Run.Chew.Sparkle

Last day of July... I ran for a total of 84 miles for this month. 84 miles in earlier hours, after work, very early mornings and hot and humid, crazy sweaty runs. Its crazy 84 miles for the whole month and next month will be over a 100. It scares me and excites me all at the same time. This is just 84 miles in running. I put in even more miles on the bike, walking, and other XT activities. The best part, I survived it.  Sure it has been hell at times, but I made it through, no excuses and just got it done. The good thing about August, is I really have nothing going on. Nothing big with work, no vacations of time off. No reason to be super tired or burned out, so I can dedicate a lot of my energy and time my training. Making myself stronger with each mile. I am ready for August. I am ready to go longer miles and really push it. Also means two months until the half. Oh man. Scary and every emotion in between. Today, was a nice and quick 3.56 miles. I slept in because I had to...

So I am completely and utterly obsessed with The Sopranos. It is quite bad actually. I stayed up until 2 this morning watching them, then watched two while I was eating lunch and then one while I worked out at the gym. I just cant get enough. Oh and I am sure tonight, I will be watching more with James. I haven't even looked at my DVR the past few days. I did download a new book to my Nook though, Sharp Objects from Gillian Flynn. In the hopes I will do some reading and pull away from the TV. Today was my day off and I had a pretty nice one. I have decided when I am lazy and a bum on my days off, it is totally okay, because well its my day off and I should enjoy it. I slept in today until 9. Mainly because I was up so late watching the show. I went to Weight Watchers and weighed in. I had gained .4. I mean really, does that even matter or count?! I bet if I get on a scale now, it will be down. You know what I am really trying to not harp on it too much and it has been worki...

I completely forgot when I did my transformation post to update my training for the day. Tuesdays used to be a day I dreaded. I normally have to be to work at 8, which means I have to get up around 5:30-6 to run, which is usually just my 3 miler for the week. After my run, I have to rush around to change, shower and try to either pack a breakfast and lunch to bring to work or just my lunch, etc. It is fast paced morning, with not much of a down time. To be honest, it took awhile for me to get into the groove with it. Now after 93 days, Tuesday's I look forward to my 3 mile run. I really don't mind getting up early and hitting the pavement. I usually have down pat what I am going to bring for breakfast and lunch and I am ready to go. I don't go all out with my looks on these days and keep things very simple. I love long distance running, a lot. My favorite mileage is 8. Something about it to me is perfect. I think because it was the mileage when I realized I can really...

That was me, 5 years ago. I had just moved from MA and was home in NY for a couple of days before I was heading down here to Florida to start my new life. See I was very overweight, but I didn't see it. I hid behind make up and cute clothes, tight ones and just assumed the dryer shrunk everything. I didn't exercise and I had just quit smoking a month or so ago. I was happy and I was bubbly but something was missing. I think deep down inside I knew I was not who I was suppose to be, this was not my body. Not the body I wanted. It would take me almost 2 more years from this point to realize that. So here is the thing I was never depressed or hated myself, I was the same person but just not shining how I felt on the inside, outside. 5 years later through dedication, motivation, Weight Watchers and running... I am still smiling!! But this smile has way more behind it. There is a sparkle and a spark and satisfaction with it. I am smiling from the deepths of my soul and I feel good i...

There it is!!!! It is so funny that this was posted on Facebook tonight because on my long run the other day I was thinking and wondering all about what it would look like. I am so excited about seeing this. I now have a vision and even more then just the finish line. I will be wearing this bad boy for months, sleeping it with it and I will wear it work for weeks. Oh and engraving the back.  This is mine I tell ya!! Oh and I forgot to mention, I did my first mile yesterday with the magic mile of 10:59, thanks to the awesome pace I had with Nanci!! Testing my magic mile again in two weeks. My magic mile was good, I felt strong and it wasn't hard to breathe or talk doing it. Looking to improve and get better. I will now dream about this around my neck!!!

