Replacing "Before & After" with "Then & Now"

Transformation Tuesday is a big craze where folks share their Before and After photos for weight loss, fitness accomplishments, etc.

Before and After photos have been around for ages. We all know what they are I assume.

This was in September 2011 and should've been titled Before and During

I couldn't wait to share my own Before and After photos once I hit Goal with Weight Watchers. I would finally reach my after and blast those comparison pictures wherever I could.

The dreaded Before. I look back on those before pictures with disgust at how big I got. I can remember how pained I was. Smiles forced.

Being able to post that hatred next to a beaming After photo pushed me through tough patches both mentally and physically.

But as I reached that forsaken After in January 2012, it didn't feel as euphoric as I wanted.

I was ready for more. The After wasn't truly the end... to me at least.

New Afters were swirling through my head:

* Run a sub 4-hour marathon

* Try a triathlon

* Tackle my fear of obstacle races

* Improve my pace

* Run farther

* Race around the world ... okay that is more race in places around the world ;) I'm not that much of a distance runner yet

How could I use the phrase "Before and After" when I wanted to
stop hating my Before and what I defined as "After" kept changing?

For months this little thought has been growing and cultivating in the back of my mind. What could I use instead? Sharing my story helps keep me motivated, while inspiring others to chase their dreams. But I can't handle the Before and After title.

Here's my idea:

Let's replace Before and After with Then and Now.

Then and Now offers a more open-ended comparison between two different phases in my life. It takes any negative connotation I may imply by shunning the Before and celebrating the After. I can continue to work to love the former me even when comparing it to the current me, which I am still working to embrace - faults and all.

Then and Now allows me to spread my wings and continue pushing my own envelope and expanding that comfort zone.

Will you join me in the movement? Let's celebrate the Then and Now!

Dani Dishes 7-7-14

On this episode of Dani Dishes, it is time to do a life/job update, share about Half Ironman worries, talk about getting Back On Track & a F.A.S.T. virtual 5k/10k announcement! More F.A.S.T. race info!

T-minus 2 months 'til that little Half Ironman

Soooo remember when I decided to go waaayyyy out of my comfort zone and sign up for that teeny tiny race they call a Half Ironman? Yeah that teeny tiny race is just 2 months away.

Ahhhhh ... commence freak out!

Prior to signing up, I have completed two Sprint Triathlons. Yup - that's it. I guess I was going for a go big or go home type situation there.

I felt lost at the beginning of training. I wished I could afford a coach, but it wasn't in the cards.

Thankfully NYC Running Mama suggested the book pictured above.

This book offers a ton of different training plans from the beginner to someone trying to land on the podium at their next Sprint to Full Ironman. All levels and distances are covered. Phew!

I'm not really sure what level I am at so I went with intermediate for now. I thought it was a decent guess. Right?

Can you tell I am getting wicked scientific in this training cycle? :)

So let's break down the different parts of the Half Ironman?

***

SWIMMING

I owe a HUGE thanks to my parents for starting my swim lessons as a baby. I may not be fast in the water, but I feel comfortable there. I love getting into the water, tuning out the world and feeling light as a feather. There is no weight issues in the pool or ocean. Now, I know weight, etc affects the speed and outcome, but I don't feel self-conscious when I am in the water. It takes that anxiety away from me ... even just for that small period of time.

I am quite the sophisticated swimmer as I jot down the workout on a sweet post-it note that is usually soaked through by the cool down. ;) The book does a great job of breaking down the purpose and benefit of each type of swim exercise. Am I 100% sure I am doing it correctly? Nope. But I am trying my hardest and I know that the meters adding up is the most important thing I can do.

Trying to condition my body to get ready to swim 1.2 miles before doing those other two little sections.

While at the Heartbreak Hill Running Festival, Sarah Reinertsen - one of the most inspirational athletes around - shared how she exhausts her arms on the swim during her Ironman because you don't really use them the rest of the race. I am trying to take that to heart during practice swims by using the arms as much as possible and resting the legs. It is giving me something to focus on and improve.

So far in training I have swum at least 1 mile straight and felt comfortable. On race day, I will need to swim the 1.2 miles in less than 1 hour to continue on in the race. Those time limits are always looming in the back of my head.

BUT, I know pool swimming and open water swimming are very different so I am working on putting on my big girl pants and getting out into the open waters...

