MuckFest, JR Taylor 5k & What's Been Going On

First of all, yes you're not dreaming. I really am updating the blog. I apologize for being incredibly lazy in terms of updating the blog last month. I still have so many fun product reviews that need to go up (yurbuds, cablebuds, strength tape, action wipes, dry goods spray, etc etc etc...), but I figured I would update you on two of my favorite runs from last month.

MuckFest was Memorial Day weekend in Wampum, PA. It was a 5 mile mud run that was full of obstacles, mud pits, trails & even a mine. While it was INCREDIBLY cold that morning (especially for late May!), my boyfriend & I had an absolute blast at this race. I particularly enjoyed the "thunder storm" obstacle where you had to crawl through a shallow lake with a tarp just about a foot over the water. Underneath, there were strobe lights to look like lightening & they were BLASTING "thunderstruck" by AC/DC. It was hilarious & awesome and totally made you forget that the water was 30 degrees.

I will say that there were a few obstacles that made you say "oh s#it" when you approached them (the main ones being the jump off of the eight foot platform into mystery water & the "spinner" which was a giant contraption with ropes hanging off of it that you had to hang onto for dear life as it spun you over a giant moat), but it wasn't anything too scary or insane. I absolutely love these runs, they're so positive and uplifting and everyone there is so motivational. I will definitely do MuckFest next year & I encourage anyone to participate if its coming to your area. You can learn more about it here.

Luckily they let you jump into a pool almost right at the end so you don't have too much caked on mud after you're done. They also had a pretty efficient clean up station & tents that you could get changed in. Although that tent was one of the top ten weirdest experiences of my life.

p.s. you got two free beers after the race.. not one. two.

incentive.

We just did the recreational wave, which was still timed with a chip timer but you didn't have to worry about any insane hotchos plowing through the obstacles and smacking you in the face. I ended up finishing 75th out of like 500-some women who participated - so I was really happy with that. The race was 5 miles & we ended up finishing in an hour and 22 minutes or so. I think all together there were about 15 obstacles throughout the course.

***

The next race that I feel is rather noteworthy from my month off from blogging is the JR Taylor 5k which is held in Bethel Park, PA. I ran this race with two of my dancers (I'm also a dance teacher for those of you who didn't know) & I was happy to be a part of their first 5k.

The race was held on the Montour Trail out that way & it was the first truly STINKIN' HOT race that I ran this year so far. I knew it'd be here sooner or later, so I guess it's good that I got it over with. The course also ended up being over 3.1 miles which is always kind of annoying - especially when you're shooting for a certain time. It ended up being just about 3.6 miles & I finished right around 30 minutes. Some areas were shaded & others were in direct, scorching sunlight.. I told the girls that they should be proud to finish in weather like that, because it was pretty brutal that morning.

While they were not the fastest individuals there (I'll spare them the exact time being posted for all to see), they had a good time & I think I may be able to convince them to get back out there for another one sometime soon. To me, that's what it's all about. Knowing you inspired someone to run for any reason is really great, and I was really proud of them for crossing the finish line. I will say that too many people let the term "race" intimidate them. Sign up for a 5k if you want to be more active. Walk it, run it, jog it - do whatever. These two were really hesitant about the idea at first & I am so happy they trusted me and went. 

Although I think they just went for the free bagels afterwards, but whatever :)

My next goal is getting them through a mud run...

wish me luck.

Keep Running,

Kelli

The Pittsburgh Half Marathon

So over the weekend I ran my second half marathon ever right here in the city that I love so much. This was my first go-around with the Pittsburgh half marathon & I am really happy to say that I had a GREAT experience. I might be a little biased since I was born & raised here,  but this was one of the most fun, energetic races I've ever run in my life with (hands down) the best spectators.

I decided to run for charity & the charity I chose was Steel City Greyhounds. I'm sure most of you know by now that I'm the proud owner of an Italian Greyhound myself (Luna) & my aunt actually adopted a retired racer (Ice) from Steel City a few years ago. They promote the adoption of retired racing greyhounds & they ensure they go to fantastic, loving homes. 

They're a fantastic organization run by fantastic people & I was really quite proud to represent them and their beautiful dogs.

They also hooked their charity runners up with some awesome gear & a handful of racers were on hand at the expo to work the crowd. I made sure to wear my SCG shirt to the expo & (obviously) had to stop and say hi to some 40 mph couch potatoes. Roger (black & white dog above) was my favorite even though he was more interested in holding his mom's hands than taking a picture with me! 

