20 miler down.

I had another 20 miler this weekend. I was pumped about it all week, ready to nail it and was even hoping to do better than my last 2o miler. For some reason my legs had been feeling heavy all week long but I tried to push that out of my mind. I'm a pretty positive person and I felt like I would just kill this run for some reason.

Things change once you start running.

I got out the door and started with my gus, my filled bottle and my new pouch. I took my phone because I wanted to take pictures along my route like so many people do to share with everyone of where I was running. Mile one was rough but usually mile one is rough when I'm running in the morning because I'm still a little tired. It just never got better though. I think I hit the proverbial wall once I stepped out the door for my run. Not a good sign

I ran a few different loops, didn't calculate my run correctly and ended .5 of a mile away from my house. Usually this doesn't make a difference to me during a run, but after 20 miles of playing mind games with yourself, when you are done you want to be home. There were some failed things about this run that were totally my fault. I didn't take my ipod. GIANT FAIL. I had nothing to entertain me, I was incredibly bored and didn't run far enough 'out' in my first loop so I was doing weird loops to make up for distance and that's how I got confused and miscalculated.

Each mile I tried to think of different people. I thought of Aron, Maritza, Tara, Alisa, Julianne, Maggie, and all the girls that will be in SD, I thought of some random twitterers but I just never got in the zone. I tried to distract myself by taking pictures, and looking around me, but there weren't too many people out when I started and when I hit the wall BIG time at mile 10, there were people out probably just wondering what in the world I was doing. I was gimping, running fast then slow, I just couldn't pull out of the funk, but you know what I realized during this wonderful long run? That sometimes it's not about being the fastest. It's not about the best time, having the best day, feeling great and totally nailing the workout, it's about running. It's about getting out there and doing it. I didn't want to run at all on Saturday, but I still did it. Looking back yea, it was a crappy way to spend three hours, but at the same time, I'm pretty proud of doing yet another 20 miler. It's just that you have to believe in yourself and do it. Then you can do it, then you can basically do anything.

Then my spirits were cheered a little when an older hot dadish type ran with me for about .5 of a mile. We chatted for a while, I told him I was training for San Diego Rock and Roll. He told me
"Well girl, you look good so don't even worry!" I smiled but then his measly nine miler was done. I trudged forward.

Even though it was one of my worst runs ever, It taught me a lot of lessons. I knew I couldn't stop. I knew I had to keep going. I knew that this would be like what the marathon felt like. It's not the best idea to do every one of your runs alone, but that is what I do.

I laughed at the pictures I had taken, felt bad for the two dead seagulls I saw, smiled at bikers and even hummed to myself. I was pretty cuckoo on this run, but I knew I had to finish. One point I even resorted to tweeting, which oddly enough, I think I was running the fastest all day when I was tweeting.

So you want to see the photo tour of my 20 miler? Wait no more.... It was quite interesting to say the least, but hey, I'm glad I can run, I'm glad I completed it, and I'm glad it's done with. Now I can taper, even though I think I've been tapering for over a month...

I tried to take a picture of myself during my run, this was the best I could do.

Then I run past the Queen Mary on a pretty regular basis. It was still a little bit cloudy but there she is!

There's the beach path that I started on and mostly what I run every day when I am training. It's flat and gorgeous. There's even the Belmont pool in the background! For those of you who are looking at possibly doing The Long Beach 1/2 Marathon or Full Marathon, that is the 1/2 Marathon course!

I recently found this, it's a boardwalk path and I love running on it. The wood is actually very nice to run on and the houses are HUGE and fun to look into. Usually I catch myself staring in all the windows and get embarrassed when there are people inside and catch me looking at them! :)

I realized after my run, that I really liked my new pouch, I wore it on the front to stop the bouncing of the water bottle and disperse the weight more evenly. Then I realized where I was wearing it all day made it look like I was wearing a loincloth or worse trying to hide something. Wha-wha.

On top of the bluff above the beach path. There are always characters up here and I sometimes run up here to switch things up a little bit.

Hi, I'm ChicRunner and I want to DIE! This was on my walk home. So tired. So sore. So far away from my house. Oh well, whatever happened happened.

Then instead of wasting money on ice for an ice bath, I just decided to walk back out to the beach and went in the ocean for my ice bath. It was cold and dirty, but I waited it out and then went home and took a shower. Hooray for my last 20 miler before the full marathon.

Though yesterday isn't my favorite day in the world, I had a good day with my roommate's mom and family. We rented a boat and cruised around the bay, drinking mimosas and eating cheese and crackers and strawberry shortcake. YUM.

On another completely unrelated note, Kymberli from Webbed Foot Photography and I are doing a photo shoot this weekend and I'm ecstatic. Almost as ecstatic as when I found a new HUGE Forever 21 right down the street that I didn't even know about this weekend. I can't wait and I will be sharing some wonderful pictures with you guys as well. :)

Can't wait to catch up on all the Race Reports and every one's weekends. I am thinking that I'm going to be posting some reviews this week and next week everyday for a week I will talk about running and the many things associated with it, like gus, ice baths, training, and starting out. I am no genius but I will offer my thoughts and ideas on the topics and address some of the questions I've gotten recently.


Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

xoxo

20 miles were a lot different than I expected.

