Here’s what yesterday looked like…

7:10 am: Alarm goes off. I have to walk across the room to grab my phone which is supposed to help me wake up. It doesn’t really work.

7:15 am: Hit snooze. Again. Again. One more time.

7:25 am:  F&*K!! Now I’m running late. (This happens EVERY day). Jump up. Run to coffee maker and get that sh*t started. Hop in the shower and forget to shave my legs. Oops. Thank god it’s Winter.

7:40 am: Make-up and podcast time. Turn on Rich Roll’s latest interview which usually lasts me a few mornings. Put on make-up while taking a sip of coffee approximately every 45 seconds so I can function.

7:55 am: Time for hair. Get naked and blow dry. Curl. Spray.

8:00 am: Figure out what the heck I’ll wear because I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR. EVER.

8:15 am: I should be out the door by now but I just now figured out an outfit. Clothes on. Grab some toast, my gym bag (packed the night before), my purse and I’m off.

8:40 am: Only ten minutes late which is consistent with every other day so basically I am right on time.  Make my breakfast and another coffee before any work can actually happen.

9:00-11:45 am: Work, work, work. Blah, blah, blah.

11:45 am: Stare at the clock waiting for it to be noon so I can eat lunch.

12:00pm: Now I’m way too busy to step away for lunch so my stomach will growl for the next two hours until I feed myself.

12-2 pm: Work, work, work.

2 pm: Ok, I am ready to eat my arm. I NEED food.

2:15 pm: Grab a salad and take it back to my office. DEVOUR said salad.

2:20 pm: Photos from a recent photo shoot come through my inbox. So excited! Pick my favorites and Instagram one right away.

2:30-6ish: More of that work stuff.

6 pm: I need to get my ass out of here and run. I’m tired. Slightly cranky. And what do you know! I’m hungry again. Before I leave, I answer a few emails. Check in on a few clients.

6:30 pm: Get to the gym. Pop on The Bachelor on my iPad and catch up on my favorite reality TV.

7:15 pm: Finished with 5 mile easy run that felt pretty craptastic.

7:30 pm: Get to Whole Foods and grab a slice of hummus pizza (freaking amazing, by the way) and an arugula salad from the salad bar. Scarf said food, again.

7:45 pm: Cross the street over to Better Buzz Coffee for a Run North County meeting.  Discuss logos, website and sponsorship for the new running non-profit I am getting involved with.

9:25 pm: Stand outside after Better Buzz has closed, still talking. Eventually walk back to my car to head home.

9:40 pm: Finally get home. Finally take a shower.  Finally get into jammies. Ahhhh. This feels so good.

10:00 pm: Hop back on the computer. Respond to some e-mails I didn’t have a chance to earlier. Read a few pages of Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall.

10:40 pm: Brittany is being extra nice and offers to rub my back. Umm, yes please!

11:00 pm: Massage is over. Still have a few e-mails to get out.

11:45 pm: It’s almost midnight! Finally put myself to bed just to do it alllll over again tomorrow.

So how is that for boring?  I love my life but it can be a bit hectic with work and all of the other stuff I try to squeeze in, like a social life, coaching, blogging and marathon training. I always get it all done but sometimes I need an entire day to just be by myself without talking to anyone. It’s the only way to really recharge my batteries. That is how I know I am truly an introvert despite how outgoing I can be.

Here’s one of my favorite pics from the shoot I mentioned with Ashleigh and Andy.

Bored to tears? Tell me about your day.

The post A Day in the Life appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

I’m also looking forward to meeting a new client I’m coaching to run Boston while I’m there. That makes the trip even more meaningful. My goal is for her to smoke me. And she’s super speedy so I am pretty sure she will.

I saw this on Instagram and love its accuracy:

Week 2

It’s been a really long time since I’ve done any speed or tempo work, so I am easing myself back in and just dabbling with faster paces. I knocked out some miles in the 6:40s pretty easily Week 1 but I’m not pushing it just yet. For my tempo run this week I took it pretty easy again because I don’t want to rush it. I have plenty of time and I believe easing in is the best way to do it. I’ve been injured enough to know, progress takes patience. 

