I've been naughty...

How do you stay on track nutritionally?

You see... I'm having some trouble.

I was excellant the first month of Jillian's program, then month 2 my nutrition kind of fell apart, and I'm really hoping to get back on track for month 3. 

The problem??

Umm....

The Holidays?!!

I 

Have not

been good with food.

The treats (white chocolate peppermint hugs?!), the booze, the parties. I really need to get a grip on this stuff.  How am I supposed to avoid all this??

I'm trying to picture my wedding, the dress, the parties, the vacations coming up. oh my. Plus I need to get on my racing schedule and plan for the upcoming months. I'm thinking sprint tri in late april, half in late may, and another 70.3 in june.

I need to keep space on my schedule for a Team Tough Chik race...

September 28, 2013

Who want to join Team Tough Chik??

Don't miss my latest giveaway HERE

or

Check to see if you won my birthday giveaway HERE

How do you avoid food/drink temptations?

Whats on your calendar so far?

>>>READ MORE

Birthday winners!!

Ready for my Birthday Giveaway Winners??

If you win, please email me by thursday to claim your prize!

First up is.....

The Allied Steel Medal Display of your choice 

and it goes to....

BJ Klllam!

Next up is...

The Hydrapak Avila!

Congrats to....

Jenn @ Will Run for Food!

Road ID & Gu goes to...

Lisa @ Up, Down, Touch the Ground!

My 4 Injinji winners are....

Karen @ Just Me & My Running Shoes

Aimee @ Amazing in Motion

Jen @ Running 4 my Life

Kasey @ Stitch. Bake. Run.

and lastly, those yummy...

1 variety pack goes to...

Sarah @ Sweet & Savory by Sarah

Congrats to everyone & thanks for helping me celebrate my birthday!!

email me at sgrigely (at) hotmail (dot) com to claim your prize.

Didn't win?

Check out my latest giveaway...

HERE

Right now the prize is assorted fuel and Sparkly Soul...

with one more vote it will include a pair on injinji socks, and $30 amazon giftcard if I win the contest.

Go check it out!!

>>>READ MORE

Happy Birthday to Me!! (and a few giveaways for you!)

The day is here....

Today I turn 30!!

I'll spend the day celebrating with Kevin & I's families. I made delicious clean eating sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

I want to celebrate my birthday by giving YOU some gifts of my favorite things!

Here are the awesome prizes up for grabs...

1 Allied Steel Medal display hangar of your choice

1 Hydrapak Avila & a selection of Gu

A Road ID e-card and selection of Gu

4 winners (2 smalls & 2 mediums): Injinji socks and selection of Gu

Box of 16 mixed LARABARS

A big thanks to everyone for sponsoring my birthday celebration!

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each entry!

Follow me on blogger, blog loving, or email

Follow Running to Health on facebook HERE & leave me some birthday love!

Visit Allied Steel HERE and tell me which hangar you would want

Visit Hydrapak HERE and tell me how a hydration pack could help your run

Go to Road ID HERE, and tell me which ID you love

Visit Injini HERE and tell me something you learned about toe socks!

Visit LARABAR HERE and tell me your favorite.

Spread the word! (twitter, facebook, blog) 1 for each!

Contest ends 12/5, midnight EST

good luck!

>>>READ MORE

Second Chances! (Winners and Tough Chik Style!)

A few housekeeping things I have been slacking on...

Despite trying to contact the winner myself, I never heard back for my Raw Threads winner. So I picked a new one....

Tweetyscute @ Lala and me

AND

After trying to the contact the winner for my Color Me Rad 5K race entry, they never surfaced...

Next up is...

My fellow Tough Chik teammate TMB @ Racing with Babes

Pretty pretty please contact me to claim your prize!

sgrigely at hotmail dot com

Another 2nd chance....

To join Team Tough Chik!

If you want to join an awesome group of Chiks...

Supportive Chiks

Badass Chiks

Running Chiks

Cycling Chiks

Triathlon Chiks

Then I suggest you head HERE fast!

If I'm halfway decent at counting, I think you only have 5 days left to join for the year.

Total was a no sugar FAIL, but a Running Win!