Monday is here yet again. I cant believe how time is just flying by and I cant believe that I have been training for the marathon now since April 27, so 3 months and a day to be exact. I have been determined and set forth at this whole training for 3 months now. WOW! And we have about 2 more to go. Before I know it the training will be over and I will be crossing that finish line. It gives me chills. So yesterday I had a fantastic day after my fun morning with Nanci. James and I went out for lunch to Ruby Tuesday's because we were both craving a salad bar. Seriously who craves salad bars???!! Then we spent the afternoon doing some errands, using our gift cards and then a nice 2 hour nap for me and we finished Season 4 of the Sopranos and started season 5. It was a great day and night of no plans, no laundry, no cleaning and really no thinking. I needed a day off like that and I need to make sure all my days off are like this as much as I can. Nothing but rest and relaxation...

Happy Sunday Morning!! Happy week 14 of training for me and happy whatever week of training you might be embarking on!! Started my day the best way possible! Running before the sun rise with a new and amazing friend, Nanci and then enjoying an iced coffee after with even better conversation! Nanci and I set up our run right after we ran two weeks ago. She came to St. Pete this morning and we met downtown around 5:15 am. Yes, it's early but we wanted to cover 8 miles and do it before it got really hot. Don't get me wrong today was not a cool day. It was hot and humid and sticky, just all around yuck. But we were out there tackling those miles. 8 miles came so quickly when we were talking the whole time. Seriously we have just met two weeks ago in person, but I feel like I have known here forever. It is awesome. We share tons of similarities and already talk about anything and everything. I can't wait for another run date again. And hopefully we can set it up with more of our...

Good Saturday Morning!! What a crazy, tiring week this has been. Literally my mind, emotions and body are just exhausted. I feel like I'm getting enough sleep but my body and mind are craving more. I woke up today sore, legs, arms, hips and just tired oh and with another sinus headache.  I understand training is going to be difficult at times. It is going to take everything out of me because I work full time also. And not your typical job, I am on my feet all day, never sitting down. So it wears you out and I'm feeling it for sure this week. Plus Aunt Flo came last week and screwed me all up this week. Funny how all of these things come into play. I am still on plan with my training, which is awesome, I just missed one day of cross training or a walk.  For awhile I felt like I wasn't pushing myself enough. I felt like it was easy haha. I'm crazy I know!! Then bam and now it is all real. This shitz is tiring but I'm becoming stronger for it. I'm getting my runs i...

TGIF!!! I can say that today because I only had a half day at work!! I had to sacrifice a second day off so I took some shorter shifts to make it up. Today was nice to get out early. I used my Old Navy gift card I was given for my birthday and went to GNC. Seriously, who have I become that GNC is a favorite place for me to go haha.  Today is also a walk or XT day. I opted to do it after work so I could sleep in a bit, which we know i love. I have been so tired. I'm not sure if my body is trying to fight off a sickness or my sinuses are kicking my A or maybe the fact I increased my mileage a whole lot, or the days off but it has put a toll on me for sure. Any chance I am getting, I am napping. Rest is extremely important to me. I live and work so much better when I have rest. I mean who doesn't?? I did 40 minutes on the bike doing the rolling hills. Have to get those hills in somehow. Since this is a quick and easy post, I wanted to share some of my new Friday Favorites. My lunc...

This morning I had my 3 mile run. I got to sleep in a bit, actually until 8:30. I was dying to sleep in today and was grateful I had to close the store. I went out for 3 miles and decided to not take my beeper with me. I just wanted to run and walk when I needed. It felt great too this morning. It was really hot and sweaty. I was dripping for like 20 minutes after wards.  My energy level was shot all day though. I  felt like I was trying so hard to keep eyes open all day. I brought this wheat grass shot with me to work to help increase my energy level... I had gotten it in my Bestowed box last month. It smelled like grass, so I plugged my nose and down it went. It was not bad at all. And I know it woke me up a bit for side. I definitely felt much better. I need to find more of these. All in all a good day but I am so ready for my half day tomorrow. I'm exhausted!!

