5 MORE DAYS of my half marathon training! I am getting so anxious because I’m ready. I want to do it now. I go back and forth being be afraid I won’t finish to I’m ready to run a marathon.

When Hurricane Irene hit Virginia Beach, I was worried that the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon would be cancelled. There goes my half marathon training was my first thought. There was a tiny part of my that was thinking, hmmmm…..that wouldn’t be bad because I can’t fail if I don’t try. I know…totally the wrong attitude to have. But the show will go on….

Half Marathon Training Update

This week I’m taking it very easy with my half marathon training. The last thing I need is an injury.  Today I am going to take a walk. I want to get outside because it is beautiful outside, but I don’t want to run.

Working hard during my half marathon training.

My half marathon training schedule this week looks like this:

• Monday – 4 miles
• Tuesday – Off Day – Birthday
• Wednesday – 2 mile walk
• Thursday – EA SPORTS Active on Xbox Kinect
• Friday – Walk 2 miles & Ubisoft YourShape on Xbox Kinect
• Saturday – Off, drive to Virginia Beach; Pick up my racing packet.
• Sunday – Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach

Follow My Half Marathon Race

If you want to follow me live, I’ll be tweeting from @ScrappinMichele. I will also use the hashtag #momsrunning since that group of moms who run are so supportive.

I am using an iPhone app called PaceKeepr that will tweet out my progress automatically after every mile. I will tweet out pictures and a few personal updates along the way too.

Here is where you set up the auto tweets.

PaceKeepr will also help you keep your pace. I have no plans to keep up a pace for this race. My goal is to finish.

Pacekeepr will help you keep your pace too.

Let’s Talk About Half Marathon Training!

Were you nervous before your first half marathon? Is there anything you would have done different with your half marathon training?

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BlogHer

This year I have another reason…I have been chosen as one of 20 Challengers in the “Better for BlogHer” challenge with Healthy Choice.

Better for BlogHer 6 Week Challenge

For the next 6 weeks, I will be replacing one meal each day with a Healthy Choice meal. I have chosen to replace my lunch because most days I am so busy working that I don’t eat lunch. Then about 3 pm, I am famished and I scarf down anything I can find that is easy (and definitely not healthy).

Starting this past Monday, I have eaten a Healthy Choice meal each day for lunch and guess what?! I only need a small snack to hold me over until dinner. I have also noticed that I am not eating as big a dinner because I don’t feel as hungry.

Nutrition Expert, Tara Gidus

I will also have the opportunity to meet with nutrition expert, Tara Gidus for a nutritional consultation. I am really excited about this. I have been training to run a 1/2 marathon in October and the one part that I haven’t been doing very well on is the nutrition. I have a lot of questions for Tara!

Tara’s Healthy Eating Tips

Here are a few of Tara’s Healthy Eating tips that I am planning to follow:

1. Drink 8 glasses of water every day.
2. Use a smaller plate to eat my meals.
3. Track my daily calories.

Join me in getting Better for BlogHer. You can find some coupons for Healthy Choice meals at the Healthy Choice website. I will update my progress here each week.

Let’s Talk!

Are you going to BlogHer? Either way, join me for the 6 week challenge.

Disclosure: I received coupons from Healthy Choice to purchase the meals for free and I am receiving monetary compensation. All opinions are my own. I was eating Healthy Choice meals before I was chosen to participate in this challenge, so I am very comfortable endorsing this brand.

I'm Getting Better For BlogHer With Healthy Choice originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

My body really wants to run, but my mind keeps saying, “uh, can you really do it?” I haven’t convinced myself yet that I can and I know that until I believe it, it won’t be possible. Now, having said that, I really need to stop focusing on the 13.1 mile run. After 1 mile, I think “that would be 12.1 more miles to go.” After 2 miles “that would be 11.1 more miles to go.” I need to set smaller goals and forget about the 13.1 miles. It is 18 weeks from this Saturday. I have time to work towards that. AND, as I was talking to Fiona today I realized, I can walk 13.1 miles today. I know that I can do. It’s the running part that is tripping me up. So, why am I freaking out?

For me, visualization is HUGE. I need to see something to understand it.  That is my focus this week. To do what I can to get my mind and body in sync and on track.

Goals to Jump Mental Hurdle

These are the steps I’m going to take this week.

1. Put my training schedule on my calendar. Seeing it each day will make it real. It’ll be my appointment and I’ll work everything else around it!

2. Run 2 – 20 minute runs during the week and 1 30 minute run on Sunday. My goal is to do a 60 min long run in 3 weeks.

3. Put up some pictures of me running. This will help me visualize myself as a runner and remember who I’m active for….ME!

