MEGA Favourites Round Up: Blogtober

Today is the last day of Blogtober, and I must say I am feeling a little sad! It has been so much fun brainstorming content for this little bloggy of mine, so I am thinking I am going to keep it rolling and continue blogging as much as possible. That being said, I wanted to do a round up of some of my favourites from this month. It's a mixture of food, fashion, skincare, blog posts - a BIG range of goodies comin' your way!

Let's get started : )

Blog posts I loved writing this month:

My running journey

Still in love with these under eye masks to make your eyes feel refreshed and more awake!

Why being positive is a much better way to spend your energy.

Fall sunsets and sunrises

A little fall shopping haul ; )

Lots of snuggle time with the pup and a good book.

Healthy morning habits to start now. Easy to add into your current morning routine!

Running the Victoria Half Marathon

My food philosophy

Trail dates with Nala bear : )

Why I am LOVING high intensity interval training

Getting my hair refreshed for fall!

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I hope you guys enjoyed Blogtober. I want to thank everyone who read even one post this month. I truly do love bringing you guys fun content, so please let me know what YOU would like to see next on the blog : ) Chat with you all soon!

How to Make RUNNING Suck LESS!

Running is hard. You know this, I know this, we all know this. You may have a super hard run where it feels as if your head and legs are not on the same page. You may try a new route that is filled with hills and be exhausted after. However, on the other hand there are great runs out there waiting for you, too! You gotta take the good days with the bad days, because with anything, they are bound  to happen. That being said, today I wanted to share a few ways to make running suck less.

1. Create a custom playlist OR listen to a podcast: I am a huge advocate for listening to music that you love while on the run. During the Victoria Half Marathon I tuned into a playlist I made on Spotify. If you are interested, you can check out my running beats playlist here. Alternatively, during a run is a prime time to check out a podcast to pass the time. A few favourites of mine are The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast and The Bitch Bible. Be sure to check them out - they will keep you thoroughly entertained!

2. Take walk breaks. Running for 20, 30, 40+ minutes can be hard whether you are a newbie runner or if you have been running for a while. Don't be afraid to take walk breaks! This helps mentally break up the run, that way you can run for 9 minutes, say, and know that you have a 1 minute break coming up. I took this approach during the Victoria Half Marathon and it was an excellent way to give my mind and body a bit of a break. Plus I was able to refuel and rehydrate during this time, too!

3. Find a workout buddy. Running is easier with a friend. That is, if you like running with someone else. Your running partner can help make you accountable, and there is nothing better than chit chatting and catching up with a friend (or family member!) while you are getting your sweat on. Time tends to pass by when you are sharing stories too, and if you are racing, you have crushed a goal together, too!

4. Buy some cute workout gear. No, seriously. Having nice workout clothing gets me pumped up. There are few things I love more than shopping for exercise clothes. If you had to choose between a baggy pair of old sweat pants and a new pair of Lululemon capris, which ones would you pick? I know the answer is different for everyone, but I'd reach for the Lulu's and kill my run with confidence. Now, I'm not saying go by a new pair of shorts or a top every time you want to work out. No, treat yourself to something here and there to help keep you feel motivated. It's all part of that feel good, look good plan.

5. Document your journey. For me, I like to document my running journey on this blog. For others it may be a journal, a planner, or in list form. Whatever it is, keeping track will allow you to visually see your progress, and you can always look back and reflect on your journey. It's important to give yourself credit for all of your hard work, and seeing all the great things written down on paper will help you look forward to another good run later on!

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For all the runners out there, what are some things YOU do to make running suck less?

How to Turn a Setback into a Comeback

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We have all been there. You're on a roll with your clean eating and exercise, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and suddenly it all falls apart. Maybe something happened at work to cause you to go off track. Maybe you suddenly got hit real hard with LIFE and all that it can entail, and maybe you're just feeling unmotivated and down in the dumps.

Well friends, I'm here to chat about how you can deal with setbacks. Yeah, they suck. BUT they are a part of life and it's important to acknowledge it and carry on. What do you do when you face a setback, though? What's the first step you take to get yourself back in that right direction again? Here's a few things I try to keep in mind.

