I clearly stink at remembering to blog

I think the title sums it up well...but oh well! I'll start posting more soon :)

I just got cleared to run again after tendonitis - yay!!!

Thoughts & Prayers for Boston

Given the news today, it only seems right to use this area to express how scared and torn I am now. It's scary how short life is and how quickly something can change. The finish line is that place where you celebrate your achievement - I have never forgotten crossing my first marathon finish line. Regardless of how many races I've done, there is a magic at that line that I haven't felt anywhere else. And the other runners are people who I cheer "Go Team", wave, hi five, and share stories of chafing with. After a race, you can always tell who ran...we're always the ones limping but smiling. And you can always start a conversation with us the day of or after a race, whether in an elevator or an airport, by spotting our limps or seeing our shirts. There is nothing like going into an airport and seeing all the race shirts to make you realize how far people travel...how running brings people together.

 I will continue to run and never forgot how blessed I am each day to be able to run.

Coach Bonnie Brooks & I at the celebration party after my first marathon

Finish line of my first marathon

Returning to the Barre

Yesterday was the first day I went back to my barre class in a long long time. And I gotta say, today I am feeling it. You know when you workout your muscles enough that everything hurts the day after? It's that kinda day for my abs and my triceps.

Such a good kind of pain!

So if you've never heard of barre before...I'll explain it! It's seriously one of my favorite workouts ever since I discovered it two Octobers ago...I shouldn't have taken off so much time from it. *Cough* I really have been slacking on my workouts since my deviated septum surgery last August *Cough*. I'm just happy I went again :)

The whole idea behind it is to target your muscles in small controlled isometric music. You work your arms, your thighs, your seat, and then your abs. You do them each in small segments and then you stretch out after, with the goal of giving you long sexy muscles. It'll get you sweating :)

I took ballet when I was younger and barre definitely appeals to that part of me - you use the barre, but no tutu. Did I mention the music is awesome? Each instructor makes up their own playlists from the latest music...and I totally have found some of my favorite workout songs from the classes.

I could probably go on and on about it, because I love it. It's the only time I've really felt my abs and triceps go what the heck did you do to me, and I've noticed huge changes in my body from it. There's something about making your thighs shake that seems both terrifying and amazing at the same time.

At any rate...my abs and my triceps hurt today. But it's a great kind of pain :)

My Diet Coke Addiction

I have an addiction to Diet Coke....seriously, not kidding. It's pretty bad too. Growing up, Diet Coke has always been in my house. It tends to be my go to drink. Water? Naw. Milk? Not really. Diet Coke? Oh yes! My family (mostly my father) drinks Diet Coke like it's water. In all honesty, I have jokingly said that my blood is made out of Diet Coke.I've considered using Diet Coke during half marathon training before.

In fact, there was a conversation with my college boyfriend and very good friend NW that went down something like this when he wanted me to quit drinking coffee (I worked as a barista for 2.5 years in college).

Me: You can pick either coffee or Diet Coke for me to be addicted to
NW: I'd rather you not be addicted to either
Me: Well....you have to pick one, mister Mountain Dew. So pick one, cause I'll be addicted to one...

I've had guys that I was dating before come and pick me up with a bouquet of flowers and a Diet Coke....I wish I was kidding.

I've never been into any of the other sodas. Diet Pepsi is gross to me. Everything else too much sugar. I'll drink 3 20ozs at work, then go home and drink more...this is a problem.Especially since there's all the studies and proof behind Diet Coke that just...wow. Shudders! I'll have to share them.

So as part of my losing weight, I'm trying to cut out the Diet Coke for once and for all. I've done it before, but it always comes back. Especially given my family's history with diabetes, it's better for me to cut the Diet Coke out. My awesome nutritionist has told me again and again that I gotta quit the Diet Coke. Break up with the Diet Coke. Divorce the Diet Coke. Etc Etc.

So yeah.....this is to help me with quitting the Diet Coke. I need accountability. No more Diet Coke.

 

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

The sun is shining, it's a wonderful Saturday morning! And I just made awesome delicious & moist banana chocolate chip oatmeal muffins :)

Recipe Courtesy of GreenLiteBites

On tap for today:

• Watch March Madness for my alma mater! GO GREEN!!! (Work on meal list for the week during)
• 30 Mile Bike Ride
• Hot Yoga :)
• Bachelorette party 

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!!

