13.1 Miles: Training Week 1

Last Saturday I announced to the online world that I will be running my first ever half-marathon on March 4th. 

The Gasparilla Distance Classic is in Tampa and is exactly:

*10 Weeks Away!* (Well...9 now.)

Since this is my first half, I wanted to record and share every step of the way with you to show that running a half-marathon isn't impossible.  All you need to train and run is a goal, discipline and lots of blood sweat and tears.

Before getting to Week 1, I want to stress the importance of pre-training. This basically means going on leisure runs without recording my time or distance, with the goal of continuously running for 30 minutes. Doing this will build up your stamina and get you ready for serious training.

When looking for a training program to follow, I simply googled "half-marathon training for beginners" and found a few sites.  The one I ended up following happens to be the same program my friend Erin is on, which is perfect because she is the one who inspired me to sign up for the race!

There's different versions of days, distances per day, and length of weeks of programs to choose from, but we both settled on the 10 Week Program from MarathonRookie.com.

source: MarathonRookie.com

Week 1 started on Monday for me and it felt great.  Here's a brief breakdown of each day to get you on my page.  All of my stats are tracked on my profile on MapMyRun.com.

Day 1

Monday, Dec. 26th, 2011

Scott ran with me on my first official training day, which was also the day after Christmas.  Although it felt good to run, I was struggling from all of the Christmas cookies and treats I'd consumed!  I had to stop to walk twice (stomach cramps), but luckily Scott started our pace off faster than I like to go, which saved my time.

Miles: 3

Time: 24:18

Speed: 7.4mi/h

Pace: 8:07min/mi

 Post-Run Meal:

After all the crap sugary treats I ate for Christmas, I was craving protein.  Day 1's meal featured 3 egg whites scrambled with tomatoes, green peppers and black olives, served with a Morning Star Farms Hot'n Spiciy Veggie Sausage Patty, complete with a side of salsa and 8 oz. of Trop 50 Pomegranate Blueberry Juice.

Day 2

Wednesday, Dec. 28th, 2011

I woke up bright and early Tuesday, since this is my favorite time to run outside.  Being out there while the sun rises is such a motivation for me to run 20 times faster.

Miles: 3

Time: 25:11

Speed: 7.1mi/h

Pace: 8:25min/mi

 Post-Run Meal:

I kept my meal on the lighter side, since I was planning to meet my friend Katie for breakfast and a Doggie Park Date.  After my run, I got enough fuel from 8 oz. of Odwalla Superfood Smoothie and the rest of my banana I started before my run.

Day 3

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

I met my mom for a run at Lake Eola.  She is also training with me, in hopes of signing up for the half-marathon herself.  She's doing a great job keeping up and doesn't let the 30 years she has on me slow her down.  I slowed Day 3 down a little here and there to run right by her side.

Miles: 3

Time: 28:10

Speed: 6.4mi/h

Pace: 9:26min/mi

 Post-Run Meal:

Since Panera Bread was right across the street, we walked over to enjoy breakfast sandwiches.  I got the Breakfast Power Sandwich with Ham, Cheese and Egg Whites on whole grain with a Medium Hazelnut Coffee.

Day 4

Saturday, December 31, 2011

*HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE*

Today we are getting ready to bring in 2012 and it looks GORGEOUS outside.

It was gorgeous...but it was also HOT!  We didn't go running at the best time of the day (meaning I had to stop once and almost fainted), but we got through it.  Good for us!

Miles: 4

Time: 33:21

Speed: 7.2mi/h

Pace: 8:21min/mi

 Post-Run Meal:

Today I was craving fruit, so I enjoyed a strawberry, banana and Stonyfiend Organic low-fat yogurt parfait topped with Bear Naked Fit Granola, paired with a DrinkChia! and a handful of raw almonds.

Week 1 of of Half-Marathon Training: Check.

What I've learned this week:

• Equipping yourself with the right running shoes makes a world of difference for running long distances, and your body.
• The best time for me to go running is first thing in the morning, with a little something in my belly.
• The worst time for me to go running is anywhere from 11am-3pm.  It's HOT here in Florida, and it's hard to run with sun in your eyes.
• It's important to re-hydrate and fuel up after your run as soon as possible.  This week I've enjoyed DrinkChia! and SoBe Lifewater for instant hydration.
• I really, really want a GPS/training watch for my runs!  Flipping back and forth from my playlist and iMapMyRun app can only get me so far for so long...

Goals for Training Week 2:

Do 3 miles in 23 minutes

Do 4 miles in 31 minutes.

Speaking of playlists, I'll be posting a playlist a week of what I used to get me through training.  Training Week 1 Playlist is coming your way, very shortly! :)

Happy Saturday!

Drink Chia!

Are chia seeds the new acai berry superfood?

