Fun Things Friday

Through FitFluential I am taking part in the Under Armour #WhatsBeautiful challenge.  My goal for the challenge is to complete my first marathon - #IWill!  Join my team, Team Women's Endurance in working towards your goal of taking it to the next level.

Five lucky ladies were selected to participate in the Muscle Milk Light Half Marathon challenge, powered by ZOOMA and NorthShore University HealthSystem. This fabulous five will receive lots of perks and support through the program as they train for their very first half marathon including the support of our ZOOMA Chicago Ambassadors, a training plan, a yoga session, nutrition and training tips, race entry, fun swag, and, of course, Muscle Milk Light to fuel their recovery.

ZOOMA Half Marathon Challenge

We're looking forward to our Memorial Day weekend.  Our schedule is packed with birthday parties, bbq, running and hopefully some beach time.  Even though temps are to remain relatively low, it will still fun to celebrate the start of summer!

Having fun at the beach!

Happy Friday!

Any fun plans for the long weekend?

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Midweek Motivation

Make it a priority...

A one hour workout is 4% of your day - No Excuses

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Tuesday Training - Week 4

Monday:  3 miles with Tazer (age 12) and Munchkin (age 6);  We started by doing a loop near home in case Munchkin wanted to stop, but Munchkin ended up outrunning his older brother:)

Tuesday:  cross-training; Still feeling sick, I decided to take a rest day.

Wednesday: 4 miles; I decided to take another rest day - still congested and coughing.

Thursday:  4 miles; Managed to squeeze in an early morning 5k around the neighborhood.  Then home to finish preparing for the kids' Fun Run which was after school.

Fun Run 2013 start

Friday: rest; 4 miles with Munchkin, Little A and Kovas.  Kovas pushed the double stroller most of the time, Munchkin ran half of the time.

Kovas pushing the double stroller with Munchkin and Little A

Saturday:  5 miles; I was supposed to run with CARA but took another rest day instead.  This Saturday for sure, I will run again with the group...

Sunday:  Cross training; Kovas and I ran 5 hilly miles - without the stroller or kiddos.

I ran all the week's runs according to the CARA training plan, but still have to work on the cross training...

Goals for the week:  at least one day of cross training (cycling) and long run with CARA

Working on any short term goals?

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Meatless Monday - Healthy Granola

This tasty "granola" happens to be a failed attempt at healthy energy bars.  As a family our afternoons and weekends are pretty crazy with soccer, music lessons, running club etc.  And as most kids, mine come home from school ravenous and rushing to get ready for something.  So my plan was to make bars for the week - instead we ended up with granola for breakfast:)

Granola

Preheat oven to 350.  In large bowl combine:
1 1/2 old fashioned oats
1/2 c steel cut oats
1/2 c quinoa
3/4 c seeds and/or nuts of choice (I used hemp, pepitas and sunflower seeds)
1/2 c dried fruit of choice (I used dried bananas)
1/4 c flaxseed meal

Granola - dry ingredients

In microwave safe bowl, combine and microwave until smooth (about 45 seconds):
1/4 c sweetener (I used honey - could also use maple syrup, brown rice syrup)
1/2 c nut butter (I used sunflower butter)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

Granola - nut butter mixture

Mix nut butter mixture into dry ingredients until well combined.  Spread into a 13 x 9 inch pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Let cool.  Serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, milk or as a snack by itself.  Enjoy!


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Five Fun Things Friday

Kovas and I were sent some organic herbal Alvita teas to sample.  So many delicious flavors - perfect for any time of day!

We make sure that every ingredient comes from responsible growers who make the land—and the herbs that grow on it—their primary concern. From there, our team painstakingly reviews the scientific data to make sure of proper dosage, and the perfect brewing techniques, so that our teas can give you the maximum benefit and the best taste.

Alvita - organic, gluten-free, kosher

We also had the opportunity to try Huma Chia Energy Gel in strawberry and apples and cinnamon flavors.  I love that these are all natural and have a great flavor without a chemically after-taste!

Don't like gels that taste like cough syrup? Neither do we. Now you can enjoy your gel with Hüma, the great-tasting, all-natural energy gel based on Chia.

All natural - Huma Chia Energy Gel

You can have the best running shoes with the right fit, but without good socks, you're likely to still have problems.  I have a pair of Darn Tough ski socks and love them, so I was psyched when they sent me two pairs of their running socks to try.  Super comfortable with a great fit and feel, no rubbing and no slipping - these have become my go-to socks for running!

...miles and miles (and miles) of blister-free bliss. Feel the difference of feeling nothing at all.

Darn Tough Run/Bike socks

Here's a great event to support virtually or in person if you're in the Chicago-land area...Tazer and I are planning to register for the event - the rest of the family will join virtually...

The Run for Boston 5k is a partnership between the Chicago Running Bloggers community and Muddy Monk Trail Running. Katie of Live Half Full worked to bring together the running community to put together an event to show the power and resiliency of the running community.

Together, our goal is to raise funds from our generous sponsors so that 100 percent of race entries benefits the Who Says I Can’t Foundation and directly to support the rehabilitation of those who lost limbs as a result of the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon. We need your help to make this possible. Contact us for information about volunteering or sponsoring this event.

Join us June 15, either in Libertyville at Independence Grove or virtually, for #Chicago4Boston.

Run for Boston 5k

The (new) winner of my Bestowed giveaway is

CONGRATULATIONS!  Please email or DM me your mailing address!

Happy Friday!

Any fun plans for the weekend?

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