Howdy!
I hope everyone is enjoying the fresh Spring weather. Running in shorts? What a novelty.
Yesterday, I headed down to the suburbs for a little staycation. Now that I don't live with my parents, I love coming home once in awhile for good food and a chance to relax. It's nice getting out of the city sometimes.
This staycation actually had a greater purpose than gaining five pounds and reading a full novel overnight. My dad, sister J, and I were participating in LUNGevity's 5k run for lung cancer research. It was an interesting event. My dad and I had never thought about this before, but we realized that we rarely run races that have a charity as the main theme. Of course, every run we do supports a charity, but our runs tend to be Grateful Dead themed with tyedye tee shirt giveaways. The vibe at this event was rightfully somber, and unlike our usual races, there was no beer. I think we both agreed that attending a serious race once in awhile was a great choice. I personally felt more motivated to kick ass when the cause that I was racing for was displayed so prominently.
I guess that fighting lung cancer really lit the fire under my butt, because I knocked my PR out of the water!! Yes, maybe the fun run wasn't exactly the most appropriate venue for me to buckle down and charge, but ya know what, sue me. For the first time in over 6(!) years, I raced under 28 minutes. Throughout college, I never once broke 30 minutes. That 100 day challenge certainly prepared me for the spring races. I haven't felt this strong since my rowing days. I actually feel even better because unlike high school, I feel fit without having the shoulders of a line backer. THIS IS WINNING.
My suggestion for May is to find a race that focuses solely on a charity. Yes, please do take on the Cinco de Miler( I might !), but also check out a race that focuses less on partying and more on the issue at hand.
Peace, Love, Sweat xoxo SR
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Kimpton Hotels: You guys rock.
This ad from Kimpton Hotels is hysterical! True, it's super weird and slightly creepy, but hey, who doesn't want to spend their day with a mustached yoga mat? This work is pretty inspirational for my own ads...I say the goofier the better! Quirky+ yoga mat= happy me!
Check it out here: Nothing like a date with a yoga mat to brighten your work-cation
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Check it out here: Nothing like a date with a yoga mat to brighten your work-cation
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
I'm still here!
Quite a few moons have gone by since I last posted!
I've been sticking to my exercise regiment as best that I can. School has gotten a little crazy so I'm back to my smelly ways. Run in the morning, meet groups all day, shower at night- gross, I know. Whatever gets me to that finish line in June! I'm starting to feel a little burnt out, but am trying to push through any illnesses that may be creeping up. My friend Taylor, an instructor at CorePower ( shameless plug, take her classes, she rocks!), has been a good influence on my workouts. We met up twice this week and both times, I had a chance to try new jogs AND we went to a RealRyder class, which if you read this blog, you know that I love. Overall, I'm sore and spent, but trying to feel good.
I'm taking a social media class at school that has given me an assignment involving this blog. Once in awhile, I'll be writing posts geared towards this class. They probably won't be fitness related, but do read if you're interested! The prompts are intriguing.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
I've been sticking to my exercise regiment as best that I can. School has gotten a little crazy so I'm back to my smelly ways. Run in the morning, meet groups all day, shower at night- gross, I know. Whatever gets me to that finish line in June! I'm starting to feel a little burnt out, but am trying to push through any illnesses that may be creeping up. My friend Taylor, an instructor at CorePower ( shameless plug, take her classes, she rocks!), has been a good influence on my workouts. We met up twice this week and both times, I had a chance to try new jogs AND we went to a RealRyder class, which if you read this blog, you know that I love. Overall, I'm sore and spent, but trying to feel good.
I'm taking a social media class at school that has given me an assignment involving this blog. Once in awhile, I'll be writing posts geared towards this class. They probably won't be fitness related, but do read if you're interested! The prompts are intriguing.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hello Tuesday!
Howdy!
Still reeling from yesterday's events in Boston, but have taken comfort in the pure display of beautiful humanity that the runners and citizens in Boston have shown the victims of this horrible attack. It's been a tough year, but again and again we see more heroes than villains so I'm not giving up on the world just yet.
Today, I celebrated my new found freedom as a full time student by throwing myself into a trifecta of exercise awesomeness. I started the day bright and early with a physical therapy session. My PT is really cool and even though my hips sometimes feel like they may be permanently abandoning ship, he and I always have a laugh. My PT office is located a floor below one of those fancy shmancy gyms so we always goof on the overdressed posers coming out of there and half assing physical therapy.
After I was all stretched out, I went on a 4 mile jog down to the lake. After a sad day, it's always nice to see the sun shining and life going on as it should. I love living in such a vibrant place like Wrigleyville. Running past the stadium never gets old.
