ice cream or run?? that is the question...

This week was a long week and I almost decided to go get some cold stone ice cream tonight :-). Those who know me.. know I love sweets. I held back and went for a jog.

I must admit. I struggled this week. After my long run last week I never recovered. My 5 miles went really well. I was suprised about how long I was able to run. I saw parts of the tobacco trail I have never seen before. But again I could not recover this week. I only ran on wednesday and spent much of the week really really tired.

All week I have been wondering if I have taken on too much... trying to adjust to being a 3rd year, applying for research opportunities, run a half and becoming active at my church.

After all my super hopeful posts I decided to keep it real and say running a half is truly a challenge!!! this post should be titled... "Get out while you can. lol. "

As always I must drop a little real running knowledge. If you fall off on a few runs like i have make sure you get the long run in. Thats really the one that makes a difference for your body and prevents injuries. Maybe I'll get one in tomorrow.... We shall see. :-/  


ASHLEY! I think this would be much easier if we were in the same city to run together! :-)  and side note.. Chapel Hill weather in September is beautiful. :-) I love it.

Till next time.
KEEP RUNNING!!!

BRIANA!!

my half marathon update

Hey Friends!

I am about 2 weeks into my half training and I feel pretty good. I had two pretty good runs on tuesday and wed. Thursday I was on call at the hospital which definitely means no running occured. And Friday I was so tired and delirious the only thing I could do was to make my way to the Cheesecake factory with my buddy Amanda :-) lol. I know.. it really sounds like I fell off towards the end of the week.

Well I am happy to say today I lifted weights for 40 minutes! Ashley and myself have been discussing that we really want to take this part of the training seriously and not leave it off. Today I focused on my hips and legs.

I encourage each of you to lift some weights as well. Running can become really repetitive and sometimes we just need to use some other muscles.

And for my ladies out there :-) Lifting weights is especially good for those of us that want to loose weight. My first year of med school I definitely got the first year ten and when i started to lift weights it did wonders :-)


Alrighty friends. pray for me.. tomorrow is a 5 mile run.  This is why i do not work out on Mondays.. I wear myself out. lol.

KEEP RUNNING!!!

Because i couldnt get the nerve to ask someone to take a pic of me in the gym. lol. i think she is gettin it! and her hair is flawless.

Here are some good workout ideas
I really like this article  http://www.essence.com/lifestyle/fitness/the_15_minute_workout


BRIANA

Runninng to the Music

Hello everyone,

Today I was extremely tired after being in meetings all day, and I was really questioning whether or not I would run. So I came home ate dinner and relaxed a little before I forced myself to get up run. I text Briana who informed me that she was also tired but we encouraged each other to go run anyway.

Although I had words of encouragement from Briana, I was still a little sluggish once I got outside. But once I turned on my Zune I was ready to go. It wasn't long before I caught my stride and started running to the music.

Having good music to run or workout with can make all the difference in how hard you push yourself. At least it does for me. So what is in my play list? I think some of the best workout music is:

1) Black Eyed Peas (Humps, Pump It, Imma Be, etc.)
2) Old school party music (Tootsie Roll, Nasty Dancer, Scrub the Ground, etc.)
3) Lady Gaga
4) Ke$ha (Tik Tok, Your Love is My Drug)
...and a lot more.

With the help of my music and friend's encouragement I ran 3 miles today!

Whats in your play list?

Ashley

Back to Business

To my fellow runners...

The fabulous holiday weekend has come to a close. Its time for the long stretch until Thanksgiving. I definitely did a lot of living it up this weekend :-) But now like the sermon I heard on Sunday... Its time to get back to business. Whether its running, eating healthy, having a balanced life.. the holiday is over and its time to get back to it :-/

Running is all about consistency. Start fresh, jump back into it slow if its been a few days and do not fret about the days that passed when you did not work out.  A lot of people when they start new work out goals they start too fast, tell everybody their outrageous goals, hype up their new plan. Getting back to business does not mean run 5 miles tomorrow. Set your goals for the week and stick to them.

My goals for the week. Run twice before Friday, improve my stretching and lift weights on Friday before I study :-)  Its time to get back to business.  I hope everyone has a great week.


