Half Marathon Training

Let’s start at the beginning, which is two years ago! Remember when I ran my first marathon in February 2020? In the recap post, I was ready to jump into long-term training for future races. I said “I’m currently in the best shape of my life. Why stop now?” Well, a month later, the pandemic started, and gone was most of my motivation for working out and the ability to go to the gym. I spent the rest of the year doing the least – a short run or bike ride here and there and lots of walks.

At the end of April 2021, I woke up from the slumber. My ClassPass membership was un-paused by the company and I went to a few studios before canceling my membership (the quality of offerings had declined significantly) and joining OrangeTheory Fitness. I spent the next nine months going to eight classes monthly and it has been the physical and mental reset I needed. It’s proof to me that regular exercise/cardio has a major effect on my overall wellness. 

I guess this is where I tell you I’m terrible at training and my farthest run was six miles in early December. A month out, I took a three-week somewhat unintentional break for the holidays and vacation. So, somehow, my regular cardio for the past nine months helped me get through the race!

3M Half-Marathon Recap

The weather was perfect! I think it was about 45-50 degrees the whole time with no rain or wind. The weather has been tricky the last couple of races this time of year, so it was a big factor in a good run.

There were about 6,000 runners and safety protocols required a rolling start from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. We (I ran with my friend Melanie!) took off at 7:40 a.m. Can you believe the male winner ran a 4:56 mile and the female winner ran a 5:47 mile?! 

They call the 3M Half-Marathon the fastest, downhill race for a reason. I got a PR (personal record)! My time was 2:12:56 with an average 10:09 mile. My last PR was 2:17:31 at the Austin Half-Marathon in 2019 and my other 3M Half time was 2:35:15 in 2017.

Here are some of my paces:

• 5K: 9:38
• 10K: 9:49
• 15K: 10:01

I had run the 3M once before, five years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with the course. It starts west of Mopac off Capital of Texas Hwy (Gateway/Arboretum area) and ends at the Texas Capitol. It is fairly flat with a handful of small “hills.” Overall, it is downhill elevation, though it’s hard to feel that during the run.

Running with someone and the race environment (seeing other runners and supporters along the route) helps with maintaining speed. I think this was the first race where I ran the whole time! I stopped for hydration three or four times and ate a caffeine Gu gel between mile nine and ten.

Based on how much (err…how little) I prepared for the race, I’m surprised that recovery has been smooth. The first five hours post-race were terrible (usual cold symptoms) but after that, my legs and body have not been very sore.

What’s Next?

My next race is already on the calendar – Austin Half-Marathon on February 20th! (If you want to sign up to run the 5k, half, or full, my ambassador discount code is AnitaAM2022 for $10 off.) I’m looking forward to this next month of training.

Then after, who knows? I’m planning to continue working out at a gym, doing yoga, and taking walks. Keeping it fun and consistent.

Quick Tips about the 3M Half Marathon

• For local Austinites, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a fun race where you will likely get a PR
• For out-of-towners, it’s a less expensive time to visit Austin and you’ll get to explore Austin
• The weather can be a toss-up but expect colder weather, usually below 50 degrees
• Well-managed race by High Five Events. Plenty of portopots at the start and water stations/energy gel along the way
• “Downhill to Downtown” but there are slight but manageable hills throughout the course
• It starts in North Austin and ends downtown at the Texas Capitol. If it’s your first time in Austin, I recommend staying downtown and getting a ride to the start. If you’re renting a car, you can drive to the start and there are shuttles to take you back to the start.
• Book your trip with extra days after the race to eat through Austin
• Usually a good swag bag with useful items since 3M is the sponsor. Expect office supplies and sticky notes (see photo below)
• Registration is always cheapest right after the race ($89) with price increases throughout the year. It goes up to $139. Look for discount codes from race ambassadors
• See more details on the website here

Are you a runner? What’s your favorite race?

The post 3M Half Marathon: Austin’s Fastest Race + A PR! appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

If you want to start running, you need clothes you can move comfortably in and cushioned sneakers. That’s it. Everything else is mental. You need strength and determination to keep going, you need discipline to get out there day after day, and you need humility to accept that you won’t look or feel like an expert.

I’m currently training for the Austin Half-Marathon, my ninth half-marathon and my fourth Austin Marathon run. This is my favorite run in Austin! It’s got just enough challenge and you get to run around scenic Austin.

Now, if you need some fancy tools to encourage you to run, invest in, and make the sport easier, here’s my list of recommendations. I’m not a super competitive runner (I’m not too picky about gear), but these are the things I’ve used to get myself past the marathon finish line.

Running Tops & Bottoms for the Season

I am not so picky about my brands for summer running. I still have Nike shorts from my college days that I rotate through and I have a handful of tanks and shirts from races and miscellaneous shopping.

