My Last-Minute, Running-Themed Christmas (without much actual running)

Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope the holidays have treated you and your loved ones well.

As for me, I hate to admit I didn't get into the holiday spirit as strongly this year. No, I'm not sad. No personal tragedies have happened. I've simply felt...rushed this season.

As I've mentioned, I need to find better ways to manage my time. I just haven't figured out how to balance work, running, blogging, time with friends/family, and cooking/household chores in my day-to-day life. Add the holidays in the mix and it has felt like chaos.

December was a blur. There were a lot of good times, which I'm grateful for. However, I could only focus on one at a time.

I'm seeing this friend tomorrow - gotta buy them a gift. I'll put off addressing my Christmas cards...

Gotta get ready for this party tonight - I'll buy presents later...

Gotta pack for Kiawah, I'll clean my house later...

Next thing you know, it was December 20 and we had a third of our gifts purchased, none wrapped, piles of laundry, and no Christmas cards sent out. Sadly, our schedules with some friends just didn't line up, and I didn't get to see them.

Yikes. This was so much easier when I was a kid and all I had to do was show up and get presents.

And we couldn't just blow it off. We had plans to visit my family (an hour away) for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we were hosting friends Saturday the 28th, B's family for a belated Christmas on Sunday the 29th, and my sister and brother-in-law for New Year's Eve.

So the weekend of the 20th, we kicked it into high gear. I sent out my cards. We cleaned most of Saturday, finally showered around 3 PM or so, and we went out and knocked out the rest of our shopping, minus a few stocking stuffer items.

We did more cleaning and laundry Sunday, and I went out and bought 90% of the groceries I'd need to make spinach tartlets and this amazing white chocolate peppermint layered cheesecake to take to my family's celebration, dinner for our friends Saturday, fun appetizers for B's family, and fondue ingredients for our annual New Year's Day fondue tradition with my sister and brother-in-law.

We were getting there. I worked Monday, went to bootcamp, and started my cake. I didn't work Tuesday, so I purchased the last gifts, finished my cake, made the spinach tartlets, and wrapped gifts at 4 PM.

The peppermint cheesecake layers, white chocolate whipped cream topping, and white chocolate curls. I had WAY too much fun taking a vegetable peeler to white chocolate bark.

Assembly...

The finished result!!

Pure. Decadence.

Yes, we were that last minute.

Finally the car was loaded by 6 PM and we were off.

Then it felt like Christmas.

Once the hustle and bustle were over, we could relax and enjoy ourselves. I had vacation days at work that I would lose, so I took off through the end of the year.

I go back Thursday. I've been living in a fantasy land I don't want to leave.

We enjoyed yummy apps and hot apple cider Christmas Eve with my family, and French toast and a nice dinner Christmas Day with my family. We love games, and enjoyed some Catch Phrase. My family knows the way to my heart, and I got a few running gifts and an espresso maker.

Me and B on Christmas Eve

Best.gadget.ever. But more on that later...

A Road ID bracelet from B so I can stay safe. :) I feel like a puppy with my little collar so that someone can locate my family for me. :)

A running top from my sister. <3

My sister has started running (yay!), so I got her a few running essentials - Balega socks, a handheld water bottle, a clip-on light for visibility, and a neck gaiter. The winter air really hurts her throat and sinuses - so much so that it has discouraged her from running. I got her this purple one (we thought black might look like she might rob someone), and hope it will help.

She makes a cute purple running ninja, right? :)

We came home the 26th, and had NOTHING to do the 27th. It was awesome. I straightened up the house and went shopping for new jeans and accessories for my espresso maker - a frothing pitcher and espresso shot glasses. We also FINALLY made gingerbread cookies with my running cookie cutters!

You can find them here.

Just roll them out...

The finished result!

The runners in their cookie winter wonderland!

We like gingerbread, and this is a great recipe. You can use your favorite gingerbread or sugar cookie recipe. They are a great idea to share with your fellow runners or running group!

The 28th, our friends Sara and Terry (remember the birthday party?) came over for dinner. Their 10 month old daughter Audrey is ready to explore the world! She's a sweet, happy child, but she is a crawler! She had to check out everything in our home - including our cats! We had a blast, but poor Coco didn't know how to handle it!

The standoff...

The 29th, I made a plethora of fun appetizers for a casual celebration with B's family. We enjoyed food, open gifts, and spent a couple of hours playing Cranium and laughing hysterically at each other. What more can you ask for?

I should have taken this pic AFTER I placed the bacon wrapped chicken on the empty platter...

I don't usually use disposable dishes...but it has been a busy week!

On my menu:
Cocktail meatballs (in Crock Pot)
Bacon wrapped chicken - HUGE hit!! Not pictured (they went on the then empty platter)
Spinach tartlets (I use cream cheese instead of goat cheese and pre-made frozen phyllo shells)
Smoked bacon gouda (from The Fresh Market - so freakin good) and crackers
Shrimp cocktail
Veggies and pita chips with ranch dip and hummus

And then yesterday....we had NO plans!!!! The house was clean, and we could relax. I played with my espresso maker.

Seriously, I'm obsessed with this thing. 

I've made at least one skim latte at home every single day. It's not as hard as I expected and it is so delicious. I only use a half cup of skim milk and a teaspoon of sugar per latte, so it's low cal as well.

My precious....

I worked on this blog post and caught up on reading my favorite blogs, and we went to dinner at Bonefish Grill and saw Anchorman 2 like we had no care in the world.

I live for these quiet days.

Today, we'll meet up with our running group, then my sister and bro-in-law are coming for New Years Eve. Tomorrow, we'll continue our tradition of 5 years making fondue on New Year's Day.

And then it's back to the real world. Sigh...

Even though the holiday started out stressed and hectic, it all worked out. Doesn't it always? I'm grateful for the times I got to spend with friends and family, and look forward to seeing those I didn't get to see soon. I also LOVED the quiet moments in between celebrations. I needed this recharge.

I also must add that I did run a couple of times over the break. I ran 2 miles in my neighborhood on Christmas Eve, and I ran 3 miles with the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon training group on Saturday. I'll get back in the swing of things soon.

I'm looking forward to 2014 and all it has in store. What I desire the most is simplicity and balance in the new year - something I was desperate for this year.

