Basic Foods to Always Have in the House
“People who love to eat are my favorite people”
Last week, I had another opportunity to guest blog on Seek Health. I shared a post that included 25 essential foods you should always have in your house. Check out Kitchen Must-Haves here; you may recognize this post, as I shared it on the blog earlier this summer.
Especially as summer is ending, back-to-school is in full swing and we’re all starting to get back into a routine, I felt this was a good one to share again.
Below is a list of 25 kitchen basics, allowing for some wiggle room to adjust for your own personal choices, including vegetarians (like me!) and vegans.
Proteins
1. Chicken, fish/tuna, or hamburger (always have one staple)
-Lean, plain versions (not breaded, packed in oil, etc.)
Note: one serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards
2. Eggs or Egg Beaters
Note: if you like hardboiled eggs, they last awhile, are easy to make and can be used in sandwiches, salads or as a snack
3. Greek Yogurt
-Low-calorie/high-protein like Chobani 100 or Light & Fit
Note: if you like sour cream, plain Greek yogurt tastes exactly the same and is a much better choice
4. Cheese
-Shredded and/or thin sliced
Note: lighter-colored cheese is generally the better choice but full-fat cheeses are fine too, just use less
5. Beans
-Black, kidney, chickpeas, etc.
Note: use for Mexican dishes, sandwiches, wraps, or mixed with some veggies for a simple salad
Starches
6. Potatoes
-Sweet or regular (reds, whites, mixes)
7. Brown rice
-White is okay to use too
8. Oats/Oatmeal
9. Wraps, tortillas or light wheat bread (or all, depending on what you like)
10. Wheat pasta
A few veggies add some nutrition & spice up plain mac & cheese.
Note: mix a ½ cup of pasta with a whole zucchini, sliced into ribbons/noodles, for a lower calorie, lower carb pasta dish
Veggies
11. Frozen
-Bagged or single-serve; plain or mixes
Note: Variety is good; try to have a few different kinds
12. Bagged spinach and/or head of lettuce
13. Zucchini
-See above, for use with pasta
14. Tomatoes, Cucumber, Peppers, etc.
-Whatever you like; what you’d use on sandwiches, in salads, pastas, etc.
Fruit
15. Berries
-Black, Blue, Rasp and Straw – all are great
16. Apples
17. Bananas
-If you like them on toast or in oatmeal, a half banana is great for breakfast
18. Cherries, oranges and pineapple
-Rotate in, when in season
Fats
19. Peanut Butter
-Go with the natural varieties or a full-fat vs. reduced fat version
Hardboiled eggs – one yolk, mashed w/avocado & Greek yogurt. Yum!
20. Avocado
21. Olive Oil
22. Light butter/margarine
Extras and Snacks
23. Soup
-Cans of light and low-sodium versions of your favorite soups
-Mixes (you can make a batch in the crock pot and add extra veggies/protein to it)
24. Rice Cakes
-Flavored ones to snack on instead of chips
-Apple or chocolate flavored for sweet snack (add peanut butter)
25. Protein Bars
-Pure Protein or Quest, ideally
Note: be very cautious when choosing protein bars; many don’t have much protein and they’re closer to a candy bar
Finally, add and adjust so you get some of your own personal favorites. For example, Chris and I love cereal, both as a snack or sometimes for dinner, so we always have at least one box (simple options like Honey Nut Cheerios, Corn Flakes or Special K) and milk.
As always, please share on Facebook and Twitter if you like. And feel free to comment with questions or your own kitchen must-haves, or tweet them to me @runlikeagirl311 on Twitter.
Sports Commentator, Mom and Olympian – Carrie Tollefson
“Get after it”
I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited about a blog entry as I am right now about this one. Maybe one of my handful of Boston Marathon-related blogs…but still, this one is so exciting.
Meet Olympian Carrie Tollefson!
This month’s interview (I know, it’s technically a day early) of awesome fit people is about as awesome and fit as it gets. In honor of the kickoff to the Rio Olympics – and just because she’s one of the funnest, coolest, realest people I’ve ever met – I finally get to share this one with you all. Blog pals, I’m pleased to introduce you to: Carrie Tollefson!
L: Most of the best athletes start their sport really young so I assume you’ve always been into fitness and running?
C: My dad was a college football player and he liked to run so we went to races all the time as a family. I was the youngest of three girls so I wanted to try keep up with my very athletic older sisters. My mom was always there as well but she likes to call herself the bag lady. She was like the team manager and always encouraging and supporting us on the sidelines even though she was probably the most competitive one in the group;-)! We had fun as a family working out and being together.
L: When did you start racing?
C: I ran my first race at age five (the police escort helped me the last mile ;-)). I ran another at 10, then when I was 12 I made the varsity team and fell in love with my sport.
The greatest honor in sports & she was there.
L: We have to talk about the Olympics! What are your top three memories from that experience?
C: I would say walking in the opening ceremonies. I’ll never forget all of the American flags waving and Lebron James walking right behind me with tears coming down his face.
The cafeteria too. Seeing every size and shape of the world’s best athletes was so much fun!
And having my family there. We all devoted a lot to my career and I wouldn’t be the
athlete or person I am today without all of them.
L: What’s the best part about being an Olympian?
C: I think the best part is knowing that all of my hard work paid off. It was amazing representing my country, state, family, team, sponsors, etc. but knowing how tough we can be as individuals is amazing! I will never forget how hard I had to run at the trials and it will forever be a moment I reflect on to remind myself to keep getting after life!
L: Who do you have your eye on at this summer’s games?
C: In the men’s and women’s steeple, I think Evan Jäger and Emma Coborn will be the standouts. I also think Molly Huddle will be great in the 10k, and all of the women in the 1500.
As for medals for Team USA, I like our chances in both the men and women’s 800s.
L: There are so many great Olympic running events – but you’ve gotta have one non-running that you love to watch, right?
