Things I'm Loving Friday LIV

Happy FriYAY! This week has been a bit of a crazy one -- Tuesday we were given an unexpected surprise in our water being shut off and everyone being immediately dismissed around 10:45am, Wednesday we administered the SAT and had 15 minute classes, and today, I'm taking my first day off of the year. Mack and I used the unexpected free time to hit the dog park near my apartment, and I used Wednesday's SAT break to catch up on a little bit of school work. And while I hate missing school, it was nice to be able to turn off my 4:27am alarm. My fingers are crossed that my kids behave for the sub, and get some work done in the process!

But without further ado, here's another round of some Things I'm Loving on this sunny Friday!

9 Habits of Highly Successful People, From a Man Who Spent 5 Years Studying Them

My principal tweeted out this article, and when he tweets, I listen. Or read? Anyway, I love articles like this, as they force me to take a step back and look at how they play out (or don't play out ...) in my own life. While getting up early, exercising, and pursuing my own goals are my strengths, focused thinking and avoiding time-wasters are at least two items that I could improve upon. 

Garmin Forerunner 235

It was suggested that I invest in a watch with heart rate capabilities, so, while I loved (and still love) my Forerunner 10, it wasn’t getting me the data I need. So, I took to Amazon and found a refurbished (that was my first problem – never go refurbished just to try and save money) Garmin that would supposedly give me my heartrate. For whatever reason, this watch wasn’t the most user-friendly, and it gave me a heart rate that meant I would drop dead, so I did my research and forked over the big bucks for the watch I really wanted in the first place – the Forerunner 235. And guys – I am OBSESSED. It’s a beautiful frost blue color, it is super user-friendly, and it counts my daily steps. I’m turning into one of those Fitbit-type people – obsessed with getting my steps in each day. Kidding, but most importantly, it is giving me the (accurate!) data that I need to take this Boston dream one step further.

Roll Recovery R8

This is a modern-day torture method, I'm convinced. But it's one of those "it hurts so good" kind of things. But it still hurts. But gone are the days of awkwardly positioning yourself on a cylinder of foam in order to roll out your quads, hamstrings, or IT band. The R8 adjusts to anyone’s body, and while I’ve never had a full-body deep tissue massage, I imagine what the R8 does is pretty close to it. It’s easy to transport, it’s easy to use, and you can reach virtually any part of your body with this contraption. I’m hoping that regular use of the R8 will help keep me injury-free as I log more and more miles. And while the price tag may seem high, it’s far cheaper than a weekly massage.

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Body Language Matters

Geno Auriemma, head coach of the uber-successful Connecticut Huskies Women’s Basketball Team, made this speech a year ago in a Final Four press conference, but it is currently making the social media rounds. Probably because it’s extremely powerful, and it’s one that I think I might start off this next volleyball season with. Auriemma brings up the valid point that so many athletes these days are so wrapped up in their individual play, and how they look when they’re out there on the field or court, that it stops being about the team. It’s the age-old statement that body language absolutely matters. Auriemma says, and his players know he’s not messing around, that if a player’s body language is bad, they’re never getting in the game. And if somebody’s not engaged in the game, they’re never getting in the game. Ever. It always has been, and it always will be, about how the team performs. It can be hard, especially in a me-me-me world, but it’s the humble, team-player, gritty ones coaches are after.

18 Chances You Will Not Regret Taking in Life

This is an older article, but one that I hadn't seen until just recently. But I love it. The author’s grandmother (and aren’t grandmothers the absolute wisest?), advised her grandson to not live life worrying about taking a chance and failing, rather, to jump on the plentiful opportunities life gives you. You never know what you’ll discover, and it’s all about appreciating the little things in life. Some of my favorite takeaways (and the things I need to continue to remind myself of) – You are your own biggest obstacle. If it doesn’t scare you, it’s probably not a big enough dream. Embrace the hard. Learn from your failures. Be present. And finally, a smile and a kind word go a long, long way.

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And on that note, I'm off to College Station with my parents to celebrate my brother getting his Aggie ring. No, I won't be wearing burnt orange, but I will be sure and hook any down-turned horns that I may come across. Have a great weekend!

Running Survey

Because today I completed half marathon number seven, and it goes in the record books as the most difficult race I have run thus far. So, here’s a running survey to hold you over until I find the time to post a race recap for you guys. Enjoy!