Happy Wednesday and. Weekly weigh in over here!! Well after those awesome 15 miles I woke up very tired and exhausted. Not that sore but sore enough and my arms from the chaffing were pretty bad. So since I was feeling very drained, I took today as a nice, recover day, also rest day.  Saturday's are more my rest day but with these long mileages coming up a rest day before and recover day after will be best for me but I'll play it by here, but today I really wanted it.   I had to work today all day and then weigh in right after. To my delight I stayed the same, wish it was a lost but stay the same is just as great!! It means I am doing something right. Drinking my 100 plus ounces of water and eating my extra points and activity points when needed has done wonders. I am moving in the right direction.  I am staying the course and including more and more protein when I can. So let's hope next week, it drops more 😄! Have a great Wednesday!

Big big day today!!  My first really big long run and boy was it interesting.  I was prepared and ready to go when I got up. It was sticky and humid out but at times a great breeze made its way through. I brought my hydration pack filled with water, my GU and shot blocks. I wore them in a fuel belt around my waist and no arm band. I had an ingrown hair this morning under my arm pit and it was driving me crazy and hurt like hell. I used Body Glide all over my body to prevent chaffing too. James tells me, he is just going to dump me in Vaseline and send me out. It honestly does not seem like a horrible idea. My run started off good, my calves were a little heavy and my fuel and everything was working out perfectly. It was 5:00 and completely dark, so I was very cautious of my surroundings. We have a lot of homeless downtown and I wanted to be aware incase I came up and someone was on the ground or around the corner. No one else was running, it was me and the water and darkness. ...

Okay so it is the eve before my first BIG training Run. I mean it is 15 miles, only 2 more than a half. I type this like it is nothing, are you kidding me??? Slaps face! Only 2 miles, that is a big freaking deal. This is untouched territory, I am breaking new grounds in my life tomorrow. I am not sure how to react lol. I know I will be getting up at 4:00 am and ready to go. I have my clothes laid out, my waffles will be ready with reduced fat PB and I will be having sport beans with it also. I brought a GU and Shot Blocks for during the run. I will have the shot blocks, 3 at mile 3, GU at 7, More Shot Blocks at 10-11. I brought a VEGA recovery protein bar after and a Carb Control Protein Shake. I have a conference call to get on right after, so I am hoping to get home in time and shower and then prepare myself for the call with a big old cup of coffee. Then I will be making a Big breakfast of egg whites and toast and some other form of protein. My goal is to have lots of protein ...

Okay so Week 13 begins today. 13 weeks I have been training for a marathon. 13 weeks, I know most only do it for about 16 weeks, which holy crap that would scare me! I love the idea that I have about 11 more weeks to go. I like the idea I still have training to do but the scary mileage is coming up this week. Technically, today I was suppose to run 15 miles. BUT because we had a second inventory to do at work with my sister store, I was not going to run and then go to work and do inventory all day. I made the executive decision to change the run to my day off, which happens to be this Tuesday. So Tuesday at 5:00 am I will be embarking on my longest run to date and then every other week after that the mileage climbs a little higher and higher. To say it doesn't scare the crap out of me is an understatement. I am not nervous about doing it, I am nervous of how I will be feeling and hitting that wall. But I am excited about accomplishing it and saying I got it done. Okay, well b...

I completely forgot to post yesterday for my birthday!!! Today will be quick and short because I have a wedding we are attending in less than 2 hours and I have tons to do. Anywho yesterday was my 29th birthday. I kicked it off with a bang.. 8 miles before the sunrise and free Starbucks! Normally Fridays are my XT day but being my birthday, the day before was a crappy run and today I was gonna use as a second rest day I needed a longer mileage!  If felt great. I have a hydration vest I got at Walmart and it is taking some getting used too but so far okay. My legs were still really sore for the strength day but I made it through. I got breakfast for James and I on the way home and then went to Trader Joe's. I picked up lots of veggies and some new items, I will surely post later this week. I was exhausted because it being a very long week, I just wanted some relaxation. I spent the day napping and then did dinner with James. Nothing special or big. Running was my big thing and all I...