Last week looked a little something like this:

Monday: 5 miles (easy)

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: 6 miles (4 tempo @ 7:10-7:14)

Thursday: 5 miles (easy)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 12 miles (easy @ 8:24)

Sunday: 5 miles (easy)

TOTAL: 33 miles

Next week, I will start to push it more on the paces for my speedwork and I’ll begin to increase my a little bit. I take the 10% rule very seriously and never increase more than that. Too much, too soon is a recipe for disaster.

I did my long run Saturday morning and it felt surprisingly easy until about mile 11 and that’s when I realized my endurance needs some work. I really lost it these last few months with my random running adventures and lack of long runs. It’s totally ok though because it gives me something to work towards and I need that. I sort of require that, actually.

In other running news, I am almost completely maxed out on virtual run coaching clients. This is so exciting and it makes me giddy to have the chance to work with so many cool runners from all over the country with different goals.  I feel so lucky to get to do this and I spent most of my weekend preparing plans, creating accounts, talking shop with a fellow run coach friend (Sheri), and Skyping with clients.  And honestly, there isn’t much else I’d rather be doing… other than running. And I did plenty of that too.

This training cycle is so different than any other I’ve been through before because I am so laser focused on the runners I’m coaching at the moment. I think I may actually kick some ass in Boston, for them, because I know how hard everyone is working and that inspires me.

I am back to eating a Pitaya bowl after every long run. And I ain’t complainin’!

This weekend was very run focused with the exception of Sunday night. I went downtown to Little Italy to celebrate one of my best friend’s birthdays at a trendy new spot, Bracero Cocina. It was ridiculously tasty and super fun. I highly recommend it if you’re local and get the cauliflower taco. It’s TO DIE FOR.

How was your weekend? Recap me!

Have you ever had a run coach?

The post Boston Marathon Training | Week 2 appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

I have a fairly short list of resolutions because I tend to be more of a goal setter. You might even call me a bit of a goal junkie, always chasing the next accomplishment. For me, goals are more personal and specific and that’s maybe why I dig them. Resolutions on the other hand are a bit more general and can be slightly generic.

Here are mine.

This year, I resolve to:

• Watch less Netflix and read more books. (As soon as I finish Making a Murderer…)
• Spend less time on social media and more time having quality face-to-face interactions.
• Cook more meals at home and eat out less.

Those are pretty simple and straightforward. In order to do them, I just need to actually do them. Goals reach much further and require a lot more effort, persistence and commitment. They require a plan. Focus. Research. Heart. Soul. All that stuff.

Last year, my goal was to run a 3:23 marathon. It would be a 6 minute PR for me, plus I love the number 23 and that’s just how my brain works. I also had a long-term goal of running a 3:15, mainly because it’s pretty damn fast and I love odd numbers. I honestly wasn’t planning on attempting that one for quite awhile.

I knew I’d need to train hard, be consistent and really make running a priority if I wanted to shave that much time off my PR. And so I did. I stayed in and went to bed early on Friday nights. I woke up early on Saturdays for long runs. I ran after work almost every day even when I was exhausted. I never skipped a speedwork session or tempo run. I rarely drank or stayed out late. And the entire time, I kept my eye on the goal. 3:23.

So when I ran a 3:13 in St. George, I was blown away.  My average pace was 7:23 so that #23 was still in there and I was happy but I was also shocked that my long-term goal was accomplished without even technically trying. Of course I was elated and proud but I was also taken aback. That next goal I was planning to focus on, no longer needed my focus. Now I had to come up with something faster and harder that was currently out of reach.

I started to think, what’s next? A sub 3:10? An ultra-marathon? But at the same time I was also feeling pretty satisfied with my marathon PR. I liked where I stood. I trained hard. I did well and I wanted to just enjoy it for a little bit before biting off a new lofty goal that would require more time, commitment and hard work.

This realization led me to ask, is it OK to be satisfied with where we are currently at? Is satisfaction the same as complacency? If we aren’t working towards a new goal, does that make us unmotivated? Lazy, even?

The answer I came up with is: not at all. What is the point of working towards a goal if we don’t take the time to enjoy the satisfaction that comes from achieving it?  If we so quickly move onto the next thing, what was the point in all the effort of the original goal?