***

BIKING

By FAR my weakest portion of the triathlon. Well it is also my least favorite so those two things could go hand in hand. :0)

I made a pledge to work on my biking this winter so I set up the free-to-me (thanks old tenant) bike trainer. :)

It was a great way to cross train for the marathons when I didn't want to leave the house. Or a way to watch a show I wanted to watch, but be productive while doing it.

I am working on following the training plan, but tweaking to fit my needs and plans on the weekend. But in May I started taking the bike outside.

I get very worried about falling off the bike and getting a flat tire. I am still not used to shifting the gears and now clip pedals. Last month, I purchased new pedals that have clips on one side and are flat on the other so you can still bike in sneakers if you want. I want to have the options. Ya know?

Thankfully my friend Darcie is a more experienced biker than I so she and I have gone out on some long rides together.

On July 4th came the biggest bike ride of my career, over 30 miles while working on clipping, hills, shifting, riding in traffic and inclement weather. And you know what? I survived.

Now I know for the race I will need to up the speed. I think we figured that we will need to keep at least a 15.0 mph. Now on this day, we were dealing with stoplights and people on the bike path so I think we were going an appropriate speed outside of those moments. But, speed is something I need to work on.

Hey, I am happy with the progress I have made thus far.

I tested out the camelback on the ride and it was perfect. I am not comfortable enough taking my hands off the handlebars to take a drink - damn balance - so the camelback allowed me to stay steady and hydrated.

I also knocked off my first fall. Now it wasn't a huge fall. Okay it happened while I was at a stop, but I got it over with. :) I successfully clipped the right shoe out, but forgot about the left and over I went into a nice piled of mulch. Ha. Darcie was the only person who got to witness it.

It felt great to tackle such a big ride. I know I have a long ways to go, but I am going in the right direction.

***

RUNNING

Let's just say I never thought I would be least worried about running. ;) I have been battling a left hamstring injury for a while so the running hasn't been my main focus. I think my body is pretty conditioned right now and I am trying to focus on the swimming and biking as much as possible to keep the cardio up.

I know once the leg feels better I will need to get back into the BRICK workouts - 2 parts of the triathlon back-to-back.

I'm hoping by now no matter how tired I will be I can make it through a half marathon. (Again never thought I would write something like that)

***

The timing scares me the most. You must be out of the water in 1 hour and done with the course in 8. So when my music died in the water the other day, I spent the entire time working out "worst case scenarios" in my head.

Okay if it takes me 1 hour to swim and 3 hours to run that gives me 4 hours to bike. Etc Etc.

While I work on the physical training, I know the mental needs even more help. The confidence needs to be there on race day since there is no music allowed in triathlons. So for most of this it will be me and my thoughts together ... alone ... for hours. I will need to stay positive and focused. Oh and singing to myself. That is a given.

So with two months to go, I will continue to improve, to study, to learn and to push my limits.

Adios comfort zone ... hello Half Ironman!

I'm No Longer A Flywheel Virgin

I've come here in this safe space of my blog to reveal that I am no longer a virgin. Oh wait let me reread that sentence.

Oops! Let's try that again!

I am no longer a FLYWHEEL virgin.

;)

I have finally experienced what so many of my friends have been telling me for months ... Flywheel is freakin' awesome!

 

Photo Courtesy SarahFit.com

Did you know that your first Flywheel class is FREE? I knew this, but it still took me MONTHS to finally take advantage.

It was worth the wait.

As I plugged the address (800 Boylston St) into my GPS - just to make sure I knew which part of the street it was on, I paced up and down Boylston as I couldn't spot 800. I figured it was inside the Prudential Center, but I couldn't find it. I had 15 minutes to get there in time. If you don't sign-in in time, you forfeit your bike.

No no. Not on my watch.

So I popped into the Lululemon and was given quick directions to the studio. Yes it was inside the Prudential Center, but just not in an obvious location. Yes, maybe I should've done better research before I left the house, but that's in the past. ;)

I made it in time.

Flywheel allows you to reserve your bike and bike shoes online in advance. Once I got the studio, I used one of the laptops above to check in and officially claim my bike. I had picked #30 just because. I looked below the laptops to find my official Flywheel shoes in the cubby marked #30. Talk about service. Now you can bring your own Spin shoes if you want, but I wanted the full experience.

With moments to spare, I shoved my crap in one of the free lockers, which have keypad locks on them so no lock needs to be remembered. I said hi to my friend and Tedy's Team teammate Melinda, who was the instructor for the class, hit the bathroom, grabbed my towels and wandered into the Spin studio.

Photo courtesy GlutenFreeBostonGirl.com

Stadium style seating makes sure there isn't a bad seat in the Studio.

