Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm Lisa a mom to two girls and a wife to a US Navy Submariner. I have a passion for running, nutrition and all things fitness. For me running or training hard at the gym equals 24 hours of complete joy in a day. If this blog inspires and helps motivate you, then I hope you continue reading.

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25 April 2012

Looking For A Good Read?



I should really be packing my bags for Big Sur since I leave on Friday but I felt like a quick blog post is a must!!

There are a lot of documentaries lately that explores the food industry such as; Fat Dead and Nearly Sick, Forks Over Knives, Food INC. etc... If your looking for a good read though, Michael Pollan's - In Defense Of Food is awesome. Heck, I recommend any book by Michael Pollen. He is the author of four New York Times bestsellers: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual; In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto; The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World.

I haven't read all his books but I thought I would just name them anyways. LOL

Read this book though and you will find that most of what American's eat today is NOT real food. He defines our market, lifestyle, and what we know (scientifically or not) about health and the benefits of REAL food, which so far have yet to be recreated better by humans than nature.

24 April 2012

Big Sur Marathon Plan....



I made a list of lists I need to make before I fly out for Big Sur. I just have a few things left to do and I am all set to go! Mentally I am prepared but I'm not sure about physically. These next few days I'll be paying close attention to the fuel I put in my body. Let the carb loading begin :)

I've got my race packet instructions, flight itinerary and pace bands printed out and ready to pack. The paper underneath is just some coupons for the Fisherman's Wharf.


Marathon Plan:

In order to get a medal at the end of the Big Sur marathon you need to complete it under 6 hours. You must reach the 22 mile mark by the 5th hour of the race or a sweeper van will pick you up along the course and you won't be allowed to finish. 

I'll be running the marathon with my best friend who I have known for the last 18 years. This will be her first marathon so our only goal will be to complete it under 6 hours. 

Big Sur is well known for it's hard course and grueling hills! I made two pace bands to help keep us on track. It would be nice to complete the marathon around the 5:30 mark but if we come in right before 6 hours, no biggie. The first half I'd like to keep the pace relatively slow around 12 minute miles. There is a two mile climb at mile 10 where we will have to sneak in some walking breaks. Depending how we are feeling after we hit the half way point, I'd like to pick up the pace a little bit. There will still be hills in the second half so I really don't see us going any faster than 10 minute miles. I'd like to run a pace that's not too fast, nor too slow. If we are struggling for some reason, 13 minute miles is the slowest we can go to complete the marathon under 6 hours. From what I hear, the scenery is surreal, I'll probably stop a lot just take pictures. 

Just to give you an idea, down below I posted the elevation Map of Big Sur Marathon. Oh my gosh, is that a 500 foot climb between miles 10 and 12!?!?! 



My marathon playlist has been created. I'll be listening to different genres from rock, alternative, dance, hip hop, and R&B. Seriously, who goes from listening to bands like American Headcharge, Rage Against The Machine, and Korn; to all of a sudden Britney Spears and Katy Perry? LOL This chick does. I listen to everything :)

23 April 2012

TWO!!!



Today's Workout 5/23/2011
3 Miles Easy Run

Two is the number of runs I have left before the Big Sur International Marathon. Today, instead of running in the morning I did a short three mile run at night. The weather in the Pacific Northwest has been amazing these last few days. Glad I was able to run without a jacket tonight. Spring is in the air!! I love it :)

Big Sur is 5 days, 9 hours and 9 minutes away!! I should probably make a list of all the things I need to do and make a list of things I need to pack before I fly out on Friday!!

It seems lately everyone has been blogging about these Synergy drinks. So I went ahead and bought one the other day just to see what all the hype is about. Now I'm not sure if maybe I got the wrong flavor or what have you but OMG that shit was that nastiest drink I have ever had in my entire life!!! Never again will I ever waist my money on that drink again!! LOL It looked like it could have been good but the smell and flavor is horrible!



22 April 2012

The End Is Near!!



Today's Workout 4/22/2012 

8 Mile Run 

Marathon training is coming to an end!! I'm going to enjoy this final taper week and I'll be in Big Sur next weekend! Just 3 runs left before my big day....    


19 April 2012

New Protein Shake Recipe & Frozen Banana's



Well this may not be a new protein shake recipe for you, but it is a new one for me. For the first time I added peanut butter to my shake; I did not like it. I like peanut butter cookies, reese's peanut butter cups, pb&j but I do not like peanut butter in my shake. Yuck! 

