Friday Can't Come Soon Enough

Seriously!  Have you ever had one of those weeks where all you can do is stay afloat?  That is this week for me.  I'm not complaining, just venting, which I guess is complaining...I don't even know at this point.  Let me give you the rundown...

1. I have 30hours of meetings to cover in 4 days.
2. I have class (MBA) all day Friday where I have to turn in a Final exam, present as part of a team on linear programming and take a quiz.
3. E has swimming lessons every Tuesday night over top of our gym time, so not gym for me.

And maybe that doesn't sound like much to you but for me it's enough.  THEN...to top it off, Designer Whey was so impressed with your response to my Upper Body Workout Video that they want to feature me again in August which again is AWESOME except they need a new workout video by this weekend.  Perfect!

I have so much I want to tell you about but it will have to wait till after Friday at 5:00.  I do, however, want to tease a little and say I have another amazing giveaway planned for next week which I KNOW you will love. 

I'll tell you..Hood to Coast can't come soon enough!  I need a break!  Funny isn't it that I look at running a 200 mile relay as a break?  My son's babysitter thinks I'm coo-coo but that's ok.  I think lots of you can relate. 

One thing that has helped compartmentalize the chaos is the 5 minutes of meditating that I've been doing (doesn't sound like much but it's the longest, quietest, best 5 minutes ever) before bed.  It has helped me close the book on the day and get the rest I need.

How is your week going?  Are you as exhausted as I am?  How do you manage the chaos that is our lives? 

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Roadnoise Vest Review

I've been telling you about Hood to Coast and that one of my legs doesn't allow me to use earbuds.  That wouldn't be so bad if it weren't an almost 8 mile run.  I have to admit I was panicing a little bit but then something great happened.   RoadNoise Running and I got together and I was introduced to the very thing that is going to save my sanity...the RoadNoise Vest.

I had intended on doing this review earlier but I got distracted.  I then ran in it another time and realized I HAD to tell you about it PRONTO.  It's that cool.  I didn't want to just tell you about it though, I wanted you to see it. 

Just in case you aren't able to see the video, let me just highlight a couple points:

1. It fits well.  The speakers don't bounce around.

2. They provide great sound without being over the top.

3. If you are running with kids, you could use this to play their music for them while you run.  (I do!)

4. There is reflective material on the front and back to keep you safe. 

Ok, so there you have it.  I can't say enough about these vest.  They are essential to people who run at night and want to stay safe. 

Go check them out.  You can follow them on twitter at https://twitter.com/RoadNoiseSports)

Just Stopping In

Wow!  Today did not go as planned.  I had intended to put together a great blog about how I was prepping for my triathlon in the morning but E had other plans. 

I put him down for a nap at about 11:30 and headed downstairs to write said blog but thought I heard E crying.  I started to head upstairs and there he was at the top of steps just looking at me.  I thought I was going to vomit.

His crib is at the lowest setting so now I'm stumped with what to do.  He's not a great sleeper.  All I had was being able to just put him in his crib but now that's not even safe.  I guess we could convert it to a toddler bed but he'll never just lay down and go to sleep.  It's 10:00 p.m., I haven't prepped for tomorrow at all and I'm exhausted. 

So I just wanted to pop in and tell you that our Designer Whey Protein winner is Jenna mccullough 

 In addition, I'm dying to know.  If you have a toddler (E will be 2 in October), what's your bedtime routine?  Do you put your child down asleep or awake?  I obviously am going to need to rethink my current strategy.

Ok, I have to go get everything done for the morning.  

Good night!! 

The Art and Science of Passion

I've been running lately, more than I would normally.  Why? Not just because I love it and it's a passion but because in one month, I'm packing up and heading out to Seattle to run in the Hood to Coast Relay (200 miles) with about 40 other amazing bloggers on a team sponsored by Nuun and I want to be ready.

Anyway, last night was my last of 3 days running in a row and it was also a night run.  I was dragging before it even started. By the time I got out it was almost 9:00 and I had 4 miles to do AND it was still 97 degrees here in St. Louis so I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant but I went.

I always seem to do some of my best thinking when I run.  Last night I started to think about why it is that I actually like running.  Scientifically speaking, I'm not "fast" never have been never will be.  I don't have great form, and sometimes it's downright painful.  Since we normally gravitate towards things we are good at, it just doesn't make sense.  "Scientifically". 

Then I started to think about the "Art" of running.  I think the thing I like about running is that it's everything I need in my life right now...

consistent yet spontaneous meaning it's always there when I'm ready and I don't have to prepare much to go for a run.

humbling and rewarding..like I said up above, I'm not a good runner.  I run and most of the time, it puts me in my place.  Most of the time it challenges me and forces me to dig deep and find a place I didn't know existed

solitary and collective..I almost always run alone, mainly because it's too tough to time it with someone else's schedule but I enjoy the alone time.  I spend all day talking, explaining and planning..running allows me to just be quiet (sometimes I talk to my dad) but mostly just quiet.  But then I get an opportunity to run with someone new and all of a sudden it's like a completely different activity. 

