The Weekly Chase #13

I had a great weekend! I went to see a movie with my family on Friday night, ran a 10K race on Saturday, and after church on Sunday we went to explore another fort...Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach! We had a blast! It was the perfect way to start my boys' Spring Break this week!

Now it's time for another Weekly Chase! Time to talk about our goals for the week! I hope you will link up with us this week!

It's also a new month...so that means a new challenge! Molly has a great one for us this month! 

March is about making it happen! We make goals weekly – and that is fantastic! Let's think of one or two LARGE goals this month that we really want to see happen. I mean really.

Here are my goals from last week:

• Goal #1: Get the guest bedroom organized (challenge goal). Yes! I got the boxes put away and cleaned and vacuumed the room!
• Goal #2: Read my Bible Devotional every day. 75%! I didn't read every day but I read most days.
• Goal #3: Stretch and roll every day. No. I didn't do this like I needed to. I only stretched and rolled on the days I ran.
• Goal #4: Get in 3 runs this week. Yes!!! I ran two short runs this week and my 10K race on Saturday!
• Goal #5: Get all the laundry caught up. 85% done. I got mine and the boys' laundry done but only some of my hubby's done.

Here are the goals I plan on accomplishing this week!

Goal #1: Get the guest bedroom organized (challenge goal). Don't laugh...but I need to clean out stuff under the bed. :-/

Goal #2: Read my Bible Devotional every day. This goal is important so I want to continue it each week.

Goal #3: Stretch and roll every day. I must do this!!!!

Goal #4: Get in 3 runs this week. This is going to be tougher this week because my boys are on Spring Break and I won't have child care for them to be able to run. I am going to have to run early in the morning or at night after Andy gets home from work. Saturday I have another 10K race!

Goal #5: Make the boys' Spring Break as fun as possible. Hayden has already told me he is disappointed that we are not going on a vacation this week. I'm hoping I can plan some cheap but fun things for them to do. I want them to have a memorable week.

Goal #6: Clean the house. We will be having family and friends over on Easter for lunch. I need to make sure the house is clean and picked up. 

So there's my week! Hopefully I can be more successful this week! Good luck to you with your goals this week too!

QOTD: What are some fun and inexpensive things I can do with my boys this week?

Runner Spotlights #31

Yesterday I dressed up like Wonder Woman and ran a 10K race! Yes! I had a blast! And it was so much fun to hear the spectators yell "Go Wonder Woman" at me! I also got to meet a few readers!!! It always floors me when people say they read my blog! Thanks sooo much!!! I promise to get a race recap up this week!

Friday night the family went to see a movie with my friend Stephanie and her family! We went to see "The Croods!" It was super cute! My boys loved it!

Today it's time for another runner spotlight! If you are interested in being spotlighted on my blog please email me at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com! I'd love to spotlight you!

Today's spotlight is a little different! I am spotlighting a triathlete today...Cristina from Triathlon Mami! I got to know Cristina this summer when we starting planking and discussing it on Twitter! She's one of the original #planktweeps! She is an awesome athlete, mom, and teacher!!! Keep reading to learn more about her!

Name: Cristina Ramirez

State: Florida

When and why did you start running, swimming, and biking?

I began swimming as a kid, and I stopped swimming when I was still a kid!  I played Volleyball and Tennis most of my life but I had always enjoyed long, sweaty endeavors.  In 2010 a friend, who was as equally unprepared as I was, asked me if I would train with her for a Sprint Triathlon (.25 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) and I said sure.  That was my initiation.

What is your favorite race and race distance?

I have done a variety of races but so far my best experience is Miami Man a Half Ironman distance (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). The swim is in a lake which is very different for me as I swim mostly in the ocean.  The bike is windy but completely flat through farms and fields, and the run is inside the Miami Zoo where it’s full of people and where I was able to see my family.  They had fun enjoying the zoo while I was racing!

What is your race day routine?

I wake up super early, and have a cup of coffee and one waffle with almond butter.  I triple-check I have everything I need and dress myself last.  I get to the race site early and just take in the moment, noticing my anxiety and finally feeling comfortable with it.

What is your most favorite piece of gear?

My bike.  A sponsor gave me a Cannondale Slice and I am in love with it.  I enjoy riding it every time and when its just sitting there inside my apartment I look at it and want to jump on it to go for a ride.

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your training?

I should, I guess … but I don’t.  My nutrition leaves much to be desired.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started training to be a triathlete?

That you don’t have to sign up for EVERY race which is what I did before and burned out!

What is your fondest running, swimming, and/or biking memory?

I have many but here are three.  My first race with my two friends with whom I trained, we were all equally unfit and unprepared.  Finishing my first half ironman, the feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming and seeing my family as well as my two friends there made it even more special.  Seeing my boys compete in their first kids triathlon at ages five and six.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you?

