Shimmer Suit Snow Angels & Soups!

More snow in Maine today, expecting another foot or so. The entire area has cancelled school and the Y even closed so no work for me today...it's a SNOWDAY!

Yesterday, I took advantage of the sunny weather to play outside...

After a treadmill session of 8.5 miles, it was time to suit up and hit the pool BUT there would be one quick pit stop before swimming.

INTO THE SNOW!!

Have you seen this contest on the Challenge Family page??


Of course, I had to join in on the fun!!

a post snow angel celebration and sprint out of the snow...here's the video of the whole thing.

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So on snow days I cannot think of anything I like more than soups & stews! They are easy, economical. I wanted to share my very favorite veggie based soup/stew that is a staple in my home. Even lola loves it!!

I stumbled on this on The Gracious Pantry last year and it's in rotation since...click the link and it will take you right to the recipe!!





want to up the protein content, add some chicken breast! So easy and versatile.

Just a hint, I don't add spinach to the stew, I just put a big handful of baby spinach in the bottom of a big soup bowl and top with the hot stew. The spinach wilts and it does not get bitter in the left overs.

I love a squeeze of lemon, a dash of hot sauce and a little bit of cilantro on top. MMM

Got Snow? My NEW Favorite Way to CROSSTRAIN

So living in Maine, it's no shocker that we get snow storms. Lots of them. Frequently. It actually makes me laugh when there is a Nor'Easter or Blizzard coming to town and everyone freaks out.
You do know you live in Maine right?
This isn't South Carolina!!

Anyway, it's been a pretty calm winter here thus far and we got hammered with our first significant storm of the year this week. Over 2 feet of snow, howling winds and some drifts that are quite big. Some spots, the snow is overhead.

A couple weeks ago I ventured out to try something new--SNOWSHOEING.
I picked up a pair of Atlas running/race snowshoes last winter and only used them a few times, short little jaunts around my "home field" only. So when the opportunity arose to really go get out, I took it.

the view of "Indian in the Mountain" from the frozen pond

My first foray into the wooded mountains was spectacular! It was a bright, sunny day and sky was bright blue. I was in awe of just how pretty the Western Maine mountains were from my new perspective (vs. a ski lift or slope). I had an experienced Guide and we traversed through trails, blasted through the 3 feet of fallen snow to make our own, crossed a frozen pond and even jumped over a small brook. I had a blast and I could NOT wait to do it again.
I am pretty sure I had a smile on my face the entire time.

I was excited to try this again...and SOON!

Sunday rolled around and I had 10 mile run scheduled. Another sunny day and I was feeling a bit nostalgic for the fun I had in the mountains. So I rallied my training partner to hit the trails instead of the roads. I figured a good 5 mile snowshoe trek would be great cross training & a good way for me to get lost in the woods.

I forgot to wear my GPS and track my distance on my first "real" time out but I wouldn't forget it this time!

 We drove out to the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and  hit up the trails I run in the summer. It all started out LOVELY...some running on the snowshoes, some trekking, some getting off the trails to make our own in the deep powder. The trails are very well marked and easy to follow. Once we got a few miles into the woods, the trails disappeared but there were some lone ski tracks to follow.

Now, I am open about being directionally challenged. And apparently I cannot add either.
What started out as a 5 mile adventure started to tick away the miles...and as I compared the map to what we had covered already, I was starting to see that we would be getting a bit more than 5 miles in...5 was 6, then 7, then 7.5...we finally got back to the trailhead a bit over 9 miles in.

The last couple miles were fatiguing for sure...especially considering we ran at the start for a bit...and we only brought 1 bottle of water with us.

That didn't matter. All I can say is, I got lost in the woods for 2.5 hours.
I pushed my body, which I always enjoy.
And it was a beautiful day. 
I was able to leave behind the stress of the week and simply enjoy the quiet of nature.
The beauty of the fallen snow.
The sun on my face. 

Monkey See, Monkey Do!

We got the first significant snowfall of the season on Sunday with about 2 feet of snow and some wild winds...and we are getting another 5-8 inches tonight and the temps are in the negatives today...which resulted in a lots of stuff indoors. I'm just getting over bronchitis so I did not want to push my luck with too much outside time in artic temps and wind (even though I just love running in the snow).

Lola wanted to make cookies and lemonade while snowed in on Sunday. We got so much snow, my hometown was even featured on CNN!!

We had all the stuff to make peanut butter cookies so I was not disappointed in that option (oatmeal is my fav but we are out of raisins). I always have stuff to make lemonade!!

I even got all fancy and used two glasses fitted together and did my best impersonation of Tom Cruise in Cocktail...which Lola found comical. Then I could not get the glasses apart very easily, which she also find quite funny.

I had to laugh when she got out her play Disney Princess camera and took pics of her snack....I wonder where she ever go an idea like that???? ha ha ha

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO!!?? 

Sunday was also the day that we were finally able to open our #TeamRev3 Secret Santa gifts!!

This was mine....

I still have not figured out WHO my Rev3 Secret Santa is...and no one is giving me any hints. MY first guess was Jordan but, I was wrong.

I then guessed Susan and she has not replied so...

Monday was the first day of the #RunnerBox #FitApproach challenge and the challenge was to run one extra mile.
Done.
In addition to teaching 5 classes (2 of them cycling) AND doing my own quick circuit workout, I got in 3 miles on the treaddy.

Today the challenge is PLANKS! I've SO got this...

Wordless Wednesday: SNOWRUNNING

Weekend Snow Runs in Maine

Saturday:

A light snow and it was quite nice...

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Sunday's LONG run was a different story

More snow

Fortunes Rocks Beach covered in ice and snow

...and did I mention, 40mph winds??

ice-crusted eyebrows! eeek

Be safe! Thanks Donna 

snow day fuel

 The wind was so brutal, I was running wearing

a neoprene face mask-a definite first for me. 