So finally I ran a 20 miler. I didn't know what to expect, and to finish was not what I expected at all. I still can't believe I actually did it. Part of me thinks that little Claude was lying to me, like my nike plus used to, the little cheater, but alas 20 miles down in the books. So I don't want to toot my own horn and I know some of you run this all the time, but it was a big first for me, and there were a lot of things that happened on the way that I knew I would HAVE to share with you guys.

The night before I just kept telling myself that I could do it. I wasn't scared of it, and I knew if I had to walk, crawl or slog my way through it, I could at least try. I got up at 6 am and wanted to take off at 6:30. I had a muffin, three shot blok and got my fuel belt ready. I packed in three bloks to have at the 4 miler make. It started off great. I was really amp'ing myself up over it. I kept telling myself that I COULD do it, and I WOULD do it. Repeating something in your head is really helpful. I was going to run an 8 mile loop, a 4 mile loop the opposite way, and then the 8 mile loop that I ran earlier. Each end of the loop was going to pass by my house because I hadn't had time to get the extra pouch for my fuel belt yet so I was just going to grab my gus from home.

The farthest I've ever ran before this weekend was only about 17.6 miles, and there were a lot of breaks in between since I ran the 10k and ran to the starting line and home after. I started off wearing my arm warmers, shorts and a t-shirt. I felt very good for the first 7 miles. I didn't look down at Claude to see my pace, I just let myself go, and enjoyed the fresh beginning of a new day. I was instantly in the 'zone' and every mile ticked down I just though to myself, "Okay, that's only 18 left, now 17 left, now 16 left." I ate shot bloks at mile 4, this was of course when a nice old guy was running by me and he said hello. I was half chewing, half choking, half trying to breath and I mumbled/drooled out a hello back. He probably thought I was some crazy freak.

It was during this time when I started to imagine myself running a full marathon. I started to think of what I was going to wear on race day, what it would be like to cross the finish line. I started to think about all the girls I'm going to be running with from San Fransisco and Oregon, and how excited I am to see everyone and what a great weekend it will be. Then I started to think, well this is my FIRST marathon, I feel like I should dedicate this to someone. I thought about making a shirt that said, "In memory/honor or something along those lines, of my Mom." I thought about putting a picture on the shirt, what I would want it to say. Then I started thinking about this more and more, and I thought about well if I ever make it to Boston, I would much rather dedicate that race to her, or the race I BQ at to her, and I don't know if I want a shirt with her picture on it, or people to feel bad for me, etc. etc. Then my thought process changed to something else and I forgot about that.

Once I got to 8 miles I had to RACE to the bathroom back at my house. I realized this could be an issue, we are going to have to work on that. Then I got three more shot blok and took off again. While at home I also took off my arm warmers. I felt good on the 4 mile loop still and kept counting down the miles. For the first 8+4 loops I didn't listen to music and just enjoyed my run, not caring about my pace. There was one spot where it smelled like a heap of dead fish, and another where it smelled so strongly of bacon. I realized I cannot smell things on my run or they make me gag. I thought I was going to throw up during these smelly points. There was a huge 177 mile relay race going on and I would smile at the racers walking or running by and sometimes encouraged them with something random like, "Way to go!" I'm so original, I know. They were running from Santa Barbara to Dana Point in relay teams. That was kind of exciting.

After four miles, I stopped at home and went to the bathroom yet again. I made sure both my 'home' stops were only three minutes. I took yet another gu and took off to finish this run. At this point it was pretty hot out so I decided to brave the elements and run without a shirt. That is the only way I'm getting back in shape. If I run without a shirt then I feel like I have to do extra sit ups. :) I grabbed my ipod for this last loop of the run as well because I knew this was going to be where I needed distractions. I took off and was into my run about 13 miles. Then in the distance I saw a huge crowd of walkers on the beach path. I knew this wasn't just a random group of walkers, but it had to be yet another organized event. I was interested to see what it was again. I got closer and closer, and realized it was the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. After a little research this morning I realized it wasn't the actual walk, but a Training Mock Walk, but still everyone was wearing pink and excited to be out and walking and raising awareness to breast cancer on this Saturday. It looked like it could be the real walk there were so many people.

Unexpectedly, I all of a sudden felt my heart start to burn with a familiar hurt, and my breathing was hard. This is when I lost it. I started crying. It was mile 14, I had 6 more to go and I was crying while running next to these walkers. My nose was sniffling and I was just looking down and reminding myself to keep going. To keep putting one foot in front of the other one. They were walking against the route I was running and all saw me crying while running along. Though I had my music on I could hear my breathing and it was weird like shallow wheezing.

I had done the Avon 3-day walk when my mom was still alive my junior year in High School. I had worn the pink gear, I had walked the 60 miles, and my mom (and entire family) were there supporting me through the entire thing. It was a great experience and seeing these women walking was just inspiring and it reminded me so much of my mom it turned me into a wheezing/running/crying mess.

I kept telling myself to suck it up and stop crying, but I couldn't. It was a weird weird mile. I hate crying in front of other people and I just took some deep breaths and kept running. I remember feeling a tear go down my cheek and I thought to myself, really, REALLY you are seriously CRYING?! Then, just as quickly as I started choking up, I stopped crying and was okay to finish the run. The last 6 miler were good. It was once I got to mile 17, I was hurting, my butt was killing me. I have never even felt pain in my butt when I run at all. I got back to my house and thought about my run. I had completed it, I had broke down in the middle and still kept going. Sometimes that's all you need to keep going. I took an ice bath and then showered and laid in my bed for some time watching the Penn Relays and the NFL draft.


