Remebering Boston

Today I have been thinking a lot about what happened in Boston yesterday.  I am so saddened that someone would do such a horrible thing! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the experience I was able to have there last year.  We went on an amazing trip to New York and Boston with our great friends Jake and Steph, so Steph and I could run the marathon.  I had been thinking about that fun trip and wishing I was there all day yesterday and was shocked when I turned on the news to see what happened.  I was so grateful Steph and I were home safe and sound!  Last year it was almost 90 degrees when we finished.  We felt like death and had a very hard race but I'll take that experience any day  over what happened yesterday.  My heart goes out to those families that have been affected by the tragic events yesterday.

 

Steph and I before the race.  It was already hot at 8 am.

 

 After the race, we survived, just barely!

 

 

My favorite running jewelry that reminds me of Boston and the experiences we had there.

 

 Today I wore my Boston Marathon shirt in remembrance of all of the people in Boston.

I hope that everyone can come together and help those affected by the bombings and that nothing that horrible will happen to any more races.  It has me quite nervous for the Salt Lake 1/2 and full that Jorge, Steph, and I are all running this Saturday. I hope and pray we will all be safe and that we can all run in rememberance of the people who were killed and injured in Boston yesterday.

 

PRO Compression #keepittight

Another company that I LOVE is PRO Compression, they make the most amazing compression stockings and sleeves ever! I ordered some of their purple marathon socks for myself for Christmas and after wearing them and loving them I decided to contact them when we were finding our pacer team sponsors. Eric at PRO Compression was so generous and sent Jorge, Steph and I some socks to test out and review.  They've also done a giveaway on our pacing blog ryrpacers.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

I use my PRO Compression socks to run in and recover in.  I like to wear them to bed at night before I have a long run or if my legs feel particularly TIGHT!

 

These are the lucky socks Eric sent us last month.  People may look at Steph and I weird when we're running about in leprechaun socks in July but who cares, right!?

 

 

Steph and I both had some PRO Compression socks on yesterday on our 20 mile training run and we both had a great run and our legs felt great the whole time! After my horrendous ice bath i put on a fresh pair of PRO Compression socks and they helped my little leggies recover quite nicely!  If you need some awesome compression socks go to procompression.com and if you enter BLG13 you'll get 40% off all marathon socks and free shipping this month, ya can't beat that! #keepittight

 

 

 

Aspaeris Pivot Shorts Review

 A little over a month ago I contacted Aspaeris to see if they'd like to be a sponsor for our pacing team.  Kari was so nice and excitedly got on board with us and also sent Steph and I each a pair to test out and review.  The first time I put them on was interesting, they are tight! They're supposed to be tight since they are compression but boy did I feel like a little sausage  stuffed into them!

The Most Amazing Incrediballs

I love experimenting in the kitchen and making up new recipes and trying to put a healthier spin on some favorite recipes. Some recipes work out great and others are disgusting.  Jorge is quite the food expert so I go to him to critique my creations before giving them to anyone else!  I have seen different recipes for protein balls and decided to make up my own. My family loves them as a good little healthy snack and Stephanie likes to use them as a pre workout or run fuel.

I have named these little beauties Chocolate Peanut Butter Incrediballs. 

The ingredients you'll need are:

* 1/4 cup of oats lightly chopped in a Magic Bullet

*1/4 cup of Chocolate Protein Powder

* 1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder

* 2 and a half Packets of Truvia Sweetener

* Dash of Sea Salt

* 1 Tbsp. Agave

* 1 Tsp. Pure Vanilla

* 2 Tbsp. Almond Milk

* 1/4 cup of Adams Natural Peanut Butter

* 2 Tbsp. Mini Chocolate Chips

First gather all your supplies and lightly chop the oats in a Magic Bullet(if you have one) not too much though or you'll end up with oat flour and not as good of a texture.  Next, pour oats into a small mixing bowl and add all dry ingredients. Using a hand mixer mix until well combined. Next add  everything but chocolate chips and mix really well.  If its too moist add a little more oats or if its too dry add a tiny bit more peanut butter or Almond Milk. Not too much though because you want them to stick together.  Very last add the chocolate chips and stir really good. 

 Using a medium cookie scoop make 6 balls and place in a Tupperware and keep in the fridge and eat em up!

