Jan 30, 2013

Pretty Muddy 5K

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This is a must read NOW because this is a limited time offer that I want to be sure all my gals take advantage of! Have you ever heard of the Pretty Muddy Run? If not, it is a pretty awesome 5K Women’s Only run for the women out there that aren’t afraid to sweat a little and get well more than a little MUDDY!!!

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Something that I think is super cool about this run is that it was actually started by a few businessmen who were inspired by their wives who were constantly juggling kids, careers, and just life. The men believed that their wives deserved more time for themselves and realized how important it is to have balance in their lives and thus the Pretty Muddy run was born.

This run is all about “letting your hair down and having fun” and as they put it – that’s pretty awesome.

There are 10 different obstacles all of which you can read about here.

So where do I fit in? I will be a Pretty Muddy Team Blogger so I will be participating in the event this year and blogging about how much fun it will be!

The benefit to you all right now? Only until THURSDAY JANUARY 31st AT MIDNIGHT you can get $20 off register with this code: GIRLTIME

You can see screenshots on this blog post. You have to register RIGHT NOW though so you get $20 off registration (typically $60.00) so don’t miss out on this LOW price. It’s not gonna get any better than this so make it happen!

Below are the cities that you can participate at… simply click on the link below and it will take you right to the registration page!! And if you register for Columbus- I will see you there!!

2013 Pretty Muddy Events 

Dallas, TX – June 1

Sacramento, CA – June 29

Chicago, IL – September 7

Columbus, OH- September 14

Richmond, VA – September 28

Atlanta, GA – October 12

Tampa, FL – November 30

Miami, FL – December 7

Want to find out more before signing up? Check out Pretty Muddy on any of the following social media sites

Facebook        Twitter          Pinterest       Instagram      Youtube

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Nov 20, 2012

Running + Chocolate = FUN

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This past Sunday, I participated in the Hot Chocolate 5K in Columbus, Ohio. Never heard of it? Check it out here. They combine the best of both world (Hannah Montana reference anyone?).

Chocolate

+

Running

If you were every considering running and wasn’t sure WHY or HOW you would do it I think this run could get you off your couch and into the streets for some fun. My running buddy Ashley told me about this run months ago and it was a no-brainer for me. I told more friends and we ended up with a group of 8 girls who were ready to run and eat chocolate.

Only 4 of us showed up.

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It was still awesome!

This is a “tree” of marshmallows. It may not make paper and may be a blown up thing but who cares… it’s awesome!

Photo Nov 18, 6 59 43 AM

Unfortunately, it wasn’t great timing for the chocolate part for me but the running part was a must. I have been SLACKING on my running since the Akron Halfathon (remember that’s a half marathon) so I was in desperate need of a good race to get my mojo going again. It did. No doubt about it I love the race. I don’t love it for the competition or the prizes (because to be frank I rarely win any of those) but I love it because it is just good old fashion fun with friends who like to enjoy some fitness and have fun along the way. So my halfathon partner Ann, her friend Kaitlyn, and my running buddy Robyn and I set off at 7:30am into the very brisk air on the streets of Columbus and completed 3.1 miles.

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Afterward we hit up the chocolate tent to get our fancy mugs and lots of tasty treats.

The Advocare challenge made it pretty difficult for me to enjoy but I don’t think Tim was disappointed about that.

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But at least he came to support in the cold!

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And I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I did eat my chocolate dipped marshmallow. I deserved a little cheat after a race right? If not, too bad. Too late. It was delicious. I’m not sorry. Yummy.

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In terms of my body and the run something pretty awesome happened. Since I hadn’t trained in what 2 months I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it comfortable as I was almost certain I would be able to at least finish. Turns out this “wannabe runner” may have actually accomplished some serious goals over the last almost 2 years because 3 miles was nothing. I mean sure I was tired… and that last hill was a real killer… but I felt great. I started with Ann- she and Kaitlynn stopped to hug some friends so I ran the other 1.5 miles with Robyn and we chatted and enjoyed ourselves. Ann and I even reflected back on how we couldn’t even run 1 mile 2 years ago and now we were just off to run 3 without a worry in the world.

Well I was a little worried. SHH don’t tell.

So I was pretty proud that I was able to just get up in the morning and run 3.1 miles. Maybe I am a runner after all?

I also realized how awesome running is because you meet new friends! I know both Ann and Robyn through mutual friends getting married but our friendship has just continued on after that. We have running in common and as it turns out we have similar personalities and just enjoy being around each other. Both these girls have gone from a mutual acquaintance to a true friend who I care about and look forward to being with. I don’t know what you think but I think that is pretty darn cool. You start out dancing at a wedding together, you end up having sleepovers for bachelorette parties, running halfathons, and eating chocolate together. Running has not only brought me confidence in myself but also friendship.

So what should you do today? Go for a run. Meet a new friend =) and well, eat some chocolate!!!

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Jul 31, 2012

Susan G. Komen

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As you may remember from last year the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K is my competitive race I do every year. I suppose I have a healthy amount of competitiveness during every race I run (well maybe not The Color Run) but this is my race where I set goals and really do my best to achieve them

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The goal this year was same as last… 5K in under 30 minutes. Even after running for over a year a 10 minutes mile is still a challenge for me. My distance has improved which in the grand scheme of things is my goal but my speed has maintained relatively steady over the course of the year. A solid 11:30 is comfortable and a 10:50-11:15ish is my norm for a challenge that doesn’t kill me. So when I say a 5K in less than a half hour I mean serious business.