There were two Flywheel employees in the Studio to help participants set up their bikes correctly.

I was locked in and ready to go. I was attending Melinda's Throwback Thursday class and was pumped for some great 90s tunes during the ride.

Now what sets Flywheel apart is the Torqboard.

Every Flywheel studio features two Torqboards - large screens that display leaderboards a few times during each class. So if you're at all competitive, you may opt in to participate in our Torqboards and find out how you rank against other riders.

For every ride you take, we capture a list of performance metrics that we post in your private account on our website. It's real data in real time. Which means, as soon as class is over, you can log on and see your stats, like how fast and how strong you rode, along with how this compares to your previous rides and how you rank against other riders. You'll see metrics for RPM's, Torq, Speed, Power, Distance and even Calories Burned. This allows you to set your own goals and measure your performance over time.

Now you know I had to take part in the Torqboard. I was still nursing the sore left hammy, but I was willing to give the class all I had.

And that I did.

Melinda was NOT joking around. She did a great job keeping the group motivated and sweating.

She leads the cues not only by position on the bike - 1st, 2nd, 3rd - but by resistance (aka Torq) and RPMs.

For example, we warmed up looking for a Torq of 15-20 and RPM around 80. There is a little screen on your bike where you can watch your Torq, RPMs and overall point total for the class.

The lights were off and I was focused right on Melinda and her movements.

But when girl told me to push it, I gaveit 110% because at any time she could light up that Torqboard and reveal our rankings.

I learned early on that I was battling near the top ... and the competitive side kicked in.

Shocking I know.

As we battled through sprints, jumps and hills, the sweat poured.

Halfway through the 45 minute class I was holding down the #1 spot amongst the ladies. The person in second was 9 points behind me and I wanted to keep it that way.

With about 10-15 minutes left in class, it was time to work the arms with weighted bars. Biceps, triceps, etc it all got worked, while the legs kept spinning.

And before I knew it we were on the last song and I made sure to give it all I had left. I wasn't about to lose the top spot at the end of the class.

And I didn't! :)

It's fascinating how adding a board to my Spin workout upped my game. I need to bring this intensity to all my Spin workouts - board or no board.

Hello calorie burn. It was a whole body workout for sure. At no point did I try to check my watch to see how much longer the class was. I was present, motivated and in the moment the entire time.

The energy was great. The song choice outstanding.

Thank you Melinda for an awesome ride.

Afterwards, I collected my stuff from the free locker, turned in my shoes, dropped my towels and left with a huge smile on my face.

So I challenge you to find the Flywheel near you and take advantage of the free class!!

***

Have you battled the Torqboard before?

Dani Dishes 6-16-14

On this week's episode of #DaniDishes, I swam a consecutive mile AND let's did the world of the words "just" and "only!"

Three Things Thursday: Zensah Edition

I've done countless posts about Zensah compression socks and sleeves. (Read here if you missed one) Since everyone knows/hears about compression socks and sleeves, I thought I'd use Three Things Thursday to open your minds to other products Zensah has to offer in the world of compression.

(Please note: I loved Zensah so much I was honored to be chosen last year as a Zensah blogger! This does not however sway or impact my reviews of their products! Ain't nobody got time for fake reviews!!!)

The three Zensah products I'm bringing to you today are: Sports Bra, Shorts and Arm Warmers.

Let's get this compression party started ...

***

1) Limitless Compression Arm Warmers (value $34.99)

The latest addition to the Zensah arsenal are arm warmers. I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard about them. I mean I have seen friends running in arm warmers before, but hadn't tried it myself.

The description on the website explained it clearly:

Whether using the Zensah Limitless Compression Arm Warmers during an early morning run, or while working out, the arm warmers provide athletes with improved circulation for faster muscle recovery.

And who doesn't want faster muscle recovery? I knew they were worth a shot.

I was trying to find the perfect opportunity to test them out and Boston weather gods must've heard me. We had a gorgeous, yet slightly chilly day this past weekend where I could actually rock a tank top. Destiny!

So I took the arm warmers out for a spin and they were really great. I didn't feel any swelling in my arms or hands. The sleeves stayed in place thanks to the comfortable elastic at the top. No pinching, which is always appreciated.

And you know my love of thumb holes.

Zensah didn't disappoint there.

The arm warmers even have a small mesh pocket where you can store fuel, a house key or even your phone.

My ENERGYBits are nice and snug!

