This is Everything You Need to Know About Working Out at Home From Someone Who Cut the Gym Membership 8 years Ago!

Have you ever kept a New Year's resolution? I've kept one that I can think of in my whole entire life and I know I've made far more than that! But I feel really good about the one that I kept, so I'm calling that long-term success! I was one of those people who flooded the gyms in January with a resolution to create new healthy habits. I had never really worked out before. I wasn't super athletic and I didn't do any sports outside of rec gymnastics for a handful of years at the Y when I was in elementary school. I was often last picked for any PE group and despite finishing in the top every year when I ran the mile for the presidential physical fitness challenge, no one really saw any athletic potential in me. So I just figured it wasn't important. Until I started getting older and I kept hearing how your body changes with age and I knew I needed to probably do something. So I joined a gym. Of course, I switched as soon as my free six-week trial was over and I tried another gym! But through it all, I remained consistent.
I gained confidence in what my body could do, and I genuinely felt better and stronger. I loved group fitness classes and I had a routine. That was until we moved. We didn't move far, but it didn't make sense to continue to drive out of my way for 25 minutes just to work out, so I switched gyms. The new gym was close to home, but it lacked those group fitness classes I really liked. I tried a multitude of things from specialty gym facilities to online programs, before I finally found something that worked for me; working out at home. I cut my gym membership eight years ago and I haven't looked back!
Here is everything you need to know about working out from home! I've got the good, the bad, and the ugly! Are you ready for it?

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Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training

High-intensity interval training, also known as HIIT, is a form of interval training that involves short intervals of maximum intensity cardio interspersed with longer intervals of low to moderate-intensity cardio. What makes high-intensity interval training different than regular interval training is that the maximum-intensity intervals are based on maximum effort, not a specific heart rate. Any type of cardio exercise can be used for a HIIT workout including running, swimming, walking, jumping rope or the use of equipment such as a treadmill, elliptical or stair-stepper. Want to know some of the benefits of high-intensity interval training? Read on!

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Healthy Homemade Greek Yogurt Fudge Pops

This post is sponsored by FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's no secret that I have a little bit of a sweet tooth, especially when it comes to frozen desserts. I can eat frozen treats all year round, but really do enjoy them when the weather starts to warm up. FAGE Total Plain Greek Yogurt gives these healthy homemade Greek yogurt fudge pops a little tart kick, which may just deter your little ones from stealing them from you. As I described it to my nieces who were eyeing them in my freezer, they have a more grown-up taste perfect for the sophisticated adult palette. 
These Greek yogurt fudge pops will feel like a decadent dessert but they aren't a cheat food at all! 

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Probiotic Foods or Supplements...which is better?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Activia Probiotic Yogurt. All opinions are 100% mine.

I consider myself to be fairly health conscious and do my best to take care of myself, but the older I get, the more I realize that there are things that I should be doing {after years of my dentist hounding me I am now flossing, so you can rest easy on that one!} that I'm not so that my body can be functioning properly. I want to make good choices that make the least disruption to my already over-booked lifestyle. If you are like me, you have heard about probiotics, but the word has gone in one ear and out the other. In case you missed it you can find out What the Heck Probiotics Are and Why You Should Care.

If you have even spent a second looking into probiotics or talked to your girlfriends about it, you may be confused about what is the best way is to add probiotic foods to your diet.  Is it better to consume probiotic Foods or Supplements? Let's take a look.

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What the Heck are Probiotics and Why Should I Care?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Activia Probiotic Yogurt. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've heard the word uttered through the years but pretty much ignored it. Probiotics...why should I care? And what the heck are they anyway? I'm a healthy active woman doing the best to take care of myself and my family, why do I need one more thing? As a mom, I do my best to juggle all the balls...to keep the kids schedules organized, to make healthy dinners, to get to the gym, to balance my work and my family time. Sometimes the idea of one more thing throws everything off balance. But isn't balance really what we are ultimately seeking?

