That time I won an award!

Yes it is true, I won an a race.  I actually placed in my age group.  Miracles do happen.

Many, many moons ago I signed up for the Lakeland 10 miler because it was on super sale and after hearing a friend say wonderful things about it, I figured...1.5 months before the wedding, I will be in nice shape for the wedding with all this running. Yea, well that isn't exactly how it went down. 

If you noticed, I haven't really been around this blog often because I haven't had much to write, or I didn't know what to write about even though I wanted to blog.  I haven't' been running because its hotter than the sun here in Florida and it's just not enjoyable.  I really tried to pound out miles but I simply didn't want to, and after talking to a few people, they all said the same thing; "Find something you like and do it".  And that's what I have been doing, I have been busting my butt at Orange Theory and I am loving it!  I may not have lost weight but I see my body changing.  Sorry, I talk on tangents.

Many weeks leading up to the race I didn't know exactly what I planned to do, "Do I run the 10 mile race as a long slow run, or do I run the 5 miler"? I was actually all ready to run the ten miler.  I had my fuel, I was mentally prepared to stick to my 12 minute miles (hey, I will go faster if I can!).  I et some friends before the race, HI Laura, Hi Wanda!  I went to the bathroom the obligatory 5 million times and I was ready to go.  It was nice and humid bit it is Florida so that is expected.  All was fine and dandy and we were off.

I settled into a nice pace, I was surprised how "quickly" I was going and then all of a sudden I feel my hair against my back.  What was going on?  My second hair tie fell out, and while that may not be a big deal to most, it is to me.  My hair is being grown out because I have a wedding to get ready for in less than a month, so that being on my back was no good!  I started to panic!  Next, at the water stop, I took some nice refreshing water and I almost had to spit it out.  I had ben having tooth troubles for about a month that anything that is sweet, cold, hard, I cannot chew. (I surprisingly can eat potato chips without a problem)  Well, this water was nice and cold and it throbbed. My tooth hurts so bad it gives me a headache.  I knew then I would either have to cut the race short or go the ten miles without water, yea I only finished the ten miles.  At that point I was about 2.3 miles and I decided I should pick the pace up and "race".  I use the term loosely because there is no racing being done and I am severely out of running shape. 

At the point of picking it up I actually started to pass people because I started nice and slow at the beginning thinking I was going to do the 10 miler.  I didn't stop at all, I made no walking or water stops, I just kept going.  At mile 4 I started to feel my lack of in-shape-ness but wasn't gong to quick.  My paces for the rest were around 10:30s or so, again, not fast for me!  My Half marathon PR is much faster than this pace.    I crossed the finish line oh so happy.  After a while of waiting around and socializing I made it to see the race results and saw the 5 mile times without my name, I was hoping this would be corrected but it wasn't until I went over to speak with the Fitniche timing.  After it was all corrected, my 11 min mile pace won first in the 20-29 Age group award.  Yes, my old lady self won first and it probably is the most exciting thing ever!!!

SLS3 Review and Giveaway!

Is it already August and where did the summer go?  

I guess it is time to get those fall goals in check!  The wedding is just over 3 months away and I have a marathon in just over 2 months.  Time is flying by!

At the beginning of the month I began Half Marathon training and all summer I have been busting my butt at Orange Theory Fitness.  I am loving every second of OTF and running has taken a back seat.  With all the running on the treadmill with bursts of speed, inclines, and using different running shoes my calves, shins and ankles have been screaming at me!  Luckily the nice people over at SLS3 contacted me about reviewing their compression socks.  I have always been a fan of compression and their Butterfly Compression Socks are dainty enough for me!  Compression is said to help your body recover and body perform better, whether it actually is true or just my brain, I think it works.  

To get the proper size I sent them my shoe size and how large my calves were.  I was nervous because I am short and have massive baby cows (calves).  They fit fabulous and they are super soft.  I thought the heel would show when my sneakers were on and they did not.  There is a size chart on their website to help you out.  

The first time I wore them I wore them to sleep after a 90 minute Orange Theory class and my lower body was the only part of my body that didn’t ache.  I then wore them to class the next day.  I like wearing these socks to class because my ankles and calves often hurt and burn on that treadmill when we do inclines and they give me the proper support my flimsy shoes do not give me.  Since then not only do I wear them around the house and to class, I wear them on my “long” runs.  I say “long” because the longest I have gone since the Gasparilla challenge is 7 miles. These are perfect around my neighborhood because the county doesn’t like to cut the grass so in the wee hours of the morning having material there helps keep the pollen off my legs and I am less itchy.  I also haven’t had to ice my calves since wearing them and fingers crossed this stays true.  

