Jun 14, 2012

Organized Chaos

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Yesterday was a whirlwind! After driving from Pittsburgh to Doylestown Tuesday (in eight long hours, thanks to torrential rain), I spent Wednesday at the Brad’s Raw Foods office getting to know my new colleagues. Though it was a blast and I loved everything about my day, when it was time to leave, I realized I got nothing done! Because the company is growing so quickly, the office has a very fast-paced atmosphere and is best described in two words: organized chaos.

After work, I needed to decompress a bit (before catching up on some work!), so I went to a nearby park for a short run. Unfortunately, I only had time for about 1.5 miles because it was starting to get dark. I knew I wouldn’t have time to run after work today, so I had to get my butt outta bed at 5:00 a.m. to fit a run in! Which meant I had to go to sleep pretty darn early last night (about 10:00 p.m.). Which is why this post is short and sweet!

Lake Run

This is the beautiful little lake I got to run around after work!

How do you like to decompress after a long or hectic day?

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Jun 5, 2012

Five Tips to Conquer a Warrior Dash

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Now that the summer racing season is here, awesome running events are happening all over the place, and I’m SUPER excited about it. I kicked off the season with my very first half marathon, and now I’m proud to say I survived a Warrior Dash! I’ve never been so muddy and stinky in my entire life, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

My boyfriend and I, along with five of our friends, participated in a Warrior Dash in Logan, Ohio on Saturday. I wanted to do this last year, but no one else did, so I was thrilled when we managed to pull together a big group! I think we’re going to make it a yearly tradition, too, which I’m even more excited about!

In case you don’t know, a Warrior Dash is a short race (about a 5k length) with a handful of obstacles. Each course is different, but they all challenge you physically and mentally. Our course started with about one and a half mile hill (that sucked) and featured a dozen obstacles, including a cargo net-climb, a rock-filled creek and a (small) wall of fire.

Warrior Dash

Unfortunately, we lost one of our teammates—Justin went down with an ankle injury!

Though I survived, there are some things I wish I had known before the race that would have made it much easier. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I’m sharing some warrior wisdom so that any future warriors can get out there and kick some serious ass!

1. Train on hills. This is first because I think it’s the most important! I had no idea how big the first hill was going to be, and it wasn’t exactly a pleasant surprise. Now that I’ve talked to people about the race, it sounds like most courses involve a hefty hill at one point or another. Start incorporating hills into your workouts so you don’t end up sucking wind like I did!

2. Wear tight clothing. I was lucky enough to get this memo before race day, and I’m glad I did! You will get so muddy and wet that you’ll weigh an extra 10 pounds at the end of the race, and loose clothing will just hold more water and weigh you down even more!

3. Strengthen your upper body. This might not apply to everyone, but don’t neglect to strength train your upper body. Though this wasn’t an issue on too many of the obstacles, I definitely wished I had more strength in my arms and shoulders for some of them! You’ll likely have an obstacle or two that requires you to lift or pull your body weight, so be prepared.

4. Wear old (but comfortable!) shoes. Again, your shoes will get super muddy, completely soaked and basically all but destroyed—so wear a pair you don’t care too much about! A lot of people actually donate their shoes after the race (I did!), so you might want to consider that as an option. Just make sure they’re comfortable!

5. Have fun! For me, the Warrior Dash was all about having a good time, not about winning, and I think it’s much more fun that way! Get a group of friends together, pull together a costume (if you’re that coordinated) and have a blast. Events like these are all about the experience, not about setting records—unless that’s your way to have fun!

Have you ever participated in a Warrior Dash or another type of mud run? What did you think?

Filed Under: Events, Fitness Tips, Personal · Tagged: , , ,
May 11, 2012

Fun Facts Friday

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Happy Friday!

1. Today is my youngest sister’s junior prom. My junior prom was in 2006. I feel old.

2. I’m kind of in love with Justin Beiber’s newest song, Boyfriend. In my defense, though, it’s only because this song reminds me of him:

Justin Timberlake

I need some more JT in my life, immediately. (Source)

3. Part of me is sad that my TV shows are wrapping up for the season. However, a bigger part of me is relieved—now I don’t have to worry about trying to figure out when I’m going to watch 387 hours of recorded television every week. (I think this deserves a #firstworldproblem hashtag.)