Ever have one of those days where you set yourself up for success to have it all just crash.. Yeah this morning was one of those mornings. I was in a really deep sleep and did not want to get up, I hit snooze all morning. Frankly all week I have been a bit off, I know it has a lot to do with not having a day off in 9 days and training but it sucks! Today is a run day so I set to go for 3 miles. My legs were sore from the lunges and squats, it's an awesome feeling but man they did not want to move. About .90 of the run my stomach started to really cramp up. I took some walk and breathes but I couldn't out run the pain. It was bad and I was doubling over and then the sinus pressure behind my right eye was really pounding. With the heat, the humidity and the cramps it was making my pressure pound. Like a drum in my head.  I knew I was going to have to cut the run short and walk the rest home. I wished I could run it home to get there faster but I was hurting. This sometimes happen...

I cant believe I forgot that I have 2 birthdays this year and this week. Today is my One Year Birthday of this Blog!!! I started this blog on this day a year ago. I started it just to write about my life of running, weight watchers, and just living my life sparkling every day. This blog I think really has saved me. I went to college for writing, but after college, fell away from it a lot, then I had a lot of people reach out and say I should start one. James bought me a new computer to get me started and I just took it from there. In a year time, I have written 422 posts, just about anything and everything. I did a whole cap of Women's Running, my run streak of December, life events, vacations, all the recipes I made or enjoyed, my Nook Books I was reading, which I need to get back too, my shopping trips and my favorite items. I got deeper than I thought I would with my writing about my dad. I wrote about he has impacted my running more now than when he was alive. Even th...

Quick update post this morning! I got to finally sleep in.. Woohoo! My only time this week, I decided to not do a XT this morning but worked on. strength training and it felt amazing. I did a 1 minute plank, 5 sets of 8 reps of reverse lunges and squats.  Let me tell you I worked up an awesome sweat. Then I went to WW to weigh in and I was down .6!!! Yay two weeks in a row of a loss. I will take it. Next week is a little different because I have to weigh in different with my schedule but a loss is a loss. Means I am doing it right. Have a happy Wednesday 

Happy Tuesday!!! While normally Tuesday's are really, really long days for me, today I just didn't mind it too much. Getting up early and making it through the day with work and such is getting easier. I got up at 6:30, much later than I would normally but the snooze button and I are becoming way to close.  I used to NEVER hit the snooze button, now I cant stop. So I got up and dressed quickly and got out the door. I do like Tuesdays because it being a quick and easy run day, 3 miles and done. I then raced to get ready for work and made it on time. Tried to have a half day but like always, never seems to work in my favor, but hey any early time when having only one day off, is fine by me. I was starving so I threw together some tuna, salad and a soup, oh and attacked, and I mean attacked these gems.. I think I have posted these before, they are amazing!!! Once I start I can not stop, thank goodness they are out of the house. Then I took an afternoon nap, I was beat an...

It has been a long two days in my little life!! Work and marathon training and everything in between. I didn't post yesterday because from the moment I woke up until about 630pm I was non-stop and this was my wake time... Yup 3:45 am to go and run!! I got up early to run 7 miles over in Clearwater with the most inspirational lady and motivational Weight Watchers person. I met Nanci through Instagram and realizing how close we live and the races we do, we decided to set up a run date. I met her and her hubby, Mike in the morning and we killed 7 miles with a bridge before the sun even came out. It was awesome. Meeting Nanci for the first time yesterday and we clicked, we chatted the whole 7 miles and I could have gone 7 more with the pace and energy. We planned a second run date for two weeks down here in St. Pete! Running with a friend, makes a HUGE difference. I am so glad to have met Nanci, whom is also training for her first full this year on November 30th. I love that I can talk...