I am a pretty honest blogger so there isn't much that I don’t wear on my sleeve.  I do have a very special friend called Bill W who has helped millions of people around the world including me.  

Here are all the different ways you can connect with Cristina!

Blog: www.triathlonmami.com       

Twitter: http://twitter.com/triathlonmami

Facebook: www.facebook.com/triathlonmami

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/triathlonmami

Instagram: www.instagram.com/triathlonmami

Thanks so much for sharing with us Cristina!!!

QOTD: Did you race this weekend?

Fitness Friday and SPIbelt Contest!

Hey everyone! Has this week flown by? It feels like it was just Monday! But nope...it's already Friday...and the start of our Spring Break! I am looking forward to some quality time with my boys this next week! We don't have any vacation plans since we are going to Disney this summer but I'm going to try to make the week as fun as possible for my boys!

Today it's Fitness Friday! Here are all the workouts and runs I did this week!

• Saturday- #plankaday 1:01, 12 mile run in 2:14:54 average pace 11:14

• Sunday- #plankaday 1:03

• Monday- #plankaday 1:05, 4 minute Tabata workout with Brad Gouthro's Live Lean Meltdown series

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:11, 3.11 mile run in 29:56 average pace 9:38

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:00, 20 burpees

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:15, 3 mile run in 31:56 average pace 10:38

• Friday- #plankaday 1:00

It was a pretty good week of workouts and runs for me! I am excited because tomorrow I am running a 10K race with my Sole2Soul Sisters! We do this race (Azalea Trail Run) every year and we always dress up! It's mostly for fun...I'm not planning on being too serious about it. 

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Some of you may remember my review of the SPIbelt a few months ago. It is an amazing little belt that holds so much stuff!!! I use it mostly on short runs to hold my phone and keys. 

If you love your SPIbelt as much as I love mine...you have a chance to show it! SPIbelt is having a little contest!

Here's what you have to do:

- You must be 18 years or older to enter.

- Submit a video HERE showing how you use SPIbelt in your everyday life. 

- Videos should be 30 seconds to 2 minutes long.

- You can use any phone or camera to shoot your video.

- Entries will be accepted March 15, 2013- April 15, 2013.

The videos will be featured on SPIbelt's YouTube page and portions may be featured in promotional videos at marathons and newscasts all over the world! The top pics will be featured on SPIbelt's Facebook and Twitter pages where fans will vote for the winners!

The best part:

- The winner will receive TWO ROUND-TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS!!!

- The second and third place winners will receive SPIbelt prize packs!

WOW!!!! What are you waiting for? Shoot your video today and enter this awesome contest!!!

All of the details can be found at http://www.spibelt.com/MyVideoContest/!

QOTD: Have you ever dressed up at a race? Are you going to enter the SPIbelt contest?

Don't forget to enter my Huma Chia Energy Gel GIVEAWAY!!!

Huma Chia Energy Gel Review and Giveaway!

Not too long ago my friend Larisa from Zero to Twenty Six Point Two sent me a text asking me if I wanted to try a new energy gel for my runs. Well being the running blogger that I am I love trying new things! But first I did a little research because I didn't want to say yes if I knew that it would be a product that I wasn't interested in. So she told me the name of the gel...Huma Chia Energy Gel...and I immediately googled it. When I saw the words "chia" and "all natural" I knew I definitely wanted to try this gel.

I got in contact with Ian from Huma Gel and he quickly sent me 4 gels to try!

I love the story behind Huma. Lieutenant McCollum was in Iraq and reading a book about the Tarahumara, a tribe of Mexican Indians who compete in 100+ mile races as part of their culture. To fuel themselves on these ultramarathons they use a special blend of chia seeds. He decided to see if this would work for him in Iraq. It indeed worked and it lead to the creation of Huma!

So what is Huma all about? (click on the image below to enlarge it)

Made with chia, tastes great, and 100% natural...what more could you want?

It comes in two flavors: Strawberries and Apples & Cinnamon!

I've talked about how I fuel for my long runs and how GU is the gel I use. A lot of my friends can't use GU because it upsets their stomach during the run. I've never had that problem during the run. It happens to me AFTER the run. I've just come to accept that my tummy is going to hurt for a few hours after a long run. But...I've learned through Huma Chia Energy Gel that it doesn't have to be that way!

I first tried Huma on a 12 mile training run. The course was very hilly and I knew I was going to need that fuel to get me through it. I usually take my gels about every 45 minutes...Huma suggests the same thing...and to drink lots of water with it. So around that time I consumed my first ever Huma gel...the Strawberries one.

