Hello, all! Greetings from rainy New England! It is 10:00 p.m., and I have just finished getting ready for my THIRD half-marathon ever, Part I of the United Healthcare Triple Crown in Providence, RI. I really should be asleep right now, as I have to get up and gooo at 4:00 a.m. for the (normally 45-minute) hour and a half drive (and then some) that it will most likely take to get to the starting line. I always like to get up super early before a race so I have enough time to get dressed and make sure I don't forget anything, eat a small breakfast, digest my food a little bit, hydrate, and go to the bathroom if I need to. Then, I ask my husband nicely to accompany me drag my husband's half-awake self out the door, and go!

Today, I went to pick up my race packet at the expo, and I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Although there were a TON of people there, the line for packet pickup went pretty quickly, which was a good thing. However, after I picked up my bib and went to retrieve my shirt, they were all out of size smalls, which was not a good thing. This has happened to me a lot at races, and I never understand why, when they ask what my race shirt size is when you sign up?!! And I signed up early on, so I was even more aggravated. What made me even more annoyed was the fact that I spent $50 to enter this race (I know, not a lot for a half-marathon, but I signed on really early and it was a package deal), and I pretty much only got a race shirt that was the wrong size. Other than that, there were only coupons and a teeny, tiny ice pack that I may be able to use on my foot, but that's it. We didn't stick around for the expo because it was so dang crowded. I know there were some pre-race yoga sessions and even some seminars going on, which seemEd pretty cool, but we instead decided to do some last minute shopping for Mother's Day caress and gifts at the Providence Place Mall, and then hit up the Providence Oyster Bar for some pre-race fuel. I got some steak au poivre with truffle fries (I'll let you know how that goes after the race), and hubby got some oysters. Since we paid $12 to park on Federal Hill, I decided I wasn't going home without dessert, either, so we hit up a bakery nearby and got crepes. I tried to stay somewhat healthy by getting a strawberry, banana, and honey crepe. I can't remember the name of the place, but when I find out their name, I'll be sure to post it. After an exciting day, we stopped at my parents to give my mom an early Mother's Day gift (she was thrilled, especially after tripping and falling and possibly spraining her arm), headed home, and hydrated and packed all our crap for tomorrow, including a gift for my mother-in-law. You can see all my running gear in the photo above (I think it's upside down, but Im typing on my phone and too lazy to fix it now, especially since everything is packed!). It's supposed to rain at some point, so Im not sure whether I should wear my Old Navy capris or my Lululemon running shorts, so I'll make a final decision in the a.m. Either that, or I'll just layer.

Tomorrow, I'll post a full review of the race, comparing it to the Rock n Roll Providence half I did a couple years ago. In the meantime, wish me luck...and pray that I don't oversleep!

I don't usually just buy a pair of sneakers at a regular shoe store (ie, DSW or Famous Footwear), but about a month ago the hubs and I were grocery shopping, and went across the way to look at footwear for him. Coincidentally, they were having a HUGE sale on sneakers, and the Mizunos were about $40 off the original price...most likely because they were last season's, but I also cannoy pass up a huge sale! They didn't have my preferred shoe, the Mizuno Wave Inspire, but the Wave Creation looked like it had good support, I went online to check out some reviews from other people, and everyone whI reviewed it tended to have the same problems that I tend to have with running shoes: high arches, plantar fasciitis, underpronators. So tht tried them on, ran around the store, and decided to buy them.

Ive only worn the Wave Creations a few times, as Im still trying to break them in, bit I LOVE them! The first thing I noticed about them was that they seem to be even more supportive than the Wave Inspires. Sometimes when Im running in my inspires, my arches bother me afterwards, but I haven't noticed that with the Creations. The only drawback Ive noticed about the Creations is that they seem to be a little bit heavier than my Inspires, but if it means I'll be getting a little more support, I don't mind!

I don't recommend that runners go out and buy a pair of sneakers without going to a specialty running store (it can lead to major injury if you don't know what shoes support overpronators vs underpronators, but in this case, it really worked out for me!

