A [Day After] Running Day Top 10

Happy belated Global Running Day!

I would apologize for the late post, but I spent Global Running Day ACTUALLY running, so #sorrynotsorry. In an attempt to not write a novella about my love for running you're welcome I'm stealing this Running Favorites list from my spirit animal over at RunEatRepeat.

1. Pre-Run Food:
My stomach hates fuel, like all of it, so for a really long time I would barely eat anything before/during a run. Obviously a crap idea. I started using Generation UCAN  this year and I've seen a huge improvement. My energy levels are so much better, and my tummy has been a lot less unhappy. THey have a ton of flavors, but I'm the weirdo that actually the Plain Superstarch. I've downed it by itself, but it's really good mixed in with some coffee, Nuun or UCAN Hydrate. 
I have not yet mastered how to use it without looking like this...

2. Favorite Race: 
They say you always remember your first and I still think that my first marathon Philadelphia 2013 was the most fun I've ever had racing. I was genuinely happy the entire time and while I got tired hi, it's 26.2 miles there was never a point where I felt like I couldn't go on. Crossing that finish line was the total cliche OMG I LOVE RUNNING SO MUCH moment. I felt so awesome afterwords I tackled the Rocky Stairs before sticking my face into Banana Chocolate Chips Pancakes and a Venti Redeye. 

3. Favorite Running Song: 
Alright I'm gonna cheat on this one because I've been so into podcasts lately. My girls at Running On Om and Real Talk Radio are my obsessions, and of course I have Serial on whenever they deign to release a new episode although Season 2 was meh, can we bring back Adnan? When I'm not absorbing podcast wisdom I'm most likely totally rocking out to Disney Pandora #thisiswhyyouresingle

4. Favorite Running Gear: 
Is all the things an option? No? 
Ok then, here are my can't leave the house without items

• Shoes: Newton Motions are my jam I did just add a pair HokaOneOne Infinites to the rotation and so far I'm digging them!
• Apparel:  Oiselle all day everyday, if I go a day without wearing Oiselle whether it be working out or actually at work, I would be shocked. Major shout outs to the Mac Roga Shorts,  Wazzie Wool and Luxe fabrics. 
• Gear: Garmin Forerunner I have the 225 but have used the 110 and 220 read more here and Jaybird Wireless Earbuds it took me a long time to commit to these but they are a GAME CHANGER literally the only buds that stay in my tiny weird ears and wireless is heaven!

5. Favorite Distance Race: 
Half Marathon by a long shot, you can tell yourself you are only half-crazy. 

6. Favorite Running Mantra: 

This may not count as a mantra, but it perfectly describes where I am at with running right now.
If I'm struggling while out on a run I'll use "I am stronger" or this one time I recited the locker room speech from Miracle for 10 miles of half marathon...


7. Favorite Post Race Food: 

AFTER coffee.... my post-marathon cal fest generally includes but is not limited to burgers, fries and some form of ice cream preferably GoodStuff  the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake will make you cry

Honorable mention goes to brunch at Blue Moon Cafe Capn Crunch French Toast/Apple Bacon Pancakes and Cafeteria Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes/Green Eggs and Ham

8. Favorite Running Joke: 
@runnersbe makes me lolz daily

9. Favorite Place to Race Out of Town: 
DISNEY 
I'm sorry were you expecting a different answer?

First Half-Marathon OBVIOUSLY a runDisney Princess

Me and Pops at WineDine Half 

A gimp-tastic TinkerBell

9. Favorite Thing to do When You’re Not Running: 

Talking about running? Shopping for running stuff?
But really I LIVE for coming home from a morning run, curling up on the couch with a HUGE coffee, something yummy to eat, and watching whatever awesome cinematic masterpiece I've DVRd for the occasion. 
Relaxation at it's finest.  

___________________________________________________________________________________

Let's hear YOUR running favorites! because I'm selfish and want to steal all the cool things your doing and I'm not :) 

How did you celebrate Global Running Day?
It was also my Mom's Birthday so I got to love on like 75% of my favorite things all in one day!

My Psychic Powers and Why They Can't be Used for Good

Well, it's been a solid 4 years, but my right leg finally decided to call it quits on Sunday moment of silence.

I can't even be mad because my right leg has been a freaking trooper. It's been picking up the slack for my bum left leg for basically 3 of those 4 years, and I guess it deserves a break.

