the last month me and distance running drifted apart. I am going to rekindle my love with distance. We are going to start off slow with a date (aka short run) and add a nice beverage if I want to make the run extra special (aka watermelon Nuun) then when we start to spend a little more time together I will bring a nice meal (aka a mint chocolate gu, maybe chomps). I'm kind of a romantic like that. I know the spark is there because I feel it on every run, I just need to work on keeping the fire going and not relying on little sparks to get me to the finish line on race day.

In September I am going to try to streak the whole month by running at least one mile every day. So far on day 2 of the month I am doing great. Feel free to join along and we can keep each other accountable and cheer each other on! 

Have you ever had a running rut? How do you keep the spark alive with your running? Are you going to streak with me? 

June Recap, streak recap, and Vitacost review oh my!

Let's talk about June! June was a good month. I ran every single day of June as part of the run streak! As a result of running every single day, I was able to log 91.54 miles!!! More than kind of impressed with myself. If I would have added the miles up sooner I would have tried to get an extra 9 miles done to make it an even 100 but I did math too late. After 39 days the streak finally ended on July 4th.

My legs were thrilled to have a rest day but I am battling the feeling of feeling lazy. I took a rest day on the 5th, ran 7 miles on the 6th and on the 7th the thought of taking another rest day made me feel like I was not committed to running. Darn you running streak for making me feel guilty about the occasional rest day but I did just run a half on Saturday so I had to let them rest some before the race. Overall I loved the streak, you see some things and experience stuff you won't if you didn't run every day. I talked about some of my adventures here but I have more fun to add. I ran while watching a plane crop dust right across the street from where I was. They put on quite a show!

I got lost on a 12 mile run with my friend. We some how got separated from a group of 20 people but because we went the wrong way we saw humming birds, parent swans with baby swans, a deer with two baby deer,  giraffes peaking over the fence at the zoo and discovered a beautiful, zen like park.

I am the proud owner of the most spectacular sock tan lines in the world. I cheated on my Brooks Ghost one day to give them a break and almost twisted my ankles because of it. Word to the Wise: Don't stray from your Brooks or you will be sorry, the Brooks Gods will make your run suck!

I also had the opportunity to review some of Vitacost products. One reason I love Vitacost is because they sell everything! They sent me all this stuff awesome stuff.

My favorite was the Himalania Dark Chocolate Goji Berries. Seriously good!

My kids loved the Pure Organic fruit and veggies strips. Also I received Multi-Vitamin Gummies for kids. They loved them and ask about taking their vitamins every day. Most of the time they ask multiple times a day so we have to mark it on the calendar when they take it so they don't talk us into giving them more than they are suppose to have.

The Himalayan Pink Salt has become a new staple in my kitchen. I love it but my favorite part is that it is pink! I love pink! 

I love trying new foods out and with Vitacost they make it pretty easy because they carry so much variety!

I'm working on my race recap of the Fit For Life Half marathon that I ran this weekend! Look for it in the next day or so! 

Adventures in Streaking

Today was day 22 of the Runner's World Run Streak. This is the longest streak I have ever had! It has been pretty easy to get out and just run a mile every day. I'm over half way through the streak. Some of my streak-ventures have been chasing a hot air balloon (unfortunately it didn't land where I was chasing it), tried out Sparkly Soul headbands (love them), and I went streaking through the quad at Boise State. With the running every day it has given me more opportunity to meet up with friends to run as well.  I am loving all my streak-ventures!

Balloon Chasing

Love this headband!

Streaking through the Quad

Yesterday was Father's Day! In honor of Father's Day I am going to talk about my awesome husband who is the Father of our two wonderful kids. My husband has been so great about my running especially during my running streak and half marathon training. He has made sure there is always time for me to get in my miles. Not only that but he helps me put the kids to bed then does around 8 miles every night. He is amazing and I'm proud of him.

There is five days until the See Jane Run Half Marathon and 5k!!! I'm so excited! There is still plenty of time to sign up! As an add bonus anyone who signs up before Thursday will have a portion of their race fee donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Boise. $25 if you sign up for the Half and $15 if you sign up for the 5k. Just use the code "ILOVELLS"when you sign up. The weather looks great for this weekend, the course is a great along the greenbelt, and the energy is going to be awesome! Come run with me!

Do you have any races coming up this weekend? Have you had any streak-ventures?

SJR Discount and streaking!

The moment is here when I get to share with you the code to save 10% of the See Jane Run Women's Half Marathon & 5k! I can not wait for this race! After the Race to Robie Creek, I waited in line 30 minutes and didn't get the after-race-massage that I was looking forward to. My ride was leaving so I had the choice of getting the massage and then waiting forever in line for the bus to take me back to town or jumping in the van at that moment and not waiting in any more lines. I choose no more lines. After the SJR Half I am looking forward to getting a massage while eating chocolate while sipping champagne. Yep that is my kind of race! Less than a month away so remember to sign up! Don't forget to use the 10% off code: SJRBOISEAMB13

Note: This code is for the Boise race only, if you would like a 10% off code for one of the other SJR races let me know!

In addition to training for my next Half, I'm going streaking! No it's not what you think, get your mind out of the gutter. I am planning to do the Runner's World streaking challenge. It is from Memorial Day to Independence Day and the rules are simple. Just run at least one mile every day during that time. I have tried to streak before and didn't make it that long, but only one mile every day sounds doable. Make sure you report your miles using #RWRUNSTREAK. Check out all the FAQ's here!

Will you join me in this streak? We can help keep each other accountable!

On June 8th I will be participating In the Meridian 5th Annual Poop Scoot. It is a 3k or 5k that is put on by the Meridian Public Works Department. The race starts at 8:30 when the Public Works Department will drop a tennis ball in the sewer system and we are trying to get to the finish line of the race before the tennis ball. I have no idea how fast the tennis ball will travel so it will be a fun surprise if I do beat the tennis ball. The cost for the race is a few nonperishable cans of food that get donated to the Meridian Food Bank. You can also buy a shirt for $10. It's a free race with a great cause so consider signing up!