Too Fast for the Treadmill

The other night, I started watching the movie Prefontaine.  He was such an inspiring man. He got me inspired to work on my speed. I haven't been doing any speed work. I know you need speed work in order to get faster. That just makes sense. But, since I haven't been training for anything, I haven't had that on my mind. Since watching the movie, I've had the urge to do so. 

I got on my handy dandy treadmill at the gym (old photo), I was running sprints at 9.5 (not that fast, but super speedy for me) and I had planned to run at least 4 miles, hopefully 6. At about mile 3.25, the tm stops working and starts making this really loud squealing noise. I broke the tm. The digital part went crazy and showed a bunch of 8's. I guess I was too fast for it!

After breaking the machine, I worked my legs and arms with some weights for about 1/2 hour, before my 60 minute spin class. 

When I got home, I told Jason what happened and he asked me to show him how I was running. So, he had me do some sprints in the backyard. It was a little difficult, because we still have some rocks back there, but no major damage was done. 

I can't wait to work on more speed out in the "real world" tomorrow!!

 Please tell me I'm not the only one that has done this. Have you ever broken an exercise machine before? Was it yours? What happened?

What a Good Playlist will Do

When I run in the afternoon heat, I feel so sluggish. Of course, the heat has a little something to do with it. When I run in the cool mornings, I feel so fast. It's all mental. I know that. When I went for my afternoon, hot run last night, I had my mp3 player with me, as I normally do (in the heat, it keeps my mind off all the hotness). 

I had the music on my arm, my iced water bottle in my hand and the pavement under my feet. It was only about 84 yesterday with a slight breeze. I had a pretty good day at work and just got back from 3 days all to myself (that's right, no Jason either). Everything was ready for an awesome run. 

See, I prefer to run outside when it's about 60 with the sun shining. So, this is hotter than I'd prefer. But, this time, I had some friends with me. I took Metallica, Union Underground, Sublime, System of a Down, the Refreshments, and the Presidents of the United States, just to name a few. It was great.

I felt like I was flying! I only needed to take 1 water break and had a huge smile on my face the entire time. I think the people driving by me thought I must have been mental: sweat dripping down my bright red face and a huge smile plastered!

A great playlist will do wonders for your run!!

What do you do to make a better run?

I'm Smelly

This is always the look I have on my face after an awesome spin class.

I may not be smiling during the class and I may have some words that are said under my breathe, but this is generally how I look afterwards.

How I smell, now that's a different story. I am usually covered in salt (dried sweat) and my hair is so nasty, it's embarrassing. I think spin class brings out the smelliest part of me. 

It's not the running in 90 degree, direct sun weather, for 4 miles, or sprinting around and lifting weighs in a small ripped class, or even walking up 3 miles of stairs (without a fan on me). It's the spin class. It always brings out the smelliest part of me. 

What brings out the smelliest part of you?

Keep on Running (no matter the weather)

Last night's run wasn't too bad. It was about 87 with a slight breeze. I think at the beginning of June, I'll start running my longer route and get use to that, in the heat. 

My legs were feeling pretty tight after Monday's RIPPED class. 

After a couple miles, they felt much better. I've noticed some things about running during the summer. I think drivers have some compassion with runners running in the heat. For the past month, or so, drivers have stopped waaaaay before they needed to in order for me to run through an exit of a strip mall (or business). It was only during the winter and the pouring rain, when I had trouble with people trying to hit me with their cars. 

As I cross the streets (using the cross walks), drivers coming to a stop, often stop far from the cross walk. I love it!, I feel like I am in charge, even though a car could easily run me over like I'm a piece of paper. 

If you look at the above picture, you can see that my right tongue of my shoe is tilted to the right. That happens every time I put these shoes on, it always has. Does this ever happen to you?

Still Getting RIPPED

Last night, I finally made it back to the gym to finally attend one of my favorite classes...RIPPED. This is such a great class. It works so many different muscles. And, the routine changes a few weeks. There are generally things that we do every week: lunges, squats, push ups, burpees, and arm weight. But all this is made in a slightly different format every few weeks. They may be slightly different, which means that you may be working a different muscle. 

