Nutrition Nut on the Run

My Running Shoe Relationship

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Hi. Happy JULY!? Wait… June, where are you going? Don’t leave me. Oh, alright. Time to move on to a new month and new shoes!

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I got new running shoes for my birthday…. the only thing was that I had to wait two weeks until they arrived. I literally went to the local running outfitter every other day, checking to see if they had made their way in on that day’s shipment. It was as if I was a six year old, waiting for Christmas.

Alas, I got the call yesterday. My special-ordered Asics GT-2150’s – size 6.5 – were here!

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My camera had quite the crush on these hotties.

Alright, seriously… running shoes. Once I was asked, “What’s one item you wouldn’t want to live without?”. My response: “my running shoes”. Without getting all metaphorical and sentimental on you now, my running shoes are – without a doubt – my favorite pair(s) of shoes in my closet.

Since my junior year of high school [when my serious love affair with running began], I’ve had 6 pairs of real running shoes – ALL Asics. I started with the Cumulus model, and since retiring that pair, I’ve been wearing the GT-2100 series. I’d say we have a pretty strong relationship after 5 years pairs.

I’ve heard the rule of thumb is to buy a new pair of running shoes every 500 miles. I believe this to be a reasonable statement, yet I don’t think I’ve been following the rules:

2130’s #2 [left]: December 2008.

2140’s [middle]: June 2009.

2150’s [right]: June 2010.

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I easily run more than 500 miles a year. Look at that wear…

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… and tear! I over-pronate. Can’t ya tell?

The GT-2100 series is a structured cushioning shoe, designed for over-pronation. Perhaps this is we make a great match. I can’t imagine dating wearing anything else.

My 2150’s will run with me throughout my training for my 3rd half-marathon [October 17, 2010]. Ah, what a coincidence… my Nike Women’s race shoes are pink ; )

Speaking of my up-coming race, I created a NEW PAGE for my marathon training plan which officially begins July 17th. Stay tuned for my exact training schedule & race details…

It’s almost time for the SYTYCD results show. I hope ya’ll have a relaxing holiday weekend!

Hillary

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What type of shoes do you date?

How frequently do you ‘see’ other shoes — every 500 miles?

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College Lifestyles Post #5: A Greener Bag of Groceries

GIVEAWAY: Give Chobani A Chance

 

Running for Real

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I suppose one lazy day wasn’t so bad after all; my legs spit out a 62-minute run in the sun today – it felt glorious… really really glorious. Sometimes I get caught up being a gym rat – I l.o.v.e. the WREC [Wildcat Rec Center] – more importantly, I like the eye candy – but  my true hobby is running outside a la fresh air.

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Since moving last August, I haven’t practiced my true hobby as much as I would like to. I miss my running partners a lot, and a 20-year-old girl [woman?] running by herself in an unfamiliar area isn’t always the smartest activity; hence, my frequency at The Resort. I couldn’t resist the blue skies today though, so I laced up my running shoes and hit the pavement. I avoided looking a my watch. Instead, I paid attention to how my body felt, my thoughts, the songs that trickled in my ears via my iPod, and the busy Saturday morning [graduation] traffic. An hour passed perfectly – not too slow, not too fast. I polished off my cardiovascular exercise with 10 minutes of weights and then put my sluggish day behind me.

“Running is a mental exercise with physical benefits.”

This quote sums up my relationship with running in its eight-word entirety. I’m not going to lie, I heart my abs legs of steel, but the peace of mind is what drives me to put one foot in front of the other.

Oh yeah… and I also run so I can pile up my plate with real food.

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I finally roasted the bag of fingerlings I’d had in my cupboard for far too long with olive oil, whole garlic cloves, and fresh organic rosemary [35 minutes @ 375*]. I filled the rest of my plate to the brim with a pile of organic baby lettuce and avocado, olive oil & balsamic. Boring? Not exactly. Simple.

P.S. 0% Greek substitutes sour cream quite nicely.

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Why do you run… or not run?

