If only there were more naked chefs to teach young children a potato from a tomato.

Thank you, Mr. Oliver, thank you!

If it isn’t Workout/Waffle Wednesday again! Did you celebrate either?

Before I move on onto some moves, I wanted to say that I’ve enjoyed reading your comments to the personal post I published late last night. I think I was a bit delirious when I actually pressed publish because I almost bit my tongue when I woke up this morning and realized, in fact, I had.

Enough of the serious, self-love talk already. I’ll save more of that for another day…

This afternoon, I went for a lovely 5-mile run with a couple of my girlfriends. I ignored our slow(er), but steady, pace and enjoyed chatting as we made our way through the park.

Afterwards, I tested out a leg workout and slammed around a 35lb. sandbag (burpees, squats, triceps/shoulders, etc.). That was the icing on the cake today! I left the WREC a happy girl :)

Sexy Legs Pyramid Workout

Inspired By: Tone It Up Lean Legs Pyramid

I think I’m going to be sore tomorrow… I better be ;)

Thanks again for the supportive reassurance in myself, and in my blog.

xo Hill

All day today I had two specific blog posts that I wanted to write – one for tonight, one for tomorrow. 

In order to write both of said posts, I “needed” to complete a second workout for the day at the WREC. The time I had allotted for a HIIT treadmill run and leg routine arrived a minute or two past the four o’clock hour. I sauntered to my car to grab the hot pink bag stuffed with gear for workout #2; apparently, the spunk in my step I normally have when my running shoes are laced with excitement about exercising wasn’t packed with the rest of my obnoxiously bright attire.

I’m pointing my finger at the fact that I began my day again all too early with a 4-mile run around my neighborhood, consumed all too much caffeine, and then proceeded to plow through my Tuesday schedule that passed as slow as molasses.

Why was I planning a “double day” anyway? Didn’t I create this training plan — a vague set of guidelines to keep myself “up to par” for the five weeks before my race? Yes, it was me. There was no necessity for a double day, except…

Last night, I found myself with saline on the verge of spilling onto my freckled cheeks because I had only run 1 mile yesterday (along with a side of strength training) after my PDR Sunday. SkinnyRunner ran a full marathon Sunday and 15+ miles Monday. Comparing myself to another. #guiltyascharged

My mother listened to me patiently through the telephone as I spewed my discontent with myself, for not doing enough… enough for what!?… enough for who!?

Was I really going to let myself belittle my effort Sunday of persevering through rainy winter weather, a chaffed bra line and finicky satellite watch to run farther than I’ve ever run before… with nothing – or no one – to encourage me to keep taking one step after another other than me, myself and I?

My mind was strong Sunday, so why on Earth could it succumb to such weakness in allowing someone else’s accomplishments smash the commitment it has put on the pavement after all the miles?

I received a comment today in regards to my post about my final college semester that read: “I love when you write about personal/college posts!”

Tonight, I’ve edited completely revised my original post idea to make it personal by telling you all – in my utmost vulnerability – that I’m fighting a battle against myself of being enough.

My body is deserving of more merit than it ever receives from me, its toughest critic. It deserves to love every inch of flesh that sticks to the tree-embellished yoga mat; it deserves dark chocolate and lattes just because, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t deserve to embrace its larger, defined thigh muscles showcased in magenta compression shorts.

Please learn from my mistake. Use the fitspiration of other women to make you stronger; do not let anyone, and more prominently yourself, depreciate the steps you’ve taken in making the best recipe of yourself. Feel free to add ingredients to your self recipe, and be permissive in removing those that haven’t worked through trial and error.

I’ll tell you a little secret… the key ingredient you need in a recipe for being enough is self love.

Shall we go to the store and stock up? ;)

Way back when, in November 2010, I thought I’d start a Running Tuesday Superwoman Series, highlighting an inspirational female athlete every so often. I wrote one post – about SkinnyRunner – and have left the idea in the blog archives ever since. Go me.

Note: When I wrote about SR, she had just completed her 9th full-marathon. This past Sunday, she ran marathon #26. A superwoman, no doubt!

Today I’m bringing back the series because I want to feature my latest fitspiration, the unstoppable Liz of In It to Win It. This cardio-loving graduate student is not only a lightning fast runner, but a triathlete as well, clocking in many the miles every week, whether on the trail, road, or in the pool.

SWIM. BIKE. RUN.

I asked this speed demon a few questions about her training and want to share her contagious inspiration with y’all…

Where do you find your motivation?

My goals! I write them down where I can see them. I think about them each day and reflect on my actions towards achieving them. I know that each day I can either bring myself one step closer to my goal, or one step back.

What is your highest (running) mileage for 1 week?

When I am marathon training, I usually peak at 75 miles/week. When I am just maintaining and living it up during the year (also swimming and biking), I stay around 55 miles/week.

