I'm Heading to Runner's World Festival with Discount Codes

I'm heading to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in October!!! HOLLAAAHHHHH!!

But why am I going there?

The Runner's World Half & Festival baby - October 17-19! Woo!

How did I get so lucky?

Well when I was happily enjoying a great weekend at the Heartbreak Hill Half & Festival in Boston in June I won the twitter contest going on amongst the bloggers.

How could I not with such lovely gems like the one above? ;)

The prize? An invitation to the Runner's World Half & Festival in October. YAY!!

That’s me hugging the Runner’s World PR folks as a Thank You

You know I gave Runner's World a big Hell Yeah that I would be there. This will be my first time at the Runner's World Festival.

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What will the Festival/courses include?

The racecourses feature Bethlehem's historic neighborhoods, including some of the town's original 1741 settlement, two renowned colleges, Lehigh University and Moravian College, and the former Bethlehem Steel complex–where the backbone of the nation was literally forged.

The festival weekend next year will include:

• Seminars
• Live music
• Running films
• Prerace dinner with Runner's World editors
• Kids races and children's programming (Saturday)
• 5K and 10K races (Saturday)
• Dog run (Saturday)
• Half marathon (Sunday)

Now I watched the kids races and dog run in June at Heartbreak Hill Festival and they were ADORABLE and MOTIVATING! I highly recommend checking both out.

But, we are really going for the running, right?

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Here's the sked:

Saturday, October 18 5k – 8am 10k – 9:30am

Sunday, October 19 Half Marathon – 8am

So who is up for a challenge or two? Runner’s World has your back. You can take your pick from:

**The Five & Dime, where you take on the back-to-back 5k and 10k on Saturday

or

**The Hat Trick, where you tackle the 5k, the 10k and come back on Sunday for a little Half Marathon

Can you all guess which one I am taking on? Yeah you all know me and my love of bling … so Hat Trick it is.

Oh did I forget to mention the bling? Yes, each race includes a sweet little Finisher’s medal. Calling all bling lovers!!

Heartbreak Hill Hat Trick Bling

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Now for the good part… I am happy to offer you all – my amazing readers and social media friends – some discounts for the weekend.

There are five different codes available – all good for 10% off your registration for:

So now I need to know – will I see you out in Pennsylvania October 17-19? If so, which distance(s) are you tackling?

T-minus 1 month 'til that little Half Ironman

Have I told you lately I am training for a Half Ironman? OOOOHHHH have I been too subtle with my postings? Man I thought that would happen. ;)

No really, I continue to say the words, see the workouts happen and tick the days off until the big day is here, but I am still living in a world where it doesn't seem real.

Does that even make sense?

Wow I am throwing a ton of questions at you guys RIGHT off the bat today. Sorry about that.

For those that are new to the blog - HEEYYYY!!!! welcome welcome - I am taking on my first Half Ironman at Pumpkinman on September 7 in Maine. Here were my thoughts from July 7 - 2 months 'til the big day.

Now we are just one month until Race Day.

Why am I freakin' out? 

This is sooo far out of my comfort zone that I am plain old scared.

The biggest fear? Being swept! Yup, I am paralyzed with fear that I will be swept off the course after all this work I put in. The course limit is 8 hours.

I am a worrier by nature so you can guess that most of my workouts are spent breaking down how slowly I can do each section in order to finish in time.

After talking with friends and looking at my own times during workouts, I don't really think a sweep will happen - but you NEVER know what can happen on race day. So the fear is still there.

All I can do on race day is try my hardest whatever happens will happen. Can you tell I have been reciting that over and over again?

Every time I start freakin' out I remind myself why I signed up for this crazy thing to begin with ... to 1) push myself our of my comfort zone and 2) have fun! Ohhhh this is all supposed to be fun? Right right. Sometimes I forget that.

I wish I had a coach to bounce my questions off of and to make sure the training I am doing is correct. Am I doing enough? Too much? Just right?

But for now I just trust the book I am using and reach out to my experienced friends for help.

How is training going?

The training itself is actually okay. It is trying to fit all the workouts in to the week that is the toughest. I have been tweaking my work day to fit in an afternoon workout then will finish work in the evening.

I do need to work on more BRICK workouts in this final month - making sure my legs are used to running after biking.

I also need to spend more time stretching. I had a scary shooting pain in my right quad today that left me paralyzed on the front steps of my house for a couple of minutes - scary!! So stretching, icing, heating, etc are all high priority down the stretch...