The running world tends to be very goal-driven and PR obsessed, so it’s easy to feel like it’s a bad thing to be content with where you’re currently at. We are in constant competition with ourselves. I think it’s great to want to be better but first we should savor all of our successes in running, whether we finish on the podium or somewhere in the middle of the pack. That can be a huge challenge for runners especially since so many of us tend to be Type A personalities. Since runners are always up for a challenge… how about this:

Be. All. There.  Trust me, it feels great.

Goals are wonderful. They’re motivating, positive and I am a big goal setting advocate. All I am saying is, don’t start chasing the next unicorn until you’ve taken the time to enjoy how far you’ve come. You earned it!  Soak it up. Breathe it in. Relax into it. Take the pressure off for a bit. I know this is hard for my fellow goal junkies, but it’s worth it.  Taking this time off puts us in a much better position to tackle the next goal.

With all that said, this year I plan to help other people achieve their goals through run coaching. I’m taking the focus off of myself which feels slightly strange and surprisingly wonderful. I am registered for Boston and I plan to run it simply for fun and to take in the experience. This year is really all about other people’s goals and I am EXCITED about it.  I am taking the pressure off and basking in my successes thus far.  One day I will chase that sub 3:10, but today I will run blissfully goal-free.

Did you make resolutions for the New Year?

Any big goals you want to tackle?

The post On Goals & Resolutions appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

Living a few miles from the beach will never get old. I get so much joy from running by the sea and watching sunsets from a random spot on a cliff. It’s simply the best.

After our sunset rendezvous, Brittany and I went and got a couples massage … just because.  Afterwards I was ravenous and wanted a big ass salad but also some dessert and maybe a few bites of some other foods so we ended up at the one and only Souplantation.

Yep, we are officially old. Who the heck goes to Souplantation on New Year’s Eve though? Seriously. But it was great.

let’s be honest. i go for the soft-serve.

We started watching “How to Get Away with Murder” and stayed up way too late for my liking which resulted in sleeping in way too late. Friday was a total lazy day (which I kind of needed) and then we went to see Carol at one of favorite theatres with reclining seats. THE BEST.

Saturday started with my first “long run” of Boston training. I am really easing into this training cycle. I know I have plenty of time and I want to stay injury-free since this is the longest I’ve ever gone without an injury of some kind. It feels pretty great to not be sidelined for weeks at a time due to Plantar Fascia issues or IT Band Syndrome or some other overuse ailment.

trails by our place

I ran 10 miles at 8:17 pace (I think?) and it felt super nice and easy. I breathed through my nose the entire time and made sure I was going at a pace that I could sustain for hours.  I ran straight from home to the trails that lead me to the coast and then I finished along the 101 at Whole Foods. I grabbed a green smoothie, Brittany picked me up and we hit up the dog beach with Gunner.

I had breakfast with some friends on Sunday morning and dinner at Brittany’s mom’s house that night. She made us this insanely delicious potato soup. So good! I’m on a total soup kick lately so it hit the spot.  I topped off the night with a 5 mile treadmill run.

Here’s what the whole week looked like in running:

Monday: Rest (SO tired from flying in late from San Jose)

Tuesday: 6 miles (3 x 1600 @ 6:40-6:44)

Wednesday: 4 miles (Easy)

Thursday: 5 miles (7:55 pace)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 10 miles (Easy – 8:17 pace)

Sunday: 5 miles (Easy)

TOTAL: 30 miles

Notice there’s no yoga in there. That’s definitely something I want to incorporate into Boston training. I know I always say that but it’s the hardest for me to fit it in. I’m determined to squeeze it in there on one of my “rest” days.

lots of greens to kick off the new year!

I am still coming up with my new year’s resolutions/aspirations/goals/whatever the hell you want to call them! I will share more on those soon…

How did you ring in 2016?

The post Boston Marathon Training | Week 1 appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

Let’s take a peek back at my 2015.

I should note that I usually don’t share the really heavy stuff on my blog so my year in review from a blog standpoint looks like sunshine and rainbows. Just keep in mind, life ain’t always what it seems on instagram or the blogosphere. 2015 came with some major set-backs, sadness and definitely a bit of chaos. None of which really shows on here.

