Fit 4 Fun Thur... Well Monday: Fit Nation Fall Social

Even though today is Thursday, my favorite day of the week is Wednesday. I will tell you this every week. Every time I see the clock hit 5:00 PM at the office I can't wait to get my running gear on and see my friends at Fit2Run. I literally have the best group of running friends ever. And it is all thanks to Fit2Run.

This week it was the Fit Nation Fall Social. What is Fit Nation (Aka FN)? It is a local fitness magazine. They are less than a year old but very active in the community. They have a social every season. The summer social was at a local restaurant. This time it took over our Fit2Run Fun Run Thursdays. Kimmi and the FN team did a great job.

courtesy of www.fitnationmag.com

Fit2Run was happy to host this event that not only had our normal 5k run but a bike course of 6, 12 or 18 miles. I obviously chose to take the 5k route. I have not come full circle to biking yet, even thought I own one. Maybe I should start riding.....Hmmm

The cool thing we got to do at this FN & Fit2Run Fall Social was that I got to test run Newton running shoes AND 110% compressions sleeves. The Newton running shoes where different. I don't think I would purchase these shoes. BUT 110% compressions sleeves, OMG I am obsessed with these. They have extra pockets to put ice. AHHH AMAZING!

Courtesy of www.newtonrunning.com

courtesy of http://110playharder.com

The 5k route was the same as always. At mile two there was a young girl, probably in middle school walking and as I passed her I said, "Come on girl! You're younger than me! Let's finish this as a team." then I had a running buddy the rest of the way.

After the 5k there where table set up from local Chiropractors, massage therapist, different personal trainers, it was really neat. The best part? We all had dinner from Moe's for free. It was great not having to cook dinner.

I talked to my friends and talked to different booths and got a free chair massage. It was amazing. They had a great raffle too! Sadly I didn't win anything, but Jill  did! Lucky duck. It really was a great night to hang out with my running friends and have some fun! Love my Fit2Run friends.

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Do you have a core group of running friends? 

Recap: Paradise Coast International 10k

Sunday morning I competed in the Paradise Coast International 10k. Was it an international 10k? Well no, it was in Naples, FL. But it was a 45 min drive from our condo to the location of the race! That's almost like going international!

courtesy of eliteevents.org

The alarm went off at 5:30 am, and I quietly slipped out of bed without waking Chris or the dogs up. I should totally win an award for this, because trying to slip out of bed without waking Bentley (our 1 year old yorkie, who is "special needs") up like NEVER happens. I had laid out my clothes the night before, so they where in the bathroom ready to go. By 6:00 am I was out the door, in the car and on my way to Naples.

By 6:30 am I was walking up to see some of my friends at the Fit2Run tent. We all chatted for a bit and then at 6:55 we all headed to the start line. This race was held at Sugden Park. I have been to this park tons of time when I was growing up. But this was my first race since Disneyland and with my runners funk I was definitely a little nervous. I had a time/goal I wanted to make and I was determined to do it. Soon the gun went off with a bang and away we went.

Mile one was very uneventful. I was trying to get my stride and calm my nerves, while adjusting to the rising humidity. I had run this course before for a 5k in June 2011, so I was some what familiar with this course until about halfway through mile one we took a left turn and we where now in a neighborhood that surrounded the park. And then after another few mins we entered East Naples Park which coincidentally was across the street from.

Mile two we where rounding a small swampy marsh lake and the sun was starting to shine. This is when I realized I didn't have my sunglasses! Kill me. We where soon leaving East Naples Park and heading back to Sugden and about to run the swampy trail around the lake. I felt great but the humidity was in full forces, especially since we where running next to a marshy swamp.

Mile three we passed the starting line and the Fit2Run tent. I looked over and saw some of my friend, Jill, Kimmie and Sarah. I got so excited that I started jumping around and waving. Sarah thankfully saw me and started jumping around too, so I didn't look like a total idiot. I was halfway through at this point and had to run the course one more time.