I have some fun blog posts in the works - Part 2 of my Kiawah recap, how to make amazing lattes at home, and my thoughts on New Year's resolutions. Stay tuned!

I hope you have a happy New Year, and a wonderful 2014. Make it YOUR year and tackle those goals you've always wanted to achieve! I'll be back next year!

-Amy

Kiawah Island Half Marathon Recap Part 1: Second Half Marathon Jitters and the "Beachy" Thing I Did

So...did you know that it's CHRISTMAS EVE!!!???

I'm so behind. I didn't get my tree up until December 7, I just sent my cards Friday, and gifts....let's just say "in progress"!! It has been "Last Chance Weekend" for us, and we're busy little elves buying and wrapping gifts!! Hence why my Fitness Friday post is moved to Tuesday.

Hey, I've been, you know, busy. Busy doing what? Traveling to Kiawah Island, SC for my second half marathon (among other things)!

What Led to The Race

Over the last few months, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a half marathon this year. I felt pretty bummed about not getting my 30 minute 5K goal this summer/fall, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to switch to half marathon training. However, I ran a 15K this October, and it convinced me to switch into half marathon training mode and sign up for the Kiawah Island Half Marathon that was held this past Saturday.

Brandon had signed up a while back, and he was happy that I was joining him. Kiawah Island is just outside of Charleston, SC, and about six and a half hours from Knoxville. We decided to make a long weekend out of the trip, leaving Friday morning and staying through Monday. Several of our RunKNOX friends were also going, and I was excited to meet up with them.

The Week Before the Race

All week before the race, I tried to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water. I started drinking 8-10 cups of water per day (admittedly I hadn't been drinking that much before). As a result, my lips were not chapped for the first time in months, and I felt energetic and great during my light training runs. Go figure! The Thursday before the race, we held a going away party for our coaches, and that was the only time that week that I really enjoyed some yummy holiday treats before the race.

Finally, on Friday, it was time to head to Kiawah. B and I took off work Friday, packed (seriously, I'm so last minute), and got in the car around noon. We took turns driving and sleeping, and we got into Charleston around 6:30-7:00 PM. We wanted to make it to Kiawah Island by 8:30 for our packet pickup. I'd been to Charleston several times before, as well as some of its surrounding beaches, Folly Beach and Isle of Palms. Kiawah was new to us. It wasn't far from Charleston, but there's a 2 lane highway to get there and it was stop-and-go for awhile. Finally we got into Kiawah just before 8:00 PM for packet pick-up.

It was dark, but I could already tell two things about Kiawah - it was beautiful, lush, and well-manicured, and it was pretty exclusive. It's a gated, private community. That night, however, the gates were open to everyone for packet pick-up.

Only the finest of races will do for Brandon and me.

The race is held on the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. You can stay at the resort, but the rates are outside of what we wanted to pay. Fortunately, there are other ways to stay on the island. We went through a "for-rent-by-owner" site and found a cute 1 bedroom villa (I call it a condo) on the island and right on the beach for a very reasonable rate. Having access to a fridge, coffee pot, toaster, and filtered water was a huge plus pre- and post-race!!

We got on the island, made our way to the resort in time for packet pick-up, and briefly walked around the expo. I had realized I packed everything EXCEPT enough of my trusty running jelly beans, so I was glad a vendor was selling them!

I also found this little goody - just in time for running gingerbread men/women!

We then stopped by a little village of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Its grocery store has all of the standard grocery store items you'd expect, as well as a great selection of fresh and local foods. Yes, it's a little pricier than grocery stores in Knoxville, but we were fortunate to have groceries in the condo and not rely on restaurants.

Before our first half marathon, we had grilled chicken and rice at home the night before, and it proved to be successful. During the race we felt energized and didn't get sick at all. My preference would have been to replicate this success model. However, it's a little more difficult away from home, so B and I had a whole dialog about what to do while in the grocery store. Here's the abridged version:

Me: "Let's find a restaurant that has chicken and rice. It worked before, and I don't want to change anything."
B: "It's already 8:30! We should get in bed by 10. We don't know what restaurants are here and it could take awhile. Let's buy something here we can have at the condo."
Me: "What? I'm not about to cook dinner tonight! It's late, we drove all day, and we need to get in bed soon."
B: "I didn't say you had to cook. Let's buy stuff to make sandwiches."
Me: Sigh.....

Side note - I'm a sandwich snob. I have in recent years developed an aversion to processed sliced meat and cheese.

B (already knowing where I was going with this): "We can get Boar's Head turkey. It will be good."
Me: "Hmmmm.....that's more acceptable, but it's still not my tried and true pre-race meal. It's not my chicken and rice. It makes me nervous."
B: "It's a pretty safe meal. You'll be fine."
Me: "If you say so..."

And with that, we bought Boar's Head turkey, cheese, and some whole wheat white bread (or as I call it "compromise" bread for B and me), some olives from the olive bar (YUM!!!!), rice, and bananas for the next day. The cashier said, "You runners sure love your bananas". (Why yes we do - see here).

We went to our condo, had our sandwiches (which weren't bad) with a side of rice, and went to bed around 10. I was nervous about the race and found it hard to sleep. I was nervous for several reasons.

How A Second Half Marathon Feels Different than the First

In some ways, I felt more nervous for this half than my first (You can read about my first half marathon here). In some ways, I was less nervous. Why?

Pros

• I already knew I could do the distance in a race setting. By and large, this was a comforting fact.
• Since my first half marathon was a success in my book (i.e. I finished and felt well during and after the race), I already had a success model to rely on. I already knew what worked for me in terms of hydration and fuel for that distance, pacing myself, etc.
• I had some idea what to expect at different points of the race. Based on my prior race, I knew at what miles I would start feeling tired, when I should consume my magic jelly beans (see point above). I also knew that there would be that point (for me) around mile 11 when I would feel like I had zero energy left and I was dragging my legs for each step. I also knew from the last race that I could just tough it out and keep dragging and it would be over before I knew it.

