Prefontaine Classic 2014

Wow! To say that I had an amazing weekend would be an understatement. 

This was my first time at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. I have been wanting to go to the Pre for years now, but this year, my dad made it happen! He booked us tickets for a father/daughter weekend trip. 

I made my way south toward Eugene right after work on Friday. After checking into our hotel, we head over to Hayward Field to check out some of the evening events. We got to watch Miss Mary Cain run, finally! This girl has some serious talent and not only that, but she's extremely humble. I watched her sign autographs and take pictures with a bunch of pre-teen girls after her race. She thanked each and every one of them for supporting her. I thought that was pretty awesome.

We also got to witness Galen Rupp smash his own record at Hayward Field in the 10,000 meter event (10k) with a time of 26 mins, 44 seconds! It was incredible to watch him run. I loved that Alberto Salazar ran the victory lap with him after he had won. 

On Saturday, we began our morning with a beautiful run on the Prefontaine Trail, unfortunately, I forgot my armband so I couldn't bring my phone to take photos. :( I was so incredibly bummed because it was BEAUTIFUL. So I guess you'll just have to take my word for it... 

After grabbing a coffee and a quick bite to eat, we took a drive to Pre Rock where Steve Prefontaine died. I loved seeing what runners had left on his memorial-- one runner left a shirt, sweat covering the front of it--dedicateing the run to Pre, himself. 

To our surprise, Steve's older sister Neta was there telling stories about her brother to keep his memory alive. It was an intimate experience. Neta said that every year, she comes to Pre Rock during the Prefontaine Classic to meet the people who continue to honor her brother's memory as a thank you. She was such a sweet woman and I was incredibly honored to meet her. She even let me take a picture with her! This is truly something I won't forget. 

For your dedication and loyalty
To your principles and beliefs...
For your love, warmth, and friendship
For your family and friends...
You are missed by so many
And you will never be forgotten...

We spent the rest of the day watching some of my favorite athletes compete; Ashton Eaton, Allison Felix, Bernard Lagat and Sonya Richards-Ross--all incredible runners! It's unbelievable to watch these events in person! Here were a few photos I captured. 

Eugene is an amazing place. There is SO much history for runners here. I truly felt the spirit of Pre and the town just LIVES for this event every year. It was very special to be a part of it. I can't wait for next year as my dad and I plan to make this an annual tradition. 

How was your weekend?

Have you been to the Pre?

Who is your idol runner?

And CONGRATULATIONS to Karrie Millheim for winning the Costco membership giveaway! 

Easter Sunday, Trails & Sushi Dates

Happy Monday to you!

I hope your weekend was filled with beautiful memories and time spent with friends and family. 

{Grab your coffee and get ready for photo OVERLOAD}

:)

Of course I started the weekend off with a hilly run through the neighborhood--I just love beginning my weekend with a great run! I missed a turn on my way home Friday afternoon and discovered a trail entrance on the side of the road. I decided to grab the pooch and head out Saturday morning to see how far this trail went! We were on the hunt!  

After a few miles, we found a trail! It was a bit choppy (like a lot of trails around here) but we were happy to find one. I look forward to running a bit further on it next weekend. 

After our long run, Cooper and I were beat after conquering some monster hills. (He literally laid on the floor, belly up, with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.)
Mission: Exhaust the dog.
Nailed it!  

Saturday evening, Danny and I went out for a little sushi date to explore the area.

I tried eel for the first time! I felt so adventurous! :) 

We ended our date with some take-home espresso cake to share and a bottle of wine to drink while curled up at home in our PJs. Are we lame?? I love having our little piece of heaven, we like to call home. I know, sappy, but so true! 

Classy. Straight out of the to-go container! 

We had brunch with family on Easter Sunday. 

The table was decorated beautifully! The food was fabulous and there was a mimosa bar filled with fresh fruit, various juices and long stemmed champagne glasses--totally Pinterest worthy. We had a veggie scramble, french toast bake, fruit kabobs and antipasti (basil, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and various meats)

Don't worry, I took plenty of photos! 