Mile three took use down the side of the sand by the small beach in front of the lake. And then right back into the neighborhood and back into East Naples Park. I was feeling the heat and humidity now and felt like I was struggling a little. Soon mile four turned into five and I was counting down. I had my goal in sight. I tried to pick up the pace but my lungs started to tighten up from the humidity so I had to slow down.

I rounded mile six and saw Jill, Kimmi and Sarah again and I started to jump and get excited. I started to push myself as hard as I could and crossed the finish line at 1:10:22.8. I was 2 mins short of my 1:08 goal. That was heart breaking.

I quickly grabbed some bananas and Powerade and ran over to chat with my friends. About an hour later we heard they where starting the awards. So we all started over to the award area. I was hoping for a top five finish because the awards go five deep in each category. And what runner doesn't love to be award for their training

My age group came up almost immediately. I already knew my time and they usually never (or at least that I know of) say time with the persons name. They announced the girl who came in 5th and her time was high than mine so I knew I placed. Then they announced 4th and 3rd, both where not me. I was like holy moly I am in the top two. And when they announced 2nd it was me Ta-Da!

FOR SHAME!! I missed the Fit2Run group picture. But I love Jill! 

Overall this was a great race. The course was very scenic and swampy (a Floridian Favorite). Elite Events definitely puts on some great local events. I really excited for their next event.......... Rocktoberfest 10-miler!

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Did you do any races this past weekend? How did you do?

Weekly Work out Roundup: Sept 15-22

I am a day late! I was a little tired yesterday since I had a 10k race. Be on the look out for that race recap tomorrow. But overall I am officially out of my runners funk. I am so happy. Literally happy. I realized the less I work out the more grumpy and feel gross. But it is a new week and I am so happy to get to the gym and do some biking tonight. Until then here is my weekly round up!

Sunday: rest.

Monday: Joined LA Fitness

Tuesday: Free training session with Joey at LA Fitness

Wednesday: 4 mile run at Fit2Run (5:1 intervals) 

Thursday: rest

Friday: ZUMBA (Wait for this recap you will die!) 

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: 10k Race (6.2 mile run) 

WOW! I feel like a rock star. Can't wait until nexts week weekly round up! I LOVE seeing I am not lazy! Bye Bye Runners Funk! BOOM! 

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: How did your weekly workout's go?

Friday Fab 5: Workin' on my Fitness

Happy Friday y'all! I am so happy that it is Friday! It has been a long week and I have bee slowly but surly getting out of my runners funk! It has been pretty awesome. And I know I am not the only one who know that when you start to work out again, you're pretty exhausted. That's me for sure. So here is my Friday Fab 5!

One: It's Friday

I am just happy it's Friday and I get to sleep a little tomorrow morning. I need it. I totally feel like Katy Perry in that song "Last Friday Night." When she is the geek. Ya that's me right now.

Two: I JOINED A GYM! 

I joined a gym on Monday to get out of my runners funk! It is going to be awesome and take my fitness level to a whole new level. I was never against joining a gym, but my "theory" was that I am a runner all I need is a pair of sneakers and the road right? WRONG! I am happy that I made this choice. 

Courtesy of lafitness.com

Three: No more runners funk! 

I think I may have my stride back! I actually ran 4 miles on Wednesday! It really felt awesome to get back on the road. It was raining the whole time. But I ran with no watch, no interval timer, no nothing to let me know how I was doing. I just rain.... With a bikini over my running outfit! 

Four: Paradise Coast International 10k  

I have my first race since Disneyland this Sunday! I am super excited to do a 10k. This will be one of the longest race I have done locally. I usually go out of town to do a local race. But Elite Events has been putting on some amazing races with some awesome distances. 

Courtesy of eliteevents.org

Five: It's Fall! Well sort of! 

It starting to feel like fall everywhere else, but South Florida. But I did do a little decorating the other night to get the feeling in the house. Next stop a pumpkin fall candle! Chris has no idea whats coming! YAY! 

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: What is something great about your week? 

