Category: Running

Peachy Keen

There’s no other way to say it: I made peach salsa on Sunday and it was awesome. Using ingredients from my fresh box, I threw together a flavorful peach salsa that took a total of 10 minutes to prepare. The great thing about salsas like this, is that the longer they sit around, the better they taste.

While this is the case for salsa, the same principle cannot be said for my running. On Sunday I had 12 miles scheduled. The temperature was deceptively cool; I figured it would be easy to get through and I’d be ready to really up my mileage this week. I’ve been struggling trying to slow myself down on my long runs, so my goal was to stay within the 9 minute mile pace – I didn’t care if it was 9:01 or 9:59, I just wanted to be slower than 8, but faster than 10. Because it rained so much the day before, the tow path alongside the Raritan River was super muggy which made the run much harder than it seemed at the time. By the time I finished 7 miles and was back in the park, I was dripping with sweat and had to stop at a water fountain (I mean soaked to the point where the brim of my hat was dripping!). The next three miles were not so fun.

I got through another 3.5 miles, but called it quits at 10.5. I knew I needed to get my 12 for the day, so 5 hours later after preparing the oh-so-delicious salsa, I set back out for another light jog. It was misting and looked like it could downpour at any moment, but I managed to get through 2.5 miles with an 8:05 average to round myself out to 13 miles for the day. It’s nice to know that only a few hours after a run I struggled through, I was able to not only run again, but do it in a somewhat fast manner. And, I saw two rainbows on the run!

But back to the salsa. I decided to use the salsa as a topping for some simple grilled salmon. I didn’t season the salmon at all – I threw it on the grill for about 10 minutes on medium-high heat (about 5 minutes on each side) and the salsa provided the rest of the flavor. Paired with some grilled corn on the cob and mashed potatoes, this meal was a serious winner.

The recipe is really easy and straight forward, and it’ll last you a few days. As long as it’s stored in an air-tight container, you can keep it refrigerated for about a week… if it lasts you that long!

Spicy Peach Salsa
– Makes about 3-4 cups – 

Ingredients:
3 large tomatoes
2 large peaches
1 jalapeño (deseed it if you don’t want it spicy)
1/2 medium white onion
1/4 cup cilantro
Juice from one lemon

Directions:
1. Dice tomatoes, peaches, jalapeño, onion, and cilantro and combine in a medium sized bowl. 
2. Squeeze the lemon juice and mix to combine. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes – but the longer, the better!  

Friday Favorites

While I was running on Monday thinking about how awesome my new Oiselle tank top is, I thought to myself, “I always like to know when people think products are awesome (and aren’t being compensated for saying so), and can never find enough reviews of things online.” I’ve recently started doing my best to review products I get where they have the option online, but I also appreciate when I stumble upon people’s blogs doing the same. So I figured why not share with you what I’m loving (McDonalds didn’t make the list… this time).

Lululemon’s Dart and Dash shorts. These bad boys are awesome. I have a few pairs of spandex shorts, and I find myself tugging at them during most runs afraid I’m showing off a little cheek. Most of the longer pairs I find are a bit too long and border on bike shorts, so when I saw these I figured I’d give them a try. Yes, they’re more expensive than I would like to pay for some spandex, but I’ve been more than happy with them, making it worth the money. They have two little pockets on the inside (as most running shorts have), as well as two on the either side on the outside of the short (which are cool, but look awkward when something thicker than say a small Gu is in there), and my favorite part is the rubber material also on the outside of the shorts to help your shirt from rising up. Because I have a small waist and larger hips, I find that most running shirts that are on the more fitted side like to turn into belly shirts, which is not cute. So this helps keep them in place, and reminds me of my old racing suits that had the same material on the inside to keep it snug on your leg while swimming. So, the bottom line is despite the high price tag, I absolutely recommend these shorts to anyone looking for a little more coverage than your average spandex booty short.

Oiselle’s Aero Tank. I paid zero dollars for this tank thanks to winning a Twitter contest, and received the tank just in time for my birthday (fate, I tell you!). I’m not usually a fan of sleeveless shirts (I prefer either racerback tank tops or short sleeve shirts, nothing in between), but am happy to report I love this one. The real kicker for me is that there is a little side pocket with a zipper, perfect for a set of keys or a Gu. I actually brought some keys with me on my test run with the shirt, and had no problems with it. Not only do I love how into running Oiselle is and the support they provide the running community, but they make great gear, too! I’ve heard wonderful things about their shorts, and who doesn’t love the rundies?