Check out this link for hamstring stretches
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-287--13058-0,00.html

 I ran into a fellow tar heel at Mimi and Benyam's AMAZING wedding this weekend who is training for a 5k. Keep it up girl! You got this. Here is a 5k schedule: http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Knovice.htm

Partner in Crime aka Ashley I havent heard from you all weekend!!  Miss ya!

BriBri

I'm still standing

Hey friends,

Today was one of those days. It took all my strength to run. And I must admit it was a short run. On the bus ride home I had a headache, i was grumpy from dealing with some questionable attitudes and just was dealing with some bumps in the road. I am here to say I am still standing and actually feel better after the run. I wanted to take advil before and just skip it. Hopefully this will keep somebody motivated.. whether its a 5k or a half marathon or a full or maybe just getting up for a quick trip to the gym. I must study now. work is on my mind.

On a side note.. my A/C is broke.. if my day wasnt already a mess. Nobody is coming until the morning :-/

KEEP RUNNING!!!!

Briana

Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:27

Back on the Wagon

Hello everyone,

I am happy to report that I am feeling much better and officially began my training today. According to the schedule I am using, I am supposed to run 3 miles tomorrow...but I did it today because I am in a wedding this weekend and won't have time to run later in the week.

Needless to say, after being sick and not running for a week...running 3 miles was hard. To be honest, I ran/walked the 3 miles. On my way home I was speed walking and a man ran past me and I was immediately motivated to pick up the speed...so I began running home. Before I saw the other runner, I decided that I was finished with the run and would just try to run longer tomorrow. Sometimes you just need that extra motivation. It is easy to let your head get in the way and tell you that you are tired...but keep on pushing through it.

One of my favorite phrases is from Tony Horton, creator of P90X..."Do your best and forget the rest"! I thought I was doing my best...but once I noticed the other runner, I knew that I needed to push harder. I must say...it feels great to be back on the wagon!

Ashley

running shoes.. get your money right :-)

RUNNING SHOES

Sooo originally another reason why I chose running was... its free! Yes I was being cheap.  At the time my logic was: How can I get in shape without joining a local gym? Little did I know that running shoes are a big investment if you are really serious about putting in serious mileage.


Every runner needs a good pair of shoes. I got my new kicks last week :-) Here is a photo. Disclaimer: Good running shoes are not cheap. I think my mom thought I was crazy last year when I bought my first pair.

I went to a local specialty running store. These types of stores are great because they watch you run, size you appropriately and recommend shoes that are best for your foot.


Brand: Mizuno
Cost: $100





These shoes have already made a difference. A few weeks ago when I started back to my running grind I started having pain in my achilles tendon and soreness in my shin after running. These have made all the difference and I purchased insoles as well.

Stores I Recommend:
http://www.fleetfeetcarrboro.com/
http://www.bigpeachrunningco.com/

Brands that are great for running
Mizuno ** (my personal favorite)
New Balance  http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/
Ryka   http://store.ryka.com/running.html

A few pics from Fleet Feet Carrboro

I hope this info was helpful!! Get those new kicks and hit the road.

Topics to come:
YOGA :-) and running
Where to run ???

Holla at ya! BRIANA

What schedule is right?

Hey hey hey,

So its day two officially of the training program. And I am hurting. The schedule I chose from runners world magazine started out a little strong to say the least. According to this schedule i was supposed to run 4 miles yesterday... which i did. and 8 on sunday! yeah! I know! thats alot. I was so tired in the hospital today. Yawning in front of patients and attendings. Not good. To make it worse.. I had to go from one hosp to another at lunch and I was so tired that I was going towards raleigh on the interstate. (wrong direction). Clearly I work in butner. That is how tired i was today. When I was a 2nd year student last year I would study from noon to 6pm. Take a run break and be back at the work by 8pm. Much easier than the road ahead :-/   While running i often say.... keep going must be the cute fit resident.. lol.

Things I need help with and will research...  (FEEL FREE TO POST COMMENTS)
1) What schedule is right for me?????
2) Foods and snacks that provide energy??

