Five Favorite Summer Running Essentials

It is Friday! I kinda can't believe it! As of yesterday evening all of my friends and family that were in town for the wedding have gone home and life is slowly returning to so semblance of normal.  I have also spent pretty much the entire week fighting with my apartment complex over our refrigerator....which is probably from the 70's and keeps quitting at life and ruining all my food.  If you follow along on the blog at all, you know I love food so this is a big problem.

Anyways, since it is Friday, that means it is also time for my favorite blogging day of the week!  Friday Five is hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked out this weekly link up I highly recommend doing so!

Because it was 90 degrees outside yesterday, I am going to jump on the summer time running train just a little earlier than the rest of the country...today I want to share with you my:
Five Favorite Summer Running Essentials!

1) Compression calf sleeves.  I got really used to running in compression tights, but those can be a little warm in the summer months and my legs are pale enough that I need to let them see daylight occasionally.  SO calf sleeves are the way to go :)  I am currently running in a pair from 2XU that I am super in love with (and will be reviewing in full very very soon).

2) Good socks.  When you run in the heat, you sweat.  I know it's gross but it is the truth.  Summer in Florida also usually means a ton of rain, which means your feet get extra wet.  Good socks are essential when it comes to keeping your feet in working condition!  I really like Smartwool socks for suuuuuuper soggy conditions, Wigwam socks for daily use (I just found them at Target too! Major win!), and 2XU socks (to pair with the sleeves!) when I feel like my feet need a little extra oomph!

3) Hydration system.  I am obsessed with my OrangeMud Vest.  Carrying water if you are going further than 5 feet becomes essential in the summer, so finding the gear that makes that work for you is just as magical as finding the right shoe.

4) Anti-chafe stuff.  I have thicker thighs...you will not be finding any semblance of a thigh gap here.  This means that the thigh chafing struggle is very very real and I have taken many painful showers when I either forgot to use something, or the something I used didn't work.  I am currently loving the 2Toms roll on sport shield. Sure my legs get sunburnt when I run in shorts, but at least they don't chafe!

5) Something to soak up the sweat.  I have several Buffs and I love them because they keep the sweat out of my eyes, which is a life saver.  I sometimes have to trade out or layer though because I tend to burn my nose very easily so if there is no shade on my longer runs I can end up pretty crispy!

So there you have it! My five favorite summer running essentials!  
Is it summer where you are?
What helps you beat summer running heat?!

Happy Friday!!!

Five Ways Weddings are Like Marathons

It has been a seriously insane week of non-stop running around.  Only one actual run has happened so far, but I feel like I have been flying around all over the place trying to get stuff done.  This wedding planning thing is no joke...and now that we are just two weeks and one day away, all the little pieces are needing to fall into place ...and they are taking more than a little nudging!

It is also time for the Friday Five hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked out this weekly link up I highly recommend doing so!

With all the insanity I wanted to take a little break for some smiles and laughs.  SO! I am sharing with you today:

Five Ways Weddings are Like Marathons!

1) You have to make a LOT of preparations.  For a marathon you do all your training runs, for weddings you book all your vendors and make arrangements for your guests.  The jury is still out on which is more painful and time consuming! Of course leftover cake tasting samples at the beach is never a bad thing!

2) The rehearsal is key. How will you know how fast you can expect to run your marathon if you don't do some training that simulates race day.  I am hoping the wedding rehearsal will shed similar light on how the next day will go! Because weddings and marathons are full of surprises

via GIPHY

3) A coach can be the most valuable asset. While I have never considered myself a "good enough" runner to have a coach (I know I know skip the lecture I am telling it to myself right now lol) I have seen so many instances where they are able to make a runner so much better than they ever thought possible.  They also provide structure and a reassuring presence.  Weddings have coordinators.  The day I found Rebekkah at Runway Events I knew she was exactly the coach I needed to make it through this all in one piece!  Like a good coach, a good coordinator keeps you going when things are a little dicey and they are there to congratulate you when you succeed!  SO many times they are the unsung heroes that make the magic happen :)

4)  You can't prepare for either without putting it all over social media. Every long run must be documented or it didn't happen.  Every vendor booked and every bridezilla moment must also be shared for posterity.  We won't even talk about how many selfies I took/shared after my makeup and hair trial yesterday...

5) You do the important stuff, then there is good food, alcohol and a party.  This is self explanatory. I pick races for the party after (ok and the medals) and people go to weddings for the receptions!  This doesn't make the first part any less meaningful, but the second part is always way more fun!

