Half @ The Hamptons

On February 21st I ran my third half marathon. I had a thirteen mile training run scheduled for that day and thought running it with 1200 people would be more fun than by myself.

It was a cool and windy morning when we arrived, but the skies were blue and the sun was warm. I had planned to run an easy half just for the training, but I always seem to have a hard time "taking it easy". At the start of the race I thought I was following the 9 minute pacer but in reality I was behind the 8:30 pacer, oops!

After getting off of the beach and into the neighborhoods of Hampton the sun was shining and I actually had to ditch the hat and gloves. The final 4 miles of the course were down Route 1A in Hampton. If you are from the area you know how beautiful the last 4 miles were.

I went out at the 8:30 pace for the first half of the race but then eased back to a pace of 9:00 miles for the second half. Giving me a finishing time of 1:54:47 at a pace of 8:48 miles.

I'm planning on one more half before my marathon (Keybank Vermont Marathon on May 30th) and hoping to try for a PR in that race. For me the best part of the day wasn't the time on the clock but getting to enjoy the race on such a beautiful day. I also got to enjoy the day with a few of my local running buddies.

I'm heading out now to get in a nice easy 9 miles in this New England heatwave of 50 degrees in March. Have to take advantage before the weather changes like it always does in New England.

Vicky

Eating Healthy on a Budget

One of the most common excuses out there for not eating a healthy diet is that it is more expensive. Here is a great video from MSNBC with tips on how to eat healthy on a budget.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A few things to remember:

1. Buy Fruit and Veggies that are in Season - Here is a great website that list out the seasonal fruits and veggies by the month. Seasonal Fruits and Veggies
2. Purchase Fruits, Veggies and other Healthy Items in Bulk - The bags of oranges and apples are the grocery store cost less than buying the individual fruit.
3. Eat at Home - Preparing a meal at home with cost you a lot less than getting it at a restaurant and you can control the amount of fat and calories you put in the dish.
4. Leftovers - These are a wonder for you budget. Leftovers from the night before can save you a significant amount of money over a fast food drive-thru meal.
5. Protein - We all know that this can be the most expensive item we buy at the store. Stock up when it is on sale and freeze. Try buying a whole chicken which is cheaper than the boneless chicken breast and you can get multiple healthy meals out of it. The roast chicken one night, a chicken sandwich, and some chicken soup.
6. Buy Frozen - Frozen fruits and veggies are frozen at peck freshness and are significantly cheaper than their fresh counterpart.
7. Buy Large Containers Rather Than Individual - The large container of plain yogurt is cheaper than the individual containers of the flavored variety. Add a little frozen fruit and you have a cheaper and healthier option with less added sugar.
8. Plan Ahead & Make a Menu - The number one way to save on your grocery budget is to plan you meals ahead for the week. Then make your list for the store and stick to it.

Hope these types help you to eat healthy and slim down your waistline but not your wallet.

Vicky

Running w/ P90X??

I know many people out there wonder if you can do P90X with running, but most of all if P90X will improve your running. Here is my personal running story below.

I was a runner in high school and college. In high school I had a cross country 5k PR of 21:30. I have always thought of myself as a runner but after having my son and not taking time for myself I was up to a weight where my knees could not handle me running. I wanted to run because it has always been a time for me to be out and just de-stress from the day.

My husband had seen an infomercial for P90X but we were not ready to tackle P90X so we started with one of the less intense programs Power 90. After 90 days of Power 90 my weight was back down to a point that I could start to run. I completed another 90 days of power 90 with running 3 miles three times a week.

I was ready to tackle P90X and set a new running goal for myself. I signed up for the Big Lake Half Marathon in Alton, NH in May of 2008. At that point I had never run a race longer than a 5k (3.1 miles). That day was also the 90th day of P90X for me. I completed the full P90X program with running three days per week plus my long run on Sundays. When it came to race day my goal was to finish in a time under 2 hrs.

I went out in the race at a steady pace and I wasn't sure what to expect, I had never run a full 13 miles. The first 4 miles went by easily but at mile 4 began the steady up hill climb to mile 6. I surprised myself to find the strength in my legs and the stamina to actually pass people going up the hill. The second half of the course was flatter than the first but I did begin to feel the toll of the miles around mile 12. I was shocked to finish and find out my finishing time was a whole 7 minutes faster than my goal. I was able to completed the course in 1:52:34!!!

Since that first half marathon I have completed another at the Manchester City Marathon this past November in a PR of 1:49:46. I was also part of a 200 mile relay team that ran from Northern NH to the Coast of NH in just over 28 hrs. I completed a total of 17.5 miles over 3 legs at a pace of 8:04.

I am currently training for my first full marathon in Vermont on May 30th with the help of P90X. In my experience P90X with running is a great combination. Many times (I know this from experience) runners neglect to incorporate weight training with their running or only train their lower body. Weight training combined with the flexibility training of yoga and running is the ideal training recipe. Just remember to listen to your body for any signs of overtraining and take those rest days when needed.

If you have any questions about combining P90X with running just send me a message.

Should Women Do P90X?!?!?!?