JANUARY

• I kicked off the new year with a sugar detox that I found terrifying, liberating, miserable and eye-opening all at once.

• I did a photo shoot with some of my favorite runner girls.

• I ran the Carlsbad Half Marathon for fun with the LARABAR team.

FEBRUARY

• Brittany and I went on an active mountain getaway to Idyllwild.

• I took a ton of barre, yoga, spin and pilates classes all over the place.

• I trained for the OC Marathon — which I didn’t end up running.

MARCH

• I quit a race midway through for the first time ever.
• I spent an insane amount of time at the beach for March.

• I did yoga in a night club thanks to my friend Sheri.

• I met Beth from Shut Up & Run

APRIL

• I decided I wouldn’t run the OC Marathon and instead continued my beach bunny ways.

MAY

• I celebrated my 29th birthday in Palm Springs courtesy of Brittany.

• I decided I was ready to start training for another marathon so I registered for St. George and started raising money for Girls on the Run.

• I continued to spend a ton of time at the beach. I’m realizing I really took advantage of this beach life in 2015!

JUNE

• Brittany and I went home to Illinois for my sister’s wedding.

• I continued training for St. George.

• I got a new job and decided to move up to Encinitas.

JULY

• I started the new job and made the move.
• I took a girls’ trip to Mexico with some of my favorites.

AUGUST

• I continued to train my ass off for the St. George Marathon, self-coached.

SEPTEMBER

• I went to Ventura with Teresa to pace her for part of the race.

• I went on an awesome wellness retreat in Mexico and set some new goals for myself.

• I was in great shape gearing up for the St. George Marathon.

OCTOBER

• I ran a 3:13 in St. George blowing my goal out of the water.

• I became a Certified Run Coach
• I started running with Ashleigh basically every week and started exploring trails.

NOVEMBER

• I celebrated 6 years of living in San Diego.
• Brittany and I moved back in together in Encinitas.

• Brittany turned the big 3-0.
• I got a BRAND NEW website built by Olivia.
• I got to do some fun photo shoots.

• I went to Joshua Tree for the first time.

DECEMBER

• I took Brittany to New York City for her 30th birthday present.

That brings us to today – the very last day of 2015. We are about to enter a brand spanking new year full of possibilities.  If I had to describe my year in ONE word, it would be: new. 2015 brought about a shiny new PR, a new job, a new role as a running coach and a new home that I share with Brittany. There was a whole lot of new this past year and I foresee even more of that in 2016. I can feel it.

I will be turning 30 in May and I have my sights set on babies (not right away… but around the corner) and possibly a new career move in a completely different direction. I don’t have big plans to travel this year – I did a lot of that in 2013. Instead, I’d actually prefer to save money and explore beautiful places right here in California, like Lake Tahoe and Big Sur.

In regard to running… I’m in a tough but great place because I reached a goal in the marathon that I didn’t think I’d reach anytime soon (if ever), so where do I go from here? I don’t plan to PR in Boston – not even close. I’m running Boston solely for the experience and as a redemption run since my last Boston ended tragically. Other than that, I will run for the joy of it and PRs can wait. Maybe ’til after those babies.

How would you describe your 2015 in ONE word?

The post Looking back at 2015 appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

I flew up to my mom’s house last Wednesday after work.  I was expecting crazy traffic and huge lines at the airport and neither of those were the case. I ended up having a lot of time to kill which meant a big fat glass of red wine at the airport bar and making friends with the girl next to me. Turns out she is the colleague of one of my good friends! Small world.

My mom lives in Tracy, which is a small-ish town in Northern CA.  It kind of reminds me of the town I grew up in back in Illinois.  She’s only lived there for a few months so this was my first time staying at her new place.

To combat the holiday blues, I went running all four days I was there.  My runs were 3-7 miles and every mile was completely necessary. Running is definitely the most effective way for me to get through the holidays. Again, I have no idea why I struggle this time of year, but I am so glad I have running and endorphins to snap me out of it.

I got some really good quality time with my mom and baby sister (who is now 18 and smarter than me).  We ate cookies, drank cocktails out of coffee mugs and watched “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  We cooked breakfast together in the morning and hung out in our jammies as long as we possibly could. I tried to slow down time in these moments because it’s so rare that I get this kind of time with my mom. I treasure it more than anything.

