Running Wishlist

With the holidays coming up, what better way to get all your running necessities than adding them to your holiday gift wishlist! Here are a few work out/running items that have been on my mind recently...

1. Hydration belts - You can buy these at any sports apparel store (rei.com, sportsauthority.com, etc.)

2. Lululemon Wunder Under Pant - I've heard incredible things about these, but mostly that they just don't wear out and never fall down! (Or, and I'm being quite honest here, ANYTHING from lululemon!)

3. Breathable running tops - Again, you can find these at any sports apparel store, these just happen to be from Champion. There's not a whole lot worse than sweating in a regular cotton t-shirt that's sticking to your every move!!

I am LOV-ING the black Champion Double Dry® Training Women's Tank Top!

4. Yoga Mat Bag - There are a zillion at Everything Yoga in all styles and colors. You can find one of these at any Yoga store or even your neighborhood Whole Foods! This gorgeous bag is from athleta.com.

Happy shopping/running/yoga-ing (that doesn't sound right??) this holiday season! Hope you get everything your little pumped up heart desires!

Techno Running Mix

I'm in a very technoy mood this morning so I thought I'd share a couple of fun running songs that I like listening to. Enjoy.

1. Christophe Willem - Heartbox
2. Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris - We Found Love
3. September - Cry For You
4. Cascada - Everytime We Touch
5. Cascada - What Hurts the Most
6. Kaskade ft. Martina of Dragonette - Fire In Your New Shoes

If you have any you listen to or that I can add to mine, let me know!

Gobblepalooza 5k

Guesssss what! I PR'd! Holla!

High-Five!!

I made it in 28 minutes on the dot and I couldn't be more thrilled (aside from my throbbing calves right now). The morning was pretty miserably cold, but with the jazzercise going on in the HS parking lot, the kids dressed as turkeys, and the general thanksgiving merriment Marisa and I were pretty pumped to get on our way.

The course was SUPER hilly. I had read that on the website this morning, but I don't think I was fully prepared for the types of hills. We ran from Mount Vernon HS, through a few quaint neighborhoods, and back around to the school and the hills JUST. KEPT. COMING! And to make matters worse, at one point a man with a stroller passed us...and then a child, no older than 10, passed us with her dad. I mean really, kid? I think we were both pretty psyched when it was over and we could get out of the cold!

The shirts we got were pretty silly - that turkey looks like he's on some silly hard drugs.

Gobble Gobble!!

Aside from the cold I'm pretty psyched about the 15k. Thank goodness for doing so well today.

21 days left...

I finally hung up my bibs and medal!

I don't have much to say other than I ran 11 miles so far this week and I have another 3.2 tomorrow for the Gobblepalooza 5k. Only 21 to get to 9.3, sigh, I feel like this might be another race where I just DON'T. FEEL. PREPARED. I know I will get there and it's not a matter of if I will finish or not. I'll finish (I hope I finish in a time that doesn't totally embarrass me). I just want to feel oh-so-good about it.

Hopefully if I PR tomorrow it will instill a bit more confidence in me for the 15k. PR would be under 29. I secretly hope for between 27 and 28 minutes.

This is exactly what Marisa and I will be doing if I PR...air high fives....and singing Calculus.

23 days left...

Today was tough.

Let me rephrase.

Today was torture. And everything about it sucked aside from running on the treadmill next to mister cutie cute.

Hey there sailor!

That's about all I got. It was hard. I busted out 3 miles. Then I went home and ate my weight in sushi. I think this is the last time I can run before the 5k this weekend. NBDeeeeaaallll. But I still haven't run over 6 miles and I have only 23 days to get to over 9. Wah.

25 days left...

You know what's funny? The most trivial thing about running seems to be the hardest thing for me to accomplish...properly fueling before a long run. It's not rocket science. You fuel the body, the body gets stronger and can perform better.

Last week I decided to keep a box of granola bars in the glove box of my car so I'd have a snack on the way to the gym/trail/etc. after work.

That picture looks way more delicious than what I actually got, but you get the jist.

....It was probably the most genius idea I've ever come up with.

Even something small makes it SO. MUCH. EASIER. to power through a workout. Tonight I had a few slices of grapefruit around 5pm and then a granola bar on the way to the gym around 6pm and I made it through my 6 miles like it was no big thang.

It's simple..hydrate + fuel = FUN RUN and HAPPY/HEALTHY ALLISON!

27 days left...

In case you you were wondering about my date last night, it went really well!

Also, in case you were wondering if you should run outside today because it's absolutely beautiful...well, you probably should!

Insert Joey & I after a nice 5 miles around Gravelly Point Park. SUCH. A. NICE. DAY. OUT! You are wasting it if you're inside.

