Found a few pics in the local paper from a race I was in ;-)

Bloody hell..... Peanut Butter GU gels are to die for!!!!  Oh why did I not try these before.  My new staple.  Peanut butter and salted caramel GU.  Thank heavens, they don't make me sick either ;-)  Happy Running Folks!!!

WILLPOWER

People often talk about peer pressure, the loss of willpower.... I am definitely the first to admit mine generally SUCKS.... especially when it comes to food.  I eat healthy for sure.  My problem is though I either eat too much (I definitely do not know when to say ENOUGH)  or I just get cravings like potato chips.  

So with the spirit of my ultra marathon training coming up, it is clear I need to work on this willpower thing.  I mean lets face it, this run will be brutal and waaay more psychological than physical.  Sure, my legs will want to fall off... but my mind is going to play some evil sabotage games all day with me.  If I go into the race with the same exact willpower I have now, I am afraid failure could be eminent.  I need to start attending to this now while the going is much easier.  

So I plan to start out by just using stronger willpower with my diet.  Being more mindful of my eating, etc.

Here is an example of CRAPPY NON-NON-MINDFUL eating.... Yesterday I was eating a bag of kale chips.  I was really loving them, as I do with anything that is a chip form such as that.  I was plowing them into my mouth while I worked at my desk, NOT PAYING ATTENTION.  I continued to eat them thinking, "whatever, its kale... who cares if I eat the whole bag."  I got to the point where I was tipping the bag and just pouring in.... lol.  In the middle of my piglet session I note a weird chewing event in my mouth.  I stop and somewhat focus on what I am doing and I was actually eating the damn silicone packet!!!  WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!!???  I think many of us are guilty of this... chips or cookies, etc.... its easy to do.  THIS is what I am working on in the upcoming weeks.  I wonder if there are some good ways to work on this?  I wonder if anyone has any good tips?    Duct tape to the mouth?  etc.. etc....  I guess what I am trying to say...is I need better power over my mind.  I need to know what is going on... but also I need to know how to ignore it too and not let it be the boss of me. ;-)  

Monday I ran 2 miles and had to stop and slowly crawl back home and get into bed... yesterday no running.  Being sick is horrid!  I ran the Alzheimer's 10K on Saturday.  It was hot.  It was between 75 and 80 degrees with VERY high humidity.  I think the heat actually made me sick.  I was okay after the race and even the next day... but then Monday and Tuesday was cramping, stomach upset, nausea, the works.  One thing that is a "shame on me" moment... is I always run with a bottle of water and sip consistently when it is over 70 degrees (if I run at all....)  and at this race I did not.  I thought, "well, no one else is carrying water, I don't want to look dumb."  That was stupid of me.  I should have drank consistently through the race.  Although with the sun and humidity... I am not sure if that would have kept me from getting sick.  

I also noted during the last 3/4ths of the race.... my Garmin was showing my heart rate at 186/187.  My maximum heart rate is 180ish I believe.  I have never seen my number reach that high... I knew that and was purposely slowing down because of it... but still, that probably wasn't the best either.  

Finished the VERY HOT Alzheimer's 10K in Dubuque on the Heritage Trail.  Let me emphasize.. it was SOOO HOT but mainly SOOOO HUMID!  Great cause.  

So in some respect, it seems like my first Ultra Marathon is so far off... and yet, I panic when I think about how close it is.  It is in April 2016.  My official training starts December 1st.  I plan to document most of it on here.  The training should prove to be interesting considering I live in Iowa and my longest runs will be in Jan, Feb, March.  THAT is scary.  
Anyway, right now I am just enjoying the run.  I make sure to get one SLOW long run in a week.  To me a "long" run is just anything over 10 miles.  So it may be 10 one week, it may be 20.  I am a little excited because yesterday I signed up for my local Anytime Fitness.  I am going to need that place throughout training for some cross training and specifically weight training (that was a lot of "training" in one sentence.)  
I will probably do some updating on here how my experiences at the fitness center go.  I am a bit excited about it... yet a little nervous.  That is clearly the introvert in me.  Happy Running!

Looks like its a "Go Long Day" !!!!!

Looks like it's a long run day! Happy to hit the trails and use my Nathan pack!

Perfect Runner breakfast

As a vegetarian... I am always looking for new and exciting ways to fuel my run. This is one of my favorite "start the day right" meals! Ezekial bread, avocado, my garden tomatoes and two eggs. Perfect!