A Girl's Guide to P90X
By Whitney Provost

Muscles are a girl's best friend. Not only do they raise your metabolism and help you burn more calories, they also keep you living strong. And they look beautiful. Well-sculpted shoulders and lean, tight legs carry clothes better and allow you to power through everyday activities with strength and stamina. How do you get a body like that? A program like P90X will do the trick.

I know this because I'm a P90X graduate. I can vouch for its muscle-sculpting, fat-blasting, and body-shrinking powers. Before I ever started working for Beachbody®, I finished two rounds of P90X and incorporated P90X Plus into my fitness routine. I still do P90X regularly, and Plyometrics is consistently in my cardio rotations.

I'm not a world-class athlete. I'm just a regular at-home fitness junkie. P90X has been helping me get the body I want—lean, tight, and strong but not bulky—and it makes me feel good.

Not sure if you're ready to tackle the X? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Do your best and forget the rest. You'll hear Tony say this a lot throughout P90X, and it's important advice. All you have to do is lift as much weight as you can, and that's it. You're not in competition with anyone else. Don't worry if you can only lift 5 pounds while the women in the workouts are hoisting 15. Every time you Push Play, you'll get stronger, and before you know it, you'll be able to lift heavier than you ever have before. And don't be surprised if you find that you can do a few pull-ups at the end of 90 days.

Eat enough. A common mistake many active women make is undereating. With a program as intense as P90X, it's important to fill your body with enough healthy fuel to power through your workouts and help your muscles recover afterward. If you don't eat enough, your metabolism will slow down and your body will burn muscle for energy. Follow the P90X nutrition plan and take your supplements. They're designed to help you get the best results.

Don't be a slave to the scale. During a program like P90X, your body will go through a lot of metabolic changes. At first, your muscles may retain water as they react to the shock of the workouts and the recovery afterward. You may notice your weight going up for a short time before your muscles shed the excess water. As you continue with the program, you'll be building muscle and shedding fat, but the scale might not move downward as much as you want it to. Don't let that deter you. A pound of muscle is denser than a pound of fat, so your body may shrink even if your weight doesn't change that much. Keep in mind that muscle is a metabolism booster, so the more you have the more calories and fat you'll burn all day long.

You're not going to get bulky. Look at the women in the P90X workouts. They're all lean, strong, and feminine. Because women don't have enough testosterone to build massive amounts of muscle, it's nearly impossible for them to bulk up by lifting heavy weights. When women complain about feeling bulky, it's usually because they're new to a fitness program and their muscles are retaining water. If this happens to you, don't give up. Stick with your meal plan and workouts, and soon the extra bulk will go away.

You're going to love the way you feel. OK, maybe not when you're sore from working out, but as you get stronger and leaner, you're going to love how easy everyday tasks become, like lifting heavy objects, walking up and down stairs, or picking up children. And I can pretty much guarantee that you'll find yourself admiring your shoulders in the mirror or poking yourself in the belly to feel your tight abs. I do it all the time.

If you still have questions if P90X would be the right program for you send me a message. I've completed P90X a total of 4 times and I'm getting ready to start it for a 5th on March 8th.

Vicky

Don't Feel Like Working Out....

I have had one of those weeks at work. I haven't been able to get out of work when I wanted too. I've had to take work home so I haven't gotten the amount of sleep I need. I have had too many other things thrown on my desk this week so I haven't been able to get my regular work done.

Today was the worst day of the week. It was actually nice out tonight and I wanted to get outside for my run, I dread having to run on the "dreadmill". Tonight, of course, I got out of work late and by the time I got home it was almost 6:30pm. I had a three mile run on the schedule and all I wanted to do was climb on the couch and nap. Instead I went right to my workout clothes and got changed and logged into WOWY.

I got on the dreadmill and still didn't want to do the three miles. I decided that I couldn't make the three miles any shorter but I could crank up the speed and intensity and get it done faster.

After 24:35 minutes I had covered my 3 miles tonight. Was it hard to do? Yes, but it was one heck of a workout and not the workout I thought I would have tonight on my way home. After the 3 miles I was dripping sweat, I felt like I could do anything, and my energy was thru the roof.

So next time that you think you don't have the energy or don't feel like getting in the workout. Just get dressed, wowy and push play you will probably amaze yourself.

Have you Committed?

Four weeks ago I post that I had committed to myself, my fitness and my running. I've officially registered for the VT Marathon on May 30th. I sat down and planned out the next 5 months of training. Now 4 weeks into my training commitment how are things going....

• I've gotten in all of my schedule runs and many of them there longer than what I originally scheduled


• I've gotten in all my weight routines


• I've gotten in all of my weekly yoga routines


• I've had trouble getting in my extra cardio for the week.... to be honest I've only got it in two of the four weeks


• I lost 8lbs total in the four weeks...

I've just committed to my workouts and the nutrition followed. There are still big improvements I need to make in my nutrition. There are also new things I need to learn since this is the first I'm I'll be regularly running at least 12 miles on Sundays.

Start with the workouts and the changes will start to happen in your nutrition. You can't fuel your body for intense workouts with junk food. You will start to look for that nutrition that you body needs. So get to the starting line and commit to yourself and your workouts!!! It is good for your body, your health and in turn good for your family.

The Importance of Yoga...

I know that most of you starting P90X do not want to do Yoga and it is one of the longest and hardest workouts of the week. Check out this interview with Tony to see why it is just so important.