Diary of a Semi-Health Nut

ramblings + recipes of a semi-healthy nut

Moves 8-26-13: Change it Up! + Post-Run Smoothie

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Whew it has been hot over here! I think summer has finally arrived in the twin cities!

monday moves half marathon training week 3 update

I’ve been so used to running whenever I feel like it during the day, that it was shocking when I went out and felt like I was going to die of heat stroke last Tuesday.

That day kind of put a damper on my motivation for week 3 of half-marathon training.

daily mile: monday moves half marathon training week 3 update
(Be my friend on DailyMile!)

Catch up with my half-marathon training here:

justin's nut butter raffle to benefit girls on the runWeek 1
Week 2 (Also check out the Justin’s Nut Butter raffle going on now!)
The raffle is to benefit Girls on the Run, an amazing organization focusing on teaching young girls about self-esteem and health as well as training them for a 5K! I appreciate any help! Plus the prize is pretty sweet.
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I did, however, get my cross-training in AND do some weight training at the apartment gym. Although it was rough outdoors, that apartment gym is kind of amazing temperature-wise. They have it set to a cool 68 degrees F PLUS I crank up the fans in the room. Saturday I ventured down to the gym and found I had it all to myself while I watched my beloved Big Bang Theory.

instagram picture gym all to myself treadmill run

It was seriously the best run I have had all month…one of those where you feel like you could run forever with a big ol’ smile on your face.
Since I do count walking for my overall weekly miles, I did manage to come only half a mile short for the 12 mile goal mark even though I only ran twice last week. Not too shabby.

week 3 half marathon training
Check out my full training plan here

I was reminded last week that it is okay to:
a. Walk, and
b. Jump on the treadmill.

While I fully believe that training outdoors is the best way to train for races

outdoor run loving it

(since the race will most likely be indoors), having an amazing run that gets me excited about physical fitness sure as heck beats a schweaty, technically better outdoor training run.

Other things I’ve rediscovered to motivate my running include:

a. Delightfully satisfying recovery smoothies

satisfying post workout blueberry smoothie
Post-Run Blueberry Smoothie

satisfying post workout blueberry smoothie

by Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients (1 smoothie)
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 6-8oz Silk Vanilla Almond Milk
  • 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
  • 2 ice cubes
Instructions
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Optional: add a dollop of whipped cream and fun straw for a decadent post-run smoothie!

For more running fun, check out the full post here

Powered by Recipage

b. New gear.  

Asics 2000GTs and a Nathan hand-held water bottle. (I’ve always loved Asics, but I’ve never tried a water bottle with a strap before! So excited to get out and use it!)

embrace obnoxiously bright workout gear like asics gt 2000 and nathan running water bottle

Is it weird that I get WAY more excited buying fitness gear than normal, girlie clothes?

I have also finally embraced the obnoxiously bright workout shoe trend. I year ago when I got new shoes I got all weird about the purple Asics the salesman offered me, thinking they would not match any of my workout gear. As if that really matters nowadays…

I bought those exact shoes he offered later in the year for my back to school wardrobe (consisting solely of workout clothes). Go figure.

i love asics

Although I lost motivation early in the week, I found it again and am ready to start week 4 of half-marathon training! Let’s make this a good week, friends!


*~Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut~*

How do you find your motivation?
Do you own obnoxiously colorful workout shoes?
Would you prefer going on a workout clothes or girly clothes shopping spree?  Shopping spree…drool!

Linking this marvelous post up to the Healthy Diva. Be sure to head over there for more marvelous posts!

Also linking up to my BFF Katie’s Fitness Friday post later this week. Book mark it and link up your fitness posts there too!

More fun link-ups (along with their lovely buttons) can be found on my side-bar! 🙂


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Comments

  1. Told you once but I’ll say it again, I love love love the new shoes!! Looks like a good week overall (with an awesome smoothie on the side!) Good luck with training 🙂

  2. Told you once but I’ll say it again, I love love love the new shoes!! Looks like a good week overall (with an awesome smoothie on the side!) Good luck with training 🙂

  3. go week 4! I had two BAD runs this weekend. A 5 miler on Friday where my iPhone (and thus music) decided to die out at the furthest point during my long hot run. And then Sunday I tried to do 5.5 in the 90 degree heat. Didn’t work and I only got so far as 3.

    that said, it’s all about getting back on the horse. hopefully cooler weather is on the running horizon for both of us!

  4. go week 4! I had two BAD runs this weekend. A 5 miler on Friday where my iPhone (and thus music) decided to die out at the furthest point during my long hot run. And then Sunday I tried to do 5.5 in the 90 degree heat. Didn’t work and I only got so far as 3.

    that said, it’s all about getting back on the horse. hopefully cooler weather is on the running horizon for both of us!

  5. Love the new shoes! I bought some brightly colored new shoes this weekend too! The packet pickup for my race this weekend was at a running store so they offered a 10% coupon for all the racers. I was about to buy the shoes online but decided to hold off and so glad I did because I saved $12! Weee!! 🙂

  6. Love the new shoes! I bought some brightly colored new shoes this weekend too! The packet pickup for my race this weekend was at a running store so they offered a 10% coupon for all the racers. I was about to buy the shoes online but decided to hold off and so glad I did because I saved $12! Weee!! 🙂

  9. Love the shoes! I just got some new Nike training shoes and really like them a lot. I am not a runner but I do cardio, weight training, kickboxing, and yoga all on my own from home. I also bike outdoors. It seems like I wear the inside (cushion,support) of my shoes out before the outside

    • Yes I think the cushion does generally run out before the outside! I track my shoes miles (as best I can) on dailymile.com. I’ve heard various numbers like 200-300 miles at which you’re supposed to replace the shoe or at 6 months I think. All I know is they don’t usually LOOK like they are old, but I start to get shin splits after 200 miles.

      That’s awesome you do all of that at home! I remember doing a kickboxing DVD of my mom’s years back and I almost puked because it was jumping and kicking/punching the whole 50 minutes…I might have to give it another go though! 🙂

  10. Love the shoes! I just got some new Nike training shoes and really like them a lot. I am not a runner but I do cardio, weight training, kickboxing, and yoga all on my own from home. I also bike outdoors. It seems like I wear the inside (cushion,support) of my shoes out before the outside

  15. Yes I think the cushion does generally run out before the outside! I track my shoes miles (as best I can) on dailymile.com. I’ve heard various numbers like 200-300 miles at which you’re supposed to replace the shoe or at 6 months I think. All I know is they don’t usually LOOK like they are old, but I start to get shin splits after 200 miles.

    That’s awesome you do all of that at home! I remember doing a kickboxing DVD of my mom’s years back and I almost puked because it was jumping and kicking/punching the whole 50 minutes…I might have to give it another go though! 🙂

  20. The shoes are so cute 🙂 The smoothie looks darn yummy too!! Thanks for sharing at Share Your Stuff Tuesdays Amanda!! Have a good weekend..

  21. I am ALL about the obnoxiously colored workout … everything! Shoes, clothes. Love it all.

    I find shopping for workout clothes a lot more fun then shopping for regular clothes. I don’t really know why! But every time I walk into TJ Maxx, I walk out with a new running top (or bottom).

  22. I am ALL about the obnoxiously colored workout … everything! Shoes, clothes. Love it all.

    I find shopping for workout clothes a lot more fun then shopping for regular clothes. I don’t really know why! But every time I walk into TJ Maxx, I walk out with a new running top (or bottom).