week in review; march 24–30

Not much to report this week, though by the weekend I finally was able to get back into running without hacking up a lung. Yes, still a lot of coughing, but not so bad that I had to stop early. 

Monday, March 24
rest day
Monday night I found out that I sadly did not win the contest for #LuckyLolla. Somehow, none of the numbers I drew for multiple email addresses were winners (I guess not too surprising, with the amount of people that entered, but I sure was hoping for it). Anyway, it meant I would have to try and purchase tickets Tuesday morning. Last year, they sold out in a day (it's not unlike runDisney events, in that respect), so I knew I had to be ready right when they went on sale to get in the virtual queue to purchase.  

Tuesday, March 25

rest day

I was able to snag a 3-day pass for Lollapalooza, but not an early bird. It would have been nice to save $25, but it wasn't as big a savings as it was in previous years. I was happy to get a 3-day and not have to deal with trying to get single day tickets like last year. That was a huge pain, and I was only able to get Friday and Sunday. I don't care for much of the crowd that goes, I am getting older, after all, but I really enjoy the music—hearing bands I'm already a fan of, as well as finding some new ones to add to the playlists. It's always a good time (minus the horrible heat we get every year that weekend), whether I'm by myself sitting in the shade of a tree, or with some friends. Yes, I usually spend a lot of time alone, since cell service is atrocious, which makes it hard to meet up with anyone unless you already had a time/meeting place, and even then it can be hopeless. I don't mind, though I wish DH would be off of work just one year so we could go together. He's only made it to one day of the festival before, and then his work schedule changed, which means he works that weekend every year for the foreseeable future. Bummer. Also, I'm a little disappointed in the line-up, only because a lot of the bands are repeats—I was hoping for some new blood. Don't get me wrong, many of them are awesome, and it'll be great to see them again, but I'd like to hear/see newer bands that I haven't yet seen.

Wednesday, March 26
rest day
Nothing exciting to report.

Thursday, March 27
rest day
Again, not much happening.

Friday, March 28
2 mile walk
On my lunch break, I walked over to Navy Pier for the Shamrock Shuffle 8k packet pick up. I will do a separate post regarding my expo experience. Friday night, DH and I started watching American Horror Story Asylum... yikes! It's a lot more gruesome/scary/creepy/gross than the first season, in my opinion. I was worried I'd have nightmares! Haha... happy to report all has been ok, so far. We had finished House of Cards second season a few weeks back and had caught up on other shows and have quite a long list of other shows we want to watch (Breaking Bad, House of Lies, The Walking Dead), but decided on AHS. It's nice that it's only about 13 episodes, so it's not 24 episodes per season with 6 seasons, or anything that'll be too time consuming. We're a bit busy at the moment, and I find it hard not to be able to watch every season quickly haha. Impatient much?

Saturday, March 29
3.11 mile run/walk with 14:47 pace
I FINALLY felt healthy enough to attempt a bit of running. I did 30 seconds running and 2 minutes walking, as a way to ease back in and hopefully keep the coughing at bay. I managed to finish without any major problems, which made me very happy. I had missed it! I was also happy to get back to watching LOST episodes, though in a way, I'm hoping to have to start watching them at other times of the day, as Spring might finally make it's appearance. At that point, I'll be running out the door and out into fresh air! We aren't quite there yet, but I sense it's arrival. We've had a few, scattered beautiful days in the 50s and lower 60s, which makes everyone eager for it to stay, but we'll be back in the 30s and 40s later this next week. Fingers crossed it doesn't do the usual skip spring weather and go straight for summer (I'm not a fan of the heat and even less of a fan of running in it).

Sunday, March 30
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k
Official time: 1:13:32, 14:48 average pace (not much to write home about, but I was just happy to make it to the finish line, and not having any moments where I needed to step to the side with coughing fits at any point)
Nike+GPS watch info: 1:13:32, 5.32 miles, 13:49 average pace (I'm not great at running tangents, I guess...)
It was a pretty great day for a run, and I'll write a post with a race recap coming later this week, so stay tuned! DH and I have worked our way through 6 episodes of AHS Season 2, and it's crazy!! I would recommend checking it out, if you haven't already. I love that you can watch any season you want and that it doesn't have to be in order (though that's how we are doing it, since we watch when it's released on Netflix streaming). it's really interesting that each season is it's own plot and storyline, though it incorporates a lot of the same actors/actresses. Anyway, if you can handle some blood, violence, and gross images, then seriously, watch it. The plots are really interesting and keep you very interested.

