Are you an under, over, or neutral?

Pronater, that is.   I did some high tech research, took hours evaluating and studying....Ok really, I just searched "over pronate" on the internet and I actually under pronate.  There is a super easy way to tell which one you are, just look at the wear on an old pair of shoes.  I actually found these two great videos that explain what is happening when you run, how to tell, and what kind of shoes you should get based on your gait.





So why all this talk about the way I run?  Well, it's time for new shoes.  Again.  I didn't realize how quickly I would go through a pair of shoes, especially since I just went and bought the cheapest pair.  At Kohls.  Without talking to ANYONE who runs.  Or even looking at my old pair of shoes.  I know, I know.  I'm still getting used to the idea of spending $100+ on a pair of shoes.  At least they were Asics.  I took the easy way out.  Or so I thought.


You see, lately I've been having quite a bit of trouble with my ankle.  It's weird because I've actually cut back on my mileage.  Then one day I looked at my shoes.  The soles are completely worn down on the outer edge.  I under-pronate.  But, to make matters worse, I bought a shoe for OVER-pronating.  Not good.  They are correcting a problem I never had, and making the one I do have worse.  So I'm looking for some new shoes that are neutral.  I'm thinking New Balance, mostly because that was my first pair of running shoes and I love them!  However, I do want some advice, are there any other under-pronaters out there?  What shoes do you recommend?  Don't worry, I'll be going to my local running store as well, I'm just curious about your experiences.

A little hiatus...

...but I think I'm back.

In case you haven't noticed, it's been awhile since I blogged.  I'm sad to say it's been awhile since I ran as well.  I'm not really sure what happened.  I finished my 10k, which was amazing!  I even sprinted at the end to pass another runner, thanks to her encouragement (nothing gets the blood pumping like the person next to you yelling "Go, go, GO!")  And then....I just sort of quit.  My ankle and knee were hurting for the first few weeks I took off.  A ligitimate reason to take it easy, but the next three?  I really had no excuse.  Yes, I need new shoes, and it might be a little bit before I get them, but there is still some use left in the pair I have.  What really happened?

My 10k was a big milestone.  6.2 miles with a hill, and I did it.  I had finished.  Now what?  Yes, my next goal is to run a half-marathon, but honestly,  I don't know when, and after the 10k I really felt that I couldn't do it yet.  So I'm putting that one off for a bit.  That left me with no goal, no training plan.  So what did I do?  I gave up.  I came up with excuse after excuse not to get out and run.  Well, that ends today.

This morning I awoke at 6 a.m. and was out the door by 6:15.  It felt so good.  I was much slower than I've been, at times I felt I was running through jello, but I did it.  I have a goal, a training plan and it feels good.  Up until now, I've been doing the walk/run plan but I really would love to run a 5k without walking. Hey, I'd even settle for a mile without walking.  I was going through some old training plans and found one that takes eight weeks to get you running 30 minutes straight.  I'm starting on week two because the first one is 1/2 Run/walk...I'm a little beyond that.  So for the next seven weeks I will be out there four days a weeks building running time, not miles.  I'm excited and it gives me a reason to blog again. The reason I haven't been blogging?  Well, thats another story, which I may share.....later.

Last of the Virtual Insanity 5k's

The ladies over at Mom's Run This Town have been so awesome this summer!  Each month they've had a different virtual 5k race with some great prizes (I really hope I win this month, free fuel belt!)  I can't believe it's already August and the summer is almost over.  That means the series is at an end and for this month RoadID is sponsoring the race.  Not sure what the prize is yet, but you can bet it will be good.

So what are you waiting for?  Head over to the MRTT website and register.  Be sure to tell them I sent you, then go and finish this series with a bang!

quick post

Yesterday was Track Tuesday, or speedwork.  Whichever you want to call it (actually, whichever I want to call it since this is my blog.  I should probably make a decision huh?  I hate that :)  Anyway, I was nervous because I hadn't been feeling well all weekend and had a nice little visitor.  My goal is to do 400 meters in 3:09.  I hadn't been able to get that goal, or be consistent at all in my times yet.  I really wanted to get home fast so as I began running, that was my mantra.  "The faster you run, the sooner you'll get home."  Four times around the "track" and I was finished.  A little worn out, but not too bad.  I was sure I had gotten my goal....maybe.  I came home and checked out runkeeper....I blew it out of the water!

Lap 1-3:01
Lap 2-2:36
Lap 3-3:03
Lap 4-2:45

Wow!  I guess it's time to go for a PR in the 5k.  My last one (which I never did a race report for)  was 43:37  Not my best time but far  from my worst.  And it was after only 5 hours of sleep, half before and half after a trip to the emergency room.  I might need to do a race recap.  This needs some explaining.  Anyway, there are a few 5k's coming up in my community so I'm looking into one that I can rock!