How absolutely ADORABLE are these Easter basket place settings?!

Holidays always make me feel so incredibly thankful for the special people in my life. I love our best friends. They have become more than friends to me, they are family. Danny and I feel so grateful for them each and every day. Being able to spend these special moments with them mean the world to us. 

How was your Easter weekend?

What was your favorite moment?

Speedy Treadmill Workout

Good morning! 

This morning I am adding two posts to the blog. Due to a little technical difficulty, I was unable to get the last two day's posts out to you. So very sorry about that...but now, I have an awesome treadmill workout for you! 

I did this workout on Wednesday morning and wanted to share it with you. I have little time on Wednesday mornings to squeeze a workout in (because I work earlier in the day) so I have turned this day into my speed work day in my training cycle. 

This workout definitely got me sweatin' up a storm and working hard to keep up.

Enjoy! 

   Speed                  Comfort           Time

            5                 Warm Up/Easy Pac       2 Minutes 

6 (Increase 1 level)    Comfortable Pace       1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)    Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 1 level)     Comfortable Pace        1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)     Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

8 (Increase 1 level)            Hard                  2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 2 levels)    Comfortable Pace        1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)     Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 1 level)     Comfortable Pace        1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)     Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 1 level)      Comfortable Pace        1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)      Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

8 (Increase 1 level)             Hard                  2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 2 levels)      Comfortable Pace       1 Minute 

7 (Increase 1 level)      Comfortably Hard        2 Minutes 

6 (Reduce 1 level)      Comfortable Pace        1 Minute 

5 (Reduce 1 level)            Easy                    2 Minute 

3 (Reduce 2 levels)          Jog                      1 Minute 

          Walk                   *Cool Down                 2 minutes  

**Disclaimer: This workout is best performed with music blasting from your headphones while focusing an image of yourself getting stronger!! **  :) 

I used this song to get me through the discomfort and boredom of the treadmill during this workout--it's cheesy...I know...but heck, it worked! 

LMFAO "I'm Sexy And I Know It" 

I WORK OUT!!!

What's your favorite treadmill workout? 

Mini Playlist Makeover

I have been quite unmotivated lately. I'm not really sure what has come over me but for some reason, I'm going through a funk. Well, I am determined to get myself out of it! Sometimes it takes a small change to spark a little inspiration to get out the door. I decided to add a few new songs to my usual running playlist. Here are a few songs that may inspire you this week.

{Warning: I have incredibly random taste in my music selection.} :)

 This short playlist is a combination of both fast-paced and soothing music. I like to use the faster paced songs to get my heart rate up and to really get me in the mood to run. The calmer music is nice for enjoying the moment as I run my slower, longer distances.

Let me know what you think.

I'm crossing my fingers that this helps!

Do you have a workout mix?
What song really gets you motivated?

My Race Calendar Checklist

Friday: Rest
Saturday: Lower Body--weights, NTC*, elliptical (focus on glutes, hips and quads)
*Nike Training Club
Sunday: Super-duper LAZINESS. Zero, zip, nadda...absolutely NO long run this weekend. {Could not move after Saturday's intense workout--and am still hurting quite badly} I did however go on a long walk with the dog and husband though.

I hope you had a much more productive weekend than I did. I could not for the life of me find motivation to do just about anything. This was my answer to just about anything that required me to get up off of the couch:

Okay, so I wasn't THAT unproductive (but pretty close to it). I spent a lot of time this weekend mainly researching for races for my 2014 calendar. There are so many amazing races out there but only so much money that can go around...major bummer.

