Somehow, I ended up sleeping until 11 a.m. 11! I haven’t slept that long in such a long time. And let me tell you… it felt so good to wake up and not be tired.

I may get a run in this afternoon, otherwise tomorrow is supposed to be a better weather day so I’ll definitely be hitting the streets. It feels so weird that it is Memorial Day weekend and it is cold and rainy. Like cold enough to break out winter jackets again cold…

Despite that, we are officially declaring that it is summer here. Ift was time to cut my finger really bad chop up the watermelon.

I now have four bandaids on my finger. Oops.

Did you hear Runner’s World is going streaking again?

I tried this last year and miserably failed. Mostly because my foot started hurting and I got freaked out that I was going to get injured really bad. I am debating about doing it again but I’m not sure if streaking is the best for my body.

What do you think about streaking? Good or bad?

Tell me about your run today! Anyone racing? 

The post Debating about going streaking appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

Oops.

I used to beat myself up about missing a day when I planned to run, but honestly… it happens. And it is usually a sign that your body needs some extra rest anyways. I was planning on having tomorrow as a rest day, so instead… I’ll enjoy a nice rainy run. Funny thing is, I used to hate running in the rain. And then Ragnar came around and I really had no choice… and finally I realized that it is pretty fun. Minus the whole getting squishy shoes part.

It bums me out that this entire weekend is supposed to be rain, rain and more rain. I don’t mind the chillier temperatures (it keeps our apartment cool!) but rain is no fun to deal with in New York City. I do think that we can officially declare it the start of summer for one reason…

Watermelons have taken over the grocery store! I don’t know who’s more excited to finally have the first watermelon of the season, me or Jax. I think that it is one of my favorite things about summer.

Speaking about favorite foods, I am still working on The Plan. I am almost through the second phase. I’ve mixed it up a little bit and decided to start testing foods that I eat more than others. I am starting to realize that I think I have a problem with dairy… I need to test it a bit more, but sad face. I tested cheese on its own and that was fine, but when it’s combined with more dairy? No bueno.

And since this is a random brain dump, I have to share this awesome quote from Kara Goucher:

That’s the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.

Do you like to run in the rain? Why or why not?

FAVORITE summer food? 

The post Squishy shoes and favorite summer food appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

I do think that Australia was sending me some kind of secret message:

The second exciting reason… I signed up for another marathon!

I will be running the Wineglass Marathon on October 6. I am so very excited. This marathon has been on my wish list since moving to New York. I have heard many great things about it. It’s going to be quite awesome.

(I really wanted to sign up for this one too but C wasn’t convinced.)

This morning on my run I realized that I am always coming back and reporting that it was an “easy” four or five miles. What does that do for me? It’s great that I am getting in the miles but at some point I need to push myself. So that I did on this morning’s five miler.

I came home to reunite with another old friend.

Oh, how I’ve missed you. I tend to get really lazy about cross-training when I’m marathon training. No excuses for it because it is SO important… but sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to squeeze it all in. Anyways, like I said earlier this week, this summer is all about getting stronger so cross-training will be a huge part of my workouts.

Too bad my arms are too weak to even attempt kettlebell swings right now.

How do you keep pushing yourself when you aren’t training for something?

Any races on your wish list?

Favorite arm workout? I love kettlebell swings. They are so hard but the results are amazing!

The post Another marathon and an extra push appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

It is a really cool initiative that helps you reach your goals. You know that whole “the internet challenges you to stay accountable“? That’s what the idea is behind “What’s Beautiful.”

UA wants to recognize and appreciate the female athlete. The woman who wakes up at the crack of dawn to get her workout in before the day gets crazy. The woman who is focused on being strong and not skinny. The woman who makes the sacrifices to live healthy and happy. The woman who takes even five minutes out of her day to make it a bit healthier.

I seriously think this is such an awesome initiative. Not only does it give us the motivation we need to reach our goals, it helps us remember that we all need to take a moment to recognize what’s beautiful in our lives and appreciate all of the great things that we’ve worked towards.

