I'm on my way....

...AND I kinda know where I am going...which is a beautiful and comforting thing.  I haven't blogged in a while but time is precious and I have been committed to staying committed to my family, my training and my students.  When the day is done I am finding little time energy to commit to blogging!  I do miss it and have made some plans on how I can fit it in without going nuts!  So, a lot has been going on so get ready for a BBE (bulleted blog entry-yes, i made it up)...and then future and more consistent entries that may make more sense lol..

1. Scott and I have started to train for the Marine Corps Half Marathon in Fredericksburg, VA.  It's really fun and tiring at the same time to start a new program.  We are not using the same program to train and there is a chance that we will not be running side by side for this half.  That may sound weird to some of you but there are a couple of reasons...one being I truly believe your first try at these things are great to do to help you believe in yourself and your abilities.  It makes you realize you are strong enough, you can do it...and I want Scott to understand what I love about all of it.  Second, we don't want to fight lol....  Third, I am trying for a sub 2 and ....don't want to fight.  Nuff' said. 

2.  I'm super excited by how each time I wake up and think "I'm not going to be able to do this workout...its toooo hard!", I get up , try and SUCCEED!  I'm amazed at what my body is allowing me to do...(it is only week 2....we'll see how I feel at week 6-9....)



3.  One thing that is difficult when both parents are training is babysitting!  Scott and I usually go very early and then switch off so this isn't a problem...but on the rare occasion...I make a fort at the track for my kids and they think its the best darn thing in the whole world!

Camp Johnson at the high school track!

4.  We took a mini vacation on my winter recess.  It was nice staying home with the kids and just getting some of the zillion things done that I needed to with the house.  On the tail end we visited Mystic, Connecticut.  It was a very cute, fun and easy trip.  It would have been a bit better if it was warmer but our ferry ride there was not bad at all...it was about 60 degrees that day! 

Team Johnson on the ferry ride!

OK seriously? How do you not want to bite him...
and his choice from the aquarium store!



5.  I just added this because I thought it was hysterical.  I took the kids with me to get a bathing suit for swim class and some running supplies....they really love us running 'women'.

That's all folks!  Promise to post about the training and my upcoming races this week!!!! 

THE WINNER

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 20

That would be lil Miss...On the Right Track!

Please send me your address so I can send it off to Vega! Congrats

Run for Sherry + 1 More DAY for GIVEAWAY!

Todays run was dedicated to Sherry and her family.  It is with great hope that her family could feel how Sherry's story has impacted so many all around the world. 

Kelly and I right before our "Run for Sherry"

Scott and the kids
My second shift of running when the kids woke up!

Barbara V paying tribute

Rick running in Sherri's honor.

Looking for closure to Sherry's story and peace for her family. 

Tomorrow night will be the last day for the VEGA GIVEAWAY!!!  Click here to enter!!!ODDS are in YOUR FAVOR!

LESS is MORE

It's been a whole week and I have been Garmin"less".  It was nuts how the first day I went to go and press the infamous button to stop my time...seriously programmed and controlled by this thing (and as I read my comments...so are most of us!).  I am starting to get back to my roots of why I started running and not getting all funked up by the time and how fast I am going.  Does that mean I won't be training hard to get to where I want to be come February 27th???  Um...no.  It just means that I know to get where I want I have to be focused and get the 'fun' back into it.  I have all my books, I've run all my numbers, I know what to do....it was that I was losing the inspirition to do it.  I love what Beth from SUAR wrote after watching an inspirational running movie...

While there were many components to this movie, here is how it affected me: It made me want to simplify. In this day and age of Garmins, intervals, fancy running gear and Sports Beans, it’s easy to get caught up in the extras. While there is nothing wrong with these elements, when they begin to detract from the pure simplicity of the run, we’ve lost the point. 

So true and exactly what I've been saying.  I look forward to my run tomorrow in honor of her cousin Sherry. I will be running it, thinking of her- and GARMIN'less' because that will definitely not be my focus on that run.....

Its final- I'm leaving you.

I met with Susan, one of the coaches of the tri-team.  We spoke about many things but one of the important things is how I am getting in a time funk.  How I am so concerned with getting faster, how I should be faster by now, and how do I truly GET faster.  Her advice was simple.  Concrete. 

Get rid of the Garmin for a couple of weeks.  Preferably for the three weeks before my training starts for my 1/2 marathon in Virginia.  THREE WEEKS? NO GARMIN?  SERIOUSLY? 