So as I sat on my computer flipping through race after race on the Race Center NW calendar, I tried to come up with a solid idea of which races I want to do this year. That didn't happen. I did however come up with a plan: choose three larger races this year that I really want to do (and are probably a bit more expensive) and fill in the rest of the months with shorter, smaller and perhaps even a bit cheaper races in between. And hey, part of my 2014 goals were to do some shorter distanced races, so it works out well for me! There are a few things I look for in races before I sign up for them:

1. Price--check out how much registration is and pay attention to when the early bird registration begins and when it ends. Try to sign up before the early bird special ends and the price gets bumped $5-10. 
2. Course--I pay attention to the course layout. I get some major A.D.D. on flat, road races that are just an out and back course. If you too share this same issue, you may want to pay attention the course and strive for something a little more scenic. I've had a couple of races that were extremely overpriced for the actual course and actually, the event itself. I have personally noted to pay more attention in the future. 

• Aid Stations--I added this under the course section because it falls along the sidelines of course value.  I know how often I need water while running, most races have aid stations every two miles, however, some races do not. I have learned this the hard way. I now pay attention to the aid stations because my training depends on it. 
• Volunteers-  volunteers can make or break a race. Their job is crucial to a good race. The volunteers are the ones that are supplying you with gummy bears and electrolytes, trust me, you want a well staffed, volunteer base at your race. Pay attention to who is sponsoring the race and it may give you an idea about who the volunteers will be. (The Team In Training group always has an awesome volunteer turn out!) 

   3.   Event Company--I am beginning to become a little more familiar with companies that throw races in the area as well as across the US. Some companies are known to throw impressive, nation-wide race series and others, not so much. If you aren't as familiar, ask some friends or coworkers who have participated in races and ask them if they've done a (fill in the blank) race before. They may be able to give you some helpful information.

  4.   Swag--OKAY, OKAY. So...I probably shouldn't admit it but let's be real here, we all do this. We want to know what we are paying for annnnnd what is at that finish line waiting for us. At The Nike Women's Marathon finish line, you are greeted by firemen in tuxedos bent on one knee and presented with  a Tiffany's necklace. I mean, come on, worth spending money and participating in?? Uhhh YEAH! That's some swag I want to run 26.2 miles for!!

  5.   Reviews--I read reviews about the races I'm interested in to get a better vibe from it. I love reading race reviews from fellow bloggers because I always feel that bloggers give a realistic perspective (when they aren't being paid to give a great review--*pay attention for that). Sometimes this helps with the decision making as well.

Honestly, each race is an experience. You just want to pay attention to what you are investing your time and your money into before handing over your credit card number. I posted awhile back about the various types of races here. I have a few races on the calendar right now but have not exactly chosen all of them as of right now. It's still a work in process. If you have any suggestions for amazing races, please leave a comment below.

Are you doing any races this year that you are really excited about?

What do you look for when you are choosing a race? 

Mission: Eat Hills 4 Breakfast

Thursday: 3 x hill repeats (30 minutes)

As I mentioned in my New Year, New Goals post, I am working on a lot of glute and quad strengthening exercises this year. As part of this training, I am also focusing on hill repeats (those morning hill runs with my dad gave me a great insight into my current fitness level---uh, HELLO--Can you say OUT-OF-SHAPE?)  

So I have given myself a new mission:

 EAT HILLS FOR BREAKFAST!! 

(In other words, no more avoiding painful hills. Instead...conquer them!) 

You with me?!

So on Thursday morning, I came up with this gradual hill climb workout on the treadmill, check it out!

2 minute warm up 

then...

 Repeat 3 times with a 2 minute recovery (easy paced) run between each set
Finish with a 2 minute jog and a 1 minute walk to cool down

I would categorize this workout level as: intermediate. However, it can easily be tailored to both beginner and advanced level runners as well. Here are a few examples:

Beginners Level

2 minutes warm up

30 seconds @ incline level 1

30 seconds @ incline level 1.5... etc 

(and build on until incline level 3 or 4)

Advanced Level

For the advanced level runners you could play with speed on this one. Increase your speed to a comfortably hard pace during the hills or try sprinting during increased incline levels and so forth. 

 I loved this workout because it gradually build up to a difficult incline. I felt my muscles working hard and my heart pumping out of my chest by minute 4! It's a quicker jump into the hills but that's what makes it a challenge worthy of accepting! :) You could also definitely play with a few factors: speed, length of workout and level of incline. Again, this is just a guideline--do what suits your health and fitness level. 

