Miles, Motherhood, and Margaritas
Zooma is on the move – and they may be coming to a city near YOU! Zooma – the women’s race series that inspires women to live healthy, happy & active lives – currently races in Austin (TX), Annapolis (MD), Cape Cod (MA), Atlanta (GA) & Great Lakes (WI). On July 26, Zooma is announcing a new location!
Where do you think ZOOMA will go?
Have you raced a Zooma race? What location?
Want to win a sweet swag bag from Zooma? Enter here
It’s HOT in DC, and that means most of my runs include a water bottle of sorts. I’m a big fan of, and use, everything from a CamelBak to Nathan Hydration Bottle depending on the length of my run and the temperature.
A few weeks back my dear friend Lisa (Run Wiki) gave me a {Simple Hydration} bottle. With temperatures in the high 90’s (and even reaching 106 degrees), this was the perfect week to take it for a (running) spin. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome!
For starters, I love The Hook – which allows the bottle to rest on a waistband, sports bra, or race belt. The bottle fits perfectly in my hand (with the help of the hook) and I’m able to run effortlessly. It’s so lightweight that I forget that I’m holding a water bottle.
{Simple Hydration} also features a contoured design for a nice, secure fit on the center of the lower back or waist, a BPA Free bottle, and it’s proudly made in the USA.
Sports Bra: I love this one! {Simple Hydration} fits perfectly in my sports bra and doesn’t bounce around or move. I tried this with two different styles of sports bras and each style worked. Even with a full water bottle, it doesn’t feel heavy. 
Hand Held: I really liked the way {Simple Hydration} fit into my hand. It’s so lightweight that I forget I’m holding anything. The hook helps relive “stress” associated with holding a bottle, so my hand/forearm never wears out or gets fatigued. 
Waist Band: I love the concept of a water bottle in my shorts (without wearing a race belt), but this didn’t quite work for me. It may have been a function of the shorts that I was wearing, so I encourage you to try it with different styles and fits. If you’re walking or run-walk, {Simple Hydration} will work like a dream. 
Final Thoughts: {Simple Hydration} is 13oz. so I suggest using the bottle on a shorter run or on race day – but if you’re headed out for a 22 miler during cooler months, this bottle will do the trick. {Simple Hydration} is the perfect lightweight water bottle option. Overall, I’m really happy with the product – so much so that it’s become my go-to water bottle!
Want to LOVE your water bottle? Pick one (or 2) up here!
For more information about Simple Hydration, follow SH on facebook or Twitter:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplehydration
Twitter: @simplehydration
note: i was not compensated in any way for this post. my thoughts and opinions are my own.
My {weightless workout} is featured on Randomly Specific today. In my free time, I’m a Personal Trainer that rarely uses weights or dumbells during a workout. I’m a strong believer that meaningful (and effective) workouts can be done without the help of weights.
Grab a resistance band (or buy one here) & a pair of shoes, and you’re ready for my {weightless workout}.
Do you use a resistance band? What’s your favorite exercise?
Have a question about an exercise? Feel free to email me @ willrunformargaritas@gmail.com
For all things running and margaritas, follow {will run for margaritas} at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/willrunformargaritas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/run4margaritas
Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/run4margaritas/
{home} is where the heart is is
home. i love that word so much. home is family and love and laughing. it’s the ocean and salt and breeze. it’s running and biking and swimming. it’s everything that i love more than anything.
i just spent the best and most bittersweet days in florida with my family. it’s bittersweet because this is the last time i’ll be going {home} to florida for awhile. my dad is finally joining my mom in mississippi – she’s been there two years, anxiously waiting, hoping, praying for a job transfer to florida; they are finally tired of living apart.
i know {home} is where the heart is. i know mississippi will become our temporary home – and there will be family and love and laughing. but there’s something about florida that I don’t want to give up. it’s a part of who i am.
i took advantage of everything i love about our florida {home}
What exactly is a Tempo Run? And why are Tempo Runs important?
A Tempo Run is a rate of performance at a steady pace. In other words, you’re running almost as fast as you can for a defined amount of time. Tempo runs help develop metabolic fitness; and as a result, your anaerobic (or lactic) threshold will improve – this is key for running faster.
Tempo runs are typically run slightly slower than your 10k race pace – between 20-30 seconds depending on where you are at in your training and fitness level. If you incorporate tempo runs into your weekly training schedule, your body will adapt to running that fast for that long. Most important of all, tempo runs train your body (and mind) for race day pace.