Cons

• There's a precedent. My goal for my first half was simply to finish. Yes, I had a goal time in mind (and I achieved it), but I wasn't holding myself to my goal too seriously. I just needed to finish. This time, I had already set a PR for myself. This time, I couldn't just finish. I had continued training, I theoretically was in better shape. Mentally, I had to beat my time and PR! This was by far the most stressful aspect of the race.
• I needed to modify my strategy. In my first half marathon, I wasn't sticking to a pace goal. My strategy was to run as easy of a pace as necessary to finish. This time, I wanted to PR so I talked to Darren about a plan. He recommended starting off at my pace from my first half marathon (12:30), and progressively increasing my pace by 5-10 seconds each mile.
• There's a different race course to consider. In this case, the course was almost completely flat, as compared to the very hilly Knoxville course. I consider a flat course advantageous, but because I wasn't anticipating hills to slow me down, I would have to be careful in pacing myself.

The Morning of the Race

When we woke up early the next morning, we could see how beautiful the island was. My nerves were racing, but I got it together, got dressed, and had my tried-and-true pre-long run snack: two slices of toast and a banana. I know it's recommended to also get some protein, but that is just too heavy for me before running, so I stick with carbs. I gathered up my jelly beans, watch, iPhone, headphones, Nuun, and water, and we were off.

There was a shuttle that ran from our end of the island to the race start. We wanted to take the 7:20 shuttle but it was full, and had to wait the 7:30 shuttle instead. So annoying. I hate feeling later than I want to be! It started my morning feeling flustered, which I don't like! Luckily, we got to the race and found our RunKNOX friends in the crowd. 

And Then I Did This Totally "Beachy" Thing

See what I did there?

I can't believe I'm sharing this. This is so mortifying. However, everyone I've told laughs hysterically when I share it, so I think you'll enjoy it as well. 

To appreciate this story, you need to know two facts about me.

1) I tend to be a little flaky and unobservant of my surroundings. I completely miss obvious things and say things out of context. It's a running joke among B, family, and friends. This is amplified when I'm really focused on a task at hand.

2) I'm obnoxiously polite. I'm constantly worried about hurting someone's feelings or offending someone. I want to be as nice and drama free as possible. Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than confrontation. I constantly replay conversations in my head worrying that I've said or done something wrong. 

With that said...

With only 10 minutes until race time, I realized I may have over-hydrated before the race and wanted to find a restroom. Unfortunately, the only option was portapotties. There was a huge line of them so I started to dart in one. 

Then this girl totally gave me a rude look and cut in front of me. What??

Then this random guy said "Now ladies...". And I thought, "Thank you. This girl should totally be called out."

So I find another one and when I come out I realize....

There is a line of like 50 people that I didn't see, and I cut in front of ALL of them. All staring at me. The guy was calling ME out!! 

They thought I was a total "beach"!!

I didn't see them because the line was backed up about 10-20 feet or so and I guess they just blended in with the crowd and I didn't notice. So I'm standing there mortified and frozen, attempting to speak but I don't think anything came out or anyone could even hear me...

Oh my gosh...Um...I didn't see...So sorry.

My sad attempts weren't helping the evil stares, and it was 5 minutes to start time, so there was nothing left to do but get to the race.

So to all Kiawah Island 2013 Racers, I hereby apologize for my actions, and vow to pay more attention next time!!

Brandon thinks this is the most hilarious thing ever, as he knows these facts about me better than anyone.

And We Were Off!!!

There was no time to worry about my faux pas, as the race was about to start. I met up with my RunKNOX friend, Lauren, and the starting gun went off! Remember Lauren? She runs at a similar pace as me, so she also followed the plan of starting at 12:30 for the first few miles, then progressively increasing pace.

Only problem with that plan...

I felt like a rockstar!! There's something magical about tapering and then running a race. I had so much energy it was like I wasn't even running. I was floating on a magical running rainbow!

Okay, 11:00 pace may not feel like blast-off to you, but I felt like Apollo shooting to the moon!

Fortunately, Lauren is much more disciplined than me and reminded me to hold back.

But how do you hold back a speeding bullet?

She knew (and I knew) all too well that going out too fast in the beginning means burning out later on in the race, so I listened and held back as she reminded me of our pace plan. Thanks, Lauren!

Look at us in our matching pink shirts! A couple of RunKNOX Foxes! :)

Even with her constant reminders, we got a little ahead of ourselves on pace. Instead of 12:30 pace, my watch showed 11:50ish pace for the first few miles. We ran by palm trees, lush tropical plants, golf courses and marshes. The sky was clear and sunny (we expected it to rain), and it was absolutely beautiful. It was fun running with Lauren and saying hello to people. Before I knew it, we'd already run 6 miles!

But that was only the beginning...there were many twists and turns ahead (literally and figuratively).

I'll be back Friday with Part 2 of this race recap! I'm ready to wrap up the last minute tasks and relax and enjoy time with family and friends. I'm a little excited I'm making  this decadent treat for my family - I hope it turns out well! 

In the meanwhile, a very Merry Christmas and holiday season to you!! I hope your days are filled with happiness, loved ones, and laughter. :) Thank you for sharing in my journey here on the blog. I've enjoyed getting to know you this year, and look forward to exciting times in the year to come!

-Amy

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How I Found Out I Need Running Candy

I've been waiting for the right time to tell this story...

As you may know, I'm currently training for my second half marathon this month. It's 8 days away! I'm rediscovering my love/hate relationship with long runs, and ran 12 miles for the third time in my LIFE a few weeks ago. Getting back into long runs has reminded me of the story when I ran 12 miles for the FIRST time ever.

It has to be one of the most memorable experiences in running I've ever had.

It's kind of funny (after the fact), kind of scary (even though everything was fine), but overall, a learning experience that led to me better preparing for running and making smarter decisions in my future training.

It was back in March of this year (2013), and  was my longest training run before my first half-marathon. It was a huge accomplishment, yes, but I made some rookie mistakes in terms of staying prepared and fueled.

If you've been running for awhile, this probably won't be informative, but an illustration of how important it is to prepare and fuel properly for long runs. If you're new to running (especially long runs), I hope this inspires you to seek out the right nutritional items to fuel your runs.

I like to call these items (GU, Sport Beans, etc) "Running Candy".

So here we go...

It started off just like any other long training run. I was terribly nervous, as 12 miles was a new distance for me. Running 10 miles still made me feel like my legs were made of lead, and I'd spend the rest of the weekend hobbling around with a gangsta lean. Nonetheless, there was about a month until my first half marathon, and I had to get this in so I could feel confident  that I could run the distance.