For winter running, I’ve been loyal to UnderArmour ColdGear leggings. They keep me warm enough for those Texas winter days. On top, I pile on a few layers and usually a sweatshirt, though I do have an UnderArmour ColdGear top also. (UnderArmour also has HeatGear, which is supposed to keep you cool, but I’ve always had plenty of warm weather running options so I haven’t tried them.)

GPS Watch

I like seeing the stats on a watch. I can track all my runs and run my playlist through my Garmin vívoactive 3 Music watch. It syncs to a Spotify playlist I created. While running, I can monitor my pace and distance, though sometimes they can be a distractor! Sometimes the watch takes a lot of time detecting my GPS location before the run, but overall, I love it.

Running Playlist

Up until two years ago, I was using an iPod shuffle with music I bought on iTunes and attached headphones! It worked but I’ve since upgraded and I’m not sure why I waiting so long. I’ve tried a few podcasts, but I gravitate towards upbeat music while working out. Some people can run without listening to anything but I need that outside motivator! Here are some of the songs that pump me up:

• Falling to Pieces by Marshmello and Crank Dat
• People You Know by Selena Gomez
• Higher Love by Kygo and Whitney Houston
• Cut to the Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen

Running Headphones

I updated my watch and headphones when I was training for my marathon, and it was a big improvement! I had used old iPod headphones until then, so these Soundcore bluetooth headphones by Anker have been great! I asked for running headphones as a birthday present a few years ago, so I haven’t done much research on workout headphones. I love these because they sync with my watch quickly, have good suction, and don’t fall out of my ears while running, and the sound quality is good. Not to mention, they are very affordable!

Running Socks

I’m particular about my running socks. I like lightweight socks so my feet don’t overheat and you want socks that fit well to avoid blisters. I started out with Swiftwick socks, which I still like, but I’ve found Feetures has a better fit and is more advanced. They have different compression types and socks for feet that are prone to plantar fasciitis (me!).

Running Shoes

Out of all the gear, shoes are the most important! You want your foot to move seamlessly and for your legs and knees to be supported. Running is a tough sport on your body and good support will help. I recommend going to a reputable running shop to get fitted for a good shoe. You’ll be able to voice your concerns and try on different shoes to feel what type of support is most comfortable.

I am a Brooks runner. I’ve tried a few other brands but I come back to Brooks. They specialize in running gear, so they are always improving. I’m a fan of their Adrenaline GTS shoe line. The shoes give me support while keeping my feet cushioned. I always get pairs that are crazy bright colors but my current pair is toned down with neon accents.

Headband and Gloves

In winter weather (usually under 50 degrees to me), I have to have a fleece headband to cover my ears or they start to hurt! I don’t have a particular brand, since it was something I picked up randomly and I’m not picky about it. I use a thinner one or a thicker one, depending on the weather. Gloves are also good for freezing fingers! This pair was an ambassador gift from Austin Marathon.

Supplements and Nutrition

There is science behind when, what, and how much to take before, during, and after you run. Caffeine, electrolytes, and carbohydrates are the supplements to help you perform and recover better. Test out what you take before a race so you know how your stomach takes it.

For the marathon, I carried and used a few things to give me a boost. I timed my consumption out for my marathon and I usually only take a supplement during my run if I’m running 10 or more miles. I’ve used CLIF Blocks, Gu Chews, and Gu Energy Gels.

Before a long run, I usually eat a banana and/or a CLIF bar and hydrate well, especially on hot days. After long runs, I rehydrate with a Nuun tablet.

Belt Pouch

I use a belt on occasion to hold my phone or keys. I’ve used two different brands, and I love the Spibelt one because it doesn’t bounce and stretches to the size of the object you’re carrying.

Hand-held Water Bottle

For those long runs, hydration helps give a boost! I’ve filled my 9oz Nathan handheld water bottle with Nuun water and kept gel in the pouch. This lightweight water bottle fits over your hand and the water bottle is curved. I filled it up at water stops along the marathon route.

If you asked me about my running gear 10 years ago, it would have differed a lot! It has definitely been a learning process to figure out what works best for me on my runs. If you’re getting into running or wanting to improve, maybe this gear list can help.

What are your recommendations for running gear?

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I’ve run eight half-marathons and I’ve run the Austin race twice. Last year, I signed up for my FIRST marathon because I didn’t have a good reason not to (though I did have lots of fears). The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon was this past weekend and if you missed it in the title – I did it!

As an Austin Marathon Ambassador, I helped promote the event and volunteered at several expos while receiving free race entries and gear. It was my second year being an ambassador and it was lots of fun! This race has been a big part of my life for the last seven months, and I loved convincing my friends to run the race, training and sharing my journey, and being a part of the race day.

This post will tell you all about my marathon training, how the race went, and what I’m planning on doing next!