Since I lost weight, I've had a lot of friends, co-workers, and family members ask me what my secret is. Some people have told me, "eat something while  others think I'm going to offer them some secret pill that will help them lose weight. Of course the traditional answer is the same adage that most people don't want to hear: eat healthy and get some exercise. If you're looking to make some changes in your lifestyle (that's right, I said the "L" word), then you might want to start with your kitchen, and take a look around. If you find dairy and meat that is high in fat, grains that are high in carbs but low in fiber, and nothing but Oreos (which I do still enjoy eating on occasion) and Little Debbies in your kitchen, then it sounds like you may need a kitchen makeover! Here are a few products that I try to keep on hand most of the time. Whether I need to get my chocolate fix, or make something in a hurry (which is most of the time), these foods keep me going...and healthy!

• Non-fat milk (to drink or use to make smoothies, or of course as an ingredient in recipes)
• Egg beaters or large eggs (I generally just use egg whites)
• Fresh basil
• Low fat or non-fat cheese (preferably shredded)
• Water (which amazingly, you don't even have to buy if you have a well! Some of the best things in life ARE free!)
• Whole wheat tortillas (as you can see, I love my quesadillas)
• LOTS of fruit - my favorites are strawberries, bananas, and pineapple, but I do like to mix it up a bit sometimes with oranges, clementines, black raspberries - you name it, if it's a fruit, I'll eat it! I'll make fruit salad, smoothies, etc., with this)
• Veggies - this week it's tomatoes, last week it was spinach. I try to make a point of trying to use all of one veggie up before I purchase another. Last week, I was making lots of green smoothies and spinach omelets, this week it's my caprese quesadillas and Spanish omelets.
• Cottage cheese (I've decided Greek yogurt is SO overrated. The original dairy product had just as much protein, and is great when added to smoothies or shakes!)
• Peanut Butter - I prefer Better Than Peanut Butter or PB2; both are less than half the fat (and calories) than the original version
• Lean meats - right now, it's turkey, sometimes it's chicken. I try to limit my red meat intake to no more than once a week.
• Stevia - I keep this in my house AT ALL TIMES. Since I first tried it, this is my go to sweetener. It's the only non-calorie sweetener I've tried that actually TASTES like sugar.
• Pickles - what can I say? I have an affinity for them, they take FOREVER to go bad, and they're considered a vegetable (Err, fruit? Since they have seeds)

So there you have it - my go to food items in my kitchen! I'm going to try to start posting one healthy, original meal on here once a week, based on the go-to items listed above.

I absolutely love everything caprese - whether it's a sandwich or a salad, I'll eat it! However, the problem with the sandwiches at most delis is that they're loaded with carbs...and if you're not careful, even Caprese salads can be loaded with hidden fat (whole milk mozzarella instead of fat free or part-skim). My skinny caprese quesadilla will have your mouth watering without all the carbs and/or fat that you'll find in a regular sandwich or salad!

Ingredients:
1 whole wheat, high fiber tortilla
1/4 cup fat free or part-skim shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
5 pieces basil, julienned
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Salt, to taste

Directions:
Spray a skillet with cooking spray; place the tortilla on it. Spread shredded mozarella over half of the quesadilla, followed by diced tomatoes and basil. Let cheese melt before adding salt and balsamic vinaigrette. Fold quesadilla in half, flip it on the other side, and cook for one more minute, until both sides are golden brown. Finally, enjoy!

(I apologize for my lack of photography skills, once I have a better camera and better lighting, I hope they will improve).

If you've been wondering where I've been since my last (dramatic) post, I haven't (completely) failed you. I went back on Weight Watchers, lost eight pounds, and as of a month ago started taking fitness classes at my local community center with a co-worker. A week ago, I joined up. I've been going to cardio core class religiously for the past three weeks, and last week a new Zumba class started, and I've been attending that class with my mom and sister (with the exception of yesterday, Valentine's Day). The cardio core class kicked by butt, and although I feel totally miserable halfway through it, it makes me feel SO GOOD afterwards! And I can't say enough about how much I love Zumba. I was so psyched about it that I tried to go to Walmart and buy the Zumba Core video game for my Wii, but sweetie pie insisted on buying it for me for Valentine's Day (Best present ever!). So although I haven't posted in a while, I have kept my vow to get fit and trim. And yesterday (after being WW conscious and making a weight watchers approved V-Day dinner), I signed up for the United Healthcare Triple Crown, which consists of a half-marathon in Providence, Jamestown, and Newport, RI  - the races are set to take place May 12, July 13, and October 20, giving me plenty of time to get in shape (and stay that way) throughout the year. Oh yeah, and I'm running the Celtic 5-k in Worcester, MA. I'm getting ready to kick butt in 2013! Be prepared to follow me on my journey!