I think it reminded me so much of my mom and how she would be so proud of me for running a full marathon. It reminded me so much of how many people are affected by breast cancer, and how many people we need to find a cure for. I'm sure people were like WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THIS GIRL. When you are tired, and running, and crying, it's hard to breathe.

Doing this run brought so many emotions out, looking back on it now, I would have NEVER expected that something like that would remind me of my mom, none the less make me cry and break down in the middle of a long run. It also made me realize that I can run a full marathon. I was beginning to get nervous and I know the brutalness of a full marathon doesn't even come until the 20th mile, but you know what, bring it on. If you go in with the attitude that it's going to be too hard, that you won't like it, that it's going to stink, that you're hurt, that you can't do it, guess what...

It is going to be too hard, you won't like it, it is going to stink, you will be hurt and you won't be able to do it.

I've played this mental game with myself, and almost got caught up in it again last night. Sunday after the 20 miler was my scheduled rest day and last night when I got home it was cold. I was exhausted and didn't want to run, but decided to go out to 'loosen up' I planned to run a four miler but when I started I was incredibly sore. I didn't even realize how sore I was. I told myself that I HAD to do four miles, and that if they were slow or fast they were going to get done, so I ran 2 miles out away from my house so I couldn't go back after two miles. After the first mile, I had gotten rid of my sore stiffness and was chugging along and knew that I would be fine for four miles. So fine that my last mile was 7:45. I had to allow myself a chance for success.

The two weeks leading up to my 20 miler, I probably put in about 8 miles in each of those weeks. Believing in yourself works wonders. Running is hard, it's just a mental game of pushing yourself to your personal limit. It's not easy, but no one ever said anything that was worth it was easy. Allow yourself to succeed.

xoxo

Training Smaining

So I signed up for all my races through March yesterday. That left a little dent in the wallet to say the least, but here they are:

January 10 (as in this weekend) - Kaiser Permanente 1/2 in Irvine, CA
February 1 - Huntington Beach 1/2, CA
February 7 - Chili Trail Run 4 miler in Irvine, CA
February 21 - Race on the Base 10k in Los Alamitos, CA
March 8 - Malibu Creek 9k, Malibu, CA
March 29, Wine Country 1/2, Paso Robles, CA

So as you can see, this weekend I'll be running a 1/2. I figured I needed to put in miles and just getting out there will be good for me. I have no insane goals because I know I'm not completely ready to push myself to the limit just quite yet, but it will be fun to race and I know the mileage will be really good.

I feel like these races are all very different from one another and most of my previous races and I'm really excited to try out the few trail runs I have signed up for. I think I will really enjoy the trail running aspect and I'm excited to try out my new shoes!

As for training, I talked about it with Mr. R, and he told me, "Look, you know how to run already, you should really think about strength training more." I agree with him because strength equals speed. So therefore I am going to put in decent longer runs, but also work mostly on getting stronger, at least for right now. I know having a strong body for running is important and I know I could possibly have the weakest upper body around. My legs are good and strong from my miles, but my arms are about as useless as a T-rex's arms.

So therefore in order to get stronger I'm going to do weight training twice a week, and then possibly take a class or do a video Pilate's or yoga once a week, and cut back my running to three or four days a week, and just run more miles during these runs. I know if I get my core strong and upper body and my back to be strong I will be a much better running in the long term. I was also working really hard at sit ups, but during the holidays I kind of let that fall to the wayside. I know that the sit ups were really helping me so I want to get back to that and also I want to work hard at doing more push ups to make my back stronger.

This weekend, my goal is to finish in between 1:50 and 2:10. I know it's a broad range, and I won't be disappointed if I don't hit that, but I'm also going to enjoy the race and just view it as a long training run with supporters all around me and free water and snacks! Another one of my goals this race is to practice running and drinking. The last half I did I had a big problem with the handling, sipping, the throwing, then the dodging of others cups. It was all just a little overwhelming so I'm really going to work on drinking during the race and I'm going to even try to eat a gu while running, which I've also never done before, and see if I can see a major difference. Of course I'll be downing some delicious shot blox before the race like candy as well.

As for the other races, as they come near I'll be posting their specific goals, and they will be much more precise and better than this weekend's goals. 2009 is going to be a year of training and excitement! Even though I signed up for a lot of races, I would encourage you guys to sign up for races and get a race calendar going. Whether it's a run/walk, a 5k, a 10k, or a marathon, just having a goal to complete that race is so motivational. It's fun to count down until the day, and working out with an upcoming race also gives you a purpose to work out.

Having a workout plan is the best way to tackle exercise. Today since I'm talking about training, I wanted to share a great site with you guys.

Iglisten

It's a great site that was started by Wes and Allyson Felix. Yes, the Allison Felix that just won the gold medal in Beijing for the Olympics. Oddly enough, Mr. R even knows Wes and he's also a super legit runner. The website is full of great training tips and tricks that you can do on your own that really help tone and promote an overall healthy lifestyle. The best part about the website is that there is a free email newsletter that is created specifically for women. Once you sign up, you receive workouts in your email three times a week that were created by a personal trainer. It's a lot of different ideas and stuff to target special areas, which is really great. They also have a fashion section on their website, with SUPER cute gym clothes and where to buy them, and also a health and then of course the fitness section. They also have great food, music and fashion sections, and a fun and upbeat blog that motivates and has great articles about everything in life.