Fit 4 Fun Thursday: Swim at Your Own Risk!

I think I have my stride back! Last night was my normal run group 5k at my local Fit2Run store! Can I just say how much I LOVE and OBSESSED with this store and the people that work there? I have met so many neat and very cool runners over the past couple months runner with this group of people.

It has been almost a month since I have been to a Wednesday night Fit2Run Fun Run. I was there a week before I left for California. So it was so nice to see all my friends I haven't seen in a while. I almost didn't go because it literally had been raining and lightning since 2:30 PM. But I got dressed and headed to my run club

This Wednesday was super fun because it was a beach themed run. So I pulled out my bikini and wore it over my running clothes! It was really awesome if I do say so myself. This week was a lazy week for some people because it was raining so they skipped. Basically not our usual crowd. But I did make a new friend though! Her name is Jill and she is a local runner and LOVED runDisney like me! I know she and I will be fast friends!

Courtesy of Fit2Run Coconut point

It was also nice to hang out and see my favorite running buddy and store manager Kimmi. She and I ran the entire course together doing 5:2 intervals. 5 mins easy run, 2 mins speed run. It was a littler different than I normally run but so glad I hung back with her!

What I found the most freeing was that I had no music, no watch and no interval timer and it was raining. There are all things I had never done before. I think it got me centered again. Right where I need to be.

I feel great after my running tonight. I hope I won't be sore in the morning, but I don't mind if I am because I think I have my stride back.

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Did you get in any mileage yesterday or today? 

Running for Noah's Light

During the 2013 Princess Half Marathon something happened to me that I will never forget. I was feeling a little off that morning, I can't remember why. But something was off. It could of been pre-race nerves or the fact that it was 3:00 in the morning.

I had been through tons of Disney races before and it was the same every time. So why did this time feel so off?  I loaded the bus in front of Coronado Springs to head to the start line. I sat alone in the first seat looking out the window at the night sky wondering what the course had in store for me this time. I should be excited! This was my favorite runDisney course EVER! But still I felt different. I got off the bus and started toward the start line with about 15,000 other women and the 6 men that signed up for this race.

As I approached the entrance I could hear the DJ playing music and lights flashing I knew the party had already started. I heard a volunteer yell "Princesses this way! Leave your frogs at the door!", I giggled when I heard that. I started to pass the charity tents. I noticed two tents that where packed with people, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Team in Training and the Autism Speaks. I looked and wondered to myself, how do you become part of these organizations. That thought quickly passed and I started to walk again.

Photo courtesy of noahslightfoundation.org

Towards the end of the charity tents there was a group of ladies hugging and handing out water bottles. But what struck me as different was that they where not huddled by their tent. They where out talking to runners. One woman approached me gave me a big hug and said "Good Luck Princess! You're going to do great!" handed me a water bottle and a wrist band. I walked away stunned. I had never seen a charity organization do that before. I had no idea who the organization even was! Quickly I looked down at my wrist band and it said Noah's Light. As soon as I got to my corral, I took out my phone and looked up their website. And as I looked at the Noah's Light website that feeling of being off went away.

Photo courtesy of noahslightfoundation.org

I never got to thank that woman for her kind words and inspiration that got me through that race. But I wore that Noah's Light bracelet through that race. And now it is my turn to give back.

Noah's Light is an organization that wants to find a cure for children's brain cancer. Everyday 12 children are diagnosed with brain cancer. 12 children. Of the 4,200 children diagnosed each year, fewer than 20% will survive this battle.

Photo courtesy of noahslightfoundation.org

I have decided that during the 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, I will be running the Glass Slipper Challenge (10k & Half Marathon) on behalf of Noah's Light Foundation. I've set a personal goal of $2,000. So I'm hoping and asking for your help to reach my goal, and to help this wonderful organization. Your contribution will help Noah's Light Foundation Fund "The Noah Protocol" under the direction of Dr. Laurence Cooper.

I am raising funds because I believe there is hope and a cure out there somewhere. And with your support and help, I "Noah" cure is possible.