Now many of you might be thinking that having a phone on your arm without a strap might bog you down. I didn't find it a problem at all. It stayed in place and didn't pull the arm warmer down at all while running.

I'm excited to test these out more over the next few months. As the weather gets a tad warmer my hands tend to heat up first so I tested it and the thumbholes can be rolled up to the wrist if needed without causing a ton of discomfort.

The arm warmers currently come in four different colors: black, white, neon pink and neon yellow.

Key Features:

• Essential transition piece for cooler weather
• Moisture wicking and antimicrobial proprietary fabric
• Mesh side pocket ideal for carrying iPhone, gels, or keys
• Thumbholes for added hand warmth
• Silver ions for thermal regulation
• Compression improves circulation for faster recovery
• Sun Protection
• Made of 87% Nylon, 13% Spandex

***

2) High Compression Shorts (value $63.99)

I think we all know that running and training is always a learning process. Am I right?

There are always techniques and products we learn about from our peers.

Well, I encountered IT band problems in 2011. I knew to foam roll and went to physical therapy to work on the problem. It would creep back at times as it does.

But one day I was running with friend when she told me about compression shorts. I had no idea. I knew about socks/sleeves and was already addicted to those. But knew nothing about these compression shorts.

So I took myself to the Zensah website to learn more:

Run, bike, and recover faster with the Zensah High Compression Shorts, The compression shorts provide support to the upper leg, while allowing for unrestricted mobility in the lower leg.

Huh? So these little shorts sound like they could help the nagging pain in my hip and IT area.

Can you guess what happened next?

I tried them ... and they worked!

Shocking I know.

I now wear compression shorts the night before a big run and the afternoon/evening after.

My hip and upper leg couldn't be happier. They are thin enough that I will in fact wear them under work pants or a dress. Take that business casual.

At first I thought it was just another fad or something folks bought just because they sound cool, but I see the light. These shorts are heaven to my legs especially after dealing with Heartbreak Hill on a weekly basis!

Key Features:

• 3D compression for extra support in the quadriceps
• Moisture wicking
• Keeps upper legs warm and loose
• Made of 85% Polyamide, 15% Elastane

***

3) Seamless Running Sports Bra (value $35.99)

Sports bras are one of the most integral pieces of clothing when it comes to exercise.

Fellas you agree? Mansiere? Bro?

The #1 annoyance can be chafing. Ain't nobody got time for that! (yes I used that reference twice in one blog post - sue me! No wait don't!)

With a seamless construction and Zensah fabric, the Zensah Sports Bra prevents chafing. This high-performance running sports bra offers superior comfort and support, as well as giving you the option to add color to your workout.

I like comfort. I like support. I like color.

Seems like a winning combo to me.

And they ARE super comfortable. My addiction has grown and I now own this bra in five different colors and waiting for pay day to increase the collection.

The Zensah Running Sports Bra features moisture wicking technology that keeps you dry, even after the toughest workouts. The racerback allows for free movement. Zensah has the best sports bra on the market for runners, athletes, and any active woman. The 15 different color choices make it the most colorful running sports bra.

The sports bra does fit all body types, but know it only goes up to a L/XL so you would have to refer to the sizing chart before purchasing. My lovely lady lumps have shrunk - thanks weight loss - so I usually wear the M/L.

Key Features:

• Seamless design = no chafing
• Anti-Bacterial
• Superior Comfort from the proprietary Zensah fabric in each Running Bra
• Thermal Regulating
• Moisture Wicking to prevent the running bra from becoming heavy with perspiration
• Made of 94% Nylon, 6% Spandex

***

Have you checked out any of these Zensah products?

Athleta ... After Hours

If only life was like a TV show, right? I'm thinking of the classic Saved By The Bell or some other equally amazing 80s-90s classic TV show where the gang gets trapped in the mall/store - after hours! They try on all the clothes, have some sort of safe mischief transpire and then they escape being arrested for trespassing and go on their way for pizza.

Doesn't anyone else wish that would happen to them?

Well I got the chance ... okay minus A.C. Slater and crew ... to hang at the Athleta Store on Newbury St in Boston - After Hours!

Par-tay!!

I and some other Boston area bloggers were invited to check out Athleta's new Summer Line. Oh yeah sneak peek!!

My love of Athleta has been growing and growing, but I can never find an opportunity to make it into one of the stores.  So I jumped at the opportunity. Plus, it happened at 7pm, which meant I could leave work at my normal time and arrive fashionably late. I know I am never fashionable, but I can OWN fashionably late.