What is your most memorable race experience?

Definitely my first marathon in December 2010… I had no idea what to expect and went in without a goal… I ran the whole race with a good friend and held 7:10/mi… until mile 22. I felt so good the last 4 miles that I picked it up and held 6:40′s to the finish line… I passed so many men in those last few miles, it was a blast. I ended up winning my age group at a fairly large marathon and smashing the 3:10 barrier. I love racing past men at the end of races. I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a brat! :)

What is your favorite way to fuel before and after a run?

Rice cakes with almond butter and banana sit really well in my stomach while running. After a run (while I’m stretching/icing), I always have a huge glass of water with the juice of a lemon squeezed in and a sliced apple with cinnamon… then a meal ~30-45 minutes later after I shower.

What is your secret to being so speedy?

Hehe! I don’t think I’m really speedy yet… but I am really tough mentally. I have trained my brain and body to get used to the fact that running FAST is painful, and if I’m not in pain, then I’m not trying hard enough… especially the last 10K of a marathon. I start the race knowing that it’s going to hurt and that I am the one who is going to need to make it hurt!

What is one or more of your running/fitness aspirations?

This December I was to run a 2:45 marathon… I want to become a sponsored runner… and I want to race in the 2016 Olympic Trials (and place top 20!).

I would also like to run as many races with friends as I can… Let’s do the Lululemon half-marathon together!

Join Liz + I on DailyMile – we’d love to be fitness friends!

Who is a running superstar in your world?

Now go run already! ;)

HP

Today was my last first day of school… I think… for now… until I realize a B.S. is just that — B.S.

I was awake anxiously again before my alarm this morning. This time it wasn’t in anticipation of a long training run in the rain. I supported the first day jitters with extra-strong iced coffee made by the roommate. And yes, even after 18 years as a student, there still exists some mild anxiety about a new schedule because it’s just that – new and unknown.

Even though I am embarking on my 10th and final semester of my undergrad degree – yay, super senior! – I will not be running an easy, flat route to the finish line (a.k.a. graduation stage).

My final fall semester was a relatively light load; this spring, I have 5 involved classes and 1 internship to keep my mind stimulated ‘til May. 

Spring 2012 Classes

Community Nutrition

Acquaints the student with nutrition programs that relate the science of nutrition to the improvement, maintenance, and promotion of the health status of individuals and groups. Community organization and assessment, program planning, funding and evaluation, and current status of foreign and domestic food insecurity and hunger will be addressed.

Cultural Food + lab

Study of world food patterns, including food customs of peoples of different ethnic backgrounds. Emphasis upon nutritional significance. Survey of social, economic, religious, and aesthetic aspects of food customs.

Diet(ary) Supplements & Functional Foods

Scientific overview of popular dietary supplements and food phytochemicals and their relation to human health and disease. Current government regulations are also considered.

Futures in Nutrition & Food Science (senior portfolio course)

Overview of career opportunities and application procedures for post-baccalaureate programs in the discipline.

Nutrition & Physical Fitness

Analyzes and evaluates current practices and theories regarding nutrition and its relationship to athletics, weight control, and physical exercise.

“One of the most important purposes of this course is to assist you in evaluating and modifying your own nutritional status and activity patterns as a means for attaining your personal health and activity goals, now and throughout your life.”

I think I’ll wait to tell you about my internship as a nutrition mentor once it gets rolling.

Back to being the busy Nutrition Nut on the run, but there’s no complaining here. I want to DO MORE in 2012 – whether that’s traveling to far places or filling up my Google calendar – remember?

Luckily, I’ve got some great gals by my side to get my through the last stretch of this enlightening, challenging, self-discovering experience called college.

What do you remember most about your college experience?

Have a wonderful week,

Hill

Of Possible Interest:

• My College Kitchen
• My College Lunchbox
• Clean Eating v. College Craziness

Today is the first day of my last semester of college.

More times than not, I’ve wanted the semester to speed by,

unenthusiastically “living” from one exam to the next.

May is going to come all too quickly this year.

I don’t want to look back

at the end of this memorable adventure

and regret

holding back

on anything

or anyone.

To positive beginnings & endings,

Hillary

Last night when I checked the weather forecast for today, it looked like this:

I lied in bed wide awake as I anxiously tried to figure out a game plan for my longest long run. Once I finally had one, I got some shut eye and woke up to dark skies and a dead watch.

Almost an hour later, waiting for my watch to charge, I was finally out the door.

I ran 4.6 miles (sans iPod) around my neighborhood under foreshadowing rain clouds, though no precipitation.

Home, I changed into DriFit top #2 and headed to the WREC where I completed “Leg 2”.

Almost 11 miles under my feet, I was undoubtedly pink in the face, but my body was holding up fine.