SWIM

I love swimming so the swim workouts in the pool are actually enjoyable. Not sure I am doing the speed work fast enough, but I am giving my 100% every time I get into the pool.

I think down the stretch I will need to spend a little more time in the open water in my wetsuit to get used to swimming in it. I don't find it as enjoyable as swimming in the tri kit/bathing suit - which shocks me now.

I did successfully swim 96-consecutive lengths of the pool and lived to tell the tale.

The Half Ironman swim is 1.2 miles and I swam almost 1.5, which put me at ease. I kept the pace nice and moderate and felt strong the entire time. Now if only I had a bunch of other folks in the pool trying to kick and punch me while swimming in the same direction in order to experience race conditions. ;)

Big thanks to my parents for starting my swim lessons at age six months for my love of the water.

BIKE

My weakest and most hated portion of the triathlon. :P I have so much fear on the bike - flipping over the handlebars, tipping over while trying to grab my water bottle, flying off the bike while sailing quickly down the downhill, etc.

You know the normal bike fears - ohhh I am the only one thinking I will crash and burn every time they get on the bike? Yeah I figured. It's okay.

I am proud of myself for getting out last week and doing my 3 hour training ride outside and solo.

The bike portion of the Half Ironman is 56 miles.

I know this will be my slowest portion and one I pray to make it through.

I will say that thanks to training and Spin classes I am feeling slightly stronger on the bike, especially when facing the large hills.

But I really do not enjoy it. I want to badly, but the entire 3-hour ride I wished I was running. :P Maybe with more practice and less fear the love will appear, but for now I plug through the rides and am thankful for being healthy enough to bike.

RUN

If you read this blog you know that this is clearly my favorite section of the triathlon. :) Well it is my comfort zone. During Iron Girl Webster Sprint Tri in July, I celebrated lacing up my sneakers and heading out for the run.

Now I know this won't be a PR half at the end of the Half Ironman, but I hope that it will be easiest to push through since I love running.

My long runs haven't truly been happening during this training as I am nursing a left hamstring injury, but I am still trying to get out there and keep some miles on the legs. Hence why there haven't been as many BRICK workouts as there should be.

But, I do feel pretty conditioned on the running side from all of my racing so far in 2014.

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So what will push me through the race besides a sense of accomplishment and badass-ery? A sweet sweet medal.

Thanks to my friend Lisa for sharing her medal from 2011

Hellooo bling!

***

So what will the last month of training bring?

More mental work. I am doing all I can physically, but I need to get the positive, confident, brainspace to push through a long race day. Plus I need to trust in the training.

Ramp up my low-fat chocolate milk intake of course! ;)

Oh and remember I need to give it all I can on that day ... and E-N-J-O-Y it!

***

How do you get mentally tough for a new fitness challenge?

How To Take The Perfect Mid-Run Selfie ... And Post It!

"How do you take selfies while running?" "Wait did you just post a selfie to Instagram during the race?"

"Don't you trip or fall while taking those mid-run selfies?"

Have you thought or actually asked me any of these question on social media or in real life?

Well, it's finally time for me to share my secrets...

Get ready internet, you are about to be FULL of mid-run selfies!

Well well well where to start?? Do I need to define what a selfie is? I'm hoping I can gloss right over that part.

Let's start with...

Why

Why did I start doing this? There were a few reasons.

I hated waiting for official race photos to come online to include in recaps/sharing on social media.

I was bored with pre and post race shots - it was getting boring. Plus, I can only pose so many ways before and after a race. ;)

I wanted something to compliment the twitter/Facebook updates I was doing mid-race.

I needed extra motivation during a run and posting a picture allowed my online friends to send in some encouragement!

Mile 5 of a very hot & humid Finish At The 50 10k (2014)

Or letting everyone know how much fun I am having mid-race :)

Mile 4 of the 2014 Boston Run To Remember Half

It is also a great way to showcase who I am running with...

Mark Remy from Runner's World at Heartbreak Hill Half 

Once I got the hang of it, it became really fun and now I just feel weird if I don't have some mid-run selfies happening.

When

This can vary from race to race and practice run to practice run.

I started by taking them at significant points in the race: 5k mark, 10k mark, halfway, new distance record, etc.

2014 Boston Athletic Association 10k

Or if you want to announce to your followers that you are actually running the marathon rather than the half marathon you said you were. :P

2014 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon

If you are also near a famous landmark either from your own life or for the city/race you are running in then you would want to capture those scenes with a selfie.

