Yesterday, I ran the infamous Bay to Breakers 12K. It was an amazing event and the energy level was off the charts! There were tons of costumed runners (and un-costumed ones as well, if you get what I’m saying), the weather was beautiful and everyone was just so happy and excited to be there. Including me. I will never get bored of running the city.

My official finish time was 1 hour and 17 minutes, which is pretty awesome. Especially when you consider what was going on in my life leading up to race day.

For the past few weeks and even months, I have been bombarded with finals and papers and work and group projects, all of which didn’t allow me enough time to properly train. I mean, the last run I did was a 2-mile warm up the week before. And my last run before that? [Crickets.] I honestly can’t tell ya. As I lined up yesterday morning to run, I felt completely unprepared. In fact, I even woke up late (don’t ask). My body was in full stress mode just moments before embarking on this 7.45 mile race.

I crossed the finish line (go me), but as soon as I did, I knew the day would be painful. Like, really painful. No one’s body can take that sort of stress without being properly trained! I ended up walking another 3-4 miles that day (why not?) and when I got home, I passed out. I woke up feeling like an old woman, with body pains everywhere (including places I didn’t even know existed). Between my lack of training before the race and my lack of proper stretching after, I was completely tense and, in all honesty, a total mess.

And that’s where today’s life lesson is comin’ in: the post-workout recovery. It’s important. Really, really important. Even if you feel totally fine after a trying workout or a long run, your body needs to recover. And you need to allow it to do so. With these 3 steps: Read More »

We are busy girls, no doubt. But being busy is never a good excuse for skipping out on a workout. Not only is it BS (you could spend a little less time shopping online, you know), but it’s just not good for you. And you are gonna feel really crappy later when your body turns to mush and you can’t play Rock Band or paint your toenails without breaking a sweat.

I agree that it is not always easy to find an hour in the day to get a full workout in, especially with a brand new semester and all the work that comes with it giving you the stink eye.

That is why you need to work out more efficiently.

There are certain exercises and combinations of exercises that burn calories faster than others. If you only have 30 minutes to work out, walking on a treadmill is probably not the best way to burn off that box of cookies from last night (though it is better than skipping the gym altogether…)

So, which exercises are the quickest calorie burners and the fastest routes to a healthy and fit body? Read More »

We hear all of these ads and campaigns telling us to “Be fit! Stay healthy!” But, what does that really mean? Eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day? Exercise 5 times a week? Do you have to be a certain weight? A certain size?

Maybe not. There’s no doubt eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle are good life choices, but maybe it’s time we rethink things. Maybe it’s time to stop focusing on what we should be doing and define healthiness as how we  feel.

I am sure that somewhere in the mix, your weight, stomach size, or Body Mass Index matter. Yet, when it comes down to it, who needs doctors and health experts to tell us whether or not we’re fit? Your body knows better than anyone else how it is feeling. For example, bloating is the body’s natural response to an overfill of sugar or salt. On the other hand, a good workout will release endorphins, giving you a post-workout glow and leave you feeling pumped. You don’t need some health expert to explain those things to you. Nature knows best – you feel good when you do good. Read More »

Winter is one of my absolutely favorite seasons.  It houses Christmas, New Year’s, my birthday, and best of all, snow.  And to me, snow means one of my favorite activities: skiing!

Whether you’re a seasoned snowboarder or a bunny-slope warrior, the ski slopes have something to offer us all (even if it is only hot chocolate in the lodge cafeteria).  Surprisingly though, considering I kiss the snow every 5 feet, skiing isn’t always the most environmentally friendly activity. Between the lifts and the plows and the resort hot tubs running all night long, skiing can leave quite a mark on Mother Earth. But it doesn’t have to.

If you’ve got plans to hit the slopes this season, keep nature and a few of these things in mind:

Are the slopes graded or cleared?
This one’s tricky because it’s a little hard to tell whether you’re skiing on a graded or cleared slope.  A cleared slope is created by cutting down trees and shrubs to make a smooth downhill run.  A graded slope is like a cleared slope on steroids.  Bulldozers are brought in to scrape off the top layers of the soil to make the run unnaturally smooth and hence, boring.  This leaves that particular ecosystem in ruins, causing erosion and decreasing plant biodiversity.  Plus, it takes a lot more resources to maintain because the natural infrastructure isn’t in place to maintain itself.  When you have the choice, ski on a cleared slope to challenge yourself and save the environment.
Read More »

I know what you’re thinking: between class, work, boyfriends/girlfriends, and going out, there’s not really any time in your schedule for training to run a 5k or some other race. And hey, you may be right—you know yourself way better than I know you. But if you think you can find a spare 30 minutes on most days and you have a hankering to rid yourself of that muffin top or boost your health in general, read on.

I ran a half marathon a couple of weeks ago. Before you judge and call me a hardcore athlete, consider these facts: I wear Coke-bottle glasses and have the grace of a newborn ostrich. I like to sit inside all day and sip coffee and write articles. The idea of walking across town for take-out tacos makes me seriously doubt whether the walking part is worth the tacos part.

So if I can run a half marathon (13.1 miles), you can definitely run a 5k (3.1 miles).

There are so many great reasons to challenge yourself to a 5k race (or any run, for that matter). Obviously, it’s a great way to get back into shape. It’s also a fantastic way to bond with friends, make new friends, feel accomplished and give back to people who really need it. Lots of 5ks are organized for charity, so you can feel good about your soul and your body if you run one. They also happen to be really fun. For real!

