Sock Bun Vlog

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Work is crazy busy this week so I haven't been able to do much running or blogging. (After taking a week off to study, I'm a week behind on everything else.)

And now, it is time for my first ever VLOG.



Wow, that was awkward. I still had fun doing it, even though it wasn't running related. Sock buns are really great for after a lunch time run at the office, or rainy days when your hair just doesn't want to cooperate. As I type this post, I am wearing one right now! It really is my new favorite hair style and I hope it never goes out of style!

I hope you enjoyed this vlog and maybe the next one will be running related... Maybe... (and hopefully less awkward, but let's not get our hopes too high...)

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Lady Problems (Not the Kind You're Thinking Of)

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I recently added a new tab "famous runners" so I can keep track of the various running celebrities I've met over time. Although, I just had to add in the most famous person I've ever met, even though he's not a runner.

Growing up, I always wore tons of frilly girly stuff. Pink sweatshirts, bows in my hair, purple and turquoise jeans (hey, it was the 90s). Then, I got to a certain age and really grew out of the color pink. I'm not a fan of things pink and girly and you won't find much pink in my everyday wardrobe. The color doesn't really suit me, and I never think to buy it. (I always said that if I had a baby girl, she would never be in frilly dresses. Well, I have a female dog and she has just about everything pink so...)

When it comes to running clothes, apparently, I am in the minority. At the Chicago Marathon Expo, this was clear, as almost all of the running clothes in women's sizes (regardless of brand) were pink. I really don't understand this. Just because I'm a girl, doesn't mean I like the color pink. Give me navy blue, grey, green... These colors are rarely available in women's sizes, just in general. Is it just me? Am I alone in my thinking? Has anyone else noticed this? (I think the only pink item I own is my favorite running thing.)

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm totally on team purple.

Lavender Oiselle Lori Shorts
Purple ProCompression Marathon Socks
Brooks Adrenaline 12
Pepper Approved.
But as I've said before, variety is the spice of life! Since I won't do pink, purple is usually the next best "girly" option. I know there are plenty of females out there that love the color pink. I am just not one of them. I wish there were more companies that had a variety of colors for women. I think there are enough of us out there to support non-pink clothing.

What do you think? Do you love to wear pink? Do you wish women's running clothes came in more color varieties?

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Thank You!

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Thank you for the support over the past few days/weeks/months as I have been studying for the big exam and haven't been around much. Special thanks to all my guest posters (Amy, Andrea, Paulette, Lisa, Maggie, Amanda, and Nicole) that made things easier on me when I didn't have the time or energy to post. I'm happy to be back with the living in more ways than one.

Things on the running front have not been what they once were. I've been running a dismal 2 days a week for the past month. I knew this would happen, and I think my legs were happy for the break. I have a big 2013 planned, so I'm ready to start tuning things up again in December. I was happy I was able to at least get in a few miles here and there to help relieve some of the stress and anxiety along the way.

I am signed up for the Jingle Bell 5k in Kankakee next weekend. A huge group from our running club is going to be there and I'm looking forward to hanging out with everyone! I know I'm not going to PR so I offered to try and help my friend Amanda to a PR. We will see what the day brings, but I think she can do it. :) We all plan on wearing wacky Christmas sweaters and sparkle skirts to the race. I'm no stranger to wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, while running or in public.


What is the goofiest outfit you've ever worn to a race or group fun run?

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Judgement Day

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Tomorrow is exam day. 

This is how I will feel when I'm done.

Thanks for sticking around for the chaos these past few weeks! Things will be back to "normal" on Monday.







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Guest Post - Run 3 Race Series

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Resident fastie, Nicole Fritz, runs a lot of local races. There is a local series of races of various distances put on by the local park district. It is quite popular among local folks as you can sign up for all three races for 1 price.



Joliet Park District’s
Run3 Race Series


            Joliet Park District offers a great series of 3 races throughout the year.  All 3 races are held in or around Joliet, IL, which is approx 1 hour southwest of Chicago.  All 3 races are also located just a few miles off of Interstate 80, so they are also easy to get to.  The first race is held in the Spring, the second is in the Summer and the third and final race is held in the Fall.  For completing all 3 races, participants receive a fabulous hooded sweatshirt.  This year’s hoodie was a charcoal gray color and 2011’s was a basic black.  I wear both of mine ALL THE TIME.

________________________________________________________________________


Race #1: Rockdale Ramblin 10k

            The first race of the series is held in April in Rockdale, IL which is right off of exit 131 on I-80.  This 10k is declared the “toughest course in the Midwest” because of some major hills.  The weather was perfect though, with some chilly temps and overcast skies so the hills didn’t seem so bad (to me at least).