I ran 5 miles of awesome speedwork this morning, but the work bakesale left me craving more sweets & feeling like crud. Up in the morning for a Brick workout, and a no sugar day!

>>>READ MORE

Color Me Rad 5K

I've been kind of jealous lately of everyone and their Spartan Races, Zombie Runs, and Tough Mudders. They seem so exciting! 

Something different than just a 5K.

Problem... I hate the mud, I'm afraid I'll get hurt, and the idea of it gets me all sorts of anxious.

So imagine my excitement when I heard of a new 5K...

Color Me Rad

Think of it as Fitness Tie-Dye.

Start with a clean white shirt, throughout a 5K course colors are sprayed out to coat your face, shirt, & body to create a unique momento and one of a kind experience. 

They're been adding more and more cities lately. Is there a Color Me Rad near you?

For me, the choice came between Boston & Hartford.

Even though Hartford is closer, Boston won because of timing (Hartford is the weekend of the Run to Remember Half in Boston).

So far, My brother & his girlfriend are racing too. Even my serious marathoning brother knows how to have a little fun! I ca't wait! Who else can we get to join us? 

Want to win an entry into a Color Me Rad 5K of your choice?

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each

1. Follow me via RSS, email, Facebook, etc

2. Like Color Me Rad on facebook HERE

3. Like me on facebook HERE & tell me which race you would do!

4. Visit the Color Me Rad website HERE & tell me what color you'd like to get sprayed with!

5. Share this giveaway via Blog, Twitter, Facebook (1 for each)

Enter until 4/13 midnight EST

Good Luck & Get Colorful!

>>>READ MORE

Raw Threads Review & Giveaway!

At my first  Rock N Roll race, I stumbled upon a booth with supersoft bamboo Ts, Raw Threads.

Bamboo athletic wear...

is naturally moisture wicking

regulates core temperature

is breathable

naturally resists odor

blocks 99% of the sun's rays

is great for the environment

Not only is the material of the shirts fantastic, the shirts designs are so cute! My first Raw Threads shirt I bought was the Half Marathon Rockstar (how Rock N Roll appropriate)!

back side of the rockstar T

Later, when S & I went to the Divas Half in Long Island, she bought a new one...

I skipped out at the time, but then caved with the coupon I got at the expo and bought it anyways. Unfortunately they were back ordered, then I was shipped one without the super cute back. Luckily, the Raw Threads super great customer service prevailed and they shipped me a new one wicked fast.

I wear mine for working out on occasion, but mostly they have turned into everyday T-shirt wear. aka my weekend uniform. I've gotten tons of compliments on them, and every expo I make sure to stop by the booth to look for new styles or grab a coupon.

Don't I look cute?

After a billion washes (literally every week), the colors still pop, the fabric is still soft, and they haven't pilled, shrunk or stretched out. AKA, I am still in love!

 I got in touch with the Raw Threads folks to see if they would be willing to sponsor a giveaway for YOU!

One lucky winner will be able to pick either a princess shirt or a white rockstar shirt of their very own! 

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each

1. Be or become a follower of my blog (RSS, email, bloglovin, etc)

2. Like Raw Threads on facebook HERE & let them know I sent you

3. Follow Raw Threads on twitter @raw_threads

4. Like me on facebook HERE and show me some love!

5. Vote for me in the Fiteratti award from fitness magazine HERE! (or if you've already voted)

6. Spread the word via blog, facebook, twitter!

Good luck! 

Contest ends 4/8 at midnight EST

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LARABARS + Biggest Loser = Giveaway!!

Did you catch LARABAR on Biggest Loser tuesday night?

I wanted to put the video in here, but I can't embed it. Here's the link: HERE

Trainer Dolvett Quince introduced the contestants to Peanut Butter Cookie & Cherry Pie as fuel for their hike. How did he know those are 2 of my favorite flavors?

He mentioned my favorite thing about LARABARS. The simple, natural, easy to pronounce ingredients. Simple Fuel.

Perfect.

LARABAR wants to celebrate their Biggest Loser moment by giving away some LARABARS! They've offered a great pack of 2 Peanut Butter Cookie & 2 Cherry Pie bars to one winner from my blog.