As I typically did back then before my long runs, I drank some (plain) water and ate a banana before meeting our group at 7:30 AM that morning. I carried some more (plain) water in my handheld bottle.

We met up with our group, and I found the girl in my group who ran near my pace and would run with me. It felt better knowing I wasn't going at it alone.

Finally it was time to start running. I started off feeling strong. The weather was brisk and comfortable. I listened to Pandora on my headphones and got into the music. I felt energetic as I ran the somewhat hilly greenways in west Knoxville.

For about 6-7 miles, I was energetic and lost in my music. My running buddy was just a few steps behind me, and we occasionally encouraged and complimented each other.

Between 7-8 miles, however, I started feeling a little tired and...hungry??

That was odd. I typically am too mentally consumed with the difficulty of running to think about food. 

I remembered that there would likely be a yummy post-run breakfast/brunch to be had later, so I sucked it up and kept on going.

Between 8-10 mi, it started to feel a little tough. This wasn't unusual for me - after 8 mi I always felt drained of energy, and my legs tired, heavy, and sore. I stayed focused, tried to enjoy my music, and at about 10 mi, started on my last loop of the greenway before I arrived back to my starting point.

And then I tried to think...

Finally, at 10 miles, I'd surpassed my distance PR. This was it - I was doing this! Just 2 miles to go! Regardless of how I felt, I had to keep going.

But wait...when did I lose my running partner? She was just right behind me. Wasn't she? How long has it been since I lost her? Miles ago? Was she okay? How did I miss this? I was confused. Some running partner I was...

(Side note - she was fine, she just fell behind me in pace and ended the run early).

It wasn't like me to get confused like that. Oh well, nothing I could do about it at that moment. I would just check on her when I caught up to my group.

I was so tired, sore, and drained, I was staring at my watch: 10.7 mi...10.8 mi...

Stop looking at it! That makes it worse! Ahh! I looked again. Come on, only....wait...how many miles to go? What's 10.79 from 12 mi? Let's think this through...

Yikes! In my daily life, I'm calculating sale prices at Ann Taylor Loft, deciding which package of Bounty is cheaper by unit price, estimating marketing budgets and response rates - all on the fly.

Why is it taking me so long to do simple arithmetic?

It worried me a little, but I had to try to let it go so I could focus on my run. My legs were running under me almost on autopilot, but there really wasn't much thought going on. FINALLY, my watch displayed 12.0 mi and I had completed it. I should have felt ecstatic, accomplished, and proud. Instead I was too exhausted to process it. I felt a little weak and dizzy.

To get back to our meeting spot and my husband and vehicle, I had to walk up a GIANT hill. Likely the steepest hill in Knoxville.

I couldn't fathom it.

I hate to admit this, but while walking that ginormous hill, I took a couple of breaks and sat on the sidewalk. I'm not sure, but I may have even closed my eyes for a moment.

Not my brightest move.

Finally, once I got to the top of the hill, I thought I had made it! Everything would be just fine!

If it hadn't been for the lady asking directions...

Just as I'd gotten up the hill and was almost to the parking lot to meet my group, a lady in a minivan stopped by and asked for directions to a park.

I could literally see it from the hill we were on.

What I meant to say was: "Yes, it's right down there. Go down the hill and there will be parking on your right. Have a lovely time at the park."

What came out was something like: "TheIt's hjklhkhpark there jhhjlright hill..." with me attempting to point.

She hastily said, "Okay thanks, bye!" and took off.

I must have looked completely nuts. 

And now I couldn't ignore it. I was starting to really worry about my mental state.

I walked across the parking lot to meet up with my group. I passed a grocery store and it hit me.

Salt. I wanted salt. There were olives in that store - my all-time favorite food!! I wanted them so badly. I know that's weird.

Then I decided to get it together...

Finally, I saw my husband, Brandon, and a girl from my group outside chatting. I thought, "The run is over. I'm fine. Get it together!" I was going to be cool. I really was.

As I approached B and my running friend, they asked me how it went.

What I meant to say was: "It was fine, and I'm proud to have run 12 miles. However, I feel drained on energy, which appears to be affecting my cognitive ability. Also, funny thing - I'm really craving salty foods. I could go for some olives!"

What came out was something like: "This lady..[gasp]...directions..[sob]...couldn't think...I WANT OLIVES!"

Yep, this story just got even weirder.

And then I proceeded to cry? Hyperventilate?

This is SO not cool with me. You see, I'm an not an outwardly emotional person. I'm much more open here in my writing than I am in real life. I rarely cry or share my feelings in front of people.

I had no energy left to maintain my usual filter.

They gave each other a confused look, and then they realized I needed a little energy and electrolytes.

Lo and behold, we were at the right place! A local nutrition and health shop just so happened to be the host location of the group run, and they were offering lots of samples of supplements, electrolytes, recovery drinks - you name it.

Most of the girls in my group got back at different times than me, so they weren't around. B walked me into the store, and I remember seeing several athletic guys (some from my group) staring wide-eyed at me in shock, unsure how to react to this outburst of emotion.

Nice guys, but not exactly "Hey girl" Ryan Gosling types.

Fortunately, B is a very kind and helpful husband, and the closest thing to Gosling I have. He started handing me little cups of potions and concoctions of the sample items. My hands were shaking but I started drinking them and felt a little less faded.

Then my RunKNOX coach, Darren, came out from the other room, and started to congratulate me. He quickly shifted from smiling and high-fiving to looking very confused when he saw me. Being the attentive coach he is, he pulled me outside to ask me what was going on and try to help. I was feeling a little more together, and I was able to give him a quick download of what happened.

He seemed genuinely concerned, and asked me a few questions.

"So what are you putting in your water?"

Oh, my water? It's just water. Why would I put something in it?

"And what did you eat today?"

Just a banana, why?

"That's it? No GU's, nothing else?"

No...

And then he looked at me in a very "I've taught you better than this" way.

To be fair, he had taught me better than this. He had told us all before about the importance of electrolytes, hydration, GU's (or other energy sources), recovery drinks, etc. Admittedly, I just hadn't listened (sorry!).

Why?