Marathon Training

I started training for the marathon last summer as I was preparing for the wedding. My training schedule started on August 31st but with the wedding and honeymoon, I knew official training would be slightly delayed. I re-started training about a week after we got back in October. I ran about two to three times a week and did a cardio workout, usually spin, once a week.

For my long runs, I ran around my neighborhood and with my friend Ashley who trained for the half-marathon. I started dropping into Rogue Running’s Saturday runs and sometimes ran with my friend Sarah who’s in one of their running groups. The farthest long runs I did were 18, 20, and 22. They were all tough but I felt energized by them. I ran a big range, from a 9:50-minute mile on a short run to a 12-minute mile on a long run.

In Texas, running in the winter is more enjoyable than in the summer. After a while, I got used to the cold and even ran better in it. When I say cold, I mean in the 40s. Doing cryotherapy during my training helped with the cold too. But, there were plenty of mornings I chose to stay in bed than go run in the cold!

After every long run, especially farther than my previous farthest distance of 13.1, I was in awe of what my body was doing. Running started becoming easier and my endurance grew. From August to before my marathon, I ran about 302 miles of practice!

As for diet, I didn’t really have a set one, though I moderated my consumption of sweets and alcohol a little more. You can probably gather from my post about what I ate for dinner that I typically make healthier choices and avoid processed and fast foods. Some days I felt like my hunger was insatiable!

Austin Marathon Recap

It was good, strong, hot, and terrible.

My first goal for this race was to finish. If I was running strong, I wanted to finish in under five hours. If I was running very strong, maybe I could keep a 10:30-11 minute pace.  

First, the numbers! Here are my splits from my bib chip:

• 5K: 32:26.2
• 10K: 1:03:31.0
• 15K: 1:37:15.7
• 20K: 2:10:45.2
• 13.1M: 2:18:36.9
• 25K: 2:48:26.9
• 30K: 3:25:58.6
• 35K: 4:10:59.7
• 22.5M: 4:21:30.7
• 40K: 4:56:13.1

• My chip time was 5:12:11.6, an 11:55/mile average.
• I was number 1969 out of 2867 marathon finishers.
• The average marathon time for 958 women was 6:46:23.14. The men’s average was 7:30:18.57 for 1909 people. (The men’s marathon winner ran a 2:28:11 while the women’s winner ran a 2:55:17. Wow!)
• There were 165 females in the 30-34 age range.
• My watch says my pace ranged from 9:51 (mile 5) to 16 (mile 21, I think I had a restroom break?).

Now, my race recap.

I started the race with Ashley. (Remember we ran the half together last year too.) She was doing the half, so she was going to run much faster while I needed to pace myself. That was hard! She flew off around mile five or six. I ran a solid and a bit fast 11 miles. After that terrible hill around mile 12 and breaking off from the half-marathoners about to finish, that’s when the dread set in and I thought wow, this is really happening!

I can’t remember a lot of the run because it was mostly mundane and all I was thinking about was moving forward. BUT I do remember seeing friends along the course and it made a big difference in motivation. Will and my friend Abby scootered around the city with their signs and I saw them at miles 7, 12, and 19. My friends Brooke and Scott (and their two-year-old Hazel!) were a nice surprise around mile 9.5. Ashley finished her half and met me in miles 21 and 25 to walk/run with me.

My mental game was strong throughout but my body started breaking down around mile 20 after struggling since mile 18. I had run the second half of the marathon at least three times before, so I knew the route and I remembered how strong those practice runs were then. But no matter how much I wanted to run, my legs hurt incredibly and my knee felt like it was about to pop off, something I hadn’t felt before. I ended up walking a lot of miles 20-25. I think now a lot of the struggle was I was becoming dehydrated because it was much warmer than I was used to.

From miles 24 to the finish line, the spectators were in full force with plenty of water and encouragement! I found a second wind and my body was ready after the walking break, so I sprinted to the finish line!

Some things that might have affected my race:

• I didn’t work-out the week before because I didn’t make time for it.
• I started antibiotics three days before the race. (Kaira nipped my lip and I had to get five stitches. The doctor said running would be ok.)
• I hadn’t been sleeping well three days before the race.
• I was running 2-3 times a week instead of the recommended 4-5.
• The temperature at the start was 52 and by the time I finished, it was in the 70s.
• The stitches were sore during the race.
• I knew I needed to keep a 10:30 pace to have enough energy at the end, but I did a few of the early miles at 9:50-10 pace, which was maybe too fast to have the endurance at the end.

I ran a marathon! That is a really cool accomplishment to me. (Updated the life list!) I also wish I had run a stronger race and it’s the competitive side of me knowing I could have. I over-analyzed the race above so that if I want to run another marathon one day, I can remember what I need to do and plan for to make it the best race possible! I spent the first few days after the race bummed, but I’ve stopped beating myself up about my performance. I’m proud to be a marathon finisher!

