Learning to eat on the run…..

Hello, hello!

T-minus 2 days until FitBloggin!!!  EEEEEPPP!!!

And I just learned today that one of my faves, Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean, is going to be there on Saturday!

I’m totally going to be that starstruck girl standing there trying to stammer out an intelligent word. #dorkproblems

Got my business cards in the mail yesterday!

They’re plain jane because, well, honestly, they were a last minute thing! I hadn’t even considered needing them and I was emailing Lena about getting stuff ready for FitBloggin and she asked me if I had them. Um, no, cuz I’m a big clueless dork!  So I had to quick order some from VistaPrint. Paid more for the shipping than the actual cards because I had to have them rushed to me! I was totally overwhelmed by all the choices so I took her advice again and just went with the plain ones. Once I’m back and I have time to think, I’ll probably design my own. But, for now, watch out – it’s bizness time!

Oh, wait. Don’t get the wrong idea. FitBloggin isn’t THAT kind of conference.

Aaannnnd, moving on.

So, I’m learning that running a 50k is a little more than just running 5 more miles than a marathon.

I mean, I knew that but still. I have to learn a whole bunch of new things to be successful!

I have to learn how to use and run with a Camelbak (okay, fine, I don’t actually HAVE to run with a Camelbak but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to wear a fuel belt with bottles of water bouncing around my hips for 31 miles – I don’t even like them for 20 milers. Can you say chafing?) and I have to learn how to eat on the run!

And no, by eating on the run, I DON’T mean going through the drive-thru and grabbing a quick burger.

I’m not quite sure how that’s going to go.

The most solid thing I eat now when I go for long runs is the Honey Stinger Waffle.

source

Otherwise, I usually carry Hammer Gels with me because they don’t make me feel like I’m going to vomit.

I’m waiting on some Ignite Naturals Reload Gels to come in so I can try those. I’m really excited because they’re made from real food – figs, brown rice and fruits – instead of artificial stuff like processed sugars and preservatives.

(OH! Don’t forget, if you want to try any Ignite Naturals products, you can get 10% off with this code: IN00344.) 🙂

But, I don’t usually take any of the food that’s offered during races – unless it’s an orange wedge. Love me some orange wedges! – because I’m afraid of it upsetting my tummy.

I know that I’m going to be running slower than I normally would in a marathon – my thoughts right now are trying to keep a 10:00 – 10:30 pace throughout. we’ll see how THAT goes. – so I know that I’ll need more fuel to keep me on my feet and moving that whole time.

According to the race website, the aid stations will be stocked with pb&j squares, fig bars, salty snacks, candy, and fruit.

I’m not sure how my tummy will handle pb&j and salty snacks like pretzels.

But, I’m pretty sure if they offered me some jelly beans or some Swedish Fish, I’d probably be okay with that. #sweettooth

So, I guess I’m going to have to pack some pretzels in a small baggie for my next run. Or maybe some Fig Newtons. And a gallon of water. And someone to carry all my stuff.

Talk to me: If you’re an ultrarunner, what sorts of things do you eat during a run? How long did it take you to figure out what works and what doesn’t? Have you ever rolled up a whole pizza like a burrito and eaten it while running, a la Dean Karnazes? 

– jennifer

Weekend things and I’m now part of Team Ignite!

Hello, hello!

Happy first Monday in June!

Can you believe it’s JUNE already?!?!?!?!?!

Seriously, 2014 is going to be over before we know it.

So, we had a pretty spectacular weekend.

Got my new fridge on Friday!

I may or may not have hugged it when I got home from CrossFit on Friday.

Thing 1 came up to visit for Thing 2’s birthday!

I can’t believe my baby girl is 18 already. When did that happen?

The weather was amazing and I got out Saturday morning for my first real run, outside of CrossFit, since the marathon.

It felt fabulous!

I need to talk to Coach this week and see when he wants me to start my CrossFit Endurance training program. I’m so ready!!

So, do you remember when Ignite Naturals asked me if I was interested in trying out some of their products?

Well, they’ve since asked me to be an Ignite Naturals Ambassador!

Whoop!  I’m so excited!!

They have all sorts of sports nutrition products available and, the BEST part, they’re not crammed full of junky products you can’t even pronounce!

Ignite Naturals makes only natural products that should NOT bug your tummy (if you’re like me, this is a Godsend!) and won’t load you up with unnecessary sugars, etc. Oh, and if you’re Vegan and/or Gluten Free, no worries. They’ve got you covered! 🙂

I can’t wait to try the Reload Energy Gels!

What does that mean for YOU?

Well, it means I can share a discount code with you so you can receive 10% off on all purchases made through their Web site!

Like IN Refresh – my lifesaver during the Flying Pig Marathon!

