I think that reading blogs and coaching new runners has invigorated my own running. I’m not sure what my specific running goals are this year, but I know it’s gonna be a good year!

For some reason I felt the need to run outside in 40 degree rain and 25-35 mph winds.

Needless to say I got a little wet. My shoes felt like they each weighed 10 pounds. When I wasn’t running into the wind, I actually felt really good. I was scheduled to run 8, but just ran 6.

The park was quiet except for a few die hard runners. Perhaps I’m becoming one of them again.

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Let’s play a game of make believe.

You will play the role of a first time personal training client. While I play the role of ass kicker personal trainer.

While you’re warming up for our session, I’ll give you your guidelines:*

1. Above everything else your form is most important.

2. If something hurts, please stop doing the exercise.

3. At the same time please note the difference between an exercise being challenging and legitimate pain.

3. If the weight isn’t heavy enough you are responsible for telling me. You’re only cheating yourself by lifting too light (although, I can usually tell).

4. Inhale on the easy part of the exercise, exhale on the harder part. (More breathing tips can be found here)

5. On a scale of 1 – 10 initially each exercise should feel like an 8 by the 8th rep. so that by 10 or 12 reps it feels like a 9.

6. To gage if a weight is right or not use the following as a rule of thumb “if you can only do 3-5 reps its too heavy if you can do 20 reps its way too light.

Now let’s get started!

*Assuming we have meet previously to discuss your goals, exercise habits, time constraints, injuries etc.

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P.S. There’s a great deal going on right now at Sierra Trading Post. The Phoebe Sports Bra (one of my fit picks) is only $19.95 usually $34-$36.

Another Jessica I’ll be paying attention to next week is Jessica Simpson. While I know a lot of people are not a fan of hers, I am. Perhaps I feel connected to her because she grew up in a southern christian/conservative household like I did. Or maybe there’s just something in a name.

Whatever the draw I know that I’ll be watching her latest project The Price of Beauty this upcoming Monday night.  She’ll be traveling the world to discover what different cultures consider beautiful and what women will do to achieve that ideal.

Will you be watching?  I think I could stand to learn a thing or two from this series.

After all they do say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

For the full VH1 Clip click here.

I don’t really want to photograph my food and if I did this blog would be a total snooze-fest.  Every breakfast would be the same: pumpkin peanut butter oats & coffee.

However, when I can’t think of anything to blog about, I wish I were a food blogger. Then I could craft a nice long excuse (along with photos of course) of why I needed to eat yet another cupcake or ice cream filled donut.

Typically when I can’t think of anything else to write I…

post a play-list,

So here you go, whether you like it or not. =)

Or tell you how my training is going,

My training is going okay-ish. Yesterday I had a tough run and called it short at 5.5 miles. No worries though, I plan to tackle that long run this weekend.

Or make a silly video.

Now it’s your turn to finish the sentence. Typically when I can’t think of anything else to write I…

On February 9th I signed up for updates from the US Department of Health and Human Services. In just over a months time I received 40 emails regarding food products that have been recalled.

If you’ve watched Food Inc. ( I still haven’t) or read the Omnivore’s Dilemma, you know that there is really something wrong with food regulation and food systems in the US.

I really don’t know much about food safety or exactly how food is regulated. I also don’t know anything about all the lobbying groups that effect decisions that are made by the FDA. However, something needs to change.

What I do know is that if I could snap my fingers and have any job in the world I would want a job in food policy.

The correct answer to the Pop Quiz is psoas, piriformis, and hamstrings.

Speaking of those three glorious body parts, my husband advised that I postpone my 8-miler until tomorrow morning. I’m really glad I took his advice. I went for a walk instead. During my walk I could tell that I needed to wait to run until tomorrow.

It was really hard not to stick to my training schedule, but one of the most important plans about a training schedule is the ability to be flexible. I can’t wait to run in the morning.

Here are the next two races on my calender for the spring:

April 3: Scotland Run 10K

April 25th, More 1/2 Marathon

As a lead in for tomorrow’s post: If you could have any career in the world without having to go back to school what would you choose?

My answer in tomorrow’s post.

The Coogan’s Salsa, Blues and Shamrock 5k did not disappoint in any form or fashion. There were bands along the course, a scenic view of the cloisters and nice challenging hills.

Any chance you noticed that my bib is red and not yellow? That means for this race I was promoted into the red corral (For those of you that don’t know all NYRR races use a corral system based on your fastest time for any race 4 miles or longer).

Let’s be honest, the red corral scares me! I hung out in the back of the red corral until the red and yellow corral were merged into one. I then fell into a more intimidating spot beside a speedy 8 year old.

If there’s one thing you need to know about NYC runners is that they are fast. Back in the day when I ran road races in Nashville, I often placed in my age group. I will NEVER place in my age group in NYC unless I’m still running when I’m 80.

Speaking of my 1st 5k, I rocked this race old school style by not wearing a watch or looking at any of the clocks along the course. I really had no expectation other than to have fun.

After the gun went off there was a nice crowd to slow things down. My fear of starting out too quickly with the fast runners was demolished immediately. Surprisingly, my legs still felt loose from my warm-up.

The course was an out and back. I love being able to watch the winners pass by and also looking for friends along the way. It’s really the best distraction.

After the turning point it was uphill for the next 1.5 miles. Luckily the last .1 was a slight downhill. I was feeling good at the end and decided to go for an infamous all out sprint. It felt good to run that fast.

I crossed the finish line in 23:22. Considering I wasn’t pushing the pace until the end, I’m happy with that time. When I saw the green bagels at the finish line I knew I had to grab one for the Husband who was patiently waiting.

Reason enough to have kids: Kids Races!!! (Don’t get any ideas)

We didn’t stick around for the Kids Races, but did walk up to Coogan’s to check out the line for free Guinness.

Needless to say we didn’t wait in line.

Okay, kids this is the longest 5k recap ever so I’ll wrap it up by saying that I met Mari today! So fun to finally meet a fellow NYC blogger.

I think it was that first 5k back in 1991 that had me hooked. Another unnamed Blogger will also be running this 5k. It will be her first. Listening to her excitement and nervousness really helps an “old-timer” like myself remember what it was like back then.

The excitement of running races fades throughout the years, but listening to someone who is beginning their running journey makes me feel like a beginner again.

She said all she wanted was to be a runner. I too remember saying those exact words. In fact I still catch myself saying it from time to time.

XOXO to the unnamed Blogger. I hope your first 5k is as memorable as mine!

It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid.

It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take.”

On Sunday night I received an email from my sweet cousin Lori asking for a way to stretch your low back. I promptly got to work on “Stretches for a Happy Back”. Last night I wrote about Yoga Tune Up. And now…

my back hurts!!!

I totally can’t believe this. It hasn’t really bothered me in over a year and just last night I couldn’t sleep because of it. UGH! I should really have taken my own good advice.

Anyhow, I’m tired and am off to do my stretches before I fall asleep.

Did I mention its almost Friday???