tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46822837854855016082024-02-07T03:55:22.315-08:00Pig in FlightAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-42150855341347925122018-09-18T14:38:00.002-07:002018-09-18T14:38:20.222-07:00I keep running for its beauty.So I missed my long run on Saturday morning. This was partially because I was going to the UK football game that I had to leave at 10:00 AM for and partially because I missed my bedtime attending a gala on Friday night. I set my alarm with good intentions but wasn't willing to sacrifice more sleep and figured I'd just go Sunday morning. When my alarm rang on Sunday morning, I really didn't feel like going then either. I hit snooze a couple of times and finally realized the miles weren't going to run themselves. I was aiming for 10 miles. I really never run 10 miles or more by myself because I get bored and unmotivated.<br />
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Sunday was different though. I went out slow. It was a beautiful morning and although somewhat humid, not terrible and not terribly hot. I decided to go up Gilbert, which really is the best place to get a picturesque view. Upon arriving in Eden Park, I looked towards Newport feeling really accomplished that I had gotten myself that far on just my two feet and nothing else. It almost becomes amazing when you run long distances to see where your body can take you, but you need your mind to help get you there.<br />
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Could I have gone faster? Sure. But something was happening on this run that was better than getting my PR. I was enjoying it instead of thinking about all the negatives. It was a tough route, but when I was able to add on the extra mile at the end I did so without thinking twice. This is really unlike me for runs when I am out by myself and it's tough to put my finger on what did it. Yesterday, I ran across this quote on the Runner's World Instagram,<br />
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"I keep running for its beauty. You have to love running. Yes, the pain is there, but it's part of the joy. The marathon is like life." -Eliud Kipchoge (He just set the new marathon record BTW)<br />
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This spoke to me because this particular run was exactly like this. I saw the beauty and felt the joy. No, I don't think every run will be like this. I KNOW every run won't be like this, but for the moment it made me remember why I am an athlete in this crazy sport of distance running.<br />
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Take a moment to appreciate life's beauty. It's so easy to forget all that's out there. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-49308780115833886822018-09-05T14:03:00.001-07:002018-09-05T14:03:43.274-07:00Going VeganIf you know me, you know that I have always disapproved of a restrictive diet of ANY kind. I've seen many people trying to lose weight by going on so many different fad diets and when people asked me how I lost weight, I always said "eat healthier and move more." I also always let myself eat whatever I wanted in moderation. While I was more strict about what foods I was eating, I was still enjoying foods that I loved. Yes, I still drank wine. Yes, I still ate ice cream. Yes, I still ate buffalo chicken dip and other garbage snacks. I have always felt that completely depriving yourself of things that you like to eat just sends you backwards eventually. So maybe you tried the Atkins diet, but then you had been so starved of carbs that you started eating loaves of bread every day. See where I'm going with this? By the way, carbs are good! I am a fan of a mindset of everything in moderation. That being said, I'm going vegan (eye roll) for the next 3 months.<br />
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Let me first start out by blaming my husband because this is entirely his fault. This was something he wanted to do after spending time with Harvey Lewis on the Appalachian Trail. Harvey is a supreme athlete, a freakishly talented endurance athlete in fact, and he happens to be vegan. He swears by a vegan diet. Other vegans we have known have sworn to us that miracles will happen if we go vegan. We have heard about having more energy, having a healthier digestive system, and on and on and on. My husband will say he did not force me to do this and he definitely did not, but please read previous blog posts about him driving me to every race, making signs, dealing with me choosing pizza before long runs on Fridays without him having any say, going home early on Friday nights because I have to go to bed for long runs, ignoring the bank account when funds have been depleted by race fees and running shoes.... and the list goes on. I really wanted to do this to support him and something he wanted to do. Also because I really do like a challenge and this intrigues me because of the mental hardship and self control. Therefore please know this is not a "diet" for me as much as a social experiment. I am not trying to lose weight. If I'm not trying to lose weight, what more might I be trying to get out of this other than supporting my husband and winning a "vegan trophy?"<br />
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1. I hope to become more comfortable with plant based eating. I tried to make several meals that were considered vegetarian throughout the week. I think our society has begun to incorporate meat into every meal and snack, which I don't necessarily think is healthy. I would like to eat more plant based meals in my regular life after the vegan project is over.<br />
2. I am interested to see if this improves my athletic performance at all. I am currently skeptical, but with 2 half marathons coming up in October, I'll give it a try.<br />
3. I would like to get better with self control. I have gotten into some bad habits with eating that I'd like to get rid of. While I say everything in moderation, some things were becoming less moderate and more daily indulgences. For example, I was eating candy every day after lunch. I began thinking I had to have this candy every day after lunch. Now I can't eat this candy, and am learning other ways to cure my sweet tooth or to avoid sweets after lunch and get back to eating them more as a treat.<br />
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We started on Monday and so far I haven't noticed much of a difference. I had a great run Tuesday and while TJ wanted to claim it was from my new diet, I highly doubt it. I don't really know where this journey will lead, but know that for my whole life, I will still find vegan cheese offensive to cheese culture. BTW so far I miss my morning egg more than any kind of meat!!!<br />
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Some cookbooks we have found helpful:<br />
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TJ plans on vlogging our experience as a sort of short documentary series. If he ever ends up editing all the footage he has shot, I'll share a link. Meanwhile, you can hate me for doing this vegan thing. I completely understand.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-49742905459195606452018-08-25T12:20:00.001-07:002018-08-25T12:20:20.110-07:00YAAAAAAAAS Queen<div dir="ltr" id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1535217753803" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
As promised a blog post about the upcoming Queen Bee Half Marathon. About a year or two after I started running, my sister also started running. Her name is Lisa. The Queen Bee 4 Miler was her first race and we completed it together last year. She completed the Pig 10K in may, so she is naturally progressing to longer distances as we crazy runners always do. I had to text her repeatedly until she finally agreed to sign up for the Queen Bee Half. There is always a lot of fear associated with doing more mileage than you've ever done before, which is completely understandable. My perspective on things can sometimes get redundant and boring, so I wanted to make sure I showcased what Lisa was feeling about the upcoming race.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa's sister in law, Korie, also completed this race with us. I stole this nice little collage she made. I love all the fun giveaways geared towards women. It's such a fun day to see so much girl power!</td></tr>
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What are you most excited about for running your first half marathon?</div>
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Lisa: That I am going to be completing something that I never thought I would be able to do. I was never much of a runner and finishing this race will be such a huge accomplishment for me.</div>
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What are you most nervous about?</div>
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Lisa: not being able to complete the race in a time I am happy with. And the hill into Eden Park</div>
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Many people say it is too difficult to train for races when they have kids. How do you make it work? Lisa has 3 children by the way. </div>
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Lisa: Training with children is difficult. Luckily though I have a husband who helps a lot with the kids so I can get in some running. I do end up running mostly on a treadmill though and run during nap time or right after work while my husband picks up kids so that I can get in some running before they get home. I already get up <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824); color: black;" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">at 4am</a> to go to work so training before work isn't an option for me, so I have to run in the afternoons and evenings. It is difficult to be running on the treadmill training though when I can hear them laughing and having a good time. Or watch them out the window and see them playing and know that I'm missing those fun times with them. But I hope I am teaching my children that keeping yourself healthy and in shape is important in their life. </div>
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What do you like about running in general?</div>
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Lisa: How you feel when you have just finished. </div>
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Any other races or activities you’d like to try</div>
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Lisa: Flying Pig Half Marathon this year. Last year I did the 10k, but this year i want to do the half.</div>
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There you have it. By the way, I secretly love Gilbert (the hill she is referring to going up to Eden Park.) There is no other hill in Cincinnati that gives you that sense of accomplishment when you reach the top. It could also have something to do with that view! </div>
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Lisa also has some anxiety about finishing in last place. While, I don't foresee this happening, it's so important that we remind ourselves that no matter the time, we are all going the same distance. I have been trying to get a better handle on that concept for myself as well. </div>
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Any words of encouragement you'd like to share with Lisa as she completed her first half marathon? Congratulations to her for pushing her fears aside and committing!</div>
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Queen Bee is close to selling out. Grab your Queens and do it together!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-4562630715394138142018-08-21T13:48:00.003-07:002018-08-21T13:48:56.684-07:00Grow FlowersStarting school again has been difficult this year, as I know it probably is for most teachers, parents, and students. We've all gotten used to no schedules. I know I personally had gotten used to daily naps, a wardrobe of workout clothes, lunches out with my husband, and at times being downright lazy. Now that school is back the naps have ceased and I have to make sure to meal plan on Sundays in order to fit dinners and lunches into a full day. I'm also changing positions at my job this year which has come with some adjustments. I don't immediately have students, which has been hard for me because I love building relationships with "my kids" right from the beginning. I'm currently doing a lot of testing so I'm seeing kids for 15-20 minutes at a time. Having taught for 5 years doing pretty much the same job, I had gotten in such a routine of what these first weeks of school look like so this year has been out of the norm. I also have my "back to school sinus infection" and have been feeling under the weather.<br />
