Are You Ready to #BeFitAllYear? *Giveaway*

I am always looking for great weight workouts to supplement my running as well as trying out different products out there to help improve my performance in the gym or on the road.  That's why I was so excited to partner up with BeFit for a campaign with Fit Approach this past month.

I have used fat burners and pre-workouts before but they left me jittery and at times with scary chest pains...not fun at all.  I was hesitant to try out the BeFit Pre Workout but the first day I did and sipped it on my way to the gym.  The results....fabulous!  I was not jittery at all and no other side effects!  I was excited to find something that I could drink for those early morning gym sessions when I'm lucky to get out of bed let alone make and drink some coffee!  I use it now every morning before I head to the gym or go out for a run and it is AWESOME!!  It doesn't even bother my stomach on long runs which has been something I have struggled with in the past!  The flavor is great and is so easy to take!  It is GMO and sugar free and really keeps me focus and energized throughout my workouts!

I take the BeFit Burn before my lunch each day.  I didn't want to take that in conjunction with the pre-workout so I decided to take it before lunch.  Again I was so excited that I didn't feel those awful side effects that can be common with fat burners!  I felt focused and energized but not so much that I was going at super speed.  I even was able to avoid the 3pm slump that sends me straight for the coffee pot!  It is GMO and Gluten free as well as Vegan, and also includes a probiotic which I always need!

What's a muscle without some great protein?  Nothing!  Which is why it was great to try out the third product I received from BeFit, Vanilla BeFit Whey.  It comes in vanilla and chocolate but I liked the vanilla so that I could have an option to mix in many different flavors.  It tasted delicious and it was even chickie approved!

I found myself having to make double batches so that the girls could have some too.  Bonus is that they got the added protein for breakfast without any of the side effects that sometimes protein powders have.  
I was also given a workout calendar that went along with the BeFit YouTube channel for a full month of workouts.

I love having the option to have an awesome workout at home if my schedule gets crazy or the kids are up early.  I also love getting different workout ideas!  These videos were great!  Each one was about 15-20 minutes long depending and often times I doubled up the workout doing the video twice through.  Boy did they have me sore the next day!  They are easy to follow videos and require very little equipment.  A perfect fit if you are looking to get in a great workout at home...or write it down and take it with you to the gym!  The channel is free so even better!!!

Because I learned all I need to know in life in elementary school, I know that sharing is caring!  You have a chance to win a fabulous prize package from BeFit all for yourself that includes the three new BeFit products BeFit Whey, BeFit Burn, and BeFit Pre workout.  Just enter below!  The giveaway is open until Friday March 11th!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was given three new products from BeFit as part of a campaign with FitApproach but all of the opinions expressed are 100% mine!

Let's Talk Training

I haven't done one of these posts in about forever so I figured now that race day is on Sunday then now would be a good time!  Lol!  One thing that I always strive to do...and please know that I am in no way perfect at this...is to balance strength training and running.  I find that this has kept me relatively injury free for the past 16 years that I have been running.  Even as a catcher for many many years I have focused on strengthening my legs to prevent any injury to my knees, so transitioning this into running injury free it made sense.

My goal has been to get in at least 3 strength training sessions each week and 3-4 runs varying in length.  Now because I have an hour from when the gym opens to when I need to leave, this sometimes means that I am doing either a run or strength training at home.  For my half marathon training I have been following the "Own It" plan from the Train Like a Mother book.  Now I'm not certain I am going to "own" Sunday's race but I really like the intensity of the plan!  For strength training this month I have been following the workouts from my BeFit calendar (stay tuned for a giveaway next week!).  I feel like I go through waves with workouts.  I try to vary them but I am much better when I have a plan to follow.  After this race I'm planning on cutting down my miles (for a bit) and focusing more on strength and speed work.  Here is what last week looked like for me (It was my last week before tapering for this weekend's race):

Monday: 3 miles easy...Did these on the treadmill at the gym and then added in Dynamic Strength for two rounds

Tuesday: 4 miles (2 mid miles at race pace)
Wednesday: I rode the bike for 20 minutes to warm-up (actually wake up I mean) and then Cardio Extreme for 2 rounds.
Thursday: 5 mile ladder workout...I had forgotten how much I love ladder workouts!  Added bonus is that it helps make the miles fly by!
Friday: Another bike session to warm up and then Total Body Shred for 2 rounds.
Saturday: 10 miles...I met up with my friends at Marathon Sports on their "field trip" to my area to run!  I LOVE running with others especially when I have had a lot of solo long runs!  I can only talk to myself so much!

