i love dirty girls (gaiters)

the humble runners each got some new (and awesome) dirty girls gaiters for christmas, courtesy of santa (errr...my mom-in-law). got these snazzy splatter painted ones and a pair of groovy disco-ish looking ones. took them for a test run (pun intended) and they were superb. southern california experienced some pretty incredible rainfall most of last week, so a lot of the trails were closed at el morro. but that didn't stop us. we (tyler and i) hopped right over the caution tape and kept on truckin. okay, i do understand that that's probably not something to brag about or be so nonchalant about. as a humble runner, i'm not in the business of making haughty comments about disregarding safety. however, it'd been a few days since we'd had rain, so a lot of it was dried up. we took one detour when he hit a flooded area and everything worked out. except for the part where we saw a coyote. not kidding. tyler said it was a baby (i just saw its head peeking from around a corner from a distance and i wasn't wearing my glasses). but i digress. my gaiters were super muddy (they served their purpose) but we had a great run and did a total of 6.26 miles. i wore tyler's christmas present, the garmin forerunner 310xt. it tracked my pace, distance and time. my average was a little over 14 minute miles which isn't great, but also isn't bad considering the detouring and walking over muddy and slippery areas (and walking when i was really tired).

i had taken two weeks off from running (last time was the run in texas with my bro and sis) and i got sick after that plus with alllll the rain...anyway. i went on a run with my fellow humble runner, tayler, and was so winded. i felt nauseous and so out of breath. my chest hurt real bad. i was feeling worried about our 12k after that. but, i got back out the next day with tyler and felt great afterwards. here are a few photos from the day. since his knee is still pretty sore, he did a run/walk so he snapped a few photos of me.

here are the gaiters before:

tyler looking pumped (kinda):

me in my new arm sleeves and the garmin watch on my left wrist:

a taste of the treacherous trails:

and my gaiters and shoes after the run:



xo, jess

big baz 2011 12k

hello dear readers...hello? anyone? anyone out there? it's been a while since we last posted that i'm afraid we may have lost our loyal following. we did have a loyal following...didn't we?

so ladies and gentlemen, here is our next big goal: the big baz 12k on saturday, january 8, 2011 at blue jay campground at the cleveland national forest. we'll reach between 3,000 and 4,000 feet of elevation, so this is a little (okay, a lot) more intense than our 9k. that's big baz here to the left. looks like a real nice guy, doesn't he? i'm hoping the humble runners can get a photo with him.

i've been running pretty consistently. you know tyler is dealing with some itbs from his 50 miler, so he's taking a break from running until that heals. instead he's been riding his bike alongside me while i run on the boardwalk. what a guy, huh? this is great since i have to go in the evenings and i'm not comfortable running alone when it's dark. my sis and i were also in texas this weekend for our mom's 60th birthday, so we went for a run with my brother. the road was pretty perfect for running on (somewhere between asphalt and gravel). we had dogs chase us, saw lots of horses, etc. now i've come down with something - a sore throat and chest thing, so i'll have to take some time off. stay tuned...

xo,
jessica

photo via here.

Pound the Pavement to this- Skanky Hip Hop

    Call it a guilty pleasure or blame it on my Jersey roots, but I have a soft spot for cheesy, masoganistic, booty-shakin' beats! Do you know the song, Sexy Bitch by David Guetta featuring Akon? I can't hear this tune without wanting to get a move on or bust a move, whateva!  For me, getting a good run or work out in makes me feel sexy and alive. Listening to lively beats like this get me pumped! "They say she needs to slow down. The baddest thing around town." Love it!! Have a listen...
                                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefQbsIrc1I

                                               Love, Jennifer

Sense of accomplishment? Absolutely.

Before watching Tyler complete his 50 mile ultra a month ago, I wouldn't have thought me the type of person to run a race.  I'm pretty athletic and I like to be active, but I had always thought of running as a means to exercise.  I have always been more into "recreational sports" and outdoor playtime where fitness is simply a biproduct.  Hiking, snowboarding, swimming, etc.  But after I experienced the amazingly positive vibes that saturate the atmosphere at a trail race, I knew that there must be so much more to running than the exercise.  It's a carnal experience that roots us in our nature. So, I washed the fitness factor from my mind, and hit the road for the experience.  { Sure-fitness is important, but I feel that people lose interest because it is so much of a hamster-in-wheel activity with little emotional and mental payoff.    }  Now running is a recreation.   I enjoy the ride and think little about the effects on my fitness-probably because I know that anyone who has the desire to get out and beat the trails several times a week must be in good shape.

