Review! Frederick Run Fest - Half Marathon!

On May 4th I ran the Frederick Half-Marathon (one week after I ran the half in DC) and it was one crazy weekend. I was running the Frederick Half-Marathon as the first of three races I have to run to complete the King Crab Challenge in MD!

I planned on leaving my college on Saturday, driving the the expo (getting my packet) and then driving to my house. However I got a little turned around and ended up driving toward my house! So instead of wasting tons of gas money and time, I decided (with the help of a phone call to my boyfriend) to just drive home and pick up my race packet on race day.

So race day comes (the following morning) and I wake up at 3am to drive an hour and a half to Frederick so that I am there in time for packet pick up (which starts at 5am). I wanted to get there early because I hadn't signed up for race day pick up and it was limited to 200 runners (I didn't make the cut). I was just hoping to run.

There was no traffic at 3am so I ended up making to the race at 4am, and in a race of 7,000 runners I was the first runner at the race start. Yeah... that was strange. I got my race packet at 4:30 and took a selfie for my twitter because I couldn't believe everything actually worked out!!

So I slept in my car until the race start at 7am. I ate some fruit snacks as breakfast, drank lots of water, but mostly napped. 

The whole run was pretty nice and fairly scenic. Of course I made some friends along the way, mostly men who were shocked at the 5'3", 115lb girl that was matching them stride for stride. Eventually I ended up running up behind a familiar blonde girl, my old running buddy from freshman year of college!! For old times sake we ran a mile together, but she told me to take off as some of the hills started to get to her. 

I felt great the entire race! Even in the last mile when I was 100% sure that I was working on a stress fracture in my foot. The last mile of the race was uphill and only a horse race track! Possibly the coolest race finish I've ever had the pleasure of running. I ended up finishing the race in 1:56:52 (faster than the race I had run a week before!!)

By the time I had finished I knew I had a stress fracture, but I still when to the med tent for an eval, and they confirmed: stress fracture.

So for now I'm bandaged up and working on 3 weeks minimum of recovery, most likely it'll be more like 6-8 weeks. Not an exciting thought at all, but it's better than a break! And don't worry ladies, my boyfriend has been there for me every painful step since then. And he's not allowing me to walk very much either, so lots of driving across campus :(

My official race results!!

Review!! Nike Women's Half Marathon!

On Sunday April 27, 2014 myself and 15,000 amazing women (and a few men) ran through the streets of D.C. on a half marathon course that began at 7am. It was an amazing weekend and I loved the whole thing! I didn't have high personal expectations going into the race, because I was in the middle of an upper respiratory infection at the time of the race, but I was still so excited!

My weekend actually started early Saturday morning (the day before the race) when my boyfriend and I drove a little over an hour to the metro stop that we took into D.C. It was only my second time riding the metro and, yes, even though I'm 20 I was scared. Thank goodness I'm dating a boy from D.C. who helped me make sure I was going on all the correct trains and getting off at all the correct stops the entire weekend. I have no idea how other people maneuver the metro without a personal tour guide.

When we finally got into D.C. we checked out the expo, where I got my packet, race shirt, and saw my name along with all the other runners placed into a huge mural on the side of the Nike Georgetown store! (I didn't take a picture of the entire wall, my mistake!)

It was so cool! I loved how they made us all into one unifying display! I didn't take many pictures when I was at the race expo or race because I was doing a lot of just taking in the atmosphere! BUT something I did see that was completely amazing was Joan Benoit Samuelson and Shalane Flanagan! If you know me at all you know that these women are in my top 5 for favorite all time runners (Flanagan being #1!). Here's the picture!!

All in all the expo was really nice to be at! I would have liked to see more accessible free goodies. I mean they knew it was 15,000 women, they should have had more than 15 people working at the free fun things if they are going to so boldly advertise it. I did some shopping at the Nike store and grabbed an awesome neon tank and black spandex! I love them both (yes I'm wearing them right now). The cool thing about shopping at the Nike store was that you didn't have to wait in line to check out! You could just find an employee and they could check you out with you just standing there!! 

I also volunteered at the Nike T-shirt distribution later in the afternoon!

Then Kevin, the boyfriend, took me out to dinner which was definitely nice. I was a little out of place at the restaurant seeing as I was in running clothes, but it was still great prep for the race! (Of course, I had pasta).

I ran the whole race with my GU Energy Chews (watermelon (: my fave!!) and SaltStick tabs! I felt solid the entire race and I really think that's because I was fueling my body perfectly the whole run.