12-12-12

On this 12th day of December 2012 my amazing friend, workout/running buddy Steph has started her 12 days of Christmas giveaway on her blog, http://runlilmamarun.blogspot.com/. You really need to go check it out, she's worked really hard and has some awesome running inspired goods she's giving away. Today's giveaway is a gift card to Terra Mia, a delicious pizza place in Orem. You know pizza is the only way to fuel a proper long run ;) Even when her giveaways are over you'll keep going back for more, she is one funny gal and will keep you laughing!  Steph has been an amazing friend to me for a few years now.  We are neighbors but actually really got to know each other running the Utah Valley Marathon 3 years ago together. We only found out that each other were ruuning it the day before the race and ended up running the first 18 miles together until my tummy got angry and i sent her on her way.  We have been close friends and have ran together ever since!  She is a loving mama to 2 amazing kids ( I love them like they're my own), she's married to a great guy named Jake, and is getting certified to be a spin instructor on Saturday, she's also a certified personal trainer!  She is one tough little cookie with HUGE muscles and an amazing runner! Now go check out Steph's blog and win some amazing running goods! 

We got to go on a wonderful trip to New York and Boston with Steph and Jake to run the Boston Marathon together this year.

Fun Christmas Survey

So I will admit I am the worst blogger.  Life has been so busy that this blog has gotten lost in the shuffle.  I love Christmas time and I found this fun Christmas survey on Janae's blog and decided I'd give blogging another try and ease in with this! 

1.  Favorite Christmas Album/CD/Song?

I absolutely LOVE Christmas music. I refuse to listen to it until after Thanksgiving, then it's all I want to listen to. I'd have to say my favorite though is singing Christmas songs at church, like Silent Night.

2.  Run on Christmas morning or take the day off?

If I get the chance I sure as heck will run on Christmas! It would have to be later in the day when everyone else is distracted by toys or in a sugar coma ;)

This isn't me but this is what I hope to do on Christmas at some point

3.  What do you usually eat on Christmas morning?

I always make a big yummy breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, turkey sausage, and fruit.

I didn't have a picture of our breakfast but if i did this is what I would hope it looked like!

 4.  Favorite holiday or Christmas tradition?

We always get new Jammie's on Christmas Eve and have a big family get together and do a piñata!

5.  Real tree, fake tree or no tree?

I prefer a real tree but we have a fake prelit tree.

6.  Christmas pajamas… yay or nay?

We always get new Pajamas on Christmas Eve, they're not necessarily Christmassy though.

7.  Where do you spend the holidays?  Your own house, your parents’ house, extended family, in-laws, friends?

We do Christmas Eve with my siblings and parents , last year and this year we host the party at our house. We do Christmas morning then my parents come visit then we get ready and visit them and my grandparents. My mom does a big Christmas dinner in the afternoon.

8.  Food that you always have during the holiday season?  Favorite Christmas food/treat?

We make sugar cookies on Christmas eve eve to decorate for Santa. They are one of my favorites! Also, Cadbury chocolate balls and Reese's peanut butter trees are to die for!!!!

9. Open presents all at once or take turns?  Stockings… yes or no?

We first do stockings then start ending presents. It's usually just a free for all with three little boys!

10.  Favorite Christmas(ish) movie?

I love watching Christmas movies but I'd have to say Elf is my all time favorite!

So there you have it, now you know all you need to know about me!  This post is a mess, the spacing is weird and I can't figure it out and its taken way longer then neccasary.  

Questions....

Answer some or all of the above questions or do a blog post with this fun survey!

20 Miles Done

I suppose I should do a quick blog post so everyone (the 2 people that might read this) will be reassured that I didn't stay in Boston 4 months ago! I will eventually get caught up, maybe, but for now I'll share the craziness of today. Today started bright and early at 4:30 am for a crazy 20 mile run. Steph and I are training for the San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon in October. We ended up getting spots in the Hobble Creek 1/2 Marathon today so we got on the first bus, used the honey buckets and started running up the canyon. We made it .75 of a mile up and felt a little nervous so we turned around and headed down. People thought we were nuts and were telling us we were running the wrong way. We did 5.5 miles, then started the race. It was nice to not feel the need to race we were just doing our long run and needed to take it nice and easy. Once we finished we went and ran the last mile and a half then got our Truemoo chocolate milk, stretched a bit, then headed home for a lovely soak in an ice bath.  It was a beautiful day and a really great run. As I was running I was thinking how grateful I am to have such a close friend to run with and talk to, it makes the miles fly by and helps our friendship grow. When I trained for my 1st marathon 3 years ago I ran by myself with no garmin or iPod on all of my training runs,  that's just too much time in my own head! It was at that marathon that I met Steph and ran 18 miles of the race with her and got to know her.  Since then we have ran many, many miles and races together. We've laughed, cried, been silly, and solved the problems of the world ;) together. I know I wouldn't have love for running and appreciate it as much as I do without my strong, silly, little running buddy!