I mean, come on. I'm just a casual beginner runner. I'm one of the slowest in our group. I'm not a track athlete or trying to qualify for Boston. Those products are for serious hard-core athletes, not me. Why do I need this stuff?

He then proceeded to very kindly explain (lecture?) to me that yes, I did need to fuel effectively for my long runs. He explained all of this in a very informative way, but here's my very non-scientific takeaway: It's not about how fast I run, but simply that I'm running for 2+ hours and am burning off all of my stored energy. Also, I need to replenish my electrolytes (i.e. sodium and potassium) that are lost while running.

Here's a more scientific explanation.

We went back into the store and he walked me though the walls of bottles and pouches of stuff that would hopefully do the trick. Again, it was very informative, but in my intellectually weakened state, all I could process was, "Blah blah...gels...energy...Nuun...electrolytes...jelly beans..." I tried to take in all of the information I could.

Finally, I felt recovered from the incident and armed with some new knowledge. B and I purchased a few items to try and the eventful morning was over.

And then I noticed, oh hey, there's a banana in my hand. B must have handed one to me at some point and I've been holding it this whole time. Hmm...

And now I know...

I tried several different things, but I landed on two essential items I use today:

• My Magic Running Jellybeans - I had tried a GU once, and the idea of slurping gooey stuff out of a packet grossed me out. It's a personal preference - many love them because they are easy to consume (among other reasons). Sport Beans sounded much more palatable to me. I was right - I love them! They give me just the right amount of energy without making me feel jittery (like I've experienced with some products). 
• I typically don't need them for training runs less than 5 miles or an hour. I do, however, consume half a pouch about 15-30 minutes before 5K races for the extra boost.
• For any run (race or training) 5-10 miles, I typically consume half a pouch about 15-30 minutes before running. I carry the other half of the pouch and nibble on a few beans every mile or so. 
• For a race or any run over 10 miles (including a half marathon), I carry an additional pouch to gradually consume over the course of the run.
• Nuun Tablets - It also sounded like a good idea to drop a tablet of Nuun in my water to replenish my electrolytes. I've found they keep me feeling hydrated and energetic - especially in the summer! I use them no matter what distance I'm running. 
• For runs under 5  miles or an hour long, I just use one tablet and drop it in my handheld bottle of water.
• For any run over 5 miles, I bring two tablets. One goes into my water, the other I carry and drop in my water bottle later when I hit a water stop.  

I use these, of course, in conjunction with healthy snacks, meals, and plenty of water before and after running. Since I've started using these products and employing these strategies, I'm happy to report I haven't had any incidents like this story. Sure, I feel tired (exhausted even), drained, and even dramatic and whiny after difficult runs, but I haven't had scary experiences like this.

I share this with you, not because I'm an expert on fitness and nutrition (far from it!). I share it in hopes that if you're like I was and aren't considering your nutrition while running, you'll seek something out that works for you. It's not just important for Olympic athletes or Boston qualifiers, it's important for any runner to stay well hydrated and fueled. 

There is a plethora of products on the market, so it can seem overwhelming. It's also highly individualized - different things work for different runners. I suggest talking to a coach, trainer, nutritionist, doctor, or visiting your local health and supplement shop and asking for suggestions.

Stay healthy out there! :)

How do you stay hydrated and fueled on your long runs?

-Amy

See what others around the web are doing with these great fitness communities:

I was not compensated by any of the above organizations for this post, nor are they affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. Also, I'm not a health or fitness professional of any kind. See my  Terms and Conditions page. 

Want more? Follow the CSRS Blog on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram for the latest updates, articles, and more!

Coming out of my Blog Coma....

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!! 

First, an apology. I'm really sorry for my recent disappearance! I know, it has been bad. I've been so absent that I almost forgot my Blogger password.

Almost.

I was gone so long, that Alicia from In Healthy Habits We Trust asked me where I've been (so nice of her!).

I didn't mean to go AWOL on you...

So what's going on? First off, everything is fine with me, and I'm not going to stop blogging. In fact, I miss blogging. I miss my blog friends. I'm passionate about blogging, I really am.

But blogging isn't the only thing I'm passionate about. I'm also passionate about my job. I'm proud to have received a promotion recently, and I'm rising to the challenge by putting in more hours and mental energy. I'm passionate about running. And spending time with my B and kitties. And cooking healthy meals. And seeing my friends and family (not as often as I'd like). I wouldn't say I'm "passionate" about cleaning and keeping up my home, but it is something I prioritize.

Put all of that together and you can pretty much only find me at home, work, running, and Target if I'm lucky!

The crazy thing is, I'm not as busy as many other people - especially those of you with kids. I have NO idea how you do it all, and I applaud you!!!

I guess you could say I need to learn how to better manage my time. Unfortunately, when I feel stressed, I tend to withdraw from others and spend my time making to-do lists and plowing through work. And let's not talk about stress eating!

Not my healthiest habits.

Throughout the busiest days this month, I still kept up with my running schedule. I'm glad I have, as I enjoyed seeing my running friends, and running just improves my outlook on life. I have tried a few tactics lately that have helped with managing my time - maybe I'll share in a future article!

All of that said, I'm glad to be back! I'm happy to report that I'm in a positive place in my running journey, so let's recap, shall we?

I ran CrossKnox, my 1st 15K race, last month.

CrossKnox is a race that literally runs across Knoxville. It starts just east of downtown and follows interconnected greenways through downtown to Bearden (west of downtown). Prior to this race, I was in a weird place just after my heel had healed and not sure if I wanted to keep working on my 5K pace, or train for a half marathon. During CrossKnox, I felt energetic and confident. I ran the first 10K in 1:10 - a PR! I finished in 1:48, which was faster than my goal of 1:50! I felt so great after this race, I was inspired to get back into the long runs I love and train for a half this December.

I went to Vegas!!

Hours after completing CrossKnox (literally), I hopped on a plane to head to Vegas for a customer loyalty conference. I dragged myself through airports, which wasn't fun!!  I don't gamble, but I love Vegas for the people-watching, sights, food/beverages, and entertainment. The conference was great, and I squeezed in a 3 mi run on the strip one morning.

Meanwhile, everyone else staggered from the bars and casinos to their rooms...

