The FIREWORKout!

New Year's Eve is a time for celebration, champagne, friends, and sparkly things. All things I dig.

You can't tell, but I'm actually kneeling. 

I've always loved New Year's Eve (I really wanted to get married on the date but got denied because Carter didn't want to share our future anniversaries with everyone... what a jerk) and the beginning of a new year. There's something refreshing about it- a new start for many. Inspired by fresh starts and all things fabulous, here's the FIREWORKout!

You'll have 8 stations for this workout, and it will take you about 30 minutes to complete. Each station you will complete 20 seconds of HARD WORK and 10 seconds REST. Repeat this FIVE times!

STATION 1: JUMP ROPE
Your goal for the jump rope is to go as fast as you can for 20 seconds and slow down for 10 seconds. Repeat.

STATION 2: BOX JUMPS

Option 1: Box Jumps using Steps or a Box in the gym

Often, steps go unused in a gym. USE THEM! This is a killer lower body workout that doubles and a super intense cardio workout. Begin in a squat position. Using your arms, jump as high as you can onto the step (make sure both of your feet land on top of the bench- not to the side) and land in a squat. Jump backwards and land on the floor in a squat. Repeat. Don't be afraid to GRUNT! You might need to :)

Option 2: Stair Jumps using the stairs in your house

*Be careful with these! The stair jumps are used if you are working out at home. Be aware that if you don't clear the stair, you will fall forward! Aim for a challenging height to jump but be reasonable. You want to land in a squat both on the stairs and on the ground.

STATION 3: CLOSE-GRIP PLANK ON MEDICINE BALL
Using a medicine ball (or any weighted ball- a highly inflated basketball or soccer ball would work, too), place hands on ball and move feet back into a plank position. Hold! This is an advanced move for two reasons: 1) it is a close-grip plank and 2) we have added a level of instability because you must balance the ball.

STATION 4: OBLIQUE TWIST + PRETEND PASS WITH MEDICINE BALL
Sit on the floor with your knees slightly bent. If you don't have a medicine ball, you can use anything that is 2-5lbs (a can of soup, a dumbbell, cantaloupe, squash) or you don't have to use anything at all. Twist right. As you come back to the middle, pretend you are about to pass the ball to someone directly in front of you. Twist left and repeat.

STATION 5: CLOCK PUSH UPS
Begin with right hand in a 12 o'clock position and your left hand in a 9 o'clock position. Complete one push up. Move your left hand to a 10 o'clock position. Push up. Move your left hand to an 11 o'clock position. Push up. Both hands are now at 12 o'clock. Push up. Move your right hand to a 1 o'clock. Push up. Right hand to 2 o'clock, push up. Right hand at 3 o'clock, push up. Repeat going the other way!

STATION 6: PLANK JUMPING JACKS

20 seconds ON 10 seconds OFF times FIVE

STATION 7: HOPPING FIGURE EIGHTS
Your feet stay together for this exercise. Complete a figure 8 motion with your feet, going as fast as you can. Repeat. 

STATION 8: DOUBLE WHAMMY LUNGE + SQUAT
This move is AWESOME! I got it from Booty Camp Fitness. Begin in a lunge with your right foot forward and jump directly into a squat. Jump into a lunge with your left foot forward, then jump into a squat. Repeat!

Woooooo!!! This workout rocks and remember- you can do ANYTHING for 20 seconds, and this will only take you 30 minutes. No excuses as we hit 2012!!!!

4- Ingredient Butternut Squash Soup!

Warning: If you make this, you WILL be asked to make it for every future occasion. Don't say I didn't warn you.

What's everyone else having?

This is my FAVOURITE soup of all time, and the beauty of it is- you can change it up! Take the 4 main ingredients and add sweet potatoes, turnip, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, apples, or any other crazy ingredient to the soup and it becomes a forever experiment.