So, all that being said, I finished my first 9K with a big, fat, smile on my face.  I had a great time and felt like a true runner.  I know that I still have much to learn, and many more K's to get under my treads, but now I know what I am capable of, and what kinds of feats I may be able to tackle in the future.  And when that time comes, I know that I will have faithful supporters.  The accomplishment one feels after completeing a race is nothing compared to the excitemnt of seeing your family and loved ones cheering you on at the finsih.  I often have wondered how runners who go it alone must feel at the finish.  What's great is that the throng of onlookers is so supportive when you make the final strides, that there are always smiles to greet you.

Tayler

Eye of the Tiger- Our Nov, 21th 9k @ The Santa Monica Mountains

      The race was over a week ago, and I'm finally ready to sit and write about what happened that morning. Why have I waited so long? To be honest, finding the time to write has not been the issue as much as finding the right mindset to relive it. This race tested me both physically and mentally. I was definitely humbled- big time. For the record, I signed up for this gig having no clue what the trail consisted of. Plus, according to the weather forecast, Southern California was expecting heavy rains throughout the weekend and I was having doubts about how it would all go down with those weather conditions. Luckily, the day turned out to be one of the most beautiful I'd ever witnessed. Despite that concern, I jumped out of bed that dark Sunday morning and announced to my husband, who was still snoozing, "race day!" I felt good and motivated. I ate a fiber granola bar on the way to Malibu and then text messaged Jessica, who'd stayed overnight at a hotel in the Malibu-area, asking her to smuggle me a banana from the continental breakfast buffet to eat before the race. She text messaged back, " I seriously hope that's not all you're eating." It was.
   My sister is convinced that I had a difficult time maintaining a good pace because I didn't eat enough that morning. That may have had something to do with it, of course, but there were several factors and I have not put my finger on one specific thing. It certainly didn't help that about 30 minutes into the race, my left leg, from the knee down, fell asleep. Forty minutes in, my right leg did the same. Why was this happening?  I was tired, confused and sad, but there was no way I would let myself turn around. I assumed that my feet might be working against me because I had decided one week earlier to race in different shoes,  Asics Onitsuka Tigers. I had never run more that a few miles in those shoes. The only solid reason I have for not wearing my New Balance shoes, was because they gave me a blister the previous Sunday when me and Jessica ran and got lost in El Morro.
   "It's the eye of the tiger! It's the thrill of the fight..." I had this song playing over and over in my mind as I struggled to get through the first half of the trail. Almost immediately, I felt tired and couldn't keep up with the girls. I tried to motivate myself with the words to the song, but at times it was hard to hear them in my head over the sound of my heavy breathing. The terrain was steep and narrow and quite frankly the most difficult (physical) thing I've ever done in my life- ever. I tried to coach myself- tough love style. As I was panting and wondering what the hell I'd signed up for, I berated myself (and more than likely scared other runners within earshot) for not being able to pick up my pace. "COME ON JENNIFER! MOVE IT! MOVE IT! HOW IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO DELIVER YOUR CHILD NATURALLY, IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP THIS STUPID HILL!!?" (I  used all caps for effect) No, I am not expecting a baby, but I have plans for a drug-free delivery when the time comes. More on that later- much later.