I can't imagine a time when I'll ever stop running completely.  I may take a break, I may slow down but it is a part of my life as much as anything else is.  I keeps me fit, it keeps me happy.

So maybe I'm rambling but I do wonder, if you're a runner or if there's something you're truly passionate about, what is it?  And more importantly what is about that activity that you love?

Weight Loss Survival Guide For New Moms

Hello..*tap *tap..is this thing on?  I am very excited to have guest blogging for me today Helen M. Ryan.  She is the author of “21 Days to Change Your Body (and Your Life) – A Weight Loss Guide For the Rest of Us.”  She has written a great book for us looking to make some changes in an effort to transform our bodies.  She is a mother of two, and became a certified personal trainer, Spinning instructor, and fitness writer after losing 80 pounds and changing her life and improving her health. She now enjoys frozen yogurt dates with her daughter (hold the toppings).

Enjoy!!

So you’ve finally gotten some sleep and are feeling a little bit like your old self. You are getting used this new adorable little creature that has taken over, and enriched, your life. You’re loving every minute of being a mom. What you’re not loving, though, is the way your body is not bouncing back as quickly as you’d hoped it would.

It’s never too late to get your health back on track and fit into your jeans again—even if your “baby” is no longer a baby. (My youngest was in Pre-K and my oldest was in 2nd grade when I finally fit into mine.) The important thing is that you start—right now—whatever way you can. Here are some tips to get you going:

• Don’t reach for the “s.” When you’re tired (as we moms often are), it’s easy to reach for quick foods that contain a lot of sugar (the “s” word) and fat. Sugars make us feel temporarily more energized so it’s often our first choice. Better snack ideas are ones that contain protein, which helps you feel fuller for a longer period of time. Hardboiled eggs, fat free cottage cheese, low fat string cheese, lean lunch meats, or a spoonful of peanut butter all make great quick snacks. Add some fresh fruit (or frozen berries) for a natural sugar boost. Need a little treat? One square of dark chocolate with a dab of peanut butter on it usually does the trick. The peanut butter slows the sugar’s absorption—the chocolate makes you feel happier.

•  Eat before the kids do. If your children are small, don’t wait to eat until you feed them. Sometimes by the time our kids are fed and everything’s cleaned up, we are so famished that we will eat whatever is within our reach. And sometimes…we eat our kids’ leftovers and then our own dinners to boot. Eat first. Then feed the kids. Family dinner time will come as they grow older. Hunger=desperation. Desperation=fat.

• Trade off with other moms. Finding the time to exercise or getting to the gym can be really hard, especially if you’re frequently pulled off the treadmill to change a diaper. Try to “trade” time with a mom friend—she’ll watch yours while you exercise, then you’ll watch hers. The best part of getting some uninterrupted exercise time is not only the physical benefits, but the mental rewards, too. 30 minutes of cardio will boost your mood, empower you and help you connect with the woman you were before children.

• Play time. Put your baby in a front or back carrier and hit your ‘hood. Walk as many hills as you can find, vary your pace and pump your arms briskly. Or exercise with the front carrier on, holding onto something sturdy as you squat and lunge, forward, back and side-to-side. You can also hold your baby on your chest as you do crunches, or for an older child, play a game of airplane and lift them up into the air, strengthening your legs. Sometimes, the only time you have to exercise is with your child, and while it’s not always the most intense of workouts, it’s moving you in a positive direction—and giving you some “face time” with your baby.

• Get some zzzzs. Make sure you get enough rest and nap as often as you need to. When you’re sleep deprived the levels of the hormones responsible for hunger increase, while the levels of the hormones that tell you you’re full decrease…and you know what that means. The Rollings Stones said it best, “I can’t get not satisfaction.”

• Sprinkle exercise into your life, and try to make the healthiest food choices possible. You will make mistakes and that’s OK. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just do the best you can and remember—you are doing the most important (and demanding) job known to man: parenting.

Book web site: www.21daystochangeyourbody.com

Blog: www.realworldweightloss.com

Twitter: aspinchick

Goals and Treadmill Workout

Summer is a great time. It's peak running season, triathlon season and so much more. If you're like me you want to be in on all of it. In December I planned out my race schedule. Knowing what I knew then, I set some pretty lofty goals but for me, I'd rather have lofty goals and have one of them drop than not have any goals at all.   

But as you can see there is a mixture of runs and tris but what you don't see is the Hood to Coast Relay.  That's because I didn't know I was going to get to run it. 

So now it's end of July and I've got three goals in my view:

• A triathlon on Sunday,
• Hood to Coast Next Month
• Rock'n'Roll Half in October 

I've signed up for all, I've trained (mostly) for all and I'm committed. 

Triathlon Goal: Finish.  Unfortunatley, that's it.  This has been a secondary goal for me.  I haven't gotten to swim as much as I'd like and I have spent sometime on the bike but not enough to feel like I could compete.  So I'm just going to enjoy the exerperience.

