Sunday...

The Sunday has finally arrived that has that "Sunday" feeling. Meaning, tomorrow I go back to work. I have been out of work the past 3 weeks while living in Orlando, running the half marathon and trying to pursue my dream to work for Disney. I slept at my sister's last night and we went to see "The Adjustment Bureau". I do NOT recommend this movie, it was one of the worst movies I have seen in the theatre in a long time. I really couldn't wait until it was over, I was bored and fidgety.

We went to California Pizza Kitchen at Partridge Creek for lunch with my entire family, and it was a blast. We stayed from about 12:30 PM-2:30 PM, just catching up since I have been in Orlando and my dad has been traveling. I love eating out with my parents, because we usually order a few different things which means I get to try it all! It really has scarred me, because whenever I go out without them I never know what to order and want to try multiple items!

After lunch, my sister and I met Natalie at Lifetime Fitness. Lifetime is impressive, they have a huge pool, mini restaurant, kid care, basketball courts, and a lot of different cardio machines. My hip was bothering me, not hurting, just bothering- so I decided not to run today but take advantage of cardio machines. I did 15 minutes on the "Arc Trainer" (my favorite), 15 minutes on the "Stepmill" and 30 minutes on the Stationary Bike. I didn't know the names of all of these, so I looked them up on a website that explains them called "Ask the Trainer".  The stepmill was a challenge! It was basically climbing stairs, but going nowhere. It was fun to have "workout buddies"! Guess what, I am actually sore today from my Exercise TV workout yesterday!

Here is a new tune for your Sunday evening, I LOVE it! "Chairlift- Bruises" Enjoy!

Sanga Vinyasa and Exercise TV

Last night I attended my first Yoga session that was over one hour. It was called "Sanga Vinyasa" at Yoga Shelter in Grosse Pointe. This was very different than the yoga classes I have attended in the past, at one point rap was even playing!

The description is:

Sanga Vinyasa: Also referred to as Yoga Rocks, is a dynamic series of sequenced postures that seamlessly "flow" together. Sanga is a fancy Sanskrit work for 'Community'... Vinyasa is designed to build great internal heat in order to purify our systems. If you are looking for an eye opening, fun loving, high voltage, high energy yoga class, this is where you belong.

My review? It was fun. I almost didn't feel as much stretch as I usually do since we moved through the poses so quick, and we had a lot of time to do them on our own as well which I didn't like as much. I definitely built a sweat, I'm not sure if the heat is up more in the class, but I felt like it was a good workout regardless. I have only been doing yoga a handful of times and I can already feel a difference from my first class, I feel stronger- and more balanced in class and more capable of the poses. I like it!

I was pretty exhausted yesterday after a busy (and productive) day of writing follow up e-mails, unpacking, and cleaning up. I decided to lay low.

This morning I woke up, ate a small Chobani Blueberry Greek Yogurt  and did about 55 minutes of Exercise TV with my mom. We did four different "segments", two different abs (one with weights, one free standing), one total body conditioning with 8 lb weights, and one to tone your lower half. Every time I do a TV workout I always wonder why it is so hard for me to get started, I really enjoy them- and I love that I am using strength training in a fun way. Something I usually dread at the gym!

Now without my gym membership, I will definitely want to incorporate more TV workouts with my running and yoga to have a balanced workout. I think this will be the key to seeing results, ASAP!

I am headed to a sushi lunch with my mom at BluFin Sushi in Grosse Pointe. I really like the Blu Fin roll, and the tiny Kobe Beef slider is pretty great too ;) The service isn't the best, especially for being such a small place with only about 6 tables and a small sushi bar, but I definitely am a repeat customer.

I have to get ready, happy Saturday! It's only in the 40s... I think my goal this week will be to attempt a COLD run... I usually am NOT a fan of being cold whatsoever, so this will be a challenge. I'm up for it!

I'm missing Orlando and Disney already. Hopefully I will be back SOON ;) Here are a few pictures from Animal Kingdom with my brother!

Running with music?

I came across this "Running Debate- Running With Music" article via twitter, and it immediately intrigued me.

There are a lot of things I love about running. I love how I can think about everything and nothing at the same time on a run. I am a "running with music" person. However, people often make fun of my music choices on a run. I love to listen to anything from techno to country, to slow music on a run. It really depends on my mood, however this was more when I wasn't training. Since training, more upbeat pump me up music has been on my ipod, but this article really made me think about trying to run without a beat in my head.

I have a friend from highs school, where our friendship revolves around running. He is an amazing athlete, and usually places in marathons. I am considering joining the running club he is involved in, however since high school running has been such a independent thing for me, I'm a little nervous to see how it would be with other people! I love the outdoors, I don't love the gym. With running, I can lace up my tennis shoes be out the door and back in a hour- whereas the gym is a process. Driving there, lockers, people, the whole process doesn't compare to a run. Anyways, my friend has often talked about running without music, and how it's the way to go. While I've tried this, this article makes me want to try it again- just to listen to the way my body feels and what really goes through my head during a run. This was a "con" in the article;

CON One big problem is that listening to music can remove you from the other sounds that running produces, such as breathing and footstrike, which are essential cues... Eventually, you can lose a sense of what might be truly motivating to you, such as the energized feeling you get on the run.

