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40 women from our 5th Training for More group finished a half-marathon on April 1st in Westfield, Massachusetts. Whether this was their first half-marathon, or one in a string of many distance races, everyone loved the experience.

Why train through the cold winter months for a half-marathon? I’ll let the women from the group speak for themselves:

Nancy:  What a wonderful group. The girl I walked with was amazed. Every person from our group made a positive comment when they passed us walking.  

Sarah:  I was a bit over 3 minutes faster than my 2nd half marathon, and nearly 10 minutes faster than my first.  I am totally psyched!  Thanks to you all for the inspiration, guidance and camaraderie!  It has been a real eye-opener for me during this process - figuring out what motivates and sustains me.  I can’t wait to see you again soon.

Troy:  As I reflect on the last two years  when this all started for me, it continually amazed me how I have grown as a runner as well as a person.   Goals that I would have never have dreamed of have been reached or expanded in my quest for  “I can do more”.  In running I have found a tranquility and a great group of new friends, some of which I have grown to know more than others, but all of whom I am lucky to know. I have found pride in myself, as well acknowledge and support from people who have entered my life thru running, as well as my family and friends that have supported my new venture in life.

Kate:  This run wasn’t just about finishing a race for me. It was about a 2 1/2 year struggle for shedding a lifetime of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, reaching high personal goals, believing in myself and over coming injury…just to name a few of the ingredients in my own personal emotional cocktail. It was a HUGE success and accomplishment for me that I was able to reach because of you. Thank you for grabbing me at the finish and weeping tears of joy with me! It was a big honking deal for me.

Andrea:  I learned that we should never sell ourselves short. I’m a conservative runner who’s always fearful of hitting the wall. But when you train properly and get the right sleep and pre/post-race nutrition you can achieve more than what you think you’re capable of.

Carol:  The whole experience was so positive, uplifting and energizing. It leaves me to definitely want to keep ‘Training for More’! 

 

I bet your mom told you to eat breakfast, and you tell your kids to eat breakfast. But do YOU eat breakfast?

Research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shows that children and teens who regularly eat breakfast consume a higher intake of several important vitamins and minerals, are less likely to be overweight, miss fewer days of school, experience fewer behavior problems, concentrate better, and score higher on standardized tests. Yet 10-30% of our kids routinely skip breakfast. The top reasons for skipping breakfast include waking up too late, not hungry in the morning, and no one else in the family eats breakfast.

Try these tips to encourage your kids to eat a healthy breakfast every day of the week, and set a good example by making time for breakfast yourself.

-           Cut back on late-night snacking. Kids – and adults – often aren’t hungry for breakfast because they ate too much after dinner. Plan a small, healthy evening snack and you’ll be surprised how hungry you are in the morning.

-          Prepare a self-serve breakfast before you go to bed. Pour milk and 100% fruit juice into kid-size containers. Set out glasses, bowls, spoons, and boxes of whole-grain cereal.

-          Enjoy a fast breakfast:  a container of yogurt or a slice of whole-grain toast with peanut butter are prepared and eaten in minutes.

-          Make breakfast before you go to bed:  hard-boil eggs and combine peeled oranges and sliced apples so breakfast is ready without morning prep.

-          Dress first, then eat breakfast. You’re more likely to be hungry if you give yourself a few minutes to wake up.

-          Don’t like breakfast foods? Try a non-traditional breakfast like a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, warmed-up dinner leftovers, or cheese melted on a tortilla.

-          Drink your breakfast:  whip up a delicious and healthy smoothie by combining fat-free milk, yogurt, and fruit in a blender.