At this point, it was pouring rain, but that wasn’t about to stop me. I layered up again and pushed out 3.8 final miles through downtown.

I pressed the neon button on my watch for the last time as I stopped at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change. My watch affirmed my effort today with: “way to get out there” and then congratulated me on an unexpected milestone.

I felt the corners of my mouth turn into a happy crescent as I walked the final block back to the WREC – wet droplets dripped from my black cap, my side ponytail a ratty mess, and every inch of fabric on my body ringing wet.

A PDR (personal distance record)… on a Sunday morning… in the pouring rain… by myself.

I had planned to run 13 miles today, but because I’m training for half-marathon no. 6 with no plan other than to #makeitcount, I did what SkinnyRunner would do, and just kept running… because I could.

I stopped at Starbucks on my way home for a venti iced coffee with soy milk. It’s only right to drink a large iced beverage when it’s 40F outside, you’re soaked to the bone and have white fingers. I think Miss Tina would agree at least ;) 

The best part about my necessary stop for coffee… the cute guy who told me I was hardcore as I stood there shivering. #crazyrunnergirl

Alright, time to eat again… someone make me stretch please!

Do you enjoy running in the rain?

What’s your PDR?

Hillary

The last day of Winter Break and I wake up before sunrise to tackle my longest long run.

I get excited because it isn’t raining momentarily.

I slip on layers of Nike DriFit,

fuel up with 1/2 banana + 1/2 Cappuccino Larabar,

and grab my $0.50 gloves and (not so cheap) watch… with a blank screen.

My watch – which I charge after every use – would be dead. #ofcourse

Off to run a half-marathon with me, myself & I…

Catch ya later!

HILLontherun

I realized the other day that this quite possibly could be my last school break ever. After May 20th, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer will not exist in my life. The real world will run on non-stop… or so I here.

With this realization, I’m soaking up my final days of my lonnggg break; in other words, double WREC days, chick flicks in bed, deep cleaning/reorganizing, pampering my training toes with a pedicure, etc.

Here are a few favorites from the past five weeks, in no particular order.

country music.

…specifically Sugarland, Lady Antebellum + Rascal Flatts.

the daily sprinkle.

Every morning I read The Daily Sprinkle via the sparkling and spunky, Syracuse-lovin’ Miss Katelyn. It’s like Positive Monday every day.

iced coffeeee.

Every morning, my dad would make an extra cup of fresh, drip coffee for me and stick in the fridge to chill so I could have iced coffee with my oats – thanks, Dad! #spoiled

the ocean.

If the Pacific Coast isn’t a place of peace, I don’t know where is.

training like a fool.

…with new gear courtesy of Santa Clause.

gluten-free breakfasts after long training runs.

reading this book.

Hope y’all are enjoying your wintery weekend.

Stay warm!

Hillary

Not having making time is one of the top reasons people skip out on daily physical activity. I get it… people are busy, but I still can’t entirely sympathize with those that use this excuse continually. I, on the hand, have the opposite problem and have been known to procrastinate my homework play at the WREC for hours.

With a new semester right around the corner, life is going to get a bit whole lot busier and going to the gym twice in one day (ahem, today) isn’t going to be practical… or necessary.

The fitness and health benefits of exercise aren’t only found from running 40-mile weeks. Quick ‘n’ dirty workouts — such as HIIT and cross-fit — are all the rage these days.

Here are few tips to get you moving in the middle of your busy schedule and #makeitcount.

Stay Single

Exercising with a friend can be fun and encouraging, though it can often be distracting. During the busy school and/or work week, set aside personal time to workout and save the chatty long runs for the weekends.

Plan Ahead

Before you get to the gym, have a plan of what you’re going to do while you’re there. If you’re unsure of what to do, browse a magazine or Pinterest for inspiration, write the workout on a notecard and slip it into your gym bag. Then You won’t waste time trying to think of what exercise to do next.

Speed It Up

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and the tabata method are proven methods of burning fat fast. If you want to get sweaty in a second, try one of my 6 HIIT treadmill workouts.

Break It Up

There’s no need to try to do a full-body workout every time you’re at the gym. Designate specific days to workout different muscle groups. This is also important in giving your body adequate rest and recovery time.

In addition to a blissful yoga class this afternoon and doing 2 sets of the Tone It Up Lean Arms routine (above), I tried the tabata treadmill workout that Tina posted yesterday, modifying it slightly.

I’ll admit I was bit nervous running at this speed, imagining another treadmill crash heaven forbid, but I enjoyed the speedy run and hope to find the courage to do it again.

What’s your secret to squeezing in regular exercise?

To a fit, fast and healthy January weekend (almost!),

Hillary

Of Possible Interest:

• 20 Tips to Speed Up Your Workout

• Tips for Training Indoors