Chilly 8 miler

I decided on Friday that I would run 8 miles on today.  Well I got up this morning and it was 18 degrees, and well I REALLY did not want to go out and play.  (oh and I should mention there were 15-20 mph hour wind gusts so it felt even colder than that.)  I than reminded myself that it I expect to PR in May than I have to be serious about my training.  And that means not being a big baby about that cold. boo.  So I bundled my butt up and made my way out the door.  Fortunately when I got out and started running the only thing that was cold was my face.  This was my first long run since the fall and it felt a lot better than I thought it would.  I decided not to pace myself since I'm not officially training yet and I didn't want to push too hard since I haven't run any kind of mileage lately.  It definately don't want to risk an injury!  I'm happy with the run and learned something very important.  I really NEED new shoes.  I haven't paid attention to the mileage on my sneaks, but I know its been a lot and I can tell I need new shoes when my hip starts hurting.  And today it did.  I also got a blister on my toe, but that could have been due to the thick winter socks I was wearing.  Hopefully I won't need those again! (come on spring!!!)  Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to splurge for a new pair of running shoes.  I have a pair of Saucony's now and I may stick with those or switch back to a pair of Asics.

What are your favorite kind of running shoes?

The rest of my day was spent running errands and cooking/baking.  I made some delish Beef and Barley Soup for dinner,some Apple Cinnamon Muffins, and also, my Homemade Granola Bars.  I got rid of the sugar all together today in the bars, used raisins instead of prunes, and added a scoop of vanilla protein powder.  They came out great, maybe even better than before.  They are still a bit crumbly, so I'll have to work on that.  I like to cook things on Sunday that Shawn can bring to work during the week for breakfast and lunch.  Also, quick snacks for the girls during the week.  I'll be sure to post the recipes later, but for now I'm too lazy.  I'm beat after a long day, so I'm enjoying my:

Chocolate Protein Smoothie

-1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
-1/2 Cup of soymilk
-1/2 Cup of water
-Half a banana
-1 Tbs. of cocoa powder
-3 ice cubes

Blend and enjoy!  I meant to add some plain greek yogurt, but I forgot, so you could always add that in too!

And once I'm done my smoothie (and this post) I'm headed to bed to read (and probably fall asleep while doing so.)

What is your favorite kind of smoothie?

I'll leave you with another one of my favorite exercises:

Jumping lunges

Stand straight up, with your feet shoulder-width apart, but with one stationed about a foot and a half in front of the other. Your back leg should stand directly under your body, and your forward knee should sit at a ninety degree angle. Hold your arms straight out in front of you.

Jump up off the ground slightly, and quickly switch the position of your feet in mid-air. Keep your torso straight, now and throughout the exercise.

Land in the mirror-image of your original position - your forward leg bent at ninety degrees at the knee and hip, and your back leg directly underneath your body. Bend your knees to absorb the impact - but keep your feet and knees facing straight forward.

Jump back off the ground, switching your feet to your original position.

Repeat

Jumping lunges are a great plyometric move, they work thighs, glutes, calfs (due to the jumping) and your core.  Try them out!

What was your Sunday workout?

Almost Training Time

I am planning to officially train for 8-9 weeks for the Boston Run to Remember Half Marathon at the end of October.  So that means I will start this Monday or the Monday after. I haven't decided on an official "plan" yet.  I've been researching a lot and I know I definately need to have a long run, tempo run, and speed work.  I haven't really followed a training plan to the T either time I've trained for a half, but because I really really want to PR I think I will need to be more serious this time around.  I also haven't done any track/speed workouts since high school.  So that should be interesting.  Although I am EXCITED to start doing them.  I love the feeling after pushing really really hard.  Once I decide on an exact plan I will be sure to post it up here.

I have barely gotten the chance to run during this long New England winter.  Last week was the only consistent week so far. Shawn works long hours and my girls are not big fans of the cold.  I've been keeping fit mainly using workouts from bodyrock.tv.  I have mentioned that site already and I definately will again because I love those workouts, they are quick, intense, and really concentrate on interval training and functional conditiong.  I am a big fan of both.  I will continue doing those workouts 4-6 days a week with my half training.  I have also been doing stairs, high knees, jumping jacks, and using my inviscible jump rope (seriously) to get in a little extra cardio.  Oh ya and I throw in a little Jillian(Michaels) every now and again too.  I feel like all of this has really helped me keep in great shape...oh ya and I can do more push-ups than ever before. boo ya.

I will now leave you with my favorite exercise (I'll even do one and pretend you can see me)  and a couple of recipes.