Send the Trend. This is a new-to-me website, and I’m obsessed. You sign up, and can then get adorable accessories for $29 – always (bags are usually $39). They were having a sale a few weeks ago and I scored two awesome necklaces (one seen above), and a set of bangles. For anyone that’s looking for affordable on-trend accessories, this is definitely the place! I also appreciate that there isn’t any pressure to buy, since I’ve found so many of those “you’re guaranteed a price” sites require you to spend X amount each month, etc. Their shipping is also incredibly fast – I ordered something Thursday morning, and had it at my doorstep Saturday.

Big Ass Salads. I’m not usually one to order a salad when I’m out at a restaurant, but lately with the temperatures being so high, they’re the perfect filling refreshment. I’ve found that diner salads are my favorite, because they’re HUGE, and have a ton of stuff in them. Plus, when I make them at home they’re super easy and require little to no cooking, keeping the house cool. I also like the tortilla shells, and make them at home by baking a burrito sized tortilla in a glass bowl (yes, I realize that requires the oven, but I don’t make them all the time), which makes the salad a little more fun… because let’s be honest, just lettuce is boring.

While the things I mentioned may seem to be a little random, they pretty much show who I am – someone that loves running, fashion, and food. RFF? FRF? RFF? Either way, these are the things I’m currently obsessing over.

So, have any of you used/tried these products? What are your thoughts?
Or, do you have others that you just love and want to share?

Snap, Crackle, Pop

Because a title like “Baby, you’re a firework” just wasn’t going to happen.

Wednesday morning marked my fourth year running Cranford’s Fire Cracker Four Miler. When I ran the race for the first time in 2009, it was my very first road race. I look back and laugh at how much of a novice runner I was; I rocked a pair of Nike Shox that were almost a year old, and somehow thought it was a good idea to wear a cotton swimming t-shirt to run 4 miles in July. The race went well because I had no expectations, and I finished in just over 36 minutes. The second year I knocked off another 2 minutes, and was again pleased with my time considering I was still on the early road to considering myself a “runner.” Then last year, the race marked the first day of official marathon training, and my husband ran with me. Somehow, I shaved off another 2 minutes, leaving me with a Firecracker PR of 32 minutes.

Throughout half marathon training this Spring, the majority of my 4 mile training runs were about 32-33 minutes. Sometimes, I even hit closer to low 31. So, I figured that as long as I didn’t fall, break a leg, or pass-out, I’d be able to PR again. Considering the apparent tradition of running 2 minutes faster each year, I was aiming for around 30 minutes. This race actually has categories you can sign up for, one of them being a spouse category (technically it’s labeled husband/wife, but I prefer to simply call it the spouse group). So, I thought it would be fun to sign up as a couple, and see how we would place. We looked up the results from last year, and we figured if I could keep around a 7:30 pace, we’d have a chance at placing in the top 3 for that category. Somehow, that’s just what I did.

Even though I started taking new medicine on Monday night, it hasn’t quite kicked in yet, and I was worried I’d need to make a pit stop on the course. Thankfully everything worked out and I was able to keep a 7:33 pace, crossing the line in 30:11. While my ultimate goal was to go under 30, I’m more than happy with the 30. I was able to keep my tradition of PRing by 2 minutes each year and scored 4th place in my age group, and the 28th woman overall! And, my husband ran it in 26 minutes, so combined we finished in 56 minutes – enough for a W in the husband/wife category! We scored ourselves a sweet medal, and two t-shirts (not quite sure what I’m supposed to do with the XL size shirt, though).

After waiting around for about an hour to get our medal, we went back to my parent’s house to down some bagels and coffee. It was the perfect way to start the 4th of July!

Jam-Packed

Thanks for all the wonderful birthday wishes on Thursday! Because one day of celebration isn’t enough, I was able to extend the festivities throughout the weekend.

After a half day of work and a trip to the doctor’s (I finally have my diagnosis – more on that later!), I got together with my family for dinner and fro-yo in my hometown. Only in Westfield, New Jersey would it be appropriate to have two self-serve fro-yo establishments within blocks of one another. We decided on Yapple Yogurt for two reasons: the inside of the store is cute, and they have salted caramel pretzel flavored yogurt. I didn’t even need to question my decision.

Each year on the Friday after my birthday, I know I have plans. Ever since my teammate and friend was tragically killed back in 2006, we all get together for a golf outing to support causes that were near and dear to his heart. It’s great to see familiar faces that I spent so much time with in college, and it’s also an excuse for everyone to go out in Philly afterwards. Since it’s close to my birthday, I always get suckered into birthday shots (not that I’m complaining), and no matter how old we get, our old college selves come out to play for a bit. This year we headed to City Tap House in University City, and thanks to their rooftop lounge we got to watch the awesome thunderstorm from a cool location (we tried to sit outside, and the 97 degrees at 11pm thing wasn’t happening).