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This time of the year it's easy to get grumpy. I like many people am tired and running on coffee (oh and nasal spray for me.) I'm working to stay upbeat while I'm falling asleep on my way to workout. I'm trying to dig back out my professional outfits when I haven't seen them in two months and forgot that the shirt I'm wearing had a stain on it. However, I'm lucky enough to get to walk past this bulletin board every day in our school and I get a silent reminder.<br />
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When I see this, it sort of puts me in a good mood and changes my perspective (thanks Jacqueline.) I remember how grateful I am to have this job in a building with coworkers who take care of each other, which has already been evidenced. I remember that I'm lucky to have a gym where I can go to work out and a running group that helps to relieve stress. I'm thankful to have a husband that helps me cook healthy meals each night and never complains. </div>
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Once you get in a cycle of negative thinking, it just keeps going. You have to be the person that grows the flowers, because nobody wants a garden full of weeds, or a life of negativity.</div>
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I have a friend that posts on Facebook once a week about things she loves. Once she brought up the memory of playing the game of sardines as a kid, which I feel like brought out good memories for everyone, so I thought I'd steal her idea and put it on some of my blog posts. Hers are way more quirky and fun though. :) </div>
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10 things I'm super happy about RIGHT THIS MINUTE </div>
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1. Being a Flying Pig Ambassador- follow me on Instagram my main platform for sharing lauren_ritter_bitter</div>
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2. Coffee date with my husband this morning. Anybody else LOVE Coffee Emporium?</div>
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3. Friend told me about potential tickets to a UK basketball game this fall. Road Trip!</div>
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4. Taco Tuesday w/ avocados</div>
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5. My dog didn't throw up when I got home like she did yesterday. Happy to see me?</div>
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6. Photos of all the cool places I visited this summer.</div>
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7. I didn't hear Post Malone's "Psycho" on the way home.</div>
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8. Being barefoot after spending the day in uncomfortable shoes.</div>
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9. Up and Vanished podcast, about to listen to the new episode...EEK Are you a fan? </div>
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10. My sister signed up for the Queen Bee-blog to come about that this week!!!! </div>
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Bonus: keyboards for iPads. </div>
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Tell me what you are happy about RIGHT THIS MINUTE! We can help each other grow our gardens. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-2899755715768249302018-08-09T06:27:00.000-07:002018-08-09T06:39:51.935-07:00Flying Pig Ambassador ProgramI know I haven't posted in quite some time and frankly I've missed it. When I completed The Flying Pig Marathon in the spring I was injured and hadn't had my best day. I don't think I was in the right mindset in general. My husband said he thought it would be good if I got back to blogging because it seemed like something I really enjoyed and that it gave me a way to help other people become inspired or encouraged. Being able to do that makes me feel fulfilled, but not only that, I in turn become inspired and encouraged by other people. I think it's an important piece of my "health journey." I recently learned that I was chosen to be a Flying Pig ambassador and it seemed like a great time to give my blog some love. My husband is a video editor and very concerned with graphics. He says my blog needs a major facelift, so if you are like him, please know that a facelift will come eventually when I am able to research more and better understand the world of design for blogs. If anybody has any tips, feel free to send them my way.<br />
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So many people have asked me what the ambassador program will mean for me. I don't feel like it will mean the same thing for every person, but for me it means I will be sharing my journey more and with that I hope to allow people to feel more confident in their abilities to complete things they may have not deemed possible for themselves. I'd love to get more friends and family participating in healthy activities, and especially joining me on Pig weekend. We are very fortunate in Cincinnati to have such a rich running community and culture. The Flying Pig is a weekend where we can all come together, no matter our ability levels. That's part of the reason I love it so much!<br />
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Meanwhile on the blog, I'll be sharing stories, recipes I've tried, and workouts or groups I'm leading.<br />
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Anybody want to make a commitment to try something new? I'll have some discount codes for all Pig Events. What's on your radar? Anything you'd like to see from me on the blog?<br />
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It feels so good to be reenergized!<br />
Lauren<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a photo from my time in Northern Maine chasing an inspiring man, Harvey Lewis, on the Appalachian Trail. It was a great adventure. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-53867813967290489202018-02-12T15:02:00.000-08:002018-02-12T15:02:15.932-08:00Training is Hard, but I am ToughSaturday was honestly one of my favorite routes that we do. It's hilarious to say this because I wrote a blog post once about wanting to throw up on this exact route. For all you Piggers out there, it's Gilbert Hill up to Eden Park. This route even continued onto Madison road and was oddly like the Pig course. It was 9.5 miles in total, but we actually got the downhill of Gilbert, which you don't get blessed with in the full marathon. It's pretty awesome to look at a route and not dread it, but appreciate that I can do it, and also to be able to appreciate the view from the top. The Eden Park overlook is beautiful at all times, but it's more beautiful when you're not struggling to breathe and telling yourself you just might die. Our program has been revamped this training season and it is not easy. Tuesday was one of the hardest workouts we have ever done in my opinion, but I forced myself to keep going and didn't fall back. It's moments like Tuesday and Saturday (even though difficult) that have shown me how far I've really come. I struggle at times telling myself that I haven't made enough progress or getting disappointed about really not making the scale move, but when I can keep up and when I can feel good, I am reminded that at one time running a mile was nearly impossible. It really is every woman's goal to lose weight. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to cut another 20 pounds off, but in reality it's important to appreciate daily accomplishments that show you are stronger and can endure more than you could yesterday. We should put as much weight on these accomplishments as we do on the scale going down, if not more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqZTvFb7CnHDeLM2yh2oBew6HY3RolTnMRPaCX2lMAUMvb_GK3T95ro2vKiKnN4oXzBV8WyOohAOK452hQNxaMiX5K13kmT9EXRLR9mBfhKL1dqRUsNl0EgLu35sVhEnTpRVjRjt6aWAc/s1600/group+eden+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqZTvFb7CnHDeLM2yh2oBew6HY3RolTnMRPaCX2lMAUMvb_GK3T95ro2vKiKnN4oXzBV8WyOohAOK452hQNxaMiX5K13kmT9EXRLR9mBfhKL1dqRUsNl0EgLu35sVhEnTpRVjRjt6aWAc/s400/group+eden+park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the way, my group is awesome!</td></tr>
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Anyways, I have made some good recipes lately that I want to share because people seemed to be excited about those.<br />
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<a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/shrimp-creole/">Shrimp Creole</a>: I posted about this a couple weeks ago, but I had never tried it before. Actually T.J. and I have never even cooked with shrimp before, but this was a good first effort. Let me tell you-it's delicious! T.J. and I both loved it. Why not make it tomorrow for Mardi Gras?!?! It would be perfect. By the way for all you weight watchers, the recipe says it's only 1 smart point (I'm not sure if this is the new system or not) without the rice.<br />
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My friend Luke had an Olympics gathering to show off his new home. T.J. and I pitched in by making Korean food. T.J. made Bulgolgi (a thin sliced marinated beef) and I made spicy chicken. This stuff will make your nose RUN, but it is delicious. People have asked me for the recipe. It's from a friend, so I'll type it out. I'd have to ask T.J. for the bulgolgi recipe he used, but there are several online and it's pretty easy. Make this and watch the Olympics for a fun night!<br />
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1.5 pounds chicken<br />
4 cloves minced garlic<br />
1 chopped jalepeno<br />
sliced carrots, thin<br />
white mushrooms<br />
<u>Sauce</u><br />
1/3 cup Gochujang (it's a paste, you can get it near the other asian sauces at Kroger)<br />
2 T hot pepper flakes<br />
2 T brown sugar<br />
1 T soy sauce<br />
1 T seasame Oil<br />
Stir fry ingredients until chicken is cooked and veggies are soft<br />
After sauce ingredients have been mixed, pour over stir fry and cook for one more minute<br />
Serve over rice<br />
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We are going out of town later this week, so I'm trying to make easy recipes that do not require a lot of dishes.<br />
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<a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-potato-soup/">Baked Potato Soup</a> is on the menu tonight. She sneaks in cauliflower as a filler, but do not worry, it still tastes as hearty as other loaded potato soups I have tried.<br />
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It's been hard to resist sweets lately and I'm still working on that. Fat Tuesday donuts, candies from valentine's parties, and homemade sugar cookies are some things I've been failing at resisting. Sugar is most definitely an addiction, but I'm working on it.<br />
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Enjoy your week!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-85178531203511990652018-02-04T14:34:00.002-08:002018-02-04T14:34:46.809-08:00Products I'm Really Into Right NowI had a lot of people tell me that they were excited about me blogging about my recipes, and wanted to see more of that....and more are on the way. I am trying a couple new recipes this week so I want to see how they turn out before I post the recipes. See! This blog is even inspiring me to try some new things, so you might as well to. Anyways, I thought for today I could post just a few products I am currently obsessing over.<br />
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I tend to get really into certain brands or products and then I want ALL of them. So here's some of my "flavors of the month."<br />
