Race Prep Again

So if you are an avid reader you know I run a lot of races.

This weekend I am running this one:

Sunburst Half Marathon South Bend, IN

I am excited for a couple of reasons.

1. I have never run this race before and I love trying new races.

2. I love college football and even though I am not a Notre Dame fan this is a classic stadium and the finish line is inside the stadium.

3. Some of my favorite running friends are running in the event as well. In fact my friend Tim and I plan to try to finish together. 

I am also excited because it appears as though the weather is going to cooperate which I was not planning on.

The race prep has begun...

Drinking lots of water to begin to feel hydrated... 

And of course some additional carbs during the day... Although I really need to start finding some new ideas with marathon training season coming.

I am also really trying to get more sleep this week and get everything ready in advance. My friend Nora and I are setting out to South Bend Friday night.

Also some small easy runs: (100 day Challenge fully completed today)
Today: 3.30 Miles on the bike trail in Griffith 31:00 Minutes
There was a lot of sun, some annoying wind and very rude drivers with made for some traffic issues. I also felt pretty sluggish. I plan a slightly longer run tomorrow and shorter run Thursdays in prep for Saturday mornings race.

What are your favorite carbs?

I love long weekends!

I love to celebrate all these fun long weekends.

We started off Saturday heading to my friend Hilary's wedding...It really wasn't a bad drive down the toll road and we arrive in plenty of time to get ready and head to the wedding. Hilary arranged for the hotel to transport us to the reception so no one would have to drink and drive...These are all her friends that live here in Northwest Indiana.

We had a blast and I am so happy for my friend Hilary. Although the "free" alcohol really got the best of me...
100 Day Challenge
I am pretty sure I accomplished it by dancing my butt off...




Sunday we made a pit stop on our way home and hung out in Michigan City on my boyfriend's bosses boat. As you can tell from the picture... I was hanging pretty rough from the open bar wedding. However it was a great day to be out on the lake and we had a great time on the boat getting some sun.
100 Day challenge... unless you count the small amount of swimming or extreme amount of sweating I did it was a fail..







Monday... Memorial day! Today I went one of my favorite races the 12K Xtreme Trail Run in Portage, IN at Imagination Glenn. I love this race. I never go for pace or speed.... I go to finish. Parts of the race look like this...Check out about minute 4:11 and 4:48 and you can see me running it the first time I ever ran it.


All in all I had a great time running with my friends. My buddy Tim and I stuck together almost the entire race and our shoes took the worst of it... 12K in 1:26... I would say this completes my 100 day challenge for today!

What was the best part of your weekend?

Ready for the weekend

Are you ready?

Holidays like this weekend can get crazy... We often tend to do a lot of this... Cooking on the grill

And sometimes drinking too much of this...

Today I start the weekend off with this girl's wedding...

Congrats to my friend Hilary and her fiance Julian.










Being prepared is the best way to survive a busy weekend. Check back as the weekend develops for more updates on my busy weekend.

100 Day Challenge update:
Friday... hour long sprint to clean up my house before the busy weekend begins... this counts right??

Do you have an action plan this weekend? 

I'm back

I hope you didn't miss the blog too much... life can get crazy. The one thing that I have learned since I joined weight watchers though this something like this...

So what have I been up to...
100 Day Challenge Upate
Thursday I set out for a 32 minute walk before we went out of town
Friday I had a 40 minute walk with my mom
Saturday I ran in part of a 5K for Diabetes (see below)
Sunday I ran 7.4 miles and thought I was going to die from the heat
Monday I walked for 32 minutes
Tuesday... ZERO... but I got to see my brother (see below)
Wednesday... 10 mile run
Thursday... 3 mile run in a lot of sand
Last weekend started with a wedding... I am really happy for my Lyndsey and her new husband Steve. They had a really hot but beautiful wedding ceremony.

Then bright and early Saturday Morning I went to a 5K with my Uncle Shawn, Mom, sisters and niece for the JDRF... please support Juvenile diabetes research in anyway you can. My Uncle Shawn has now lived over 36 years with it and without support of research that probably wouldn't be possible.

