2 Weeks Out!

My marathon is less than two weeks away! I can't believe it is so close! It feels like I just decided to start training yesterday. I am starting to get anxious and excited. The thought of the unknown is intimidating, but I know I am ready for this! 

Me with my favorite after run snack!

Since I only have two weeks left, my actual running has dropped significantly. I am focusing mainly on diet and stretching daily now. So today I have a few tips for preparing yourself for a race two weeks before. 

1. Relax 

Make sure to not get stressed out. (This has been the hardest thing for me to do) A few pre-race jitters are normal but don't allow yourself to lose sleep over it. Race day should be fun! 

2. Research 

Research where the start/finish line will be so on race day you will have nothing to be nervous about. Decide now when you are going to pick-up your packet. Besides your race, packet pick-up is the most important thing! 

3. Replay

Replay race day in your mind. Picture what you are going to wear, bring, eat. Don't forget to replay yourself crossing the finish line in your mind! 

What about you? Do you have any pre-race tips? 

Until next time, 

Janelle 

Marathon - 3 Weeks Away!

My marathon is less than a month away and last week I was blessed with a cold. I was tired, achy, stuffy, and I couldn't move without my head pounding. I took medicine and that helped some but I knew if my training was going to be effective I needed to do more than that. Here are some tips I have for training while sick. 

1. Listen to your body. 

If you have to cut back on your training do it.  

2. Focus on staying hydrated. 

Drink WATER.

3. Eat foods that give you energy.

I never have an appetite when I am sick so I focused on eating a lot of protein and vegetables. 

4. Go to bed early.

I seriously believe that the best thing you can do when you are sick is sleep!

I have a really hard time slacking on my training because I am so competitive. So when I was sick, it was really hard for me to cut back on my runs a little bit. I ended up running two miles less than I was planning on. This was very disappointing to me, but I was glad to get my long run out of the way. Now I know even if I am sick on the day of my marathon I will still be able to run it! 

This is about how I felt this week after training! This photo is courtesy of Pinterest. 

Until next time, 

Janelle 

Long runs!

I took some time off of work for Labor Day to get some work done around the house. It was a nice break but went by way too fast! I ended up doing a trial marathon run that was 18 miles. I surprised myself and woke up at 5:00 AM to go run! I did everything I am planning on doing for my actual marathon so I will be fully prepared. Here are a few tips I have.

1. Lay out everything the night before. 

2. Eat the same way the days leading up to your run the same way you will be eating for your marathon. (my big meal the day before was alfredo)

3. Get up the same time you will be getting up for your race. (I'm planning on getting up around 5:00 AM on race day)

4. Wear the same clothes you will be wearing on race day. 

5. Go to bed the same time the night before. 

The day before I ran my long run I found a fortune cookie on my counter top. When I opened the fortune it had the perfect note inside! 

My gear! 

My snacks. 

I am sure you get the point by now. Basically do everything exactly the same as you would on race day.

So I finally was able mark something off of my bucket list for the summer. I went to the drive-in for the first time! It was a perfect summer night and the experience was awesome! I only have one more item to check off my bucket list for this year and that is running a full marathon. I am so excited and I cannot wait to accomplish this! 

I hope you all have a great week! 

Until next time, 

Janelle 

Relax - 6 Weeks

Only 6 six weeks left and I spent my weekend relaxing and pretending it was fall! I did some yard work, baked pumpkin bread, went fall shopping, and drank pumpkin spice lattes! Can life get any better? 

My tip for you this week is to take time to relax. Even if you are just a few weeks away from running a marathon. Don't worry and enjoy the small things! 

Until next time, 

Janelle 

Marathon Training

With less than 7 weeks left until my marathon, you can imagine the excitement I am feeling! Nerves are beginning to set in and I am questioning all of the training I have done.

Literally every time I go to eat something I think "how will this effect my run today?" The hours I put into training make this emotionally and physically exhausting. So I begin to ask myself. "Why am I doing this?"

Here are my top 3 reasons for running a marathon.

1. Because I can. 

2. Because only 0.5% of Americans have ran one! 

3. Because I want to inspire others to pursue their goals.

I may have already mentioned this, but I feel it is very important to not lose sight of why I am running this marathon!

I am so incredibly blessed that God has given me the capability to physically run this race. Every day that I want to quit I remember this bible verse.

 

2 Timothy 4:7 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Ever wondered how someone looks after a 13 mile run? Well you don't have to anymore! Here I am after my 13 mile run last week. 

I actually was feeling pretty great after my ice bath! 

What about you? Do you have any races/goals coming up? 

Until next time,

Janelle 

Energy Bars

My favorite energy bars are homemade peanut butter chocolate. I have been making these for years. This recipe i got from my mom awhile back and lost it. I ended up making it from memory and in the process changed a few things! The good thing about them is you can make them in bulk and freeze them. They are the perfect on the go snack! 

Here is the recipe. You can add or substitute ingredients as you see fit!

1/2 cup butter 

1/4 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup peanut butter 

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups rice crispy cereal

2 cups oats

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1 cup chocolate for drizzling

1 tsp olive oil to mix with chocolate for drizzling. 

Place butter peanut butter and sugar in microwavable safe bowl. Heat just until melted. Stir mixture and add vanilla. Grind rice crispies oats and flax seed. Slowly add to butter mixture and mix thoroughly. Pat on greased cookie sheet until spread evenly. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate for one hour or until chocolate is set. Cut into bars and wrap individually. Can be frozen for longer storage. 

Everything ready to go! 

All the ground ingredients 

The butter mixture 

Mix it all together so it looks like this 

Pat into pan. I doubled it! 

All done! 

I hope you enjoy these delicious bars!

Until next time, 

Janelle 

Transformation Tuesday

Two years 

Two weddings 

So much has changed. 

You can just see how uncomfortable I was with myself in that first photo. I have come so far and I am so proud of myself. I never would have guessed that just two years later that girl would be two months away from running a marathon! I don't post this to rub my success in people's faces. I post this to show that there is hope. If you are struggling with self confidence or body image know you are not alone and you can overcome it! The first step is accepting yourself the way God made you. Focus on changing from the inside out and you will get there! Also,  find someone to talk to about your struggles. Everyone has something they are struggle with! 

I hope this is encouraging to those of you who are just beginning their journey to a healthier lifestyle. I'm always here to lend a listening ear! 

Until next time, 

Janelle