I was sweatin' like a pig when I finished.

Short-n-sweet. Perfect for time left to stretch it out!  

So give it a try, let me know what you think!

Do you enjoy running hills?

Do you hate them as much as I do? 

(I'm trying REALLY hard to make friends with them but they just aren't consistently kind to me...we're working on our relationship right now.)

How do you get through hard workouts? Any tips or tricks?!

How We Spent Our Holiday

Monday: 5.5 Mile Run (Easy--untimed)

Tuesday: Barre workout (40 minutes)

Wednesday: Upper Body weights & *NTC Cardio Killer (60 minutes)

*Nike Training Club phone app

I hope you had a stress-free and relaxing holiday! The holidays treated my husband and myself very well this year. We thoroughly enjoyed time with our friends and family over the break. We stayed with my parents for a week in Southern Oregon. I love being home. There's just something that is so calming about being in my parents' home. I spent mornings with my dad, running longer, hilly trail runs and then we went for round two in the afternoon for a family gym workout session. I enjoyed having the time to just exercise and SLEEP. Not to mention the fact that I could actually take a nap every day! Oh how I love my mid-day naps! It was absolutely heavenly. I didn't realize how much sleep I was actually missing until I gave myself this down time. Do you ever feel that way?

Here are a few photos from our trip...

Road trip down to Southern Oregon. Check out this beautiful sunset!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen this photo. On Christmas Eve in Christmas PJs on our way to look at the neighborhood Christmas Lights!!
(My husband and I look super excited to be in our matching family pajamas, don't we?)

Had to check out the new coffee shop in town that serves STUMPTOWN COFFEE! I'm a coffee fanatic and I also love Stumptown coffee so this was a win, win for me. Cooper is also a little coffee lover, as you can tell. He just couldn't wait for that latte!  :) 

Trail running is my absolute favorite. My dad took me on some of his favorite routes every morning. A lot of the trails were still covered in ice. Yes, I almost fell on my face a few times. 

The trail had some really slick spots. (I got these sweet compression socks from my husband for Christmas--they rock--kept my legs feeling fresh the whole run!) 

I wish that I had captured more photos during the holiday. There were so many beautiful spots on the trails that I wish I could have shared with you. However, I was a little more concerned about my foot placement than my photography at the time. At least you got a little taste of it!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy 2014!

How was your holiday?

Did you make time to relax?

New Year, New Goals!

Happy New Year to you!

After a brief break from blogging to repair my site and work on new material, I am proud to say that I am back! Last night my husband and I sat back discussing what a wild and crazy year 2013 was. It was surreal to think about how much we had gone through and even more so to think of how much we have both grown since this time last year. I cannot wait to see what this next year will hold for us. So, I am starting this year with a post about my 2014 goals. 

Run Like A Fiend: 

• Stronger-- Cross train like a fool! I had so many issues with my hips and knees this year so I really want to improve the strength in my quads and glutes to support those areas. My ultimate goal is to run a marathon this year. If  I can get those muscles stronger, I know I can do it. My last race of the year really proved to me that I would not be capable of going further in distance unless I build those muscles the right way. I plan on a strict regime of weight training two-three days a week and adding yoga or pilates into that equation on those days as well (aka--double workout days). 
• Better-- I want to be a better runner. And I want to race MORE! This year I don't want to focus on how far I can go but instead, learning how to make smaller goals in shorter races. I was so focused on distance that I forgot how to enjoy shorter distances as well. Mentally, I burnt myself out during training sessions because of this. Participating in shorter distances and creating new goals within those races will make me a better runner. 
• Faster-- First, I have to admit something to you...I hate running fast. I really do. I'm going to sound like a baby but...it's hard! It hurts! It's just down right unenjoyable to me. But you know what? This year, I'm adding faster to my list of goals because I want to improve my times. This year I want to beat that god-forsaking 2 hour mark that I just cannot seem to break and I want to focus on time goals for shorter distances like a 5 or 10k. I know I can do this. By training for speed, this will also make me a better and stronger runner! BOOM!! 
• Longer--Because I really want to get to marathon-status, I need to challenge my ability to run distance. I plan on much longer weekend runs and to push past my 13 mile limit. It's going to take time out of my day (which is a poor excuse for why I haven't been running longer lately) but it is actually really worth my time to do this. If I truly want to make a marathon happen (maybe the Portland Marathon in October) then I need to make this year count, training-wise. 