On another note, I picked up on freezing bananas and adding them to my protein shakes. I always have bananas in my shake but by putting frozen bananas it changes the consistency. Using bananas pack a strong dose of carbohydrates, making them a good natural energy source. Bananas can be bought in bulk and frozen for months. Simply peel a large amount of bananas at once and put them in plastic freezer bags, alternating their directions in layers so that they don’t stick. I cut my banana's in half before putting them in the freezer because I don't use a whole banana in my shakes.

17 April 2012

Green Tea Anyone?


Yogi green tea is my favorite green tea. This is the only green tea brand I've found so far that I enjoy drinking hot anytime of the day with no sugar added. My husband just came home from DC so I had to show off my new Starbucks cup he bought for me.

I've been trying to eliminate sugary drinks out of my life! Some of you may have seen the pictures below circulating on Facebook. They are pretty self explanatory.

Dr. Tim Mathew, Kidney Health Australia's Medical Director, said research in the US had shown that one soft drink or sweet juice each day AT ANY AGE was associated with an 80% increase in the risk of acquiring diabetes in females. Soda is like diabetes in a bottle. Not to mention the sugar that is in these among other excitoxins (excitotoxins play a critical role in the development of several neurological disorders, including migraines, seizures, infections, abnormal neural development, certain endocrine disorders, specific types of obesity, and especially the neurodegenerative diseases).

RETHINK YOUR DRINK!





16 April 2012



Today's Workout 4/16/2012

6 Mile Run

I couldn't wait to run today. The idea of it sounded nice. Once I got out there I wasn't feeling it. I walked a bit, not because I was tired but simply because I didn't feel like running. When I did run I felt good. I didn't take any aspirin and my knee held up pretty well. There were times when I was able run at a 8 min mile pace but I would slow down because I don't want to over due it. Big Sur is a little less than two weeks away, I need to be smart about my training from now till marathon day.  Normally the trail I run on is pretty desolate but today there were some Marines in my way (yeah, that's right, in MY way! lol) and then there were Navy personnel out running.



14 April 2012

14 Days 20 Hours Till Big Sur!


Big Sur Marathon is well known for it's hills! Am I ready? I hope so. I've been running up hills but I don't know if it'll be enough for Big Sur. I'll find out on marathon day! 14 Days 20 Hours till the main event!!


The picture above is my favorite hill I like to run up on base. Well sometimes I like it, sometimes I hate it!!

Today's Work 4/14/2012

6 Mile Run - I kept it around a 10 Min pace.

Yesterdays Workout 4/13/2012


I was in the mood for a different work out so I went ahead and tried this at home work out from Get Fit Naturally's FB page. I was going for four sets but I only did three. The workout started out easy, everyone should be able to do jumping jacks right? Then when I got to the bicycle crunches, it wasn't so easy anymore. I hate those things. I don't have a strong core but I'm working on it. I did like this work out though. Next time I'll do 4 sets. My shoulders are a little sore from the 300 jumping jacks. I tried to do the jumping jacks as fast as I could. Anyway, here's the workout if you'd like to give it a try.

100 Jumping Jacks
10 Push Ups
15 Squat Jumps
30 High Knees
50 Bicycle Crunches
15 Burpees
20 Push Ups
30 Crusty Lunges (15 Per Side)
40 Wide Stance Squats
10 V-Ups



13 April 2012

Any Blog Designers Out There?

Hello everyone! I have a friend who would like to start blogging but shes looking for someone to design her blog. Any takers out there? Who did you go to for your blog design? Under $20? She just needs a header and background. Thank you :) 

12 April 2012

Clear Blue Skies In Wa State?!?!



Today's Workout:

6 Mile Run 10 to 11 Min Mile Pace

I need to get back into the routine of blogging. I was looking through my previous posts and it makes me miss it, blogging that is. Currently I am training for Big Sur; marathon number two. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't blog during this training cycle. Now I am in the taper phase of my training. Big Sur is just 16 days and 9 hrs away!!! I'll be running in it with one of my best friends that I have known since 1994 or 1995. Can't wait to run across that finish line. Anyway, the last few weeks I have been having some knee pain during my runs. More like excruciating pain :( It starts hurting somewhere around mile 3 in to my runs. I went ahead and gave my self a self diagnoses that I strained my lateral collateral ligament on my left knee. I took a week off from running last week, been icing my knee, started taking some glucose-mine, and using the good ole foam roller. This week I've been running every other day to give my knee rest in between runs. TODAY though my knee didn't hurt at all during my 6 mile run; thanks to Bayer. LOL I kept the pace between a 10 to 11 min mile, gotta keep things slow and easy till marathon day. My only goal is to finish the marathon.

Here are some pictures from today's run. I live in the wettest state in the country, WA state; go figure. This morning we were lucky to have clear blue skies!!! I had to take advantage of it :)