Say Goodbye to the "Uni-Boob"...

I have two words for you... sports and bra. One of the things that goes along with being a woman are the wonderful accessories that are your chest, but they can also be the bane of our existence. The bigger they are the harder it can be to find the right bra to make the girls feel supported and one that doesn't look as if you raided your grandmother's closet. After reading a recent article in SELF magazine I had a horrifying moment where I pictured my chesticles hanging down to my knees after all of the athletics I've done in my life. The biggest learning I gleaned from the article was the destruction of the "uni-boob" we have all lived with for years! Apparently when you smoosh your chest together the weight moves as one rather than each individual breast. In laymen terms you have 10lbs moving instead of just 5lbs, aka tearing more breast tissue every time you do anything besides sitting on the couch. The quest began for the perfect solution to my bra-woes and I thought I would get back to my blogging to share my bra adventure with you.

Sadly the right bra was definitely not the ones I had been using but I found one at one of my favorite online stores, RoadRunnerSports.com.  Cross referencing the SELF article, I wrote a short list for what is important. As a D cup there are certain requirements which means my list consisted of 360 degree support, separation (aka no "uni-boob"), and wide cushioned straps. I read reviews, checked my list, and decided on Moving Comfort's Juno Bra.

Once the bra finally arrived I put it to the ultimate test.... Equinox's Shredmill at 6:30am. Basically this class involves Jan telling us to better our running form, hit goal speeds, and increase our inclines to scary levels. The first class I went to meant 3 bras for me, 2 sports bras and one built into my tank top, which of course still had me bouncing around the whole forty-five minutes. However this time times  changed with the Moving Comfort bra keeping everything in its place. For once I wasn't fiddling with my sports bra every ten minutes and was able to focus on trying to survive the class.... The lesson today is that you have got to take care of the girls, and a sports bra is one of your greatest accessories!! Supporting them is more important than making sure you have the right tunes on your iPod or how great your hair looks in your new moisture wicking headband, so here is to the future of happy, healthy breasts.

A little R&R...

Last night I took a road trip to Tahoe with one of my best girlfriends. It consisted of weird music choices, random talks, and pretty much all you could eat yogurt pretzels. And of course I loved every moment of it, even though I might have to avoid some of my go-to musicians and anything pretzel for quite some time.

It was all worth it when I woke up this morning knowing I had nowhere to be and no commitments for 3 days straight. I ran (lets go with I "ralk-ed" which is what I refer to as running some and walking most) with Callie, grabbed some coffee, and pretty much soaked up some rays (fully sunblocked from head to toe) all day long. Then we made dinner for my mom, and her grandpa and uncle, which was of course, fantastic. And I would also like to make a shout out to her uncle's wonderful bbq skills as well as her gpop's fabulous ability to let us kick him out of the kitchen.

It was an amazing day of reconnecting with myself and focusing on the infinite potential there is out there. I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow re-focused and ready to create an incredible life for myself... and to see how my golf skills are these days....

Today is a beautiful day...

Sorry to all of my dedicated fans for not being an avid blogger as of late. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off ever since my brother's fabulous wedding. You see, I set some goals for myself and used the wedding as the perfect deadline. I mean, a huge event kind of creates its own big kind of perfect ticking clock. However a month has come and gone way too fast and my main goal was to be working on my career rather than working at lululemon. Don't get me wrong, I work with some incredible people who push me to push myself and who also support me in finding my passion in life, but I am just not cut out for a life of retail.... This life has put me into a slump and I am not a slump kind of girl, I am a take charge, kick ass, all while having a blast kind of girl.

That being said, I truly believe when we wake up each day we choose to make it what we want. For example, if I wake up this morning and say I feel like laying on the couch all day and being unproductive that will happen (which I don't of course because I have today off!). If I wake up and decide today I feel like I will be in a pissy mood all day, well then look out people because I will be a force to be reckoned with. BUT, if I wake up and decide to make the day amazing, be full of positive energy, and push myself to reach my goals, well then it is going to happen!