How was everyone else's weeks? Any great stories, PRs, or eventful moments? Any music festivals/concerts you like to attend? Are you currently watching any TV shows you'd recommend?

heather runs thirteen point one on bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hey guys! I've become a member of bloglovin. If you're a user of the app (and if you aren't, consider joining), please follow me on there! I'm just getting the hang of it, but it looks like a great way to follow all of my favorite blogs (I read a lot of them) and an easy way to discover new ones. It will also be a nice way to keep the blogs I follow more organized throughout platforms (can use the app on my iPhone, or go to the webpage on a computer). I usually add blogs to my RSS feed in my mail application, but then also use a feed app on my phone, which means if I read one on my phone, I have to go into my mail and mark it as read. A bit time consuming and annoying. Hopefully, this works much better - - I've heard good things. Anywho, hope to see you on there :) //Heather

registration for avenger's half marathon

Hey guys, just a quick note that registration for the Inaugural Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend (November 14–16) opens at Noon EST tomorrow! Weekend events include the expo, 5k, kids races, pasta in the park party, chEar squad, and the half marathon. Below are a few details regarding events, dates, times, and prices. I have a feeling most of the events will sell out before prices have a chance to increase (like most runDisney events).

Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend Expo

Disneyland Hotel® Exhibit Hall

Noon – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15

Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon (5:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 16)

• $195 by April 29, 2014
• $210 between April 30 and June 24, 2014
• $225 on or after June 25, 2014

Avengers Super Heroes 5K (5:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 15)

• $70 by August 20, 2014
• $80 on or after August 21, 2014

runDisney Kids Races (9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15)

• $20 by August 20, 2014
• $25 on or after August 21, 2014

Pasta In The Park Party (6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14)

• Adult with ticket - $135
• Adult without ticket - $89
• Youth with ticket - $115
• Youth without ticket - $69
• Under 3 - $0

ChEAR Squad

• Bronze - $0
• Silver - $39
• Gold - $59
• Platinum - $99
• Under 3 - $0

For more information, go to runDisney's official webpage. Don't wait to sign up, everyone is predicting a FAST sell out!

Who's all planning on registering? Let me know in the comments section :)

*Note that all dates, times, and prices are subject to change. Again, check runDisney's webpage for official information.

week in review; march 17–23

Unfortunately, I don't have much to report (again) for this past week. I am continuing to feel better, but any time I walk at a quick pace, it leaves me in a coughing fit. Whoa is me. I'm hoping that I can at least get in a few brisk walks this week in preparation for an 8k on Sunday.

The week consisted of work and sleep, but I had a great weekend. 

An old friend (as in, we've been friends for 20+ years, not old as in her age) got married on Saturday. I had a blast at her wedding; getting a chance to catch up with the old gang is always fun. I spilled food on my dress twice. Twice. Am I a child? No bib or napkin can contain my sloppy eating habits. Luckily, I sprayed some shout on the stains when we got home, let it set for 5 minutes, and washed it before going to bed (here's where I am an adult... taking care of business even though it was 1 am), and it appears all of the stains were removed. Phew. I really like that dress. 

On Sunday afternoon I got together with a bunch of friends and their kids for some pizza, wine/beer, and a lot of hilarious moments, thanks to the kids. It was a lot of fun to just hang out and chat. I wish I would have had a little more time at home in order to get some laundry done, but mostly so I could cuddle with the dogs on the couch. I felt bad that we left them for most of the evening Saturday and all afternoon Sunday. Oh well. It wasn't any length of time they aren't used to, but I prefer to be home more (I'm such a homebody sometimes, and by sometimes, I mean always). I'll be home more this upcoming weekend, which will be nice for both me and the dogs. 

How was everyone else's week? More productive than mine, I hope! Upward and onward, I go!

P.S. I've heard so much about Nuun hydration, that I just had to buy some and try it for myself. I bought a multi-pack of Nuun All Day (vitamin enhanced drink tabs for all day hydration in flavors: tangerine lime, grapefruit orange, blueberry pomegranate, and grape raspberry) and an original formula multi-pack (electrolyte enhanced drink tabs in flavors: tropical, strawberry lemonade, grape, and fruit punch). I can't wait to try them out! Plus, they sent a free trucker hat with my order. Who doesn't love a free treat (even if it is something you might not ever use)? 

friday five

Oh my word, am I happy it is Friday! The sun is shining, it's supposed to get up to 53 degrees for a brief time today, and I'm looking forward to the eventful weekend ahead. This is my first 'Friday Five' post, so let's jump on in... don't be mad it's not running related.

