Little Rock Half Marathon Training

In two weeks, I will run my second half marathon. I ran my first one ever...and three months later I'm doing it again.

Lots of stuff has been going on around these parts lately, and I'm sorry I haven't gotten to tell you about it any sooner. But let's have some sharing time. Or I'll share and you can read...and then share in the comments. Because I love comments. Seriously. Sharing is caring peeps.

I ran 11 miles this morning. It was windy and cold. But I was in rare form. And by that I mean my attitude was of another person. Usually windy and cold runs means I'm going to be a super Grinch. I mean I hit total diva status when it's below freezing, overcast and windy. You can ask anyone.

But today was perfect. A windy and cold delight.

I've found my most favorite place to run in Little Rock. Or I should say North Little Rock, if specifics is what you're after. North Little Rock did the River Trail right. It's right on the river. I mean so close you could fall in. The rock walls are beautiful, and there are plenty of bathrooms along the trail...if you're into that.

I can't even describe how beautiful it is to me. The Big Guy knew what he was doing when He carved that rock quarry. End o' story.

I spent 9 of the 11 miles singing "I will walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more." Followed directly with "DADADADA..." Nobody sang the responses back to me. Bummer.

So basically the premise of this post is to show you I've been training for the Little Rock Half Marathon, and things have been going well.

I ran 9 miles at Two Rivers Park a few weeks back. Around mile 4, we decided to throw in a mile of trail running just off the River Trail. It was the highlight of the run.

I ran 10 miles last weekend. My  first long run after turning 25. YAY for birthdays. We ran from the Clinton Library to Burns Park and back. Not my best run. I was cold to the bone. No sun. Windy. Total diva princess...and not in a good way.

As a treat to starting my 25th year, I bought some new trail running shoes.

Hello unofficial Brooks spokesperson. #runhappy

After a 2.5 mile birthday trail run on the Pinnacle Mountain Base Trail, I decided trail shoes were a must if I didn't want to die running over all the rocks, roots and occasional small animal.

There will be a post about trail running once I get some more experience with it. But as of right now, I can tell you without hesitation trail running is the best kind of tough. Badassness just exudes out of you. Oh, and you'll be introduced to a new kind of tired.

I'm currently recovering.

Long runs are the best. Reading is the best. How I Met Your Mother is the best.

If I don't see ya before, I'll see ya at the finish line on 3.3.13. BOOM!!!

Stories from the Treadmill

Do you know how difficult it is to take a picture while running on a treadmill?

I have no idea what that says. I can make out a 31:15 time, and I know I did a 5K. But I have no idea about the pace or any of that stuff. And I thought I was being so proactive by taking this photo. Schucks.

We've had a good bit of rain here in the Big City. So running outside has been non-existent. But that doesn't mean I haven't been running because I definitely have been.

I did a two mile fartlek (speedwork, which was really three miles) on the treadmill Saturday. I wore my blue Brooks Adrenaline 12s I bought in New Orleans at the race expo.

I usually wear my pink ones that look just the same. But for some reason I put on the blue ones. While they are the same make and model of the shoe, the pink and the blue ones feel completely different on my feet.

By the time I finished my speedwork, my left shin and right ankle were screaming in pain. I had noticeable aches and pains I never have after running three miles. It's the shoes. Blue is completely different. I came home and put one of the pink ones on to compare. I could be crazy, but I don't think so. The pink one just felt better.

On Monday, it was still raining. And I had to run five miles. I couldn't put it off any longer, or I would be behind on the runs for this week. So I went back to the ole treadmill that only stays on for 20 minutes. I set it on the 5K setting so I would have to worry about the distance, not the time.

I'm happy to report I ran five miles. I only walked for a minute or so (and I say or so because I had to take into account the instance my treadmill shut off after I finished 3.1 miles) in between each mile. It took me about an hour or so. I tried to keep my pace right at 12:00, but I ran mile 3 at an 11:30 pace. And I wore my pink shoes. They made all the difference.

I didn't start to feel the burn until I was running my fourth mile. And that is how it's suppose to be. I love knowing the training plan I'm following is working.

Adding a mile to the long run each week is the perfect way to add to your fitness. The final mile is the one that builds your strength and endurance. And honestly, it's not so bad...if you've been doing all your training runs during the week the way you should.