I signed up for the site, and have been nothing but blow away by their ideas and getting the emails with the workouts is nice because it gives me the ability to mix things up. At the least I would encourage you to go over and check out what they have, it's FREE after all. What more can a FREE workout in your email hurt?

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and have a great day! Tonight I'm going to be putting in a five miler at the park by Mr. R's house before we watch the BL! If you haven't watched Biggest Loser before, tonight's the night, get hooked!

xoxo

Safety First!

So I have gotten lazy, the holiday cheer has seem to have gotten me in a fog and I had forgotten how much I love running. So before we get to today's lovely gift I will tell you about a glorious excursion. Last night I decided instead of the tedious half hour on the dreadmill while I huffed and puffed at the hot gym getting dirty looks signifying that I had used a machine for more than the allotted 20 minutes, I would hit up the park by Mr. R's house, (it's biggest loser night and we always watch it together) while he was still slaving away with his football team at work. Some nights they like to keep the football players late into the night running who knows what into their heads. This keeps Mr. R at work till 9 pm. Boo-hoo, I know, but alas, I find it works perfectly to fit in my run and then I hope and pray he brings me dinner and golden spoon! (Another sad admission, we have a ritual of eating golden spoon frozen yogurt while watching the biggest loser. We are jerks, I know)

So I know of this park by his house, it's a lovely park and I knew it was well lit at night. I'm not a big loop runner, but figured, hey, I'll put in three miles and see how we do. Now after tonight, I am obsessed with the park. I love it. It's so nice, super bright, and oh I found the look-a-likes for the Abercrombie and Fitch model soccer teams playing each other there. I swear, there are like a hundred good-looking boys (I wasn't looking too hard, but they were everywhere, oh! and maybe five girls) playing soccer while I ran the square path around them. It was the most bizarre thing EVER, and I'm sure they're all the yuppies from Shady Canyon, but still! Entertaining and I must admit, before I knew it I was five miles down! What! I was only going to run three! It was overall a great run, minus my thinking, "I'm going to freeze to death so I'm going to wear my fleece," and then after two laps, "I'm literally going to overheat and die right now," issue. I felt so safe, the path was even kind of hilly, and this girl loves hills. It's not surrounded by houses and the grass next to the path is cut so well, nice and short, so you don't get lost in it, and it nice to run on too. It's those runs that I get the feeling like OHMYGOSHILOVEYOURUNNING! I just kept going around and around and around. Next Tuesday we all know I'll be creeping squares around the park again.

PRESENTS! PRESENTS! Anyways, we all know the saying, "Better Safe than Sorry!" and I practiced my good judgement by running in the well-lit park last night, but these Christmas gifts for the runner in your life, (or you) are all about being safe while on the roads. Hey, we're all about safety here! We all know the dangers of running at night, out in the woods, and even during the day something unexpected can happen to us, no matter what we are doing. I'm not going to lie, I laughed a lot while writing most of this post, (what are these pictures?! and who knew this stuff was illegal in some states?!) and it does seem a little extreme, but none the less, smart ideas that everyone should partake in.

The first gift is the Road ID. They have two different kinds of Road IDs, which include the Original and the Interactive.

Road ID Original is the “original” or “first” version of Road ID that was offered. This classic ID allows you to personalize up to 7 lines of laser-engraved text. (seen below)

Road ID Interactive allows you to build a fully updatable, secure Emergency Response Profile (ERP) that is available to first responders via telephone and Internet. You can also personalize the first 2 lines of text. (seen below)

They also have Shoe IDs, Necklace IDs (Fixx ID), and Shoe Pouches with the ID inside and replacement ID bracelets. They are pretty inexpensive, and life is priceless. They include all the information that a first responder would need. Being honest, if something happened to me right now out on a run, no one would have any idea who to contact or who I was, but they would get a pretty sweet iPod play list out of the deal. Anyways, that's not safe! They have other cool safety products on their site too. You can find it HERE, If you order by December 12, you get 10% off, by entering Code PC12128.

What's a Christmas post without a little pepper? A little pepper spray I mean! (ha ha ha ha ha, I can't stop myself) Being safe also means harming others! Just kidding, but I've found a few different kinds of spray that you can run with and feel safe. Just don't go spraying anyone and everyone, pepper spray isn't a joke.

First we have the Jogger's Pepper Spray. Convenient and effective, Jogger Pepper Spray delivers protection, with easy one-hand operation. It's the hottest formula allowed by law, to disable (and dye-mark for ID) any lowlife attacker. 3 1/8" canister, just 13 grams., with 1" adjustable, secure elastic / VELCRO® brand strap to attach to your wrist. This one is $9.97 and can be found Here!

There might be some Chic runners who like to walk/jog with weights, or are looking to get some light weights to train with. These Jogging Weights are extremely functional. Hidden inside these hand held weights are half ounce canisters of pepper spray, one in each weight. The canisters are removable and can be replaced. Each weight has reflective writing for greater visibility in low light situations. Weighing 3oz each, these will add to your workout and your safety. They are $18.48 and can be found Here!