Marathon Monday

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You learn something new every day. Sure, I might have learned a thing or two in Organic Chemistry at this morning’s lecture and about eggs this afternoon in Elementary Foods…but what I’m most excited about is finally getting clued in on Marathon Monday! As a runner, you’d think this would have been second knowledge, but I did not know that the Boston Marathon is the only marathon held on a Monday. Thus, the special weekday event is given a global title! Thank you, Skinny Runner, for finally filling me in : )

I am still in awe that the first man to cross the finish line today came in just a minute shy of my first half-marathon time – how is that humanly possible!?! I’d love to travel to Boston in April just to be a spectator of Marathon Monday – how fun and inspirational!

In honor of Running Tuesday Monday, I ran my own little ‘race’…against myself…on the treadmill:

6 min. @ 6.2mph

4 min. @ 6.6mph

6 min. @ 6.4mph

4 min. @ 6.8mph

[repeat entire set @ 2.0 incline]

Total: 40 min./4.3 mi.

+ abs, arms and leg conditioning – whoopie!

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My fresh food supply is just about extinct. I feel like I just made a big grocery trip, but alas…I’ll be hitting up TJ’s tomorrow. Almost zero produce and NO dairy – yikes! So, that meant slim pickings for dinner tonight. I almost always have a purple [tie–dye] box for such emergency purposes. I couldn’t resist this adorable box when I saw it at the store last Tuesday: organic, peace pasta. That says Hippy Hill all over it, can’t you see?

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Luckily I still had a bag of frozen peas to add color and avocado, cucumber & tomatoes to make a veggie parfait. Simple does it best!

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Any guesses at what tonight’s photography backdrop might have been?

…my jeans! I was going for the groovy theme : )

Trying to resist my after-dinner sweet tooth…

Peace + Love,

Hippy Hillary

QUESTION: What would you like to see on Nutrition Nut on the Run?

(a) more nutrition info.

(b) more daily eats & recipes

(c) other: ______

Silver Medal for Me

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Hey there!

Wow, I can’t believe there are just a few more minutes until we can turn the calendar to April 2010. This year isn’t taking it’s time…that’s for sure. Have any tricks up your sleeve for tomorrow? =]

Today California honored Cesar Chavez with a holiday. No school para me. I slept in way past my scheduled alarm, and then made a bowl of latte oatmeal:

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1 1/4 c. water

2/3 c. rolled oats

1/2 T instant espresso powder

1/2 T ground flax

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla

bittersweet chocolate chips, almonds & a splash of 1% milk

It gave me that little buzz I needed to get pumped up about my final workout of my Move It in March Challenge. My roommates and I decided on a spin class to take together. Usually we have to leave extra early in order to get a bike…but that wasn’t the case this afternoon. It seems as though everyone else was taking a vacation from exercise.

We warmed up by running 1/2 mile together around the track before the 30-minute class. Then I ran on the treadmill for another 20 afterwards [2.2 mi.] + 1/2 mile cool down around the track.

Move It In March Results

Days of Exercise: 24/31

Run: 14.0 hrs. [~91 miles]

Spin: 5.0 hrs.

Other: 4.25 hrs.

Looking at the results, I am pretty pleased with how much I moved. I am a little disappointed about the 7 rest days [1 entire week], but think that I worked pretty hard during the three weeks I did exercise. My goal was to move more during the month of March. I didn’t have anything to measure my results against, so that would be something I would change if I do such a challenge again. I am proud of myself for pushing myself to run faster, as that is something I haven’t concentrated on in the past; I have certainly witnessed my strength – especially in regards to speed – increase this past month.

Are you working on any fitness goals currently?

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An hour later, after picking up paperwork for a prospective new condo, I came home starving. Enter lunch:

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Wrap a la Homemade Hummus, Cucumber, Tomato & Baby Spinach

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0% Greek a la Homemade Granola & Strawberries

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…and cookies [x2].

