New Year

Okay, so I don't even know if anyone reads this because I'll admit I'm not the best blogger.  But as I've always done, I'm going to write for me.. for my own memories.  But if you happen to read this, I would love to know!

Last update was September 2014 (has it really been that long?!).  I attempted using WordPress but I wasn't a fan.  Plus all my memories are here.
In August 2014 I moved to Maryland to be with my (then) boyfriend.  We got engaged on November 8, 2014.  We got married on December 5, 2015.  It was honestly the best day of my life.  I'll do a post just for a couple pictures later.  We went on an amazing honeyumoon - two days in DisneyWorld and then eight days in Jamaica.  And better yet we had friends get married the week after us and they and a couple of their friends met us at the same Sandals resort in Jamaica after their wedding.  It was so much fun!

I've been back at crossfit since December 2014.. because of the move I had about a four month leave.  It was difficult getting back into it (the soreness was insane), but I found an awesome gym here with amazing people!  I've let running slack a little since all the wedding craziness.  I did the Hot Chocolate 15K in Philadelphia back in April 2015 and the Annapolis Running Classic 10K in November.  They were both fun, and I didn't really train for either so no PRs for this girl.

One thing (besides getting married) that has changed my life was a challenge we did at the gym.  It was called the Fall Transformation Challenge.  It wasn't about losing weight.  We instead focused on our eating habits and losing body fat.  Our coach put together an amazing template to teach us about Macros.  I was amazed to learn that what I thought was healthy before was actually hindering any changes from happening.  I actually came in third in the challenge!!!  I lost 3.7% of my body fat.  I did not think that would happen because I honestly didn't think I could lose that much.  But I'm definitely going to continue to use this knowledge forever.  Now I just want to see if I can mix that and 21 Day Fix together.  21 Day Fix is just so much simpler to follow in a busy day.

Now I'm toying with the idea of running the Disney Marathon in January 2017.  I'm nervous and scared because to me that just seems like a really long time to run.  But I'm also not throwing out the idea of just doing the half.  I just have to see if it's even possible for me to get off work at that time since it's our busy time of the year (cross your fingers!).  Until then I'm considering a local half or 10 miler to see how it feels to be back at running.

Love Run Philadelphia and Nike Women's Half Marathon DC

When I entered the random drawing I never thought in a million years that I would be selected.  I think I read that one in every five people was selected.  I'm not that lucky.  After a long month of waiting, the email came one night after a long, exhausting day of work.  I opened my email on my phone and the first thing that popped up was from "Nike Women's Half Ma..." and below said "Your entry to the 2014 Nike Women's..."  That was such a tease and I was actually nervous to open it.  I opened the email and I had been ACCEPTED!  This half fell four weeks after the Love Run so good thing I already had a training plan in place.

I started crossfit in December and I started training in the new year.  I could definitely tell a difference in my running after lifting weights, I felt stronger.  We had one of the worst winters in New Jersey.  My training was no where near where it should have been, just mostly long (cold) runs on the weekend.  My best friend had decided that the Love Run was going to be her first half and I was so excited to have a training partner.  We live around the corner from each other so it's really convenient.  We did a couple long runs together but some alone.  I started having some pain in my right foot while preparing for this run.  Some runs I had to call my boyfriend to pick me up four miles away from my house.  It would come and go but all in all I felt prepared.

The Love Run approached and the weather forecast wasn't looking too good.  Rain.  Of course, something I have never experienced while running distances.  I had hopes that it would change, but it didn't.  I ran 13.1 miles in the rain.  We wore trash bags to the start.  For the first couple of miles in was a light rain/mist.  So we decided to shed the trash bags around mile 4 -  big mistake.  Around mile 6 is was real, cold rain.  I was soaked to the bone.  My fingers seemed useless, it was so difficult to open my GUs.  I don't know if it was the company, the weather, or crossfit, but I felt so incredible during this race.  I had to slow down in the last couple miles for my friend, but I still finished with a PR!

Two half marathons four weeks apart was not ideal for me, but alas I was doing it.  The pain in my foot continued.  I went to my local running store and had them fit me for insoles and pick up new shoes.  The insoles helped for a little, but I didn't run more than 6 miles in between the two races.  I didn't feel as confident going down to DC.