I am excited I don't have to spend anymore time on the treadmill this week. The weather is too good right now to not be running outside. So I'm going to take advantage of that this week.

I'm running today. Speedwork. Three miles, which really is four miles considering the half mile warm-up and cool down. And I love the fact that I can run any time today because the weather is just right to be outside.

I'm also thrilled to tell you I get to run with my mom this weekend. I have a six mile long run, and she has an eight mile long run (she's in her recovery week). I love getting to run with her. I can ask her 600 million questions about different things as we run. Get ready, Mom!

What's new with you?

Have you been taking advantage of this awesome weather?

An Ode to Brooks Running Shoes

In honor of half marathon training beginning next week and because I love Brooks running shoes more than any other shoe on the market, I thought it would be a good idea to write the wonderful people at Brooks a little thank you note for making running shoes that my feet love. Overpronated feet have a tough time falling in love with a shoe...But that's neither here nor there.

Dear Brooks,

Thank you for making the Adrenaline series. It is my "go to" shoe, which I think it important in this day when we, as consumers, have so many choices and opinions floating around on the World Wide Web.

A large reason I think I fell in love with running was because I was fitted for the Brooks Adrenaline 11 when I started running over a year ago. You can read about that experience here. I loved my red Adrenalines so much  I was sad I had to retire them when tread wore down to nothing and my feet began to ache. Those shoes saw many miles and lots of first finish lines.

But I got a new pair of the Adrenaline 12s when I went to the New Orleans Rock 'N Roll half marathon in March. Not long after that, I signed up for my first half marathon. Per my mom's advice, I got another pair of Adrenalines, the pink 12s, to add to my training rotation. I'm still trying to figure out a way to get the purple Adrenaline 12s in my rotation. Somehow I think it's necessary for me to have all the Adrenaline 12s made.

Not long after I got the pink ones, I read about the Pure Project. I would love to try out the PureCadence, but I'm scared my feet have too overpronated for this minialist shoe. They just look so cool. I can't help myself. I envy all the people who wear them. Seriously. I think about ways to trip them and steal their shoes...Don't tell them I said that.

Thank you for making shoes I love. And please keep making them for us broken ankled overpronated people.

Love from your Adrenaline junkie in Arkansas,
Ashten

And something extra I found last night while I was reading through old blog posts....This post about running and learning is a gem. I crack myself up. You will get a clear understanding of how my brain actually works.

(Disclaimer: Brooks Running did not ask me to write this. I didn't receive any type of compensation. I just wanted to show them a little love because they made shoes my feet don't hate...which in my case it pretty amazing.)

One Foot in Front of the Other: Running for Beginners

In celebration of my one year running anniversary on Friday, I'm writing this post in hopes of everyone turning over new leaves to hit the pavement.

You say "I want to run." But you don't know what to do to get started. What gear do I need? What plan should I follow? Should I run with or without someone? How fast and how far should I go? All of these are legitimate questions, which I will do my best to answer.

"I want to run, but I don't know what to do to get started."

• Honestly, you don't really need anything to get started. Just get off the couch and start. Walking out the door will always be the hardest part. Dust off your tennis shoes from college, put on a ratty old t-shirt and comfortable shorts and get outside to run. It's not about what you look like, it's about how you feel. If you feel like you should be exercising, honor that feeling and go exercise. You don't need anything special to start running. In fact, I highly advise you to try it before you buy any significant running gear because the costs add up. So really we could just stop here...but that wouldn't be much fun. So let's keep going. 

"What gear do I need?"

• Get fitted for running shoes. I will preach this til the day I die. Shoes are the most important piece of running gear. They protect your feet. The options of running shoes are endless, and it can be overwhelming to figure out the best shoe for you. So go to a running store. Yes, a running store. Little Rock has two: Easy Runner and Go! Running. Seriously, the people who work there will analyze your foot as it hits the pavement, and they will fit you for a shoe based on what your feet do as you run. You will drop some serious change for a good pair of running shoes, but look at it as an investment in the sport and an investment in yourself. Get fitted for shoes. It's an absolute must. 
• The Garmin 305 Running Watch with GPS changed my running life. This watch keeps up with your time, distance, best pace, average pace and calories burned. It also monitors your heart rate, and you can set it up for biking as well. This is the second piece of gear I would tell you to invest in. Garmin makes all different kinds of running watches, as does Nike and others. You can also get some pretty good apps to keep up with your time and pace so look into those, too.
• If you want to invest in clothes, get moisture wicking clothes. The fabric will pull the moisture away from your body and help keep you cool (or warm) and dry.You don't have to spend a lot of money, although you might find yourself dropping cash on cute running shorts or a nice pair of socks. 
• SPIbelt - If you are a weirdo-paranoid freak like me, I have to carry my phone and keys with me on every run. The SPIbelt will hold your phone, keys and any other thing you think you need to carry with you. 