Also, check out those new puppies on my feet. Yeah, they feel pretty darn good.

AND - Marisa and I signed up for a Turkey Trot  for next weekend. Whoop!

28 days... (ah, crap, that's not a lot of time...)

This work week in running and cross training hasn't been so bad. I got in 6 mi Tuesday, a tough 50 min spin class on Wednesday, and 3 miles last night. I won't be able to get to the gym tonight because my date that was supposed to happen earlier in the week was rescheduled for tonight...

Yep, this one.

I'm hoping to get in a good long run outside with my good friend, Joey, this weekend. I'm glad to be giving my calves a rest tonight because they were super sore and tight on the TM last night. I'm not really positive how to stretch those out. I've been living in my compression socks as of late, but it doesn't seem to be doing a whole lot. Any suggestions?

On a different note - look what I found yesterday...look at the difference between Dec 2009 and now...



Marisa and I stretching it out before out very first 5k together!
VERY SERIOUS RUNNERS!



Right before the 5k...and YES, we were freezing out nuggets off!



And right after...this was probably around the time I thought I was going to be sick....
But we are SO SERIOUS anyway!

Numerous 5ks, one 10k, and one Half Marathon later we are prepping for distance runs like 5ks are nothing.

Marisa, Joey, and I at the VA Beach Rock N' Roll Half Marathon!

My how far we've come...

This is what temptation looks like...

And this is me worried I'm going to hoard both those trays and hide them in my office to eat so no one else can have them...

 Only me!!

30 days...

Finally got in a 6 miler last night at the gym. FINALLY. It was tough though and I stopped a few times because my foot kept falling asleep, but it happened. And in under 60 minutes no less! Yay!

I'm curious though, my right foot kept falling asleep last year too whenever I would run on the TM in the winter, but I pretty sure it stopped after a while. I'm not sure if it's the way I step or I'm still getting used to the new shoes, or what, but it makes it awfully hard to keep going.

I figured if I can get in a short run tonight and maybe another 6 tomorrow, I can shoot for 8 this weekend and I will feel pretty golden. I should probably come up with some sort of training schedule....

Anyway - have a good laugh and happy Wednesday!



Source



32 days...

Remember that time I said I was going to work out every day until the 15k on Dec 3rd?

Yeah, I'm not doing the best job of keeping up with that. With this past Halloween weekend I sort of...skipped out on a few workouts.

Check out me with these two beautiful ladies!

Ok, I got to the gym Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...but skipped Sunday and today. And tomorrow I may or may not have a date so I won't be able to get to the gym after work. I'm also pretty terrible at waking up in the morning before work to run, but that's the plan, so we will see how it goes!

Anyway, I expect my date to turn out like this...

I may be watching Twilight right now...

....only no vampires, no proposals, and no half vampire babies. Secretly, I just hope Edward Cullen shows up. I'll be terribly disapointed if he doesn't.

Anyway, enough of my fantasy and back to my running. The alarm is set for 6am. I really hope I don't roll over and turn it off like every other morning. I really got to get my motivation back!!

Boo! Run For Life 10k Race Photos

36 days to go

Inspired by Ericka over at The Sweet Life...

Recently, on my runner friends blogs, I've been seeing a ton of inspirational quotes, pictures, and even videos over at Carly Bananas. It's made me think a lot about how I got into running and how far I've come. I can remember how I used to think 3 miles was a long shot, how I almost got sick after my first 5k, and how it took next to nothing to convince Marisa to be my race partner. I've come quite a long way in the past year and a half. Namely, having run my first half marathon. I am so proud of myself and my accomplishments and as the above picture says I'm not stopping. At least not any time soon.

Sometimes it's hard, I mean really hard to stay motivated and sometimes it's not, but the results are all the same. Healthy body, healthy heart, healthy mind. I run because of the swag, the friends, the mental clarity, and effects on my body. Amongst 100 other reasons. I'm not the best athlete around. Not by a long shot, but I'm the best I can be and I'm only going to keep getting better.

Stronger.

I even think my parents are proud of me!

36 days until the the 15k and I'm going to bust my ass to get there. Can't wait to blow it out of the water and get my hands on on a wind breaker and a large mug of hot cocoa!

40 days

Guess who got new shoes today!! This happy girl. Can't wait to try them out tomorrow!

43 days....and life decisions...

There are only 43 days to get to 9.32 miles and I had to stop after 2 miles on the TM tonight. *Sigh* At least I got that in and capped off my workout with 20 minutes on the elliptical.

I think I'm going to try out the Hal Higdon 15k Trainging Schedule for the intermediate. I used his trainging schedule for the novice for the half marathon and it worked out pretty well.