4. Start using running podcasts during my runs to take my mind off the run. (Fiona suggested the JogTunes Indie Podcast)

You will also no longer see the words, “training for half marathon” on my weekly recaps. I’m going to rename my training, ScrappinMichele’s Active Life Training. I’m training for life, not a half marathon.

I have decided to use my daughter’s dance time to run today. I usually sit in the waiting area and chat, but today, I will run at least 20 minutes. I’m going to go put my running clothes on right now (at 1:45 pm) because that way I’ll have no excuses… I’ll be ready!

3 Weeks to a 60 Minute Run

Fiona and I worked out this 3 week running training plan to get me to a 60 min long weekend run.

Week 1

• 2 – 20 min easy runs
• 1- 30 min weekend run

Week 2

• 2 – 20 to 30 min runs
• 1 – 40 min weekend run

Week 3

• 2 – 20 to 30 min runs
• 1 – 60 min weekend run

Let’s Talk!

What mental hurdles do you have when tackling a new fitness goal?

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Begin to Run Again to Jump My Mental Hurdle originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

OMG! Did I really put that up there? Am I really going to be a distance runner? Well, yes I am! I’m a little freaked out by seeing it in black and white. But let me step back for a quick moment and tell you how I got here (I’ll make it short).

I Hate Running!

All my life I’ve been asked if I am a runner because I have really muscular calves and my answer was always “NO WAY! I am NOT a runner.” I hate running! A few years ago I started on a journey to a healthy lifestyle that has taken me to places I never expected. Then I found the EA SPORTS Active fitness product for the Wii which led  to me running a 5k this past October with my 2 oldest kids. I loved it! That feeling I had at the end of the 5k when I knew I had accomplished something I thought I’d never do was AWESOME!!

Somewhere in the back of my head, I wanted more, but I was afraid to say it out loud.

I Love Running!

I’ve been sharing my new love of running with everyone who will listen to me, so when Fiona pointed out the Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon, I thought she was crazy! Me run a half marathon? Well, maybe! The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. Fiona Bryan (@BanteringBlonde) promised to run with me and train with me AND running at 10 pm in Disney and an after party at Epcot does sound like a lot of fun. So, the next phase of my healthy lifestyle journey has been set.

You Love Running!

Today, on MomActive we’ll be launching the first in a three part training series for people of all fitness levels. Even if you have never run before, you CAN run a half marathon. We have 5 1/2 months before the half marathon on October 2nd and we will be breaking up our training into smaller goals. We will offer nutrition and training information and supporting each other in our mutual goal of running a half marathon. If you are interested in joining us, be sure to sign up for the MomActive newsletter so you won’t miss out on all the fun.

MomActive

Today, Fiona and I will be announcing a new partnership to bring MomActive to a new level! In addition to the 3 part running series, we will join forces to offer support for our mutual goal of living a MomActive lifestyle. Whether you join us in running a half marathon, run a 5k or begin a new healthy lifestyle, we will off full support along the way.

Are you with us?

Shout it out loud here in the comments. Once you say it out loud, it becomes real. We will hold you accountable.

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I'm Going to Run the Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon and You Can Too originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

As many of you know, I was a 6 week challenger for the EA SPORTS Active More Workouts. One of the reasons, I love this product has a lot to do with the interaction EA SPORTS has with it’s customers. They listen to us, they talk with us, they support us, they motivate us. It’s quite obvious with this new 2.0 (working title) version of EA SPORTS Active, that they have been listening to their customers.

According to the EA SPORTS Active blog,

… the new fitness program will feature a wireless control system which will make it that much easier to get a great workout.

There will be leg and arm straps with motion sensors along with a heart rate monitor.

EA SPORTS Active Challenge 2.0 style

With any fitness product, I want to be challenged, supported, motivated and heard. The 2.0 version will include a 3 phase 9 week challenge along with an online community where we will track and share our fitness data. We will be able to support and motivate each other with workout groups and messaging. New workouts will be available for download to keep our workouts new and exciting. The EA SPORTS Active online hub will be the “one stop shop” for all our fitness needs.

I am so excited about this new version, although we won’t be able to get our hands on it until this Fall. EA SPORTS Active is keeping this geek fit and healthy. I have been the most successful in my healthy lifestyle efforts when I’ve had a support system and EA SPORTS Active 2.0 has added that key element to their interactive fitness product.

If you go to the EA SPORTS Active website, there is picture of the wireless arm/leg bands.