Speedway during 2014 WDW Marathon

If you happen to come across a famous person or a couple of friends and you want to document the experience, selfie it.

Patriots HOFer Tedy Bruschi & I during 2014 Boston Marathon

Ladies of We Run Disney during 2014 WDW Marathon

How

The real reason you are tuning into this post. Now there are action mid-run selfies and stationary mid-run selfies. I'll speak to both below.

Also, I take my photos with my phone. I have some talented friends out there (Fannetastic Food) who takes mid-race seflies with a real camera. I'm not there yet.

Step One: Look around at your surroundings

Safety first my friends for action selfies. Make sure you don't have any potholes in front of your or a group of runners that you could potentially bump into or trip over. Let's keep a clear area around us.

For example, a downhill may not be the best place to choose to selfie IF you are doing it on the move.

If taking a stationary mid-run selfie, be sure to get over to the side of the road and out of the way of other runners. Let's not piss off 20,000 of our friends because we caught a hilarious race sign we just needed a pic with. M'kay?

Step Two: Have the phone at the ready

I used to run with my phone in an arm band, but realized I was taking it out so much for texting/tweeting/Facebooking and pics that it was becoming a nuisance. So for the past few months, I have been running with my phone in my hand or tucked into my running shorts, which ever was more comfy at the time (and depending on length of race).

For shorter races I definitely say keep the phone in the hand as the opportunity for the mid-run selfie is less than a longer run. But if you absolutely cannot run with a phone in hand then armband or waistband it up folks.

Since REALLY the focus is on the race and not the picture ... or so I've been told.

Just make sure the phone is handy since photo ops can happen at any point in time.

Step Three: Take the password protection off the phone

This is something I have yet to remember to do. That's right folks. Every time I go to take a picture mid-race I have to enter in my stupid iPhone code. Please be smarter than me and dismantle pre-race.

Now I know you can take a picture without doing the code on the iPhone BUT if you want to post it right after taking it you would still have to enter the code. But more on posting the pic on the move later.

Step Four: Remember to switch the camera view to selfie

I can't stress the importance of having the camera actually looking at YOU for the selfie. Hey! Things can happen mid-race and the brain isn't thinking straight.

Step Five: Clue in your running partner

If you are taking an action photo with a friend or celebrity, be sure to give them the heads up so they to are looking at your phone.

Heather & I during Nike Run Club

My friends know the drill well enough that they suggest when we should snap them. :)

My BFF & I during 2014 Old Port Marathon

Step Six: Hold the phone just above your head and angle towards you slightly

Now I normally use just my right hand/arm while taking the pics, but if cold or having a hard time gripping my phone then I will use the double arm tactic. I find that if I do the two arms it does hinder my running. :P

Snack break during Black Cat 20-Miler (2014)

Step Seven: Snap 3-5 pictures

Rarely does a mid-run selfie come out on first take. Since you don't want to risk ending up with a dud while rocking the peace sign along the water, take some extras - moving the arm ever so slightly during the "photo shoot." ;)

Note: Fitsnap was added to this photo POST race

There have been some SERIOUS duds on my phone over the past year, but those thankfully don't see the light of day. ;)

And there you have it!! Seven quick steps to your own mid-run selfie.

PointOneMiles & I during 2014 Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half

Since you have the shots, you can go ahead and save those to enjoy post-run oorrr....

you can take it to the next level:

Posting While Running

Now that I have my great pic, I want to share with my friends and family, which can take a little more skill.

Step One: Get a handle on texting/tweeting/Facebooking while running

Typing while running is NOT an easy feat. The iPhone autocorrect feature can help or seriously hinder a post. :P Practice running around your apartment or neighborhood to get used to looking at the phone and at the ground. Again we are focusing on safety first friends.

Step Two: Use the hashtags BEFORE the race starts

If you are looking to tag a certain race or fitness group then you need to have the hashtags already stored in your Instagram!! As long as you have used the hashtag prior and Instagram has managed not to crash in the meantime, you will have an easier time pulling up a hashtag on the move.

Step Three: Make sure Instagram is connected to Twitter

If you like to add a nice filter/border before posting then uploading the photo right to Instagram will help with that.

2014 WDW Marathon

Next up will be posting it to Twitter and you can do that right from Instagram.

Now many folks will post a photo to Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr from Instagram. I use Instagram for Twitter and Tumblr.

So if you have your short message ready in Instagram, you are good to hit send and out it goes to Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook.

I do Facebook separately. I will select all then copy the message on Instagram then paste into my blog's Facebook page.