So light, refreshing, and delicious!

I’m 100% positive that IN Refresh helped keep me from getting dehydrated during the race. I packed some packets (super convenient!) in my suitcase so I could have some on the course. You KNOW how I feel about Gatorade and I knew there was potential for warm temperatures. I definitely wanted to make sure I was replenishing the electrolytes I was losing through sweat. 🙂

You should definitely check them out!!

When you go to the site, make sure you enter code IN00344 so you get your discount!

Let me know what you get and how you like it! 🙂

Talk to me: Do you get ridiculously excited over the purchase of new appliances or is that just me? 😉

– jennifer

Friday favorites!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

It’s Friday!!

Seriously, this week has been something else. I’m so looking forwarding to relaxing this weekend and enjoying a nice glass of wine. Or two. Don’t judge me.

So, today I want to share with you a few things I’ve been totally loving lately.

IN Refresh

Remember last week when I shared that I received some IN Refresh from Ignite Naturals to try?

I am totally loving this stuff!

I hit the Y yesterday for a treadmill workout and tried the Tangerine Passion Fruit flavor.

Ready to run!

So yummy!!

I feel refreshed and my thirst is quenched with this stuff. And, it doesn’t dry my mouth out like Gatorade and Powerade has a tendency to do. I’m pretty sweaty when I work out (okay, fine, I’m a mess but hey, it is what it is) and while water is fabulous, it doesn’t replace the electrolytes I lose – which, based on how much I sweat, is A LOT.

Oh, TMI? Sorry. Okay, fine, no I’m not. It’s a fact of my life. I can’t help it.

Anyway, IN Refresh helps replenish my electrolytes without making me want to drink a gallon of water after one sip. Which is how Gatorade makes me feel. When I run marathons, I’ll usually take the Gatorade AND a water starting around the mile 15 water stops. I sip a few sips of Gatorade but pound all of the water just so my mouth doesn’t feel dry. Of course, that doesn’t help me NOT want to stop and use the porta-potty but hey, at least my mouth doesn’t feel like the desert.

 Bare Minerals

my Bare Minerals starter set – just in case I couldn’t commit

Okay, so, I don’t wear a whole lot of make up. Mostly because I don’t like the way it feels on my face. My pores kinda like to breathe and covering them with a whole bunch of make up tends to prevent that. Plus, I have sensitive skin – as in, will break out and will also itch – so I can’t use a variety of products. I use Aveeno lotion because it doesn’t have any extra fragrances, etc. I’m also a HUGE proponent of sunscreen so I’m all about the SPF in a foundation or powder or whatever.

Anyway, I got a Sephora gift card for Christmas and finally went and checked it out.  The consultant was SUPER helpful and really listened to what I was telling her. Out of her suggestions, I decided to give the Bare Minerals a try. She said it was light and I liked that it wasn’t a liquid foundation – those can be difficult to blend if you’re a novice – and it had SPF! She matched my skin tone and put some on my face and I could immediately see a difference. I wasn’t “covered” but I looked “finished.” Does that even make sense? Anyway, I liked it a lot so I bought the starter kit. I really really like it!

Probably not the best lighting but hey, it was early and the sun was still sleeping. 🙂

Pecan Butter

Oh. Em. Gee.

This stuff is just amazing! I found some at the Wegman’s up near my folks’ house and bought a couple to try. It’s delicious! It’s smooth and creamy and so flippin’ good. And, of course, I can’t find any down here and we don’t have a Wegman’s so helloooo, Amazon! I also really love the individual serving sized packets – perfect for lunch boxes or purses or your pocket when you’re out hiking or walking or whatever. YUM!

Wholly Guacamole

I love guacamole. Like LOVE. It ranks right up there with nut butters in my book. And Wholly Guacamole makes some seriously awesome guacamole. Like it’s all real stuff – not like guacamole “dip” which doesn’t even have avocado in it. What the efff? When I eat guac, I want it to be real guac. Like I could have made it myself. And individual serving sized packets? Yes, please!!

I love both the original and the spicy but I tend to gravitate towards the spicy. Yes, I realize that I took a picture of the original. What of it? 😉 I put it on sandwiches, hot dogs, chilis, all sorts of stuff! I love the little cups for dipping veggies or tortilla chips into. And, if you like spicy stuff, you’ll probably enjoy their spicy guac…..makes me sweat a little. 🙂

Almond Pops

 

These things are so good. Lightly sweet and salty and 100% addictive! For some reason, the only place I can find them is TJ Maxx. ‘Splain that one to me – I got nothin’. But, I’m not sad about having to go to TJ Maxx to get more. Lots of fun stuff in that store! 😉

Talk to me: What are you loving lately? Any fun new finds?

– jennifer