October Goals

I figure hopefully by putting my goals out there, and giving myself a concrete list to look back it, I should hopefully accomplish something!

1. Get back down to a total of at least 10 lbs lost, preferably more.  I was down to 149.8.  Today I weighed in at 152.4.  I see no reason I can't get down to more than the total of 10 lost.

2. Finish my 10 Miler in less than 2:30.  We'll see how this goes in 2 days!!

3. Get a decent 10k time for Princess corral placement.  Preferably around 1:15.  We'll see if that's possible.

4. Get better grades in school, especially A&P.  Yeah...this is a sore spot right now.  I hate not doing well in a class.  I disappoint myself and my parents, and neither are ok.  I need to be doing work I'm proud of, while keeping my stress limit in check.

5. Run 3x a week, minimum.  I'm pretty good with my long runs, but I slack on my maintanence runs, then wonder why I don't improve.  Must stay on top of this!

6. Yoga 3x a week, minimum.  See #4.  Must keep stress level in check.

That's all I can think of right now, and is a fairly reasonable amount to do.

I'm off to pack for Tower of Terror!

What are your monthly goals for October?
Lauren

Help the HooHahs 5k

Yesterday I ran in the Help the HooHahs 5k at the Trade and Convention Center. I think this is amazing cause, all for GYN cancer awareness. They started up this race because it's kind of a taboo subject for many, and they want to spread awareness. I believe the race director lost her mother to a GYN cancer, and got a bit emotional during medals because the top female ran with a pair of angel wings and gave them to the director. It was really sweet. 

I felt really good at the race! It was so cool outside which is very unusual for this time of year. 

I wanted to get a new PR, under 41:22. In the back of my head I wanted to get under 40, but didn't really think it was possible. I went out to fast, as always. When I hit .45 miles I was at 5 minutes. I don't run 10-11 minute miles! I run 13-14! I definitely slowed down so I didn't burn out and finished the first mile in 12:23. 

The next mile had a water stop and my only pet peeve. They advertised it as a flat course but it wasn't. It definitely wasn't any bad hills, I just wasn't mentally prepared. They may not look like much but for Savannah they're big! The other problem is that it was on the race track, and there were a few sections that were banked and my knee was yelling at me. 

You can kind of see in the second picture where we go around and back down the hill, so that was nice. Mile 2 was 13:46. After that it was pretty flat, a little more banking but I got through that mile in 12:46. All this is flying for me! 

And the total...39:52!! I was unbelievably excited about this! The course had actually stopped at 3.08 so I ran in the parking lot. I had to have my best 5k on my Garmin too! I might be slightly obsessive. 

This was also a good chance to try out my tutu for Tower of Terror. It's actually a bit too big so I'll have to make it smaller and try it again. Hopefully the neighborhood doesn't think I'm too crazy!

I also got a new SparkleSkirt courtesy of my wonderful boyfriend! 

Did you race or get any new gear this weekend?

Lauren

Five Things Friday

1. Yoga!  I've recently started doing yoga at Savannah Power Yoga.  Most classes are heated to around 90 degrees.  It's been tough!  I haven't done yoga in a while.  I've never done heated yoga.  I've never done power yoga.  Basically, you're flowing the whole time and don't hold poses static like I'm used to.  I usually go to one of those classes a week, and one gentle class (non-heated and less intense).  I plan on going to meditation on Sunday as well.  This has been absolutely amazing for me the past couple weeks.  I've been super super stressed with school, but once I leave yoga I'm stress free and in a good mood, at least for the rest of the day.  I've also actually noticed progress in just a couple weeks, especially with balancing poses, so I'm really excited about that!

2. Avocados.  I just recently tried avocados, and decided that I really actually like them!  I don't like them plain, I will say that, because of the texture.  But I love putting them in all sorts of things, even with chicken mac & cheese the other night.  My boyfriend thought I was weird for that.  Oh well!  I feel like the flavor isn't too overwhelming, and I like getting in the healthy fats I know they have =)

3. Disney.  I've been super into Disney lately, gearing up for Tower of Terror a week from tomorrow.  I'm preeeeetty sure my boyfriend thinks he's dating a child, but it's ok because he loves me and puts up with it ;)  I just really like Disney! haha.  So maybe I am a bit of a child at heart, but it'll keep me from getting old too fast!