C: Yes, I like to watch swimming a lot!
New episodes of CTolleRun every Wednesday.
L: Now let’s talk about what you’re doing now. How much do you enjoy doing your weekly show, C Tolle Run?
C: Ever since it took off, my team and I have loved every minute of it. Bringing workouts, race highlights, nutrition, feel good stories, interviews – whatever it may be – we have loved encouraging others to Get After It!!!!
L: You’re always funny on-camera but there have to be plenty of funny moments that never make it in the show – any really good ones that come to mind?
C: Oh my, as you know I am an open book sort of a person so nothing is really off limits. I really don’t hold much back. I think the best moments are when I say things that I am not quite sure are actual words or phrases?
We have some laughs about that every now and then. I have been in a pregnancy or new mommy fog for way too long and I have that excuse once again. I have a three young children so most people can understand that being quick on-air can equal lots of bloopers! Ha! Not quite sure I have a favorite! We usually air them all!!
L: Speaking of on-camera, you’ve done commentary for some major events – do you have a favorite?
C: I really enjoy doing all running events and my favorite thing to do is chat with the athletes before and after the event. The New York City marathon is one of my favorites along with the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships. Being able to commentate on the world’s best pros is amazing but then watching our nation’s best high school athletes at Footlocker is equally as fun.
L: Supercool news, you ran your first marathon not too long ago – congrats! And what inspired you to do that?
C: I have always felt that I needed to run one to really know what people go through during 26.2 miles. My marathon had some factors but it was a great learning experience. My second child turned 4 months the week of the marathon so I had a really short buildup after childbirth and I was nursing so I had to try and deal that in top of being a newcomer to the distance and going out way too fast! Needless to say I didn’t meet my goal but had a blast doing it!!
L: What’s your all-time favorite distance to race and why?
C: Two-part answer here: The 3k is my favorite distance and cross country is my favorite discipline!!!
I love the 3k because you have to be really fast and strong to run it really well.
Cross-country is sort of the same but I could run so focused on the courses! I loved getting lost in my thoughts while running in trails or on grass!
L: Now for my most important question: As an elite runner, what’s the most important food for you? And, what’s your favorite food?
C: I think for me, as a distance runner, greens were always important to keep my iron levels up. I also needed my carbs and protein so lots of pasta and chicken in our house.
As for favorites, my nightly milkshake was a must. It was my reward and also have me a little of everything I needed. I just had one actually!
L: I love your personal slogan, “Get After It!” How/when did that start?
C: I used to say it all the time while racing and working out when I was competing professionally. It has just stuck with me throughout all aspects of life.
L: Lastly, the part of the interview I’m calling “Anything but the Obvious” – what’s something totally unrelated to fitness and running and all the obvious stuff, that you’d want people to know about you?
C: I minored in criminology so I always say I could go back to school to be a police officer or private investigator!
I eat PB&J straight out of the jar.
I am scared of failure and letting people down but also try really hard to not let people get in the way of getting after my dreams!
If there was ever any doubt, I think you can now understand why Carrie’s my favorite athlete! She’s such a great role model for young athletes, an example to adults still chasing goals, and just a supercool person you could hang with and bust a gut from laughing so much. I’m so lucky our paths crossed so we could become friends!
Keep up with Carrie on Twitter @CTolleRun. And watch her weekly show, C Tolle Run, full of great tips, workouts, recipes and fun.
Healthy Foods to Always Have in Your Kitchen
Eating is a necessity, cooking is an art
A few weeks ago, I was discussing food (one of my favorite topics) with my sister-in-law and discovered something shocking: she told me she eats out at least 75% of her meals.
I was floored. As someone who considers one Jimmy John’s lunch per week a splurge, this first hit the overly frugal side of me. Then I started thinking about how hard it was to stay on track when I used to travel because it’s tough to make the best choices when eating out.
I’m not much of a cook – I get spoiled by my husband who’s a really good cook.
She further explained, as much as she really wants to cut down on eating out, she’s never been much of a cook (I can totally relate). Furthermore, going to the grocery store overwhelms her; she’s just not sure where to start (oh, can’t relate on that one – I feel right at home at the supermarket!).
I tell this story, not to pick on her or shame her habits but to use her as an example that not everyone knows how to meal prep or come up with new dinner recipes; how to pack a lunch or make time for breakfast every morning. There’s nothing wrong with that and it’s not out of anyone’s reach to learn all those things.
In the spirit of helping her find a starting point, I offered to put together a simple list of must-have foods. The basics that should always be in the kitchen in order to have options for breakfast, a packed lunch, satisfying dinner and, of course, plenty of snacks.
Below is a list of 25 foods to always have in the kitchen. A great starting point for your first grocery shopping list, allowing for some wiggle room to adjust for your own personal choices, including vegetarians (like me!) and vegans.
Tons of meat for him, prepped pasta meals for me.
Proteins
1. Chicken, fish/tuna, or hamburger (always have one staple)
-Lean, plain versions (not breaded, packed in oil, etc.)
Note: one serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards
2. Eggs or Egg Beaters
Note: if you like hardboiled eggs, they last awhile, are easy to make and can be used in sandwiches, salads or as a snack
3. Greek Yogurt
-Low-calorie/high-protein like Chobani 100 or Light & Fit
Note: if you like sour cream, plain Greek yogurt tastes exactly the same and is a much better choice
4. Cheese
-Shredded and/or thin sliced
Note: lighter-colored cheese is generally the better choice but full-fat cheeses are fine too, just use less
5. Beans
-Black, kidney, chickpeas, etc.