     Eventually, I was coming around to the top. Tayler was already running back down. She looked happy and strong. She told me that it wasn't much further to the turn-around point. She even said to me, God bless her, "I'll wait for you guys at the finish line so we can cross together!" My gosh. What a girl! Still, I didn't want her to sacrifice her hard work. Her words motivated me, but still I was hurting. Perhaps 20 minutes later Jessica was running down toward me- now making her decent. She looked equally stunning. I described to her the issues I was having with my feet and she clearly saw that I was having a hard time. She told me to stop, but I didn't want to- it wasn't an option. My sister actually waited there for me, so we could run together (tear) while I ran the rest of the way to the turn-around point. I made it back to where I left her and she assured me that the downhill would be much easier and go a lot faster. That's what I expected, but that's not what happened. It wasn't long before she put some good distance between us. Jessica really knocked my socks off that day. She worked really hard to prepare for this day and I think it paid off. I know she talked about struggling with the uphill, but she maintained her pace the entire way and finished strong. Not to mention her form. Did you happen to see the picture she posted of her running down the hill? She looked like a pro!!! So proud of my sister! Tayler kicked serious butt! She is in great shape and looked awesome out there!  Now back to me... I was looking forward to the downhill half being easier, but as soon as I started my way down I realized that my legs weren't going to allow me to do that. I tried to keep my form and balance, but my feet were still asleep, now tingling and toes totally numb. I couldn't get a good footing on the ground simply because I couldn't feel it. I felt SO awkward. The worst was when I'd try to run faster, but I'd roll my ankle. It was bad, but somehow I managed. The confusion had set in once again, but I recall trying to make the most of it because I'd made it all the way up the mountain and now it was half way over- more than half way! I decided at some point that I had to keep my head on straight and power on through. Running into other runners, who called out "good job!" and "lookin' great, keep it up!!", helped so much. In fact, writing this now and thinking about it just put a little knot in my throat. Believe it or not strangers can have that affect on you in this type of situation. All of a sudden I realized how close I was getting to the end, but I was super surprised when I spotted Dale, my sister's father-in-law, Tayler and Jessica up ahead. They cheered for me and told me that the finish line was just about 100 yards away. I got choked up, I was so incredibly touched that they had come back after finishing themselves. Before I knew it I saw the rest of our party cheering down below. My husband looked so proud and as soon as I reached the bottom I ran right into his embrace only to be told as soon as I face-planted into him that I had to make it through the actual finish line about 20 feet away- duh! Incredible!! I finished!! Somehow, it was over! AHHHHHHHHH! All of a sudden I felt so proud and truly part of this team- A HUMBLE RUNNER!
     One final thing, which is actually a point I want to make. In this post, I listed reasons why I could have struggled less and somehow done better; however, I can't ignore that fact that I finished this race. I have to give myself a break and realize that it gave me hell, but I didn't give in or give up. I've had quite a time since the race convincing myself of this and it's something I'm working on. I'm feeling much better about this now and writing helped me deal with those feelings. It was a form of therapy for me.

Thanks for reading my novel, Jennifer

no skimping on the thanksgiving feast over here

* hope you all had a warm and happy thanksgiving. this year i have lots to be thankful for. healthy and happy family members and friends, a happy, healthy and loving husband. a warm home, and the motivation to run.

i did the pier run again on wednesday evening, so when thursday rolled around, i didn't have to feel too bad about indulging. i should be honest and say i don't ever feel guilty about eating unless it's something unhealthy like fast food. i don't do that very often though. anywho, getting way off course here. when the holidays roll around, we're (if we're fortunate) inundated with treats and big big meals. after a couple of days of this, another run was in order. jennifer and i (reluctantly) got in our running gear and did about a five mile run in el morro on saturday. the weather was absolutely beautiful. about 65 or so  and sunny. crisp and cool. we pretty much ran the whole time - just walked up some of the bigger hills. the best part is we didn't get lost this time! we high-fived when we got to our turn around point.

we were so lazy that morning. tyler and i went to breakfast and then got under blankets at home and read harry potter (we're reading the first book - his third time, my secondish). anywho, if it weren't for tyler encouraging me to go ("it's a beautiful day - so perfect for a run!"), i might have flaked on myself. but i listened and rallied and got jennifer to rally too. we were so thankful after.

xo,
jessica

* this is not a photo of a humble runner. i simply googled "turkey dinner" because i wanted to include a photo of...you guessed it: a turkey dinner. and this was the first photo that came up. i thought it was hilarious. and the biggest turkey i've ever seen. i think it deserves to come up first. but is it real?

mine + oprah's favorite things: the nike free

oprah, my most favorite person in the world who i don't know personally, debuted her 2010 favorite things on friday, november 19th and monday, november 22nd. one of her favorite things was the nike free, which i run in and absolutely love.

i have wide feet, so it's challenging for me to find comfortable shoes for any occasion - sneakers, heels, etc. the nike free are the perfect width for my feet and oh so comfortable. the fact that i never have to think about how my feet feel during a run is amazing. o and i highly recommend them.

xo,
jessica

photo via o, of course.