I arrived at Athleta to a nearly empty store, which is a really cool sensation. It is like walking into your personal closet - except you need to pay for the things inside of it before you can wear them. :P Minor detail.

There were a handful of bloggers on site when I arrived, as well as some delish looking wraps being offered by Flatout Bread.

Flatout Bread even sent us home with a bag full of goodies. I know you are all jealous of that.

After grabbing my glass of champagne and snapping a quick "Look Ma! I am in a store after hours. Aren't I cool? Okay I know I am not, but let's pretend" selfie...

... I was off to the races to check out the goods.

Now, if you told me five years ago, that I would be this giddy over checking out workout clothes - I would've told you to go home. But, here I am in 2014, and in heaven.

I mean how cute, right?

Athleta doesn't carry all of their size options in store. I believe you have to go online to purchase some of the larger options (hope they are working to change that). But Athleta does range in sizes from 0-20 or (S-2X). I am not sure if every style is available in all sizes, but playing around on the website helps to figure that out.

As someone who used to be a size 20, I appreciate a brand name taking care of their clients - who range in shapes and sizes. Plus, I love the Athleta message of "power to the she!" Girl Power baby. Oh Spice Girls how I miss thee.

But I digress...

I did a once around the store before targeting the running corner. Are we shocked. The pants (pictured above) caught my eye immediately. They are the Blossoms Be Free Knicker (value $64). I loved the pattern, the drawstring, ventilation behind the knees, the rear pocket AND side pockets (where I could hold my ENERGYBits during a run. Oh they were made for me. I was Oohing and Ahhing over them when I heard: "Do you want me to start a room for you?"

Oh heck yeah!

I've never liked clothes shopping or trying on clothes, but seeing the fun colors and patterns in Athleta that night made me leap at the chance to see how they would look.

The girl helping me asked what size I needed and I immediately wanted to say XL. BUT I already own a pair of Athleta pants so I knew it was a Medium. Can that gut reaction to say XL just go away?

And they fit like a glove. The tag is blocking the side pocket, but it is perfect for your in-run fuel. I had a hard time taking them off. I just wanted to hit the streets in them.

I may or may not have done a lap in the store, while wearing them. I mean you need to test these things out right?

The extra lap also helped me spot some additional pants to try on.

As I mentioned before, I love the relay capris I got during a Fitfluential campaign last year. They are amalfi blue - aka really blue - and were a color choice out of my comfort zone.

I was explaining this to the girls who worked at Athleta and they pulled the same pants off the discount rack ($69 marked down to $44.99), but in coralade (aka pink). I was nervous to try on such a bold flavor, but felt comfortable with the encouragement from the girls in the fitting room so I took the  chance.

How bright are they? :P

Sorry I didn't have time to match my KT Tape to the pants.

While I was doing a little walk around in the relay capris, I noticed Rachel (aka @Healthy_Chicks) rockin' the Chaturanga Capri ($54)in Catalina Green. They were fierce. Can I say fierce? Has Beyoncé trademarked that?

Anywho with some slight prodding by the other ladies in the fitting room, I took the plunge to try them on.

See the fierceness? Ignore my inability to make a normal face.

As soon as I put them on I wanted to live in them. I kid you not. I wanted to make a movement that these be considered business wear. They were flattering - a nice wide waistband which really flatters all body types. They are made of a Pilayo wicking material, which allows the pants to breathe and dry quickly. They even lend "UPF 50+ protection."

While changing back into my normal wear, the three pairs of pants sat in front of me. Taunting me. Calling my name. Saying they wanted to come home with me.

I was not planning on spending money.

Then I remembered. I tucked a $50 Athleta gift card in my pocketbook earlier in the day. Just in case. AND the lovely ladies of Athleta treated all the bloggers to a $25 gift card for being at the event. Pair those $75 gift cards with a 30% off coupon and I walked out of the store with three pairs of pants for $53.

Oh heck yeah!

Even without the gift cards the Athleta pants are reasonably priced compared to some other workout clothing lines that I won't mention (from that country ending in anada).

So if you haven't had the chance to check out the new Athleta Summer line, head to their website or the closest store. You really won't be disappointed.

You just may have to bring your own champagne and snacks... ;)

My New Race Ragz Shirt & A #Giveaway!

Annddddd the winner IS:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

Do you love hearing people cheer your name during a race?

Would you love a way to let folks know your blog name or about a charity you are working for?

Just want a personalized t-shirt to rock?

Well, I'm ready to help.

Say hello to My Race Ragz!