And there you have it!!!

You now have the main tips and tricks to taking and posting your own mid-run - action or stationary - selfies.

Please remember the number one rule: safety first!!

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Have you dared to mid-run selfie before?

Monday Musings: Relaxing Weekend, Team Chocolate Milk Voting & Fit Plus Wear Review

Weekends make the weekdays bearable, right? Then whhhyyy must they zoom by? Each and every time! But I am thankful for whatever time I can have with family and friends. :) It is such a blessing to have the time to be with them.

So how did this past weekend look?

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Let's start with the workouts:

Friday - a tough tough run, which ended with a mini meltdown. I must remember that the bad runs make the good runs even better. :0)

Saturday - a ego-boosting swim ... I felt great and was excited for the longest-consecutive swim in training!

Sunday - a 3-hour training bike ride ... I did it all by myself and wished the entire time I was out running. :P Maybe someday I will learn to love the bike.

I am thankful that this upcoming week is a "recovery week" on the training plan, which means workouts are a little less intense and I might have a full on rest day! Yay! :)

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For the past 7-8 weeks, I have been saving my beer and wine for the weekend - aka #DrinkEnd! Here are the two delicious brews I enjoyed this weekend.

Somerville's own Pretty Things Beer

Port Brewing Mongo IPA out of my Old Port Half mug

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Unfortunately the wife injured her back on Sunday morning during a run so we had a low-key rest of the weekend. Really the weekend as a whole was pretty low-key outside of the workouts and I kinda loved it. Such a rare sight for us to not be running from event to event. I know so popular right? Haha. JK. :0)

But Saturday we did make it over to Assembly Row to check out Assembled and Pet Palooza. It was overcast and rainy, but seeing the pups compete was worth it. :)

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Final three random thoughts/asks from the weekend:

1) I would LOOOOVVEEE your daily vote in the following two Got Chocolate Milk contests... each ends on August 15!

Chocolate Milk Contest

^I am currently in fourth place (by a lot I know), but the top three vote getters secure the prizes. 1st prize is valued just over $5k, 2nd prize just under $1,900 and 3rd prize around $775. Holy cow they are sweet.

and

Team Chocolate Milk

^The prize? $500 in sponsorship money, which I will use to fund my first Ragnar Relay experience, new training gear and free race entries. Each time you vote $1 is donated to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. How awesome is that?

Thank you all so much!!!

2) There are just 6 spots left in the F.A.S.T. (Fighting Against Stroke Together) Virtual 5k/10k run/walk/bike!! Registration ends August 10... :)

3) Thanks to my friend Larisa from 0to26point2 I was able to test out the Fit Plus Wear Sound Solution compression capris (Value $88).

I love that the Fit Plus Wear company is led by a power duo of two female athletes and moms. They want to reach every woman and offer sizes from XXS-3XL. I am wearing size Medium in the picture below.

These moisture wicking and antimicrobial slimming compression capri pants offer a revolutionary way to carry your cell phone or MP3 device while you workout! Equipped with a sweat-proof, bounce proof, fall proof pocket you now can walk or workout hands free and worry free! It’s our Sound Solution- a pocket with a plus!

If you want to check out these awesome pants, use code 2HE90CGR5Y4U at checkout.

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Oh oh oh one more thing ;) I guest posted over at my boy Nathan's blog - The Fotographing Fat Kid - about my Top Threeve Weight Loss Lessons. Check it out!

Now back to my regularly scheduled Monday ... where did I put that training plan? :P

A Saturday At Assembly Row: #Assembled & #PetPalooza

How much do you love shopping? Aren't puppies just the cutest things you've ever seen?

Do you love spending a Saturday in Somerville with your family and friends?

Well, next Saturday you have free you should head to #Assembled at Assembly Row (11am-4pm)!

If you are a Boston area resident and HAVEN'T checked out Assembled then you are missing out.

The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row showcases arts and crafts by local Somerville artists, Etsy artists, and some of New England’s top creative talents! Visit the market every Saturday, now through September 13 for an ever changing selection of local art ranging from soaps and candles to gifts and prints.

Totally cool, right? Well it is.

I'm pretty lucky that Assembled is a mere 5-7 minute walk from my house. Hollah!

So we tend to frequent the local arts market with our pups and Dunkin' Donuts coffee in hand.

This weekend's Assembled featured some pretty amazing jewelers.

Yes I walked away with these 3 gorgeous bracelets for $10 total from Chappy Girls Jewelry.