1. Have you listened to the new album by Foster The People – Supermodel? I'm jamming to it right now at work using the Spotify app (which is also something I've been loving for quite some time), and am thoroughly enjoying it. I find myself dancing in my seat a bit... not embarrassing at all. Check it out, if it's the sort of music you're in to (or if you're looking to branch out). 

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2. Loving me some Bigelow Decaffeinated Green Tea this week. As you might know, I've been fighting off a nasty sinus infection these past two weeks, so I've been drinking a lot of OJ and tea, which helps soothe my throat and keeps my coughing at bay. I love the taste of this green tea mixed with a smidge of honey, plus, they say the antioxidants in green tea are good for you, so double score.

3. I'm a Naturebox subscriber, and one of my favorites snacks to get every month are the Italian Bistro Pretzels. I am a HUGE snacker. Like, I'm pretty much eating something all day long. I like Naturebox because they use high quality ingredients and are minimally (if at all) processed. I figure if I'm going to be snacking, I could at least be eating something a little better than, say, Doritos or Cheetoh Puffs. I'm also a very picky eater (read: not a fan of veggies, and most healthy food items do not taste good to me), so it's a relief to find a product that I think tastes good that isn't horrible for me. I'm sure there are plenty of healthier options, but let's take one step at a time, shall we? I also like that they give back by making donations to WhyHunger, helping fight poverty and hunger. It's always nice to patronize companies that do good things for others. You can also cancel/pause/change your subscription at any time... I love the lack of commitment that's required. If you're interested in trying it out, shoot me an email and I can send you a link for $10 off your first box (bonus for me, I'd get a $10 credit as well). I'm not sure why they don't have individual referral links anymore. Weird.

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4. We are more than mid-way through March, and I've been laughing daily at my day-to-day calendar on my desk at work, which has quotes from the US version of The Office. It's nice to have something at the office that guarantees at least one smile for the day.

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5. The series finale of How I Met Your Mother is in a week and a half. Ahhh! I'm looking forward to seeing how they decided to end it. I know a lot of people are annoyed or dislike the way this season has been going (that every episode is during the weekend of the wedding), but I've been enjoying it. I feel like the writers and actors brought their A game for this final season. Just my opinion. I'll be sad when it's all over, but I think it's the right time for it to end. Nine seasons was a good run.

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So that's it. How about you all? Any snacks you are in love with? Did I do this 'Friday Five' thing right? New albums/bands you are listening to? I'm always looking for recommendations :)

Have a great weekend!

week in review; march 10–16

Well folks, not much to report for the week of March 10–16. On Monday, I started to get that pesky cold that seemed to be going around and by Wednesday, it was a full-fledged sinus infection (it started with my sinuses feeling pressure and clogged, and then progressed to the more extreme post nasal drip, coughing/sore throat and chest congestion, which made breathing very difficult... I don't think having asthma helped the situation). I'm used to sinus infections, as I unfortunately get them frequently, but this was bit too much to handle. Usually, with the help of NyQuill, drinking a lot of water, and lots of sleep and rest, I can kick it, but not this time. I could barely get any sleep, as I was coughing the entire night, and by the morning my back and neck would be sore from my attempt at sleeping sitting upright. My good friend NyQuill had let me down.

I decided it wasn't going to go away with over-the-counter medication any time soon, so tried to make an appointment to see my doctor - - there were no openings for the next few days (what?!). I ended up making an appointment (online! very convenient) for a Walgreen's Healthcare Clinic to get some antibiotics. They accept walk-ins, but I figured better to have an appointment and hopefully get seen on time. Thank goodness for that, because when I went in, they were no longer accepting walk-ins for the day. Phew. I think I might have cried if I went as a walk-in and couldn't be seen. Anyway, the meds have started to work, and I am feeling a bit better.

With my sickness, I was unable to run at all, which was such a disappointment, since I was starting to get back into a groove (and was even waking up early in the morning to run before work). I was also supposed to run a St. Patrick's Day themed 7k on Saturday morning with my mom, but had to skip it :( There was no way I would have survived. I could barely make it up the stairs without being tired and winded, let alone get through nearly 4.5 miles, even if I walked leisurely. I was hoping to be able to have a nice race recap on the blog... oh well. Turns out skipping was the right thing to do, since I was up all night Friday coughing, which led to having very little voice left on Saturday. I had no energy to leave the house, let alone go to a race.

