Running thru life... The Cherry Blossom 10 miler

Tomorrow is the annual Cherry Blossom 10 miler! 

My favorite race that I have participated in.

It is a wonderful race for a beginner with a excellent course.

Unfortunately because it is such a popular race that last year they started doing a lottery system for the entry.  Meaning your register and then select randomly who will participate. 

This year I registered but unfortunately I was not selected. 

There is always next year!!

However, I do want to wish everyone who is running in it- GOOD LUCK!!

Especially, a certain Mrs. S- her first 10 mile ever!

You will do amazing and will rock!!!!

Happy Cherry Blossom 10 miler day!!

Running thru life... My Sephora Obsession

Now that spring is here I am starting to do some spring cleaning. 

Twice a year I clean out my makeup/cosmetics. 

I changed out my winter/fall color to my spring/summer colors. 

This is good to get in the habit of doing because I often forget about freebies I have accumulated. 

(For instance I have not actually purchased mascara in more than 6 months because of freebies). 

While cleaning this year I found some of my favorite things... which just happened to come from one of my favorite stores- Sephora. 

I was introduced to Sephora by my best friend about 6 months before my wedding. 

We went there to have a makeup stylist help me pick out make-up for my wedding and teach me how to apply it, etc.   Ever since I have been hooked!  However, I have now trained myself to only go twice a year if needed.  Last time I went was in October and I will probably be due to go again around Summer time. 

So here are some of my favorite Sephora things...

Sephora Retractable Brush

I love this product because it is CLEAN.  None of the power get in my makeup bag because the brush retracts and it also comes with a lid.  Designed for someone like me who is OCD.

Bare Mineral Bronzing Blush

I bought this almost two years ago for my wedding and I have some left. 

It is nice because it is light and last for a long time. 

Clinque All About Eye Serum

For the most part I have amazing skin and am truely fortunate.

However, working long hours does cause some general puffiness under my eyes.

I love this because of the applicator- a roller ball.

It feel refreshing and is not heavy.

Also another wedding purchase.  I love this foundation because it stays!!!

And it does not make my face breakout or causes it to be too dry (problems I have had with previous products.)  It is a little expensive at $42 a bottle.  But I only use about 1 bottle every 6 - 8 months.  So it is worth it to me.

During the winter and my running months- my skin gets very dry.

I love this moisture surge.

It is light and refreshing to apply.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

My neighbor turned me on to this product after reading her blog.

I love it for the winter months because it is a moisturizer and for the summer it has a spf built in.  

So here is to my Spring Cleaning...

Running thru life... Pike's Peak 10 K

One of my running buddies at work has tried for two years now to get me to run Pike's Peak 10 K in Rockville, MD.  It is suppose to be a nice course to run with very little elevation changes.
So this year I have decided to bite the bullet and do it.

I know what some of you are thinking....
well you just ran half a marathon so 10K should be nothing.
You are right in theory.
But I am challenging myself when it come to my time per mile. 
Yesterday, while running my 5 miles- I increased my spead .1 for each mile- for a total of .5. 
Which to some might not sound like a lot but it is baby steps for me.
And to be honest- my body felt it- which was good!

Now that I know I can do the distances- I want to get my times better and push myself that way. 
So in three weeks I will be attempting to run while decreasing my time per mile...

Running thru life... a nice suprise at Costco

Over a week ago I headed out to costco with our normal list.  After two + years of shopping at costco.  I could walk blind thru it and pick up the things we always get.  I quickly found out that it is important to have a list when you go into costco and you should try to avoid straying from the list because things add up quickly.  We mostly buy our cleaning productions and meats there. 

I get very frustrated with Costco for many reasons but the most frustrating if that fact that they do not offer healthy eating options- like light yogurt, light creamer, reduced fat peanut butter, etc. 

Costco= Fat (This is what I think about when I am seeing what people buy- it amazes me).

So when I go to costco- I guy shop!  Go in with my list and come out with my list! 

However, last week I had a nice suprise. 

I was walking by the yogurt section because every full moon they will have light yogurt.

There it was Chobani Greek Yogurt!!!

I love Chobani Greek Yogurt but at Wegmans they are so expensive!!!

I think they come in around $1.30 for one.  This is crazy!!!

So while walking around Costco and did a double take. 

A 12 pack of Chobani greek yogurt for less than 11 dollars.  W

HAT A deal- 92 cents a cup versus 1.30. 

38 cents savings per cup. 

I quickly added it to my chart- thinking this must be a mistake. 

I am in Chobani heaven- eating Strawberry, Blueberry, and my favorite Peach.

Thank you Costco for making a effort to help people who shop at Costco live a more health lifestyle. 

Running thru life.... Moving our new couch

The new couch that we are getting is actually a sleeper sofa which is wonderful because we have a full bath in our basement so if we have company we have an additional bed.  

The one downfall of a sleeper sofa is moving it.  IT IS HEAVY.  

Our current sofa is very light- Joe and I could move it by ourselves.  

But I am not going to even attempt that with this new couch!