Pre race with some friends!  (Mag Mile Runner)

            During the race, I somehow forgot that this course was TOUGH and I wasn’t supposed to be running as fast as I was.  I was on track to cross the line with a PR if I just held onto my 7:15 pace…  Sure enough, I got to the finish line and my Dad snapped this pic of me…

Crossing the finish line with a shiny new 30 second PR! J

            At the completion of the 10k, finishers are awarded a “dog tag” as a token of their achievement.  That’s one of my favorite things about JPD’s races… there always have finisher’s medal’s! 

 Age Group awards with Mag Mile Runner

Notice the gray hoodie that I’m wearing in the above photo… this is the official race shirt for the 10k!!  Down the left sleeve is written “TOUGHEST 10k IN THE MIDWEST.”

________________________________________________________________________

Race #2: Sundowner 5k

            The 2ndrace of the series is held in mid July, on a Thursday evening at 7pm.  For this years race, it was extremely hot and humid and race organizers encouraged participants to simply run for fun.  I listened to what they said and therefore finished with my worst 5k time in many years… because of this, I finished just out of contention for an age group award.  L 

The course itself for this race is very pretty.  It is basically just 2 loops through a pretty forest preserve.  There are a few rolling hills but nothing too challenging at all.

Basic white tech tee (unisex sizing)

 Finisher’s medal for a 5k?  Yes, please! J


________________________________________________________________________


Race #3: Red Eye 8k

The 3rd and final race of the run3 series is the Red Eye 8k.  Held on a Sunday in November, this race starts super early, at 7:15am.  It begins at Inwood Memorial Stadium on Jefferson Street in Joliet.  The course winds on streets, down a path, around St. Joseph’s hospital and then back to Inwood, where the finish is on the blue running track. 


Frankfort/New Lenox runners post race

 Age Group Awards

            JPD gives out age group awards for total time to complete all 3 races in their series.  I was lucky enough to earn first in my age group (25 – 29) and got to take home the pint glass in my right hand (above).  Also, I am wearing this years run3 sweatshirt in the above picture.


Run3 Goodies:
·         Rockdale Ramblin – Great quality gray hooded sweatshirt, finisher’s dog tag medal and yellow age group coaster
·         Sundowner 5k – White tech tee and finisher’s medal
·         Red Eye 8k – Black long sleeve tee shirt, finisher’s medal black age group coaster
·         Run3 series – Charcoal gray hooded sweatshirt and age group pint glass

I LOVE THIS RACE SERIES!!!



More information can be found @ http://www.jpdrun3.com/.  The dates for next year have already posted, so be sure to mark April 13th, July 18th and November 3rd  down on your calendar!!

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Guest Post - Amanda @ Get To Goal

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Today's guest blog post comes from Amanda! She may seem familiar as we've run together a few times over the past 1.5 years we've known each other (see slide show below). I hope you enjoy reading along! :)

Chicago Marathon 2012

Illinois Marathon 2012
 
Grand Rapids Marathon 2011


About me…

My name is Amanda and my blog is wwww.gettogoal-amanda.blogspot.com.  I originally started my blog as a weight loss/healthy living blog while trying to lose the last 10 lbs of 90 lbs to get to my goal weight but since then, I realized there are goals throughout life so it fits no matter what circumstance I’m in.  It has since then turned more into a running blog. 

I never used to run growing up or in school.  I hated running the mile in gym class (which was the only running I did every year).  I have been working out since I was 11 years old though, doing fitness classes and at 16, my dad signed us all up at the gym.  I wasn’t too terribly active in school and hated sports (because I am just awful at them all).  I joined bowling for 3 years in high school because they needed people and I liked to bowl.  I was on the swim team my junior year (straight into varsity swimming!) because they needed people (we had only 3 people on varsity).  Both in bowling and in swimming during my first year, I was given the most improved award and my senior year of bowling I was given the MVP award.  I’m pretty proud of those awards because even though I wasn’t the best in the sport, I was the most reliable and I always tried my best (and I got the 110% award in swimming, lol).


Why do you like to run?
I like to run because it’s a huge challenge for me.  Whether I’m running 1 mile or 26.2 miles, there are many times I struggle or have self-doubts about it.  Nothing compares to the challenges I face, mentally and physically, while running.