The expo was great, too. It was really crowded, but there were a ton of vendors there & I ended up finding some really sweet Pittsburgh gear to run in on Sunday. Swag bags were nice, too. I was pretty into the Red Bull Red edition that was in there. I'm usually not a fan of energy drinks but that thing actually tasted really good.

My ensemble on Sunday consisted of a shirt and shorts from Fresh Factory which is located here in Pittsburgh. The "Yinz Run Like Jagoffs" shirt is pretty much my favorite shirt of all time now. I freaking love anything that has to do with Pittsburgh quirks. I also wore my Boston Strong BIC Band which I ordered online a few weeks ago when they were released. They're $12 & 100% of the proceeds are donated to the One Fund. You can purchase them here. I've always loved BIC Bands, so this was a no-brainer for me.

The course of this race was really great until the very end. Running through the west end & the south side were probably my favorites. My family & boyfriend were in the west end, and the south side was just so much fun. There were people handing out gummy worms & the signs there were cracking me up. I hope people who come out and support runners know how much they are GENUINELY appreciated. I high fived everyone with their hand out and I made sure to smile at people that made eye contact with me. Even the guy who was simply saying "WELCOME TO THE WEST END" and giving everyone a thumbs up made me happy. It was an awesome, awesome atmosphere & it just further proves the point that Pittsburghers are awesome people.

Running over the bridges was totally awesome, too. It's just a really unique experience overall that I think only Pittsburgh can offer.

The last 3 miles of the race, however, were a total and absolute buzzkill. Apparently the course has changed over the years & a hill was added in the last stretch of the half. While it doesn't look like a super steep slope, it's a gradual incline that goes on for far, far too long. The rest of the course is relatively flat (a few slopes), but nothing quite like the end. A young man actually died at mile 12 this year, and many are saying that course elevation may have played a role. It makes me so sad to know that something like that happened at what was supposed to be such a celebration. I hope that race organizers consider making a change next year.

Jim (my boyfriend) made me a pretty amazing sign that said "Run Like Luna" (my italian greyhound) and he even drew an adorable little cartoon of her at the bottom. It brought a huge smile to my face at mile 8 :) 

I was very happy with my time (2:08) & I managed to shave about 20 minutes off of my half marathon PR since I ran my first back in November in Disney! Clearly my next goal is to finish under 2 - but I was absolutely happy with finishing so much faster than my first attempt at 13.1. I also have to say that I owe a lot of credit to Spider Tech Kineseology tape which I used on my knee & thigh. I had a strained muscle in my thigh from dance & my knee is always anti-social during my long distance runs. I experienced VERY little pain & I was absolutely shocked at how well this product worked. 

You can see my bionic blue leg in this mirror shot. If you have generic pain, I really recommend checking out their X Spiders ($30 for a 20 pack or $4 for a 2 pack) which are really versatile and can be put pretty much anywhere you're experiencing pain. Their pre-cut strips are also great for people like myself who can't just take a roll of kineseology tape and magically know how to apply it. I'm sure there are directions and stuff, but this was 4:30 in the morning & aint nobody got time for that. I managed to strap up my whole leg in like 5 minutes & I was good to go all day. So THANK YOU Spider Tech. You literally saved my ass.

Also, here is a link to the pre-cut upper knee tape I used. If you get knee pain while running, I would definitely recommend checking it out. I was a total non-believer in this stuff but I can now swear by the fact that it does work.

So thank you to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgers, Fresh Factory, Steel City Greyhounds, BIC Bands, Spider Tech, Jim, my family members, & all of the fantastic runners that made their way through the 'burgh on Sunday for making this one of the most memorable races ever. I truly had the time of my life.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Local Runs, a Milestone, & Nuun

I have a love/hate relationship with running 5k's & such in my immediate neighborhoods. While I truly appreciate the fact that I can wake up 15 minutes before the race and still have time to chill beforehand - I don't know how much I love seeing A LOT of people I know.

Mainly because I spend .73 seconds getting ready for races that start prior to 8:30am. That + people you haven't seen since high school = don't mind me stretching behind this tree off in the distance hoping that you don't see me looking a hot mess at 7:45am.

But I digress.

I ran the annual 5k in Carnegie, PA on Sunday that benefits the police department there. It's the town that's right next to mine, so it was nice to support a local cause. I did look for photographic evidence of my existence at the race, but the photographer took pictures of 16 random people coming across the finish, dogs, and everyone who won the 50/50 raffle.

Another thing I love about small community runs is the improvisation that needs to occur in order to fit in 3.1 miles. Start line in the parking lot everyone running the race parked in? Sure why not. As you can see by the picture, there was a pretty nice turn out & the crowd extended even farther out to the right, as well. I think they managed to raise close to $15,000 for the department - so that's nice.

