Reflections

Here we are on the final day of 2014 and I am feeling very thoughtful of the year that has passed, and equally as excited for the new year ahead.  On my run this morning I had the coolest experience, a group of 5 deer ran across the road in front of me and I was the only one around to see it.  I got chills when I saw them do this and I found myself being so incredibly grateful that I made the choice to re-discover my passion for running this year.  When you spend time running out on the open road in the early mornings with barely a sole around you get the chance to experience some great moments.  So, that got me thinking then - what are my top moments of 2014?  I spent the rest of the run figuring that part out and wanted to share.

1.  Birth of Landon Travis McCurry on May 28th - we welcomed our second child into this world on May 28th of this year and what a great day that was.  The pregnancy was relatively easy, as was the delivery and we were so ready to meet our little man.  He came out with a head full of dark hair and looking just like his Daddy.  At 7 months old now, he is already pulling up and standing, crawling everywhere, smiling and laughing and desperately trying to keep up with his big brother.  

2.  Preston's 2nd Birthday - this boy has such an amazing smile, laugh and personality.  He was born on Halloween in 2012 and he really embraces the fun of that holiday into his personality.  Not only does he get to enjoy a birthday, but one on Halloween with candy and costumes!  At 2 years old he is a trip!  The things that come out of his mouth have Chad and I constantly laughing and sometimes puzzled at where he gets them.  

3.  Thunder Road Half Marathon - this day was special to me because it marked my return to the sport of running.  I had previously done this race 2x before in 2010 and 2011 and loved the course and the challenge of all the hills on it.  Haven taken a 3 year hiatus from running (to have our babies), I was thrilled to train and run in this race again and I set my sites high on bettering my previous PR from 2011.  I was able to do that by an over 10 minute PR and the feeling of that accomplishment was something I will never forget.  I look forward to many more races in my future.  I am working on finalizing my 2015 race calendar and will share soon.  

4.  Deciding to become an Online Fitness Coach - I made this life changing decision in July and am so grateful that I did because it has seriously brought me so much joy to help others reach their health and fitness goals.  I first decided to do it because I liked the idea of others joining me on my own personal journey back to health and fitness, and now I see the potential is so much greater than that.  It feels like this is what I was meant to do in my life in someway and I can't begin to express the joy I get when I hear from some of my challengers on their own victories.  Its an honor and a privilege to be able to do this and I look forward to helping many more.  

5.  Playing alongside my husband as he played his best round ever of golf - this summer I was able to play with Chad at Edgewater Country Club in Lancaster, SC one day where he played an amazing round of golf.  If you know Chad, you know how much he loves the game and how hard he was worked to improve at the sport in a very short time.  I admire his dedication and drive to improve and it has paid off in a big way for him.  It brought me great joy and pride to see him play so well that day and enjoy the fruits of his hard work.  I predict big things to come for him in the future with golf.

The year was filled with many more special moments, but these are the ones that rise to the top for me.  I would be remiss to say that while 2014 was a good year for our family, we also suffered an incredible loss with the passing of my father-in-law Fred McCurry Jr..  Fred lost his battle with lung cancer in late June and his loss is one that we feel daily.  I only got to know him for a few short years, but in that time I learned a lot about honor, loyalty and love for family.  I thank him every day for the example he was as a father to Chad because I know it has a lot to do with what an amazing father Chad is to our 2 boys. We love you and miss you daily Fred.

That's a wrap of 2014!  I look forward to what 2015 will bring and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!  Be blessed.

5 Favorite Foods for Runners

This week I’m sharing the 5 foods that I cannot do without.  I literally have each of these just about every day.   All of these are known to increase performance and are great for runners when trying to optimize their fuel intake. 

1.      Bananas are among the best pre-workout and pre-race foods for runners. Bananas are almost all carbohydrate. A large banana contains more than 30 grams of carbohydrate, just 1 gram of protein, and no fat whatsoever. Bananas are also extremely high in potassium (400 mg), which is lost in sweat during exercise. Their texture and taste make them easy to consume, and their natural outer layer make them easy and portable as a snack.  They are high in Potassium, B6, Magnesium and pack lots of energy. 