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First up, this is going to be the most "basic bitch" thing you've ever heard, but I have become obsessed with Lululemon. I know! I know! It pains me so. I always thought. You've got to be kidding me. Those things are overrated. Why would you spend that much on leggings? The actual leggings that T.J. bought me for Christmas were made for running and they are awesome. I tend to just wear them 24/7, just ask my friends, but they are super comfy and have a lot of pockets. They don't slide down or ride up. Here's the best part, they will hem your leggings for free (great for shorties like me.) Oh wait, that's actually not the best part, they have a lifetime guarantee! I was concerned about a pair I bought on the sale rack because they had a string hanging from the seam. She said "Oh, just bring them in, we'll reseam them for life." If they have a hole, they will replace them. That's pretty awesome and makes the price a little easier to swallow. Since the pair I got for Christmas, I've bought 2 additional pair. Worth it!<br />
<a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/c/women-pants/_/N-7yh?Nrpp=9&icid=US">Shop Here!</a><br />
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Next, Goodr sunglasses. These babies are fun and they stay put while you are doing outdoor activities. They are polarized so you can actually see out of them. Plus, they are only $25. I only wish I could be using them more, but it's been so dreary and gets dark so early that I haven't actually run with them yet. Either way, it's very strange for my husband to get jealous of sunglasses that I have that are branded as "running sunglasses" but he wants to order a pair for himself to take to the beach. I might even buy another more neutral pair.<br />
<a href="https://www.playgoodr.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA-9rTBRBNEiwAt0Znw4zfKWJPte_1U9ld71i8DRjZ6Mkrm8x28KeVIMSSxJ7sYlDTtnWDdhoCDzgQAvD_BwE">Shop Here!</a><br />
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I got these Aftershokz headphones in October before I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon. I had my eyes on them after doing a demo at a running store. Since I'm an REI member, they send me a gift card towards the end of the year based on what I've spent. It's actually a good deal if you buy a lot of outdoor gear. This covered over half of them (they were $99, but I've seen them on sale for $75.) I realized I liked them as soon as I put them on. They do not go in your ears, but on the outside and use bone vibration to help you hear the music. This is great for safety as well. I knew I loved them at the Long Beach Half. They stayed in place the entire time and I didn't have to adjust them once. I just used them on my 10 miler and was able to listen to music as I talked with others in my group. The battery life on them is great. The charge even lasts if you haven't touched them in awhile. I couldn't find a photo of me in them, but the link has a great video to show you how they fit.<br />
<a href="https://aftershokz.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA-9rTBRBNEiwAt0Znw2rAKAyzBw5wxJtyMyq1Dd5oRtr_xRuzj4B1DoLTDixE2D6bwASvPxoChbMQAvD_BwE">Shop Here</a><br />
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Finally, someone in our group discovered this running late that's really affordable and they do a good job at not only making you visible, but help to make the pathway visible as well. I bought this because of 2 things. First, I almost hit some people with my car who were out running in the dark in the morning. They were not on the sidewalk and they were wearing no lights or reflective gear. Second, I didn't have a light for a snowy pub run we were doing one night. I got separated between 2 groups. Thankfully, someone had let me borrow their hand light, which made me feel a lot safer. I would have been extremely nervous if I hadn't of had that. Anyways, the only problem with this is that it can be a bit weird looking if you are larger chested like me, but I still use it because it's serving it's purpose to keep me safe, which is more important than a weird looking boob.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lixada-Running-Rechargeable-Hunting-Jogging/dp/B072JBGBWG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1517783627&sr=8-6&keywords=running+chest+light">Shop Here!</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm wearing the light here<br /><br /></td></tr>
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As far as training goes, it's been going really well. I feel like I have a lot of energy still and my body is carrying me pretty easily right now. I hope this continues. I'm worried about becoming more fatigued and worn down mentally as the season gets more difficult, which is typically what happens to me. My group is great and it's nice to have people who support you and talk to you when you are out there for hours. I'm really looking forward to my runs with them and watching them all succeed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-19515793628516336562018-01-28T10:20:00.001-08:002018-01-28T10:20:28.366-08:00What's on the MenuSo, I posted that I was going to share some recipes for the week with you here today. I always meal plan and grocery shop on Sundays, usually as early as possible in hopes to avoid the huge crowds. I'm 100% not a nutritionist or dietitian. I don't create any recipes. I try to find recipes in cookbooks or online that are healthy, yet still flavorful. I'm not a person who enjoys eating plain baked chicken with broccoli. We enjoy a lot of ethnic food and I love using spices other than salt and pepper. I try to be strict during the week, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes I snag a Reese cup or end up eating pizza rolls for dinner. So, I am by no means perfect, but even the small changes have made a big difference in my life.<br />
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When I got home today, I made <a href="https://www.wellplated.com/broccoli-quinoa-salad/">Broccoli Quinoa salad with lemon dressing</a> for lunches. The flavor of this salad is great, however, I didn't feel like it made enough for 4 servings if it's your main dish.I would definitely make it again though and maybe double the recipe. I left the tarragon out, because it's a spice I don't personally like, and it was fine without it.<br />
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I also had old bananas that I wanted to get rid of so I made <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/blueberry-banana-bread/">Blueberry Banana Bread</a>. I didn't have applesauce, so I use coconut oil instead. The bread turned out good, however I think the blueberries are a bit overpowering so next time I would use less of them. For some reason, we never finish a hand of bananas so I end up trying healthy banana breads all the time. I would say this is one of my favorites so far.<br />
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On the menu this week for dinner:<br />
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Monday: Sweet and Spicy Salmon with Mixed Veggies: This is a recipe from a cookbook in our home. I prefer to use cookbooks because I think they are easier to look at while you are cooking. I guess I'm old school. Anyways, it incorporates salmon with shiitake mushrooms and red peppers in a sauce that is made with sriracha and soy. We eat a lot of Asian inspired dishes.<br />
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Tuesday: <a href="https://www.thewholesomedish.com/one-pot-wonder-southwest-pasta/">One Pot Southwest Pasta</a>: This stuff is delicious and vegan. Tuesdays are my workout runs, so I like to eat some extra carbs and try to do something with pasta or rice. We've had this before and both really enjoyed it. It makes excellent leftovers for lunch as well. Also one pot=EASY<br />
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Wednesday: <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-balsamic-pork-roast/">Crock Pot Balsamic Pork</a>: My husband is more of a meat and veggies kind of guy and his favorite recipes are not casseroles or one pot meals like mine. We already had a pork loin in the fridge, so I thought it might be a good week to use this up. The flavor is really nice and the pork is super tender after cooking in the crock pot all day long. We will be making Brussels sprouts to go alongside the pork.<br />
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Thursday: Shrimp A La Criolla: Again, this is from a recipe book at our house. We've never tried this before, but I'm just beginning to like shrimp. My taste buds have completely changed-I used to hate shrimp! The stew incorporates tomatoes, red pepper, and olives. I'm not sure how it will turn out because I've never made anything even remotely like this before, but I'll keep you updated. The "stew" cooks in the crockpot, with the shrimp being added later so it won't burn.<br />
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I am willing to share recipes from my cookbooks individually if anybody wants them, I just didn't want to post photos to respect the chefs who created them.<br />
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I think the number 1 myth I feel like people believe is that cooking healthy is expensive. My bill was under $100 today. Fresh vegetables and fruits really aren't terrible and Kroger has them on sale a lot. I only try and buy what I need for the recipe so I don't waste the rest. We've gotten a good supply of spices built up and after you buy them once, they can least for a year. You may have to push yourself into something new for some of these recipes, or find a new ingredient that you've never used before, but since we started doing that we feel a lot better about eating at home because our food actually tastes good! We have struggled with going out to eat in the past too much, and we still do on the weekends, but everything's a work in progress! Also, I said "I" a lot but the truth is we take turns making dinner, which also helps with eating at home since I don't particularly like cooking.<br />
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Happy eats!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-87867688511303077702018-01-27T07:13:00.001-08:002018-01-27T07:13:36.327-08:00One Week of Doing the Runs I'm Supposed ToI'll be the first to admit that I rarely have stuck to the training schedule in the past. I've never felt bad about that but I figured maybe that could contribute to some of my times not being exactly where I've wanted them to be or me feeling fatigued on some of the runs. I'm not a person who likes to do the same exercise over and over again so that was another problem for me. I feel like running can get boring and I like to mix it up. I never want to get burnt out on training, especially this early into my running career. I don't wake up with my legs twitching to run like some people do, but this week I stuck to the recommended schedule of running.<br />
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Let's rewind one week. Saturday I missed the run because I was in Frankfort for a meeting with teachers across the state of Kentucky. It's something I have a passion for, but I was bummed to miss the run with my group. I had to make it up on Sunday, alone, which is always much worse because it's not so much fun to talk to myself. However, I finished and felt good about completing it.<br />
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Monday was a recommended 3 miles. After having a giant Italian dinner on Sunday (thanks friends) I needed this run and since 3 miles is a shorter distance, I even got to do a strength workout afterwards. Tuesday was my birthday and I really wanted to skip so that I could go out with my husband, but I decided to stay dedicated and I went to run fartleks (I hate any workout that involves sprinting) but I actually felt great. It must have been because I was powered by a chocolate cake my friend brought me at lunch. That was 6 miles and I bet people that know me can't believe I didn't bitch the whole time about sprinting. Sprinting uphill most of the time, if I might add. Wednesday and Thursday I did morning strength workouts and then the schedule says to do a recovery run. I hit up the gym with T.J. and did 4 miles on the treadmill, remembering how much I flipping hate the treadmill. Friday I chose to do strength in the morning, which brings us right to today which was an 8 mile, long slow distance workout. I workout a lot and adding in the required runs I felt like would just exhaust me, but today actually went really well. I am enjoying my 4:30 group so far and getting to know them better. It was a pretty flat route, but sometimes those take the most mental stamina.<br />
