So last night at the gym the amp’d abs class was cancelled… BOO! So I decided to take a 30 minute spin class instead. WOW. I don’t think I’ll ever be a ‘spinner’ but seriously, that is one hardcore workout, and I have absolutely no idea how anyone can do that for an hour. Way to much going on for me. Then I finished with a 20 minute run, and 15 minutes on the elliptical and 5 minutes on level 12 on the StairMaster. So overall I did

30 minutes spin = 6 miles
20 minute run = 2.5 miles
15 minute elliptical = 1.5 miles
5 minute StairMaster = 42 floors

I was DYING after the StairMaster too. That thing kicks your butt and I don’t think I’ve ever been as sweaty as I was after that workout, but it felt good to workout hard and this morning I knew I would have to go out for a little recovery run. I had braced myself for rain, which us in CA should be receiving any moment, but it wasn’t happening yet, so it was a nice, dry, 25 minute 3 miler.

Last night when I got home from work I found a box from Nike that I had gotten in the mail and I had no idea what was inside. I took a shower and was eating dinner when it dawned on me that my Nike+ half marathon stuff was inside! I then ripped open the box (really weird that I didn’t care enough earlier to open the box, spin must have REALLY gotten to me) and found my gray finishers shirt, which is really cute, longer and short sleeved, but kind of a weird material, and my Tiffany’s box. The blue box that held my finishers key chain. Well I thought, and I don’t know where I got this preconceived idea, but I thought the key chain would be silver.

Maybe it’s the fact that I didn’t even know Tiffany’s made leather key chains, but when I opened the box, I was still excited and don’t get me wrong I still like it, but seriously? I dunno. See for yourself. I guess I was a insy teeny bit disappointed. It’s just like a Coach key chain, and blue? It’s a girls only race, and you choose blue? Oh Tiffany’s.

Enough with the keychain. You know what I’m super excited about? It’s pretty embarrassing how excited I am about it, but watch the video below it’s simply AMAZING.

So after that video I don’t want any more excuses… If a SHRIMP can run on a treadmill, you can too! How amazing is that, that little shrimp with what looks like a bazillion legs can run on a treadmill. If you watch long enough they explain why they had a little shrimp do this, and oh, his name is Scamp, if you were wondering. :)

Lastly, I saw the movie BOLT this past weekend and it was amazing and I loved it! I would seriously recommend it to anyone who wants to see a good, funny movie, even if you are an adult. The hamster is just hilarious and it’s really cute. Oh and last weekend I saw Madagascar 2 and it was hilarious too. I can’t wait until tonight’s Biggest Loser either! More drama is going to ensue, I’m sure of it.

xoxo

PS. If you are on the website, www.Runnerslounge.com, add me! My name is Coach Koo, and I have no friends. :)

This weekend, I virtually participated in the Nike+ Women’s Half Marathon. I ran it down along Sunset Beach, Bolsa Chica Beach, Dog Beach, down to Huntington Beach and then back. It was much different than the Long Beach 1/2 I did the weekend before. When I started, I knew it was going to be more difficult because it was just me, running by myself. Oh and a disclaimer for all you Clif Shot Blok lovers out there. I proclaimed my love for them on my last post, but for the half, I tried a new flavor, Pina Colada. It was absolutely the worst taste ever, and I literally thought I threw up in my mouth. So warning, try Pina Colada if you think you’ll like it, but don’t depend on it!

The first three miles, in my head I kept thinking, okay, you can do this. Once I got to mile four, I realized, okay, you’re already four miles out, you might as well keep going… which shows you how bad I am at math. 13-4=9 more miles to go. I should have been saying this at the ten mile mark, not the four mile mark. Around the eight mile mark, I started to get tired, but I knew that it wouldn’t be that bad, and I just made sure that I never stopped, because I knew if I stopped I wouldn’t be able to get going again.