we did it

the humble runners accomplished the 9k! tayler and jennifer will be back to discuss their experiences, which is great because i think each are unique. so here is mine. i'll start from the morning.

breakfast of (humble) champions:

we stayed at a hampton inn near the race site. i had bran flakes, coffee, toast, a banana, and chia seeds, courtesy of tayler. and lots of water.

so we got started and almost immediately, i felt exhausted. the elevation was a little over 1,000 feet for our race (there were also an 18k, 20k, and 30k going on), so it was uphill most of the first half. it was hard. for me. i was out of breath and wondering if i was in way over my head. tayler had passed us by this time, and my sis was far enough behind me that i couldn't see her.  there were a few of us trailing in the back. most of us walking up the hills. i'd try to run a bit and then i'd have to stop when i'd get to another hill. it was frustrating.

here is a shot of the view - besides feeling frustrated, i tried to enjoy the beautiful scenery:

once i was close to the top, i saw some of my fellow 9kers passing by me. they had gotten to the top and reached the turn around. they all said encouraging things like, "you're so close" and "the way down is SO much better!" i felt like i got a second wind at this point. i was worried about my sister and wondering how she was doing. but i kept thinking that she'd eventually see the runners i'd just seen, and they'd say equally encouraging things to her. then i saw tayler and she said she'd be waiting for us before the last turn at the bottom.

i finally made it to the turn around and headed back, running and making sure i didn't slip in the muddy areas. i ran into my sis and she was having some issues with her ankle. she ran to the turn around and i waited for her. when she got back she was still hurting but didn't want to stop (i'll let her give you those details). so i ran ahead. this time it was mostly downhill, and i ran without stopping to walk. i crossed paths with the runners in the different races and they again said encouraging things like, "you're looking great," "keep it up," and "good job." i even got a couple of compliments on my tie dye leggings! i felt on top of the world. it was exhilarating. i thought, if i can just remember this feeling on future runs, i could get through the difficult parts no problem.  i was feeling so down on myself in the beginning, and now i realized it was all part of the experience. it's okay to feel challenged and worked over - i'm a humble runner, after all, right?

and here i am - just coming down to the finish:

what a feeling, let me tell you. just before this shot, i got to the final turn and saw tayler and my father in law, dale, with camera in hand, cheering me on. it was amazing. then i got to the bottom and saw tyler, my mom-in-law, culleen, and brother-in-law, jason (jennifer's hubby) cheering me on. i felt like crying.

perhaps this is a post for another day, but part my being so proud of this experience is the fact that i've never been an athletic person. i never played sports growing up, got picked last for teams (i was the one who would eat it trying to serve the volleyball in PE), and struggle with finding the motivation to get out and do something active. not trying to throw a pity-party here by any means. i guess my point is that i surprised myself. and get this - i'm already looking into signing up for the next one. a 12k in january.

so there it is, ladies and gents. we did it. here we are - the humble yet determined runners:



i placed 45th out of 52 people i think. this is obviously not great, but it's pretty exciting to have finished at all and felt as great as i did.

and i got to indulge at the end of the day with a beer and my favorite pizza:

stay tuned for some videos and thanks for reading.

xo,
jessica

we're so official

the humble runners have awesome t-shirts, thanks to my good pal, matt kellick. i bought the good shirts (american apparel) and some t-shirt transfer sheets at target and then at michael's. long story short, i practiced on an old pajama shirt and it looked ridiculous. that's when matt came to the rescue. we now have awesome shirts we can wear for reasons other than running. that was what i was going for. we are wearing them for our 9k tomorrow, but we'll be sporting them around town with jeans and what have you as well. hopefully jennifer and tayler don't see this post until i give them their t-shirts. i'm excited to surprise them!

wish us luck tomorrow! we'll be back with the full report. that's if we don't have hypothermia. it's supposed to rain tomorrow morning, so it'll be an experience to say the least. and thanks again so much, matt!

xo,
jessica

and now for some photos. here is matt in the process:

and here is the finished product. ya!

