March 2017 - A Numbers Game

Today marks day 127 of my current #runstreak. I've been on it since Thanksgiving. It started as a Runner's World challenge to run everyday between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. And it has stuck. So onward I roll with it.

March was a great month. I got a lot of miles in with my running. Still got some walking miles in. And was able to get in a few biking miles with my littles due to some nice days. I also kept up with my yoga practice, and hit the 6am class for CrossFit several times. I also doubled my stair climbing total for the year doing over 6000 steps this month, when January and February combined were just over 6000 steps. Still not my favorite exercise, but I know getting that in a couple times a month is good for me. To top it all off, I'm down almost 4 pounds. I'm attributing that to being on the new IDLife Nutrition supplements that I started taking. I more rested when I wake, and less tired in the afternoons. Plus their Grape Hydrate is a fantastic drink! Let me know if you want more info on that.

My March Madness

Grape Hydrate - My new FAV drink!

I'm still here, still at it, plugging away. I'm on day 117 of my current run streak. It is the longest one I've had so far. Not sure when I'll let it go, but I don't feel the need to any time soon. I've actually been feeling really great so far. I've been taking my IDLife Nutrition vitamins in the morning and afternoon, and just feel great. I love that they are custom to me. And that they are pharmaceutical grade, meaning they don't have all the junk and fillers that you'd find in the grocery store section. I like that I am taking them when my body will get the fullest use out of them. Did you know that you should be taking your Omegas in the evening? Yep. If you want to check out your HealthID Score, and see just what vitamins you should be taking too, head over to www.mrshart.idlife.com and click on the blue button in the top right corner. Fill out the 30ish questions, which your answers are HIPAA protected, and see what you should be taking. It's free, and takes just a few minutes. Let me know what you think!

My vitamin strip pack. They are labeled and easy to read. 

I'm also loving some of the additional products that IDLife offers, like the Hydrate in Grape. It tastes like a Grape Crush soda, but doesn't have any of the extra sugar or chemicals that a soda has. It works as a great pick-me-up in the afternoons, or just when I want something besides water to drink, but I don't want to fill my body with all the extra ick that comes with sugar drinks. And it has just 10 calories! I just mix it with a bottle of water when I'm on the go, or in my blender bottle when I'm at home. Quick and easy!

Grape Hydrate - Yum!

Check out the other flavors - Fruit Punch or Mango Passion, along with Grape, here
https://mrshart.idlife.com/shop/t/categories/hydrate

Let's Connect!

Facebook - www.facebook.com/RunningWithHart

Instagram - @Running_with_Hart   I post here most often!!

Twitter - @RunningWithHart

ID Life

Hey guys -

So along with stepping up my fitness this year, I'm also trying to improve my nutrition. I cut out extra processed sugar at the beginning of March, and while it has been hard, I feel good about it. I'm still eating fruit and things like crackers that I know contain sugar, but no candy, cookies, flavored coffee, etc. I'll slowly work on cutting out the sugar from other items like crackers, but I'm taking steps in the right direction, so I'm gonna call that a win.

I've also started to work with a nutrition company called Individually Designed Life or IDLife. They make a pharmaceutical grade line of daily vitamins that are customized to each person called IDNutrition. You fill out an online health survey that has been backed by nutrition science and is HIPAA compliant, and based on your answers, IDLife creates a daily strip of vitamins that you take morning and night. I'm pretty excited about this. No more taking "what I hope will work for me products" or products with fillers. These are high quality, good for you vitamins!

What the strip pack looks like

Taking the health assessment is easy and quick. You go to the IDLife website (www.mrshart.idlife.com) and click on the blue button in the top right that says 

"Take your FREE Assessment Now!"

The main IDLife website

Follow the instructions honestly, and see your health score, along with the suggested vitamins. 

Your Health Score will be shown in the blue circle

You also can click WHY? and see just why you should be taking what IDLife suggested. The report is printable and savable, and can be updated at any time as your health and needs change. It is that cool. I encourage everyone to take the Health Assessment just to see where they are at with their health.

  


IDLife also offers some great complimentary products like a protein shake for adults, or even one that is safe for kids! This is huge for me. My boys are active guys, and I want to be able to give them filling and healthy snacks that will keep them going all day long. There are also protein bars for adults, and again, protein bars for kids! The kid bars are nut free so they are safe to take to school. All the bars are Organic, Gluten Free, and Full of Fiber! And they taste great. Both of my boys really liked the Kid Bar.

The full line of kid products - My kids approve!

The Protein Bars - Yum!

There also products for keeping hydrated, sleeping, quick energy boost, skin care, pre & post workout, and more. Check out my for a full line of products.

Let's Connect!

Facebook - www.facebook.com/RunningWithHart

Instagram - @Running_with_Hart   I post here most often!!