In other news, my 10k is coming up this weekend, hills up and down,  my earliest start time yet and no playlist.  I might be a little nervous.  At least I know I can run that far....

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some Yummy cocoa and $25 to iHerbs.com!  It ends Saturday.

More chocolate? Yes, Please!

Sorry I have been missing again.  I think summer is just a crazy time, I don't know how so many bloggers manage to keep up with daily posts.  However, I will try to make it up to you, with a little review and a giveaway!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by iHerb.com to review CocoCardio by Madre Labs.  They are the sole distributer of this innovative product.  They want to get the word out and share some with you!

As I become more aware of my health, I try to find new things that will help me.  One thing we have been hearing a lot about lately is the benefit of chocolate.  Not the yummy hershey's bars that call to me in the supermarket line, but healthy dark cocoa that has few, if any, additives.  I'm not entirely sure I understand all the benefits, but I like the idea of being able to add more chocolate to my diet and having it help me.  So, what is CocoCardio?  Well, according the Madre Labs website:

CocoCardio^® is a Premium, 100% Natural (Non-Alkalized) Dark Cocoa beverage which contains Freeze-Dried Beet Juice Powder and concentrated Full-Spectrum, Water-Soluble Hibiscus Extract.

CocoCardio^® is a great addition to a healthy diet and active lifestyle!

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao -- a.k.a. "Food of the Gods") Our certified organic natural (Non-alkalized) cocoa powder has been made to exacting standards. "Natural Process" Cocoa retains higher levels of naturally-occurring polyphenols compared to Alkalized (Dutch Process) Cocoa. NOTE: The more Polyphenols, the more Bitter - Which is Better!
Beet Roots (Beta vulgaris) contain Betalains & Betacyanins (richly colored pigments with antioxidant-like properties) and a host of other naturally-occurring phytonutrients, including dietary nitrates.
Our Hibiscus sabdariffa full-spectrum, water-soluble extract contains naturally-occurring anthocyanins, phenolic acids and other bioactive phytonutrients.

I received my package in the mail and I couldn't wait to try it! When I opened it, the powder looked like...baking cocoa.  I decided first to go natural, just the powder and water. It's a very pretty red color (beets and hibiscus you know) but the first taste was....bitter! This is one time I should have trusted the packaging. It said it would be bitter and they weren't lying. Have you ever tasted baking cocoa? I mean before it's mixed with the rest of the brownie ingredients?  That's the taste.

So for my next attempt, I decided to throw it into one of my favorite, though not healthiest, smoothies. Peanut Butter and chocolate. MMMMMMMM!!!!! It was so good! A nice, smooth, almost peanut butter cup taste. Next I decided to try a healthier shake. Peaches and chocolate. That one tasted pretty good, but it still needed something. I'm normally not a banana person, but I threw half of one in and it was perfect!

I shared some with S,  I think she likes it!

Here are my "recipies" though you can modify them to your liking.

Chocolate Peanut Butter
6 oz skim milk/water
2ish tabelspoons peanut Butter
1 scoop CocoCardio Powder
3 tsp sweetener(I used sugar, but you can use your favorite)
ice
Blend all the ingredients till smooth. Tweek measurements until it tastes right.


Chocolate Banana Peach
6 oz skim milk
1 fresh peach, pealed and pitted(I guess you could eat the pit, but really? hehe, I crack myself up)
1/2 banana
1 scoop CocoCardio Powder
3 tsp sweetener(I used sugar, but you can use your favorite)
ice


Would I recommend this? YES! It adds just enough chocolate flavor to treat myself and it's good for me. You can't beat that. If you would like to buy some CocoCardio, iHerb is offering MommytoMarathon readers a special deal on their first purchase. Use the coupon code WOW123 to get $5 off your first pouch! Now, the part you've been waiting for:

One lucky person will win their own bag of CocoCardio and $25 to iHerb.com!

This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.
Winner needs to register on iHerb.com to claim their prize.

Giveaway ends August 6, 2011 at 10p.m Mountain time. 

There are four ways to enter 

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each 

Mandatory entry: Share your best healthy treat! It can be a product or a really good recipe, anything that you like.



Additional entries:

-Follow MommytoMarathon on google friend connect (1 entry)

-Like iHerb on facebook (1 entry)

-Share this giveaway on your blog, leave a link (3 entries so be sure to leave three separate comments)

I hope you enjoy it! 