Why did you start to run?
As I said, I never used to run.  My dad started running when I was a teenager and was doing 5k’s up to 10k’s.  Sometimes I would go for short runs with him but really don’t remember much of it.  He was faster and better so it wasn’t often.  When I was about 24 years old, I had a friend that was turning 30.  She wanted to run a 5k on her 30th birthday and asked me to do it with her.  I was overweight (well over 200 pounds) but decided to go ahead.  I never really trained.  I think we would go for a few runs every once in a while.  I ran my first 5k on September 20, 2003 in about 40 minutes.  I kept doing a couple races every year (the Shamrock Shuffle 8k and the Ridge Run 5k) even after my friend stopped.  In 2006, I decided to run a half marathon with a coworker (who was also not a runner).  If you notice, I just wrote that she was “also not a runner.”  I still didn’t consider myself a runner at this point even though I had been running for 2.5 years.  I never trained and would run maybe once a week if that, taking several weeks off at a time.  I struggled at my 5k’s and 8k’s.  I always walked within that first mile (or within a couple miles).  I ran alone and didn’t know anything about running or know anyone else that ran. 

My co-worker and I ran that half marathon together in August, 2006 (the Chicago Distance Classic, now called the Rock N’ Roll Half).  I really struggled after mile 6 and we just tried to have as much fun as possible.  I walked a lot.  I took pictures around mile 9.  And I started to cry when I crossed the finish line.  It was the hardest thing both physically and mentally I ever had to do.  I was exhausted and sore and swore up and down I would NEVER be ABLE to run a full marathon (nor did I want to).

It wasn’t until I started losing weight (and lost about 50-60 lbs) that my running improved.  This was in 2009.  Since 2003, I had been running races between 215-250 lbs.  I never gave up but I never got better.  In 2009, I was now less than 200 lbs.  I remember one day I went running, I picked a route that would be 3 miles out and 3 miles back (6 total).  I ran the whole thing.  From start to finish.  I wanted to cry.  I had never run that distance without stopping before.  I didn’t even realize I did it until I got home and thought about what I had just done.  That is the moment that I finally realized I was a runner.  This is not to say you are not a runner if you walk, or if you run 13 min miles, or whatever.  But for me, not knowing anyone in the running community, I never considered myself a runner until that moment. 


What is your favorite distance to race? 
I don’t have an answer to this.  I’ve read other people’s answers to this question and I think about it often.  I think I like the 10k to 15k distance the best.  Long enough to be a good challenge, but not too long.


What is your favorite race?
I’ve done the Shamrock Shuffle 8k every year except one since I started running (so since 2004).  At the time, it was the first major run of the year and everyone always has a good time there.  The energy of the runners is amazing and there are typically some great costumes.  Times have changed however and it’s not the first major run of the year and it’s hugely overcrowded but I still love it as one of my favorites.


Name 5 random facts about yourself 
1.       I used to bite my fingernails until I was in my mid-20’s
2.       I’ve been skydiving twice and love it!  I actually love a lot of extreme things which shock people because I’m a pretty shy and quiet person generally.
3.       I played the piano when I was younger and am a genius at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…and I know the theme song from Cheers.
4.       I wanted to be an eye doctor when I was in high school.
5.       I can drive a stick shift car thanks to my mom teaching us to drive on hers (sort of stole this from Mag Mile Runner but it’s still true).


What is your favorite running temperature/weather condition? 
If you are a facebook friend of mine or a run friend (or lucky enough to be both), you probably know I HATE running in the cold weather.  But my ideal temp is 75, partly sunny with a slight lake breeze!  Ahhhhh!!!!


What is your most favorite piece of race swag? (Medal, shirt, belt buckle) 
I never used to run for the swag.  I don’t even know where my first 2 half marathon medals are!  So I’m not a huge swag person. I do like getting medals now though.


What is your biggest running accomplishment?
That’s easy, running the 2011 Chicago Marathon.  As I said before, I never thought I COULD run a full marathon.  I didn’t think I was physically able to do it.  Now I have 3 full marathons under my belt.  Never say never…


What is your next goal in running?
PR my darn 5k time!  I don’t consider myself a fast runner and I’m sitting on a PR of 27:55 from November 2010!  Time to change that.


What is something you want people to take away from this post?
Always believe in yourself and never give up.  It may be cliché but it’s true.  Nothing is impossible in the sport of running.  They say running is 90% mental, and I firmly believe that.  I ran a half marathon at about 230 lbs. I hear people say they can’t run until they lose weight.  That’s crap and I’m proof!   It’s ok to walk.  You don’t have to run straight through.  Just getting out there is an accomplishment.  