And on a different note...

Things I've decided recently:

• Stay Positive - Sometimes it's hard, but there's no point dwelling on negative emotions and I do not do not do not want to be a negative person. Some things and some people you can't change, you just have to accept it and move on.
• Work out every day until the 15k - I WILL do this, even if it's just 15 minutes on the elliptical or going on a walk. Getting those endorphins flowing will help with the positive attitude as well.
• Work harder on finding a better job - I've been a total slack ass about this and the only person who can change/improve my future is myself. I have to keep reminding myself of this.

Positive affirmations are so cliche, but sometimes they are needed when you're feeling crummy.

Boo! Run For Life 10k

Yesterday I ran the Boo! Run For Life 10k and didn't do too shabby for only having run a handfull of times since the half marathon (and not once being over 4 miles!).

Boo! Run for Life 10K

Washington, DC October 16, 2011
ChronoTrack Timing and Scoring
by Capital Running Company


Official Women's Results


Place Div/Tot Num Name Lname Age Hometown              Gun    T Net  T Pace
177    64/113   271   Allison Alter    26   ARLINGTON VA    60:56  60:43   9:47


I REALLY didn't want to do this race to be quite honest, it was only $25, and I just didn't feel prepared. I had a hard time motivating myself to do any running, which is why I only ran a handfull of times. But all in all I'm very glad that I did, if for no other reason then I felt better about day drinking and eating greasy/cheesey nachos later in the afternoon.

The day was beautiful and the weather/temperature was perfect for a nice flat 6 miles around the tidal basin. There were nearly 1,000 people running the race, some in silly costumes like Harry Potter, and we even ran into Colin Farrell (before he turned into a vampire bat and flew off...). Ok, not really, but this kid looked eerily like him from 10 years ago...

I have 46 days before the Hot Chocolate 15k. Here's hoping I get that motivation back and train for this thing. 9.32 miles sounds easy until you're out there and it's below freezing!

Pilates

"Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps to not only build flexibility, but also strength, endurance, and coordination in the legs, abdominals, arms and back."

I took my first Pilates class at the gym last night as a substitute for Yoga since Yoga wasn't offered at a time I could go and I'm going to have to say I'm hooked!

I was pretty skeptical about the whole ordeal because I've never taken a class before and I was curious to see how it differed from yoga. I set up my mat and stretched out a bit since I was still pretty sore from Sports Conditioning the night before. The teacher came in and was annoyingly positive, pretty, and skinny with abs of pure steel.

Ok, she wasn't annoying, she was actually really sweet and knowledgeable and I was kind of jealous of her!

Anyway - the class started with 20 minutes of straight core work. I was already hurting from yesterday so this was not an easy task, but I managed to power through. We then worked through some side, back, and stomach stretches, which I won't lie, I felt a little silly doing even though they all felt really good. Everything we did seemed to work my abs (core) which is a big part of Pilates so I'm going to hope/assume I was doing the positions correctly.

Even though the class was only 45 minutes long and we barely moved from the floor I felt like I got just as good of an ab workout as I would have going to the abs class. I even felt as stretched out and limber as I did after a good yoga class.

I really enjoyed myself and the class last night and wouldn't be surprised if I started going on a regular basis! Yay Pilates!

I think it's about time....

I take my iron suppliments again.

That big sucker right below my knee cap is from falling during sprints at Sports Conditioning (AKA do sprints, sit-ups, and push-ups for an hour) at the gym last night, the other is fairly old and maybe from the Oktoberfest over the weekend? Might be just from being clumsy and walking into things in general.

PS - 18 days till the 10k and I don't feel prepared in the slightest.

Boo! Run For Life 10k

So much for giving myself a month off training before the 15k in December! Yesterday afternoon I signed up for the Boo! Run For Life 10k that is Oct 16th.

This basically happened when I signed up for the race...pretend Jake is me and Heath is the act of signing up for races...



This race just so happens to be the weekend after my birthday weekend that I am spending in Nashville, TN with 2 of my very best girlfriends. Blugh. I can assure you that no running will actually get done that weekend and lots of drinking/country line dancing will. Somehow, between right now and a few weeks I have to get back to 6 mi.

I just ran 13.1, it can't be THAT hard, right?

Want to see something gross?

Pretty nasty, right? Yeah, I can assure you it doesn't feel so good either. That super black one started to bruise immediately after the 1/2 marathon and was only made worse by people stepping on my feet at the bar last night.

I've never seen, let alone HAD, a bruised toe/toenail before. As intriguing as it is I'd kind of rather it go back to normal so I can paint my toenails again.