Tiny Thunder Running

I hope all had a great evening with your kiddos (if you have them) trick or treating or just a good evening period. A little late this week on posting the motivation/inspiration installment but I hope, as always, you will find something that gives you a kick in the pants or re-lights your fire and spirit for living a fit life.  via via via via (haha I had to!! Especially since it is getting colder..) via via Tune in Friday to learn about my crossfit experience :) Have a great rest of Thursday and Happy Halloween!

Over the summer, I signed on with  Influenster  and began taking surveys, reviewing products that I have used and earning badges. The first "Voxbox" I received was for  Lifeway Kefir  which I don't think I ever even got to do a post on, but shared via facebook and IG. I recently qualified for this  Dr Scholl's Active Series Insoles  voxbox and I absolutely couldn't WAIT for it to hit my snail mail box. Seriously, cue antsy pants. Well Saturday October 5th, this package did just that and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Later that evening, I posted on IG how easy the installation was.. seriously guys it doesn't get ANY easier. Yipee!!! They made it to my door step and I couldn't wait to try them out.  I didn't really get to use them RIGHT away because of running my impending first half marathon and not wanting to screw anything up. I will be honest I did try them for a little bit and I really shouldn't have. I needed to...

As a proud sweat pink ambassador, I got the chance to check out the info on  SweatGuru  a little early and just have a few little things to say. First and foremost I applaud the Jamie and Alyse, co-founders, for the amazing idea behind this new website. Whether you are a fitness instructor or just love to take classes, this website is a win-win for you. As an instructor you can list your classes to attract new peeps as well as allow those who are regulars book and pay for their classes in one easy-peasy place online. Yep, that place is  SweatGuru . If you like to take classes you can sign up and pay for them online. If you are visiting (or moving to) a new place, you can explore and search classes in your area. Can it get any better?? Seriously. This site is launching in Las Angeles, San Fransisco and New York so if you reside in one of these areas, consider yourself SUPER duper lucky and envied by many (and definitely me). I don't know how many times I have wishe...

A few weeks ago, I went out on a limb and contacted PRO Compression to see if they would send me a complimentary pair of socks could review and do a giveaway. I had never tried compression socks and was SUPER nervous about spending the money for them not knowing if I would even like them. I am here to tell you that they agreed, I ordered the socks and... . I LOVE THEM!!! As I told a coworker of mine, they are like a hug for your legs. This might sound ridiculous but I am so serious. I absolutely love these socks. I am not kidding. Not one single bit. I received them in the mail and I wanted to leave them on for the rest of my life. But I didn't. I did leave them on for the entire evening and actually fell asleep with them on. I also got the joy to wear them to recover from my very first half marathon as well and was so happy to have them. They really helped my recovery and just made my legs feel all strapped in and ready for action- well as ready as they can be after 13.1 mil...

So this post is a little late.. ok a lot late. It has been one humdinger of a week. Recovering from the race and delving back into a short week at work that has turned out to be a beast!! Thankfully tomorrow is Friday and we have a pretty relaxed weekend ahead of us. I am still not back to 100% with my left leg issue but definitely way better than Sunday! That being said here a few inspirational numbers for your weekly fix :) via via via via via via With that, have a wonderful weekend!! I will be back next week with a review and giveaway :) yep you heard it!

As you might know by now, yesterday I ran my first half marathon. This is so huge for me and something that makes me smile to know I completed. Just a year ago I thought my max mileage to run was about 6 miles. I proved myself wrong this past year and signed up for this half marathon the day sign ups opened- back in May ( here ). The last two weeks my training went WAY down thanks to some strange pains in my lower left leg and some in my right arch. I figured I'd rather rest and do my best race day, than continue to ATTEMPT training runs and increase the damage. Race day came and I was feeling pretty darn good. I still wasn't sure if I was going to be able to run the entire thing, but mile by mile I completed this half marathon. There were a few times that I wasn't sure how I was ever going to make it. I would be lying if I said there weren't times that I wondered if I could take another step. I would also be lying if I said it weren't worth EVERY minute, every ...

So here I am, its Friday evening and in less than 48 hours I will be lining up at that starting line. It will be for my first ever half marathon . An event I have trained all summer and fall for, a distance I have never completed to this date. 13.1 you guys. Last year at this time I was lucky to run 6 without stopping and even better yet, without feeling like I would keel over dead. I have learned so much in this last year of running and pushed myself to distances and depths of training I never dreamed of. via Although this is my body and brain that has gotten me this far, I have not done it alone. I don't think I could have. I have had amazing support from family, friends, coworkers, Team in Training mates, and you, my awesome readers and blogger friends. It has been pretty cool to see some of you also training your first and running into some of the same struggles and questions that I have.  I have had the opportunity to reconnect with a friend that I used to sem...

So my first half is just days away and I am trying to ignore the fact that my left shin is driving me bonkers. I am trying to tell myself it is going to be ok and I will be fine running this 13.1 its all mental right?!?! It will be fine, I will fuel myself, crank up my tunes, and enjoy running next to a great running friend. I am resting, icing, soaking, yoga-ing, foam rolling and wearing shoes with great support and hoping for the best. On that note, here is some inspiration for this week :) via via  ( this is one of my favorite of all TIME! ) via via  ( this will be my motto Sunday ) via  ( yes.. just go ) via  ( YEP! Skinny does not equal fit or healthy. ) I hope you are all wrapping up a great week. I will hopefully get a chance to post some pre-race thoughts/reflections over the weekend, but hubby and I will be busy celebrating our 4th year of marriage :) Our anniversary is actually today but we don't get to celebrate until Friday and S...