Age: 23
Country/State/General Vicinity: Houston, Texas

Year you ran your first mile without walking: Hmm, this is a good question. I’m sure with all of the sports I played in elementary, middle, and high school, I ran a mile without stopping at some point in time. But I certainly couldn’t tell you the exact year I first ran a mile without stopping!

Ain't that the truth

Year you became a “runner”?: This answer, I do know. I became a runner the year I went off to college – 2010. A couple of my friends decided they wanted to sign up for the Austin Half Marathon, so I decided to sign up with them. Well, it turned out that I was the only one who actually followed through with that decision. I started running the winter of 2010, and I have never looked back.

Why you run now: I absolutely love running (most days). It provides some much-needed “me” time, and I use the time I spend running to think about everything under the sun. I have a job that requires me to be “on” most hours of the day, and this gives me a chance to turn “off” and just go. See this post for a more detailed description of why I run.

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a sports bra?: Probably $30, on my favorite Under Armour Seamless Essential Sports Bra. Actually, I may have purchased a sports bra from Lululemon, but I more than likely got it on sale.

First race: My first real race was the 2011 Austin Half Marathon. Yeah, I know. I had signed up for the Houston Turkey Trot that Thanksgiving, but was plagued with a bad cold that forced me to forgo it. So, I was a little bit unsure of how this race was going to go, but lo and behold, I ran the entire race without stopping. I might not recommend that method to others, but it worked out just fine for me!

Last race: The 2015 Austin Half Marathon. Race recap to come (eventually)! Just know that those hills absolutely did me dirty.

Slower than usual, yes, but I finished without walking (and believe me, I considered it)

3 races you most wish you could run: Wow. This is a tough question. I would love to run a race in every state, and I would also love to run The Boston Marathon one day, but that would require running a (very fast) marathon in order to just qualify for Boston. So, we’ll see how that one goes. Right now the top three on my “To Run” List are –

• Big Sur Half Marathon

(Source) I'm sorry, but does this not look like the world's prettiest race destination?

• SeaWheeze Half Marathon

Hello, Vancouver (Source)

• Mayor's Midnight Sun Half Marathon 

An Alaskan Summer Solstice tradition (Source)

Favorite race: I have loved every race that I have run. Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Disney World, and Washington D.C – I’ve been lucky enough to get to travel to some of the best places in this country to participate in one of my favorite hobbies. And while each race has had its own special qualities, running through the city in which I was born and raised was probably the most special to me.

Best running advice you’ve ever received: Smile! People will think you're crazy.

First running shoe: Definitely a pair of Mizuno’s. I am partial to the Mizuno brand because that is what I wore throughout my entire volleyball career (not running shoes, of course). However, I think my next pair will be a pair of Asics purely because I find the Asics out on the market right now to be a little bit cuter than the Mizunos. Sue me!

Do you run with a watch?: I do. I either run with my Garmin Forerunner, or I run with my white IronMan watch. Often times it’s not because I want to know my minute/mile time, but just because it helps me gauge how far I have run. Obviously, if I am wearing my Garmin, it gives me the exact distance. But if I am at least wearing a watch, I can deduce about how far I’ve run based on how long I’ve run. The idea of running countless around a track bores me to tears, so I often run through a neighborhood, in a park, or around a lake, and it’s not always easy to know how far I’ve gone.

Running goals for 2015: My main running goal for 2015 is to run 1007.5 miles, combined with Amira who is also going to run 1007.5 miles, for a total of 2,015 miles. And I am well on my way to hitting that goal, but we’ll see how the tables turn when the summer weather approaches.

PRs:

• 5K – 25:21 (I think the ABB 5K is the first official 5K I have ever run!)
• ABB 5K – Houston 2015
• 10K – 49:37
• Turkey Trot 10K – Houston 2011
• 12K – 1:03:31
• 12K of Christmas – Houston 2014
• 15K – 1:21:41
• Hot Chocolate 15K – Dallas 2013
• 10 miles – 1:21:45
• Run for the Water – Austin 2011
• Half Marathon – 1:54:18
• Austin Half Marathon – Austin 2013

I have had an absolutely wonderful weekend here in Austin, and I plan on soaking up every last minute before I head back home. Or I might possibly take a trip to the San Marcos Outlets, depending on the weather. See you guys from Houston!