Between the Atlantic Ocean and "The Pool" you could literally lean into the winds here
it was  pretty strong and blew us around quite a bit. 

Training buddy, Marc

I swear, this is the first time this boy has worn pants!
He's usually in shorts

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What are some extreme conditions you have subjected yourself to during training?

Do you prefer hot or cold training weather? 

Five for Friday!

Hello from Snowville Maine! I hope you are having a great week. Here is what is on my mind today.

ONE
We are BURIED in snow with more on the way this weekend.
Wednesday's storm dumped quite a bit on us but not the 20-24" we were expecting. The hubby was home for the day so we had a fun family day playing in the snow. Well, Lola and I played mostly while hubby cleaned out our house and his parents place (they live up the street!) as well as roof raking.

Lola all bundled up and ready to go out!

Lola with her "shovel" while we cleaned out wave one of snow

The view from the SLEDCAM on our way to the in-laws

TWO
I had my second PT session with Jared today and we are making great progress already. The patella tendons are already starting to loosen up and my quads are enjoying the stretching and rolling. He gave me some new exercises and some of these work on core and balance which I loved! Challenging stuff but I love a challenge. We also did more running and the changes we made with my form are making a huge difference. In one short week of running drills, he was pleased to say that I was running correctly and looking good!

THREE
While we are talking about running...I have been told to switch out shoes. The Kayano's are too heavy and I do not need motion control. Jared has suggested a lightweight performance stability shoe like the Saucaony Fastwitch and and New Balance 905. If you run in this kind of shoe, I would love to hear from you!
The bad news is-I just won a pair of Brooks Trance 10's from Leah at Chasing Atlanta this fall and they came last week. Jared looked at them today and said "no". Wrong shoe for my foot.
The K-Swiss shoes I won from Dailymile.com are also wrong for running but I will use these for weight training and cross training days.

FOUR
Speaking of Dailymile.com, I was selected to apply to be on the Dailymile team! They select 300 people on the site and then you apply to get one of 30 positions. To apply you need to put together a video why you would be a great addition to the team. I have until Monday at midnight to submit my application.
Not that I want to sway any votes away from me but check out Mike's video submission--hilarious!!
Click HERE
I will certainly be posting when the voting is up-your support would be appreciated :)

FIVE
I hope you have been paying attention lately. I am doing an exciting giveaway this weekend!! Make sure you check in for your chance to get in on some cool stuff.
Also, there is another really cool giveaway at 26.2 is My Cooldown . He is doing a Tanita BC-1000 scale giveaway. I thought this was supercool considering I am on a quest to lower my body fat %!! I just had to share this with you!

Getting Sick, Getting Snow & Getting "Stoned"

Getting Sick!
Uggggh. The sick bug has hit me and hit me hard. Hubby brought home this pesky little virus and it started to shut him down on Sunday. Now, the little buggers have invaded my body and have me feeling pretty ick. uck. yuck. It started creeping on Tuesday night and by yesterday I was sporting a full blown illness. Combine that with a severe lack of sleep on Tuesday night (can you say snoring thanks to hubby??) and the complete inability to get any rest on Wednesday and well...not a good combo. I wasn't the happiest gal to be around.

Bum knee, stuffed up head, congested chest. Yup, doing great for my base building period huh??

Getting Snow!

Mother Nature dumped an amazing amount of snow on the Northeast US Wednesday--parts of Massachusetts are reporting upwards of 20 inches. I'd guess to say we got a good 16" here.



The Obligatory First Taste of snow...she asked for ice cream when we got in from playing



Snow Angel!

Up and down the street we went!

Luckily, Lola is not sick and she really wanted to get out and play today so we spent the morning outside-visiting the neighbors, throwing snowballs, making snow angels and then I pulled her up and down the street in her little sled. The fresh air felt good and I could feel an "itch" to run!

The neighbor's stunning Snowman



Look how high the snow banks are! Look how Lola CAN'T look!

Between the blizzard yesterday and being sick, I did not work out at all on Wednesday. I did not workout this morning (but the day is not done). I did spend the day cleaning house, doing laundry and getting some reading done when I could.

Getting Stoned??

What am I reading you ask??

I borrowed The Paleo Diet for Athletes by Joe Friel and Loren Cordain from my buddy, Dawn.
Paleo=Stone Age=Stoned. Get it?? Yeah, I know. Super funny.
I am only about 30 pages into it so I really don't have my opinion formed on this book as of yet. I will say that I am normally not a big fan of any eating plan that eliminates entire food groups. On the other hand, some of the info I am reading makes some sense and I AM a big advocate for quality carbs and eating clean foods. I also happen to be such a Joe Friel groupie supporter that if he told me to run 6x800's with angel wings tied to my back & it would make me faster, I would certainly try it.

I have been reading a bit about Paleo here and there since another friend of mine jumped into the lifestyle 100%-she is an avid Crossfitter and she is in amazing shape! I have also been reading some great Paleo blogs and really love the recipes on Everyday Paleo.

So, I am keeping an open mind about it and will form an opinion once I have read the entire book. Even if I end up it total disagreement with the basis of the book, I will just chalk it up to LEARNING. I always enjoy reading and studying anything relevant in health, fitness and sport.

From talking with Dawn, it is not as limited as most Paleo based eating plans we have heard or read about and she is feeling good following Paleo for the Athlete. I also got an E-book called "Paleo for the 21st Century" which gives some modern day alternatives to eating Paleo.

**I would like to hear from you**

• Do you follow a Paleo based lifestyle or eating?
• Have you been successful with your athletic goals following Paleo?
• Do you totally disagree with anything Paleo related?
• Did you attempt a Paleo plan only to fail?