1. It is only temporary. You have the ability to make a choice that will either further your progress or hinder it. I could get extra sad, wallow away with a pizza and feel even worse, OR I could do something that makes my soul happy. You want to do things that fill your happy bucket, whether that's painting your nails, doing a face mask, taking a nap, reading a book - whatever it is, do it!

2. PLAN and prioritize. I am a huge advocate for planning and prioritizing what needs to be done. If you are searching for a new work out plan, maybe that's just the thing to pull you out of a slump. Or perhaps you simply need to plan out your day, week, month in your planner to wrap your head around a hectic schedule. Making a plan is one of the first steps for turning a setback into a comeback!

3. Make a list. This goes along with the second point above, but I love me a good list. I probably write at least three lists per day, whether that's with work, personal life, or what I aim to accomplish on the blog. Try dividing your list into categories. Leave work at work and focus on what you can check off for your personal and mental health.

4. Motivate yourself. Yes, we all need an extra dose of motivation sometimes. Every so often I will sit down with my notebook and revisit my goals. Revisiting my goals allows me to see what needs to be done, and that alone can motivate me to just get up and DO IT. If motivation doesn't come all that easy to you, take to YouTube and watch some motivational videos to get you pumped up. Check out some new bloggers, listen to a podcast, or buy yourself a new workout outfit if that's what it takes to get you back in the gym and feeling good (if that's your goal). On a similar note, surrounding yourself with a group of people who lift you up is great motivation as well!

5. Celebrate your accomplishments, whether they are big or small. You don't have to scream it to the top of the mountains (though by all means if you are comfortable doing that), but take a moment to THANK YOURSELF and celebrate a job well done. This could be buying a new lipstick, or even just taking 20 minutes to relax in a bath and relish in your accomplishments. Often times self-love is overlooked, so take a bit of downtime as a celebration of your hard work. You deserve it, and it will leave you recharged for your comeback!

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What are your tips for turning a setback into a comeback?

Time to Hop on the Interval Train

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Hey, hey, party people!

I am here to chat about your new best friend when it comes to cardio.

No, seriously!

I know people think cardio is some grueling task, and yes, it certain can be, but this is something that will go by in a breeze and leave you feeling exhausted in the best way.

If you haven't heard of high intensity interval training, otherwise known as HIIT, you are missing out! Never fear, though. That's why I'm here to spread the good word ; )

High intensity interval training is exactly what it sounds like - you work at your maximum for a short amount of time, followed by recovery. HIIT has been my BFF for the last couple weeks on the days where I do not want to run or do cardio for longer than twenty minutes.

Yes, all you need is 15-20 minutes to complete a HIIT work out. Super short, sweet, and sweaty.

Before I chat about what my personal HIIT workouts look like, here's the benefits. That's most important. WHY the hell should I do this?

- Kickstarts your metabolism and burns tons of calories in a shorter amount of time when compared to calories burned during a long run

- Effective at burning fat

- Strengthens your lungs, heart, and legs (especially if you kick up the incline - oooh mama)

- Promotes weight loss, not muscle loss

- Time efficient: no need to set aside an hour of your day since you can get it done in 20 minutes or less!

- You can pretty much do it anywhere. Inside, outside, in your living room, whatever!

That moody morning gym light at 5:30am, pre-HIIT madness.

This is what I have been playing around for my intervals:

Warm up: 2 minutes

Easy run: 1 minute

SPRINT ALL OUT! 30 seconds
Walk to recover: 1 minute

Repeat for 15 or 20 minutes. You will work up a huge sweat, your heart will be pumping, and you will feel amazing after. Yes, it's hard, but start wherever is comfortable for you. If you feel it's better to have a longer warm up, do that. If you want more recovery time, do that. Hell, sometimes after sprinting my butt off I stand on the sides of the treadmill for a good twenty seconds before I even begin my walking recovery. It's all up to you!

You can also mix up your intervals with jumping jacks, skipping rope, burpees, mix in strength training moves. Lots of options to keep you sweating!