For a smaller run, this was very well organized I must say. I think this was their 6th year doing this, so they have it down pretty good. They also had a crap load of 50/50 prizes (none of which me, my aunt, or my uncle won..) & the vibe was good overall. Very supportive & friendly despite my attempts to be anti-social.

This also happened during the race.. so that's pretty awesome.

I ended up finishing 7th in the age category of Women 18-29 which had 49 runners, and 73rd out of 479 overall. I actually had my best 5k time of 2013 during this race which was 25:36, 8:15/mile. Good stuff.

Before my runs I have been drinking water with Nuun tablets, as well. I feel like this time of year, hydration really becomes a problem with me because of the heat. I haven't had any issues since implementing this strategy, so I'm going to stick with it as it continues to heat up. If you're unfamiliar with Nuun, they're tablets that turn your water into an electrolyte drink that caters to high-intensity activities because the type of electrolyte blend used absorbs quickly. If you have issues staying hydrated during your runs - I'd absolutely recommend checking them out.

They come in little tubes of 12 tablets and they're available in like a billion different flavors. I am personally a fan of the banana because it kind of makes your water taste like banana runts. I must say that Nuun certainly does add a pop of flavor, so definitely check them out if you're looking for a nice alternative to paying $3 for a bottle of Gatorade. You can get a 4 pack of tubes (that's 48 tablets) for $22 through their website. Please stay safe & hydrated as the weather gets warmer, friends :)

Pittsburgh half marathon in t-minus two days! Pretty excited :) 

Keep Running,

Kelli

Go Ahead... Say It

I don't think there's any question that runners are absolutely incredible at self-motivation. I tell myself things during distance runs that would be downright laughable in any other situation. When you can go from thinking "oh my GOD my legs are absolutely killing me right now" to "SCREW YOU, VOICE IN MY HEAD - I AM SO MUCH STRONGER AND BETTER AND PRETTIER AND MORE AWESOME THAN YOU GIVE ME CREDIT FOR" - you know you're a runner.

So yes, I am a fan of cocky slogans. I am all in on pushing my body to its limits to prove both myself and any doubters wrong. I think when you're involved in a sport that is so mentally driven, you absolutely have to embrace the "Say I Won't & I Will" lifestyle.

So when Brent from SAYiWON'T got back to me - yes, I was absolutely thrilled. I had been checking out this company for quite some time and I was all in on what they stood for. It's a combination of believing in yourself, constantly striving to be better, and not giving an ISH what anybody else thinks. 

If you didn't see my last post on the Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub 10k, I wore a SAYiWON'T shirt to that race & I had a couple people ask me where I got it. I absolutely wanted to highlight their brand on the blog because not only does it stand for something I believe in, the clothes are truly comfortable & high-quality, as well. Here are a couple of my favorite items from them:

"I'm Going Pro" shirt (on sale right now for $11.95!)

"Finish Under 2 (Say I Won't!)" shirt ($21.00)

How perfect is this training for my half marathon right now!?

Long Beach Beanie ($19.99)

Also, if you guys use the code sayiwontRUN2013, you'll get 15% off your order right now.. Stock up for your summer runs! You can be all confident & cocky out on the course and look good while doing it!

They honestly have a TON of merchandise through their website which I think is really fun since so many athletic apparel brands have like 4 shirts to choose from and that's it. They have a full men's line, a full women's line, and a ton of accessories that include wristbands, car stickers, koozies & even kids apparel. Everything can be found here if you're looking to check out the full selection.

I honestly have to say that during my last 10k I started feeling really effing sore towards the end & I couldn't help but think to myself "You have SAYiWON'T sprawled across your chest right now, Kelli - Do you REALLY want to give ANYONE that opportunity?"

The answer was clearly no.

Say I freaking WON'T.... and I will.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Burgh's Pizza & Wing 10k Race Recap

After enduring a crazy week last week thanks to Luna's spay surgery-gone-wrong (she's okay now), I was really happy to be running again. I regretfully had to end up missing the Martha's Run 10k last weekend because of her emergency procedure, so needless to say - I was really antsy to get out there for the Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub 10k on Sunday.

I was pretty pumped because the weather was supposed to be so nice, but it was pretty stinkin' freezing waiting for the race to start. It was completely the wind's fault, though. I've been waiting a REALLY LONG TIME to run without my dang Under Armour, but I had to suck it up and wear it on Sunday.

I know I'm kind of half smiling in this picture, but BOO to wearing Under Armour in April. 

