Energy Bits Review and Giveaway!

Early this summer, I first heard about Energy Bits from many other bloggers and Energy Bits' amazing social media presence. They do a great job of participating with all kinds of athletes on Twitter, and as the word spread, I was intrigued, and a little anxious. As many of you know, I suffer from some extreme stomach issues. They have been getting better, but still flare up when I eat the wrong things! (If you don't know what I am talking about, I was on a white diet for over 10 months!!) I did not really want to shell out the money for something that could cause me lots of distress! Lucky for me, one of their reps, Jonathan, agreed to send me a sample to try!

I tried the bits for the first time during a short training run. I didn't want to get to far away from home and have issues!! 

Well, not only did I not experience any of the issues common with gels,  I felt amazing the entire time! I had a really great run! 3.5 miles went by like nothing! I even felt great the rest of the day!

Yesterday, was my long run day and I decided to take Energy Bits out on another test run! I had 8 miles scheduled, the longest I have run in quite a long time, and I was NERVOUS about it! Even with all my evening-before-the-run preparations, I did not sleep well, only getting about 3 1/2 hours of sleep (due to many different issues!). I woke up very cranky and wondering if I should postpone my run. I'd had planned on heading out of the door at 6am, so I was up at 5am to fuel and get ready. I was so tired that I decided to just eat a bowl of cereal and go back to bed for an hour. I woke up at 6:30am and took my Energy Bits (30 bits) and water, and headed out the door. 

I was pretty sluggish my first mile, which is pretty normal for me, but this was really bad, I thought about turning around and just going back to bed. I kept running and in about 20 minutes I had quite of boost of energy. My body was feeling great and the miles, while not fast, were flying by. 

Mentally I was beating myself up for not running faster, for not getting enough sleep, for choosing such a hilly route, for not getting an earlier start, for the weather, for everything, but physically I was feeling AMAZING!! My physical energy was through the roof! Even though my mind never caught up, my body felt so energized and I ended up running 8.41 miles! It was great!

But what was even better, was the way I felt after my run! I wasn't dead-tired, I had more energy!! I felt awesome, and I can only equate it to the Energy Bits! Everything else was going wrong, and with the supreme lack of sleep, I am amazed at how I felt both during and after my run!! These little bits are truly one of a kind!

I’ve tried other energy supplements before, with mixed results! I have of course had many stomach issues but I’ve also never felt like I had a boost in my energy levels. Others who have reviewed Energy Bits have talked about the sustained energy they feel, opposed to just a short energy boost that many other products give.  This is due to the make up of the Energy Bit, they are 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, Energy Bits algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) and just one calorie per tab.  Worth a try, right?!

OMG! They are GREEN!

30 Energy Bits = 1 serving

YES! They are green!! and they taste like it!  The recommended "dose" of bits is 30-50, which seems crazy but they are only about the size of a small aspirin.  Energy Bits says you can chew, or swallow the bits.  Just by smelling the container, I knew I would want to swallow them, they are very strong. Much stronger than a green monster, or other green smoothie, but along the same lines. Others, who are brave enough to chew them, have claimed they get green teeth from chewing! I decided to swallow my bits, and it did not take very long, I was able to swallow them about 5 at a time.  

With my first use of Energy Bits, I was unsure if I should eat food with the bit or if I should just be powered-by-bits. I went with just the bits in my stomach, as it was going to be a short run, and I really wanted to test if my stomach will handle the little bits! 

After emailing Jonathan, I discovered that just eating the bits is perfect, and that is exactly what he does, and he is good for 6-7 miles! He suggested eating something with the bits, if you need more calories, for a longer run. Since the bits only have 1 calorie a piece, 30 bits are only providing 30 calories for your run! This seems crazy to me, but those 30 calories really do their job!! 

How do they Work?

Energy Bits are made from 100% spirulina algae.  Haven't heard of this superfood yet? I took this from Energy Bit's website, as I think they do a better job explaining their product than I could!!

