Why are bad runs so bad?

Bad runs. Yes, we all get them and I had a particular bad one yesterday.

I had been killing my workouts recently. Seriously, I was feeling stronger, faster, and even was feeling slimmer in my running clothes.

Here's my workouts for the past 2 weeks....

Thursday 1/1/15- 4 miles (tempo) and + spin class
Friday 1/2/15- 3 miles (easy)
Saturday 1/3/15- First day at SD Track Club 3 miles and spin class
Sunday 1/4/15- 6 miles (easy) + recovery yoga

Monday 1/5/15- 6 miles (tempo)
Tuesday 1/6/15- spin class
Wednesday 1/7/15- 3 miles (easy) + spin class
Thursday 1/8/15- 6 miles (tempo) + spin class
Friday 1/9/15- spin class
Saturday 1/10/15- 5 miles with SD Track Club
Sunday 1/11/15- spin class

Monday 1/12/15- 6 miles (tempo) + spin class
Tuesday 1/13/15- 4 miles (temp) + recovery yoga
Wednesday 1/14/15- BAD RUN 4 miles + spin class

Well, thank goodness for writing my workouts down. It's pretty obvious I've become obsessive with spin class and not following a real set schedule yet. I feel more advanced than the training program I was given to by our coaches and kinda went AWOL. Not to mention I haven't taken a rest day this month. Ok, so I got carried away and my body told me it had enough with a really bad run.

My really good friend, Madelynne, sent this great bit of advice...

Ok, I get it. Today will be a rest day instead of running and spinning. No sense getting injured before the season even begins.

On a happy note, I entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon today! I'm not really counting on getting selected. I have tried for the past 2 years with no success. There's always Marine Corps Marathon or Chicago for a fall race.

One good thing about taking the night off... I got pretty far in the book I'm currently reading.

Don't judge me! Ok, you can judge a little but I just adore a love story. :)

Have a great night!

New Year & New Beginnings!

Hi! I'm back!

Yes, I took a short unexpected break from blogging over the holidays. Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa or just family time. :)

Christmas we spent in NJ with my family and New Year's Eve we enjoyed an amazing dinner at Bijou in La Jolla.

I always love a new year with a fresh start. One of my main goals this year is to have a marathon PR and focus on speed work and strength training, which I tend to shy away from in training cycles.

My friends and I have join the San Diego Track Club to train for spring races. I'm going to be running the Mountains2Beach Marathon in Ventura, California on May 24th.

Saturday was our first day of Track Club!

Bae and I also signed up as a team to conquer 2,015 miles in 2015. Have you heard of this from run the edge? One of the founders is Kara Goucher's husband, Adam Goucher! (Insert Fan Girl squeal here.) It's such a great way to stay motivated all year long.

So far we're off to a great start with 16 miles.1,999 to go!. Bae, sadly, still can't run till the 26th (fingers crossed) due to her broken baby toe. I have no problem carrying the team for January, :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Back to work tomorrow... booooooo

Happy trails :)

Stocking Stuffers For Runners

December 18th- Stockings

To go along with the Christmas presents for runners, I have also made a top 10 list of best stocking stuffers for runners!

1.  Massage Ball

2. Nuun

3. GU Energy Gels

4. Lululemon- No Show Run Sock

5. Brooks- Run Happy Calf Sleeves

6. Brooks- Nightlife Reflective Vest

7.  Nike Pro Arm Sleeves

8. Road ID

9. Body Glide

10. Hand Water Bottle

Now get out there and stuff those stockings! Only 1 more week till Christmas!

See you soon! xoxo

Presents (For Runners)

December 17th- Presents

I've created a top ten list of Christmas presents to buy for that special runner in your life (or yourself, lets be honest).

1. Oiselle- Believe Training Journal 

2. Oiselle- Rundies

Underwear to match your training plan!

3. Lululemon Run With Me Toque

Finally a running hat that fits your pony!

4. Lululemon- Feelin' Frosty Softshell Jacket

Reflective arms to keep you safe.