I guess my post today is about making the active choice to create an incredible day and seeing what happens. Enjoy each day and make it better than the one before. And I am aware that this post might be embracing my deep, deep, deep down inner yogi but really take a moment to breathe and shape the day into what you want it to be. Happy Saturday!

Wedding of the Century!!

This weekend was the weekend I have been waiting for for 8 months... my brother's wedding to an incredible woman who is now officially stuck being my sister! The whole weekend was filled with so much love, family, and of course amazing food. Each event was so tailored to their relationship and represented the best parts of each of them. Whenever they looked at each other, their faces lit up and you could see how much they loved one another. And the entire event was so well done that everyone couldn't help but have an amazing time! (I mean the photo above is the actual photo of their venue!!!)

So congratulations to Chris and Kathryn. I know that they will have an incredible life together and will live each day to the fullest. 

I think I'm going to be sick...

I am a movie lover. Hands down one of my favorite things to do is go to the movies or even just curl up on the couch with a friend, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the show. My own main problem these days is that after Avatar hit the box office there seems to have been a stream of 3-D movies. In a lot of cases I feel that being 3-D has added nothing additional to the film except for a hefty price tag. And in addition to that I had heard that there are actually negative side-effects of these films on our brains. I checked out an article written for CNN and you can click here to go to the full article, or read further to hear my interpretation.

In order to explain the basic principle of what three dimensional is to place your thumb in front of your face. Close one eye, then the other, and you will see that your thumb seems to have moved even though it hasn't. By wearing the 3-D glasses you are helping your brain make sense of this movement and make the two images into one. Now that being said, our brains were not made to process information this way. The movie itself "presents two slightly different perspectives of the same scene" and they are slightly separated.

The next time you sit down and settle in to watch one of these over-promoted films, just keep in mind the following. There are actual side effects to watching these films, including "mild symptoms such as disorientation and, in rare cases, seizures". Your eyes are working during the entire film to make sense of these superimposed images and we all know at least one friend who can't handle it who ends up getting sick in the movie theater.... So all of these 3-D movies are straining our ocular nerves and apparently 80% of people won't be affected, but what if you're one of the 20%!!

Anyway, here is what I feel. These movies strain the eyes and lately it seems that directors are so focused on making some huge big change that they forget about the script and the movie is bad anyway. So not only are you "straining your ocular nerve" but you're watching a horrible movie as well...

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day...

I love breakfast and I have brinner (otherwise known as breakfast for dinner) at least twice a week. I am best known for making a sexy scramble that is more veggies than egg and utterly delicious. However there are the occasional mornings where a bowl of cereal really hits the spot. For those mornings I simply try to go for a big, heaping bowl of a somewhat healthy cereal.... and stay away from the Lucky Charms. (I love those mini-marshmallows!) But that is dangerous too because some of these secretly healthy cereals are horrible for you and have way more sugar than that bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

When I got one of my Women's Health newsletters in my inbox and it asked to take a quiz of which cereals are healthier, I got kind of excited. I know, excited about cereal? Weird.... but I pretty much get excited about all food, especially when I get to test my knowledge. Here is the link for the "Can You Spot the Healthy Cereals?" quiz if you feel like trying it for yourself. Most of them are kind of "duh" moments, but the occasional one is a surprise so check it out!

Truth or Dare?...

Here is the last one!  For those of you that did these little truth or dares and loved it, awesome; and for those of you that didn't, I am moving on after this one so bare with me.

I think this week is the hardest because the truth makes you deal with the reality of how you think about your body and the dare makes you try something that you have mostly likely been in denial about for awhile.

Truth: Add up the time you spend in a day thinking about your size.
Answer: Whether it is putting on a pair of jeans and thinking what my butt looks like or feeling like I can't eat a treat because I'm working on my fab figure, that counts. Plus I noticed that a lot of times I make excuses for being tall (and 5'9" isn't really that tall...) which since I love being a tall, loud, and somewhat obnoxious person I need to stop doing! For anyone out there that is making excuses or thinking about something they don't like about themselves for any amount of time a day, get over it, and start making a conscious effort not to!