Note: I like to do my intervals after so I conserve my energy for strength training, but do what works for you. Sometimes we only have 20 minutes to get a workout in, and HIIT is perfect for that!

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Let me know in the comments what your favourite HIIT workout is, or if you are a lover of HIIT as well!

Healthy Morning Habits to Start Now

Does anyone else LOVE mornings? I especially love them on a Sunday or Monday when I have the whole day to myself. Easing into the morning can set the tone for a happier day. Whether you are a late riser or an early riser, I hope you can find a few takeaways from today's post to help create some more healthy habits. Of course, you don't have to do these just in the morning. They are all great no matter what time of day they occur! However, some of them are especially effective the morning to get the day started when your body is freshly awake. Let me know in the comments if there are any morning habits you like to do!

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1. Hold the phone. One thing that is important in the morning is allowing yourself to wake up on your own terms, without being inundated with social media first thing. I know how tempting it can be to check your phone right away. Trust me, been there all too often! However, I wait until I've been up for an hour (give or take) before I finally check social media. It can be so overwhelming for me in the morning to be bombarded with what everyone else is doing, so keeping my phone aside while I am going about my morning business helps me feel more engaged in what I am feeling and doing to get my day started

2. Lemon water, lemon water, lemon water. I LOVE lemon water so much. Lemon water in the morning (especially with warm water) is a gentle way to "detox" your body and flush out any toxins in your system. It kickstarts the digestive system, rehydrates the body, and can help energize you for the day ahead. BUT - that doesn't mean ditch the coffee. Drink your lemon water first, girl! Hydrate before you caffeinate is my rule of thumb.

3. Get moving - or not. Some people love to exercise in the morning. I am one of those people who enjoy working out in the morning to get my sweat-sesh out of the way, though at the same time I also enjoy working out in the evening to sweat out the day's stress. That being said, exercising in the morning can help wake you up and aid in better dietary choices throughout the day. On the other hand, some people love starting their morning on a more quiet note: meditation. Meditation doesn't have to be sitting on your yoga mat for an hour saying "Omm" one hundred times. I ain't got time (or the patience) for that. However, even meditating for five minutes can be beneficial at calming your nervous system, clearing your mind, and setting positive intentions for your day. Find what works for you and go with it!

4. Journal or read. I am a book lover at heart (maybe that's why I enjoy blogging so much!) and whether you are reading a biography, a fantasty novel (Harry Potter say heyyyy whaaat), or writing in your journal, the act of reading and writing can not only be therapeutic, but it can also help reinvigorate your mind. Waking up with an interesting article is a nice way to pass time as you're having your morning lemon water, too!

5. Eat breakfast. If you aren't a big fan of breakfast foods, eat something. If you think about it, you wouldn't drive your car without putting gas in it, right? So why would you start your day without fueling your body? My go-to breakfast is oatmeal, though I have been switching it up lately with eggs and berries a few times per week when I want some more protein in the morning. Not interested in cooking in the morning? There are tons of yummy recipes out there for healthy breakfast cookies and muffins, that way you can grab, go, and be on your way. Alternatively, a smoothie is another great way to get some nutrients into the system! Having breakfast ensures that your brain and body have the nutrients required to perform at it's best.

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Now, off to get my coffee! Have a fantastic day everyone : )

Why I Will NOT Be Competing Anytime Soon

Hey party people!

The weekend is officially here, and I am kicking it off with a little posty-post about the bikini competition world.

Yep. If you don't know, in June of 2015 I competed in my first ever bikini competition, which was the IDFA BC Classic in North Vancouver. Super cool experience, I won third place, it was glitzy and glamorous and definitely something I had never dreamed of doing, but that's it.

That's it.

Nowadays, I think it is supposed to be some trendy thing to be a bikini competitor. It seems like everyone and their dog is doing it. Seriously, if they had a dog category I'm sure there would be some weird team duo entering that. Nevertheless, I wanted to chat about why I will not be competing anytime soon.

And when I say anytime soon, I mean within the next one to two years. I'm not looking further than that - although, that being said, looking further than that I don't see that in my vision - and I wanted to share my thoughts on it.