Speaking of the ten mile mark, once I got here, I was thinking, OH MY GOSH WHEN IS THIS FREAKING GOING TO BE OVER! At the Long Beach 1/2, I was excited, all the people were starting to gather, and it was a definite mood booster. The birds were not cawing for me lined up on the beach path, it was just my Nike+ and me. Finally around mile 12 I was starting to be relieved that the end was near. I didn’t work incredibly hard but there was this older woman in front of me that I kind of paced off of for a while.

She was the cutest thing EVER and I tried my hardest to keep up with her, but she was always like 10 steps ahead! Annoying! She turned around though before I made it back to the starting line and she was so cute. I hope to be like her when I get older, and have her speed! Sheesh louise!

The weather was a little bit chilly, but nice for a long run, and there weren’t as many people out as there usually are on Saturdays. Here is a picture on my way down to the beach.

The fog was rolling in over the sun. It was pretty gorgeous and even when the fog was in, it burned off rather quickly. I synced my run with the Nike+ website, and still got an email that said remember to sync your run this morning. I swear the Nike+ website is the WORST around… so now I must wait patiently for my box to arrive with my finisher goods! I can’t wait to read about the Nike+ marathons. Unfortunately I don’t have my mile splits for my 1/2 that I did, but I finished in 1:58. So a minute off my last time, which was good.

This morning I signed up for the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon and I got in the first race, so I’m super excited. You guys got me all freaked out that I wouldn’t be able to get in, but alas, I’ll be up there soon racing with all you! I just have to sign up for a few more races and figure out my schedule.

This week I am taking the week really slow and day by day, I might hit up the gym to get ripped like Jillian from the Biggest Loser, but not really too much running, to give myself a break. Hope every one’s races went well! and here is a picture from the Long Beach race.

I know I look fast, but I’m not, it’s an optical illusion!

P.S. Funny Story: After the LB 1/2 I was napping while the boyfriend was watching football, and I guess in my nap, I told him in my sleep that I really wanted Taco Bell! Who does that!

Honestly, I’ve seen many race reports, and I have NO IDEA how all you fellow runners can recap your races from miles 1-13.1, especially a marathon! You people are amazing. I got to mile three and though, WOW! Mile 3! So here is my recap of my first 1/2 Marathon, as much as I remember at least.

The night before I was going through my clothes figuring out what to wear and I realized I had nothing to wear. Following my many lovely reader’s advice, I pretty much wore some old favorites that I love running in. I laid out all my clothes and went to bed after the amazing comeback of the Rays in the ALDS.

So I got up super early and Nicole came over, I grabbed a honey and oat bar then we took the back way to the parking area, since I live only about 15 minutes away. We parked about 400 meters away from the start line, even though when we were parking we had no idea where the starting line was. It was absolutely FREEZING and we had to make a little potty break so we ventured out of the car and saw what were the most entertaining people in the world. Now I know why you guys run so much and actually race. The people watching was borderline the best I’ve ever seen. The people we saw were in every outfit imaginable. Hats, glasses, clothes, almost naked, shoeless (??) it was a hoot! Nicole and I walked around just staring at people and their outfits. She and I were in like regular old clothes, no dry-fits, no visors, nothing special at all.

We decided it was time to strip down and leave our sweatshirts in the car at about 7:00, so we went back and by the time we got back out of the car it wasn’t as cold because the sun was coming up. So we jogged for about 5 minutes and stretched against a light pole and then found our place in the middle of Corral B, because we didn’t want to be anywhere near the front of the pack. The Star Spangled Banner was sung and the bell (another ??) went off! The first three miles flew by; I barely remember seeing anything or even feeling anything. In the first three miles we ran up pretty much the only hill and along the bay. The weather was amazing, but the sun was really bright if we were running into it.