You'll need:

2 medium butternut squash
1 carton of vegetable or chicken stock (depending on how you'd like to taste, you can also add one Oxo cube)
1 medium sized onion
Your favourite cold-pressed oil (Olive, Avocado, etc.)
Some kind of food processor or blender

The biggest thing about this soup is the TIME it takes. It's really not difficult, but it will take you about an hour in total (but 45-50 minutes of that is letting the squash cook).

Set oven to 400 degrees. Cut squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Place on non-stick baking dish and drizzle with oil. Bake for 30 minutes. In the meantime, cut onion into small pieces. After 30 minutes is up, turn the squash over and cook for another 10 minutes. Flip right side up one more time, placing the onions in the place where the seeds were and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for another 10-15 minutes.

You should be able to easily put a knife through the squash. If you can't, cook it longer!

Remove squash from oven and let cool. Using a spoon or knife, scoop the flesh of the squash and onions into a large pot. This is the most annoying part of the whole process- it is much easier if the squash is super soft.

Add vegetable or chicken stock (and optional Oxo cube) and simmer on low for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer into food processor until you reach your desired consistency.

I was lucky enough to WIN this amazing food processor- my first one! From Happy or Hungry!!!!!

Background images include icing and wine. Natch.  

Place soup back on stovetop and simmer, covered, for 5-10 minutes on low.

Serve with cracked pepper and a dash of salt. If you want to get fancy, drizzle 5% cream or even a bit of greek yogurt into each bowl.

Voila! This is an amazing soup to have over the holidays that is filling and deliciously good for you, your kids, even babies! It freezes well too. Clean eating at it's finest!

Do you have a favourite feel-good winter soup?

Vixen's Workout

Move over, Rudolph. Who wants a red nose, anyway? Comet is too busy with stars, Dancer is an attention-whore, Prancer complains too much. And don't even get me started on Blitzen.

I'd rather be Vixen; the sexy and strong reindeer- who gets in trouble with Santa for drinking too much.

Mmmmmm hmmmm.

Wouldn't you, too if you had to carry the Old Man and his gazillion gifts around the world? Vixen's a fighter. A all-around badass mofo.

My kind of reindeer.

Vixen's Workout consists of functional training, like horsebacking your friends at a holiday party.

You'll need 40 minutes for this workout, a bit of space, and a medicine ball (or something with elevation for one of the exercises). This is a Tabata Workout- which means you work for 20 seconds as hard as you can and then rest for 10. We'll alternate between 2 different exercises, and do each exercise 5 TIMES. Then move to the next station.

STATION 1: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- Reindeer Antlers 
Reindeer Antlers are High and Wide- your goal for this exercise. Begin with both your feet side by side. Step or hop to your right, bending your knees and touching the ground with your right hand to the outside of your right foot. Lift your right hand high into the air. Jump to the left and repeat.

EXERCISE 2- Jump Lunge + Knee 
Begin in a lunge position. Bring your back knee to your chest, place back in lunge position, jump up into the air and switch the position of your feet (landing in lunge position). Repeat by bringing the back knee to the chest and jump lunging again.

STATION 2: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- Reach the Sky Sit Ups
Begin in a sit up position. Lift your shoulderblades off the ground into a crunch. Once there, reach your right arm to the ceiling in a punching motion. Go back down to the floor. Repeat with left arm. For a more advanced option, keep shoulderblades off the ground at all times and repeat right and left without lowering in between.

EXERCISE 2- Elevated Plank + Knee Kick
Use a medicine ball or something equally elevated (the medicine ball adds a dimension of difficulty. To lower difficulty, use something solid that does not move). Place your right hand on the ball, left hand on the floor. Bring your left knee to your chest and immediately kick behind you, staying in plank position throughout the exercise.

STATION 3: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- Reindeer Hops
Begin standing, bringing your hands to the ground (bending your knees). Your feet will be slightly behind your hands, wider than shoulder-width apart. Jump back to a plank position. Jump as far as you can towards your hands, landing wider than shoulder width apart. Repeat.