I tried to get the wife to buy a bow, but she wouldn't bite.

But they are wicked cute! ;)

Then I came across the Swiss Bakers tent with mouth-watering homemade pretzels. Ohhh it took all my will to resist. So instead I decided to treat the pups...

... we picked up a little variety pack for them ($10 value) from Brownie's Barkery out of Maine. Let me just tell you the pups appreciated my sacrifice! ;)

After walking and checking out the 10 or so tents that made up Assembled, it was lunch time for the wife. Tough choices for her as always. With three food trucks to pick from, she went with...

BON ME!

She dined on the rice bowl with coconut-braised chicken (extra meat) which came to $8.50 and smelled amazing!! I had my grapes in my backpack so I made sure to have something, while drooling over the choices at the trucks. ;)

After grabbing her food and our purchases, we headed over to an Assembly Row special for the weekend - Pet Palooza. Pet Palooza was a two-day family-friendly event with pet-centric events including demos, training seminars, pet adoptions, and DockDog’s Northeast Regional Championship Competition.

Despite the rain, there was a great crowd on hand to watch the Dock Dogs competition.

We made it JUST in time to see a round of Extreme Vertical.

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This was INSANE. Dogs were jumping off the dock to knock off the bumper toy hanging from magnets off of the adjustable arm. While we were there the arm rose from 4'7" from 5'10"!! Can you freakin' believe that? These dogs were jumping off the dog to knock a toy down that was higher than me. It was awesome to watch.

After taking in part of the competition (which had different types of jumping all day long), we walked through the Pet Palooza, which featured local dog trainers, dog snack companies, a dog masseuse, a portable dog groomer and of course rescues. Oh was it tough to leave without adopting another dog, but our wallets were happy. :)

It was a great afternoon despite the weather. Folks that attend the Pet Palooza on Sunday (August 4) were met with much better weather.

But as we headed out we had to stop by the Slumbrew booth as they were handing out frisbees and other swag to attendees. Boy I can't wait until American Fresh opens up at Assembly Row and I can have a nice draft Slumbrew Porter Square Porter after a nice 5k run with the Nike Run Club (Wednesdays at 6:30pm).

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So if you are ever in the Somerville hood on a Saturday between 11-4 before September 13, come check out Assembled. You never know which local artist will be there... :)

F.A.S.T. Virtual 5k&10k: July 27-August 10

The F.A.S.T. (Fighting Against Stroke Together) Virtual 5k & 10k registration is HERE!!

Some of you may be asking what the heck the F.A.S.T. 5k & 10k is. Well it is a virtual race.

This will be the fifth virtual race I will be hosting … and first to offer a 10k option!! The first four have combined to raise over $4,200. AH-may-zing!

Here are the details:

A virtual run or walk means you do the 5k (3.1 mile) or 10k (6.2 mile) “race” at your leisure between July 27 and August 10. Map out your own route, get your friends together or jump on the old trusty treadmill. Your call.

This “race” is open to anyone – all over the world.

I will provide a race bib that you can print out and fix to your shirt (if you want).

EVERYONE that completes the “race” will receive a Finisher’s Medal in the mail from me. YAY! How cool is that? I know one of my favorite parts.

But you may be asking: “Dani! How much will this fun cost me?” or “What is my entry fee going to?”

Well, each participant will be making a $25 donation. The proceeds raised will be going towards Tedy’s Team and the American Stroke Association. In the past two years, I’ve raised over $15,500 to help fight Stroke and raise awareness.

2014 Boston Marathon

For those that don’t know, I have now run the Boston Marathon twice and Nashville Marathon once with Tedy’s Team.

Tedy asked the American Stroke Association to work with him to create “Tedy’s Team,” a group of runners raising money for the American Stroke Association and training to complete the Boston Marathon® and the Falmouth Road Race.  Their participation supports Tedy Bruschi’s fight against stroke and honors both the survivors and the loved ones lost to America’s No. 4 leading cause of death.

In addition to the dollars being raised, an equally important issue for Tedy’s Team is the increase in awareness of stroke and recognition of its warning signs. Tedy’s Team is striving to reach as many people as possible in its message of recognizing the warning signs and acting appropriate when seeing them — calling 9-1-1 immediately.

I run in honor of my Stroke Heroes, my grandparents. Unfortunately in December 2012, my grampa passed away during the training for the 2013 Boston Marathon. But, I feel as if he was looking down on me on April 15, 2013 and he helped me cross that Finish line at the right time.