Last week running did not feel great. I had been burning the candle at both ends and it was showing. My gait was off, I felt awkward, I was super tired and sluggish, my heart was not in it.  I was not super concerned because it was my last high mileage week, I had a lot going on personally, and frankly I had a lot of reasons to feel tired and wompy. I was flexible with my training schedule rearranging workouts so I would not drive myself into the ground on super hectic days and I never felt like I was pushing myself through pain, I was just on the struggle bus express. I  made it through the week relatively unscathed with one 14 miler left for Sunday. I was exhausted, stressed, and reallllly not looking forward to my last long run. Somehow I managed to scrape myself off the floor and started out for two 7 mile loops, so that I could stop at home for water and fuel if I needed to. Once I got started I knew that mentally I could make it through, the weather was epically gorgeous, and physically I felt the same if not a little better than I had the day before. But around mile 3 I knew something was off, my right ankle just wasn't right. My stride was super forced and awkward. I stopped multiple times to stretch and pump out my calf, but when I started to noticeably limp, that was it. I wasn't in any pain  - but I had to admit defeat. I plopped my ass on the curb, called Mom, and stared off into the downward spiraling abyss until she came to pick me up.

I am just so over this injury bull shit that I could barely muster up the energy to throw a fit in the car on the way home obviously I cried and whined but it wasn't one of my best efforts and went straight to our deck so I could pass out in the sun and at least soak up some of  the Vitamin D I was supposed to get that day. Even my pity party was fairly tame: Sushi, homemade chocolate chip cookies, a pep talk from Mom, and a long bath to keep me from trying to implement every injury remedy in my bag of tricks all at once.

I've always thought I was semi-psychic but really a legit psychic (guy I met on the street in New Orleans) said I was and I totally used to be able to use my powers for good.

Bid Day 2008
A day that will live in infamy

Exhibit A - My senior year of college I was convinced that my parents were going to take us to Disney World in all honesty not a huge leap there after January Rush Week. I had this picture in my mind of Me and Megs in matching Bid Day tee shirts at Magic Kingdom. Well, I got back from my Study Abroad in Australia, my mom told me to repack cause we were going to Disney World, and then we drove back down to school so that I could could spend Bid Day with my double sister who had just pledged my sorority.

True Happiness

Now that I'm old and jaded my psychic powers have dwindled down to more of an "oooo I've got a bad feeling about this" situation, which usually turns out to be the case.

Exhibit A - How My Psychic Powers Knew I Had An Injury Coming

• Got all sentimental about how much I love running, how awesome it feels, and how excited I am to run all the races  just asking for it
• I slept on my parents couch this weekend since we had family visiting -  as I was getting all snuggled in I was like hey the last time I slept on the couch was when I twisted my ankle twice in January foreshadowing blows
• Made a list of possible challenges/things to try during my "off training month" I really do wonder how many hours I would last on Whole30
• Tried on my costume for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, wings and all I just can't

This is just begging for a deep dive into manifesting and all that junk, but good Lord that is a post for a different time cause aint nobody me got time for that right now. I am less than 2 weeks out from our trip to Disneyland/LA for the RunDisney Tinkerbell Half, my goal right now is to be healthy enough to run it, but that is not really under my control.

Where are you now that
i need you

Time to try some of that manifesting-ness again!

- Stay moderately caffeinated friends trying to cut back a bit this week

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today

...to get through this thing called life

In my constant and more recently frantic search to figure out wtf to do my with my life, I’ve been coming across the word Legacy pretty frequently.  As a 29 year old it’s not a word I’ve felt the need to use just yet, it’s a biggie, it’s heavy and it seems a little final. But as I said, it keeps popping up, so I’ve been trying to look at it a little differently, letting it inform my day a little more than before. I approach decisions of all kinds with the same level of panic, what I’m having for dinner is equally as stressful as what my next career move should be. It’s exhausting and just completely rediculous. So I’m trying to take a step back from it all and consider Legacy. What is it that you’re going to want to remember at the end of all this, what would you want others to remember about you – whatever that answer is, do more of that, and maybe don’t worry so much about the other stuff omg easier said than done.