If you do the same routine every day, your body can get use to it and kind of peak. It's best to change things up every once in a while, even if it's just slightly. Maybe, instead of doing lunges, add a resistance band (those are killer). 

Anyways, my body is definitely feeling it now. Especially, since I haven't gone to the class in such a long time. I kind of get giddy when I think about this class. The instructor is awesome, I see results (even after just going 3 weeks in a row) and the time flies by. It's like I'm there for only 20 minutes and the hour long class is over!!

In case you didn't know, I'm still working on my "summer of abs". I have set up my spare bedroom to have my yoga mat, free weights and a fan. I have a 3 day weekend, and I want to see how many crunches I can do in that time. What's your guess?

2:15 Sprints Suck!

After a 3 week hiatus, I finally made it back to spin class. I hit up the stairs first, along with the ski machine and legs weight (1 hour total here). Then, 6 o'clock came around I was already found in the spin room. I was warming up. I'm glad I did, it was a crazy class today! At one point, the instructor had us do 2:15 sitting sprint. He said that he's never had that long of one in his class before. I've never done one that long (spinning, I have running). It was very interesting!

When I got home (from a total of a 2 hour workout), Jason was already home and out front watering the lawn (no sprinklers). He said that I was walking like I just off of a horse. I didn't notice I was walking funny, but I'm not surprised.

After last night workout, I feel super strong. I'm so glad I went. I never regret a workout (even if it ends in an injury). As long as I get out there and drip some sweat, I'm usually in a better mood than before. I am a tough woman and I can't wait to hit the warm streets after work tonight!

Anyone running the Sacramento Color Run in August?

What type of workouts always get you motivated to keep going? What's the longest spinning (or riding) sprint you've done?

Uberness

There was a lot of "uberness" going on today. It all started with my late day snack (fueling for my run). I tried a new bar and the flavor was roasted nut roll.

Lara Bar sent me this yesterday. I think it's the best flavor I've ever tasted!! I do love my Lara Bars!! Look how nutty it is. I love that I can pronounce everything in this bar. It's their newline of bars. You must get one today!!

After work (and finishing my Uber Bar), I had an uber run. It was a steamy 84 degrees with blazing sun. It was a prefect hot, sweaty run. I'm trying to get use to running in the heat, so I can enjoy running during the Sacramento summer.

I'm a baby when it comes to the heat, so I am still shortening my runs, until I get a little use to it. Once that happens, I will start running my normal route. 

My face is so red, it felt like I was sun burned (which I wasn't). There were other runners out, trying to get use to the heat, too. Everyone was taking walk breaks (in the shade). The shade has never felt so good!

What's your favorite pre-run snack (when you're in a rush)? Do you run in the heat? If so, how do you handle it?

I'm Full!!

Another weekend with high expectations. I always plan way too much to do on my days off. It's either hanging out with friends, a family commitment, some sort of baking/cooking something I've never done before (aka: something that takes a long time), work around the house or all of the above. This weekend was no different from any other weekend.

My weekend started bright and early Saturday morning. I got up early to meet up with a friend for a run. I put in some good, hard miles Saturday. It felt great! The company was pretty good too! It made the miles fly by. Before I knew, we were back to the car. 

Off to run some errands (not literally). Once all the busy work was done (the run wasn't busy work, it was fun work), it was time to get down to business. I had some things on my list to bake! First on the list was homemade mint ice cream. To answer your question, no, I don't have an ice cream maker. I made it by hand and it was easiest thing to do!

The funny thing is that until I met Jason, I didn't know that mint ice cream wasn't suppose to be green. I always thought the white stuff was nasty and the green stuff tasted so much better! 

After mixing everything together, I popped it into a freezer safe container and had to wait...

While waiting, I got ready for mom's day. I prepped my strawberries. I hulled them out and filled them with fresh whipped cream. I was so happy that everything worked! They tasted great, too!

Later on that night, after waiting way too many hours, the ice cream was ready. Jason knew what I was making. But, he said that if I didn't tell him, he would have thought I bought it. We thing it actually tastes a little more creamy than store bought (in a good way). 

After my mom left, I had to fill the rest of my day with something just as good. This time, I made root beer float pops. 

