Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Week of Thanks... Day 3 (Running Friends)

With the big day fast approaching I started thinking about all the people in my life I am so thankful for. Today I want to say how thankful I am to the running community. I have never met more encouraging people than those who are involved in the running community. Over the past year I have really gotten to know so many more. Here some of those I am oh so grateful for.

All of these guys. Especially my friend Sara who really got be into this whole running thing. Her husband Tim is not in the photo but he has become a really good runner and I am appreciative to him running with me a few times this year. I am not sure if I should thank her or really be mad at her sometimes. As well as Nikki and her husband Brian who have trained and run with me for so many events and have supported me throughout my last 3 years of running. Bryan and John who are also pictured here have been huge supporters of my running since I met them and can't thank them enough. Especially Bryan who is always as crazy as I am and will run on a whim. I can't wait for our next race adventure.


The group listed in the photo below is the Lake County Opportunity Enterprises Chicago Marathon 2012 training group. Each and every person has their own running story but they are all so inspiring and supportive. I barely knew any of them when the summer began and now feel like they such great friends that I am so glad I met this year. I group leader often says we are the Lake County Maffia and once you're in you're in. Honestly I am so glad I am in. These people are amazing! I cannot be more thankful to them for all the fun times we had running this summer. (even if they do harass me for being a Cincinnati fan)
August Group Run



I always say that you need to have a supportive group around and I am so thankful for all of my running friends and their support this last year.



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Week of Thanks... Day 2

There are so many things in life to be thankful for...

About a month before I joined at my best friend Kyle's Wedding
Today I thought I would talk about how thankful I am for Weight Watchers...

I joined Weight Watchers Tuesday September 6th, 2008. This is the day my life began to change completely. There were so many things I thought I knew but I really had no idea. This picture was taken almost exactly a month before I joined at one of my really good friends Kyle's wedding.







When I joined weight watchers I was not the heaviest weight I had ever been but I was close.

This seems to show off my heaviest ever weight 
However once I did decided to make the comminittment I never reallized how much the journey would open my eyes and change my life. Although there are so many things I learned from weight watchers so I thought I would share a a "top 10."

1. Portion control is key. Measure everything.
2. Just because you think it is healthy or even if it looks healthy do your research.
3. There are still ways to enjoy things you love you just can't over do anything.
4. You must exercise.
5. Holidays are just holidays. Enjoy the company instead of the food.
6. Being healthy makes me feel better physically. I am less tired and don't get worn down as easily.
7. Fruits and Vegetables are good. Enjoy them.
8. Tracking/keeping track of what you eat will
9. Sometimes you are not hungry... take a drink of water.
10. There really isn't anything I can't do if I set my mind to it.

Since I joined weight watchers that faithful day back in 2008 I have
Lost close to 50 pounds
Ran two marathons
Dozens of half marathons
Inspired many

Indy Monumental Marathon 2011
My life continues to change and evolve much like it did throughout my Weight Watchers journey. Today I try to live my life remembering that it might not be easy but it will be worth it.




So remember this...



Monday, November 19, 2012

A Week of Thanks... Day 1

Since the big Turkey day is this Thursday I thought I would share somethings I am thankful for everyday.

Today I will start with some very seasonal and yummy.

Fresh Cranberries

These little guys are really yummy and resourceful. They pack a ton of flavor for a very little money. I got a whole bag of them at Aldi for $.99. Really all they need is a good boil and some splenda and they are a great treat. However there are many other ideas you can do with these little guys.  Click this link for a ton of the ones I found posted on the Weight Watchers website alone. One of my favorites that uses the canned stuff but is equally yummy... Click here.


This morning I did one of my favorite things with these. I put them in my oatmeal before I put the oatmeal in the microwave with some cinnamon  The cranberries cook up perfect and flavor the oatmeal amazingly. Look how yummy...


My second favorite way to enjoy cranberries is not necessarily with the fresh but with the canned ones. This recipe is courtesy of the best Nanny I know. It is amazing!!


Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
2-4oz boxes of Sugar Free Raspberry Jell-O
1 cup Hot Water
8oz Sour Cream (fat free)
1 Can Whole Cranberries

Mix Jell-O and Hot Water until Jell-O dissolved
Add Can of Whole Cranberries

Divide into two parts- put one part into your casserole dish and into the freezer.

Once it is firm spread sour cream
Then add remaining Jell-O mixture

Sprinkle with pecans. (about 1 oz)

Keep Refrigerated.

Day One... I am thankful for the resourceful cranberries. 


Monday, November 12, 2012

Valpo 13.1 Half Marathon Recap

So this year I officially completed a "hand full" of half marathons. The Valpo 13.1 was my 5th and final half marathon for the year.