EXERCISE 2- Stationary Dips
Begin with your hands and feet on the ground (fingertips facing your feet), belly-up. Lift your hips as high as you can (the higher the hips, the more advanced the movement). Bend your elbows behind you and straighten your arms. Repeat.

STATION 4: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- Scampering Reindeer Hooves
Get Santa off the ground ASAP! Your goal is to move as fast as you can through this shuffle move- switch left and right, keeping your opposite arm forward like you are cross country skiing on the spot.

EXERCISE 2- Standing Pendulums
Begin standing in a standing position. Swing your right leg up as high as you can to your right. Use momentum and bring down to the ground, lifting your left leg simultaneously. For a more advanced option, move faster!

STATION 5: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- Sitting Plank Push
Begin with your hands behind you, sitting down, leaning back (your spine is strong and straight). Lift your feet off the ground so that your KNEES are in line with your HIPS. Push your feet in front of you and bring your knees back to starting position. For an advanced option, take your hands off the ground.

EXERCISE 2- Burpee Jumping Jacks
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Jump up into the air, land and bend your knees to bring your hands down to the ground. Jump your feet back to plank position, jump your feet wide (like a jumping jack), then bring your feet back to plank position. Jump feet towards your hands and repeat.

STATION 6: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Alternate between both exercises, 5 times each.

EXERCISE 1- 4 Mountain Climbers + 1 Push Up
Try this killer combo- complete 4 mountain climbers and 1 push up. Repeat.

EXERCISE 2- Standing Santa Kicks
Start in a standing position. With a slight lean back, lift your knee to your hip, and extend straight out in front of you, as if you are closing a door in front of you (strike with the bottom of your foot). It is important that you keep a continual bend in your knee to avoid hyperextension. Repeat other side.

If you got to the end of this and thought, "Yeah right"- remember, you're only working for 20 SECONDS at a time, and ALTERNATING between the two exercises at each station. You can DO IT!!!! Santa would want you to. And if you're mad, blame Vixen.

Don't hate.

Gaiam Contest- WIN the Gift of Unlimited Yoga and Fitness Videos!

Recall that I used to barely be able to touch my toes, let alone my knees. I stayed far away from yoga as an athlete because I thought it wouldn't help me (truth: I was terrified). I went a few times and absolutely hated it- and finally found a style and teacher that really worked for me. As you can tell, I've been hooked ever since.

Unfortunately, my amazing yoga teacher is not available at my beck and call whenever I feel like a good workout (it's not cool to call your yoga teacher at home, get nervous, and hang up). I'd try to remember her classes and do my best at using them throughout the week- but someone with zero attention span trying to do her own personal practice? It was hard. I work better when I have a set plan to follow.

Otherwise, this happens. 

When Gaiam TV contacted me last week and told me about their amazing site- unlimited streaming video (with thousands of options to choose from!)- I immediately got excited.

Naturally, I figured they were going to ask me to do a video for them.

Then I saw the line up of celebs on Gaiam TV: Jillian Michaels, Mari Winsor, and my personal yoga faves Seane Corne, Kathryn Budig, and Rodney Yee, and I began slapping myself in the face on their behalf.

Them

Me. 

Now I understand.

It is the perfect site for people who are looking for great workouts done in the comfort of their home- surprisingly, not all like to do push ups at their local bar.

The site include inspiring stories, meditations, fitness classes and yoga classes. There are literally THOUSANDS of videos to choose from that are tailored to your wants/needs- for example, I was interested in beginner power vinyasa yoga videos, and about thirty different ones came up (multiple instructors, too).

You can further pick a certain instructor, style, length, to suit your needs. Whether you're interested in Pilates, Bootcamp, Weight Training, Yoga, you will no doubt find multiple videos that work for you.

Fine, I'll do the Kickbox video. Now get your foot out of my face.