Dare: Wear a style you avoid even though you worry it may be unflattering.
Answer: I wear spandex almost every single day at lululemon so I am pretty sure I have this one covered. Granted we definitely have all sorts of different cuts and I don't always have to wear something tight but there are some days where pulling on those tight clothes is the last thing you want to do. Basically on those not so curvalicious days, so I am going to say that I go through this on a daily basis!

Truth or Dare?...

Here is the next "truth or dare?" in my SELF magazine

Truth: Admit what you do love about your body, then give it a compliment.
Answer: I love my legs. They are strong, chiseled, long and beautiful. In a pair of heels, flats, flip flops, sandals or just plain barefoot I think they are smokin'! So legs, you are awesome and I will keep pushing myself so that I keep loving you the way that I do....

Dare: Have sex with the lights on
Answer: Not even going to go there, this is not that kind of blog, plus hi mom and dad!

Can't wait to find out the next one is, but you'll have to!

Truth or Dare?...

My two favorite magazines are SELF and Women's Health. Each month I look forward to the day when my mailbox is filled with the wonderful exercise tips and motivational stories (not to mention cool shopping finds) that these two magazines provide. This month SELF delivered with a wonderful little section called "Truth or Dare?". I figure that I will take some of these and share my answers with everyone over the next couple of days.

Truth: Name the body part you like least and five great things it can do.
Answer: I have a love and hate relationship with my rear end. Sometimes I look at it and think, damn, you are huge! BUT... the fact of the matter is that my butt is the way it is. And here are the five things that it can do:

• When I sit in a chair it supports me and it is pretty nice and cushy
• That right pair of jeans make it a rockin' addition to any outfit
• I can shake what my momma gave me and it gives my comical booty dance that little extra touch
• It helps me climb the mountains of San Francisco and it gets even more toned everytime I do! 
• And last but not least... I think my curvy figure makes me who I am and I am pretty sure that without the extra junk in my trunk I might not be the "Hadley" I am today

Dare: Go a day without wearing makeup or glancing in the mirror.
Answer: Now since heading into the bathroom from work there is a mirror, tomorrow I have TRX which takes place in front of a mirror, and at lululemon there are mirrors all around so that one is really not an option. So one of these days I am going to have to go without makeup and since I am heading to the beach tomorrow it will probably be then!

Listen to your inner yogi...

The other day I got together with some of my fellow lululemon athletica girls and we made our way to the Yoga Tree in the Castro. Now since I have only done a couple of yoga classes and most were taught in a PE class, I was slightly nervous when it came to going to an actual yoga stuio. And of course, in true lululemon style, we were at the front of the class where we could be seen by everyone. I started off introducing myself to Tim, our awesome yoga teacher, and warning him that if I toppled over just to ignore me and I'll get right back up again. He laughed of course thinking I was kidding and I awkwardly laughed back since I knew I was serious...

Once the class got started and we did the opening deep breaths I got over it. I tried every pose whether I got it the first time or had to work on it a little bit. Tim also offered a bunch of modified poses that could be done for us yoga newbies. At one point he invited people to do handstands at the special request of one of the other women and I have to admit I chose to skip that one for my health as well as the health of my two friends next to me. All in all by the end of it I was sweating ridiculously and felt as if I had stretched and worked my entire body in a calming and rejuvenating way. It wasn't just a physical rejuvenation but a mental one as well. I have been pushing myself so hard lately and to take the time to focus on my body and check in with it is what I have learned to love the most about the brief-spirts of yoga that I have done.

As far as how I felt about the class at Yoga Tree, I thought it was great. The woman at the front desk was hilarious when we found out that there is another Hadley there and that she has the same last name as me (such a small world!). I also thought that Tim was great in responding to my random facial expressions and subtly pushing me to try the next level. And the space was so interesting and unique and yet not too intimidating for the less intense yogis like myself. So go check out the Yoga Tree or a local yoga studio in your area!

The Bus Climbs the Mountain for Me...

