Dedicating My Miles…

Earlier this year, I came across a blog that was talking about how some runners dedicate their race or or their miles during the race, to family, friends, organizations, etc. This helps the runners keep their momentum going and to really focus on something or someone to get them through the miles, especially the tougher ones. This really resonated with me. I remember reading and thinking that I’d do that if I ever ran a marathon. And then thinking, “Yea, like I’d ever run a marathon!” Well, here I am, I’m running my first half marathon (baby steps, people) on Sunday. I’ve had so many people believe in me and support me through this newfound passion and this amazing journey I’m having transforming myself from the inside out.

Well, with out further ado, here’s my list of people I’m dedicating my first half marathon to:

{Miles 1-2} My parents. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. Literally, yes. But, my parents have never discouraged me from following my dreams. They’re always there when I need them. And, they’ll be watching the kiddos on race day! I love them so much!

{Mile 3} My friends. The new ones and the old ones who’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. The ones who believe in me. The ones who encourage me to keep going and don’t think I’m crazy for trying new things. Ok, maybe they think I’m crazy, but they’re rooting for me anyways. I love you, guys!

{Mile 4} Ashley. My trainer. She’s so encouraging and has helped me get stronger by focusing on my individual needs and pushing me to try harder. She believes in me and I don’t want to let her down.

{Mile 5} It’s A Messy Life blog readers. Yes, I know most of these are friends and family, but I’m still happy to have a place to share my experiences with people and motivate others to keep trying to improve and live happy lives. Thank you for your support & I look forward to growing my little blog into a fun community to share, uplift, and laugh about our messy lives together!

{Mile 6} My aunts and uncle who passed away too soon and can’t be here cheering me on but I know they would be if they could. Especially my aunt Norma. I know she’d be front and center cheering me on from the sidelines.

{Mile 7} My crazy fun and awesome family! For my cousins who no matter how long we go without seeing each other, when we finally do get together it’s always like we were never apart. I love that. I love laughing and being myself around them. There’s no drama, no comparing, no agendas, it’s family and we’re always there for each other. Thanks, primas 🙂

{Mile 8} My cousin Anel, although she will always be Nelly to me 😉 She is flying out from Texas today to come run my first race with me. Talk about supportive, huh! She’s even dragging her husband with us. She’s been motivating me and training with me via text messages. Love those sweaty post-running photos she shares with me. And, even though I say she’s crazy for all those miles she runs (she’s training for a full marathon next month) I really do admire her dedication and secretly wish I could run like her 😉

{Mile 9} My sister, Norma. She is my bff. She gets me. She is the one person who I know will always be there for me. She has to be. She’s my sister. I love her for putting up with me, for always being there for me. We can lean on each other and stand tall together knowing that we’ll never be alone.

{Miles 10-11} My kiddos, Diego & Elysse. I want to be a strong female role model for them. I want them to know that they can do anything. I want to be a good example for them and help them become healthy, active adults. I want them to be proud of me.

{Mile 12} My husband, Jason. I’m so grateful for his immense support. For believing in me wholeheartedly, even when I don’t believe in myself. Fo never complaining when I need to go on my runs, but rather encouraging me even when I’m grumpy! Thank you seems so little a phrase for all he does for our family. I love you, babe.

{Mile 13} This one is all mine. This one is to prove to myself that I can do it. I never imagined that I would be running a half marathon. Never. Yet here I am. It’s so amazing to know we all have it in us to make changes for the better. We can all become the person we are meant to be, even if we didn’t know we had it in us. It’s there. It’s just waiting for you to make the first move.

Thanks again everyone for supporting me in this and all I do! I am so grateful to have so many amazing – awesome – caring – funny – uplifting – loving – people in my life. xo

Preparing for my First Half Marathon | Tips & Tricks

It’s 5 days until my first half marathon and I’m getting really excited and a little nervous. One thing that helps keep me calm, is to have a plan. I like to plan just about everything! Ask my husband about family vacations, hahaha! I’m not going to totally freak out if things don’t go as planned, but having a plan relaxes me and makes me feel stable. I’m working on being more spontaneous in my life, I’m not sure I love it…

So of course, I am planning the logistics of race day down to the last detail. Huge thanks to the folks at Rock N Roll Marathon Series for the awesome event details, complete with PDFs of the course, road closures, etc. They’ve been very helpful 😉 I’ve heard that the crowds are huge and traffic gets really bad around the strip due to the road closures, so we want to allow for enough time to get to the strip early, check in to our room, and make our way to the start line with plenty of time. Our room is close to the finish line, so my parents and the kids will have a warm place to hang out while we run and we won’t have too long of a walk afterwards. We’ll also be having our own private “post-party” there! Woohoo!!!! Bring on the champagne!!!