I have to admit, I was excited for this due to the amazing instructors that I saw were on this site- but being on the site really showed me that you can never stop learning, no matter how big or little your fitness background is. Buying a Fitness DVD just doesn't seem worth it when you have this kind of a library available to you- whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced- I got some great tips as a Yoga Teacher myself and new workout moves that I can bring into my classes.

Now if someone could just buy me all three of the above, that would be great. Thanks.

The cost of the site is $9.95 per month, but I'm thrilled to let you know that they are offering one of you crazy cats a three-month trial of the site! You can keep it for yourself or give as a gift- the winner will be announced December 24th! It's perfect for someone who is not interested in joining a gym, someone who feels more comfortable in their home, someone who'd like to bring images and videos with them (use your iPod to get good exercises to do at the gym!), or a fitness expert who would like to sharpen their skills.

Anyone can try a free 10-day trial, but in the meantime, here's how to enter the contest to win THREE months of unlimited videos:

(Please leave a separate comment below for each entry!)

1. Like Gaiam TV on Facebook and let them know I sent you

2. While you're on Facebook, Like this less-popular fitness wannabe

3. Browse the Gaiam TV website and tell them via Facebook or Twitter which video you'd most like to try

Good luck! The winner of this contest will be announced this Saturday, December 24th!

Pass the Egg Nog... Tips On How To Maintain Balance Over the Holidays

Let's be honest: the holidays are amazing, tough, long, tiring, joyous, and delicious. I get it. It's hard as #$@! to avoid the baked goods your coworker keeps bringing into work (bitch wants to get me fat), say no to another glass of egg nog (they're serving it in the Griswold reindeer mug! How can I say no), avoid the cinnamon buns at breakfast (and here I thought it was just pancakes, bacon, eggs, and french toast), and turn down a piece of your Mom's homemade fudge (but I made it just for you, my darling!). Fine, Mom. I'll eat a piece of fudge. Then, I'll eat the entire thing.

How to help yourself from swinging out of control (ahem, I may, um, have done this once or twice.)? Here's a few tips.

1. Have a plan. 
If you're going to a holiday party at a restaurant, check out the menu beforehand. I'm not one to say "eat nothing but a salad with no dressing", but look for healthier options such as roasted chicken, spinach salad, non-cream based soups, wraps, lean meat choices, etc. If you want two drinks, skip dessert. If you want dessert, skip the bread basket and stick to one drink. I am a freak when it comes to planning my meals and I find this helps with both your physical and mental outlook towards nutrition.

Start with a mixed green salad... and please avoid judging me for the size of my pizza.

2. LIFT. 
Yes, keep doing your cardio. But resistance training will take you through the day. When you lift (when I say "lift", I mean literally lift weights, or complete full-body movements like planks, burpees, push ups, lunges, squats, etc.- lift your body weight. You don't necessarily have to use weights), you leave small tears in your muscles- tears that your body works on repairing for the next DAY or TWO. You will continue to burn calories as your body works to repair itself! Double whammy.

I realize "double whammy" hasn't been used since the 90s, but I'm bringing it back.

You may also find that if you have a great workout on the day of a holiday get-together, you could be more likely to crave healthier foods as a result. Your body is an amazing piece of work- let it work for you and fuel it properly.

My favourite shirt of all time. 

...Next to this one, of course. 

3. Dress to impress. 
I'm dead serious. If you wear something you feel AMAZING in, the lead up to the event can help with portion control and overindulgence. Also, at the party, you will be too busy receiving compliments to notice the dessert table.

That's right. I'm telling you to go shopping.

You're welcome.

(side note: Stacy London taught me that we should dress for our body type. Hate your thighs? Highlight your killer waist in a wrap dress or a great belt. Like your legs? An oversized shirt/sweater, a great pair of skinny jeans or tights, hot boots up to the knee, a great statement necklace or pair of earrings and a blazer go a long way.)

