If you’ve read ‘Lauren’s Road Less Traveled’ for the past few years, you know that it’s taken many different directions.

Once a blog devoted solely to travel, it turned into more of a DC/lifestyle blog.  Although my passion for travel will always live deep within, I’ve made other aspects of my life a priority (at least for the time being.) I’ve developed new passions–passions that I want to share–but didn’t because I felt trapped behind the old face of this blog.

Because my interests are constantly changing, so is the focus of this blog.  Lately, I’ve found myself getting frustrated with my lack of direction.  One day I’ll write about marathon training, the next I’ll write about activities in DC.  All the different colors and facets of my life turned into one big, mushy pit.

I need a break–and a fresh start–so I’ve started a new blog.  A blog where I can really focus on two things I feel very passionate about: nutrition and fitness.

Sooooo….here it is: Running Wild is up and running (get the pun?) over at Blogspot. To read about the significance of the title, read this post.

So, if you’ve followed along with my marathon training and would like to read more about my quest for a healthier lifestyle please, check it out :)

Spring is literally right around the corner!  I can’t wait until it’s warm enough to spend some quality time outside doing some of my favorite DC activities!

1. Jazz in the Sculpture Garden

• Starts March 25, 2012 and runs throughout the entire summer.
• Fridays, 5:30-8:30, rain or shine.
• Hands down, my favorite spot in DC.

Families, young professionals, interns and tourists line up to get inside this fun event.  Although admission is free, you’ll pay a hefty price for alcoholic beverage (it is prohibited to bring in outside alcohol and they do check your bags.) So, grab a picnic blanket, some expensive cheeses, Sprinkles cupcakes, your friends and mosey your way over to 7th and Constitution for a great night out.

2. Hiking in the Shenandoah Valley

• 2 hours from DC.
• Variety of trails and difficulties.
• Avoid peak summer months due to heat.

If you’re looking for adventure, this is the place to go.  I hiked Old Rag Mountain  last year and really enjoyed it! Although it was an 8-hour hike, I loved the challenge of climbing through the rocks and making our way to the very top so we could see the beautiful scenery.

 3. Biking to Old Town Alexandria

• Bike & Roll–Cruiser bike: $25 max/day.
• Two locations: DC and Alexandra.
• Trail leading from Jefferson Memorial to Old Town Alexandria.

I couldn’t think of a more relaxing afternoon than walking up and down the cobbled streets of Old Town Alexandria.  Pick up a bike from Bike & Roll in DC and bike the 6ish mile trail to Old Town.  Stop for ice cream once you arrive and enjoy the variety of small boutiques and artwork that line the streets.

4. Georgetown Water Front

• Newly constructed.
• Beautiful view of the Potomac.
• Easily accessible.

Stop at Sprinkes Cupcakes and buy yourself a few treats to eat as you gaze out into the Potomac with a friend or loved one.  This park is newly renovated and creatively designed.  Feel the breeze against your face as you savor the moment and your sweet treat!

5. Eastern Market

• Handmade, local crafts for sale.
• Fresh fruits and veggies from local farmers.
• Excellent brunch spot.

Although Eastern Market is fabulous in the winter as well, it’s even better in the summer.  I love walking along the streets with the sun beaming on my face, perusing the homemade craft booths, and dreaming of my fresh, veggie-filled dinner.

Grab a cup of coffee from Perigrine or stop for a sweet treat from Le Pain Quotidien.  Head over to We The Pizza for a (to DIE FOR) jumbo slice and a homemade soda. Or, if you’re craving a healthier version of ice cream, grab some frozen yogurt with toppings from Sweet Green.

Spring, can you pah-lease hurry up?!

I'm making a '17' with my fingers if you were wondering...

Happy Monday, everyone!

Training recap:

• Week 1 (January 1-7)
• Week 2 (January 8-15)
• Week 3 (January 16-22)
• Week 4 (January 23-29)
• Week 5 (January 30-February 5)
• Week 6 (February 6-12)
• Week 7 (February 13-19)

The week started off a little so-so and ended really well.  I unexpectedly (and unknowingly) came down with a cold on Monday.  I attributed my runny nose and sore throat to allergies, only to learn after my spinning workout that I was definitely sick.