Until next time everyone!

QOTD: Is it your time to shine? Will you help me reach my goal? Every little bit helps.

Click here to donate. 

Training Tip Tuesday: Join a gym

I just wanted to send a BIG thank you and hugs to all the love I received on FB, Twitter and in my comment section on yesterdays post. I am glad I am not alone in my Runners Funk alone. You guys motivate me. So THANK YOU! 

Yesterday I made a decision. Mostly because I can't make it to my favorite trainer David class Wednesday nights anymore. (PS if you live in South Florida and EVER get to check out one of his class, I promise it would be worth it! Also check out his website! Click Here). So after work yesterday I scheduled a tour of our local LA Fitness. 

Chris has been a member of LA Fitness for a while. Some of you know that Chris is not a runner. He plays basketball, but that is because he is pushing 6'7. One of my favorite things to do it watch him play ball. It literally is like ballet for men. Every night Chris goes to the gym for a couple hour playing pick up games and I either run or cook dinner. 

I've been avoiding joining a gym. Not because of the money or cost, just because I get super nervous around big gyms. Mostly because I don't want to look like an idiot if I am using the machines wrong. I am a former crossfit lover So yesterday I took the plunge and took a tour of LA Fitness. 

I met with the manager Jake and he took me around the gym and showed me the machines and said that he would schedule me an appointment with a trainer, at no cost to show me how to do different exercises. I am some what limited at what I do because of my wrist. Some of you may know I had surgery in May on my wrist, and I have limited strength and flexibility but it is getting better everyday!

 

Jake showed me some of the different classes they have and the pool! I love that they have the pool, mostly because I was a swimmer in high school and college, And lifeguarded and taught swim lessons to kids for 6 years. He was an amazing sales man! I already knew I was going to join, but if I wasn't he would have probably swayed me. 

Needless to say I am now a member at LA Fitness. I am excited to get started and take my training to a whole new level. I have a meeting with a personal trainer, Joey tonight. Be sure to look our for that recap soon. Should be a good one! 

Some of you may have seen this picture on my facebook page last night, but I thought it was hilarious with my caption. 

I joined a gym.. and made a cake... and then ate the left over batter.

Until next time everyone!

QOTD: Have you ever been afraid to join a gym? How did you get over it? 

Runners Funk

I have lost someone and I don't know where to find her. She is a young vibrant girl who loves all things running and traveling the world. She is motivated, had a weekly work out schedule and is completely obsessed with her dogs. She was just happy. Her name is Kylee, have you seen here?

So I am in a runners funk. Yes, I said it. I am in a runners funk. I have a tendency to get like this after a major race. And with Dopey almost 100 days away, I don't have time to be in a runners funk. On top of runners funk, I am having a series cause of writers block lately. I am having trouble finding words.

If you have been following my blog since I started writing about a month ago, you know that I never write about anything negative. This is because I am not a negative person. But I feel like this runners funk is making me feel negative.

I think not being motivated to lace up my sneakers and hitting the road is making me fuzzy and feeling lazy. So I have been asking myself this past week how can I get out of my runners funk and focused back on the thing that makes me happy in life. And here is what I came up with.

I need to focus a little more on myself. I think since I have been back from Disneyland I have been so consumed with my job, family, Chris, the dogs and just life in general. I need to find the inner joy and peace that comes from focusing on oneself. Plus I have a 10k this coming Saturday that I have a goal to reach (check out my September Goals post).

If you have seen this girl, please tell her to come home because I miss her terribly.With that I will end my little rant on runners funk. I need some motivation badly! 

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Have you ever been in a runners funk post big race? How did you get out of it? 

Recap: Disneyland Half Marathon

Sunday morning my alarm went off bright and early at 3:00 AM. I was exhausted from the day before. Kelcy May was leaving to head back to the airport at 9:30 AM, so I knew I would have to kick my race into high gear so I could see her before I left.