2.      Sweet Potatoes supply fuel for the body during a run, and can replace important minerals that are lost through sweat. The potassium and magnesium help prevent muscle cramps, and they are loaded with anti-inflammatory nutrients which greatly help runners avoid injuries.  They are a great source of Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, Carbohydrates, Vitamin C and Manganese

3.      Chicken is one of the leanest protein sources.  A single skinless chicken breast supplies 28 grams of protein with a mere 2.5 grams of fat. Chicken breasts are also easy to prepare in various ways.  I often prepare a batch of them on the weekends to keep on hand during the week for easy meal prep.

4.      Almond Butter has about the same amount of fat as peanut butter, but twice the monounsaturated fat which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.  It also packs more calcium and magnesium, which is a mineral that is important for muscle contraction.  Furthermore, it has three times more Vitamin E than peanut butter.

5.      Shakeology packs up to 18 grams of protein and vital complex carbs in every serving. Plus it delivers whole-food nutrition from some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet that are stocked with essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and more than 20 different antioxidants, enzymes and phytonutrients. A few ingredients in Shakeology that can help boost energy include:

a.      Chia meal (seed): Supports energy endurance with omega-3 and -6 fats, protein, fiber, and essential trace minerals. It helps support high-energy endurance.

b.      Maca Powder (root): Known for its ability to help increase stamina and energy levels.

c.       Holy Basil Powder (leaf): May act as a powerful promoter of energy and athletic performance.

GOTR 5K Race Recap

This past Saturday was a race day.  The Girls on the Run 5K in Huntersville, NC was not set up to be a competitive race (i.e. no chip timing) and it was all about the awesome organization that involves so many young girls who are just starting out running.  When we arrived, I was amazed to see just how many girls ages 8-13 were there for the event.  What a great opportunity to get girls interested in the sport at a young age.  

Saturday morning was misty and rainy and the forecast called for 50 degrees and 60%.  Not the ideal conditions but no need to let that stop us.  So the hubby and I made the trek up to Huntersville for the race where we met up with one of his co-workers and his wife.  The gun went off for the start of the race at 9:00am and I was stuck behind a bunch of people who were just about walking, so after doing some quick bobbing and weaving I swung out to the left side of the group and worked my way forward.  

Now...I know I said it was not supposed to be a competitive race...100% honesty here...I don't know how to run a race and not be competitive so I was going to give it my all.  My plan was to ease into the first mile at a targeted 8:00/mile pace and then after the big hill climb at the end of mile 1 start to let go on the downhill and get under 8:00/mile.  My ultimate goal was to finish under 25 minutes and prove to myself I could hold a less than 8:00/mile pace.  


There were some big hills on this course, the first of which came at the end of mile 1.  Once I crested the top of that hill, I started to let it go on the downhill and felt my speed kick in.  It was at about mile 1.5 that I realized I was in the lead pack and could potentially finish near the top...that was an exhilarating feeling.  No elite runners at this race to contend with, but the winners end up being some middle school track runners.  Mile 2 was great, and then came the big hill on mile 3 that took everything I had to keep moving and dig deep.  It was at least .50 mile steady climb and steep.  I kept moving though and ended up rounding the final turn and sprinted to the finish in 6th place.  After looking at my Garmin I quickly realized the course measured shorter (2.93 miles) so not a full 5K, which means I won't count it as a new PR but I was on pace to set one and that right there is my victory from the day.  Mile splits below.

Mile 1  8:01
Mile 2  7:51
Mile 3  7:35

Next goal is to run a 5K with a 7:45/mile pace average.  Ultimately, I want to break 20 minutes someday for this distance.  Shaun T says that Insanity Max 30 will make a 19 minute 5K possible - today was Day 1 of that program for me so we will test that theory :).  



Have a great week!

Top 10 Running Songs

It's race day tomorrow, so I've been doing a little fine tuning on my playlist.  Thought I would share my top running songs...I narrowed it down to my current Top 10 (knowing full well that will change by the next race).  

Fair Warning - my music taste spans across pop music to hip hop to hardcore rock music.  