So if you are ready to help me Fight Stroke then check out the directions to sign up below!

***

If you would like to take part in the run or walk:

1) Please register. (Make sure you are providing an accurate mailing address because that is where I will send the medal.)

2) You can complete the 3.1 mile or 6.2 mile run or walk whenever you like from July 27-August 10.

3) Once you complete the race please send me a photo of yourself and your time to dani@weightoffmyshoulders.com

4) HAVE FUN!!

***

Finisher’s Medal

***

Download Your Race Bib Here!

Click To download and print bibs (PDF File)

***

Thank you all for continuing to support me and help raise awareness for Stroke. Please be sure you know the warning signs of a Stroke (courtesy American Stroke Association):

THINK YOU ARE HAVING A STROKE? CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!

F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you’ll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away. F.A.S.T. is:

	Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
	Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
	Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
	Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

I'm Trying To Make Team Chocolate Milk ... Can I Have Your Vote?

I love refueling with low-fat chocolate milk!!

I think we all know that by now. ;)

I have had the honor of making the Team in 2012 AND 2013.

When I made my video in 2013, I pledged that if I made the team I would sign up and train for my first Half Ironman.

Well do you know what happened? :P

I made the team and am tackling The Pumpkinman Half Ironman on September 7.

So what could I possibly be committing to make the team for a third time?

I'm going to DOMINATE Ragnar Cape Cod in May 2015 with Team Chasing Down A Dream. Each member on the 12-person team has shed over 50 lbs. Amazing right?

Well you can help me check this off my bucket list. Because I am going to need some serious Chocolate Milk to refuel after this training plan.

So how can you help?

Well vote vote vote!

Each time you vote $1 is donated to the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

When does voting end? Midnight August 15!!

Click Here To Vote Daily

Will you be needing daily reminders? Just let me know. I am here to help.

THANK YOU for taking the time out of your day to help my dream become a reality!!

Build It with low-fat Chocolate Milk!!

Face It Friday: Fueling For Fitness 8/1/14

I maintained my weight loss for over two years before I really starting feeling any problems. Now the problems began when I completely changed my routine, but also increasing my activity even more threw me for a loop as well. When I started Weight Watchers in 2009, I was a gym rat, but not the right away. I would go to the gym for a couple of hours - yes an hour on the Stairmaster and an hour on the Elliptical. Then refuel with tater tots and beer.

Huh? Why wasn't I losing weight. I don't get it.

Then I joined Weight Watchers and learned that the calories burned on the machines at the gym were FFFAAARRRR from accurate. I learned about Activity Points and fueling your body.

After a year and a half on Weight Watchers in June 2011 (once I was cleared for activity post back surgery), I took up run again. I fell in love with it. I became addicted to it.

I loved that I could eat and drink more as a result. Hello balance!

Now when I started back running I was doing mainly 5ks and a half here or there.

But as time passed and years have gone by I have gone farther and farther into the distance running. I look back at 2014 and see that I had already completed three marathons by the end of April. Not quite the same mileage as I was putting in at the beginning.

When I ran my second-ever marathon in November 2012 (I signed up for it the day I hit goal), I didn't track as closely. Why would I need to? I was earning enough Activity Points to cover any indulgences.

EH! Not so much.

See I like to eat. I like tater tots and french fries. I can mindlessly snack on an entire bag of Stacy's Pita Chips to the tune of 29 pts. Yeah I know that about myself.

So I need to continue tracking while training. It is actually the ONLY way I can properly fuel AND lose weight/maintain my weight loss. If I throw the "Eh I ran today I can have an extra helping of ____," the pounds will come back on.

I don't have the control about myself. It is something I've learned and am still working on to this day.

That is why I needed to refocus and recharge these past 7-8 weeks. My Activity Points are now constantly in the high 90s to low 100s. I need to keep an eye on making sure I am refueling enough and properly.

I have used all 49 Weekly Points since the first week of WW (well back then it was 35, but you know what I mean). I am not about deprivation.

And you know what, I perform better and have more success with the scale when I use those extra points. I think of myself as a car - a hot car - and I need to keep enough gas in the tank. If not, the body holds on to the weight for fuel ... and nobody wants that.

So I am back to my balance ... back to fueling for the athlete I want to be ... back to feeling in control.

Look who wasn't in the negative this week? :)

Now where's my beer? I need to carbo load for Sunday's long ride. ;) #balance

***

Additional notes from this week:

^ I am now 5.6 lbs from my happy weight. Yay!