Marathon Recovery

After the race and the day after the race, I wore compression socks and did a lot of laying on the couch. My feet were swollen, my legs were sore, I was trying not to be dehydrated, and my lip/stitches were sore. But I have all my toenails and I didn’t get seriously injured, so that’s a plus.

The good thing about my slower race is that I wasn’t as sore as I could have been! Recovery went a lot faster and I felt “normal” again after three days. This was very different from my original recovery plan that included an ice bath, whole body cryotherapy, and compression therapy.

(The below photos are from the Austin Marathon Expo. They had some really cool photo opportunities, including neon backdrops and a wall with every runner’s name.)

What’s Next?

Even before I ran the marathon I was thinking about what was next. That’s what happens when your big fitness goal is accomplished in the second month of the year! (My other fitness goal is to do yoga twice a month.) I want to continue running and even with how tough it was, this race didn’t scare me away from doing another marathon!

Should I start training for next year’s Austin Marathon? Should I start training to PR a half (PR right now is 2:17) or run a sub two hour half this year? Should I sign up for the next Austin Distance Challenge (five races in five months)? I’ve already run more than 13.1 miles two months this year; should I do it every month this year?

During a long run, I was talking to my friend Sarah, who has big running goals in the next year, about running and she warned me that it gets addictive. How do I know? I could easily say yes to all of the goals in the previous paragraph. I’m currently in the best shape of my life. Why stop now?

ARE YOU IN? If you want to join next year’s Austin Marathon (5K, half-marathon, or marathon), the prices are at their lowest right now! Sign up now and make it happen!

P.S.  I’ve had a complicated relationship with running. Take a look at all my running posts here!

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post I Ran a Marathon! + My Austin Marathon Recap appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

That’s right. I’m doing it. I’m going to run a full marathon. The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour in February 2020 to be exact.

I felt great training for and running the Austin Half-Marathon this year. I earned a PR (personal record), my fastest half-marathon out of the eight I’ve run. See the full recap of the race here. Even after that run, I questioned the possibility of running a marathon. I talked to a handful of people who had run one and realized the only thing holding me back was my fear.

What was/am I afraid of?

• That I won’t be physically able to finish the race
• All the hours that will be dedicated to training
• Having to become a morning person for early morning runs
• What if I hurt myself during training or at the race?
• Sore muscles all the time
• Will my toenails turn black and fall off?
• What you would think of me if I don’t finish the race

I remember those tough days of training for this year’s half-marathon. I had a few miles left to run, it was cold, I was tired, and I hated running at that moment. I cursed myself for believing I could do it and for signing on to such a big task. Fear can keep you safe but it can also hold you back. The training was tough but the practice made my half-marathon experience better. Run after run, I grew to enjoy it. On race day, I learned I was stronger than I thought.

A marathon seems impossible because I have never tried it. Sometimes accomplishing a goal isn’t a matter of doing the impossible, it’s a matter of redefining the possible. I have a lot of fear but I also have ambition and dedication. I might fail but I also might cross that finish line. This will be the toughest physical challenge I endure, but with high stakes come high rewards. I’d rather fail when I try than not try at all.

I picked the Austin Marathon, especially for my first time, because

• I don’t need to travel out of town (this can add more anxiety to the whole thing)
• I won’t need to spend money on a hotel stay, transportation, etc.
• I can recover afterward in my own home
• I’m familiar with the course (I’ve run the Austin Half-Marathon twice) and the logistics of getting to the race
• There’s a big chance the weather will be perfect because of mild Texas winters
• I love Austin!

In addition to the pride and joy of completing a marathon, here are some of the perks for Austin Marathon runners:

• 2020 Under Armour Participant Shirt (I’m wearing last year’s cool shirt in these photos)
• Under Armour Swag Bag
• Belt Buckle Finisher Medal
• Professional Timing & Photography
• Live Athlete Tracking
• Live Music on Course
• 3 Block Long Finisher Festival complete with Live Music
• Access to the Oskar Blues Beer Garden (21+)

Want to run with me?

Do I have you convinced? I’m an Austin Marathon ambassador, which means I’ve got a discount code “ANITA2020” if you want to run the 5K, half-marathon, or marathon. No matter the distance, running this race is a lot of fun. Let me know if you’re up for the challenge!

Register here!

Have you ever run a marathon? What tips could you give me?
Or what intense challenge have you accomplished?

Follow my training! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Austin Marathon (My First Marathon!), Here I Come! appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This year, the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour celebrated its 28th anniversary. It was the perfect weather for a run, the perfect setting for a memorable event. Keep reading for all the details about my experience.

Half-Marathon Training

This was my eighth half-marathon and the first time I actually focused on training. What?! I know. I’m lucky I’ve never had any injuries and finished most in an ok time. In the past, the longest training run I did was six miles and I relied on my cardio workouts to get me ready.

