A Pre-Valentine's Day Treat for Me!

I am a complete believer in treating yourself from time to time, and find it most appropriate on birthdays (both half and whole,) Valentine's Day & any other day that means something significant to you!

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When I decided that I wanted to run the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC (and it happened to be remotely close to Valentine's Day,) I thought this would be the perfect little gift to myself!

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I immediately started working on it! Though I did have to get a few things in order, like having someone to go with/a place to stay (Yay, Marcia!) and getting the a-okay for missing work and school, everything fell right into place. Yesterday, I decided to go for it and sign up for the race. It was super easy and took just a few minutes.

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I also picked out my outfit! Remember that Ke$ha tank that I thought about buying for my Disney trip in a few weeks? For this occasion, I couldn't resist it!

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I decided to pair it with a pair of Victoria's Secret Knockout Capris in bubble gum pink with black polka dots. I've never had a pair of these, but I'm excited to give them a try! Here they are in black with white polka dots.

 

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I'm fairly sure this will be my favorite running outfit yet!

 

Though I support rewarding yourself anyway, this treat is extra sweet because it's also good for me. I do have to run six miles and get over a bridge after all! The fact that it's in Charleston, and that I'll probably do quite a bit of shopping and excellent eating is just an added bonus!

 

How do you plan to treat yourself this Valentine's Day?

 

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

I'm Running the Princess Half-Marathon!

I have been anticipating registering for the Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World for months now!  After learning just how quickly those spots fill up, I was on pins and needles Tuesday at noon, when registration opened for the 2014 race.

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Not only was I trying to get myself in, but I was also attempting to register my running partner, Marcia, who happens to be out of town. After dreaming about this race for months, not getting in would have truly broken my heart!

At 11:45, I had everything ready to go! Notes written down, credit cards ready, and hands on the keyboard, so at exactly noon, I could click the register button! It took a few minutes to get everything set up, but I have never been happier than when I received this email for the two of us!

It's officially official!

I am running the Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World in February 2014!

Excited, and still in a bit of shock on Tuesday!

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This is such a dream come true, and I can't believe it's really happening! I'm not half-marathon ready yet, but I know with hard work and dedication, I can get there, just like my first 5K and 10K.

Marcia and I are participating in the Glass Slipper Challenge, a brand new 10K/Half-Marathon combination that Disney is doing for the very first time this coming year. The Enchanted 10K will take place on Saturday morning at 5:30AM, and the Princess Half is the following day, also at 5:30! Talk about a jam-packed weekend! Runners that finish the 10K and half-marathon races will be awarded three different Disney medals!

The beautiful Princess Half-Marathon 2013 medal:

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I can't wait for the 2014 medals to be released!

Marcia and I were also able to choose the type of Disney princess bib we would like to wear for our races, an option I absolutely loved!

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I quickly chose Cinderella, and Marcia will be wearing an Ariel bib for the weekend!

We are so excited and blessed to be able to participate in something this amazing! Though the individual races are still open for registration, the Glass Slipper Challenge sold out just before 5PM on Tuesday, less than five hours after it opened!

Disney World, here we come!

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As always, Have a Sweet Day

Prepping for the High Country Triple Crown!

Sunday, February 24th was the day that I first heard about the Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World! It's also the same day that I decided I had to be there to do it next year! 

At the time, I had just started running three months prior, and hadn't participated in any races. This new goal was the exact fuel I needed to kick my running into action!

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In March, I had a blast running my very first 5K, and in April, I ran my first 10K and placed second in my age group, but running 13.1 miles without stopping is a whole different ball game!

I realize that I have eight months to work up to 13 miles, but it's still super intimidating! Sign-ups for the Princess Half start on June 11th, and you better believe I'm going to try my hardest to be on that list!

So, where does the High Country Triple Crown come in?

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The High Country Triple Crown is a series of three races that I've decided to try to complete in preparation for the Princess Half! They won't be easy, but I think they're just what I need to get me feeling more confident about the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend in Disney.