Have you had Lu European Biscuits? They are a favorite of my family. We prefer the darkest of the dark, of course =]

After my late lunch, I got ready and joined the masses in the streets downtown “celebrating Cesar”. It felt odd lettin’ loose on a Wednesday afternoon, but what the heck. The rest was history…

SUNdays Are For Running

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I’ve been sitting here for far too long pondering about something profound to say – some interesting fact to enlighten you with, or topic to spark a conversation – yet, the thoughts aren’t flowing tonight. I’ve got writer’s block. I’m not inclined to write a sequential story of my day because if the idea of that is snore-inducing to me, than it most likely is to you too.

How about a recipe for perfect pumpkin pancakes then? I’ve been needing to use up the 30-oz. can of pumpkin I planned to use for pumpkin yogurt, so today I decided I would test out my roommate’s new waffle maker and make waffles for her + one other =] I easily found a simple recipe online, made a couple of adjustments, and voila…fluffy and moist Belgian pumpkin waffles.

I topped my waffle with 1/2 of a banana, walnuts and real maple syrup…although, a dollop of Greek yogurt and toasted pecans sound like another equally delicious accompaniment.

While my waffles digested, I finished up my Statistics assignments for the upcoming week, and then got on my gear for a run in the sun. My race is 1 week from today, so I made a longer run a high priority for the day. With blue, cloudless skies this wasn’t hard cross off my list. I felt a little sluggish for the first 20 minutes or so – perhaps it was Friday’s ice cream and cookies, Saturday’s 10 lb. Chipotle Burrito Bowl, and/or today’s initial meal of simple carbohydrates  – but I kept turning my iPod louder and louder, and finally got in the groove.

I ran for 62-minutes around the south part of town, near my complex. It isn’t the most scenic area, so a solo 62-minute run takes some true self-motivation. Not once did my legs hint at me that they were tired throughout my run. I felt like the Energizer Bunny, as if I could just run…and run…and run. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon sun. I had to get home to cram for my chemistry exam =[ I’m bummed…I even missed the Oscar entertainment tonight. Chemical reactions are clearly miniscule in life compared to which actress struts the best accessories, but life’s events aren’t always on the same schedule.

Hope you had a beautiful weekend wherever you are!

The Nutrition Nut — always running, or on the run.

Move It in March

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Happy MARCH!

Wow, Spring is just around the corner…20 days away, in fact! I think Spring is actually my least favorite of the four seasons, but if it means I am getting closer to completing another semester of college and never having to open my Organic Chemistry book again, then it couldn’t come sooner.

I always love it when the first day of month falls on a Monday because I use it as a marker to set new goals for myself. I already have a list of 10 goals I am aiming to accomplish in 2010, but I figured adding an extra challenge couldn’t hurt.

For the month of March, I want to challenge myself to MOVE as much as possible! I know I am already pretty good at fitting in my physical activity, but I think there is room for more. I’m young, healthy, and injury-free…why not? I will be recording my workouts – including the distance & duration – on my Running Page. Feel free to join me by moving your muscles more this month too!

My Monday schedule is tight – leaving very little time to exercise – but I did want to publicize that I had a glorious 50-minute run in the sunshine yesterday afternoon. I must get moving; after all, my race is two weeks away!

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Monday’s Munches

Breakfast was cold cereal.

Raisin Bran, Humboldt Honey Granola, Banana & Organic Almond Milk in every bite!

Today’s school snacks reminded me of a Harry & David Box:

raw veggies + dried apricots & dark chocolate almonds + 1/2 of a d’anjou pear

Annie’s Whole Wheat Shells (a first for me) & White Cheddar…with peas and real buttah.

Organic Romaine, Avocado, Cucumber, Carrot, Red Onion & Low-Fat Parmesan Ranch

It was a perfect medley. I’m a fan of the whole wheat pasta, too : )

[No, I didn’t eat in bed in case you were curious. It was just for photography sake.]

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Alright, well I bet 96% of you can guess where I’m rushing off to next: The Bachelor Finale – hello! Hope your month began on a bright note!

Hasta la proxima,

~ Hillary

If you missed the memo, my recipe is featured on Green Monster Movement!

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