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Guest Post - Mag Mile Runner

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Today's guest post comes from Maggie at Mag Mile Runner (again... thanks for 2 posts!!!) I am knee-deep in studying so I will not be back to posting until after December 1. I hope you enjoy!


What is your name and what is your blog (if applicable)?
I’m Maggie. My personal blog is MagMileRunner.com, but I also manage ChicagoRunningBloggers.com and RunChicagoSouth.com. 
Why do you like to run?
So many reasons …
I enjoy my time spent running solo, it’s a good way to clear my head.
I enjoy running with others, new friends or running buddies I’ve known for awhile.
I like the benefits of running - I feel healthier than I have in a long time. I have more energy than ever. And I like being able to eat whatever I want.
I run because I want to keep pushing myself and see how far or fast I can go.
And I run because I don’t want to forget that I’m lucky to be able to run. I have two healthy legs, two healthy lungs, and a healthy heart. Not everyone does. So I don’t want to take that for granted.
What is your favorite distance to race?
I enjoy every distance! It’s fun to go fast at the 5-10K distance. Half marathons are fun because they are challenging, but attainable without taking over your whole life. I’ve only done one marathon so far, but it was such an awesome experience and so rewarding.
What is your favorite race?
I have done a lot of races that I really enjoyed, but so far no absolute favorite yet.
Even though it’s expensive, I like the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half. It’s a fun, well done race, and you can get a lot of swag at the expo.
I like the “small town” half marathons that I’ve done - First Midwest Half in Palos Heights, IL, Sunburst Half in South Bend, IN, Applefest Half in Hollis, NH. All very well done races, and it’s nice to have “room” to run on a quiet course.
I really enjoyed the Rockdale Ramblin Run 10K (in Rockdale, IL). Small town race, lots of hills (which I actually enjoy, sort of), good crowd, you get a hoodie and “finishers medal” (dog tag), and it’s in mid-April, so good chance for weather.
Name 5 random facts about yourself
1. I’ve never dyed my hair and have no tattoos
2. I Facebook for a living (I work in online marketing)
3. I play the piano and the flute
4. I know how to drive stick
5. I didn’t run in high school, but I played volleyball and soccer and was on the dance team
Do you prefer cats or dogs and why?
Cats. I don’t know why. Cats are jerks. But growing up, I always wanted a cat, and my mom hated them, so I never got one. When I was an adult, I adopted a cat from my best friend. A couple years later, my husband and I moved in with my parents, and the cat came with. My mom, the cat hater? LOVES my cat. Anyway, I’m not sure what it is. I think cats are hilarious. And they are quiet, and easy pets - you can leave them alone overnight as long as you leave them enough food and water and a clean litter box. You don’t have to take them for walks. But there are still cuddly and rewarding. Although I would like to get a dog someday.
What sports or activities did you play when you were younger?
In addition to being on the  volleyball, soccer and dance teams in high school,  I also played flute in band and was on mathletes.  
What is your favorite running temperature/weather condition?
I really love running outside after it has snowed. It’s just so peaceful - most people are inside, and I feel like the snow on the ground “muffles” any noise. And it’s so pretty out - like you’re in your own winter wonderland. Also, I love running outside at night in December, when everyone’s Christmas lights are on.
Favorite workout tune of all time?
Lately, the only time I listen to music when I work out is during group exercise classes. Lady Gaga and LMFAO are great for spin class.
What is your most favorite piece of race swag? (Medal, shirt, belt buckle)
The Fort2Base pullovers. They are lightweight, quarterzip long sleeve shirts. Perfect for fall weather, but you won’t overheat. I have every shirt they’ve given out (the women’s light blue and men’s dark blue from 2011, and the women’s pink and men’s green from 2012) … maybe I can keep collecting all the shirts every year? It helps that my husband doesn’t wear his race shirts, so I order his in my size.
Proudest running moment?
Finishing my first half marathon. I didn’t really know what I was doing - my training was abysmal, I had no running group or buddy to train with, and no one to go to the race with. I woke up to rain the morning of the race, and seriously considered just skipping it. I didn’t, and I made it to mile 8 of the race, and felt like I couldn’t go on any further, so I mostly walked the last 5 miles. It was really hard. But I finished. And had no one I knew at the finish line to celebrate with, so I went home. I was really proud of myself afterward, and I’m still proud of myself, not just for making it to the finish and sticking it out to the end, but for even showing up at the start line. I feel like everyone needs a hard race to struggle through. It makes you a better runner. You realize 1) you can survive anything and 2) just how important it is to train properly.  
Ways to contact you:
Instagram - MagMileRunner

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