If you have read all this way thank you for indulging me and letting me try my one shot at being a comedy writer.  I don't think they are going to want me to write for any big shows, so you'll still find me right here tomorrow ;)

Happy Friday!!

Friday Five: Fitness Trends I Want to Try

It's Friday! That means I am linking up with Friday Five hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked out this weekly link up I highly recommend doing so!

It seems like every time you turn around there is a new fitness craze.  I am often way too busy during the hours that these things are offered, or I am too far away from where they are happening.  I was a PureBarre fiend for a few months since I drove past two studios twice every day.  Eventually we moved and the cost of the membership and the distance to the studio caused me to nix the habit.  That said, I realized there is a big fun fitness world out there and they some of these crazes really do live up to the hype!  So, this week I want to share with you the 5 fitness trends I want to give a shot!

1) SUP and SUP yoga. Ok this trend has been around for a while now, but I think it is still trendy so I am putting it on here!  I am just straight up too terrified to try this kind of thing in Florida because I am convinced I will fall off into the water and be eaten by an alliator.  Disregard the fact that I have only seen two real live alligators since I moved here. The danger is real.  That said, Stand Up Paddleboarding looks like a blast and I just really really want to try it...in safer waters.

2) Spin class. Again, this is not a new concept, but I feel like spin classes are really having a moment and I want to get in on it.  I think it would totally destroy my legs but in a kinda upbeat and fun way right?

3) OrangeTheory. These studios are popping up everywhere! I am usually skeptical about all the claims these fitness studios make, but I really like the concept of their workouts targeting a certain heart rate zone. Plus it is displayed so you can be all competitive with the other people in the class. Whether they know it or not. 

4) Camp Gladiator. Is this a fad or does it just keep popping up in random places in my life?  I feel like it doesn't have the media attention so much, but I keep hearing so many little bits and pieces about it that I feel like I need to give it a shot.  Not to mention the idea of group workouts that are still different all the time is very appealing!

5) Aerial yoga.  I mean does it not look like the coolest thing ever? The only thing that has held me back so far is my acceptance of the fact that my upper body strength does not exist so I am a little scared that I would not be able to keep up!  That said, the yoga studio I go to does offer aerial classes so I need to sign up soon!

Have you tried any of these? Do they live up to the hype? 

What wourkout crazes are on your must try list?!

Have a great Friday!!

Friday Five: Cold Weather Running Essentials

Good morning! I hope you are staying warm wherever you are!  Florida has felt awfully cold for a couple weeks now....then the roof of my mom's porch caved in from the weight of the snow and the northeast is under blizzard watch...so I am starting to feel a lot warmer and luckier!

That said, I wanted to share five things I think are essential to running in the colder months. And I am linking up with Friday Five hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked out this weekly link up I highly recommend doing so!

I know just a second ago I was talking about how the "cold" down here isn't really all that cold in the big picture, but I am going to go ahead and tell you I am a big weenie when it comes to not being warm/hot so I am totally qualified to tell you what to wear on a wintery run ;) Oh and I grew up in central Washington State...so there is that haha

SO: My five winter running essentials:

1) Warm pants. 

I am currently loving the 2XU Thermal Hyoptik tights.  They are fabulously insulated without being bulky.  Obviously running in bulky heavy things is not fun...but neither is having your booty feel frozen the whole time (a HUGE peeve of mine) so these are a great balance of both. (Spoiler alert I have a full review of the pants coming soon.) I have also heard about down shorts that can be layered over your running tights and I am on a mission to find some of those!

2) Warm ears.

Cold ears might be worse than a cold booty, just saying.  I live in the Buff Thermal Hoodie because it is easy to flip down if you get too warm, but you can also add a headband underneath if you need two layers of warm.  I have not had to do that yet and I hope to never again live somewhere that such a thing would be necessary!!

3) Warm fingers. I have been slacking on this this winter and really regretting it. Have I mentioned I hate being cold?  With milder winters I prefer to just get those cheapo stretch gloves that tend to go on clearance for 50 cents or so after Christmas...mostly because I am not a responsible adult and lose one of the gloves within the first few days. Or the very first day.  In worse winter weather I like to either wear good quality gloves or mittens.  I have some wool mittens I made years ago that are fantastic! Mittens actually keep your fingers warmer because they can hang out and share their heat with each other.  I am all about that.

4) Warm sorta dry toes. While we don't get the snow like the rest of you, there is some cold rain and resultant cold puddles which can lead to all sorts of foot discomfort including really bad blisters.  I suppose that is the case when you fun with wet feet any time of the year, but cold wet feet just feel worse.  I am a SmartWool sock lover.  They regulate your body heat well and they don't chafe even when you get them really really soggy.