Cabella's also has an option for joggers. This pepper spray self-defense device fits comfortably in your hand with a stretch band to hold it in place while you run. It can also be worn on a belt. It's one of the most versatile self-defense units on the market. Fog spray pattern. 1.9 oz. It's $14.99 and can be purchased Here!

I also found this and had to post it just because it was too great. If you live in a rough neighborhood and are running for your life this is for you!

That's right, A STUN GUN. The things you find online. That's right, if you feel like you are surely going to be attacked, The Stun Master is for you. All Stun Master models have safety switches and wrist straps. Stun Masters shown above use two 9-volt Energizer Eveready Alkaline batteries and The Stun Master has a Lifetime Warranty. Wow. If you feel the need, it's $35.00 and can be found here!

What more could you ask for people? I give you stun guns here on Chic Runner. :) Have a wonderful day, tomorrow will be more of an organization gift for runners.

xoxo

Biggest Loser and a class at the gym...

After my last post I have some clarification. First off, I do not have the body to run in a sports bra. I ran in it based solely on the fact I thought no one would be around, therefore my plans were spoiled with a parade of all things. Secondly, the sports bra I was wearing was over six years old, and I said it was purple, well I would also have to add that it's very, VERY faded and dirty looking, but it's my absolute favorite. Thirdly, many of you commented how you would just turn around. Well I have this weird thing where once I plan out my run, I cannot venture off the path. If I'm doing a long run down by the beach and I say I'm going to turn around at the pier, I have to make myself run all the way to pier and back. I had mentally mapped out my run in my head that Friday night for that Saturday morning and sure enough, I couldn't turn around because that would ruin my plan. I know I'm a little OCD when it comes to planning, you're not the first to realize this. It bodes well when I work with my special events planner friend, and I do see myself possibly getting into the field again. (gasp, I've been planning special events for the past three years!) I get harped on for planning out my schedule weeks in advance and I even plan when I'm running, what routes, everything. So therefore, I couldn't turn around and had to travel the parade route.

So many of you know my love for the show Biggest Loser. Well last nights episode gave me more than enough to blog about for the next four months. First, I completely understand that it's TV and they can spin people to look how they want to, but seriously, VICKI and BRADY! Are you kidding me. This family is super mean and totally game playing. I was SO HAPPY that Amy .C. thought for herself and knew that Brady was a bigger threat and voted him off.

First off, I love Phil and Amy, they are so cute, and "seem" super nice, considerate, and caring. No one is spiteful on the show besides Vicki and Brady and Ed and Heba. Vicki and Brady are RIDICULOUS to laugh at Phil when the challenge was going on, and he fell off his stair stepper. Man, I was cheering for Stacy to win, but unfortunately Ed, whom the bf and I are not a fan of either came back to win and get back on the show. The schemers made the whole house uncomfortable and I couldn't believe that Vicki and Heba were taunting the black team when Phil went home. It might be scripted, but I feel like you can't get Vicki to say such mean spiteful things for no reason.

It's funny because I think Heba thinks they would all 'stick together' but I know they would all stab each other in the back given the chance to win the money. Oh and by the way, can I please work out one session with Jillian!? Gosh! I am going to get her video and give it a try one of these days, it looks super fun and I know she would kick my butt and I would totally love her 30 day shred. Felice over at the Happy Runner said that they work super good and that she can 'feel them working'. That is the best feeling ever.

So tonight I'm going to take a class at the local 24 hour fitness, Amp'd Abs. I used to take it often back in college when I didn't have much to do with my life and I would go to the gym more often. I looked for the class at my new gym and they only had it at 10:30 am. I found a gym by my work and it is at 6:15 pm, so I'll get off work at 5:45, and head over, ready to get my abs back in shape. The class seriously kills you, but it feels so good. I think then I'll run for 45 minutes and maybe do a little bit of weights.

Today on Marcy's blog she showed me the light about the Sports Authority Outlet! So many great deals there! A lot of t-shirts, shorts, anything you name it, they've got it, and super great prices. Also her blog is hilarious and today's was no different with her story of taking her kids to Chuck-e-cheese.

Also I found these funny little bowls for many of you that run with a dog, or have one at home. They are called Slurpabowls and are portable bowls that ensure you'll always have a container for your pets water or food. Can fit on a leash, in a purse, or in a pocket. It holds up to two cups of food or water and it folds flat and can be reused a few times. It's also recyclable. It's 8.95 for six.

You can find these bowls here!

And this could be the sickest thing I've ever bought!

The Nike ThermaFIT hatphones. You can move, groove, and stay warm in the Nike® + women's Soft Shell Therma-FIT® Cap. I'm already obsessed because my little ears FREEZE in the mornings. It's a comfortable skullcap that features fully functional iPod® Nano click wheel controls through the power mesh window in back, so you can keep moving while mixing up your music. I don't really think I'll be doing too much "mixing" but skipping a boring song sounds good to me. Get your own here!
Thanks for all the concern about me actually running into the wall. My arm is healing well! So I'm compiling a post of all things that anyone who runs or exercises should ask for for Christmas. If you have anything that you would like to see on the list or something that has changed your life.. (I.E. the stick :) ) then shoot me over an email at danicakoo@gmail.com

Traffic?

