Three Things Thursday

1. Tuesday was the first day of school.  Hard to believe my babies are so big!   I still remember Avery being a baby and thinking it felt like forever until they were both in school and now it is the second year they have both been in school.

Makes the house seem so quiet on my days off.  Gymnastics and flag football both start up soon so we will be busy with that and these quiet days will let me get things like laundry done. and runs too of course.

2. I couldn't resist when I saw this yoga DVD.

although the main program in 82 minutes long!  I made it through the first 36 last night and will try for the whole things again this afternoon.  It does have a shorter program for when you don't have 122 minutes (that is a lot of time!) It is an intermediate program and I did find it more challenging than I am used to so I really like that.  I can see how it will help build strength.

3.  I am really missing this view on runs

I haven't run here since I had a run in with a bear.  The bear(s) have been seen multiple times since then so I have to assume they are still around.  I am going to wait until hibernation time (December) until I attempt this run again.  Sad.  This is my favorite place to run. Just looking at me makes me crave a run...

 

yup better go!

Last Long Run and a Flipbelt Review and Discount Code

Disclaimer:  I received a Flipbelt for review purposes. I was not compensated in any other way and was not required to give a good review,  all opinions expressed are my own.

 

Due to the rainy rainy weekend and knowing that I would have today off work while the kids went to school I decided to save my long run for today.  The weather was nice and cool for it and it felt pretty good until about 9 miles in and then it was rough. My legs were tired and crampy.    Maybe I should have fueled better. I had planned to do 15, but decided it wasn't my day. Still not a bad run and only 11 days and 18 hours until the Bozeman Half Marathon!  YAY

One of the things I have used on my runs lately has been a Flipbelt. 

What is a

you ask?

 

Flipbelt is a tubular band designed to wear around your waist or hips. 

It has four opening you can use to tuck your essentials into the Flipbelt, including a clip to hook keys to. 

What do I put in mine?
My phone, chapstick, toilet paper, gels, and sometimes bear spray.

Worried about things falling out?  Just flip it so that the openings are against you. 

How do I like running with it?
Very well.  I was using an armband for my iPhone and a belt for my water and gels, and toilet paper.  I didn't want to wear two belt type things so I used my Camelback to hydrate with on the long runs I wore my Flipbelt for.  I didn't have to adjust the Flipbelt while running, which is a huge plus in my book.

Pros
Easy and comfortable to use
Machine washable
Super stretchy
I can fit a lot of things in it easily

Cons
Not waterproof, so if you are worried about getting your phone, ipod, whatever wet you need to protect it with a plastic bag, which is no big deal.

I can't put my water in it.

Want to try one for yourself?  Use the code sweat33 to get 33% off your entire purchase at Flipbelt 
They have lots of pretty colors to pick from.

 What are you currently using to put all your things in while you run?
Have you tried a Flipbelt yet?

Renegade Ways

1. My husband and a friend of his used to own this beautiful horse who is gracing the cover of Range Magazine and sold him to a guy who raises bucking horses.  He now is the stud horse for a band of mares and is a cover model.

Renegade Ways on the cover of Range Magazine

I love this magazine for it's tell the truth stories and defense of those living in the west maintaining a western legacy.

2. The kids and I were expecting a box from Amazon.com and it came some time over the weekend and the 4 inches of rain we got. Lucky for us all of our things were wrapped in cellophane because by the time we found the box on the front steps it had nearly disintegrated in the rain.

This was what I got much the disgust of my yoga skeptic family.

They might all make fun of my yoga but it has made a world of difference for me. I can't wait to try this one out!

Did I mention it did nothing but rain this weekend? We played a lot of cards, and I got in a few great workout, but admittedly no runs.  I am not ready for being cold and wet and I don't want to risk getting sick or injured so close to my next half marathon.

I did do yoga, the elliptical and a HIIT workout both days though so it isn't like I didn't do anything.

Do you tend to be more cautious as a big race gets closer?  I DO!

Three Things Thursday!

