half marathon training

Half Marathon Training + City Sports Brand New Fall Fitness Apparel

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

Good morning ladies, hope you’re all having a great week! (Can you believe it’s already Thursday?) Time is sure flying by for me lately. Not only am I getting married in 29 days (eek!) but I’ve also been busier than ever with work and did I mention I’m training for a half marathon?

Some may call me crazy to run a half marathon just 12 days before my wedding, but honestly for me running is one of my favorite ways to de-stress and spend time with myself + for myself. So I signed up for the Newport Half Marathon held on October 12th, and haven’t looked back since.

Aside from having the proper fuel, upbeat music and a whole lot o’ stamina (especially for those long runs), having the right workout attire makes a huge difference too! I’m a firm believer that if you feel comfortable and fabulous in what you’re wearing, you’ll have a better day, and well a better run too.

That’s why I was ecstatic when City Sports kindly offered to send me some items from their new fall fitness collection for me to try out. It could not have come at a better time…smack dab in … Read More!

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13.1 & a PR at the Newport United Healthcare Half Marathon

6 Comments / Health & Wellness /

[the clan – me, dad, mom, cousin & husband, sister, and friend]

This past Saturday, my family and I woke up at in the wee hours of the morning at 5 a.m. to drive up to Newport, Rhode Island. The day of the Newport United Healthcare Half Marathon had finally come. It was hard to believe that it had already been one year since last year’s half marathon in Newport, which is now becoming a family tradition of sorts.

But this time was different than all the rest. This time I was determined to push myself, to run hard, to get after that PR. During my training runs, I realized something that I hadn’t known before: I could run faster. I am strong. I can do it. You see, I’ve always sort of held back and ran happily in my comfort zone during all my prior runs. I didn’t want to risk burning myself out too soon, and then not being able to finish a run, especially on race day. However, once I realized that I could pick up my speed and find a comfortable stride, I realized I wasn’t giving myself enough credit as a runner.

My first … Read More!

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Half Marathon Training & My Running Playlist

1 Comment / Health & Wellness /

Ever since I started training for my first half marathon in NYC about a year and a half ago, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with running. It’s hard to believe that I am now just 13 days away from my third half marathon in Newport, Rhode Island. As much as I love running, one thing is certain: it’s all about the music for me. While some enjoy running with nature, I need an iPod to get me through my runs, especially those longer training runs. Fortunately, there’s dozens of great songs out there to make for an extra sweaty workout.

Here’s a look of some of my top running songs right now. Please add your own in the comment section below!

XoXo,



… Read More!

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5K PR & An Apple (Fritter) A Day…

3 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

This morning, my family head down to Niantic, CT to run the Half Marathon/5K road race. Since I will be running a half marathon in three weeks from today, I decided to take it easy by doing the 5K this time around.

Well, I guess I didn’t really take it easy after all; I ended up crushing my 5k PR by over a minute at a brisk 25:37. It’s hard to believe that I completed my first 5K just about fives years ago in over 33 minutes!

Someone on twitter had asked me how I knocked over a minute off my time, or what I was doing differently. Honestly, it’s all mental for me. These past couple months of half marathon training have taught me that I can push myself in ways I never thought I could. I can do it. I can run faster. I also give props to the amazing community online, including all the fellow Fitfluential ambassadors. Seriously, can you get more inspired than that?

I was super proud of my PR, but even more proud of my mom who ran her very first 5K for the entire distance. My dad, sister, cousin and her husband … Read More!

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Week of Detox Cleansing: Day 2 Recap

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Today marks day two on the cleanse, and my sister and I are feeling pretty good. Our stomaches feel much flatter and we feel overall “cleaner” from the inside out. The downsides include mild headaches and lack of energy, but I’m hoping that subsides by tomorrow. The first two days are always the hardest, kind of like the first three miles are always the toughest when running.

Speaking of running, today I started my training for the Newport Half Marathon in October. Since this will be my third half marathon, I decided to up my game a bit and train with Hal Higdon’s Intermediate plan which includes interval speed work and tempo runs.  I can’t wait to begin running again, particularly the way it makes me feel on the inside, and working toward my own goal of beating my PR.

OK, back to the cleanse. This is what’s on our plates today:

Breakfast: Green Berry Smoothie with kale, carrots, celery, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, flax seed, and banana made with Coconut milk

Snack: Handful raw cashews & almonds

Lunch: Big green salad with collard greens, spinach, mixed greens, avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, apple, basil, dill, lemon juice, garlic, olive … Read More!

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Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: How to Train for a Race in High Temps

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

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Holy hotness! I know you’ve heard it a million times from your coworker and the weather lady, but it’s hot as hell out today in Boston. It’s no lie the city is the worst place to be in the heat – tons of commuters, little shade and barely any water in sight. Ouch.