I took a few extra days off (hence why I have 3 rest days) and spent a few days working from home to protect my coworkers from my germs!  I bounced back quickly and by Thursday, I was good to go!

We had a 17-miler on Sunday and I can proudly say that it was the longest I’ve ever run!  I felt absolutely fantastic, especially compared to 15-miler two weekends ago.

We ran along the Capital Crescent Trail and it was beautiful.  Trail dirt > pavement.  My happy legs thanked me with every step.

Although I only ran twice this week, I did three cross-training workouts.  I felt great so I’m not feeling too guilty about cutting back on my training.

  This week:

Monday: rest day

Tuesday: 1-hour spinning class.  My calf was really bothering me so I decided to ‘take it easy.’  I felt AWFUL after this workout and fell asleep around 8:45.

Wednesday:  After my experience on Wednesday, I took the day off to let my body heal.

Thursday: 8-mile run, average pace: 9:45/mile. This was the most beautiful weather we’ve had since last Fall.  I had minimal cramping and I felt so alive running as the sun set.

Friday:  rest day in preparation for (what was going to be) our 17-mile run.

Saturday: There was a severe wind advisory out until 6pm so we opted to do our long run on Sunday.  Instead, we tried to get into a Body Pump class at the gym, but by the time we arrived, it was full.  Determined to get some sort of workout in, I did Jacob’s Ladder for 10 minutes and lifted for another 30.

Still feeling like I didn’t get an adequate workout, I went to a Power Flow yoga class at a studio 2-blocks away.  It was a great workout and helped open up my tight hips.

Sunday: 17-mile run!  Average pace: 10:00/mile.  I was literally on a high during this run.  I felt SO good compared to my earlier runs and it really boosted my confidence.  We even had the energy to take a photo in front of the White House around mile 14 :)

P.S.  I also got a 1-hour massage after our run. Ooooooh boy, did that feel great.

Hello, Mr. President!

Overall, great week!  Hopefully this week will be the same.

I hope you’re all having a lovely Monday!

What did you do this weekend?  Any fun plans for the week? 

Today, I am celebrating my 1-year anniversary of the day I moved to our beautiful capital.  I arrived with nowhere to live, few friends, and a lot of hesitancy.  I went through a rocky transition but deep down, I knew I was making the right decision.

1-year later, I couldn’t feel more at home.  A lot of changes happened in the past year–new experiences, new friends, life-style changes, etc (you can read a recap in this post.)  However, today’s post will center around one word: confidence.

Before moving, I felt that my parents prepared me well for total independence.  However, I quickly learned how much I took for granted while I was still a dependent. It was overwhelming trying to balance all the decisions that were coming my way; every decision  fell strictly into my lap.

Before I knew it, I was choosing a cell phone plan, car insurance, health insurance, an apartment, how much money I wanted to set aside in my 401K, my grocery budget, signing up for a gym, paying electric bills, buying furniture and  paying off my student loans, all while trying to adjust to a new, full-time job.

For months, I lacked the confidence to handle all the changes coming my way.  There were days and nights when I longed to be back in England–drinking cappuccinos and forgetting about my newly acquired responsibilities.

But as time passed, I fell into a routine.  I made new friends, found cool hangouts, developed new hobbies, and started to feel happy again.

I’ve learned that life is not always fair and sometimes, no matter how much you fight it, there are certain hoops you just cannot jump.

That being said, I’ve truly learned to stand up for myself.  I am confident in my beliefs and I’m not afraid to speak up when I feel like I’m being treated unfairly or am not satisfied with a situation.  Although I’m not a huge fan of confrontation, I’m no longer willing to compromise with people just to avoid a problem.

I gained confidence at work and realized that my potential and talent is being recognized.  I finally have a clear career path in mind–something that I’ve felt very unsure about over the past few months.

I have confidence in my ability to stay in contact with the ones I love most.  If you really make an effort, the distance between two people significantly dwindles.

And most importantly, I am finally confident in my decision to move to DC.