Endurance + Reassurance

Last night I went to a step aerobics class at 24 hour Fitness. This was my second go at it and let me tell you, it's HARD, ok?! I've never sweat so much in my life. As I was stepping, jumping, kicking and trying to keep up, I looked down at my feet that were doing all that work and I thought to myself, "How in the hell am I still going here? And how is it that I feel like I can keep on going?" The answer to those questions can be summed up in one simple explanation. I, like Tayler and Jessica have committed to running and experiencing all the wonderful things that come with it. As I've put in the time and energy, I have noticed, seemingly for the first time ever (woo hoo), that these runs are becoming less and less challenging for me. EUREKA! This is because I'm building up my endurance - duh, right? Let me tell you, friends, it feels AWE-some!! You really can surprise yourself. This is encouraging because the girls and I have the trail run this Sunday and I feel good about the fact that I will be able to not only finish it, but also not feel deflated and worn out afterwards. 

Malibu, here we come!!!

It's like Forrest, Forrest Gump said, " ... I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well...just keep on going."

Thanks for reading, 

Jennifer

home stretch

went for an early (for me) morning run today on the beach. i did the pier to pier to pier run again, and boy did it kick my arse. i'm tired, but it feels so good to start the day like that. it was really foggy, so not being able to see your destination until you're practically in front of it is pretty challenging. the tide was high too, so i had to alternate between wet and dry sand. it's really difficult! you definitely get a good work out though. the lifeguard towers are marked/numbered by street/block, so toward the end, i'd tell myself, "okay, when i get to 10th street, i'll stop to walk for a bit." but then i'd get to 10th street and say, "okay, try to make it to 11th without stopping." so i ended up running the whole time. it's good to play mind games with yourself. in this case, anyway.

the balboa pier and my first stop. i was relieved i'd made it and wanted to hug a beam (i didn't):

the end was in sight - the newport pier on my way back:

oh, and i wore shoes this time.

last run until sunday. feeling pumped.

xo,

jessica

we were humbled

after recovering from one of those 48 hour headache/migraines, i've lived to tell the tale of how two runners (jennifer and i) were humbled last sunday. we took a run at el morro where tyler did all his training for the big 50 miler. he thought we should get used to an intense trail with lots of hills. he gave us a map and mapped out a 5.5 mile run for us. just stay on bommer and turn when you get to big bend. left at the first fork, right at the other two. sounds pretty easy right? it wasn't. we were running and running and running. walking up the big hills. out of breath at the top of the hills and thankful for flat land and downhills. running low on water. hmm. it sure seems like we've gone a lot further than 2.75 miles, doesn't it? so when we get to a t in the road, we're confused (and tired and concerned and really hot). so i text tyler. "turn around. you went too far," he responded. so we turn around, and about an hour later, jennifer exclaims, "BIG BEND!?" pointing at the sign marker in the road. whoops. turns out we did a whopping 8 miles by the time it was all over.

here are some positives and negatives (i'll start with the negatives so we end on a happy note):

we ran out of water and it was a hot day - over 80 degrees which is warmer than normal for a november day in orange county. easy lesson: pack more water next time.

my knees were really really sore. so sore, that up until last night, i was worried i might have done some damage. it's mostly my left knee, but thankfully, it's beginning to feel more like regular muscle soreness.
we had to walk a lot of it because of all the hills. we're talking big hills here, people. so i got home feeling a bit defeated. now on to the positives...

on this note, tyler insisted that walking is part of trail "running." that it's not smart to run up the hills because you'll over-exert yourself and have a harder time on the rest of the trail. that made me feel better.

along the way, he sent some really encouraging text messages that came just at the right time. among them were, "Walk if you have to. Listen to your body. The goal is to keep moving forward;" "I'm so proud of you two;" and finally, "This is inspiring for me."

"Excuuuuse me," said jennifer. "he inspired all of this!" she added. i agreed.

okay. so now i'm starting to feel really proud of our trek on sunday. yes, we went much further/longer than we planned and it hurt a little, but we made it out alive and feeling pretty good (aside from the terrible headache and sore knees, of course). i should add that jennifer was tired afterwards but felt great the next day. we are so thankful we did this because now we feel like we know what to expect on sunday. 9k here we come. piece of cake.

xo,

jessica

My own little 9K...