1. Lose Yourself by Enimen - best song to start a race to in my opinion.  I like to start it playing while I'm waiting for the gun to go off, the intro is perfect for that time
2. Animals by Maroon 5 - very new song and one that I am seriously digging
3. Stronger by Kanye West - love the song, not necessarily the artist though :)
4. Black by Sevendust - ok, here is where my inner rocker chick starts to show...Sevendust is my favorite hard rock band ever (I've seen them live 4 times and they never disappoint)
5. Awake & Alive by Skillet - came across this band by accident 5 years ago and have adored them since
6. Dangerous (feat. Sam Martin) by David Guetta - great new song on the radio and awesome to run to
7. Turn Down for What by DJ Snake & Lil John - this song cracks me up because Preston used to bob his head whenever it came on...good song to keep you charged up during a run
8. Riot by Three Days Grace - love this band (seen them live 2x) and this by far is my favorite song.  The intro riff is unreal
9. Undressed by Kim Cesarion - another new song that is killer to run to, it came on at the right time during Thunder Road and helped me push at the end
10. All I Do is Win (feat. T-Pain) by DJ Khaled - great song to finish a race on

Happy Friday everyone!  Have a great weekend.

Recap & Preview, as well as 4 Random Things in Life

New week, new month...here we go!  

November Recap

This month flew by!  It seems like Halloween just happened, and then blink here went Thanksgiving.  All in all, it was a great month. I logged 99 miles running this past month and completed my 6th half marathon.  Thunder Road half was amazing and the culmination of all the hard work I had done leading into it really paid off.  You can read the full Race Recap here.  

December Preview

Here we are on the 1st day of a new month and its also a Monday, which I love.  Time to attack the monthly goals, which are:

1. Complete an un-assisted pull-up by Christmas
2. Finish my next 5k Race on Saturday, December 6th in under 25 minutes
3. Start Insanity Max 30 on December 8th - so excited for this journey to begin

"Four Things" Survey

This little survey is making its way around the blog world.  Enjoy!  

Four names that people call me other than my real name: 

1. Jibbles (this one started in elementary school when a classmate used to sing "Jibbles & Bits & Bits" to me and its stuck with my mom)
2. Allie (my maiden name, and a name I am still referred to often at work)
3. Mommy (no better name to be called in my opinion)
4. Baby (from my hubby..awww)

Four jobs I’ve had: 

1. Golf Cart & Club Cleaner (first job in high school working at a local country club cleaning members golf clubs)
2. Customer Service Associate (first job out of college working at a lighting supply company)
3. Marketing Manager (at my current company before I took the position in sales)
4. Business Development Manager (current job)

Four movies I’ve watched more than once: 

1. Grease
2. Dirty Dancing
3. Pretty Woman
4. Fast & Furious (all of them!)

Four books I’d recommend: 

1. The Secret
2. Good to Great
3. The Compound Effect
4. Failing Forward

Four places I’ve lived: 

1. Richton Park, Illinois
2. Brea, California
3. Farmington, Michigan
4. Charlotte, North Carolina

Four places I’ve visited: 

1. Toronto, Canada
2. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (on a cruise in high school)
3. The Big Island of Hawaii (my aunt & uncle live there)
4. Cabo San Lucas

Four places I’d rather be right now: 

1. With my husband on a golf course (that should bring a smile to his face)
2. Running a race (yes I'm addicted to running)
3. New York City to see the city dressed up for the holidays
4. On a beach with the family watching my boys experience the ocean

Four things I prefer not to eat: 

1. Cilantro 
2. Beets (I know they are a super food, but I just can't do it)
3. Liver
4. Greasy cheesey pizza (can't handle pizza with a puddle of grease on it)

Four of my favorite foods: 

1. Almond Butter (Justin's Vanilla flavored almond butter is the bomb!)
2. Sweet Potatoes (I am literally obsessed with all things sweet potatoes)
3. Greek Yogurt
4. Peanut Butter

Four TV shows I watch: 

1. Scandal
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Revenge
4. Master Chef

Four things I’m looking forward to this year: 

1. Seeing my boys faces on Christmas morning
2. Starting Insanity Max 30 to cross train
3. Seeing my husband graduate with his Graduate school degree (proud wife over here!)
4. Setting a new 10K PR and a new Half PR

Four things I’m always saying: 

1. Awesomesauce
2. Dig Deeper (especially on my speedwork and long runs)
3. Nice Touches (Preston sometimes needs this reminder when dealing with Landon or the dog)
4. I Love You (to my boys and my hubby - you can seriously never say it too much :))

Four people I tag to answer these questions: 

1. Chad from Flog McGolf
2. Jessica from Mustard & Bananas
3. Jennie-Laurie from Hopeful Fitness
4. Amanda from Some Maintenance Required