The Races:

1. The Cub - A 7-mile run through Valle Crucis, NC

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2. The High Country Half Marathon - A 13.1-mile race winding from ASU's campus to Blowing Rock, NC

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3. The Knob - A 2-mile uphill climb to the top of Howard's Knob in Boone, NC

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I know these races will push my limits and my comfort zones, but if I'm going to make it to the Princess Half Marathon in February, these are challenges I must overcome. To help me accomplish each of these, I've started Hal Higdon's half-marathon training schedule, and am currently on week two!

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Participants that run and complete all three of the High Country Triple Crown races will be recognized following The Knob, as part of Appalachian's official Homecoming festivities!

The Cub is the first race in the series, and is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th! My fingers are crossed for good results and great weather!

Happy Running!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Running My First 10K!

I'm still in complete disbelief that I ran my first 10K on Saturday!

I had goosebumps the whole time because I couldn't believe I was truly running six miles right beside the Oak Island Lighthouse in Oak Island, North Carolina!

Though I'd been trying my best to follow Hal Higdon's 10K training schedule, craziness at work had made that a little more difficult than usual. For my last week of training (week 8), I decided to take it easy in the beginning of the week, so I could rest up for Saturday.

Monday: Ran 3 miles on the treadmill/weights & abs + personal training for one hour

Tuesday: Ran 4 miles outside

Wednesday & Thursday: Rest Days

Friday: Travel day

Saturday: 10K at 8:10AM!

I am so so lucky to have parents that would make this trip to Oak Island with me. We had the best time visiting this new place. It felt like we were on a mini vacation!

We arrived Friday evening around 5PM, and right after checking into our hotel, headed to the Chamber Welcome & Conference Center in Southport to pick up my race packet. This included my racing bib, t-shirt and a few other things from the race sponsors. Everyone there was so nice, and it made me super excited to run the next day!

For dinner on Friday, we threw around a couple ideas, but decided to try a local favorite, The Provisions Co. in Southport. I had been there years ago, but it was my parents first time going.

We enjoyed steamed shrimp, delicious crab cakes, homemade onion rings, and a hamburger fresh off the grill, while taking in the beautiful views (since Provisions is right on the water)!

 

After dinner, we'd saved just enough room for some ice cream at Flava's, the ice cream and t-shirt shop just across the street. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful evening.

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning to get ready for the race! Since it started at 8:10, and we wanted to get there early (something we learned from my first 5K experience,) I ended up setting my alarm for 5AM! Seriously, so early!

I loved my outfit for this race, and was so excited to finally put it on! 

I wore a Kiss My Southern Sass tank that said "Bless Your Heart and the USA," along with a large red bow for my hair, and black Nike shorts.

On the back of my shirt, I made a sign out of blue cardstock paper and foam letters to honor those in Boston following the Boston Marathon bombings.

It was a rainy morning in Oak Island, but thank goodness it stopped right before my race started! I ended up wearing my dad's hat to keep my head dry, and had on my rain coat until the last second. Since the tank top I was wearing wasn't dri fit material, I wanted to stay as dry as possible before I ran.

 Waiting in the corral as they counted down our start!

 Ready, set, go!

 Running those six miles after five months of hard work felt so so good! I think I smiled the entire time because I was so happy to be there accomplishing a goal that I'd set for myself.

My view during mile 5!

When I saw the marker saying I only had one mile left, I swear I could have sprinted the whole way from excitement, but instead, I decided to keep a good pace and save it all for the end.

When I came through the entrance of the NC Baptist Assembly and saw my parents standing at the finish line, I gave it all I had. What an amazing feeling!

I officially crossed the finish line at 58:12:00! 

I have to admit I shed a few tears from pure joy in that moment. I accomplished something that I never though I could. I ran six miles in under an hour without stopping.