Another thing that makes this race unique from other races is that it’s in the evening, so fueling up for the race would be a little different than regular morning races. I found these 2 articles that helped me plan for the day, down from what to pack to how to fuel. If you are running the Rock N Roll Vegas race this Sunday or any other night race, I totally suggest checking them out. Here are the links:

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-runners/how-do-i-fuel-evening-race

http://runeatrepeat.com/2013/11/06/fueling-for-a-night-race-disney-wine-and-dine-rnr-las-vegas-half-marathon/

I’m also planning to hit the grocery store to stock our room with snacks and drinks for before and after the race. I’ve gotta pack my bag with post-race clothes, but I already have my outfit laid out, maybe that was a little too early!

Big thanks to Brooks for this handy checklist!

So, for those of you experienced marathon runners, is there anything I’m missing? Do you have any race day prep tips and tricks you’d like to share with me and other newbies? I’d love to read all about your experiences in the comments, don’t be shy!

5 Steps to a Good Run

“I am not a runner.” I told myself that all the time, mostly as an excuse to not run. I did a couple 5Ks and wasn’t really into it. I love obstacle course racing, mostly because you get to take breaks from running and jump over walls and trek through mud. And then, I signed up for my first half marathon. Yup. Me. The girl who doesn’t like to run. Go figure, huh?

Well, I’m in my 14th week of half marathon training and my long runs are up to 9 miles. The Rock N Roll Half Marathon is happening November 17th and I’m a little nervous, but super excited. So, do I have a newfound love for running? Yes and No. I love the feeling after a run. I love how I can see myself getting faster and it amazes me that I can actually run farther distances than I ever imagined! I don’t love the treadmill. I’ve learned that the first 3 miles are the hardest (maybe that’s why 5Ks aren’t for me). It takes me a while to warm up! I like how running clears my head. I may start thinking about my “to do” list, but soon my thoughts are simply about getting it done. I become my own cheerleader. I still sometimes dread the idea of going out there and running, however I’ve found a few things that help my runs go a lot better than ever before. I’m clearly no authority on running, but these are a few things that have helped me, as a novice, enjoy running. So, if you’re like me and were never a big fan of running, check out these 5 Steps to a Good Run and let me know if they help you! With the right attitude, everyone can an enjoy a good run, even if running isn’t your favorite 😉

5 Steps to a Good Run

1. A great playlist! I could not get through my runs without my running music. For me, this isn’t even the genre of music I listen to on a regular basis, but the fast beats help keep me going at a steady pace and the lyrics are entertaining and/or motivating. I start my playlist with a few warm up songs, then a few favorites towards the middle to keep me going, and finally I save the real pump-me-up songs towards the end to keep me from stopping! I’m really loving Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia, Stronger by Kanye West, and Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy right now!

2. Water! You have no idea how many times I’d go for a run without water! I just didn’t like having to hold a bottle of water while I ran. It felt cumbersome, but then I’d be wishing I had some water when my throat was so dry and I started panting. Then, I learned about hydration belts, camel backs, and water packs. Running with water just got easier! And, I’ve got a place to hold my phone & asthma rescue inhaler too! There are lots of brands and styles out there, so try one out and find what works best for you. PS. you can find these at TJMaxx and Marshalls too for a fraction of the cost at a sports store 😉

This is what I currently use for all my runs!

But, I've got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs. — But, I’ve got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs.

3. Start Slow! Like I mentioned earlier, it takes a while for your body to warm up, so don’t feel like you have to start out at a super fast pace. Take a few moments before your run to figure out where you’ll start to increase your pace. For me, they are visual markers along my run, but it could easily be after 10 mins I’ll speed it up a bit or after 1 mile and so forth. The important thing, is to give your body the time it needs to warm up, otherwise you’ll get tired fast and will feel like quitting, believe me, I learned this the hard way!

4. Don’t Wear Cotton! Cotton tshirts were all I used to wear to the gym and for running. I was already wearing shorts or workout leggings, the last thing I wanted was to wear anything form fitting & show off the the muffin top! But, alas the t-shirts would get weighed down with sweat super fast. Yeah, pretty gross! I’d spend a lot of time adjusting my t-shirt so it wouldn’t stick to me. Yes, it was unflattering and uncomfortable. Sweaty t-shirts can also cause chafing under your armpits. Again, another thing I learned the hard way! This also goes for cotton yoga pants & undies! Grab yourself a few of those tech moisture-wicking shirts and thank me later 😉

Ps. I’ve found some that aren’t super form fitting either!

5. Track Your Runs! This is helpful for a few reasons. First, you’ll have an accurate detailed account of your run, such as distance, pace, and even average calories burned. Second, you’ll see how much better you’re getting! Tracking your progress is so important when running and working out in general. It really helps keep you motivated and proud of how far you’ve come. I just use the free RunKeeper app, but there are a ton of options out there!

BONUS TIPS: Don’t forget to do a quick warm up stretch before your run and a longer stretch afterwards. Check our Runner’s World for a ton of different stretching exercises for runners to find what works for you!

So, do you have any tips you’d like to share that help you with your running? Sharing is care 😉