Several different life events this year have made me feel like I may need more balance. Not only have I faced physical hurdles, I have also been dealing with negative self-talk I've had to overcome.  But I know that I'm strong and I can do hard things. I desire to live my best life and I can't do that with obstacles in my way, so I need to take charge. I need to hit reset and start fresh and that means that I may need to make some small changes for a better life. Instead of ignoring the word, let's dig in and see what the heck probiotics are why I should care about them.

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Pushing Reset With Jenny Craig

Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. -- Get serious about losing weight with Jenny Craig!



I stepped on the scale at a doctors appointment and audibly gasped. I'm sure it wasn't the first time that the nurse heard a patient question the accuracy of the scale. Weight has never really been an issue for me. If anything, I hovered around the lower end of normal. Last February I was involved in a fairly serious car accident. Accident related injuries turned into chronic pain that the doctors couldn't put their finger on. For months I bounced between specialists trying to find the cause of my pain while trying to find my new normal with physical limitations. Before the accident, I was very active. I ran often, did strength training and made it a point to hit the gym five days a week. For months after the accident I was struggling to find a new routine. The medication I was on made me exhausted and one of the side effects was weight gain. It should have been no surprise when that scale showed a weight I had never seen before outside of pregnancy. 
I ignored the number as it crept up. I had frequent doctors appointments and I figured it was the heavy clothes I was wearing as the weather started to turn. Plus, the scale was probably just not calibrated correctly. I mean, it gets used all the time right? Wrong. The third appointment at the third doctor's office in one week confirmed that I had indeed packed on some pounds. I'm not quite sure why I didn't notice. My jeans were tight and rarely could I have them buttoned. Ten pounds, that's how much weight I had gained in just a few months.

Ten pounds really isn't that much, but I'm getting older and my metabolism is slowing down and well, if it was ten pounds in just a few months, what if it was twenty pounds in a year, or fifty pounds in five years. I needed a reset. I needed to re-examine my activity level, figure out my portions and take off those pounds that were slowing me down. I didn't want to mess with any fad diet programs. I needed to get real results that were going to last. If you need a reset too, come see how the first two weeks have been on the Jenny Craig program.

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Therapeutic Heated Corn Bag Tutorial

About a month ago, I was in a pretty major car accident. I was rear ended from behind while I was stopped. Let me tell you, whiplash is a real thing and it's something I deal with on a daily basis.  For weeks, I ice and heat, heat and ice. I can't tell you how very thankful I am that I had some of my handmade therapeutic corn bags at home. They have been a lifesaver! But they aren't just for accident recovery! We tuck them into the bottom of the bed before we go to sleep at night, we snuggle up with them under a blanket when we can't seem to get warm, I use them under my bowl when I'm trying to raise my yeast rolls. Every single person in my family has one and all of us use them daily.

You may have seen these bags made with rice, I use corn. I think that it holds in the heat better and for much longer. You can also place these corn bags in the freezer. They stay cold just as well as they stay hot. 

These heated corn bags really are a family favorite and since my accident they have been a necessity. I can't wait to share the tutorial with you so that you can make your very own. Or, if making them isn't your thing, I have a great friend who has a small business and she makes them. You can find out how you can purchase a Hot Sack from her and her company.

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The 4 week water challenge. Does it really take 10 years off of your face?

I know I don't drink enough water. I know how important drinking water is, I just don't do it. I do sip on water throughout the day but my maximum intake is around 12 ounces of water per day. A far cry from what is recommended, though despite all of us knowing 8 by 8 {8 glasses of water by 8 pm}, water recommendations are no longer a one size fits all approach. WebMD has a recommendation of 1/2-1 ounce of water for every pound. I'm 108 pounds and live a fairly active lifestyle, so around 100 ounces is a pretty fair goal to shoot for.  A few years ago I had a pedicure at a spa {thank you groupon} and the esthetician told me that my skin was dry. I didn't think my skin was dry. It didn't feel cracked or flaking but she recommended that I drink more water.  She told me I could be dehydrated. I took note of it, but obviously didn't really change my habits.   I guess I sort of underplayed how important drinking water is for my overall health. For some reason, despite having seen this article before, I was inspired to drink more water and to start a little blog experiment.  I thought that I would document the process week by week and see if I saw results as drastic as she did. She really does look 10 years younger. I'm wondering if it will work for me.

source

I downloaded an app to my phone to help me keep track of my daily water intake. The author drank 3 liters of water, which is about 101 ounces, so I set my app to track what felt like an ocean of water every single day. I started on a Monday, so with no makeup on, I took a picture. Each Monday I logged my observations from the week and snapped a no makeup picture.  I do occasionally drink things other than water {usually coffee}, but those don't count towards my water goal. I'm sticking to logging strictly water only. So here we go me on day 1.

