Yesterday was a fabulous day! The bad part was that the bestie Cancelled on me for church, but this meant I got to spend more time with my Mom and daughter! So once the afternoon hit, I decided to take Makenna to my favorite part of the Trail for a run with the jogger.

Running 5 miles while pushing a 40 lb child in a jogger is seriously no joke, especially when you hit the hills!!

I’m not sure what it is, but five miles outside is WAYYYY more fun than five miles on the treadmill! For me, running can very much be a mental game. I play that game so much better when I have scenery to look at rather than watching a clock tick on some display.  Mind you, there are times when a treadmill is more appropriate, or even necessary. When safety is an issue (i.e. darkness), when weather conditions make outdoor running dangerous, or when you are doing specific incline or speed training, the treadmill can come in handy. But I would rather bask in the sunlight if at all possible! There is something so cleansing and refreshing about getting outside, especially this time of year when you’re constantly cooped up. Plus, I’ll take every bit of Vidamin D that I can get!

Something that I’m loving right now is protein pancakes!

Super quick and easy breakfast with only 280 calories and 36 grams of protein. I mix one scoop of protein powder (I use vanilla), an egg, a splash of unsweetened almond milk to get the desired consistency, and blueberries. Mix everything except the blueberries, pour into a sprayed pan, sprinkle the blueberries evenly, and Voila!

My daughter has got to be the sweetest girl I know. I think she knows it’s marathon season, and after losing 3 toenails last year, she wanted to take advantage of the full 10 that I have going on right now… while they last haha She’s pretty talented 😉

I love her more than anything XOXO

Something else I’m totally loving right now, especially while being on a reduced calorie diet is this combo

1 cup SF Chai + 1 cup unsweetened almond milk= Bliss I like to warm it up, and its only 30 calories to boot!

Any low cal recipes you would like to share with me?

For the last year I have been dreaming of juicing. There has been a voice in the back of my head telling me to just do it. So, after Christmas, Macy’s had 40% off all juicers, and, well, Carpe Diem!

There are so many mixed reviews on juicing. One of the biggest turn-ons for me is the nutritional benefits. There is no way I would eat carrots, beets, sweet potato, jicama, kale, an apple, a lime, a peice of ginger, and celery in one day. However, with juicing it just seems so much more attainable. With this juice I add Vitamins A, C, B-complex, E, K, beta-carotene, iron, folate, niacin, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium… You get my drift. It is great for cleansing the liver, the skin, cell function, the eyes, increasing energy, the list goes on and on.

After I buy produce, I like to give it a good bath. I fill the sink with cool water and add 1/4 cup vinegar. This kills 98% of bacteria and rids most pesticides. Hey, you never know where it has been before it makes it to your home!

Not to mention, after you drink this, you just feel like a better citizen haha As for the cons, some say juicing is bad because you throw away so much of the fruit/vegetable. The part that comes out of the juicer that is not the juice is mostly comprised of fiber AKA pulp. I agree, I always think it is a good idea to eat the whole food.

I suggest throwing your pulp into the crock pot with a chicken breast and some organic low sodium chicken stock for a healthy dinner. This has a very different taste that some might not be in to. Pinterest has some creative ideas! What to do with leftover juice pulp,  I definitely want to try the muffins!

What juice recipes do you love?

Holy BRRRR!!! So Saturday morning, it sounded like a good idea to run to the gym, and then workout at 8 AM. Well, apparently I have been in hibernation because it was still dark after the time I got up and got the running gear on. I forgot how late the sun rises! On a mission to get the first long run done on my marathon training plan, I bucked up!  Here is the view, just in case you missed it

And yes, that’s right,sometimes I pull double duty and take pics while I run… I’m talented like that haha

The hardest thing about running when it’s literally freezing outside is getting started. After a few minutes, you warm up and the cold is actually refreshing. AS LONG as you have the proper gear on! Here are a few key items I never forget when it’s cold out:

• GLOVES!
• Hat or ear covers of some sort (Target has one right now with a hole in the back for your pony tail, genius!)
• Thicker than your average gym sock. Most running shoes have some breathable fabric, allowing colder air in
• long sleeve shirt with a running jacket over it (I love my Marmot brand, keeps me warm without overheating,  has an inside pocket with a sneaky headphone outlet, and it’s bright and has reflectors for safety)
• Running pants that are a little thicker or lined
• Some extra tissues, my nose runs like crazy in the cold!

I made it!

Made it to the 45 minute class, and SURPRISE it just so happened to be a cardio day…. FML!!! Well, whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right?

Well, off to bed. Gotta get my run on tomorrow 😉

Sunday: Rest day/Yoga day

Monday: 45 minute Crossfit class at Physzique and 2 mile treadmill run after, alternating speeds

Races I’m signed up for: Partners in Pain 5K on 2-9-14

Are you training for anything right now?