1. I haven't said too much about it, but I am training for a half marathon, which is now 17 days away.  Woohoo!!  I am thinking that instead of doing a long run this weekend I am going to stretch it out until Tuesday, run 14 or 15 miles and then the Sunday before the race (which will be 5 days later) I will do a long run of 8 miles and call it a taper.  My biggest reason for doing that is so that my runs this weekend will be shorter and will include a good tempo run and I will have more time to spend with the kids before they start school on Tuesday.  I will be putting them on the bus and heading out for a run!

2. I am going to be doing the Bozeman half marathon.  It will be my first time for this race so I am excited about that, but I am also excited about this, check out the elevation profile.

Should be a fast race! I will be meeting a friend up there the same friend I went and ran the Missoula half marathon with.

3. Tuesday while driving my kids to a 4-H meeting on a narrow two lane road with little to no shoulder I encountered two people walking a dog, which in itself is great.  My problem with them is that we were on a narrow two lane road and with the dog they were essentially three people across the road, easily halfway into the road.  This meant I had to swerve around them, which would have been fine except I was cresting a hill.  I could not see far into the other lane.  If someone else had come along they would have crashed into my car. 

Apparently I didn't swerve far enough around the people because the man glared at me and my children.  I am sorry if I worried him, but here is my thing.  I am not going to do more than I have to in order to go around them when I am putting myself and more importantly my children at risk.  They should certainly have been more mindful of the situation and been walking single file once they saw me coming.  As it was they made no effort to move over.  I hate to say it, but had a car come along at that point, I probably would have had to swerve into the walkers to protect my children from a head on collision.

What would you have done?
When is your next race?
What do you think of my long run plan?

Ps check out this car we saw in town yesterday, the kids were most impressed with the phone on the dash and once again my son was appalled that I would take a picture of someone else's car

Apparently I have some crazy jump rope skills

I apparently have some mad jump rope skills as I participated in Sweat A Day  hosted by Shauna Harrison and Under Armour Women in July on Instagram and there was a week of jump rope.  I was one of the winners that week and was delighted when I finally got my prize yesterday.  When I opened it, I admit I was a bit disappointed. 

I was expecting at least some cool Under Armour clothes.  The duffel is alright, just ugly, the shoes aren't running shoes, though they are comfy and the hat will be awesome this winter. I decided that since it was free it wasn't worth whining about and since I love the hat, it could all be considered a win. The duffel I will probably donate to a 4-H raffle our club does in the spring.

When I got home from my run today I had another package from FedEx waiting for me.  YAY!

I adore the capris and the socks are super bright. 

I am delighted I won since after that week I ended up quitting the challenge due to some back pain.  I think I shall have to rejoin.  It was a lot of fun and the prize is sweet and would have cost me over $330 if I had to buy it (according to the tags).

I could show you my mad skills, but it seems a lot of work to get it on here.  You can check it out here if you want, but I don't think it's that exciting.

Have you done any Instagram challenges? won any?  This is my first win!  YAY. 

Quality of Life 2 mile Race Report

I got up early this morning and headed out for a quick 4 mile run, came home and helped the kids get ready for their 2 mile race.  They were so excited!

We got to the race with about 12 minutes to spare!  Just enough time to snap a few pictures

practice some cartwheels while standing in line for the port a potty

and then it was GO TIME!

My son took off and I stayed with my daughter.  I had given the kids instructions that whoever got to the finish line first was to stay there and wait close by until the others came in.  Cade was thrilled he didn't have to stay with us and ended up running part way with another kid from school.

I stayed with Avery and she started really strong, about a mile in she started run walking the rest of the way.  The last half mile was a bit of a struggle for her as she had a sideache, just then a boy from her kindergarten class and his mom passed us.  I leaned over to her and said "you aren't going to let Colter beat you are you?" and she was off!   It might have helped that the whole last quarter of a mile I told her mantra after mantra

Finally!  She has her own medal!  She kept asking me to give her one of mine, but I told her she had to earn it. 1st place in her age group! 

My son ended up 3rd in his, and was thrilled with his medal too, so I took them both out for some frozen yogurt.

Good stuff.

I ended up 4th in my age group, which was funny to me since I ran with Avery and out time was 21:14 which is more like a good 5k time for me, but I missed out on the awards, which the kids thought was pretty funny.