I think around mile 4ish, 5ish, 6ish, we entered the beach part of the run which was along the sand and ocean directly into the sun. Talk about bright! It wasn’t hot though, and so I didn’t sweat, during the entire race. The course was really flat and relaxing and the entire run very few people passed us, but I worked on continuing to pass runners and keeping my pace very even. I wasn’t even working hard at all. I grabbed a cup of water and took a sip at mile six because my mouth was so dry. I looked at my watch at mile 7, and saw that we were pretty close to our goal of finishing in less than two hours, but it was going to be close. I knew we would have to work the last two or three miles at a faster pace. Then we started the turnaround I think at mile 8ish. This is all a guesstimate, I seriously have no idea. And I was feeling great. At every other mile I’d take a cup of water. Drinking and running is something I need to work on. More went down the front of my shirt and number than anywhere else.

People at the water stations were out of control. Throwing water over their heads, throwing their cups down like it was a grenade, splashing up water everywhere, I tried to avoid the craziness and either stayed on the opposite side or ran in the middle of them. Those stations were entertaining. I would always try to drop my cup in the grass or on the side so that it wouldn’t land on anyone.

Each mile we passed I kept thinking, okay, only 10 more, only 8 more, only 5 more. Pretty much every mile I was like, wow, already this mile! Cool! There were some random people all along the course, who were really nice to make signs and cheered and clapped for everyone. I passed a huge poster full of Vaseline and wondered what that was for? Ohhh, okay, got it. Yea, left that alone. Then we got to mile 9 and I was feeling really great. My legs were almost numb, it was weird, but a good feeling that lead me to start pushing myself a little bit harder. I started working a little bit more and my competitive side came out. It was around mile 10.5 that I really started working a lot harder and realized that if I wanted to make finish at 2:00 I would have to really start kicking it in. It’s not that we were super boxed in at the start, but I think it really didn’t allow us to use the first mile to our advantage at all.

So after that the afterburners kicked in and I started to run a lot faster. I still felt great and this guy in a blue shirt was running by me and looked at me and said, “Come on girl, Come on.” About every minute he would shoot back a word of encouragement and I ran with him for the last two miles. He stayed just ahead of me, which drives me CRAZY because I force myself to stay with him. He kept yelling at me that I could do it and that we were almost there. I was freaking out though because I had no idea how far the finish was from where we were when he started sprinting away and one of my biggest problems is starting my kick WAY too early and then dying and not finishing well. He seriously saved me from not making it to under 2:00. I would have been so disappointed in myself if I didn’t make it under and his words of encouragement were so great. I wish I took a picture with him. He would just keep yelling at me to go and it was amazing. So thank you to the guy in the blue shirt!

I started down the little slope to the finish line and saw the clock. I realized that I was about 300 meters away so I sprinted. It was ticking away and in my head I just thought, NO!! Don’t hit 2:00, but it didn’t, and I finished in 1:57:00. If it wasn’t for that guy, I probably wouldn’t have pushed myself so hard the last two miles, especially the last mile split being 6:15! Yea, after running around 8:20-8:55 the entire race, my last mile split was almost my best high school mile time. When I crossed the finish line I was like Yes! I did it. And then I thought to myself, that was it. So yes, I am definitely ready for this upcoming weekend’s Nike+ Women’s Halfer. I also pretty much have my next year lined up with more halfers and once I get everything situated and on my calendar, I’ll see who else will be running what.

It was seriously an amazing experience, from start to finish and I’m so glad I did it, but now I’m addicted. I never thought I would be able to run that far. The night before I was talking to my boyfriend and said, “What if I get to mile six and think like, eh, I’m over this, and just want to stop?” He reassured me that I wouldn’t think that, and yes of course he was right. :) I absolutely loved it and all my family and friends that came out to cheer me on and just running past the most absurd people ever.

The official stats were more like this: I was 1,229th overall, with 19% of the racers ahead of me. I was the 355th female with 9% of females ahead of me. I was 36th in my division with 13% of my division ahead of me, and I was ahead of 67% of the male finishers. Take that boys! :)

It was pretty inspiring to see all the runners out there though, from all walks of life, and all ages. Great job to everyone who finished it! Here are some of the pictures, and yes, I know, I look far too happy, but I was happy!

This is by mile 4

My dad rode along side me for a little bit. Then he got in trouble by the motor cop police.