Amazing. 

Little did I know, I also placed second in the 19-24 female age group for the 10K, and will be receiving an award!!! There's seriously no better feeling!

Thank you so much for your continued support and kind words!
Maybe next year, I'll go back and run the half-marathon! The sky's the limit!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

The Garmin Forerunner Running Watch!

In honor of spring's arrival and warmer weather on the way, I thought I'd talk about something that I'm also really looking forward to about this new, fresh season:

Running Outside!

Though I began my running career on a treadmill and an indoor track, outdoor running is something that I'm quickly falling in love with!

I love the feeling of being free, being able to see things going on around me, listening to music on Pandora, and feeling the wind in my face. The only hard part about transitioning from the treadmill to the open road, is not having something to keep track of how far I've gone.

Normally, I use the MapMyRun iPhone app. It lets me track where I've been, for how long and the calories that I've burned. This works great, except I have to take my armband completely off to see how far I've gone. This doesn't take much energy, but it's pretty annoying to have to stop mid-workout to check my mileage in between full miles.

My solution to this little running problem?

The Garmin Forerunner10:

 

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The Garmin Forerunner10 is a GPS watch that's worn on the wrist, just like a normal watch, except it keeps track of your running. This model is one of the more basic ones, and calculates distance, time and calories burned. I love that it comes in hot pink, perfect for a girly runner like me! This one costs about $130. I also like the next nicest model, the Forerunner110.

The Garmin Forerunner110:

The Forerunner110 is a little more advanced with it's options, and features a heart rate monitor that the model 10 doesn't have. With its added features, also comes an added price! This one will cost you $230, but for those features, it may be worth it for you.

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Luckily, I have a friend that works at a sporting goods store nearby that's offered to pick up the watch for me with their 40% off employee discount! That brings the Forerunner10 to $78, and the 110 to a mere $138! Definitely worth the savings!

Do any of you have a Garmin running watch? Do you love it?

Thanks to Stephanie at The Midwest Prep for introducing me to these super cool running watches! I can't wait to have one of my own!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Choosing My First 10K Race!

I am so excited to announce that I've chosen the 10K race that I'll be doing in April, once I complete my 8-week training program!

For someone that's running their first 5K this weekend, running a 10K race is a BIG deal! Not only is the 10K twice as long, but it takes more endurance, increased mental strength, and in this particular race, I'm running solo.

With these things in mind, I wanted to consider all the options, and see which race was best for me!

After doing research on a lot of different races, their terrain, and distance, I finally decided on:

The Oak Island Lighthouse 10K!

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I liked this particular race for so many different reasons!

1. It's at Oak Island! Besides running through Cinderella's Castle in Disney World, I can't imagine more beautiful scenery as I run my first six-miler.

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2. This particular race is a run/walk, so there will be participants at all different paces. I would hate to feel like I was being left behind by everyone else.

3. Since the race takes place at the beach, the terrain is flat. For my first 10k, I was looking for an easy course, where all the elements are on my side.

4. My family has decided to go down the Friday before the race (April 19th,) so we'll be spending the night in Southport. This will be a great opportunity for us to have a nice dinner, go see the beach, and relax before the big race on Saturday morning.

I can't wait!

My first 5K, The Color Run, is this Saturday in Winston-Salem, NC. I'll be posting all kinds of pictures and updates from that, so make sure you're following me on Instagram & Twitter. I'm praying for good running weather!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Weekly Workout Wrap-Up!

I love reading about what types of exercises other runners do each week, whether that's getting in miles on the treadmill, or lifting weights at the gym. Learning different workout styles helps me to tone my technique, and try new things that I never would have thought about!

As I mentioned in my 10K training post, I've been following Hal Higdon's 10K training plan the past two weeks.

During week two, I've continued to focus on shorter runs, with the longest one being a 3.5 mile run this Sunday.