Have you tried either of the EA SPORTS Active Personal Trainer or More Workouts? Will you buy the new 2.0 version?

disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I wrote it because I am SUPER excited about this new 2.0 version and I’m sharing my joy!

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After the challenge, all 12 of us challengers met in Beverly Hills for a retreat and charity party. I had THE most AWESOME time. I loved meeting all of the challengers and the EA SPORTS Active folks. We stayed in the most glamorous hotel I’ve ever stayed. It was the SLS Beverly Hills hotel and words just can not describe what this hotel was like. You’ll have to check out my vlog post about the room.

I finally got to meet @Active_Girl (Kathryn Peck) in person and had the opportunity to meet with Gerard (@Active_Trainer) to discuss our personal goals both short and long term. He also answered a lot of our questions about the product and fitness. He was a wealth of information and made exercise sound like a lot of fun.

We all got celebrity makeovers and then had our “after” shots taken by a professional photographer by the pool (and it was about 75 degrees in January).

March of Dimes Charity Event

The highlight of the entire trip was going to a celebrity charity event hosted by Nancy O’Dell and sponsored by EA SPORTS Active. Nancy and her friends set up personalized workouts on the More Workouts and then signed a Wii. Those systems and games are currently being auctioned off at Charity Buzz. Be sure to check out the auctions. All the money raised goes for a very worthy charity, March of Dimes.

The trip would not be complete without a few dinners out with good friends and of course a 4.4 mile hike.

Sometimes the best way to tell you about a fantastic event is to show you. I created this (not so) short, but really fun video of our entire retreat. Enjoy!

disclosure: EA SPORTS Active sent me a copy of More Workouts to use in the 6 week challenge and paid for my entire trip to the retreat. All opinions are my own.

Ready for another challenge? Join me and EA SPORTS Active for a Couples Challenge. I need to get my hubby to complete either the 30 day or the 6 week challenge and there is my opportunity. Grab a partner and come along.

EA SPORTS Active Retreat Vlog & March of Dimes Charity Auction originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Image via Wikipedia

This past week I completed my 6 week challenge with the EA Sports Active More Workouts fitness product for the Wii. The challenge began the week before Thanksgiving and ran through New Year’s Eve. Talk about a challenge!! Last year during that same time period, I gained 10 lbs. This year in spite of 3 holidays, a trip with my husband, several holiday parties, lots of holiday cookies and a crazy chaotic schedule, I lost 6 lbs and 5.5 inches over the holidays. It was definitely due to the 6 week challenge. I am so excited and thrilled with the results I got.

I worked out at least 4 times per week and I watched what I was eating. I did not diet and I did not deprive myself when I was at parties or traveling. I really didn’t think it was possible to lose weight during the holidays and not feel deprived. I proved to myself that it is possible. Losing weight is always great, but I noticed a lot of other benefits from the 6 week challenge:

• I slept much better and I didn’t wake up feeling tired.
• Felt more energetic.
• My clothes fit much better.
• I wasn’t as hungry all the time and I craved more healthy foods.
• My family was more active this holiday season than in the past.

My final vlog post for my EA SPORTS Active 6 week challenge:

Now that the New Year is upon us, I am starting my 2nd round of the 6 week challenge and I am going to track all the foods that I eat and keep my calorie intake to no more than 1500 each day. I know with that combination, I’ll be back down to my desired weight in no time.

How did your 6 week challenge go? Tell me all about it!!

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We ate at Bazaar, a 4 star restaurant of the year here in our hotel last night. They brought out tray after tray of exotic foods with fascinating presentations and it never stopped. Just when you thought there couldn’t possible be any more food, they bring more out.

This whole meal took about 3 hours and they were bringing fancy trays out for the whole three hours. We started with appetizers and then moved to salad type of foods to meats and finally ended with desserts. Here are a few of the treats they brought out to us.

The table with tic tac toe pink lights

Mashed potatoes in an egg shell.

Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches

Deep fried chips with yogurt type dip

Cotton Candy with Duck Liver Salmon Eggs

Now before you all get excited thinking I turned exotic and I’m not eating fancy foods, WRONG! This is pretty much what I stuck with:

Basically fancy chicken nuggets

And the coolest thing of the night? The Magic Mojito.

The mojito tasted really yummy. It tasted like a regular mojito only frothier (is that a word?)

We wined and dined for 3 hours and then I was exhausted after a 6 hr flight from the East Coast and I crashed about 10pm in this room:

I am really having a blast and the weather is awesome. It’s 76 degrees here and 27 at home. Yes, I’m rubbing it in.

EA Sports Active Retreat Day 1 Overview originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.