After my jog, I headed straight to yoga. I wasn't able to attend last week and have been having SERIOUS withdrawals. I can't think of the last time I took a week off from yoga. It was tough firing up my core in the heat again, but damn did it feel good to roll out my back. This is weird, but sometimes I pretend that my spine is a fruit roll up and I just need to stretch, straighten and flatten...the metaphors we create for ourselves to get through a workout...
Now I'm just cruising through homework and getting ready for school at night. It's been an adjustment learning how to use my free time wisely. I can't say I've hit my stride yet, I could probably be much more productive, but I am definitely feeling so much better than I did when I was working in the office. I still stress about school, but the it all just feels so much more manageable.
Peace, Love, Sweat xoxo SR
Still reeling from yesterday's events in Boston, but have taken comfort in the pure display of beautiful humanity that the runners and citizens in Boston have shown the victims of this horrible attack. It's been a tough year, but again and again we see more heroes than villains so I'm not giving up on the world just yet.
Today, I celebrated my new found freedom as a full time student by throwing myself into a trifecta of exercise awesomeness. I started the day bright and early with a physical therapy session. My PT is really cool and even though my hips sometimes feel like they may be permanently abandoning ship, he and I always have a laugh. My PT office is located a floor below one of those fancy shmancy gyms so we always goof on the overdressed posers coming out of there and half assing physical therapy.
After I was all stretched out, I went on a 4 mile jog down to the lake. After a sad day, it's always nice to see the sun shining and life going on as it should. I love living in such a vibrant place like Wrigleyville. Running past the stadium never gets old.
After my jog, I headed straight to yoga. I wasn't able to attend last week and have been having SERIOUS withdrawals. I can't think of the last time I took a week off from yoga. It was tough firing up my core in the heat again, but damn did it feel good to roll out my back. This is weird, but sometimes I pretend that my spine is a fruit roll up and I just need to stretch, straighten and flatten...the metaphors we create for ourselves to get through a workout...
Now I'm just cruising through homework and getting ready for school at night. It's been an adjustment learning how to use my free time wisely. I can't say I've hit my stride yet, I could probably be much more productive, but I am definitely feeling so much better than I did when I was working in the office. I still stress about school, but the it all just feels so much more manageable.
Peace, Love, Sweat xoxo SR
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sending love, peace, and positivity to Boston
So sad and disheartened that such an amazing and inspiring moment was ruined by a random act of chaotic violence. Sending love to the runners and their supporters out in Boston.
<3
Peace, love, sweat xoxoSR
<3
Peace, love, sweat xoxoSR
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Last day...or is it?!
Hi Everyone!
Today is technically day 100. How the heck did that happen?! The only exercise I've done today is lift donuts into my mouth, so I foresee a rainy night jog in my future. Guess I'm ending on a tough note, which seems appropriate! This challenge has been a far more profound experience than I ever anticipated. True, my body went through some fun physical changes ( whoa I have abs!), but the emotional ones were far more significant. I began this challenge at the start of what would be a grueling schedule. 5 am workouts, 9-5 work days, school all night...it was pretty unpleasant sometimes! The gloomy weather didn't help. In the past 100 days, I have felt pushed to my limits, I have had days where my eyes swell up and water from fatigue, and I have had quite a few moments where I thought I was going to have to quit everything and go hide in a cave.
Well, great news! I'm still dead tired, but have yet to move into a cave dwelling. Above all else, I've learned the importance of keeping promises to myself. I realized that part of the reason I was set on this challenge, was because I felt so inadequate in the other things I was doing. Balancing school and work was nearly impossible. For months, I've felt like I've been half assing everything I do. I loved this exercise challenge, because no matter how shitty I felt at work or how disappointed I was with a presentation at school, I could always feel good about the fact that I woke up and ran four miles. If nothing else, I took care of my body and that is always something to be proud of!
I've realized how important it is to make changes in my life. I am someone who needs to feel fully committed to what they care about. I want to be proud of my work. I have decided to quit my job, tomorrow is my last day, and focus solely on school. I'm so excited to see what kind of creative work I can produce when I'm not sleep deprived and stressed about the office. I felt like I was at a real disadvantage from the other students because I worked all day and now I'm ready to tackle my portfolio with Zeus- like strength... yeah you heard me.
