Today's post is all about green stuff for St. Patty's Day.
A couple weeks ago I woke up early to compete in a St. Patrick's Day run but when I looked at the weather report, and saw the cold weather and hail, unfortunately I decided to skip it and was really bummed. So instead I made my Match Green Tea facial mask.

I'm on the social committee at work and created a fun celebration for St. Patrick's Day including door prizes, Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, Guinness and green jelly beans! We had a meeting scheduled for St. Patty's day, but someone suggested we be "culturally sensitive" and not book a 4pm meeting on St. Patrick's Day out of respect for Irish Americans who may want to celebrate. lol Check out my St Patrick's themed nails from last year.

If you want a healthy green food snack idea try a pot of green with grapes, kiwi and honeydew or kiwi chia pudding.

Chobani yogurt just released their new limited edition flavor - green tea. I love green tea ice cream and this yogurt has a very subtle taste.
I made Green Overnight Oats.

• 1 large handful fresh spinach 
• 1 large ripe banana
• 1.5 tbsp chia seeds (necessary for thickening)
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/3 cup rolled oats

Beach, sand, sunshine, summertime, can't believe we're halfway through August already. I went to Ocean City beach this weekend with a group of friends and had so much fun! A lot of firsts happened on this trip: my first visit to this beach, ran 4 miles on the boardwalk, practiced yoga on the sand and played beach volleyball (something I've been wanting to do for a long time)! All of those were amazing experiences! There were 40 of us and we had the stereo set up on the beach blasting out music! I felt a sense of stillness that surrounded me and how it soothed my soul, it's nice to just appreciate the simpler things in life, better than any retail therapy. Some people smoked hookah, drank shots and played twister on the beach. I got some reading in while eating all the healthy snacks I packed.  


Even though I put on sunblock and wore my Panama hat, I still managed to get sunburned. The weather was only 80 degrees but it felt like it was 100. And then we got a short surprise shower but the funny part was when I looked straight up at the sky I saw blue, no clouds! It was the weirdest thing ever!  lol  I came home feeling relaxed with lots of wonderful memories. On the drive home I watched the sunset straight ahead as we crossed tall bridges and then saw fireworks. It was the best day ever!

that's my empty towel in the middle

Overall the Glo Run was a fun experience and I’d probably do it again. Although next time I’d get some glow in the dark face paint and shoe laces. After the race I went home and showered, and headed out to a birthday party! 



After a weak performance at the Color in Motion 5K  in April, I had been training hard for this race this summer with my running essentials, new workout clothes, and indispensable hair products. Tomorrow I'll post my summer running playlist. It's funny how I've evolved to become a runner. In September last year I said in this post:

I know that the treadmill will never, ever fully prepare you for running outside so on my fourth run I ventured outside because it was such nice weather. However I was reminded why I enjoy running inside: it was too distracting having everyone stare at me. lol The run felt so much longer and harder. I had to keep pushing myself to get through it and maintain a slow steady pace. I was thankful for every stop light and was super careful when crossing the street with my earphones in as just a month ago I read about a jogger that was hit by a bus. At one point I was so excited to see a water fountain that someone was drinking from until I got up close and found it had bird droppings all over it. #fail If I ever run outside again (highly doubtful) I need a handheld water bottle. That evening, despite stretching, my thighs hurt when I tried to sit down as if I had done a zillion squats.

In April this year I wrote a review about the handheld water bottle I started using. lol

Advice I wrote from the Color Me Rad race:

Have a small backpack or fanny pack to keep your belongings in. I ran with a plastic bag that contained my purse, not too convenient. lol 

So if you're a beginner runner, have no fear, sign up for a themed run to get you started! If you need inspiration to run, check out this book I read titled Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run written by a British woman who just started running in her 30s.

This weekend was full of fun events with family, friends, comedy, food, and some running… all my favorite things!  The weekend started off bright and early on a chilly Saturday morning. I was worried about running in 60F degree weather but it turned out to be the perfect temperature. I took up running again a week ago and realized it's time already for new running shoes. What's I've learned through running is that I don't always want to do it, but when I do, I am so happy that I have. I feel better and know that I am mixing things up for my body and going to get better results from it. My thighs and abs were so sore the first two times I ran so I know it's working!


