1 month down... 100 Days to go....

Enter....Type A, Virgo, OCD, perfectionist tendencies.... I am in FULL panic mode!

OK....so here we are 1 month into training (which has been going FANTASTIC so far by the way)...and I am a little irritated...but I am trying to reign-it-in...trying...

When you have a training schedule you are SUPPOSED to FOLLOW the training schedule....right?

With weather interfering, our training runs are getting canceled (twice now) and with each derailment , complete ignoring "adjustment" of the schedule, I am starting to feel a little cheated about this whole training experience.

Every time we make an "adjustment", I am not reaching the mileage I am SUPPOSED to be at in order to SAFELY and STEADILY build up to that big 22 mile training run... let me break it down for you...

Each weekend you build your long run by 1 or 2 miles. Last weekend we ran 6 miles (it was great!) Tomorrow I was SUPPOSED to run 8 miles.

So next week, weather permitting, WHAT mileage are we going to run????????????????

I need to know..... we should run 10....but since we cancelled this weekend, the coaches will assume people took the day off and we probably won't...I don't like this...

I am still going to run 8 miles, tomorrow, here, in the rain, by myself, if I don't I will be EVEN MORE anxious/worried/frustrated.... I AM GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCHEDULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am feeling like a Grumpy Bear... plus he has a rain cloud on his belly...
how perfect :(

~Lauren ( Just call me "Negative Neely" tonight!)

Dedication #2: Mom and Dad

A proper dedication cannot be complete without thanking mom and dad!

My mom and dad are always my biggest supporters. They are always confident in my success, even when I have doubts or am lacking confidence.

They have always cheered me on from the sidelines---from softball in second grade to basketball and softball in high school---and off the field too....from college to grad school...jobs...ALWAYS!

They are the best!

I love you Mom and Dad!

~Lauren

The Before and After Effect

Since I am exhausted...I am going to tell my story in pictures tonight...

This is what I have felt like EVERY day this week (long week at work...I will spare you the details)

Poor Amy...and I am not exaggerating, my hair even looked about the same too...

BUT....this is what I feel like after I finish a run....

A jolly gingerbread gallivanting through the fields ---I love this little guy from Shrek:)

Anyways, the moral of this story is....exercise cures all....it makes you forget about your worries and stress, makes you feel better, helps you sleep better....its my drug...its the best.

So even when you feel like "Amy" (see above) remember that warm, fuzzy wonderful gingerbread feeling you get after...

And remember its SOOOOOOO worth it!

Happy Running!

~Lauren

Fitting it in...

With my schedule lately, I am really feeling the "commitment" part of training. Between business trips, late nights at work and the general biological need for sleep...sometimes fitting it--as in training-- in, can be a challenge.

I am an organizer, a planner....psychotically type A, borderline OCD....I schedule my workouts for the week on Sunday evening. I post them in my planner like they are a dinner date with Jesus, that I just can't miss. Sure I have to ruin my whole day reschedule sometimes, but, hey such is life, and I am getting better at going with the flow and, in true Tim Gunn fashion, I am making it work.

And, I must say, I have been doing really well. I am even "attempting" to run before work. Now, for any of you who know my work schedule, you know I already get up at an ungodly hour anyways. This morning, my body cursed me for about 15 minutes before it gave in to the run at 5:15 am.


Aside from chanting "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." like Dory from "Finding Nemo," here are some great tips I found recently, that I wanted to share:

Check out these motivational tips from one of my FAVE blogs: Runner's Kitchen

http://www.runnerskitchen.com/2010/02/motivation-for-running/

(I especially love the "Not going is NOT an option" mantra)

Also, check out this recent post from the Runners World website:

http://askcoachjenny.runnersworld.com/2010/02/10-ways-to-get-your-running-mojo-back.html

Kitchen Adventures: Kale

With all this running, it seems silly to throw all my hard work away by shoveling garbage in my mouth. Overall I would say I eat pretty decent and healthy, compared to most, but not always...

Living a "healthy lifestyle" is often compared to running a marathon. You can't sprint, you can do to much too soon, you have to try new things, new strategies, to keep you on track. I think people often try to overhaul their diets 100%, all at once, and inevitably fail because the changes are so drastic and cannot be maintained. A diet has an end date. A lifestyle is forever.

Plain and simple: I am trying to be more adventurous with my healthy lifestyle (so as not to get bored). Not adventurous like deep-fried twinkie. Adventurous like trying new foods from Trader Joes.

So in honor of trying new things, I have decided to give kale a chance. I have read a lot about kale these days, every one seems to be eating it---its in all my health magazines and the other blogs I read. It wasn't until I read about "kale chips" that I got really excited.

(Some people are like, WTF is Kale? )

This is Kale:

It's a dark, leafy green. Kale is high in fiber, Vitamins K, A, and C and even Calcium. (Pretty cheap too! This BIG bundle costs $1.99 and made a GRIP of chips)

These are tasty little morsels and healthy as all get out! They taste like potato chips--without the guilt!

Try them and let me know what you think.

RECIPE:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Rinse and dry Kale
-Pull leaves from stems and spread on cookie sheet.
-Drizzle with EVOO ( about 1tsp) and sprinkle with some Kosher salt
(you can also experiment with other seasonings or even some Parmesan cheese, yum!)
-Bake for about 10-12 minutes, until edges are little brown

Here are some photos of my adventure:

Rinsing the leaves (Are you loving my pineapple colander, or what!)