Jason recently bought me some popsicle molds. I love them!! They are adorable.

I found that I shouldn't fill them to the top (for this recipe) because they expand and make a mess in your freezer. I think next I make these, I will leave out the cherry. It didn't really do anything for us. 

Well, after eating all this food, I really need to work out. I can't wait hit up the means streets and put my soles to the pavement. 

What's your favorite cool treat for those really hot days? Any good (no churn) recipes?

How to Work the Biceps

This is what I got...

 ...by doing this: Over the weekend Jason and I dug 50' of trenches (that averaged 12" deep). It was a lot of work.

After the digging was finished, we needed to put down the drainage pipe and cover it with rocks and put the dirt back on top.

We had to dig up all my pretty grass that I've been working so hard at keeping green and getting rid of the weeds. 

The final outcome was pretty good. This picture makes the backyard look much better than what it actually is.

We also put in a 4'x8' flower bed. We already have veggies in it (thanks to my boss). 

The house is coming along and I'm getting buff (and tan) just by working on it). 

I guess my ripped class (that I'm totally addicted to) also helps with my muscles. That class works every part of my body. You name the muscle, and the class works it. 

Besides your average workout, what else do you do to stay in shape (hiking, mall walking, cartwheels)?

Shelly-0. Heat-1

Yesterday, I put my handheld in the freezer at work About 5 o'clock, I took it out and filled the rest with cold water (thanks for the ideas of staying cool in the heat). I headed out to the hot streets for a short run. I'm a baby when it comes to the heat. But, I love running outside. I want to get my body use to running in the heat, so I can always run outside. 

It was 88 degrees when I left work. I was mentally prepared for this. I used my shorter route and had my 1/4 frozen water (the rest cold water) and started one stride at a time. Every once in a while, I needed a walk break (in the shade). I expected this. What I didn't expect was all the crappy food I had eaten earlier in the day to come back and haunt me. It was a co-workers birthday yesterday and we had chocolate cake and egg rolls (not at the same time). I guess my body didn't like all the sugar and fried goodies I ate. I thought I gave it enough time between eating and running. 

My body had something else to say. I had to cut my run even shorter and hit up the bathrooms and the park (that I run near). I went back to my car and drank the rest of my water and ran (not literally) some errands (which I found some super cute running clothes at Target, which I'm going back for tomorrow). 

I'm not going to give up. I'm going to take it easy today and eat so much better (which I have been). Then, tomorrow, I will put my handheld back in the freezer and try the heat thing again. I'm not going to let the heat beat me. I will say when I run, not the weather. 

How do you deal with running in the heat. Any suggestions, I'll take. I'm determined!

Rainbow Bright got Murdered in My Kitchen

This weekend was another extremely busy weekend. I am super tired and sore (that's why the late post). Why am I sore, you may ask?? Jason and I dug 50' of trenches in our backyard to lay some drainage. very hard on the arms. I definitely didn't go to ripped class last night. I had my own ripped in my backyard. 

I had a little get together this weekend and it just happened to be Cinco de Mayo (didn't plan it that way). So, I made it a theme. One of the things I made, I was really excited about. I made Pinata Cookies. They were really good, and took a lot of time, but they turned out really cute. 

I used a standard sugar cookie recipe, and divided it into 4 balls (less than what was recommended). Then, divided each ball into 2 and started layering a tupperware container (lined with a plastic baggie), making 2 layers of red, blue green and yellow (alternating). I froze it over night (actually over night and 8 more hours after I got off of work). I am so glad I did. It was so soft and difficult to slice into rectangles (very soft, even after freezing). 

I put each rectangle of a lined cookie sheet (my rectangles grew a lot in the oven and blended in to one another). I only had a circle cookie cutter (that would fit in this) and started cutting them out. The tutorial recommended working with the dough right away. I found it easier if I let the cookies cool for about 1-2 minutes, because they were extremely soft and it made it easier. 

I then took a melon baller and hollowed out the center of 1/3 of the cookies (for the center part of the cookie). There was a lot of cookie that wasn't used (you can't cut the shape before you bake because of how soft it is), so was have "rainbow bright's guts" in a container in our pantry.

I also found it a lot easier to wait until the cookies were mostly cooled before I started assembling them. 