My first color run was the Color Me Rad race so I was curious to see how these two compare! If you don't know what a Color Run is it's a 5K race (3.1 miles) where you run through color stations where you are bombarded with blasts of color as you go along the course. The color is colored cornstarch and this idea came comes from the Holi holiday in India.

Everyone was given a packet of color and  before the race we threw them at each other and random strangers if we had a color they didn't have. It was so much fun!! Luckily my boyfriend was kind enough to pick up our race packets the night before so we didn't have to stand in the enormous line to pick one up the day of the race. 

The run itself was a bit challenging for me this time but having a running partner really pushed me to run the whole thing. Waiting to get the water station at the middle of the run was the hardest part. I ended the race totally covered in color and a blue tongue!  For my next race I definitely need to wear a fun costume! I saw so many people in tutus! The race was family friendly lots of kids and strollers. In fact one 6 year old was running faster than me and that pushed me to pick up speed! lol

Tips:
Be sure to bring a t-shirt to change into and baby wipes to clean up with so you don't get your car dirty afterwards. If you're a blonde like me, be sure to put olive oil in your hair before the race which will allow the color to come out easily. I've never put olive oil in my hair before and was worried I would look like a greasy shiny mess. But it absorbed so fast immediately after putting it on I couldn't even tell I had put any on so I did a second coat just to be sure I didn't miss a spot. lol Some women wore bandannas. My Flipbelt was incredibly useful, you need one! 

The Color in Motion 5K is certainly a great race for anyone who has never run a 5K before, wants to take it slow, or is just looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday. However I was disappointed that there was nothing at the finish line besides water. Every other race I've done had granola bars or some kind of snack because you're famished! Plus there were no fun backdrops for photo opts. In conclusion, if you want to do a color run, don't do Color in Motion, pick another one. Color in Motion was pretty bare bones. 

Since this is the anniversary of the Boston Marathon tragedy Adidas is selling a line of clothing to support a charity that helps the victims. Natalie Morales is wearing the whole line in this pic, I think the orange is really pretty! 

When I was training for my last run I talked about how I needed a handheld water bottle. Well I found the perfect one!  Unlike a regular cylinder water bottle, the Amphipod is shaped to fit the natural shape of your hand. So it's very comfortable to run with because I hardly noticed I was holding it for the most part. And the zippered neoprene sleeve is perfect to carry my keys in.

When I run my hand isn't holding on to the bottle tightly at all, it's in a relaxed position. I only felt the 20 oz bottle when it's full because they it feels like a heavy weight in my hand, but once I started drinking the water it lightens up and I really do finish a bottle on an hours run. My hand does sweat a little so I switch the bottle between hands during my run so I would imagine the sleeve will have to be washed eventually. The bottom rubber band slipped out a couple times, not sure what I'm doing to make it do that?  My other complaint is the color, I wish it came in other colors or at least the neoprene sleeve did, a girl likes options!

If you need a new goal to get you back into fitness or just want to have fun, there’s nothing better than a themed run! Whether you're into hot chocolate, ice cream, cupid undie run, zombies,  mud, tutus, color dust, glow in the dark, there's something out there for you! I can tell you from first hand experience that doing these themed runs is a fun time! And training for one gives new purpose to your workouts because you know you actually want to train to do well at your race.

I was never into doing a marathon, but these new crops of fun races are taking over, I see new ones every year. The 5Ks are only 3.1 miles which is very doable for a newbie runner. And you never know you might just run into Jesus at your next run, seriously! So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a themed run! Make sure your friends show up with awesome signs to support you!

I've always wanted to run a race with a tutu and I finally found the perfect company to order one from, Glam Runners supports the charity Girls on the Run which sponsors exercise and confidence-building programs for young girls.

Saturday is my race, so wish me luck! To prepare for it this week I started running outside during my lunch break at work with a co-worker which has been nice during this lovely spring weather! However my thigh muscles and abs have been so sore! My body is not used to running! Here's some great stretches you should be doing after your runs.