Here is some additional information pulled from the SLS3 website that I found interesting:

SLS3 Butterfly compression socks boost bloodflow by about 34%. This increases oxygen delivery to the working muscles to enhance their performance. The circulation improvements also help the body eliminate metabolic waste products like lactic acid more easily. The combination of these effects allows you to work longer and harder, delaying the onset of fatigue.

The SLS3 Butterfly compression socks offer more targeted, significant support to the achilles tendons, tibias, calves and ankles, thus boosting the ability to reduce common ankle and foot injuries. 

They are recommended for running, cycling, walking, triathlon, skiing, traveling and lots of other uses.

The supportive effect and compression of SLS3 Butterfly compression socks reduce muscle vibration drastically, which leads to less soft tissue damage and less sore muscles. Your recovery time will be significantly reduced

• • 20-30 mmHG of graduated compression

• • Seamless TekWeb technology
  • Muscle Stability
  • Increased Bloodflow
  • Web knit for more support of arch
• • Cooling effect and UV protection

SLS3 is allowing me to host a giveaway for a pair of free socks or sleeves! You can enter here:

It will end on August 21st and I'll announce the winner and they'll hook you up.  

In addition to the giveaway they are offering a discount of 40% using code GENNA40. This is a seriously generous discount. 

Good luck!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Giveaway ends August 2015 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to Residents of the US only.  Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.  Winner will be selected by Rafflecopter through SLS3 and be notified by email. Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that R is For Running is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.  I have represented the sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsor, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.  The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.

Fun "Outtakes" from my handy photographer Fiance!

A-Z questions

Hi Everyone!  

I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer.  My summer is going oh so quickly.  Some weeks are so bust and some weeks are nice and relaxing.  I think all I do is worry about the wedding and school next year but hey, whats new!

I saw this A-Z floaring around the blogosphere and wanted to take part!  

A – Age: 29  Happy birthday month to me!

B – Biggest Fear: Roaches, lightning (I do live in the lightning capital of the world), tornados- we can thank Twister for that

C – Current Time: 4:20 om

D – Drink You Had Last: A glass of water

Practicing with my new selfie stick

E – Easiest Person To Talk To: My Bestie Brittany, for sure!

F – Favorite Song: Currently: Shut up and Dance by walk the moon.

G – Grossest Memory: In recent memory — I was just told I am anemic and have to give stool samples, I will leave it at that..TMI... sorry

H – Hometown: Staten Island, New York

I – In Love With: Behn Michael <3

J – Jealous Of: The people who aren’t sweating 100% of the day

K – Kindest Person You Know: Christa

L – Longest Relationship: Behnie

M – Middle Name: Beth

N – Number of Siblings: 1

O – One Wish: For the rest of this wedding planning to go smoothly

P – Person You Spoke To On The Phone Last:  Behn

Q – Question You’re Always Asked: “How many miles do you run a day, a million?” Ha, I wish!

R – Reason To Smile: Joey

This face

S – Song You Last Sang: This is my fight song

T – Time You Woke Up: 5 something when Joey started to scream he was hungry

U – Underwear Color: None, currently. 

V – Vacation Destination: Hawaii, Thailand

W – Worst Habit: Picking every hair out of my body, that’s my OCD

X – X-Rays You’ve Had: Teeth, feet, knees, ankles really my whole lower body it sounds like 

Y – Your Favorite Food: baked ziti and candy, oh and ice cream!

Z – Zodiac Sign: Cancer


Now go ahead and answer one of these questions for me!!

Im "Racing" Saturday!

I’m Racing Saturday!!!!

 Saturday is going to be my first 5k in well over a year and a half.  I don’t sign up for 5k’s for a reason;, they are hard and they are expensive compared to how many miles you get for the price.

Image taken from website

I have been wanting to do the Airport 5k for a few years now.  The first year I tried to sign up it was sold out and I didn’t registered on time and last year I has my first triathlon to finish J

 My training is certainly not up to par for a 5k this weekend.  Ever since Gasparilla where I busted my butt for 30+ miles I have been worn out both mentally and physically.  During the Sarasota Half I walked 9 of those miles and was miserable.  I had to take a mental and physical break from running.  I am almost ready to get on a normal training plan for the next season. 