     ENERGYbits® algae tabs are your answer for raw energy and health. All naturally too. With just one calorie     per tab, ENERGYbits® will stop your cravings, slay your hunger and give you a steady stream of energy all day or night. They may even make you want to leap over tall buildings in a single bound, but we think that’s best left to the guys in the red capes and blue tights.  Remarkably, our ENERGYbits® have just one ingredient, spirulina algae which is a super hero in the world of super foods. Spirulina’s nutritional pedigree is so impressive that The World Bank, NASA and Olympic athletes have all declared spirulina to be the most nutritious food in the entire world. Why? Well for starters, it effortlessly and naturally boosts your energy like an energy drink, energy bar or coffee  but without the downside of chemicals, caffeine, calories or sugar and gram per gram, there is no denser source of nutrition than spirulina algae. Research done by NASA showed that that 1 kg of spirulina had the nutritional  equivalent of 1000 kg of fruits and vegetables.  That's a  lot of groceries! But if an endorsement by NASA isn’t enough to convince you of the health benefits you’ll get from our ENERGYbits® and spirulina, consider that many International Health Organizations including the United Nations have hailed spirulina as one of the “Greatest Superfoods on Earth.” Don’t worry if you haven’t heard about this super food yet. You will. It may be virtually unknown in America but for the last 50 years, millions worldwide have taken it to improve their energy. Now it’s your turn. 

Disclosure & Giveaway

I don’t work for Energy Bits, but I was provided with a free sample. The opinions I have written are my own and I do not benefit from giving Energy Bits a positive review. I just wanted to share my experience with these, I was curious about them and I know you were probably too!  

I completely encourage you to try Energy Bits out!  And to do so, Energy Bits is giving me a sample to give to you! So, go ahead and sign up to win some Energy Bits!

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Not Every Run Can Be A Good Run...

First, I want to give a big shot out to all of you who participated in our RunDisney Blog Hop! I hope you enjoyed getting to meet some new bloggers and were able to check out their blogs! I know I found some new blogs to follow and some really inspiring stories!! If you posted your blog, I have gotten to almost all of your blogs and have left a message! Please continue to do the same, and give our RunDisney friends some love. Here is the link to the Blog Hop:

  http://kristyrunskato.blogspot.com/2013/07/welcome-to-team-rundisney-blog-hop.html 

 it is open for a few more days, so you can still get in on the fun!! 

My training has been going really well for the past two weeks! I did my scheduled 7 mile long run on Saturday, and then ran another 3 miles on Sunday. I felt great! After my long run, I tried out my new 110% Play Harder Juggler Knickers (what a name!!). They are really awesome compression capris that have special pockets in them to hold ice packs! They are wonderful! I did not get sore or tight after my run! I love them so much that I went ahead and ordered the calf compression sleeves too!! Can't wait for them to arrive!

On Monday, I was supposed to meet my BF at the track for a quick track workout. He was running late and I decided to just use the time to run before he got there. Well, I lost track of time and ended up running 5 miles before he arrived (he was REALLY late!!). We did a quick mile workout and called it a night! Again, I felt great! The 5 miles went by so fast, and felt so great! I was so happy with my progress!

Tuesday, I decided to run on the track again, it was a cooler than Monday and I was craving the same feeling of success. I put in 3.5 easy miles, and again felt fantastic! I wanted to push for 5 miles, but I didn't wear socks in my new shoes and had a blister starting. So, I settled with 3.5, although I really felt like I could do much more! Great feeling right?!

So, from Saturday to Tuesday I had put in 18.5 miles of running and about 6 miles walking!

Wednesday was a beautiful day!! 70 degrees! What a relief from the heatwave we had last week! It was sunny and I just had to get out for a run. Having run on the track two days in a row, I decided to take my run out on the trail. This is a new 3.5 mile loop I found, a hidden gem that I never knew was there before. Half of the run is on a gravel road, and the other half loops through the woods around a secluded lake! It is heaven on the joints and the eyes!!