4. My momma’s birthday is tomorrow! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I bought you the best birthday present ever. Just sayin’.

5. In case you’re a new reader, I ran my first half marathon Sunday! Since it hasn’t even been a week yet, I feel like I can still brag about that. Now I need to find another race… Any suggestions?

Do you have anything fun planned for this weekend?

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May 9, 2012

My First Half Marathon

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One hour, 58 minutes and 47 seconds. That’s how long it took me to finish the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, and I couldn’t be happier!

Anxious about the day ahead, I popped out of bed with my alarm at 3:45 a.m. After getting dressed, packing a few last minute things and eating breakfast, I was out of the house in just under an hour. I took the T into town (my first time—woo hoo!) to avoid a parking nightmare and save myself some unnecessary stress and was in the city around 6:15—bright and early! My parents, sister, boyfriend and his mom were all downtown to cheer me on.

_DSC0017

This is just one of my loyal groupies!

Since my friends and I arrived so early, I killed most of my time hanging around with my family. I even showed off my fake tattoo, which thoroughly freaked my mother out for approximately half a second.

_DSC0025

13.1, baby!

The race’s official start time was 7:30 a.m., but I didn’t cross the start line until about 7:40. I stuck with my friend Kate for the first 10 miles or so, until she had to stop for a bit because she rolled her ankle (yet she still managed to finish in two hours!). Thanks to her help, my (official) average pace was 9:04. Though these don’t quite match up with my official time, here are the splits my GPS tracked:

  • Mile 1: 7:48
  • Mile 2: 9:24
  • Mile 3: 8:48
  • Mile 4: 8:55
  • Mile 5: 8:34
  • Mile 6: 8:29
  • Mile 7: 8:22
  • Mile 8: 8:24
  • Mile 9: 8:59
  • Mile 10: 8:47
  • Mile 11: 8:59
  • Mile 12: 9:29
  • Mile 13: 8:51

Like I said, those splits aren’t accurate—just look at my first mile! Hearing my time every mile through my iPhone app helped to motivate me throughout the race, especially after I lost my running buddy. Knowing that I had 15 minutes to run my last mile in order to hit my sub-two hour goal definitely put a smile on my face, too!

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I’m not sure what was yelled to get my attention for this photo, but it looks like it definitely confused the runners around me.

All in all, completing a half marathon was one of the most satisfying accomplishments of my life. Sure, the training was tough, I suffered a minor injury and I even had one of my toenails fall off last night (sorry, I had to share), but it was all worth it. I’ve even signed up for another half marathon—I just hope my groupies will be there to see me run in it!

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 Thanks for cheering me on!

Are you a half marathon runner? What are some of your favorite races?

Filed Under: Events, Personal, Physical Health · Tagged: , , ,
May 7, 2012

Runner of Steel!

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After months of training, I can finally say it… I’VE RUN A HALF MARATHON! Never in a million years would I have thought I could do something so awesome, and I can’t wait to figure out what my next big race will be.

Though I plan on writing a post filled with a detailed recap with lots of pictures, this is not going to be that post! I am physically and mentally exhausted and am just not capable of pulling my thoughts together at the moment. That being said, I’ll leave you with this…

Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2012 -- After

I DID IT!

Check back Wednesday for all of the details!

What did you do this weekend?

Filed Under: Events, Personal · Tagged: , , ,
May 2, 2012

Yoga for Runners

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Editor’s Note: Today is Emily Whitehead’s seventh birthday! Head on over to Emily’s Facebook page to learn more about her battle with Leukemia and wish her a happy birthday!

IT’S ALMOST HERE! This Sunday, I will be running in the Pittsburgh Half Marathon—my first one EVER! (I’m a little excited about it, in case you couldn’t tell.) To prep for the big race, I’m trying to get some extra sleep, drink more water and take it easy with my workouts this week. As luck would have it, a local gym was offering a “yoga for runners” clinic, and I immediately signed up for it. I learned some great poses and breathing techniques, and now I get to share them with you!