This time around, I wanted to go all in. Beginners are recommended 12 weeks of training and 10-15 miles a week. My schedule was about 15 weeks and I aimed for running three times a week with a progression up to 12 miles. (I used this training schedule as a guide.) It was hard for me to keep up with my schedule because of the cold weather and holiday/post-holiday laziness. It wasn’t until the last seven weeks of training where I actually wanted to train.

In November, I started the progression from two miles until 12 miles. There were three weeks I missed the scheduled run and ran two miles or took a spin class instead. On only five of the 15 weeks, I ended up running at least two times. Basically, even though I trained for this run, I slacked off a lot, too.

Half-Marathon Number Eight

My first half-marathon back in 2012? It took me three hours and seven minutes to cross the finish line. That’s about a 14-minute mile, basically one of the last runners to finish. I also chose the Decker Challenge as my first half and if you’re an Austin runner, you know that race is the hardest with its crazy hills!

Since then, my fastest half-marathon was the 3M in 2017 where I had an 11:50 pace. If you’re thinking about running a half-marathon, the 3M is the easiest because it’s all downhill! My last race was the Austin Half-Marathon in 2017 where I had a 12:09 pace.

If you’re curious, here are the times of my half-marathons:

1. Decker Challenge 2012; 3:07:17; 14 pace
2. Rock and Roll San Antonio 2013; not available
3. Plano Balloon Festival Half-Marathon 2013; not available
4. Decker Challenge 2015; 2:43:08; 12:27 pace
5. Decker Challenge 2016; 2:39:25; 12:10 pace
6. 3M Half-Marathon 2017; 2:35:15; 11:50 pace
7. Austin Half-Marathon 2017; 2:39:11; 12:09 pace
8. Austin Half-Marathon 2019, 2:17:31; 10:30 pace

Race Recap

Hmm, with training, you get faster. How about that? I started working out consistently in 2015 (and love spin classes), and I think that has to do with the progress also. My time goal for the race was 2:24, an 11-minute pace, and I ended up beating it by seven minutes. It was also a personal record by 18 minutes!

I ran with my friend Ashley the first eight miles or so which helped me push my pace. Looking at the times for each mile on my watch (included below), I had several miles under a 10-minute pace, though towards the end when I was running on my own, I was in the 10-11-minute pace.

• Mile 1: 10:35
• Mile 2: 10:32
• Mile 3: 9:51
• Mile 4: 10:11
• Mile 5: 9:32
• Mile 6: 9:38
• Mile 7: 9:53
• Mile 8: 10:01
• Mile 9: 11:27
• Mile 10: 10:54
• Mile 11: 10:59
• Mile 12: 11:03
• Mile 13: 11:26

It was a hard run. Miles four to seven were pretty good, and after that, I couldn’t get back into a solid groove, especially with the rolling hills on Enfield Road as we hit mile 10. It might have been hard because I pushed my pace so hard and I was constantly keeping track of that time goal. Towards the end, I was nervous about being passed by a pacer. Overall, it was a fun run, I was so glad it was over when I passed the finish line, and I was surprised about my endurance!

If you’ve never cheered on runners at a half-marathon or marathon, I highly recommend it. As a runner, it means so much to look up and see these awesome human beings with funny signs, smiles, cowbells, and encouragement to help you keep going. I was a part of a cheering line a few years ago and a volunteer at a water station last year (both for the Austin Marathon), and it was so inspiring to be on the other side, watching runners take on the challenge. If you were cheering or part of the volunteer crew this year, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

I’m a Runner!?

Most of the time, I don’t call myself a runner because I don’t actually like running. But after nearly 10 years of running races and wanting to train harder for races in the future, I’ll call it what it is proudly. I’m a runner. And I might even like it more than I think.

Of course, I have to give some tips of things I’ve learned and remembered in my training:

• The first three miles and the last two miles are the hardest.
• I like running in new areas instead of running the same loop over and over.
• Good running shoes will take you far, literally! (I’m a forever Brooks fan.)
• Running the night before trash pick-up will be a smelly run.
• Don’t procrastinate. Put your gear on and get out there ASAP!
• I can do hard things. It’s incredible what “impossible” things we can accomplish when we focus and work hard for them.
• Hard things take work, consistency, and showing up. What do I want to commit to?

I can only imagine what results I would get if I stuck to a training schedule! For now, I’m hoping to keep running consistently, maybe run another half this year, and decide soon if I will run a FULL MARATHON next year. I think it will take about a year for me to train for one. I have always said that I could never do it but why not??

What is your favorite race experience? Have any advice about running a marathon?

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The post Running the Austin Half-Marathon appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Half-marathons are no joke, but they’re also a fairly attainable goal with some training. I’m training for my eighth half-marathon, and I’m running the Austin Half-Marathon in February. It hasn’t been easy. I’m currently in a love/hate relationship with running. Training in the winter gives me struggles. It’s easy to choose a warm bed over a cold run in the dark. But I made completing another half-marathon one of my goals and to make a personal record, and I’m determined to make it my best run yet.