I started out pretty slow, just enjoying the day and the views. At about 1 mile, my stomach started cramping, and I wasn't sure if I should just turn around or run through it. I decided to just walk awhile and see what happened. While my stomach cramped through the rest of the run, I am very glad this was not me....!!!

I was think of this video the entire way!! I was able to pick up the pace once I hit the trail, but I wasn't feeling the groove I was in the last few days! Duh! I needed to rest! My legs were screaming at me to just walk, and give them a break! I ran intervals for awhile, enjoying the beauty of the trail and the peaceful quiet of the area. Towards the end of the run, I pretty much sprinted back to my car, I just wasn't feeling the run, and just wanted it to be over. Even the beauty of my route couldn't make up for the fact that I was having a bad run. I was upset with myself and doing some pretty awful self-talk. I was really down.

But then it hit me! I needed to give myself a break! I needed to take care of myself and I needed to just remember that not every run feels great! I got 3.5 very slow miles in, and that was not bad! Especially after the streak I had been running! This was a lot more than I could do last year after my injury and I should be grateful for every mile I can do, even if I am walking! After my little pity-party and building myself back up, I went home, showered and did some retail therapy! 

Punkee Love Headbands are made right in my hometown and they were having a sale at their warehouse! Yes!! I went and got 6 new bands for $50!!! This made my night!!

How do you get over a bad run?? How has your training been going?

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Lots of Excitement!

This is going to be mine!!!

Wow! Where has the time gone? I haven't blogged in a few weeks, even though it was one of my goals. I have been very busy training, and my mind and body are so tired at the end of the day, I just cannot get it together to blog!! I need to schedule some time to blog!

Wanted to just give a very quick update! I know I am never quick, I am a very long winded writer!

I just wanted to share my excitement! My sister registered for the Tinkerbell 1/2 marathon!!!!! Woot!
I cannot express how excited I am about this! First off I am excited that I will not be traveling to Disneyland alone!! But I am excited to share the RunDisney experience with her!! This will not only be her first 1/2 marathon but also her first ever race!!

Post Run Coffee!

My sister is a much better and faster runner than I am, so I know she will have no problem running this race. She has also vowed that she will run with me and not race ahead! So, this will be the first 1/2 marathon that I have run with someone! Very exciting!

I have a very big surprise for her as a thank you for signing up! -- I will announce that later!! :)

This week has been very, very exciting! Having my sister register for the race was just part of the excitement! Here are the other exciting things happening -->

1. I found an amazing new running route! Next week I am going to post some pictures, and more info about this amazing route. I have lived in the same town pretty much all of my life, and I never knew this area existed! It is always exciting to find a new place!!

Shoe Blow out!

2. As many of you know, I love Newton Running shoes (I swear by them!). Well, my favorite shoe is the MV2, but I have had some issues with it tearing. This week, my 3rd pair torn!! I tweeted Newton, and they are not only sending me a new pair, they are sending me the newest version of the shoe the MV3....they are not even for sale yet! I am so excited to try them out!!

3. It is a double messy race weekend for me! I am running a mud run (with 20 obstacles) on Saturday and the Color Run on Sunday! I have never done anything like this before, so I am excited (and nervous!!) for these experiences!! Look for my race recaps and LOTS of pictures!!

Keeping it short! Have a great weekend everyone!

What are you all up to this weekend? Racing? Running? Resting?

Week 2 Recap & Thoughts on Tinkerbell

I just finished week 2 on my quest for weigh-loss and increased fitness (not to mention, training for my three 1/2 marathons!!).

Love my Zensah sleeves for recovery

Week 2 was much more tame than week 1. I cut back from running and biking everyday to doing each activity on alternate days. This was much more manageable, and it made it easier for me to hit each workout and bring my best. I was even feeling good enough this week to add in an extra ab session on Friday.

My workouts were great, and I started feeling much more confident in the free-weights room! I actually looked forward to my strength training and felt pretty strong.

Relaxing after a HOT run!

I got all of my runs in, including a 8.5 mile run on Saturday! It was so humid out, I had trouble breathing, but I finished, and felt good enough to go for a 3.5 mile walk that evening! I was pretty proud of myself! Even completed that run in 1.5 hours!! Go me!!