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Also want to note that I busted out my SAYiWON'T Vintage Tee for this race. I'll have a post on them coming up in the next couple days, but this is currently the comfiest t-shirt I own & I was happy to run in it. It's $26 through the SAYiWON'T website (use code sayiwontRUN2013 for 15% off). It also has their badass mantra on the back, as well.

Fortunately it was pretty sunny outside which was nice because when the wind wasn't blowing you could soak up some of the heat. There were some pretty long lines to pick up race packets when we first got there, but they did a good job moving everyone along. There was a 5k before the 10k, though - so once the 5k started it cleared out the crowd.

Because it was so sunny, I wore my Tifosi sunglasses that make me look like a hot shot. I actually really enjoy running in these glasses though because they don't bounce around, but they also don't dig into the sides of my skull. I believe these are the "Vogel" model, which you can check out here. They come in a nice solid case with a cleaning cloth, too.

The Montour Trail was the venue for the race & it's one of the most popular running trails here in Pittsburgh. I don't do a ton of trail running, but this portion of the trail really made me want to opt for more trail runs than neighborhood runs. The scenery was so beautiful, and this particular portion of the trail sat high and went overtop of a roadway which warranted an amazing view. I also enjoyed the part of the race where you went through this little cave tunnel thing. I'm a sucker for scenery changes like that.

The course was also relatively flat except for just two areas that had a slight incline. Because it was an out and back, though - you could take advantage of downhills on the way back. My only complaint really would be that was because it was so narrow and they did take an out/back approach - you had to run almost in a single file line at points. Once things spread out enough, though, it really wasn't an issue at all. Just a little hairy getting started. Overall, it was a great course & I would actually consider driving the 20 minutes out there just to run it again for fun.

I ran a nine minute pace which I was happy with since I had only gotten to run once the week before this race due to Luna's surgery. Honestly, I felt great after the race which I'm really happy about since my half is in two weeks! My nose did get sunburnt though! Guess it's that time of year that I need to start remembering the sunscreen.. haha.

And big big big kudos goes to Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub who catered the post-race festivities. Not only was there a HUGE selection (even after both the 5k and 10k races were finished), but everything was so good. From wings to pizza to cold cut sandwiches to a few different kinds of pasta - I was blown away at how above & beyond they went for us runners. It was greatly appreciated! Thanks to all who were involved... I will certainly be doing this run again next year!

Keep Running,

Kelli

Words for a Loss of Words

I'm still so sad about this.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but whenever I read about most tragedies that happen - I can get through an article without feeling like I'm going to break down. Sure, I'm absolutely heartbroken for the victims & can't begin to imagine the pain their friends and families are feeling - but this time it's is different for me. Every article I read, every news story that comes on my tv... they all bring me to the verge of tears every. single. time.

Seeing the face of little Martin Richard puts a lump in my throat. Hearing about how the parents of Krystle Campbell thought their daughter was alive, only to find there was an identification mix up on the way to the hospital makes me nauseous.

How could this happen?

Runners are a family. We're soulmates. When you run past another runner on the sidewalk, you smile. You nod. You high five. This has affected our happy little community in the most horrific way possible. You might not know a single person who ran Boston personally, but as a runner - you feel like you know every single one of them. At least I know I do.

And the thing that absolutely sickens me about all of this is that a majority of these victims weren't even there to run the race that day. They were there to support their friends and family members who worked so hard to qualify for that sacred race. They were there to show love and support and encouragement, and THIS is what happened to them. This morning, I read about the man who was at the race to cheer on his girlfriend and had to have a leg amputated due to his injuries. You've probably seen his picture. He's the one being pushed in the wheelchair by Carlos Arredondo (the hero in the cowboy hat).

I read things like that, and I can't help but think of the times I've begged my boyfriend and my mom and my dad and my friends to come watch my races. I cannot fathom the grief these runners feel who had a spectator there for them that fell victim to these horrible events. It makes me so sad that I can't even express it. It makes me so angry that I can't even express it.

And Bill Iffrig - the 78 year-old who was finishing Boston in a little over four hours - was knocked down by the blast, got up, refused a wheel chair, and walked six blocks to his hotel. Those stories of strength bring me to the verge of tears, as well. How about the runners who KEPT RUNNING past their 26.2 goal to go and donate blood? It's unbelievable. Heroes came in all shapes and sizes that day.

When I run Pittsburgh on May 5 - every single step I take will be for the victims who were lost, the victims who are injured (both physically and emotionally), and this beautiful, positive community that I am so proud to be a member of. I will slap as many hands as I can to thank the spectators for supporting us during this incredibly difficult time. I can't even imagine how much more I will appreciate every smiling face I see alongside the road that day. Running might not be a team sport, and I say that all the time, but right now - we're all a team. The runners, the spectators, the race directors - we are all in this together.

