Don't Call it a Comeback

The last time I wrote in this blog was 2014.

So, so much has changed since then. I've gotten married to the love of my life. I've started an actual career (not just a job) and just celebrated my seven-year mark with the company. I've seen many of my dancers go off to start the next chapter of their lives at college. I've traveled to some of my favorite places - New York City, the Bahamas, New Orleans, and Salem just to name a few. I've lived through (and am currently still living through) a pandemic. And probably the most notable - I've had my wonderful, beautiful, angel baby - Miss Violet Salem. 

It's amazing just how much can change as you look back on the previous chapters of life, and oddly enough, as we are living through those changes, they don't seem as drastic in the moment. There were certain times when the shifts were more noticeable than others, but you sort of ride the ebbs and flows of life as they come and go. There aren't many definitive "moments" where you sit and think "everything has changed."

But, there are some moments like that, and I've had quite a few of those moments in recent months. Having a baby was something that my husband and I planned, but I was incredibly unprepared for the emotional journey that would unfold roughly 8 months after Violet arrived. 

I've written about my anxiety in the past - in this very blog, actually. Back in 2010, I experienced what I refer to as my first "anxious spell" where anxiety really dictated my day-to-day life. Back then, I was trapped in my mind, which constantly swirled with medical diagnoses and a seemingly relentless reminder of my own mortality. I was Googling my symptoms constantly, driving myself further into a rabbit hole of constant panic, worry, fear, and restlessness. My sleeping and appetite were affected, and no matter how hard I tried, I felt as though I couldn't break the cycle of worry > research > panic > breakdown.

I pulled myself out of that hole by getting into running in 2011. What followed was an absolute love affair with a sport that I had previously despised. I was addicted, and I truly look back on those years as some of the best, most confident years of my life. It was around 2014/2015 that I kind of "fell off the wagon" in terms of exercise in general, and when I picked back up again in 2018, I fell for cycling. 

The love affair was quite similar, and I was completely hooked on attending spin classes sometimes 5-7 times a week. Again, I had never looked or felt better, and I was able to handle some pretty stressful scenarios with surprising grace during my "spin addict" days.

2020 obviously changed things, but the introduction of a Peloton into our home helped me stay in shape. When 2021 rolled around, I found out I was pregnant in October, and exercise took an obvious slide. I tried to stay pretty active while pregnant, and while I was able to keep that up for the first 5 months of my pregnancy, I got Covid at the end of March. Covid combined with the general discomfort of pregnancy on my relatively small frame made exercise damn near impossible, so I began to live a pretty sedentary lifestyle for the first time in a very long time.

After Violet was born, I certainly noticed my anxiety was heightened, but I hadn't reached a level of true "concern" just yet. After all, I was a new mom and I knew I had anxious tendencies. I wrote off most of the worrying as normal (even though I had fallen back into the trap of Googling every single thought that crossed my mind). It wasn't until I had woken up in the middle of the night in late January slammed with panic that I realized something was different. It felt eerily similar to how I had felt back in 2010, and I was not loving the nostalgia.

I got an emergency visit with my OB, and she prescribed me Zoloft, told me it was most certainly postpartum, and that we would get me feeling back to myself. I took 2 doses of Zoloft and ended up in the emergency room suffering from quite possibly the worst panic attack I'd ever had (I thought I was having a heart attack, and I drove myself to the ER in an ice storm at 5:30 in the morning... yeah, it was pretty bad). I discontinued the Zoloft and had a rocky couple of weeks. When I emailed my OB again to say that I still wasn't feeling like myself, she wrote in a script for Lexapro. 5 days after the Lexapro, I was back in the ER, this time checking myself into the behavioral health facility for 3 days of inpatient therapy/supervision because clearly my doctor's were just throwing random SSRIs at me (which did NOT agree with me) and I needed the help of an actual mental health professional. After calling multiple therapists and being told the wait was 7+ months, I felt like the ER was my only choice.

I'm glad I went.

