Posts Tagged "running"

#HUNG4THEHOLIDAYS Reveal

Posted by SeeBriRun on Dec 20, 2012 in Running | 3 comments

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year, besides my birthday of course , so when I heard that Carlyn was organizing a “Hung for the Holiday’s ornament swap I was SO down.

Here’s how it worked:

• You let Carlyn know you wanted to be involved
• She pairs you up
• You find an ornament that you think suits your partner
• Send your ornament out in time for Christams

And BAM a pretty little Christmas ornament shows up on your door step and you meet another personal in the fitness community! So much fun.

Lora over at Crazy Running Girl (cute name right?) was my secret ornament swapper.Jingle bells!! How fun!!!

A cupcake ornament. How freakin’ perfect. I love cupcakes so so much. This pretty much resembles my favorite cupcake, RED VELVET.

My tree isn’t up yet because my younger brother is JUST getting home from college & he cuts down the tree for us.  I know this will look absolutely perfect, and yummy, on my tree!

Thanks again Lora!

ALSO since my ornament partner, Jenn,  doesn’t have a blog here is a pic of the ornament I got her! You can also follow her on Twitter @Jenflo3

That is one cute ornament if I don’t say so myself.  I purchased it from my local running company, Sayville Running Company. You can also follow them @SayvilleRunning Jenn is also a runner who likes the color red so I KNEW this would be perfect for her!

Are you participating in any swaps this year OR have you raced in any holiday themed runs?

A look back on half marathon training

Posted by SeeBriRun on Oct 10, 2012 in half marathon, Running | 1 comment

This past Sunday marked one year from my first and only half marathon.  As much as I would have liked to run it again this year, it just wasn’t in my deck of cards.  When I first started running I was chomping at the bit to try racing every distance.  Now it’s a different story.  I don’t want to just race a distance to say I ran a half marathon I want to race it and know that I was fully capable of pushing myself to the limit. Don’t get me wrong,  I don’t regret racing the half marathon it was a great experience, but it taught me a lot too.

Such a great idea for a race.

I really don’t think I was ready.  Yes I could run the distance physically but mentally I wasn’t.  Running was still SO new to me.  I wasn’t used to racing, I had only done one 5K prior, and I just wasn’t used to the mental blocks the come with running either.  Running a 13 mile run around the comfort of my own neighborhood vs. a race in a new locations is completely different! I was not expecting the huge adrenaline rush, how to pace myself, how to deal with mental insecurities, and having people sprint past me.  It was intense, but nonetheless a learning experience.

I wanted to come back in 2012 and kill it, but hey maybe next year.

Diva Brianna.

For now, I’m focusing on shorter distances and trying to get over my race anxiety! I gotta start small and work my way up so that they next time I race a half, I’ll be ready!

Congratulations to everyone who raced “Run like a Diva Long Island” this year! It’s a great and super fun race.

SO tell me… have you ever looked back on your races and felt unprepared?

A Fresh Start

Posted by SeeBriRun on Oct 8, 2012 in 5k, Running | 0 comments

New week, New training.

In 8 weeks I will hopefully be kicking some major butt at a local 5K.  My goal? Breaking 30minutes.  My lofty, sorta think I can do it goal? 24 minutes.  Sub 30 is goal I wanted to reach before 2012 ends.  The race is on December 2^nd. I guess I’m cutting it close? Oops.

Can you tell that I’m a foot model for Brooks & Sugoi? Compression socks really do wonders for my legs. Wait, nope.

I’m finally pushing myself and sticking with a training plan.  I think I finally found one that works for me.  I’m going to be mixing between Hal Higdons intermediate & advanced training plans.  Honestly, I am SO excited.  I never stick to a training plan.  How horrible is that? I truly just like going out and doing whatever I want.  Running make me feel free but recently I started thinking I need to push myself.  I feel like I lost that “spark” to see how far I can test my limits.