Today I took the bus because I didn't feel like climbing the mountains home. It made me think of how much lazier I have become since I moved here in January. In a lot of ways I have my act together but when it comes to forcing myself to walk home my motivation is a little lacking lately. This little act of taking the bus is such a slippery slope. Now I know that maybe that seems a little dramatic but its important to realize that thats how it starts, one little change in the routine at a time. By pushing yourself even when you don't want to you gain a sense of accomplishment when you've completed it. Back to the mountains for example, when I finally make it to the top, even though it is usually panting, sweaty, and gross, I still feel like I climbed a small mountain for mankind!

So on that note I am going to make a concerted effort to walk home each night no matter how exhausted I am. Each of those walks uphill add up and really make a difference in the long run and the time outside is really important as well. I mean today was a beautiful day and I still didn't walk home and enjoy the sunshine! So come on San Francisco, climb those mountains with me!

Mmmmm.... H20

I know, I know... People are always saying that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" or that you should drink 8 glasses of water every single day. Recently I have been trying to drink more water since I know that I should be with all this running and working out. So for the last month I have been carrying my lime green Nalgene around with me that says "Refill not Landfill" pretty much everywhere I go... In fact when I left it at the Zumba place I headed back and around and made sure to grab it up again. The point of this rambling post is that if you start carrying around a re-fillable water bottle (better for the environment) with you everywhere and make it part of your routine. By keeping it with you you will inevitably start drinking more water and its amazing how one day you will see how much better you feel because of it, or at least thats how it works for me.

Here is a little bit of info I've gleaned from the world wide web about why we need to drink more water. Our bodies are made up of 60-70% water which helps regulate our body temperatures. It also helps carry the nutrients that we get from that apple a day throughout our entire body. This is especially important when you are an active individual because you need those nutrients to fuel your body so that you can find your limits and push past them. 

Basically the moral of the story is drink more water!

Presenting!... Crunch

I have been a member of Crunch pretty much since I moved here and have to admit that I love and hate the place. I mean, the space is incredible because it is a renovated theater where they play movies on a big screen, the mood lighting makes it seem cooler, and there really is a great energy about the place. Not only are there a lot of beautiful people running around but there are some really interesting and friendly people on staff. When I first moved to San Francisco in January I made friends with a lot of the people that work there and its still great to go in there where they shout my name wrong as a running joke.... I used to wonder if it was really a joke until they started saying it right occasionally...

However, despite how much I have developed relationships with these people and how much better that makes my gym experience, I have some issues. While the space is unique and interesting the equipment is just old. A lot of the machines are just not up to the standards that the $80.00 a month membership requires. The equipment if just not up to par and they need to spend some time updating it or lower the price of membership. They also need to focus on the locker room/bathrooms. I think I have seen only about 5 people use the showers as a space where they can get ready for wherever they need to go. In general most people are like me where they plan to go back to their apartment to shower and get dressed even though they will be walking straight back to Polk when done.

That being said when they have a class going on the place really does come alive. I find that even if I am not taking a class I still push harder because of the energy that seems to radiate throughout the place. Its incredible to see and I think it even beats my theory that when there are action movies on people work out harder (@ least I do!). So despite my frustrations with the equipment I still think it is a great place to go and every time I get a huge welcome from all the people that work there it holds me accountable so that I show up again!

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution...

For all of you out there reading I want to encourage you to support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I have started to follow what he is doing and its truly inspirational. He is giving an outside perspective on America's health problems and starting from one small town and working towards the bigger, scary goal that is the whole of United States.

Those of you that aren't aware of what I am talking about here is a little synopsis. Jamie Oliver is better known as the Naked Chef and he has made his way to Huntington, West Virginia. Huntington was named the most unhealthy town in America but there are so many health problems across the country, it could have been any other town. I'm not saying that this show and revolution is going to fix all of problems that we have but I do think that it is going to make a difference. There are so many children that grow up with processed foods and believing that that is the way they are supposed to eat. The children don't know any better and basically we are killing them because we are teaching them bad habits that will shorten their lifespan. And the lives that they will be living will be less satisfying and filled with unnecessary trials. So take a look at the link: http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition and sign the petition or make a donation to start the food revolution and help make a change for the future.

Oh my, I love Pomelos...