Anyway, I'm definitely going to keep this blog up. I still have a half marathon and Urban Warrior Dash coming up! I'm also in a social media class at school and I think I'll be working on this blog for class. I've never kept a blog alive this long before, so just one more groovy reward from this wacky dream of mine :)
Talk to you all soon,
PEACE LOVE SWEAT xoxo SR
Today is technically day 100. How the heck did that happen?! The only exercise I've done today is lift donuts into my mouth, so I foresee a rainy night jog in my future. Guess I'm ending on a tough note, which seems appropriate! This challenge has been a far more profound experience than I ever anticipated. True, my body went through some fun physical changes ( whoa I have abs!), but the emotional ones were far more significant. I began this challenge at the start of what would be a grueling schedule. 5 am workouts, 9-5 work days, school all night...it was pretty unpleasant sometimes! The gloomy weather didn't help. In the past 100 days, I have felt pushed to my limits, I have had days where my eyes swell up and water from fatigue, and I have had quite a few moments where I thought I was going to have to quit everything and go hide in a cave.
Well, great news! I'm still dead tired, but have yet to move into a cave dwelling. Above all else, I've learned the importance of keeping promises to myself. I realized that part of the reason I was set on this challenge, was because I felt so inadequate in the other things I was doing. Balancing school and work was nearly impossible. For months, I've felt like I've been half assing everything I do. I loved this exercise challenge, because no matter how shitty I felt at work or how disappointed I was with a presentation at school, I could always feel good about the fact that I woke up and ran four miles. If nothing else, I took care of my body and that is always something to be proud of!
I've realized how important it is to make changes in my life. I am someone who needs to feel fully committed to what they care about. I want to be proud of my work. I have decided to quit my job, tomorrow is my last day, and focus solely on school. I'm so excited to see what kind of creative work I can produce when I'm not sleep deprived and stressed about the office. I felt like I was at a real disadvantage from the other students because I worked all day and now I'm ready to tackle my portfolio with Zeus- like strength... yeah you heard me.
Anyway, I'm definitely going to keep this blog up. I still have a half marathon and Urban Warrior Dash coming up! I'm also in a social media class at school and I think I'll be working on this blog for class. I've never kept a blog alive this long before, so just one more groovy reward from this wacky dream of mine :)
Talk to you all soon,
PEACE LOVE SWEAT xoxo SR
Saturday, April 6, 2013
For those of us who find the over sexualization of yoga pants to be completely absurd..
Yoga Dork
Yoga Dork is for the intelligent yogi who keeps it real and has a sharp sense of humor. If you flow in your baggy high school rowing tee shirt with the hole in the arm pit, well, this site is for you. Tonight, I found this fantastic piece about the over sexualization of yoga pants. Why is it that when women wear things that reveal what their body actually looks like, so many men go nuts? Countless times, I've heard men go on and on about the sexiness of yoga pants and how we wear them with the intention of attracting attention. Actually, when I wear yoga pants, it's usually because I ate a burrito at 2 in the morning and I hope that no one gives me a second glance. Or it's because going into crow pose in sweat pants would probably end in me breaking my face (not to mention the sweat stains!). Comfort wear should mean never having to worry that the weird dude on the train is staring at your ass. Should I feel like I deserve creepy attention just because I haven't properly hidden my figure? Yes, I have a butt. The person next to me has a butt. Whoa, we all have butts! It's hard to break out of that cycle of thought that says "well, when you wear ___ you're kind of asking for it", but if I'm completely naked and flipping through a newspaper ,drinking coffee and minding my own business, how could anyone interpret my behavior as sexual? A body is just a body, sexiness has so much more to do with attitude. WOO!
Peace, love, sweat
xoxo SR
Yoga Dork is for the intelligent yogi who keeps it real and has a sharp sense of humor. If you flow in your baggy high school rowing tee shirt with the hole in the arm pit, well, this site is for you. Tonight, I found this fantastic piece about the over sexualization of yoga pants. Why is it that when women wear things that reveal what their body actually looks like, so many men go nuts? Countless times, I've heard men go on and on about the sexiness of yoga pants and how we wear them with the intention of attracting attention. Actually, when I wear yoga pants, it's usually because I ate a burrito at 2 in the morning and I hope that no one gives me a second glance. Or it's because going into crow pose in sweat pants would probably end in me breaking my face (not to mention the sweat stains!). Comfort wear should mean never having to worry that the weird dude on the train is staring at your ass. Should I feel like I deserve creepy attention just because I haven't properly hidden my figure? Yes, I have a butt. The person next to me has a butt. Whoa, we all have butts! It's hard to break out of that cycle of thought that says "well, when you wear ___ you're kind of asking for it", but if I'm completely naked and flipping through a newspaper ,drinking coffee and minding my own business, how could anyone interpret my behavior as sexual? A body is just a body, sexiness has so much more to do with attitude. WOO!