Favorite Exercise:  Full Burpee with Push-up

• Stand with feet together hip distance apart
• Lower your body to the floor
• Quickly punch your legs back behind you into a push-up position
• Perform a push-up
• Then, draw you legs back underneath your hips and explode upward in the air
• Land with your knees soft and immediately go into your next repetition

Reason I love 'em:  They work your entire body and give you a little cardio boost.

I made these yummy carrot waffles for my girls for breakfast this week and they have eaten them the past couple days.  I think they would even be better with a scoop of vanilla protein powder.

Carrot Cake Waffles

1 Cup flour
1/2 Cup of oats
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 heaping teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 Cup of grated/pureed carrot ( I used pureed baby food carrots.ha)
1/4 Cup applesauce
1/4  Cup maple syrup
1/4 Cup of milk (I used vanilla soymilk)
2 tbs flax combined with 6 Tablespoons of water (or 1/4 C of egg whites)

Combine it all, cook, and enjoy with some pure maple syrup or a little whipped cream!

What is your favorite exercise?

St. Patricks Day Weekend and Race Recap

As noted in my last post, we had a funfilled weekend lined up.  We got a late start on Saturday, but still made it to pick up my brother Pat and down to the Boston Museum of Science a few hours before closing.  We learned that the girls are really too young for most of it, but we made the best and still had a lot of fun.  After that we went over to South Boston and hung out with family and my wonderful Aunt Maureen made us some yummy haddock for dinner.  The guys took the kids down to the beach to see "the biggest moon ever"(it was actually the closest the moon will ever be to the earth) and Devin was super excited about that.  Since it was already hours past Devin and Cori's bedtimes, we called it a night and went back to my grandparents house to get them to bed.  My lucky grandparents are in Florida, so they weren't there to visit with us. :(  I then stayed up chatting with my brother Pat, went to bed way past MY bedtime, and then slept horribly because some little girl I know was hogging the bed all night. Good thing she's cute. :)

Sunday was Race and Parade day.  I got up before everyone else and just hung out and had coffee for a while because the race wasn't until 11am.  I still limited myself to one cup of coffee (when I would have liked a lot more) because I know better before a race.  My (soon to be) sister in law Amanda was running the race with me, so her and my brother Jack picked me up when they got to town and he dropped us off at the Boys and Girls Club to run the Boys and Girls Club St. Patricks Day 5k.

Amanda and I (after the race of course)

Amanda still had to get her number so we ran inside and I waited in line for the bathroom while she got her number.  We got outside just a few minutes before race time and we couldn't even get out to the street.  It was craziness.  There were just under 2000 people running.  After the gun went off we ended up going under the rope that blocked off the sidewalk and the street and sneaking up to the starting line.  It took a couple minutes after starting to get away to loosen up from the pack, but not as long as I expected.  And then I had to do a lot of bobbing and weaving.  The streets are nice and wide so fortunately it wasn't too clogged.  The route was actually a lot hillier than I had expected, but it was a nice little run and due to the parade a couple hours later there were a lot of people cheering on the runners.  I was FREEZING for at least the first half of the race and I think next time its in the 30's I will not wear shorts.  So I ended up finishing in 21:25 and 10th in my age group (there were actually 593 in my age group) so I was pretty happy with the race, although I left it feeling like I could have done better.  That feeling stinks after a race, but I could have pushed it harder at a few points during the race I could have changed the fact that I had (this will be a little tmi) pee almost the entire race.  I even went to the bathroom right before we started and I stopped drinking water at 930am.  This is a big problem for me during races and I don't really know how to fix it.  But I'll tell ya its really difficult to give it all at the end of a race when you feel like you are going to pee your pants.  I joke about it with my family, but it really is starting to be a big problem.  Does anybody else have this problem?  Any suggestions as to how I can make it better?

After the race was the St. Patricks Day Parade and so it was great to spend the entire day hanging with family and watching the parade. 


After the parade we all went back again to my Aunt Maureens and she made some DELICIOUS Guinness Beef Stew.  As soon as I have the recipe I will share it with you!  Hope you all had a great weekend as well, tell me what you did over the weekend?