I urge everyone to try a 5k run at least once and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
If you don’t think you have what it takes, you’re wrong. Just follow some basic training tips and you’ll be crossing that finish line in no time. Read More »

Staying on any kind of workout schedule (or just schedule, for that matter) is close to impossible in college. With each day comes different classes, meetings, part time jobs, social engagements and perhaps most importantly, happy hours. Trying to adhere to the same gym or running time is an unlikely feat for most of us, not to mention the fact that when I’m presented with the choice between a sweat session or a sipping session, more often than not, the cocktails win. Wah wah.

But, a great way to stay motivated and keep your activity levels up is to train for a race! I know this sounds a bit intimidating at first, but let me tell you from personal experience (I ran my first half-marathon last year), it’s totally doable and well-worth it. Knowing that I was going to be sweating out 13.1 miles at a specific date gave me the extra boost to get out of bed in the morning or squeeze in a run whenever I could. I was able to drop a few lbs, improve my overall fitness, raise money for a charity and still go out with my friends at night all at the same time!

Read More »

The sun is shining, the breeze is warm and Spring is in full swing. Who wants to waste such a beautiful day slaving away on a treadmill indoors? Research shows that sharing your sweat session with Mother Nature decreases your stress levels and ups your calorie burn due to the varied terrain and fluctuating temperatures. It’s time to lace up your Nikes and head to the nearest park.

-Your cardio doesn’t have to be boring when you’re hoofing it under the sun. After a quick warm-up, try jogging backwards. Experts say it burns a fifth more calories and improves your balance by engaging your core. Afraid of looking silly? Don’t be.  All anyone will think would be, “Hey! She knows something I don’t!”

-Now, let’s build our endurance. Find some stairs and sprint from the bottom to the top without stopping or skipping steps. Walk back down and finish up with 4 more sets. Just like having a Stairmaster outdoors, this exercise will increase your heart and lung capacity while building killer legs for those adorable minis.

-How about you pull your forgotten roller blades out of the back of your closet and lace them up? While also a great cardio workout, rollerblading tones your inner and outer thighs along with your beautiful booty. To torch about 450 calories in 30 minutes, alternate one minute of tucked, speed skating with one minute of upright, relaxed skating. Be sure to wear your knee and elbow pads! I hear scrapes and bruises are out this season. Read More »

[Hey all. I am going to be starting a body blog each week, discussing one specific topic in the fitness category. Whether it be a new workout technique or a new way to eat healthy, I’m your guru for all things fitness related-ish. As an avid athlete, I have played various sports, tried new ways to stay fit and have found what works and what sure as hell doesn’t.]

Today, we’re going to discuss the difference between using an elliptical and a treadmill. Now, while I am partial to a treadmill, as I run on mine every day, I spent two years using an elliptical before I made the switch, so I’m a pro on both ends. Here’s the dish:

Elliptical:

Pros: It’s a great full body work out; while placing your feet in the holders and holding on to the handlebars, you’re body is secure, and the lack of actually lifting your feet makes this a good low impact workout for those of you with knee/leg problems. If you hold the handles and use your arms, you work your full body for the entire workout (which should be about 30 minutes at a time), and when you get off you will feel refreshed, invigorated and a bit winded (in a good way).

Cons: While you get a full body workout with the simultaneous arm and leg movements, you won’t feel exhausted when you get off in the sense that you had to push yourself to excel, like you would on other workout equipment. Also, because your feet are stationary, they can get numb over the course of the workout, which causes some discomfort. It is also very difficult to move your arms and legs at the same pace, so one part of your body may be working harder than the other (i.e., you move your arms faster to push your legs, making them do less work). Read More »

Welcome to college, freshmen!

You may have made it through Welcome Week without any run-ins with the campus police (congrats!), but you still have plenty of opportunities to meet them up close and personal.

There are going to be many times this year and well into your college career that you will find yourself surrounded by alcohol. And, naturally, you are going to want to partake. Just beware–while you are navigating the university party scene, your RA’s, Campus Police, and Public Safety units are gearing up to bust underage revelers.

Here are some tips on how you can avoid getting written up before your first semester is over.

1. Don’t act like ‘The Freshman.’

Just because you suddenly have access to alcohol, it doesn’t mean you need to consume ALL of the alcohol at once. Even if the cops are out and about, they don’t have the manpower to hunt down every single underage boozer. So, they’ll zero in on the kid stumbling around with a trash can on his head before thinking twice about the passive mingler. The same goes with your RA, who really doesn’t want to walk in on you peeing in the corner of elevator. Read More »

You’re going to have to wait a bit before catching the video for Gnarls Barkley’s new single, “Run” on MTV. But it’s for your own good. We wouldn’t want you having an epileptic seizure, after all.

According to a report from Reuters, the video’s strobe effects caused it to fail the Harding Test, a test that was established to prevent television images from triggering epileptic seizures.

Gnarls Barkley member, Danger Mouse, told Billboard.com that he doesn’t really know what’s going on, “I think (the video) is cool. It works for me. But I’m not necessarily that easily seasick.”

Sorry Danger Mouse, but I’m pretty sure that getting seasick and having an epileptic seizure are two very different things.

Of course, even though MTV is waiting to air the video, which is based around a fictional television show set in the early 90s, there are various websites currently featuring it. If you want to risk going into epileptic shock, check the video out. Otherwise, you might want to wait until it passes the Harding Test. Read More »