24 Days and Counting...

It's almost here! I don't have much to blog about today. I'm training and praying that my new Nike Plus shoes come in the mail soon!

For those of you who don't know, Jake got me a gift card to Nike for new running shoes for my birthday. They go with the Nike Plus thingy (see my past blog about it) that will connect with my iPod nano. In a nutshell, it'll be fun. The only prob is... I can't use the gift card anywhere except at a Nike store. Jake and I went to Sports Authority so I could try on some shoes and I found some that I loved. Guess what? When we drove out to the only Nike store (an outlet) in timbuktu, guess which shoes they didn't have? Yeah. So we came home and bought shoes I wanted online... but guess what? The color I wanted is now discontinued. So bummed.

I bought the shoes online (not the right color but I'll deal) and now I wait. Cross your fingers with me for those to come in the mail no later than Monday. My only fear, I get these cool shoes in the mail after all of this training, do the 1/2 marathon, and then never use them again. Hopefully I'll still keep running. Honestly, running is still not my favorite thing. I'm learning so much about discipline in this training - doing something I don't like because there's a benefit (becoming a better runner). I wish I could just show up to the marathon and do it. Unfortunately, that's not how anything works. There's always pain for gain. Running. I don't hate it. I'm not in love with it. But I'm having fun in this challenge. I guess that's all that matters.

What's On Bri's Playlist

So I did it. 8 miles today with J'aime. I am sooo proud! You don't even wanna see my feet. Major blisters. I need my new Nike shoes!!! Hopefully I'll have them by tomorrow.


If you don't know me well, you'll soon find that every song I hear anywhere I catergorize as a running song or a cool down song. I'm a freak. I thought I'd share with you my top running songs from my "Work It Girl" mix (in no particular order)...

1. I Believe In A Thing Called Love - The Darkness


2. Dance Dance - Fall Out Boy


3. Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
4. Combat Chuck - Five Iron Frenzy
5. American Idiot - Green Day


6. In The End - Linkin Park


7. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana


8. Six Feet Under - No Doubt


9. Excuse Me Mr. - No Doubt


10. Original Prankster - Offspring


11. Animal - Pearl Jam


12. Good Thing - Reel Big Fish


13. Crackerman - Stone Temple Pilots


14. Vertigo - U2


15. Right Now - Van Halen


16. Changes - 2Pac


17. Take Me Away - 4th Avenue Jones


18. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C&C Music Factory


19. Let's Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas


20. Never There - Cake


21. Whip It - Devo


22. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones


23. I Don't Wanna Be - Gavin DeGraw


24. Rapper's Delight - The Sugar Hill Gang


25. Crazy in Love - Beyonce
26. Here It Goes Again - Ok Go
27. Where Are We Runnin'? - Lenny Kravitz
28. Escape From Reason - The O.C. Supertones
29. Wilderness - The O.C. Supertones

Friends Come First

A couple of years ago I was told that I should stay home on my birthday and not come into work. Let me tell you, this was the most boring and sad birthday of my life. Everyone's at work, and I'm at home. Alone. I only remember that I took myself out to get a manicure and pedicure.

So yesterday I decided to come into work on my birthday - just so I could be around people. If you didn't know, I turned 29! Or as Jake would say, "29 and still fine!" Yes, we are dorky like that. Anyway, I had the most amazing birthday. It started with a surprise party Jake planned on Sunday night with all of my friends catered by my favorite restaurant. I was really surprised - screamed my head off. It was pretty embarrassing. :) And then Jake and I went out Tuesday to celebrate Valentine's Day - it's our typical date night cuz he has it off. And then yesterday I came into work and my whole office was decorated with streamers and balloons and confetti by my friends. I had presents coming in from SoCal. I got taken out to lunch (of course the waiters sang to me - so awkward). My phone was blowing up from all of the birthday greetings. I just couldn't feel more loved!

After work I planned on going for a 4 1/2 mile run. Remember, I want to give this Saturday my all - it's an 8-miler. I got home. Put my workout clothes on. And then my friend Amanda called, crying. Her evil neighbors were threatening her about her dog and Amanda's husband Justin was out of town for work. With all of the crazy storms we've had, their mutual fence blew down and now Bailey, Amanda's dog, had been in their yard. It was like 7:30 at night and they demanded that Amanda go to Home Depot to replace the fence by the morning. I told her I was on my way. So, instead of running I hung out at Home Depot and had Apple Martinis with Amanda. Friends first. Running can happen later.

I'm official!

Scary!!!!

Confirmation Number:

29981772-02130xxxxxxx

I am offically a Shamrock'n Half-Marathon Runner. 1 out of 3,000 that get to do this. I registered online, spent my $46 dollars, and I am committed.

Really exciting... kinda intimidating. I cannot believe I will actually do something like this when I would have never thought of doing it before. Life is so much fun!

3 Pairs of Socks

Saturday J'aime and I went for another 7 mile run. This time I got smart. Two pairs (or pair, however you want to say it) of socks was still giving me blisters on the long runs, so I tried three! Guess what? It worked. Can you say, Bri needs new shoes that fit???

A great segue ---- Jake gave me my birthday present early last night and guess what he got me??? A Nike Plus package! It's the Nike Plus thingy, with a $100 gift card to buy the Nike shoes for it, and an iTunes gift card for a 30 minute workout mix! Soooo fun! This will keep me motivated and way more excited to run.

Saturday's run was not so fun. I am really seeing the importance of sticking to my mid-week training so I don't struggle on Saturdays. This Saturday is 8 miles, and I want to give it my all.

Work + Tired = I Don't Wanna Run

I wish I could say that I'm a motivated person, but I'm finding more and more from this training that I'm really not. I rely alot on others to inspire me or coax me to do stuff. I'm not running tonight. I'm so tired. Wish I was a go-getter type. I'll run tomorrow.

Chinese Burps

A word to the wise... never eat Chang Bros and then go for a run. J'aime and I have this pact that when we run, all bodily functions are acceptable --- burping, spitting, snot rocketing, etc. We don't have to have any shame. Well, tonight I ran alone at the gym and I felt so bad for the women running on each side of me. I had just had Cashew Chicken and Fried Rice about an hour before, and as I ran it just kept coming up. I'm sick. I know. Just burped right now. Sick.

I thought I'd share with you my uuujsh (pronounced like the beginning of usual --- us...) at the gym. Incline at 1.0, speed 5.6. Yes, it's like a quick jog. But let me share with you something cool...

I Am Not A Jogger
I may waddle when I run, but I'm running all the same.
By John "The Penguin" Bingham, Runner's World

The late Dr. George Sheehan, beloved Runner's World columnist and arguably the first running boom's premier philosopher, once wrote that the difference between a runner and a jogger was a signature on a race application. (For the youngsters out there, there was a time before online registration when you actually filled out a paper application, signed it, attached a check, and mailed it in. Quaint, I know.) As succinct as Dr. Sheehan's definition was, it made the point. If you were motivated enough to train for and participate in an organized running event, then you were a runner. Anyone willing to risk public failure in order to be a part of the running community — no matter what his or her pace per mile might be — was a runner. Period. Kind of hard for anyone to argue with that logic.

But a few months ago, an ad ran in that magazine which drew a very hard line between runners and joggers. I immediately heard from tons of readers who were upset by the distinction. To me, however, such definitions are meaningless, since those of us who call ourselves runners already know why we call ourselves runners. Your reasons may be different from mine, but here's why I know I am a runner:

I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate — things I once avoided — are necessary if I want to be a better runner.

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.

I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Waddle on, friends.

Provided by Runner's World