Thirteen Point Fun

Race weekend in Raleigh is officially in the books and I can now say that I've run 13.1 miles. Running my first half marathon was an incredible experience! I cannot fully put into words the excitement and energy that we all felt on race day as we made our way to the starting line.

When we stepped out of our hotel at 6am on race day it was cold. Really cold. I started to rethink my decision to wear shorts but there was no turning back now! As we arrived on NC State's campus, the sky was clear and the sun was rising. It was so beautiful! We were so lucky to have a big group there with us to cheer us on. My parents, my grandma, Mark's parents, Danica's husband Bryan and even my little sister's boyfriend made a surprise appearance all the way from Florida State! The surprise of the day for us, though, was seeing our amazing neighbors cheering us on! We had no clue that they hopped in their car at 3am to be there to see us start and finish. They are the best! Will was in good hands while we ran. 

As the starting time approached and we all lined up, it was terrifying and exciting. Mark went ahead of us and the girls stayed together. Before we knew it, we were off! The sun higher in the sky at this point and the view was beautiful. The trees were all shades of Fall loveliness and leaves were crunching beneath our feet. Despite the winter chill in the air, it was the perfect fall day!

We started off slow and steady, which was key. I always say that longer runs require finding your happy pace and settling in for the long haul. The miles seemed to go by so quickly. Running with friends is always better and it helped that we could encourage each other along the way. We pointed out the mile markers as we passed each one. The course was very hilly, but not much more than what I'm used to running around Charlotte. I purposefully chose hilly routes when I was training and I really think this helped to my advantage. 

By the time we hit mile five, we started to split up. Andi and Danica were cruising ahead and Natalie close behind them. Bryce and I stopped for a bathroom break and then kept going. Around mile six or seven, we passed the 2:30 pacer, which we were trying to do. The race volunteers and spectators were wonderful! Everyone was cheering so loud and the signs were hilarious. I wish I would have taken pictures of some of my favorites because I'm still laughing thinking about them. "If you haven't pooped your pants yet, you're winning". Need I say more. 

Bryce and I remained running buddies throughout the rest of the race. We kept a steady pace and cheered louder at each mile marker. We saw our families around miles eight and nine and this was a huge source of encouragement! Will was snoozing away in his stroller and I waved my hands in the air like a crazy person. As we approached mile ten, the end was truly in sight. This was my favorite mile marker and a lady standing there said "you've been waiting for this one all morning!" We knew at that point that there was only a 5k to go!

We looped around at mile eleven and passed Andi and Danica and then Natalie. We high fived and we were all smiling so big. Though I was starting to get tired, I never felt like I was struggling and I started to amp up the pace. Once we passed mile twelve, we could seriously hear the finish line. By the time we hit 12.5 we could see it and it was the best feeling ever. We ran straight downhill the last half mile and at the bottom of the hill, my family and everyone was there cheering and my eyes got watery. Bryce and I sped through to the finish and threw our hands up in the air when we crossed that line. Our official chip time was 2:18 and after factoring in a five minute bathroom break, we are technically claiming 2:13 which I'm super proud of! My goal was to finish under 2:30 so coming in well under that felt great.

We found the rest of the lovies and huddled up as we anxiously awaited Mark the marathoner to finish his 26.2! It was freezing but we were huddled up together and still had the finish line glow. 

As marathoners crossed the finish line, more and more excitement built up. Danica predicted that Mark would come in around 3:48. We kept checking his status and pace online and looking up at the hill towards the finish line for his orange zip up! When we finally saw him, we were screaming. We ran to the median and all high fived him as he finished his final .2 miles. It was more emotional than I thought it would be! He crossed the finish line at approximately 3:48...just like my marathon veteran sister knew that he would. 

This was, without a doubt, one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. It feels so good to work towards a goal and dive in 100%. I may still be riding the race day high, but there will definitely be more half marathons in my future.

Cheers to Team Lovie!!!