I'll think of Boston every time I run.

No Matter What - Keep Running,
Kelli

Very hard not to be shook by this.

Thoughts & prayers go out to everyone in Boston today.

5 No-Brainer Ways to Spice Up a Neighborhood Run

I live in a relatively small suburb outside of Pittsburgh known as Crafton, PA. While some don't like the idea of living in a town where you know a vast majority of the population, I truly like where I come from. I grew up in Crafton, and until my boyfriend and I buy a house (hopefully) later this year - it's the place I currently call home.

When the weather isn't 100% unbearable outside, you can generally find me running through Crafton. The town itself isn't very big, but I've mapped out both a 5k and a 10k course (the 10k does involve a bit more "circling the block" than I'd like, though). The nice thing about running in Crafton is the fact that there is a nice mixture of "holy crap" hills, "not-so-bad" hills, & flat land. I've found it to be great in terms of training for both short & long runs just because it's perfect for endurance building.

Because I consider myself somewhat of a "regular" when it comes to neighborhood running, I've listed five easy ways to spice things up when you're starting to get bored. As someone who has tested all of these strategies, I can tell you that they really are a nice way to break up an otherwise typical "neighborhood run". 

1. Don't Obey the Law: After running the same route for quite some time, I realized something funny about the course I chose to take. Because I was so used to not only running through Crafton, but DRIVING through Crafton - I noticed that I totally was obeying "One Way" streets on my runs. One day, I decided that I was going to make an effort to go the opposite way up these streets & it was surprisingly awesome. This works especially well if you're very familiar with an area, because you're able to get a view that you wouldn't normally get when driving through the area.

2. Go Down Memory Lane: If you live nearby or in the area where you grew up, I can't tell you how much fun it is to literally turn your run into a trip down memory lane. Make a point to run past places where you used to hang out, old friends' houses, the swimming pool where you used to spend every summer, etc... Every time I do this, I find that I get so lost in my own thoughts that I end up running longer without even thinking about it.If you want to up the ante - create a playlist to listen to during your memory run that's full of music from the decade you grew up in.

3. Get Funky: While this doesn't specifically apply to running in a neighborhood, it's something that I only do on training runs (not during timed races) to have a little bit of fun. Whether you want to do it with your current playlist or put together a new one - make up a "movement" for a part of every song. It could be something as simple as playing the air drums during the chorus or you could make it more challenging like doing a spin move and a tuck jump when the bridge comes in. Not only is it fun to listen to every song start and think "Ok, what's my move for this song?", but it's also a nice way to add in a little bit of extra "OOMPH" if you get fancy with your cues.

4. Switch It Up: I've found that so many runners JUST run and totally forget how important strength training is, as well. To incorporate leg work into your regular neighborhood run, do lunges down alleys instead of jogging. Anytime you know your approaching an alley, slow down a bit to regulate your heart rate, and lunge the length of the back road. Lunges will not only help you build strength in your legs, but they can also help reduce your risk of injury & improve your balance.

5. Capture It: This is something that I just recently thought of & I'll eventually be chronicling it here on the blog. At some point on your run, choose a spot to stop and take a picture. Try to pick a location with some character, too. Take a photo in this same spot every single time you run. It could be on your warm up, in the middle of your run when you find you typically need a break, or somewhere on your cool down. If you're a regular neighborhood runner, there's a good chance you take the same or a similar path back home when you run. Right now I only have 7 of these pictures, but I am loving this project already. Once the seasons begin to change, you can imagine how interesting it will be to see the transformation.

Keep Running,
Kelli

Nuu-Muu Exercise Dresses

So if you're anything like me, you heard the term "exercise dress" and made this face:

It's not exactly two things I'd ever associate together, but as a girl - I was intrigued. I don't necessarily consider myself "high maintenance" or anything like that, but I am a little bit of a girly girl. Usually I incorporate my love of all things girly into my running career through things like sparkly pink headbands and obnoxiously loud animal print leggings.

But a dress? That's an interesting concept.

Well Nuu-Muu brought it to life with their exercise dresses designed for women on the go. They're available in a bunch of fun patterns & I was given the opportunity to try out one of these little gems for myself.

I'm wearing the "Breeze" dress. Like all of the classic dresses, it runs $70.00 on the Nuu-Muu website. Also, I'm just wearing a pair of black yoga pants underneath. Those aren't attached to the dress or anything.

