Dash Down Greenville 5k with Pics

 March 17 - Dash Down Greenville 5k - This coincides with a St. Paddy's Day parade following the race that shuts down a section of Greenville avenue in Dallas.  Of all the races that we run, this one definitely has the most party atmosphere and the most odd costumes.

It rained a lot last night, but it was not raining at race time.  Things were pretty mild and muggy while we ran.  There were four of us hitting the pavement today.

<----- Me - I ran alone today since my BFF was walking with a stress fracture.  I had my best race since prior to my shoulder surgery last May.  I finished happy, sweaty, and full mouth breathing.  I'm sure that was not pretty!

 Here is me and Susie after the race.  She got some awesome pictures while she was walking and gave me a whole different perspective of the race when I saw them.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to focus on my pace, dodge walkers, and not stop.  I didn't reflect on what was around me so I really enjoyed viewing the race from her eyes and pace.

My mantra today that came to me while running was "get stronger not weaker".  For some reason that kept me going when I wanted to stop.  I did walk the two hills that were on the course so that I could continue running a faster pace afterwards. 

I'll be happy when Susie and I are both uninjured and healthy at the same time!  Until then we'll just do our best and forget the rest!

 We've dubbed this race the Gelato run because after the race we go into Central Market and get fresh gelato.  My choice today was dulce de leche and Cappuccino with chocolate covered expresso beans. 

The theme of this race is beer and I can't imagine drinking that in the morning after the race but there were lots of partakers.  We actually didn't stay for the parade.  We did last year and it was just about 100% beer trucks, beer floats, and beer related stuff.

 This is my daughter, Rachael on the right, and her best friend Autumn who joined us for her first race.  They jogged/walked together and this may be the only time I beat Rachael.  She usually leaves Susie and me in her dust.

 Here are the three amigos who run together every month outside of Central market.  Love the giant fruits and veggies in front of the store.

 This is a security guard at an apartment complex we had to walk by.  Only in Texas will you see a security guard on a horse roaming the property.

This reminds me that I will taunt Susie for races to come because she encouraged me not to park where I originally wanted to, and I ended up getting a $45 parking ticket.  My trunk stuck back into a no parking area by about 2 feet and that was enough for a ticket.

 One of our weird traditions is posing for post race pictures in the tree in front of Susie's house.  I should put them all together sometime to show the changes in the seasons for the races that we have done this for.

 Inducting Autumn into the tree posing experience. 

Post race crashing with Amy the dog at Susie's place.  We all took a post race nap and then sat around and chatted for awhile.

<---- This is a picture of us at the start of the race.  We are among the masses of 8,000 people running this race.  We couldn't see the starting line from where we were and had to wait at least 10 minutes after the starting gun when off before we ever made it up to the starting line to run.

Since Susie wasn't with me, I had to find someone that I could pace with and I ended up behind this guy running with a green grass hula skirt for a while.  I kept thinking if this guy can run in a hula skirt I can keep going.  They only had one water stop during the race so next year I plan on carrying something to drink.

It seems like Susie and I alter between who wants to get up and run when we do these things.  Last time it was her up and around the house and me covering my head on the couch.  This time I was up and she was covering her head in her room.  Rachael and Autumn weren't happy about getting up either.  I went in Susie's room and read quotes to her off her motivational posters on her wall.  Then I played my Nickelback song - If Today were your last day.  Later I came back and played their song "I'd come for you".  I was annoying but everyone got up and we had a good time at the race.  I think I was getting back for Amydog coming and jumping in my face several times during the night.  She thought I would get up and give her a treat.  She treats her doggie snacks like they are crack.  Needless to say, I did not get up and I did not give her one all day long today!

After leaving Susie's, the girls and I stopped at Whole Foods and picked up some great produce and a few things before heading to our respective houses.  My husband, son and other daughter don't run with us so these experiences have become a great bonding time for me and Rachael.

So that's race number 4 of the year in the books.  We continue to enjoy the experiences and are happy to keep on exercising.  Next month's race is undecided so far.  We're looking at options and need to settle on one soon.

Fitness Motivation on Pinterest

My Pinterest Boards are here at this link.  I didn't know what all the hoopla was about, so this weekend when I was down and out with some sort of stomach flu, I spent time online to figure it all out.

I found some incredible fitness motivations posters and have grouped them here, so if you need some inspiration check those out.  I also set up a board with all of my Daily Spark articles.

One thing I'm working on is learning some new recipes.  I cleaned out the pantry and organized that and have been reading a new Vegan cookbook that I'll do a review on when I'm finished.  My youngest daughter saw a film last week at school on how animals are treated and processed into our food chain.  It totally grossed her out, and overnight she switched to mostly vegetarian meals.  I'm trying to accommodate her eating wishes so a little reading is underway. 