"What plan should I follow?"

• Starting out you don't really need a full plan to follow, just go run. My advice to new runners is start slow. Walk and incorporate running. You have to build up to running miles, otherwise you will shock your body. I used the Couch to 5K app on my phone to help me build up to running three miles. If you don't want to get an app,  warm up with a 5 minute brisk walk, just run for a minute and walk for two minutes for a totally of 20 minutes with a 5 minute cool down walk. Always stretch before and after. 

"Should I run with or without someone?"

• Totally up to you. If you want to go on this journey alone, that is totally fine. If you are the type of person who needs accountability, I would suggest finding a running buddy. I like running with and without people. Some days it's better to be alone. Other days, I feel like I need someone there for extra motivation. If you get the nagging feeling like you should run but don't really want to, call someone and ask them to go with you. You will never regret a good jog.

"How far and how fast should I go?"

• The number one rookie mistake: Starting out too fast and too far. You want to run three miles. Cool. But work up to that. Start out slow. Alternate walking and jogging. Don't sprint, jog. If you start to feel funny (like you're going to pass out or keel over), stop and walk for a minute or two. Listen to your body. 
• Starting out too fast with a distance goal that is too far for you in the beginning will not have you feeling good about running. There is a possibility that you won't have fun with it, and the whole point is to have fun while trying something new. I'm not saying every day will be rainbows and sunshine while you run because it won't. Some days will really suck. And you may have more than one sucky day in a row. But don't give up. Once you get the feeling of a good run, you will run through the bad ones to get to those good ones. I promise it's worth it. 

Additional things:

• Try to drink a lot of water and eat right. What you put into your body is the fuel you run on. So be aware of what you're eating and drinking, and take note of how it affects your body and your running. 
• Sign up for a race. This is a sure fire way to motivate you to keep running. But remember to start slow. Sign up for a 5K, and work your way up to a 10k, then half marathon if that's what you want to do.
• Remember the reason you started running, and keep it at the forefront of your mind. Always remember why you are running. Once you forget the reason behind your running, you won't want to do it. 

Who wants to run? 

Anyone want to run with me on my one year running anniversary on Friday? 

Waiting for Summer

In exactly 5 hours, I will be defending my thesis proposal to my graduate committee. I am so nervous. The possibilities of what they will say about my work are endless. And this is just the beginning. Remember it's just the proposal. They have the power to make me change anything about it that they see fit. Yeah, I know. The gravity of the situation is upon us, or I should say me.

But besides that major thing happening today, I do have some good news to share with you.

Critical Methods paper is complete.

Let's recap the semester so you know exactly what I put myself through:

• 27 page, 9,373 word original research paper
• Nine page thesis proposal
• Four books 
• Four book critiques
• Seven text book chapters
• Seven chapter synopses
• Six assignments
• Seven online posts
• Approximately 10 scholarly articles for online post submissions

And now you know why I'm officially crazy. School will do that to you. It will.

To help with my paper writing over the weekend, I bought myself some happy little daisies. And I moved them from my desk to my chair by the window as I did various school activities over the last few days. They are still so beautiful and happy. 

I've raised half my goal amount for St. Jude's half marathon. If you want to donate to the cause, just go right here and leave any amount that you like. Small donations are welcome...meaning just cause other people donated $100 doesn't mean you have to do that. 

I absolutely need these blush woven shoes. Absolutely NEED them. 

Ok, so after today's thesis defense...Who's taking me out for a drink? Any takers?

Popcorn Snack

What up, peeps? Lots of things have happened over this weekend. And some of those things includes HOMEWORK x 1000. But we will get to that later.