5) Warm thoughts.

By that I mean start the pot of coffee before you go out for your run so you can think about how delicious and warm it is going to be by the time you get back! It works for me ;)

Did I miss anything?  What can you not run in the cold without?
Thanks for stopping by!!

Friday Five: Resolutions 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :)

It is officially the first day of 2016 so naturally I want to share with you my five resolutions for 2016!

Are you a resolution setter? I am very goal oriented in general so I am always setting some sort of new intention to work towards.  However, I like to think of the New Year as an opportunity to reset my focus and narrow down some of my big goals for the year.  SO without further ado, here are the things I want to accomplish in 2016!

1) Do yoga every day: I always feel better after I do yoga, but it can be hard to carve out time for what feels like a luxury when I am crunched for time.  This year, however, I will make it a priority to do at least a little bit of yoga each day.  I have already made a chart to fill in each day I practice.  The most exciting part is that, even without knowing I was setting this goal, Charlie got me a Manduka yoga mat for Christmas so I am even more motivated!

2) Run 100 miles each month: This is a resolution that I already know I will struggle to accomplish, but it is also a goal that I am ok with working towards each month. 100 miles per month is a pretty big goal, but I think it can be reasonable for me and it is challenging enough to keep me going.  This goal will also keep more more motivated to keep a record of all the miles I do run and to improve throughout the year.  I might have to work out some sort of reward incentive for the months I do hit my goal...perhaps a trip to the lululemon outlet will be in order ;)

3) Blogging at least five times per week: There is no denying that I slacked off on my blogging towards the end of 2015.  I lost focus and told myself I was too busy.  Blogging is something I enjoy so I want to make it more of a priority in 2016.  Consistency can mean different things so this may be a goal that chagnes through the year, but I think it is a good place to start.

4) Take a picture every day: In college I took a ton of pictures.  Pictures of everything.  Now I find that I do not take as many and so many days disappear into the hustle and bustle of life.  I want to make a 2016 album on Facebook and upload a picture per day so I have something to look back on on New Years Eve next year!

5) Start my own business: This is probably the biggest and scariest goal on my list.  I want to start my business online through Etsy and possibly at local craft fairs.  It is a huge leap that I keep putting off for so many reasons, but 2016 is going to be the year that I chase my goals and dreams!

And that a wrap! I am so excited to see what this year will bring and  to challenge myself to be my best self in 2016.

What are your goals for the new year?!

Friday Five: music!

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :)

This week the topic is one of my very favorite things...MUSIC! More specifically, songs that get you pumped up for a workout.

Here are my five:

1) Sons & Daughters - The American Spirit

2) Fourth of July - Fall Out Boy

3) How to be a Heartbreaker - Marina and the Diamonds

4) Acapella - Karmin

5) Castle - Halsey (except actually just the whole Badlands CD because it rocks my world!!)

You can check out my whole running playlist on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/user/1240492013/playlist/68COsAZJkefhI3uGWnsp7n

Let me know, did I pick any of your favorite songs? Have any suggestions?

Friday Five:Things I Did This Summer

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about five things we did this summer...I personally can't believe that summer is almost over.  I think I might be one of the few people that isn't really upset about it though.  I am looking forward to a Central Florida Fall and Winter!  It has cooled off the last few days and it is so nice to actually be able to breathe and not drown in sweat the minute you go outside!  That said, I did have a VERY eventful summer, so here are five of the awesome things that happened.

1) I quit my job and moved to Florida.  Can we talk about the best decision ever? I absolutely love it here and I do not miss the old job one bit.  There were occasional perks and I worked with some great people. But working that many hours and living in the middle of nowhere wasn't great.

2) I got a new job! I am love love loving my new job...and I have been there for about three months now so it isn't new job infatuation anymore.  Like any job it has it's ups and downs, but I love not being overtime exempt salaried.  Getting paid for the hours you work is such a novel concept at this point.  I also love that I actually have some free time.  Sure I may have to stay a little longer than scheduled occasionally, but overall there is no expectation to work late every night of the week. Not to mention i work with some pretty awesome people!

3) My fiance and I got our first apartment together. Super exciting stuff! I am loving where we are and finally having our dog here with us! We moved in almost a month ago, so naturally we are not unpacked at all...but my mom is visiting in two weeks so I need to get on that!

4) Tried a few new fitness activities. I got really into PureBarre and took a ton of classes in a three month window.  I plan on renewing my membership soon and keeping up with it...it just wasn't making financial sense at the moment.  I also went kayaking for the first time this summer and I loved it! As soon as we were on dry land I was searching Craigslist for a kayak.