Three Things Thursday with only a small rant

1. I was in Instagram last when when I saw someone post something along the lines of "yay I just became an ambassador for product ABC!! It just came in the mail and I am so excited to try out ABC tomorrow on my run!!"

Anyone else have any issues here? if you don't read it again.

I wanted to clarify so I asked if she had tried ABC before and she said  "no, they contacted me and sent me the product."

A: what kind of company asks someone to be an ambassador for their product when the person doesn't even use it 

B: what kind I person agrees to be an ambassador and then brags about being an ambassador before they even try the product? 

I know I would be skeptical of any review they would give. It all reeks of desperation or something.

2. My garden is starting to turn out zucchini and cucumbers like nobody's business so I am busy finding new zucchini recipes to try out.  Stuffed zucchini boats and zucchini Parmesan fries were both winners in my book, although the kids weren't so impressed.  I am going to try the boats with bacon.  Bacon after all makes everything better.

I would love any suggestions for zucchini,  for cucumbers for the matter.

3. Running.  I am having a fabulous running week.  Everything is feeling strong and I am feeling good.  I feel like my motivation is coming back and I am hitting 30+ mile weeks easily.   I am doing a two mile run with the kids this weekend.  A little sad I won't be racing the 5 mile portion of the run, but I promised the kids a run with me this summer and here it is.

They were pretty excited about picking up our t-shirts and bibs this morning, all we had to do was go to the dentist first. They both hated the numb cheeks.

Lucky for them it was an okay race swag bag with some fun things inside like mints, chapstick, a pen and a notepad.  There were tech tees, but I registered one day too late to get one so we got cotton.

So.. do you have any ideas for me with the zucchini and cucumbers?

Mantra Magic

 Joining Today’s Tuesdays on the Run topic with April from Run the Great Wide Somewhere, Patty from My No-Guilt Life, and Erika from MCM Mama Runs.

Your body can be in peak condition for a race, but if your head isn't in the game it can have a detrimental effect on how you do.  A running mantra can help get your head back in the game and push through that wall during a race.

According to this article  the ideal running mantra is "One that's short, positive, instructive, and full of action words." They also recommend having several different mantras ready.

I used quite a few in the last few years since I started running halfs and one full marathon.

At the start of a race it is all about  "Run your own race"  to prevent me from going out too fast and trying to keep up with all the people who do start out too fast.  I also use "I will be seeing you later" at the beginning.  and some of those people I do see later, because they started out too fast.

Other ones I have employed with success are "Enjoy being fast" and "This is what you are here for, this is what you trained for.  You are ready for this. You are trained for this" Okay the second one isn't very short, but it is very motivational for me. Repeating it over and over can really get me in the zone.

It is important to dig out these mantras when you get a stitch in your side, feel like puking etc so that instead of focusing on the pain and letting it drag you down, you distract yourself and push on. Mantras help divert the mind from its dark thought and transcend the pain.

Tips for making a good mantra.

Stay positive! Remember you want to divert your mind from the pain, not focus on it. "This is my day"
Use energetic words.  "Go for it" "Run strong"
Keep it short.  You don't want to be struggling to remember your mantra, it should flow easily. 
Make it instructive.  Tell yourself what to do.  Remind yourself how you should be feeling.  "Be relaxed" "Dream Big"

or you can use this chart to help make a chant to pull you through on your run.

source

such as

 Be strong, embrace power.

Stride fierce, be bold.

The biggest key to a running mantra is finding one that works for you.  If it doesn't resonate with you it won't be as effective.  I like to try new ones out when I am doing a hard workout.   Sometimes even the distraction of thinking up new ones is enough to help pull me through the workout.

Tell me some of your favorite mantras.  One of my favorite mantras of all time for races is:

 Make this moment count.

 Others I use:  

• This is what I do.
• I can do another mile, what is another mile, nothing to me.
• I am stronger than that

Excuses, excuses, excuses!

I recently sat a table in the lounge at work and listened to a couple of girls at another table discuss how they didn't have time to workout.  I KNOW working out is a lot easier for me than it is for them because I work 3 days a week, and they all work 4 or 5 days.  I also know that if a person really wants to work out time can be found.