However, the main reason I’m complaining about the hotness is because I’ve recently started training for my second half marathon. During my first half marathon in April, the training was nice because a chunk of it was during the crisp spring months, and on snowy days throughout the winter I’d just run inside on the treadmill. But unfortunately summer training isn’t as fun.

The solution? Lately I’ve been getting out super early to run before the sun gets too hot, but even then the humidity can be brutal. I’ve also been eating a solid breakfast like egg whites on toast or fruit topped waffles an hour before my run and chugging the H2O all day and night to stay as hydrated as possible during these hot, summer months.

Anyway, I’m writing this post because I’d really like to hear your suggestions and tips for … Read More!

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Quit Getting Down on Yourself: On Giving Your Body and Self the Time it Needs to Succeed

11 Comments / Uncategorized /

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Once I got back to Boston last week, and the half marathon was over I got a a really weird feeling. You know, that feeling you get when the holidays end, when you went back to school after prom or on the flight home from an incredible vacation. I can’t believe it’s all over. Now what? It’s an odd thing going from running nearly every day, plus long runs on the weekends to nothing. And I have to admit, now that I’m not training for anything I haven’t been very good about keeping up with my exercise, let alone running.

The other day, I decided I’d end this mood I was experiencing. Even though I knew I wasn’t quite ready to run again, I laced up my sneakers and hit the gym. After a light cardio workout on the elliptical, I hopped on the big, bad treadmill. I ran a mile and ran it fast. Then it hit me: my right shin / knee were in major pain. I had to stop, and at first felt defeated in a way. Last week I ran 13.1 miles, and now I can barely do 1? I was angry.

But … Read More!

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Hump Day Lesson of the Day: On Giving Your Body a BREAK

4 Comments / Health & Wellness /

Happy Hump Day ladies, and congrats on making it half-way through the week! This morning I woke up and felt like I got stomped on by an elephant, ran over by a train, or straight up beat up on. But none of those things actually happened. In reality, I pushed myself to the limits these past few days with exercise. Up until today, I’ve been following my Half Marathon Training plan to a tee. Yup, you heard that right. I haven’t missed a workout. But today I am doing what I truly believe in: listening to my body. I’m going to skip my scheduled 4.5 mile run and shift it to tomorrow instead, giving myself a “me day” today.

With a long day of skiing, several 4.5 mile runs in the past few days, and weight-lifting mixed in, my body truly needs a break. And that I will give it. Not to mention all the city-walking I do here in Boston. That’s a workout in itself!

Do you give your body a break when it’s telling you it needs one? What signifies “pushing the limit” to you? … Read More!

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Get Pumped: Tis The Season for Outdoor Running!

6 Comments / Health & Wellness /

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Oh my goodness. When I just looked at the seven day forecast two seconds ago, I thought I must have seen it wrong. Did I remember to put my contacts in this morning? But I definitely saw it right, and boy oh boy am I ecstatic. The temps are going to hit 50s today and 60s (YES 60s) tomorrow! I feel like a little kid on Christmas…that’s how excited I am.

No, not just because of the fact that spring is near and I can actually go outside without 500 layers on looking like a puff-ball, but the fact that I can RUN outside. You don’t understand how long I’ve been waiting for this day. Sure I’ve made peace with the treadmill, but there is nothing quite like a long, sweaty outdoor run to really get me movin’. When I run outside, I feel alive. I can zone out, unleash my stress and think…about everything in my life that’s bothering me or simply on my mind! Running outside is the bomb. And that’s just a plain truth.

Now that my half marathon is coming up soon, these outdoor runs are going to be absolutely critical to … Read More!

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Treadmill Woes Plus Gotta-Have-It Grilled Cheese

14 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

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Ever since I started training for my half marathon, it seems Mother Nature is not on my side. Blizzards and wintery mixes make running outside more like an obstacle course gone wrong than an enjoyable exercise. Since I hate the treadmill so damn much, I even ran outside last weekend when I knew I shouldn’t have. I was dodging three-feet piles of snow, jumping over icy paths and slipping my way along the sidewalk. Not exactly safe, to say the least.

The fact of the matter is I hate the treadmill that much. I hate it so much that I texted my dad after my awful workout complaining to him just how much I hated it. He said, “Yup, the treadmill is hard. No adrenaline.” Exactly, I thought to myself. He also told me to check out “the gym dudes” for a distraction (hehe). However, as much as I hate it, I am making it a goal for myself to let go of all that hatred and attempt to embrace the evil little machine. So yesterday I went to the gym with a positive attitude ready to tackle my three-mile treadmill run. While it still was … Read More!

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