At first I started out by working out in the morning if I had something to do after work. This way I was guaranteed to get my workout in. I would hit the snooze multiple times but would eventually, slowly drag myself to the gym. Once there I was fine. Getting there was the hard part.

I eventually started going every morning and guess what? It got easier and easier to get up at the god awful time of 4:40am. Seriously, if I take a rest day I wake up at 5am (on my own) and am like “OMG!!! I over slept!!!” Nope, just used to early morning workouts.

Here are my tips to get yourself out the door and to the gym.

• Have everything ready to go and laid out the night before. Gym bag packed, Ipod charged and clothes ready. Even have your shoes untied so you can just slip your feet in and go.

• Sleep in your gym clothes. I will sleep in my tank, sports bra and socks most days. That way when I get up all I have to do is throw on shorts and go. (Bringing sexy back, I know)
• Put your Ipod on your night stand. When the alarm goes off, instantly turn your Ipod on and put in your ear buds (don’t want to wake the whole house). The music will wake you up and get your moving.

• Don’t think! When the alarm goes off, don’t even think about how tired you are or talking yourself into a few more minutes of sleep. As soon as you start to think about it, you talk yourself out of it.
• Bribe yourself. I tell myself I can have a special coffee to reward myself for working out. Seems counter productive but after my workout I usually decide I don’t want or need it. (Shopping Bribes work too)
• Move your alarm clock. Preferably across the room.
• Grab a friend. Have a friend meet you for an early morning workout, can’t skip when you are meeting up with someone.
• Go to bed early. Duh. Go to bed early wake up early. Pretty much rocket science right there folks.

If those tips don’t help, maybe it will help just know that you burn more calories by working out in the morning. Talk about jump starting your day!

Are you a morning worker outer? Any tips that help you wake up?

I was going to do The “No Junk Food Challenge” for the entire month of March, instead of the 21 days it states.

But with Lent starting, ummm, tomorrow, I decided to do this for the next 40 days.

OMG I am going to die. (cue dramatic music and screaming)

 So yes I am giving up the following:

• Chocolate-including chocolate milk *gasp!
• Candy-I miss you already Swedish Fish.
• Cookies-Oreos, I will come back for you. I promise.
• Cakes, Donuts, Muffins, Pastries-I love you carbs, xoxo!
• White Bread-I really don’t eat you anyways so this should be easy. Peace out.
• Chips-this includes chips and salsa, one of my favorite snacks.
• Fast Food-I don’t eat fast food often, but I will miss you Taco Bell (yes I eat Taco Bell sober, don’t hate).
• Pop-This one is fairly easy since it is rare that I have it now anyways, plus I gave it up last year, so really this is round 2. Oh hey, Pop is not even on the list and I am giving it up. Go Me!
• Peanut Butter, Nutella and other yummy spreads Yes I said Peanut Butter, wow is this getting tough.
• Ice Cream-Including Fro-yo. Don’t forget about me Menchies.

If I survive this it will be because coffee and beer are not on the list. Hopefully I can get by eating popcorn and hardboiled eggs as my “junk food” for the next 40 days.

Questions: Do pretzels count as chips? and does Subway count as fast food? I say no to both but I don’t want you guys to think I am cheating so let me know!

If you participate in Lent, what are you giving up? If you don’t do Lent feel free to join me in my death sentence/No junk food challenge anyways (even if it is just for a week, 21 days, a month or 40 days). Also any tips on some healthy snacks that I can eat is more than welcome. (Besides fruits and veggies)

Sunday: 8 miles-outside-group run with Heather, Beal, Mason and Ryan. We even went to brunch afterwards and then I did 8 more miles to complete my long run that I missed on Saturday due to the Blizzard.

Thanks for the picture Heather!

Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Speedwork, 6-800s @ 3:03, 3:02, 3:04, 3:02, 3:01 and 2:57. Plus warm up and cool down=7 miles. First time this season I have done just 800 repeats and it was hard. Mentally and physically. and Nike Training App 15 min leg sculptor
Wednesday: 6 Miles and Nike Training App 15 min arms
Thursday: 6 Miles and Nike Training App 15 min Butt Blaster
Friday: 6 Miles and Nike Training App 15 min Shoulders
Saturday: 2 mile warm up, 5K race, 3 miles with Ryan, 6 miles with Eli and then 3 more on my own for a total of 17.

Total Mileage: 58

Only reason my mileage was so high is because I did a long run on Sunday and then one that Saturday. This week I should be back to my normal routine as long as we don’t have a snowstorm on Saturday. If we do I will just head to the treadmill instead

I have been kinda good about cross training. Have not been to yoga or spinning (fail) but I have been picking a Nike Training App workout and doing the short 15 min ones. Also still keeping up with the Fab Ab February.

Loving this year's shirt

After a 2 mile warm up, parts of which were on the 5K course I felt pretty comfortable with the course. Nothing too hilly and the wind didn’t seem like it would be a factor. Last year for this race it was incredibly windy for the entire race so I was happy that there was very little wind.

I had so many goals for this race: 1) don’t go out too fast, 2) run sub 23, 3) run 22 something, 4) go crazy if I PR, 5) don’t be upset if I don’t PR, and 6) have fun!