5) Discovered awesome new restaurants! One of the best things about Orlando is being able to go out to eat without feeling like your only options are the mega chains (I'm looking at you Olive Garden).  There are so many amazing local restaurants and local chains that I have fallen in love with!

How amazing is this turtle french toast from KeKe's? Answer: Very!!!

So there you have it, five things I did this summer!! What have you been up to?!

Friday Five: Five Years From Now

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about things we will be doing in five years.  Now if my running addiction habit has taught me anything it is that predicting what you will be doing in the future is pretty much impossible.  If you told me two years ago I would run a marathon then sign up for an ultra I would have laughed you right out the door.  I hated running.  And now look.  

That said, here are five things I think I might be doing in five years :)

1) Own my own home - guys I really hate renting.  I want a house with a yard and hopefully a barn and a workshop.

2)  Starting a family.  Now that is a really crazy one to say out loud...or type, but I do want to have children and I am not getting any younger. Of course this is one of the hardest things to predict about the future and how things will play out, but if everything works well my fiance (only husband by then) and I will have a baby or two in five years.

3) Own my own business.  At the moment I am looking at having an Etsy shop selling quilted aprons, potholders, placemats and such.  I am optimistic that it will take off. I am not counting on it becoming my only job or source of income, but I think it would be very rewarding if it did at least produce some pocket change!

4) Be certified as a fitness instructor.  I don't know the particulars of how I want to do this yet or what I want to do in particular; I am just putting it out there in the universe if you will.  I would love to teach group fitness or yoga.  As I get other parts of my life under control it is something I will pursue more actively.

5) Running!  This one is (hopefully) a sure thing.  Running has become my happy place and my ultimate stress buster.  I can't imagine life without it anymore.  I would love to qualify for Boston and maybe try a 50 miler someday.  If item #2 on the list slows that down I will still be happy running 5ks :)

So there it is! Hopefully I will still be blogging in 5 years so I can revisit this post and probably laugh at the whole thing.

What do you plan to be doing in five years?

Friday Five: Running Tips

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about running tips. If you are reading this and are anything like me, the idea of starting running is/was a weird and scary thing.  You mean people just run...for fun?  Where do I go? How do I start? 

That said, I want to gear this post towards those who are new to running or are looking to start!

1) Get fitted for running shoes.  Running is a great way to totally wear out your body in all the best, endorphin producing ways.  It can also be a real pain in the...everywhere.  Save yourself from the stuff that is 100% avoidable by going to a running store and having a professional help you out.  This will honestly pay of over and over and keep you from hating running because everything hurts.

2) It's going to hurt.  At least a little.  But then it gets way better. I know I said shoes help, and they do.  But if you are really wanting to push your body you have to go outside your comfort zone.  I know when I first started I didn't believe people that told me about runners' highs and all that nonsense.  I got to the part where it hurt and I was tired and quit. (Basically I am lazy yall.) One day I pushed past that and realized that after a certain point it gets better, then it actually starts to feel good.  Even now I often whine my way through the first mile or two. But now I know that running feels good after my body gets going.

3) Find your people.  A supportive group is so valuable when you are getting started (or when you are keeping going!) and it makes the experience so much better.  I used to live in a really small town and a lot of my running "people" were online.  That's awesome!  Check out blogs and Twitter chats.  Social media is an amazing resource and just tons of fun! If you live in a bigger town, join running groups. Meetup.com is great and a lot of running stores have Couch to 5K type programs where you can go run with other people that are just getting started too!

4) Ask questions.  As a general rule, all the runners I have met are really cool people and love to talk about running.  You asking a question might make their day.  Mostly because we love seeing other people get started...and it's not everyday that someone willing sits through our talks about heel striking, GU, and what we use to prevent chafing.  Fun right?  All jokes aside, if you are experiencing something there is a good chance another runner has been in your shoes.  Ask away.  If people you know in person don't know the answer, go to Twitter! Hashtags like #bibchat and #runchat are super popular and a lot of other runners will see your question...and usually offer up great advice!

5) Have fun!  With all the advice and tips like these that you will find on the internet it can feel even more overwhelming.  Don't worry about being the fastest or being able to run far.  Just go out and enjoy it :)

Are you a new runner with questions? Check out the rest of the blogs linking up or ask here!
Experienced runner with tips that I left out? Share with me!

Hope you all have a great Friday! The weekend is just around the corner!

Friday Five: a day in the life

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are sharing a day in the life, so here are five pictures of my day yesterday!

1) 

Went to Pure Barre first thing in the morning. 