I'm all about pushing my body to the limit. This is why I run half marathons for fun, do leg day on a long run, do yoga and stretch my body in weird positions and up until recently, trained for my first bikini competition.

However, if you read my post about body image, you will know that I wasn't shy about talking about my issue with body image post-bikini competition. It is seriously a mind F and something to consider before you even sign up for the competition. This is something I kind of sort of thought about, but probably didn't take enough time to truly grasp how it would impact me. That being said, I do NOT regret for one second my choice to enter a bikini competition. I learned so much about myself in the process, and fortunately I was surrounded by SO many supportive people. Bless Ryan and my family for being all, "OMG YEAH! Sounds great! You can do it!" to all of my psycho ideas. You guys are the real MVPs.

In the next two years, there are a few things that I want to do that do not include training for another bikini competition. Competing takes so much of your time and energy. If you think preparing your mind and body for the stage is just a matter of doing cardio in the morning and strength training in the afternoon, you are wrong. If you think the diet part is all about simply cutting out processed food, you are wrong again. There is SO MUCH that goes into it. I cannot stress that enough, and I can't stress enough about the STRESS itself that competing can put on your mind, body, relationships, and people around you. Do your research ahead of time, find a coach who shares the same views as you, and find your WHY (why are you doing this) before you sign up.

Let's rewind and get back to what I was saying, though. In the next couple years, I plan on running my first marathon. Marathon running and bikini competitions do not exactly go hand in hand. On that note, though, I feel more in-tune with running at this time as opposed to devoting so much of myself to competing again. Yeah, it was fun, but what happens when it's all over? What if you don't place? What if you trip on stage or fall out of a pose? Personally, I feel like my heart is not in competing for the long haul, whereas running has been my go-to, die hard, day in and day out, even when I was training for my competition.

Don't get me wrong. I loved my body throughout my competition prep and I still love it after. While some may think dieting for the stage is a quick process, it is a strenuous month long commitment that, for me, lasted almost 8 months. My body does not want to diet for that long. My body does not want to do cardio every single day for that long. While competing is an extreme end of the physical activity scale (picture a line with "sitting on the couch" on the left side and "body building" on the most right point), it is for one day only and you shouldn't look at pictures wishing you could be bikini lean all year round. Sure, for some it is more maintainable and body building is their life, but in the grand scheme of my life, my picture of health and wellness looks different than muscles and a tan!

So, when it comes down to it, the reason why I will not be competing anytime soon is because mentally I am in a different place than I was a year and a half ago. LOVING yourself at every step along your health and fitness journey is so important. That's not to say I didn't love myself during competition prep - because I did, don't get me wrong - but I am living my life with more freedom and more comfort than ever before. Oh, my thighs jiggle? I'm sorry. I don't care. Oh, my tummy has a roll when I sit down? Oh, I'm sorry. I don't care. I have legs that will power me over 21.1km (or more) and strong muscles that allow me to hug the ones I love and get in a killer strength training work out. Plus, the thought of stepping on stage half naked and literally having my body judged by strangers who don't even know me is kind of a crazy thought! After all, it is the heart that matters, not the body : ) And at this time in my life, I am honouring what my heart wants as much as possible, and if that means a bikini competition in five years, then fine, but for now, I am happy just running along through this journey without all the glitz, glam, and spray tans : )

5 Things Friday: Wellness Books Edition

Good morning!

I wanted to do something a little bit different than the usual favourites post on Friday. Today, I wanted to share five books that I love in the health and wellness category. If you know me at all, you know that I love anything and (mostly) everything wellness, including everything from spirituality and positive thinking to healthy food and exercise.

Reading is a great way to learn new things and explore various topics. For me, I go between fiction and non-fiction, and although I am currently in a Harry Potter phase right now, these five are my die hard favourites when I want to get back to looking inward.

The Soul Searcher's Handbook was one of the first books I read that's moreso in the wellness slash spirituality category. It dives into everything from types of yoga, healing with crystals, angels and other life guides, chakras, essential oils, and so much more. There are fun quizzes inside the book to help guide you along the way, and tips for keeping a healthy mind and celebrating your spirituality.