So… what’s beautiful in my life?

• The fact that I have the ability to run marathons.
• That no matter what stands in my way… my health is my priority.
• My awesome family and friends, who are so loving and caring. And yes, this includes my cats!
• Watermelon. Always watermelon.
• Living in a place where we have the freedom to do what we want, no matter who we are.
• Waking up in the morning feeling sore after a great workout. That never gets old.
• Having the opportunity to live out my dreams… whether it’s living in New York City, running destination races or traveling the world.
• Laughing. It is always a great thing.

There are so many things to appreciate…!

Physically, to celebrate what I deem as beautiful, I have set my goal:

Run a sub-3:30 marathon.

This is a huge goal for me and one that I WILL achieve. I am excited because I feel like the What’s Beautiful platform is exactly what I need to stay accountable and motivate myself to do the extra things that I need to do to get here.

The community is there to push you, inspire you and help you achieve that goal. Along the way, UA posts various challenges and there are opportunities to win awesome UA swag.

Which is always quite amazing.

There are a ton of different teams that you can join to help you reach your goal and stay inspired. I am planning on launching a team later this week… stay tuned for details! Hint: it has to do with summer, and it has to do with being strong.

In the meantime, follow me and poke around on the site to learn more about how you can participate. I promise, you’ll love it!

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this campaign. All opinions are my own.

Are you on What’s Beautiful? Share your profile so I can follow you!

What’s beautiful in your life? Tell me what you appreciate today!

Do you have a big fitness goal? I want to hear it!

The post What’s Beautiful in your life appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

Capris and long-sleeves are suitable to run in but it’s just not the same as some funky colored shorts and tanks or tees for the summer months. These are quite possibly my favorite shorts in the world. They are made by Under Armour and have replaced the Nike Tempo Shorts that I thought I was obsessed with. Try these one time… they are comfortable and I love how they look (plus they always have them available in awesome colors).

This morning I did five miles in the park. It was pretty warm out! My legs are still tired from this past weekend, so I didn’t push it too hard. I came back for some extra motivation from my personal trainer to do a quick ab workout.

I did one minute of each:

• Plank
• Ankle reaches
• Flutter kicks
• V-ups
• Plank

Last week I did a plank for 1:30 and it was really easy. I was really confused. Especially since a one-minute plank this morning was torture? Weird.

I’ve decided that this summer will be all about speed. I need to work on getting my legs fresh, fast and fierce. And that counts building up my ab and arm muscles… since I am usually a slacker when it comes to that department.

I already have two speedy races on the calendar. First up is the MLB All-Star 5K on July 13 in Prospect Park. I don’t think I’ve run a 5K with NYRR since we moved here three years ago so I am really excited that they are finally hosting one.

And the other is back home in Wisconsin:

The Packers 5K! It just so happens that this falls on a weekend when we will be back for our family vacation. The entire family is going to run it — even C! I am so excited, it is going to be so fun. Plus you can’t beat a race in Lambeau.

Favorite thing about summer running? 

Do you have any summer training goals?

Tell me: What’s the next fun race on your race calendar? 

The post What I love about summer, speed & 5ks appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

Interesting fact in Self:

I definitely see how that can happen. It definitely helps to keep me accountable when I say I am going to run a certain distance or do something in the next day. Because I don’t want to look like a huge slacker if it doesn’t happen.

And speaking of being a huge slacker. I decided to reunite with an old friend:

One of my unwritten goals for the year was to start jump roping at least once a week. Jump roping has a lot of great benefits for runners. From an old Runner’s World article:

“Fast feet are as important as fast hands for boxers, so they’ve jumped rope for centuries to develop this skill,” says Ross Enamait, a boxing trainer in Vernon, Connecticut. “Jumping rope also helps runners be light on their feet.” Quick jumping helps increase stride frequency and leads to greater muscle endurance, aerobic conditioning, and power, says Enamait.

The article says that jump roping can be tough at first… and boy, is it! I feel like my legs have lost their spring. Too much distance training and not enough short bursts and sprints. I really want to try to knock out some 5Ks this summer but think my legs need some work before that happens.