Feed My Soul

• Taking time to breathe.--All too often I am rushing ALL OF THE TIME. I want to stop worrying about how many things I can check off the "to-do" list and instead, just remember to BREATHE. Life can be crazy, stressful and completely overwhelming, if you forget to breathe, it will pass you by before you know it. I want to focus on slowing things down this year. 
• Read more--I want to make time to read more and stress less on social media. I have this on my list every year. I realized this year that part of the reason I never achieve this goal is because I haven't found a balance in my day to make time for it. This year, I will make time. 
• Balance--Between a full time job, blogging and training for races, I want to find a balance of how I can achieve all of the important commitments in my life. This will take a lot of planning and preparation to make this happen. I'm committed to doing this, this year. 

Blog With Purpose

• Commit to commenting-- I am still new to blogging and am learning proper etiquette, like commenting on other's pages and supporting fellow bloggers. This year, I am determined to comment on at least 2 blogs a day. 
• Become business savvy--I want to learn more about how blogging as a business truly works and how I can leverage my content.
• Network like a maniac-- I want to meet new bloggers, attend more conferences and do some guest posts this year. I know that I can learn so much from other bloggers in the community. 
• Bring quality content--I want to continue to bring my knowledge, experience and as much information as I can provide to you. *You can help me by commenting on my posts and sending your feedback and questions my way at: SBMRunner@Gmail.com (yes, I have a new email now). 
• Spread #MightyProud--This is my own special touch to my blog. Hashtagging your proudest moments have been so fun for me to see. I love seeing your photos so please continue to send them to my email or to use the #mightyproud when submitting them to a social media site. You are inspiring so many with every photo posted!

What are your resolution/goals for 2014?

How do you make sure you achieve the goals you set?

Do you like the new site?

I Want To Race!

Training--Tapering
Wednesday: Rest Day (Enjoyed a much needed extra rest day this week)
Thursday: Yasso 800 x 3

So you have decided that you want to participate in a race event. Well, where do you begin? You have your eyes set on a popular race but is it the right fit for you? Here are a few tips I suggest when searching for a race worth participating in.

Time & Distance: Think about what your goal is, how far do you want to run and how much time are you giving yourself to train. Always allow yourself at least 3 months for a half marathon and 6 for a full. This allows you plenty of time to safely train for a race of that distance. Think about your commitment level and how much of your time you are willing to train for the distance you have your eyes set on.

Variety of Races: Reach out to friends, family and co-workers, asking if anyone has participated in a race that they truly enjoyed. Check out local race websites for options. There are a variety of races, some themed, some to raise money for charities and others can be much more competitive. Here are a few common races first-timers choose:

• Themed races such as The Color Run or The Zombie Run are usually a 5k (or about 3 miles) distance. These races offer a fun and energetic atmosphere, drawing both runners and non-runners alike. Be aware of these "fun runs" as many of them are extremely overpriced and may not offer  the most scenic running route. However, these events attract many unexperienced runners due to it's non-competitive atmosphere. It allows people to become interested in racing without the pressure of committing to a longer distance. I have heard mixed reviews about such races but many enjoy the atmosphere and experience itself. 
• Charity-based races are usually filled with friendly volunteers willing to cheer you on with signs and high fives throughout the course. However, depending on the organization, some races are not always as organized and perhaps may not have as many volunteers as you may assume there to be. Because much of the money is coming from fundraising or entry fees, larger, sponsored organizations will go much smoother than a smaller, fundraising-only based race. Many of these races are fairly priced and a large portion of the money raised supports a great cause. This is always a great route to go because there are so many out there, Race For The Cure is one example. Giving your running a purpose feels extremely rewarding when you choose to run for a cause dear to your heart. 
• Destination runs are typically pretty pricey but offer a unique experience. These races tend to have a lot of additional packages that you can add on to your race entry such as a pre-race meal with a guest speaker or other events put on throughout the weekend. Be aware of the (at least) $10 processing fee on top of your already $100 entry fee that many of these races require. Destination races make their money by offering a "first class experience" to the racing world. Most of them take place with a beautiful backdrop and usually have some sort of weekend getaway idea behind it. If it is your first race ever, I would consider a local race first. So many things can go wrong when you travel and especially if it is your first race, you don't want anything to derail your training. There are time changes, jet lag and all other unexpected situations that can occur when you travel. It's best to choose local for your first ever race for these reasons. 
• Relay Options: These races can be a lot of fun because you run with one or more individual(s). Relay races are usually fast-paced but high energy. Make sure that you put yourself in a team that are willing to work as hard as you are and are committed. Life happens and sometimes people drop out days before the race, be aware and have a back up plan. This happens often.

So again, research and evaluate what you are looking for.

Route: Consider the route before you decide on a race. Once you find a race that interests you, look into the elevation and route itself. Are there hills? Think about your commitment to train for hills. And if there are hills, how many are there and how large are they? Is the terrain flat? Are you running through a city or the country and where is it located? Consider what you would like to see while you are running. Imagine yourself running that 26.2 miles through flat and dry desert, is that appealing to you? No? Then reconsider that race and look into others. If you are participating in a half or full marathon, take a look at the water and fueling stations, how far apart are they and does that fit with your individualized training plan? *And side note--consider the route in the season the run is taking place. They're all things to consider before settling on a race.

Training Plans:  You can find resources on the race and other running websites. There are many different methods to training but I think that is the fun of it all. Running is such an individual sport that you have to find what is right for you. Look into a few different options and ask others around you what they have used in the past. Make sure that the plan meets the timeline you have set for yourself to compete in the race.

Although this may seem lengthy, these are things to be aware of when choosing a race.

What has been your favorite race and why? What do you look for when signing up for a race? 

Bearded Brothers Energy Bar Review

Saturday: 5 Miles (Hills)
Sunday: 6 Miles (Free Run) + Core Strengthening Workout at the gym

I am extremely excited for today's post. I have been given the opportunity to review Bearded Brothers Energy Bars! I fell in love with these bars when one of them came to me in my StrideBox a few months back. I reached out to the company, telling them how much I enjoyed their bars and what I was doing with my blog. They were generous enough to understand a girl trying to make her mark in the blogging world and have given me the opportunity to write a review about their products.

First, I want to explain a little bit about the company. Bearded Brothers began with two outdoor-lovin' guys based in Austin, Texas. They shared a passion for healthy food and quality. Here is a direct quote from their website: Most of our handmade energy bars are 100% organic, mostly raw, gluten free, vegan friendly and amazingly delicious. Another fun fact, the wrapper is compostable! The bars come in four flavors: Mighty Maca Chocolate, Colossal Coconut Mango, Fabulous Ginger Peach and Bodacious Blueberry Vanilla. 

The first time I tried the Bearded Brothers product, I had Bodacious Blueberry. I instantly loved it! It definitely tasted like blueberry but had a nice finish with the mellow vanilla flavoring. The bar curbed my appetite and left me feeling satisfied.  I am a pretty conscientious eater, and I like to know what is in my food before I put it in my body. I loved that these bars are made with simple ingredients that you can actually read (unlike a lot of products that use food jargon you can barely pronounce). The ingredients consist of mainly fruits and nuts. Not only was it healthy, but it tasted great! I knew that I wanted to spread the word about these wholesome bars right away. Plus, I live in Portland...we are all about small businesses, and hand-crafted, organic products! I was so excited to get the opportunity to review and try the other flavors Bearded Brothers has to offer. I literally yelled with excitement, scaring my husband who was in the other room at the time. 