Wanderlust

If it wasn't obvious from my race schedule, I like to travel! Hence the explore part of my blog title too :)

So I made it my goal this year to lose the weight I put on after hurting my knee 2 years ago. As a reward, I want to travel to somewhere tropical: Austrailia, Fiji, Bali, Virgin Islands, Hawaii, etc. Why somewhere tropical you ask? Well, I'm a super self conscious person and a slight perfectionist (ok, maybe I underestimate a bit) - I've actually never worn a bikini in my life. And so that is my goal for this year!

                                    A Reminder of My Goal - Fiji Hilton (Seriously how cool is this?)


I've got other places on my list of course to see too! I'd really like to travel to each of the continents (except for Antarctica I think, it's a little too cold for me) before I'm 30....I've got a year and about 9 months still. Totally doable! Especially I went to Europe already =)

It's one of my goals in life to get to travel all over the world. I'd like to travel abroad at least once a year just so I can see everything I want to see...

Working Out of My Rut

So...I've been a little bit lazy lately in regard to running, working out, etc...the combination of allergies, rain, and being depressed is really knocking me out. I need some Vitamin C and Vitamin D!

With that being said...I have quite the race schedule coming up and so I need to start kicking my butt. Motivation city! (And yes...I may have lost my mind)

4/28 - Nike Women's Half in Washington DC
5/19 - Rock N Roll Portland Half
6/22 - Rock N Roll Seattle Half
7/13- 7/15 - Seattle to Portland Bike Ride
8/31 to 9/1 - Dumbo Double Dare Challenge (10K on Saturday, Half on Sunday)
9/22 - Air Force Marathon
10/13 - Chicago Marathon

And if my third shot at the lottery actually goes through....

11/3 - NYC Marathon


Did I mention that it was quite the race schedule? I'm also debating on adding a sprint triathlon or two.

So yeah....I need to hit the gym. And it's been a little hard because of not wanting to get out of bed/ sleep the day away. I'm at a much better point than I was a year ago, but it's still a battle. My Stay Positive group is helping a lot....I'll share one of my favorite quotes that I shared with them. (I have a decent sized collection of these quotes because I love them).

Updates

Well, it's been awhile since I updated here!

First things first, the WDW marathon went ok...ish. I got my first DNF - I made it to mile 20 and gave in to heat exhaustion and dehydration after running from portapotty to portapotty. It was definitely a frustrating race...but ultimately, I'm glad I stopped because I felt better immediately after it.

So now I'm trying to decide on my next full marathon. I can't decide. I am registered for the Air Force Marathon in Ohio on September 16th already. But before then...I'm not sure about my next full.

I do have some 5Ks planned already...and at least one half :) I'm registered for the Dumbo Double Dare- its a 10K on Saturday, then a half on Sunday at Disneyland. Otherwise...I have to decide on if I want to qualify for Half Fanatics and Marathon Maniacs this year or not.

The other big thing that's happened so far this year is an elimination diet. No sugar, no food colorings, no chocolate, no soy, no dairy, no eggs, no alcohol, no caffeine for a month. I did definitely slip up on the chocolate a few times...but the no caffeine wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I'm at my lowest amounts of Diet Coke ever now and really don't miss it.

Coming soon....my workout plots as the plan this year is to start kicking my butt into shape!

It's a New Year!

I'm not very good at posting often, but I'll try to start changing that this year :)

I've got a couple of different resolutions (not going to post all of them on here), but I will post some of the big ones. Without further adieu:

• Give up Diet Coke
• Get back to a healthy, happy weight for me
• Workout more regularly
• Get my half marathon & full marathon speeds up - new PRs for both! 
• Do another sprint triathlon 
• Save up more money!

In other news....I'm doing a detox diet right now through my awesome nutritionist Ashley. She's amazing. The whole idea behind it is to clean out your system of bad foods and reboot your liver. Also - it serves as a basis for seeing what you're allergic to for food (oh how I need to figure out my allergies!) In the detox, you eliminate caffeine, gluten, refined sugars, chocolate, eggs, and milk.Eliminating the caffeine hasn't been that bad - I'm just drinking tons of water. The chocolate on the other hand....all I want is chocolate!

The fun part about it has been getting to try out recipes :) Yay cooking! I love to cook.  The newest recipe I tried this week (always great recipes on this blog)

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2012/10/11/autumn-butternut-squash-salad/

Tomorrow, I plan to make this smoothie by Green Plate Rule (I seriously love her blog!)
 
http://www.greenplaterule.com/recipes/blueberry-almond-green-smoothie/