2) 

Did some browsing at Barnes and Noble in my new favorite shoes. 

3) 

Went to Costco for all sorts of goodies. 

4) 

Ok I actually went to Costco twice. Took my lunch break to go back and get cupcakes for a coworkers birthday! 

5) 

Spent a long of time driving on I4. 

And that was my day in a nut shell! What does your day look like!

Friday Five: Favorite Summer Drinks

I Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

Today we are talking about favorite summer drinks! With the heat and humidity in Orlando it's important to stay hydrated so this is a fun one :)

1) Water. I know it's a little bit boring, but in the summer I can really feel the difference in my body if I don't drink enough. 

2) Juices. Not the 1% juice concentrate stuff. Real juice. It's so fresh and tasty! First Watch has this green juice that has kale and green apples and is delicious. 

3) Iced coffee. Usually from Dunkin, although Krispy Kreme has some feat iced coffee too. This is my favorite mid day pick me up. 

4) Smoothies. This is my go to way of getting some kind of nutrients in my body when it's just too hot to eat real food. Throw in some protein powder and I am a happy cover with actual calories to run my body haha. 

5) Beer. Ok technically fall beers are my favorite, but the lighter citrus beers of summer are also a great choice! 

So there you have it! My five favorite summer drink :)

What are you drinking?

Friday Five: things I was doing ten years ago

Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

Today the topic is things we were doing ten years ago. I don't know about you, but it feels like forever and yesterday all at the same time! So here goes:

1) I was 16 and had just gotten my drivers license.  I drove a white Jeep Grand Cherokee and loved it even if we couldn't make sharp turns.

2) I was using MySpace on dial-up internet. (sometimes I want to go back and look at it...then I remember all the viruses it caused my computer the last time)

3) I was horse showing constantly on the best horse a girl could ask for.

4) I was on the Royalty court for the local 4H/FFA fair.

  

5)  I had no idea how far I would travel....but I took the time to appreciate that my backyard was a pretty great place!

All in all it was a pretty great life! I was in such a hurry to grow up but now I am glad for the memories.

For the record, I absolutely hated running ten years ago ;)

I hope you will join the link up and share what you were up to in 2005!

Friday Five: Favorite Summer Activities

Happy Friday! This week flew by so fast...but that might be because I work the weekend and had Tuesday and Thursday off!
Today I am hopping back on  the Friday Five linkup hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness. This week's topic is favorite summer activities (in case the title didn't give that away haha) and I am so excited to share!

1) Running in the evening. I am not a morning person and the days last way longer in the summer so I can actually enjoy my runs so much more.

2) Going to the beach! It's such a great feeling to sink my toes in the sand and just bum around on a beach towel. I am very excited to have moved so close to great beaches!

3) Hiking. This was a go to for me when I was living in North Carolina. I am not sure how many hiking outings I will actually get in central Florida, but I am crossing my fingers because I love just going out for the day and trekking through the woods.

4) Going to festivals/markets/concerts/cookouts. So many great events happen in the summer and I love going to new events and discovering new things to love. Summer just feels like a good time for adventures! And I love that having a party over the summer can be as easy as just firing up the grill.

5) Drinking abnormal amounts of iced coffee. Dunkin Donuts and I do some serious bonding over the summer months.

There are probably a million more things about summer that I love and could have added to the list, but those are my top five (as of right this second...if you ask me in an hour I might change my mind!)

What do you love about summer?

Friday Five: National Running Day

I hope your National Running Day was fabulous! I know I can't be the only one that wishes there was that much hype and chat about running every day...although I imagine it would get exhausting :)
Today I am jumping onto the Friday Five linkup hosted by Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness!

In honor of National Running Day, I wanted to share my
5 favorite running moments!

1)The first time I really felt like a runner: It was a 14 mile run on a super muddy trail, in the rain, and I ran out of water.  But when it was over I realized I didn't feel weird calling myself a runner anymore!

 

2) When I get to run with my dog.  He loves it and it makes me so happy to be able to spend that time with him.   Plus he makes me feel much safer running trails alone!

3)When I ran my very first marathon and it hurt but I felt like I could take over the world...after a nap and a beer.

4) When I did the Color Run with my friends. It was a blast and such a fun thing to experience together.  I run alone a lot so it was nice to have it be a group thing!

5) And last but not least, when I braved the cold and rain to run a half marathon that turned into a much longer run because the course wasn't marked.  I realized I am so much stronger than I realize and can do anything I put my mind to...with proper training ;)

What are your favorite running moments?! Be sure to check out the link-up and share your own running story!

Have a great Friday :)