We drove to DC Saturday morning.  I hadn't felt good since breakfast at Bob Evans.  It was an hour and a half drive.  We were too early to check in so we valeted the car and took the subway/walked to the packet pick up.  I still wasn't feel right and my boyfriend could tell.  Once we got to check in we decided to relax a bit before heading out into the city.  That's when I new I was in trouble.  Here came the stomach bug - a minor one compared to what I had previously that year.  We still did a couple tourist-y things before hitting the hay.  It was a early wake up, I felt better but not 100%.  I decided that I just wanted to finish.  I felt fantastic through the first four miles!  I even spotted my boyfriend in the sea of people and got a kiss around mile 3.  Around mile 6 I saw a pacer that would give me a PR.  I stayed with her for a bit, but then lost her.  The spectators were fantastic!  The second half of the race was a disaster.  The pain in my foot came back.  I slowed and just wanted it to be over.  I finally saw the finish and couldn't have been happier.  I got my necklace and found my boyfriend and friends.  I wasn't a happy camper.

Rain for the first race and not feeling well on the second - a great way to start 2014 races.  I think this deterred me from running for a while.  I'm literally now getting back into running (besides anything at crossfit which was usually a half mile or mile).  I love running.  I love the feeling I get when I finish a race or even just a short run around the neighborhood.  I hope that I can put my races in the past and start anew.

M.I.A.

So I attempted to start fresh thinking it would help me be a better blogger, I was wrong.  So let me update you on everything that's happened.

First of all let me tell you that I have made a huge change in my life.  My boyfriend got a job two hours away in April.  We decided that I should start looking for a new job just to see what's out there (and seeing that I've never interviewed before - the more practice, the better).  Surprisingly I got offered a job at the end of July to start mid August.  I was so excited and scared out of my mind at the same time.  I was leaving my home, my family, my house, my friends.  But after a month of living here, I couldn't be happier.

• The Gipis App was not for me.  I went back to my intervals and training schedule that I created.
• My entry to the Nike Women's Half was chosen!  I'll post a (super late) recap on that later.
• I started crossfit in December.  I love it!  I unfortunately had to stop in August due to moving and it's just not in the budget to continue at the moment.
• I tried paleo back in February while my boyfriend was traveling for two weeks.  I've been trying to find a balance since then.  But September we have been doing it together.
• We joined the Annapolis Striders last week.  We signed up for a 10K running class (my boyfriend is NOT a runner but has decided to do this with me).  We missed the first week, but will hopefully make it tomorrow!

Let's hope that I can keep this up for my own motivation sake!  Any tips or suggestions, let me know!

New beginnings

So the last night I had a new computer was when I graduated high school in 2006.  This computer got me though my undergrad degree plus my extra classes after I graduated.  When I started working full time, I had my computer at work so I never saw a reason to get a new one.  Because my family owns the company, the computer was practically mine anyway, right?  In September my computer crashed and I was afraid I lost all my pictures and word documents.  Luckily I have an amazing computer guy in the family and he saved everything.  I immediately brought in my personal external hard drive and backed up all my things (why I never did that before, I have no idea!).  Now I had purchased an iPad for an ex-boyfriend and he left it when he moved out back in 2011, but I never got on the iPad wagon.  I used it to go on Facebook, Pinterest, play candy crush, but other than that it just sat in my drawer.  My old college laptop still works, I can burn CDs and update my iPod for running, but it's so long and needs to be plugged in to work at all.  Secretly I wanted to buy a new computer, but to spent extra money on something I didn't need didn't make sense.  Alas I found online yard sales on Facebook and started selling random things I didn't want or need anymore.  My mom decided to buy my iPad off me to entertain my niece when she's babysitting.  So here I am posting from my new laptop!  It's small with not much memory, but I have a huge external hard drive and it's perfect for me (and my wallet).