What do I think about when I run? A friend of mine in college once said "I don't think anyone would need to see a psychiatrist if they could learn to run".  I laughed, and think about that statement once in a while. What I really enjoyed about training, is my thoughts would often envision the finish line. Or how excited I was for the actual race, and running under my goal time. Before that I usually just think about what is going on in my life. While that sounds serious, sometimes it is. Sometimes it's not! Sometime's it's just thinking about what I have to do for the day, other times it's thinking about my next move. I remember before moving to Bangkok, my runs would revolve around trying to envision what Thailand would look like, if I'd be lonely, would I make friends? All of these thoughts, yet none could prepare me for the reality of moving to a different country by myself all the way around the world. The reality was better! Running has traveled the world with me, and has been a constant passion in my world of change. 

Interesting. This is definitely an article worth checking out. It's a little cold to lace up today, there is fresh snow on the ground, and it's in the 30's. I am craving Yoga today at Yoga Shelter, and also considering checking out some ExerciseTV workouts. They are free on my comcast (at least most of them), and I have to be creative since I am no longer a member at my local gym. I also want to research "intermediate" half marathon training today, since I am officially NOT a beginner anymore! I will also take a look at marathon training to see what exactly I am getting myself into.

I also need to unpack from my 18 days in Orlando, write a few follow up e-mails, and organize my life to prepare for a new week. 

Michigan... Cold

I'm back in Michigan. I woke u early this morning, around 6:00 AM to prepare the house, take care of the dog, and lock up before my friend picked me up around 6:45 AM to head to the airport. I was sad to leave the little dog, I love Scampi! He is so sweet, and always would come sit by me.

I arrived back in Michigan before 11 AM and could tell it was freezing just by looking outside. So I'm being a little dramatic, it's in the 40's but it was 80 yesterday in Florida!

I love being home, but I already miss Orlando...

Today lululemon came out with a new print called Unicorn Tears. They also have a new color called "Violaceous" which is kind of a hot purple shade. I like it, I'm not crazy about the new color but I like the Unicorn Print. I really like this "Pure Move Crop", it looks like there are little fluffy flowers on legs! They're $78, and not specific to running, more yoga. I really don't need a pant right now, if anything running shorts and tanks.

Pure Move Crop

Unicorn Tear Print, "Down Time Jacket

"Violaceous" color in Define Jacket

What are your thoughts about the new color and prints? Like? Dislike? I think I have to see them both in the store as well. I am about to take a nap before writing some follow up e-mails from last week. What a great vacation, Orlando- I can't wait to see you again (hopefully soon!)

Disney Official Princess Results!

Final Time:

1:49:27

Age:

25

Gender:

Female

Bib:

#5677

Distance:

13.1 miles

Clock Time:

1:49:28

Net Time:

1:49:27

Overall Place:

329 / 13773

Gender Place:

289 / 13090

Division Place:

61 / 2365

5K Split:

23:50

10K Split:

49:11

15K Split:

1:16:00

Blue!

I made the blue level! Which means since I bought my Nike Plus watch I have ran over 620 miles! It's so nice that my screen changed from green to blue! HA! There are a lot of training programs on there, maybe I'll check them out for my next half marathon/ marathon training.

It was NOT a easy run. I wanted to do a QUICK 3 miles because I have to get ready now, and it was hot. My goal was to get each mile under 9 minutes, but I was dehydrated and hungry- I was busy all morning cleaning that I figured I would just eat when I got back from my run. Big mistake, I was lacking energy and almost stopped a few times, but I didn't.

I ran 3 miles in 26:39 with a 8:51 pace. 

I JUST made under my goal. Current weather? 81 degrees. I need to drink water and take a shower now, more meetings tonight! I'm so happy I got one last run in before I leave tomorrow. I am really going to miss the sunshine.

Last Day in Orlando :(

I feel like I NEED to be outside right now. The sun is shining, but I am packing and cleaning up the house- because today is my last day in Orlando. I can't believe how fast these 18 days flew by. I set my alarm for 8:30 AM today but for some reason couldn't get out of bed until 9:30. I think my body knew it was my last day and tried fighting me by staying in bed. I had a quick breakfast of granola and a light blue cheese laughing cow  (delicious) and now I am multitasking laundry, packing, blogging and setting up last minute meetings. Yesterday went great, each contact I met with forwarded me to a different contact I am meeting with today.

I am meeting two different people today. I am hoping to get a run in before that, since it will be my last run in this beautiful weather until my Florida and California trip in April. I heard a lot of great things about Disneyland in California and am excited to check it out. I also heard about a museum in San Francisco called "The Walt Disney Family Museum" which I would love to see.

There are a few running articles I came across that I want to look into, I will post them after I do. One is "101 Greatest Tips" and the other is a debate between running with music or without.

I need to finish up here, I feel like I have one million things to do today and not enough time to finish everything I want to accomplish!

Also, I was mentioned by Arctic Ease on twitter. My first mention! It linked to my blog where I talked about using the wrap after my run. Fun!

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Tweets mentioning @stylerunning

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ArcticEase Arctic Ease 

@ 

@stylerunning thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the race & that we could help ease the pain :-)

3 hours ago 

ArcticEase Arctic Ease 

Thanks for a great mention! http://bit.ly/hsF58c via @Stylerunning

3 hours ago 

OtownBadDrivers Orlando Bad Drivers 

RT @stylerunning: Orlando has impatient drivers... Everyone honks!

18 hours ago 

ArcticEase Arctic Ease 

its a fun race for your 1St RT @stylerunning: Less than a month until my first half marathon! Disney Princess Marathon, here I come! :)

31 Jan