A pretty non eventful and quite Saturday for me. It is a rest day from plan which is nice but a full day of work. Since nothing big or new in my day or even running related, I figured I would show what I ate For the day with my points.  I get 26 points a day with Weight Watchers and 49 extra points a week. I can use those however I feel fit. And then I get activity points and those can vary from activity to activity and week to week. Last week I earned 52 and this week I have in 14 so far.   I used to eat all my activity points and it was working for a bit but then I noticed I was eating those and all the weeklies and I wasn't burning and gaining. So now I have switched it to eat just my weeklies and if I want on high activity weeks I will tap into the activity ones if I feel I need too. So here is my day... For Breakfast I had A cup of coffee with 2 tablespoons for fat free half and half with 2 Splenda :0pp 2 multi grain waffles from Aldi-2pp 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries on t...

IOkay so it's Friday!! Woot woot! I have to work all weekend and I really don't have an official day off until my birthday next Friday!  Yup my last week 28. I can't believe it. 28. Has been a really great year for me, it's hard to believe it will be over in a week.  Like I mentioned I have a long week coming up and really trying to stay on track with everything. My sleep was way off last night. I have been sleeping amazing lately but last night was the pits. I was moving around a lot too and then at 4-5 I was wide awake and hungry. Oh and I was peeing every hour it felt like. Least I know it is working. I am really pushing for a good lost this week. I just wanna get back down, so I am not going to let the stress of the week get me down. I am tracking everything!   So today is a XT or walk day and  I'm outside getting a walk on. 2 miles, 40 minutes. Being outside gives me a better sweat for sure. Then a closing shift. I was on Instagram and saw some products I am on...

IOkay so it's Friday!! Woot woot! I have to work all weekend and I really don't have an official day off until my birthday next Friday!  Yup my last week 28. I can't believe it. 28. Has been a really great year for me, it's hard to believe it will be over in a week.  Like I mentioned I have a long week coming up and really trying to stay on track with everything. My sleep was way off last night. I have been sleeping amazing lately but last night was the pits. I was moving around a lot too and then at 4-5 I was wide awake and hungry. Oh and I was peeing every hour it felt like. Least I know it is working. I am really pushing for a good lost this week. I just wanna get back down, so I am not going to let the stress of the week get me down. I am tracking everything!   So today is a XT or walk day and  I'm outside getting a walk on. 2 miles, 40 minutes. Being outside gives me a better sweat for sure. Then a closing shift. I was on Instagram and saw some products I am on...

I was given this product for free for my review of the product through Influenster. I received the Surfs Up Vox box this past month and I loved it. Inside was this item... First Aid Shot Therapy. It is a liquid fast relief to aches and pains. It is quick and goes down smooth. The flavor was berry but did have a crushed up Tylenol taste to it. I didn't mind it but I would not take it often. If I had it around and in a pinch I would go for it. I felt a bit of a relief but it was not lasting. I took it after I ran 13.1 miles because my muscles were super sore and I need a quick relief. I think it is a decent product to keep in your purse for on the go.

Happy Thursday and almost the week is done!! I have to say I am glad I was super lazy on my day off yesterday because my next couple of weeks are going to be a little cooko bananas and rest will be very limited! We had the best BBQ last night, I mean really, really, eat everything and then some good and then some sugar free soft serve. It was a perfect night out with my love but this morning, I needed to jump start right back to me. I had my cheat meal and cheat day and now back to the grind and that starts with me and water. I enjoy water but it is not always my go to drink. I drink a lot of coffee and unsweetened green tea and of course my diet coke! I know it's not great but I am not budging on that one. Yesterday ate Walmart I picked up some bottles to help me get my water in and a pitcher to make Crystal Light.  I figure if I can drink these two things every day I am doing good. It comes to 109 ounces of water! Sure I am peeing like crazy but that is the idea. The pink cup had...