I loved running around D.C. and all the little treats Nike had for us along the way. We got the typical water and Gatorade, but there was also a whole mile where they handed out little chocolates!! Yum! The entertainment on the course was pretty good, but I wish they had compared song lists (I heard Happy 5 times and it was horrible). My favorite band was scream-o one! It was a marching band... PLAYING SCREAM-O! It was such a great pump up (: The entire race was amazing, but I think the best part was crossing the finish line under 2:00:00 and hearing my boyfriend yell for me at the same time. Made the whole thing worth it.

Oh and of course my finisher's medal:

OH YES IT'S A TIFFANY'S NECKLACE.

SO GOOD.

SO SO GOOD.

I was so excited to have my first piece of Tiffany's, but after I finished all I wanted was to find Kevin and head back to our hotel and a shower. In fact I barely relished in the finish the way I usually do (I think Kev was more excited than I was!). We walked through the Finisher's village and one awesome thing that Nike did was have a line of clothes that you can only buy if you ran the race! I got a red long sleeve zip with FINISHER across the back. The way I figure it: If you're going to run for 2hrs and feel terrible you might as well get a shirt that brags for you out of it!

All in all it was brilliant race, and I highly suggest it to all the women out there (The San Francisco half is opening registration soon!!)

My official race results:

Review! Nuun Hydration Tablets

Go to the store, right this second, and grab yourself some Nuun. You can get them online by clicking here! I LOVE THESE LITTLE BABIES! Order them today and they'll ship out to you within a week (: -- how great is that?

I love sports drinks, and I need them for the electrolytes, but a lot of time they can get difficult to carry, they can get expensive, and if you have food dye allergies (like me) they can get tricky. Nuun is different because what you are buying are the tablets to make an electrolyte drink. Nuun+16oz H2O+2minutes = an electrolyte enhanced drink! 

They are fast dissolving (none of that shake-the-bottle dance needed) and they taste amazing! A lot of flavor and a little bit of fizz. I hand them out to my friends like candy and trust me, we're all obsessed.

I don't know a lot about the science behind Nuun, I just know how they make me feel. They are great for the standard after run slump, but they are also my new substitute for coffee! While Nuun doesn't contain caffeine, it does contain a lot of electrolytes, which gives your body a boost! I love everything about Nuun, except their price and website. They are a little on the steep side (even though they are still cheaper than an average energy drink), and their website is difficult to maneuver. When I was looking at their products they didn't have a lot of the clothes/apparel that they had in graphics all over their website. Slight false advertising there, but it doesn't change the fact that Nuun is outstanding, and I highly recommend them!

Company:	3/5
Affordability:	4/5
Quality:	5/5
Usage:	5/5
Overall:	B+

Review! NWHM Training Club Kick-Off Event!

Hey everyone! I'm finally getting around to writing a post about last Thursday and the Nike event I went to in Georgetown-DC, MD! The title of the event is a mouthful so here goes: 

The Nike Women's Half Marathon Training Club Kick-Off Event!

I went to support a friend of mine who's a brand ambassador, even though I'm not registered for the race (I missed the entrance time by one day! Drat!). We ended up metroing in from our college and arriving just as the event was starting (so I missed the scenic run which was definitely a bummer). Instead of going out for the runs (that varied in length and speed) we were on water and Luna duty. We handed out tons of little Luna bar samplers - Chocolate Peppermint! Mmmmm! - and little mini waters as the runners returned.

There was a little raffle going on and if you entered you would possibly win entry to the race, so I threw my name in (not expecting much), well would you believe that when the drawing time came the said that EVERYONE who put their name in the basket would get race entry!!! My friend didn't even know this and she works for the company!!!

I am so excited to run this race!!!!!!

It's amazing! You get a shirt, and a week of massages and facials leading up to the race, and then at the end of the 13.1 you get a Tiffany's necklace handed to you by a service man! The necklaces are specially engraved for the event and ONE OF A KIND! I love it!

A HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU TO NIKE FOR MAKING THIS GIRL INSANELY HAPPY AND EXCITED!

FIX YOUR FEET! (21 free days!)

CLICK HERE

From Runnerworld.com !

Cold-Weather Running Gear

Source: glassphotography.com

Ah winter running. The most wonderful time of the year. Nothing says "yuletide" like frozen extremities and a thin layer of sweat between you and the jacket that is too thin in the beginning of your run and too thick at the end of it.

I personally have had my fair share of cold weather days, including on race where I competed in shorts and a singlet, while running through 4 inches of snow and sleet. Cozy!

Yep that's me. I was near frozen to death after that 6k, my normal skin tone is a lot less reddish, blue, I promise. I made quite a few mistakes that day that I vowed not to make again. Namely, I run in pants now. There are tons of different things you can buy to protect you from the winter chill, and I'm going to start at the bottom.

