Honey Stinger Waffles

So I normally hate any of the "gu" type meal replacements but LOVE the Honey Stinger Chocolate Waffles and their energy chews, especially the Pink Lemonade and Orange Blossom flavors. No weird aftertaste at all; in fact the waffles are like European cookies and the chews are like some kind of fruit candy. Super tasty and gives you natural energy. Gluten free too! I've been using them mid run on my long ones but think I may take one right before as well. 

Love them! 

Foodies for Runnies

So I am totally weird about the "goo" type things...I can't eat gluten and have all other gut and bladder issues, plus process things WAY different than most people. It's funny...I can do real food, even real sort of unhealthy food like butter and sugar, way better than I can any processed stuff. Plus I have a texture thing and some of those goos make me gag. That said, I have found some great foodies for when I run. 

I use honey packs like you get at Smart and Final; individualized honey packets. I also use the solo packs of Justin's Peanut Butter and Honey and Almond Butter Chocolate. I love marshmallows and these are a quick sugar boost as well as Swedish Fish and Starburst (reds). I also mash up a banana in a zip lock, bit off the tip and squeeze in mouth. 

The other thing I use are the veggie and fruit mashed packs that originated for kiddos but now they have for adults. Some good ones are Peter Rabbit Organics, Organic Mash Ups and Go Go Squeeze. I like Happy Squeeze too but it has added fiber. Not so hot for runners.

I use True Lemon powdered drink mixes...kind of like the other brands but natural. And of course water. For races, I do drink Gatorade but normally not as I hate the after taste. 

I could also totally eat a peanut butter and jelly sammie on the road too. That would be great as long as you have water. 

Speaking of water, LOVING my Nathan female friendly (for woman) water pack/hydration pack. I don't even feel it and I have all my goodies right there. 

More Clothes and Shoe Likes

Ok, the other day I wrote about my shoes...The Asics I wear are the Asics Gel Neo 33...the black and purple and lime green ones. Love the color and the fit...very comfortable for the long runs. I wear them on dirt roads too...have the Cascadia 7's too for trail but I use them both. 

Now today, for the 10k, I wore the Pure Flow Brooks in purple and white and I wore Asics tights and a purple Brooks long sleeve T and their purple vest. Loved the pockets...was able to carry my phone with my music and apps. Plenty of room for pepper spray, foodies, keys, phone, etc.

I've been wearing lots of Brooks and Asics clothes lately; I really like the colors, the texture and the fit. The Asics tights are AWESOME! 

I've also bought some Champion stuff from Target (on-line) and they work; tanks, short sleeve T's and long sleeve T's. 

My jackets are Brooks...although I have a ton of track jackets as they are my obsession. I have Addias, Brooks, Old Navy, Target, Garmin, and I am always on the look out for more. Two craves are shoes and track jackets. LOL.

Want to check out the Inovo-8 shoes too. I have gloves from BackCountry and some Nike and Lululemon headbands...I do have tons of Lululemon tanks from 10 years ago that still are colorful and have never shown wear. I have a few of their yoga pants too.

More Miles....More Better

Have you ever noticed that running gets easier after 3 miles? For me that is totally the case....I have been putting in longer runs and I am so much more in the zone. I have been getting in this rhythm and I love it. Next weekend, when I have more time, I am going to push through on a 13 miler and even a longer one. I really like the 6 milers and above and found a great 10 miler through Poly campus. LOVE IT! 

I have found that for me, my body, more is better. That said, I am not going fast...and I am warming up and cooling down, stretching...and I also have been dressing right..not too cold and not too hot. Just right. :-)

Hansen Method

I've been following the Hansen Brother Method (great book, found on Amazon, plus they have a website where you can purchase their marathon plans) and I feel great. The book is fascinating and super technical yet easy to understand. Basically it supports cumulative fatigue. You run less weekend miles but more over all miles. So instead of doing 3 and 4 mile runs during the week and then a massive 20 miler on the weekend, you are running 5 and 6 milers during the week and then just a bit longer on the weekend. I think the max is 16 miles on a weekend prior to the marathon. Anyway, I at first was noticing the fatigue in my legs, but just for the rest of the day. After a night of sleep, I felt great. In fact, yesterday before my 10k today I did a ten miler and felt great today during the race. Really the only thing I have noticed is that my high heels for work don't feel as well as they used to! 

I will need to figure out how to link on the bog...but google Hansen Method for Marathons....I highly recommend and I think I will keep up the high mileage weeks after the marathon too. 

Run for Music SLO

YAY! Thank you to Cal Poly and the music program there for such a fun run. Today was the Run for Music which supports Poly music programs and local schools as well. A 5k and 10k, I think kid fun run. It was a cold and chilly morning and my hubby stayed up after working all night to support me and go watch. The Poly band kept our spirits up, thank you, you guys rock! Totally put a smile on our face. I did the 10k today and it was a loop completed twice. It took us through the campus, by the football stadium and then out by the baseball field. Very fun, lots of volunteers and beside the wind, it was a great race. I was faster than I thought, 55:27, and I was super pleased. Cute aqua t-shirt and some coupon cards for local places. A raffle that I hope I win...clothes from Running Warehouse are always a plus! 

Shoes I Wear

I love shoes...ok, what girl doesn't? And I especially love running shoes. So I tend to own quite a few and have an Amazon wish list for more...and local stores that I purchase from see me coming and bring them out. Here in San Luis Obispo County, my two favorite running stores are Running Warehouse, also on the web, and Go For It Sport in Atascadero. www.goforitsports.com and www.runningwarehouse.com Great prices and great sales service....Love Tara at Running Warehouse and Debbie and Scott are experts at Go For It.

Anyway, currently I have seven pair of runners...and more to come. They are my addiction and I do actually wear each pair all the time; different shoes for different lengths of runs. 

I have a pair of Asics Lyte 33 (I also wear Asics for Zumba/Turbo Fire workouts), three pair of Skecher Go Runs...these are SO light but still like walking on clouds...these are my fast flyers...love these! Feel super fast and sleek in these. I have two Brooks; the trail Cascadia 7, which are the perfect shoe for all of SLO's trails, and Brooks Pure Flow, which are my long runners....I also want the Connect and the Cadence...love these too! 

I also have New Balance Minimus. These are totally awesome and I want another pair. I love to run in these and have walked all over San Francisco last weekend and not an ache....legs were fresh at the end of each day. 

Amazing!