If you've got some awesome vegetarian recipes share them with me.  I was surprised last week when I took my oldest daughter to the dorm she will be living in when she goes to college in the fall.  We found out that there is a vegan cafeteria on campus near her dorm.  This will make my younger daughter happy when she goes there the following year.

It's been over a week since my last post.  I am two weeks into my new split weight routine that my trainer put me on.  I'm loving being able to lift weights again but my upper body is sore.

Keep on pushing towards your goals!

Michelene

Product Review - The Grid by Trigger Point Technologies

After our latest 5k race, my daughter and I stopped by our local Luke's Locker and picked up a large foam roller called The Grid:

I used this last night as part of P90X2 - mobility and stretching DVD work.  It was my first time for that DVD and I'll do a review on that some other time.  I took extra time than was required by the DVD to stretch on this roller.

Here's why I think it is excellent:

1.  I have a foam roller and a PVC pipe - one is too soft and loses structure, and the other is so hard it is very painful (although really inexpensive at the local hardware store).  This one is a combo of both of those items.  The core is PVC so it maintains the structure, and the orange padding on the outside gives it a certain comfort level above the plain PVC.  The brochure indicates the orange grid combines the benefits of self-massage and core work. 

2.  Benefit is that it is a Green product and features a one year warranty.

3.  If used - it does a good job.  I actually woke up this morning in less pain than normal.  I thought that if this keeps up, I may get rid of my monthly massage fees - okay let's not get crazy!

On the website you can purchase 3 different level DVD's that utilize this piece of equipment.  I don't own any of them and can't speak to how they might benefit. 

I've read about this company before, but thought their items were a little pricey ($69.99 for large).  I was able to get 10% of using my Dallas Running club membership.  Luke's Locker was at the race and was giving away 10% off coupons for store merchandise to anyone who stopped by the table.  Next time you're at an event, stop by their table and grab one.  Luke's only let's you use one or the other, so don't grab one thinking you can get 20% off if you are a running club member.

Still pricey to me with the discount, but I'm glad I bought it and plan on using it daily for a long time. There are shorter versions  There is a shorter version for $34.99 on the website and I've seen that in stores as well.  Since I'm almost 6 feet tall, I opted for the longer version.  If you're a lot shorter, you might not need that option.

IMHO a product worth purchasing - but you've got to use it.  Like all athletic products, they are only as good as your ability to put them into use, and this leaning against the wall in the corner of your room is no benefit.  If you've never used a foam roller before - trust me, you want to use one.  It is great for getting rid of knots, stretching out your muscles, and helping displace lactic acid build up. 

The P90X2 DVD shows Tony Horton using a blue foam roller that looks like a meat tenderizer with large things that stick out of it.  If you're new to foam rollers I would not recommend that.  It takes a while to get used to rolling on these things and taking the pressure you feel when you do get to a knotted area.  I think the meat tenderizer thing is going to have to wait a while before I'll try one of those.

Happy stretching!

New recipe review and notes

 I tried a new recipe for us tonight - Asian Black Rice Salad.  The recipe came from the March issue of Idea Fitness Journal.  Here is a list of the ingredients:

1/2 cup black rice
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 green bell pepper diced
1/2 pint grapes, halved
1/4 c dried cranberries, chopped
1/4 c almonds

Sauce:
1 tsp grated ginger
1 T soy sauce
2 T honey
1 T light sesame oil
1/2 tsp black pepper

Cook and cool the rice.  Mix the sauce and let it sit for 15 minutes to mix.  I would recommend taking the soy sauce out to bring it to room temp.  When I mixed the honey in cold soy sauce it wouldn't blend well until it warmed up.  Mix it all together. 

Here is a picture of it all mixed together.  I really loved it.  I made a double batch and that is what is pictured.















That One Small Adjustment: Finding Your Way to Health This is the link to my latest article published on The Daily Spark.  I really enjoy writing for them.

I finished a three day series of weights at the gym.  I'm doing a new split routine and am really psyched since it's the first time I've been able to do this since my shoulder surgery last May. It's hard for me to hit the gym in the morning since that is not my typical biological clock.  I am wearing my Body Bugg and tracking to see if I burn more calories throughout the day when I workout in the morning.  So far I feel stronger and better throughout the day, but I don't think my calorie burn is that much higher. 

I'm running a 5k this weekend with my daughter and BFF.  This will be race number 3 so far this year.  We're running a bridge route that we haven't done before so I'm not sure what to expect.  It is a new bridge here and this is a special celebration:

This is a picture of it at night. 











Thankfully tomorrow is my day off as far as working out is concerned.  I'm looking forward to what several months of weights will do for me.  Small steps everyday add up to a life long healthy journey.