^ I have tracked or guestimated every day since June 13, which has to be one of my longest streaks since hitting Lifetime in February 2012.

^ I have attended a WW meeting every week since June 13 making it a priority again. It may not be the groups I lost my weight with (I did all that in Chicago), but it is great to zone out and be with people who understand

^ Getting back to weighing every week. I was in the habit with Lifetime to just weigh in once a month, but personally I need that check-in since training has me hungry and always ready to eat. ;)

^ Some days I wish I could be those people who just needed the help knowing what to eat to lose the weight and keep it off, but for me it is far more emotional and mental than I ever thought. But I accept that and know I need to watch for the rest of my life probably as emotional/mental habits are life long struggles.

^ Thank you for all continuing to take this ride with me. Losing weight and maintaining big weight loss is not linear - it is all about the peaks and valleys.

^ Resurrecting Face It Friday has been very cathartic for me. It forces me to really look back at how the past week went. Holding myself to being honest with you keeps me honest with myself!

***

Finally, there is still time to sign up for the F.A.S.T. virtual 5k/10k run/walk to benefit Tedy's Team. Did you know: About 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year?

16 spots remain and registration ends August 10!

Will You #RaceToTheRow With Me? *Race Entry Giveaway*

AND THE WINNER IS.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to everyone that entered! If you didn't win, I still hope you will register for the race!! :)

***

Amazing Race is coming back to Somerville.

Wait wait! That sounds misleading.

THE Amazing Race the show is not coming back to Somerville, but AN Amazing Race is.

The Somerville Road Runners are putting on the 2nd Annual Race To The Row 5kon August 24th at 9:30am!

photo (63)

YAY!! 

I had a BLAST at the inaugural race last year. If you didn't just click on "last year" and read the race recap, let me tell you it is the race where I set my current 5k PR of 21:59. Umm yeah so this race means A LOT to me. Plus it is less than a 5 minute walk from my house.

Since Assembly Row was under construction last year, I know the course will be even BETTER this year since Assembly Row is open and thriving. Here is a sneak peek at it.

row

The race is a run or walk and is open to runners and families of all ages and abilities.

Additionally, there will be a Children's Fun Run (age 9 and under) before the race with all kids getting a medal! Can I pretend to be an 8-year old? ;) I love a medal.

I will say the Fun Run was adorable to watch pre-race last year.

But more about the 5k:

The Race to the Row will run through the Assembly Square District and along the Mystic River, ending with a fun-filled post-race party with food and drinks served from the newest local restaurants and live music supplied by the IT Band! All proceeds will benefit the East Somerville Main Streets program (funding East Somerville business visibility and bolstering the community at large) as well as Somerville TrackPAC (provides college scholarships for Somerville High School students).

row2

Following last year's race I enjoyed free Harpoon beer and food courtesy of Burger Dive. I know they will be offering free food and drink to participants again this year, but details have yet to be released.

The Assembly Row and race area are easily accessible via public transportation and offer ample parking options for those choosing to drive.

***

Now that I have you all drooling over the fun ... it is time for the best part:

I have a FREE race entry to give away!

Lucky me!!

So here’s how to enter:

The giveaway will run from Monday July 28 (10am ET) through Friday August 1 (10am ET)!

The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!

Tips On How I Got Faster ... It Starts With The Socks!

For the low price of $19.95, I can sell you the #1 tip I have to getting a faster running time. Are you ready for it?

Can you handle it?

I don't think your ready for this jelly!!

Okay you all broke me down.

The #1 tip to get faster is...

... buying some Acme Rocket Boots from Wile E Coyote!

What?

Not what you were expecting?

Why because they aren't street legal?

Oh because they aren't real.

Fine fine!

Just a girl trying to make a quick buck! ;)

***

But seriously, the number one question I get asked is: "How did you get so fast?"

Some days I really don't know how it has happened.

It's been years in the making.

I ran my first 5k in March 2005 in a time of 38:21.

In August 2013, I set my current 5k PR of 21:59.2.

That's right. I have taken a little over 16 minutes off of my 5k time.

I ran my first marathon in September 2006 in a time of 5:59:27.

In my second marathon in November 2012 I set my current PR of 3:58:49.

Just over two hours taken off the marathon time.

So how did I do it?

***

Here are a few of the things that have helped:

1) Weight loss

I was close to my heaviest (so around 230 lbs) when I started running. It took a lot out of me to run: pounding on my knees and other joints, heavy breathing, etc.