This weekend was wonderful and involved baby goats at the farmers' market and a lot of sunshine. What I am even more excited about than the big hunk of fresh goat cheese I have already started to delve into is my discovery of the pomelo. The pomelo is basically a massive grapefruit about the size of my head that is sweet and delicious... so basically you don't need to add the massive amounts of sugar you do to the normal grapefruit. However Morgan, my new friend and introducer of the pomelo, said that the health benefits were the same as that of the grapefruit. So I decided to look into what exactly the health benefits are and why so many are willing to force down what we all know can be bitter and nasty (the bitter and nasty thing being the grapefruit and not the sweet/delicious pomelo).

Heres the skinny:

• Vitamin C, a must for all of us growing boys and girls
• Helps lower cholesterol which everyone needs to watch out for 
• This could be stretching it but it has nutrients that prolong lifespan
• Drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice or eating half a grapefruit a day blocks enzymes and speeds up the way our bodies burn fat
• Fights cold symptoms for anyone else out there that is as perpetually ill as I am
• Can help prevent heart disease which is always a good thing
• And this magic fruit also helps prevent certain types of cancer

Now who wouldn't want to add a grapefruit a day to their life? Oh wait... me, because they are way too bitter for my addicted-to-sweets taste buds. And since my solution has arrived with the mild and delicious pomelo I could not be more excited. So here are a couple tips for buying a pomelo: you want it to be super dense (aka heavy for its size) and it should have a fragrant sweet smell. (I told you I only had a couple...) Anyway I found mine at the farmers' market and on a sunny day and I suggest you do the same because it made it taste all the better!

The Method is in the Bar....

For about a month in Pasadena I did the BarMethod and after a couple months back in San Francisco I decided to go for it again. When I started in Pasadena I noticed a change in my whole body. As a curvy girl I felt like the definition I've been working on for years was finally coming through and that I was on my way towards a leaner me. However since I moved to San Francisco pretty much jobless it was a little outside of my price range as it runs a little higher than most.

After a couple months I checked the pricing over and over hoping that the price was magically going to lower and then all of a sudden it did! They have a new auto-renewal package that is only $165 (down from $220!). So I am now into my second month back at the BarMethod and I can now reach past my toes to the ground, easily get my leg up on that bar, and feel like I am constantly pushing my body to the limits. In fact I am going tomorrow afternoon before I head to work at lululemon athletica (its going to be an over the top day with TRX and BarMethod but I am so ready!... I think)

So I was trying to figure out why it is that I love the BarMethod so much besides the fab-figure I'm working on. It mixes pilates and ballet to elongate your muscles and adds the breathing and relaxation of yoga. My favorite part is at the end after you have tucked your booty as much as it can be tucked and you sit up after stretching out your legs, and just breath. Deep breaths that are so refreshing with calming music and mood lighting... I am pretty sure that from the minute I walk into that room I am waiting for those last couple minutes of just relaxing.

TRX + Me = Interesting...

On Wednesday I finally made it to TRX... I may or may not have slept in last week when I meant to go but like I said, you can't beat yourself up about it. So I walked down there thinking that the video looked intense and this could be pretty scary for the uncoordinated person that I am. I show up, the straps are hanging all around the room like some torture session and I'm thinking to myself that this could get interesting...

We start off with a warm up and its basically going through some of the simpler steps and getting the feel of working with the TRX bands. Alexis, the instructor, was great in helping me figure out how to move the straps around so that they are even and that way you don't end up lopsided throughout the routines. (And I'm not just saying that because she said she would check out my blog....) Also by placing your feet in different spots you can challenge yourself so that you can always push yourself to the next level and you won't get bored. And if you were getting bored and if you had been in my class you would have seen me practically fall over and laughing about a third of the time....

Despite that, all in all I was sweating, having fun, and I felt that by the end I had had a great workout. It is really a great class if you like to work out with a friend and you are at different levels because you just move your feet around and no one has to be the wiser if you're taking it a little easier on yourself... I am planning on going tomorrow morning and hopefully my muscles will be slightly less stiff...I have been looking for a class that is similar to a boot camp in that you get some cardio as well as work on those guns!

Zumba!