I quickly got dressed and headed out to the Disneyland Hotel once more with my snack bag in hand. This morning was more organized then yesterday Disneyland 10k. I walked right to Corral C and sat on a curb to munch on some snacks.

The race didn't start for another hour so I started tweeting with some of my favs and called Chris to inform him that I was at the race and he should get out of bed because it was almost 8 AM EST. He said "Good Luck, I love you but you just woke the dogs up. And I am going back to bed.".

Finally Corral A went off and I got this sick feeling in my stomach. I think it was my nerves from this whole weekend. It was coming to a close and I had set out to do everything I wanted. There was only one catch, it was 13.1 miles away.

It was my turn to start and I knew I had to push myself a little harder but not burn myself out. intervals would start about a half mile in. When I woke up in the morning my legs where so tight. I didn't want to injury myself.

Miles one, two and three went by like nothing. Most of the course I had seen the day before because it was going though the parks. So I just enjoyed and looked around for things I hadn't seen the day before. It was a little different this time because I didn't have a camera with me to take tons of pictures.

By mile four and five we where out of the parks and in the city of Anaheim. This was the part I was most excited for. When we arrived in California we took a bus right from LAX to Disneyland. So I hadn't really explored the area. I slowed down my pace so I could enjoy the city.

Mile six rolled around and I had a god awful cramp in my left shoulder behind my shoulder blade that was coursing down my left arm. I quickly grabbed some Bio-Freeze from the medical tent and slathered it all over my shoulder and shoulder blade. One of the joys I had at mile six and a half was there where a group of people on the side of the road holding signs that said "Free Candy from Strangers" I laughed and saw a woman giving out some Twizzlers. It was exactly what I needed at that point.

Mile seven and eight I enjoyed some local high school bands along with some Hawaiian and Latin dancers. I really wanted to stop and dance with them. Mile 8.5 I started to see all these cars lined the side of the road. This was the most AMAZING thing I have ever seen in my life. for about two miles (or what seemed like two miles to me) there had to be like 250+ antique and souped up cars.

One random fact about Chris and I is we share a love for mustangs. My first car was a 2000 green V-6 mustang. Chris has a 2007 custom mustang. The joke around our house is that he loves that car more than he loves us (meaning me + Stella & Bentley).

I stopped my RunKeeper app on my phone and started snapping pictures as fast as I could. Soon it was mile nine and we where on a trail headed to the Angels Stadium. I could see it in the distance. I have run around the ESPN ball field but not and and actual MLB field. As we approached the field I heard all this screaming and cheering it was one of the biggest crowds I have seen cheering for runners. I saw some Boy and Girl Scouts, cheerleaders and marching bands. Then we headed into the stadium.

I felt like a super star. Everyone was screaming and cheering it was the most amazing feeling in the world. I took tons of pictures on my phone after stopping my RunKeeper app one last time. We headed out of the Angels stadium and I saw the Mile 10 sign. From mile eight to nine was the shortest mile by far to me. I took a deep breath and said to myself "Ky, you have a 5k to go and your done.".

Off I went as far as my little sore legs would take me. Miles 11 & 12 took us near the high way and I swear I passed our hotel in the process. I looked down at my watch and it was about 8:30 I knew I needed to pick up the pace if I wanted to see Kelcy May before she left and I had one mile to go.

I saw the mile 13 sign in the distance and at the same time I heard a scream (only my sister can do) say "Ky-Ky!" and a huge smile and wave. Kelcy May and Mama where near the finish line. I ran over said hello. Kelcy looked at me and said "Your hurting huh?" I smiled and said "Only .1 to go." and off I went to the finish line.

I crossed the finish line with a time of 2:54:32 with an average pace of 13:19 a mile. I had FINALLY completed the runDisney Coast to Coast Challenge and the Inaugural Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare.

Overall: I think the course was great. It took me through a city I have never seen before. Some parts of the city where nicer than others, but who doesn't have that problem? I wish there had been a couple more medical tents seeing as it was very hot for some people. I luckily trained in heat and was prepared for it. I would for sure go back and do the Disneyland Half Marathon again.