Note: use for Mexican dishes, sandwiches, wraps, or mixed with some veggies for a simple salad
Starches
6. Potatoes
-Sweet or regular (reds, whites, mixes)
7. Brown rice
-White is okay to use too
8. Oats/Oatmeal
9. Wraps, tortillas or light wheat bread (or all, depending on what you like)
10. Wheat pasta
Note: mix a ½ cup of pasta with a whole zucchini, sliced into ribbons/noodles, for a lower calorie, lower carb pasta dish
Veggies
11. Frozen
-Bagged or single-serve; plain or mixes
Note: Variety is good; try to have a few different kinds
12. Bagged spinach and/or head of lettuce
13. Zucchini
-See above, for use with pasta
14. Tomatoes, Cucumber, Peppers, etc.
-Whatever you like; what you’d use on sandwiches, in salads, pastas, etc.
Fruit
15. Berries
-Black, Blue, Rasp and Straw – all are great
16. Apples
17. Bananas
-If you like them on toast or in oatmeal, a half banana is great for breakfast
18. Cherries, oranges and pineapple
-Rotate in, when in season
Fats
19. Peanut Butter
-Go with the natural varieties or a full-fat vs. reduced fat version
20. Avocado
21. Olive Oil
22. Light butter/margarine
Extras and Snacks
23. Soup
-Cans of light and low-sodium versions of your favorite soups
-Mixes (you can make a batch in the crock pot and add extra veggies/protein to it)
24. Rice Cakes
-Flavored ones to snack on instead of chips
-Apple or chocolate flavored for sweet snack (add peanut butter)
Always have plenty of these in my pantry – and at the office – and whenever I go anywhere.
25. Protein Bars
-Pure Protein or Quest, ideally
Note: be very cautious when choosing protein bars; many don’t have much protein and they’re closer to a candy bar
Finally, add and adjust so you get some of your own personal favorites. For example, Chris and I love cereal, both as a snack or sometimes for dinner, so we always have at least one box (simple options like Honey Nut Cheerios, Corn Flakes or Special K) and milk.
What foods are your must-haves? Any advice you’d give to my sister-in-law or others who aren’t pros in the kitchen? Comment or tweet me @runlikeagirl311 on Twitter.
IronDad? IronHusband? Ironman – Jake Greenstein
“You don’t have time. You make time.”
It’s that time – a new interview in my series of awesome fit folks on the blog.
Fair warning: If you ever try to use the excuse of “I don’t have time to work out,” stop it and read this. Blog pals, I’m pleased to introduce you to: Jake Greenstein!
L: Tell me about your fitness background – did you compete in a lot of sports growing up?
J: No. Not at all, actually. I mean, I took swimming lessons as a boy, but nothing intense. I started wrestling in elementary school and did that all the way through high school but that was the only sport I competed in.
L: So no running then? I’m surprised; you seem like such a strong runner. I assumed you had done it forever.
L: (says silently to herself, “I’ve seen you run – you’re wicked fast and make it look easy. That doesn’t just happen accidentally.”)
J: Now I love running! I’ve been doing it about five years, races from 5ks to marathons. But before I got into it, I was like a lot of people out there – I thought running was stupid.
L: (says silently to herself, “Yep. Been there.”)
About five years ago, my sister dared me to run a half marathon. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t let her beat me. So I did, then I was hooked. Half marathon is my favorite distance now too.
Loggin miles training for Ironman Boulder
L: I know you’re training for an Ironman triathlon, but it can’t be your first triathlon ever…right?!
J: I’ve done a handful of Sprint and Olympic triathlons, and four half Ironmans.
L: So, what made you decide to take the leap to the full Ironman?
J: The winter after I ran my first half marathon, a buddy and I were having a few beers while watching the Ironman World Championships on TV and we decided that it would be a great idea to someday do an Ironman.
L: Yeah, things tend to ‘sound’ like a good idea on the couch. In sweats. With a beer.
J: True! But the next day, it still seemed like a good idea so that was the start of a dream obsession…
L: You said you’d do an Ironman ‘someday’ – that ‘someday’ is coming up pretty soon now!
J: Yes, August 7. Ironman Boulder.
L: So we’ve gotta talk about the training – you have a unique training plan I hear?
J: The training plan that I’m following is based on time not miles, which is a first for me. I started officially on February 22 and so far I like it.
L: What’s an example of an easy week and a harder week?
J: The easiest week was 1.5 hours of swimming, 5 hours of biking, and 2.5 hours of running. The biggest volume week is 3 weeks before the race and will be 3.5 hours of swimming, 11 hours of biking, 5.5 hours of running.
Then I try to fit in strength training and I have one scheduled rest day per week, but I usually do yoga on that day.
L: People who don’t know you might think you don’t have a full-time job, a wife or kids – but it’s pretty much the opposite!
Fitting it all in
J: Yes, I’m a designer at a manufacturing facility that builds large tillage equipment. I have an awesome wife, Emily, and two boys. Kaden is five, Noah is two.
L: One of the things that bothers me is when people complain they don’t have time to work out. Clearly, you don’t ‘have time’ – you make time.
J: Absolutely. Emily is a gym rat too so it’s part of our lives, and we work together to fit it all in. We both get up around 5:00 every morning. If I have to swim, I go to the gym and she stays home and runs on the treadmill. Other days, I will stay home and bike or run so she can get her gym time. A couple of days a week, I have a.m. and p.m. workouts. Luckily, our gym has a daycare so we drop the boys off and can get some training in after work.
L: (Feeling lucky her husband is supportive of all her running and fitness goals. Loves hearing about other couples who are supportive of each other like that.)
L: I have to think Ironman will be the biggest accomplishment of your athletic life but what has been your biggest thus far?
J: I have placed in my age group in a few smaller races but I’m more focused on some bigger goals after Boulder. I want to qualify and race the Boston marathon; I’ve been thinking about that for a couple years now. And someday, I hope to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
L: Time for my most important question: What is your favorite food?
J: By far my favorite is Buffalo Wild Wings – traditional wings with honey bbq and blue cheese. Followed by a little birthday cake ice cream. Good to reward yourself every now and then!