Before the race I ran into so many Cleveland area runners that I haven’t seen the past couple months so it was nice to say hi and it also helps to keep the nerves down. Yeah I still get nervous after running over 100 races.

As the gun went off, I was going way fast but felt amazing, I slowed down a little but my first mile was a 6:25. For the second mile I just tried to hold on to that pace which was not easy but ended up with a 7:05 for the second mile. After that I hit the wind and could feel my pace slowing down and also had to go up a gradual hill. Mile 3 ended up being 7:32 and my sprint to the finish was at a 5:55 pace. I was doing some major work and finished with a time of 21:28 a 6:55 pace. For the first race of the year I am beyond happy with that. Proving that my hard work and speedwork is paying off. I have been chasing a PR in this distance down for a while and I think this might be the year I get it. Fingers Crossed!

So I didn’t place in this race, was 5th in my age group but there is some pretty tough competition so there is always next year

Anyone else race the Chili Bowl this year? thoughts? (I loved it).

Next race is St. Malachi 5 miler, who will be there (raises hand). Pre-Register before March 8th for only $18 (your welcome)

Other Team Refuel athletes include Apolo Ohno, Chris Bosh, Dana Torres, Skinny Runner, Emily Sweats and now me!

Fun Facts about Chocolate Milk:

1. Chocolate milk has 9 essential nutrients not usually found in recovery drinks.
2. Chocolate milk is a “natural” when it comes to electrolytes. Provides calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium.
3. Chocolate milk is a nutrient-laden liquid that helps you rehydrate. Some say better than sports drinks
4. Chocolate milk contains high-quality protein that helps repair and rebuild muscles after exercise.
5. Chocolate milk contains the right mix of carbs and protein to refuel muscles after a tough workout.

Aka, train hard and then sit back and relax with some chocolate milk.

Thanks so much to everyone who voted! You guys are incredibly awesome!

You too can be a part of Team Refuel. It is as easy as filling out this application and getting your friends to vote.

Sunday: 8 miles-outside with Ryan. Super bowl Sunday so the group didn’t meet.
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Speedwork=3-1 miles @ 6:42, 6:43 and 6:37, 4-800s @ 3:04, 3:00, 2:59 and 2:55. Plus warm up and cool down=7 miles
Wednesday: 7 Miles
Thursday: 7 Miles
Friday: 6 Miles with Kristy
Saturday: 10 miles with Second Sole down in Hinckley. Which if you are not familiar it is really hilly which makes for great training. What didn’t make for great training was all the snow we got. Running up hills in the snow was not going so well when you had no traction. Also, it was snowing pretty hard while we were running and my eyelashes kept freezing together. So yeah, that was fun. Since I only got in 10 miles I moved my long run til Sunday instead.

Total Mileage: 45 Miles

97 days til the Cleveland Marathon. I am getting super excited!!!!

I find that most runners love to talk about running.  Go figure.  They do not brag about how far or fast they ran, but rather, they discuss their workouts, past race results, and how they can improve for future races.  However, most importantly, they encourage each other.

I have found recently that runners are putting each other down and bragging that they are a better runner because they ran farther. I find this highly disappointing. Why do some runners think they are an elitist just because they ran a certain distance or ran a tough course.

I just want to remind everyone that at some point we all struggled just to run a mile. That first mile was a struggle and sometimes it still is. It is an accomplishment whether you run a marathon or a 5K. Both take a lot of time and effort to train for and just getting out there and doing something active is what matters most.

Be proud of what you run, for how far you have come, but most importantly, encourage others.

Sunday: 8 miles-outside with Mason, Beal, Ryan and Kristy.
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Speedwork=3-1 miles @ 6:53, 6:46 and 6:41, 4-800s @ 3:07, 3:01, 3:00 and 2:58. Plus warm up and cool down=7 miles
Wednesday: 6 Miles
Thursday: 6 Miles
Friday: 6 Miles with Kristy
Saturday: 15.25 miles with Second Sole

Total Mileage: 48.25 Miles

I think I am going to stop and buy a new yoga video or something to motivate me to cross train more. Ugh or I can get a strength training video, I hate strength training, such a lazy runner

 What do you do to cross train? Any tips for a lazy cross trainer?

I love how the slow this plan starts out. It is absolutely perfect for anyone to use.

Hope every joins in on the Fab Ab February. Bikini season is right around the corner

Also note that the change in mileage and intensity of workouts left me pretty exhausted towards the end of the week.

Sunday: 8 miles-outside with Mason, Beal, Ryan and Kristy.
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Speedwork=2-1 miles @ 6:50 and 6:46, 4-800s @ 3:09, 3:07, 3:05 and 3:03. Plus warm up and cool down=7 miles
Wednesday: 7 Miles
Thursday: 7 Miles
Friday: 4 Miles (supposed to do 6 but too tired so I cute it short) 15 mins elliptical=Cross training
Saturday: 14 miles at 8:34 pace

Total Mileage: 47 Miles

Thanks for the butt shots Kristy

How is your training shaping up?