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Similar to last year we recruited some awesome gals to run the race with us! We had some that returned from last year (Kara and Brittany) and we had some newbies that joined us as well… Ashley, Christy, My mom Carole, Jeff and Peggy. It was a bunch of men and women getting together for such an awesome charity to raise money to help fight breast cancer.

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When I started the race I was feeling pretty good. I managed a pretty steady 9min mile for the first mile and made it to the Sheetz gas station in downtown Akron in an impressive amount of time (or so Tim said because I was texting him to let him know where I was). Just when I started to slow down from the monster of a hill in Akron I was reenergized by a group of men and women on their motorcycles revving their engines and yelling good lucks and way to go’s at all of the runners. By the third hill my calves were ON FIRE but as I finally caught up to Christy gave her butt a good pick it up smack I was ready to keep going.

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At the very end I managed to complete the race in a full out sprint in 29 minutes 36 seconds with Jeff by my side- who kicked some serious butt!

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I rocked my Sweat Pink shoe laces and my mom rocked the Sweat Pink tank during our run! Turns out the fact that we wore all black made it VERY hot but made us VERY easy to see on the news that evening! Between this and my brief stint on the news during the flashmob I participated in I may be on to something =)

There just couldn’t be a better race than Komen’s. The event is so full of love and laughter and HOPE. When you start to get tired and slow down it takes only a second to think about a loved one you know that has battled breast cancer or look around and see the pictures of loved ones on other’s backs to know that you are strong and that you can push yourself. This is my FAVORITE race and I hope to continue to do it every year.

Then as an added treat (painted faces and all) we went to Wally Waffle to celebrate the success with mom and dad (Dad and Tim were waiting for us cheering us on at the finish line) and devoured a buckeye (peanut butter and chocolate) banana and an omelet! Delicious!

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Jul 11, 2012

Half Marathon Training Updates

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I woke up today and I there is only one word (okay two words one phrase) to describe me.

Hot Mess.

I don’t really know why either. I had my usual 7ish hours of sleep (what I would do to make that 8) but I was just a mess. My alarm actually went off early so that I could get 3 miles in but that just didn’t happen. It was one of those… alarm goes off.

You laugh out loud.

And you go back to bed sort of mornings. Apparently I am not made to run in the morning. I am going to get my hair done tonight so I knew I wouldn’t have time so I wanted to get it in but apparently this will be a night off.

Thank goodness I ran on Monday!

My Hal Higdon app has been a bit of a let down actually. It is totally inflexible. It has Mondays always being your day off (along with Fridays) and has cross-training on specific days that is not Tuesday and Thursday (which is when I need it) so I am just not happy haha.

So here is what I gather from it though…

  • 2 days off a week
  • 2 days of cross-training a week (or a shorter run)
  • 3 days running a week

And the schedule seems to do this…

  • Week 1: 10 miles (3, 3, and 4)
  • Week 2: 10 miles (3, 3, and 4)
  • Week 3: 12 miles (3.5, 3.5, and 5)
  • Week 4: 12 miles (3.5, 3.5, and 5)
  • Week 5: 14 miles (4, 4, and 6)
  • Week 6: 11.1 (4, 4, and 3.1) *this week you should compete in a 5K*
  • Week 7: 16 miles (4.5, 4.5, and 7)
  • Week 8: 17 miles (4.5, 4.5, and 8)
  • Week 9: 16.2 (5, 5, and 6.3) *this week you should compete in a 10K)
  • Week 10: 19 miles (5, 5, and 9)
  • Week 11: 20 miles (5, 5 and 10)
  • Week 12: 8 miles during the week with rest on Thursday and Friday then RACE DAY 13.1 miles

So I think I can accomplish all of that on my own schedule. I’ll just have to make Monday, Wednesday, and one weekend day my running day (except for today, I think I’ll run after Crossfit tomorrow to get my other 3 in) Tuesday and Thursday my cross days and then Friday and the other day of the weekend my rest days- probably Sunday so I’m not resting 2 days in a row. Or just mix up a week day run with that.

Boo for an app that doesn’t let me customize it but I think the strategy and timing is still right on so I’ll do the best I can with it.

That post I wrote the other day… about you being better and things not actually getting easier… is really resonated with me right now. I found myself looking at that 12 week schedule and going oh well I think by week 6 I WILL BE BETTER. I have never broke a 7 mile funk so week 8 is actually the week I am looking forward to the most. And then of course race day.

When I will take my body to a place it has never been.

Hmmm. Sounds a big Christian Grey to me. But you get the picture. *insert laugh from Tim here because he has been waiting for the moment I reference our dear 50 shades*

So yea I think I will print myself out a training “schedule” knowing that flexibility is crucial here. Not every day is the same for me which I typically love however… the most stuff I have on my plate (oh you know work, grad school, wedding stuff, and being a good fiancé) the more structure and planning I need.

Alright that’s all I have for today. Oh the inspiration of running from the desk of Jaci Laney.

But in case I’m not inspiration enough, here is some actual inspiration. More of this juicy goodness can be found on my pinterest page which you can follow me on by clicking on the link above!

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