Monday Motivation

If I ever want to get to where I want to be, I need to once and for all fight through and be the "old me"!  Instead of wishing and hoping, I need to be doing.  Instead of wondering if, I need to get out there and make it happen.  There is no one standing in my way except for one person...one person I know very well...one person I love but would love to see differently...me.  I feel like I get on a good path and then that "old me" comes sneaking back...old habits...old doubts.  This week I'm taking her down...day by day!  I can and will do this!

Who/What is standing in your way this week?  How have you pushed past your "old you" in the past to be who you are today?

Almost Wordless Wednesday....You Get What You Need

For whatever reason lately I have had the song "If you try some times...you might find...you get what you need" stuck in my head!  Could be a gentle reminder to focus on the good times instead of the ones that have me tearing my hair out.  Could be the ending of summer getting to me...while I love the new beginning of the school year I think I have made it very clear that I am a beach girl and when those days of summer draw to an end I get sad.  Either way here are some reminders to myself that I am getting what I need!

Getting to get dolled up for a date!

This crazy car almost took away the sting of a 5 mile backup getting onto the bridge with a screaming 10 month old!...almost!

A bonfire and 24 hours with my old college roomie...16 years of friendship!

Proof that these sisters do love each other!

A date to "Wicked" with my main man!!!!

Champagne Mojito...nuf said!

Try It Tuesday...and Designer Whey Winners

Recently I was able to try out a fabulous delivery service called Kona Kase.  

For those of you who haven't heard about Kona Kase before, you simply join for a low rate and each month you get a cute red box filled with nutritional products, an inspirational quote, and training tips with info on the month's featured products!  I was so excited when I saw my red box waiting for me...however I think the hubs was even more excited since he snagged my Perky Jerky before I could even take the picture!!  Clearly he doesn't remember the blogger protocol!

My red Kase of goodness included:

Perky Jerky

Enjoy Life's Seed and Fruit Mix (my daughter totally stole it!)

Pro Bar Bolt chews

Health Warrior Chia Bars (Ummm YUM!)

Caveman Cookies (Ummm may I have another please!)

Garuka Bars (which I was psyched to see since I had won them recently!)

Barbara Llewellyn Granola

Body Glove Surge Gel

I was so excited to try out Kona Kase and considering the reasonable prices and AWESOME products you are able to try out....it is well worth it to join in!  Plus Arthur Ashe said it all...

I was given a Kona Kase for free but my opinions are 100% me, myself, and I!!

The winners of the Designer Whey giveaway are....
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please email me your address at mrscapen14@yahoo.com so I can get a box from Designer Whey headed your way!!!  Also you can take this survey and receive a $10 credit toward anything you purchase from their online store!

Monday Motivation

I remind myself and most of my friends that are just starting out running or exercising of this all the time!!!  Take a snapshot of what your struggling through right now...because a few weeks down the road it will all be different.  Stick with it!  You WILL get there and in the process celebrate the things that used to be far too hard and are now second nature!!

Don't miss out on my HUGE Designer Whey giveaway!!!  Just one day left!!!

Fitness Friday...Finish Strong

Lately my long runs have been following the same pattern...start creaky, stiff, and spend the first 3 miles convincing myself that yes this is what I want to be doing.  Then by about mile 3 I feel like this...

I'm feeling like I could do this for the next 4 hours with nothing to stop me!  Then around mile 9-10 I feel like this...

I spend the next whatever miles playing games with myself to keep going until the end!  This is something that leaves me feeling totally defeated and definitely questioning my race plans.  Not ready to give up I decided to ask around and research some tips that could help me feeling stronger as the miles tick away.

Laura from Mommy Run Fast is not only an awesome, wicked fast runner, but she's also a certified RRCA running coach offered me this advice:  Start off the first 1-2 miles slower in order to allow your body to warm up and to reserve your energy for later miles.  Also build your overall weekly mileage to boost endurance.  Thanks Laura for your advice!

Coach Jenny from Runner's World had similar advice!  She color coded the miles (you know I love color coding!) 

The yellow zone is your conversational pace...easy and you can chit chat about everything around you.  Orange is where you dial it up a bit...you can hear your own breathing but you are not out of breathe.  Red is your final kick to go hard but controlled.

So the obvious thing is that I need to start out slower in the early miles.  In the past I have tried my hardest to start slow especially during a race where I have people all around me.  I have even put slower songs on my playlist in order to slow me down.  I do find though that when I hit that sweet spot after mile 3 I speed up...I'm feeling great...and as hard as I try my body wants to GO!  Next week's long run thought I'm really going to try my hardest...to make my body reserve it when really I just want to run fast...all the time!

What do you do so that you are reaching the finish strong?

WIAW....Smoothie Summer Giveaway with #DesignerWhey

As a mom, time is like gold....so is extra energy so smoothies has been my easiest way to get in protein and veggies along with loads of other vitamins in a nice portable (usually not spillable) container! So for today's WIAW...it's all about the smoothies!

I have been honestly searching for some great protein that would not only give me the protein I need but also some added kick that would last the long run!  I was so excited to join in on the Designer Whey campaign with Fitfluential and be able to try out their new Sustained Energy formula!  Take a look at what their website says...