I also saw the amazing performance that IS Shania Twain in Vegas. In case you didn't know, I love 90's music. Even though I'm not a big country fan, I was OBSESSED with Shania as a teen. She will ALWAYS be the ultimate country-pop diva to me.

Sorry T-Swift.

Shania's Vegas show is unbelievable. Yes, it's a huge Vegas-style production with ostentatious graphics, lighting, multiple set and costume changes, and lots of back-up singers and dancers. HOWEVER, she does a fantastic job of connecting with the audience - sharing personal stories and  interacting with and inviting people to come on stage. She sang all of her hits and looks and sounds as amazing as ever! She also shared that she eats a raw vegan diet and power-walks, in case you were wondering why you don't look like her. :)

I'm rediscovering long runs.

Since CrossKnox, I've rediscovered my love of long runs. I've run two 10 mi runs, and one 12 mi run. I love to get in a comfortable rhythm, get lost in my thoughts and music, run a loooong time, and see that calorie burn on my watch!

I'd rather run 10 miles at a comfortable pace than 3 at an aggressive pace. 

I don't love the side effects of long runs, however. I've forgotten how hard it is to move my legs after running 10 miles. It's like they are made of lead. My 12 mi run a few weeks ago was painful. I was fine until 10, then every.single.step hurt. I wanted to collapse. I even considered laying down in the grass in a park at 11.6 mi. 

That was one of those "just because I can doesn't mean I should" decisions. 

I sucked it up and jogged the painful 0.4 mi. Then I wanted to collapse and not move all weekend. 

And eat salt. I forgot how much I crave salt after long runs.

Running 12 mi for the third time in my life reminds me of the first time I ran 12 mi. It was 8 months ago. I felt accomplished, but I hadn't quite figured out a fuel strategy for long runs, and I learned the hard way I wasn't doing a good job at fueling. More on that soon.

We'll call that one a "What not to do" story...

Now it's taper time for my half marathon.

I'm running my second half marathon in South Carolina next month with B. It will be a long weekend before the holidays get hectic. We can't wait! I'm shooting for a time between 2:30 and 2:40 - a PR from my first half time 2:45.

And after that...

I don't think I'm ready for a full marathon next spring, but B has committed to running his first full marathon at the Knoxville Covenant Health Marathon in March, 2014. He's rocking this running thing. He has gotten his 5K time to 22 minutes, and has worked on long runs, too. He ran his first 14 mi run the same day I did 12 mi. I'll probably do a half in Knoxville and cheer B on afterwards.

That's where I am today! I got a pre Thanksgiving run in Wednesday in the SNOW (unusual in TN in November) and spent Thanksgiving with family in rural East TN. 

Happy Thanksgiving from me and B, and thank YOU for stopping by the CSRS blog and sharing in my journey. I'm coming back!

Instead of shopping, B and I ran 6 mi today in our hometown, and spent the rest of the day playing games with my family.

That tunnel goes through a mountain and is about a quarter mile long. It's a little creepy, so I was motivated to sprint, haha!!

Next week, I'll share that story about my first 12 mi run. It's...interesting. Kind of scary (although everything was fine), kind of funny (now), and a good "learning experience". :) 

How has your running journey been this fall? 

-Amy

See what others around the web are doing with these great fitness communities:

I was not compensated by any of the above organizations for this post, nor are they affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. Also, I'm not a health or fitness professional of any kind. See my  Terms and Conditions page. 

Want more? Follow the CSRS Blog on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram for the latest updates, articles, and more!

Healing My Heel

Hello! 

It has been a few weeks since I've written a Fitness Friday post. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a lot to tell. Over the month of September, I had rededicated myself to my running goals, and put little things aside to get my running game back on track.

I was doing SO well!!

I ran extra hill repeats and speed intervals in my RunKNOX practices. I was determined to give it my all and hopefully get faster. It seemed to be working for awhile.

And then my heel derailed everything.

You see, for months I've had pain in my left heel after running, likely due to plantar fasciitis. The mornings after running, it was painful to put weight on my heel. Overall, it was fairly minor. I could stretch and it would be fine.

I guarantee somewhere in this post I'll mix up "heal" and "heel". My apologies.

Then I got the bright idea that switching running shoes could eliminate the pain. My Asics were worn out, so I thought I'd try a different type of shoe this time. I was recommended a Brooks pair that had the same stability as the Asics, but with more padding. 

This was one of the factors that led to the pain spiraling out of control. I thought the shoes were helping at first, even though they hurt from not being broken in yet.

Of course, Brandon and my coach who recommended breaking them in before running in them, but I didn't listen.

The pain kept getting worse, despite the stretching and even ice I used to try to keep it at bay. It finally became unbearable one week. About three weeks ago, I spent an entire Sunday on my feet helping my sister move into her new home. Then I went to my boot camp workout Monday, did an intense hill workout with RunKNOX on Tuesday, and ran 3 miles on my own Wednesday. 

I may have overdone it.

That week, the heel pain got worse and worse. I'd catch myself walking on my tip-toes at home to avoid putting weight on my heel. By Thursday, the heel pain increased to a point where I could barely walk. What's worse - the pain spread to my arch, which was swollen and bluish.

Then I did something really smart.

Because I'm SOOO dedicated to my running schedule, I joined RunKNOX for a 5 mile run that Saturday (now almost two weeks ago). 

Real genius.

To avoid the pain, I changed my stride while running. This caused my ENTIRE shins and calves to hurt! I suffered through 3 miles with a friend (who was doing AWESOME!), then I let her go on and I had to resort to running/walking the other 2 miles.

I felt like a real winner, let me tell ya.

The next day, Sunday, I tried to buy groceries and go to Target, but I couldn't even walk.

When my Target experience is ruined, this has gone too far!!!

On that Sunday, almost two weeks ago, I knew I needed to really take my coaches', Brandon's, and my friends' advice to heart and deal with this issue. I couldn't continue down the path I was headed or I might REALLY injure myself. To the point I might not be running for MONTHS. Nobody wants that!

I know it's very common, and very frustrating, for runners to experience injuries. It's also VERY frustrating for runners to have their training put on hold for injuries. Here we are, working hard, excited about reaching our next goal, and BAM! Now some kind of pesky pain is holding us back. Who has time for that when there are goal races at stake?? 