Hood to Coast: Be a Strong Team Player This has been my main goal right now.  I have been trying to get my repeatable mileage up.  So my training has been focused around that. I've been doing training similar to a half marathon program but intensified a little bit.

I've been doing 3 days running back to back and one day off.  I started my 3 day cycle again yesterday with a 3 mile treadmill workout.  This run I focused on speed in a modified interval kind of format.  I wanted to share it with you.  It makes the time go by really quick on a treadmil and I walk away feeling like I've really built up some speed.

Today's run should be about 5 miles with tomorrow being the longest run at hopefully 7 miles.

All of this will be great base work for the half marathon in October and maybe I can work towards a new PR.

How do you train for multiple goals?  What are you training for right now?

Don't Forget: I've got to giveaways going on right now too!  Designer Whey (ends 07/28) and Cottenelle (ends 07/31)

Bulu Box Review

I've said it before I love getting mail so when I heard about Bulu box I got pretty excited.  I mean who wouldn't love getting a box of supplement goodies every month (only $10/month).

Want to see how it works?  http://www.bulubox.com/pages/how-it-works

When I got the box, I was so excited.  I wanted to share with you so I vlogged to show you the contents.  I'll say that half of the goods are already gone.  I ran 7 miles yesterday and some of it really came in handy.

If you want to learn more about the Bulu Box, head over to http://www.bulubox.com/

Go check it out!  I can't wait for the next month!

I received the Bulu Box for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I Wasn't Ready

I hate when you are just casually reading and then something you read strikes a cord with you. It makes you think and possibly makes you come to realizations that you MIGHT have been trying to avoid.

Well, when that happens to me, I usually find myself going for a long run and I think about it some more. Last week that's exactly what happened.

As I was lazily browsing MSN, this headline caught my eye:
"Do Working Moms Spoil Their Kids?"

I immediately got this sinking feeling in my stomach and tears started to well up.

I have a career which requires me to work a lot sometimes, I have school which causes me take even more time away and I won't even go into the other things that take time away from E.

I am jealous of stay at home moms (most of the time). I'm not jealous because their lounging at home all day because we all know that's not what happens. What I'm jealous of is the eight additional hours they have the opportunity to spend with their kids. I'm jealous that they get to be there when naptime is over to cuddle and hold just a little longer. I'm jealous that at night, they (maybe) aren't trying to cram 4 hours worth of errands, etc into 2. I'm jealous because their kids will have more memories of that time "mommy and I did...

I'm always finding that when I get home from work, I do tend to be more lenient with E. I don't hold my ground ALL the time because quiet frankly, I hate the thought of spending the very limited time I have with him disciplining him. He is almost 2 so we're entering that stage where we do a lot of parenting.

I know it's wrong. There are other things I've been letting E do that I know I shouldn't but I just kept making excuses..E just needs a little bit of XX...or whatever the case. I'm not sure what happened yesterday but something snapped and I realized it was never him. E has probably been ready for a while but I wasn't.

I guess I am just now realizing that they don't stay babies forever and that they do grow up and part of this "journey" is growing up with him. Change is hard for me sometimes and change that might mean less cuddle time for mom is even tougher.

So the bottom line is I need to let E grow. I'm going to have to get over the fact that he's not a baby anymore. He's practically an adult (ok, maybe not but he is almost 2) and I need to start raising him to be one. An adult that is respectful, attentive, compassionate, thoughtful, loving, and all the other ideal traits that I want E to have.

I know lots of you are parents, did you ever struggle with the transition out of the baby phase? Any other working moms feel like me?

Designer Whey Protein Giveaway

My husband and I are polar opposites in a lot of ways.  You could say I'm Type A (I know, big shock) and he's Type B.

But we have one very important thing in common (well it's not the only thing but it's important)...our health.  We met at the gym and we go back to that same gym almost every day.  When we come home, we both reach for the same thing...protein.  We both know that it's so important to feed your body after a workout.  We know that protein helps speed up recovery and cuts down on the soreness.  But we can't agree on which flavor.  I LOVE fruit flavors and he loves the chocolate and vanilla.  Our cabinet looks like a warehouse.

You may recall that Designer Whey is having a Summer Shape Up Challenge and you MAY recall that yours truly is a featured guest trainer in the program.  I hinted that I might have a surprise for you and I wasn't kidding. 

Designer Whey sent me some protein to try and the best part is, they sent enough to share (and not just with my husband)!  I got some of their newest product..Protein2Go and some Protein Bars

First thing I did was through a bar and a packet of protein in my purse.  If you're anything like me, half the time you're on the go and my biggest pet peeve with most protein shakes is that you basically have to have a blender to make them smooth enough to drink. 

Then I pulled another one out to do some tasting.  I tried the bar first and I seriously couldn't believe it!  Most protein bars I seem to find feel like a brick and taste like one too.  This bar was, dare I say it, almost airy.  It was not heavy or hard to eat.  I could very easily eat these all the time.  I was full afterwards and actually I still am, 2 hours later.  That for me is a huge bonus.