Three days away from my family was not fun, and a behavioral health facility is not the Ritz-Carlton by any means, but I was able to see a psychiatrist right away who started me on a medication that would help my sleep and improve my appetite. I also was able to find a therapist that specialized in OCD and anxiety, and got an appointment set up with her for 2 weeks after I checked out of the hospital.

While this all went down about 3 months ago, I still continue to navigate waves of highs and lows. I can confidently say I am in a much, much better place than I was in February when every day I felt scared, alone, uncertain, and hopeless. It's unbelievable to know that people can feel that way even when they are surrounded by a SEA of love, support, happiness, and positivity, but anxiety and depression rob you of your ability to reason and rationalize. There were some days when all I wanted to do was feel normal and happy, and I just couldn't. I loved my life so much, and it felt so unfair that I would be sitting on the couch with my husband as the baby slept beautifully, watching our favorite TV shows, and my heart would be beating out of my chest as my mind raced thinking about how I had no appetite, wouldn't be able to sleep, and tricked my into thinking this was how I would feel forever.

Horrifying, and yet I learned that so many women go through this.

I started to run about 2.5 weeks ago in an attempt to really pull myself over the hump of recovery. I have certainly had many more good days than bad, and now I think I'd even consider my "bad days" as "good days" when I look back on how bad the initial bad days were. I know I'm making progress even though I struggle to see it sometimes, and when I looked around and realized that I was doing a lot of self-deprecating, I knew something had to change.

I thought back on when I felt the most confident, strong, and empowered, and there was one thing that really was a staple in my life during those times - consistent cardio. Whether it was during my running days or my spinning days, I was exercising typically five times a week. And while this would have been difficult to accomplish as I was just healing from delivery, I'm now almost a year out from giving birth. My body is capable again, so it felt like the right time to introduce exercise back into my routine.

Writing has always been an outlet for me, and I enjoy documenting my "journeys" - this one being no exception. I hope that as I continue to stick with this and continue down the path of recovering from postpartum anxiety, someone will read this and it will resonate with them. Maybe this will help to give someone a little nudge in the right direction, because honestly, the "nudge" for me came after going back and reading my initial post talking about how running helped me recover from anxiety the first time.

So cheers to realizing sometimes our biggest hurdle is our own mind, and then simultaneously realizing our greatest power is also our own mind. I know that I am not alone on this journey, I never have been, and that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. And now, I'm getting there even faster thanks to some good old fashioned pavement pounding <3.

Keep Running,

Kel 

Lupus Loop 5k

So last weekend I ran the first 5k of my "season", which I unofficially consider to be September - May. This is the time of year when I like (and need) to run the most, so it only feels natural to kick things off around now.

The Lupus Loop 5k was first on the agenda & I had never run this particular race before. It was held in Station Square here in Pittsburgh and I was pretty surprised at how nice everything was. If you're unfamiliar, Station Square is a little shopping/restaurant area near the river that has been updated fairly recently. It's a nice place to begin with, and the race made it even nicer by having some vendor booths, a huge stage & an organized method of picking up your bib/shirt.

It was kind of an overcast morning and a little bit on the chillier side because of it when I got down there. Of course, that is like PERFECT running weather so I was hoping nothing changed. Unfortunately by the time the race started the sun was all like "PARTY TIME" and the humidity climbed to 642%.

That's the thing about these races in early September in Pittsburgh. You do NOT know what you're going to get. The fact that this race wasn't scheduled to start until 9 was a risk in and of itself. Delaying it another 15 minutes so that they could hold a group "warm up" was not my favorite part. It was only getting hotter/more humid and we were standing in an awkward clump while someone danced around the stage screaming "STEP TOUCH, STEP TOUCH! NOW TO THE RIGHT SIDE!".. I am just not a fan of those organized group warm ups. It's fine if you want to have one like off the side that's optional, because I'm sure some people do enjoy them, but delaying the start time of a race for one is not my cup of tea. 

It was nice that they had a few speakers come out and talk about the purpose of the race (to raise money for lupus research), though. That, I am always up for.