I chose to do a half-marathon because it’s a clear fitness goal for me. I have time to build up my strength and it accumulates into a finish line on an exact date. For me, training has consisted of keeping up with my gym workouts and getting the miles in weekly.

Maybe running a race could be one of your goals this year? Here are five reasons why I think you should consider running a half-marathon!

1. Meet Life List Goals

Is running a half-marathon on your life list? It was on mine. It’s a big accomplishment mentally and physically to achieve. If you run a 10-minute mile, it’ll take you a little over two hours to complete. That’s a whole lot of running!

2. Crush Work-Out Goals

For me, having a race goal is easier and more fun to visualize than a certain percentage of muscle or being able to do 10 push-ups in a row. Training schedules usually consist of running three to four times a week to work on speed and endurance. Running is a full-body workout, and through the training, I’m becoming more physically fit.

3. See a City

When I first ran the 3M Half-Marathon and Austin Half-Marathon, I loved running past landmarks I knew and neighborhoods I had never been to. I saw parts of Austin I don’t typically visit. When I ran the Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest 10k, I had never visited Atlanta before, and it was like getting a tour of the city by foot. Signing up for a run is also a good excuse to make travel plans and visit a city you’ve never visited.

4. Get a Medal and Swag Bag

Half-marathons are races where you typically get a medal when you cross the finish line and a nice swag bag when you pick up your bib. These are little things in the grand scheme of things but they’re a badge of honor that reminds you of your commitment and accomplishment. For the Austin Half-Marathon, the swag bag will include an Under Armour running shirt and the medal can be worn as a belt buckle. Some races even award you with a pint of beer at the finish line.

5. Challenge Yourself Physically and Mentally

Do it because you can! I like races because you’re celebrating your strength and commitment. All that training, all the positive thoughts, and all those diet adjustments got you here. It feels so good to cross that finish line!

Ok, you all are going to run a race this year now, right? See you at the Austin Half-Marathon?

What are your favorite fitness goals? Do you have a favorite half-marathon race?

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Captivations is a monthly feature with links, stories, and news that captivated me. Take a look at all the things captivating me lately.

Hello and goodbye, month of love! It was a full month of activity! I promise I’m still trying to slow down.

Why girls go to the restroom together

Galentine’s Parties
I hosted two Galentine’s parties for some of my favorite friends and bloggers this month. One was Sarah and I’s 2nd Annual Galentine’s party that involved snacks and crafts. The other (just so happened to be near Galentine’s) was a wine tasting for blogger friends at Infinite Monkey Theorem. I loved spending quality time with all of these gals!

Valentine’s Day
Boyfriend and I don’t go all out on holidays because we’re good at celebrating with (spending money on) nice meals and fun vacations whenever we want. So, our quiet Valentine’s night involved cooking mussels and veggies and indulging in cherry pie. I also got a sweet card. Simple, just how I like it.

Austin Half-Marathon + Austin Distance Challenge
I ran the final race of the Austin Distance Challenge this month! For the Austin Distance Challenge, I ran five races, once a month from October to February. It included the Run Free Texas 8k, Run for the Water 10 mile, Decker Challenge Half-Marathon, 3M Half-Marathon, and the Austin Half-Marathon. (This brings my number of half-marathons to SEVEN!) The whole event was a tough challenge that I did not train for very well (or at all), but I’m glad I completed it! I’ve always thought races were a good long-term fitness goal (compared to my current “work out three times a week” goal), but I’d love to hear your ideas. How do you track your fitness?

Politics Stress Me Out
This is why we don’t participate. Because it is exhausting to keep up, mentally and emotionally. When we see horrible, senseless things happen and no one in power (elected leaders, influential leaders) seems to be doing enough. I watch and hear the news and think “people can’t seriously be ok with this?!” What happened to values as an American and as a human being? I read this Huffington Post article that echoes my disbelief, and I encourage you to give it a read. How are you feeling? What are you doing to feel ok? (This post might help?)

Microblading
I’ve been curious about microblading and wanted to share what I’ve learned. Microblading is essentially tattooing your eyebrows so that it looks natural and full without makeup. My friend Kate did a great microblading video answering tons of questions and showing the process. Ultimately, I don’t think my eyebrows would be a fit for it, but the results look great!