The dresses are honestly INCREDIBLY comfortable and you could easily spend the whole day in it unlike some other uncomfortably tight workout gear. The fabric is a lycra/polyester blend that is very soft and stretchy, but it's also not too thin which is great. It's also not a static-prone fabric which is a FANTASTIC because I have been seriously struggling with static cling lately.

The length of it is nice because it's not too long to where it looks old lady-ish, but it's also not so short that you're constantly worrying about your butt hanging out. I would recommend wearing yoga pants or leggings or shorts under it, though, just because there are slits on the sides that could allow for a little peek-a-boo action.

Another thing that Nuu-Muu has tended to focus on is the fact that they wanted to make a dress that was flattering on every figure. Not only does the fabric help with that, but the cut of the dress itself does, too. I have to note, as well, that there's no pulling or digging in the sleeve area, which is nice because so many sports tops annihilate your armpits. That sounds graphic, but you get my point.

Here's the slits on the side that I was talking about. Because of them, you're really able to move comfortably in the dress. Running, doing yoga, going to the grocery store - whatever. This is great for any active woman on the go, really. You'll be comfortable and feel good in what you're wearing no matter what you're doing - and I think that's really important.

Cute detailing with the keyhole in the front and the Nuu-Muu tag in the back. The higher back also allows the dress to cover most sports bras, too.

Keep in mind that Nuu-Muu also carries dresses for little gals & an upgraded pocket dress with a pouch in the back that makes carrying small items around with you easy and convenient. If you're interested - check out the Nuu-Muu website and gear up for whatever Spring activities you've got going on. 

Keep Running,

Kelli

Gettin Tipsy at Just a Short Run

As Pittsburgh attempts to enter Springtime 2013, I went ahead and ran the 13th Annual "Just a Short Run" in North Park over the weekend. As a popular training run for the Pittsburgh Marathon, this was an absolutely HUUUUGE event here in Pittsburgh. I ran the 8.1 mile course, but there were also 5k, half marathon, & 30k courses. The 8.1 mile alone had nearly 600 participants.

Instead of shirts, you got shorts for this run which was kind of cool. There were also "Feetures" socks in the goodie bags, so that was a nice little surprise, too. Usually it's just 6,000 pamphlets and a rubber bracelet.

I have to commend Elite Runners & Walkers for putting on a very organized race given the size of this event. With over 2,500 participants overall, it could have been a serious mess. My mom came with me to spectate and we were able to park, board the shuttles to the start line, & quickly get back to our car after the race. It was also a beautiful day (even if it was kind of chilly in the morning), so that helped make it a nice experience overall.

I was pretty happy with my time on this and came in right around my goal. My clock time was 1:17:05 but my chip time was 1:16:43. This was a really good training run for the half (which is just about a month away now), so I was happy. I don't know what the hell I did to my foot, though. It still feels like the top of it is slightly bruised. I honestly think when I retied my shoe to put the chip on it, I made it too tight & ended up paying for it. I was sick all last week with some horrendous stomach bug thing, so being able to pull this off without running my normal 5x a week while sick was a big accomplishment for me. I feel like I'm finally at the running level I've wanted to get myself to for the past 6 months or so. It feels really good & I am so excited for my upcoming Spring & Summer runs.

I have to say that I really enjoy the North Park course, too. If you're getting into running in Pittsburgh - this is just a really nice place to run. The course is a little bit hilly, but there's a nice little lake and some pretty wooded areas to run through. I also like that people can bring their dogs there because I genuinely enjoy seeing pups on my run :)

In other news, I wore my Tipsy Runner shirt to this run and I wanted to share them with you guys since I really love their brand. I did, however, decide to run with my track jacket on just because it was prett-y freakin cold on Saturday morning. But like a good review blogger, I took pictures beforehand!

Because let's be honest, runners love their alcohol.. Have you BEEN to a half marathon after party? The proof is in the pudding. This is the "Runner's Trio" shirt & it's available in both short sleeve (which I'm wearing) and long sleeve. I think the martini with the fishnets is my personal favorite. She's totally crushing it - look at that form.

I have to note that this shirt isn't just a flimsy little tech shirt. It's a very high quality athletic shirt and has a more breathable mesh-like paneling down the sides (which you can see here). This runs $35.00 on the Tipsy Runner website which you can check out here. They also have shirts for guys, so if your boyfriend or husband is a work out buff & a wine-o, they have him covered, too :) It's a truly comfortable shirt & it washes up nicely, too. If you're doing a wine country half (which is on my list for next year) - this would be the perfect shirt for it!

And after everything was all said & done, YEP - I sure did have some sangria in my Tipsy Runner wine glass :) These are also for sale on their site for $12.00.. This would make a really cute gift, too!