First, I want to flaunt some tasty food I had over the course of the last few days.

Beef tips and rice happened last night. I used just the right amount of wine, and I turned the crock pot on high all day long. It was perfect. Get the recipe here.

Eggplant lasagna, roasted broccoli and cheesy bread happened Monday night. Best ever. Hands down. I'm having that for lunch today. So so good. Get the recipe here. 

I have a new recipe to share with you. I think you will be pleased with my newest creation.

Popcorn Snack

1/4 C. white popcorn kernels

2 T. canola oil

Black pepper

Parmesan cheese

In a big pot, heat the oil on medium high heat and add three kernels. Cover with a lid. Once the first kernel pops, add the rest of the kernels. Gently shake the pot back and forth on the stove to keep the popcorn from burning. 

Once the last kernels have popped, turn the heat off and dump the popcorn into a bowl. Top with liberal amounts of black pepper and Parmesan cheese. 

Y'all. This popcorn is like crack-cocaine. Totally delicious and addictive. I feel like I'll be making it all the time...as should you. Seriously, pop your corn on the stove. It makes all the difference. And you can decide what toppings to add. The variations are endless. 

In other news...

My mom and her awesome friends ran a half-marathon in Jonesboro this weekend. The boyfriend and I were there for moral support. Yippie! I'm so proud of them. :)

And...

My new shoes came in. So. Freaking. Cute. I be rocking these with style very soon. 

How was your weekend?

A Weekend in Pictures

Spent a lot of time here.

Doing homework, lamenting over my non-existent social life and eating dark chocolate.

The 60s was an interesting time in Arkansas politics. Ask me anything...I bet I know it. Seriously.

For study breaks, I'd go outside to check the progress of my zinnia sprouts.

Early on Day 1

End of Day 1 after a full day in the sun

Day 2

There was a day 3, but I can't find it right now. Update on that tomorrow.

I ran yesterday.

Here are my stats:
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 34:16
Best Pace: 8:28
Average Pace:11:26
Calories: 357

I'll go into detail about that tomorrow. I've done some research that deserves a separate post. So stay tuned for something new I learned about running and side pains.

I had a lot of really wonderful food this weekend.

Waffles. Classic.

Rigatoni with a mushroom cream sauce

Parmesan and dill scrambled eggs on an English muffin

These beauties are on the way to my doorstep.

HOLLA. I'll be walking on a dream in no time.

How was your weekend?


Tell me something good.

Rewarding Yourself

Yesterday my mom, grandma and I attended a banquet for the Mass Comm Department. I was told about a month ago that I won an award for submitting my research paper into a contest with the prize being cash money.

I walked away with 3rd place and $75. Holla.

So in honor of winning money for school work, I'm going to reward myself with a new pair of shoes from Sole Society, an awesome shoe club. Join here.

But I don't know which shoes I want more...I need your help.

Should I get these...

Or these?

They cost the same price so that's not really a factor. Leave your thoughts in the comment section. I'll be sure to let you know what I decide to purchase.

As promised I have a new recipe to share with you today.

I call it Pasta with Spicy Zucchini.

What you need:
2 medium zucchini or yellow squash (whichever looks better)
2 large garlic cloves
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less...whatever your taste buds like)
1 box of whole wheat pasta
Olive Oil
1/2 Parmesan cheese
1 T. butter

First, grate your squash and put a generous amount of salt on it. I didn't grate my because apparently I can't read recipes...so that is why mine is not grated. Let the squash sit so the salt can draw out all the water.

In the meantime, boil some water. Toss in the noodles.

After the squash has released all its water, squeeze in some paper towels to get rid of the excess water. Heat some olive oil in a deep pan. Throw in the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Let cook for a few minutes. The garlic should smell amazing.

Throw in the zucchini. Let cook 2-3 minutes. It shouldn't take long. Toss the pasta in with the zucchini mixture. Add in 1/2 C. Parmesan cheese. Add some pasta water if the pasta seems dry. Stir in one tablespoon of butter to add some richness. Serve immediately.

While it looks plain and uninteresting, it is so flavorful and delicious. I think I got a little too happy with the red pepper flakes because my nose ran and my lips were numb for a full 20 minutes after I finished eating.