Anyway, my week consisted of moving from the bed to the couch and back to bed. Other than going to see the doctor, I didn't leave the house for five days. I watched a lot of tv. Isn't it funny how when you are busy, all you want to do is sit on the couch and watch tv/movies, but when you are sick and that's all you can do, you have the urge to clean, organize and do all the things you don't have the energy to do? Mentally, it was hard to just lay around and do nothing - I was making running lists of things that needed to be done. Physically, all I could do was lay around and get rest.

Seeing everyone's great race results from their races over the weekend really made me want to kick off the blankets and get outside! Hopefully by the end of this week, this sinus infection will be gone and I can get back to it! I was also pretty bummed that I had to miss all of the fun St. Patrick's Day celebrations happening over the weekend :( Hope everyone else had a great time!

I hope you all had a great weekend! If you were someone that had a great race, or were even able to complete a race, over the weekend - - congrats! I was very inspired by all of the PRs and stories that were being shared :)

week in review; march 3–9

Monday, March 3
rest day
I failed to wake up early and I just had to watch "The Bachelor: Women Tell All" when I got home from work. I normally don't watch "reality" tv, but this show is just too funny not to watch. It's a guilty pleasure, I admit. After "The Bachelor", I watched "How I Met Your Mother"... is anyone else worried about how this show might be ending?! I sure hope it's happier than they are making it out to be.

Tuesday, March 4
rest day 
On Tuesdays I play trivia at an Irish Pub in the area with my brother and some friends. The questions and categories are mostly Greek to me, but I was able to answer 5 questions correctly (ones that no one else knew). This was my best week yet. I usually have some other answers, but if other people know them, I don't count it as a personal victory. It's always nice, however, to be able to back-up the answer if there's any doubt.

Wednesday, March 5
evening run; 3.25 miles with an average pace of 12:57
Remember when I told you I was a slow runner? Well, an average pace of 12:57 is fast for me. Yep, you heard me right. My average pace from all of my runs logged on Nike+ (starting in May of 2011) is at 14:47. I know, that's basically walking speed. Yikes. My goal of increasing my speed this year is going well so far. I hope it continues to improve, and that I can incorporate it into my races.

Thursday, March 6
morning run; 3.22 miles with an average pace of 13:19
Yes, I was able to crawl out of bed in the morning to complete a run before work. Go me! I knew I wouldn't be able to run after work because I had plans to meet up with friends for a wine tasting and have dinner, so I reminded myself of those plans before hitting the snooze and going back to bed for an hour. I had some knee pain at mile 2, so did a little more walking to alleviate the pain. After a few minutes I got back to run/walking, and the pain had subsided, so I was happy about that. 

Friday, March 7
rest day
So very happy it was Friday, and the near 40 degree temps really helped to improve the mood of everyone today. I had a great hour-long lunch break with a friend I've made in the office across the hall. I almost never take lunch breaks, but it felt so nice to get out of the office after spending most of the winter pent up. Sometimes you just need a break. My evening consisted of catching up on a backlog of "Grimm" episodes, eating dinner, all while enjoying a glass of wine before hitting the pillow at 10:30. 

Saturday, March 8
rest day
DH and I went to lunch with my mom early Saturday afternoon. We went to an Irish pub/restaurant and got some corned beef (delicious) in honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day... and some pizza, too. I spent rest of the day cleaning the house. At night, we went to a friends house for a birthday party and we played a game of Apples to Apples with about 20 people - hilarious fun.

Sunday, March 9
6.03 miles with an average pace of 13:21
Late night out plus daylight savings equals a later wake-up time than I had planned. Oh well. I had scheduled Sunday as my long run day, because it was supposed to be warmer outside. Unfortunately, it was still a bit too cold/windy, so I decided to hit the treadmill and continue re-watching Lost (I'm on Season One for the third or fourth time... pretty sure I clue in on something new (to me) each time). It was really about 6.5 miles at about 13:10 pace, but I was having some issues with my watch — it had decided to pause (or maybe I accidentally paused it when taking off my sweatshirt), and then didn't pause while I tried adjusting my sports bra — in any case, it had me at over a 20 minute mile pace. I decided to just stop and start over, to ease my frustration and start fresh. That evening, ee met up with some friends we haven't seen in a long time for dinner at an alehouse, and then went to see their new house. At the alehouse I had a "Not Your Fathers Root Beer" by Small Town Brewery, and it was amaaaazing! I didn't really believe it would taste just like root beer, as it claimed, but it REALLY did! I need to find this in stores immediately to stock up the fridge. It was 10% ABV, which could be quite dangerous, since you can barely taste the alcohol. Fingers crossed I can find it somewhere.

