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What if donating to charity was as easy as lacing up the running shoes and heading out for a run,walk or bike ride? What if I told you it wouldn’t cost you a penny to donate? Would you be interested? Charity Miles is a free app that allows you to earn money for charities as you run, walk or bike. And it doesn’t cost you a cent!
Download Charity Miles on your iPhone or Android for free. Activate your account by choosing your charity. There is a list of about 22 charities. Select Run, Walk or Bike and then hit the pavement. It’s that easy! When you’re finished, accept your sponsorship and spread the word. Bikers earn 10 cents a mile while running and walking earn 25 cents a mile. So what are you waiting for? Lace up your shoes and get running!
A list of the charities : My charity is Autism Speaks.
* Achilles International
* ASPCA
* Autism Speaks
* DoSomething.org
* Every Mother Counts
* Feeding America
* Girl Up
* Habitat for Humanity
* Ironman Foundation
* Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
* Nothing But Nets
* Partnership For a Healthier America
* Pencils of Promise
* She’s the First
* Shot@Life
* Stand Up to Cancer
* The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
* The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
* The Nature Conservancy
* VisionSpring
* The World Food Programme
* Wounded Warrior Project
Are you on Instagram? Use #Everymilematters and your picture could end up on Facebook Charity Miles Page. Enjoy your run!
In less than three weeks I have another half marathon. Am I ready? I hope so. It’s been really hot in Arizona until about 2 weeks ago. Running my long runs was hard in the hot weather. But I have done my best and that is all I can ask of myself. Running is definitely a love of mine and it’s kind of like a small club. If you meet another runner…you become instant friends. And meeting another runner is happening more often because the sport of running has definitely grown over the last 10 years. Which excites me because there are more races popping up everywhere. Race day is what gets you through the training! I look forward to race day! Getting up at the crack of dawn before everyone else and lining up with a ton of other people just like you and crossing that finish line…it doesn’t get better than that 🙂
This blog post came about because of some beginner runners I just met. They asked me to post my first half marathon-training plan. I used the Runner’s World Magazine plan for training. In fact, I still use a lot of it but now add more intervals.
On the rest/crossX train days I either will rest, do yoga at home or walk my dog a couple of miles. Your body will tell you what to do. Good luck!
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 1 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 5 Miles |
| 2 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 4 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 5 Miles |
| 3 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 5 Miles2 miles at race pace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 6 Miles |
| 4 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 5 Miles2 milesat racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 7 Miles |
| 5 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 4 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 4 miles | 8 Miles |
| 6 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 4 Miles3 miles at racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 6 Miles |
| 7 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 6 Miles4 miles at racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 10 Miles |
| 8 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 6 Miles4 miles at racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 12 Miles |
| 9 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 6 Miles4 miles at racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | 9 Miles |
| 10 | Rest orCrossX | 3 Miles | Rest orCrossX | 5 Miles2 miles at racepace | Rest orCrossX | 3 miles | RACEDAY! |
What to get your family involved? Have them join you for your 3 mile runs. My youngest sometimes rides his bike as I run. He only does this on my 3 mile runs. Do you run with your family? What training guide has been useful for you?
My Top 11 Runner Snacks
It’s 3 pm and your stomach is growling. I bet this has happened to you because this happens to me every day. As a runner, eating only 3 meals a day just doesn’t cut it. Even if you don’t run and you work out and are trying to loss weight, eating smaller meals throughout the day is better for your body and metabolism. Diet experts believe more frequent meals could be better. Eating six small meals a day, they say, helps regulate blood sugar, control cravings and keep hunger at bay. As long as you choose the right foods and watch portion sizes, “grazing” throughout the day can help you lose weight while keeping you energized. But it’s not for everyone — especially if you have trouble controlling the amount you eat or if you don’t have time to plan and prepare and healthy snacks and meals.
Eating smaller meals more often provides an excellent opportunity to eat a healthier diet. Shifting your focus from high-calorie snacks to balanced mini-meals could be exactly what you need to help you whittle your waistline.