How NOT to impress.

Thanks for using a supermodel to showcase how to wear leggings and a blazer, Katy. Helpful.  

4. Indulge. In something non-food (or booze) related.

I asked some of my peeps what their favourite holiday indulgence was, and out of 23 people, one person said their indulgence was not food related: Muppets! I didn't even think about something non food or booze-related- but this was genius! Any holiday movie is totally an indulgence.

To help avoid cravings, put Miss Piggy's face on a photo of you. Totally normal.

A perfectly healthy indulgence... must put chocolate down while reading, though. 

Thanks, Steph for the idea- and for making me feel bad about myself.

5. EAT. 

Yes, EAT. If you're going to a brunch, have a bowl of oatmeal with flax seed, berries, bee pollen, and brown sugar so that you don't show up starving to the buffet table and go up for 4ths. A dinner function? Make sure you have something to eat (smoothies are always great!) an hour before you go. You'll be able to sample the appetizers without diving in head first.

Or at least make sure there's candles in the middle of the table to keep you from diving. 

If you are concerned, offer to bring a salad or veggie tray. (Um, no- I'm not suggesting you eat all vegetables at a holiday function. Remember, I am not wacko. Let's be real, people.) This option will allow you to fill up your plate and have smaller portions of the other zillion things being served.

The bottom line?

Eat what you want to eat. Try to keep it within reason. And there is NO SUCH THING as too late- You think because you overindulged at breakfast that you might as well for lunch and dinner? You have the power to stop it, and you also have the power to start fresh. Be real, don't be hard on yourself, and if all else fails...

Drink a spritzer. It's low in calories, plus there's booze. Double whammy. 

Go forth and beyond, my friends.

How will you avoid overindulging this holiday season?

The Naughty & Nice Workout... but Mostly Naughty.

Enter to WIN a copy of Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Cookbook 2!


This workout is mostly naughty. Why? Because it hurts like a bitch. But when someone sees your ass lift a few inches, you'll be hearing only nice comments. Naughty & Nice. You're welcome.

Um, naughty and nice workout, Katy. Not weird and creepy. 

This workout will take you 40 minutes, or 20 if you'd like to cut it in half.

I said that like you couldn't figure out that half of 40 would be 20.

Each station consists of 2 different exercises. You will do exercise 1 for 20 seconds, rest for 10. Then do exercise 2 for 20 seconds, rest for 10. Repeat 8 TIMES in total. Yes, EIGHT.

While you're crying, think about the mass amounts of eggnog and holiday treats I'll you'll soon be eating, and then you can thank me.

STATION 1- ARMS + CORE (Alternate between both exercises- 20 seconds ON 10 seconds OFF, EIGHT times each)

Exercise 1: Five-Second Football Shuffle + Push Up
This was taken from Nike Training Centre, and I LOVE it. Start in athletic position and football shuffle for 5 seconds. Place hands down and jump your feet back to plank position and immediately go into a push up. On the way up from the push up, jump your feet back to their starting position, stay low and go back into the football shuffle. This move is KILLER!

Exercise 2: Tricep Dip + Hip Extension
Begin with your hands (fingers pointing towards your toes) and feet on the floor, belly up, knees bent. Complete one tricep dip by bending your elbows and leaning back. Push yourself back up by straightening your arms and bring one leg straight in front of you. Repeat, dropping the leg down and lifting the opposite leg after another tricep dip.

STATION 2- ENDURANCE (Alternate between both exercises- 20 seconds ON 10 seconds OFF, EIGHT times each)

Exercise 1: Sideway Shuffle
Depending on your space, this can be done in a large or small area. Start in "athletic position"- knees bent, half squat. Shuffle as fast as you can to your left (5+shuffles), touch the ground with your left hand. Explode back to a shuffle and move right. Repeat.