The rationale:  I will find my way back to why I love running and stop over analyzing everything.  I do like to be organized, I like my charts...yada, yada but I am not a freak about it.  I am willing to forgo the Garmin if it will get me out of this funk.  Today I tried it for the first time. I am pretty sure I ran a two miler because I've mapped out so many darn places...and I guess I peek at the damn watch sooo much during my runs (hence "lose the watch"). The run was fun, no pressure and I think it will help me get back to why I started in the first place.  It's crazy.  I feel like everything that is supposed to make things "better" or "more advanced" in our lives today (computers, cell phones, ipads, etc. etc.)...actually takes us so far from what our real goal is- to be happy, do what we love and share it with those we love. 

So I will be Garmin(less) for the rest of the month...or two weeks...(can you tell I'm craving it).  Anyone want to join me??

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!!

VEGA Review and GIVEAWAY

Okay so I am very excited about this review and giveaway!  Thing is, I feel that I must break the reviews up into a few parts.   I know its alot of information when posting about a few products at a time and I thought it would be best to break it up. So here goes the first one!!

First check out the cool box VEGA SPORT samples came in.  They just recently launched a new line and so far the products I have tried are keepers. 

Vega Sport is  an ALL NATURAL, PLANT BASED sport performance system, specifically developed in three stages to help you peform at your best-before, during and after training. 

I love, love one of the sayings in their pamphlet that says

Athletes don't just eat food, they use it.

Brendan Brazier, a professinal Ironman triathlete, created this plant-based, whole food diet. 

They explain their product so well and how all the key nutrients in their product can benefit athletes. 

I first tried the VEGA Sport Pre-workout Energizer. 

It came in Lemon Lime and Acai Berry. 

I used the Acai berry for a long run and the Lemon Lime for a 1 1/2 hour swim class.

Suprisingly I liked the Lemon Lime flavor better.  It tasted a bit like lemon water to me and it was easy to go down.  The Acai berry was fine just didn't prefer it.  It was a bit sweeter.

Yes, this is a very cool shaker. 

I really liked that it felt like a natural, slow and steady release of energy.  I sometimes can feel a spike in energy which can leave me a bit jittery when I use other products.  

With that fast jolt....I can also feel myself crash...especially with the added caffeine products. 

You know if you've been reading my blog...the caffeine was a big problem for my stomach in my first marathon. 

I also felt when I was taking some of the other products that it was so much of the 'artificial' stuff...with VEGA I don't think twice about trying or taking the product because it is all natural.

I will DEFINITELY be purchasing this product.  I like how I felt using it.

The next product I tried was the VEGA Sport Electrolyte Hydrator.  I have to say I never really used a product like this...I was always hesitant to sip Gatorade because it sometimes bothered my stomach, was too heavy and a bit too sugary for my taste.  I also wasn't fond of drinking my calories.  This product is ZERO calories per serving and...

•  helps replenish electrolytes and minerals
• Enhances matabolism and alkalinity
• Provides antioxidant protection

I really love that they come in these small packets so you can take them with you!

I purposely used this product after swimming because I always feel so dehydrated and crappy after the 1 1/2 hour POW swim class.  The class is intense and I always come home spent.  Honestly, I sometimes even take a nap after it. I really think its because when I'm in the pool, I rarely drink, rarely refuel.  Yes, I know...silly but heck...never said I was perfect. 

I went to a birthday party at MY GYM with my kids an hour after I got home.   I sipped this the whole time instead of water....it looked like pink lemonade and tasted yummy.  Not too sweet either.   I was still tired but not SPENT.  You can ask this guy if you don't believe me.

This would be Scotty who deals with me

when I'm in my "swim dehydrated funk" state of mind.

I'm telling you I loved it but try it for yourself and see.  So for the part you have been waiting for...what do you get to try???

Soon I will be reviewing --The Endurance Gel, Endurance Bar, Recovery Accelerator, the Protein Bar, and the Performance Protein...can't wait!

VEGA has offered you the chance to try

 a tub of

Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer- it’s a top seller!

How you ask? 

What you need to do is:

1.  (Mandatory) Go check out VEGA SPORT  and tell me what product you would most like to try. 

2.  (Mandatory) Follow this blog and tell me you did or if you are already.

+1 Tweet about this being sure to mention VEGA SPORT

+1 Tweet about this and mention www.runintherightdirection.blogspot.com

+1  Put this giveaway on your blog!!

WINNER WILL BE PICKED RANDOMLY ON FEBRUARY 12th!!!!

Wordless Wednesday



Saw this in a Runners World
(it also had hummus but didn't have at home)
 So yummy- Fried egg, salsa, avacado on whole grain bread