My workouts this week:
Monday: After doing some stretching and warm-up exercises, I went to 45 minutes of personal training with Sean, and it kicked my butt.
Tuesday: Ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill and did the "Sexy Leg Workout" that I posted on Instagram.

Wednesday: I was supposed to do 30 minutes of cross training, but I wasn't feeling well at all, so I used Wednesday as my "rest day."
Thursday: I mistakenly ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill, instead of the suggested two (I probably needed it though!) I also did abs, and did a good amount of exercises using weights at the gym.
Friday: Today, I have personal training again, so I'm using that as my "40 minute cross." During training, we do super intense cardio workouts, as well as use all different weights. It's a full-body workout, and I end up drenched!
Tomorrow: I'll be doing the "30 Minute Cross" that I missed on Wednesday by running on the elliptical, and then I have my long run on Sunday!

I've mentioned before on my blog that I'm not the healthiest of eaters. Sweets are my ultimate weakness and I LOVE Japanese food. Instead of cutting these out completely (because that normally doesn't work very well,) I've been trying to make some small changes!

1. Ordering water instead of Coke
2. Eating pretzels instead of potato chips
3. Getting fruit instead of french fries

I hope changing these few things in my diet will help me on the way to my ultimate get-fit goals! Have you been getting in your workouts this week?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Running in My Sleep!

I'm not sure what's been going on lately, but it seems like ever since I started Hal Higdon's 10k training schedule, I haven't been sleeping as well.

 

Last night when I finally laid down about 12:30, I was completely exhausted, but still couldn't fall asleep. I laid there with my eyes closed for what seemed like the longest time, feeling like I needed to go somewhere or do something I'd forgotten. I'm not sure if this is a sign of having two much going on, trying to be too many places at once, or what?

 

Also, the past few nights I've been waking up with my comforter almost on the floor. Maybe I'm doing something while I'm asleep that I don't realize, but who knows?

 

Have any of you runners experienced your mind racing late at night, like you should still be going like the Energizer Bunny? I'm hoping it will eventually subside.

 

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

On My Way to 10k!

For those of you that have been following me on various media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook,) you've probably realized that I've become quite the little runner. I'm not marathon-ready by any means, but it does make me feel good and getting in better shape is just an added bonus!

One of my New Year's goals was to run my first 5K, and

around Valentine's Day this year, I knew I was ready!  It just so happened that The Color Run was coming to Winston-Salem on the weekend of March 16th, and my schedule was wide open. As a gift to myself, I signed up and absolutely can't wait! 

On February 22nd, when I hit the five the five-mile mark, I decided I needed to raise the bar. Being able to run a 5k (3.1 miles) would be awesome, but if I could already run five, why stop there? This is when I started thinking about a 10k (6.2 miles)!

For this more intense goal, I knew I was going to need some assistance. After getting a recommendation from a friend, I enlisted the help of Hal Higdon's 10k Training Program.

This particular guide is an 8-week program, that takes you from running 2.5 miles to getting through all six, during your last week. Today marks day five, and it's going well so far. I'm doing this in addition to my personal training on Monday & Friday, adding a little more structure to my workout.

I've also thrown some new running shoes into the mix!

I bought these Asics Noosa Tri 7's last week, when I found them on super sale at Omega Sports in Winston-Salem! I'd been admiring them on Amazon for a while, but with this pair falling right into my lap (and my price range,) I had to take them home. Not to mention, they were the very last pair and in my size! It was meant to be!

I haven't decided which 10k I plan on doing yet, when it will be or where, but I'm on the lookout! Springtime means wedding season for us coordinators, so my schedule is a bit more limited! One of my new favorite websites is www.runningintheUSA.com, where I can find all types of upcoming races, so when I do decide, you'll be the first to know!

Until then, happy March & happy running!

P.S- I guest posted for my boss Leigh on her beautiful new wedding blog! Read that post here:)

  

As always, Have a Sweet Day!