I chose to add the image to the right because I think it is hilarious.... granted not as hilarious as watching me and my friend Joanna actually Zumba, but close. This was my second Zumba experience and I have to say I love it! The steps are easy (for most people), the energy is high, and the workout is great. You sweat through the whole thing and shake your booty hopefully to the rhythm but as long as you have a smile on your face who cares? This workout is more about letting your work day, week, or month go and having fun. I think that Joanna and I are going to make this a weekly exercise date, I'm not sure if it will always be Zumba but I am pretty sure it will be a blast.

Has anyone out there tried Zumba or are you interested in trying it? The best place to go is zumba.com because it shows you all the classes for every day of the week and time around your zip code. So now there is no excuse, get out there and Zumba!

The Biggest Loser...

 So I just got back from a Zumba class which I will talk about in another post but I sat down and started watching the Biggest Loser pretty much right as I get home. This show inspires me every season and helps re-motivate me when I get down on my workouts..... which happens more often than I care to admit. Its all about not getting upset with yourself and getting back on track because when you get down and angry at yourself then your missing the reason why you workout. I workout to be healthy, feel powerful and sexy, and also because it is how I conquered my own weight goals.

Until about 14 years old I had a health problem. I was about 220 lbs and, granted, I was a tall girl but lets get real, a girl in the 200s in her early teens? Not healthy. I can remember the day when I went to the doctor and he said that I had cholesterol problems and needed to lose weight. This was at the physical we had to have for freshmen year of high school. High school, I had even entered the scariest time of most young girls lives where they are thrown into the hormonal and judgmental years that most people have years of therapy to get over. Well mine an even more unique experience as I went to an all girls Catholic boarding school.

Once I made it to Santa Catalina I felt like I didn't fit in. You could literally count the girls that didn't have Barbie as a role model and sadly I was one of them. That is not where I hit the "ah-ha" moment however because I didn't see myself as any different from the girls around me... or at least not the point where I was. In fact, I even gained another 10 lbs to get to the ripe number of 220 after my grandfather passed away my first month there.

Then January 1st hit and I decided to make a change. I'm not sure what the exact moment was but I felt that I needed to change my life. I wasn't going to be in the back seat and I just made the decision an started working out. I threw myself wholeheartedly into being healthy and never looked back. It was never "Am I going to work out today?" but "When am I going to work out today?" In fact I got so into working out that I spent all of my downtime, after homework was done of course, watching DVDs and became a huge movie fan. I don't think it was until college where I found that balance of how to integrate working out, career, and a social life all into one. Each time I move around or go on vacation it always takes me sometime to readjust and refocus on what is important to me. I am now in that stage and am working on creating that balance here in San Francisco. Some weeks are going to be better than others but just knowing that I always figure it out eventually and that the people on the Biggest Loser can do just keeps me going.

So to end this longer than usual post, I ask you to get out there and try a class or just do something that you haven't done before.

TRX Training Center

Tomorrow morning I am going all out for my first TRX class. I have my brother's wedding coming up so it is pretty much time to keep on my marathon goal and get on it.... plus tomorrow is day 2 of the bridesmaid dress hunt! I am very excited and feeling pumped to try something new. It is so important to mix things up and push yourself to the limits to find out what you're made of. Granted if they have me doing the position in the first photo to the left.... that could be interesting. However this seems like a very dynamic exercise with a lot of different challenges, my main one being balance so cross your fingers!

Just breathe....

This past Wednesday night we hosted a yoga and wellness seminar at our lululemon athletica Grant avenue store. It was very educational and also gave me a chance to breathe. The focus of the seminar was on taking the time to check in with your body. With all of the work I have been doing and trying to squeeze in runs with Bar Method and normal gym time, it was great to just look inside and feel my breath. I really suggest closing your eyes, taking deep breaths, and just focusing on your breathing. It just makes you feel centered and relaxed. I am so excited for the next on Wednesday night!

Horoscopes....

Well my brother sent me an email to "not let my blog die" and here is my attempt to get back into it. Coincidentally I haven't been able to run much since I have been so busy with my PR internship and lululemon athletica. But, just in the spirit of me needing a reboost to my workout routine we had a Zumba class in our lululemon boutique last night! That was my scary thing for the day as I am dreadfully uncoordinated but it was definitely a workout that I was sweating throughout and yet you focus so much on the steps and such you don't feel like you're working out. Granted I am really hoping that if I do it again that my skills will have improved somewhat....