Loving my Fitbit Flex!

My eating was a whole other issue. While I was finding success in the gym, my eating was out of control!! On Monday, my department held a party for a teacher who is retiring, and I just HAD to try all of the yummy treats! I went out to eat way too many times this week. The BF and I helped his parents celebrate their anniversary this week with a huge meal (and dessert!) and then we went away this weekend, and indulged in all of our favorite restaurants.

One of the many restaurants I visited this week!

I was afraid to step on the scale this morning! That is how awful my eating has been! The scale was nice to me, and I am thinking that all of my workouts helped, but I did not gain anything.... but I did not lose anything either!!! While I am not happy about this, I completely know what I did wrong this week, and how I need to change it for this upcoming week! I think that now that my workouts are feeling good, and I am in a routine, that I can really focus on my eating!

I did treat myself to some new clothes this weekend.... a size smaller!! Woot! So, something good is happening in my body!!

What is really motivating me to get out there each day are my three 1/2 marathon registrations! The first of which is coming up in October, followed by the Tinkerbell 1/2 in Disneyland in January.

This week could be a BIG week for us RunDisney fans....!!


With registration opening for the Tinkerbell 1/2 the first week of July, everyone is waiting to for an announcement from Disney about the fabled 10k and/or challenge associated with this race!

Whether you are hoping for the announcement, and the challenge, or if you are hoping that Disney stops introducing new races, you cannot deny that this will be an exciting week! I love the anticipation!

While I am already registered for the 1/2, I am very much looking forward to Disney announcing a 10k and a challenge! MORE BLING!!! While my bank account is not looking forward to paying for more Disney races, I really want more medals (don't judge!!).

Are you hoping for a Tinkerbell Challenge?? Will you be running it if they have one?

An Awesome Day!! And my first Giveaway!!

This week has been going really well, as far as my workout schedule is concerned! I logged over 8 miles yesterday -- 4 of which were my run. I rode my bike to yoga, lifted biceps and back and went on a long walk with Ryan and his dog. The weather was perfect and I was feeling great!

Clearly not watermelon!

Have you tried Nuun?! Yum!

The day however didn't start so great. I got my much anticipated shipment Nuun and was disappointed to find it was not the flavor I ordered. Bummer. But through the power of Twitter, and the awesome Nuun company, they had my problem fixed! They are letting me keep the Cherry Limeade Nuun, and sending out the watermelon AND a pint glass! This company rocks!! That was the first of many happy social media surprises of the day!!



So.... That leads me to my very first Blog giveaway!! Woot!! I have 3 tubes of Cherry Limeade Nuun that I will be giving away on July 1st! All I ask you to do is:

1. Become a follower of my blog
2. Like and share this post on Facebook or Tweet about my giveaway @kristyrunskato #nuungiveaway

A winner will be drawn on July 1st!! Good Luck!


What could possibly make my day better?!

Well aside from some free Nuun and an excellent workout day..... I was named a new Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador!! I feel so honored! I was placed on Team Fantastic and am so excited to get to know all of the strong women on my team!

And.... to top the day off!!! I was also named a Sweat Pink Ambassador!! By the time I got this email, I was on cloud nine!! I was beyond excited to be named part of this group of powerful women!!

Wow! It was an amazing day! I was up until late in the night, following new people on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! It was a social media frenzy yesterday!! It was great!! :)

Today I am going to really work my legs! I have a 20 mile bike ride to get in, power yoga and today is a legs day in the gym!!

Please remember to enter my giveaway!! I would love for you to try Nuun if you haven't or just get some free Nuun if you love it!!

Week 1 Overview

Proud of hitting my workouts!

Well, I have found it very hard to keep up with my blog and my workouts on a daily basis. I am thinking that every other day may be what I am going to shoot for. I have to admit that my goals last week were quite lofty, and I did not reach all of them. But here is an overview of the week, the good, the bad and the ugly!!