I set the time for five minutes and went at it. Oh no, don’t be impressed by that number. I ended up taking breaks every 45 seconds or so, partially because my calves were killing me and also because if you don’t use a jump rope for six months, the curls are really hard to get out and it tangles quite a bit. Another good reason to quit being such a slacker.

Do you find that Twitter keeps you motivated? 

What is your favorite way to keep your legs fresh? 

The post Reuniting with an old friend appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

Bottom line, they were really fun to run in and made me feel really speedy.

A few weeks ago, Saucony sent me a second pair to review — the Kinvaras.

Oh. My. Goodness.

These are even more amazing. I love love LOVE the bright colors — there’s something about running in lime green and hot pink that make you feel fast. Or is it just me?

The comfort level for these shoes are out of this world as well. It seriously doesn’t feel like you have shoes on your feet because they are cocooned in clouds on earth. They are also super light — which make them perfect to use for speed running. I think these will be perfect for some fast summer 5ks that I am planning to check out.

The bottom line? The Kinvaras are comfortable, light and built for speed. The bright colors are an added plus for this fresh shoe design. If you are looking for a pair of light shoes for track workouts or fast races, these are the shoes for you.

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this campaign. All opinions are my own.

Do you wear different shoes for race day than you do when training?

Is running shoe color important for you? 

The post Brightening up the streets {Kinvara review} appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

C is a huge dance music fan so I go with him to concerts… you know, being the good wife. I don’t mind the music and do enjoy listening to it. Plus it’s fun to dress up in crazy costumes…

…and I love that there’s this whole underground exchange thing with “kandi”…

But, that being said, it’s probably not the best way to prepare for a half marathon. When we walked in last night, the woman that checked me in said “you look ready to party” and I told her that I had a half marathon in the morning. She probably thought I was crazy. We ended up leaving the festival around 11 so I was in bed by 12:30… not bad. But super sore feet.

Now to my outfit. I bought this really cute running skirt from Victoria’s Secret’s new sport line a few months ago and I am antsy to finally wear it. So I decided to go for it, along with a tank from Ellie (with a funky sports bra from Target underneath).

Let me tell you, I was so happy that I decided to take the plunge and wear this outfit. It was PERFECT. And the skirt fit amazingly, no riding or bunching or anything. Same with the tank — it’s made of spandex and fit really nice.

This year, NYRR really outdid themselves with the Brooklyn Half. They put on a spectacular pre-race party for packet pick up and they expanded the field to 25,000 people. I was a little skeptical about this because their races can be really crowded and now you are nearly doubling the field? But I think they staggered people in the corrals really well so it wasn’t overly crowded. There were a few times where I was boxed in, but nothing like other races I’ve ran.

The best thing about the Brooklyn Half Marathon is that most of it is run right in my own neighborhood. You run about three miles on the streets before you enter the park, and from there you do one loop. I love this part. I know how to run this hill, I know where to enjoy the downhills. LOVE.

Then you head out of the park and go down Ocean Parkway for about 5 miles. This is so-so. It gets boring after awhile because you are just going straight. At mile 9, I couldn’t see that timer — I’m not sure if someone did this on purpose or not. I started doubting myself, convincing myself that I was running too slow to even be close to my PR and basically breaking down. When I hit mile 10, I saw I could definitely PR — and instead of slowing down, I was maintaining and most likely going a little faster. This huge lack of confidence is something I never realized was an issue… more on that later.

Seeing mile 12 was a great moment, and I felt myself pick it up a little bit more. I was off from PRing by close to a minute and I wasn’t sure if I could do it… but why not try? Suddenly we were headed to the boardwalk to the finish… and I saw my time: 1:42.41 (OK, it took some math for me to calculate… it took nearly 7 minutes for me to cross the start). It wasn’t a PR, but it was close. The closest I’ve been in awhile.

It makes me wonder… if I had a “rest” night yesterday, would I have finally broken 1:40? Not that I would take back our night last night because it was a lot of fun… but I will get there.