Fantastic Friday

I love fridays.  Shawn (usually) doesn't have to work because he works tons of hours during the other 4 days.  And that means I normally get a solo run.  Today he was helping our good friend cut a bunch of wood for their evaporator because they make maple syrup.  N.H. maple syrup is the BEST!  So I got in a great workout while he was running errands in the morning.  I did the 550 Rep Fat Massacre from Bodyrock.tv.  I love the workout from that website and do one almost everyday.  They are quick, always different, and always challenging.   I would definately recommend you all check it out. He then drove over to our friends and I ran the 3.5 miles there to meet them.  It was super windy, but still easier than running behind a stroller.  Then I got to hang out with my good friend Tara for the afternoon, while the kids ran around outside all day.  Did I mention I love spring? 

We also have a fun packed weekend ahead.  We are heading down to Boston tomorrow morning to take the girls to the Museum of Science.  We have passes that my wonderful brother Jack and (soon to be) sister in law Amanda got us for Christmas.  Then we'll spend the night with family and head to the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday.  Oh and I'll also be running a 5k before the parade.  One of my most favorite weekends of the year for sure!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Homemade Granola Bars

Best little bakers EVER!!  Of course Cori is grabbing as much out of the bowl as she can before I take it!

Here is the recipe for the yummy granola bars I made with my girls a couple of days ago:

1 2/3 Cup Oats
1/2 Cup Sugar (I will use less next time)
1/3 Cup of Oat flour (you can make oat flour by sticking oats in your blender or food processor)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon (or more if you love cinnamon like we do)
2-3 Cups of fruits and nuts*
1 tsp. Vanilla
6 tbs. Butter, melted (I use smart balance)
1/4 Cup of Maple Syrup
1 tbs. Water
1/3 Cup Peanut Butter

*I used 1/4 cup of ground flax, 1/2 Cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 Cup of raisins, 1/2 Cup of dried prunes, 1/2 Cup of chopped pecans.  You can use any mix you want, I just used what I had on hand. Cranberries would be great too!

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl.  Wet in another.  Mix them together and then add the peanut butter.  Press into a greased 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.  Let them cool completely before cutting.  Enjoy!

Before baking:

Stroller Training Runs

Yesterday was my first offical run with the stroller since the fall.  Now that stroller also comes fully loaded with 60lbs of cute little girls (plus whatever it weights itself). 
Here's an older photo of my little cuties ready for a run. (they look thrilled don't they)

Its not ever easy to run with the stroller, it always feels like a great workout no matter the distance I go.  Yesterday was almost torture though, for the following reasons:

1. I haven't run a whole lot over the winter (more on what I HAVE been doing later).
2.  I live on dirt roads and they were muddy.  VERY muddy. 
3.  I realized once I got toward the end of the road that one of my tires was almost flat.
4.  Take all of those other factors and add in the hills.  I live in a super hilly area.

As much as it sucked, I can't wait to get back at it again.  I am pretty sure those hilly stroller runs are the reason I ran my half as quickly as I did.  Of course my long runs are important too.  But those are EASY compared to my stroller runs.  My stroller runs are hardly ever over 3-4 miles.  The girls don't tend to last much longer than that (even fully stocked with snacks and drinks).  Thats fine though, I can save longer runs.  Besides I tell myself its really like I ran more miles than that because of the added weight. :)  Maybe you don't have kids to push in a stroller, well go borrow some.  HA, I'm kidding.  Just get out there and run some HILLS.  I promise it will help you run a faster race (especially if its a flat course).  There's my training tip for the day. :)

I made some DELICIOUS homemade granola bars with my two favorite little bakers a couple days ago and I want to share the recipe and some pictures.  I forgot to plug in my phone so I'll be be back later on with a recipe you will definately want to give a try!

My Running

Since this blog will primarily be about my running.  And my kids.  And food.  Ok, getting off track again already.  Here's the rundown of my running history.  I have been running since I can remember.  Mostly during soccer.  My junior year of high school I started running track along with playing soccer.  My coach threw me into the 800 meter, mostly because he didn't know what else to do with me.  Turned out I was pretty decent at it, so it stuck.  I also threw javelin and did pole vault.  I was mediocre at best (although I did clear 7'6" while pole vaulting.)  I had a love/hate relationship with the 800.  It was a tough race.  You couldn't quite sprint the entire way, but you hate to give it your all.  The best I ever ran was a 2:32.  Hey not too shabby.  After that I ran for pleasure and to keep in shape.  The first race I ran after that was during my second pregnancy.  I had run during my first but no races.  I ran a 5k when I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter Cori.  I finished in 26 minutes and change.  When I was 7 months pregnant I ran the last 4 miles of the Boston Marathon with my (soon to be) sister and law, Amanda(blue shirt is me)

That is when I knew I wanted to run an important race.  I felt so proud of her at the end, it was amazing.  So since then I had my daughter(July 2009) and I have run two half marathons.  The Boston Run to Remember in 1:48:15(May 2010) and the Portland Maine Half Marathon in 1:37:01.(October 2010)  I was so proud after that second race, and now I want more.  So here it is, My goals: 

-Run the Race to Remember this May in sub 1:35
-Run my first full marathon in Portland, Maine in October
-Qualify for(and run) the Boston Marathon

So here we go...encourage me, share your goals, share your motivation, and tell me you best training tricks!!!