After a quick 4-mile run on Saturday morning through University City, it was off to The Pop Shop in Collingswood. If you are ever in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area, you NEED to go here. Aside from their soda shop throwback look, they have tons of different grilled cheese sandwiches and fries available for you to devour (and don’t forget about the flavored soda or milkshakes). They also have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, which I think is pretty neat. Being the bad food blogger that I am, there are zero pictures from The Pop Shop. Assume it’s because I spent the entire time shoveling food into my mouth. The rest of Saturday was spent trying to get things together for our Eurotrip, and an early bed-time for Sunday’s long run.

The weather has been nice and toasty the past few days, so getting up early to run on Sunday was a must. Because I’m going on vacation and I won’t be able to get in a super-long run while I’m away, I figured I’d split the difference between this past Sunday’s scheduled run and next Sunday’s, which left me with 11 miles. I luckily ran the majority of the miles on a shade-covered path, but that didn’t stop me from looking like I jumped in a pool when all was said and done. Thankfully, I was able to literally jump in the pool when I got home.

The weekend wrapped up with a seriously delicious dinner – Caribbean Jerk Salmon Bowl with Mango Salsa, courtesy of A Pinch of Yum. This was so easy and flavorful, and I had enough leftover to justify bringing it for lunch the next day.

While the weekend was jam-packed, the next few days are going to be even more-so. I’ve got a lot to do in the next two days before heading to my parents to run the annual Firecracker 4-miler, and then jet off to Europe! I have plans to blog while across the pond, but I’d say the odds are forever not in my favor (like what I did there?).

Tell me: what did you do this weekend?

Running and Cupcakes

On both of my runs this past weekend, I couldn’t help but think about my pace and how that should translate to race day. I usually find myself sneaking a peak at my watch and being concerned with not going fast enough. When it comes to marathon training, though, I need to have a different outlook on my training runs than I did when I was training for my last half marathon… slow and steady.

Most of the training plans I’ve come across suggest running your long runs about a minute or so slower per mile than your goal marathon pace. So far, this has been a big struggle for me. I finished my first marathon in November in 4:37, which was about a 10:30 pace. Since then, I think I can very easily run a 9:30 pace, bringing me to just over 4 hours. My husband, on the other hand, thinks I can easily run a sub 4-hour marathon considering my easy 1:47 half in April, which of course would be fantastic. Either way, that means I should be running my long runs at about a 9:30 to 10:30 per mile pace, depending on what I ultimately decide my race day goal to be. Well, I ran 10 miles last weekend with an average 8:20 pace, and today’s 8 as slow as I possibly could in 8:50. I realize that once I get to the higher mileage long runs I’ll slow down, but I’m wondering if I need to readjust my goals, or somehow figure out how to run slower. I suppose I’ll have to experiment over the next few weeks.

Even though most of my weekend revolved around running, I did make time for cupcakes and a BBQ. Some friends were celebrating their engagement with a relaxed backyard party, so I knew I had to bring cupcakes. I’ve become known for bringing cupcakes to parties, and when I show up with anything else everyone seems to be disappointed. Thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest, I found a recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with a Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Frosting from Gimme Some Oven. They were a hit, and I had plenty of leftover frosting that is currently taunting me from the fridge. I’m thinking of turning into truffles (just shaping it into little balls and coating it in chocolate), but that’s if I can keep my spoon away.

Pinterest has really become a source for my meals and workouts in the past few weeks, and I’m really loving what I’ve found so far. It is a little dangerous at times (links to adorable clothes, and a serious time-waster), but I like to think the helpful things I’ve found outweigh the negatives of spending so much time on one website. I mean, I did find those cupcakes. Now if only I could find an answer to my marathon pace dilemma.

What did you do this weekend?
Any suggestions or words of advice for my marathon training pace dilemma? 

A Plan

Marathon training. It technically started last week, so I figured I should share my plan.

Since I’ve been so injury prone over the tenure of my running career, choosing the right plan has proved to be difficult. I don’t want to run too much and hurt myself, but I also don’t want to run too little and be ill prepared. My Philly Marathon training was less than stellar and I topped off at an 18 mile long run, and I know I can do better. I’ve been slowly and steadily keeping running as a part of my routine, and while I still have some shin pain here and there, I’m confident for this go-around.