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I was glad I stuck to my "required running" for training this week, but since it was my birthday my diet was VERY lacking. Wow wouldn't it be cool if I could have a week of good eating and following the training schedule? I might like gain some awesome super power I didn't even know I had. I'm not a nutritionist by any means, but tomorrow I'll post my meal plan and give you some ideas of what I'll be (hopefully) eating this week. I hope I can stay dedicated and consistent this week.<br />
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I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Get out an enjoy the 50 degree temps in January!<br />
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PS My husband bought me a fancy new apple watch for my birthday. I am still figuring out how to use it, but so far I'm really enjoying the push it gives me for the high level exercise goals, the music controls while I'm on on a run, and checking the weather with a push of a button while I'm getting ready for a run. I'll try and share more as time goes on!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-499928580127864632018-01-17T16:02:00.000-08:002018-01-17T16:02:01.402-08:00Here We Go AgainI really wanted to get back to blogging in 2018 but sometimes I feel like I've already said everything there is to say. Honestly though, there were a lot of things that I could have written about last season, but ended up not doing and I now regret. I dealt with my first injury, and completed a half marathon with said injury. I also had a sinus infection. It was mentally and physically one of my toughest races and I know a lot of people could have related to that struggle.<br />
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Blogging is something I enjoy and I'm really hoping to get back into it for this running season. I always start the year with a vision board and one of my visions is to keep up with this blog again.<br />
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Our first group run was January 9th. I missed this run because we had tickets to a UK game in Lexington that night. I did not regret missing the run because I had such a blast, but unfortunately our Saturday run was cancelled also, due to snowy conditions and icy conditions. We had a makeup run on Sunday but it wasn't quite the same as our whole group wasn't there.<br />
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With the Indianapolis Monumental being the last time I had really run, I have to admit I'd been in a funk of not running. I wanted to allow time for the sprained ankle to heal completely so I did no exercise for about a week (made me absolutely crazy) then started doing other exercises that didn't incorporate heavy running or jumping. I have to be honest that I grew accustomed to really enjoying other things and I didn't miss running. This was weird to me because when I first thought about having to not run, it made me miserable. How would I stay sane? What would I do? This was my healthy addiction and love! But I got comfortable. Other exercises became a new routine for me and running a short 3 miles when the weather was pretty became just an add on when I felt like it. I didn't feel super motivated to start this season and Tuesday was the day that changed that for me.<br />
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This Tuesday we had gotten about 4-6 inches of snow over the weekend and Monday during the day. When I stepped outside I realized just how cold it was, 10 degrees with a feel of 3 degrees. Of course all I could think was "I don't feel like doing this." and "This is stupid." Once I got with my training group my feelings quickly changed. I caught up with friends I hadn't seen in awhile. It was good to see them again. I went out with my new pace group (4:30-YIKES!) on plenty of packed snow, in the dark, in freezing temperatures and guess what? I didn't suck. I felt....good...? I think it's partly scary to get back into something because you think that you've lost so much, but your body is smart and it can do amazing things. I didn't feel like a person who hadn't been running for 2 months, I felt like a runner and a strong runner at that. I was confident again and felt ready to train for 26.2 miles. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the accountability and fellowship of being with a group is extremely important for me.<br />
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I've got many goals for the year, as I hope all of you do, and The Flying Pig is just the start. I'd also like to complete my first Tough Mudder. Beyond exercise, I've been working to eat 2 vegetarian dinners each week and many more vegetarian lunches. I've already cooked tofu and tempeh pretty successfully, which was fun. T.J. and I are doing ethnic dinners on Sundays. So far udon noodles (Thai) and spatzele (German) have turned out great! I always have goals of multiple vacations and saving money, yes I know, these work against each other. I'm trying to read more novels as well.<br />
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As you approach the year it's not too late to set goals. If you get into the routine of doing something specific, it becomes second nature and isn't really something you dread. I don't dread 5:30 AM workouts anymore because I do them regularly. However, I was dreading getting back to running because I was so used to not doing it. Activity or inactivity both provide a level of comfort once you get used to them.<br />
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Consistency is my word this year and there's sooooo many goals I have that fall under that. I might fall short, but I'd like to achieve as close to 100 visions as I can!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-61001362422241463822017-08-18T15:11:00.001-07:002017-08-18T15:16:36.706-07:00Blood of the DragonSo since starting this blog, I feel like I had often had to defend women, especially women in athletics in some way. For example, around the Olympics I wrote the post about how women were being covered in the media. I have also blogged about a man who laughed at me when I told him I was trying to purchase BCAA's at GNC. I have blogged about being yelled at from men out of car windows as I was running. I've heard everything from "Run faster you fat, fluffy bitch" to "Look at your boobs bounce!" Yes, I wish I was kidding. I have blogged about a woman I follow Run, Selfie, Repeat being told she should care more about losing weight and stop using it as a crutch in an email from a stranger.<br />
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Now, a coach from my team has been called out for an outfit she wore to complete a half marathon.<br />
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The picture above is Laurah Lukin who actually won second place in this half marathon. After these comments were deleted, the man continued to comment on other pictures, then posted about the situation on his Facebook saying that just because women were offended didn't mean they were right. Please read Laurah's blog <a href="https://laotongpride.com/leopard-shouldnt-change-spots/">here</a> to learn about here reaction. </div>
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I don't want to spend time hating on this guy, because he is frankly not worth the time. </div>
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The thing is, it's easy to tell each other to ignore it. It's easy to tell our fellow women to let the comments roll off their back. However, the truth is that these comments hurt and put us on edge. When men yell at me from their cars, I start doubting myself in my own head. It's hard to focus on running because I am instead focusing on myself and how I am being perceived. I also get nervous and find myself looking over my shoulder to make sure the car has left. The problem is not with women, the problem is with how our society views women. This is why I will continue to post blogs like this. This is why I will continue to be a Girls on the Run Coach, which works to teach girls self esteem and confidence. This is why I will continue to post photos of myself after a long run or a hard workout. </div>
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The other news about our society, that just so happens to be good, is that women seem to be stronger than ever. I know so many amazing women that are out there every day kicking ass and continuing to push themselves every day. These women are strong and beautiful. The job of changing the conversation is in our hands. The job of ending sexism is in our hands. </div>
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If you are a woman who kicks ass, continue to put yourself out there no matter who tries to stand in your way. Focus on your inner strength and outer strength. Focus on all you have done to get where you are now.</div>
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You are strong.</div>
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Hold that thought close to you knowing that nobody can take it away. </div>
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You are strong. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">“I am the blood of the dragon. I must be strong. I must have fire in my eyes when I face them.” </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346732.George_R_R_Martin" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">George R.R. Martin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_62291" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1164465" style="color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">A Storm of Swords</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-72645696031478465382017-08-05T12:12:00.001-07:002017-08-05T12:12:47.893-07:00A Half Time That Scares MeI've been gone for awhile now from the blog world, and every off season I think I'm finished with the blog. Then when the season starts, I end up having a lot on my mind and thinking that I should share with people the craziness that my brain goes through when I'm training.<br />
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First off, I'm in a new running group through <a href="http://www.gobeyondexercise.com/">Beyond Exercise</a>. When our fearless leader, Rick, decided to leave our old group an start a brand new venture, many of us followed him. So although I'm with a new group, a lot of the people are the same and I'm enjoying the more social aspect that a small business brings to the table. Today we even had a party with beer, mimosas, chocolate milk, bagels, music, and shopping!<br />
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Second, I'm training for my 4th half marathon. Half marathons have actually become something that seem fun to me, but then I had to go and ruin it by trying to push my pace. In the fall, I will attempt to run a 2 hour half marathon. This means my pace will have to be a consistent 9:09 per mile. That is crazy fast for me! At the moment, I honestly can't remember the pace of my first three half marathons. I know they have to be somewhere on this blog. I want to say my first was in the 2:40 range. Something I do know is that I have gotten consistently faster with each race, making my fastest half marathon 2 hours and 8 minutes. So I know that 8 minutes may not seem like a lot to shave off, but running that pace was very challenging for me. That to me means I had already shaved off at least 30 minutes from previous races. It was honestly a surprise that I was able to finish it in that time. I know I've said before multiple times that I want to challenge myself, but as the season started, my runs were complete garbage trash. I now think I need to give myself more credit and realize that the heat and humidity play a huge role in this, but at the time we started I was becoming very discouraged. I was getting out of breath quickly and felt like I couldn't keep up. I was always falling back and then doubting my abilities. The good news is, my past 2 runs have felt much more doable. Hmmmm....and it has been slightly cooler and less humid!<br />
