Race to 400

Workout: Kettlebell Race to 400 & AB Ripper X (from PX90)

Chad made up this legendary workout while we were members of the Skogg Gym. The goal is to get through these four basic workouts as quickly as possible. My best time was in the prime of my Kettlebell career earning a time of 12:14. Pretty darn good.. Today my time was 18:07. Ouch. I will admit while I have done pretty well on keeping up with my running (164 miles this year), my strength training has been nil.

I don't have a video link but you can easily find these moves on youtube or myomytv  I finished the workout on both sides before moving on to the next phase. Here's the workout :

Right side
50 clean/press
50 swing
50 snatch
50 clean

Left side
50 clean/press
50 swing
50 snatch
50 clean

Discounts & Off to Palm Springs!

SHAMROCK COMPRESSION SOCKS!! These are definitely a need for me especially since my birthday is March 16 and I am running the San Diego Shamrock 10k. Even better they're 40% off with the code SOM3. I've been wearing my watermelon greens for a few weeks and love love them. I've noticed a lot of people also wear them for after their runs for better recovery. Haven't tried that out yet, but would love to hear about your experience with compression socks. A brief summary for those who have not tried these babies out:

- Promotes blood flow for speedy recovery
- Foot-bed compression
- Built-in "Stabilizer Zone" for optimal support

- Advanced materials for moisture control

- Made in USA

- mmHg rating 22-26

Getting hot out here!

Last Night's Run: 4 miles

It's beginning to warm up out here in the desert, meaning I have to start running earlier or later. Which is no where good for Nola's schedule... I was shooting for 5 miles but Nolz's patience was simply non existent. Moms out there, how do you do it?

A snack for Nola and I today (this was only a small portion of what she devoured). Smoothie~pineapple, kale, spinach, banana, almond milk. Next time I'd add kiwi or ginger.

Happy little bumble bee

Mi familia. I am so lucky!

San Diego Love

Yesterday's Run:7 miles

This is where I imagined I was during my run. And where I am hoping my runs will be this weekend... The energy from everyone playing near the beach and bay are so easily absorbed it makes running so much more enlightening.

Being from Portland and an owner of a coffee shop, I am a bit obsessed with coffee shops... So I've got to share the awesome decor of this newly discovered shop.

SO COOL

While my longest run has been 7 miles, I am obsessed with looking at my total mileage for the week. I also have begun to carry a huge guilt if I take 2 days off in a row. Then I look at my mileage for the week and I make it up there and feel relief.  I've told myself I will not run any less than 4 miles from this point on... preferably 5. It shocking to see on record how much I am running and that I actually love it! I've also discovered music is more important than I thought. While I am zoning out and focused on my breathing, the soundtrack to my run is crucial. While war battle music is great every now and then, I have shifted on to thriving on zen out music. What's on your playlist? 17 days until my first 10k (and my birthday)!

 

 

 

 

 

Run+Juice & San Diego!

Run: 4.5 miles

Four years is how long I patiently waited for my Breville juicer. FOUR LONG YEARS. It has become our family ritual to juice every morning for many reasons solely based on knowing the health benefits are immeasurable. Chad (my husband) is like a toddler in the sense of eating his vegetables. His meals are more frequently than not, of the brown palate. So I like to squeeze in as many as I can in his a.m. juice that he chokes down. When it comes to our actual toddler, Nola's favorite part of the morning is snagging her fresh pressed vegetable nectar. Sounds good worded like that eh? And there's nothing more rewarding than the silly red or green stained smile on her precious face.
Here is this morning's kicker: We all got about 4-8 ounces
5 carrots
1 apple
large bunch of purple and green kale
3 tiny beets
1 handful spinach
1" fresh ginger

Love the froth on top! Yum

I never did find that fresh turmeric last time we were in San Diego... Any ideas?

Off to San Diego for the weekend! Chad is running the Tough Mudder in Temecula...sure would be awesome if he had one of those gopro cameras to virtually run it with him. Even so, Nola and I are going to savor our running on the beach this weekend and sipping a little hot delight from our favorite coffee roaster in Bird Rock.

Running buddies

Run: 5.25 Miles

Here's my littlest running buddy being blinded by the ever so unforgiving desert sun.

Fortunately, winter is prime as far as weather out here (if you can stand the smell). We're talking the complete opposite of the weather in Oregon where I grew up. In Oregon you wait and wait and wait and wait for summer, and then it shows its unrivaled beauty in July. Out here in the SoCal desert, it's like a sucker punch in March and holds you down for the count until December. Training for my first half Marathon in May will be a challenge through April. Luckily, we have an escape route to San Diego if need be.

My new found partner in crime are my Mizuno Waver Rider 15 shoes. First real running shoes and they're UHMAZING! Not to mention super cool looking.

Chinese Congee saved me

I’m not certain, but I may have had the stomach flu… I had an awful rumbling stomach and nausea causing me to lose my appetite for about 8 days. On day 5, I asked my acupuncturist what I could do and she suggested Chinese Congee to eliminate any toxins in my system.

What in the world is Congee? It is a broth or porridge made with rice and lots of water and cooked until the rice grain bursts open. There are many variations of congee (I found a lot of them being savory and with meat). But my gal gave me a simple vegan recipe that I only adjusted a tad.

1 cup white rice
5 cups water
10 dates (I used Medjool because they grow here and are easy to access) pitted and diced
1 teaspoon of dried ginger root or 1” fresh ginger diced

 Toss all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and turn to a simmer for 45-60 minutes. Add water as needed and be careful not to burn. Stir occasionally.

It took about a day for my stomach to start feeling normal. However, I was able to eat the Congee immediately without an angry response from my stomach. The Congee smelled delicious and tasted good enough to eat as every meal for 3 days.  I didn’t get sick of it and now I actually crave it. This recipe will certainly be kept for any future stomach ailments.