Running both the Chicago Marathon and the NYC Marathon are two dreams of mine – unfortunately I’m running them both in the same year, 4 weeks apart. Because of this close time frame, I’m focusing on Chicago as my “race” and NYC as more of a “fun” run. My plan is to do an additional long run after Chicago, but to really just keep running whatever I can between the two.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about training, it’s that having the plan on paper can only take you so far. There are bound to be situations where you can’t get in your planned run the day it’s scheduled, or you have to skip it completely. With everything that’s been going on with my GI lately and a planned trip to Europe in July, I’ve had to adjust my plans to make it as flexible as possible.

So, I’m looking to do 4 miles 4x a week with a long run for the first five weeks, and then from there one of the runs during the week will bump up to 5, and eventually 6. With the way I’ve scheduled it out, if I don’t miss any long runs, I’ll be able to get in three 20 milers (if I actually do accomplish that, I’ll try for a 21 or 22 in there). I’m going to do my best to cross-train as well, with some yoga, weight lifting, HIIT and tabata workouts, and whatever else I can get my hands on.

Fingers crossed for an injury free training cycle that can hopefully bring me a PR!

A little sparkle

If you’ve ever looked closely at my race photographs, you’ll notice I am almost always wearing a headband. Not just any headband, though… one of those brightly colored plastic ones that comes in a package of about 10, usually meant for little kids. Totally cool, I know.

See? Plastic headbands are not cool for running.

So as you can imagine, I’ve been on the hunt for a more athletic styled headband, but haven’t had much luck. I’ve been graced with a rather large head (it’s okay, I’ve come to terms with it), so most of the headbands that are elastic either squeeze my head to death, or slip off. So instead of dealing with a pesky headband during a race, I figured the plastic ones would be the easiest way to go (forgetting of course that they dig into the back of your ears after hours).

After scouring the interwebs for suggestions, I figured I’d give Noodle Huggers by Little Slice of Awesome a try. They’re only $6 for the thin style, and I was okay with the idea of losing $6 if it didn’t work out. Even though I like to match my running outfits (nerd alert) as much as possible, I knew the black sparkle would be the most versatile option. I mean, who doesn’t love a little sparkle in their lives?

You can’t doubt my commitment to sparkle motion!

After getting the headband, I realized I needed to put it through some different tests. First up was an easy weights and yoga workout. I was impressed that the band didn’t budge, even when I was nearly upside down. I sweat during the workout, but not like I do when I’m running, so later in the week I took it out for a spin. Conveniently it was also drizzling, so that added to the moisture test. I’m happy to report that my headband didn’t budge! I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little skeptical at first, but this headband is in heavy rotation (ok, it’s the only one in rotation).

Do you wear a headband when you work out? What’s your favorite brand?

Note: The opinions expressed in this post are all my own. I purchased my own Noodle Hugger at full price, and wanted to share it’s awesomeness with you. I’m constantly looking for product reviews from like-minded people, and wanted to contribute. 

Fourth Marathon

It’s official – I’ll be running the 2012 NYC marathon this November… a mere three weeks after the Chicago marathon!

Unfortunately my husband and I both applied for the lottery, but only I got in. This will be the first race I’ll be running without him. Even though we don’t usually run together, it’ll be weird to have him on the sidelines the entire time, instead of just waiting for me at the finish. The first thing my dad said to me after finding out was “Well you can’t run Chicago then!” … of course I can, silly. I’m just going to soak in NYC and really enjoy it – I mean, it’s in my birthplace and I know the majority of my family will be able to come out and see me at some point on the course (they have no excuse – I’ll be running near their neighborhoods)!

Official training starts at the end of May, but I’m going to use between now and then to maintain the mileage I worked on for last week’s half marathon. I can’t believe that I ran my first marathon in November 2011, and by November 2012 I’ll have four under my belt!

Can you tell I’m excited? Who else is running?

A Long Time Coming

I ran my first half marathon two years ago at the RU Unite Half Marathon. Up to that point, I had run three 5k’s and a 4 mile race – that was it. Considering my newbie status, I finished with a respectable (for me) time of 2:02:15. From that point on, I went through a vicious cycle of injuries, keeping me from really “racing,” and touching that PR. I ran the Disney half in 2011 with shin splints in 2:03, had the second RU Unite get cut short to 9.55 miles due to flooding, and my only other half marathon up to this point was this past year’s Disney half which I ran as part of the Goofy Challenge.

So, when I signed up for my third attempt at the RU Unite Half this year, I wanted to PR. With the training cycle I had, I knew it was possible. Most of my runs had been just around the 8 minute/mile pace, and I figured that unless I broke a bone, I was likely able to get in under 2:02 – I mean, that was my FIRST half marathon time!