*All opinions shared are my own. I received a sample of CocoCardio and $25 of products from iHerb.com for review.

75th post

Wow, I really never would have guessed I would stick with this for so long!  I'm excited to get to my 100th and hope to have a nice little thankyou for all my readers when I do.

Saturday was my last REALLY long run.  I did six miles and for the next two weeks and supposed to taper off a little bit.  A 5k on the 23rd and then an easy four miler(did I just call four miles easy? Me?) the next weekend.  I really can't believe I have just less than three weeks until my 10k.  As with my first 5k, it just seems surreal that I actually made it!

I reviewed the 10k course map last week and remembered that there are a few hills.  Both up and down, but mostly down.  Up until now all of my training has been on flat terrain.  Not exactly a good preparation.  Saturday I decided to change that and follow a course that had a few small ups and downs.  YIKES!

It doesn't look like much, just a 2% grade at it's worst, but more than enough for me.

The first mile was not what I would have liked to start with.  My phone was....un-cooperative. Just a bit.  Okay, really, it just didn't work at all so I spent most of the time trying to figure it out.  Finally, half-way through the second mile it started working and I was able to focus on my 5/1 run/walk plan.  I was a little worn out mentally, but knew I had to keep going.  I planned it that way.  The only way to get home was to keep going. 

I finally hit the hill and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to run up it.  Of course I was no where near my normal pace, but I did run.  I really didn't think I was going to be able to.  It gives me hope.  Sometimes I look at my pace and really wonder if I am making any improvement.  Yes, I am going farther than I ever have before, but I still feel as if I'm not any more fit.  Then something like this comes up.  A few months ago I would have struggled to even walk up the hill, let alone attempt to run.  It really is amazing to see what a change in my stamina running has made.

The third mile was downhill.  This was also new for me.  I tried to keep the pace slow, too many stories of knee injuries going down.  This wasn't too bad.  I began to look for the road I planned to turn on.  It was on the map, it should be coming up....I saw the road start to curve up again and I knew the road was supposed to be before that.  Fields and storage building but no road.  Then I realized, it wasn't paved.  Just a dirt road through a farm.  Another first.  

Dirt roads are harder than I thought.  The whole mile was along this...path?  The gravel seemed to slip and slide under my feet.  I took it slowly, trying to keep my footing.  The last thing I needed was to twist my ankle.  That said, this was good practice again.  I'm not sure, but I think part of the 10k will be on a road similar to this so I'm very grateful for the surprise.  

The last bit was fairly flat, but I'm pretty sure my pace dropped simply because I was worn out.  This was one of my most challenging runs so far, but also incredibly satisfying.  It's so amazing to see how far I've come.  To be able to not only run six miles, but on such a new terrain....it just makes me happy.  

I don't have any splits, dumb phone, but I do know how long it took me. So, 

Distance 6.00 Mi.

Duration 1:30:30

Avg. Pace 15:03

Avg Speed 3.99 mph

Not too shabby.  Not to shabby. 

I do have a review/giveaway coming up this weekend, so keep your eyes out for that!  Nice way to celebrate the 10k.

An amazing woman

Meet my mom

She is a mother of twelve, has spent years serving in various callings(jobs) in our church, including roughly ten years with the womens organization.  She cooks the most amazing food, can sew just about anything, including my wedding dress, volunteers at the local library, visits anyone who just needs a listening ear.  She taught me almost everything I know.  Literally, I was home-schooled.  Her entire life has been an example of love and service. Now, she and my dad are going to serve a two-year mission for my church.  They are simply wonderful people.  

When I was in high school, she was having problems with her hips.  It was painful for her to move, let alone walk up and down the 16 or so steps that led to our upper floor.  The doctors recommended that she have her hip replaced.  After a bit of convincing, she finally had the surgery and has been doing great.  Those of you that have read my back story, know that a mission in my church requires a LOT of walking.  A LOT!  Well, my amazing mom has been getting up everyday to walk two miles just so she will be prepared.  A few weeks ago, I decided to call and ask her if she would walk a 5k with me.  She thought about it for a minute...then said, "Yes.  I can probably do that." 

Well, that was two weeks ago.  Last week when we were there, she told me she had walked her first ever three miles!  She was so tired at the end she wasn't sure if she could finish.  There were some neighbors out that she wanted to talk to but she knew if she stopped then she wouldn't make the last few blocks.  So my amazing mom pushed through the fatigue and finished!  I am so proud of her.  She did it and I can't wait to walk across a finish line with the woman who has always been my inspiration and example.  She is the reason I am who I am today. I only hope that I can be as determined and dedicated as she.  I love you mom!