4. SparklySoul headbands.  I have a few now (5 I think?) and I try to wear them every day.  They're just so amazing and the first headbands I found that honestly don't slip.  I have so many layers in my hair and bangs that like to sneak out when my hair is up, because I usually don't have time to actually put it up with bobby pins and care.  But SparklySoul keeps all the loose hairs and wispies out of my face through school, yoga, running, anything really!  They're great!  And they sparkle!

5. Life!  I know this is so so cheesy.  And probably because I just had yoga like an hour ago.  But I've been learning to enjoy the good parts of life more.  Sure, some of my classes at school suck and I'm literally failing one...which has never happened in my life.  But I'm learning to look past the bad, and just try to do better going forward.

9 miles!

Over a week ago Friday I attempted 10 miles and failed. 

Tuesday I attempted 10 miles again and failed. I did 9.16 miles. I learned a lot. It was painful. I could barely walk at the end. But I'm more than proud I went that far even if it took me 2:17. 

I fueled well. I hydrated well. I pushed myself way further than I thought I could ever go. 

I did 1:1 run:walk and I think it works well for me, but I need to push a little less on my run. 

My calves were sore on the inside which is unusual but not too bad. I was sore longer than I thought I would be. 

Overall I don't have too much to say. I just hope it's easier next time! 

Before:

During (I need to work on picture taking and running!)

After: 

In other news I'm in Corral I for Tower of Terror. It goes up to J. I have a 12k this weekend so I'm hoping to get a good time and get bumped up at the expo. Either way I'm super excited but I want more time for pictures!

Did you have a long run recently?

Lauren

More outdoor running

I had a 9.5 mile run on schedule for today. Well last night I wasn't doing anything (and had skipped my Thursday run :/) so I decided I might as well do it then. I had also already decided that I was going to do all my remaining training runs outside, weather permitting. 

Just before sunset, I headed over to my parents neighborhood. It's gated and mostly retirees, so I figure the worst I'd have to watch out for is a drunk kid on a golf cart. I got there and about five minutes into my run it was really nice and pretty. 

I started with 2:2 run/walk intervals and got 1.34 miles with that strategy. By then it was looking like this: 

I dropped down to 1:2 run/walk and got another mile this way. The humidity was just getting to me. I finally dropped to :30/2, feeling pretty defeated. I did end up doing 4.42 miles overall in 59:05. That's a 13:22 pace, a lot faster than I expected and than I used to be, so I accepted it. I'm going to try 10 miles again tomorrow night but start out at :30:2 and bump up to 1:2 if I feel like I can. I'm also going somewhere a lot more well lit. There were almost no street lights in the part of the neighborhood I was in! That definitely contributed to my negative mindset. I have high hopes for tomorrow though. 

I got back to my car looking oh so attractive and turned my fan up higher than it's ever been! 

I was also super happy that my water stayed cold! (I put an entire tray of ice in it.) 

I believe this run could've gone a lot better but a lot was also mental, so I know what to work on!

How have your training runs gone lately?

Lauren

Tower of Terror Packing List!

So, I set out today to put together a packing list for my boyfriend and I for Tower of Terror.  I'd love if anyone could take a look over it, see what I'm forgetting, etc.  (I should note that we're driving down Friday morning, driving home Tuesday morning, and going to Universal on Monday.  And no, we're not going to the Disney parks at all =( )

For him (running the 5k)

• Running shirt, shorts, socks, underwear, shoes
• Clothes for Saturday - Tuesday
• Underwear
• Bathing suit(s)
• Shampoo
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Villian's Bash ticket
• ID
• Waiver
• Phone
• Phone Charger
• Headphones
• Safety pins
• Universal ticket
• Hotel confirmations (this is for both of us, I just like putting it on his list so it's not quite so short compared to mine)
• Snacks (same with this)

And for me (running 10 Miler)

• Running shirt, shorts, socks, shoes, tutu, compression sleeves
• Hair ties, bobby pins
• Running bow
• Sparklysoul headbands
• Purple sports bra
• Clothes Saturday - Tuesday
• Underwear
• Bras
• Bathing suits
• ID
• Waiver
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, moisturizer, lotion
• Phone, phone charger
• iPod, charger
• Garmin, charger
• Kindle, charger
• Headphones
• Safety pins
• Universal ticket
• Gels/chews/fuel for race
• Breakfast foods
• Ibuprofen
• KT Tape
• Hairbrush
• Ice pack if we find out we have a freezer

I feel like these are such long lists, but I've never had a "racecation" before. 