Come see what this journey was like for me and if I will keep on drinking 101 ounces of water every single day. Are you dying to see if I look 10 years younger just by changing this one habit?

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Should you join a gym? Pros and cons of gym membership

Almost exactly eight years ago I started hitting the gym as part of a rare new year's resolution that I had made. I was turning 30 and was done having kids and one of my older friends kept telling me how much your metabolism changes once you hit your 30's and lawd knows, I didn't need that catching up with me!

I've never been the most athletic person. I like being active and being outside but if you are playing a game, I don't blame you for picking me last. I had never stepped onto an elliptical before, never really used weights to work out with and outside of a PE class in high school where we did a Cindy Crawford workout video, I had never done a group fitness class ever.

But, with three small kids at home, my attempts at finding time to workout weren't working out, so I took advantage of the great deals in the new year and found a gym that offered a free three week trial. I got comfortable with the idea of going to the gym and then joined a different gym that was closer to my house that had everything that I needed.

If you are like millions of Americans who resolve to get healthy in the new year, I have a few thoughts if you are considering gym membership. It may save you a ton of money!

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The secret to keeping your New Year's Resolution

The secret to keeping your New Year's Resolution

Every January it's the same old thing. The gym that I frequent is always busy, the racks at the stores are full of workout gear and there are ads all over for weight loss this and diet secret that. 

I was one of those New Year's resolution makers that said I would start hitting the gym. I was 29...about to hit 30. I had three small kids at home and I was skinny but I wasn't fit. I had heard that your metabolism changes at 30. I had fears that my nightly bowl of ice cream and my dessert snacking were going to catch up with me, so I took advantage of one of those 3 weeks free gym trials and I started to work out. I switched gyms once I found out how much the fees were, but I did start a healthy habit that I have actually kept for eight years now.

But I must confess, I hate this time of year. I hate the people who show up at my gym and make me shift my normal routine. Faces I see for a few weeks before they drop off again. The workout clothes that get bought with good intentions, but that only get worn after February to run errands in.

Trust me. It's gotten harder and harder for me to sometimes find the time to fit workouts in, but I think I might have the secret for you so that you can keep your New Year's resolution to live a healthier lifestyle.

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My half marathon recap for team World Vision

I recently ran my fifth half marathon {13.1 miles} and have had some time to reflect on the experience.  I ran for the first time with Team World Vision and it was a great experience.  

After seeing first hand the work that World Vision is doing in subsaharan Africa for the kids and families there, I knew that I had to run.  Mentally, though, this was the toughest race I've done so far. I'm throwing down my thoughts on the Seattle Rock n Roll and all that training today.

©2015 Chris Huber/World Vision

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How to make your Fitbit step count more accurate

In January, I jumped on the Fitbit bandwagon. I didn't think I would love it as much as I do, but I really do love the accountability of it. I have that little black bracelet around my wrist every single day counting my steps and checking my dashboard. {haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet? Do it! You can find yours here}

Recently, I started running more as I trained for my fifth half marathon {this coming Saturday}.  I love my Garmin forerunner and wear it to keep track of my pace and my miles. I was noticing though that the miles I was running, weren't matching up with the miles my Fitbit said I was logging. Sometimes it was off by up to three miles, which translates to a lot of steps!

I know I'm not the only one who has had this problem, so I thought I would help you all out since I think I found the solution! This tutorial will help you calibrate your stride length and change it in your Fitbit dashboard.  Have a different fitness tracker? This tutorial will still help you get that step count more accurate.

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Am I the only one wearing workout clothes to actually work out in?

