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?

Runs and Review

A couple days ago I got up early to meet a friend for a run. She only wanted to do 3 miles and I was planning to get 8 miles done so I got at the meeting place early enough to get one mile in (I was hoping for two miles but hey I had to push snooze once)! Upon arriving at the location I was pleased to see I had the whole place to myself. After my warm up I took off on my run. It is was still early so I had this amazing fog and the sun rising. I couldn't of asked for a better backdrop for my run plus it wasn't hot yet.

I finished up my 8 mile run with a little bit pathetic pace. It included my friend's warm up and cool down plus some random walking while we finished catching up before I took off on my run again. Overall not a great run but I got my miles in and I plan to do another 9 mile this Saturday to make up for this run. How do you get through a long run when all you want to do is walk? Do you complete the miles even if you have to crawl or do you suck it up and run to get them over with fast?

After my run I wanted to try the Zola Coconut Water that has been getting cold in the fridge for a few days.

I decided to make a smoothie with it so I dumped in a cup of Coconut Water, a scoop of chocolate protein powder, more spinach than Popeye would enjoy and some ice. Blend, blend, blend and drink, drink, drink. It was so good! I normally put unsweetened coconut in all my smoothies anyway so it's fair to say I like it but with the coconut water it helped make it super awesome. Like a healthy almond joy! My son calls this drink my "Hulk drink" since it is so green. I just smile and nod, it makes me happy that he thinks I am even some what connected to his favorite super hero.

My favorite of the bunch was the coconut with pulp. If I am going to have coconut water I want to see some coconut in it! It went great with a banana, lots of spinach, protein powder and ice. I need to start making all my smoothies with coconut water. 

I was a little afraid of the Acai juice. I typically don't like berry juices. I love berries but not in juice form. Since I went in a little afraid I was pleasantly surprised that is was good. I'm weird and dilute my juices when I drink them so drinking this straight was a strong. Next time I will dilute and it will be perfect for my taste. Check out Zola and all their products! 

What is your favorite coconut water? Have you ever tried coconut water?

This blog received no payment or other compensation for reviews of products or services.

National Running Day, Get your Run On!

Today is National Running Day!!!! How are you celebrating this day? Are you running with your running buddies? Or running all alone to reflect on your running journey? I am meeting up with some of my Mom's Run This Town friends. A few of them happen to be my sorority sisters as well. It is awesome to have two of my favorite things (my sorority and running) blend together. We also have two Couch to 5k moms coming to join us in a run for the first time. I am thrilled at the idea that we get to spend National Running Day with them as they are on the journey to become a runner. I get inspired by new runners, runners who have stuck with running for years, people who get PR's and people who don't give up on running despite injury! I can't wait to run with all the above tonight!

How are you celebrating National Running Day?

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! 

Race For the Cure and P.S.A.

Busy week! Thursday I helped a friend get ready for a hilly 10k that she has coming up by hiking up to Table Rock. The plan was to run when it wasn't too steep but we ended up just walking most of it and catching up. We saw lots of bugs and two huge snakes. We are both outside runners so you would think we wouldn't freak out over every snake we saw or super giant bugs, but we did!

Today I walked the Race for the Cure 5k with my husband and my two kids. I had way too much fun making the costumes. My talented husband designed the shirts and I was in charge of the tutu, headbands and my son's hat. I think they turned out awesome! My kids are great sports about letting me dress them up for all sorts of events. They once won $100 for best Blue and orange outfits during a Bronco parade.

Before the race we met up with some of my fellow Mom's Run This Town members. A few of us brought our children and planned to walk this event. Breast Cancer affects one in eight women so most everyone knows someone or has a family member that is affected by this awful thing.

My family has the BRCA2 gene mutation which has already brought Breast Cancer to my mother and grandmother (both survivors) and taken my Aunt. Since Cancer and my family have such a bond we decided we had to make Race for the Cure a family affair instead of just having me run it solo. I stole the picture below from Komen Idaho Pinterest page but I agree with it's message.

Time for my P.S.A. Find out your risks, take action and be the healthiest version of yourself that you can be. Talk with your doctor about when you should start getting mammograms, don't sit around doing nothing until you hit that magic age when you need to start getting checked. Take action! A few steps you can do to help lower your risks are exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol, don't smoke and eat healthy. You can do all those things NOW!

Did you run any races this weekend? Are you taking steps to be the healthiest version of you? 

My new BFF and me

The other day I accompanied my friend on her very first 20 minute run. She started the the couch-to-5k program about 5 weeks ago and she had to do her first long run. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to join her on her big day.  The run started out like any normal run for me. I was getting in the zone, paying attention to my breathing and not keeping in mind that I was with a girl who was running for 20 minutes for the first time. About 10 minutes into the run, we talked about proper form and tried to find her a "power song" on my iphone. When we had 4 minutes left she commented that she didn't think she was going to make it so we ran through some sprinklers. At 2 minutes left, she decided that she had to finish because she didn't want to repeat that training run. At 1 minute left, she realized that she was going to make it. During our cool down walk after the run she was in disbelief. She couldn't believe she had just done that! I was proud of her but she was also proud of herself!

I remember that feeling, heck I still get that feeling, but I remember when doing the couch-to-5k program, every run made you feel like that! A year and a half later, you get proud after huge accomplishments (like 10k's, half marathons, etc.) but you don't always stop to pat yourself on the back after a normal short run. The last two months I have been dealing with an annoying IT band. It was very discouraging and any time I would try to go my normal speed or more than 2 miles it started giving me horrible pain and would cut my runs short. Today I met my new best friend, my foam roller.

I rock and rolled with it then went for a run. Not a super long one but one where I really pushed my legs for all they had. I sprinted up some small hills and went faster than I have maybe ever. No pain at all. Like I said it was a short run but boy did it feel good. It wasn't a huge accomplishment run but I was super proud and excited that my knee finally listened and didn't give me any trouble. I was on Cloud 9! I can not wait until tomorrow when I get to run again, hopefully pain free from now on.

In addition to my awesome new foam roller, I have been sporting an awesome headband from Running Happy.

They have a wide variety of colors and styles. They are also really comfortable. Typically "non-slip" headbands slide off my head. I can't tell you how many races I end up with my headband wrapped around my wrist. I have also had the pleasure of ripping off a headband and throwing it in the garbage because it was giving me a killer headache. My Running Happy headband felt great and they even added a hair clip to the band to ensure that it wasn't going any where while I was running. LOVE THAT!!

Honestly I love the headband! It's cute, comfortable and stays put. That get's two thumbs up in my book! 

Have you tried a foam roller? What is your favorite non-slip headband? 

This blog received no payment or other compensation for reviews of products or services.

SJR Ambassador

I have huge news!! I am excited to announce that I am a See Jane Run Ambassador for 2013-2014! Last year I heard about the SJR Women's Half Marathon  and it immediately went on my bucket list of races to run. When you finish you get a cute glass with champagne AND chocolate...what could be better after running a race.

I am thrilled for my first flat half marathon! Since I have only ran one half before this and it was up a mountain, this one should feel a little easier but at the same time I don't plan on walking like I did with my last one. I am excited for this adventure!

I want you to run it with me! Whether you do the 5k or the half wouldn't it be awesome to run this women's only race with some of your gal pals. The answer is YES! SJR has informed me that I will be sharing a code to help you save on the registration fee for this race. Be sure to watch for that in the next few weeks. There are 53 days until this race so you have plenty of time to get ready. Either for the 5k, with the couch-to-5k program, or if you are already a runner, you have 7 weeks to increase your mileage to get ready for the half marathon. You know you want to!

Will you run with me? Doesn't this sound like an awesome race!