I made my first purchase with Race Ragz in late 2011 for a half marathon I was doing in January 2012. I ran the F^3 Half Marathon in Chicago in honor of the Dempster Foundation.

I had a great time designing the shirt through their website. I raised over $3000 for the Dempster Foundation before that race so I made sure to honor my top donors on the back as well as the person I was running for - Mile 13 for Riley. :)

Can you all see I've been using/loving the "Finish What You Started" mantra for awhile now?

So when I was offered the chance to design another shirt with Race Ragz through the Sweatpink community, I jumped on the chance (value $32).

For this shirt, I wanted to showcase my blog.

The process was simple as I:

*headed to MyRaceRagz.com

*clicked on the create button

*selected the type of shirt (I chose the women's endurance race tee in XL. I heard from another blogger that they ran small)

*chose "customized shirt"

*designed the shirt by uploading graphics and adding text to both the front and back of the tee

The whole process took about 10 minutes since I already had my logo ready to go. Obviously, the activity could take longer if you are playing around with different graphics and text, but that is the fun part. Right? You want it just right!

So you want to see the finished product in action? Here it is.

Front

Back

The shirt is the tech material so I can't wait to show it off at the gym and during my races ... as soon as the weather warms up of course. I am glad I went a size bigger so it is nice and loose - just the way I like it.

Delivery took 4-5 days, which included a weekend. The turnaround time and quality is top notch.

Now if you aren't feeling overly crafty or getting overwhelmed with the possibilities, Race Ragz has designs on the site that you can choose to put on a shirt.

***

Let's get to the part you are waiting for ... the giveaway!! Race Ragz is giving YOU the chance to design YOUR own shirt! Woo!

So here’s how to enter:

The giveaway will run from Sunday March 2 (6pm ET) through Friday March 7 (6pm ET)!

The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!

Three Things Thursday

Here's a little running edition of Three Things Thursday!

***

First up ... Oofos Sandals

I was wicked excited when Oofos contacted me to test out their sandals (value $39.95). One because I love to try new things and two...

...I love my flip flops post race! But I find they lack in the support my feet need after hitting the pavement for a race. The Oofos sandals offer the support my feet - especially the arch - need thanks to their OOfoam.

Technical advantages of OOfoam™ over traditional cushioning materials:

• Significantly more comfort, cushioning and natural articulation
• 37% more impact absorption
• Longer lasting support and cushioning
• Arch support for most foot-types
• Durable wear
• Machine washable

I took these out for a Spin after my 17.4 miler and 10 miler. My feet really felt like they were walking on clouds (and I don't use that term loosely).

I really like the fact that I could put my Zensah compression socks on after the run and then easily slip my feet into these sandals. Double the recovery help and double the comfort. It really was a great combination.

Oofos offers three different types of shoes: the original (regular flip flops with the toe divider) in NINE different colors, the slide (which I tried) in two different colors and the OOClog (which you can figure out is a clog) in two different colors (clog is $49.95). So the variety is there depending on your dress, style or comfort level.

Many readers saw my posts on Instagram and Facebook already and asked my true thoughts on these sandals. And the verdict is in...

I would buy them to rock post-long run!

I can't wait to try them out in the summer months especially when I usually hit the beach for the day after a morning run.

Thanks OOfos for letting me try these sweet sandals.

***

Numero Dos: KIND Snacks

There’s healthy. There’s tasty. Then there’s healthy and tasty. At KIND, we believe you deserve both—we call it our brAND philosophy. That’s why you’ll find all of our snacks are pretty much the nirvana of healthful tastiness. What began with just 8 bar varieties in 2004 has grown to over 22 bars and 6 Healthy Grains snackable clusters, and a multitude of new recipes being perfected and refined to our standards in the KIND kitchen.

Well KIND snacks pretty much sold me with that introduction to their company.

KIND snacks has been around since 2004, but didn’t enter my radar until last summer. Yes I know I am behind the times. What else is new? 

I kept seeing their product at local races. Now, I am ALL about the free products at a race so I would pick one up and not really think anything about it I did a giveaway with KIND last August. They sent me a whole goodie bag of flavors so I was really able to try them in all different fueling capacities.

So I am often asked what do I do when I am traveling for a race, I can't necessarily make my usual egg whites, wheat toast and peanut butter concoction I do when I am at home.

Enter KIND Snack bars.