Kate Hudson is one of those gals that you just want to be friends with. In this book, she talks about her journey through health, fitness, and the importance of self-love. Additionally, Kate talks about the four pillars of health that include having an intuitive relationship with your body and health, eating well, awakening your body, and the miracle of mindfulness. It is an easy, informative read for anyone who is interested in diving in a little deeper into their mental and physical health.

So, #GirlBoss isn't exactly a wellness book, but it is a bad ass book for women of all ages. Sophia Amoruso is the founder and executive chairman of Nasty Gal (I'm sure we have all heard of that!), and is a story of how she came to be the #GirlBoss that she is. Sophia has tons of insight to the business world, and I especially like reading these types of things from a women's perspective. As well, Sophia talks about how your mind can be a magical thing when it comes to jobs, business, and life itself, and she has a no bullshit attitude which is kind of refreshing - no frills, but definitely one to read.

Miracles Now is an excellent read if you are curious about finding your purpose and achieving more peace in your life. Gabrielle Bernstein has several books that delve into techniques for combating life's problems such as stress, frustration, jealousy, and more. You know, REAL LIFE stuff. In this book, Gabrielle shares 108 tools and tricks you can easily incorporate into your life to help you be more mindful, reduce tension in your life (wherever that may come from), and help you eliminate any blocks that are preventing you from living with more ease. It is a great book to flip through when you need an extra dose of self love, and is a great reminder that you have all the tools you need to change your own life.

Finally, Adventures for your Soul by Shannon Kaiser is another book that includes tools to help transform your habits. It includes motivational mantras such as, "I joyfully put my desires in motion. All of my dreams are coming true." to help you stay on track with your goals. This book talks about goal setting, going on a fear detox, and general ideas for being your best self and living your best life. I highly recommend this book if you also like an interacting read, as it includes various quizzes and journal exercises throughout.

There we have it! Have you read any of these books? What are your favourite wellness and lifestyle books?

Post-Run Recovery: 10 Tips for Running Strong

Hooray!

You've crossed the finish line, collected your medal and some goodies from the post-race refreshment tent, and now it's time to head home (or perhaps go out with some friends).

However, before you get too far, there are a few things to keep in mind before you carry on with your day. While it is tempting to hop in the car and forget about taking care of your body post-race, there's a few things I recommend doing.

1. You want to refuel. At most race events (even smaller, local races), there is almost always a post-race tent with food. Be sure to grab a banana or one of the granola bars they give out, as it is important to replenish your body after a hard workout. Some races offer chocolate milk, which has a good ratio of protein and carbohydrates to refuel with post-run, so keep your eyes out for that if you are a chocolate milk fan. There are usually a few options to choose from, such as various fruits, cookies, granola bars, protein drinks. etc. It may be tempting to load up on cookies, but beware of the dreaded sugar crash! Your post-race snack should be enough to tide you over until you can have a proper meal. One of my favourite race day traditions is going out for breakfast with Ryan once the race is over. I will choose something like a veggie omelet with whole wheat toast and fruit to refuel my body and get a healthy dose of nutrients in. This kick-starts the process of muscle repairing.

2. You will want to rehydrate. Always, always drink water. If your race offers an electrolyte drink such as Nuun, it wouldn't hurt to have that either. As you run, you sweat out electrolytes and sodium, and it is important to replenish your body as they are vital components to your health. I prefer Nuun over Gatorade as it contains less sugar and doesn't spike my blood sugar, but even watering down some Gatorade wouldn't be terrible, just so long as you rehydrate your body. No, this doesn't mean rehydrating with beer, either! However, that being said, a celebratory drink once you have eaten a decent meal is allowed, if you are into that! Remember, your pee should be a light shade of yellow, not dark!

3. Third, and one that I tend to skip out on is stretching. The atmosphere is buzzing on race day, and it is SO easy to just go through the food tent line up and continue walking along without paying any attention to your muscles. Stretching your major muscle groups - such as all muscles in the legs, and stretch out your upper body a bit as well as the shoulders can often become tight from running - will make the recovery process (and sitting on the toilet the next day) a much more pleasant process.