#TeamLovie26: Weeks Nine + Ten

Before I post a full race recap from Raleigh this past weekend, it wouldn't be right to leave out the last two weeks of my training. Weeks nine and ten were honestly great. As I tapered my miles and focused on race day, so much excitement built up and I couldn't wait to get to Raleigh for the big day. I continued to focus on miles, not minutes, and kept a good pace with each run. 

My final long weekend run was six miles and it was easily one of the best runs during my training. My legs felt stronger than ever and I felt ready to conquer the race the following weekend. After so many miles and ten weeks of training, I felt such a sense of accomplishment! During the full ten weeks, I only missed one run due to running my ten miler on Sunday and using Monday to rest. Not too bad! 

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
1	3 miles (3.22 miles, 9:54)	Rest	3 miles (3.28 miles, 9:38	Rest	3 miles (4.00 miles, 9:38)	Rest	4 miles (3.26 miles, 9:36)	13.76
2	3 miles (3.23 miles, 9:57)	Rest	4 miles (4.17 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:08)	5 miles (5.02 miles, 9:04)	Rest	15.53
3	3 miles (rest-sick day)	3. 12 miles (9:34)	4 miles (5.27 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.26 miles, 9:28)	6 miles (6.26 miles, 9:48)	Rest	17.91
4	3 miles (3.29 miles, 9:32)	Rest	5 miles (5.15 miles, 9:41)	3 miles (3.07 miles, 9:46)	Rest	7 miles (7.15 miles, 10:00)	Rest	18.66
5	3 miles (3.25 miles, 9:20)	Rest	5 miles (5.24 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.10 miles, 9:24)	8 miles (8.18 miles, 9:53)		19.77
6	4 miles (4.01 miles, 10:00)	Rest	5 miles (5.03 miles, 10:08)	4 miles (4.07 miles, 10:29)	Rest	9 miles (9.24 miles, 10:53)	Rest	22.35
7	4 miles (4.14 miles, 9:59)	Rest	6 miles (6.08 miles, 9:47)	4 miles (4.09 miles, 9:49)	Rest	Rest	10 miles (10.91 miles, 10:18)	25.22
8	Rest	Rest	5 miles (5 miles, 9:13)	4 miles (4.16 miles, 9:31)	Rest	8 miles (8.39 miles, 10:14)	Rest	17.55
9	3 miles (3.12 miles, 9:54)	Rest	4 miles (4.26 miles, 9:27)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:37)	Rest	6 Miles (6.60 miles, 9:32)	17.09
10	Rest	3 miles (3.01 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.20 miles, 9:38)	Rest	Rest	13.1 miles	19.31

The very last run of my training plan was extra special because Danica was here and we got to run together! We pumped each other up and couldn't stop talking about how great it was going to be to run the half marathon with our team of lovies! And...just like that...half marathon training is complete! Next up, a full race recap!

#TeamLovie26: Weeks Three, Four + Five

As of Saturday, week five of half marathon training is complete, making this the official halfway point! I can't believe it. The Summer humidity is finally behind us (hopefully), which has made for some great running weather the past few weeks. With Mark and I both running, it's nice to not have to worry about us both getting our runs in early in the day to beat the heat. It's always nice to get a run done first thing in the morning, but I just seem to have better runs when I run at 4 or 5pm. 

Here's a training recap in numbers:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
1	3 miles (3.22 miles, 9:54)	Rest	3 miles (3.28 miles, 9:38	Rest	3 miles (4.00 miles, 9:38)	Rest	4 miles (3.26 miles, 9:36)	13.76
2	3 miles (3.23 miles, 9:57)	Rest	4 miles (4.17 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:08)	5 miles (5.02 miles, 9:04)	Rest	15.53
3	3 miles (rest-sick day)	3. 12 miles (9:34)	4 miles (5.27 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.26 miles, 9:28)	6 miles (6.26 miles, 9:48)	Rest	17.91
4	3 miles (3.29 miles, 9:32)	Rest	5 miles (5.15 miles, 9:41)	3 miles (3.07 miles, 9:46)	Rest	7 miles (7.15 miles, 10:00)	Rest	18.66
5	3 miles (3.25 miles, 9:20)	Rest	5 miles (5.24 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.10 miles, 9:24)	8 miles (8.18 miles, 9:53)		19.77