Then it was time to try the Protein2Go.  The directions say: just add to a bottle of water and shake.  I was a little skeptical.  Most times all the protein falls to the bottom and you have to re shake and guzzle just to get it consumed.  I chose the lemonade flavor first and I was shocked.  This tastes so good, I could just drink it whereas with most protein shakes, I just get it down (sort of like medicine).  It has a light flavor and mixed very well with water.  I had a bottle of water that had been pretty cold and it was pretty delightful. 

One of the best things about Designer Whey is that you can get it just about anywhere.  You don't have to order online or go to a specialty store.  My local grocery store sells it, which means that I have easy access!  You can be sure next month when Hood to Coast comes around, I'll be packing the majority of my protein packets for my runs. 

So, you want some?  I thought so!

I'll announce the winner next Saturday, July 28th.  Here's how you can enter:

1. Leave me a comment telling me you would like to try Designer Whey

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Follow Designer Whey on Twitter

How To: Put Together a Playlist

I know, I know, I said yesterday I wasn't going to post as much but I need to get this out so I can get good feedback.  I'm going to need it. 

I just realized, after looking at the Hood to Coast map, that my legs are considered the second hardest legs of the entire course.  Awesome!!  What that means then is that I'm going to have to be smart and use all the resources I have to get through it.  One of those, for me, is a playlist and I need three of them.

Now, yes, I'll run alot before the race but I need back up.  When I think of putting together a playlist, I can't seem to take my project manager hat off.  I ask myself:

• What do I want the playlist to accomplish?
• Do I want it to make me run faster, pace myself, get into a zone or just push it for the last 10-20 min?

Each leg of this race has a slightly different objective and I know, I'm not supposed to listen to music on the last leg but if for some unknown reason I find a way, I will, at least for part of it. 

I want the music to sort of follow a normal distribution curve (can you tell I'm in grad school right now?)  consisting of three parts:  

1. Start off somewhat mellow and calming (keep me from blasting out of the gate),
2. Build to a highpoint (which could be off set based on the leg to help push through some big hills)
3. Then gradually decline to something somewhat inspirational (to help me see the light).

So with that in mind, each playlist needs to be about: 

• Leg 1: 6.96 Miles - 75 Minutes of music - just to be safe
• Leg 2: 5 Miles- 55 Minutes to be safe
• Leg 3: 7.72 Miles - 80 Minutes of Music

 This is where I need your help..I need music ideas.  I'm definitely going to head over to Pavement Runner and browse his inventory and KatieRunThis has a good listing but I need help with song selection and placement. 

Here's some of the songs I'd like to have in the playlists:

List 1: 

• Smoke - Ben Folds (Symphony Version)
• Burn For You - TobyMac
• Blurry - Puddle of Mudd
• Sell Out - Reel Big Fish
• Back to you - John Mayer

List 2:

• Time - Ben Folds
• American Boy - Estelle/Kanye West
• Boogie No More - Kraak & Smaack
• Can I Get A - Jay-Z
• Anxiety - Black Eyed Peas

List 3: 

• Not the Same - Ben Folds
• Under Pressure - David Bowe
  All Because of You - NeYo
• Bleed Out - Lincoln Park
• Angel - Flipsyde
  One Sweet Love - Sarah Barellas
• Closing Time - Semisonic

This is where I need your help.  I'd love to mix in some 80's and 90's as well as current stuff.  Help me out!  What are your suggestions?  How do you put together playlists?

I Love You But..

I love my husband and son more.  Please don't take this the wrong way but something I saw yesterday on TV scared me a little bit and it's made me realize that you CAN have too much of a good thing. 

I love blogging, tweeting and just in general staying connected. You are all friends of mine and talking to you makes me happy but with all that's going on with life in general, I need to re prioritize a little. 

• I need to limit my twitter time
• I need to set a goal of posting 5 times/week (more on really exciting weeks)
• I need to spend dinner times talking to my husband and son
• I need to spend more quality time with my husband after E goes to bed
• I need time to heal and live

Now this won't be easy believe me.  I am never more than 3 feet from my phone and that's the problem.  I want to make sure that the time I have with you is quality as well as my family. 

I don't want to become that family that sits at a dinner table texting other people.  We should be in the moment with each other.  This is the time we need to be setting an example for E that this time is important and that we are a family. 

Source: http://pepperdigitalblog.com/?p=2189

I hope you can understand.  I'm not sure what days I'll be taking off and  what days I'll be posting.  It will depend on the week but visit me daily just to see.  I'll try to post reminders on Twitter and Facebook and I'll be on Twitter in spurts.  But it's time to cleanse a little. 

Have you ever found that you might be "addicted" to social media?  How do you keep everything balanced?

It's Time to Shape Up with Designer Whey

Raise your hands if you want to get in shape this summer?  Raise your hand if you like working out with a trainer or trying new workouts?  Raise your hands if you like winning prizes from great companies like Athleta, among others?  If you raised your hand to either of those questions, than I have the perfect challenge for you!