4. If you have access to a foam roller, DO IT! Your body will thank you. Be sure to roll out your hamstrings, quads, IT bands, and glutes, as the muscles of the legs can become very tight if you neglect stretching and foam rolling them after a run.

5. If your muscles are extra sore, be sure to ice them. When I was in the midst of training for back to back races, I would often ice my knees just in case. I would also ice my quads, and keep an ice pack under my leg to ice my hamstring. You can also sit in an ice bath if you are feeling extra brave - be sure to wear some layers on top and some shorts on the bottom - yes, it hurts as much as you'd think, but your legs will thank you!

6. Take some extra rest days. Usually after a half marathon I will take at least two days off of running, and ease my way back into my running routine. While I still go to the gym, I keep cardio at a minimum and only do easy cycling or walking on the treadmill if my muscles are still feeling a bit tender. I avoid heavy training on my legs for a few days post half marathon, but everyone is different so find a system that works best for you. Trial and error!

7. For the days following a hard run or race, consider taking an Epsom salt bath to further ease your achy muscles. Throw on some music and a face mask, pour yourself a cuppa tea, and relax! This can do wonders, especially if you are prone to sore feet or calves.

8. Take an easy yoga class. To further release any tension, look for a yoga class in your area that focuses on legs. In my city we have a class called "happy hips and hammies" which is geared towards athletes. I took this class once after cardio and leg day at the gym, and holy crap, did I ever need it! Yoga is great at not only releasing tension in your muscles, but tension in your mind as well to create harmony within your body.

9. Get a massage. Oh, yes. This is probably the best tip of them all, because it can be so relaxing and well needed, especially after a long training cycle! Whether you prefer a relaxation massage or registered massage therapy, massage is a great way to nurture your body and promote recovery.

10. CELEBRATE! Celebrate your accomplishments with your friends and family. Celebrate your race with your dog, your cat, your fish, whatever. Enjoy a glass of wine, reflect on your race, and get energized with a plan for the next one. It is important in your journey to keep the motivation flowing (motivation - not wine ; ), so be grateful for your race day and for what your body can achieve. This puts your mind in a positive place before the craziness of training starts again!

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What are your post-race recovery tips?

Race Recap: 2016 Victoria Half Marathon

Good morning, party people!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Sunday yesterday. I ate a lot, drank a bit, and had a merry ol' time with family. Yep, an extra serving of stuffing happened because it is what I look forward to the most when it comes to the Thanksgiving dinner spread.

Let's back up and chat about yesterday's half marathon. It is actually my fifth year running this race (not that I counted the medals when I got home or anything..) and the course did not disappoint.

My alarm went off shortly after 5am on Sunday morning. Ew, right? That is an awful time to wake up anyway, especially on a Sunday. I went to bed around 9:30pm the night before after a simple spaghetti dinner, and was carbed up and ready to run.

Pre-race my breakfast was some instant oatmeal. I find this sits better in my stomach than slow cooking oats and peanut butter toast with banana. PB toast used to be my go-to, but I find that it is harder on my digestive system and kind of sits like a rock as I run, you know? Anyway, I felt fueled up and ready on our drive to Victoria. Bless Ryan's kind heart for always driving me so early at the ass crack of dawn to these events. I'm kinda psycho in that way, I suppose.

Runners heading towards the start line.

The Parliament buildings looking pretty! It was about 7:20am at this point and just starting to get lighter outside.

The start line! The half marathon was sold out, and the street was bustling with that race day excitement. It always helps pump me up when there is a good vibe on race day! How can it not be good, though? You're about to kill 21.1km! When 7:30am hit, the race began, and the crowd moved up until we were over the start line and runnin'.

I experimented a little bit during this run not only with a new running belt that holds a water bottle, but with a new running method too. Generally I just RUN and hope I don't die or fall or smash face first into the ground (note: this has never happened, well, aside from tripping and falling during the Oak Bay half in 2013 I think it was. Oops), BUT. This time I tested out the "run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute method." Doing this gave me time to drink my own water (bypassing water stations is a beautiful thing) and get ready for the next 10 minute segment of running. Eventually I will be in better shape to just run the whole thing as I have done in the past, but this was a great way to mentally break it up. The water belt was a game changer too. Definitely worth the $43.