L: (Is no stranger to #TreatYoSelf moments.)
L: Do you have a personal “slogan” or quote that you really believe in?
J: We have a chalkboard at the top of our stairs that we write inspirational quotes on. My favorite: Relentless Forward Progress. Some dude had it tattooed on his arm. I love it!!
L: Lastly, the part I’ve been calling “Anything but the Obvious” – what’s something totally unrelated to fitness and all the obvious stuff that you’d want people to know about you?
J: About seven years ago I started a repainting fishing lures to pass the time during the winter. It has grown from a hobby into a part-time job, and I now have my own bait that I designed being produced and sold in some stores.
So, a part-time job. A full-time job. A wife. Two kids. And training to be an Ironman. Feel like I need to go take a nap now…
Follow Jake and his journey to Ironman glory on Instagram @runjakerun70.3
5 Reasons to Run Without Headphones
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
I run outside year-round – I actually prefer 20 degrees and cloudy to 70 degrees and sunny. But for most people (i.e. normal people) summertime is the kickoff to forgoing the indoors and finally getting outside for some runs.
While I love my iPod to help pass the time on the treadmill and drown out gym noise, I leave it at home when I run outside. In fact, it has been several years since I ran outside with headphones. Here’s why I do and why you might want to try it too.
Proper Pacing
You know that feeling when your jam comes on? You get pumped and excited and your pace spikes to that of an Olympic sprinter. Then exhaustion.
Take the shoes – leave the music.
Beats and tempos change with different songs and it’s only natural your body follows too. Whether too slow or, more likely way too fast, music can really wreck your pacing effort.
Go Wandering
There are so many reasons I love running, one of them being mental time. It’s my time for me, just me, to clear my head and de-stress. Skipping music on outdoor runs allows my mind to wander and relax.
Good Thinking
I also do some of my best thinking while running. I’ve mentioned this before; it’s not like Nobel-Prize-level thinking, but good thinking. New blog ideas, ways to approach a challenge at work, how I can prioritize the rest of my week.
Enjoy the Environment
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Yes, this. Again. If you don’t recognize this quote, A) I feel bad for you and B) Order “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” right now and watch it.
Outdoor running is an opportunity to appreciate all the natural surroundings out there. Removing the distraction of music heightens the senses to take in and appreciate all that’s around during a run.
Safety First
You didn’t think we’d make it thru this entire blog without talking safety, did you? Ditching the headphones makes you more aware of surroundings. Cars, animals, other people – being aware is the best way to stay safe when running, especially early in the morning and after the sun has set.
Who else skips music for outdoor runs? Are your reasons like mine or do you have others to add? Please share in the comments. Or connect with me @lindsayinreallife on Instagram or @LindsayIRL on Twitter.
Runner, Dog Mom and Fit Girl (No, Not Me) – Lea Genders
“One in the same, two of a kind”
This week is a continuation of my new interview series on the blog. I’m super excited about this month’s featured fit gal.
Lea & Ollie – not sure which one is the bigger celebrity!
On the surface, she and I have a ton in common. We’re both runners, bloggers, and have fur babies – specifically, we’re mamas who love to run with our fur kids. Interviewing her and diving a little deeper, I got an up-close-and-freaky view of just how similar we are. Blog pals, I’m pleased to introduce you to: Lea Genders!
(First similarity: We share a first initial. So I had to go all first-and-last initial on this one)
LB: What’s your fitness background – were you always an athlete?
LG: I played on the neighborhood softball team as a kid and quickly figured out that organized sports were not for me – I’ve always been awkward and uncoordinated. Lucky for me running is the perfect sport for us awkward/uncoordinated types, but I didn’t discover my love for running and fitness until I was in my 30s. I became a personal trainer and running coach at 40.
LB: Yes, why is it so many of us discover our love for running late in life?!
LG: I know, I started running about 10 years ago because I wanted to lose a few pounds. I had no idea that it would become a lifestyle and define my identity.
(Sounds familiar…a little too familiar)
LB: What distances have you raced?
LG: I am the Half Marathon Queen, it’s my favorite distance! It’s long enough to feel like a major accomplishment, but the training doesn’t take over my life.
LB: Are there any races that stand out?
LG: I love a race-cation. I ran Las Vegas last year with the Rock n Roll marathon series and it was an amazing way to see the strip at night!
Crossing the finish line at the Pittsburgh half marathon last year holding my husband’s hand during his first-ever half marathon was one of my highlights of 2015.
LB: Cleary you do a lot of running; what are your weekly workouts like? Take me through a typical week in the ShredShed!
(For those who don’t follow Lea, she has a gym in her backyard – the ShredShed)
LG: I usually do three high intensity interval training sessions a week that include treadmill intervals and weight circuits in the ShredShed. When I’m training for a race, I do a long run on the streets on Saturdays. I take it easy in between my hard workouts with walking, stretching and restorative Yoga.
LB: This is awesome and we’re already talking about everything I love so let’s keep that going and talk about something I know we both love – blogging! What inspired you to start your blog?
LG: I’ve been blogging for about five years. I started out with a music blog, but then I started writing more about running than music, so my second blog was my first running blog. It was through that blog that I discovered and fell in love with the online running community.
LB: And it was originally titled, “Running for Dummies” right? Tell me about that title and how it became “Running with Ollie”
LG: Yes! Running for Dummies was my baby. I named my blog on a whim back when no one was reading except my bloodline, so I didn’t think too much about the name. After a couple years, when my blog started growing rapidly, I got nervous that the ‘for dummies’ book people could shut it down because they own the copyright to that phrase. We just had adopted Ollie at that time and I decided he would make the perfect blog mascot. I rebranded as Running with Ollie and began my new blogging niche, running with dogs.
LB: Now let’s talk about something else we both love – dogs! What’s your favorite part about running with your dog?