I prefer to run my tempo runs on a track – it’s a controlled environment and I’m able to see the benefits (and improvement) week over week. If you don’t have access to a track – don’t worry! Tempo runs can be done on any surface (e.g., road, trails, or treadmill). Incorporate this tempo workout into your weekly schedule, and you’ll be running PR’s in no time:
Sample Workout
1-2 mile warm-up
Strength & Agility Drills, including butt kicks, high knees, windmill, and striders
3 miles at 10k pace + 20-30 seconds/mile (over the course of 4-5 weeks, work up to running 5 miles at tempo pace)
1-mile cool-down
Note: Similar to track workouts and hill repeats, tempo runs should only be incorporated once/week
Do you incorporate tempo runs into your weekly workouts? What’s your favorite tempo workout?
Are you on Twitter, Facebook, or Pintrest? {will run for margaritas} wants to connect!
Twitter: @run4margaritas
Facebook: {will run for margaritas}
Pintrest: run4margaritas
Two years ago I married Mr. Jones – one of the best days of my life, to date. I can’t even wrap my head around how it’s already been 2 years, but I guess it goes by fast when it’s total wedded bliss (wink). Seriously though, I have such a supportive and loving husband – I don’t even know how I got this lucky! More than anything, he supports my {running} dreams and never judges me when I tell him that I want to run {this} fast or PR at {that} race. And the best part, he still loves me even when I don’t run {this} fast or get {that} PR. He believes in me, he supports me, and most important of all, loves me. Here’s to 2 + forever more years together.
My biggest fan!
This morning’s hill workout reminded me why I love hills – it’s the perfect combination of really hard and totally satisfying. Hill training is tough – but it’s an important component to training, even if you aren’t planning to run a hilly race. Hill training is hugely beneficial to runners, and enables the body to adapt to new levels. If you do it once/week, your body begins to adapt to the stresses. In other words, you become a stronger and faster runner!
Stronger
Hills can be intimidating because they take more work than running on a flat surface. When running up hill, your legs have to recruit more muscles fibers, which causes the muscles to fatigue faster. However, if you incorporate weekly hill training into your program, your body adapts to the stresses – and becomes stronger. Just like leg extensions increase fast twitch muscle fibers – hill training utilizes the same muscles, and make you stronger runner.
Faster
Often called speed training in disguise, hill training can quickly increase your speed. The muscles you recruit to run up a hill are the same ones used for sprinting, and over time, will build strength and speed. When incorporated into your weekly training schedule, hill training will improve anaerobic fitness and develop maximum strength (to improve speed).
my favorite hill
It is important to remember that hill training, like speed or tempo training, should only be utilized once/week. Living near the Custis and Washington & Old Dominion Trails, I am fortunate to have many hill options. Below is my favorite hill workout – keeping in mind that this workout can be modified according to your training schedule & abilities.
Sample Workout
1-2 mile warm-up
6-8 x 400m hill sprints; followed by 30 second recovery run (continue running through hill, if possible); turnaround and pick-up pace as your run downhill
15 seconds rest (at the bottom of the hill)
(Optional: 10 push-ups before next repeat)
Repeat
1 – 2 mile cool-down
Hit the Hills with perfect form*:
1. Drive hard with your arms
Increase your armswing as if you’re pulling yourself quickly up a rope.
2. Press forward with your hips
As you run up, think about pressing your hips into the hill to avoid bending at the waist.
3. Run with high knees
This will help increase your stride rate and further help you maintain good posture.
4. Spring up from your toes
Push off your toes to create an upward lift that will help propel you forward.
*Adapted from Runner’s World Magazine
Last week, on National Running Day, Scott Jurek wore and ran in this shirt. {ironic?! maybe}
Shortly after he posted this picture, I received texts, tweets, emails, and phone calls from blog followers & friends.
Did Scott Jurek wear that shirt for you?
Have you seen Scott Jurek’s shirt?
Did you know that Scott Jurek liked margaritas?
Super lucky for me, I was scheduled to meet Scott Jurek 2 days later. I wondered if he would be willing to part with his {margaritas} shirt? So, I did what any margarita-lover would do and asked him for it….
While Scott was running around NYC and Boston, promoting his new book, I thought about the {margaritas} shirt. How cool would it be if Scott really did give me the {margaritas} shirt when we met?! So, it’s all I thought about for 2 days. (I know, I kinda sound like a loser, it’s all good)
When Friday finally rolled around, I made one last ditch effort for the shirt, all in the name of {margaritas}.
Regardless of what happened, I was beyond excited to meet Scott….
The fun run started at The Nature Conservancy and ended at Pacers Running Store in Clarendon, with Q&A, book signing, and post-run snacks. 200+ people showed up, on a Friday night, to meet and run with Scott. It was so cool to see everyone there – all levels, all abilities, some Vegans, some not, kids, adults, etc. People really like Scott!
After the 3.5 mile run, everyone gathered at the store. Scott spoke, he answered questions, talked about why he wrote Eat & Run, and started signing books.
And, then, my life got way cooler…
Scott stopped signing books, stood up, and asked for {will run for margaritas}
Ummmm, that’s ME
Scott had something to give me. And that something was his {margaritas} shirt!!!
best.day.ever.
