A What’s Next Update

Posted by hellyontherun in Race, Running and tagged with 27k, Adrenaline, Aravaipa Running, New Things, Race, Run Steep Get High, Running, Running at Night, Trail Running May 30, 2014

I hadn’t planned on doing any summer racing but my running group advertised a popular trail run that many said they were participating in.

So I’ve never done an actual trail race.

And I’ve never raced at night.

Totally seems like a good idea to do both for the first time together, right?

The race is put on by Jamil Coury, the guy I wrote about a few weeks ago who did the Barkley Marathon. He founded Aravaipa Running and I’ve heard nothing but good things about their races. I’m super excited to finally have a chance at participating in one.

I’m pretty excited about it actually. Nervous too, but definitely more excited. There’s a 10k, a 27k, and a 64k option and I decided to go with the 27k. AZTNT, my running group, has a ton of people signed up for it so it’s going to be a great time running with friends. I don’t have any goals or expectations with it; I just plan on enjoying myself doing something different.

I feel like I need things to look forward to to kinda help the days go by. With this 100 Days of No Soda starting, I’m going to need all the motivation I can get. I plan on also looking around for a 4th of July run. August will be plenty busy with me going back to work (this news will be elaborated on in a later post 🙂 ) and once fall gets here, race season comes with it full throttle.

But for now, this trail race in a couple of weeks has me counting the days. I’ve got my head lamp ready and we’ll just see what happens!

–Have you ran a race a night? What tips can you give me?

–Do you schedule races to have something to look forward to? What’s the method behind your planning, if any?

Have a great weekend! Tomorrow’s the last day to think of something for the 100 Days of Summer Challenge! Keep me company (and help hold me accountable) as I try to go without soda 🙂

The challenge starts June 1st and ends September 8th. Click here for details.

It’s Getting Hot in Here {and an Ignite Naturals review}

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with 100 Days of Summer, Challenge, Electrolytes, Hot, Ignite Naturals, No Soda, Running, Weather May 29, 2014

Living in Arizona, I’m used to our hot weather. Really, I don’t think there’s anywhere else I’d rather live.

But running here is ~~hot~~ hard.

We typically don’t see crazy heat til June but it looks like we’re in for a long summer as my run on Tuesday was in above average temperatures.

Before my run

After my run. Not much of a difference lol!

I made sure to hydrate and even tried out a new product by Ignite Naturals.

The box comes with 10 packets of three different flavors-Blueberry, Dragonfruit Lemon Lime, and Tangerine Passion Fruit. For my run, I tried Blueberry.

The instructions say to add 1 packet with 8-12 ounces of water depending on taste preference. I grabbed a bottle of Dasani (16.9 oz), took a swig, and then poured in the pack. My thought process was that after I drank from the bottle, I would make it around 12 ounces of water. I might have over shot my drink. Once I mixed the contents and tasted it, it tasted really good but also really fruity. I blame it on my very scientific way of having made my drink so I don’t think it’s always this way.

I tried it again the next day at track, giving Tangerine Passion Fruit a shot. This time, I took a small sip from my water, then mixed in the contents. Much better. It was still on the fruity side but definitely not as concentrated as the previous mix.

Pluses:
*100% Plant based
*Vegan
*Non GMO
*Gluten Free
*Tasty
*Convenient on-the-go packaging

Cons:
*A litte on the fruity side for me (they do have other not so fruity flavors though like prickly pear and coconut water)

I like trying new types of electrolyte drinks especially because of the aforementioned heat wave that’s started. And also, since I’m planning on going 100 Days without soda, I’m going to need some alternative options.

I was really pleased to see that people were excited to keep me company in my new venture. Some things people are planning on going 100 Days doing:

–eating a bowl of fruit
–no sugar
–sit ups
–no alcoholic beverages

Remember, it doesn’t have to be deprivation of something. You can add things that you struggle doing and hope that after a 100 Days it becomes a habit.

Two more days before we start–join in!

The challenge starts June 1st and ends September 8th.

–What’s the weather like where you’re running?

–What do you think you can go 100 Days doing?

–What type of electrolyte drinks do you like?

100 Days of Summer and {….}

Posted by hellyontherun in Fitness, Healthy Eating, Running and tagged with 100 Days of Summer, Change, Commitment, Healthy Lifestyle, No Soda May 28, 2014

ETA: The challenge starts June 1st and ends September 8th.

Marathon training #2 starts mid June and in celebration I’ve decided to kick-start it with a fun 100 Days of Summer & No Soda! If you’ve been with me a for a while, you know that me and soda are pretty close buddies. I am interested though, in seeing how/if my body changes through training and no soda. This curiosity is strong enough to commit to 100 days of eliminating it from my daily life.

I’m scared.

I have a good feeling I’ll go through some tough days, so, I would LOVE it if you joined me this summer. What do you want to commit 100 days to? It doesn’t have to be deprivation like me and my no soda, but it could be something like 100 Days of More Water or 100 Days of More Me (where you devote something however small to you). I know that Runner’s World is hosting a Summer Running Streak that started Memorial Day to 4th of July,–why not extend it to 100 days 🙂

I brought my 100 Days plan to my Healthy Moms group online and they had some great ideas for themselves–

100 Days of:

*Healthier Options–replacing one thing everyday with a healthier option
*No TV
*New Healthier Foods (trying new tastes and recipes)
*Positive Thinking

I’ll leave you with a couple of days to think about it. I hope you decide to keep me company! ❤ ETA: This will start June 1st and end Sept. 8th.

–What ideas would you throw in to the 100 Days plan?

–Do you think I’ll last 100 Days without a Coke?