Good Morning Everyone! I will announce the MojaMix contest winner later today. Until then, don’t forget to use HANGRYPANTS at checkout to get 10% off your order!

My gym membership expired Tuesday and it’s about that time to get training for my second half marathon in September, so I took to the street (err sidewalk) yesterday for a 5 mile run. Easy, right? Yeah, not so much. It was a small torture. Running is hard. I was slow and struggling the whole time, barely managing 10 minute miles. I guess there is work to be done! I can’t believe I ran 13 miles less than two months ago! Actually, I am not that surprised at how tough it was. I’ve run only a handful of times in the last month and I haven’t exactly been killing myself at the gym. I was taking it a little easy knowing this training time was coming again.  I didn’t want to get burnt out on running. Also, I’ve been enjoying myself a little too much at all the summer parties. Move less + eat more = pants that are too tight and a sluggish runner. Like I said, there is work to be done!

I tried to stretch my legs as much as possible when I got home, knowing I would be sore this morning. I a happy to report I am not that sore. My calves are a wee bit tight. I was pretty hungry when I got home from the run so I had a quick dinner pretty early last night. I threw together a quick salad with a side of Trader Joe’s Pilaf.

Table of Salad Contents:

• Baby Spinach
• Raw Corn off the Cob
• Tomatoes
• Red Pepper
• Cucumber
• Dr. Prager’s
• Dijon + Apple Cider Vinegar

I followed this with a little dessert. Yes, this cereal is a dessert in my opinion.

Mark and I then took a walk to Cruise Night. What is Cruise Night? It is an evening of old men, with old cars standing around talking about their old cars. It was actually fun though. There was one old baby blue Beetle convertible that was v. adorable. Plus they were playing old music so Mark and I were able to pretend I was wearing a poodle skirt and he was a rebel with cigarettes rolled into his white T.

Walking made me want another snack when I got home, so I had my last PROBAR Fruition samples bar. I took a picture of it next to my phone for scale purposes.

See, snack size! This was Raspberry Orange. Usually I find cranberry paired with orange in bars, so this was a little different. I can’t say I tasted much orange though. I really enjoyed sampling these bars and don’t think I could choose a favorite. I liked Peach because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Peach flavored bar, but I also really liked the Blueberry because it was so fresh tasting. They will be in stores in August!

Well, at first I was a little nervous about my running experience, but I’ve decided to just look forward to the challenge of training instead. I know if I do the work, I will be fine.  I mean obviously I can’t run as much or work as hard as I was when I was training all the timeThat would be both unrealistic and  unhealthy. Now, however, I can get back on track by sticking to my schedule and not indulging quite so much in summer treats. I’ve been having lots of sweets in treats in the name of “I will not deprive myself.” Ya know what I’m saying?

It might seem unrelated, but I don’t think it is. When running a lot I need to eat more, but that doesn’t mean having a cupcake, lots of chips or ice cream at every party I go to, especially when those parties are weekly.  I feel better and run better when I am fueled with good things.  A belly full of quality bread + peanut butter is far different than a belly full of cupcakes in terms of running. And anyway, where is the balance in indulging at every special event?  I think there is a fine line between deprivation, satisfaction and balance. I read Kath’s Squiggly Line Effect post and nodded along the whole time. Where is the balance if you enjoy cookies, chips or ice cream at every party or event you go to? I don’t think there is any.  The balance that I strive to achieve that makes me the happiest means eating as well as possible most of the time and enjoying small treats along the way. I think lately my treats have been bigger and more frequent and for me that translates into tighter pants and harder running. 

What does balance mean to you? What do you do when you’ve gotten a little off track?

I think starting my training schedule officially this weekend will really help a lot. I know I need good, quality fuel to help me run my best so it will probably help me balance out my healthy and treat choices a little better.  And today I am going to that local running store to get fitted for sneakers, so that will definitely be motivating and exciting!!!!

Giveaway Alert: Danica’s Daily’s Annie’s NEW Mac & Cheese and BBQ Sauce Giveaway! Check it out.

Yes, I became a full fledged twitter addict today. (Sorry Erin) I tend to get a little obsessed with things, and right now this is it. It’s dangerous, strange and addicting. I follow Oprah now. It’s weird right? I remember back in the day when Instant Messenger was all the rage. Anyway, follow me: http://twitter.com/hangrypants. It’ll be fun, I swear.

What else did I do today? Went to work, collected samples for the Summit Swag Bags and had some good food. No long walk with Marky today though.

Mark and I also broke into the PROBAR Fruition samples bars. I had blueberry and he had strawberry. Like the peach, the blueberry flavor was really fresh tasting and delicious.  Blueberry bars can be completely nasty and fake tasting and these are nothing of the sort. Mark liked the strawberry as well, but did raise a good point – these are messy to eat because they’re so sticky. He also wanted to put hummus on his, but I convinced him not to.

Here are some more facts about the new Fruition bars.

1. Two servings of fruit in every bar
2. Snack size portion
3. Real fruit, oats and chia seeds
4. Good source of fiber – 4 grams
5. 170 calories per bar
6. Low in fat
7. Superfood chia seeds dense with antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids
8. 70% organic – certified by QAI
9. 80% raw, 100% vegan
10. No high fructose corn syrup

I also finished the rest of my personal watermelon and had the last of the Spinach & Oikos Pasta Sauce I made last night.

Mark and I went with our friend Adam to Trader Joe’s tonight. It was really fun actually! Mark was so funny and grabbed so much stuff that he is always begging me to buy. Almost time to pick the winner of his Un-Constipated Gourmet Cookbook Giveaway! You still have almost an hour to enter. What are you waiting for?

I am of to lay in bed, finish a book (Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin)  and, of course, tweet.