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This season I want to try and keep my confidence up whether the runs are good or bad. I want to not be afraid of the 2:00 half marathon, but instead try and conquer it head on. For those of you along for the journey, I'll try not to say the same story I've said for the past year, but in reality it will probably be a series of whines and triumphs as usual!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-78245800840162953532017-05-15T16:17:00.002-07:002017-05-15T16:17:48.351-07:00A Post I Wanted To Write A Long Time AgoOkay, so call me superstitious but I was too worried about talking about the health benefits of working out, to actually write about the health benefits of working out. I thought I would immediately get injured during training season, because that's how this works and all. So now that I'm in between training seasons, it's something I wanted to post about.<br />
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When I started working out, I received a lot of positive feedback. Many people were complimenting me and saying "good for you." As the working out became something I really enjoyed and became more intense, some-not all people, began questioning me. Here are some examples of comments I felt like I heard regularly:<br />
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<li>Running is so bad for your knees. Are you sure you want to keep doing that?</li>
<li>I can't believe you are lifting so much weight. You are going to hurt your back</li>
<li>I'm worried about you running that much tomorrow</li>
<li>I can't believe you get up so early to work out. You're going to be so tired all the time.</li>
<li>I've heard running a marathon is really bad for your body.</li>
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I didn't have many issues with these things. In fact, the people I'm surrounded by haven't had many issues with these things and some of them have been running or exercising for 20+ years. Sure, there are injuries, and I have seen plenty of those. I even twisted my ankle one season and pushed too hard on it, ending up with more forced rest than I wanted. However, the health benefits I've experienced are far greater than the risk of injury:</div>
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<li>I lost 50 pounds- lowered risk for all kinds of diseases including heart disease and diabetes.</li>
<li>I no longer have high blood pressure when I go to the doctor's office.</li>
<li>I just had a biometric screening performed, and I was at low risk in every single category (except BMI.) This screening included cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and several other categories.</li>
<li>I have had a reduced rate of illnesses and less headaches.</li>
<li>Guess what? Working out at 5:30 a.m. actually makes me LESS sleepy!</li>
<li>I am so incredibly less stressed out and overall more positive. </li>
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I've had knee pain before and foot pain and leg soreness and I very well may lose a black toenail I have right now, but being on a regular exercise routine is more rewarding and has more BENEFITS than I could ever have imagined when I started. </div>
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I feel that in some ways our society has some of this backwards. I totally believe in self confidence and positive body image being important. However, when I was 50 pounds heavier and I was not working out at all and eating dinner out or at fast food restaurants regularly, nobody expressed concern for my health. I really try and inspire people to work out because of the difference it has made in my mental and physical health. Sitting on the couch doing nothing was the most detrimental thing I was doing to my own health and wellness. I do try to push myself to the next level in several activities. I like the competition and challenge of doing these things. I follow training guidelines though and try to stay smart about lifting weights, running, stretching, and resting. I think we are hurting ourselves by putting exercise on the back burner. Making exercise a priority can change your life. Maybe that's exactly what makes it's so hard to do. Change is hard and there is always a chance that we will fail or in this case even get hurt, but I don't think that's a reason to hold back from the opportunities that are out there.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-38157356529249110422017-05-09T14:00:00.001-07:002017-05-09T14:01:05.214-07:00The Finish SwineIt all seems like a blur. What a cliche right? But I seriously cannot believe it's all over. Most importantly, I still can't believe I accomplished something that less than 1% of the population has accomplished. So much time, effort, training, lack of sleep, sweat, and pain was poured into this season. The time leading up to the race I was only thinking about everything and anything that could go wrong. I wasn't thinking about what could go right. I can be a doomsdayer.<br />
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First off, my pace pleased me though the majority of the race. My 6.8 pace was 10:54. My half pace was 10:48. My 19.7 pace was 10:56. My goal was to stay under 11 (finishing in a 4:45) and at that point, I had still done a great job. Unfortunately, I began to get super fatigued during the last 6 miles and my legs felt like lead, but let's start at the beginning.<br />
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Race day came and the weather was great for running. High 30's with no rain. I especially get very hot on runs, so I was really happy about the cooler temperatures. I had a weird sense of calm before I started. It seemed like I just calmed myself down and began to accept whatever at that point. Around 3 miles, my parents and my sisters were waiting in Newport with their kids. It's always exciting to see them, especially since the kids get so excited and are all holding up signs. It's a great way to start the race off and gives me motivation to stay strong.<br />
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After that, everything really kept going according to plan. I was running with a friend, but at Gilbert we got separated. I like to charge up hills pretty powerfully and stay in my zone. I just want to get it over with! On the large hill section, I passed some of my extended family and also a family from my school. It was a nice surprise and good to see familiar faces.<br />
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At the half marathon split, I still felt great! I wasn't even disappointed to see the halfers leaving, which I thought would be super tough mentally. I ran into another friend from my running group. It was nice to chat with her for a little bit because at this point the crowd had thinned out. It was a little tough thinking nobody else was waiting for me. We got a great downhill, and then I got a text from T.J. saying that he was at mile 15. This was so comforting.<br />
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Okay 2 more miles to T.J. and my parents.... I got to see them twice because they were at a turnaround spot and T.J. jumped in and ran with me for a bit just to make conversation, which was nice. After seeing them, I knew my coworker and her 2 boys were waiting at mile 17 so in my mind it was okay... 1 more mile to Kelly. After Kelly was a stretch from hell on Columbia Parkway. It was mostly highway and there was barely any crowd support. This was 18-20 and it was here that the 4:45 pacer passed me and I couldn't keep up. I felt a bit of disappointment and then, I just stopped caring and started thinking about crossing the finish line.<br />
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In my head I started thinking about Lindsey waiting for me at mile 20. When I saw Lindsey at mile 20 I was exhausted and thrilled to see her. My stomach had been weird during the run, as in I was worried I was going to poop my pants a few times. I only had eaten 2 of my nutrition packs because I was too nervous about my stomach reacting poorly. My plan was to have had 4 by mile 20. I think maybe I wouldn't have been so exhausted had I been able to stick to my nutrition plan. Anyways, Lindsey kept me going by running with me and telling me things to look out for that I would have been totally oblivious too. I'm glad she pointed them out to me, although I don't know if I can recall them all. My mother in law and father in law were at mile 21 cheering loudly for me. More friendly faces to help me reach my goal. At mile 22 Lori switched off with Lindsey.<br />
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One of the best moments of the race happened at mile 22. As exhausted as I was, I really wanted to try a "layup for Lauren." I got the small basketball and totally side armed the ball up there but it went in. I remember celebrating that moment and seeing the sign in the background that said "Never Give Up." Even now as I type that, it brings some tears to my eyes. Thank you Lauren Hill for inspiring me at mile 22. Lori was equally as great as Lindsey. My music stopped and Lori even played music on her phone out loud to keep me pumped up. At this point, 1 mile felt like 10 and every hill felt like Gilbert, but with Lori's encouragement I kept going. Lori and Lindsey are both coworkers and friends by the way, but seriously who else gets coworkers that are that amazing?<br />
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I made it to mile 24 and Lori switched off with my friend Tara from my very first running group. I have to admit, that seeing her was a little sweeter because I knew it was my last running buddy and then I would be crossing the finish line. Maggie jumped in with us at 25 and I asked Tara to tell me stories along the way. Having them with me was great because we used to run together all the time and it was my very favorite running group. The "Monstars" helped me develop my passion for running. At this point my breathing was heavy and I was purely exhausted, but I remember them telling me I could cross the finish line. I remember them telling me to keep breathing. I remember them lying to me about "coasting to the finish line" when I really had 2 more hills.<br />
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After they jumped out, it was me and the finish line. I passed my friend Liz's mom and sister, who had a very recognizable sign at several places on the course that was such a welcome vision once again. I saw my parents and T.J.'s parents with T.J, holding up signs for me. I saw my friends Mallory, Brian, Tara, and Bessler. I saw my brother with his family and my niece and nephew waving at me. I couldn't help but smile. I was beaten down, I was ready for this to be over, but I felt such pure happiness. I crossed the finish line and felt pure relief. My time-4:55, 10 minutes behind my "ultimate goal" but still under 5 hours, my "secondary goal" and still doing it the whole time without walking, my "third goal."<br />
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The point here is truly said best in the words of Lauren Hill, Never Give Up. It was through not giving up on myself and not giving into my negative thoughts, that I completed something that seemed so unreachable at one point. It's so crazy because your mind will only prepare you for what you set out to do. When I set out to do half marathons, I'm tired at the end. At a full marathon, I felt great and alive at mile 13. Put it in your mind to accomplish something and don't let go of the goal until you get there.<br />
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I think the next lesson to be learned here is to lean on the support of others. I am truly humbled by all of the kind words I received, and especially by everyone that showed up at some point on the course to cheer for me. This is what got me through. If I was out on that course completely alone, I truly think the result would have been much different. Sometimes you have to use the strength of others to bring you up, and that is what I did on Sunday. The cheers, the smiling faces, the posters, the text messages, all brought me up and kept me putting one foot in front of the other. It really did mean the world to me.<br />
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A chapter has closed. The sweat is gone, the hard work is over. All that is left now is the t-shirts, the car magnet, the photographs, the medal, and of course, the sweet memories. As I look back on this marathon I think the most memorable thing will always be the people. To those of you who were there for me in some form during those 5 hours, I thank you very sincerely. No matter what I complete the the future, May 7, 2017 will always hold a uniquely special place in my heart.<br />