Exercise 2: Forward/Backward Run
Depending on your space, this can be a longer run or a shorter run. Begin in athletic position. Sprint forward at least 5 steps, touch the ground. Run backwards to starting position and touch the ground. Repeat, exploding out of your original starting point.

STATION 3- ABS + OBLIQUES (Alternate between both exercises- 20 seconds ON 10 seconds OFF, EIGHT times each)

Exercise 1: Sit Ups
Your goal with the sit up is not to completely sit up, but get your shoulder blades off the ground. For a challenge, keep your hands by your ears.

Exercise 2: Windshield Wipers
Lie with your back flat on the mat. Lift your legs into the air and your arms out to the side, palms down. Slowly move your feet to the right until your feet almost touch the floor (you want to to keep your upper body on the mat at all times). Using your obliques/core, move back to centre and follow to the left. Repeat.

STATION 4- LEGS (Alternate between both exercises- 20 seconds ON 10 seconds OFF, EIGHT times each)

Exercise 1: Fast Speed Skaters
Your goal for the speed skate is to jump as far as you can to the right, keeping your left leg off the ground. Punch the air with your left hand. Repeat, as quickly as you can, on the left side.

Exercise 2: Upper Burpee Jumps
Your goal for this exercise is height- squat down as far as you can and touch your fingertips to the ground. Jump up as high as you can and land back in a squat. Repeat.

There you have it: The Naughty & Nice Workout. Remember me when you're walking up the stairs, cursing my name. It gives me great joy during the holiday season. 

WIN a copy of the Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook 2!!!

So, you've heard about my love of clean eating. Recall that I completely embarrassed myself thought no one would read this little thing when I originally posted about what "eating clean" meant to me. Little did I know, the lady behind the whole thing- Tosca Reno herself- happened on my blog!

I'm sure she saw that our abs were identical. That must be it. 

Or.. she knew I really needed to get clean. 

I was so thrilled (this woman changed the way I see food!) that she noticed me, I did what any other humbled, well-respected woman would do.

I shrieked, wrote to everyone I knew, and ran around my house with my Eat-Clean Diet book in my hands, wrote a blog post about how excited I was, and have pretty much stalked her ever since. I also may have peed a little.

I even went and bought a fruit bikini. 

This book changed the way I eat. Alright... I changed the way I mostly eat (why can't chocolate be healthy in mass amounts?). She made me see real food as fuel (I used to eat a lot of foods flavoured with artificial sweeteners). I have read many "diet" books but this is literally the only book I have bought and kept- it's the only cookbook in my kitchen.

...Until now.

(Likely to get me off her back), Tosca and the Eat-Clean Diet Team sent me a copy of her new cookbook- The Eat Clean Diet Cookbook 2!

I actually took a photo similar to this while I was cooking. It did not make the cut. 

I wish the book could be called the Eat-Clean Lifestyle, because it isn't really a diet. It's a lifestyle and a nutrition overhaul- GOOD, real food as fuel. Some tips that have always stuck with me after getting the Eat-Clean Diet are to drink a huge glass of lemon water first thing in the morning (to "get the engine running" as Tosca calls it), to eat 5-6 times a day (this is a no-brainer now, but when the book first came out, it was huge news! You EAT to lean out? Unheard of!), and the biggest and best thing I learned: BE PREPARED. Cook in bulk, make packaged meals, bring a cooler with you, and most importantly, EAT. Nourish. Don't let yourself get to the point where you crave the sugary or salty foods.

These are the pages I dog-eared within 5 minutes of getting the cookbook!

Most importantly: LIFT. Be strong! Add resistance training to your workout plan. (I know juuuuust the place to get some awesome workouts!)

I also remember learning about yogurt cheese when I bought the original book (probably about 5 years ago!)- this is basically the premise of greek yogurt, which is all the rage now. A high-yield protein yogurt that you can make yourself.

I've been thrilled to try out these new recipes over the last month and a bit, especially knowing that they are clean recipes.