Thanks to both Tipsy Runner & Elite Runners and Walkers. Hope you're able to start running outdoors this week so you can stop choking on the sweaty stench of the dude next to you on the treadmill at the gym! Too much? I'll go now.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Coffee Meets Protein: Click Powder

I had a pretty intense struggle going for awhile when I started training for half marathons. In the mornings when I'm not training, I almost always have a travel mug full of coffee. But when I'm training, I drink a protein shake for breakfast 5 out of 7 days a week. It seemed impractical (and kind of wasteful) to make a protein shake AND a mug of coffee - so I was stuck compromising. On days when I had my protein shakes, I was almost ALWAYS dragging a little bit in the morning because I didn't have that jolt of caffeine like I was used to.

So let me show you about the face I made when I discovered that there is a PROTEIN POWDER that TASTES LIKE COFFEE with THE SAME AMOUNT OF CAFFEINE AS A DOUBLE SHOT ESPRESSO.

That face. That is the face I made.

Let me introduce those of you who aren't familiar to this miracle product from heaven. CLICK Espresso Protein Powder comes in Mocha & Vanilla, is packed with 15 grams of protein, two shots o real espresso coffee, and 23 vitamins & minerals. Whether you drink protein shakes in coordination with your training or your diet - this is an absolute MUST HAVE for anyone looking for a perfect morning meal replacement.

I even got a fancy 20 oz. Click blender bottle (which is slightly smaller than your typical blender bottle) that is perfect portion-wise. They do have these on their website, as well, for $7.99.

I tried both the Mocha & the Vanilla Latte flavors. I truly have the say that I enjoyed both of them, but I love chocolate so Mocha was my favorite. I want to note here that these do not have a weird artificial taste to them at all. There's no weird aftertaste or bitterness to the coffee flavor because it's ACTUALLY coffee. That was my main concern for this product, and I'm happy to say that I genuinely enjoy drinking it because it tastes so good. 

This is the Mocha powder itself. Each canister comes with a scooper & you put two scoops into your water to make a single shake. You can really get fun with your recipes, too. Mix it with ice, heat it up, add in other flavors... the possibilities are essentially the same as you'd have with your typical cup of coffee. The Click website actually has a ton of really awesome recipes you can test out, too.

My favorite way to drink it is to blend it with cold water (you can see the powder sitting on top of the water here before I shook it up) & then add some ice. The ice kind of freezes it a little bit and gives it kind of a watery slushy consistency. I have to note, as well, that this keeps me full until lunch time, as well. It's not a huge portion by any means, but it's 100% effective in terms of getting you your caffeine fix and filling you up.

If you're interested in buying or trying Click (sample packs of 3 are available for just $4.95), you can visit their website here. I have to note that it's also available in decaf if you're one of those people who starts tweaking if they have too much caffeine :) 

Big shout out to Click for being so sweet to me & for making a product I can truly say has become one of my daily staples! You guys have a great thing going.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Kell On the Run: Squarebar Review

This time of year is incredibly crazy for me. Between training for races, running races, working, & gearing up for my studio's annual recital in June, I find myself multi-tasking quite a bit. One of these multi-tasks involves eating in the car, and this becomes a heck of a lot easier when I have convenient foods to eat in said car.

In the same sense, I don't want to go through a McDonald's drive-thru. As convenient as chicken nuggets may be, I try pretty hard to behave myself during the week & stick to eating healthy. So as my quest continues to bring you healthy, quick, on-the-go-solutions - I present to you the Squarebar:

Three different flavors available: cocoa almond, cocoa crunch, & cocoa coconut (my personal favorite). You can get Squarebar's through Abe's Market in packs of 12 for $35. 

If you're a chocolate lover, you will really love these little devils. All of them are coated in organic dark chocolate & contain no artificial flavors or colors. They're also only 200 calories a bar, which makes them great for before the gym or to hold you over before dinner or whatever. I also have to note that they're totally organic, don't contain any gluten, soy, or dairy, and they're also Vegan friendly if that's your thing.

I think their size is perfect, too. I run into a lot of nutrition bars that are either too big or too small and I end up either wanting more or wadding up the portion I don't want to eat in the wrapper and forgetting about it in my car for a week. That's usually a fun surprise when I go to clean my car out and find a rock hard piece of granola bar in my center console.

The texture of these is pretty unique, as well. This one (the cocoa coconut bar) has visible pieces of coconut in it which I really liked since I am such a coconut fan. But they're not really chewy-chewy OR crunchy. It's kind of a soft solid (I hope this is making sense), so have no fear if you're not a fan of those overly stick-to-your-teeth chewy or crumbs-all-over-your-car-seat crunchy bars. It's unique, but really good.