FEET

Traction. While we all love our running flats lets face it, they slip and slide as soon as things get slick. Snowy trails? Forget it. I don't want to risk spraining, or worst, breaking my ankle. These are Kahtoola MICROspikes. A little on the expensive side at $64.95 a pop, but absolutely worth it. They come in red and black in a variety of sizes. They are intended to be kept in your pocket or running pack and taken out and slipped on for snowy or icy spots!

Warmth. Most running shoes are extremely breathable. Which is nice in the summer, and troublesome in the winter. These are Drymax Cold Weather Running Socks and I love them. Fairly reasonable in price ($11-15) and I love the higher rise. In the winter a lot of times that little piece of ankle that shows gets really cold, personally when that happens it's similar to having a rock in my shoe, annoying and uncomfortable.




LEGS

Warmth and protection. In general I'm a huge fan of SportHill. They divide they're clothes into three zones based on the temp you'll be wearing them in! (How smart is that?). These are the Saga II Tights for women. They come with 7" zippers and gripper elastics around the ankles. They come in 7 sizes (which includes 2 length options), and are not only are they warm they are also windproof up to 35 mph! Tons of bang for your buck (the newest model is $109 when earlier models are cheaper they lack the leg zipper and other details).

UPPER BODY

Warmth. Placed in Brooks "Extreme Warm" category the Brooks Utopia Thermal is such a good investment (men's version: Brooks Utopia Softshell). Both versions come in a solid black, which is the little black dress of runners. We all need the classic black thermal (I'm wearing one right now). These are priced from $75 to 150 (men's). 

Warmth and visibility. Being warm is just as important as being visible. Especially because a lot of the coldest runs are at dusk and dawn. This is the Women's Nightlife Ess. Run Vest II (men's version: Men's Nightlife Ess. Run Vest II). These Brooks vests are set a $75 and absolutely worth it. Place in their "Warm" category these vests are perfect to pair with my next piece of running gear.

Toasty arms. Complete with thumb holes and a key pocket the Asics Thermopolis LT Arm Warmers are great for runs that are going to start cold and end mild. Once things start to get warm just roll them off and stow them in a pocket. They can even be used as a base layer under a running jacket! They also come with gripper elastics so you don't have to worry about them riding up. These little babies are right around $24 (which is pretty standard for arm warmers)!

No numb fingers! If you're looking for thin mittens that are still super warm the Saucony Ulti-Mitts are made for you! At $45 it seems a little pricey for "just" a pair of mittens, but that's exactly what they are not. These little babies are mittens are a 3 in 1 miracle. Not only do they have the classic mitten to glove conversion, but they also have a convertible thumb and fore-finger option, that come with silicon grips. When not in use you can fasten them together with their magnet fasteners and stash them in your pocket!

HEAD

Warm necks and face. A gator is a must have for cold weather running. You need to protect your neck, cheeks, and if it can can convert into a balaclava that's just icing on the cake! The Mountain Hardware Hardface Stretch Convertible Balaclava can do all of that. It might be a mouth full to say, but it's definitely affordable at only $35. Comes in black and grey.

Ears. Sometimes it's chilly, but not chilly enough for a balaclava. That's what ear bands are for! The Brooks Infiniti Headband  is only $18 and uni-sex. The cut of the headband allows it to be worn like a headband while still fully covering your ears. If things get too steamy simply cuff up the ear covering section! The best part? It comes in 8 colors! So there is absolutely one in your favorite color!

HEY ALL!!

This is Molly coming to you live from the middle of my run! You might be wondering: Molly, why are you blogging and not kicking your butt into hire gear? Well I'll tell you.

While running with your dog is a beautiful thing, it does not work with my little pup, Dory. 

This is Dory.

I took her out for our first run together today, and I figured we'd start slow. I would run two miles with her, loop back to the house and drop her off, and then continue my run.

We are approximately 7 MINUTES into our run and Dory had to stop. She didn't have anything to do, just wanted to sit. She's 18 pounds and I couldn't move her. So we sat for 20 minutes. Then I decided this would not work, at least not today. So I picked her up and figured I could carry/jog her home. She loves being carried like the little diva she is, so I wasn't worried about her. And I thought "Hey it's only 7 minutes, right?" Wrong. 

I am not a carry things and run without your arms girl. I need my long swinging willow arms to push my legs, and instead they were wrapped around a hot, furry sausage that was trying to lick my face.

So the reason I'm blogging? Because I'm also walking, whilst balancing my pup on my hip. I have a mile left to go. And I know Dory isn't going to walk any of it.

Moral of the story? Have a dog that likes exercise, not a diva that likes sleep.

This is Dory after exercise lasting more than 4 minutes.

She is pretty cute though...