It was so yummy! It tasted like strawberry puree. And I didn't notice the chia seeds at all. The big plus is that it wasn't hard getting it down. With other gels I always have a hard time getting them down...and the texture usually makes me want to gag. Not Huma! The next few miles...and hills...of the run were great! I could feel the burst of energy from the gel...and my tummy felt fine!

The next 45 minutes I tried a second Huma gel...the Apples & Cinnamon one. Oh my goodness this one was my favorite! It tasted like Apple Cinnamon applesauce or apple butter! And for all you texture people out there...the texture is just like applesauce. I actually could feel that I was putting something healthy in my body! I was in love...with Huma!

The next weekend I ran the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon. What fuel did I use? The other two Huma gels that Ian sent me! And...I had a great race!

The next weekend I was running the Seaside Half Marathon and I could NOT make myself go back to GU. So I was on the hunt for Huma! Luckily, using the Store Locator section of their website, I found a place locally that sells it!!! And you can bet I stocked up! As you can tell, the Apples & Cinnamon is my favorite!!!

And do you remember that little race called Seaside? Where I PRed???? Yeah...I give all the credit to Huma!!!

My pace partner, Holly from Running and Baking Oh My, won some Huma gel in a giveaway and I was sooo excited for her! This tweet from her sums up how well Huma Gel worked for me in Seaside.

@mindybobe @asphaltnosher @humagel I know! I'm so excited, after seeing how great it fueled you at Seaside, you were a machine!!
— Holly (@running_baking) March 13, 2013

So....are you sold yet? Don't you want to try Huma Chia Energy Gel??? Well here's your chance to win some! Ian has offered 2 four-gel sample pack prizes to giveaway to my readers! Yeah!!! All you have to do is enter below (please be sure to follow all the guidelines...I will be checking). Note: this giveaway is only open to continental US residents. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't want to wait so long to try Huma? They sell the four pack sample packs on their website. Ian has again been so generous and is offering my readers FREE SHIPPING on one four sample pack! Just use the code ROADRUNNERGIRL at checkout. :-) Hurry because this code will expire April 7th!

If you try Huma...please let me know what you think! It is now my number 1 choice for fueling my long runs!

Disclaimer: Huma Chia Energy Gel sent me samples of their product to taste and review. I received no other compensation. All opinions in the above post are mine and mine alone!

Long Run Goodness!

Saturday I ran my first long run since the Seaside Half. I have a 10K race the next two weekends and then my last half of the season the weekend after. So I knew this weekend would be my last weekend to get in a really long run to prepare for the half. Several of my Sole2Soul Sisters are running this half so I just jumped in with them on their training. They were running 12 miles so I decided that's how many I would run too. I was a little nervous about this run because I took a week off of running after the Seaside Half. I wasn't sure how much of my endurance would be lost after not running for a week.

But I know you've heard me say it a thousand times...I'd rather run long than short. I dread short runs because I never even get warmed up until around mile 4 or 5.

So the first 3 miles were the same as always...tough. But finally around mile 4 my legs warmed up...and the hills began. And I started feeling good. And I started picking up the pace. I was a little wary of going too fast and not being able to finish the run. But my body wouldn't let me stop.

What's great about our group is that we have so many people who run different paces. So you usually always have someone to run with. I'm usually in the middle group...not the fastest but not the slowest. Here are the girls I ran with Saturday. We are at our 7 mile water stop.

Angie, me, Shelbie, and Susie

Susie's hubby is awesome! He gets up early with her (we started this run at 5am) and rides his bike along the route. I call him our bodyguard! I feel much safer when he's with us on our runs! And they are just too cute together!

After our pictures we were on our way again. I felt pretty good until the last mile. That last mile took FOREVER!!! I kept thinking about how Seaside felt so easy...and this run was a lot tougher. But I eventually made it to mile 12 and I was so happy! And I remembered the goodness of a long run! The feeling of success and pride in that you just ran that many miles! And how most people don't even drive that far! Or like my brother always says to me, "The only way I'd run that far is if someone was chasing me!" 

I fueled with Huma Chia Energy Gels during this run. They are my favorite gels now! Stay tuned because I will be reviewing them as well as giving you an opportunity to win your own!!!

After the run I headed home. I immediately made my recovery shake to drink. I used Designer Whey White Chocolate protein powder....my favorite! 

The rest of the day was spent snuggling my sick little boy. And trying to keep my oldest boy away from the sick one...that's tough!!! Maybe even tougher than the run lol!

QOTD: What do you use for fuel during a long run?

Live Lean Meltdown!

It's no secret that running is my passion. I love it! But it tends to be all I do fitness wise (other than my planks). I really need to incorporate some cross training and strength training in my life to help me be a stronger and less injury prone runner.

I'm hoping my fellow FitFluential Ambassador and Live Lean creator Brad Gouthro can help me out with this! If you've never checked out Brad's abs workouts then you must! He has some awesome workouts and awesome tips on how to eat properly.