Now that the kids are back at school, I have gotten back into running errands. Sue me if those "errands" include a trip to Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Target. There are a few obvious themes this time of year. The most obvious one is getting back in shape and hitting the gym. There are racks full of work out gear front and center in every store it seems. I haven't bought any new workout gear in over a year and thought that it might be time to get a few new shirts, you know, while everything is on sale and all.  But then I was hit with the reality that I don't think that people are actually buying these workout clothes to wear to workout in.

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The Olympics are over. Now what? Ways to encourage teamwork and help inspire the whole family!

I spent a lot of hours with my kids watching the winter Olympics this year. My oldest son loved watching snowboarding, my younger son loved watching the freestyle skiing and my daughter was a big fan of the Olympics ice dancing. It was amazing to watch the athletes be able to compete at such a high level after years and years of training and practice. As a sports mom, I can only imagine the pride that those parents must have watching their children perform at the Olympic level. It's so many children's dreams! There were lots of lessons to be learned from the Olympics this year. Were you as touched as I was by the Canadian ski coach jumping in to provide a new ski for the Russian cross country skier so that he could finish the race after one of his skis broke?  This act of kindness allowed the athlete the opportunity to finish the race with dignity.

source

Or what about the Canadian skier who dedicated his win to his brother with cerebral palsy? The embrace after his win was a hug heard 'round the world. source The thing I love about the Olympics is that while there are lots of individuals, each with their own strengths and ambitions, they all come together as a team. In our house, we are a family of five. We have to work together as a team to accomplish even some of the smallest tasks. I should hope that as my children launch into this world that they have learned the skills to be team players in life. Having conversations about inspiration and teamwork don't have to stop happening just because the Olympics are over though.

My friends at Netflix have put together 15 movies and TV shows that your family can stream that will keep the Olympic spirit alive!

For your big kids:

1. The Short Game 2. The Kid 3. The Pistol 4. A Mile in His Shoes 5. Winning Favor

6. The Mighty Macs 7. Like Mike 2: Streetball 8. Air Bud: World Pup 9. Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch 10. Air Bud Spikes Back

For the little guys:

1. Super WHY!: The Tortoise and the Hare 2. Curious George: George Gets a Trophy 3. Bob the Builder: The Bobblesberg Winter Games 4. Angelina Ballerina: In the Wings 5. Caillou: Caillou Gets Active

I'm a big fan of documentary's. I'm anxious to stream the Netflix exclusive The Fabulous Ice Age the never before told history of figure skating. If you are having Olympic withdraws like our family is, these are a few options to help your family come together and inspire your children to be their best. ps-this is a sponsored post written by me as part of the Netflix stream team.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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My half marathon recap

On Sunday I ran my fourth half marathon. For those of you who aren't runners, that's 13.1 miles. Half way to crazy, but not all the way! If you have ever trained for a race, your life starts to get consumed with running. How many miles am I going to get in this week? What pace do I need to run this morning? Should I rest today or squeeze a run in? In August, my mind seemed to only be prepping for the race,  so I shared a week long series on running here at Holy Craft. You can see what gear I use here What training program I follow here My playlist here And a little bit of what kept me motivated here It's been our family tradition for the past two years to have a Teodoro Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving morning. Last year my cousin Angie had just started running and after the run we talked about running a half marathon the following year.  She was wanting a goal to work towards, and I was looking for a way to celebrate my 35th birthday.

 Angie started running

and was so good at it!

Most of the time she pushes a jogging stroller with two kids and her dog!

Now that is dedication!

Her sister in law Megan joined her on her runs three times a week and after I started working up my distance, I started joining them as well.

This is the three of us before the race.

And this is the three of us after.

Because of a knee injury, Megan wanted to run her own pace.

Angie and I ran together for the first 7 miles or so, 

that is, until I rolled my ankle and just couldn't seem to find it in me to pick up the pace.

The finish line for the 10k and the half are at the same spot.

You have to run past the 10k finish to continue on course.

About 1/4 mile before the 10k finish, I was running along and rolled my ankle.