Yoga is a great exercise in its own right, but it’s awesome for runners for a ton of reasons. Integrating yoga into your training routine can help to:

  • counter overuse injuries like shin splints and ITBS,
  • expand lung capacity,
  • keep connective tissue healthy, and
  • facilitate muscular and mental relaxation before or after a workout.
    Though some of the benefits of yoga come from its physical (albeit gentle) movements, many are also connected to its focus on breathing. The breath is central to yoga, and there are several different types that pair with different types of practices. One of the breathing styles the clinic focused on was the Relaxation Response—a calming technique.

The breath is smooth during Relaxation Response, but there is a slight pause after each inhale. The soothing effect of this style comes from the fact that the exhale is longer than the inhale. For example, a three-second inhale should be followed by a five- or six-second exhale. Using this technique can really help to calm your nerves… Especially in the moment before your first half marathon is about to start!

Keep Calm & Run

I want this shirt! (Source)

Traditional yoga poses vary in type, ranging from strengthening arm balances to energizing back bends (my favorite!). The clinic went through a handful of poses beneficial for runners, including:

  • crescent lunge,
  • pigeon,
  • warrior one and two, and
  • cow face.

Of those, pigeon is by far my favorite—it’s an awesome hip-opener that I use all the time. The combination of stretching, yoga and foam rolling has definitely helped me recover more quickly after my runs, and I highly recommend that you give all three a try!

Do you regularly practice yoga? What are some of your favorite poses?

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Apr 20, 2012

Fun Facts Friday

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OK, so… I had another post planned for this glorious day, but it turns out I have to save that awesomeness for another time. Since my plan fell through and my brain is tired from being used all week, I’m going to give you a second installment of Fun Facts Friday! Please, try to contain your excitement.

1. I recently found out that a restaurant half an hour from my house serves VEGAN pizza. Do I really even need to say anymore?

2. As much as I love running, I hate what it’s doing to my feet—my tootsies have never been so gnarly in my life! I may or may not be developing bunions, I have calluses all over the place and one of my toenails turned black. I just feel sorry for the poor soul that gives me a pedicure after my half marathon.

3. Speaking of feet… I bought a fabulous pair of heels Saturday! Originally $100, I got them for $55—not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Now if only I could wear heels without my feet throwing a hissy fit…

New Shoes

Isn’t she pretty!?

4. Thanks to my sister, I have been laughing my ass off for the past two days because of this website. It is easily one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a very long time. Considering the amount of time I have wasted watching pointless (but hilarious) videos on YouTube, this is quite the accomplishment.

5. My local grocery store started to carry Almond Breeze’s Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend, and it is DELICIOUS! This milk + frozen pineapple + banana + spinach (no, you can’t taste it) + protein powder = A PINACOLADA PROTEIN SMOOTHIE! Seriously, my breakfast was a mini-vacation yesterday morning.

Have a wonderful weekend, all! I’ll catch ya on the flipside.

What have been some of your highlights from this week?

Filed Under: Personal · Tagged: , ,
Apr 16, 2012

Some Like It Hot

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This weekend was a heavy hitter for me in the fitness world! Though I’m not complaining (I loved my workouts this weekend!), my body could definitely use a little rest, or at least some active recovery. Oddly enough, that’s how my killer workout weekend started—with what I planned to be a relaxing day!

My weekend started with a half hour stress relief massage, and apparently I needed it—or at least my shoulders did! The massage focused on my neck, shoulders and back, but the masseuse spent most of her time working epic knots out of my shoulders. Though it’s finally starting to feel a bit better, my neck/shoulder area was killing me after the massage! I know it’s better to have the knots out, but I think she used a little too much pressure. Or I’m just a whiny baby. Either way.

After my massage, I went to my first hot yoga class since… August? Yikes! It’s been a while, so I was a little rusty at first. Luckily, bikram instructors (at least the ones I’ve practiced with) are constantly giving cues, so I caught on again with no problem. I also found that I didn’t lose all of the flexibility I gained so long ago, which was an awesome surprise. One thing my body did struggle with was the heat—105 degrees is no joke! I felt fine throughout the entire class, but I was sweating so much I looked like I had just gotten out of a swimming pool when it was over.

Camel

Camel is one of my favorite bikram poses! (Source)

I always feel great after hot yoga, but this class felt more difficult than normal for some reason. My butt definitely got a good workout, and while this isn’t a problem (my flat booty could use some more muscle), I could really feel it during my Sunday run!