The Designer Whey Challenge introduces you to a unique and original workout everyday from some of your favorite celebrity trainers.  Then on the weekends, they introduce you to a trainer you might not know and they take you through a workout. 

Now, not sure if you noticed yet but you do know one of the trainers!!!  Do you see it?  Yep, ME!!  I will be featured as one of the weekend workouts.  I can't tell you what day yet, you'll have to watch and see.

But like I said, while you're waiting to see when I pop up, you can do the daily workouts, enter to win daily prizes and don't forget about the coolest grand prize ever...a trip! 

• Workouts are posted on the Designer Whey Facebook page: 
• https://www.facebook.com/designerwhey
• See the workouts at:  
• http://designerwhey.com/fitness/workout-regimens/ 
• Follow me on Facebook and Twitter (using hashtag #DWShapeUp) for more real-time updates on the Challenge:  
• https://www.facebook.com/#!/MomsLittleRunningBuddy 
• https://twitter.com/momslrb

ALSO, In honor of the challenge, Designer Whey is giving me protein and bars (and lots of it) to giveaway to you!  That giveaway will start soon so stay tuned to the blog!!

I can't tell you how excited I am.  I feel so honored that they chose me and I love being in such amazing company (be sure to watch for the other FitFluential Family Members)

What do you think?  Think you'll try the workouts?  What are your summer goals?

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

Do you remember that book?  It was one of my favorites as a kid.  I loved the idea that behind the a non-descript looking door was a world so different than the world around them.  On my run today, I realized that as a blogger, I feel a lot like that.

(Can you spot my photoshop skills? - or lack there of)

Now don't get me wrong, I love my life but I also love know that my phone, computer and iPad are gateways to this amazing world where fitness rules, people are nothing but supportive and inspirational and companies are in it for more than just the bottom line. 

I consider you friends.  Yes, I know, we've never met but does that really matter?  We talk everyday, and sometimes multiple times.  And you've supported me through what has been the most difficult thing I've ever gone through and continue to deal with.

Now, there are times when these two worlds collide and when they do, I have to say that the result is just as amazing as expected.  For example, I've been able to turn virtual friends into real friends earlier this year  when I met:

• Madeline from Food, Fitness and Family
• Kristen from The Concrete Runner
• Annica from Annica Nicole
• Michelle from Confessions of a Recipe Junkie

I consider these girls friends and am so thankful that we've had the opportunity to meet.

That's why I'm so excited about next month's Hood to Coast.  Nuun, an amazing company that not only sells a great product but has an immense passion for the people that drink Nuun, is bringing over 30 amazing women together to do something we love..Running.

Not only is this going to be like any other experience I've ever had but I'll get to open the door to the wardrobe a little wider and let these women into my life a little bit more.

If you're a blog reader, my advice...get involved...comment, engage, talk.  Hopefully you know blogging is more than just writing an article, it's about connecting which is the reason I do it.

Have you ever had the chance to meet your favorite bloggers?  If you could meet anyone who would you like to meet? 

More Munchkin Meals

I am not one to post big beautiful recipes and step by step pictures.  I'm not very good at it.  If you want that, you'll want to head over to Confessions of a recipe junkie. She takes amazing photos of amazing food. 

What I wanted to share with you today is a recipe that I've had a lot of success getting E to eat and I'm betting it would go over well with the older kids.  It's SUPER EASY to make!

Panko Crusted Chicken Strips, Steamed Broccoli and Brown Rice 

There it is!  The best part about this meal is that it's a win with E and with the hubs so I can easily make it all the time and know it will get eaten.  Don't expect a lot of leftovers.  :) So here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 Package of uncooked chicken strips
• Teriyaki sauce
• 2 eggs (will only use the egg whites)
• Panko Bread Crumbs
• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• Brown Rice (we usually go through a cup easily)
• Broccoli (cut into small florets)

Steps: 

• Marinate the chicken strips in the Teriyaki sauce overnight in the fridge if possible.  OR...if you're like me and forget this step, you can just make it part of the dredging train.  You'll see in a minute.
• Set three bowls out right next to the stove so that you can go from one to the next without making a mess.
• Seperate the egg whites from the yolks, stir the egg whites just to add a little air and add it to the second bowl.
• Add Panko Crumbs to the third.  Use your own discretion to determine how much to add.  You can always add more.

• Add the 2 Tablespoons of oil to the pan and let it get hot.  This works best if you have a nonstick pan

• Once the oil is hot, take each chicken tender and dredge it through the teriakyi sauce, then the egg and finally the Panko and add to the pan.  You may want to add more oil if you aren't getting the desired effect but ultimately you're going to leave it on each side for a few minutes (3 or so).  You'll start to see the edges of the chicken looked cooked.  That's when you know to turn them over. 