Twitter - @RunningWithHart

February Twenty17 By The Numbers

Sometimes I get distracted by shiny things and forget to post here.
Sometimes I get busy with life and forget to post here.
Sometimes it is a combination of both.

Anyway, I wrapped up February feeling strong. These were the numbers.

 

My running goals were back on track. The walking and biking were up, and I'm adding more stair climbing each month. CrossFit was a little down due to the shoulder strand injury, but things feel good now and are back on track. Overall, I'd say it was a great month. 

Just an update

Since I had my shoulder mishap, I've still been keeping busy with my fitness. I'm running each and every day, and have a 90 day streak going right now. It has been beautiful weather the past 5 days, so I've tried to get outside as much as possible and enjoy the sunshine and soak up some vitamin B. Yesterday I even managed to find a trail and get a few miles in.

Running the trails - outside - in February!

I have been keeping up with my yoga practice, working in Vinyasa and Ashtanga classes. I am happy with the progress of my practice, and feel more flexible with each class. Head stands are becoming easier, and I feel more confident to try some of the bind-poses.

I did make it back to CrossFit this week after taking almost 3 weeks off. My husband was traveling for the first week, and then I hurt my shoulder early in the second week. While the shoulder is still tender and I'm taking it easy, I miss the early mornings and need to get back to it.

What kind of fitness have you been up to?

Head Stands and Shoulder Fails

Wednesday mornings are great. I look forward to them. Specifically, 9:30am when my Vinyasa yoga class starts. I love it so much that it has a standing place on my calendar. Like, I won't schedule a hair appointment on Wednesday mornings. I said I wasn't available that day to volunteer at school. My yoga time is special and valuable to me, and I guard it.

This past Wednesday was no different. I showed up, mat in arms, ready to find my zen. Candy, my yogi, got us going with our Sun Salutations and flowing, and I was feeling great. With about 15 minutes left in class she announced that we were going to spend the rest of time working on inversions, namely head and hand stands. I grinned, and got excited, as I have been wanting to improve my head stands.

We started on the wall, using it to over come our fear of going inverted. I felt great and got some head stands done on the wall. I chickened out on the hand stands, but did get a head stand from the crow position, off the wall.

Head Stands

Head Stand Hair

I ripped up the skin on my toes from doing so many stands

About 4pm I headed back to the gym with my littles for their afternoon class. While there, I thought I'd be a cool kid and work on my head stands a bit more. Turns out, I'm not that cool. I could get up on my head, and dork around a bit, but I always fell. Like, a lot.

Trying to do a lotus on the wall pose

Head Stand

Turns out that when you fall, you can sometimes land hard on your shoulder. Ask me how I know? Oh yeah. Cause I fell hard on my shoulder. It didn't hurt at the time, but about 35 minutes later it started to hurt. Driving wasn't fun. Trying to sleep wasn't fun. Waking up the next day was terrible. You can bet that I was googling why my shoulder hurt. After a day of normal use, it feels better, but I can tell it is going to be sore for a while. Which means no head stand practice for a while. Or CrossFit. Or heavy things. But hey, look at those head stands!

Race Recap - Chocolate Rush Half Marathon 2.4.2017

On Saturday, February 4, 2017 I was the 2:45 pacer for the Chocolate Rush half marathon in Olathe, KS. It was a cold day, 25* but felt more like 18*. It was gray and overcast and the sun was hiding. I had on four tops, two pairs of tights, gloves, and a hat. And that wasn't enough. The wind was bitter and biting, so back to the car I went to dig around and see what else I could find to put on. I ended up with a pink puffy vest, a warm head band, and a neck buff.

We lined up about 7:50am for the 8am start time. I ran into a few people I know in the running community, and several pacers that would also be out in the cold, guiding folks to finish the race.

Ready to go at the start line

SmartPacing team

The race started out well. I had a few folks with me, but after a couple miles they found their stride and pulled ahead of me. I came into a couple of ladies and ran with them for a mile or so. But they hadn't trained as well as they had hoped, and were unable to keep up with me. So on I went. I ran for the most part alone, lost in my head, and enjoying the beautiful Indian Creek Trail system that the race was on. I encouraged each racer I came in contact with, and said "Good morning" to several folks who were just out for their normal Saturday long run on the trails.

I did manage to get in a jump towards the end of the race, around the 11.5 mile mark.

Race Jumpin'

I finished the race right on pace at 2:44:26. I headed inside for some yummy chocolate fondue and fixings, and enjoyed chatted with a few other pacers, comparing our race experiences, talking about upcoming races, and just life in general.

Oh, and I took home this beauty, so yeah me. I think it is a fun medal, and I'm happy to add it to my collection.

Medal Monday

Lifetime half marathon number 53 is in the books.

Let's Connect!

Facebook - www.facebook.com/RunningWithHart

Instagram - @Running_with_Hart   I post here most often!!

Twitter - @RunningWithHart