Saltstick Caps

So I've been on the market for a hydration drink/tablet/capsule....something that could replenish my sodium, electrolytes and all that good stuff that gets lost when I run.  I can't do the Gatorade thing. The last time I had Gatorade, I think high-fructose corn syrup was a main ingredient, and after watching a documentary on the nasty effects of HFCS, I have tried to keep it out of the foods/drinks that my family and I consume. 

I was happy to win two Nuun tabs as a runner-up prize in an online contest another fellow runner posted, but unfortunately by the time they got from her mailbox to mine, the tablets were a crumbled mess and I couldn't salvage them at all. Sadly they ended up in the garbage.

Then I reached out to Saltstick on my own, and low and behold, they sent me some FREE SAMPLES!

I put one with caffeine(Saltstick Caps Plus) in my water bottle before my run this morning. I must say the taste wasn't awesome, but whatever. Also, I don't know if the capsule would've dissolved on its own in the bottom of my bottle, but since it didn't after a minute or so, I ended up taking it out and ripping the capsule open and then I threw it back in. Maybe next time I will open the capsule and just dump the contents into my water...or it looks like you can just take it like a pill and swallow it before drinking your water. Options my friends, options!

I will continue to use up my Saltstick caps and let you know more, but as of now, I like these things!

Run in the Sun with Friends

I am still on a runner's high from this morning's run with Casi and Leslie. Some runs are good, some are blah, and some are AWESOME, and I never know what kind of run I will have, but today's run was just what I needed I guess.

I haven't been sleeping well lately. Not sure why(maybe b/c there is a long and lanky 4 year old tossing and turning all night....and he's wedged between my husband and I in our old queen size bed) but it's getting to be a habit. I wake up too early and then I can't go back to sleep.

This morning was no different. I was up before 6a.m. checking Facebook and writing TO DO lists on sticky notes. I got to CFPark 10 minutes early and walked the track one time around before meeting up with Casi and Leslie. It was gorgeous this morning. Sun, very light breeze, and great chit chat between us(although not as much as we normally do b/c we were trying to keep a faster pace).

We finished strong with 7 miles on the Garmin and I was home in time for Chris to get to his yoga/pilates/cyntergy something class.

I had two big cups of a smoothie I made in the Vitamix(banana, spinach, cucumber, maca powder and an apple) when I got home and felt even healthier with all those fruits in veggies in my belly.

Here it is 5:30 and I am still smiling. Running is a beautiful thing and I am thankful to be able to run in the sun with friends!

 SEE! Still smiling!

Long Branch HALF MARATHON

Wooo hooo, I completed the LB half in 2:05:49! My Garmin watch read 2:05:52 when I turned it off, so I must've stopped it 3 seconds after crossing the finish. Funny because I was looking at some of the race pics that the Marathon FB page posted of the finish line, and all you see are runners stopping their watches as they cross the finish. Us runners can get pretty anal about our race time/pace!
So the day(or should I say early early morning) started off in a rush. I got up at 4:30 a.m.,giving myself a whole hour before Caroline was to pick me up. I ended up on FB and before I knew it, Caroline texted me that she was outside my house waiting! I wasn't even dressed! I scrambled around the dark house to get my belongings and get out there.
We saw some Mommy Movers in the parking lot(my old running group) and it was nice to see familiar faces. Soon enough we were running across the starting line. The adrenaline was pumping. I felt great(besides my grumbling tummy) and I took off a bit faster than my normal pace. Luckily I had Caroline with me until we lost each other at the water station at mile 5. It was a packed road at all times...I never felt like the crowd of runners ever dispersed or trickled down to the point where I wasn't running with people on all sides of me.
At mile 9 my stomach started turning again, and I feared having to take a porta potty break, which would totally ruin my fast pace and possible personal record for fastest half marathon. This is my 7th half, and I really wanted to at least shave off one minute from my Asbury Park time(which was my best time to date).
Luckily the tummy trouble subsided and I didn't have to stop. Once I hit the boardwalk, I knew I didn't have too much farther to go, so I ran as fast as I could to the finish line. It was awesome seeing Chris and Army at the finish. And how did I not mention how awesome it was to see Army, Chris, and my mom cheering me on at mile 7 in front of my mom's house.
I got my medal, banana, and adequate bagel(nothing compares to the Bagel Masters bagel I got at the Indian Hills finish line!) and we headed back to my mom's house. That's about a mile to a mile and 1/2 walk! I figured it was a good idea to keep my legs moving, so I didn't mind the walk. And I had my two favorite people with me, so all was good.
Overall the race was great. My stomach is still a bit of a mess, but that's what happens when you don't eat  your normal pre-race foods the night before. I was at a birthday party last night, eating oil-laden catered food and home-made chocolate chip cookies.
    Sidenote - I wore my new blue LB HALF MARATHON T-SHIRT that they give free to all the runners that entered the race two days after on one of my runs and it fits GREAT! I absolutely love it! Not something I can usually say about other race shirts I have gotten in other races in the past. This one was meant for a girl's body(they did them up this year specific to your gender I think) and it's awesome.
Here are some pics from Chris' camera!

Grandma and Army, then me below in the PINK SOCKS!

Me about 5 minutes after crossing finish line with my son!

Me passing my family at around mile 7