On Saturday afternoon, I was feeling so much better.  My cold was pretty much gone and I felt like going on a brisk run to get back on my routine.  About a mile away from my place is a trail that runs along side the back of some homes.  It's a mix of dirt and concrete with plenty of hills to heat up the calves and quads.  I started my run at a steady pace and completed 2 miles easy.  The voice on my Endomondo training program informed me of my 9 minute/ mile status.  I was stoked!  I'm not saying that that's fast, but it's faster than usual for me, and I didn't even notice.  I continued on my run and by about the 5th mile, the knee twinges began.  Nothing painful-just a suggestion that perhaps a bit longer and then it's time to call it a day.  I took a turn onto the dirt path along side the railroad tracks and finished six miles before walking the last 1/8 of a mile back home.  Didn't want to push my luck.  I did six miles and I was thrilled.  Maybe that's nothing to some runners, but to a humble one like me, that's big.

Ciao!
Tayler

and I'm back!

It seems that with what I do, getting a head cold would be normal. Kids are "germy" and they never wash their hands...and all that. Well truthfully, my immune system is really good at kicking head cold a@# because of my constant exposure to the germ carrying kiddos, but with all of the running I had been doing, it lost some of its gusto. I decided to take it easy for a few days to allow myself to get better. Because the 9K is coming up next weekend, I didn't want to risk sitting out any more days than necessary.

Anyhow, I'm back and relatively back to normal. My ears are a bit plugged, which is annoying, but the rest of me is itching to get back out and run. I plan on hitting up my usual route today--a good 4.5 miles. However, this time I may take some side trips to stretch it to 5.5. Haven't made it to 6 miles yet, but the day is coming. I want to run one steady 6 mile before the race next Sunday. I really wish there were more trail runs close to home for me, but when you live in Las Vegas, the closest trail run is Red Rock Canyon 50 miles away. Not a really easy weekday trip. My schedule is pretty open tomorrow, however, so I may recruit a friend and hit the dirt. Keep posted!

Ciao!
Tayler

"pound the pavement" to this

I actually happened upon this song while I was driving and really dug its fun and upbeat tempo.  So, on my last run, I plugged in and turned on Tight Fit by New Young Pony Club.  Hope you enjoy!  And please remember...like Jess said...be careful how loud you blast the tunes.  This could be dangerous.

in the words of elle woods

"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy."

my plans for my beach run were thrown off due to work issues. i was mad. i was supposed to go running at 4pm so i'd have time before the sun set, and it was after 5 and i got tied up. i almost didn't go because i was so annoyed and angry. (a little irrationally angry, perhaps, but angry just the same). so i vented to tyler on the phone for about five minutes. it helped a tiny bit. i drove to the beach and decided to run on the boardwalk instead of the sand since there were still a lot of people out. i mean, for crying out loud, it wasn't late. it was just dark, but as i previously mentioned, i don't particularly feel comfortable running when it's dark. "at least it'll clear your head," said my wise husband. so i went. i ran and i even got a "good job!" from a beach bum sitting on a bench by the pizza shop.

i felt great after. here are before and after photos: one with my angry face and one with my happy accomplished face. so there you have it. miss elle woods was right.

xo, jessica

Who's That Girl?

     ...I've often asked myself this question.
    Yesterday morning I got up and went for a great run in Newport Beach before work. I was like, "Go me! Way to jump out of bed and make it happen!" Today, I'm meeting my friend at the gym for a turbo-kick class after work. I'm feeling dedicated. So... what happens to that dedication on days that I get home from work and all I want to do is slip into my jammies and watch the last three Oprahs recorded on my DVR?? Certainly being tired is a factor, but I'm tired today and I'm going straight at 5 PM. I wouldn't even consider skipping it. Who's that girl that doesn't think twice about it and makes breaking a sweat a priority?
   Well, I feel now like I can answer that question for myself. At least partially. I think that "girl" makes running or working out a priority when she can look forward to meeting her sister or friend and doing it together. Jessica and I have been out on just a few runs together, but I've thoroughly enjoyed that time with her and it's most DEFINITELY motivation to keep this going and find the energy to get out there. I'll keep you posted ;)
Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer

paranoid about running alone? i sometimes am.

i woke up with sore ankles and calf muscles the morning after my beach run. it still hurts a little to walk . tyler said this is normal after running on the beach, not only because you're working out your ankles but because you're also running at an angle (i totally was). anyway, i found this article particularly helpful. i have been trying to stretch, but perhaps i need to do that more often throughout the day. 