LG: Ollie is the best. Oh wait, that was a typo. Ollie is a beast! The best thing about running with my dog is that I always have a willing running partner! I wish I could bottle and sell his enthusiasm for running, I’d be rich!
(Does she know Burton? We could have a million dollar idea on our hands)
LB: And I think I already know this but what’s the toughest part about running with Ollie?
LG: Did I mention Ollie is a beast? He is so strong! We had an incident when Ollie dragged me off my feet and through the mud (at a race in front of people) in pursuit of his nemesis, the Great Dane. Shortly after, we got him fitted for a harness so I could stay in control. Beast.
(The first time Burton went to the dog park, he engaged in tug-of-war with – you guessed it – a Great Dane. Little fella even won.)
leagendersfitness.com
LB: How much are you loving Lea Genders Fitness? That’s fairly new for you, right?
LG: Yes! thanks for asking! I launched Lea Genders fitness (www.leagendersfitness.com) last July when I became a personal trainer and a running coach, as a way to promote my services locally in Fort Worth and online. I specialize in strength training for runners because running is my passion and I know fitting in strength training can be a struggle for runners. Just a couple of strength training sessions a week can help runners become faster, fitter and less prone to injury.
(I also love strength training and believe in the power of it for runners – have I mentioned we’re really alike?)
LB: We’re almost done, I just have my three final, most major questions!
LB: My most important question: What is your favorite food? Or foods!
LG: Oh, my favorite topic, food! Sushi and pepperoni pizza are my favorite indulgent foods! I make healthy food choices most of the time, but I always save room for pizza!
(Sushi, pizza, and someone who shares my love of all things food. Yaaasss)
LB: Do you have a personal “slogan” or quote that you really believe in?
LG: I love this one from John Bigham. I don’t like when I hear someone say, “I am not a real runner.”
“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”
― John Bingham
(Um, yes I understand – I wrote a blog on THIS VERY TOPIC)
LB: We’ve reached the part in the interview called, “Anything but the Obvious” – what’s something totally unrelated to fitness and all the obvious stuff, that you’d want people to know about you?
LG: I am a Jack White fanatic. If it were socially acceptable for a married 40ish year old woman to have a poster of a rock star on her bedroom wall, I’d have Jack White. Remember that first music blog I mentioned? It was dedicated to Jack White and his music.
A final fun fact about Lea – one of the first blogs I ever posted was a link back to hers because she featured Burton and me on her blog. Neat, right?!
Lea left me one final note, “Thanks so much for interviewing me and featuring me on your blog. This was fun!”
I love her. She’s the coolest.
Fit To Be Bride
“Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life”
I’m getting married Friday. Unlike most brides-to-be, I’m pretty calm – come Thursday, that could change but, for now, it’s all good.
My “I’m getting married!” face.
Also in non-typical pre-bride fashion, I’m intentionally the same size as when wedding planning began. I had no desire to drop I weight and I did not buy a smaller dress size with the goal to fit into it (as I noted last year in my “Fit Girl Problems” post, I actually ordered one size up to allow for a bigger butt and legs that may have come from spring race training).
I’ve heard numerous stories of brides dieting and working out in the months leading up to their weddings. These range the gamut of minor to extreme. And I have to ask myself, “Why?”
Why do brides put so much pressure on themselves to look a certain way for their wedding? Is it because they think their spouse to-be wants to marry Barbie? Are they obsessed with having perfect wedding photos? Do they want to be the envy of all other Pinterest weddings? What’s the motivation to strive for a body that, for one day, fits into a dress one size smaller than what you’d normally wear (especially considering no one sees that number but you)? And for those who go extreme, why put yourself through all the extra pre-wedding stress only to be extra-stressed, hangry, and unable to breath or dance on your wedding day?
Also worth noting is what I never hear about: brides looking to get fit for their weddings. Even the seemingly “pro-fit” articles that occasionally float across my social feeds are all very cautionary. You know, tone your arms to look good in your strapless dress but keep the weights really light so you don’t get big or look bulky. Don’t even get me started on that (but if you really want to know, read my blog on this very topic).
Here’s why I have not tried to drop weight prior to my wedding.
Can’t imagine missing out on fun like this.
Working out and eating with balance relieves my stress. There has been no “wedding diet” or “bridal bootcamp” as that would only up my stress level.
Also, Chris is marrying Lindsay. Fit Lindsay, complete with some jiggles and lumps, biceps and a booty. Normal Lindsay who loves to eat, drink and be merry. Happy Lindsay, whose only concern is looking back on the day with good, fun memories.
Chris is not marrying Twiggy Lindsay with stick figure proportions. Hangry Lindsay who can’t eat, drink or enjoy a slice of her own wedding cake. Exhausted Lindsay who has no energy to circulate the room or dance til midnight. Sad Lindsay who is so stressed about her looks, actually enjoying the day is the furthest thing from her mind.
Let’s also not forget the mental damage that can come from pressured dieting and exercise. In my case, this is huge. It has taken me years to finally be happy with my body. And not just happy with it, proud of it, both for what it is (an endomorph) and what it has become (fit, strong and healthy). No way would I let any pressure of a perfect Pinterest wedding or flawless Facebook photos take away from that.
Now this isn’t to say I don’t want to look my best on my wedding day. Of course I do! I’m wearing a style of dress I’d never wear in “real life.” I’ve made the effort to hit the tanning bed a couple times even though I loathe tanning. Best of all, I’m getting my hair done prettier than I’d ever make the effort to do on a typical day. What makes a girl feel better than perfect hair?! Even with those little efforts, I’ll still look like me.
Did you (or your wife) diet and exercise for your wedding? If so, was it reasonable and something that stuck – or so extreme, it was regrettable and not worth it? Brides-to-be, are you on a wedding diet or exercise program? Tell me how it’s going in the comments or tweet me @runlikeagirl311 on Twitter.