Right now I think I am ditching the aggressive runners world schedule for the intermediate Hal Higdon schedule. Check it out! http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/inter.htm

Last year when I ran my first half I did not abide to the schedule. Let me just say. Big Mistake. My body hurt so bad after the half. For days.......I could not walk down stairs properly.

So I must stress find a schedule if you plan to run a half. My classmates reccommended Hal Higdon and you can also go to the library and read runners world magazine for other half marathon schedules. They do a half marathon issue every July. (Its really good). Must study now!

Next Topic.... RUNNING SHOES!!

Ashley! Drink some orange juice!!

Bribri!

Feeling stuck...will sick to be exact!

Hello friends,

Previously I wrote about how excited I was about finding that next thing to motivate me. Yesterday I had a long day at work and had the worst headache so I did not run...today, I only feel worse and I think I am coming down with a cold or something. Needless to say...not only do I feel sick but I feel stuck.

I thought that when I took some medicine about two hours ago that I would immediately feel better and I'd be running 3 miles right now. Instead I feel like my head is about to implode and all I can do is sit on the couch.

All I can do now is hope that I will feel well enough to run tomorrow. On the bright side...there are still a couple of days left in the week where I can get a couple of runs in. I guess this is just the reality of life....things don't always go as planned.

Wish me well :->

Ashley

Running my 1st half marathon...why you ask?

I am sitting here craving a piece of macaroni and cheese...that is why I need to run :->

Before I got married I worked out 4-6 times a week. I wanted to look beautiful for my wedding dress and my honeymoon. Once I said I do on May 28th...I entered a summer of doing absolutely nothing except sleeping on the couch. Needless to say, I put on some weight during these two months. 10 lbs to be exact.

In my 3rd year of undergrad I lost about 30 lbs and I've done a really good job at keeping the weight off since then. At that time everyone told me that I couldn't lose the weight, that I "wasn't meant to be skinny."I let that and my commitment to health motivate me into getting in and staying in shape.

However, now I am at the point where I am wondering...what is next? Before I had naysayers and the wedding to motivate me. I know that "life" is supposed to motivate me enough to get off the couch, but unfortunately it does not. So I decided to run my first half to get back in shape and recommit to living a long and healthy life.

Especially being in the public health field...I don't want to tell people what they need to do and know that I am not doing everything I can do to be healthy. I also want to be an inspiration to other Black women who need something to be "next."

I look forward to posting about my experience running my 1st half. For me this is a new beginning. I am a recent graduate and married woman, who needs something to inspire me to be healthy. I think this half marathon is that something.

And no...I am not going to eat that piece of macaroni and cheese tonight.

Why Run?

Why run a half marathon?? There are so many reasons not too... its hard, your legs will hurt, you will be tired... 13 miles seems really really long. BUT I still decided to run! I can name a few reasons why I decided to run. This will be my second half marathon. And initially the idea just came to me out of thin air. Maybe it is the type A personality side of myself..but I like a challenge. I enjoy having a goal that I am pursuing. Forever the goal was to get into medical school. Once I got there I started to think.. whats next?  Well... I will run a half! I do not remember seeing many African American women growing up who run. I felt this is a chance to change the standard. Add a little diversity to the mix. Bring a little brown sugar to the running trails around Chapel Hill. When I started medical school people were always running so i needed to see what the hype was about. Plus a girl in her twenties needs to stay fly. ;-)

On a deeper level I know that if I can maintain my health while trying to become a doctor than hopefully when I get there I will not be the MD with the pot belly telling my patients they need to lose weight. I want to be an example to my community and my family. My family has lots of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Its ALWAYS in the back of my mind.

Running this half marathon for the SECOND time is apart of my journey to always be vigilant about my health, show black america we can fight against the predispositon to diabetes and hypertension, and live a life where my body is truly my temple.

Sooo all the deep stuff being said.. Its still hard to get up and run everyday. Especially after being in a hospital for 10+ hours.

I invite you to join me and Ashley (my partner in crime) as we blog about all the ups and downs on the way!! We will talk about hair, running shoes, what schedule we use, eating healthy, randomness, and how we will overcome the challenge of running 13.1 miles.

Signing off! My first post.

Briana

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20