So lucky we have any awesome neightbor... thanks P!!!

With the help of his parents truck and his muscles- our couch is now with us!!!

Here it is!!!!
You will notice the old couch in the back room. 
I will be calling the disposal company this week to get rid of it. 

I added the orange pillows that I found at HomeGoods to add some color.  

I have not decided if I am keeping them.  

What are your thoughts?

Running thru life.... get your dog running

Those who know our puppy Clemson know that he is a high high energy dog.
So two weeks ago my mother who works with a women who trains dogs spoke with her regarding our energy problem with Clemson. 
We have found that Clemson needs anywhere from 3 to 5 miles daily.  This is often hard to do because of our schedules and also because of the weather.
So my mom's friend emailed me with these instructions....

"Start the tread mill without the dog out it at a very low speed....walk on it yourself to show that you have no fear....Turn it off...and let him stand on it (leashed )...Then take him off and do the same thing again. 

Do this two days in a row. 

On the third day....you get on for a minute then turn it off. Leash him, and walk him onto the tread. , loop the leash handle to the support bar in front of him but do not leave his side. Turn the motor on as low as you can , and keep tension on the leash...steadying him...and giving him confidence...do  this for a very short time...maybe two minutes. 

Take him off with a flourish and "whoop it up" with him!!!!...

treats can be given at this time. Repeat this for two days...and on the third day he should be ready for you to pull up a chair, and sit right next to him while you increase the time

My dogs do 20minutes each in the winter but they also run and chase each other outside for two hours.  So, eventually you have to balance his outside time with his treadmill time."

 After a week I am happy to report Clemson is walking for about 1 minute on the treadmill. I am still working on him daily.  I get him to stay a on a little bit longer everyday.

The process has been longer with Clemson-it took 4 days for us to get him on the treadmill without either putting him on it or doing some sort of treat.  But now he is getting on the treadmill without treats.  Now we are working on getting him to walk.

A tired puppy is a happy puppy.

Running thru life.. it is done!!!

Sorry for my absense yesterday but I was running a 1/2 marathon!!!

Yes I completed it without stopping and under the time I set for myself!
So all and all I am happy! 
It was truly an experience and as I crossed the finish line I did shed a couple tears-  I did it!!!

Let me tell you it was not easy.  There were many frustrations along the ways so I thought I would share as some of you might learn from them.

1) The metro did not open till 6am and the race started at 7am.  This may not be a problem for people who live close but living out in Fairfax it takes us anywhere from 40-55 minutes to get to DC Armory (where the race started).  In previous races I have run like the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and the Army 10 mile the metro opened at 5am which was awesome.  So we decided to drive and left an 1 1/2 before the race.  Basically everyone was driving because the metro opened so late so at 6:45 I jumped out of the car that Joe was still driving and ran to my coral. (Remember the race starts at 7am).  It was kind of a stressful moment for me as I like be there early finding where I am going to be all that good stuff 

2) IT WAS FREAKING COLD  Thank God I talked to my brother before my run who suggested wearing my Nike running shirt underneathe and wearing a a long sleeve cotton shirt over that I would not mind losing if I decided to take it off  I also took a pair of cheap running gloves that I got as a freebe in a previous race.  So at mile 3 I left my gloves and shirt at a donation station.  The set up stations to discard your clothing and they would give it to the homeless shelters in DC- works for me!!!

3)I have become a race snob and unfortunately my first race- the Cherry Blossom run ruined me  They handed out a beautiful race packet, had mile markers, and time clocks along the course, had water stations that were manned well, and bathrooms accessible along the race course.    This race was lacking in all of the above.  I did not see a mile marker until mile 10.  The water stations were very poorly manned and could not fill up water fast enough.  There were three bathrooms at mile 5 and then one at mile 10 which has a line of 20 people to use.  

4) The course.  The first part of the course was gorgeous, I ran next to the Monument, the Capital, the Whitehouse- all while the sun was rising.  Absolutely, beautiful!!    However, the second half of course was very hilly which I was not prepared for and also not as pretty- we ran thru Adams Morgan and some not so nice parts of town.  I could tell when I hit those parts because the number of police men increased.

However, all complaining aside there were alot of good things
1) The beautiful first 1/2 of the course
2) How motivating people were.  My husband found me at the start, mile 6 and the finish.  But people were cheering everyone on!!!
3) The finish area nice- they had everything from water, bananas, bagels, juice, chocolate milk, granola bars, etc.
4) It was an amazing experience.  I ran next to a girl for the first bit who wore a shirt in honor of a little boy diagnosed with Leukemia.  Then there was another group running to honor people serving in the middle east.  TALK ABOUT MOTIVATING.  People were cheering you on every step of the way.  If only we cheered our fellow people on in everything we do.. it would be a much better world. 

So last night when I had people over they were asking me when my next one was.   I am now going to work on find a sprint tri this summer, a 5-10 miler in the fall and then another 1/2 next year. 

So my running continues.

Thank you everyone for all your support!!!