Sunday: REST....well as much as you can when you have chores and children!

Do you work in strength training into your week?  How often?  What does it look like?

I also wanted to share that I was featured on the Fit Mom Strong Mom page as today's Strong Momma!  I'm excited to be a part of this group!  They were so cute in sending me a fun good luck charm for this Sunday's race!

Friday Faves!!

The past two weeks I have had a headache that stops me in my tracks.  It comes and goes which is helping me rule out the brain tumor I was thinking (yes I always overreact!) and it seems to coincide with work...hmmmmmm....coincidence I think not!  I'm sure it is stress related...blah blah blah...this is life so on we go!  It is however painful to look at a screen too long...ugh!...so I'm making this one short and sweet!  Add that to the fact that it is the day before February break....and Valentine's Day...and I work as an elementary school teacher...yeah craziness enough to last a lifetime!!  So here are a few things I'm loving lately!

BeFit...I'm working on a campaign through FitApproach with BeFit.  We were sent a fat burner, pre-workout, and protein as well as a workout plan and videos.

I haven't started the videos yet (Sunday) but I am loving the pre-workout the most of the three!  I have used a few pre-workouts in the past and have had really strong reactions to them....one time I even went to the ER convinced I was going to come out of my skin!  However, I have tried this one a few times and I love it!!  It is just enough to help me really push myself during a workout but not so much that I feel like I'm going crazy!  Stay tuned because I'm going to be sharing some with the class!!

Saucony Mittens...Tomorrow I have my long run scheduled.  I have been a little too loose for my liking during this training round and considering my race is in 3 weeks I need to get focused!  The hiccup is that the weather is supposed to be BELOW ZERO!!!  Yes my friends there is a weather warning but I'll be out there!!!  I'm thankful I have my Saucony mittens to save the day!

I used to just wear gloves and always found that my fingers were like individually wrapped Popsicles by the end of my run.  These mittens are awesome and keep my fingers nice and toasty!!  Now to find a solution for the rest of my body!

Olympic trials...I am so excited for the marathon trials tomorrow!!!

I always love the Olympics and get wicked excited every time they roll around!  Since many of my students are from Brazil, we are going to be doing a HUGE project later in the year all about the Olympics!!  I'm psyched!  I have loved watching all the promos for the women's marathon!  It just gives me chills!!!  I can't wait to see how the race pans out!!  I am so sad to hear about Deena Kastor having to pull out of the trials due to injury!  I'm sure it is always a hard decision...heartbreaking!

What are you loving these days??  Any good cures for a headache?  I'm not a huge fan of pills.

Work It out Wednesday

Today I went back to an oldie but goodie workout to get my heart rate soaring and still fit in weights. With Runner's Reset I am trying to stick to committing 3 days to weights understanding that I need to retrain my body and my metabolism.  Here is what today looked like...The supersets are exercises done one after another 3 times. For example: 12 lunges, 12 shoulder raises, 12 bicep curls then repeat 3 times.
10 min run @ 8 min mile pace
Superset #1
walking lunges (out and back), lateral raises, hammer curls, abs
Superset #2
chest press, reverse fly, tricep kickbacks one armed
abs
10 sprints....8.5 speed with a 3.0 incline (20sec on and 20 sec off)
Superset#3
one-legged squat, front raises, bicep curls, abs
Superset#4flies, tricep extensions, upright row
abs
10 min bike
stretch

Normally I would go and do another 2 supersets and 10 more minutes but it was getting close to 6am and I knew I had to get home to start the day.  The basic premise is to keep your heart rate elevated the whole time.

I was able to get a good sweat on and still be done within an hour!  Score!!  
How do you fit in weights and cardio....or do you?