took yesterday and today off. i'm taking a late afternoon run tomorrow, but i haven't decided if i'll run on the sand or the boardwalk, or if i'll take a trail run. it's hard running on the trails alone because i honestly get scared. do any of you ladies get scared to run alone?

these are some tips i learned about running alone (especially at night):

1. don't wear your hair in a ponytail - it's easier for someone to grab you that way. scary, i know.
2. think twice before wearing headphones and blasting your music because you'll be less aware of your surroundings and won't hear if there's someone behind you.

that's all i got. i don't remember where i heard these - it was a long time ago. but i definitely remembered these and i follow this advice when i go out running alone. i've only run the trail alone once and i was paranoid the whole time. it does help you run faster though!

xo,

jessica

photo via here. it's pretty awesome but totally creepy, i know. i couldn't resist.

I can do this

Here goes... I'm the newbie and this is my first blog post- EVER!

I remember high school P.E. and I always detested the times they made us run around the track and timed it. I didn't hate exercise. In fact, I enjoyed all the badminton, tennis, circuit weights, swimming etc., but the running- not so much. I think the main reason was that I couldn't keep up with most of the girls who would run the mile in under 8 minutes or whatever the standard was. It made me feel bad about myself, and I never got any better at it. Running just wasn't my sport. Why did it matter? I have always been secretly envious of runners- their discipline and their physique. Does anybody recall that show on MTV called, Made? In each episode was a kid who longed to experience something totally different from the kind of kid they are and they were coached/molded by an expert who could help them reach that goal. An example was a straight-A, straight-laced, hall monitor who wanted to learn hip-hop dance as well as dress the part and live the culture. If an MTV producer would've offered me the chance to be on that show, I would have asked to be "made" into a cross country runner...well, that or a drummer in an all-girl rock band.

A few years ago, while walking on a treadmill at the gym I decided to up the speed and start a little jog. I forget how long I went before I felt sick and had to stop, but it marked that beginning of this new journey. Little by little (no exaggeration) I added running to the work-out and eventually (slowly) I could run two miles without having to stop and it felt so good!! Even though I felt like I had something to brag about, I was still comparing my speed, incline and time to the runner next to me. It still wasn't good enough - lame.

This summer, I randomly decided to do my first 5k run. A co-worker was soliciting donations for the annual AIDS Walk in Long Beach, CA. She was on a team that was walking the 5k. I went to the website to make a donation to her team and then navigated over to the registration for the race. I was curious and curiosity took over. Within 4 minutes, I had decided to sign-up, and raise $250 on my own. I remember my wide-eyes as I nervously filled out the profile information and paid my fee. I thought, "Wait! Can I even do this?... It's happening!" On Saturday, June 5, I got up at 6:30 am and my husband, Jason, drove me to Long Beach for the race. At the starting line, I waited amidst long, lean men and women - people who looked strong and prepared. The insecurity set in. Suddenly, the starting gun went off and there I was, running and trying to keep up again. I won't share all the details, but I learned a lot of things about myself that morning. And I decided that I had to do that again because it felt amazing! It doesn't matter that I didn't place in the top ten females or that I had to stop to walk a few paces. I finished it!

I ran my second 5k a month later. On November 21st, Jessica, Tayler, and I are doing a 9k trail run in the Santa Monica Mountains. I now enjoy going on regular runs and lately have done a few alongside my sister, which have been so much fun! Check me out! I can do this afterall and I don't have to worry about breaking records. I'm doing it because it feels great!

thanks for reading,
Jennifer

barefoot beach run + a sore knee

i ran on the beach with my pal nancy this evening for my first barefoot/beach run. nance works for the active network - this company offers "active x" classes during the work day. she goes on five mile runs on her lunch breaks or does strength training in the mornings with a group. she says she's the leader in her beginner runner group, so she ran a lot faster than i did (no big surprise since i'm a pretty slow runner). we ran from the newport pier to the balboa pier and back which is about 3.47 miles according to map my run. i felt worked after (we ran against the wind on the way back to the newport pier). it felt great.

my sis (jennifer) and i did a 5k run last tuesday and my knee was pretty sore during the run and after. i iced it that night, but it was still pretty sore the following day. we did a trail run on friday and my knee felt fine during the run but was sore that night. other than that, we both felt pretty good. so i just got back from our beach run and my knee is feeling a teeny bit sore, but it didn't bother me at all during the run. hopefully it's just the muscle getting in shape. tyler says running on the sand is good on the ankles.

xo, jessica

photo by yours truly of the 15th street lifeguard tower on the peninsula in the summer. tonight was much quieter than it was then.