The course itself was really flat because it was along the heritage trail that runs parallel to Station Square. A few parts were at a slight incline, but nothing crazy. You ran past the new Highmark Stadium down there and a little bit through Station Square itself, which you can see above. The only thing I wasn't wild about is the fact that it was an out and back... another out and back... and then repeat the first out and back. I mean, HENCE the name Lupus LOOP - but after the second out and back it was like.. alright. It was also directly along the river with extremely minimal shade, so running away from the sun, then back into the sun, then away from the sun and back into the sun as the humidity filled your lungs did not make for the happiest race on earth. 

To put it lightly, I felt like I ran through a boiling swimming pool when the race was over.

I'm not sure how it was timed previous years, but this one was the dreaded "HOLD ON, STOP RIGHT HERE WHILE I RIP THE BOTTOM PART OF YOUR BIB OFF". The lady who did this to me was doing so in a manner that would have been suitable for delicately trying to tear a piece of bread into the shape of a heart. She was taking her grand old time and I wanted to scream HURRY IT UP LADY OR I'M GONNA PASS OUT ON YOU. I then took the long way to the water booth which added to my post-race "OMG I MIGHT DIE OF HEAT EXHAUSTION" struggle.

But I ended up finishing 5th in my age group with a time of 28:59 which I am classifying as AWESOME due to the conditions.

Now just pray for the humidity to end.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Cross Training: Piloxing

I really have never been one for group fitness classes. I've been a member at LA Fitness for years, and never once have I had the desire to attend any of the classes they offer. Runners are notorious for enjoying their workouts alone, with nobody to bother us. Hell, that's why most runners like running so much. But this past year, I started to get really bored with the gym.

I used to have such a love affair with going to LA Fitness. I could spend literally hours there just running and lifting and making the rotations. But that was also when I had a lot more time than I do now and I was able to go during non-peak hours. These days when I head to the gym, it's more of a "wait in line for a treadmill because it's 6:00 and everyone & their mother is here, run a 5k while getting evil eyes from every one waiting in line behind you, go use the leg press machine for longer than you want to because you're waiting for another machine to open & then go home because it's so crowded and you can't really breathe".

...And that sums up 90% of my gym visits in the last year.

So when one of my old neighbors opened up a fitness studio nearby to where I live, I was intrigued. Sure I had never done anything like this before, but I really needed to start crosstraining again & obviously the gym was not the place to do so. I decided to try a couple classes, but I really fell in love with piloxing.

One of our Saturday classes at Motion on Main

Piloxing is a non-stop cardio fusion of dance, boxing & pilates. I really enjoy fast paced workouts that not only challenge you, but are also fun at the same time. When I leave that class I am POURING (and I do mean POURING) sweat. It helps that Motion on Main's instructor, Amy, is an absolute firecracker who motivates us to push harder class after class and switches things up to keep us interested. After just over a month of taking her classes, I can see a noticeable difference in my muscle tone and strength. Even after going to the gym for years, this is fastest I have ever seen results. It's amazing.

I also really like that piloxing incorporates a lot of balance and ballet techniques into the workout, as well. Core strength is so important, and I feel like it can easily get overlooked in most cardio-based workouts. Piloxing seriously exercises your entire body, which is hard to do if you're just going through the rotations at the gym. I don't think I've ever cross trained this comprehensively, and it's apparent that it's making a difference when I can clearly notice my endurance and strength improving during my runs. If you're serious about running and you're not cross training... Dude. Start.

You also have the option of wearing weighted gloves during class, which I decided to go for after the first few classes. They definitely make a difference and I have to admit, they do make you feel like you have a little bit more purpose behind your punches. I was never a boxing type, and I will admit I felt a little silly the first few classes, but I have definitely built up my confidence and actually feel like I'm starting to get the form down. It's also kind of cool to have upper body strength for the first time in what feels like forever.

So thanks to Amy & the crew at Motion on Main for helping this runner chick crosstrain successfully for the first time in a long time! Dancing and being a badass sure beats waiting in line for chest fly machine, I'll tell ya that much!

Keep running (er.. punching),

Kelli

Highlights from 2014

Hey everyone!