Did you run a race today? Did you run Brooklyn? What did you think? Any PR’s?

The post 2013 Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

New York Road Runners is making this event bigger and perhaps better than before. The “expo” certainly was. Instead of just dropping by their office in the Upper East Side, packet pick up was in DUMBO.

They had a huge celebration and it was a beautiful night for it!

Plus you can’t forget the views…

Over the years, I’ve learned some things from running this race. Some tips for the 24,999 people who will be joining me on the streets of Brooklyn tomorrow:

• Add 15 minutes to your commute time. I love Brooklyn and all (duh, we live here) but sometimes transit here, especially early in the morning on a weekend, can be difficult. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to get here, especially if you are taking public transportation. That way you can make sure you aren’t running to the start.
• Don’t start out too fast! It’s so tempting to start out fast on this course because you start out on flat roadways. Of course, you want to go out a little fast so you can set into a good pace and get past the people in your corral that aren’t at your speed, but make sure its comfortably fast.
• Take the hill one step at a time. For anyone who has run through Prospect Park, you know that there is that big hill… this is a few miles into the race. There’s still several miles to go, so don’t overwork yourself on this hill. Take it one step at a time and power up it as best as you can. Think about the downhills you can look forward to after it!
• Look forward to Ocean Parkway… and for the shade. Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful early summer day and the half is early enough in the morning where it won’t be absurdly hot. But it can get toasty running down Ocean Parkway. Don’t be scared to veer into the shade, which is generally right near the curb. Claim this as your own. It will be a much pleasant last few miles.
• Push that last .5 miles. The last .5 miles are awesome in this race. Lots of crowds and cheering and you start to see the sights of Coney Island! Suddenly you are turning left, than right, to finish on the boardwalk. Such a cool experience. Enjoy every second of it!
• Enjoy the views. I know we are all crazy busy and have a million things to do, but take a moment to enjoy the views of Coney Island… the ocean looks clean and crisp, and I love seeing the boardwalk packed. Coney Island is a place that has stood the test of time and its so cool to see it in action in today’s world.

And of course, all I can really say is… HAVE FUN! Enjoy every step of the journey…

Any other half marathon tips?

Who’s running a race this weekend?! Tell me about it!

The post Tips for the Brooklyn Half Marathon appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.

It’s all about millennials which I love reading about… mostly because I am one and I think it’s interesting how we are cast in the media. If you aren’t familiar, we are the group of people — well kids (I don’t think of myself as old, yet) — who were born between 1980 and 2000. We are called a lot of things, but most people think that we are selfish and only think of ourselves.

It’s intriguing to learn about how different generations have similar qualities just based on the time of when they grew up… and also how much our parents influenced us. Of course, it’s a big stereotype and isn’t necessarily right about everyone… but the qualities are shocking. And I feel like I reflect most of them quite well.

We are called entitled, selfish, lazy, narcissistic, but we are also known to be extremely caring for those in need, creative, entrepreneurial and hardworking — when we have a reason to be. The narcissistic quality is what TIME focused on in its article and I think it’s really interesting. I never thought of myself as that — but I guess with the number of pictures I post online and the fact that I have a blog, it can be perceived that way.

The best part of the article was how it was saying that we still rely on our parents to help us make decisions in our lives. While I was reading the magazine, I was actually waiting for a call back from my dad for advice about something. So typical.

Speaking of generations, I absolutely love hearing what old people say. That’s not meant to be creepy and it probably sounds like it is.

This morning on my run, I heard the best conversation ever by these two old guys. They were out for a walk, the one guy — to the other guy, who had stopped — said, “What are you doing?” The guy responded, “Look, I found 40 cents!” He was so pumped. Ah, it’s the small things.

I hope everyone has a great day at Fit Blog NYC today! I am so bummed that I am unable to make it… but I will live vicariously through you all.

Do you think you fit the stereotype of your generation? What do you think about millennials — are we as bad as they say? 

What’s the best conversation you’ve overheard lately?

The post Just call me a millennial appeared first on Crazy Running Girl.