I've been lucky so far to have not had a running related injury until now. In the grand scheme of things, my issue is VERY minor. I know other runners who have had ankle, knee, etc issues WAY worse than mine, so I can't complain.

The good news is, about two weeks later, I'm 98% pain free!! I've experimented with a lot of tactics over the last two weeks, and I've finally figured out something that works for me. Hopefully this will continue!

Before I share that information, please remember that I can only speak to what seems to be working for me. Every injury is different, so I can't speak for anyone else. I'm not a doctor or medical professional of any kind, so this can't be taken as medical advice. If you experience any pain, talk to someone qualified to help you.

Nonetheless, here are the various things I tried, which seemed to help in overcoming the heel pain I was experiencing from what I believe to be plantar fasciitis:

1. Taking some recovery time. To heal from my particularly escalated situation, I took my workouts lightly last week. I skipped boot camp, jogged/walked my scheduled runs, did the elliptical instead of running one day, and did a yoga class. It was a little frustrating, but I think this was instrumental in jump-starting the healing process.
2. Being consistent in my practices to prevent injuries. When I first started RunKNOX, I expected our coaches to recommend post-running stretches. While they do recommend stretching after running, their first and foremost priority was that we do "foot drills" immediately after running. What was that?? Our coach had us walking in our sock feet various ways - pigeon toed, tip-toed, on our heels, etc. It seemed bizarre at first, but I've noticed I have less problems the next day when I do this immediately after running. You can find them here.
3. Ice, Ice, Baby! Sigh...I don't like the discomfort of ice. I'm not one of those hard core runners who soak in ice baths. What are you people, polar bears??? Nonetheless, I tried rolling a frozen water bottle under my heel and arch, and it did help in a couple of ways. First, the ice took down that crazy swelling in my arch. Second, it seemed to work out the tendon and help me get past some of the pain.
4. Stretching and other techniques. In my desperation, I tried a lot of things. I noticed the three practices above seemed effective in reducing the pain, but I tried some other things that helped on a smaller level. I tried sleeping in one of those braces for plantar fasciitis. Since I tried so many things, it's hard to tell if that helped. It also interrupted my sleep. I dreamed that there were leeches on my foot. True story. I noticed immediate benefits from the other practices, but couldn't tell from this. I also tried these stretches before I got out of bed, which seemed to lessen the intense pain in the morning. While I couldn't tell if these techniques helped me overall, I know others who have benefited greatly from them.

While doing these, I started seeing progress over my down week. However....I didn't turn the corner until I...

Went back to my old shoes!!!

Seriously. About halfway into my down week, my coach recommended that I try going back to my old shoes. I thought that was odd, but he was SOOO right!!! Within a couple of days the pain was almost gone. I ran this Tuesday night and woke up Wednesday with no pain! If you're reading this, Darren, enjoy the fact that you were right, once again.

I guess I'll be going back and re-buying the Asics. Go figure. Anyone want to buy a gently used size 8 pair of Brooks shoes? :)

It may be too early to tell, but I seem to be overcoming it! I've lost a little of my speed from the break. However, as long as I'm pain-free, I'm happy to work to regain it!

Have you ever had to work through a running injury? How did you recover and get back on track?

-Amy

See what others around the web are doing with these great fitness communities:

I was not compensated by any of the above organizations for this post, nor are they affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. Also, I'm not a health or fitness professional of any kind. See my  Terms and Conditions page. 

Want more? Follow the CSRS Blog on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram for the latest updates, articles, and more!

My Pumpkin-Palooza + Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

In case you haven't visited Starbuck's, Pier 1, Hobby Lobby, or Michael's, it's fall. I'm going to be honest. I'm that stereotypical American that enjoys pumpkin EVERYTHING! And other fall foods.

I'm not kidding. I may just put on yoga pants and Instagram them, too. You just watch.

Also, for the first time in 8 years of being married, I decided to decorate my home for fall.

I even made this centerpiece.

Check out B's (who's "not creative") Pac-Man jack-o-lantern. Mine was candy.

Last week, I enjoyed a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin in my oatmeal, multiple (healthy) pumpkin muffins, sweet potato fries, roasted butternut squash, a pumpkin ale, and roasted pork tenderloin with apples (Try that recipe. It's a-maz-ing.).

I'm going to turn into an Oompa Loompa if I eat any more orange foods. I'm okay with that.

But seriously, that pumpkin smoothie. It was like drinking pumpkin pie, but healthier. As you know, I love smoothies as a quick, no-fuss, healthy breakfast option. Here are my steps to concocting a smoothie.

I've gotten off-track a little in my training and diet lately. The training issues are due to some pretty bad heel pain I've been having. It's likely due to plantar fasciitis. The good news is that thanks to stretching and ice as recommended by my coaches, I appear to be on the mend. More on that hopefully on Fitness Friday. The diet - that's all my bad.

In my efforts to get back on track, I'm having smoothies for breakfast a few times a week. I wanted to switch them up for fall, so I Googled pumpkin smoothie recipes. As usual, I liked some aspects of one recipe, and other aspects of others, so I made my own combination.

And I'm in love!

Lately, I've been obsessed with almonds and almond butter. I promise I don't put almond butter in all of my smoothies! I put it in my peach almond smoothie, and I loved the richness it added to this pumpkin smoothie. Not to mention, it adds a little bit of healthy fat (just watch the amount you add). If you don't like almond butter, or don't have it on hand, just omit it, You could try peanut butter, but it will add a stronger flavor. I drink this as a meal, but you could half the recipe to enjoy as a snack.

Without further ado...

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Serves: 1

Time required: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 - 6 oz. container plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (I used canned)

1/2 banana (fresh or frozen)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tbsp unsalted almond butter

1/4 cup almond milk

1/4 - 1/2 cup ice (as frosty as you prefer)

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on medium high to high for a few minutes until smooth. 

Now, pour your smoothie into a tumbler, take a selfie of yourself holding it up (showing off your manicure), and Instagram the heck out of that bad boy! Don't forget your hashtags! #PSS #ilovefall #smoothie #pumpkineverywheredontcare #Mmmmm #Amytoldmeto 

I kid, I kid! Express yourself on Instagram as you wish!

I hope you enjoy this smoothie as much as I do!

-Amy

Bringing Back the Bangs!