You can also keep up with Squarebar via their website and facebook page. I'm always thrilled to find these companies that started in someone's kitchen and evolved into a really great product for healthy, active people. Big thanks to Andrew for hooking up Runkellirun.com & introducing us to a seriously great product!

Keep Running,

Kelli

5ks with Rainbow Leopard Legs

It's really unfortunate that I'm writing this post right now about how I just ran a 5k in beautiful weather last weekend and now it's quite literally raining ice outside. Pittsburgh weather has been so up and down lately, and it's such a bad time of year for that. I am totally over running on the treadmill every single time I train :( Breathing the hot, smelly air of the dude next to you running in a sweatsuit is not nearly as enjoyable as breathing fresh, Spring air. I have high hopes for next week.. hopefully this all goes away.

So anyways, I ran a race last weekend to benefit the Athletic Trainers Association here in Pittsburgh. It was along the river, which was pretty nice, except for the fact that it smelled like Seaworld in certain areas. It was like 50 degrees, though, so I honestly was just so thrilled to not need 18 layers.

I tried out my new leggings from B-Skinz during this race and it allowed me to win the award for the most awesome bottom half.

There wasn't really an award for that, but I would have won if there was.

These are their capri length rainforest leggings

They're $26 through their website

If you're into bright colors and crazy prints, you definitely should check out B-Skinz. They have ankle length leggings, capri length leggings, shorts, sports bras, skorts, and more. I also like their stuff because it's high-quality, and most of the crazy leggings I buy are from Wal-Mart and have a hole in them after a couple runs. I also have to add that they make crazy leggings for guys, too - so if you're a male runner who wants to run with Cheetah print legs, they totally have you covered. 

I really enjoyed the fact that we were able to hang out in the Steeler's indoor training facility before and after the race. It's an awesome building, and the turf was nice and comfortable to stretch on before the run. This race was very well-organized (which we all know is one of my major pet-peeves) and there was a station for everything both before and after the run. They had a silent auction and some raffle items, and I think my mom was slightly devastated that she didn't bring any cash or a check book with her, making her ineligible to bid on the sweet Pittsburgh Penguins stuff they had up for bid. Either way, it was a nice little set-up and there were about 300 people there.

I would post the picture they took of me crossing the finish line in this race, but I look like the biggest idiot on earth. So unless you want to dig through the archives and find me, that one will remain in the vault.

I did, however, PR for 2013 running it in 25:48. 11th in my age group, which surprised me, but there were a ton of serious runners in this race and less of a "let's do this for fun" crowd. Either way, I was happy to run it in under 26 and I am hoping to keep shaving time off from there. It's amazing what a difference the warm weather makes.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Win A Sparkly Soul Headband!

When I wore my Sparkly Soul headband to dance last week - all of my girls basically looked at it like this:

I'm not gonna lie, when I got it in the mail I kind of had the same reaction. I have been really into non-slip headbands lately, and finding a brand that makes them in pure glitter form is pretty exciting. Aside from the fact that they have the ever-important velvet liner, these bands are a little bit different than most non-slip headbands. Instead of having only one small elastic portion on them, the entire band stretches.

I actually really like the light purple/rainbow color combo, and you could even reverse the band if you wanted to. The glittery side is slightly textured, so it would have the same "grip" quality as the velvet side. I also had a couple questions when I wore it as to whether or not the glitter would flake off. I have to note that this is not actual glitter glued to the fabric. It's actually just textured metallic fabric that has the look of glitter. It's really quite pretty in person, and I don't think the pictures do it justice!

My band is rainbow with a light purple liner, but they have a ton of different colors to choose from. I also prefer thicker bands (mine is 5/8 of an inch), but they also have thin bands that are 3/8 of an inch. Even if you're not a runner, these are great for dance, cheer, gymnastics, yoga, etc... It's really just a cute way to spice up your hair when you're too lazy to do anything too exciting :)

Now that I think about it, this would actually be perfect for a St. Patrick's day run!

Sparkly Soul (who you can find on Facebook & follow on Twitter) was nice enough to offer Runkellirun.com readers the chance to win a free headband of their choice. All you have to do is visit the Runkellirun.com Facebook page to enter. Make sure you check it out before Friday, March 18th. That's when a winner will be contacted!

If you want to visit the Sparkly Soul website in the meantime to check out their full selection, you can find them at Sparklysoul.com. Thanks a bunch to Sparkly Soul for hooking me up & I hope that you all add a little sparkle to runs this Spring!

Keep Running,

Kelli