But eating three squares is also a perfectly healthy way to eat and lose weight. So choose the meal plan that works best for your lifestyle. As long as your meals are well-distributed through the day, and you never go more than 4-5 hours without food, you can reach your weight loss goals with three, four, five, or six meals a day. The choice is up to you!
Here is some of my favorite Snacks (mini-meals) as a runner:
1. Bananas: Bananas are chock full of good carbohydrates. They are a good source of vitamin B6 and are vital for managing protein metabolism. (Runners need more protein during and after workouts.)
2. Cereal with Skim Milk: Most cereals are vitamin- and mineral-fortified, and they’re great with fresh fruit sliced on top. Cereal is a quick-to-prepare, easily digestible, and healthful way to satisfy your sweet tooth. (Even some sweetened cereals are a good low-fat alternative to cookies). Choose cereals that have 5 grams of fiber or more per serving.
3. Chocolate Milk: Chocolate milk is cold and helps keep you hydrated. It also provides plenty of protein, carbohydrates, and B vitamins. The calcium in milk will help keep your bones strong. This is a great snack after a long run plus it helps repair your muscles.
4. Granola Bars: A low-calorie granola bar will satisfy your sweet cravings, without the fat calories of a candy bar. And unlike candy bars, granola bars come with B vitamins and iron. I make homemade granola bars!
5. Hummus on wheat crackers: This filling snack packs plenty of protein, fiber, vitamin B6, and folic acid. The latter is especially important for a healthy pregnancy and has recently been shown to prevent anemia and breast cancer. This is a great mid afternoon snack. One of my favorites!
6. Oatmeal: Studies show oatmeal helps lower cholesterol. Oatmeal will also fill you with plenty of carbohydrates to boost energy and alertness. A great pre-race breakfast.
7. Microwave popcorn: Unbuttered or slightly buttered popcorn is low in calories (mostly from carbohydrates), yet filling. It’s perfect when you crave a salty food but don’t want many calories.
8. Pretzels: Like popcorn, pretzels are a low-calorie carbohydrate treat. Even the salty kinds are okay for runners who don’t have high blood pressure, as they’ll help you replace the sodium you lose through sweating. They’re excellent as an afternoon snack.
9. String Cheese: Many runners fail to meet their calcium requirement, especially those who don’t eat many dairy products. String cheese is a tasty, convenient way to take in calcium and protein as well as some fat.
10. Yogurt: Yogurt is a great source of calcium, protein, and potassium, plus it’s low in fat and fairly high in carbohydrates. The live and active cultures in yogurt will boost your immune system. I prefer the greek yogurt and I add some fruit or granola for some crunch.
11. Peanut Butter on Toast: Peanut butter is a good source of niacin and folic acid (they help convert food to energy) and vitamin E. In addition, the dense calories in peanut butter keep your energy level on an even keel and your hunger down throughout the day. And that, in turn, will prevent you from overeating and keep you eating healthfully all day. In fact, I am eating this right now as I write the post!
Do you have any favorite healthy snack ideas? Do you eat 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals a day? We would love to hear from you 🙂
Tuesday Cook Off ~ Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Bites
Runners love peanut butter and who doesn’t love chocolate! So I was excited when I came across this recipe when I was reading the June 2013 Runner’s World magazine. It’s easy and is a no bake recipe. Who doesn’t love that 🙂 These make the perfect treat to grab out of the fridge and go. I promise if you would bring these to a party they will be the first thing gone. They are that good!
My youngest son wanted me not to dip all the pretzels in the chocolate so we had some without the chocolate and they were just as good. I personally preferred the pretzels with the chocolate but everyone has their own taste and style. I stored these in an airtight Tupperware container in the fridge. They would also be great in the freeze in the hot summer months.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Bites
Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons butter, room temperature
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 bag of mini pretzels
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
How to Make:
1. Combine the peanut butter and butter together until creamy.
2. Stir in the powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until well mixed.
3. Roll teaspoons of the peanut butter mixture into balls; sandwich between two pretzels and place on a cookie sheet.
4. Freeze the pretzel sandwiches for 30 minutes.
5. Melt the chocolate chips. Dip half of each pretzel in chocolate. Return to the cookie sheet and freeze for another 30 minutes. Store in the fridge until serving time.