Had a nice 7 mile run yesterday... hydrated and then headed to the beach for the day!  (followed up with malts and ice cream cones on the way home!)  What a relaxing day. ;-)  What do you do to relax? ;-)

There's something so relaxing about finding a gravel road and running out in the middle of no where.  UNTIL, you come up over the hill and you annoy the happily grazing cows.  The entire field stopped what it was doing and stared at me.  They stared non-stop until I was on my way. ;-)  Sorry to disturb you guys.....

Received a 30.00 dollar off coupon for a trail race admission for my volunteer time at the Dances with Dirt Race.  YAY!  It doesn't expire for a year... so I have plenty of time to pick something fun!

BACK AT IT!  I COMPLETED AN ENTIRE WEEK OFF OF RUNNING!!  I probably wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the sore throat, body aches and fever for 3 days at the end.... ;-) My sore throat is still around so I took it easy this am.... but it sure felt good to get back out there!

I just spent a wonderful week in Vegas with friends!  I took the entire week off from running.  I feel refreshed and ready to run and run and run!  Don't forget to take time off friends... you would be amazed at what it can do for you!!!

A few weeks ago, my friend Autumn and I were chatting over the wire.  She moved to Kansas awhile back but we still keep in contact.  Autumn has been struggling with her weight for some time.  Here is Autumn with her husband, Robert. 

Autumn reported to me that she was trying really hard to get things on track and workout.   She has been taking walks and attending kickboxing classes.  She was extremely proud the day I talked to her because she had taken a 2 mile walk!!  WAY TO GO!!!  When Autumn lived by me, it was hard for her to walk often and she used a walker for assistance when she tired.  Now she is walking without that walker ;-)  Autumn started talking to me about doing a 5K or running one day.  Of course my ears immediately pricked up. ;-) I told Autumn that one of the number one things that she needed to do was make sure she had good shoes.  I have certainly learned that the hard way.  We talked about going to a specialty store where they can determine what was best for her.  I told her to start saving.  Autumn said that was one of her problems presently was that she had an old pair of shoes that were worn and really hurting her feet.  
I purchased Autumn a new pair of New Balance running shoes and sent them off to Kansas.  Autumn LOVED them ;-)  I am soo glad I could help her begin her journey.  It is so worth it.  Here is Autumn this week!!!  Look at this beautiful lady!!!  WAY TO GO AUTUMN!!!!  (Your shoes look great too!)

A MUST READ!  HILARIOUSLY TRUE.


http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/comedy-sketch-pokes-fun-at-how-much-runners-talk-about-running?cid=social49086526&adbid=10152908458951987&adbpl=fb&adbpr=9815486986

If you haven't read this article.. you should.

https://runningthroughshadesofblue.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/she-put-on-a-lot-of-weight/

GREAT STUFF!!!!!

Todays 10 mile run was brought to you by humidity :-(

THIS!!!!!

Hats off to Women's Running magazine!!!! Not all runners are rail thin. Not all runners run 10 miles a day. Not all runners are after first place..... some of us out there run because we love to run. :-)

Dances with Dirt Ultra by Baraboo Wisconsin

Great meeting up with some super fun runners!

Great day for a track workout!  Do you do a little extra at the track?  I generally try to get there once a week.  I use the track for side steps, high kicks, bleacher runs, backward drills, lunges, etc.  Any speed work I do is done at the track too.  Its a fun change once in awhile.  Today was cloudy and slightly cool.  PERFECT!!!  

BOOM!  I SURPRISED MYSELF ON THIS MORNINGS HILLY 5K BY GETTING A 2ND PLACE IN THE 40 AND UP FEMALE AGE CATEGORY!!!  

Well, I didn't get to the Clayton Ridge run/walk this am... my little walking buddy was up too late babysitting... so I set out earlier for my long run which I planned out on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere with very little shade.  About 6 miles into the run.. I needed to go to the bathroom and the road signs mocked me... I was running dangerously low on water... and I stumble upon a crappy beer... I was sure glad to get home to my sweet pup who was waiting happily for a walk.   

Busy weekend coming up!  Friday morning I am going to walk the:

1st Annual Clayton Ridge Interact 5K Run/Walk

with my daughter, Maddie.  It makes me a little crazy not to run a race sometimes... but to get to do something active with my daughter is worth the "pass" on the run. 

So, once the run is over, I am heading out to the trails to do my long run for the week.  So I will get a great run in anyway ;-) 

Saturday I am running the: 

Colesburg, IA 4th of July Kaboom 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids Fun Run

Had a nice hilly gravel road run this morning.  It was a bit sloppy but it was shaded off and on, so it was worth it. ;-)

Can I hide somewhere and read?!!!

I need to finish the book I'm reading so that I can jump into this pile of magazines!!!!!