Not sure how it happened, but it was enough to slow me down and play with my mind mentally.

I kept thinking I had every excuse to drop off at the finish, but I kept going.

We look more tired in this after picture!

I felt like I was slowing Angie down, and told her several times to keep going without me.

She started to pull away slowly around mile 7.

The final leg of the race is an out and back along the waterfront.

There are a few hills over overpasses that are long and steady.

Angie was just in front of me and so was the 1:50 pacer.

At mile 9.5 there is a turn around.

The first mile of the race we had torrential downpour with some thundershowers.

It was wet!

The roads were slick and as I went to round the corner to start heading back, I felt my legs go out from under me.

I slipped and fell flat on my face.

Literally.

I don't remember the last time I fell that hard.

Hard enough that I didn't get up right away.

 I literally just laid there.

Two women stopped behind me

{it's a tight turn and I blocked the way}

helped me up and told me I was bleeding on my face but just a little.

My elbow and my hand hurt worse and neither were bleeding,

so I carried on.

I was feeling spent around mile 10 and finally gave in and walked for about a tenth of a mile.

After my ankle roll and now my face plant, I was feeling like this whole run thing wasn't going my way.

I kept seeing the gap between me and the people I was running behind get bigger and racers started passing me.  I was starting to give up.

I walked another hill.

I trained for hills, and never walked the hill the two other times I have run this course.

And I finally pulled myself together and managed to push through...until I got to the next hill.

Thankfully, these ladies were at the top cheering me on.

Heidi has run the half a few times before with me and Alise was running her first 10k.

Both are friends from church and had finished their race and were waiting 

around to cheer me on at the finish.

I have never been more grateful to see them midway up the hill and it was my motivation to keep on running

and not walk that final hill before the finish.

I finished the race in 1:53:51.

7th in my age division and 24th overall.

Not too shabby for walking part of it, rolling an ankle and spending some time face down on the pavement!

Some things I think are worth mentioning after this race.

People cheering on the streets are angels from heaven.

I was so thankful to have strangers on the sidelines cheering me on.

If you can, be a spectator and cheer loud and hard for those runners.

Thank those who are working the race.

The volunteers are taking time out of their schedules to be there standing in the rain.

They don't have to be.

Make sure you say thank you.

Having a friend who has run the course and knows how hard the final hill is,

is the best motivator to keep you going when you are ready to quit!

I am thankful for friends that stuck around and pushed me to the end.

Know a friend running a race?

Spend some time on the sidelines cheering on their accomplishment.

After the race, I hit up the medical team for some bandaids and some ice. I asked for Vicodin but they were plum out.   My body is less sore from running and more sore from bumps and bruises this time around,  but I am so thankful that I stuck with it and finished the race, even when I was ready to quit. Now back to icing and elevating. And hibernating from running for the winter. The elliptical at the gym {complete with reality TV} is calling me name!

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Running week-running for a cause

This week, I have been focusing on running. Mostly because running is what seems to be consuming my every thought since I am knee deep in training for my fourth half marathon in September.

I've had a new focus with running the past few weeks though.

A few weeks ago, my friend Paula

{as in the Paula from the Pillowcase Project}

posted on her facebook page something about running to the White House.

It took me a second to realize that it was a virtual run, because, heck, Paula is like that.

She would totally lace up her sneakers and Forest Gump herself across the United States all in the name of raising awareness.  Especially for something like raising awareness for childhood cancer.

She invited me to join her in logging my running miles,

miles I was already logging because of training,

and running for a child who has cancer.

Unfortunately, it didn't take her long to pair me with not just one child with cancer, but two.

Over the course of the past few weeks, I have gotten to know a little bit more about Rylee and Kyler's stories, and have spent hours in prayer for them {and their families} as I run.

I want to take a second to introduce you to one of those kiddos that I am running for.

His name is Kyler.

Kyler is 3.

He is fighting leukemia for the second time in his short life.

He loves Pizza Hut, he misses his dog Max and when he grows up he wants to be Captain America. 

AND Thor.

Kyler has a big sister who is 9 and is still in their home state of Montana with her Dad and his baby sister is just 3 months old and is with Kyler and his mom Misty at the Seattle Children's Hospital.