It takes a little more time and planning when you have kids to find the time to workout, but I hate when people say they don't have time to workout.  I frequently come home from work and fit in 20 minutes of yoga, a HIIT workout, or occasionally a short run, although for the most part my runs are done on my days off and weekends. 

no excuses today, just getting it done!

On those days instead of wasting time trying to figure out what workout I will do I get out my notebook of workouts and pick one.  There are so many great free workouts out there.  I am going to share a couple of the ones I have tried.

1. Zuzkalight.com her older workouts are still free on her site and Youtube and can all be found at litealloy.com.  Litealloy.com also lists all of the workouts she did while still at Bodyrock.tv which is awesome because it is a pain to find them on there now.

2. Christinesalus.com My little sister told me about Christine, and I knew she would be pretty cool since our names are so similar.  She is very similar to old Bodyrock.tv workouts and I have enjoyed the workouts I have tried so far which is three

3 and 4.  Bodyrock.tv which is linked with DailyHiit but I have had a hard time with their in your face sexual imaging all the time and haven't followed them as much since Zuzana left, plus they use a lot of very expensive equipment and are constantly introducing new equipment which I find annoying.  I work out at home and want to keep it minimal. Great workouts though.

5. Fitness Blender I learned about from Becca and Heather, has tons of workouts, I have done a few and found them tough and a good workout.

 I listen to a lot of podcasts while running, cleaning house, gardening, when I can't sleep in the middle of the night etc.  I recently started listening to Runner Girls Podcast and I have to admit that at first I was a little annoyed by it.  There seemed to be constant excuses about why they only ran once last week, or couldn't run the full distance on the plan, to which I have to say:

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure. ~Don Wilder and Bill Rechin

Don't make excuses — make good. ~Elbert Hubbard

 If you don't want to do something, one excuse is as good as another. ~Yiddish Proverb

 I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse. ~Florence Nightingale

 The trouble with always leaving yourself a way out is that you always take it. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

You get the idea, I could go on and on with those, BUT despite all the lame excuses, faulty opinion based advice, and poorly thought out topics I keep listening.  Mostly I want to hear how they do, I admit I am starting to enjoy listening to their running talk (when they aren't giving excuses).  I mostly listen to the first part.  I am thinking as they progress (I started with episode 1) the advice will get better.  They are very beginner so a lot of what they talk about is somewhere I haven't been in awhile. It is funny to hear them talk about 5 miles being a long run.

What is your favorite workout site?  Do share, I love finding new ones.
What is your favorite podcast to listen to while running?  Hmm this is a hard one.. I really love:

• Stuff You Missed in History
•  Anything Ghost
•  BBC History Hour
• The Moth
• Marathon Training Academy

Running, cows, and new clothes

Whew, life has been flying by!  We traveled across the state last weekend for my husband's 20th class reunion and had fun, stayed out LATE two nights in a row and I think I was just catching up on my sleep when my daughter got an absessed tooth (this is part of a much longer story involving a filling that fell out twice), after two night's of poor sleep dealing with that she had the tooth pulled and is feeling so so much better.  Side note: I hope she never has versed again.

so running... I haven't been feeling super motivated to get my butt out of bed a run, but it isn't as light early anymore.  I did get a great 14 mile long run yesterday and was filling a little achy from that last night so I did some yoga.

I think it did the trick because this morning I had a speedy 7 mile run that felt amazing good. I didn't want to stop running but I figured since I ran 14 yesterday I better call it a run.  I ran down the road to where my husband and I keep some of our cows, the family met me down there and we drove around and checked on them.

This is them driving to meet me in the old Ford.

The kids played float the cow pie down the creek for a bit.  Sadly the creek is pretty shallow and slow here so the cow pies didn't go anywhere very fast.

Cola crammed in the cab of the pick-up with all four of us.

But that got a little crowded so the kids rode on the back for awhile. 

I also had some fun mail yesterday.. my new Swirlgear finally arrived.  The tank on top of the pile I wore today and is super comfy as well as cute.