Running Bay to Breakers

I first started running when we lived in sunny San Francisco. We were newlyweds living in the most gorgeous place, that had perfect running weather almost every day. It could be 100 degrees outside, but the lack of humidity made it perfect. I ran through 6 months of my first pregnancy and trained for my first half marathon with the hubs and a jogging stroller.  

I had so much change in my body from running, that I was addicted. Not only physically, I was leaner with more defined legs and abs, but mentally, as well. Working out does something amazing to your brain, but running, for me, is the best. Pounding the pavement is always such a good release. 

A training schedule helps me stay on track with so many other things in my life. You can't miss too many of your scheduled runs if you want to preform well. When I get up and get my run in, it seems like everything else falls into place that day. I'm pumped, moving and mentally in go mode.  
While I was pregnant with baby #2, I signed up for my second half marathon. Some people thought I was a little crazy, but I knew having a goal was just what I needed to whip my postpartum body back into shape. I ran in the Rock n Roll DC half with my sister and 2 friends and it was such a rush. 

A year later, I was ready for another 13.1. I entered the lottery for the DC Nike Women's Half and was thrilled to get in, along with one of my great friends. It was a fantastic race. So many women and so much energy. I beat my goal of 2 hours by just 16 seconds! (I'm turned around waving to my boys around mile 10 here!)

 

Since I'm pregnant with baby #3 right now, my running has been less than normal, as well as slower than normal. Nonetheless, it still feels so good to get moving. Taking it slower means I have the time to enjoy the scenery of the gorgeous place we live. 


I'm currently searching for my next half marathon, which I'll run next spring sometime. After the baby is born at the end of the summer, I'll have all winter to train and get ready. That also means by next summer, I'll be bathing suit ready! 

Zappos is a company that many people rely on for their running gear. They built their business by offering a large selection of footwear, but have added apparel, accessories, luggage and more in the past 15 years. Now boasting over 150,000 styles from over 1,000 brands, they'e so much more than shoes! With amazing customer service, always fast and free shipping and a free 365 day return policy, you can always count on Zappos. I count on them for a variety of my favorite brand of running shoes as well as tons of popular brands in clothing that I love. 

This year, Zappos is the official sponsor of the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco on May 17, 2015. If you're up for the #BaytoBreakingRecords challenge, head here to register!  


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tips for Staying Active in Winter with C9

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® C9 through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9 all opinions are my own.

We're coming into the toughest season for me, and I'm assuming many others, to keep active and healthy. We're no longer motivated to look good in our shorts and bathing suits, the cold weather is making us crave comfort food and there are holiday parties filled with sweets and cocktails. Not to mention we're all super busy traveling, Christmas shopping and prepping for guest, that it cuts down on our time to do the things we really need to do. 

I've learned that I don't have to commit hours to my day, or make huge changes in my life to stay active. I rarely work out for more than 30 minutes, but that's enough for me to feel good, be positive and accomplish my goals. There are a few no fail things that help me stay on track during this time of year.

Schedule - The number one thing for me is a schedule. At the end of summer, I found myself slipping into the comfort zone, skipping workouts like it was my job. I decided that to get my mojo back, I needed it in my face. I printed a blank calendar and it's on my bathroom counter. Does it look great? Not really, but I will look a whole lot better if I stick to it! 


Convenient workouts - I'm a mom and always have a child with me. If I'm going to stick to my workout plan, I need convenience. I spend about 30 minutes a day on whatever workout it is that I'm doing. I usually run early in the morning, or during naptime on the treadmill. That treadmill? Well, it's in the garage. Whatever works, right? If the hubs would get me a TV out there, it would be perfect! Hehe. (Have you ever had your picture taken while running? Not as easy as I thought it would be!)

I do P90X3 workouts with the hubs a couple times a week and Callan usually joins us. My pull up bar is in the guest bedroom door way and the hubs is right across in the playroom. I love working out together because we motivate each other. I'm also a hard core squat advocate. I added a 30 day squat challenge to my calendar this month, just so I made sure I got them done! I get those squats in during a phone call, while browsing social media, or while watching TV. Momma has to multi task!
 

Cute workout clothes - Cute clothes make any event better and a workout is no exception! I have a very colorful drawer of gear that makes any sweat session more fun. One of my absolute favorite brands, is the C9 line from Target®. I can find all the current trends and colors that I see in more expensive stores at much lower prices. I love that it's easy shop for, too. I'm already regularly at Target® and don't need to make a separate trip to find exactly what works for me. I often wear C9 pieces on the weekends because of the comfort, and they're also great for casual walks with my boys around the neighborhood, or a little hike. 

Dry Shampoo - While you're at Target® grabbing your cute C9 athletic gear, grab some dry shampoo. I only wash my hair every 2-3 days because it takes forever to dry and I definitely don't have time for that. Instead of skipping a workout because of sweaty hair, I use a little dry shampoo after a workout to save me massive amounts of time! 

Meal Planning - I don't know what I did before meal planning. It takes so much stress away from my evenings and gives me more time to be with my family. It also helps me make better food choices, instead of eating something quick and not as good for me. 



The reality is, that if I get lazy now, I will seriously regret it come spring. I want to set goals for myself and feel accomplished in reaching them. I love setting a good example for my boys, that being active and healthy is a way of life that is attainable!