Monday started out great! I felt awesome and hit every workout that I had scheduled. I felt awesome!! I ate all the meals I had planned to, and was very proud of myself! At the end of the day, I was exhausted and slept really well!

Resting after a swim

Tuesday was again an awesome day! I got in a 3 mile run, a 20 mile bike, lifted biceps and back, swam and got an hour of yoga in! I could tell that I was tired, and when I went to swim, I just felt like every muscle in my body was screaming. I have never felt like I was going to drown before, but Tuesday I really did! It was crazy how tired my body was. I took a good nap in the afternoon, and again hit all of my workouts and my meals.

On Wednesday the weather was crazy! We had quite the thunderstorm! So, I took my hour long run to the treadmill at the YMCA (yuck!). I put in a good leg session, and after that I was beat. I went home, ate and went back to bed for awhile. I was able to get my 10 mile bike ride in, once the storms passed, but it was a struggle. My legs were shot! I did not bike, nor did I go to yoga. I felt a little bad not getting in all of my workouts, but I was tired, and needed the rest. I had to remind myself today that what I have planned is actually really crazy, and I have to give myself some slack, and some rest. 

It's hot and humid!

Thursday was another day that I woke up feeling tired! My legs were screaming at me, and I just couldn't pull myself out of bed to run. I got a short bike ride in, and later in the afternoon I went on a walk. I put off lifting, just to give myself a good day of rest. Today, I really started re-thinking my workout schedule!

Me and my true love!! Vanilla latte!

Friday was a pretty good day, I allowed myself to have a latte as a treat! It was what I had been missing all week long! This entire school year, I had been drinking grande lattes from Starbucks, everyday! I decided that this summer was a perfect time to give this addiction up. It is expensive and fattening (I do not like skinny lattes!!). I don't drink any other form of caffeine, so I didn't really think about going through withdrawal.... but oh man!! I had headaches all week and just felt "off". Today, I allowed myself that coffee, and I felt like a whole different person! So, I think I need to start ingesting some form of caffeine, it really helped!!

I got in a short bike ride, yoga and a long walk on Friday. It was another relaxing day, and I was grateful that I was being so gentle with myself. But I worried that I was being too gentle!! I am my own worst enemy sometimes and just don't push myself hard enough.

Yesterday, Saturday, my sister was in town and we started out the day with a 7.5 mile run. I felt great after taking some time off of running!! It was a great run, and I was very thankful to have her to share it with me. It was so humid out and we were both dripping wet when we returned home. After taking a shopping break (where I got some awesome new yoga pants!!), I went to the Y to finish my lifting program this week. I did 45 minutes of shoulders and abs. Finished up the day with dinner with Ryan, and a nice walk.

Recovery w/ KT Tape and Pro Compression

Today, was my planned rest day. It feels weird to not have anything planned, but also good in a way. I have spent the morning re-vamping my workout plans. I am hoping to continue to push hard, but not run and bike everyday. That was really killing my legs!! I want to continue to swim, because I feel like this is the strangest workout for my body, as I have not swam in years and years! My lifting program feels awesome! I am happy to be back in the gym in this way!

Feeling kinda crabby!!

The good: I lost 4lbs  and regain my confidence in the gym
The bad: I went out to eat, and did not hit all of my cardio workouts
The ugly: I was pretty crabby this week, lack of caffeine??


Here is my plan for next week:

Monday: yoga, swim, bike, lift, walk
Tuesday: yoga, run, swim, lift
Wednesday: bike, swim, lift, yoga
Thursday: run, swim, lift
Friday: bike, swim, yoga, walk
Saturday: long run, yoga
Sunday: rest

Goals for next week: Blog more frequently & no meals out!!

Day One!

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, all I could think about was my post from yesterday, and how nervous I was to start this journey. It was just like trying to fall asleep the night before a big race, all sorts of fears racing through my mind: what if I fail, what if it hurts, what if I am biting off more than I can chew, what if I just give up?!