Oh hey! It's me! I've been a little absent lately. What have I been doing?

You know, stuff. Work stuff. A lot of work stuff. Exercise stuff. Not running stuff due to major heel pain (another story for another day). Just stuff. Oh yeah, and I got bangs. How did that happen?

So one random Thursday at midnight when I should have been in bed...

I wondered what I'd looked like in bangs. Why? I have no idea. I guess I was looking at celebs like Taylor Swift, Emma Stone, and Lauren Conrad who recently tried bangs and looked great. Not to mention Zooey Deschanel, who has long been known for her bangs (and happens to be my favorite celebrity style inspiration!).

I haven't had bangs since my awkward middle school phase.

We're talking glasses, frizzy, wavy hair I didn't know how to style, high-waisted 90's jeans that didn't fit well, an honest but sad effort to play volleyball, my first experience trying to (unsuccessfully) manage my weight, my nose typically in a book, and endless insecurity as I struggled to feel accepted by my peers. Oh yeah, and bangs that went to my nose, that I poofed out with a giant round brush and curling iron. Yep...

It was a rough time to say the least. The memories from those years are still real, but I've grown and moved on. In fact, I'm trying to find an old picture to submit to The Awkward Years Project. When I was 15, I moved to a new school (where I met my husband), got contacts, became a makeup junkie, and grew my bangs out as part of a clean slate. I was determined to put my nerdy past behind me. It didn't completely work - I'm still an introverted, quirky, nerdy person at heart, which somehow works better as an adult - but at least I felt like I looked better.

Fifteen years later, I've sworn I would never go back. I've moved on. I'm an adult with degrees, a job, friends, a husband, and I'm a runner.Why would I reopen that chapter?

Until that fateful night on little sleep, too much celebrity news, and possibly some dark chocolate, when I opened up a hair simulator site and "tried on bangs". Those simulations always look ridiculous, but the Nicole Richie style I tried didn't look half bad.

That led to my 1 AM venture upstairs to mock-up bangs with hair clips. This was looking promising! I'd be a quirky Zooey Deschanel type! I just needed a fun dress!

Believe it or not, I still thought about bangs the next couple of weeks. Could they really work? Here's how I approached the decision and what I recommend thinking about:

What type of bangs are right for me?

• My face shape - My face is pretty round. Often times really short, blunt bangs make faces look rounder, so I looked at examples of other fringed celebs with round faces, like Emma Stone.
• How thick? My forehead isn't big, so I didn't think couldn't handle super thick, heavy bangs.
• What shape and texture? Because I didn't want a style too blunt or heavy, I thought wispy, layered bangs that were longer at the sides would be a good fit. Also, my hair has natural wave, which I thought would work with the cut.

I recommend researching bang styles for the shape of your face, and looking at friends or celebrities with similar face shapes as examples.

Ask your hairstylist!

I have a great hair stylist that I've gone to for over 5 years. She knows my hair's texture, has cut everything from chin length to long layers in my hair, and knows what works and doesn't work on me. I walked in and told her to brace herself, and I explained what I wanted. I came armed with all of these examples, expressed no poofy 90's bangs, and asked for her opinion. She agreed with my wispy, layered approach for the texture of my hair and was excited that I wanted to do something new! She was on the same page and brought my vision to life! 

Also - she offers free bang trims in between cuts, and she is located less than 5 minutes from my office. Since bangs typically need to be trimmed every 3-4 weeks, I recommend asking your hairstylist what he/she offers in terms of trims.

The result?

I also found that fun dress at Old Navy!
Find it here.
It was $12 on clearance in my local store!
I'm ALL in on the chambray now!

I'm pleasantly surprised! I love the shape and texture. The longer sides look great when my hair is up. 

Oddly, I do see a little "middle school me" now, and I don't know if that's a good or bad thing...

How I style them

I asked my hair stylist if I should blow dry them with a round brush. She promptly replied, "I thought you didn't want poofy 90's bangs?"

Touche. Here's what I do instead: 

• After washing, I leave my hair in a towel to apply my moisturizer and foundation. 
• Then I take my hair out of the towel and I use a paddle brush under the bangs to blow them out straight. I dry and style the rest of my hair. 
• Finally, since my hair has a natural wave, I flat iron them so they aren't poofy. I run the flat iron straight down and barely turn it under at the ends so the bangs slightly curl under instead of stick out. 
• To avoid heaviness and clumpiness, I don't use any product - not even hairspray! 
• Also try to not touch them during the day! That's easier said than done, but it will just make them oilier and clumpier. I actually like when the wind hits them - it just makes them wispier, like I have effortless style (yeah, right!).

What I like about them

I like that they add more shape and dimension to my overall look. When I didn't have bangs, I had long pieces of hair in the front that laid heavy and were hard to style. I don't have to deal with that anymore. They add an extra "something" when my hair is completely up.

How they are (slightly) more difficult

Keep in mind that this is very minor. I don't think you'll ever hear anyone say, "OMG! My life is so overwhelming now that I have to style my bangs!" I mean seriously. Remember those first world problems I talked about?

However, it does change the way I do my hair in the following ways:

• My morning hair and makeup routine is a little more detailed, as I stated above.
• I'll have to go in every few weeks in between cuts for bang trims. 
• Refreshing hair in between washes is a little more difficult. I have oily hair, but I can wash my hair every other day if I use dry shampoo on the off days. Unfortunately, that just doesn't cut it for bangs. They are too oily and clumpy. Instead, on the off days, I do the following:
• I pull the rest of my hair back into a ponytail and and use shampoo and water at the sink to wash, rinse just my bangs.
• Then I style my bangs, just like above.
• Finally, I work dry shampoo in the rest of my hair and style however I want - curled, straightened, up, whatever.
• I feel a stronger need to wear lipstick. Don't ask me why, I just think my bangs need lipstick to go with them. Maybe because there's a lot going on over the forehead, and I need to balance it out? I don't know. I just think styled bangs plus a good lipstick look sophisticated and great together. It could be just me. My fall and winter go-to lipstick is Buxom (R) in Bombay.

Overall, I like the the bangs. I'm also glad that Brandon likes them (although his opinion is secondary to mine). Remember it's just hair, and it will grow!

Do you have bangs, or are you considering bangs? How do you like them?

-Amy