The Victoria Half has some rolling hills, but nothing that I haven't come up against before. Compared to Kelowna, it was smooth sailing! I carried one gel in my water belt (I am a big fan of the Honey Stinger gels in fruit smoothie flavour, as they are all natural and don't make my tummy feel weird) and took half at about the 13km mark and then the rest around the 15km mark. One thing I thought to myself as I was running along Dallas Rd is how much I truly enjoy this course. While the expo is meh, the race itself is WOW! Nothing better than running along the ocean and in beautiful Victoria!

What worked well for me: having my own water and being able to have a drink anytime I wanted to. Ever since the Kelowna half I thought about purchasing a water belt, but I just never got around to it. Bless the Running Room for having a 20% off coupon on Saturday! I also wore a new pair of pants that I had never worn in a half marathon before that were FANTASTIC. I will post about my favourite running gear later on this month, but just know that they are life changing. And Lululemon. Shocking, right? : )

Was I waving? Or pretending to high five Ryan through the fence? Or just posing like a cheese ball? One will never know. Oh yeah, this shirt was the jam too as I never felt too hot or too cold during the whole race. Win, win.

Ooh paparazzi. Enough with the glamour shots. 

Another one done and dusted! We headed to White Spot after the race for some breakfast, and then home to shower and RELAX! Oh, and I foam rolled too. I'm so good at this post-race recovery thing! Hint hint, post about that coming soon too ; )

All in all it was a great run and a wonderful Thanksgiving Sunday. See ya again next year, Victoria half! 

Victoria Half Marathon: The Expo

While you are reading this I have already ran the Victoria Half Marathon. Stay tuned for my race recap tomorrow, but here is a little look inside the race expo held at the Victoria Conference Centre.

The race has four events, and for the last almost four years I believe I have ran this race. I enjoy the course (except for the end, but I'll get to that tomorrow) as it is so scenic and pretty, and the crowds are always great. The expo is a great way to get energized and motivated for the race.

The expo is always on the smaller side - they changed the layout this year so the expo was more navigation friendly rather than being one big loop of vendors. There were all kinds of local sports companies, as well as stores such as Frontrunners, New Balance, and The Running Room there representing. Additionally, there were a few fresh juice and supplement companies there as well, so you could load up on post-race fuel and energy gels.

Unfortunately, I don't usually see anything that catches my eye at this expo. Compared to some other races out there I feel like you are paying a higher registration fee just because it's the Victoria Marathon, and not really getting a lot of bang for your buck. Example: the Lululemon SeaWheeze had SO MUCH to offer and was the same price as this run. Nevertheless, there were at least some free samples at the expo and also discounted prices on shirts from the previous years, if you were in the market for some new running tops. But I digress.

With that said, it didn't take us too much time to mosey through the expo. We stopped at a few booths, but like I said before, there was nothing really that caught my eye or made me want to spend more time there. Perhaps if I wanted to buy some new shoes or new running gear than I would've spent more time looking at the gear offerings, but I mostly wanted to get in and out and carry on with the day. Plus, the weather was absolutely miserable on the drive into Victoria so I didn't want to get stuck in the pouring rain on the Malahat when it got dark - nooo thank you!

Also, funny story: I thought I had registered for this race MONTHS ago. So, one day in September I randomly thought I better confirm my registration online. It turns out I didn't register, and there were only four spots in the the half marathon left. Oh, well then. So, I got myself registered and of course there were only men's XL shirts left. Just my luck! That'll teach me to get on it early - and thank goodness there were at least a few spots left when I finally did check. Oopsies.

See you again tomorrow for the race recap! Wishing all my fellow Canadians a Happy Thanksgiving weekend - I'm off to have an extra serving of stuffing.

The Power of Positivity

Positivity: noun, plural positivities. 1. the state or character of being positive : a positivity that accepts the world as it is. 2. something positive.

Being positive is an ongoing process that, like anything, takes time. One thing that is important to know is that YOU have the ability to choose your mood each and every day. Sure, it is easy to look at things with a negative outlook, but there are so many benefits of being positive including lifting your own mood, self-motivation, self-confidence, and so much more.