I ran from 2005-2006 before taking just over a 4 year break. During that break I joined Weight Watchers and started my healthy lifestyle journey.

There are articles out there saying that for every 5 pounds lost you take 30 seconds off your pace. I have yet to find any scientific proof of that, but either way I have to disagree with that statement. I don't think losing weight guarantees that you will speed up.

What I can say is the weight loss lessened the pain I felt, as well as the shortness of breath. It has been proven that for every 1lb lost reduces the pressure on your knees 3-4 lbs. That I can TOTALLY get behind.

So with less pain in my body while running, I could train longer and add in speed work more comfortably.

2) Spinning

I will give a lot of my speed improvement credit to Spinning.

I went to my first Spin class in 2009 and my life was changed. Haha. It sounds so dramatic, but it really was.

Before I knew it I was Spinning 4-5 times a week. My legs felt stronger. My cardio was improving.

In 2011 after back surgery, I was cleared to return to activity and I was ready to give running another shot. I was starting at ground zero. The first mile I ran after back surgery was about a 15 min pace or so.

As I got back into my running routine, I noticed that hills were getting easier thanks to hill workouts in my Spin classes.

While 2011 was a rebuilding year after surgery, 2012 was the year of PRs. I watched my 5k time go from 25:27 to 22:20. Woo! It was quite a ride and really the muscles built during Spin was a huge factor.

3) Cross Training

Yes there is more to cross training than Spin class. But I had to give Spin it's own category. In order to help my running, I need to find ways to strengthen my body and work on endurance without a ton of pounding on the joints.

Bring on the stationary bike, Stairmaster, elliptical and swimming.

If you don't like to swim laps, I would recommend even doing water aerobics classes. They can combine more low-impact swimming with strength training.

If you are wondering where to find swim workouts, there are ample websites out there.

I like to switch up elliptical and stationary bike workouts by the programs on the machines themselves. The Stairmaster at my gym tells you how high you are climbing in relation to world landmarks, which is fun and motivating.

I usually cross-train 2-4 times a week depending on what I am training for.

4) Find A Faster Running Buddy

Find a friend that runs a faster pace than you or a running group that is just ahead of your normal running partners ... and run with them!!!

Those folks will bring out the best in you and push you to a pace that you wouldn't think imaginable.

NOW I am not saying I am going to head out and run with Shalane Flanagan tomorrow - even though that would be fun - I am saying if you run a 10:30 pace find something that is 10:00 or 10:15.

Don't push the limit too much too fast.

My best friend Sarah and I are great at pushing each other. She is by far the better runner in our duo, but she wants me to reach my potential so she devises runs for us to do together that will do that.

Additionally running with a BQer (Boston Qualifer) can be daunting, but Robin keeps it light and fun. She has a great energy and really knows running. So besides running at a faster clip when I am with her, I also believe I can do anything!

If you don't have a friend that you can reach out to, check out a local running group to see if they have someone that runs at the pace you are looking to hit. It is a great way to meet new people and work on your speed.

5) Get Yourself Socks With Capes

I'm serious!! :)

Even if they don't technically improve your speed, they make you FEEL like you do.

No matter what my Garmin says when I am wearing my Superman caped socks I am freakin' MEB out on the course.

Most of my running socks, which are not compression, are super hero socks. Not only do they make me feel amazing, but they help win over the race crowd as well.

6) Sign Up For A Race With Free Beer At The Finish

Nothing gets me to a finish line faster than knowing there is GOOD free beer at the end. ;)

Now beer may not be your thing so go ahead and insert your motivator into sentence where beer is.

Sometimes thinking of people enjoying my free beer put a little light under my ass and make me pick up the pace.

I mean they could run out! ;)

7) Refuel and Recover

Proper refueling can greatly impact your athletic performances ... which is why I swear by my low-fat chocolate milk.

I don't drink it just because it is easy and a treat after a hard workout, but for the health benefits listed above.

In addition to 8 oz of low-fat chocolate milk after a workout, I am sure to keep my legs fresh with Zensah compression gear (shorts and socks).

***

Now yes folks also find speed work to be helpful and if I did it more, I am sure I would improve my times even more. But honestly I haven't worked it into my plan as much as I should.

It is something that I am going to be working on in the future.

For now here are the seven tips have really helped me. Now I am not sure they will work for everyone, but I can only share my experiences.

I am available for questions whenever folks have them.

Excuse me while I go and order another pair of Superman socks to go with my Wile E Coyote rocket boots Asics sneakers.

***

What has helped you improve your speed?