Minimal Running Shoes: My Experience

My favorite Disney princess is Pocahontas. Why? She runs around barefoot. I'm serious! That is why I love her, and why I hated running in what I now refer to as my moon boots. When I first started running I was told I over-pronated, and I never questioned it again, however my feet have changed since I was 11. While I do have some pronation I also have the ability to control how my feet hit the ground because I have a strong lower leg.

When I ran in my moon boots it felt like I had slabs of cement on the underside of my feet. I slapped the ground everywhere I ran, and it hurt. I had runners knee, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome, and my muscles were actually pulling away from my bone up and down my leg (there was significant bruising). After she examined me, I was told by a sports trainer, that it was coming from "how your body naturally is". How my body naturally is? My body naturally hated me? I bought her little schpeal and I also bought orthopedic insoles. 

As if the problems could get worse.

I was limping instead of walking.

I was then told "try running to warm up your muscles and get them to relax". So yes. I then limp-ran on my injuries.

Eventually the pain was so bad I had to stop running. Getting out of bed wasn't painful, it was excruciating. I have run and competed on injuries, and I have toughed out a lot of pain, but there is nothing like bone pain. 

I figured that my body hated the sport, and that despite my passion for it, my running career was over at 18. Over before it began.

Months later, when I could walk normally, I had a bad day. As most runners know, a bad day can be a perfect running day. I didn't have my moon boots at school, but I had some Nike Frees that I had bought because they were pretty, and I figured, why not? A 2 miler won't kill me. 

The first thing I noticed was the silence. I didn't slap at all, the soft Frees molded to my little lady feet that were too weak to bend the sole of my moon boots. It was freeing, I felt amazing. It didn't matter than my cardio was weak compared to how it used to be or that my legs were tired before I made it to the end of the block, I was running and I was thrilled. So then...

A two miler turned into a 7 miler. When I got home I felt great, but I figured it was the calm before the storm and decided to RICE anyway. Aside from muscle soreness I was aces the next day. I thought it was a fluke, but curiosity got the better of me, and I went for another run. Just 3 miles. Just to see.

Again I was completely fine.

I continued running in minimals for the remainder of the semester, never once experiencing anything that a day of rest or frozen peas couldn't fix. 

The day I returned from break I put on the moon boots, to see how it would be (I'm a sucker for experiments). By the end of my road I knew something was up. It wasn't pain, it was just like I was having a harder impact with the road...and something was way off. Dull aches were coming back and I didn't want to push it any further, so I turned around, and walked home.

I refuse to run in a shoe that is not minimal from now on, I don't need the extra support, my body is done forming itself! I don't need the extra support and stability and orthopedics -- I'm no longer a growing 11 year old! The moral of this story is to get your feet rechecked frequently, especially if you've been running in the same model for a long time.

I ran in the same model for over 8 years, and changing that was scary, and I still have a lot of nostalgia for those shoes, I mean, I ran my first race in them, I won my first medal in them. But at the end of the day, they didn't love me as much as I loved them.

If you want to learn more about transitioning to minimal running and all the benefits it can yield click here!

Female Fitties: The 3 Most Common Struggles

While I'm a runner I have participated in my fair share of sports, from lacrosse to soccer to gymnastics and dance, I've seen it all and had almost every injury and issue in the book. While a lot of issues that can arise in exercise cross gender-lines some do not, there are plenty of "lady-only" issues. Here are the top 3:

1. Iron. We bleed every month and lose tons and tons of iron. The average adult woman need 15-18mg of iron per day, but because women typically eat less than men they are more at risk of anemia. Runnersworld.co.uk says that "Good sources of calcium are dairy products, dark leafy vegetables, broccoli, canned sardines and salmon, while foods high in iron include liver, fortified dry cereals, beef and spinach". Try to incorporate these foods into your daily meals, but do not take an iron supplement before consulting a doctor as high iron levels can be toxic to your body.
2. Periods. But more specifically cramps. When I have cramps I don't want to leave the fetal position, much less leave my bed. But on days when my cramps are at their worst I drag myself to my closet, put on my running clothes, and I go for a run (walk). Start small, just a half mile, now a mile, now 4 miles. Focus on your breathing and the pain will melt away before you know it.
3. Boobs, Butts, and Feminine Bodies. Men and women are built differently (as I'm sure you discovered in the 5th grade), and so our bodies take impact (like smacking cement on one leg with twice the force of your body weight - ie: running) differently. In fact the reason that you hear that slapping noise is because your shoes are too stiff (and your less muscular female foot cannot bend the material). Another example of women being the under-dog is a single leg squat. While both men and women can complete this movement it is more stressful for a female's body. This is because a female's pelvic girdle is wider and enhances the valgus stress on the knee. For the entire list click here. 

Sources:

active.com

med.nyu.edu

runnersworld.com

runnerworld.co.uk

running.competitor.com