It has been a while! Broad Street Run Recap :)

Before:

• Woke up, ate breakfast (oatmeal, banana, had some hot tea, drank a ton of water-- could've done without a hot tea).
• For whatever reason, I get so anxious before races. Doesn't matter if it's a 5k or not, I will have to poop excessively before a race. My body totally cleans itself out. (I think it goes back to my PTSD as a child doing track and field races in elementary school. I'm shuddering just thinking about it.)
• Went to my friend Hanna's house, where my sister, Hanna, Hanna's mom, and a friend from the YMCA, Monty all left from. Oh, and I pooped there, too.
• Got to the starting line with plenty of time to spare, we even saw a local news woman, Cecily Tynan, warming up with her husband before the race. We all had to shout her name, of course! She was so friendly.
• And then I had to pee. Like, really pee, but there was no way I was going to make it to a port-a-potty. They were swamped with people.

Before: What I had "on me" during the race. iPod shuffle & headphones (LOVE THIS THING),
GuChomps Watermelon electrolyte gels,  and my number 31247!  

During

• At the starting line, I was all hyped up and raring to go (I guess). Of course, with 40,000 runners it's hard to go fast so soon! They started off playing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" over the speakers at the starting line. So sweet!
• There were so many security officers since it was just after the Boston Marathon and all. From helicopters flying overhead, to countless SWAT team officers lining the course, I felt totally safe. So many runners supported the marathon from wearing shirts, to donning red socks, and there were stickers that said "To Boston Love Philly" on them. It was hard to keep it far from my mind.
• It was a blur. I know I'm writing some of this way after the race, but it was a blur. You get in a zone, and I must've really gotten in the zone, because to this day I remember the endorphin buzz and the excitement, and I sigh thinking, "That was so much fun, the 10 miles really flew by!" Sigh. 
• When you run a race like Broad Street, there are just so many people that you are forced to move. You HAVE to move, or else you're getting trampled. Once you get to mile 8, the crowd thins out drastically, both on the sidelines and in the course. You become a much more lonely ranger of sorts, so once I got to South Philly, (which is a fairly unknown territory for me) it was all a mental game.
• I had my GuChomps during the race, and I walked through almost every water station because I was not about to slip on those damn plastic cups. 
• Seeing the finish line was a total dream come true! I can still remember my pace picked up and I just couldn't wait to get there. 

After

• Knowing I had to ride the subway back up to North Philly was kind of exciting (free subway, yay)! I got to sit down the whole time, which I immediately regretted. I stood up and everything hurt (this is where I start to think, hmm should've trained harder). 
• I was so proud of myself. My legs carried me, and I felt so unstoppable. 
• I went home, and I was spent. I spent the day eating, sleeping and I didn't stretch or foam roll, and MAN I WAS SO SORE. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT. I'm going to take much better care of myself next time. It was horrible. At one point, I wanted to flat-out fall down the steps because it was easier than walking. 
• I kind of felt like I underwent a major medical procedure with the whole "recovery" thing. However, within 3 days, I was fine!

After: Got my medal and finished in 1:42:47! 

Verdict: totally worth every step!

It's all in the bag!

It may not seem like much, but this bag is my buddy. I use it for so much, but it's currently rocking my world as my gym bag. It has holes, rips and seams coming apart, but I think it just shows my dedication!

What's inside...

Sweatpants

These old, ratty sweatpants are perfect for going home on cold nights, post-workout!

I throw them on and I'm good to go. I get the post-sweat chills a lot and 

I end up FREEZING after winter workouts.

Sneakers

ASICS, baby! I love my sneakers. I always keep them in there and I'll occasionally

put some baby powder in them to keep them smelling fresh.

Shorts

These shorts are perfect (and they have POCKETS). I can never workout in 

long pants, so these are my go-tos!

Deodorant 

Gotta stay fresh! These tiny travel sizes are perfect for my bag. 

Hand Sanitizer

Yes, the gym is good for your health but germs and harmful bacteria run wild. Although you're supposed to wipe your machines down, I see way too many people skimp on their cleaning duties!

Hair Ties and Clips

For the days that I don't have a hair tie on my wrist. If my hair is still down, 

I'm not working hard enough!

Ibuprofen

For the occasional muscle aches and tenderness pre or post workout!

Workout Top

I always keep a backup workout top or t-shirt in my bag!

Headphones

For tuning the world out during my workout.

I practically live out of my gym bag. I just throw it in my car and I'm all set! Some days, I don't get to the gym and it just sits in my car. However, in case that moment of workout inspiration strikes, I'm ready!

What's in your gym bag? Did I give you any ideas? Do you have any suggestions for my gym bag?

Also, always keep your bag packed, that way, you are ready to sweat!

Stay fit,

Katie

running and training gear purchases!

Yesterday, I realized that it is going to be chilly Thanksgiving morning. I'm running a 5k and I almost never run outside when it's cold (at least, not really). I'm kind of a wimp about it!

I figure I'd invest in a set of Under Armour Coldgear leggings! They are so beautiful and soft and warm and I just can't wait to take them for a test run (literally). So I bought these beautiful Under Armour Coldgear Compression Leggings. I'm patiently waiting for these babies to arrive soon via Fed Ex!

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I need compression because it helps speed my recovery time (not as sore after longer runs, feel more supported when running and less muscle tightness). I also needed a pair of cold gear because all my other running tights were NOT SUITED for running in cold weather and the cold air just wooshes right through! Brrr...

Another purchase I made this weekend...which I am WAY too excited about:

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I got a pair of ASICS Women's Gel- Envigor TRs! I live and breathe ASICS shoes, I've strayed from their wonderful products and only caused my feet pain and suffering! These blue beauties are my cross trainers. What that means is if I'm heading to the gym to just lift, maybe I'm going to take a Body Pump class, it's for less intense impact activity and I'll wear these. I normally wear my other running ASICS to to everything, but I don't want to wear them out from cross training, spinning classes, etc. I want to save my hardcore running shoes for hardcore running, races and long runs--where I really need them! 

Better yet, I found them at Nordstrom Rack, and they were only $55-- yes, please!

Happy Fitness :)

Katie