My friends and I competed together in the Electric Run under the team name Glitter Bomb.  After doing my first 5K Color Run, I had this craving for another fun run!  Have you noticed how many fun runs there are now days? The color runs, glo run, the mud runs, hot chocolate run, jungle bell run, and cupid undie run. The Electric Run is a 5k run/walk at night with amazing lighting effects that are synchronized to music! Very similar to the Glo Run and Cosmic Run. It's untimed, so it's just meant to be a fun social event so I had time to take some 60 pictures, well many were out of focus. lol I talked about my training for the race yesterday. I registered for the Electric Run the day registration opened and that was a good thing because it sold out in 2 days!





When we arrived to the race location, there was the most beautiful sunset! Then it was pitch dark when we got to the check-in area, I lost my friends momentarily because I stepped away for a minute and panicked and it took multiple phone calls to find each other so stay close! lol Don't think about using the port-a-potties since it will be completely dark inside, I don't know why they didn't put glow sticks inside them. Since we got there late, we were at the end of the start line so we waited one hour in the crowd to start the race. They had the most awesome playlist blasting that really hyped us up! When I did the Color Run, when you registered you signed up for different start times at 10 minute intervals which I think is a better system then waiting in line for one hour for them to let small waves of people go at 10 minute intervals. I was in the first wave at the Color Run so there was no wait, but others waited by the party stage not trapped in a line. Once we were allowed to start running at the Electric Run, with so many people, it ended up being very slow moving space due to all the walkers, initially I thought will I even be able to run?

Once we finally found some space to actually run, I have to say a good portion of the route was in the dark with no music.  There were parts that were paved and parts that were gravel. The gravel parts made me really nervous. It was pitch black, in a crowd, and I was running on an uneven surface, and at one point even rolled my ankle. We ran next to a river so between the night air and water breezes the weather was just perfect! I did like the decorations they had, the lighting elements and music to pump up and energize your run. For instance they had:

Glowing arches changing color in tempo

Glowing paper lanterns in neon trees

Glowing Tunnels 

An art display with dancing patterns and figures on the walls

Lit up umbrellas hanging from trees

At the beginning, middle and end of the run they had  mini cans or bottles of Rockstar Recovery drink (who sponsored the race). Rockstar Recovery was named the Worst Energy Drink by Men's Health magazine for having 280 calories due to 67.5 grams of sugar. It has more caffeine than a cup of coffee and the has the controversial herb guarana so I passed on that. It's definitely not to be mixed with alcohol which they sold at the end of the race - $5 beers. To be fair there is a sugar free version of Rockstar recovery that is not carbonated made with Sucralose. I had to google the ingredients since the company doesn't list it on their website. I overheard lots of people say how nasty it tasted, that explains why there were so many almost full bottles on the ground which were easy to trip over since you can't easily see them in the dark. At the end of the race were cups of water and Kirkland granola bars (if you happened to see that table).


There were a bunch of spectators yelling us on saying "Go! Go! You're almost at the end!" and kids putting their hands out for high fives. If you ever have the chance to do this run, do it! It is so much fun!  The next day my whole body was sore. If you have done fun runs, what has been your favorite?

 

My second run was the full 3.1 miles at 5.5 speed an it took me 34 minutes and let me tell you I was ready to quit every minute of it! lol I was watching the Real Housewives of OC while on the treadmill so that made it easier. On my third run I wasn't watching the clock as much and was able to do it at 5.6 speed, but boy did I feel it in my thighs afterwards, not pain, but tight.

I know that the treadmill will never, ever fully prepare you for running outside so on my fourth run I ventured outside because it was such nice weather. However I was reminded why I enjoy running inside: it was too distracting having everyone stare at me. lol The run felt so much longer and harder. I had to keep pushing myself to get through it and maintain a slow steady pace. I was thankful for every stop light and was super careful when crossing the street with my earphones in as just a month ago I read about a jogger that was hit by a bus. At one point I was so excited to see a water fountain that someone was drinking from until I got up close and found it had bird droppings all over it. #fail If I ever run outside again (highly doubtful) I need a handheld water bottle. That evening, despite stretching, my thighs hurt when I tried to sit down as if I had done a zillion squats.

The day before the race I only weight trained to give my legs a break. The morning of the race I played flag football with a church league.