And now, it's time for a new week! Those weekends sure do fly by, huh?

How was everyone else's weeks? Anything fun to report?

wine & dine half marathon sells out

Source

Can you guys believe how quickly the Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon sold out this year? In just over 24 hours the race was at maximum capacity. Say what?! I registered for my first runDisney event (this same one we're talking about) back in 2012, and it was mid-July. I don't know when it went on sale, because back then I didn't know anything about these races at Disney, but I know it was not just days after registration opened, but rather weeks (maybe months?). I do believe that registration opens a little early as the years progress, so perhaps it opened in late April? Anyone have actual dates from back then? 

I found out about Disney's Wine and Dine Weekend while reading Runner's World in a car maintenance waiting room back in 2012, and thought it would be great fun. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I was able to convince my mom to go with me, and she ran Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5k in the morning and I ran the half at night. This was also my first trip to Disney World since I was a young teen, and I had so much fun exploring the parks. Of course now, I've turned into a bit of a runDisney fanatic, wanting to go to all the races every year (which unfortunately, will never happen as I don't have the green to afford it!), but that's another story for another day.

Anyway, my point is, that it used to be at least a few weeks before the race sold out, and this year it took just over a day. 

Do you think it's because runDisney has gained in popularity these past years (or even running itself becoming more popular), that it's because the Wine and Dine is celebrating it's fifth year anniversary (which means a new medal design), or because the new Avengers race was added the following weekend, allowing people for a chance at gaining a Coast to Coast medal? Perhaps it's a combination of all of these things. What are your thoughts?

If you are interested in the Wine and Dine weekend, the Mickey Jingle Jungle 5k is currently at 60% and the pre-race taste is 75%. I wouldn't sit on a decision too long, since who knows when these events will sell out. I can't say much about the pre-race, since I've never been, but I hear a lot of mixed reviews. Some people think it's great and worth the money, while others suggest going to a table-service restaurant instead. 

If you weren't able to get a spot for the half, might I suggest running with a charity group? I ran in 2013 as an ASPCA Ambassador, with no fundraising minimum (I decided to raise funds for them after I had already registered for the race). It felt great to run for a cause, and I dedicated each mile to a person that had donated, which gave me motivation and support throughout the 13.1 miles. You can find a list of the 2014 participating charity groups on the runDisney page (scroll down the page till you reach Charity Groups). I don't know if any of them have available spots still, but it's worth a look. 

Also, if you have friends running the half, but you were unable to secure a spot, you could buy a Finish Line Party ticket for $75 that grants you access to the after party for some fun in Epcot until 4 am (starting Saturday night at 10 pm). 

Well, that turned into a longer blog than I was anticipating. My apologies. In an upcoming blog, I will talk about my own experiences with the race. It might come in the form of a little recap, or at least, what I can remember all those months/years ago ;)

run-walk-run vibrating timer

I am a believer in the run-walk-run method. I was diagnosed with asthma as an adult, and found that running for any length of time meant I would have problems breathing early on. Finding Jeff Galloway and his method was a godsend. Being able to take walk breaks made it easier to control my breathing, as it wasn't putting as much pressure on my lungs. By adding in frequent walk breaks, I am given a chance to catch my breath, before it spirals out of control.

For a while, I used the Half Marathon with Jeff Galloway app (which I loved for training), but I found it drained my phone battery. By the end of a race day, my battery would be dead or close to it (like I've said before, I am not a fast runner - if I ever finish a half marathon under three hours, I will be on cloud nine, which is actually a goal this year). Since I use my phone to connect with family and friends after a race, I started looking into other options.

I had noticed (or rather, heard) at other races the runners using their watches for intervals, and others using something clipped to their shorts/belts. My watch has the capability of using time intervals, however, I like to be able to control my run/walk intervals during a run and have the option to change them if need be. I like to know that if I need to slow it down for warmer temps or because my asthma/allergies have kicked in, I have the ability to do so without much trouble. Having to do that on my watch would mean ending the current program it was running, changing the intervals, and starting it up again, which would mean losing some data (unless I completely stopped, which is not something I want to do during a race). What a pain. I prefer the convenience of the separate timer.