I also got to spend an evening having some good old fashion fun downtown Cincinnati with my sister Jenna, her fiance and Jason.

Jenna and I at Toby Keith's... Beer in Mason Jars... awesome

 We finished off the amazing weekend with Jason's nephews 5th birthday party. Watching kids have that much fun reminds me of how simple life really is.

So far this week has been pretty typical except that my younger brother Jimmy had a four hour layover in Chicago Tuesday so I took him to Giordano's for his first deep dish pizza.

Now I am just preparing for a long holiday weekend...

What are your plans this weekend?

What's not to love...

100 Day Challenge
Day 16 (May 15) Yesterday I did 3 miles through the woods with my friend Bryan since the heat was such a killer. I am just glad I got it done

Day 17 (Today May 16) Today I set out for a shorter run before my Wednesday night group run. I managed a total of 8.72 miles. I was trying to combine two days of running since we are traveling to Ohio tomorrow. This run actually was a great run. Not my best but I really did feel good for the most part. Even got some great hill running tips from a fellow runner.

Are you keeping up with the 100 day challenge? Remember the purpose is to challenge yourself.... How many days are you going to complete?

May Photo Challenge Day 15: Love

Recently with the weather changes I have been eating this as my new lunch. HUGE SALADS.  In warmer weather salads are so good. I really like to change them up as much as I can. I recently read about some new fun stuff to try on my salads another blog by a vegetarian. Huge pieces of broccoli and even pickles really bulk up a salad. This one also has crushed red pepper and salsa for flavoring. No salad dressing though as that adds many needless points plus values/calories.

Combine this with a cup of Greek yogurt and it makes a really good satisfying lunch.

May Photo Challenge Day 16: Snack

Also my new favorite snack has really become Vanilla Yogurt with fiber one cereal and a tough of cinnamon. The perfect little evening snack that is low in points. If I have extra points I even throw in a few raisins.... Really makes for a great treat.


Have you tried anything new lately?

Keep Pushing

"When you truly believe in what you are doing, it shows. And it pays. Winners in life are those who are excited about where they're going."


Day 15: 100 Day Challenge: 
26 minute walk
5 Minutes of Abs/Stretching

Today was a really great day to be outside. Just before I  headed into my weight watchers meeting I went for a beautiful walk. The weather was perfect today. I often say that something is better than nothing. 26 minutes of walking is much better than just sitting doing nothing at all. I also believe that you don't have to spend money on a gym to get in a good workout. Google is an amazing way to find workouts Today I typed in Ab Exercises... I found this on fitness magazines website... and it was free. Ever looking for a quick workout this is a great way to find workouts you can do from home....








 All you need is a mat or sometimes some furniture and weights. I also love my balance ball. An easy way to do some exercises and not put too much stress on your body especially if you have injuries. 


What are some of your favorite quick workouts?

I love my Mom!

Today we celebrate all the Mom's. "Mother's hold their children's hands for a short awhile, but their hearts forever." Unknown Author

My mom (in case you have never read about her on my blog) is simply amazing. Although I have been teased since I was a young girl how much I look like her as an adult I am glad. My mom is one of the most beautiful women I know inside and out. She is funny, smart, crazy and caring. She has supported me every step in my life. As I grow older I really realize how amazing she is. One of the biggest lessons I learned from my mom is to never tell yourself you can't do something. She always tells me if you want it go after it....

When I started my weight loss journey she was always there for me no matter what. She was truly one of my biggest cheerleaders. She was always waiting every week to hear how I did at my weigh in. She was there when I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon and even my very first full marathon. She always tells me how proud she is of me and she has no idea how much that really means... "A mom's hug last long after she lets go." Author Unknown

Today I don't get to spend the day pampering my mom or spending time with her since she is in Ohio however I like to believe I am always there in spirit. So in honor of my mom... drink some ice tea, dance, smile, laugh until it hurts, shop, drive with your top down on your car, go for a walk, eat some pecan pie, drink some hot chocolate, watch a good movie, make yourself look nice or do something beyond amazing...

Tell me what makes your mom special?