I first did this race two years ago. Untrained and unprepared. This year when I set out I felt fairly confident. I really do like the Northwest Indiana local races. They are feel like family reunions because I usually know so many of the runners and like this race the support our local community. The Valpo. 13.1 supports the local United Way.

This year though even feeling confident with training I knew though the weather was not going to be my friend. After my injuries from the Chicago marathon I set my goal for this race very easy.
1. Finish
I love the motto that Extra Mile put on the bibs.... couldn't agree more
2. Don't kill myself... since I still have one more race this year and its twice the distance.
3. Be proud no matter what

At the start line I ran into my friend Tom. He was really wanting to get under 2 hours. I told him all he had to do was stay with me and most likely we would finish in under 2 hours since this is my average pace for a half marathon.

The first mile or so the wind seemed to just take an extreme toll on me but I was maintaining an excellent pace. Once we got out toward the airport the wind seemed to calm down quite a bit. Once we  were headed out into the further parts of the race I just knew the wind was not going to be my friend. I still wanted to see how I could push myself without totally giving up. Here I am at mile 6 not totally falling apart yet.


Thanks Valpo Life for capturing this picture and ever better my friend Nora is right there by me in the pink.

At this mile marker I caught up to a fellow runner Diane who was really trying to do under 2 hours. By this time I had long lost my friend Tom who just didn't have his best day. Just after I caught up to Diane who had a pacer with her we made a turn where a fellow runner Dan was out there cheering for us and gave me a big high five. This seemed to give me a resurgance but then the wind after the turn hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like I was barely even moving. We did finally turn out of the wind but it was blowing practically sideways.

We finally hit mile 8 where some of my favorite cheerleaders were. The Calumet Striders... I loved the boost of energy they gave but as you can see from the photo they snapped I was not feeling it.


By mile 9.5 is when the wind was really just getting the best of me and I decided ok just finish. Until about mile 11 it is a blurr. The last two miles felt worse than the previous 11. Every step and move was felt. Then I made the final turn and I saw the clock I knew I could do under 2 hours which is really what I wanted....

1:59
10 out of 42 in age group
270 out of 616

It really is just about finishing and I did. 5 half marathons this year and could not be more proud of all my efforts.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Try Something New Tuesday

Welcome to another try something new Tuesday... today I lived and breathed this.

I am working in South Bend this week and I have been really trying to find ways to stick to my daily food routine... which is not as easily done. Another thing I promised myself was to stick to my running routine since I am running the half marathon in Valparaiso this weekend.

Today I hit the local South Bend Riverside Trail. It is a very nice path that runs along the river. I decided I didn't want to push myself too hard but to just get through about a 4 mile run. One of the nice people I have been working with this week recommended a park to start from since it was right by the trail.


It was really nice fall day. The sun had gone away and there were a few rain drops but the best part about running in the fall is that it is almost never too cold or too hot.










 I even snapped a couple pictures before I turned around to head back to my car.








I decided to continue to new Tuesday day with some new fun finds for dinner. Jimmy Johns had some advertising for delivery to my hotel so I had the vegetarian in a lettuce wrap... I love that they have these wraps. Very low in points and very tasty.

Finally I found this amazing treat. Greek yogurt that taste like key lime and is only 2 points plus. Amazing!

Have you tried anything new lately?

Monday, November 5, 2012

Purdue Calumet Fall Frolic Race Recap

First let me just say I love this race. Well organized every year on a nice November Sunday morning.

I woke up... grabbed a quick granola bar and cup of coffee and made my drive to Hammond. I was so nervous because when I was driving there it started to pour rain...

But nothing will hold me back. Good thing it was perfect when they started the race. The thing I really enjoy about this race is that it is 4 miles. Often times I feel too much pressure by 5K's because they are so short and often ran so fast... but 4 miles seems better.

I started at the start line with my friend Brian and his super fast kids. They bolted at the start so I thought ok see you at the finish. Based on my recent injuries I decided not to try to kill myself. Just before the first turn I saw a fellow competitor in my age group who typically kicks my butt. She was not only kicking my butt... she was pushing a stroller and kicking my butt. WOW! She is amazing.

 At mile 1 I must have forgotten this idea of not killing myself because they volunteer said read 8:00 for my first mile.... but look how happy I look just a few minutes later....


So this is where I was running neck and neck with a fellow runner Tom and I decided just keep going and see what happens. We both said... wow this is rough after 8 miles yesterday....

Then I hit the halfway point and was shocked at my time. Then I hit the the turn around to head back and a guy said wow we are at and 8:16 pace.... I honestly thought to myself.... he must be joking... I can't be doing that. .75 miles later I was about to make the final turn of the race and I was shocked I still looked this happy....

33:20 later I finished. Enough for a pace of 8:20 and 6th place in my age group out of 15... I am more than happy with this. I finished 1:28 faster than I did 2 years ago.

Consistent improvement. Always achieve for more.