Speaking of… A 12-mile run is in the books, my friends! I think (knock on wood) my IT band issues are gone, and aside from some expected feet/knee discomfort toward the end, I felt great during the entire run! It’s all downhill from here, too, which I can’t believe. Tapering starts next week, and the race is only three weeks away!

Have you ever tried hot yoga? What did you think?

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Apr 13, 2012

My Running Lust List

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Over the past few months, running has become a big part of my life. It’s helped me meet new people, get into great shape and do things I never thought I’d do—like train for  half-marathon! Since I’m taking my running seriously and doing it often, I’ve started to create a mental list of things I’m lusting after.

The thing is, this list keeps growing, and I’m afraid I’m going to forget something—which is why I’ve decided to share it with all of you! (Side Note: My birthday’s in October, but I’ll happily accept early gifts, haha.)

1. Tiger Tail (Source)

I remember reading about the Tiger Tail over on Carrots ‘n’ Cake, and it’s definitely something I’d love to have! Rumor has it that this bad boy is even better at releasing muscle tension than a foam roller, and that’s saying a lot! Being able to apply more pressure to areas like my quads and outer thighs would help with recovery after runs.

Running Skirt

2. Running Skirt (Source)

Now that it’s well into spring and warmer weather is finally here, I’ve decided that I need a running skirt—obviously. The idea of looking oh-so-cute while running my ass off like a machine makes me happy in so many ways. A lululemon skirt isn’t necessarily a must, but it would definitely be a welcome addition to my running wardrobe.

3. Inserts (Source)

Though this item isn’t quite so glamorous, it’s one that will benefit my running. After my long runs, my feet (specifically the balls of my feet) have been killing me. The discomfort subsides after a few hours, but it definitely makes the last few miles of my runs and the next few hours afterward less than pleasant. I have no idea what type of inserts would be the most helpful, but I do think they’d alleviate the pain.

OK, so my list wasn’t as long as I originally thought. Either that or I’ve already forgotten some stuff—probably the latter. Anyway, I hope to add some of these items to my running gear collection soon and cross them off my lust list!

What are some of your “must haves” items for your workout routine?

Filed Under: Fitness Tips, Personal · Tagged: , ,
Apr 2, 2012

Going the Distance

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I have some exciting news to share with you all… I ran my longest distance EVER yesterday morning—11.41 miles, to be exact. WOO HOO!

11 Mile Run

Is it just me, or does the little running man look like he’s about to face plant?

I only have four more weeks until my first half-marathon! Can you believe it? If you would have told me I’d be training for a half-marathon a year ago, I probably would have laughed obnoxiously in your face. I mean, this is a girl whose running experience consisted of a year of middle school cross-country until last fall, when I started to train for the Hope Express. Was I physically active before that? Yes. Was I a runner? No.

Sunday’s run was rough. Not only was it longer than anything I’ve done before, but it consisted of three pretty monstrous hills. Luckily, the first one was the hardest, when I still had the most energy. I kid you not, I was probably running uphill for five minutes straight. That might not seem like much, but give it a try before you roll your eyes!

I’ll admit, my legs (especially my calves and my booty!) were begging me to walk throughout my two-hour trek. My brain, however, meant business and told my legs to zip it—sometimes kindly, sometimes… Colorfully.

This run definitely proved to me how important it is to believe in your abilities. Sure, I’ve been training for more than a month now, but that’s only half the battle. Being mentally tough and shutting up the whining voices in my head (Please don’t make me run anymore, please!) is the other half—the more difficult half.

At one point or another, we’re all challenged to do something we don’t think we’re capable of doing. The trick to succeeding, however, isn’t physical. It’s mental. We’ve all heard how important it is to “believe in yourself,” but it’s true! It doesn’t matter how hard you train or how much you practice—if you don’t think you can do something, you can’t. It’s that simple.

So, next time you have to do something that seems so impossible you want to quit before you even start, remind yourself of how [insert super positive adjective here] you are! Tell the Debbie Downers that live in your head to take a hike, focus on how much more awesome you’re going to be after you accomplish this impossible task, and get to it!

What’s the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do? How did you get through it?

Filed Under: Fitness Tips, Mental Health, Physical Health · Tagged: , ,
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