After about an hour of restlessness, a calm washed over me, because I allowed myself to remember that I am human, I will make mistakes, I will hurt, I will want to quit, but it is the way that I come back from those set backs that make the entire journey so worth it. I was able to finally fall asleep and I slept so well! It was like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders, this is going to be tough, but I am going to be gentle with myself.

Waking up this morning, I was very excited to get going!

My dogs have always been early risers, there is nothing I can do about this. They are up and ready to go between 5am and 5:30am everyday, without fail! Today was the same, and while I usually just let them outside, feed them and then return to bed, today I got my first meal of the day in. This early meal is fuel for my morning run, and because of my very sensitive stomach, I need to eat at the very latest an hour before running. This morning I had a whole wheat English muffin, 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, and a banana along with a generous glass of water. With a full tummy, I laid back down in bed for the hour and was ready to run at 6:30am.

The path was lined with these today!

Today was a longer running day: 1 hour. I am switching back and forth from 1 hour runs to 30 minute runs during the week and then running the long run of my 1/2 marathon training program on Saturday, resting on Sunday. The weather was cool and foggy, and humid! I was happy to be running early before it warmed up too much. I took my favorite hilly route, and completed just over 5 miles in the hour. It was a great run, and I felt energized at the end, wishing I had more time! But, I had to get meal #2 in and off to yoga.


I was super sweaty when I got home and so I took a quick shower, which ate up the time I had planned on using to cook some eggs. Instead, I drank a protein shake and biked to yoga, the eggs would have to wait.

The bike ride to Yoga only took about 10 minutes and it was lovely to stretch my legs after my run. On today's Yoga schedule was Power Yoga! It was killer!! I was again a sweaty mess by the end of the class, and was very happy for the few minutes of relaxation our shavasana allowed! After class it was back on the bike and back home for my eggs!! Yum!

At noon, I headed to the pool. This was the part of the day I was most worried about, having not been in the pool for many years. It was better than I hoped it to be. I swam a quick 500, with the only issue being my breathing pattern. I probably could have swam much more, but I don't want to start too quickly...

After the pool, I came home and had an apple and some carrot sticks. Then I took off on my bike again and went to the YMCA. This was the second part of my day that I was worried about. I have not lifted for many years.

This part was pretty hard. The lifting program I am using is tailored by Jami Eason and can be found on Boudybuilding.com. It is all laid out for you and even includes videos of the lifts for those of us who have no clue what we are doing!!! I got to the Y thinking that I would workout in the free weights room, as my programs tells you to, but I was too intimidated by all the guys in there (I was the only girl), so I ended up using the the machines instead. It was tough, and I could really tell that I am lacking muscle, but I got the workout done and I was proud of myself for not giving up!!

Rode my bike back home, cooked some dinner and then headed out for my 10 mile bike ride. The first mile is straight up hill... it was tough! I was sweating and my legs were giving out, but I made it, and being able to climb that hill after all I have done, was such a confidence booster!! I managed 10 miles in 45 minutes and was home to shower and head to bed!

Over all I am very happy with how the first day went! I felt good all day long, aside from a headache at around 3pm, which I cured by eating a few more carbs.

I think the exercise portion of my program is going to go really well, I need to figure out my eating though, and work on eating enough calories to sustain this type of activity, while still losing some weight!

Looking forward to tomorrow's work-out!

30 minute Run
1 1/2 hours of Yoga
500m Swim
Lift back and bi
20 mile bike

Wish me luck!! :)

Starting over...

Today is the day that I start my 12-week body transformation! I have 12 weeks of vacation and I am going to use them to get back in shape and marathon ready!

I have fallen off the wagon, and fallen hard. In the last year, I have gained over 50 pounds. This weight gain is partly due to being injured and unable to run (which was my main source of exercise) and partly due to my very poor eating habits and extremely high stress!  I am very embarrassed to post the pictures you are about to see. It takes everything in me not to just hide them away and never show them to anyone. But I am posting them to the world, because I am hoping that will give me the motivation to make some major changes.