Some of you may be surprised to see me posting in the wintertime...mainly because, as far as I can remember, it's never happened before. I tend to be a fairweathered runner, which is no surprise to anyone who follows this blog. But I've decided today that I will make a promise to myself to start living a healthier life, not only when I feel like it, but throughout the year, and throughout life. This decision was spurred by a culmination of events that recently took place in my life: I recently turned 29, I just got a new puppy for my birthday, and she has taught me a thing or two about discipline (and waking up at 5 am), I've come to the realization that I've gained back 7 pounds since Halloween, and lastly, and most importantly - my father just suffered from a minor heart attack over the past weekend.

My father has always been my biggest support system in my life, and when he was younger, he was very athletic. He played soccer, baseball, went skiing...if it was a sport, he was up for it. I share the same zest for life that he does, bu I also see myself using the same excuses that he has used in the past, causing me to be more relaxed about my workout schedule. Well, this will be no more! Just because New Year's is still a month away, that doesn't mean I can't make a vow to myself right now to be a stronger, healthier person. Starting today, I'll be giving up that yummy, but sugar filled Dunkin Donuts peppermint mocha latte, and will be incorporating homemade coffee and creamer back into my life. I'll start tracking everything I eat and follow Weight Watchers, since I've already been paying for it over these past six months, but stopped following it as soon as the seasons turned. And most importantly, I'll start running again! This will be my "holiday challenge." Are you up for it?!

I've never been a morning person, let alone a morning runner. Ive also felt that when I run in the morning, I get short of breath, my strides are uneven, I'm more likely to get a side stitch, etc., etc. However, I went running in the morning a couple days this week, and although I felt pretty craptastic during one of my runs, I felt pretty good during my second morning run. Actually, I felt great. It was nice and cool in the am (about fifty eight degrees), my breathing stayed pretty even, and I set a new pr of 9 mpm! So I'm thinking that I might start running in the morning more often. Here are some perks to morning runs:

1. It's generally cooler in the morning than it is mid-afternoon, so this, or running at dusk is the best time of day to head out in the summer, unless you enjoy being chained to your treadmill.

2. Most races take place in the morning, so you can get your body acclimated to the time of day that a race is being held.

3. If you live on a busy street, there aren't as many cars on the road at 5 a.m.

4. If you have a busy day ahead of you, you can get up early and just get your run done and out of the way, instead of waiting until later in the day, and then having to skip your workout.

5. Morning workouts actually help you wake up so that you're more alert throughout the rest of the day.

If that doesn't give you a reason to head out in the morning, I don't know what will! I'm off to run the Worcester Firefighters Memorial 6k, will post a recap within the next few days!

Why, you ask? Well, if you've been reading my blog you already know that I LOVE running in the rain. But today I took it to a whole new level. Since I am training for another half-marathon (although I don't know which one, or when it will be QUITE yet), I've been trying to follow the 1-mile rule and do a long distance run one day a week, gradually increasing it by a mile. Today was my LDR day; however, there were a few obstacles that I had to overcome.

My mom and I came up to the beautiful coastal town of Ogunquit, Maine, this weekend. I'mlucky enough that my parents have a beach house here. I LOVE coming up here, because it gives me an opportunity to go running on the beach, which is a lovely change of scenery, and to just change my route in general. BUT...I wasn't planning on having it rain today. Let me rephrases that: I wasn't planning on torrential downpours and 45-mile per hour winds! Yes, I do love running in the rain, and I was all for going out and doing a rain run today, especially since I abandoned my treadmiforum Massachusetts for the beach...so I really didn't have much of a choice. My first clue that I was a crazy running lady should have been the fact that when I told my mom I was planning on going out, she lookeliar me like I'd need to be committed, and said, "It's like a Nor'easter out there!" Moms are always right, but I ignored her protests and decided to go out anyways, once the rain died down a little bit.

I headed for the beach, but when I saw it was high tide and heard the roaring of the waves before I ever even made it over the footbridge, some sensical part of me decided to instead run next to the river that runs parallel to the beach. I had to run along the soft sand, which was quite a task itself! Then, our the wind picked up, and the entire time I ran alongside the river, I felt like I was running  against 40 mph winds. To make matters even worse, sand kept blowing in my eyes (of course, I think the average beach runner would tell you this happens on occasion, and advise you to wear sunglasses). 