The race started just as they all do; me whining as I choked down half a peanut butter sandwich and worrying I didn’t spend enough time in the bathroom. Our timing was perfect this year, as we were able to get to the start, check our bag, take a trip to the port-o-potties, and wait only about 5 minutes in the corral before starting. I lined myself up just behind the 8 minute/mile pacers, and waved my husband off who planned to run closer to the 7 minute/mile pacers. The race was rather uneventful – I kept myself between 7:50 and 8:20 paces, varying depending on when I looked at my watch. The temperature was perfect, and the rain was able to hold off despite a menacing forecast.

When we hit the mile 10 marker, I realized that all I needed to do was keep a 10 minute/mile pace, and I’d finish at about 1:50, a solid 12 minute PR. Obviously I didn’t have any intention on slowing down, but a nice side cramp, similar to the one I experienced during the St. Paddys’ 10 miler decided to come out and play, forcing me to walk for a bit. This time, I listened to my body, walked for about 10-15 seconds to make sure I was comfortable, and then started running again. Thankfully the cramp didn’t return, and I was able to slowly pick up my pace over the course of the last 5k.

I crossed the finish with an official time of 1:47:43 – nearly 15 minutes faster than my previous standing PR, from the very first half marathon I ever ran. To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. I finally feel like I’m at a good place with running, and am no longer in the constant push and pull struggle that I’ve experienced over the last year and a half.

Me & the Hubs!

Per tradition, the hubs and I met up with my parents at Red Robin for lunch, and gorged ourselves on a (veggie) burger and fries – a perfect Sunday if you ask me!

I know my blogging has been a little lackluster this month, but it’s my last week of student teaching, so I’ll be back to regular scheduled programing this week!

Automatic PR

Whenever I run, I’m in competition with myself. Whether I’m out for a jog, doing a tempo workout, or running a race, I’m constantly comparing myself to… myself. I’m the kind of person that internalizes all of my competition, and in moments where I perceive potential failure, I break down. A great example of this would be last Sunday’s St. Paddy’s 10 miler that was hosted by the Freehold Running Club.

One of my dad’s coworkers is a board member of the club, so knowing that both myself and my husband run, she suggested we come run the race free of charge. I couldn’t help but jump at the offer, with all the expensive races we seem to always be signing up for. Plus, both myself and my husband had a 10 mile run on the schedule as our long run, so it worked out perfectly. Since my husband’s knee has been bothering him, he decided to run with me which always makes me happy. Once again, it’s a good thing he did, because I nearly gave up around mile 8.5.

The race conditions were far from perfect – it was chilly and raining on and off. Despite that, we were able to keep around a 7:50-8 pace for the first 8 miles or so. Then it happened. I got one of those side cramps that’s deep within your organs, where the only way it doesn’t hurt is to apply massive amounts of pressure to the area. While I was doing that, it was difficult to run, and apparently I was pressing really hard – I totally have a bruised stomach now. While in pain, I started to doubt myself. I watched people I had strategically picked off earlier in the race run past me, as I was forced to a crawl. Whining about how I couldn’t do it, the husband told me to stop trying to run, walk for a few seconds, and to try again. After trying that 3-4 times for about a mile, I was able to ignore the pain enough to run the last half mile.

Me & the hubs!

Since I slowed down so much the last mile and a half, our sub 8 minute pace crept up to an average of about 8:18, having us finish in 1:23:09. Crossing the finish line I was extremely frustrated, knowing that I could have full well finished under 1:20 if I hadn’t gotten that cramp. By then, the cramp had gone and I felt far from tired – I wanted to go back and re-do that last portion of the race. Since neither myself or my husband ever place high enough in races, we didn’t stick around for the awards ceremony – I grabbed some water, the husband grabbed some chicken noodle soup, and we headed to a nearby dinner for brunch with my parents.

When we were leaving, I remember saying “I wonder how I placed. I think I came in the top 10 probably in my age group,” to which my husband replied “Eh, I don’t know about that.” I didn’t think much about it, but after getting home I decided to check out the results. Even though I wound up finishing at around 100, I came in 3rd in my age group! After seeing the first and second finisher’s times (1:20), I realized if I hadn’t cramped I would have easily came in first, but that’s neither here nor there – I can’t believe I actually placed! Since we left before the award ceremony, my dad’s coworker was kind enough to take the award for me and bring it to work.

Aside from the cramp, I think this race is a good indication that I can easily go under 2 hours at next month’s half marathon. Fingers crossed!