BYOB

The March/April issue of Women's Running features an awesome online service that allows you to build your own bar. YouBar was created by a mother and her marathoner son, putting a healthy spin on customizing your own nutritional energy snack. With nearly 50 different ingredients such as peanuts, goji berries, and almond butter, you can now tailor a bar to your own tastes that also meets your dietary needs. The website is easy to use, and while you are building your masterpiece a complete nutritional facts list appears in the upper right corner and quickly crunches the numbers as you customize your creation. The coolest part? You get to name your bar. I'm still working on that. Clairathon bar? Last call bar? Bar belle? The options are endless. Check it out!

Something to Celebrate

Last Sunday I ran the longest run my marathon training requires. My running mate, Sherry, joined me to run 21 of the 26.2 miles we will endure on March 1st for the 31st Annual Napa Valley Marathon. The most difficult running homework is now behind us. Truly something to celebrate.

Through many practice runs and a little experimentation, I have found the winning list of necessities, guaranteed to make running 26.2 miles as enjoyable as pounding the pavement for four and a half hours could possibly be.

1. Saucony Pro Grid Ride running shoes

2. SmartWool Adrenaline Light Micro Crew socks

3. CW-X Stabilyx running tights

4. Gatorade G2 Ice Punch (50% less calories and just as kicked up as original Gatorade)

5. Clif Bar Shot Blocks Black Cherry flavor

6. Bananas every 6 miles or so

7. Water

8. Sherry Hill. She is someone with whom you want to be "stuck" if you are going to be running for hours! Funny, energetic, motivating, genuine, and still looks like she just stepped out of a salon having just knocked out 21 miles.

So these are a few of my favorite things. I have yet to determine the perfect jogging bra and top. There is still time to shop with only 16 days left in the final countdown!

We Can Do It

My marathon training plan had tapered down to a mere 15 miles this last weekend, and I was wondering where on earth I would find the drive and energy to knock this one out. With less than four weeks until showtime, I must admit that I am tired.

My running group rocks. This year I happen to be the only one training for the marathon, but I haven't run a single long run solo. The ladies have changed their schedules, e-mailed encouraging words, and staggered start times to make sure that someone is running with me the entire distance. I cannot believe how awesome these women are.

I have had some difficulty navigating through a most useful website, Mapmyrun.com, and while I can't imagine a running life without it, I am still having to consult my fellow runner, Kathy, to help me out. She graduated from Duke so I figure she can do anything. Sure enough, she whizzed through the program and provided us with a beautiful 15 mile run.

We tried something new, the PowerBar Gel Blasts in cola flavor. They taste like the good old gummy coke bottle candies I used to love as a child, and they pack a pretty nice little energy punch. I love them!

So thanks to my running mates, I completed my training assignment feeling stronger than I had imagined.