5. Lululemon- Bang Buster Headband 

6. Runner's World Subscription 

7. Foam Roller

8. Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS

9. Marathon Necklace

10.  Oiselle Big O Yeti

Because runners lounge as hard as they train...

Hope my list has inspired you!

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Outside Christmas Lights

December 16th- Outside Christmas Lights

With a title like that, how can you not think of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation??

Yesterday, Huan and I headed out to Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Peñasquitos. For blocks and blocks, every home is decorated to the max with Christmas cheer. The residents there encourage you to park the car and walk around to take in all the sights. It was pretty spectacular.

You can find the most Christmas decorated neighborhoods in San Diego here.

I took some pictures of my favorite houses.

It rain in San Diego today! It's always very exciting to San Diegans to get some rain.

I brought my workout inside today and avoided the outdoors.

I rode by bike for 75 minutes and watched multiple episodes of Once Upon a Time. I finished up with today's Holiday Workout Challenge...100 squats, 40 sec plank, and 35 (on my knee/girl) push-ups.

Have a great night! See you tomorrow! :)

xoxo

Favorite Christmas Song

December 15th- Favorite Christmas Song 

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie

Today was our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at work.

How cute are we??

Today's workout..

4.5 mile run to catch the last bit of the sunset

For the Holiday Workout Challenge.. 80 squats, 30 sec plank, and 30 (on my knee/girl) push-ups.

And of course, I ended it all with recovery yoga.

Hope you had a great Monday!!

Family & Christmas Tree

December 13th- Family

I see my family next week and I can not be more excited!

Christmas is the best because all the cousins are together.

It's funny how as we get older our friends become our family, especially when we live far from home. My poor sister from another mister, Bae, broke her baby toe on Thursday night. We hung out all day Saturday preparing for our favorite holiday, since she couldn't participate in a previously planned paintball outing with her husband and friends. I was more than happy to steal her for the Saturday.

I started the day off with a spin class at the Rush. It was my first time exercising post sickness and it felt great. I'm glad I waited till I was feeling 100% better. I also tackled my Holiday Workout Challenge... 120 squats, 40 sec plank, and 35 (on my knee/girl) push-ups.

Post spin class sweatiness.

I spotted a sweet rainbow on my way to spin that I have to share. You can almost see all 7 colors.

Bae and I finished wrapping all of our Christmas presents and I made cookie-in-a-jar presents for our co-workers!

How to make them....

Half quart mason jars
Christmas ribbon
Christmas stickers for decorating
Gift tags
Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge cake mix
Chrsitmas M&Ms

Empty half of the cake mix into the jar and fill the M&Ms.
Decorate the jar. :)
On the tag write the following cooking instructions:
Beat together 2 eggs and 1/2 cup Vegetable or Canola Oil in medium bowl.
Pour in entire contents of jar, and stir well with spoon.
Chill dough for 20 minutes in the refrigerator prior to baking.
Then, drop onto ungreased non-stick cookie sheet in rounded balls.
Bake for approx. 8 – 9 minutes at 350 degrees.

Feel free to steal this idea! It's a simple, cheap, and adorable gift for friends.

December 14th- Christmas Tree

One of my favorite things to do back East is visit Rockefeller Center and see the Christmas Tree.

2013 Tree

Today started off with a chilly 7 mile run and at-home recovery yoga. Serious marathon training starts January 3rd! I've really missed long runs.

Later, Huan and I braved the mall and picked up the last items on our Christmas lists. It was crazy out there but we made out unscathed.

To destress post shopping, I set up my road bike on the trainer so I can ride and watch TV. I really wish I had more time to ride outside. The lack of sunlight during the winter is killing me. I felt much more active in the summer.

I made pretty sweet Christmas brownies (straight from the box and added left over M&Ms) and rode while they were in the oven. I'm a multitasker at heart.

Tomorrow starts by last week of work before vacation! I pray it goes by fast. :)

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Talk to you soon! xoxo