So since my 2014 posts have been *cough* non-existent, I figured that I would post about a few of the races that I have run this year so far to get myself somewhat caught up. My favorites have definitely been the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, the Pittsburgh Half Marathon & the Warrior Dash, so here's some recap action for ya:

The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler: I was really excited to get chosen in the lottery to run this race. If you're unfamiliar, you can't just sign up for this one - you essentially enter yourself into a pool of participants that get chosen at random. I've never run a race through another city, so this was a great change of pace for me and Jim & I actually made a little weekend trip out of which was nice. We stayed with Jim's cousins who live nearby, so that made the whole process a lot easier, too. It was kind of a bummer that none of the cherry blossom trees were in bloom during the run (it was too cold), but it was still neat to run along the monuments and see the sights. For as big as this race was, it was pretty well organized which is always a nice bonus. 

Pittsburgh Half Marathon: What can I say? This race is truly a religious experience for me and I love it from the bottom of my heart. I ran for Steel City Greyhounds again, which is a charity that helps give retired racing greyhounds their furever homes. I didn't PR this year, but only came in a few minutes over what I ran in 2013, so I can't complain. The weather was great, though - not too hot and it sprinkled a little bit which was actually quite nice. I look forward to the Pittsburgh marathon every year and I have a hard time putting into words what it's like to run through the city you love so much while thousands of people line the streets to cheer you on. Every year, I look forward to seeing what I'll get handed when I pass through Southside. Last year it was a handful of warm, sticky gummy bears & this year it was about 10 of those plastic leis you get at party supply stores. I think we all realized how disgusting those feel once they start to get sweaty, though - and everyone started shedding them on the Birmingham Bridge. 

Warrior Dash: And finally, the race I fell in love with 3 years ago. Warrior Dash is something I so look forward to every year. I'm really happy that since Jim & I initially ran it, our little warrior family has grown and now stands at 6 strong. There is just something about the vibe of this run that makes me so happy the second I step out of the car at Clay's Park Resort. We did up the ante with custom shirts this year, and man - that slide at the end added a whole new level of "HOLY CRAP" to the race. 

 

It was pretty cool that the pictures were free this year. They were previously offered through Sport Photo & if anyone has ever bought a Sport Photo picture, you know how freaking expensive they are. We're talking like $25 for a 4x6, so this was pretty cool to get them for free. They did lose a bunch of the finisher pictures, which was kind of a bummer, but I guess I can't complain. We're already signed up for next year, so let the countdown begin!

Plenty of races coming up in these next couple months, so stay tuned! I love running in the Fall, so I tried to squeeze as many in as I could. Patiently waiting for Freaky 5k registration to open, too :)

Keep Running!

Kelli

Back to Blogging

Well it's been quite a little while, hasn't it, friends?

I have a weird relationship with blogging. When I'm into it, I'm super into it. Like I wanna blog about every freaking thing I do and I have no issues with meticulously crafting a post for an hour. But then I just kind of fall off the wagon after awhile. I'm doing blog-worthy things, but organizing all of those thoughts and uploading pictures and such just feels downright tedious.

From being in the blogging world for a little over 5 years now, I know I'm not the only one with this problem. I've closely followed several blogs over the years, and all of them have periods of time where they lose steam. Some of them close their doors for good, and others make their comeback whenever they're ready. With my last blog - it was really clear to me that I was done beauty blogging after it's 2 year-run. It was fun, but my heart wasn't in it anymore. When I lost steam with RunKelliRun a little over a year ago, I wasn't really ready to let it go. I had a feeling that I would be back here, and I think I'm finally ready to be a runner blogger again.

I'll admit that last year was crazy. My training was a lot less intense because we bought a house in September & everything after that was kind of a whirlwind. My mind really was not in running mode at all. I still managed to do a decent amount of races, but right now I feel like I'm mentally where I was 2 years ago when I was at my peak. I've got a ton of races on the agenda & hitting the trail has never felt better.

So I really am excited to document this year's journey & hopefully report on tons of progress and PR's in the process. Thanks for sticking with me & as always, keep running!

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