I attached the bottom piece with the center piece and added chocolate sprinkles (I forgot the mini m&m's). 

I added more "glue" (aka powdered sugar and water) to the top piece and attached and pressed a little (not too hard or you'll break it). 

Of course, a "chef" always testes his or her work. I also found that if you only eat the sugar cookie part, by itself, it tastes like Trix cereal. 

If you shake the cookies next to your ear, you can hear a little surprise in each one. All this work, and it only make a handful of cookies. Not really worth it, but it was fun. 

I think, next time, I will make a double batch of sugar cookies, so I can use a better shape and make it look a little more pinata like. Maybe, even a quadruple batch, so I can make more than 5 cookies. 

Tonight, I'm going to go for a little run (I'm still pretty sore from this weekend) and will enjoy my spin class on Wednesday night. I can't wait! It's suppose to be in the 90's today. I haven't really run in the heat. How do you deal with it? Do you go inside for the tm? After work is my only time to head out for my runs, so I have to do something. I really love running outside, but it's going to be super hot. 

I just realized that I forgot to put a sweat towel in my car. Man, my seat are going to be nasty this summer if I keep forgetting. 

Should I run inside or outside (i always bring water either way)? How do you handle running in the heat?

Endorphin Warrior GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

The winner for the Endorphin Warrior bracelet is...

#28: Laurel C that said "I voted for you!!". Shoot me an email with your verbiage (which can be found here), size and your address (runnersfuel(at)hotmail(dot)com).

Hear of any good giveaway? Now is the time to post them here (as a comment).

Gun Metal & Giveaway Reminder!!

Ever have one of those "perfect runs"? Well, that was my run last night. Again, the weather was great (72, sunny with a slight breeze, I love spring time in Cali!!). I had some great tunes to keep me company and drivers were very aware of me. They stopped way before they needed to. Any other day, other cars would have almost run me over, but not last night. The only thing is that I wish I would have remembered my Garmin. I wish I would have been able to check my pace. But, you never know, maybe that's why it was such a great run??

If  you've read this blog for more than a day, you may be able to tell that I'm a basic kind of girl. Every once in a while, I like to show a little girlie side. Chick Bands had me in mind when she made the gun metal head band. I love the color, but the girlie part comes out with the sparkle. 

Don't forget about my awesome giveaway here!! I announce the winner tomorrow!!



When was your last "perfect run"? What made is so "perfect"?

I'm Getting Girlie & My New Room

This weekend was such a busy weekend!! Friday night, we had out of town family over for dinner, right after work. I got up early on Saturday morning to do some things around the house before I left for a bridal shower. A couple hours after I left, I had our friends over for a dinner and girl time while the guys hung out. Sunday was going to be a relaxing day, but we got hooked working around the house. 

I had planned on going to my ripped class last night, but I was so tired, I couldn't bare working out for 2 hours. So, I planned on making our spare bedroom into my work out room. It's pretty sparse right now, but I'll get some stuff out of the garage this weekend, and make it better!

I ended up doing my entire ab mat workout in there. Of course, the kittens need to help me. I couldn't have done it without them! I killed myself in there!! I got a great workout in at home. It felt great! I didn't have a commute home afterwards. I've told Jason, that one day, I want to get a treadmill, a spin bike and some more mat work stuff. This will all save us money, because, I won't need to (pay) go to the gym. I think that is reasonable!

Never mind the bags under my eyes, I told you I was tired! This work out made my face look like this.

I'm getting girlie!! I was sent a super cute necklace to wear from Inspired Endurance. I love it so much! I never take it off!

One one side, it has a flower, on the other side, it has 13.1. This jewelery is 100% guaranteed and handmade and high quality. They are made from sterling silver & 14k gold. I've been wanting something special, ever since I crossed that first half marathon finish line. 

This is the perfect thing. I wear it in the shower, during my heavy (and light workouts) and even at work. The only time it gives me any problem is when I'm in spin class. The steep sprints out of the sattle causes the bead to band against my chest. Other than that (including running), it never "bothers" me. I often forget I'm even wearing it, until someone tells me that they like my necklace. 

Don't forget about my awesome giveaway here!!