So its no secret by now that I am running the Hershey Half Marathon as my first.. and that it is now LESS than a week away (holy, wow!). If you would have told 2011's version of me that I would run anything further than 3, maybe 4 miles I would have told you that you were off your darn rocker. Now many people think this exact thing of me. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that yesterday I completed my last long run before I conquer my first ever half marathon. I am nervous, anxious and excited all rolled into one. This will be the longest I have run to date and I just hope I don't let it all catch up to me and mess with my head. I didn't really have a specific route in mind, which I know you are not supposed to do, when I left the house. The only thing I did know for certain was that I had to get back up to Negley (read: climb some major hill) because it has been a while. I ended up visiting the park twice and even though this meant me stopping to enjoy the...

Well ok, maybe these aren't things. But they are my favorites. YouTube videos that is. No, I am not turning into a YouTube junkie... well unless they are fitness videos. During the winter months, I scoured YouTube for some good runner-focused yoga. Here is the first of my favorites It is a really great video that not only walks you through each pose, but also has little text boxes that pop up telling you some info about the pose and benefits. I really like both the women in this video too which is helpful because if you are annoying, sorry, just can't watch your video! This is another one of my favorites. I really like how she describes each move as well and they are simple enough that you can add them to your regular routines. I always feel great after this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QutwHmaTY This last one I couldn't get to link up with the video, but I wanted to share this one too. I watched this video when I first got my foam rolle...

I made it back.. for my regular weekly motivation. via For some, food is an enemy. Make good choices, avoid the bad ones, and it can become a friend. via via I really like this one. Others walk with you- encourage you- challenge you- help you grow. But in the ends its all you. YOU. You who did all the work and got yourself to where you are. via Awww, well thanks Ryan. You are amazing. via When put this way, can you find an excuse good enough to NOT work out?  As I mentioned earlier, its been a little bit of a rough week running-wise for me. But getting my YOGA and ROLL on has been pretty nice. No pressure to run fast, long, or otherwise.I do miss running but I know that it is best to limit my running before my half next weekend (HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!). It is for the best and I know my body will be ready to go Saturday for 8 miles.  Hope you are all having a good week and are gearing up for a great weekend!!

Well ok, maybe not really. I haven't really been running all week thanks to a weird pain in my shin/calf on my left leg. I can only blame myself really. Last week I really went hog wild with running and shouldn't have. I had run 12 miles Sunday, 3 Monday (when it should have been a rest but I couldn't resist since I was off early and the weather was nice) and then failed  walk/ran 13 miles on Friday. I had planned for 12 but in desperation for some water, ended up with an extra stinkin mile. So yea. You could say I was asking for trouble.  So game plan for this week so far has really just been stretch, role, and yoga the heck out of it. It has been helping but I can't help but wonder what else I can do? Pondering the idea of KT tape to assist my leg in hating me less. Any thoughts? Assistance?  Trying to enjoy this last week (OMG!!!) before my first ever (OMG!!!) half marathon. The reality is setting in that it is getting so close making me nervous, anxious...

Friday's long run.. well. To the runner in me, was a big fat fail. I first had to fight myself to get up, got up, got ready and had my protein shake. Which was followed way too quickly by a run to the bathroom right when I was supposed to be leaving. After this I got myself the rest of the way together and headed out the door. It was pretty chilly but humid which is so strange but better than being hot. The sun wasn't out yet and I was so happy to not be dying from the start. Not too long after I was thinking how happy I was that I wasn't going to die of heat stroke, and I kid you not, my right butt cheek was drenched with water from my hydration belt. Thrilling, right? No. I continue to travel down my planned route and go through waves of feeling good and feeling half sick. I get across the river and at about 3.9 miles see Nate from  Wags the Runner  and quickly learn he is having an off day too. He was planning quite a high mileage jaunt with run walk intervals but gave ...

One of my favorite days of the week as I scour the internet for some serious and not so serious fitness inspiration... and because it means Friday is just around the corner. Here I am again to provide some inspiration so here goes!! via via via via via via (seriously.. don't lose touch with reality over a number) via   ( haha, sorry I'm not sorry, about this one.. )

via Usually I am up and at 'em each morning for my workout. Not today. It was one of those lets see how many times I can reset and snooze my alarm clock. I kept rethinking what I could do if I just gave myself 15 more minutes....  I hate that, anyone else?  Hubby had to get up early to leave for a training and although I slept ok before, I certainly didn't sleep well after. I should have just gotten up and been done with it.. but it was still dark and I just couldn't do it.  via I was just too cozy in my covers and trying to squeeze in more sleep. Bad idea. But have no fear my friends. My gym bag is packed so dreadmill it is for me after work. 6 miles of either intervals or straight speed for this lady. Just because I was a lazy bum  sleepy head this morning does not get me a free pass. I did have a nice 3 mile "recovery run" (that's what I am calling it) on Monday which did feel kind of good after I was done. It only feels right to step i...