Personally I need to eat an hour before a race then nothing else (besides ENERGYBits) until I am done. A thing with my body. Soooo when traveling, I throw one of these bars (5-6 PPV on Weight Watchers) into my bag and I enjoy usually one that has chocolate or peanut butter in it (it's like a treat at 5am) one hour before the Start while I am stretching, etc.

I appreciate what KIND stands for as a company and I like that I can read all of the ingredients in their product. Now, I know some people need more before a race and everyone is different, but for me - this packs the punch I need.

I've also found if I cut them up in advance and put them in a little baggy, it is the perfect fuel while on the bike. Easy to eat, enjoyable and gives me the extra push I need. The trick is cutting it up ahead of time. I am still new to the bike so I haven't mastered tearing open the container and biking at the same time ... yet!

***

And last, but certainly not least... Fitsnap App!

 

I think folks have noticed on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram fitness posts a new look. They are jazzed up and that is thanks to the Fitsnap App.

FitSnap is an iPhone app that creates inspirational pictures from your workouts & activities. Add your workout information on top of your photos to create beautiful images to share with your friends on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.

It's as simple as that!

They have a great drop down menu full of different activities you can use:

You an fill in your duration of the activity, how far you went (if you know) and then you can add a little snippet about how it went (this might be my favorite part).

They even have a whole list of specific yoga poses on the app.

Once you input the information, you then choose the layout of the overlay by swiping left and right. After that is picked, you can choose a filter to dress up or dress down your picture. Then it is saving to your phone and you are off!

The basic Fitsnap app is free, but you can make "in-app purchases" to give you additional Fitsnap themes for 99 cents each. The additional themes are: Half Marathon and Marathon. I'm excited to try those two out in the coming months! :)

So if you are looking to jazz up those post-run selfies or you just need another iPhone app, I highly recommend Fitsnap.

Oh and tell 'em IrishEyes1982 sent ya. ;)

2013: Finish What You Started ... 2014: Consistency

2013 proved to be a year. The End.

Oh is that not how a "Year In Review" blog happens? Not gonna lie I haven't really done one of these before. :P I guess because big things happened at the end of the two years this little slice of the internet has been around.

2011 - deciding to move back to Boston from Chicago

2012 - Grampa unexpectedly passing away on December 27, 2012.

2013 rounded out without major issue so let's see what kind of review I can put together.

The year was truly defined in April. It gave me the mantra for the reminder of the year: Finish What You Started!

I can't believe how long ago the trip to Disney in January 2013 feels.

It may have been just 365 days ago, but it seems likes a world away.

Why?

Simply put.

April 15, 2013.

That date will forever be engrained in my mind ... and tattooed on my body.

On that day, I lined up for the Boston Marathon with Tedy's Team in honor of my Stroke Heroes - my grandparents.

For those that read the blog you know the ordeal and if you are new - 1st Hi! :) and 2nd feel free to read about my Boston Marathon Bombing experience here. I was lucky to cross the Finish Line 1 minute before the explosions happened and for all of my friends/family/teammates to make it out of the area unscathed.

But that one single event impacted the rest of the year. It never truly leaves you or your memory. Months later it is still hard to walk down Boylston St or to hear folks talk about the events on that day, but it made the city of Boston and the country come together.

It gave me a sense of purpose for the remainder of the year. Simply put: Do things those hurt/killed on that day can't!

So I set out starting in May to live in the moment with friends and family, find new fitness challenges to conquer and earning some amazing accolades.

Friends And Family

Friends, Family and Folks I have met through the interwebs became the backbone of 2013. I needed those faces, those hugs and those interactions to remind me how lucky I was to be living, to be breathing, to be walking.

One of my BFFs, Lindsey, & I enjoying wine! :)

In June I had the honor to attend Suzi Storm's wedding in update New York. We had not met in person before that day, but had formed just a tight friendship through social media that I happily jumped in a car for about 7 hours to witness the biggest day of her life.

This amazing meeting led into Fitbloggin. An amazing weekend for bloggers that I attended in 2012 for the first time. After encountering about 8 hours of delays on my way out from Boston to Portland, I finally made it. Fitbloggin has a special place in my heart. You can read why here.

Fitbloggin occurred at the perfect time. I needed to be surrounded by the love and in a judgment-free zone. Many of the people at that conference were the first to check on me after the Marathon Bombings. The hugs and love experienced that weekend are still felt today.

My other best friend, Sarah, and her family moved to Bar Harbor, Maine (over 5 hour drive from Boston) at the end of May so when her daughter - my Joanna - turned 1 in July. We took the long trek to see them. We spent over 12 hours in the car to spend 12 hours with them ... and it was worth every minute in the car.