My wonderful mom bought me the vibrating timer from Jeff Galloway's site. I wasn't sure if I would like needing yet another item to carry/clip on, but it turns out that it's not even a concern. It easily clips onto my FuelBelt, and I pretty much forget about it until it beeps and vibrates. It puts me at ease knowing that I can listen to music on my phone, but not have to worry about the battery being dead by the end of my long runs or on race day. She also bought the wristband, but I have yet to use that (I already have my Nike+ Sportwatch and roadID on one wrist, and my fitbit Flex on the other, so unless necessary, I'd rather not add more).

source for picture and product description: jeffgalloway.com

This run-walk-run vibrating timer with stopwatch and clock easily sets up your run/walk intervals. Simple setup with dedicated set button. Large display. Low battery indicator. Rugged non-slip case. The timer can be set for any two different intervals from 2 seconds to 99 minutes & offers alarm by beep, vibrate or both. Has clip. AAA battery not included. This item is about the size of a pedometer. Note this item is not water-proof. Some runners use a baggie or purchase the wristband to prevent any moisture problems. Band not included. One Color: green.

I really like that you can adjust the length of the beeps from 1, 2, or 5 seconds (I use 2), and that you can use either beep, vibrate, or both. I was concerned that I wouldn't hear the beeps with music and other background noise, but when I used it for my first race last month, it was perfect. I also wasn't sure if the vibrating would be noticeable enough (as I often don't feel my phone vibrating in my pockets when I receive phone calls), but it definitely is.

I have to admit that I couldn't figure out how to set it up without reading the instructions, but they were easy to follow, as was the set-up once I knew what I was doing.

I would certainly recommend this product to anyone else that uses the run-walk-method. I haven't had a chance to use it for warmer weather, but I'll need to be careful that I don't get water on it, as it isn't water-proof. It's suggested that a baggie is used to prevent any moisture problems, so I'll have to give that a try if summer ever arrives.

How about you? Do you use run/walk intervals? What's your favorite timing device to use for your intervals?

*The timer and wristband were purchased by my mom, and I was not paid or compensated in any way for this review. It is my honest opinion and all thoughts are my own.*

my first blog post

This is my very first blog post... ever! Please bear with me as I navigate these uncharted waters. My hope is that I can get into the blogging groove quickly, but no promises. This will be a fairly short post about what I hope to accomplish with the blog and what type of posts I'll be writing.

First off, I'm not even sure anyone will read this blog or find anything I have to say very interesting, so my main reason for starting it was as a documentation of my running (and a bit of life), as well as a way to stay accountable. Let's face it – everyone has those days (at least I hope everyone does!) where the thought of running is daunting or just flat out unappealing. The thought that someone else will notice my lack of weekly mileage will (I hope) be the push I need to get out the door... or in winters case, onto the treadmill in the basement. 

Maybe feeling accountable will also give me the boost I need to wake up earlier in the morning to squeeze in my workouts! I am NOT someone that enjoys getting out of bed in the morning... I tend to wait till the last minute to crawl into the shower/get dressed and get out the door for work. I've found the days I can drag myself out of bed and exercise in the morning leave me feeling energized and ready to take on the day, but I still find it very difficult when that alarm goes off. I know it's much easier to get it out of the way at the beginning of the day, that way it's off the checklist and no longer staring you in the face all day long. It's also great for those days that work just kicks your butt or you decide to meet up with a friend – you no longer need to feel guilty about skipping a workout because it was already completed in the morning. This battle with the morning wake-up call is one I've been fighting for a while, and perhaps with some tips or tricks from others, I can finally win... permanently.

Also, I am not an elite runner or expert whatsoever. Anything I write about is just my own experience and what I am learning on the way. I'm hoping that blogging will connect me with other runners – to make new friends and learn new things. I welcome all comments! I plan on having some posts where not only I review products, but where I ask for recommendations on products that other runners use and like. 

Other than weekly recaps and product reviews, we'll see where the posts take me... hopefully somewhere productive! I'd also love to include guest posts, once I've done some better networking. 

If I can be a source of inspiration or motivation to just one person, it would make me happy, as I have found so much of it throughout the running community myself. Any thoughts, comments or questions are appreciated. Thanks for stopping by :)