Anyway, my big reboost sadly comes from a horoscope I read this morning from an app on my iTouch. Here it is:

"An interest in health and nutrition could come to the surface for you, Leo. New discoveries regarding the benefits of certain nutrients, exercise programs, or other forms of alternative therapy could attract your attention. You might want to attend a lecture of some kind in order to learn more about it. You'll probably stick with any new program begun now, so go for it. Dare to strive for optimal health!"

This comes at the perfect time since I am starting to learn what my schedule will  like and am getting things under control. So here's to getting in shape for this marathon! (Which I have recruited my dad to do with me and he has been running everyday practically since college so I really need to step up my game)

Girl Scouts suck....

My high school reunion in Monterey this weekend was my first time out of the city since I moved here two months ago. It was great to see everyone while I was there but of course I ran into the evil green people that are Girl Scouts. It is that amazing time of year where they stalk you outside of every supermarket and corner you until you buy their boxes of deliciousness. Well, as I am an admitted dessert addict and peanut butter fan, I left with a box of Tagalongs. After the long week I have had they are now gone which is so sad and yet fantastic because now I can move on to getting healthy for my half marathon. So for all of my zero followers out there, just remember that as long as your off days are only once in awhile then you can move on and get back on track. Tomorrow morning I am going to wake up and take a great run before I start my Saturday enjoying the wonderful weather that is San Francisco right now.

First run...

Even before this whole half marathon, I have always loved running outside and breaking out of the gym. Granted, I love the renovated movie theater that is my gym and nothing makes cardio on the elliptical go faster than watching Bruce Willis kick butt in Die Hard... But I like to pretend that I haven't completely lost my runner's gene so a run outside every couple weeks helps keep my delusions alive. The fresh air, the beautiful San Francisco views, and the feeling that I might keel-over at any moment don't even deter me from these random runs through the city.

With the new running towards the bigger picture I am going to have to change my whole random running to an actual regimented schedule. I have been reading up on training and how to avoid injury so that I can do this right. One thing that is important is not taking too much on too fast, aka thinking I can run for an hour straight when I should just be hoping to make it up one of these mountains. I should be clear though, I can run more than one of these hills and up one of these "hills" but once I get to a certain point I don't feel I can push myself farther. I've decided that this is more of a mental block and that I am giving up even though physically I could keep going. This is probably a mini-breakthrough right here and hopefully this will make a difference on my next run tomorrow morning.

My first run out there I ran about a mile straight and then I hit Van Ness where it gets so crowded that I run faster and really focus on how cool I feel running. I can admit this because working out makes me feel like a strong and sexy woman, but I might focus too much on the fact that I'm running and not the actual running part. This is my goal for this coming week and my run tomorrow, stay at a slow and steady pace so I run the whole 30 minutes. Can't wait!

Lets get it started...

In the wake of my recent move to San Francisco and trying to get over this mini-rut in my workouts, I have decided to run a half-marathon. I am going to conquer this whole I am not a runner-thing once and for all. I keep looking back to my freshman year of college where I was feeling awesome and running an hour a day on the treadmill (it was winter time of course)... And then I think, I am 22 years old and already feeling like I need to look back on the good ol' days. Unacceptable and time to make some changes...

Now this past week I have started the difficult task of forcing myself out of my gym and onto the road so that I can figure out how hard this is actually going to be. Let me tell you... this is going to be hard! I am at about 4 and a half miles of what I like to call "w-ogging", basically a combo of jogging and walking (previously called "r-alking" but someone came up with this today and I like it better). The mountains as I like to call them, hills isn't a strong enough word, are really not helping the situation. So in order to make myself accountable and to really make this an experience I have decided to create this blog. My plan is to talk about how I kick this running thing in the butt one mile at a time and how this is going to affect my life as a whole. Friends, family, random people that read my blog, get excited and hopefully this will inspire you too!