I will definitely make this again, but I will probably add in some thinly sliced onions and maybe some tiny shrimps for some added protein.

What have you been eating?


Which shoes would you pick? Leave a comment below. I love to hear what you think.

New Orleans: Race Expo and Race Day

The race expo was one of the coolest thing I've even been to because I've never seen so much running gear in one place. Brooks sponsored the race, and they had a lot of cool gear there for everyone to purchase. I scored some pretty awesome finds at the expo. See...

Official New Orleans Rock n Roll Marathon swag.

The back of the shirt

Brooks Adrenaline 12 running shoes

For my car

I love this tech shirt.

I could have went crazy in that place buying awesome running clothes. I'm most excited about the shoes. I know you remember I got shoes for my birthday, but they are not going to work out. Every time I've ran in them I've had some kind of sharp pain my ankles and knees. Not what should happen when you get new shoes.

So I went back to what I know, Brooks Adrenaline. You remember when I got my first pair, right?

Now on to the race. My mom and Lisa got their stuff ready the night before. Time chips tagged to their shoes.

We got up at 4:30 A.M. so they could get ready and eat breakfast. I didn't go down to the starting line with them, but my mom took her phone to take some pictures for me.

Kerri, Mom, Gayla and Lisa at the starting line

The line leading up to the starting line

I made it to the finish line at 8:30 A.M., and there were people already finishing the half. People ran a half marathon in under an hour and a half.

It's so inspiring to see so many people running. So many people run for different reasons. I felt like I could conquer the world...or at least run a half marathon.

When my mom and Lisa ran by me at mile 13, I got all teary-eyed watching my mom finish a half marathon. She is such a role model, and I love her so much. I was so proud of her finishing her second half marathon and cutting five minutes off her original time. She finished in 2 hours and 23 minutes.

The group was super happy to have finished the race. And their medals were so pretty. Very New Orleans.

Coming off the race high, I officially signed up for the Capital City Classic 10K in April.

And I'm going to tell you a secret. I'm going to sign up for St. Jude's half marathon in December. My mom and I are going to run it together, and I'm so excited about it.

All the entry fees go to St. Jude's Hospital, and  parents and patients line the race course near the hospital to thank the race participants for running the race and giving to the hospital. For more information about the St. Jude's marathon and half marathon, check this out.

What do you think about running a big race? Would you ever do it?

The End All Be All Birthday

We've officially made it to February. Yay yay hip hooray! It's officially 3 days until my birthday party, 6 days until my birthday and 21 days until I get to see Needtobreathe live for the fourth time. Holy crap I'm excited.

But before I can celebrate properly, I have to finish the homework.

Tell me what that means, and I will gladly do it. Until then, I'll just stare at the blank Word document on my computer. Got to get it done by Thursday. GOT TO.

My Sole Society February shoe picks are in.

Could they BE any cuter? I think not. I loved the blue ones, but I couldn't think of anything to wear them with. Luckily, they come in other colors.

These lovelies will be arriving at my door in seven to 10 business days. I love how work appropriate they are and how chic they are. Plus I love a wedge.

(But this whole shoe club thing reminds me that I need to clean out my closet. Maybe I will host a giveaway with my lightly worn clothes and shoes, if anyone is interested. Just a thought.)

If I hosted a lightly worn clothes and shoes giveaway, would you be interested?

What kinds of items would you like to see?

I Can't Get Sick

Yesterday morning I woke up with a sore throat. So I immediately started a medicine regimen. And by that I mean 1 part Zrytec D with 1 part sleep and 1 part soup. I'm feeling better this morning, but not my usual peppy self.

The reason I can't get sick is because Boom Kinetic is coming back to Little Rock on Friday. I think you may remember the last few times they've been to visit, but in case you don't check out this and this.

In a desperate attempt to get back to normal, I sipped coffee and hot tea off and on all day yesterday. Now I'm an avid coffee drinker, my friends and the baristas at Starbucks will tell you, but I do enjoy a nice cup of hot tea on the reg.

 My newest love is Numi Aged Earl Grey Tea. I couldn't find it at Walmart or Kroger, but Whole Foods didn't let me down when I was on the hunt for it a few weeks ago. This tea is absolutely divine. And I could drink multiple cups every single day and not get tired of it.