• While you're watching the chicken, steam your broccoli and I use a pampered chef steamer container to make the rice in the microwave.
• When the chicken is ready to come out, place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb as much excess oil as possible. 
• All said, I'm getting pretty good at getting this all prepped and ready to eat in 20 minutes. 
• Add a little Low Sodium Soy Sauce to the Broccoli and rice and E will pretty much beg for it.

Hopefully your little one(s) will too enjoy it too!

From One Mother To Another + Fitness Challenge Winner

FitFluential is an amazing organization filled with amazing people that inspire many of which are moms like me and I think they are so great I want to introduce to you them.  First up is Michele Gonzalez. She blogs over at NYCRunningMama. She is a momma to one and one on the way and her ability to stay fit and maintain a balance is inspiring to say the least.  I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.

Family:
Tell me a little about you and your family: My husband, Paul is from Anchorage, Alaska. We both attended the US Military Academy at West Point and were in the Army for over six years. We have an 18 month old son, AJ, and are expecting our second (sex unknown!) at the end of September!

How did you meet your husband? We met in the Army when we were stationed at Fort Hood, TX in the same unit, but didn't really become friends until we were deployed to Iraq for a year (2005-2006). We became workout and run partners - you get to know someone so well when you are running with them 5 days/week!

Where do you currently live? We just purchased our first home together on Staten Island, NY - where I was born and raised.

Outside of fitness, what are your favorite things to do? Reading, spending time with my family, watching Top Chef (LOVE this show!)

Blogging:
How long have you been blogging? I started blogging in October 2011. I was participating in the 2011 NYC Marathon Foot Locker 5 Borough Challenge. One of the requirements was to start a blog as a way to share our experience in the competition. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy writing and sharing my running stories.

Has it always been about running? Yes. It's mostly focused on running with a little family/motherhood/pregnancy posts thrown in.

What has been your biggest blogging related accomplishment? Being selected as Fitness Magazine's "Fit Blogger We love" and Women's Running "Blogger on the Run"

Fitness:
What are your current runing goals?

• Short-term (next 3 months): To continue running until baby #2 is born
• Mid-term (3-6 months): Run the 2012 Philadelphia Marathon
• Long-term (spring 2013): Run sub-3:10 marathon

Outside of running, what other fitness activities do you engage in? I love biking - I was beginning training for my first Ironman when I found out that I was pregnant with baby #2 (IM may be a summer 2013 goal - TBD).

What's your favorite run length? Definitely the marathon. I love knowing that to do well in this race, it takes weeks of preparation and hard work. I like putting in the time and effort to reach a goal.

What is your favorite run route? Before we moved, it was the Staten Island Boardwalk - it's a 2.5 mile long route that I would do most of my easy and long runs on (totally flat). I'm still learning the area around our new house, but so far, enjoy running along a road just up the street from our house. It's anything but flat - and I hope to get stronger on hills because of all my runs that will be taking place on it!

What has been your biggest running related accomplishment? Winning the 2011 NYC Marathon Foot Locker 5 Borough Challenge.

What are your biggest fitness challenges? Fitting in the time to train for a marathon and ultra marathon while being a stay-at-home breastfeeding mom. It required early morning wakeups (some days as early as 4am to get my long runs in) and planning ahead (pumping and having bottles for my son for when he woke up).

Do you have any advice you can give to new runners? Don't get discouraged if you have a bad run - or string of bad runs. We all have those periods where runs are not enjoyable, painful, and just plain suck. These runs are temporary. The trick is learning how to force yourself to get out the door again. Don't give up on yourself.

So what do you think?  Don't you love her?  Keep watching, we'll have more winners coming up!  Any other questions you want me to ask of our inspiring Moms (& Dads)?

Side note- We have a winner for our Fitness Challenge...Comment #1 - Christine!  You WON!!  send me an email and I'll connect you to RunShepRun to get your shoes!!  Don't forget to register for the Cottonelle NameIt Giveaway!

Cottonelle NameIt Giveaway

I know, I know, this isn't necessarily fitness related but it's just fun and who doesn't use toilet paper.  Enjoy!

 I have to admit, when the opportunity to work with Cottonelle came up, I thought my husband would have as much fun with it as I would.  On the way home from a weekend at my moms house, I tested that theory.  I told S I was writing a post where I got to introduce Cottonelle's new two step process cleaning process (paper + wipes) and that I'd have to come up with a catchy name to for it that goes along with all the summer festivities we have going on.

Why is it that even the thought of this made S and my sister's boyfriend who was also with us at time turn into children again?  I could tell they were just dying to say words like..Poop and fart.  I had to remind them that this was a serious assignment and I needed some good, tasteful, ideas.  (The tasteful part is what tripped them up).  I'll spare you some of the names they spouted off.  Believe me, I'm doing you a favor.  If you want to know though, just go ask your significant other I'm betting that most men come up with similar answers.