Austin Food Blogger Alliance 2017 City Guide
Each year, our Austin food blogger organization puts together a city guide about the best eats in the city. I contributed with three guides posted this month, so please check them out! I’ve also updated my personal favorite Austin restaurants list for all of you planning to visit. *hint, hint*

• Best North Austin Restaurants
• Best Pastries in Austin
• Best Cupcakes in Austin

“And if you’re faced with the choice and you have to choose, I hope you choose the one that means the most to you”

Heroes
122 million. That’s the number of children’s lives saved since 1990 according to the UN. I’m thankful for passionate people like Bill and Melinda Gates and generous people like Warren Buffet who are working to make the world a better place by saving and improving lives. This letter has incredible numbers and evidence of the good that is being done. #heroes

Letting Go
I welcomed this article about letting go with open arms! I recently had a very close friendship go wayside and when I finally looked up, I realized it was completely shattered. While I can assume what happened, it’s sad to say I don’t know why it ended. I spent so much time not doing anything when I saw it happening, hoping it would fix itself and hoping she would come to me about why she saw issues with our friendship. It hurt and it still hurts a lot. I’ve finally come to the point (of exhaustion) where I need to let this go to find my sanity and to flourish. No more stress, no more negativity (asking myself what I did wrong or what I could have done differently), no more blame. Lessons learned: COMMUNICATE, and life is too short for negativity.

Until It Happens to You
I was reading this New York Times article about how a town of Trump supporters are rallying around their resident who may be deported. It echoes a thought swirling in my head this month. You stand for something until it happens to you. You want people to obey the rules but you would take the opportunity to break them without harm or punishment. Your thoughts and actions change when something could benefit you or would affect your life. Hypocritical, right? It gives evidence that we are emotional beings and survival of the fittest is innate.

This Is Us.
If you haven’t watched this show, stop reading because the following gives spoilers. I can’t stop thinking about the Memphis episode. In the episode, William says, “I haven’t had a happy life. Bad breaks. Bad choices. A life of almosts and could haves. Some would call it sad, but I don’t, cause the two best things in my life were the person in the very beginning and the person at the very end and that’s a pretty good thing to be able to say, I think.” We, the audience, have only seen a small snippet of William’s life. We’ve seen some wonderful moments and some hard ones, and we’ve grown to love his character. This episode is a great reminder of what truly matters in life. The good will outweigh the bad. Stop worrying about all the little details and how you’ll get there and what you’ll do next. Roll the windows down and crank up the music.

What’s captivating you lately?

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Some of the Valentine’s cards I made this year. They included photo strips I made through Artifact Uprising.

Valentine’s Day
My Valentine and I celebrated well! I loved the gorgeous bouquet waiting for me in my office on Friday morning. We enjoyed dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant and celebrated a friend’s birthday. I made creme brulee (his favorite) for the first time. We dressed up as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum for an Alice in Wonderland tea party.

My special Valentine’s delivery

What is Love?
On the subject of love, I wanted to share this sweet post from one of my favorite blogs, The Fresh Exchange. Reflecting on five years of marriage, Megan wrote about what love means to her. My favorite lines: “Love is about vulnerability, opening up and letting someone in. It is about being known and knowing someone else, that makes love something hard, but what I have found is that it is the greatest gift we can give to each other is the opportunity to be known and loved.”

A view from our February Brunch Club

Read: Committed
I finished the book Committed this month. A great follow-up to Eat, Pray, Love, the book is about the author’s findings in researching the history of marriage and includes conversations with people around the world. It’s a fascinating look at how things came to be and why we think the things we do about marriage.

The Sweetest Photo Shoot
A local Austin photographer published a sweet photo shoot of her grandparents who have been married for 63 years. At the end of the post, Photographer Shalyn Nelson talks about her thoughts on marriage and I loved this line: “It’s letting love win, always, no matter what.”

What do people say at the end of their lives?
Chris Guillebeau posted this. They talk about love. All the time I realize more and more that this is what life is about, the purpose of life. To give love, be love, and feel love. For things and people. From that love comes things like inspiration, life-changing experiences, and life-changing relationships.

Listen: Favorite Songs Lately
The New Basement Tapes – Kansas City
BORNS – 10,000 Emerald Pools
Jessie J – Masterpiece

Cheering on Austin Marathon runners at mile 24

Ashley ran another marathon!
My friend Ashley ran her second marathon on Valentine’s weekend, smashing her previous PR! I love the electric energy of races – running them and cheering runners on. We had a lot of fun being there and seeing Ashley rock it!

My friends made an app!
After lots of hard work, my friends released the geoPulse app in the Android store. The app lets you save cool locations and share your exact location for safety or fun with your friends. This is great when you’re meeting somewhere, whether it’s “by this tree in the park” or a specific bar. The app sends the exact point through SMS so friends can easily access the map. The app also helps you stay safe. It sends your location to a specific contact list in certain time intervals. This is great when you’re going on a date, walking to your car alone or making a solo road trip, among many situations.

Bravery
I often deal with head trash – the voice inside that tells me I can’t accomplish something and my efforts are pointless. I loved this post about bravery. Are you doing brave things every day?