Peace, love, sweat
xoxo SR
Klahowya!
Klahowya!
That's how we would say hello at the University of Puget Sound. J and I were reminiscing about that amazing school last night. ONCE A LOGGER, ALWAYS A LOGGER!
That's how we would say hello at the University of Puget Sound. J and I were reminiscing about that amazing school last night. ONCE A LOGGER, ALWAYS A LOGGER!
Check out this eye candy from my four miler on Thursday. Sometimes Chicago ain't half bad :). During my lunch break, I jogged to the lake and then ran along the coast for a couple of miles. I love exploring cities on foot. It's amazing to see and feel how close or far away the different neighborhoods are. For the first time, I saw the Loop from the outside looking in. At this particular spot, I could see Museum Campus and Millennium Park. When you're emerged in the city, it never feels like those two spots are very close. From the quiet outskirts on the lake, Chicago became smaller and more manageable- peaceful even.
Yesterday was awesome. For starters, I have my first post-desk job gig! If all goes well, and so far it's looking positive, I'll be participating in CPY's Yoga for Trade program! For three hours of work ( studio cleaning), I'll receive free yoga for a month in return! I'm saying adios to my steady stream of income, but at least I'm saving a hundred bucks a month on yoga! I'm happy to not have to choose between yoga and groceries because that would have been a tough one! ( Kidding...or am I?).
I also was able to attend one of my favorite classes last night. It's a C2 and the teacher is just amazing. She plays beautiful classical music and really creates a unique flow series. The combination of the music and her routine is so dreamy. I completely lost track of time yesterday and felt like I had just slept for days after savasana. Very refreshing and rejuvenating! Don't get me wrong, running is great, but man do I love yoga.
Peace,love,sweat xoxo SR
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wowza
Hey Peeps!
It's been about a billion and two years since I last posted- oops.
I went on Spring Break from school and looks like my brain took vacation quite seriously.
Unlike my peers, my SB was a little less beach and a little more cubicle.. womp womp.
So, when I wasn't in the office I threw myself into cleaning, Charmed, and working out of course!
Despite my decision to cut down, I've still been working out on the daily. I'm now following a
half marathon training schedule ( hey there Hal Higdon's Training Program ), but after this winter it's
been too hard to take real rest days. I know that's bad, very bad, but I can't help it! Exercise has really
become an escape for me and when I skip a workout I feel like total dog poo. Yup, I am officially
insane. C'est la vie!
In the past few weeks, the weekends have been conveniently spring like. I've taken a bunch of warm
weather jogs down to the lake. It's about 4 miles to the shore, there and back. The spot I run to has
huge stone steps that lead down to the water. The other day, I did some sun salutations overlooking
the glassy water and it was pretty unbelievable. I guess sometimes it's pretty groovy living in
Chicago :). Now, unfortunately, I've been detecting signs of the dreaded plantar faciitis( sp?).
A few years ago, I had some problems with foot pain and would massage the soles of my feet with
golf balls. I'm definitely going to start that up soon. I don't want to jeopordize my happy half
marathon day! Being in physical therapy has been great. I know I'm there for my knee, but when
other pain starts nagging, I have a team that can help.
Anyway, back to work.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo
SR
It's been about a billion and two years since I last posted- oops.
I went on Spring Break from school and looks like my brain took vacation quite seriously.
Unlike my peers, my SB was a little less beach and a little more cubicle.. womp womp.
So, when I wasn't in the office I threw myself into cleaning, Charmed, and working out of course!
Despite my decision to cut down, I've still been working out on the daily. I'm now following a
half marathon training schedule ( hey there Hal Higdon's Training Program ), but after this winter it's
been too hard to take real rest days. I know that's bad, very bad, but I can't help it! Exercise has really
become an escape for me and when I skip a workout I feel like total dog poo. Yup, I am officially
insane. C'est la vie!
In the past few weeks, the weekends have been conveniently spring like. I've taken a bunch of warm
weather jogs down to the lake. It's about 4 miles to the shore, there and back. The spot I run to has
huge stone steps that lead down to the water. The other day, I did some sun salutations overlooking
the glassy water and it was pretty unbelievable. I guess sometimes it's pretty groovy living in
Chicago :). Now, unfortunately, I've been detecting signs of the dreaded plantar faciitis( sp?).
A few years ago, I had some problems with foot pain and would massage the soles of my feet with
golf balls. I'm definitely going to start that up soon. I don't want to jeopordize my happy half
marathon day! Being in physical therapy has been great. I know I'm there for my knee, but when
other pain starts nagging, I have a team that can help.
Anyway, back to work.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo
SR
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