Testing the Mighty Maca Chocolate and Colossal Coconut Mango

The compostable wrappers

Here's a shot of the actual Colossal Coconut Mango Bar

So the question is...how were they?

The Fabulous Ginger Peach was the first that I tried. I ate it in the late afternoon, hoping it could get me through the rest of my work day and until dinner. I was shocked at how full I felt. I have low blood sugar so I typically eat every two hours to keep my sugar levels at bay. The bar kept me feeling full and held my blood sugar levels for twice as long! I was amazed! Perhaps it was the Chia Seeds in the bar that sustained my hunger, regardless, it worked very well! Within the first bite, I instantly tasted the ginger. It is pretty powerful, so if you are not a fan of ginger, this particular flavor may not be one you would prefer to eat. I like ginger, so it was enjoyable to me. I liked the small bits of peach as well. Every couple of bites, you get a good chunk of peachy goodness, if you will. The texture initially took a second to adjust to, it's definitely nutty but also very soft. However, you have to remember, the ingredients are mainly nuts and dried fruits so it makes sense that this is the consistency. I was ready to try the other two!

The Colossal Coconut Mango and Mighty Maca Chocolate were probably my favorites of the bunch. The Colossal Coconut Mango was a mild bar. It has a nice tropical flavor to it. There weren't any over-powering flavors, it had a nice balance with the mild mango taste and a good bite of coconut. The Mighty Maca Chocolate had a great spice to it. They added both cocoa nibs and mexican chocolate to the bar. It therefore had a great chocolate depth with a cinnamon spice punch. Both were delicious and  nutritious! I felt good putting clean foods into my body. As a runner, I am always looking to fuel my body with wholesome foods that will keep me going.

Thank you again so very much Bearded Brothers for the opportunity to review your awesome energy bars! These are a great source of nutrients for runners as well as anyone looking for a healthy alternative for a quick, grab-and-go snack! If you would like to learn more about this great company, check them out Here. I not only love their clean eating approach to energy bars but I also love what they stand for. I am also incredibly humbled by the fact that they sent me samples, even though I had just begun my blog. I received the nicest note from one of their representatives with wonderful words of encouragement and support for my blog. It's nice to know that just because you start small, doesn't mean you can't make it big. I hope to work with them in the future. I am officially spreading the Bearded Brothers love around Portland. So get out there and try these bars! I would love to do a giveaway with them so please leave a comment if you would like me to provide a giveaway on my blog! 

I also wanted to clarify, some people have been wondering if you can still follow my blog if you do not have a google + account. At the top of my page to the left of my posts, you can follow me by email. Just type your email in and when I write a new post, you will be notified by email. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or need a walk through to do this. Thank you all again for the wonderful feedback and support. I still need your help though, I still need more followers! This was a great opportunity with Bearded Brothers and as I am trying to build a reputable blog, I need more followers in order to have more product-related posts and exposure. I would love to see who my audience is and continue to provide informative material. 

Have a great Monday and do something for yourself today--get out and get movin'!

(Reason #1,098,345,623 why I love running--watching the sun rise this Sunday morning during my run.) 

Would you like to see product giveaways on my blog? What types of products would you like to see given away? What do you look for when you choose snacks or meals on the go?

Injury in Women Runners

Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Track Workout: 4 x Yasso 800's

During peak periods of my training, I experience aches and pains. In my last race, I experienced excruciating pain in my left hip. I couldn't walk well for almost a week. I was in so much pain during the race and had never had this happen before. Typically, when I cover higher milage, I find pain in my knees. I have learned to adapt to the pain by compensating with a knee brace. I have always thought of this pain to be genetically related, "poor knees" run in my family. But is this really the case?  I know that aches and pains are common in runners but it seems that there are a variety of names for these injuries and reasons for why we get them. 