So since today I do not get the day off work, and neither do I tomorrow, there wasn't much traffic this morning en route to my job. Let me just tell you, to drive a measly 18 miles to work from my house, I must get on the 405 to the 55, to the 5, to the 57, to the 91. Yup, that is my route in the mornings. This morning as I traveled, I was like man, I seriously drive a lot of freeways to get to work. Pretty crazy.

On another note, this weekend I had a great long run of about 6 miles, and also did some cross training. Two very funny things happened that I will share for your laughing pleasure. I wore only a sports bra and shorts while jogging on Saturday because at 8 am it was already like 78 degrees out and I knew I would be a sweaty animal if I wore more clothes, but normally I hate not wearing a shirt. I figured, who would be out on this Saturday morning.

Sidenote: I live in a very small town, but it's surrounded by big towns, so it's not like the 'small town' you may think of when you think small town.

I'm out on my large loop, running on the sidewalk next to the main road and things are going good. I ran through the park and there are a bazillion little families watching soccer games. I'm running down some more streets to cross over, to the other side of town to run through a little greenbelt in between some housing neighborhoods. This is where I ran into a wall. Yes, I have a tendency to run super close to the wall, perhaps because I am fearful of cars, but I got to close and totally skinned my right arm up against the concrete wall. This has now left me with some scabs and bruises along my whole right arm. Seriously. I ran into the wall.

So anyways, I get to the greenbelt and think I see some hubbub at the other end. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING ever happens in my small town, so I was wondering if it was a carnival or what was going on. I continue down the little winding path, and to my disbelief there is a small carnival thing being set up, oh and a PARADE is going to be happening on the street I was planning on running. People are lined up on the sidewalk, therefore my path was taken. So yes, I had to run down the parade route, in the street, in my purple sports bra, with all these parade watchers looking at me, like I was some crazy triple headed monster. Either because:

a. My sports bra was purple
b. My face was disgustingly red
c. I was a sweaty beast
d. I looked amazing and they wanted to be like me.
I like to think it was D, but I know it was a combination of A-C.

Needless to say, I was excited to get home and off the parade route.

So this is a recipe I'll be making this week, I'll let you know how it turns out, but it looks delish!


Low Calorie Beef Stroganoff
1pound of ground lean hamburger
1/2 pound of mushrooms, sliced
1 onion
1 pint of low-cal yogurt, plain
1 can of beef consommé soup
Flour to absorb fat

Sauté chopped onion and mushrooms in butter. In separate pan brown hamburger with a little garlic powder. Add all the above ingredients together. Put in enough flour to absorb fat. Add beef consommé plus a little water. Cook at simmer for 10 minute, stirring occasionally. Take off heat, fork in yogurt. Serve over noodles or rice.

Though I don't know how the yogurt mixes in, we shall see how the final product turns out. This one sounds a little different though. :)

Also I love this shirt from Vickerey. The site is a little pricey for me, but I still really like their stuff and some of their final sale stuff, like this shirt is really cute and a great deal!

It's the Klommer Crew from Hind and it's seamless technology reduces chafing and provides enhanced comfort. Fun colors of Frosty (glacier blue) and Lifevest (warm Orange) give it a lively feel, and it's different, which I like. The quickdry Drylete fabric transfers moisture away from skin and offers all-around great performance. It looks super stretchy and fun, and it's on sale for $29, when normally it's $60. You can find it here, but hurry, it's final sale!

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and is keeping up with their running! I have so many people I know doing the Couch to 5k plan, and have heard only such great things about it! This week I'll be hitting up the gym again and putting in about 25 miles. I love the crisp weather to run in during the morning hours... and I ran in the new target jacket I talked about here and it was the BEST purchase ever. So great with the mesh back and I love it! :)

I also wanted to thank everyone who was so encouraging and nice with the comments you guys left on my last post. I know that is a big part in my life, and I'm glad that you were inspired or touched by it. It's made me who I am today and I am so thankful to the blogging/running community as well for being such supporters. :)

xoxo

TIaRT: The Biggest Transition of My Life.

Normally, I don't post on the Runner's Lounge, Take it and Run Thursday accounts, but this one really struck a chord.

I share a story that I never though would be my life. I never imagined any of the things in my life would happen to me, and that I would be 'that girl', but through it all running has helped me grow and reflect on so many different aspects of my life, that without it, I don't even know where I would be today. I begin with a background.

My sophomore year of high school, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was on and off treatment including chemotherapy and radiation all throughout my high school and beginning of my college years. She was never horribly sick, but she was tired, and took many more naps and cut back on her 40 hour work weeks volunteering at the Christian school I went to growing up. If any of you met my mom, you would know instantly that she was a fighter. She was so stubborn and she bullied the cancer to have her life stay as consistent as it was before she was diagnosed.

I went to many doctor appointments with her, and once I moved away to college, we became very close. This time really allowed me to see the core of my mom, the person she was, her beliefs, her thoughts, and her wishes and it made me see who I wanted to become.

In March of 2006, the doctor came back after some testing and told her and my father that she had three to six months to live. Three weeks later she passed away. I spent those last three weeks in an abyss of artificial smiles and complete confusion. I had no idea what was happening, or how I would handle everything, and once the reality hit, she was already gone.

I was exhaustively lost after that happened. I had been running every year in high school and off and on in college. I completely stopped running. I stopped functioning. I couldn't get one foot to go in front of the other, none the less make my legs follow. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. Everything had lost flavor and I had lost interest in life.