Wouldn't you agree for that face?

But just a couple weeks after that, we faced a roadblock. My wife, Tori, underwent an ACL replacement the day after her birthday. It put a big hinge on our summer/fall plans, but seeing her have a healthy recovery was worth the sacrifice.

As a result of the surgery, Tori missed out on the adventures I had meeting new friends through racecations in September and October.

Philadelphia

Cape Cod

Providence

Brooklyn

Los Angeles

I even hosted my first meetup/tweetup in Los Angeles. It was AMAZING to meet so many folks that I had only interacted with before online.

Check out the pics and recap here.

As I mentioned, the theme of this year was to hold on to the loved ones and it spawned meeting social media friends IRL (in real life) and it was magical. I loved seeing online relationships foster into real friendships.

Oh social media.

Fitness Challenges

In the beginning of 2013, I focused on the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and The Boston Marathon. But I knew I needed to keep signing up for races in order to push myself farther outside of my comfort zone.

During Memorial Day weekend, my friend Kim and I took on a special challenge. We were going to take on two races in one day: The Boston's Run To Remember Half at 7am-ish and the Cambridge 5k Freedom Run 5k at 9:30am.

And we made it!! Kim experienced a leg injury/cramp during the Half, but I refused to lead her side and she finished like a champ - leading to this amazing embrace being caught at the Finish Line.

But on that day we did, we conquered 16.2 miles! :)

Then came the obstacle races. These scare me more than a marathon. I have limited upper body strength so they freak me out. But in 2013, I conquered two obstacle races and even got to do the second with a team of Boston bloggers. :)

Ruckus

Urban Raid Boston

In September, I took on the challenge of completing two half marathon in two days in two different states - ZOOMA Cape Cod (9/28) and Rock 'n' ROll Providence (9/29). It was an amazing experience and went smoother than I thought. :)

Oh and I even dabbled in more intense trail running. Yup, that included one at night - thank you See Sharp Run for being my light - in more ways than one and one in the big mountains of Maine, which reminded me I am injury prone. :P

Haunted Trails of the Night 10k

FBC Autumn Trail Race

But the biggest fitness challenge of 2013 - the one I dreamed about for ages - was...

tackling my first Sprint triathlon!!! It was something I never imagined myself completing, but it was a blast. And yes, I was quickly hooked! Which may have led to one of the 2014 fitness goals. :)

Amazing Accolades

Weight Watchers bestowed a couple amazing honors on me in 2013. In our annual April celebration, I earned the Rookie Leader of the Year award and Diamond Leader status.

In October, I was contacted by WeightWatchers.com and told I would be featured on the website as a Success Story. While I can't show any of the photos from the photo shoot yet (it hits the web in March 2014), I can share a couple pics from the trip to NYC itself.

Great dinner with fellow WW Sucess Stories - over 330 lbs lost in this pic

Little trip to Statue of Liberty with the wife

For the second year in a row, I won a spot on Got Chocolate Milk's Team Refuel. Thank you all again for taking the time to vote! :)

Out Of The Comfort Zone

This year I made two big leaps outside of my comfort zone.

At Fitbloggin in June, I was asked and accepted a spot in the new Fashion Show that took place during lunch one day. I was nervous, but knew if there was a place to make an attempt at walking in a Fashion Show it would have to be at Fitbloggin.

Look I even tried to strike a pose. :P

I even put myself out there with a goal of running 1,000 miles in 2013 ... and you know what? It happened!! :)

What was even cooler? I exceeded it. I ended up setting a 2nd (1,111) and finally a 3rd mileage (1,150) goal for the year.

It was one of my proudest moments. Seeing my body accomplish such a big goal that seemed so daunting when I set it in January 2013.

But even with injury and sickness, I pushed forward and used that goal guide me!

***

So to say 2013 was eventful is an understatment. It had it's lows, but with the help of friends and family they turned into highs. It was a trying, yet fulfilling year.

What could 2014 possibly bring?

Consistency.

My goal is to be more consistent in life. Have I fully defined that yet? No. It will be a work in progress as 2014 dictates. But I know I let some old emotional eating habits creep in in 2013 and I am ready for those to quietly fade away.

What about fitness wise?

The big goals of 2014 are: The Dopey Challenge January 9-12, The Boston Marathon April 21 and my very first Half Ironman September 7.

Wow! I would've never imagined myself signing up for these five years ago, but now is the time to learn, to love and to push my limits.

Bring it 2014!