Getting ready to bake

Ready to eat! Oh! and PS: Dip them in ketchup...FANTASTIC! :)

Ipod Inspirations: The Power Song

Ask me to run without my Ipod and I would tell you to pry it out of my hand cold, dead hands... seriously...

Running with a partner is great, you can chat, and train at that level of still being able to hold a conversation and not gasping for air. You feel comfortable. Running by myself is a whole 'nother story. I think the sound of my strained breathing ACTUALLY makes me breathe worse, and the sound of each foot pounding the pavement, makes me feel like an elephant. It's distracting.

As you can see I am not one of those "zen-runners," the one's who say "be one with nature," "be in tune with your breathing." The only person I want to be in tune with is Ms.Britney as she propels me forward with daydreams of that VMA performance in 2000....you know the one...can you say A-M-A-Z-I-N-G figure!

Anyways, so I wanted to share some songs that keep me pumped and keep me running. My Nike + Ipod gadget calls this song the "Power Song." When I am running along, if I need a burst of energy I can automatically skip to my power song and be energized.

Need some new jams? Check these out:

Don't be alarmed by some of the artists...I am an equal opportunity downloader :)

"Go Getta" Young Jeezy and R. Kelly

"Lose Yourself" Eminem

"Crank it Up" Ashley Tisdale
( I am pretty convinced I started singing this one out loud last weekend at the gym...does that ever happen to anyone else....??)

"Do Somethin'" Britney Spears

"Down with the Sickness" Disturbed

"'Till I Collapse" Eminem Feat Nate Dogg

"What You Waiting For" Gwen Stefani

"Unstoppable" Kat De Luna

"Hard" Rhianna and Jeezy

"BOB" Outkast

"Live Your Dreams" Athena Cage

~Lauren

Dedicating the Miles... #1

One of the MANY techniques people talk about when training for a marathon is to dedicate each of the 26.2 miles to someone. The thinking behind this is when you are in the marathon, struggling ( because, inevitably, there will be struggling) you can mentally call on all of the special people in your life--who support you and those you are thankful for.

So in the next 17 weeks leading up to the marathon, I am going to come up with a list of 26.2 people ( the .2 will be reserved for a short person or someone under the age of 5) I will throw them out here in no particular order and before my race I will make my final order.

There aren’t enough miles in a marathon to recognize everyone, so with that said, I’m dedicating a few miles of my race to special “groups,” so that I may umbrella everyone in! :)

Please note: I suggest you be nice to me over these next 17-weeks, otherwise I may drop you in the mile 20 spot--which I hear is a "difficult" spot in the race--- :) ha ha ha

DEDICATION #1 : BEMA



It only makes sense to dedicate at least one of my miles to the person who I am training in honor of, my grandma : Bema.

My Bema is my mom's mom. She lived in Thousand Oaks, very close by, so we were very close my whole life. She passed away a little over three years ago after complications from her stroke. I remember looking forward to weekends at Bema's. She would spoil us with donuts every morning and all the Happy Meals and soda we wanted ( ironic, huh?). We would build forts in the back room. Pick tangerines from the tree in the backyard. And hide from the creepy, human-like, doll in the spare room ( sister and cousins, you know what I am talking about!!!) Family gatherings were always filled with loud laughter, storytelling, food and alcohol ( hey we are a big Irish family, what do you expect?) Good times. I miss those times.

Another pic....this one is me as a tiny (but very chunky) baby munchkin and my Bema and Bepa

"I'm A Runner"

No, this post is not about drug rehab or if running can enhance your sex life ( although, I have read that....I digress)

This post is about one of my favorite "running-related" things, something that I look forward to each month from Runner's World Magazine ( and/or website)....It is called the "I'm A Runner" section.

Each month they feature a new "famous person"-- athlete, singer, actress, politician, etc.-- on the last page of any issue or on the website, under the motivation tab.

I think of it as a spin-off of my celebrity news obsession (please note: in my previous post about my magazine obsession you did not see my tall stack of US Magazine, Life & Style....I know its a serious problem!) I love reading about what other runners do ( as if it is more exciting since they are a celebrity, or something?), their tips, what works for them and how they became runners in the first place.

The most recent runner featured was Dr. Drew Pinsky....who I L-O-V-E! His interview is great. I love his unapologetic tone when he says "I run slow. Very slow. I'm old." I don't think he is old, so I am pretty sure he is not THAT slow...

Check out the interview:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-410--13392-1-1X2-3,00.html


News My Fellow Runners Can Use:

Have you heard about Michael Pollan's new book?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/health/02brod.html?ref=health

What's all this talk about barefoot running...are you kidding me? Def not for me....
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60Q6FA20100127?type=sportsNews

~Lauren

Where My Girls At?

Any girl, lady, woman or lassie ( hey, its almost St. Patty's day) out there who is even THINKING about training for a marathon MUST read this book. You must, you must, you must!

I read it last summer and it was a hilarious, quick read. The author is a self-proclaimed couch potato who wildly decides to train for a marathon and shares her journey along the way....sound familiar? :)

Check this book out (or borrow my copy!)

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Nonrunners-Marathon-Guide-Women-Training/dp/1580052053/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265130673&sr=8-1

~Lauren