 Since Gasparilla I have been adding strength training and the last two weeks I have been going to Orange Theory Fitness where I have been getting about 2.5 miles or so with a run or two thrown in. 

My current PR is a 29:03 and I have no intention of getting close to that this weekend.

 If I can run sub 30, great!

If I can rub a sub 10 pace, great!

If I can finish, great!

 

What are your plans for this weekend?  Any run races coming up?

 

Good Luck to all those racing St. Anthony’s Triathlon J

 

Racing Lately...

Racing Lately..

Since the new year I feel as if all I have been doing is running and racing. I have finally hit the dreaded “burn out”.  I have no interest in doing any physical activity even though I have goals.

Over the last few months I have done the following races:

Celebration Half Marathon: 2:20

The Clebration Half marathon was a lot of fun because of the friends that ran it that day.  This race was harder than it should have been.  I really struggled the last few miles. I never felt properly fueled or had a lot of energy.  I am not sure to why that was, maybe because it was just over a month after my full, maybe it was that I hadn’t been as well trained as I should have been because I sprained my ankle 3 weeks or so before hand?  Some races are better than other as you can see through this recap.

Chris, Kristen, Marci, Me, Beka, Patricia

Best Damn Race: 2:15:55

I have no idea how this happened but all the starts aligned for BDR! The weather was perfect and I just felt great.  I wish I didn’t start as slow as I did but was scared to bonk like the time before.  This is my fastest half this year, and fastest half since my PR in March of 2013.

Gasparilla Muchelob Ultra Challenge:

15k, 5k, Half Marathon, 8k

This was such a great weekend!  I found day one harder than day two, but also unintentionally ran faster day one and was so very sore day 2.  I walked the 8k with my friend and still finished the half under 2:30!

Sisters that run together, stay together :)

Finishing the Gasparilla Challenge!

Take Stock in the Children 10k

This race I did for fun with my mom, sister, and friend.  I did Gasparilla the weekend before so I wanted to keep it slow.  It was also the first time I put any miles of my feet since Gasparilla and felt it!  Whoops!

Sarasota Half Marathon 2:42:25

I signed up for this race right when it opened for its blitz pricing.  I scored a spot for about $45.00 and was hoping I would PR it.  That did not happen, I actually didn’t even want to run it when the time came.  I only ran it because I wanted to wear the jacket.  In the corrals before it started I almost left.  It was the first hot and humid run this season and I was not ready for that.  I thought I had more in it that I did, when I saw how “slow” (for me) I was going the first three miles I mentally beat myself up and once that happened it was all downhill.  I walked at mile 4 which normally doesn’t happen and once I started to walk, I didn’t stop..  I am happy I finished this but it was not easy.  This is the first time I almost DNF’ed.

Run Tampa Crew Before Sarasota Half

And a little Joey picture added in "fur" good measure :)

Practically every other week there was something going on running related.  This weekend I did not physical activity at all.  It was so nice to sleep in.  I really want to get back on my bike and back in the pool and hopefully I will find the motivation to do that.  I just signed up for a 5k that is in a little less than a month. That should give me some motivation.  After that, my next race is not until October and I do not plan to race a lot next season with the wedding but hey, you never know!

When was the last time you were burnt out and how did you recover from it?  How did your racing season pan out?

March recap of my 2015 goals

How are my 2015 goals coming along?  Let’s take a look

In January I wrote what my goals were for this year and I am trying to be more well rounded.  You can find that post here.

Joey says HI!

Read more

I can say that I am dominating this one!  So far I have read:

• January- It was me all along by Andi Mitchell, I give it an A+
• February - Dark spaces by Gillian Flynn, and I loved this as well!  I love how she captivates an audience and pulls you in with that “need to know more”
• March- Book 1 of Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson.  I really enjoyed this too, it is a teen book that a student let me borrow and hopefully he has more to let me read.

Run Faster

I am not too sure how this is coming along, so far I have ran a few halves with the fastest time at a 2:15:56 at the Best Damn Race Half in Safety Harbor.  My current PR is 2:12: xx.  The weather was just perfect, the stars aligned and it felt wonderful.  Allergy season is in full swing which is really effecting my running but once the pollen is off the floor, I will be doing more speed training.