My family Christmases are usually comprised of about 2 million children and a smattering of some crazy adults. They’re noisy, busy, slightly dysfunctional, but always fun.  This Christmas was completely different since we were 2,000 miles away from all of that. It was quiet and low-key abut still completely special in its own way.

Brittany flew in Christmas evening and I was so excited to see her little face. She made it just in time for Christmas dinner and a few rounds of Heads Up that got kind of aggressive.

The next morning, I woke up ready to run. The day before I ran in a complete downpour so I didn’t trust the unpredictable NorCal weather and figured the gym was a safer bet.  I almost ruined my phone the last time and was FREEZING in the rain.  The gym just sounded much better.  I was surprised when Brittany got up with me and joined me in a nice little sweat sesh.

After our workout, we went home and got ready for a girls’ day with my mom and little sister.  We went to Livermore, a nearby town with a really cute old downtown area.  We had lunch and a couple cocktails and then got pedicures before heading back home.

On Sunday, we slept in a bit and lazed around since it was our last day.  Eventually I went to the gym by myself while Brittany watched football with the fam and drank mimosas. Before I knew it, it was time to head to the airport and come back to San Diego.  Saying good-bye to my mom is always the worst. I miss her so much and as much as I dislike the holiday season, she makes me realize I need to just let go of the funky feelings and be in the moment — because these moments, they don’t come very often.  And one day, I will miss them. Big time.

In running news,  this marks Week 1 of Boston Marathon training. My head is not in the game. Not even close. But I’ve managed to knock out some good runs and a pretty stellar first speed session with 3 miles in the 6:40’s.  Woo woo! Here we go…again!

How was your Christmas or Hannukah?

Any plans for New Years Eve?

The post Getting through the holidays… appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

outside running only happened on the weekend…

I talked Brittany into a gym date this past Friday night.  Fridays at the gym are the BEST. They’re super quiet (probably because people have more exciting lives than I do) and my favorite treadmill is typically up for grabs. I ran into Sheri and we got to run side-by-side for a few miles – so clearly I’m not the ONLY nerd who hangs out at the gym on Friday nights.

I found a new show that’s perfect for my treadmill time: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.  It fills the void that Sex & the City left in my heart.  Anyone else watch it?

After an hour or so at the gym, we went to Cinepolis luxury cinemas to see Sisters and it was HILARIOUS. I love Tina Fey and Amy Poehler together. You just can’t go wrong with those two.

Saturday morning was kicked off with another Sheri encounter. She was leading a FitBit local event down at Law Street in Pacific Beach. We went for a run followed by yoga right on the ocean.  Basically perfection. Teresa was also along for the fun so we hit up a local coffee shop after for some food and caffeine.

I finally did a little Christmas shopping Saturday and enjoyed a little pre-Christmas celebration since I will be out of town for the real holiday. When Brittany and I finally got home, we lit a fire, put on our jammies and watched some Netflix.

In typical Sunday fashion, I lazed on the couch with a cup of coffee while writing training plans and reading blogs.

I didn’t feel great so I basically downed as much green stuff as possible, ate some chicken noodle soup and then slept for a few hours. Eventually I had the energy to get in a little 7 mile run and topped the night off with a(nother) green smoothie while watching Four Christmases. I think that might be my favorite Christmas movie because … it’s my life.   Like 100%.

This year I am flying up to NorCal to see my mom and little sister. Originally I thought I’d go up there solo, and to be honest, I was super bummed Brittany wasn’t joining me. We’ve been together 2 1/2 years and we’ve yet to spend a holiday with my family because they’ve always lived 2,000 miles away. My mom recently moved to California so it’s a HUGE deal for me to be able to spend Christmas with her. Brittany surprised me on Friday and let me know that she will be flying in on Friday and spending the weekend with us. Best. Gift. Ever.

***

The winner of my Favorite Things Giveaway is: Christi-An Bowler!

Email me so I can ship you your goodies!

***

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

Who else has taken to treadmill running these days?