So what's the deal? 

I came across an article directed at women runners. The article was incredibly interesting to me. It covered common injuries that affect women runners directly. I may sound naive, but I didn't realize that women could be susceptible to specific running-related injuries. There were quite a few items listed, however, here were a few that struck me during my reading:

Hips. Due to our wider hips, women develop more injury below-the-belt. Something called Bursitis is common in women's running. Bursitis is an inflammation in the bursa sacs that surround and cushion your hip joint. Bursitis is similar to a blister. "If the joint isn't aligned, you'll have rubbing. And if you run enough miles, that rubbing will create real irritation." (Runners World)
Prevention:  Wear properly fitted running shoes, avoid sloped surfaces and increase your milage no more than 10% each week.

Knees. Your knees also fall victim to wider hips. Patellofemoral Syndrome is pain in the underside of the knee cap, as it rubs against the bottom of the thigh bone it can cause pain and inflammation. A common reason for this injury is due to our build--our hip-to-ankle ratio is not perfectly straight. We may be curved inward, "knock knees" or outward, "bowlegged" which makes us more prone to develop knee pain. 
Prevention: Quad strengthening exercises as well as correctly fitted running shoes with medial support will benefit you.  This will prevent your ankles and heels from rolling either outward or inward. And as always, if you feel pain, take a break and return to your routine once the pain dissipates. 

Shins. Shinsplints cause pain in the inside edge of the shinbone. Women tend to have looser ligaments in their knees and ankles which creates a situation where you are more likely to overpronate. 
Prevention: Stretch and add strengthening exercises to build muscle in the areas that are lacking. Look for shoes that provide arch support and keep your ankle in line. You may want to look for a shoe with a stiff structure to it. *Shinsplints are no pain to run through, if you continue to run through excruciating pain, there is a chance that you can develop a stress fracture. This takes time to heal and is very painful. Kiss running goodbye for weeks or perhaps longer...

Feet. Women tend to have narrower heels than men. Many women mistakenly buy shoes that are one size too small. This is typically to compensate for the smaller heel, thinking that they are buying a shoe that accurately fits them correctly. Plantar Fasciitis is a common injury in the foot. It is an inflammation of the tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It often creates a shooting pain in the heel or arch. 
Prevention: Find a pair of shoes that fit you properly. Make sure that there is minimal to zero opportunity for slippage. The article suggested something called the "wet test": Step out of the shower onto a piece of paper, trace the outline of your foot and take it with you to a running store to show an associate. This will help determine how your foot strikes the ground naturally and allow the store associate to have an accurate perception. Sounds a bit silly but I could see how it could be beneficial! Worst case scenario, blame this ridiculous blogger for telling you to conduct such a strange act. 

Lungs. Women are likely to suffer from asthma attacks or exercise-induced asthma during running activities. This can be caused by cold air, physical and emotional stress, as well as hormones (especially the week before or during your period). Dehydration is also another factor that may cause an attack. 
Prevention: Drink approximately 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes (does that seem like a lot to anyone else? I feel like I would be so uncomfortable during my run if I drank that much that often). It also suggests diet changes, however, I am no dietitian, so, if you have asthma concerns, consult your doctor before altering your diet. 

Aren't these facts interesting? I identified with the knee and the hip pain. I feel better knowing that it is common in women and not necessarily because I am running too much or incorrectly. Again, I am no doctor or dietician, however, this information is coming from a reliable source. I feed off of running knowledge so regardless, it's an interesting perspective. Remember, if you have injury or health concerns, consult a doctor. It's important to listen to your body and if you feel pain. Even if you feel that something that just isn't right...stop. It doesn't make you a weak individual to stop or walk. It actually makes you a very smart cookie. I would rather walk when in pain, then to result in injury with a  prescription of bed rest and no running for weeks!

If you would like to read more on this article, see this site: Here.

Do you ever feel pain during your runs? Do you notice it at a certain milage? Did any of these facts listed find you interested in learning more? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments. Please leave them in the comment section below!