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To the people who have asked, totally worth it, and I totally would do another one!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-38120101504038032142017-05-06T13:25:00.000-07:002017-05-06T13:25:31.066-07:00Less Than 24 HoursYesterday I went to the expo and I honestly got really excited. It's a neat experience and there's just a buzz of excitement in the air. I was pumped seeing all of the Flying Pig gear. I bought 2 shirts and a hat, plus got a first time marathoner shirt and bib. Looking back on it, I wish I would have bought more. When I finish this thing, maybe I can reward myself with all the goodies!<br />
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Today I helped out with some students from my school who were participating in the Flying Pig 5K and 26th Mile. One of my students actually asked me to run the 26th mile with her and while I wasn't planning on doing any running today, I had fun watching crossing the finish line with some awesome fifth graders.<br />
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As I'm getting everything ready today, it's hard not to at least be a little bit scared. The truth is, I'm most afraid of failing myself. I have goals in mind that I want to accomplish and when you work towards something for a long time and pour yourself into it, it's hard to imagine what it will feel like to not accomplish those goals. It's hard to think about what will happen if you disappoint yourself. Something that has really made a difference to me, and has helped me to believe in myself more, is all of the people who have reached out to me to wish me good luck. I know that literally everyone and their brother knows I'm running the full marathon. I realize that at points I've become downright annoying with posting and talking about it. Even though this may have been the case, I have had text messages, facebook messages, in person messages, cards, cookies, a mug all to send me good wishes. A lot of people have told me that they're inspired by me. This is absolutely mind blowing to me when I think about where I have come from. I really do want to inspire people because at one point in time there was no part of me that thought I would be interested in running. Tomorrow I'm getting ready to take on 26 miles. I can't really predict how this will go, but I promise I will give it my all. I promise to do whatever is in my power to keep pushing. I promise not to give up on myself.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-1048356978763568502017-04-30T08:44:00.002-07:002017-04-30T08:44:42.698-07:00One Week Till Race DayThere's a lot of excitement building around The Flying Pig Marathon and rightfully so. It's such a fun weekend in Cincinnati with events that celebrate our great city. The Flying Pig is a quirky race with a ton of crowd support and throughout the weekend they have events that really appeal to all ages, ability levels, and interests. I really do get giddy around this time.<br />
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However the weight of knowing I'm running a full marathon contributes to some serious terror. I won't let this put a damper on the excitement of the week, but I am nervous. There are times when the thought pops into my mind about what I'm going to endure and my stomach drops. The mind is such a powerful thing and sometimes it's hard to get that in the right place.<br />
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I thought I would state some of my goals around the race. I didn't want to do this at first but I felt like I was copping out by not sharing my goals. These are the goals I want to meet and sharing them will help hold me accountable, whether I succeed or not. I want to finish the race between 4:45-5:00 hours. In order to do 4:45 I have to maintain a 10:53 pace. Studies show that marathoners slow down by 20% in the second half of the race, so this is something I'm going to have to consider when starting out. I would also like to complete the race without walking. There is absolutely nothing wrong with walking, and I know that people train to walk or do intervals all the time. I think nothing less of them. For me personally, I have just been training to run the marathon so I want to meet that goal.<br />
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Each day as the race approaches, I know I am taking on something that will challenge me mentally and physically. The hardships that I will encounter aren't lost on me. I know that miles 20-26 will be almost unbearable because I have never endured that mileage before and that my body will be close to shutting down by that point. I know that believing in myself will get me far and I hope that I can keep my mental state together, even when pushing through pain, soreness, heat, or whatever I might face. My legs will only hurt so much. My breathing will only get so heavy, my exhaustion level will only get so high. I can persevere. I can endure. I can. I can. I can.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-46379373404453971312017-04-22T13:16:00.000-07:002017-04-22T13:16:36.470-07:00ConfidenceLast week we had a 20 mile run and it was not my best performance. It started out raining, we even got poured on briefly, then the sun came out and it ended up being super hot. The race was the "last long run" and all of the training groups got together for a race supported by water stops and even members of the flying pig staff, which was fun. However, I got in 45 minutes before the cutoff (struggling I might add) and everything was already torn down. This kind of upset me because I think it's rude to tear down before runners finish, especially when we didn't even get to the cutoff time. I only got a bottle of water because our running group snagged a case before the sponsors left. So after last week's race, I felt slightly discouraged and especially slow since I felt like I was coming in last place.<br />
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Today we had a 15 mile run. I started out pretty quickly with a sub 11 minute mile. I knew the route was going to be hilly and we ran up Gilbert, which is the largest hill in the marathon. I wanted to really nail this route because I knew it would be a part of the race where I might struggle. I found myself staying away from the negative thoughts and staying calm and controlled while doing the course. Even when I came to another hill, I pushed the negative thoughts away and just tried to stay confident. It really worked! Even other runners from my group were complimenting me, which only increased my confidence. It's like sometimes you need people to pat you on the back because you can't possibly believe that you are killing it.<br />
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I think that confidence is a weird sort of thing because staying in that mindset can really propel you forward. Not having confidence can really propel you backwards. There's always a chance that something bad can happen on race day but if I focus on that, it's only going to weigh me down. Having a good run today really helped my confidence and I hope that I can stay this confident for race day. We have one more Saturday run, which will be 10 miles and I hope that it goes well for me so I can continue to feel like I can be successful in a marathon. It's getting so close to race day that my anxieties are continuing to rise and are getting harder to shut out. If I can rest assured in anything, it's that this has been a wonderful journey. Every run, good or bad has led me to the spot that I'm in now and it's a place where I never thought I would be. While I've always heard the journey is the reward, and while I believe that's true, a shiny gold medal would be nice!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went into a liquor store today and someone was selling these shirts. It was a sign!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-26972289551602523772017-04-10T15:24:00.000-07:002017-04-10T16:01:28.211-07:00Body ImageI've accomplished some pretty cool milestones since my last post. 16 miles and 18 miles both flew by and surprisingly went better than I thought. I'm nervous about an upcoming 20 miler this weekend, but still looking forward to it. Alas, this is not what I want to talk about today. My topic is a little more serious-body image.<br />
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I went to the beach this week and to other people's surprise, and honestly to my own, I posted pictures of myself in a bathing suit. Showing any skin for me is usually completely uncomfortable, but this year I felt mildly confident in my bathing suit. I also wanted to make up for the photos that had been posted 2 years ago (against my will) of me on the beach. Being able to take a picture of myself in a bathing suit and feel comfortable enough to put that online is weird for me, but I do feel like my body is something that I've worked hard on and something I need to take more pride in. So why is it so hard to take pride in my body?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015</td></tr>
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I've thought about this post for a long time because somewhere in time the words "fit" and "skinny" became synonyms and I'm just tired of feeling like I'm not fit enough or like people don't see me as fit because I'm not thin. When I tell people about my physical activity or my goals with running or lifting weights, people act surprised. I could be making this all up in my head but I feel like people are thinking, "Can she really do that? She doesn't look like she's in shape." I'm tired of this stereotype and I'm also tired of how this stereotype makes me see myself. I came home and shamed myself for eating ice cream on vacation and drinking so much. Why didn't I praise myself for running 14 miles and biking 7 miles while on vacation? I have to work on how I see myself, This is something I definitely realize, but I think we also need to work on how society views humans who are in shape. I don't look like a typical runner or weight lifter, but that doesn't automatically mean I don't work hard. I know people who are much thinner than I am, but literally never partake in any physical activity. What's funny is if that person told you tomorrow they were running a marathon, you might not be surprised because in looking at them you assume they are fit. </div>
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I'm a woman who has a BMI at the overweight level, I'm also a woman who has completed 3 half marathons in one year and is working my ass off at training for 26.2. I'm a woman who wears a size 10, and can dead lift 315 pounds. I'm a woman who eats junk food and wakes up at 5:00 four times a week for my first workout of the day. I'm a woman who is running 20 miles this weekend, a woman who has lost 50 pounds, a woman who is goal oriented and works hard to be healthy. </div>
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Fit doesn't look a certain way. Fit can look many ways. We all need to stop shaming ourselves and each other and encourage. Let's focus on what our bodies can do. Let's change our mindsets about what fit has to look like. Let's keep sharing the stories of ourselves and others who are being successful.<br />
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Nope, still not skinny,<br />
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Lauren</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-30529089462461706662017-03-13T15:57:00.000-07:002017-03-13T15:57:25.802-07:00Thick Skin and an Elastic HeartSOO this weekend something pretty cool happened, but in order to appreciate it I feel like you have to know where I came from. Last year, in March, I had a blog post titled "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done." That whole post ONE SHORT YEAR AGO was about The Heart Mini 15K. A 15K is a little over 9 miles. On Saturday, as part of training for the full marathon, I ran The Heart Mini half marathon. Last year I talked about the course being hard and this year that still held true. The course had many rolling hills, and included Torrence again which literally makes you feel like you are trudging uphill in fudge. In my last post I encouraged my readers to Google Earth the hill. I still recommend that. It's gnarly.<br />