It's been a tough road for this family the least I can do is pray for them and dedicate my runs to this brave little guy who is WAY stronger than I could ever imagine to be.

I hear the defeat in Misty's posts as she writes about another set back. I feel the anger at cancer as she deals with the effects of what it has done to her family. I can sense the anxiety as she waits for another treatment or another test. And I run. It's all I can do. It gives me a purpose and some mornings it's the only thing getting me out the door. If you are interested in learning more about this virtual run, you can visit their page on facebook. I love that I have had the opportunity to get a glimpse into these families. Do you run for a cause? Do you have a purpose for getting out there and logging miles? I would love to hear about it.

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Running week-training programs

This week, I have been focusing on a week of running with Holy Craft.

I'm a few weeks out from running my fourth half marathon and am now entering double digit long runs.

Running is usually more fun {for me at least}

if you have a goal like a race in mind.

So today, we will focus on training programs.

I started running when I turned 30.

I've never liked it, but I do it because I like being outside and walking is too slow.

Through the years, I've also had lots of friends who enjoy running and have encouraged me to enter races or to run with them.  Running socially is fun for me.  It makes me forget that I am doing something that I don't really like!

I didn't really train for my first 5k, but I did do a few training runs in preparation for my first running event.

Those seemed to help because I ended up taking third in my age division in the first 5k event I ever signed up for!

For those of you who aren't runners but want to be,

I have heard nothing but good things about the couch to 5K program.

If you are literally not doing any activity and want to start getting up and moving, this 9 week program seems to help a lot of people.

The training program that I loosely use for half marathon training is the Hal Higdon intermediate schedule.

Essentially the rules that I follow are that I count back the weeks before the race starting with the week prior to the race and have my long run be one mile less than the race day run.

So, if my race is on the 14th, I will run 12 miles on the 7th, 11 miles on the 1st, etc...

I continue to count back weeks and miles subtracting a mile on my long run each week.

I really start training when I am doing more than 5 miles on my long runs.

When I start my training, I try to run 3 days a week.

One of those days is a long run, the other two days are 5k's.

I'm hitting the gym two other days a week {usually doing the elliptical and weights} 

and taking two rest days.

Once I start adding distance, my long run becomes my short run and I do that until I start to hit around 7 miles.  Once I hit 7 miles on my long run, my two other days of running usually jump to around 5-6.5 miles each day.  

About a month before my race, I am usually running around 20-25 miles a week, and cross training two days a week with two rest days.

There are a lot of training programs that focus a lot on tempo runs and speedwork.

I find that to be too difficult for me when I just see the goal being to run.

But I've heard plenty of people tell me that if they are looking to increase their pace, focusing on those tempo runs is a great place to start.

I've also seen a lot of training plans that increase distance early on in the program.

I'm prone to knee injuries {plus also I hate running}, so I like to keep it simple and stick to my add a mile mentality.  It seems to work for me.

I've never trained for a full marathon, but I will add that from what I have read, most people find their lives consumed by the training for a full marathon.  

It requires hours of running several days a week.

Because of this, the half marathon entries are on the rise.

It's not a race that is easy to run without some training, but the training isn't all consuming.

The best race sign I have ever seen!

The final thing that I want to mention is that I don't enter a lot of races.

I know of a lot of people who enter races nearly every weekend.

I get quite turned off by the fee that it costs to run.

I do enjoy the spirit of the race, the comradery on race day and the support of those spectators, however, 

that comes at a cost.  Depending on when you sign up some races can cost upwards of $100 or more!

Those runs can add up!

So that's how I train.

How do you prepare for a race?

Do you sign up for a race every week?

Every month?

Every year?

I'm interested to hear!

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The Best Gear for Running

Yesterday, I started my series called Running with Holy Craft.

I'm knee deep in training for my 4th half marathon in September to celebrate turning 35.

I'm starting to think the only thing I'm going to be celebrating is that fact that I won't have to run anymore!

But that is neither here nor there.

Today, I'm going to be focusing on gear.