My second desperate attempt to make myself feel better was wearing the new yellow beauties around the house.

 They make me extra tall. And I love it. I'm sporting them today with my navy military blazer I snagged for $20 from Old Navy. I'm excited to see all the possibilities these beauties will have in my fashion future. And just know I'm now a towering 5'9'' chick walking around the big city.

 On the menu last night: Mexican Tortilla Soup. I got the recipe out of  For the Love of Soup, a new cookbook I picked up from Anthropologie a few weeks ago. This is the first soup I've made from the book, and it's a winner.

What you will need:

Olive oil

1 Onion

1 Yellow bell pepper

3 garlic cloves

1 Jalapeno

1 T. chili powder

2 tspn. dried oregano (I accidently used 2 Tablespoons in mine. Oops.)

1 tpsn. ground cumin

4 C. vegetable stock

2. C. water

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 medium zucchini, diced up

1 C. frozen corn kernels

6 small tortillas, cut into strips (I used corn tortillas, but you can use flour ones if you like those better.)

Salt and pepper

Cheese or sour cream, to finish

Saute the onion, garlic, bell pepper and jalapeno in a large pot on medium high heat until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the spices and cook for 2 more minutes. Add stock, water, tomatoes, zucchini and corn. Bring pot to a boil. Then turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add in the tortilla strips. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Put in a bowl and top with sour cream or cheese or both. 

Seriously, this soup is so easy and so good. I will definitely be making it again. I think it did help make me feel better. I'm excited about tonight's supper. I'm making a spicy pesto pasta dish. More on that tomorrow. 

As for the rest of this day, pray that I don't fall asleep at my desk due to medication overload and that I don't fall down in my yellow beauties once it starts raining later. 

Hope you all had a nice weekend. Now let's take this week by storm. And not get sick. 

How was your weekend?

Future Running Endeavors

Everyone knows my philosophy about good running shoes. It's something I preach. Lindsay got fitted for running shoes today. So that makes Logan the laggard of the group when it comes to getting new shoes. Help me people. The girl needs some new shoes. She's running in Nike Shox from her Sophomore year in college. #yikes

I'm a tad bit jealous of Lindsay's PURPLE shoes. Grass green and UCA purple = my two most favorite colors. And Easy Runner fitted her in a sweet pair of Brooks.

We are Brooks Buddies!! I was too excited about our run tonight for a lot of different reasons. 1. Lindsay was going to have an awesome first run in her shoes. 2. We changed the routine to run 8 minutes, walk 5 minutes, run 8 minutes, cooldown. 3. I look forward to the run all day long.

It's weird how that happens. In the beginning, I was running to complete a goal. Now I'm running because I want to/like it AND because I have a goal.

After the first 8 minute run, we felt good. It didn't seem that different. Or too difficult. The 5 minute walk was more than enough time for us to catch our breath. So we felt the same starting the second run, which has never happened before. Usually we are all sucking air and praying that we are close to the end. Tonight was not the case.

The second 8 minutes conversation still flowed nicely. Our pace was quick, but right on. I say quick because it was quicker than normal. I wish I had a fancy watch to tell you exactly what it was, but nobody has $300 to get one.

The sun was setting at the end of our run. The last minute we really pushed ourselves. We ran hard and fast. The pace was cray cray fast. And who was leading the pact: The Roommate. She was in rare form and kicking all our butts.

We finished the second 8 minutes hot, sweaty, breathing heavy and joyful!!!! It was the best run we have ever had. Hands down.

I've been nervous about admitting this next thing on the blog for about a week now, but it is time that I fill you in on our future running goals.

5K in October, obviously. That is what we are training for now. Then a 10K (6.2 miles). Then a half-marathon (13.1 miles). Then a marathon (26.2 miles).

Don't worry. This will be over the course of a few years, but it will happen.We will make each other do it. Logan will do it. Lindsay will do it. The roommate. And me.

The marathon is the only one that truly terrifies me. The thought of running for 26.2 miles makes me feel sick, but I want to do it at some point. The thought of 13.1 miles gets my blood pumping. I want to do it. And I want the 13.1 sticker to prove it.

So there it is. On the Internet. I admitted it. I set the goals. That means they have to happen. You have to keep me accountable.

Deep breath. And go.