PCTR 9k

the humble runners signed up for a 9k in the pacific coast trail runs through the santa monica mountains in malibu. woo! jennifer has run a few 5K races, but this will be the first official race for tayler and me and the longest race for all three of us.


and here is a map of our 9k:

both photos via here.

xo, jessica

"pound the pavement" to this..

...and all of a sudden Lily Allen graced my headphones with Not Fair from the album It's Not Me It's You.  Just about 180 BPM and a good deal of sassy bounce!

pandora, chia, and Nike Free-a

Hello, all!  This is my first official post and I'm so excited to embark on this new journey with all of you who may share our goals, or those of you who just enjoy a good blog post!  As Jess said in her first post, we decided to "become" runners after watching my brother (Jess's husband) run the 50 mile Lost Boys ultra marathon two weeks ago. After seeing all of these super-motivated people and sharing the excitement, our interest was piqued.  "Do you think someone like me could just get out there and start running?"  "How do you even get started as a serious runner?"  Questions like these fueled our conversation as we drove from aid station to aid station to meet "Mr. Ty." "Why not?"  was the general answer.  And so far, we haven't found a reason.

To get me started, and to pump the inspirational "choke", I bought an audio recording of Born to Run by Chris McDougal (recommended previously by Mr. Ty).  As far as storytelling goes, McDougal does a fine job of turning an informational rich personal narrative/expository piece into a piece of writing that reads like great fiction.  Granted, I did only listen to the text, but whose keeping score?  Need inspiration to run?  Want some good advice about how to actually "do" running well?  Want to save some cash on running footwear?  Read it.  Trust me.  I'm a 4th grade teacher, and I have little time to sit down and read/listen to a book from cover to cover, but I found myself cruising around my apartment with headphones on quite often.  I even listened while I ran. 

In addition to taking on a new read, I went straight out and bought a pair of running shoes specifically designed to simulate bare feet (read Born to Run--you'll understand).  Nike Free.  Amazing---allowing my feet to do the job they were designed to do made a huge difference in the way my run felt.  Also, recommended by Ty, I started eating chia seeds.  Same seeds used in the adorable 80's pop culture phenom the Chia Pet.  Look 'em up.  Superfood anyone?  A few spoonfuls of these magic seeds, and you feel pumped.  Maybe it's the placebo effect-maybe it's actually working.  All I know; it makes me feel super energized for a long run-even after an 8-10 hour day at school. Seven of the 10 spent with 35 fourth graders.

I started out running to the pleasant sound of Fred Sanders storytelling Born to Run.  After I finished the book, I tuned in to Pandora radio on my phone and fell in love with the Ting Tings station.  Upbeat, lively tunes with a bit of sass.  Always makes me feel like I'm the hottie in some girly movie.  Cheesy-I know-but does wonders for the motivation.  I'll be sure to share some of my top songs every Friday.

Well, folks, there it is.  My first post on our new adventure.  A bit lengthy, but it felt right.  Please keep up with us and help us stay motivated!  If you have any advice or catchy tunes we would enjoy-post it!

Ciao!
Tayler

is it just me or...

i find that i often have a hard time finding the motivation to get out and run. some days, i'm totally pumped. other days, i'd so much rather stay in and find nothing to do. i'm wondering if you ever feel this way and what you do to rally.

in other news, we have exciting news to share with you all. something we've signed up to do. there's a clear goal in sight, which is great in motivating me to run. but what will happen once that goal has been accomplished and passed? stay tuned...

xo, jessica

photo from breakfast at tiffany's via here.

we're up and running (literally and figuratively)

we are excited to start this blog so we can document our efforts in becoming runners. our inspiration: jessica's hubby and tayler's brother: mr. tyler. he ran 50 miles in the lost boys race last month after training for a few months. he is a new(ish) runner as well, and though he is undaunted by long trails and hilly runs, he is still a humble runner as well. we are novices at this point, but we've (tayler + jessica + jennifer) have begun to hit the trails one mile here, two miles there and will document it here. everything from shoes to food to soreness. we welcome advice and encouragment from you.

xo,
jessica