Everyone always says that running is an activity that doesn't require special equipment.

That's a lie.

Sure, you can get by with a pair of running shoes, but if you are serious about training for anything, or for running for a hobby, then there is a laundry list of things that you will need.

Shoes

Almost everyone I know owns a pair of sneakers.

But are your sneakers the best fit for your foot?

Are your shoes old and breaking down?

Running in old worn-out shoes or ill-fitting running shoes is the leading cause of injuries in runners.

Over time, your shoes lose shock absorption, cushioning and stability, which increases the stress and impact on your legs and joints.  Most often leading to overuse injuries.

A good rule of thumb is to replace your running shoes every 300-400 miles.

Depending on how often you are running, this could mean that you are replacing your shoes every 2-3 months!  

This is hard because your shoes probably won't look worn out.

But believe me, after having foot problems, it's worth taking care of your feet and getting the right shoe.

Socks

Running in the Pacific Northwest usually means runs in the rain.

And if you are running long distances, your feet get sweaty.

Combine the two and you have the perfect storm for getting blisters and losing toenails!

I lost a toenail after my first half marathon because during the run it sprinkled the whole time.

Sloshing in puddles got water in my shoes and my socks were cheap Target brand socks.

I invest in good socks. They make a difference. This is my favorite and they last for years!

And since switching, I haven't lost a toenail yet!

Garmin Forerunner

I've talked before about how much I love my Garmin Forerunner.

I'm not very good at pacing myself so having something that can tell me my pace at a glance and something that keeps my distance and time close at hand is a winner in my book.

I've also been using it recently to tell the % grade of hills that I run.

Mostly gee wiz information, but information all the same.

ID

I shared with you last month my latest running accessory, but it's worth sharing again in case you missed it.

The Road ID slim band is a band that I run with that has all of my pertinent information on it.

I run a lot of roads now, and if something happened to me, no one would know what to do with me or how to contact someone that I loved.

I have my name, our house phone number, my husband's name and cell phone number, our insurance number and a little scripture verse that keeps me motivated {Isaiah 40:31}

Body Glide Once I started running more than 6 miles at a time, I brake out my tube of body glide. I usually chafe right under my armpits and I rub this stuff on like deodorant. It costs around $7 and is worth every penny. Especially since it lasts forever. People use it on their feet, their thighs, pretty much anywhere there will be rubbing while you exercise. Clothing
There really isn't anything special about my workout clothing. I like Capri length workout pants. The Lucy brand is one of my favorites, but the ones pictured by eco yoga is my other favorite. I bought them at TJ Maxx and haven't been able to replace them. I've tried compression pants {by Lucy} but haven't noticed a difference in my running other than the fact that they are tighter and make it hard to breathe! Some people swear by them. After a week of being down on running, I decided to take one of my plain T's and spruce it up a bit. I cut out "Running Sucks" on my Silhouette with heat transfer paper and ironed it on. Sort of sums up how I feel about running right now.

Another one of my favorite workout outfits is this tank from Reebok 

{purchased at a garage sale for $2}

and these Gap body yoga shorts.

And apparently, you have to stand with your hands on 

your hips when wearing said workout attire.

And also, my legs are darn white!

I like a tank top because my pits sweat, and I get hot.

TMI? Whatevs.

This tank has vents down the sides and a pocket in the back.

Perfect for putting my keys in when I have to drive somewhere to run.

The difference in the shirts is that the top one is cotton {wouldn't wear it on a long run because of chafing}

and the bottom one is something magical that is made for running.

I don't know the term.  Poly something I'm sure.

Not hard to find, and makes for a comfy run.

If you notice, I also have my hair in a ponytail.

I use the Goody Stay Tight hair elastics.

They are the best for keeping your hair pulled back and they never break!

And I always work out with a hot mess headband. My version of the sweaty bands, but WAY cheaper! These headbands stay in place, don't slip or need to be readjusted and catch sweat. They are awesome! You can find my tutorial for them here. So that's my gear. So much for just lacing up an old pair of sneakers and running! Do you have any gear that you swear by for running?
I would love to hear about it.

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