Chicago Next Week

I am so excited to be in Chicago next week, I have been waiting for about 4 months to do this SFDC training and they have cancelled it 3 times in Atlanta. Lucky me they had it scheduled and confirmed in Chicago for next week and my boss thought it would be a great idea for me to attend! So travel arrangements are made and I am registered for this developer training which will weigh so much on my resume!

On top of that I get to be at my BFF's first Crit race which for me is a pretty big deal, I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving and even though I speak/text with her daily I miss her so very much. We will get a ride or two in and I will get to run in my favorite city :)

The food? I might have to behave as I have been doing Paleo and the results are unbelievable, the goal? my abs by June... I definitely see the difference and how I am getting leaner. This promises a long weekend trip with my Boo who is in the same path both displaying our new accomplishment. Hot pictures you ask? Most definitely, he's such a HOTTIE!

I am definitely going to enjoy my Chicago visit, besides Kosti is pregos and I will get to see her, her princey poo and her bump! I'll catch up with my friend Chris and I get to stay at Hotel 71 with amazing view of the city!

I can't wait to get there and run by the lake front, have a glass of wine with Shannon and just enjoy the city that I love with the company of my friends.

That's it for now!

CM

Challenge of the month!

So people on Twitter/Facebook have been doing monthly fitness challenges which is a great idea not only to motivate others but to keep yourself accountable. So I am stealing the idea and using it to keep me on my toes! I've been running but the last couple of weeks I have only done long runs and skipped most of my shorter weekly runs, so my March Running Challenge will be to run EVERY DAY at least a mile.

This is great to get you out there even if you are on a tight schedule and most likely once you are out there you will end up running more than just a mile. My friends who have done it got a lot faster with this challenge, I guess it works a bit like speed work (shorter/faster runs) so i am looking forward to this. 

My other March challenge is 100 Squats a day. I need to target specific areas of my body that will make me a stronger runner and this is definitely a good one... On top of making my behind nice and perky for bikini season.

On top of that I am focusing on a LEANER diet to get those abs out, AB RipperX 3 times a week, a few pole dancing classes and silks which should take care of the upper body strenght since I'm already in Level 2 (Climbing and out of the Hammock!).

Add to this a swim a week and maybe next month I will start cycling again... Oh lord, talk about packed schedule! The first few days of the month will be challenging, heading to California today for the IIN Mega Conference... This will definitely get me motivated but since its a Girls Trip, it will be hard to not fall of the wagon when it comes to going out for drinks and prioritizing my workouts. The up side to it? 100 squats and a mile run take very little time so at least with those two things I can keep me on track!

That's it for now, I will be posting some silks and pole pics when I come back from Cali!

XOXO
CM

This week...

This week Sophia is in FL, I drove half way (Daytona) to meet Michael as Sophia is on winter break. I use these breaks to kick my training up a notch and also for a very much needed "me" time. I officially start swimming again this week which means that I will be back in triathlon shape very soon!

I had frozen my gym membership because all I was doing is running but now that swimming is in the picture again I am joining the Y! On top of that lets add dating to the picture and talk about booked schedule. 

All I can say is that 2012 is looking EXTREMELY promising, so many things falling into place. I miss my monkey but I have to admit that this "me" break feels good. Now it's time to take advantage of the free time and go for a run!

See ya!
CM

It's been a while...

So I was sick with a cold for a couple of weeks which meant not running much and missing the Tybee Half Marathon. After a massive cold and a stomach bug I was just not in the best shape for a half so I decided to stay home and go for shorter runs to get back to it.

I had stopped running for 2 weeks to recover and boy did I feel it. The weekend of the half was my first attempt to run after a 2 week break and I was so glad I stayed. I went out to PTC to hit 8 miles and guess what, 4 was the most I was able to get in! The next day went back and did 6 but felt crappy and my runner's ego was shattered in tiny little pieces.

I easily freak out when things  like this happen, it's been such a struggle to bee consistently out there and it freaks me out whenever I stop because I fear so much to lose endurance or break my routine/motivation and not get it back.

Last weekend I did 12 miles, and even though I felt like I was dying I did it and accomplished the distance I was planning on logging in. The pace? not so great... but I'll take it! I still have a left over annoying cough and I am definitely not 100%

This upcoming weekend I am planning on running the February Half that I missed... hopefully it will go well and if not, even with a slow pace I will get some BLING!

Many other things are happening... Not running related and all great so I've been busy and excited :) Hopefully I will be writing about it soon but for now I won't blog about it, they deserve a whole post alone!

XOXO
CM
 

Fun Fun Weekend!

The highlight of my weekend was Cher's birthday celebration, oh my gosh, how much fun that was! Saturday night we headed to a BYOB private pole dancing session of 1 1/2 hrs for us girls and it was awesome, on top of a nice  workout! We had tons of fun dropping it like is hot and boy can I feel it today. After we headed to a PTC restaurant for dinner and drinks, where I carbed up for my 10 miler today and then Tavern on 74 for some dancing!

After getting home almost at 1 a.m. obviously I wasn't thrilled about waking up early this morning to go for a run but since I was a slacker this week it had to be done! I was sore from last night's class and dancing, and of course just tired due to the lack of sleep and alcohol intake (didn't drink too much but still). I met my friend Lacy at the PTC library and we started running together until I HAD to slow down and then she kept running and looping around me to make sure I wasn't dying, lol! And yes, she is that fast so while I ran 10 miles she probably did like 12 or 13, amazing! Love this girl :D

Though I was extremely tired throughout the run it feels so good to have done it so I am happy and feel accomplished. There was a lesson to learn though, I need to step up my game on millage during the week so these "long runs" on the weekends don't feel so hard. Soon these long runs will become longer so I can get in MARATHON mindset. Marathon training doesn't start yet, but if I prepare early it won't be so hard when the weather gets warmer.

That's about it for now!
XOXO
CM

Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

This was a new recipe and loved it, got it from a cooking magazine and it's only 230 calories per serving, so here it goes!

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 4 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (3 inch) stalk lemongrass, halved lengthwise
• 2 teaspoons of Thai chile pasta
• 3 cups Chicken stock
• 1 1/4 cups light coconut milk
• 4 teaspoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken breast
• 1/2 cup green onion strips
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Add oil to a pan and swirl to coat. Add mushrooms, peppers, ginger, garlic and lemongrass and cook for about 3 minutes. Add chile pasta and cook for another minute. Now add chicken stock, coconut milk, fish sauce and sugar and bring to a simmer.

Reduce heat to low now and simmer for 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook until it's thoroughly heated, discard lemongrass and top with onions, cilantro and lemon juice.

Absolutely yummy, and I would kick the spicy up a notch but that's just me ;)

Enjoy!

CM

Healthy Pancakes

This is one of my favorite recipes because it's unbelievably healthy and incredibly yummy, my daughter loves it and it's one of those comfort breakfasts that just makes you smile and sigh. This recipe is under 400 calories and if you want you can add dark chocolate chips and its still pretty good.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup steel cut oats
• 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese
• 1 cup egg whites (about 4 eggs)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Just throw all ingredients in the blender and mix for about 2 minutes, then cook on stove top on setting 6 for about 1 1/2 - 2 min each side max and voila! I add Grade A Maple Syrup and some berries and you have a super yummy and healthy breakfast.

Enjoy!

CM