Chia is becoming more and more popular among health enthusiasts, athletes and families.  I heard about chia seeds a few months ago, but didn't really think twice of what they were and why people were eating them. 

source: wikipedia.org

After shrugging the idea off for a while, I'm finally realizing how beneficial these little seeds could be for my diet, exercise and body.

Chia seeds provide protein, good fats and fiber, and its uses are comparable to flax or sesame seeds.  You can eat them whole, sprinkle them on top of your meals, and even drink them.

Yup... DrinkChia!

I was recently introduced to DrinkChia! and tried it for the first time after my run yesterday.  Right away, I was sold by the nutritious benefits, the naturally sweet flavor, and the Omega-3 content.  Since I'm not a huge fan of fish, I take Omega-3 supplements as part of my Everyday Vitamins Routine to supplement my need for fatty acid.

After comparing this 8oz bottle of DrinkChia! (880mg of Omega-3 + 290mg of Omega-6 + 100mg of Omega-9) to my bottle of Omega-3 Pills (1000mg of Omega-3 only), I realized this drink alone could replace my need for taking any kind of Fish Body Oils.

What does it taste like?  Exactly what the label says...it comes in 3 different flavors (for now) including Honeysuckle Pear, Strawberry Citrus and Mango Tangerine.

Can you taste the chia seeds and does it have a weird texture?

You can taste the seeds but the texture is just like drinking orange juice with pulp.  The seeds are packed in the all organic, all-natural juice and it blends nicely.  Just don't forget to Shake it Baby!

Chill, Shake, and DrinkChia!...it's pretty simple.

What else should you know?  

Besides giving you 880mg of Omega-3, it's loaded with antioxidants, it's gluten-free, and it only has 4 grams of sugar coming to 40 calories per 8oz. bottle.

Chia is a superfood and is proven to help hydration, endurance, heart health and brain power.  For more information about it's nutritional benefits, visit the DrinkChia! Nutrition Page.

DrinkChia! should not replace your need for a protein drink, but is recommended to be part of your morning breakfast, afternoon snack, or pre/post workout meals.

You can buy DrinkChia! online, or at Orlando venues.  The stores I'm most familiar with are Fresh Market, Chamberlin's and Track Shack, but you can find a complete list of distributors here.

 I'm looking forward to enjoying DrinkChia! as part of my half-marathon training for the next 10 weeks, and for years to come.

Stay posted for recipes and even a possible giveaway of DrinkChia! coming soon...

Question:

Do you incorporate chia seeds into your diet?  How?

Doggie Park Date

Today was a great day for both Roadie and I. I got to spend the morning with my dear friend, Katie and he fell in love with his new girlfriend, Isabelle or Izzy.

Katie arrived around 9am with Izzy and a present in hand.  She found this tennis ball at the pet store and had to get it for me, since it said HB <-- my nickname.

I love this!  Although it was perfect for the dog park, I didn't take it with us because I didn't want to risk it getting dirty.  Understandable? I think so.

We let the dogs get to know each other at home while we had a quick breakfast at First Watch.  I'm no longer serving there, but I have been craving this Greek Fetish Omelet for a week now, so we stopped in to say hello.

It's an omelet, yes...but I chose to make it a sandwich with an English muffin, a tomato slice and cut the eggs into thirds. :)

After breakfast we headed over to Dr. Phillips Community Park.  I love coming here and I know Roadie does too.  What's not to love?

There's beautiful ladies.

Digging.

Small Talk.

Trampling me with high fives (on my TOMS). #fail

Security Duties.

Running (too fast for cameras)...seriously they were lightning fast! and... Last but not least, lots of hugs from Mom.

For the rest of the day Roadie has been tuckered out...poor guy.  Dreaming of his new loves, I'm sure.  

 Hope you are getting to enjoy the Holidays with friends 

(and doggie park dates).

Happy Thursday!

Naughty or Nice Stockings

Although our first Married Christmas is over, there is still so much I want need to share.  If I didn't elaborate on the presents that appeared in my stocking this year, it would be a shame...because they were out of control.

I'm not really sure if I was on the Naughty or Nice list this year because Santa (or Scott) left me pretty confused.  I'm beginning to think that Santa had nothing to do with this because everything I found had a Japanese label on it.

 Hmmm.  I do remember Scott saying something about a 100 Yen store.

Yup...it's all coming clear now.  I also remember saying something about all the stuff he didn't need to bring home from Japan:

Eh, you win some and you loose some...and I'm not quite sure which category my Stocking Stuffers fit under.  I need your help deciding, so let's start at the beginning...

We decided our new iMac and our new running shoes were our Christmas presents to each other, and I was kind of counting on Santa Claus to help me out with the stocking part...no such luck.

So, I did what anyone would do in this situation and started digging in.  The first thing that made me question Santa's work were these Spicy Choco Sticks.