Now I appreciate Prince as much as the next person but would never  consider myself a super-fan, so when he passed away yesterday I was shocked and bummed but WAS NOT ready for the epic response to his death. I was completely unaware of his reach and the extent of his career. Someone said yesterday that what Bruce is to New Jersey, Prince is to Minnesota and I was like OH ok got it! I’m normally not one of those people who is big enough to be all “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” if someone is giving me a legit chance to lose my shit and wallow, damnit I take it. But watching the entire world share what Prince, his music, and his legacy, meant to them yesterday… made me happy? Everytime a new person, celebrity, whatever, paid tribute to him I thought holy crap, how awesome is this? This one person touched ALL of these people, from so many walks of life, he made their lives better in some way. I felt proud of him? I think sometimes we forget how much the world really does value uniqueness, creativity and somone who is willing to just be themselves unabashedly. It's so weird to call someone's passing refreshing, but it was for me, I was really moved by the outpouring and the celebration of his life and legacy there it is again. 

Unfortunately I feel like I did own a similar shirt

Obviously we can’t all be Prince no one wants to see me dressed like this but we can all be a little more aware of what we are leaving behind, be a little truer to ourselves than we were yesterday, kick a little bit of the bullshit to the curb and celebrate a little more of the good shit. And party like it's 1999 because the 90s were the best ever, Prince and I totally agree on that! 

Add waxing philosophical on Prince to the list of things I never thought I'd do...

                                                                                                                                                

FRIDAY FAVORITES TIME

1.  Prince Tributes, goes without saying
Holy balls get ya tissues ready / this teacher is everything / James Cordon seriously stop making me cry everything is better with an accent

and for good measure: the best cover EVER, and Julia, because Julia…

2. It's Marathon Season! #MarathonMonday is easily every runner's favorite Holiday and this year was no exception.

Photo courtesy of @wotowineglass Photo credit my mom :)

The Boston Marathon is the reason I signed up for my first Marathon, and it is such a source of inspiration for me, and this interview with Dave McGillivray is awesome.
I had guaranteed acceptance into this year's Chicago Marathon (I deferred last year to run Marine Corps) but the lottery was pulled this week for the rest of the racers and there are SO many Oiselle girls running! All the talk of meetups, group runs, and being surrounded by teammates has me so excited for my 4th ?! go at 26.2

3.  Finally getting to experience the beauty of grabbing some Picky Bars in Trader Joes, and they were a special kind of magical let me tell you!

good for the tummy, bad for the wallet

4.  CLEAR YOUR DVR the movie marathon to end all movie marathons is upon us!

5. Summer Kicks! The weather has been pretty bad ass this week and it's got me in the mood for some summer clothes and shoes that are not running sneakers shocking I know currently have my eyes on these booties, finally getting a pair of these sandals and trying to decide which Adidas to get between this classic and this new pair?

What a random post but welcome to my life!
 - Stay Caffeinated my friends

Why I can't have nice things

Alternate title: Pity Party table of 1 
Alternate alternate title: When your Mom asks you if you would consider wearing a head lamp

Seriously you would think going in to work for TWO FREAKING DAYS would not be so hard, like suck it up Sally...

Since I am only going to the city twice this week I figured it would be easier to take the train in from my parent's house instead of lugging all my shit back and forth to Hoboken, totally solid idea, until I remembered how much I hate commuting from my parents house. 
which hit home at around 10pm last night - or like 3/4 of the through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 if you tell time by ABC Family Marathons which I absolutely do.  

via GIPHY

There was one bright spot to my Sunday Bumday mopeyness, while I was loathe to wake up at the ACOD that's Ass Crack of Dawn for all you nice adults who don't swear to get my run in, I would get to do sporting my beautiful new Garmin Forerunner 225 my parents put Santa Clause TO SHAME this year, just, I can't

Sure enough 5am rolls around, it is pitch-freaking black out and I am just looking for any reason to stay in bed. Whatevs. I suit up and gently put on my new 225 convinced I am going to somehow break it ? Me and the new watch are cruising along the dark. as. night. streets of my hometown and I make the idiotic decision to run through the park. Where there are literally no lights. And no sidewalk. I'm already pretty grumpy and trying to talk myself out of a bad mood when foot meets pothole and my ankle goes down hard. Hey at least we know the pause button on the Forerunner 225 works? 