Okay onto running... I was randomly searching fitness apps on my phone and found one called Gipis.  Now I have no idea what that stands for, but it takes your last timed run and a goal you have in mind and creates a training plan for you.  I'm a big believer in the Galloway method, intervals of running and walking.  That' show I survived my two first half marathons, but I figured I'll try something new - why not?
Why am I so excited for this new app?  Oh, I registered for the new Philly half marathon, the Love Run, on March 30th!  I ran Saturday morning and felt great.  After we got home from dinner my boyfriend convinced me to just register.  As much as I wished he would run with me, knowing that I'll have a cheerleader waiting for me at finish line is just as exciting.  My friend signed up for the half last night, so this will be the first half I have a partner in crime.  She's never done a run, besides The Color Run, so she's beyond excited.  All day we talked about training and tips and just running in general.  I'm trying to talk another friend into coming with us, too, but she's nervous, and with a new, time consuming job she's worried about having the time to train.  I understand that all, but I know deep down she wants to do it so I'm hoping to provide that extra push that she needs.
I had my second training run today.  This plan has me running time lengths of time for the first month, but all the runs are supposed to be slow.  Slow to the point that I actually can't go as slow as they're asking me to go.  I'll have no problem going right back to the intervals if I'm not feeling this plan, but I figured why not try something new.

Entered and Waiting

Ever since I heard about the Nike Womens Half Marathon in DC it's been on my dream list.  I happened to think of it and look it up at a good time because the registration had opened!  I sucked the high cost up and pulled out my credit card with hopes of being picked.  Now the torture awaits... the drawing isn't until December.

I also discovered a new half marathon in Philly - the Love Run.  It's a month before the Nike half, totally doable.  It's only $76 and you seem to get a lot for the money.  But with having slight car trouble and Christmas and tons of birthdays right around the corner I'm wondering if it's a smart idea to register for that one.

I'm the type of runner that if I pay for a race, I'll train and try to do my best.  I wish I had the motivation to do without paying all this money, but I don't.  I want to be able to leave my house on a weekend and just run, but I'm exhumed from working that it won't happen unless it has to.  I also wish I had a friend or a couple who were into racing.  I've had friends say they'd like to try but they don't' stick with it.  I had a friend do a half randomly but said she'll never do one again.  Trying to convince my boyfriend that it's fun is like trying to get a cat to like getting a bath.

Races

So I think I've got the racing bug, again.  It could be that fall is coming which means great running weather or could be I just saw a bunch of pictures from the Disney half marathon and Dumbo Challenge!  But of course all the races that are around me currently have super high price tags because they're in a couple months.  As much as I want to race, I refuse to shell out $100+!  I found one that's only $35 (strange because I'm used to seeing Disney prices).  Problem is it's in four weeks, I'm not sure I could be ready by then.  Then there's the problem I saw you may not be able to wear headphones - I'm not sure I could run 13.1 miles without my music motivation!  I sent an e-mail to them to check if that was correct, so we'll see about that one.

I just miss the way I felt when I was training.  I dreaded those long runs, but boy, did I feel good about myself.  Part of me then thinks I need to just force myself to do long runs of the weekends, pretend I'm training for something.  Then I don't need to spend money.  The feeling of completing a race, though, that's what I miss.

Bikes

I finally sucked it up and bought a bike.  I had been talking about it for about 2 years so I figured it was time.  What's hard for me is that I don't fit on adult size (26" tires) bikes.  My legs are short so youth it is for me.  I knew I wanted a mountain bike, but there are so many cute cruisers that it was almost hard to pass them up.  I didn't want to spend too much because I hadn't been on a bike in probably 10+ years, so I found one on sale for $85.  Ordered it online and it was delivered on Friday.  Luckily I have an awesome boyfriend who put it together for me.  After he finished he told me to try it out, I just went down the driveway, but boy did it feel weird.

On Saturday I had planned to clean the house, which turned into a major organization fest.  Then I decided to go on a nice bike ride.  Took me a couple minutes to find my groove and the entire ride to work on the gears/friction (which I'm still not totally sure if I got right).  But it was a nice switch from just running.  I went almost seven miles but about half way through, the seat hurt so bad.  I ordered a gel cushion the next morning.  So we'll see how this new adventure goes.

On the running side of things - I've been trying to get out there a couple times a week.  I did 2 miles straight last Thursday and 2.5 last night.  I'm trying to build my endurance back up and then maybe I'll work back in higher distances.