Since when did spicy + chocolate = yummy?

Next up...exactly what I was hoping for...a Nose Ball Roller.

I mean, you never know when you might need to roll your nose.

We had a good 2-minute laugh at the next one...

Mind you, these are a size Large.  Who fits in those? And WHY are they made of my fuzzy sock material?  Oh, wait...I've been looking for these...Finger Puppets!

I love how there's two happy puppets and two angry ones.  What the heck? I promise you it gets even better...

Who's up for a nice round of the Panty Hose Game?

Or, can I interest you in borrowing my Instant Balloons?

The list of crap stuff goes on and on...but I'll leave you with the best highlight of all: Dried Fish.

Go ahead, dig in to those bad boys...I dare you.  I guess my Nose Ball Roller came in handy, after all.

Oh...my husband.   He found such joy in this that he decided to re-gift some of my presents for my niece and nephew.  Notice how the wrapping is just as awesome as what's inside.

What happened next is best explained in this video:

Whether you were good or bad this year...I hope your Merry Christmas Stockings turned out to be more Nice than Naughty.

Question:
Did anything outrageous end up in your stocking?

Married Christmas

2011 was the first Married Christmas for us, and it was a good one.

Friday Night

We started celebrating with a few friends of ours from the west coast who came home for the Holidays.  Jenny and Cara both live in L.A., are absolute sweethearts and we always make sure to get together when they come home.

We're a special group.

Sleepy? Nope...not Jenny (texting).

Christmas Eve

We kicked Christmas Eve off with our annual 5,000 Candles Candlelight Service.  The entire congregation lights up as we sing Silent Night and it's a beautiful way to praise Jesus Christ.

 
After the service we headed over to our family friends for our annual Christmas Vacation Christmas Eve tradition.  Ever since I can remember, my family has gotten together with the Blackmons and we bring in Christmas the best way we know how...by watching the movie Christmas Vacation
EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.

Stahl and Blackmon Parents, festive as I'll get out:

Stahl Family:

We had a not so nice game of White Elephant Gift Exchange, and enjoyed the night by indulging in chocolate.

YUM: Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, served with a side of Scott's banana/pumpkin bread...

...which ultimately lead to parking in front of the television and watching (not to mention quoting every line possible of) Christmas Vacation.

Scott still doesn't understand how we can watch the same movie every single year.  The best part about it is that for majority of the movie we're walking around the house not even paying attention and out of nowhere someone will hear a part coming up and re-enact the entire scene wherever we are.  True story.

Christmas Day

I woke Scott up on Christmas Morning with these banana pancakes.  Go ahead, say it out loud..."he's  a lucky man."

After opening some presents from Scott's family that was under the tree we spent our first Married Christmas exactly where we got married: our church, First Orlando.  I was excited to get to go to a Sunday Service with him (since I usually work), and Christmas Day was a perfect way to kick off my new availability to attend services on Sundays.

After service, we came home to change and Scott surprised me with some pretty outrageous stocking stuffers.  I know Santa wasn't responsible for this one because everything in them was something funny from Japan.

Yeah, my husband is quite the funny man...or at least he thinks so.

After laughing until we cried at some of the stuff in my stocking (more details and pictures coming soon) we packed up our gifts and headed over to my sister's house.

Once we got there, I realized I forgot my camera and decided to spend more of my time with family over taking pictures anyways.  I loved seeing my niece and nephew and all of their new presents.

I guess you can say they've accepted Scott into our family...

Christmas dinner at my sister's has traditionally been lasagna.  She makes a mean meaty lasagna and cooks a second veggie lasagna, just for my mom.  One of these days I'm going to have to share a picture of it...because it's seriously some of the best lasagna I've ever had.

In lieu of showing you pictures from Christmas Day I didn't take, I'll finish off with a few gift highlights from Scott's family:

Scott's mom had this ornament made for us, and got the idea off of Pinterest.

I LOVE this.  It says HBSH on the front, has a dangling cross just like the ones from our Handfasting Cord, and the inside is filled with shreds of our wedding invitation.

Isn't that cool?!

Scott's dad also gave us something pretty special.  Kirk and Kay live in Powell, Missouri on what you could consider a farm land.  They grow some of their own herbs and this year decided to package them up for Christmas gifts.

We also got a really nice Wusthof Cutting Knife, which we were pretty excited about!

There were several things we really enjoyed, but nothing really beats these:

Baby pink "UGGs" complete with a pregnancy test.  Do you think they're trying to hint towards something?!  I just about died laughing when I saw this duo.  Nevertheless, the boots are adorable and I'm sure they will come in handy in the future.

For now, I'll stick with the slippers Becky gave me.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a weekend filled with chocolate cupcakes, family, movies and fuzzy slippers also.   

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year to you too!