My plan is very simple:

1. Don't eat out -- I got into a very bad habit of eating most of my meals out, and drinking Grande Lattes just about everyday. This has to stop! I need to cut out the sugar and eat clean! Watch my portions and stop snacking!!

2. Run more! I have been running 3-4 times a week for the last 6 months. I have felt like this is enough, because I do not want to re-injure myself. But now is the time to start bumping it up! I have three 1/2 marathons coming up in the next 9 months, and I have to be ready! I am starting now!!!

3. Yoga everyday! I have been going to yoga 3-4 times a week for the last 12 weeks, now that I have the time, I am going to go everyday, this will hopefully help me stretch and take care of my muscles. Yoga has been my way to prevent injury, and I love the time to just focus on myself.

4. Get back into biking! I used to bike 20 miles a day or more, but haven't really been consistent for the past 3 years. I need to get back to this routine. I think it is a good balance for the running I will be doing, and I would like to do the Iron Girl Duathalon this fall. So, I better get moving!

5. Get into the pool! During college I was a swimming instructor and lifeguard, I was in the pool everyday. I really want to get back into the pool and get into swimming shape! This is going to be the most difficult past for me, as I haven't swam laps in a lot of years. I am hoping that I can get fast enough by the end of the summer to do a sprint triathlon! Cross your fingers for me.

6. Start a weight training program. I found a great lifting program on Bodybuilding.com. It is geared towards women and gives you a daily schedule, including videos to help you know what to do! I am excited to get into the gym and start lifting. I lifted in college, and getting back at it gets me pretty excited!!

So! How am I going get this all done? I am going to go about it as if it were my job. I have a schedule of the times I need to accomplish each activity, and when I need to rest. I am hoping to drop 20 or 30 pounds in the next three months. Which I know for some of you that sounds crazy, but guys.... I have a lot to lose!!! Here is June 10th:

5:30am Peanut Butter and English Muffin

6:30am 1 hour run 

7:30am Quick Shower

7:40am 3 egg whites/2 whole eggs w/veggies and yogurt

8:00am Ride bike to yoga

8:30am Power Yoga

10:00am Ride bike home

10:15am Protein shake

10:30am Rest 

11:30am lunch and ride bike to pool 

12:00 Swim 500 (free style and breast)

12:45 Ride bike  to YMCA

1:15pm Lift: chest and tris

2:00 Protein shake and apple

2:30pm 10 mile bike ride

3:30pm rest & ab work

5:30pm  Dinner: broccoli, Chicken and green beans

I would love your support during these next months, I will be updating my blog frequently to let you know my training schedules, and my progress. Please feel free to cheer me on and follow my blog as I make my fitness dreams come true!!

And now...... here are the dreaded "before" pictures..... I really didn't think I looked this bad.....!!!

Saucony Virrata Review

It has been over two years since I switch to running in minimal shoes. I decided to make the switch due to some serious shin splints I was dealing with. I cannot remember accurately where I read about using minimal shoes to help ease (and in some cases, completely stop) the pain of shin splints, but right away I went out and bought the most minimal shoe I could find: the Vibram Five Fingers. Right away I fell in love with the feeling of running, and it was these shoes that I feel allowed me to make some big gains in my running form, speed and endurance. I was, for the first time ever, running without pain in my shins!

 It didn't take long, however, to figure out that training for a 1/2 marathon was going to require a bit more cushion that what the Five Fingers were providing me. I made a switch to the Rebox Flex, which I loved even more than my Five Fingers, and I happily ran many races in, including my first 1/2. During that race, I lost 3 toenails and decided that I really needed to get serious about the shoes I was wearing and the fit of the shoe!!!

I was turned on to Newton's and fell in love all over again! I have gone through 4 pairs of Newton's now and have to say they are the shoes that work the best for me. I feel fast, and stable in Newton's, they are my go-to shoe!

With that being said, I am still searching for the "perfect" shoe! I love my Newton's, but I am always curious about what is out there, and what I may be missing out on.

Recently, I have heard a lot about Saucony. I wanted to stick with a zero-drop shoe, and I was introduced through many reviews, to the Saucony Virrata. I have never run or worn Saucony shoes, so I was game to try something new.