I started thinking about the traveling I do have this summer, which isn't a lot but it's expensive and my first thought was swiping my credit card every time I turned around (airport, grocery store, mall, souvenir store).  So my first #NameIt recommendation was:

 What do you think?  Is it a winner?  Think you can do better?  Prove it!  Cottonelle wants to give you a chance at naming this new process with summer travel in mind.

For your efforts you could win a Cottonelle Clean Care Kit containing:

• 1 tub of Cottonelle Flushable moist wipes
• 1 pack of Cottonelle Ultra Care toilet paper
• 1 travel pack of moist wipes
• 1 solo pack of moist wipes
• 1 pack of Name It post-it notes

 So here's how you enter, using Rafflecopter below:

Winner will be selected on July 31st:

1. Leave a comment about the Name It, with a Name It suggestion
2. Enter a name on the widget
3. Host the widget on your blog
4. Tweet the name to @Cottonelle with hashtag #NameIt
5. Post the name on the Cottonelle FB page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Official Rules

I have a problem

This is a heavier post so I'll warn you in advance.

I have a problem and I don't know how to fix it or even if I should. Ever since my dad passed, I notice I get anxious in public settings where there are people I know. I dodge any semblance of an intimate conversation. I am afraid that anything deeper than Hi, how are you will set me into a tailspin. Just hearing someone give condolences instantly brings tears and they see that I'm not strong.

I don't know what to say. I don't want to make people listen to stories they may not care to hear. I don't want to start a conversation only to find that we're trailing into a topic that will leave me emotional in public. There are only a few topics that I don't quickly tie to my dad. So much of who I am is a result of him. So that means my list of conversation topics are limited.

I can't tell you when the last time I had real conversation with a close friend was. I use E as a exit strategy. It's not that I don't want to talk, I just don't know what to say or that every conversation leads to tears. I don't want to tell you more than you want to hear. I don't want to bore you.

Maybe that's one of the reasons I love blogging. You can chose what you want to read and what you don't. For me, knowing you have that decision making power takes a little pressure off. I'll tell you exactly what I'm thinking. It's your decision if you listen.

Family and friends, I'm sorry that I seem a little shifty. I'll figure it out...I promise. Just might take me a little more time.

Have you ever lost someone and had these types of reactions? Any advice?

Heat is No Joke

For those of you that don't know, I live in St. Louis. Today was the 9th day in triple digits and the humidity has kicked in so it's even worse. I'm not telling you this to complain. I'm telling you this because I know many of you are like me and have a tendency to through caution to the wind just to get your run in.

I can't fault you for that but what I can say is "BE CAREFUL". Heat is no joke. If you're not prepared, it will mess you up. I wanted to share a story with you.

After college, I played a TON of volleyball in leagues all over the midwest. One tournament had us going to Kansas City in August for an all day outdoor tourney. (You can probably start to see where I'm going with this).

I love playing almost more than I love running (there I said it) and I won't let anything get in the way, not even my asthma or heat, which were both issues that day.

I knew that I needed to have my inhaler close. I knew that I needed to have plenty of water close. I had it all but what happened was I got so wrapped up in playing that I did have to use my inhaler which is a stimulant and I drank water but it wasn't enough.

3 matches in I started to get goosebumps. Did I notice it? Yes, but I thought it was just because we were playing so well and I was excited.

4th match, I started to get chills which I attributed to being so sweaty.

5th match, I started to get a little dizzy and that's when I started to panic. I reached for my water between every volley. As I was waiting for the serve to come our way, I had to focus on the ground because that was the only thing that didn't seem to be moving.

By the last match, I couldn't move and I couldn't think. I hadn't let anyone know and I was an internal mess. I literally couldn't move. I collapsed. I had to get carted off the court, and fed IV and IV of fluids. I battled waves of nausea the entire next day and I didn't fully recover for about a week.

Looking back I realize now just how close I got to permanent damage or worse. I know every sign and I will pay close attention to them.

My message is this...I know that run is important but ask yourself is it worth it? Are you prepared to run in the heat?

Some of my tips:

Start hydrating long before your outdoor activity. If you start off dehydrated, you'll run a much greater risk of getting it.
Stay hydrated during.
Hydrate after...your body has lost a great deal of sodium which needs to be replenished. Reach for a rehydration beverage...maybe a NUUN perhaps?

Have you ever been seriously dehydrated? What was your experience like?

I was not an adult yesterday

This 4th of July was an absolute blast.  Now that E is close to age 2, we are able to do more.  We are able to introduce him to more things and it has just been so much fun not only watching him experience all these firsts but also I feel like we, as parents, are experience them again for the first time.  Take for example our first activity yesterday...Pool time

We went to this new park yesterday with S's parents and you can see the giant slide in the background.  Having S's parents there meant S and I could actually go do a few "adult" things.  Turns out that was the slide and the diving board.  It was so much fun.  I can't tell you the last time I went down a slide probably close to 15 years ago.  Same with the diving board...I can't tell you the last time I was on a diving board.  In fact, there was a time when I even tried diving competitively so it all brought back amazing memories (that's me in the middle)

Had we not had E, we probably would not have gone to the pool and if we did, we probably would've sat on a lounge chair rather than going exploring.