Frittata Pizza- deeeelish!

Um, yep. This is clean eating. 

Chicken and spinach lasagna!

One of my favourites: Tosca's Lentil Soup!

This took about 10 minutes to prepare and went into the crock pot. Woke up the next day to lunch for the week! 

Squash, beet, pistachio and goat cheese salad with homemade pesto!

Southwest style chicken salad- with black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, corn, mixed greens, avocado, and cajun-style chicken

Spinach salad with fennel (new veggie I tried- tastes like licorice!), pomegranate, and goat cheese

Beyond all of these ridiculously amazing recipes, I learned so much about simple herbs, meatless protein options, and buying the right kind of fish!

I'm a big believer in eating clean, and I'm thrilled to share it with you- a great gift, or a great new start for the upcoming year.

BONUS:

Tosca keeps it real and shares a Sangria recipe.

Some of her readers haven't yet found the "moderation" button.

You can WIN a copy of the Eat Clean Diet Cookbook 2 by doing any of the following (leave a comment for each!)

+1 Like the Eat Clean Diet on Facebook and let Tosca know that you, too have a girl crush on her. Or, tell her I do. Again.

+1 Like this crazy woman on Facebook

+1 Share this contest on Facebook or Twitter! @fit_in_heels, @toscareno, @eatcleandiet

Good luck- contest ends Friday, December 16th!

Will Run For Breakfast

It's become a bit of a weekly tradition to get up on Saturday morning and go for a run with Carter and his Dad.

Please keep in mind: Friday night, I am exhausted (like the rest of the world). I crave a glass of wine, a dinner that I don't have to cook, and movie time with my guy. The last thing I think about doing is getting up early (in fact, earlier than I normally get up for work- heinous, I know) but somehow, every Saturday morning, I would. I really look forward to going for an early morning run on the boardwalk and enjoying a post-run breakfast with my fam.

Plus... my Father-in-law always makes sure that there are some kick ass croissants waiting for us when we get back. Just saying.





Oh, I apologize. I was thinking about those croissants.

Heeeeeneway, we trained for a 10km race last weekend in the Beach- the Tannenbaum 10km!

Get me a $%#!ing croissant. And some makeup. 

The day was chilly as ever, but relatively calm. We ran through some nasty weather on those Saturdays, so it was great to have a clear day.

So this was calm for about 5 minutes. 

I had everything ready to go- used my Vega Sport Endurance Gel to get me going- especially after Carter and I decided to go out the night before and have a huge dinner and too many drinks.

Beautifully capturing the previous night's activity.

Surprisingly, I felt great during the run. I'm not sure if it was all the people, the weather (I love running when there's no sun- I don't have to squint my eyes and get a killer headache!), or this person:

Nice tail. 

...but the first 6km were a dream.

Then, the next 4km hit.

I'll blame the booze, or the fact that it was early, or the fact that I'm not much of a sprinter (I prefer longer races and I feel like 5km and 10km you pretty much have to die the entire time... am I alone?) but the last few kilometres were hard. It also began raining horizontally into my face, which was awesome.

Regardless of the last few km where I felt last night's dinner (dessert, wine...) I really enjoyed the people who ran, the volunteers who cheered us on through the terrible turn in weather, and the route- right along the lake. It was a fabulous run and I was thrilled to finish in 50:48!

I thought this was a croissant. 

I also love doing races when people are waiting for you at the finish line. Carter hugged me as I crossed and I felt like crying.

Then, I got mad when I realized we weren't eating breakfast yet. 

I was able to watch Carter's Dad ("Pops") cross the finish line after months of hard training. It was so rewarding to see! 

Way to go, Pops!!!!!

Give the man a few seconds, Carter. 

It was a great day that Carter and I followed up with watching football on the couch and ordering pizza. Totally worth it. 

Have you done a race with other people before? Does it motivate you more, or do you prefer to run by yourself?