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each

1. Be or become a follower of my blog!

2. Visit my facebook page HERE & tell me your favorite way to fuel with LARABAR

3. Vote for me HERE for a Fitterati Blog Award!

4. Spread the word via blog, twitter, facebook (1 for each)

Contest ends 3/14 11pm EST, good luck!

>>>READ MORE

Immucell Review & Giveaway!

Do you want healthy joints & skin?

A while back, Neocell gave me the opportunity to try 2 different products.

Collagen Sport Whey Isolate Complex

&

Immucell Collagen Type 2

They sent these over to me when I was trying to nurse my knee pain away before the Disney Marathon. The Collagen Sport came in chocolate or vanilla, and the stats all looked great. I won't go into great detail, because unfortunately I couldn't handle the taste. Despite trying it several different ways (with milk, or water I couldn't drink it. Blended with peanut butter and banana was the only way I could handle it). I know there are several bloggers who have tried it and loved it, but it was a no go for me. To read other's reviews check them out @ Women's Endurance Gear, Blonde Ponytail, I'm a Sleeper Baker, See Mom Run Far. Please check out their reviews, since I feel like I can't give it a fair review.

What I was wicked excited about, was the Immucell Collagen Type 2.

Since I'd been having unrelenting right knee pain, Jean @ Neocell encouraged me to try the Immucell to help me rehydrate my joints. 

• Ideal for those individuals suffering from joint issues and degenerative joint diseases
• High bioavailability with anti-inflammatory and pain modulating effects
• Aids in replenishment of body’s most abundant structural protein
• Supports collagen type 2 found in joints
• Assists in the maintenance and rebuilding of cartilage bones, joints and surrounding tissue
• Lubricates eyes and skin improving moisture levels, and joints promoting mobility

The directions say to take 4-6 capsules daily with Orange Juice or a Vitamin C drink, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach & wait 20 minutes before eating.

yay! No Knee pain!

Every day for weeks leading up to the marathon, I took my Immucell. You all remember that race day I had no knee pain at all. 

I'm certainly not saying that the Immucell was the only thing to help my knee pain. If you remember from my race report (HERE), I spent a lot of the marathon walking due to sickness. But I will tell you the knee felt great even in the weeks following the marathon, only to now be getting worse again since not taking it for 6 weeks or so.

From their website:

ImmuCell® Collagen Type 2 is a food sourced supplement that holds a high concentration of joint-saving nutrients including hyaluronic acid (HA), glucosamine, and high levels of chondroitin, the major components of joint cartilage. These necessary elements support and maintain healthy joints and repair the damage that causes pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Chondroitin also acts as an anti-inflammatory compound and pain modulator without the negative side effects of non-steroidal medicines while enhancing the synthesis of cartilage and HA. Supplementing with ImmuCell® Collagen Type 2 focuses on the regenerating effects for skin and connective tissue health.

 Life Extension magazine had an article in their February 2012 edition... (see the full story HERE)Conventional medical wisdom has long held that rheumatoid arthritis results from an autoimmune attack on joints, while osteoarthritis was thought to result from age-related “wear-and-tear.” 
For the first time, a team of researchers2 at Stanford University has demonstrated that this is not true!
It turns out that osteoarthritis is accompanied by the same pathological, pro-inflammatory immune factors involved in rheumatoid arthritis. Even more compelling was their finding that, if treatment is initiated before symptoms manifest, osteoarthritis may be entirely prevented.

If you read further in the article you'll see that Collagen supplements (including those contained in Immucell), fit that category. So, even if you are experiencing no joint pain, you may be able to prevent arthritis with supplementation.

My knee pain returning has convinced me to visit Amazon to replenish my stock.

You can buy a bottle with 120 capsules for about $17 HERE.

Want to Win some of your own to try?

Neocell has generously offered a bottle of Immucell Collagen Type 2 to one lucky winner!

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each entry

1. Be or become a follower of my blog

2. Follow NeoCell on facebook HERE & tell them Running to Health sent you!

3. Like me on facebook HERE & tell me your best tip for staying injury free.

4. Spread the word! Blog, twitter, facebook (1 for each)

contest ends 2/27 @ midnight EST.