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I knew I wanted to PR this race. I've run two half marathons and gotten progressively faster. My last half marathon was in Indianapolis, a completely flat course and I pumped it out 2:26. I really wanted to hit 2:20 or less, but I wasn't able to make it happen. This race was weird in that I wasn't really nervous. I think that had to do with it not being the end goal. The end goal is 26.2 miles, and this is just a way to get there. I made a goal that I wanted to complete the race in 2 hours and 15 minutes so I'd be shaving off 11 minutes, which I thought would be doable but challenging with this hilly of a course. My trainer challenged me to get 2:12, which I thought was impossible. I started off running with the 2:15 pacers. They were great motivators and it was nice to have them giving me the little reminders about shaking out my shoulders, etc. I stayed with them for the first 3 miles and I was feeling pretty good. At some point I got in front of them and decided to keep rolling. When I was in the middle of Torrence (AKA hill from hell) I got a text from my trainer, Megan. I looked down at my watch and saw the word "Fly!!!!!!!" This almost brought tears to my eyes because I was flipping struggling. Liz passed me on the way down and said "Just keep going girl." At this point I was heaving, but I kept my head up. On the ride down, which was a beautiful thing, I made it a point to continually cheer. Every person was fighting so hard to get up the hill and they deserved me saying "You got this," and "You look awesome!"<br />
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I started feeling slightly rough around this time and my husband text me saying that my mom and dad were in front of Brio. It was then I felt bad because it was cold outside. In order to get there in a timely manner, I couldn't slow down, I had to keep going. I finally made it to the Taylor Southgate Bridge-another hill, imagine that. I knew my parents were waiting on the other side. I saw them from afar with Liz's parents and I was able to yell "Aren't you even going to cheer me on?" I was happy because at the Pig they saw me feet from the starting line and I know I looked like I was on death's door. This time, I felt happy and still in good shape so I high fived everyone while saying, "I'm going to PR this bitch." Typical me. This left me with only about 3 more miles. This is where I had to kick it up a notch.<br />
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I crossed over the Purple People Bridge Back into Cincinnati (mile 11) and I saw the 2:10 pacer. I couldn't believe my eyes so immediately I knew I had to catch up with him. Then I passed him. I knew I had to be close to the finish line but I couldn't see it. I finally rounded the corner (after a hill, duh!) and I saw the sweet finish line. I didn't speed up until I saw T.J. yelling for me. I straight up sprinted across that finish line and saw the numbers 2:10 on the race clock. I knew that I had started after the initial time by about 2 minutes so I was immediately emotional. I hugged T.J. with tears in my eyes. I flew. Maybe not for my age group, maybe not for "race standards" but for me, I flew.<br />
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The biggest testament to all of this is that one year ago, I ran 9.3 and said it was the hardest day of my life. However, I said in that blog post that "Fat Lauren" became the girl of the past. How true that is. 9.3 miles was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life 365 days ago. Fast forward and I'm running 13.1 with an average pace under 10 minutes and feeling strong. I'm so thankful that one year ago I said goodbye to my old self.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-48924206580075811382017-03-06T14:32:00.001-08:002017-03-06T14:32:18.706-08:00DedicationSo I meant to post about the happenings this weekend quite sooner, but the weekend somehow took a very busy turn. I had a great time, maybe a little too much of a great time, but I'm back in action.<div>
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Saturday brought Bockfest. When I woke up it was snowing. I can't say I was quite thrilled about this. We had an 11 mile training run to the start of Bockfest where we would complete the 5k. I haven't really run in snow like this before. Although I didn't want to get out of bed and face the cold, I actually found myself having a really good time running in the snow. I will admit to loving snow and there was something very childlike about being outside playing in all the white stuff. Good thing I got in my enjoyment because it was gone by 11:00 and replaced with sunshine and high 50's later that afternoon. Mother Nature is a strange beast in Cincinnati. </div>
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I cut out on my own because I was worried about not getting to Bockfest, but I made it with some time to meet up with my friends who were running it. I was so excited for Abby and Sarah to make their 5K debut. They were nervous when we were approaching the starting line. Abby was shaking and Sarah seemed a little more calm, but they both admitted to having some jitters. Abby had a bad stomach bug on Thursday and Friday but still made it to the race because she had worked so hard. I was proud of her for making this choice.</div>
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They both made it through the race like champs. We have been training around our school, which is nowhere near as hilly as the course in Cincinnati. When we got to mile 1, they both said it had felt a lot longer, but they kept going. I know that the finish line seemed far away for them both, but they pushed themselves to make it all the way. They had made a promise to themselves and showed a lot of dedication to cross the finish line.</div>
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My husband, T.J. found out he would be running the 5K two nights before the race because someone had dropped out. When I crossed the finish line he was thrilled to tell me that he also was able to run the whole way without stopping. T.J. could have used not training as an excuse, but he kept his pace steady and told himself he could do it. He has been doing small things to improve his overall health and it's really made a big difference. When we did Bockfest last year he had to stop and walk several times.</div>
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Be it snow, a stomach bug, under preparedness, or nerves, all of these people showed some serious dedication on Saturday. I hope they all felt some self love when they crossed that finish line, because they achieved something for themselves that not everyone has the will to do.</div>
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Also I highly recommend Bockfest because who doesn't love beer? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-28179405791477026802017-02-25T10:58:00.003-08:002017-02-25T10:58:39.065-08:00Running 13 Miles and Not Getting A MedalSo far this training season, all of my runs have been great. Notice I did not say easy. They have not been easy, but I have felt super strong during the majority of them. Today I really didn't feel that way. We went up in mileage to 13 miles, which is the most I've ever run, being a half marathoner. Yesterday it was 75 degrees in Cincinnati. I was sitting outside with shorts on after school. Today I woke up to a wonderful cold front. It's hard to adjust back to cold temperatures after getting used to spring weather.<br />
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I pulled up to Lunken Airport, which is not my favorite route to run in general. I also have to mention that my legs were still extremely sore from my workout on Thursday, which included squatting 115 pounds for 40 reps and then a set that included pulsing lunges and jump squats. So really every muscle in my legs felt tight. When I got out of the car I realized just how windy it was. The first 3 miles I was just not feeling it. With the wind blowing, and being sore,and being at Lunken, which is in my opinion one of the most boring places we run, all I could keep thinking is "this sucks." I had to push those feelings aside because I knew it was a long road ahead. We got to go out into the road, which I typically prefer, but running on Eastern Avenue is not the most scenic route. Well it's actually scenic, but not in the best way... I had to dodge two couches on the sidewalk.<br />
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The last 4 miles were tempo, which means we had to speed up. I basically completed these last 4 miles alone since I had gotten ahead of my group and it was the worst part of Lunken. It's literally just a huge stretch of a tree lined path. You really don't feel like you've moved anywhere. I had to keep telling myself to finish. The last 2 miles, a wind tornado kicked in and it began snowing. At this point I just felt plain miserable. Finally-the last turn and I saw the beloved parking lot.<br />
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Today wasn't fun, I'll admit that. I do feel like my mental strength was really tested and the mental part of running long distances is tough for me. I get really down on myself at the end because I just want to be FINISHED. The important part is that I did finish and I finished strong, even though I didn't feel the greatest. I pushed through several factors today and I have the chaffed buttcheeks to show for it! It will be interesting to continue running and get my PR in mileage each week. I have to keep remembering that at one time (not so far behind me) 3 miles was my PR, 5 miles was my PR, 9 miles was my PR. I can and I will keep chugging on this journey. I'm not only training my body, I'm training my brain as well.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-68145617905283156872017-02-20T13:01:00.000-08:002017-02-20T13:01:04.025-08:00The Hardest Lesson-RESTSo I'll be the first to admit that I am a bit obsessive when it comes to working out. I definitely don't have the strictest diet plan, but I am very strict about my exercise. I felt like a loaf after all of the holiday resting and eating, so since the new year started, I began kicking up my exercise. Obviously I began training for the full marathon, but I also stepped up my other workouts.<br />
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Typically on Mondays I work out at 5:30 a.m. lifting weights then do a cycling class in the evening. Tuesday is a 7 mile training run. Wednesday is a weight session at 5:30 a.m. and a recovery run in the evening. Thursday is another 5:30 a.m. weight session and a fun zumba class at 5:30 p.m. Finally Friday brings my last weight training day of the week (typically arms) at 5:30 then I'm in a volleyball league in the evening. I also help some ladies train twice a week after school for a 5K. Saturday mornings are always our long run, then I take Sundays off. People may think this is crazy but I really do LOVE exercise. I don't really see it as a chore. I make the time for it because it has become one of my favorite things in life.<br />
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The last week, I felt a lot of stress. I can't really put my finger on why. With most of our weekends lately having had some sort of obligation, I think I was getting worn down. Not that these are bad obligations, they just don't leave a lot of free choice time. I kept ending up falling asleep on weekdays at 8:00 and after our obligations on weekends it would be straight home to the couch. With Tuesday being Valentine's Day, everyone kept talking about the fun things they were going to do that night, and I felt bummed about not getting to spend time with my Valentine because we had a training run. I don't really understand this because we don't really "celebrate" Valentine's Day in any special way. I think I just felt like I needed a night to take off and really enjoy something that we chose to do. When T.J. came home Tuesday night, I was just very overwhelmed and upset. T.J. expressed concern that he thought I was exhausted, so I skipped my training run and we went out to dinner instead. The next day I talked to my trainer and a workout buddy about this and the importance of rest. Rest is so hard for me. I always have irrational thoughts about rest and what it will do to all the progress I've made. It's hard to erase these thoughts and not feel worried about giving yourself some rest when you feel you have so much work to do. <br />