One day, I decided that it was time that I stop wallowing in my confused state, and get my life back together. I was still going to school at the time, and decided that I had to finish out the semester, after dropping one class. I finished my 18 units, but I was still very lost.

I felt like I didn't want to run because it was something I did when my mom was alive. Though I absolutely hated her at my cross country races, and I hated her watching me run track, and even hated her watching me sit the bench while on the soccer team, I wanted her there for me. I wanted to know she would be there when I got home from my run. I wanted to see her again and I felt like running was something that I couldn't do again, it wasn't apart of me anymore.

It came to me one morning. I needed it. I wanted it still. I wanted the consistency, and I wanted the control. This was when I went out once again, and found the comfort of the road under my feet. The first run I completed after she passed was a short three miler, and once I got under the cover of the brush around me, I broke down and just cried as I ran, but nothing had ever felt so good. I had consistency again, I had a path in front of me, and I had something that no one could ever take away from me.

I had breath in my lungs and with tears streaming down my cheeks, I just ran. I allowed myself to hurt, and to feel again, and I allowed myself to think. To think about the changes, about the future. It was a time of thinking. After that run, I didn't run again for a while, life got in the way, but since then, I have realized that running through the hardest times in your life, gives you something that you control. You can do it. You can come back to it. You can make a change, but you have to choose too.

So granted, I also went to counseling, and did a lot of prayer during this time, obviously, but I know, without running the biggest transition of my life wouldn't have led me to the story I have today, to the outlook I have today, or the attitude I have today. So many people tell me they are so sorry, and I am sorry too, but I can't change that, and I am lucky that I got to see a great example of what I want to become one day, and learn so many life lessons at such a young age.

Sometimes I look back at my short life thus far, and think about things that could have changed, or could be different, but I know that God had this all happen for a reason, so I got it to take it and run with it. :)

xoxo

Team Flamingo

Well this weekend was another great one that included another great run. We ran 13 miles along the beach path according to my Nike+, which could be wrong give or take. It was a great run and super foggy, which made the last three miles seem like forever, because we couldn't see the Jack-in-the-Box we parked at until we were practically there!

It seems crazy that my 1/2 Marathon is a little over two weeks away. Time does fly, doesn't it. I remember signing up and beginning training and thinking, man, this is never going to come! Now that it's actually almost here, I'm like oh man, what did I get myself into?

Anyways, this weekend was a great 5k Walk for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Orange County and it took place at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. I was the Team Captain of Team Flamingo and as you can see in the pictures below, Team Flamingo doesn't mess around!


The whole team


Walking the 5k


Me, trying to round up the team? :)


Team Members


This last picture is actually my running partner, Nicole!

We just leisurely walked the 5k, and it was excellent weather, overcast and never even got too hot at all. Walking around Fashion Island is always great too, and the expo was fun to wander through, especially munching on the Pat and Oscar bread sticks. Overall it was a great success and a lot of fun and I am really glad everyone came out and joined Team Flamingo. We'll be out there next year again I'm sure. :)

This week I am really going to focus on getting all my runs in, as I have something to do every night of this week, which include an Angels playoff game (GO ANGELS! LIGHT UP THE HALO!) and a Ducks game, which I'm super excited about as well. Next Monday is my birthday and I'm going out to Palm Springs for the night this weekend, so that long run should be a really nice change of scenery. Then next weekend is my race! If anyone has advice or tips let me know.

Look forward to some great goodies on Thursday as well. :)

xoxo

So deep...

This weekend lead me to a great run on Saturday! I finished my 10.75 mile run in 1:39:43, and here are my splits for all you number crunchers. They are nothing to be proud of and definitely show my inconsistency, (watching the birds flock around parts of the ocean, passing by cute dogs, running into an old high school teacher, and bathroom breaks to blow my continually runny nose, I have excuses)

mile 1 - 8:54
mile 2 - 9:03
mile 3 - 8:48
mile 4 - 8:39
mile 5 - 8:31
mile 6 - 9:24
mile 7 - 9:45
mile 8 - 8:58
mile 9 - 8:52
mile 10 - 8:19
.75 of a mile - 9:10

I hope to finish the upcoming half marathon in under two hours, but we will see. My running partner and I think that the adrenaline and everything will bring us back to our old high school days of racing and will get us going faster.

This weekend on our run, Nicole and I talked a lot about the enjoyment of a run, and how we both love to be able to fit in our jeans, and eat Taco Bell, but at the same time, our running careers have turned into something that is so much more than just working off the calories.

We used to run to please our coaches, then we ran to stay in shape through the college years and the Freshman 15, and essentially keep up with the Jones's, but as we talked about on our ten mile jog, we have reached the pinnacle of running. We have begun to enjoy running, and not have the kinks, the pains, the soreness. We have trained our bodies enough to absorb the long runs, and have reached the happy medium where a five mile run isn't a labor, but a labor of love that is not a task, but a pleasure.

It takes a while to reach this point, let me tell you. Over the past ten years, I have never enjoyed a single run as much as I do know, gulping in the scenery, whatever that might be, swatting away the gnats, and even the sopping sports bra that have come to litter my room throughout the week show that I am doing something healthy, and enjoying it.