Good luck!

>>>READ MORE

No more excuses

                                      Source: Uploaded by user via Jennifer on Pinterest

The past few weeks, I've found a lot of excuses.

To be honest, my running has been lacking. I knew I wanted to take a short break after the marathon to let my knee feel completely better. But it's obvious that now I'm just being a slacker. I haven't been running much, the treadmill is boring me to death. With all the talk of half ironman, you would think I'd be running, biking & swimming enthusiastically right now. I've been riding more, haven't gotten in the pool, and haven't done a run over 4 miles.

Did I forget I have a half marathon on St. Patty's Day?

I don't want to beat myself up too much. I have been getting to TRX & Bootcamp. I have been running short distances (and having a pain free knee). I have been getting trainer rides in on the bike. I have started a new Yoga class. The truth is, planning for races takes time. Research on the race, training strategies, looking for clubs, coaches, and support to get me to the end of 70.3 is a lot.

I have been very thankful to the girls on Team Tough Chik. They have sent me training plans, and offered encouragement and advice. I have a friend from PT school who is going to help me ease into the triathlon club. I have another friend, Barbie (we did our first Tri together), who is helping me get my ass in the pool Sunday, while I help her get her butt moving after having her baby. I'm so thankful to all the wonderful support systems I have.

Seriously.

I need to stop making excuses.

I need to make time for a long run this weekend.

How do you stop making excuses?

Are you curious at who won the 2nd $50 Spa Week giftcard from Trop50?

Lisa @ Up, down, touch the ground!

email me at sgrigely at hotmail dot com to claim your prize!

>>>READ MORE

Trop50 'Mocktail' Time! (and giveaway #3)

I love a good cocktail, in case you haven't noticed...

However, I have seriously been trying to lose weight. Unfortunately that means I need to cut down on cocktails, or be a little more creative on how I make them. So when I started learning about Trop50, I was wicked excited to see a list of  Trop50 'mocktails', which can easily turn into cocktails.

The list of recipes looked fabulous...

Lemon Berry Mojito

Orange Popsicle

Tropical Chiller

Very Berry Cosmo

Apple Snap-Tini

Check out the recipes - Mocktail Recipes

We decided to go with the Very Berry Cosmo

1/2 cup Trop50 Pomegranate Blueberry

1/4 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries

2 Tablespoons Naked Juice 100% coconut water

Blend Trop50 with strawberries about 10 seconds until smooth. Pour into a martini glass and stir in coconut water. 1.5 ounces vodka optional.

Nutrition Highlights: Each Trop50 mock-cosmo has 3 times fewer calories and 26 grams less sugar (about 6.5 teaspoons!) than a mock-cosmo made with Stirrings Cosmo Mix. Additionally, our version contains fiber from real fruit and 70% of your daily vitamin C!

Nutrition Info (6-ounce cosmo): 40 calories, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 12g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 8g sugar, 0g protein, 70% vitamin C, 310mg potassium, 1.5mg vitamin E.

Stirrings Cosmo Mix (6-ounce): 120 calories, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, 34g carbohydrates, 0g fiber, 34g sugar, 0g protein.

After dinner, my roommate & I decided to whip some up as a low cal dessert!

We snuggled up on the couch to enjoy...

They were delish!!

I know the vodka would make it the perfect real cocktail with plenty of flavor. The disclaimer in the recipe link does say to calculate about 97 calories in for alcohol. Our Trop50 'mocktails' will now be a nightly special in the house. We can't wait to try more of the flavors and recipes, YUM!

Trop50 wants to give away one last $50 Spa Week giftcard!

How to Win

Please leave a separate comment for each

1. Be or become a follower of my blog

2. Like Running to Health on facebook HERE and tell me which 'mocktail' you'd make

3. Like Trop50 on facebook HERE to tell them your True Resolution

4. Spread the word (blog, twitter, facebook)

disclaimer: The prize is provided by Trop50. I was given a free bottle of Trop50 for this review.

Enter until 2/1/12 Good Luck!

>>>READ MORE