I have HUGE feet (I wear a women's 11 in regular shoes, and tend to wear a 12 in running shoes!!), so I went with the men's version of the shoe. Men's shoes are always perfect in length, but too wide (my foot is super narrow!). This particular shoe fit really well in both length and width! So from the start, I was excited about this shoe.

I wore them a couple of times on the treadmill, and loved every minute of the run! The shoe was definitely a minimal shoe, it was so light, I felt like I wasn't wearing anything, but on the same hand, they were very cushy, and had really good support.

Once the weather got to the point I could run outside, I took them out on the street, where they did not disappoint. They are great on many surfaces, asphalt, sidewalk, gravel, and grass (my daily route is this varied!!).

I will definitely be buying another pair of these shoes! I do not wear them on all of my runs, as I have found that I miss the feeling of the Lugs on my Newtons, and run in them about every other run.

I am very picky about my shoes, and am always looking for another shoe to try. I bought these shoes because others have also had success with them. My opinions are my own.

I just purchased the Saucony Kinvara 4, and am looking forward to trying it out. While not considered a true minimal shoe, I am excited to see what it is like. Look forward to a review!

What is your go-to shoe or shoe brand? Do you run in minimal shoes?

Girls on the Run 5k Race Re-Cap

Yesterday I ran my first race since the middle of March, and the first local race since last running the Mankato 1/2 Marathon in 2011!! Yikes!

The Girls on the Run 5k race is in its 3rd year here in Mankato, and this is the first year that I have actually run it! The very first year, was my first year of running and this race was going to be my very first race ever! However, the morning of the race was freezing cold and raining cats and dogs!! I was nervous about the race to begin with, so I opted out!! :(

Last year, I was injured, and not running at all, so I missed out again. Finally, this year everything worked together and I was able to run! In great weather, nun the less!! 

Spring has finally come to Minnesota, and it is long over due! We have had record snow falls this April, and even had a 2-hour late start due to blizzard conditions on Tuesday of this week (April 23rd!!). This weekend, however has been perfect! The temps reached 80degrees yesterday, with full sun, and we are in the 70's today! Yesssss!

So, as they say the stars were aligned and so I ran the race! I was also able to run as part of a team! One of the High Schools that I work at got a team together, and I decided that I would run it with them! East High School's colors are black and gold, and so I was dress accordingly -- excited that I got to rock my yellow Team Sparkle skirt again (first time being the Princess 1/2 marathon as part of my Snow White costume!)

At the start of the race, I knew I was going to be too hot (having run in the rain and snow up until this race, it was quite a change!!), and I also knew that what I had eaten for breakfast was not going to be good for the race (note to self: never ever eat dairy before running!!)

It was however, a beautiful day, and I was happy to be running! The girls who participated in the Girls on the Run program were all decked out in pink, and having a great time, it was so inspiring to watch these girls of all shapes and sizes have fun running!

The course was just a loop around a local park, which included a few hills. I started out really strong, making it to the 1 mile marker in about 8 minutes! That is however, when it all went wrong! My stomach started cramping so badly that I had to stop and sit down for awhile, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish the race, and I started to panic that there were no port-a-potties in case I needed one!! Not a happy thought!

I decided that sitting wasn't doing me any good at all and started to walk. Walking didn't feel good either, so I figured that I would run, and at least I would get back to the start (and the potties!) faster!! 

I impressed myself as I powered up the hills and tried to get over the stomach pain I was feeling! I had to walk a couple of times, due to some very severe cramps, but I powered through it, and finished in 38 minutes, not a PR, but in many ways, I was proud of myself! Proud that I finally got to run this race, and proud that I finished, in spite of my GI issues!! 

Now that the weather is nice, I am excited to get outside and get some extra training for my upcoming races!! :) 

Ryan and I ended the perfect day by eating at our favorite restaurant in St. Paul, and visiting some of my favorite stores, rewarding myself with a few new Lululemon purchases! :)