Designer Whey® Sustained Energy™ is specifically formulated with our proprietary Endurance Blend™. Designed to give you balanced, stimulant-free, sustained energy through fast absorbing whey protein and slower absorbing soy and casein proteins, giving you a steady supply of essential amino acids while helping you control hunger with fiber.  Packed with 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 Essential Vitamins & Minerals and naturally flavored and sweetened – all for only 100-good-for-you calories

Why yes sir sign me up!!  This was an easy addition to my smoothie habit and it really did keep me full longer....which of course equaled less time in the snack cabinet!!!  Not to mention the great taste!  I am sure that in the future I will test my Designer Whey out in some other recipes but for now I am LOVING my smoothies!  Here are two "recipes" I have been trying out.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Heaven! (I modified what was on the container!)

1 scoop Chocolate Velvet Designer Whey Sustained Energy

handful of baby spinach

1Tbsp Peanut Butter

4oz water

1 banana

ice

Tropical Paradise (modified the recipe from Shape magazine)

1 scoop Vanilla Bean Designer Whey Sustain Energy

1 banana

1/2 cup pineapple

ice

4oz water

I found the original recipe in Shape magazine!

Do you want to see a box of goodness on YOUR doorstep from Designer Whey?  Well be sure to enter!!  I will announce 6 winners on August 20th!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was given Designer Whey Sustained Energy as part of a campaign with Fitfluential but my opinions are 100% mine all mine!

Have Time...Will Run!

This week I have flipped my training schedule upside down.  Why you say?  Well while these two cuties...

are having a blast with their cousins and grandparents, I decided to do my long run Monday and then proceed with my plan for the week!  And what a coincidence it was since I had 13 on the plan and Jill and Jen's Virtual Half is going on this month!!!

So after work....yes teachers do work in the summer...I laced up my Sauconys and headed out for a half!  I was happy that I did this because I was able to see where my weaknesses are in my long runs and where I need to work more so that I feel strong and confident in September for ZOOMA Cape Cod!  Here are some thoughts along the way!

• Roads are WAY more crowded at 2pm than they are at 6am....and drivers are both paying attention less and less likely to give you some space!
• I need to go back to my Saucony Rides for my long runs.  I LOVE the Kinvaras but the toe box is a little more narrow which doesn't bother me on shorter runs (under 10 miles) but kills my toes on longer ones.
• I need to start dropping lbs with a quickness...I am on my way but I know with more lbs lost I will be faster
• My body tends to warm up after 3 miles....I can almost know exactly when I hit that 3 mile mark everything just relaxes.
• Later miles for me are where I need to work...more to come on that this week!
• Listening to Dimity talk about her "IronMother" swim in cold water on their AMR podcast makes me jealous while my face is melting!

I was happy I was able to get a half in and in a not awful time of 2:06 but even more I am glad that I was able to see where my weakness are...not that it surprised me!  I got home...actually ran a mile on the mill since my loop was only 12...downed a bottle of Nuun...and one of these guys.

It was more watery than GU but did the trick (giveaway coming next week).  Then hubs and I went out for some Mexican!  Nothing like running a half and then stuffing your face with guac!

Monday Motivation

This quote has been so true for me this summer.  Unless I plan and get myself up and out the door early, or make a plan for throughout the day, my run/workout doesn't happen.  Our days are going to proceed whether or not we choose to get our act together and workout.  I choose to run my day...I choose to make those plans...I choose to NOT let the day run me!  We all have a million and one things to fill our time...it's how we fill it that is up to us!

Will you run your day....or will you let it run you?

Almost Wordless Wednesday....

Yesterday we went into Boston for a doctor's appointment with Aub and decided to visit the aquarium after.  Em's comments all day...."Mom those skyscrapers are so huge!!!"  She was born in a city and lived there for her first year of life...but this girl is all beach bum!!  I can't imagine who she would have been had we stayed in the city...her love of outdoor open space guides what she does every day.  I can't imagine what she would be without it!  Just another gentle reminder that we made the right decision!

Monday Motivation

This past week was big for me.  I started the week vowing to punch it in the face.  Now while I didn't get in as many runs as I would have hoped, I did manage 25 miles in just 4 runs so for that I'm satisfied.  More than anything, this week led me up to my run yesterday...a quick 5 miler that I had very little expectations for.  I have not hidden the fact from you all that I have been struggling with wanting to be the runner I was before I had my daughter 9 months ago and realizing I'm not there yet.  Yesterday was different....I felt like me...I pushed when I wanted to stop...I told myself to shut it and run...I believed I could do it...and I did!  For the very first time ever I ran negative splits with my final mile at 8:45! (Thanks Jill!)  Now while my speed is still not back, it's closer than it was the week before!  I can do this...I can make this climb back...and one day I will look back and say, "I never knew I could do this but I believed it was there!"

BELIEVE it is there....and go get it!!!

Where I Run...Oceanside Views

Today in addition to linking up with Jill for Fitness Friday, I'm also linking up with a fellow NE runner and ZOOMA Ambassador Amy at Running Escapades to highlight where we run! 

If you've been a reader here for any amount of time you will realize that the majority of my runs have ocean views!  As much I think mountains are beautiful and open land is as well, my heart is at the ocean!  Here are some pics from recent runs!

Now in the past few years, after joining a running group to meet more people after we moved, I discovered that I really do enjoy running here....

While I know I certainly don't look like it, I get the feeling that I am some elite runner rounding the curves!!

Finally my last favorite place to run is in Boston...maybe other cities too but I have never run in another.  There is never a shortage of things to look at and well...it is just an AWESOME city!!!  In a moments notice I can transport myself back to when I ran the Marathon and the awesome feeling of being there!  This is from the Boston Run to Remember Half from this year...another AWESOME race!

So I hope you've enjoyed your glimpse into where Fancy Nancy is pounding the pavement!  It is always neat to me to see where everyone's happy place is!!