Week three started with a little bit of a cold, so I took Monday off to rest. Thankfully, it was a quick case of the sniffles and I was back at it on Tuesday and didn't have to skip a day on my training schedule. My six mile run that week was my toughest run to date. My legs felt fine, my breathing was great, but I got terrible side cramps within the first two miles and had to stop a few minutes to walk. Honestly, the only thing that kept me from stopping that run entirely was knowing that the last time I ran six miles, I was SEVENTEEN WEEKS PREGNANT. Yes. I wasn't about to let myself give up and when I found a good groove and tightened my abs as I ran, the pain wasn't as bad. I was glad to get that run behind me! 

Week four was overall a great week that ended with a seven mile run which might have been the best run of my life! My sister and I have been running together on the weekends and we took a new route, which I think helped a lot. It was the first crisp, fall-like morning here, the sun was shining and we kept a comfy pace the entire seven miles. During this week, I also ran Thursday instead of Friday. I think that giving my legs a day off before my longer run definitely worked to my advantage. I dug my shuffle out of my desk drawer which made for a great change in playlists, too. The best gem that appeared? The Full House theme song. 

Week five proved to be another that I was easily cruising through, until I hit Saturday's long run. Natalie was out of town and we were off on our eight miles by our lonesome. Running is just more fun with a friend. The cramps hit hard during this run and I was kicking myself for not drinking more water on Friday to prepare better. Thankfully, the weather was gorgeous on Saturday morning and I just kept powering through. I stopped to walk for a few minutes and still finished in under a ten minute mile, which I was pretty proud of. This was also my longest run in my entire life, which was definitely something to celebrate!

I'm trying to really increase my water intake! I drink a ton throughout the day, but I still don't think it's enough. I need to chug, chug, chug on Fridays especially so that my long runs aren't even longer when I'm keeled over with a side cramp. 

Overall, I'm feeling great! Every time I lace up my shoes and head out on a run, I like knowing that I'm working towards a bigger goal. When I think running a few months ago, I'm amazed at how my mind has already shifted so much in terms of what I think is a long or hard run. A three- four mile run used to be my normal, but now I look forward to those runs as the quick and easy ones to get done! 

As for shoes, I am absolutely LOVING my Saucony Ride 7 shoes. These shoes have seriously changed my running life! I was running in Nike Free Runs for the past two years and besides being cute, they really didn't do much else for my feet running-wise. Greasing my feet up with vaseline or Aquaphor has worked wonders for the occasional blister. Another great tip from my California sister. 

Five weeks down, five more to go! 

#TeamLovie26

I've written this post in my head over many, many miles of running but as November nears, and since my official training plan starts this week, it's time to put my thoughts into a post. On November 2, I will be running my first half marathon in Raleigh! I've been putting in a lot of miles lately and trying to get on a good running schedule in order to prepare myself for the many more miles ahead.

The decision to run this half marathon was not completely my own. My west coast sister is coaching my sister Andi to run her first FULL MARATHON through Saucony's 26 Strong program. My littlest sister and I decided it would be more fun to run with them halfway to the finish line so here we are. We have collected a few other lovies along the way to run 13.1 with us and...to make things even better...Mark is also running the full 26.2! I can already feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins when I think about our big day in Raleigh at the City of Oaks Marathon/Half Marathon! 

When I started really working out in college, I remember feeling like I would never be able to run ten minutes on a treadmill. Shortly after I got into a good routine, paired with smarter eating, I ran my first 8k (The Charlotte Turkey Trot) and I felt the biggest sense of accomplishment. My body transformed in ways that I could have never imagined and I was better for it, both inside and out. Over the years, living a healthy and active lifestyle has been something I am passionate about. 