The post Scenes From Last Weekend appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

I figured since you lose 3 hours traveling to NYC, it made the most sense to just take a red eye on Friday and sleep on the plane.  We touched down at 5 a.m. east coast time and hopped in a cab to our friend Chrissy’s apartment in Chelsea so we could crash for a few hours before exploring the city.

After getting a few more hours of sleep, we got up, showered and walked around Chelsea Market and the West Village. It was my first time in this part of the city and I LOVED it. I much prefer exploring neighborhoods than doing the super touristy stuff (but that was to come because Brittany wanted to do ALL the touristy stuff).

FRIENDS was shot in LA but this is the building from the show

The weather was actually WARMER in New York than in San Diego… in December. Yes, you read that correctly. It was super bizarre but of course I couldn’t complain. We popped into an adorable little place called Hudson Clearwater where we sat outside for brunch. Outside – in December – Bizzarro.  I had a blood orange mimosa and avocado toast with poached eggs that hit the spot.

We walked over to Washington Square Park where I insisted we watch an ENTIRE show put on by a huge group of street performers.  It was pretty fun and then we went on to explore Highline Park which is a train track turned into a city park in the sky. It goes on for miles and it’s pretty beautiful. They often have art shows and events there.

We popped into the Standard which was far too chaotic for our liking so we ventured back to Chrissy’s place to freshen up before dinner. We were seriously starving so we hit up the Cafeteria for a very Sex & The City kind of dinner. We sat in a basement lounge eating off a coffee table and sharing a bottle of Cab. We picked it because it was close and convenient but it ended up being a fun change of pace.

We headed to Times Square after dinner so Brittany could take in all the craziness and the crowds. She was in awe and like most people, slightly overwhelmed. Brittany had us take her picture in front of Madison Square Garden because I guess people play sports there or something and she loves that sort of thing.  I realize it doesn’t sound like we did all that much on day 1, but it equated to about 6 hours of walking so we were beat. Add that to taking a red-eye and we were ready to crash.

I woke up the next morning ready to meet up with some awesome blog readers, Lundy, Melissa and Rachel (I am coaching Rachel to run the Myrtle Beach Marathon).  They were kind enough to meet me later in the morning around 11 since I was on San Diego time and show me around Central Park.  Melissa had already run a half marathon that morning in the park so she left before we took off and Rachel and Lundy took me on a gorgeous 10 mile run. I was so grateful for their company. We took a group running iPhone photo so I could show them my mad self timer skills. It’s always such a blast to meet people in real life that you only know thanks to social media. It’s even better when they’re cooler in person — and they all were.

Straight from the run I met up with Brittany and Chrissy at Sarabeth’s near Central Park for brunch. I didn’t realize it was such an upscale place and felt completely under-dressed and out of my element but it was nothing a couple post-run mimosas couldn’t fix! Brunch was incredible – I had the crabcake eggs benedict and ate every last bite.

After two mimosas each (that felt more like four) we were all super bubbly and walked back over to Central Park so Brittany could see it for herself. We roamed around, took pictures and laughed our butts off. We eventually made our way to our hotel where I finally was able to shower and put on normal clothes. Chrissy came over with a bottle of wine that we enjoyed before going out for pizza. I never claimed this was a healthy trip. It was quite the opposite but I like to think the walking and running balanced things out a bit.

After dinner at B Side Pizza in Hells Kitchen, we went to Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree and the light show. I needed dessert of course, so Chrissy bought me a sprinkle cone from a street vendor which just made my night. (I am now realizing just how much I actually ate while in NYC – haha!)  We topped the night off at a bar called The Three Monkeys outside of our hotel because we thought the name was fitting for us. I had a glass of water and the girls had a beer and then we called it a night around midnight.

The next morning was our departure day (already!) so we grabbed coffees in the morning and walked over to Central Park for one last stroll. I begged Brittany to run with me but she was not into it so we walked instead (and then I ran for like 15 minutes because I just HAD to).  We scrambled back to our room, grabbed our stuff and hit up a deli to grab a bagel for Brittany and a sandwich for me before hopping on the subway to the airport.

After what felt like nine million hours on the plane, we ended up back in San Diego where it was colder than NYC.  Even though I’ve traveled places MUCH farther than New York, that flight always kills me.  I was beat yesterday and actually blew off my run after work, which I never do.  We crammed a whole lot into a total of 57 hours in one of my favorite cities. Who says a short trip can’t also be super sweet?