Scott gave me his National Running Day “I run…for Margaritas” shirt! Do you realize that he wore (and ran in) this shirt, and it touched Desi Davila?! Awe-some
Scott, thank you for making my month (and my blog)! Not only are you an amazing athlete, you are genuine and people love you. Brooks is lucky to have an athlete like you represent the brand. Thank you, thank you for the {margaritas} shirt – this is something I’ll never forget!
Scott is on tour promoting his book through June. Check out dates and locations here.
It’s been 2 years since I’ve raced a 10k. Lawyers Have Heart reminded me why: 10k’s aren’t easy. I also wanted a new PR, but with the lack of track workouts since Boston (and by lack, I mean one workout), this race hurt. Minutes after crossing the finish line Coach George reminded me that PR’s hurt, so I guess I got what I raced for.
I’m vaguely familiar with the LHH course – it’s an out-and-back, fairly flat course on concrete and asphalt. I ran this race last year, but due to the heat index/advisory on race morning, the course was switched to a 5k. Last year, I couldn’t have been more thankful for the switch – but this year I was ready for that 10k PR.
This year, we lucked out with the weather. It was a really nice morning with low humidity and temperatures in the 70’s (dare I say it was slightly chilly in the shade, with the breeze?!). For a race in June, I couldn’t have asked for better weather (although 9 minutes in, I wished for some, any, shade). BJ, Julianne, and I took a cab to the start and met up with some friends. It was easy (I like easy), there were plenty of porta-potties, and we had enough time to check our bags and hangout without feeling like we had too much time. Perfectly executed race day logistics – check.
Pre-race thoughts: My goal was to run a new PR, and preferably one in the 40 minute range (I was shooting for 40:30). I checked my current 10k PR (41:37 at 6:42 pace) and thought about my recent 10 Mile PR pace (1:06:20 at 6:38); I knew that if I could run 10 miles at 6:38 pace, I could run a 10k at the same pace or faster. Again, it wasn’t going to be easy – this course is much different than the Broad Street 10 Miler and the weather was easily 25 degrees warmer – but I was ready to dig deep.
Mile 1 – I felt good, and strong. It wasn’t too hot (yet) and I was on the back end of the Top 10 Female runners (umm, that never happens).
Mile 2 – I started to feel the speed, and felt unprepared for the pace. I looked down at my wrist, “Believe” looked back at me. I needed to dig deep. I needed this PR.
Mile 3 – Turn around (woo hoo). Other runners tell me that I’m #9 Female and this totally pumps me up! I also see all of my friends – BJ, Julianne, Elyse, Laura, Sarah, James.
Mile 4 – 2 more miles to go. I see my CAR teammates and they cheer me on – thank you ladies (I needed those cheers!).
Mile 5 – Easily my slowest and most metal mile. My legs hurt, the pace hurt, I was hot, I was thirsty.
Mile 6 – This is when I knew I could finish with a PR. 4 laps around a track – 7 more minutes of pain. There were 2 ladies in front of me, they were suffering and I knew I could pass them. I had to grind it out.
Finish: #7 Female to cross the finish line (but after results are compiled I’m #9 overall) and land a new PR of 40:20.
Stats:
Time: 40:20 (6:30 pace)
Place: 106/3058
Sex Place: 9/1483
Age Place: 1/457
I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. More than anything, I got what I set out to do: a 10K PR. The Age Group win and Top 10 Female finish are the (buttercream) icing on the cake (placing very rarely happens for me when I race in the DC area). I ran a smart race, and even though Miles 4 & 5 were my slowest, Mile 6 was fast (and I felt strong).
I’m thankful for all of the volunteers – they were wonderful and plenty of them. This race is also known for the ice, cold sponges – they did not disappoint. The ice cold sponge totally saved me. Overall, Lawyers Have Heart (put on by Pacers) is a well run race, and race support/logistics are exactly what I look for. If you’re in the market for an easy and fast 10k, don’t overlook LHH.
lululemon is celebrating 5 years in Clarendon, and they’re going {all out}
Join lululemon for their Tops of Tabata party on Sunday, June 10 at 9:30 am. Meet at the store (2847 Clarendon Blvd.) – and bring a mat, some water, and all of your friends. It’s going to be a {blast} – and likely the best workout of your life.
PS – remember when I blogged about Tabata (it’s a form of high intensity interval training) a couple of weeks ago? If you live in the ‘hood, you do not want to miss this event. Matt, lululemon ambassador and Tabata instructor, is awesome. He is full of energy, and he teaches his class the same way. I was sore (the best kind of sore) for 3 days after I took his class – and never felt better. Don’t miss this unique (and free) opportunity to take a Tabata class taught by Matt!