Do you have a great recipe you would like to share? Just email us at Linda@mybabypajamas.com. Please attach a photo if you can. If your recipe is chosen, you will win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to our website 
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Don’t forget where to find great footie pajamas, toddler pajamas and more, at My Baby Pajamas.
I know I talk a lot about running but I feel everyone and anyone can benefit from a good run. It is a great stress reliever plus you don’t need to drive to a gym. All you need is a great pair of running shoes then put one foot out the door and off you go! If you are serious about running and have never really ran before I suggest going to a running store and let them help you pick out a good pair of shoes. They will help determine if you need a neutral running shoe or one with stability. The right shoe could be the difference of running with pain or running without pain!
Here is some great tips for a new runner:
- Be a minuteman “The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments-1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles.” -Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach
- Wear good running shoes “Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make.” -John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner
- Take the “talk test” “The ‘talk test’ means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner-but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera.” -Runner’s World editors
- Relax to the max “When running, let your jaw hang loose, don’t bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed.” -Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist
- Don’t crush the egg “Don’t clench your fists in a white-knuckle grip. Instead, run with a cupped hand, thumbs resting on the fingers, as if you were protecting an egg in each palm.” -Runner’s World editors
- Follow Road Rule Number One “Running against traffic allows the runner to be in command. Anyone who is alert and agile should be able to stay alive.” -Dr. George Sheehan
- Listen up! “You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance, but not through pain.” -Dr. George Sheehan
- Take what you can get “So-called ‘junk miles’-those slow miles done on easy days or during warmups-do count. They burn calories as effectively as fast miles; it just takes longer. Regardless of pace, each mile you run burns about 100 calories.” -Hal Higdon, runner/writer/coach
- Go steady “Day to day consistency is more important than big mileage. Then you’re never shot the next day.” -John Campbell, former masters running star from New Zealand
- Ease it back “After a run, don’t rush back into life. Take a few minutes to walk, stretch, relax, meditate.” -Runner’s World editors
- Take baby steps “You can’t climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your goal too high and don’t fulfill it, your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that’s reasonable, and then gradually raise it.” -Emil Zatopek, four-time Olympic gold medalist from Czechoslavakia
- Train with someone… “It may seem odd to hear a coach say this, but I think a really great training partner is more important than a coach.” -Joan Nesbit, coach and world-class runner
Now it’s time to lace up those new running shoes and hit the pavement. Good luck!!
Remember any form of exercise will help aid in a good nights sleep. Plus, comfy pajamas help too 🙂
Brooks Ghost GTX Running Shoes
It is time for me to say good-bye to my first pair of Nike running shoes. It has been a good run (no pun intended). The last 6 months have been great and a big surprise for me. See, normally I don’t run in Nike running shoes. I am more of an Asics or Mizuno kind of girl but my Nike’s really stepped up to the plate for me. We have run two half marathons and a couple of smaller races over the last 6 months. My Nikes and I also had a PR in a half marathon at 1:46 with an 8:08 pace. Not bad for a girl 44 years old. But with all that said, I know when it’s time to say good-bye and it’s time.
So now that my Nike running shoes have become my new hiking shoes (all my old running shoes become my hiking shoes), do you what to know what new running shoes I bought? Since I am an Asics or Mizuno kind of girl; yep, you guessed it…Brooks running shoes! I know I was surprised too. Sports Chalet was having a sale and my husband said I should go check it out for a new pair of running shoes and I fell in love with the Brooks Ghost GTX. They are the Ghost 5 series with the Gore-TEX waterproof protection. Now I know that Brooks already came out with the Ghost 6 but I bought these for 50% off! Yes, I said 50% off. I only paid $65.00 for Brooks Running shoes. You have no idea how happy I am right now 🙂
I ran my first run in the Brooks Ghost shoes today. I only ran 4.5 miles but I feel in love with my shoes. Honestly, I really did love them. Runner’s World has been rating the Brooks running shoes at the top for a while now. I really should have listened to them earlier. In the next couple months I will definitely be buying the Brooks Ghost 6 running shoes!
What is your favorite brand of running shoes? Have you ever tried Brooks?
