Tank / Shorts / Shoes / FlipBelt

I’m 5 1/2 weeks out from RACE DAY!

After getting a really early start on Half Marathon training, Cassidy and I are well over halfway into the Hal Higdon program we chose and less than 6 weeks from our race. Each of us has had a few minor hiccups along the way but I think the extra time we built into our training regime is proving to be exactly what we both needed to get our bodies ready for the Glass City Half. I think I’m on the downhill side of my knee pain–fingers crossed–and my right foot hasn’t bothered me since I decided to cool it on the barre classes so those are both super positive. One thing I’ve noticed lately is how hungry I am ALL. THE. TIME. It’s not rocket science that I’m burning more calories than say a usual week but I feel like I’m literally hungry every few hours which is not typical for me. This week I did 5 miles on Monday, 8 yesterday and 5 this morning; I’ll round that out with OrangeTheory tomorrow, a 10k on Saturday {with Cassidy because she flies into town TONIGHT—ALLLLLL the praise hands!} and another OTF class on Sunday.  Three training tidbits that stick-out to me this week are below!

FlipBelt

I’ve never owned a running belt but when I do my long runs around Lake Zorinsky, Prairie Queen or anywhere not in our neighborhood I’m also shoving my keys/phone/etc. in my shoe or sports bra and am well aware that’s not the smartest or most comfortable decision. There are SO MANY running belts out there and I am so picky about having anything ‘extra’ on me while I run {side note: HOW THE F do people run with a water bottle in their hand? I mean sure I’d love some water during a run but the thought of carrying that in my hand outweighs my thirst fo’ sho!} that I haven’t been able to find one that works for me. When ZojiFit reached out to me about a review post they’d recently put together on the 2017 Best Running Belts and asked if I’d be interested in one I said heck yes! I did my research on the ones that they highlighted and it was a no-brainer decision for me to grab the FlipBelt. I could instantly tell it would not get in the way and the material is almost identical to the waistband of all my Lululemon shorts so I also knew it’d be super soft. I give it a 9/10 and the only reason is because I got a small–probably should’ve done an XS–and if I’m super sweaty it slides a bit.

Loving My Body

The past few weeks I’ve been much more appreciative of my body. I think my mindset has been a little more balanced and zen lately so I’m sure that has some to do with my body image but I’ve also been so grateful for what my legs especially have been capable of. Of course I wish I had 6-pack abs and my build didn’t sway towards the ‘stockier’ look but I am strong and I’m owning it. Slowly I seem to be less annoyed with how I look in the mirror and more impressed with how many push ups I just did or how I’ve increased the weight I pick when doing arm work. There are so many negatives floating around in the world on a daily basis so the more love we can give ourselves the more we set ourselves up for success. I also think that having a bit more confidence has allowed me to be less hard on myself when I need to slow my pace or take an extra rest day and channel that into thankfulness that my mind & body are on the same wave-length and in full support of each other!

Improving My Nutrition

It’s no secret to those who know me that red meat is just not my thing. By no means am I against it, I just really don’t have a taste for it; however I do love me some bacon after a night of drinking! 😉 Combine a lack of love for that plus being lactose intolerant and I am well aware of the fact that I usually don’t get enough protein on a daily basis. I’ve really tried to focus on other sources of protein over the last few weeks as well as hitting a target of 125g per day. A good protein powder–I alternate between Vega Vanilla & Vital’s Chocolate Coconut Whey–is a must for me and I have been getting the remaining amount from eggs, salmon, chicken, nut butters and RXBars when I’m on the go. I’ve been staying away from processed foods and refined sugars which I think have played a bit part in increased energy levels and I’ve cut my coffee intake by at least half! My habit of chugging around 100 oz. of water a day definitely is a positive as well. Hydration is absolutely key when you’re working out for 1-2 hours at a time. Right now I’m on the hunt for some easy, healthy, high-protein recipes to meal prep with and plan to cut back a bit on carbs as we get closer to the race.