Running Pop Quiz

One of my biggest running inspirations is Janae from The Hungry Runner Girl. My goal in life is to be as fast as her. HAHA okay that is a total lie because I know that will never happen. Anyways, she posted a fun running survey on her blog last week that I thought looked fun. Enjoy!

1.  On average how many races do you run a year?

The end of 2011 is when I really started to run more regularly and last year (2012) was when I started to run races (besides the occasional Turkey Trot) and I ran five. This year I hope to run even more!

2.  Head accessories, things you have to run with:  a hat, a visor, sunglasses, chapstick, sunscreen, head band, ponytail, braids, sweat band?

Headbands (to hold my headphones in place), headphones/iPod, and compression socks/sleeves (for long runs).

3.  Where do your workouts come from?  A training plan, a coach, whatever you feel like doing that day or what your training partner is doing that day?

If I’m training for a half marathon I’ll usually follow a plan, but if I’m not training for anything I’ll just try to run 2-4 times a week.

4.  How many miles on average do you put on a pair of shoes? 

The recommendation for shoe mileage (that’s a term, okay) is around 300 so I guess I try to stick to that. This year I’ve been tracking my miles so I can do a better job of knowing when to get new shoes. Last year I ran waaay too many miles on one pair of shoes and learned my lesson.

5.  Cell phone=  do you bring it with you on your run or leave it at home?

I use it as my iPod and a way to track my mileage so I always bring it.

6.  What was your last running related injury or have you been an injury free runner?

I’ve had knee problems throughout my running journey that pop up here and there. Last summer I had to take a month or so off of running to let my knee feel completely better. The chiropractor has definitely helped a lot in this area!

7.  Is your current running goal about running a farther distance (adding more mileage) or getting faster or BOTH?!?

Faster. I don’t think I’ll ever run past the half marathon distance, so I really want to try to PR at my next one (which is still not decided yet). I’d really like to do more HIIT and tempo runs to help increase my speed.

8.  Speedwork—->  at the track, on the treadmill, on the roads or never do it?

If I do it, it’s always on the treadmill since it’s a lot easier to force myself to run faster, haha.

9.  Stretching after a run:  hit the ground after a run and get stretching, stretch in the shower, stretch once you get to work/school, skip the stretching?

95% of the time I try to stretch (and foam roll) as soon as I get done with my run (either at home or in the gym) and the other 5% of the time I forget. It happens.

10.  What was your reason(S) for starting to run?

Well in middle school and high school (up until summer before senior year) I used to despise running. I dreaded that mile day at school. I also used to believe running made your legs big so I never wanted to do it. I don’t really think running makes your legs “big” now (maybe muscular? ;) ), but even if they did, I’d still run. I started running three years ago occasionally. I remember starting at like 5.3 mph on the treadmill and feeling like that was so fast. It took me a little while to increase my speed and go longer than a few miles. I don’t think I ran more than 3 miles at a time until late 2011. Since then running has been a pretty consistent form of exercise and stress reliever for me.

Do you run? If so, when did you start running?

What’s your favorite distance? 

Peace and Love,

Molly

Father and A Fox

Now that I’m working full-time, the weekends seem to fly right by. This weekend was no exception.


On Friday I worked a different shift than usual, and was home by 2pm. It felt so weird to have an afternoon to do nothing. I took advantage of it by relaxing, reading some blogs, and going for a run. I feel like I haven’t been running as much since my last half marathon, but I think it’s good to take a little break. Right now I’m loving shorter distances, and working on my speed.

Saturday I had an appointment in the morning, and afterwards my mom and I went on a brunch date.get-attachment.aspx

sweet onion and poppyseed bagel with veggie cream cheese for both :)

Later on my friends and I headed to Emily’s pool and spent some time in the sun. It ended up being a beautiful day, but I get bored really easily laying out so we only lasted a few hours before calling it a day.

Saturday night we celebrated Father’s Day since Hilary had to work Sunday.get-attachment.aspx

homemade cards > store-bought 

We had some of my dad’s favorite foods: ribs (none for me, obviously, hehe), corn on the cob, sliced potatoes, coleslaw, bread, and jello.get-attachment.aspx

recycled picture but it was something similar to this

We followed that with a sweet treat of his favorite cake my mom makes for his birthday and Father’s Day every year. We ended the night with a family walk around Emily and Jordan’s new neighborhood. As we were on our way home I saw an animal in someone’s front lawn and at first thought it was a big cat. Then I was like no maybe it’s a dog. Then my mom saw it and was like no, that is a fox!

Sure enough, it was a scrawny little fox. I didn’t have my phone with me so I couldn’t take a picture. Emily did have a little freakout though ;) We’ve seen foxes around here before so it wasn’t too much of a surprise, but it was actually kind of neat to see one so close.

Sunday was spent like most others: pancakes for breakfast, grocery shopping + Starbucks, meal prepping, and making dinner for the fam. Not too shabby of a day if I do say so  myself :)

I’m off to another week of camp. This week’s theme is hip hop dance. This could be interesting… ;)

Peace and Love,

Molly

Five Things Friday

1. This week was a long one. Wednesday I was gone for almost 12 hours, 10 of those hours being at work. But hey, at least today’s Friday :)

2. I’m really hoping it’s sunny at least part of the day Saturday so I can layout/swim. My sister only has her pool for a few more weeks until they move out of their apartment complex. Gotta take advantage of that.flare-iphoto-export-365459215

3. Want to know a big pet peeve of mine? When people tell me I’m always “quiet” and need to be more outgoing. Is it a bad thing not to talk non-stop? Telling an introvert to be more outgoing is basically like telling an extrovert to me more shy. Putting it that way doesn’t seem so easy, am I right? I say let people be who they are. End rant.

4. At work we were listening to Hannah Montana one day and I realized that some of the girls were only about 3 when the show ended and had no idea who she was. And that means none of the girls probably know who Lizzie McGuire is. Realizing this made me extremely sad for some reason. Disney just isn’t like it used to be.get-attachment.aspx

5. Less than a month until I get to see the Jo Bros in concert. And less than two months until I see Taylor again. Cannot wait to go back to Chicago.DSC01312

Happy Friday!

Peace and Love,

Molly