Brad has just launched his newest workout series called Live Lean Meltdown and guess who got a sneak peak? :-)

His newest series is a no equipment, at home, cardio workout program and it's amazing! And I love how Brad says since it's in the comfort of your own home you can even work out in your underwear lol!

source

The workout series has a 30 minute "Main Event" workout along with 8 other 4-5 minute Tabata (high intensity training) workouts. I love that these workouts get a lot done in a very short amount of time. Being a mom, runner, and substitute teacher...I don't have a lot of time. So these workouts are perfect!

I've never tried any Tabata workouts so I was super excited to try it for the first time yesterday! I was super happy that Brad has a beginner Tabata workout. I knew that would probably be my speed starting out! And I was amazed that it only took 4 minutes!!! Since Sawyer has been sick with the flu I didn't have a lot of time to get a workout in. Brad came to my rescue yesterday!

The workout consisted of 20 seconds of an exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest. It went by super fast! Well...the exercise time seemed a lot longer when I was feeling the burn lol! 

Brad incorporated several moves in this 4 minute workout.

Lunges

Squats

Planks (of course I didn't modify my planks!)

Butt Kicks

It really was a great workout! I felt like I got a whole lot done...and it only took me 4 minutes! You can't beat that! I can't wait to try the "Main Event" workout!

Brad's new Live Lean Meltdown series launched on Monday! If you wanna sweat your way to a leaner you then definitely check it out!!!

Get your Live Lean Meltdown DVD's here: http://www.liveleanmeltdown.com/

He is also offering a 3 day discount of 40% off!!! That makes the workout series only $27.00! That's an awesome price! I hope you will give it a try! 

QOTD: Have you ever done any Tabata workouts? 

I received these workouts for free. I received no other compensation. All opinions in the above post are mine and mine alone!

The Weekly Chase #12

Thanks so much for all the well wishes for Sawyer! If you don't know what I'm talking about...my younger son Sawyer came down with the flu this weekend. :-( He is feeling much better but is still staying home from school with me today.

I hope everyone had a fun St. Patrick's Day yesterday! We didn't do much since Sawyer was sick. But we did wear our green!

Also...did you notice my new blog background? I played around on Paint Shop Pro this weekend and made the pink chevron print. I'm not 100% pleased with it but it will do for now. What do you think?

Another new thing...have you heard how Google Reader is disappearing on July 1st? Yeah I am just as disappointed as you are! But since there's nothing I can do about it...I decided to come up with another way to read all my blogs. (There's a rumor that Feedburner is going to be phased out in the future as well.) So I decided to start using Bloglovin'! It was super easy to transfer all my blogs from Google Reader to Bloglovin'! I would love it if you would start following my blog via Bloglovin'!

So...after all that news...now it's time for another Weekly Chase! I love writing my goals each week and knowing you are reading them helps me stay accountable (although I don't always succeed..I at least try)! So I hope you will write your goals and link them up with us this week too!

It's also a new month...so that means a new challenge! Molly has a great one for us this month! 

March is about making it happen! We make goals weekly – and that is fantastic! Let's think of one or two LARGE goals this month that we really want to see happen. I mean really.

So here's a recap of last week's goals and how I did with them:

• Goal #1: Get the guest bedroom organized (challenge goal). This week I was supposed to get the plastic buckets full of my classroom stuff into the attic. Yeah...that didn't happen at all. My hubby had to work late almost every night this week and he also had to work this weekend. So there was just no time for him to get it done for me. And I was NOT stepping into that attic! :-/
• Goal #2: Read my Bible Devotional every day. 50%. I didn't read it every day but I did read it some days. So that's a start. I'm going to continue this one for this week.
• Goal #3: Clean the house. YES!!! I got this done and the house looks and feels so much better! Of course, now that Sawyer has the flu I am recleaning. :-(
• Goal #4: Get in 2 short runs and a long run. Yes!!! I ran a 5K on Tuesday and Thursday and 12 miles on Saturday!

Here are the goals I will be chasing this week!

Goal #1: Get the guest bedroom organized (challenge goal). Hoping to get those plastic boxes into the attic this week. 

Goal #2: Read my Bible Devotional every day. I want to be 100% on this one this week! I want to make it a daily habit!

Goal #3: Stretch and roll every day. I haven't been doing this like I should. As a runner I should be constantly stretching and keeping my muscles knot free to avoid injury. I do this before and after every run but I need to also do it on the days that I don't run.

Goal #4: Get in 3 runs this week. The plan this week is to run two short runs and then I have a 10K race on Saturday. 

Goal #5: Get all the laundry caught up. This is a never ending job but it's got to be done. 

Good luck to you this week on achieving all your goals!!!

QOTD: What are your goals this week? Do you use Bloglovin'?