Fargo Marathon 2016 – The Lindsay Perspective
“Go Far”
Another year, another great experience at the Fargo Marathon. While the event itself had a lot of the same characteristics as usual, this year was quite different than others for me.
For the first time, I participated in the Friday night 5k.
It really should read, “Goal 1:59”
For the second time, I had the opportunity to be a pace leader and Ainsley’s Angels wheelchair runner.
All in all, this year, my 10th anniversary running in this event, was by far the most fun and the least stress-free that I can remember.
That’s it in a nutshell – read on for my more detailed recap of Fargo Marathon 2016.
The Expo
I always love the expo and this year was no exception. Picked up some fun freebies, saw plenty of runner friends and made a few new ones – most notable, running coach and 11-year announcer of the Fargo Marathon, GP Pearlberg. We just started chatting and by the end of the weekend it felt like we were longtime friends. That’s just the running community I guess!
New this year, I hosted the pace team booth for part of the first day. Several people came to the table to ask about pacing and running advice in general so it was fun to share my knowledge and experience with others.
The 5k
Like most large races, the 5k takes place the Friday night before Saturday’s events. The Fargo Marathon 5k typically boasts well over “5K” (5,000 – get it?!) runners and walkers; I believe the actual number is closer to the 7-8K range. So, yes, it’s a ton of people.
Ready to rock the RDO / Team Samantha chair
This year, Ainsley’s Angels was taking part in the 5k so I eagerly registered to run as a charity runner. A team of four of us took turns pushing our rider, Samantha, through north Fargo and the NDSU campus before ending back at the Fargodome. Even though we weren’t running fast, it went by so fast because we had so much fun. And, super fun bonus fact, the chair I was pushing happened to be the one donated by my employer, RDO Equipment Co. and R.D. Offutt Company. Cool, right?
I think it’s great to see so many people of all abilities take part in this event – truly a fitness event for everyone in the community. I will say one thing though; the amount of people and turns along the route, it would be really difficult to race or PR. Definitely one for fun!
The Change-Up
All season, I was planning to pace the 2:05 hour group in Saturday’s half marathon. After three dropouts, some shuffling by our pace leader and a confirmation from me the night before, I found myself in the 2:00 spot – the most popular spot in a half marathon.
Running a sub-2 hour half is one of the top goals for racers so this was the largest group. Pretty cool, knowing I’d have a big group of excited, eager runners along the course with me but also a bit more nerve-racking, as I was going to be partly responsible for helping runners achieve this goal. Let’s face it, no one runs with this group because they want to see the two hour mark or finish in 2:01/2:02 – these runners want to reach “one-derland” so it was going to be my mission to get them to the finish around the 1:59 mark.
Another unexpected part of the 2-hour pace group, because it’s so big and so many people want that sub-2, it requires two pacers. I admit, I was a little nervous about that. What if this other pacer was super-serious and didn’t appreciate my cheering, chatting and general annoying-ness? Or what if he/she didn’t agree with the plan and pace I had in mind?
Well, that fear was quickly quashed when I met Dana. She was on the same page as me with everything and it was so much fun running with another pacer. Plus, it was helpful having another person watching the pace and calculating mile-times-to-finish-time scenarios to make sure we got our runners across the finish line right under that 2 hour mark.
The result? Dana went ahead the last 0.1 mile and led the first part of the group across at 1:59:15ish, while I hung back a bit to get as many others across, eventually crossing the line at 1:59:28. Success!
The Race
A warm, sunny, calm day – for most people, this sounds like a spectacular Saturday. For me and for many others, these were less-than-ideal conditions for a long run.
The course included plenty of tree-lined streets so, thankfully, we had shade! The aid stations were perfectly timed and frequent enough so plenty of opportunities to stay hydrated. Several spectators sprayed garden hoses (after we missed the first one, Dana and I made it our mission to be on the lookout and notify our crew whenever we saw one coming), one group of kids even came out and doused us with water guns.
On a funny course-related note, there were two underpasses along the way; we in Fargo know these as “hills.” With the partial out-and-back course format, we knew we’d hit these “hills” on the way back so we were able to give our runners a heads up, let them know to conserve early, then encouraged on the climb.
The Love
Runners are, for the most part, wonderful people. Running can also be very emotional, especially in completing a big race like this. I received so many hugs, high-fives and fist-bumps from runners who made the 13.1 mile-journey with Dana and me. Some who I got to know out on the course through chatting and storytelling, others I had no idea I inspired along the way but let us know after. That, my friends, is why I pace, and it meant so much to know I helped.
Just hangin with GP Pearlberg. NBD.
I even got a shoutout from announcer, Coach GP, at the finish line. I didn’t actually hear it, as I was in the middle of a hug with a fellow runner, but I was told by numerous sources, including GP himself who came over to congratulate me after the race. Awesome.
Random Things
I harnessed my inner third base coach in the last quarter mile of the race. As we were approaching the final turn to head into the dome and with just one minute left to get across the finish line, I turned to the side, let my arm go and started “waving in” runners. That was fun.
For those of you wondering, Travis Hopkins (read more about him here) successfully completed his first half marathon. I waited in the crowd, hoping to see him finish and give him a high-five but sadly, I didn’t see him. I know he made it though so wishing him a big congrats and virtual high-five!
Chris and I closed on our new house this week so I went straight from the race to our old home to help move the final few things, then over to the new home to help unpack and organize – something we’re still doing (I’m taking a break right now to write this!) and will still be doing for awhile. It’s also probably why my legs and feet are still super-sore today.
YAAAASSSS
But don’t worry – I made time to get my post-race meal of choise. Between my first trip from the old home to the new, I snuck in a trip to Jimmy John’s for a #6, no mayo and giant chocolate chunk cookie. Obviously. #LindsayRunsOnJimmy
Finally, some thank yous:
Thank you to Gwen Thomas, our fearless pace leader.