By the time I ran to the end of the beach, I just had to go see how big the waves were on the other side of the dunes. And they were HUGE! There must have been 40 foot waves (yes, I like the number 40, but if you don't believe me, you can go look it up). Instead of turning around and going home like you'd think I would have done, I decided to run through the center of town, and potentially just run back home on the road. At this point, I was absolutely soaking wet. I was quite excited because I saw a bride and groom, and thought "Yay! I'm not the only crazy person out in this weather!" before realizing that they probably would have preferred a sunny sky. There were a few other loons downtown, but for a tourist town in what I now consider to be summer, the area was completely dead. And the few people that I saw were giving me looks like I was crazy. 

And did I head back towards the house? No! I was only a quarter of the way through my goal of running six miles at this point! So I headed left (away from home), and headed towards the cove, and against the wind. I was met with more looks of disbelief, additional gusts of wind, and finally, when I reached the cove, sand in my eyes. There were a few trolleys milling around the town, and one trolley driver stopped to offer me a ride to where I needed to go; he even said he'd let me on for free. But I just kept running (I'm starting to feel like Forrest Gump!). I know you're all loving my story, but there isn't really too much more to tell, other than the fact that I did finish my six-mile run, and made it home in one piece, without getting washed out by a tidal wave or wiped out by a falling tree branch or electric line (yes, there were a few of those, too). Next time it rains, I may consider just getting on the treadmill.

I will leave you with this one sentence to finish: You know you're a crazy runner when...

So in my last review, I may have mentioned that I use my iPhone a LOT while running. Well, one of the reasons why  (besides the fact that I use it to listen to music) is because I love to track where I've been. Instead of shelling out $300 for a GPS, I downloaded Endomondo on my phone. I have never used a GPS or any other sports app, but let me tell you, I absolutely LOVE this app! First off, it uses the GPS in my cell phone to connect to a satellite and track EXACTLY where I've run, and tell me how many miles I've finished. Secondly, it tells me each time I run a mile and what my time is (although today I was so exhausted when I finished running that I didn't even remember I had hit 3 miles!). Once you're finished running, you can click on "Data" for your run, and it will connect to Google maps and show you your route, notated where youve gone, whether it's on the road, the trail, or on the beach! You can also connect with friends via Endomondo, try to beat their pr, or your own from your history. You can even plug in your route and your goal, and the app will tell you when you need to pick up the pace! I haven't tried this option yet, but I'll be sure to keep you updated once I do! This app is available on most mobile devices, and is not limited to iPhones, you just need to have a good internal GPS on your phone. So if you haven't already done so, check it out!

I've been a bad runner lately. And when I say that, it's because I haven't gone running in three days, since Sunday, to be exact. When I started running again, I promised myself I wouldn't overdo it. Two years ago, when I first started running for the first time in almost TEN years, I pushed myself a little too hard. So hard, in fact, that my muscles were always sore, and I still don't know how I mad it through the season. Then winter came, I jumped off the bandwagon, and when I got back on last spring, I was afraid of overdoing it, and barely trained before my half-marathon, which, I'm still convinced is why I have plantar fasciitis (just don't tell my doctor!).

Now, just when I felt like I had the perfect schedule of running every other day and cross-training, I jumped off the bandwagon. Yesterday was my day off, which is fine. Plus, it was raining out. Then, it rained again today. And I was STARVING, and all I wanted to do was go home and make a nice dinner for myself and my hubby. AND my magazine is about to go to press, which means i had a mountain of homework to do. So of course, all of these reasons combined with my husband saying, "Do you HAVE to run today? I'd really like to spend some time with you tonight..." led to my path of self-destruction.

Did I consider running today? I actually did. I even started to lace up my running shoes when I found out that dinner was going to take up to a half hour of baking time in the oven. Of course, that's when my husband pretty much begged me to not go running...

So here I am one less run, and one more turkey burger and frozen yogurt sundae later, complaining about how instead of going running, I sat inside, munching on somewhat healthy food (did I mention my husband convinced me it wouldn't be so bad to share some French fries with him too? He LOVES playing Devil's advocate!) all night long. Tomorrow is another day, right? That's all I can say tonight...here's to no more excuses!

What excuses do you find yourself using to abstain from exercise? And how do you overcome these "obstacles?"