Thank you to all my new friends and old, for my family for always supporting me, and to the many visitors I had throughout the past year.  You’ve truly made this experience incredible.  Here’s to another great year.

For a list of my favorite DC discoveries, be sure to check out my Little Black Book

Today, I am home sick because my body has finally said, ‘kaput.’

Whether it’s my newly acquired ‘allergies,’ a head cold, or my body’s way of telling me to slooooow down, I’m drowsy on Dayquil and snuggled up in my warm bed.

On top of everything else, my left calf muscle is giving me a lot of trouble.  As I sit here eating my ricotta and pesto pasta with my leg propped up on a frozen bag of mangos, I’m trying not to worry that this is going to turn into a serious injury.

For the past few long runs, I’ve felt a deep pain in my left calf muscle.  I didn’t think too much of it and continued to spend extra time stretching it.  However, when I woke up this morning, it started cramping very badly.  I used my foam roller on it for a few minutes and gave myself a deep tissue massage.  I’ve also implemented RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  So far, the pain dulled but I can definitely still feel it.

As a precaution, I’ve opting out of running tonight and am going to a spinning class instead.

Has anyone else experienced a similar pain when training for a race?

Happy Monday, everyone!

Training recap:

• Week 1 (January 1-7)
• Week 2 (January 8-15)
• Week 3 (January 16-22)
• Week 4 (January 23-29)
• Week 5 (January 30-February 5)
• Week 6 (February 6-12)

I am in my bed resting my exhausted  and extremely sore body.  Even lifting my arm is a challenge.

Once normal activities such as going to the bathroom, getting out of the car, and getting up from my bed are now extremely challenging.  I look so pathetic hobbling around–it’s quite hilarious, especially to a stranger.  All I can do is laugh along…except laughing makes my abs hurt even more!

Despite the soreness, this week was fantastic.  I finally made a conscious effort to do some cross-training!  Our routine was getting very monotonous so I decided to spice things up this week–jalapeño style!

Monday: rest day

Tuesday: My first 1-hr spinning class in over 6-months!  I painfully learned the necessity of bike shorts during this hour, but I got a great cardiovascular workout with some interval training.

Wednesday: rest day (I’ll admit it.  I originally planned on working out but decided to go shoe shopping instead.  oops…)

Thursday: 4.3 miles before work and it felt fantastic.  morning runs=awesome.

Friday: A quick 6-mile run before heading out on our quadruple-date.  Felt strong during this run (for the first time in a few days!)

Saturday: 1-hour BODY PUMP class.  Oh my goodness gracious, this class kicked my butt.  Although I used small weights (2.5 and 5), we did multiple reps and did not stop for a break during the entire hour.  It’s amazing how out of  shape you can feel despite training for a marathon!

Sunday: 13 miles.  I felt pretty strong during this run, but my stomach was growling during the last 6-miles.  Honestly, I could stuff my face right before these long runs and still be starving.  I’m working at finding a solution to this hunger issue (apparently Gu is not the answer.)

 GU is poo?

It should come at no surprise that my appetite has increased significantly since I started training.  For some very annoying reason, I am constantly hungry during the last 4-6 miles of my long runs.

It doesn’t matter how much I eat before the run or how many packets of Gu I try to eat, my body doesn’t want sugary liquid, it wants food.

For a long time, I struggled to find the perfect mid-workout snack.  I tried Power Gel (disgusting,) Power Bar Fruit Snacks (made me sick to my stomach and gave me gut-rut) and GU (lime flavored–gag me!)

So, what’s a picky girl to do?  My  local running store recommended that I try Honey Stingers.

They are so delicious and organic (EVEN better!)  Although they are made for bikers and harder to eat while running, these little crackers are slices of heaven.

AND for the first time, I found a packet of GU that I actually like!  Dom bought about 10-lbs worth of Mint Chocolate GU on Saturday.  I ate one before my 13-mile run and was very pleasantly surprised!

For my 17-mile run coming up on Saturday, I’m planning on brining a bag of trail mix to munch on along the way.  Although GU and Honey Stingers are good for energy, my stomach needs a little somethin’ to keep going.  Will let you know how it works out!

Hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week!