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The weekend brought Bridalrama where T.J. was a vendor and I helped with everything. This was not something I hated to do, but again, not a lot of free choice going on and it felt like I worked all weekend after an 11 mile run on Saturday-WAHHHHH no nap time! I was thankful to have my niece's birthday party Saturday night, where we had a great time teaching my dad to play Euchre and eating delicious food. I planned an outing for our friends on Sunday night to Top Golf since I was off today for President's Day. This was just what I needed. It was so much fun and I wasn't on the couch at 10:00 falling asleep. I didn't have any remorse about the beer or food I was consuming. I just wanted to have fun. This morning I stuck to my 5:30 a.m. workout, but came home and went to bed afterwards. When I woke up, I spent some money that I had put aside for this day (I literally saved for an off day, yes.) I bought a new outfit and dress at Old Navy. I bought a fancy, expensive, new water bottle because I was tired of mine leaking all over my shirt. I went out to lunch at one of my favorite places with T.J. Then I got the best massage every at Massage Envy in Newport (go see Amy, she's amazing!!!) I headed to Target after and bought myself the Lemonade CD by Beyonce, which I had my eye on since Spotfiy doesn't have it. Now I'm waiting for T.J. to come home from work early so we can do one more fun thing before my special day ends. So I'm skipping my typical Monday night class and instead going out to enjoy the sunshine!<br />
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Anyways, I may have gained weight this week. Who really knows? Who really cares? Okay, I do care, but I'm trying not to. I felt like I really got to press the reset button today and it was an amazing feeling. It had not occurred to me that I could be stressed or overwhelmed by something I absolutely love to do, but my body was tired and begging me to take a break. Usually my mind pushes through that, but this time, it caught up with me. Not every lesson is an easy one, and I'm sure I'll have other hiccups along the way where I'm too tired for my own good. Right now though, I am overly thankful for the last 24 hours and a week where I slowed things down a bit.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-50667596247225418202017-02-15T16:51:00.002-08:002017-02-15T16:51:46.827-08:00New Runner SpotlightI mentioned before that it was one of my goals to help some others run their first 5K. I wanted to spotlight some of these participants, so first up-Abby. Abby works in our school autism unit and this is the first year we've worked together. I would do the talking, but instead I asked Abby some questions and she answered them for me!<br />
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Lauren: What made you want to start running?<br />
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Abby: I started running because I needed a lifestyle change. My grandpa recently passed from heart issues and my mom will be having a valve replacement this summer, so getting healthy definitely has a new meaning to me. I wanted to try running because that's always been a huge challenge and something I thought I could never do. I've never been a "runner" or even ran besides being required to in gym class. Once I heard about you wanting to help people run a 5K I knew that was my chance to make a change.<br />
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Me: How do you feel now verses when you started?<br />
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Abby: Running is easier now than when I first started. I never thought I would make it ten minutes on the first day, but I did. I'll never forget how it felt to actually run a mile for the first time. Having you cheer us on and the support of the girls, knowing we're all trying to accomplish the same goal, is the best feeling. I'm so proud of us and I know I wouldn't be doing this without all of them. I would have given up because that's the easiest thing. Now I know what I'm capable of and it feels pretty damn good to work hard and push myself.<br />
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Me: What's the hardest thing about running?<br />
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Abby: For me it's the hills. I know it gets easier and I can't wait!<br />
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I love that Abby speaks about having accountability. If you've tried getting onto an exercise plan before, try it again with friends. It's much easier having other people to encourage you and to support you changing your lifestyle, especially when they have similar goals. Abby has signed up for the Bockfest 5K! Send her some good vibes for her upcoming race. Great job practicing determination Abby!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah, Abby, and Tina</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-50089176533197578612017-02-08T13:53:00.000-08:002017-02-08T13:53:03.718-08:00Be Respectful of Everyone's JourneyWhen I was doing a regular exercise activity this week, I found myself next to someone that I am not typically around. (I am trying to keep this as ambiguous as possible out of respect, even though I would feel better about blasting her.) Anyways, there was a man who was also exercising and she and I were close by. Conversation transpired and she said "He smells bad. I couldn't stand it. I have to get away from him." This man was a larger man and perhaps not yet the most skilled at the exercise we were working on, but it literally could have been a world class exerciser and this comment STILL would have pissed me off.<br />
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Maybe he did smell. I probably smelled this morning after running last night and lifting weights at 5:30 a.m. before showering. This man was out there, trying his best to better himself. God forbid he sweats! I'm not going to lie and say that I've never made comments about other people,and I won't excuse myself, but this comment in particular bothered me because I felt like she was more harsh towards him because he wasn't "fit." I could be completely wrong in thinking that, but I have to question if the same comment would have been made about someone that looked more like her. This post is quickly turning cynical, so let me get to the point....<br />
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THE POINT IS if someone is trying, do not cut them down. It's easy to sit at home on your couch and eat potato chips. Some people can even sit at home and eat potato chips and never gain weight! It's hard to get up and exercise, especially when you are self-conscious about your body. In the past, I've been worried people were judging my jiggly butt and belly as I ran across the heavily populated Purple People Bridge. I've felt nervous to lift a light amount of weight in front of extremely muscular men and women. I've been embarrassed when a run or workout didn't go as well as I thought. Now some of those insecurities have dwindled, but I don't know many people who don't have any self doubt. There is no reason to put down somebody who is probably already feeling apprehensive about being out there anyways-a person who is probably already feeling apprehensive about other people judging them!<br />
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It's not right for anybody to judge someone's fitness journey because we have never been exactly where they have been. To all of you out there who are taking the risk to make yourself vulnerable and begin a journey for your health, I applaud you. Smelly or not, I appreciate the fact that you are working hard. I know what it's like to want to better yourself. Keep striving for greatness and push away the negativity. You are the ruler of your future and the negativity of others will only take that future away from you if you let it. Oh, and for what it's worth, I think you look damn good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682283785485501608.post-78142161434909862052017-02-04T08:06:00.003-08:002017-02-04T08:06:26.898-08:00Run, Selfie, RepeatSo awhile back, I began following a woman known as "Run, Selfie, Repeat" on facebook. The more I saw her post, the more I felt like we had a ton in common.Over the weeks, I've really enjoyed reading what she had to say and I love her confidence and reasoning behind it. She's definitely someone who inspires me and she loves selfies, so there's that! Then on my run today I was thinking about this post and her determination. It was 8 miles in the 15 degree cold, but I finished strong. This week she posted a picture with a caption on Facebook and I have to share her words instead of my own because they resonated with me so much.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She credits Banga Studios for the photo</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Why am I doing this." Honestly, it's a question I've been asking myself more than I'd like to admit these past few weeks. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I'm not a professional athlete, I'm just a really vulnerable lady who runs for her life. I keep thinking back to how scared I was when I started BQ or Bust. How afraid I was to have to eventually admit that I was too afraid to stick with it because I'm a quitter. The more I </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">go back and watch My BQ or Bust daily vlogs, the more I'm reminded of everything I learned about myself last year.<br /><br />How no regrets, no excuses changed my life and forced me to stop playing it safe. Or that failure isn't an option if you give 100% of yourself to whatever it is your doing. Life is too short not to pursue the strongest version of yourself. And there isn't a damn thing pretty or picture perfect about that path. It's full of pit falls, grit, doubt, breakthroughs, setbacks, tears and sleepless nights.<br /><br />Taking risks is what I love to do. Running keeps me moving forward whenever I try to pump the breaks. I'm remembering to trust myself. And to lean into the discomfort again. We all hold ourselves back or listen to the voice in our heads that tells us we're not good enough. F*** that. I want to go to bed every single night knowing that I didn't hold back. That if something horrible happened tomorrow, I gave everything I had to both myself and the people around me. Because life is too short.<br /><br />Be brave. Be bold. And be vulnerable</span></div>
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As I'm reading this now, it has been exactly what I have been feeling for the last few weeks. Taking a risk like starting this training for a full marathon will test me, and it won't always be pretty. I am pushing myself to my limits right now, which is exactly what I thought I was doing this time last year. This year provides a whole new set of challenges. I'm doing something harder, I'm doing something different, I'm working harder than I ever have to be the best version of myself. I hope next year I look back at this challenge and can again be proud of my past, but taking risks to move forward.<br />
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Your time is now. Excuses are easy. You owe it to yourself to push the voice aside in your head and give it everything you've got.<br />
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"Life is too short not to pursue the strongest version of yourself."<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RunSelfieRepeat/?fref=ts">Run, Selfie, Repeat</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdo23Ag3372B67G_7lohkZgJUkKhX0-J1fce4-v-_Wq-zWp9OfYScRusFtLw68uNtfl_SVJRcRyz9YL2TZ-FnvBw8EqFnG_ay3vOLLRhmvIhjdaTa8h1mIv9cME1whPKWiGrA89oyH3vK/s1600/eden+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdo23Ag3372B67G_7lohkZgJUkKhX0-J1fce4-v-_Wq-zWp9OfYScRusFtLw68uNtfl_SVJRcRyz9YL2TZ-FnvBw8EqFnG_ay3vOLLRhmvIhjdaTa8h1mIv9cME1whPKWiGrA89oyH3vK/s320/eden+park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366761741300713803noreply@blogger.com0