So, what's the big deal with positivity?

For me, being positive helps me deal with life's curve balls with a more open mind. An example of this would be when I was asked at work to move into a new office. At first, my mind automatically put on the brakes. No, no, no. Nope, not happening. So, I wasted the weekend dwelling on the thought of this change, and made myself miserable thinking about the negatives. I made the mistake of not looking at the positives of the situation. Once I gave myself some time to reflect, I decided: how is this going to impact my life in the long term? To be honest, it is such a small change that I decided to stop wasting my energy on the thought and just DO IT with an open mind and see what happen. What's the worst that could happen, anyway? I decide I don't like it? No big deal.

I made the choice to change that NO to a YES and give it a shot. Why not!

And you know what? I love it. One thing that helped me was focusing my energy in a positive space now. The biggest thing you can do once you are faced with a hard decision or a stumbling block in your life is step back from the situation. Think: is this person angry at me, or the situation? What can I do to solve this and make things easier for myself? Often times, when you focus your mind on negative energy, everything in your life kind of tumbles down, too. While it can be more simple to just throw in the towel, keep your mind open and curious about what could happen if that shift was made to positive energy and the wonder of what comes along with that.

When a negative thought pops into my head, I acknowledge it, then roll my eyes inwardly. Negativity, who invited you? Not me. Don't care. Moving on, positively.

You can apply positivity to any aspect of your life, too. It's not just when you are confronted with a struggle, or when someone is really pushing your buttons. Think about all those times when you don't want to go to the gym, don't want to go to an event that you've committed to, or don't want to clean your house.

Here's a trick. Think of how good you will feel when you are done, or how showing up will help support a friend (whatever the case may be).

Last week I made an effort to go to the gym EARLY in the morning. Like, at the gym by 5:30am type of early. Sure, I'd rather be sleeping, but I thought about how I wanted to spend my time after work. My perfect evening is spending time at home with Ryan and Nala, making a nice meal, and visiting with my little family whom I love so much. So, how do I get there? Go to bed a bit earlier than usual in order to still be rested for my early work out. Set an alarm extra early, and when it goes off, spend a moment thinking about WHY the hell I am doing this instead of hitting snooze a million times and having to drag my butt to the gym after work, and missing out on that family time. On Friday morning that was reason enough. I hit snooze once (it lasts all of 8 minutes), then once the alarm went off I sprang out of bed, threw my workout clothes on, and got my work out in.

Find your WHY and just DO IT.

Yes, I understand this is easier said than done. In fact, I spent the whole week prior trying to wake up early and start my morning gym sessions sooner. However, my mind hadn't shifted to that positive space yet, and I didn't truly believe in my WHY, I suppose. Yeah, I'll go after. Yeah, we'll still have some time together in the evening. Oh yeah, we have puppy training class tonight... Oh, and this has come up.

You have to embrace your inner bad ass and push past those feelings. Then you will feel that positive change.

Something else that can truly help shift your mind into a more positive state is starting each day with a grateful heart. Life is busy, and during all the running around it can be easy to let the things we love and truly make us happy slip from our mind. 

So, here's 5 things that I am grateful for today:

1. My wonderful family (including my partner) who supports me with all of my crazy ideas

2. My dog, who has shown me that it is possible to find something to get excited about every day

3. Working out, to start my day off on an energized note and allowing me to release any stress

4. Curling up with a good book to unwind after a long day

5. Coffee, especially when enjoyed while reading or blogging

See. How AWESOME is it that we, as living, breathing, thinking humans, have the ability to change our outlook simply by looking inward? Not to get all woo-woo on you or anything (but it's happening anyway), by simply being grateful for what we have in life can help put our mind in a positive space and change the tone of our whole day. This is pretty darn powerful to me - don't you think?

There is something positive to be found in every day. I heard a quote once that was something like, if you think positive thoughts they will radiate through you and you will always look beautiful. It is so true! There is so much in life to smile about and be thankful for, so next time you feel that negative energy creeping in, give it a swift kick out of your way and carry on, positively.