Anything I'm missing?  What do you have as 'must-haves' that aren't on this list?

Lauren

Updates and Reviews

Hi everyone! I know I've been slacking lately, but it's been finals week after 5/10 extremely stressful weeks of classes, but I now have off until August 12th, so that's exciting! With my EnergyBits giveaway, Ben J. won! So hopefully he'll be enjoying his bits soon. Congratulations Ben!

 I was also on a cleanse for about a week, so I took off from running because I didn't have very much energy to do much of anything. I know starving yourself isn't the right way to go about weight loss, don't worry! I'm well educated. But I had a weigh-in with my parents who essentially pay me to lose weight. I know, it sounds weird, but they know with school and all I need some type of incentive to keep losing weight until I'm back to a 'healthy' one. I've been completely off track this past week since weighing in, but I'm hoping to get back on track. I'm staying at my parents' house to take care of their dog for the next week or so as they're on vacation, so hopefully with no school work and a big kitchen to work in, I'll be able to do well.

I've tried a couple of things from my StrideBox. First, I had the Gu-Brew TriBerry flavor. It had the same effect on me as Nuun, I think. It was a bit of a tart flavor, but that made it refreshing when it was nice and cold through a work-out. I also tried the Bearded Brother's energy bar, and it was ... interesting. It's quite a heavy bar, but not in a bad way. It was alright, but there was something off about the taste to me. I think it was just the dates in it, since those were the main ingredients, but just not quite my thing. If I liked dates, I think I would have really enjoyed this!

I'm looking forward to getting back into my training and healthy eating, especially since there's hardly any time left before Tower of Terror!

Any tips to get back into things?
Lauren

Glass Slipper Challenge

Welp, I'm registered for the Glass Slipper Challenge.  Considering I've never even done anything higher than a 5k, I should probably get started on training....

I'm already a week late on Galloway's ToT training plan, but I kindddd of just got a new tattoo and it's been too sore to run.

But it's cute and totally worth it! But it hurts enough walking around, let alone running with tight shorts!

 I also had my 21st birthday, for which my boyfriend took me out to the Melting Pot.  I had entirely too much fondue/food and I had a watermelon martini.  (I forgot my ID.  I don't look 21.  Don't tell on our waiter!)

And then on Saturday my parents took us to Ruth Chris.  We also had a drink at Rocks on the Roof first, which I forgot to take a picture of...It's on top of the Bohemian hotel and super expensive and overlooks the river.  (And that bridge in the background is the one we run over for the Bridge Run in December!)

So I stole this one from Google

I've also been doing the whole school thing, which is super time consuming. 

And failing at streaking (oops!).

It's been a good week or two, just not running wise =)

Is anyone else slacking off?

Feeling Overwhelmed

Well, with all the announcements regarding Disney races that have been going on, I'm feeling completely overwhelmed!

I want to do the Glass Slipper Challenge.  But at a $270 price tag, it's going to be hard to deal with financially.  My parents are currently supporting me, as I'm going to school full time and it's hard for me to find a job that works with that.  They pay for (almost) all of my races.  Tower of Terror they went half and half.  But maybe with a birthday coming up, they'll cover the whole thing?  I asked my mom to go half and half again, but she hasn't responded yet as they're traveling.  I also don't know if they'll believe in my physical ability to run both races.

Also - Race Retreat and getting my boyfriend the ChEAR Squad Platinum package.  Is it worth it?  Should I do it for just me? For both of us.  It will probably depend on how much (if any) money I get for my birthday.

And it's supposed to have been the Runner's World Running Streak.  Who did the first day, then missed the next two?  This girl.  I'm doing 3 miles today, hopefully, to make up for that, but I still feel like I let myself down.

Plus, the Galloway training plan for ToT starts Tuesday!

Money and training-wise, there seems to be a lot going on.  Hopefully it sorts itself out soon!

Is anyone else having similar concerns?

Lauren