Saturday's Run Pictures! (4/5/2014)

Rocks in my Nikes -_- bane of my existance

Beautiful little run around the trails by my campus! Every run there feels like the first time (: I was rocking the Nathan Vaporshape and my Nuun visor! Both made the run infinitely better!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR A REPEAT (:

(And of course I was running on SaltStick and GU!)

UPDATE!! (Disney, Upcoming races, and SPONSORSHIPS! Yay!)

HI EVERYONE!

I've been away far too long and I'm offering my deepest sympathies! (College has been crazy, but that's hardly an excuse for all you lovelies.)

Personally it was a bit rough around two months ago, but after one break-up (Bye Zach!), three hour long talks with my best friend (Hi Mae!) and about seventeen long runs (Sup Nikes?), I feel amazing! Don't let speed bumps turn into road blocks!

However right after the break up I went on an AMAZING trip to Disney World! And met some amazing people:

I also got to help out a little around the park (YES I'M A DORK)!

I finished the week with some time (and yoga) on the beach!

All in all it was a great week and I got to meet some really great people! But the best part of the trip was that I spent a lot of it getting to know a guy from back home, Kevin, over the phone. Our whole romance was a little unexpected, but after a month of dating it's getting pretty serious. This is our first picture together... it screams romance:

Okay so maybe we're both extremely dorky, but who cares? I really like it, and he seems to really care about my running which is a little unheard of for a non-runner! Overall he's just great and he's coming to my next race! WHICH IS IN 9 DAYS Y'ALL!!!!!

CHECK OUT MY RACE SCHEDULE HERE!

BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS!!!!

I'M NOW OFFICIALLY A SPONSORED ATHLETE!

YASSSSSS I am currently sponsored by GU Energy Labs until the end of 2014 (: I'm so excited! This is such an amazing experience and I can't wait to try new products and represent one of my favorite brands !!

Snowy days and the dreadmill

It's been snowy and a winter wonderland at my school for over a week now, which means a week of running inside. I know I could still run outside, but the idea of it truly scares me. I have reflective running gear but it doesn't really stand out against the bright white snow, and I never run in dark clothes.

So I've been running inside on the treadmill and it's just rekindled my disdain for long runs on a glorified hamster wheel. The only thing I like a treadmill for is to make sure that I am nailing times/splits during a workout. Other that that, I'm really not a fan.

So I've been running on one for a week and let me tell you, it's been rough. On mid distance runs (5-8 miles) outside I don't run with water. I stay hydrated enough during the day, and I just don't need it. But after only 2 minutes on the treadmill I reach for my water bottle, and I continue to do that in 2 minute increments for my entire run. That is why I don't like the treadmill, because I honestly feel like it makes me a mentally weaker runner. Instead of spending my run focused on my pace and internally training myself when to accelerate, reduce, or maintain my speed, I push buttons and then adjust my stride. It doesn't make me focused, it makes me lazy.

Another issue I have is finding the correct pace. Outside I can run around an 8 min:mile on a long run, inside it's at 9:40 min:mile. How is that possible? I honestly think it's because when I'm on the treadmill I shorten my stride without realizing and I cannot move as fast. And if I set the treadmill to 8 min:mile it's too fast. Because in a real 8 min:mile pace I naturally fluctuate because 7:50 and 8:30 as the terrain changes.

I really cannot wait to get back on the road and trails this spring. It's always so nice to run outside, it's like mentally stretching your legs or taking deep breaths. It has a calming feature that gym treadmills lack.