Luckily I had just hit my turn around point and only had to head back home. The way back was not exactly painful, but somewhat uncomfortable, and mentally stressful as I started rewinding back to how hard it was dealing with my last injury and what how badly I would lose my shit if I had to stop running again. I would like to think that I will take all of the lessons I learned from this year's injury and use them to make calm, rational decisions regarding my ankle and future injuries, but very little about me is calm or rational - so we'll see how that goes. As for now I am slathered in Pain Relief Foot Cream, stuffed into Compression socks, sending my ankle healing thoughts and checking out my less than stellar stats from this morning's run. 

Now I can see when I fell in 3 different very pretty ways! 

2016 New Years Resolution = NO. MORE. INJURIES 

Now more about my awesome Christmas present:
I have only ever run with Garmin Forerunners and I have loved them all, to the point where I'm sad to say good bye to my old ones even when my new watch is prettier and all technical and crap.

My first watch was the Garmin Forerunner 10 in pink of course and I got Pops his own not pink when he started running. The 110 was great when I was a newbie runner, but I did run into issues getting a GPS signal. Some days it would take a while to sync, and if I tried to run in NYC fugghetaboutit, I never got anything. About two years ago I upgraded to the Forerunner 220 and it was my everything, I named it Bob, we were besties. It's been with me ever since, without one single problem well there were many problems but they all fall in the category of user error. 

I had my eye on the Forerunner 225 since it was announced in May, but never worked up the nerve to get it mostly because I was seriously that attached to my 220. I really try to keep myself away from the crazy bell and whistle running gadgets because all the hype drives me bonkers. Honestly as long as I can get my times, mileage, and plug in some interval training, I'm a happy camper. But, in an effort to be more aware of my health, and other such normal adult things, I was jonesing for a heart rate monitor and knew there was NCIH i would wear a heart rate strap hello, chafing, no thank you. Multiple doctors this year asked me if I monitored my heart rate, especially during my runs, and I started to think there may be some value to what they were saying. So the Forerunner 225 made it's way to the top of my Christmas List this year, and as previously mentioned my parents are completely insane, because it was waiting for me underneath our tree this year!

MOVE bitch

I am the opposite of technically savvy but I really do want to pay more attention to what I put my body through during training so stay tuned for more adventures as I try and figure out how to use my new toy! 

Now I know half of you are at home and the other half are at work doing nothing so let's #runchat!
What should we name the Forerunner 225?

What is your must have running accessory?

Is Monday being a bitch to you too? 

Don't Call it a Comeback

Why is it that regardless of the training plan, coach, whatever I'm using - Tuesdays always equal  speed work? Let's just also say that Tuesdays and I don't really get along in general. Monday I can handle because you're all "it's a new week, anything is possible, I'm going to change the world!" then you wake up Tuesday morning and it's all nope, still the same, of and you still have four more days until the weekend! But I digress...

Today was my first real day back to "training" which means my life once again has some semblance of order, at least before 9am. I'm using Jason Fitzgerald's Injury Prevention for Runners plan, and am looking forward to cutting back my mileage a bit and putting more focus on improving my running from the bottom up. Let's just call it getting back to basics.

Who's not amused it's Tuesday!

Today's workout called for a quick warmup, 6 miles with 8x1' Fartleks at 10k pace, followed by some core work.
Here's how that goes:
(day before)
Psht, 6 miles that's not too bad
(night before - cut to me trying to do the math on how long the Fartleks and corresponding jogging rest will take)
hmmmm this is adding up, I'm going to go to bed at 9:30pm and get up at 4:30am and conquer life!
(9:30pm the night before)
crap
(4:30am)
zzzzzzzzzzz
(4:50am)
alright alright I'm up
(5:30 am)
Finally out the door - OMG this is perfect running weather, I feel great, this is awesome, best day ever!
(runs the 3 miles to get to the track)
Alright let's freaking do this

If you're must do Fartleks, do them with a killer view!

(Round 1)
I'm so fast
(Round 2)
starts sweating
(Round 3)
how many of these are there
(Round 4)
HALFWAY
(Round 5)
speed work is the devil
(Round 6)
you are so going to be late for work
(Round 7)
Tuesdays suck
(Round 8)
Boom...done...
now go run 3 miles home


Not only did I go home and do my core work (all like 10 minutes of it) I freaking showered, ate breakfast, put on makeup, and generally acted like a normal human being - which is impressive for me.

I then spent the rest of the day feeling entitled to a nap/being cranky, because hello I did speed work this morning, so no I do not feel like being productive, thank you.

Takeaway: Training again, complaining about training again, life is back to normal.

-stay caffeinated my friends