Peanut Butter and Bananas

We go through about a jar of peanut butter and two big bunchs of bananas in our house in ONE week.  That is a lot for 2 and 2 pint sized girls.  Peanut butter and bananas together are just about my favorite thing in the whole world.  I eat them every.single.day.  Peanut butter banana sandwiches/tortillas/pita pockets, Peanut butter toast with a banana and more pb on the side, peanut butter and bananas in smoothies, by the spoonful.  Whatever, you get the idea.  Now you want to know what is even better than peanut butter?  Dark Chocolate Dreams PB.  Yes that actually exists, and it is the best invention ever.  Its made by Peanut Butter and Co. My older daughter, Devin, pretty much refuses to eat regular peanut butter now.  Thats ok with me because the nutrition is about the same between the two.  And I can't blame the girl.  I ate a chocolate peanut butter banana sandwich for breakfast every single morning while pregnant with my younger daughter, Cori.  That might explain why Cori would eat 452 bananas per day if you let her.  Before I end my praise of peanut butter and bananas, I have one more thing to share.  I WILL NOT eat bananas alone.  Yup, after all that talk of love (and I swear I do love them) they have to be mixed in something, I can't just eat a banana.  Thats wierd, right?  Here are some of the things I do love to put bananas in though: smoothies, cereal, oatmeal, breads, muffins, pancakes, french toast, and of course with peanut butter (in case you didn't get that earlier).  Ya so if you don't like peanut butter or bananas you might not want to read my blog.  :)

Ok enough on that (for now).  I'm feeling super lazy this morning, but its getting warmer and the sun is out so I need to get out for a run.  I'm writing it here so that I have to do it, I don't want to start lying to my 1 follower already!  I'll come back later to report on how it went.  Have a great Saturday!

Posts need titles too!

Geez...I just figure out a title for my blog and I come on here to right my first post and I have to figure out a name for that too!  This blogging stuff is definately going to take some getting used to, its kind of easier to stalk other peoples blogs.  :) But, hey I have thoughts and goals too and I need somewhere to get them all out.  Oh and I need to be held accountable, so when I tell you my goals hold me to them!

I bet you're wondering if I really think I'm a supermama.  Well the answer to that is no, not most days.  But you know what?  My daughter thinks I am and in my world thats all that matters.  My older daughter, Devin, is the one who named the blog.  She's a pretty smart (almost) 4 year old.  I told her I was writing a blog and I asked her what I should name it.  After I explained what a blog is (and no I don't think she actually gets it)and that mine would be mostly to chronicle my running and training she told me Supermama.  I thought about it for a while, as in like a whole day and all of a sudden it came to me.  Devin is always cheering me on when I'm running or working out and she says "go mama go!"  So there it is, isn't she the best?

My number one reason for starting this blog (aside from feeling like an actual adult for a couple minutes a day) is because of my running goals.  I plan to PR in the half marathon this May when I run the Boston Run to Remember.  I want to run sub 1:35, my PR is 1:37:01.  Its kind of scary to write it down because that means I HAVE to do it.    Well I guess only if anyone actually reads my blog. HA.  Ok, and the next goal after that is to complete my first full marathon in October in Portland, ME.  So, follow me and help me to reach my goals!

I'll leave you with a couple yummy recipes I've made in the past couple days.

PUMPKIN BANANA PROTEIN SMOOTHIE

1 banana
1/4 pumpkin (I guestimated)
1/2 Cup of soymilk (or whatever kind you use)
1/2 Cup of water
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (I'm using Jillian Michaels whey protein)
a few ice cubes
a generous sprinkle of cinnamon

Blend it all up and enjoy!  I know I did!

PUMPKIN BANANA OATMEAL

1/2 banana
1/4 Cup of pumpkin
1/2 Cup of milk
(heaping) 1/4 Cup of oatmeal
a generous sprinkle of cinnamon

Heat the milk, pumpkin, and banana until boiling.  Add oatmeal and cinnamon and lower the heat.  Cook to you liking.

*This is the serving size I make for a single serving for each of my girls, you may want to adjust.