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Did you do the Disneyland Half? What did you think of it? 

Recap: Inaugural Disneyland 10K

Is anyone else ready for the weekend? It's already Tuesday and I am so ready for the weekend! Today I will continue my recaps from my trip to Disneyland. It already feels like it was so long ago. Don't worry I am already planning a trip back to Disneyland for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in 2015.

This was a really memorable race for me and my sister. Not only was it the Inaugural Disneyland 10k, it was Kelcy May's first race EVER! And on top of that we got to experience it together. She had trained for this race after I introduced her to the Galloway method. She was very excited to run after that.

The night before the race we came back to our hotel room to find the whole floor flooded from a leaky sink. After quickly packing up our stuff we moved to a new room. Kelcy May and I started to lay out our race gear. Actually I laid out our race gear and she laid on the bed playing her new found addiction to Candy Crush. After about hour we started to notice the room was getting really hot. We turned the air down and about 20 mins later we realized that the air condition in the room was broken. We packed up the room and our stuff one more time and the hotel gave us a new room. It was a mess.

Our alarm went off at 3:30 AM. My body clock was still on EST, so it was not too bad getting up because I would have already been up at home. We quickly got dressed grabbed our snacks and headed towards the start line.

Once we got to the Disneyland Hotel, we noticed that everyone with 10k & Dumbo Double Dare bibs. We asked a volunteer why they where not letting us go to our corrals and she told us that the 5k had not started yet. And once the 5k runners had cleared the corrals we would be able to go to the corrals. So we found a curb and started to snack.

Soon everyone started to move towards the corrals and we moved with the crowd. We where in corral C, and soon after taking a few pictures the gun went off for corral A. We slowly started to move forward and Kelcy May asked me when we would start, I said probably in about 10 mins or so. Then all of a sudden as we where slowly moving forward everyone started running and we started the race.

Kelcy May and I had a plan of running the first mile as a warm up and then ease into the Galloway interval method at 3:1. For those who are not familiar with this it's a run/walk method. We chose to run 3 mins and walk 1 min. I quickly realized that my little sister (who is 5'11 almost 6'0) has a very large stride compared to me (I am 5'5). I was running double my normal warm up speed to keep up with her.

We came to mile one that was near the entrance of the convention center. Side note: Disney should definitely hold the expo there next year. more room for sure! Ok back to the 10k. We started our intervals at this point with my green little timer I strap to my arm. Soon mile two was in sight and I saw the FUNNIEST sign ever. It literally said "Run from the twerking Miley" I nearly fell over from laughing so hard.

Mile two took us through California Adventure. Kelcy May seemed to be ok. We stopped to drink a lot of water. As we rounded out mile three I heard a familiar voice. I turned to Kelcy May and said "Is that mom?" and sure enough there was Mama with her camera in hand snapping pictures and screams to everyone around her "THERE ARE MY GIRLS!". Only my mother would let everyone around her know that we where her children. After a quick hug, off we went.

Mile four and five took us through Disneyland. Near mile five Kelcy May over heard a runner say the Joey Fatone was only a short distance ahead of us. That's all she needed to hear and off like lightning she went. After run-stalking Joey for about a half a mile and snapping pictures but not actually bothering him to take a picture, which I am not sure which is worse.

We came out the main entrance to Disneyland and saw Mama again. Another quick hug and off we went to the finish line. As we took our last min walk break, Joey and his wife passed us. Kelcy and I looked at each other and started to run behind them. We crossed the finish line with Joey Fatone. Confetti flew through the air and N*SYNC song "It's Gonna Be Me" started playing through the speakers. We quickly got our medals. I got my Dumbo Double Dare wrist band and off we went to find our mom.

Overall this was a great Inaugural 10k for Disneyland. It was a little slow starting but once we started running all of our worries melted away. It was such a great course because it stayed on Disneyland property. I loved it. Stay tuned tomorrow for my recap of the Disneyland Half Marathon! 

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Did you run the Disneyland 10k? What did you think?