That is definitely one of the things that I hadn't necessarily thought about when I was pregnant but is easily one of the best parts about being parents.  It forces you to shed the "adult" persona and be a kid, enjoy the little things in life and just stop, take a deep breathe and make a memory.  (I won't even go into the fitness benefits, I think you can figure out...when you are more active, you burn more calories...I'm just saying!)

I wasn't an adult yesterday, I was a kid and I loved every minute of it!  Thanks E for giving me that!

Hope you had a happy 4th!  From S, E and I! 

What did you do? 

I wasn't ready

I hate when you are just casually reading and then something you read strikes a cord with you. It makes you think and possibly makes you come to realizations that you MIGHT have been trying to avoid.

Well, when that happens to me, I usually find myself going for a long run and I think about it some more. Last week that's exactly what happened.

As I was lazily browsing MSN, this headline caught my eye:
"Do Working Moms Spoil Their Kids?"

I immediately got this sinking feeling in my stomach and tears started to well up.

I have a career which requires me to work a lot sometimes, I have school which causes me take even more time away and I won't even go into the other things that take time away from E.

I am jealous of stay at home moms (most of the time). I'm not jealous because their lounging at home all day because we all know that's not what happens. What I'm jealous of is the eight additional hours they have the opportunity to spend with their kids. I'm jealous that they get to be there when naptime is over to cuddle and hold just a little longer. I'm jealous that at night, they (maybe) aren't trying to cram 4 hours worth of errands, etc into 2. I'm jealous because their kids will have more memories of that time "mommy and I did...

I'm always finding that when I get home from work, I do tend to be more lenient with E. I don't hold my ground ALL the time because quiet frankly, I hate the thought of spending the very limited time I have with him disciplining him. He is almost 2 so we're entering that stage where we do a lot of parenting.

I know it's wrong. There are other things I've been letting E do that I know I shouldn't but I just kept making excuses..E just needs a little bit of XX...or whatever the case. I'm not sure what happened yesterday but something snapped and I realized it was never him. E has probably been ready for a while but I wasn't.

I guess I am just now realizing that they don't stay babies forever and that they do grow up and part of this "journey" is growing up with him. Change is hard for me sometimes and change that might mean less cuddle time for mom is even tougher.

So the bottom line is I need to let E grow. I'm going to have to get over the fact that he's not a baby anymore. He's practically an adult (ok, maybe not but he is almost 2) and I need to start raising him to be one. An adult that is respectful, attentive, compassionate, thoughtful, loving, and all the other ideal traits that I want E to have.

I know lots of you are parents, did you ever struggle with the transition out of the baby phase? Any other working moms feel like me?

5 Minutes to Great Abs

A while back, I posted a picture that resulted in some requests for some of my favorite ab exercises.  Needless to say I was flattered and humbled and promised to show you a few.  Finally tonight I was able to get my husband to record it.  I'll apologize in advance that it's not a very professional video but what it lacks in professionalism, it makes up for with character.

In case you aren't into watching the Vlog, here's a breakdown of the exercises!

I do abs just about anytime I can.  Earlier tonight, I was sitting on the floor with E watching some Cardinal baseball and I found myself planking.  Just like that.  :)  These types of moves integrated with cardio and a good diet are sure to provide great results!

So, let me know what you think!  Are you going to try them?  Any other workouts you'd like to see?  If you're willing to watch, I'm willing (if you don't mind the occasional appearance from E) to demonstrate.

Oh and by the way, you still have time to enter the Fitness Challenge. I'll be selecting a winner from those that commented on the Fitness Challenge post to win a free pair of shoes from TakeItRunning.com

Triathlon Training in Full Swing

A few months back, I wrote a post about triathlon: Ditch Your Fear and Tri with the goal of hopefully showing, at least one person, that competing in a triathlon is obtainable.  In June, I was browsing the blog archives and came across that post and it occured to me I hadn't signed up for one yet.  So I did!  I'm excited to say that end of July I'll be competing in a Sprint Tri here in the St. Louis area. 

I know sometimes the most overwhelming part of anything is just getting started.  Not knowing where to look or what to ask.  I've been asked to share my training plan before and I'm finally getting around to it. 

Now what's important to realize as you're looking at it is that it's designed for me and my life.  I would like to think it's a great start for anyone who wants to put a plan together but you have to do it with your goals in mind.

My goal for this tri is simple: Finish.  I haven't been swimming as much as I'd like and I've just recently started to spend time on my bike again so I'm just wanting to enjoy the experience. So my plan isn't crafted to win by anymeans.  I would say it would be good for a beginner or some one who has competed in a few triathlons. My ultimate goal, in a few years, life permitting will be to compete in a Half Ironman but for now, I'm content with just participating!

Printable Version: Doc

Do you have any triathlons on your summer schedule?  Have you ever wanted to do one?  What's holding you back?  What questions do you have about triathlon training?  Let's talk!