Things I'm Diggin' Today

1. Today's Run. These days when I lace up my shoes to run, I never know what I'm going to get. More often then not, my runs have been a struggle, leaving me frustrated that I am not running as fast as I want to be. Today I headed out for an easy run. And, my legs decided to cooperate. I kept the pace relaxed the entire time, and even though it was swampy and humid out (SUMMER WEATHER IS COMING), I ended up with a great {for me} run. It's a step in the right direction, and a mental boost if nothing else.

Thank you legs for cooperating today.

2. TJ Maxx. Last week I shopped at TJ Maxx for the first time in years. I always forget we have a TJ Maxx 5 minutes away, and don't think to go there to look for things. Last weekend I randomly stopped by in frantic search for a last minute dress to wear to a wedding. While I didn't find a dress, I found some GREAT deals on athletic gear. I didn't even realize they had an entire section devoted to athletic wear. I snagged a $70 Nike workout swimsuit for $19.99 (competition swimsuits are EXPENSIVE so I was pumped about this deal). I also got a festive pair of Nike Tempo Running shorts for $14. They had a lot of great stuff, but since I didn't really need anything, I cut my purchases off at 2. 

This is where I spend money to save money. Dan loves my concept.

3. Peanut Butter Cheerios. These things are really good (with or without milk). They've become my new go to snack and dessert.

4. Laughing Cow Light Cheese. I started using this in place of mayo on my sandwiches and instead of cream cheese on my bagels. At only 35 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per wedge, it's a great (and tasty) way to cut a few calories. One wedge is more than enough for a bagel or sandwich. They make a variety of great tasting flavors. 

5. Brooks Pure Flow. I've been an avid Brooks Launch wearer for years... Until I stumbled upon the new Brooks Pure Flow when my local running store was out of the Launch in my size. These shoes are a little bit lighter than then Launch (which are pretty light as it is), but still provide enough cushion for marathon training. These shoes are the PERFECT marriage between just enough support and light-weight form fitting shoes that seem to hug my feet perfectly.

I also dig the colors.

6. Bic Bands. I always wear some sort of headband when I run/workout to keep both the hair and sweat out of my eyes. I've always had a problem finding ones that don't slip or fall off, so I always end up having to pin them to my head. I came across the Bic Bands awhile back, and they are great. They don't budge AT ALL, are comfortable, and come in many fun and sparkly colors, designs and sizes. Even better, part of the proceeds always go back to a charity. Half a dozen or more Bic Bands later, I am probably one of their best customers. 

Love me some sparkles.

7. Spinerval DVDs. The bike trainer will never be my favorite workout option. The bike trainer is even lower on my totem pole then the treadmill, and the treadmill is definitely at the low end of the pole. But, being forced to cross train more, I've been warming up to my bike trainer. And the Spinveral DVDs make the workouts a lot more bearable. They are a series of challenging high intensity interval workouts ranging from 35 minutes to a few hours (I haven't worked up to the multi-hour workouts yet. Baby steps). They allow me to break a (big) sweat, get in a good but  lower impact workout and {hopefully} become a better cyclist. 

These leave me sweating buckets and begging for mercy.

8. Ja Rule - PIL 2 Album. Another fun fact: I would imagine if I asked you who you thought my favorite artist was, that you wouldn't guess that it's rapper Ja Rule (closely followed by Outkast, Nelly and Eminem). Anyway, his new album dropped on Tuesday, and I downloaded it on ITunes...I'm a fan, and it makes for some great running music. I really like all of his work and the way he flows, although his lyrics aren't very clean and can be pretty dark. And, I think he's in jail right now...

He may not be the best role model, but man can rap...

9. And, lastly TODAY is my Friday! I had planned to take tomorrow off to head to Houston for the marathon, but that fell through since I decided to sit it out. But, I have some comp that I need to use or lose, so decided to start my weekend early anyway. Happy Friday to me!

Have a great weekend everyone!