Be Happy in my Body

This is a work in progress.  I signed up to be a Beachbody coach because I really like the product.  I started the 21 day fix and can’t wait to see the results.  It is really helping me with eating clean, portion control, and I am loving the workouts.  I have been sore in places I haven’t been sore in a while!  (so, if you need any products, send me a message or e-mail me )
I also plan to use my ClassPass this month to try new classes and tone up! I am looking forward to a little running break!  In case you do not know what class pass is, it is a membership for a month and it allows you to pop into many studios and try classes out!

Save Money

This is another reason why I signed up for Beachbody, I hope it helps pay for a wedding!  I am trying to cut down on the non-essential purchases and put more into saving.  This is still a work in progress.

Not go crazy

I think the only one who can answer this is Behn.  I am trying!

Blog More

I wanted to blog twice a month, fail.  I didn’t blog in Febraury.

Enjoy life and be spontaneous!

I am enjoying life..

How are you coming along with your goals?

In other news...

• I said yes to my wedding dress

• I just completed my last half and running race of the season and I couldn’t be more excited about that! It wasn’t pretty, or fun!  (Hopefully I will recap that)

For my locals, what do you think the best place in Downtown Tampa for a rehearsal/wedding welcome dinner is?  So far we are learning towards Jacksons.

2015 Goals

2014 wasn’t such a bad year I just do not think it was able to top 2013.  I am hoping 2015 tops all the other years.  We are already though mid January and I have been thinking of goals I would like to achieve this year.  Some may seem obvious and easy to achieve while others will take a lot of work on my behalf.

2015 Goals

v  Read more

I love to read but find it so hard during the school year to get engulfed in a book as I have done in the past.  I also feel social media and being attached to my phone also hinders me picking up a good book.  This year I want to read one book a month, or 12 books a year.  I already finished one so I am off to a good start J

 

v  Run Faster

2014 was all about getting that sub 5 marathon. Unfortunately that did not happen but I did PR it.  2015 I want to get faster at shorter distances.  Maybe a PR in the Half, 10, or even the 5k.  The only races I have truly trained for is a half and a full marathon so maybe that will change this year.

 

v  Happy in my Body

This year I am getting married and we will be on a cruise for 5 days.  I want to feel confident and happy in my body.  My weight increases and decreases without me realizing it.  Since Behn and I bought our house my weight went up about 6 pounds or so, which may not seem like a lot but on my 5 foot (almost) 2 frame, my pants no longer fit and I have to remember what other people eat, I may not be able to.

 

v  Save Money

This one will be tricky with the wedding and also that my car needs about $2,000 in repairs but I am hoping to be less frivolous with my money so when an emergency happens, such as a car breaking, I can afford to get it fixed.

 

v  Not go crazy

I am one who freaks out or gets anxiety of the littlest things but big things may not worry me as much.  I hope this year with planning the wedding; I don’t go all crazy or bridezilla on anyone.  I know I will have my fair share of freak outs but I hope to keep them to a minimum this year so everyone is happier J

 

v  Blog More

I don’t want to get overly ambitious now because I feel this is a reoccurring theme but lets strive for a blog at least twice a month J

 

v  Enjoy life and be spontaneous!

Those are my goals and I think they are pretty well rounded.  I am excited to see what 2015 brings J

 

 

What are your goals for 2015?

2014: A year in review

2014 seems to be a blur in what happened.  

It certainly did not compare to 2013 but a lot happened.  2013 was the year of PRs and getting engaged!

Some highlights of 2014 include:

In March I watched my best friend get married!

We also were able to celebrate the marriage of Patrick and Tori

I got my feet wet in the triathlon field.  I exceeded my expectations and met such a great group of people!

Best supporters ever!

I ran the NYC Half marathon in March while training for St. Anthony’s.  

I am pretty sure it was below freezing!

Behn and I went on a great cruise vacation!

I made it my business to PR the marathon and Pr’ed by 38 minutes.

We bought a house!

I am finally at the same school for more than one year.  

Behn and I went to the movies for the first time ever.

We set a wedding date.

In Numbers I...

Ran

1000+ miles

Biked

654 miles

Swam

35.1 miles

Just some of my lovely faces for a good laugh

That is my year!!  I guess in hindsight a lot happened.  I can't wait for 2015 though!

What are your 2014 hi lights and what are you looking forward to in 2015?