Chinese New Year
While I didn’t throw a Chinese New Year potluck like I did last year, the holiday was still fun. My valentine and I went to Dallas to spend time with my family. We missed seeing lion dances but we did enjoy walking through the Crow Museum’s celebration, eating lots of Chinese food, visiting the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, eating dinner with my family and brunching.

What captivated you this February?

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2012 was good to me. Here are my top 10 memories.

1. Valentine’s Day Dessert Party

Around Valentine’s Day I threw a party with an awesome dessert spread, which included: Mexican Vanilla Cupcakes, Bourbon Cake Balls, Red Velvet Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches. Trying new recipes and entertaining friends made this a top memory.

2. Skydiving

Two of my friends came into town and we jumped out of a plane together! It was an awesome experience.

3. New Orleans

My friend and I took a weekend road trip to New Orleans and Baton Rouge in April. I loved seeing the interesting culture, experiencing the famed nightlife, visiting NOLA Brewing Co. and seeing iconic places like Café du Monde and the St. Louis Cathedral.

4. Bloggers in Sin City

You get a lot of fun and crazy memories when you join 59 other bloggers in Vegas to have fun and get to know each other. I blogged about my BiSC experience here.

5. More Love Letters

I love being a part of More Love Letters and in 2012, our team saw fast and enthusiastic growth. Our team grew closer together through emails and conference calls and through watching the love for our organization spread.

6. Peachtree Road Race and Atlanta

Last year I looked up the most popular 10Ks and decided to go to Atlanta and run the Peachtree Road Race, which is the world’s largest 10K. I blogged about it here.

7. Rochelle & Rasy’s Wedding

A magical wedding weekend with some of my great friends and favorite people.

8. Yeasayer Concert

I had only heard a few of Yeasayer’s songs before my friend invited me to the concert a week before, but I became obsessed with them after the concert. They put on a terrific show and their songs are catchy and dance-worthy.

9. Color Me Rad Run

The Color Me Rad run is one of the most unique runs I’ve experienced and it was so much fun. It’s become a popular 5K so I’m sure you’ve seen pictures and heard about it, but it’s a 5K with color stations where volunteers throw colored cornstarch at you.

10. Decker Half-Marathon

I ran a half-marathon! I’ll admit, I could have taken training more seriously, but I took the run easily and finished without major pain. That run was filled with every emotion since I was able to think through everything that happened in 2012. That run gave me affirmation in choosing “strong” as my theme word for 2012.

2012 was a good yet challenging year. I fell in love over and over again but got my heart broken in return. I did some heartbreaking of my own. My thoughts and dreams about love and forever changed a thousand times. I discovered my unhappiness and learned the hard lessons of picking up the pieces to be a happier, stronger me.

2012 is over and the past is past. Life is full of choices and this year I’m going to make my best ones. A great piece of advice I heard recently is that there’s never going to be a perfect time to start. There will always be unexpected events and our lives will always be full of responsibilities and goals. “If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.” Here’s to a happy, full and meaningful 2013 filled with love, growth and friendship.

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Organization

The organization of this race is the best you’ll find. From roped off race waves to the specific start times and the ease of picking up your coveted race shirt afterwards, the race is run by professionals who know how to make sure the huge group of runners have a fun and safe race. Kudos.

Route

I also loved the route because of everything there was to see. The majority of the race was on Peachtree Road, which is filled with businesses and landmarks such as the High Museum of Art. It was a fun way to see Atlanta and the different neighborhoods.

Running by the High Museum of Art

Community

If you’ve ever participated in a race as a runner or a spectator, you know the positive environment is sure to put a smile on your face. The Atlanta community was out in full force for the race, from businesses to residents to church communities. For a runner, it means a lot when you have people cheering you on and it was meaningful to see many doing that on a holiday morning.

Brand Promotion

I may have noticed this because I’m in the marketing industry, but the businesses set up along the race route are brilliant. McDonald’s handed out samples of their new coffee drink, Moe’s Southwest Grill (the original location!) threw swag from a fire engine ladder, Chic-Fil-A and its mascot cow showered runners with confetti and Bank of America had a huge, enthusiastic cheering group dressed in red. Businesses showed up and showed they support their community and the accomplishments of the runners. That’s brand loyalty building right there.

Signs

Spectators with creative signs are always welcome. They are sure to put a smile on a runner’s face, which helps increase serotonin and positivity. Here are a few of my favorite signs and sights along the race:

• “You’ve trained for this longer than Kim K’s marriage!”
• “Do it for America! Do it for Andy Griffith!” (Andy Griffith died the day before on July 3, 2012.)
• Priests outside a Catholic church throwing holy water from a bowl onto runners. The church also had a fire hydrant labeled holy water spewing onto runners.
• “Keep going! (That’s what she said!)”

So, a great memory made and number two of my five race goal for the year!

What’s a favorite race you’ve run? Have you seen any funny signs at your race?

The post race masses

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