It’s time for me to Dream Big .  I have my training plan and training paces printed out and ready to go! I’ve been fooling around with the Mcmillan Calculator.  It’s fun to see what kind of paces I need to be doing to get a sub 21 minute 5K or a 4 min mile.  A girl can dream right?

Also, I’m going to totally clean up my diet.  I bought two sports nutrition books so hopefully that will help! It’s not that I eat crap, I mostly eat organic, it’s when I eat! I forget to eat breakfast, have a big lunch, and then normally snack/graze for dinner.  This leaves me feeling tired and sluggish on runs and it’s time to change that!

Today marks day one, wish me luck!

So tell me, what are your big goals before 2012 ends?

Until next time,

Run Hard. Run Long. Run Strong.

Running Naked

Posted by SeeBriRun on Sep 27, 2012 in 5k, Running | 1 comment

No not literally, get your mind out of the gutter.

Appropriate.

For the past few months I’ve been running Garmin-less.  I was SO excited when I got my Garmin but shortly after I realized it freaked me out.  I became obsessed with looking at my watch.  I know we’ve all been there, running and staring at your wrist.  I decided to give it up. Whenever I saw how fast I was running I would freak out and think “How can I possibly be running that fast??”. So I stopped wearing it and listened to my body.  For the most part, I think I got faster because I wasn’t thinking and worrying about how fast I was going.  I listened to my body, I knew what felt easy and when I need to push.

Now I’m starting to rethink my decision.  The past weekends 5K I went in with a “I don’t care I’m just going to run” type of attitude.  No specific training, no speed work, just running. I hit mile 1 at 8:15 and it felt easy. Why did I pull out my earbud to hear the callers time? Because I wanted to know.  I needed to know… but was it the right decision? I immediately went into panic mode, even though it felt easy.  I reverted back to beginner running mode and told myself “too fast, slow down”, which I did… and it leaded to a stomach cramp, which I think I created from freaking out.  The whole “running naked” has been fun, but it’s now time to whole myself accountable.  I freaked out because I didn’t think I could how out that pace, even though I probably do during regular runs when I’m Garmin-less.

Pretty watch, stop makin’ me crazy.

So, from now on I will be wearing my Garmin and PUSHING myself to believe that I can do it.  If I know the exact times that I’m running during my normal run than I’ll know when to push and what is normal during a race, right?

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with my post BUT it was too pretty not to share. A Long Island sunset.

Do you always run with your Garmin? Or do you go through periods without your watch?

Also, don’t forget to vote for me in the Face of Fitness contest!

Until next time,

Run Hard, Run Long, Run Strong.

Face of Fitness

Posted by SeeBriRun on Sep 26, 2012 in Running, Uncategorized | 0 comments

I’ve been harrassing you through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and now my blog!

Recently I entered in Fitness Magazine’s “Face of Fitness” contest.  When I first heard about the contest I was unsure if I should enter.  So many thoughts entered in my head, do I have a chance? Should I do it? What if no one votes for me.  But then I said SCREW IT.  I’ll never know if I don’t try.  I think Prefontaine said it best ” To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

My favorite.

I really wanted to enter this contest not only because of its obviously awesome possibility of having a Fitness photo shoot but because it reminded me of why I wanted to start blogging.  After overcoming the narcissistic feeling of right down my thoughts I realized I don’t just do it for myself I do it for others.  When I first started running I really looked at other bloggers for advice and to answer questions and I too wanted to be that portal of information.  To show that other side of fitness, the hardships of a normal person.  I may not be Kara Goucher and have phenomenal times and body but I can offer what its like to go from never being a runner to pushing myself and trying to fit in working out around a full time job.  Nothing would make me happier than knowing I inspired someone to get out and run, that truly makes me so happy.

You can vote once a day, everyday and I would truly appreciate it if you could vote for me!

Please vote!

 How have you dreamed big lately?

Until next time,

Run Hard. Run Long. Run Strong.