Mile 11, yea, I was trying to run harder at this point.

Nicole and I finished the race. :)

My wonderful cousins and mothers to the baby cat, Presh, were there.

My dad and I after the finish.

We were told it was good for us?

Ha ha, just kidding! I wasn’t about to throw up.

I was stalking this lady for like 15 minutes to get a good picture. Seriously. Welcome to Long Beach!

More pictures will probably come, and this week I found even more cute breast cancer stuff, a few new great songs, and a review of the MioPINK Motiva Heart Rate Monitor Watch which I got this past weekend for my birthday from my cousins and I’m so excited to use it! :)

But tonight, pray for Eli Manning to do well so my Fantasy football team will win, and pray for the fires in CA to not get out of control, because then I’ll have to be putting in time on the DREADMILL!

xoxo

So today I did something pretty crazy. I signed up for the Nike+ Women’s half marathon, the weekend, yes, 7 days after I run my first 1/2 marathon of my life I will be running another one. I’m going to do it virtually, so I’ll just run it by myself along the beach, exactly how so many of my training runs were done. I figured, well I haven’t really stopped training, or even tapered for this upcoming race, and it would just be like me going out for a long training run the weekend after. It’s not like I’m running for a time in the first race either, just a finish. Nothings going to change. We’ll see how this all turns out.

But I have an honest confession about signing up for this Nike+ Women’s Half Marathon. I did it for the finishers key chain designed by Tiffany and Co. Another bonus is that I get a t-shirt. I love Tiffanys, and I love free clothes by Nike, so $45 dollars later I’ve decided that I’m going to really tired in two weeks.

On another note, Martiza tagged me in 6 random things about me and gave me this lovely sticker. I also have to tag 10 more people that I want to learn about.. hmmm :)

Precious! Anyways, so six random facts about me, since I know you all are little stalkers at heart.

1. I was adopted at the age of 2 to my parents. They adopted me straight from the hospital, but it took a while for the legal stuff to go through, and ever since then I have also celebrated my adoption day, which is like a second birthday that we call Koo-Day because of my last name. My younger brother was also adopted

2. I schedule all of my runs based on when I need to wash my hair. This sounds disturbing, and it is disturbing if I actually let myself sit down and think about it, but most of the time I run one morning and then the next day I run in the evening so I don’t have to wash my hair overnight.

3. I got my dog a black lab Dalmatian mix, Cassie, by breaking 6:00 in the mile. My dad said if I ran under six minutes I could get a dog. I ran a 5:58 my junior year of track, immediately called my dad and his response was, “Uhh, okay, I guess we are getting a dog then.”

4. I hate lettuce. I have never eaten it and have tried it doused in dressing, with chicken, with tons of my favorite stuff and I just can’t fathom eating it because it tastes like grass to me. My dad taunts me and says I’ll never be a true lady until I eat salad, my best answer is that if God intended me to eat salad, he would have made me a rabbit.

5. I hate eating or making anything with my hands, which another weird fact is that they are ridiculously small! My hands are the size of a small child’s and my feet are only size 6, weird for my height of 5’7″. So anyways, if my hands get dirty while making a cake, or brownies, I’m constantly washing them. I hate it when they are sticky. I use a bazillion napkins when I eat a cheeseburger or chicken strips because between each bite, I have to wipe my hands. This is an even bigger problem with fries!

6. I recently had a screw put into my jaw and got a fake tooth in the back of my jaw. It’s because my 12 year molar on my left side never came in, along with my wisdom teeth. Missing all together. My friends like to think it’s because I’m weird, but I think it’s because I’m a super evolved human. Those wisdom teeth just get taken out anyways right?!

And these are the lovely bloggers I tag! (Since we are all friends sorry if you got tagged more than once!)

1. P.O.M
2. Renae
3. Mojito Maven
4. Legally Blonde Mel
5. Girl on Top
6. That Pink Girl
7. J
8. TFH
9. Caitlyn
10. SJ Goody