THE SKINNY ON THE (NOT SO SKINNY) PLACES WE ATE:

• Hudson Clearwater – West Village
• Cafeteria – Chelsea (open 24 hours)
• Sarabeth’s – Central Park South
• B Side Pizza Bar – Hells Kitchen
• Snowdays NYC – Chelsea

Have you been to NYC?

What’s your favorite spot?

Pssst… don’t forget to enter my favorite things giveaway if you haven’t already! It ends tomorrow (12/17)!

The post Whirlwind Weekend in NYC appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

Last year I made a gift guide for crazy people like me who wait until the last minute. Since I’m in the same predicament this year, I created the 2nd Annual Procrastinator’s Holiday Gift Guide for Runners. Woo woo! I should also call it my “Wish List” because many of these are things that I’m pining for but don’t actually have.

Here you go. Have at it. *All of these can be ordered ONLINE and should ship in time for Christmas. Hallelujah!

1 | Proud Supporter of Messy Hair and Sweatpants Tank Top

LOVE this tank and my friend Whitney rocks a similar one all the time. I need one of these.

2 | Garmin Forerunner 220

This is the GPS watch I want but don’t yet have. All the cool runner kids are wearing this one because unlike most GPS watches, it’s actually cute and not super clunky.

3 | Personalized Training Journal

This company is so rad! You send them whatever images or designs you like and they personalize a training journal for you (or in this case, your runner friend). It’s practical and super affordable, plus personalized gifts are always the most special.

4 | Nike Vomeros

Every active chick needs a cute pair of Nikes. No explanation needed here.

5 | NightRunner Shoe Lights

If the runner in your life doesn’t want to sport a headlamp, this is a cooler alternative. I have these and love ’em.

6 | GoPro Hero+

This has been on my holiday wish list for two years now. Here’s to hoping.   Every runner needs a GoPro to capture their coolest running adventures. I’d recommend the wi-fi enabled version because let’s be honest, those photos will never get uploaded otherwise.

7 | Runner’s World Subscription

Nothing makes me happier than when I check the mail and see a new issue of Runner’s World has arrived. And this is the gift that keeps on giving all year.

8 | Runner’s World Meals on the Run: 150 energy-packed recipes in 30 minutes or less

This cookbook is great for the runner in your life who wants to eat well but is constantly on the go or always busy with training. Basically someone like me!

9 | Zoe Compression Socks by ToeSox

These are my all time favorites and the only sock I will do my long runs in. They’re stylish and functional and keep blisters at bay while promoting blood flow and improving recovery.

10 | Nike Epic Lux Running Tight

These are my favorite running tights at the moment because of the mesh cut outs and the color. They also happen to be $20 off right now!

For the non-runners in your life, I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m only an expert when it comes to what makes runners happy.  Get to shopping before it’s truly too late and if you miss the boat, you can always go  online and pay a race entry fee for someone as a gift. No shipping required.

Stay tuned for a recap of my whirlwind trip to NYC this past weekend!

The post The Procrastinator’s Holiday Gift Guide for Runners appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.

What you will win:

• Two pairs of barre and yoga ToeSox (Value: $32)
• Jar of NuttZo (Value: $14.99-$18.99)
• My favorite Gamut Life tank (Value: $29)
• TriggerPoint Massage Balls (Value: $50)
• 6 bottles of Joint Juice (Value: $12)
• Box of Organic Herbal Papaya Leaf Tea (Value: $10)
• A stainless steal Mizu water bottle (Value: $20)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to all of the companies who generously donated product for me to share!  I’m excited to share these goodies with one of my loyal readers. You guys are the BEST.

Today after work I am off for a run, grabbing dinner with Ashleigh before she heads off to run her first 50k this Saturday, visiting my hair guy to get a handle on these roots of mine and then I’ll be off to NYC on a red eye tomorrow after work. I will more than likely need a vacation from my vacation!

Peace, Love & Running to ALL OF YOU! Now get to entering this awesome giveaway!

Share on Twitter and Facebook too!

The post Favorite Things Giveaway!! appeared first on SoCalRunnerGal.