Thank you to Mark and Sue Knutson, the President and First Lady of the Fargo Marathon.
Thank you to the volunteers who, again, made the race fun, safe and rewarding.
Thank you to the cycling team members who lead the elite runners through the course, then head back out after to make sure no one veers off the course and gets lost.
Thank you to my fellow runners, especially those who put your trust in me to help you reach the finish line in your goal time.
Did you run the Fargo Marathon? What was your experience? Comment or tweet me @runlikeagirl311 on Twitter.
5 Tips For Your First Half Marathon
“13.1 – You know, only half crazy”
Last week, I introduce my blog world to Travis. An ordinary guy who’s about to do something extraordinary – go from non-runner to half-marathoner. If you missed that blog, don’t fear, it’s right here.
I’m so excited for him and it got me thinking about other runners preparing to lace up their kicks in less than two weeks and tackle 13.1 miles throughout the beautiful community of Fargo. That’s right, first-time-half-marathoners, I’m talking to you! I wish you all a happy, healthy run.
For all the Fargo first-timers, and anyone prepping for a first half marathon, here are my five essential prerace tips to ensure your bod is at its best on race day.
Take a Taper
Half marathoners don’t need to follow the same three-week, strict taper that’s a hallmark of full marathon training, but should spend at least the week prior backing off on mileage, getting more sleep and getting eating more balanced to that of a normal – er, I mean, non-runner – person.
I’ve never been a fan of the taper but this year I really needed it (as explained in my Boston Marathon taper blog) and I embraced it. And you know what? The world didn’t end. And I actually felt strong and happy on race day.
See – you don’t want to miss out on the race expo.
Rest the Day Before
Tying in with the taper is the all-important prerace rest day. Try to stay off your feet as much as possible the day before the race.
The exception to this rule: the race expo. You have to go to pick up your packet so walk around to check out the booths. The energy, the excitement, the excuse to buy unnecessary running swag – oh how I love the expo!
Skip…Leg…Day
OMG that was such a struggle for me to type! I love leg day and I’m very vocal that it should be part of everyone’s workout program, runners included.
But the week before the race is not the time to push your legs to the point of fatigue. It’s the time to ease up on their workload and give them a break so they can be strong and light on race day. So, as much as I love a good leg workout, I’m giving you the okay to skip it – just this once.
Don’t Overload
Carb-loading, fat-loading, beer-loading (nope, that’s not really a thing). Whatever fueling strategy you follow in the days leading up to the race is fine, just don’t overeat, especially the day before the race.
Yes you want to be properly fueled but you don’t want to feel sluggish – or have to hit the porta-potty by mile 3 (let’s be honest, sometimes that just happens no matter how well you prepare).
Hydrate, Hydrate
While you don’t want to overdo it on food, overdo it, just a little bit, on water. Drink it throughout race week and, most importantly, all day the day before the race.
Your first half marathon is one of the greatest feelings ever. I’m super pumped for you all. To my fellow Fargo runners, I hope to see you out there on May 21!
Now, I want to leave you with one final tip that’s not designed for you bod’s health, but it’s my favorite piece of advice for first-timers: Start a Tradition.
Most athletes have a pre-game ritual; one thing they always must do in order to have their best performance. Part of it’s mental; part of it is that athletes are so disciplined, it’s one more easy thing they can add to enhance routine and mental prep. You’re a runner, you’re an athlete, so take a page from the pro’s playbook and start your own tradition.
Let me share my tradition story. It involves food (shocking!):
Lindsay runs on Jimmy.
The day before my first Fargo Marathon, I ate Jimmy John’s for lunch. It was delicious, it fueled me up and I had a great run with no stomach trouble. Since then, Jimmy John’s has been my official Fargo Marathon prerace lunch. And I even took it one step further – when I’m in peak training, I eat Jimmy John’s for lunch every Friday, in prep for long run Saturday. Oh, but it doesn’t end there. I eat Jimmy John’s for lunch after a big race too.
Yep, I love me some Jimmy John’s. Shameless sponsorship plug: Please sponsor me, JJs.
Maybe you’re not planning to ever run another race. But, as runners know, racing is addicting! So why not create something that’s just yours, just in case you race again?
If you like this post and think other runners would too, please share it on Facebook or Twitter. As always, if you have questions or something to say, please leave a comment or tweet me, @runlikeagirl311.
Radio Guy, Mama’s Boy & Half Marathoner – Meet Travis Hopkins
“I may not be the strongest, I may not be the fastest. But I’ll be damned if I’m not trying my hardest”
Today begins a new series on the blog. For the past few weeks, I’ve been interviewing people in the health and fitness world. Not just any people, those with unique stories, those with some kind of notoriety, just something to make for an interesting read and conversation.
First up, a guy who’s training for his first half marathon. The Fargo half marathon is happening in less than 3 weeks and he has been hard at it since January. I first took notice of his leap early this year; the guy has never been a runner and decided to run a half marathon for his first race (I can relate!). I’ve since followed his journey on his Facebook page and have admired his progress, dedication and positivity.
Because the Fargo Marathon is a special race to me, and because there’s still time for anyone interested to get inspired and sign up to run, I wanted to kick off my interview series with him. Blog pals, I’m please to introduce to you: Travis Hopkins!
L: What’s your fitness/athletic background, as a child and your high school years?
The day it all began.
T: In grade school I was in every sport, especially good in basketball. Once I reached middle school my interests grew towards music and entertainment and I drifted away from athletics. I had never been a runner though. In fact, in high school when we took the annual fitness tests, running the mile was my least favorite. And it wasn’t pretty, my mile was in the 14 mins range, yikes!
L: So you’re going from non-runner to full-out, half-marathon mode – what made you decide to go that route?
