Back To Basics Checking in and Winner!!!I

I am checking in to see how everyone is doing!

Are we still following the Back to Basics principles? Did you want to start up with us to help you keep some New Year's Goals?

Well you have come to the right spot!

Basically Back to Basics began in the beginning of December when a few of us online felt that we needed a challenge during the month of December to keep us on track with our healthy journey. For some it was exercise goals, some nutrition, and others both. For me it was both but more so staying on plan with Weight Watchers and getting to goal weight.

We had a lot of people have some great success with it too! I really got inspired hearing all the success emails, posts, tweets and blog comments. You all helped me stay on track and stay motivated. And it became easy to stay on track once I got there.

I was happy to lose 5 pounds in the month of December. That is historically a month where people gain weight. But I managed to take some off and get closer and closer to my lifetime goal weight :)

So I would like to keep our little helpful inspiring group going with Back 2 Basics in the new year too. I hope you will join us! We tweet all the time using the hashtag #back2basics and just have fun supporting each other in this daily battle of living healthy in a sometimes not so healthy world.

Also we have a winner for the month of December!!! I randomly picked one person who checked in with me at the end of the month. And she will be receiving a gift card from me and a copy of the awesome new book out by Dr. Kirk Mahoney Gratitude Power for Walkers and Runners. This book is great I got the opportunity to read it and loved the powerful message it sends. So congratulations to Dani from Weight off my Shoulders! You rocked this challenge and December and certainly earned to be the winner!!! Dani lost 9 pounds in the month of December and was the challenge queen participating in at least 4 during the month :)

So I hope everyone is doing well for January and joins us in keeping our back to basics success streak going!

Running In The Cold

If you are anything like me and my crazy running crew, you do not hide away from the evil weather in New England. :)

We run rain, shine, heat, snow, cold you name it we run on it. Recently it has been getting very cold out. I did my first long run in 24 degrees a few weeks ago and boy was it an experience.

At that temperature your water in your bottles freezes before you have time to drink it. I took out 2 6oz bottles on my belt and 20 oz of nuun in a handheld and after an hour the small bottles began to solidify. Luckily my nuun bottle was bigger and more insulated in this Amphipod handheld. I know next time I will have to put hot water in my bottles so they will not freeze before my long run is completed.

For clothing during the bitter cold runs I will only wear Under Armour Cold gear. I have tried many different types of options. But for me I stay with this because it is breathable, wicks away my sweat, and still keeps me warm. I swear by it. I admit it is pricey but once you run in it you will realize it is worth every pretty penny. The nice thing is it is very durable. I find it lasts forever through many long runs and many washings.

For gloves, these have become my favorite so far: Under Armour Extreme ColdGear Gloves. I bought these in hot pink with the matching top from their breast cancer awareness campaign and love them.

For me running in extreme cold requires a mask. I like these ones that give you plenty of protection.
Yes very ninja like ;) But trust me when it comes to cold weather running the least thing I am worried about is what I look like! I like having the option to cover my nose because it gets shiny red and cold. Also I find breathing the colder air through the mask warms it up a bit and helps me stay on pace.

The mask can also be pulled down for breathing breaks and post race pics of course ;)

 For some extra warmth I pop some hand warmers into my gloves or socks too. They are cheap and really make a difference on those below 20 degree runs.

Also I have found that gel gets solid after awhile so I keep the gel I want to use next in my glove. The rest stay hooked onto my belt but the one on deck gets warm in my glove and it is much easier to eat on the run ;)

I would love to hear what works for you!

My Goals For 2012

I wish I had time to do a fancy vlog for everyone. But this week has been crazy and I have barely had time to sneak on and post. But I am making this post because I have some exciting goals to share with all of you!

• First and foremost on my calendar is to run a 50K in January. I want to be able to call myself an ultra marathoner. Why you ask? because in my heart of hearts I truly believe I am made to run distance races. It is hard, and I still keep going back for more. At the end of a long run I feel strong, I feel good. And the best part? I cannot wait to go out for more. So on January 28th I will set out to run the Cape Cod Frozen Fatass 50K, I mean who can resist a race with such a great name? ;)
• I want to run the Hyannis Marathon on February 26th and qualify for the Boston Marathon. I have a great tough training plan and I am really working hard on my running. Doing crazy mid week longer runs like 10 and 11 miles and working on my endurance. I only hope it is enough to get me to finish this marathon in under 3:35 After running Philadelphia in 3:46 it only made me hungrier for the ultimate glory of that BQ!
• Next in March I have the Half of Quincy with some friends. Depending on how I do in Hyannis will determine if I go for a new half PR or not. My current PR of 1:46 on a hilly course should not be too hard to beat on Quincy's flat course. I ran it last year in 1:48. I have to do better ;)
• Are you seeing a trend? I realized it last night, I want to run at least a half marathon or longer every month! Yep I am going for it this year. And in came the race I will run in April yesterday,

Yes I will get to run in the Boston Marathon this year!!!!!! I have been lucky enough to be chosen by the American Cancer Society to fund raise for them and run the race. I cannot wait to run this marathon in memory of my late Grandmother.

• I want to run a sub 20 5k as well in 2012, I am not giving up on this dream. I ran my first 5K ever back in September of 2010 in 29 minutes and was determined to do better and better each time. I earned a 5K PR of 21:04 in September of 2011 so now I will chip away at that time.
• I want to run a 50 mile race. Yes more ultra marathoning crazy talk!!!! ;) There is a 50 mile race in Vermont the Vermont 50 that happens in the fall and I have my sights set on running it.
• I will get to lifetime member status at Weight Watchers and share my story with them. I like the program it works so well for me so I hope to do more with them in 2012. And of course earn my lifetime member status.
• I want to celebrate life every single day. I feel like I have been given such a great gift and I want to share the enthusiasm for fitness and health with so many. I am determined to not give up on my dreams in 2012!
• I want to rekindle my relationship with God. I have not decided yet if I will blog about it or keep it to my personal life. But I will get back to going to church regularly and renew the faith that I have always carried in my heart.
• I will ask for help. This is last and most important. I spent a greater part of my journey trying to figure everything out on my own. I was obese and ashamed to tell people I was on a diet or trying to lose weight. I have learned this year that there are so many great people out there who have been through similar struggles that I have and who are willing to help. So if I fall which we all do sometimes I will reach up and ask for help. I have been blessed in 2011 to make so many awesome amazing friends along my journey and I hope to keep them close in 2012 and gain even more!

What are your goals for the new year?