Most of my runs during the week are done pushing Will in the BOB and I honestly believe it has helped my running tremendously. I've decreased my average pace on my solo runs and overall I feel like I am able to push myself a bit harder. While I was pregnant, I ran up until about 30 weeks or so. Even after that, I did light jogging combined with lots of power walking. I remained active throughout my entire pregnancy and I thought that I would be back in the swing in no time, but with an unexpected c-section, my recovery took a little longer than planned. I got back in the groove slowly and really listened to my body. It was mentally hard knowing that I couldn't give my body that extra push I was used to, but giving myself the proper time to rest was so important. By the time Will was 6 months old and big enough to ride while I ran, I started out slow. My friend Julie introduced me to her interval training and it seriously was the best thing ever! Run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute. This was the greatest way for me to get back into a good running routine and kept me feeling strong. Slowly, I was able to lengthen my minutes of running and before long, I was back to solid 3 and 4 mile runs 4-5 times per week. 

I'm looking forward to pushing myself and having a goal to work towards. It's been so much fun having all of the running lovies to pump each other up on a daily basis! We check in often and encourage each other on the days that we are just not feeling it. I know that there will be great days and there will be days that I'll wonder how I will ever make it 13.1 miles, but I'm up for the challenge. Here's to pushing my limits, positive self talk and overcoming mental barriers. 

Get stoked. (that was for you, lovies)

Workout Wednesday

I love working out almost as much as I love food. I know. I cant' believe I just said that either.

The thing is, these two pretty much go hand in hand for me. It's funny how that works. The better we eat around here, the more motivated I am to back it up with intense workouts and the harder I workout, the more my body craves the good stuff. We stick to a mostly clean diet and never make ourselves feel guilty about the occasional late night ice cream indulgence. Everything in moderation is what works best for us. It's all about having a good balance.

Ever since my freshman year of college, I have been a fitness fanatic. I started by using the elliptical and as I worked up my endurance and saw the pounds melt off, I was running 5 milers on a regular basis. I quickly realized how great my workouts made me feel and when I noticed they were also forcing me to make healthy decisions without even thinking. WIN! Since then, I have changed my workout routine dramatically, adding in resistance and strength training and more variety in my cardio for the day. Mark has been preaching to me about interval training but I will admit I kind of didn't listen. Fast forward to my Google session entitled "Carrie Underwood's leg workout" and "operation: MUST add interval training to my workout regimen" began. Sorry I didn't listen to you, Mark. The main thing about my workout routine is that I try to keep it fresh with variety and intensity. Great music helps, too. Oh, and cute workout clothes.

Though I quit doing the whole CrossFit thing, I did learn something very valuable from this little endeavor; I'm tougher than I give myself credit for. Not only did I learn how to push myself physically, but also mentally. And what a feeling that is!

Below are some of my favorite go-to websites for workouts that work:

Iron Mamas: (Check out the 5k-50s workout. I do this one at least once a week. I attended Kelly's classes while we were both living in Charlotte so when we both moved and I found out she was blogging workouts, I breathed a sigh of relief. Iron-Mamas workouts are by far my favorite and work me the hardest. I swear by them! Kelly just launched a new blog as well for clean eating. Be sure to check it out: www.ironmamas-cleaneating.com)

Blogilates: Cassey is hilarious and full of energy! I love her POP Pilates videos, interactive website community and good health tips. She also offers workout printables! I love a good printable. Try challenging yourself with the 20/20 workout or this killer fat blasting abs workout. If you are on Twitter, you can follow Cassey- @Blogilates.

Tone it Up!: www.toneitup.com (Karena and Katrina are adorable! Fun workouts, videos that are easy to follow and tons of great recipes. Follow them on Twitter- @ToneItUp)

This type of post may or may not become something I regularly blog about but when I am passionate about something and find resources to fuel my excitement, I love to share.

Make today a great day!