T: Around November of last year I told myself I wasn’t going to indulge in all the holiday treats and I would make it a point to hit the gym more. A few weeks of watching my diet and maintaining exercise, I noticed better sleep, better energy, feeling better, and losing weight. Then the New Year came around, and I’ve never been one to make a New Year’s Resolution; however, I decided to set goals.
L: (I’m smiling at this point because, as we all know, I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions either)
T: I thought to myself, I need to do something once for all that will get me past that wall that I always run into: A few weeks of diet and exercise, and then my busy work schedule takes over and I go backwards, maybe even fall behind further than from where I started. [Trav is promotions director for Radio FM Media and an on-air talent for 107.9 The Fox]
A 5K or a 10K, those were too short of goals. I chose the half marathon, that’s 13.1 miles, that’s going to take everything I’ve got. For the first 6 months of my year, it would be training, running, dieting, getting educated, especially since I had never ever done something like this before!
L: Speaking of that training, what has that been like? Can you describe the workouts?
T: My week begins with a Sunday afternoon strength training session. I use to be one of those guys that hated “leg day” but now it’s become a priority! I try to do a full body strength training work out in general. Mondays, weather-permitting, I will either run to work or run home from work, literally a 5K distance. With weather getting nicer, I want to run to and from work on the same day. Tuesdays and Thursdays I work with my Ultra Body Fitness trainer at Anytime Fitness. He’s really great about making sure I’m stretched out, working on any soreness, realizes what I need to work on to help me progress and ultimately achieve my marathon goal. With my trainer I typically get full body workouts, circuit training to boost my endurance.
For me, it’s the accountability and the hard work. It’s not a successful workout unless I’m face down on the floor after it’s all said and done!
L: Okay, that’s all good – but tell me a story of training that shows the not-so-glamorous side of running! We all know I love to keep it real on the blog so you’ve gotta have something good for this, right?
T: Yes!! My first attempt at a run outdoors, I ran to work on an 18-degree day in January. I had just run across the street, nearly falling because it was icy, and BAM! A big truck goes by, hitting a big puddle, and covers my entire backside with water. Soooo cold!! I still had two miles to run yet before I reached work so now this water is freezing all over my back, my nose is frozen and runny, my eyes are watering. I felt like I was getting put to the test.
L: Oh no – that’s such a good one! If it makes you feel any better, I too have been victim of the drive-by-puddle-splash.
T: Well if that wasn’t bad enough, a co-worker was driving by and slowed down to take a pic. But I made it; I finally reached work, mission accomplished, and I’m a wet, dirty, sweaty, frost-covered mess! The co-worker who drove past me is the one who drives me back to my house so that I can shower and change to come back to work and make my meetings.
L: Ha ha, a nice gesture after slowing down to take a pic of your misery and probably laughing!
T: Some good came from it though. Mrs. North Dakota gave me props all over social media that day! And the marathon committee took note and have ever since been extremely supportive in my quest.
L: That’s awesome! Have your family, friends and co-workers been supportive of your quest as well?
Post-run with a few members of #TeamTrav.
T: Not only are my family and friends being very supportive but the community is being very supportive. Folks I’ve never met are following me on social media with encouragement and support. Some of the ladies from the TV show, “Pretty Strong” on Oxygen were tweeting support!
L: What do you feel has been your proudest training moment thus far? Describe it and the feelings when it happened.
T: Hands down accomplishing my first big run! It was me and a couple of co-workers who signed up to be on #TeamTrav for the half marathon. One day, they said, “Next Saturday, we’re running 6 miles. Be ready!”
So I prepped, I trained, the day came and, not only did I complete the 6 miles, I finished ahead of them. It felt amazing! I actually got choked up over it ha, big baby.
L: It’s crazy how the emotions take over with running! We’re almost done and we’ve made it to my most important question: What’s your favorite food?
T: The one thing that has always been my vice, even though I’ve cut back on them, I still enjoy my iced turtle mochas from Caribou Coffee ha! Damn I’m weak, it’s hard to say no to those!
L: Love it. Like I always say, gotta #TreatYoSelf!
T: I hang my head in shame but with a smirk ha!
L: Do you have a personal “slogan” or quote that you really believe?
T: The 107.9 The FOX morning show said it best to me one day when I was whining about the hard work: “Suck It Up Princess!” Ha, whenever I feel like I’m hurting on a run or pooping out their voices speak loudly in my head “Suck It Up Princess!”
L: I can hear Robbie, Dave and Moose saying that. It’s perfect!
Lastly, the part of the interview I’m calling “Anything but the Obvious” – what’s something totally unrelated to fitness, your radio/music background, and all the obvious stuff, that you’d want people to know about you?
T: I’m a mama and a grandma’s boy! They both raised me from a very young age. They were strong, hardworking women who got it done. Once I left the nest, I never wanted to disappoint them. I have a role in a film called “Supermoto” that premiered at the Fargo Theatre as part of the Fargo Film Festival. I play a bad guy but who do you think I had on my arms at the premiere: my lady, my mom and my grandma. Three special gals, how lucky am I?!
L: I would have never guessed that and that’s why it’s so great!
And, okay I lied I have one more question. Be honest: Do you enjoy running? Like, do you think you’ll stick with it after May 21?
T: I have learned to enjoy running and the benefits that I receive from it. I absolutely want to run more marathons in the future! I’m not fast. I’m not in tip-top shape, yet. But for the first time in my life I’m running and it feels awesome!
I asked Trav about his goal time for the race and he wants to just keep running, no matter the pace, and finish with his head held high. I know he will and I can’t wait to be there at the finish line to give him a well-deserved high five.
Those of you who want to run with Trav, check out his Facebook page, Feel the Burn with Trav, and sign up on the Fargo Marathon website. Please leave him a comment on his page or here on the blog with your best piece of advice for the first time half-marathoner or just well wishes for a great race on May 21!