Do you want to hear a funny glow in the dark story? In college I had put on my evening cream (nice way of saying zit cream lol) which ends up looking sheer on my face. Then I heard a party on my floor so I thought I would pop over. Well they had black lights, remember how cool those were? Shoot I even had one for my room! lol Anyway so this guy I knew said to me in a cautious tone, "I think there's something on your face" and I'm thinking OMG in the black light it must look like I showed up for the party with a mask on my face! hahahaaha So I ran out of there, ran back into my suite and asked my roommate how it looked. I switched on my blacklight and she was speechless, she said I looked like one of those guys in the movie Dead Presidents (below) then she couldn't stop cracking up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you imagine showing up at a party looking like that, chatting casually not even knowing that's how you looked? I tried washing my face but it didn't come off and of course I couldn't see for myself in the mirror because it only worked with the black lighting. Needless to say I had to sit the rest of the party out.
Something else I learned in college at a frat party was that if you dye your hair blonde, it glows in the dark under a black light. So everyone knows you're not a natural blonde. lol

I signed up for my first 5K with some people from church. I don't count last year's Warrior Dash a real race per say, just an obstacle course.  I heard that Color Me Rad is the most colorful 5K you will ever run!  The idea came from the  Holi celebration in India. There's also The Color Vibe, Run or Dye, The Color Run, and Color in Motion 5ks which are the exact same concept as Color Me Rad race. My friends did the Color Run and Run or Dye and both races gave them a free white t-shirt to wear for the race. The Color Me Rad run gave us free dark blue t-shirts that you can't see dye on so I wore my own white t-shirt. I washed my shirt four times and am still waiting for all the color to come out.

The coloring used is colored corn starch, so it's safe, but you still need to protect your eyes with sunglasses which they give you. You need to be sure to shield camera lens because the dust can get inside your camera, I got a lens error message for awhile even though I was careful. I coated my blonde hair with coconut oil otherwise the color could remain for a week, I also wore a headband and bandana for triple protection. Like the Warrior Dash because there's so many people it's done with staggered start times and its untimed. The bombardment of color bombs are sprayed on by people so everyone finishes the race looking like a pack of skittles. Unlike a lot of other races this one was pretty affordable, only $30 and a portion of the proceeds went to the Special Olympics.


I'm not a runner, I used to run on the treadmill occasionally until last summer when I bought the wrong shoes and injured my foot. In May of this year I started running again and on my first run could only do 10 minutes! Actually who am I kidding, that was my only run of this year! lol To be honest I didn't train for this race despite having every intention to train for it and even getting a training guide from a friend.

The morning of the weather was perfect and they had a fun pre-race prep rally with a zumba instructor on stage leading dance steps. As you already know running isn’t my strongest discipline,  but I was pleased with my pace and resisted the temptation to get carried away speeding off from the start. I would definitely say this was a beginner friendly race, shoot there were kids and babies running, but it was amazing motivation for me to do my next race. There were some friendly spectators yelling encouragement which helped. The good news is I didn't come in last! Well that would be pretty hard considering I had the first start time. lol

Since I had a lot of energy at the beginning of the race I actually surprised myself and ran the whole race! Lots of people walked it and I just ran right around them! I only wanted pink and purple dust on me but the purple pretty much just looked pink. I ran around the people spraying colored water, so that's why I'm not as saturated in color. In the end I figured I did something fun and fitness related at 9am on a Sunday morning while most people are still in bed. Course I got strange looks from people on the subway on my way home.

I have a few tips for your first race:

1. Get a good nights sleep. 
2. Use the bathroom before the race and before the lines get long 
3. If there are cameras en route, smile, wave, and make sure your number isn't covered. My number was on my back at Warrior Dash instead of the front of my shirt and everyone else could find their photo by number on their website, I looked through dozens of pages of their unIDed pictures but still couldn't find me.
4. Have a snack within half an hour of finishing so you're not famished. They gave us water and a mini lara bar, but you should be prepared not knowing what they will offer you. 
5. Have a small backpack or fanny pack to keep your belongings in. I ran with a plastic bag that contained my purse, not too convenient. lol 
6. Resist the urge to put a temporary tattoo on your neck, I had a heck of a time removing mine. lol 

Well, the Color Me Rad 5K was a success! When's the next one? I signed up for the Electric Run!

Are you looking for an adventure that's crazy, fun and dirty?! Remember all those fun obstacle course TV shows when we were kids? Well last year I participated in Warrior Dash which is a 5K obstacle course race and they have 40 races around the country, so check and see if there's one near you!