I encourage everyone to run, not only for their own health, but because once they get used to the body aches and pains, running becomes a release. Those few steps turn into miles, and the few miles turn into more miles, those miles turning into satisfaction. In two days alone I ran 25 miles, not because I had to, but because I wanted too. I go our for a run and find myself in my own little world, enjoying the surroundings, the people I pass by walking or biking.

I never envisioned myself to be this girl out jogging because I was completely head over heels in love with the pain it caused my body, especially because for the last ten years, running has been apart of my life, whether I liked it or not. I've come to realize though that I do love running, I love the sound of my feet hitting the pavement continuously. I love the little walk sign that allows me to cross the street. I love the looks I get from drivers in cars, like they have never seen a girl run before. I love the feeling it gives me when I get home after a hard run and I can barely breathe, but that feeling, that freedom, that is what I run for.

Realize what you run for. Enjoy your run.

PS. Check back on Chic Runner on Thursday. Fun stuff is in the air!

The Worst?

I had, as I'm calling it, the worst run of my entire life this weekend. It started out pretty bad, the first mile was just tiring and my joints hurt and my throat was already burning. (Tell tale signs of me getting sick, but still I had to run to get my miles in) After the first time these sore joints and stiffness usually just goes away, unfortunately for me, they never left. All twelve miles were done in a slow, awful manner where I wanted to die. I just wanted to keel over on the side of the beach path and pass out, drink my Purple Tiger Gatorade and never run again. Once I completed my run, though exhausted for the remainder of the day, I felt good that I had completed it, even during all the stomach cramping, shin splinting, knees aching and phlegm building up in the throat. So now, I'm definitely focusing on getting better and being able to run miles effortlessly again.

It's only when you realize how hard running can be is when you appreciate the talent it takes, to even go out and have the determination and will to complete mile after mile. I appreciate my body being able to take mile after mile of my pounding sidewalk after sidewalk, and it's when I can barely do that anymore I realize what a feat I continue to do by just running alone.

A great find I picked up this weekend (and have been wanting for a while) is the Conair Infinity Cord-Keeper Professional Ionic Styler.



First off, the pink color is super cute( it looks red, but it's pink), and the hair dryer features tourmaline ceramic technology that smooths the cuticle layer to create shiny, silky hair. This 1875-watt dryer includes 3 heat and 2 speed settings, separate diffuser and concentrator attachments. Yet my selling point on the dryer was the fact that it has a retractable cord, which is great because when I'm on the go, either in the morning, or from the gym, wrapping up that cord and trying to keep that cord, and the cord from my straightener separated is quite the task. It's easy to use and I feel like dries my thick hair in no time. They can be found at http://www.ulta.com/, but I got mine at Wal-Mart for 29.99. I love it because it's quick and easy and convenient. What more could you ask for?!

Anyways, more this week, so stay tuned for more fashion deals and steals, running tips and random stories.

xoxo

PS. Look forward to something exciting happening at Chic Runner soon... what could it be?? :)

Better Safe than Sorry...

The weekend has come and unfortunately gone, but an exciting weekend it was. With the finish of the Olympics, I was in awe the last two weeks of the overall athleticism that is portrayed there. It's amazing to see how determined and incredibly prepared these athletes are. They are so inspiring. One story I followed closely was the story of Lolo Jones. (http://www.runlolorun.com/). Being a hurdler in high school, and coaching the 300 and 100 hurdling events at the high school level, I was into watching the hurdles in the Olympics. I had heard about Lolo during the trials and also during the games, and looked forward to her race. Her form was amazing and her attitude and demeanor was also very pleasant and not overwhelming or outlandish like many track athletes.

It was time for her race and as many of you know she hit the 9th hurdle and couldn't finish in the lead and ended up finishing 7th. Obviously this isn't the race she was hoping for but in the interviews after, she was so controlled and graceful, and I was utterly impressed. She stated facts and said, " If you can't clear all the hurdles, you don't deserve to be the Champion." It was refreshing to see someone with pure intentions and incredible grace under fire. She was so consistent and I just felt for her. Her attitude throughout the race and after the race was so humble and really exemplified a great competitor. She knew she lost and she wasn't blaming the wind, the hurdle, her coaches or her competitors, which is really remarkable.



I remember watching the men's 200, and how the American thought he was 2nd and was dancing around the stadium and holding the American flag. I would be too. Yet the thing that bothered me was when he found out he stepped on the lane line (seriously?! you're at the Olympics!) The camera panned to him, and you could see him mouth, "WHAT!" in shock, and then the celebratory flag that was passed to him was then crumpled up into a ball in his fist. An odd observation, but I was just disappointed in his actions.

So besides the Lolo shoutout, I also had some more exciting things happen this weekend. Out on the long run with my long time running friend Nicole, we had finished our 8 miles and were stretching on the sidewalk because the grass was wet, all of a sudden tons of ambulances were racing by and pulled to a stop literally across the street from where we sat. A Lance (bicylcist, we'll discuss later) had gotten hit by a car and was really injured. It was weird because not even 10 minutes before this had happened, Nicole and I were crossing the street and we knew this car didn't see us, but edged out slowly in front of him anyways, and sure enough, as soon as he edged out, he saw us and slammed on his breaks. I don't know how a driver cannot see a person running, or none the less on a bike, but I guess it was a great reminder to always make sure that the driver makes eye contact with you, or even acknowledges your presence. There are so many times when I know the driver does not see me, or are not paying attention. Better safe then sorry, and I really hope that biker is okay.