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:

1. Drink water. When you exercise, you sweat. This means your body is getting rid of fluids and you need to find a way to replenish them. If you do not properly rehydrate yourself, then you risk feeling faint and prolonging your (painful) recovery. And if your workout was especially taxing (like a long run).  opt for sports drinks that will provide you with extra electrolytes or sodium.

2. Deep Stretching. Allow me to introduce you to the foam roll, my new favorite piece equipment. It’s just a cylinder made out of foam. You pretty much use it to roll away and ease any tense muscles. It’s seriously such a simple concept, but provides major benefits. Foam rolling gives you a more intense stretch (it has similar results as a deep tissue massage), which allows more blood flow to your muscles to ease those tender little guys. But if you don’t have a foam roller (and don’t wanna shell out the cash for one), any stretching is better than no stretching. Give your muscles the TLC they deserve (after all, look what they just did for you!), and stretch ‘em out. 24 hours later, when you can move without pain, you’ll be glad you did.

3. Eat! Immediately after a race or just an intense workout, be sure to fill yourself up with some carbohydrates and protein. This combo will repair your muscles quickly and leave you feeling rejuvenated. Plus, since your metabolism is still pumpin’ fast, your body will absorb the nutrients and calories more quickly and efficiently.

That’s it. These three things will help you recover faster so you can get back out there faster. Instead of ending up like me, who can barely type without feeling some sort of pain, somewhere in my body. Still, at the end of the day, I loved running B2B! This was its 100th year of existence and I felt honored to be apart of the celebration.  If you are aspiring to run a race or need a reason to visit the city, I highly recommend taking part in B2B in 2012.

Did you take part in this year’s race? Are you currently training for any other races? Let me know how you prepare for the big day!

You see, I have a plan. I’m going to take my last two required college classes and then take on an internship for college credit so I don’t have to take a full course load can gain some real life experience without jumping into real life at full force.  But as I sit here and consider my potential schedule for next semester I start to realize, once again, just how final all of this is.

If everything goes according to plan (then again, nothing ever goes according to plan) I’ll only be in class two days per week next semester, six hours each day. Plus work, and the occasional club meeting/party/annual-event-I-swore-I’d never-attend-again-last-year. College life will still take up a decent chunk of my time, but not nearly as much time as it takes up right now. And it will be a complete turnaround from this semester, a semester that feels a whole lot like someone is playing a game of let’s see how long we can keep Jenn away from her bed before she collapses. So yeah, it will be different.

Less time on campus, means less time to be involved on campus. And as my college life gets closer to ending, my college life gets closer to ending. The school paper has already starting training editorial assistants to replace us, something I have a hard time grasping. We’re training people to replace us when I still feel like I need to be trained! And continuing with that theme, that campus job I had since I was a freshman? I’ve started training my replacement there as well.  And as I yammered on incessantly about the exact font size and label color that should be used on each folder, I started to realize exactly how not ready I am to hand over my color coded filing cabinet to someone else. (And, no, I don’t think it’s just because I’m a control freak, either.)

Adding to the already growing anxiety, my honors society has begun the process of inducting new members into our organization. (It’s a tiring process that involves booking rooms and ordering pins and making me want to pull my hair out of my head…) How is that possible? I feel like just yesterday, I was the one being inducted, and now I’m the one reminding everyone that they should be wearing business casual attire. Business casual attire? I own more jeans that any one person ever has the right to own. I have no business talking about business casual attire! (And don’t even get me started on how I’m going to have to wear it in 6 months….)

Every time I tutor someone in an introductory level class, every time I listen to a group of freshman discussing how long it’s been since they showered, (I kid you not!), every time I realize that guy I’ve been ogling has yet to turn 18, I am reminded once again that I’m closer to the end than I am to the beginning.

And just as I’m starting to come to terms with all of this craziness, I’m going to have to start letting some of it go -pull back from campus involvement, and step away from the color coded labels. For the first time in my college career I will (hopefully!) only be taking two courses. That means less time writing papers, less time pretending to write papers, and more time being a real person, or at least pretending to be real person.  But I think it’s a good thing that I won’t be on campus as much next semester. It will ease the transition process, pick and pull at the Band-aid instead of ripping it off all at once.

It will give those trainees a chance to take the lead, but I’ll still be close enough to remind them that we file things alphabetically by last name, not by first.

Click here to follow Jenn’s other ups and downs of senior year.

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.

If you’ve never run before . . .
• Start practicing at least a month before the race, and preferably longer. It can take a while for your body to get accustomed to a running routine, and you don’t want to overstress it.
• Do NOT run the full distance right away.
• Don’t push yourself. Build gradually! It’s better for you to ease into a regular, comfortable routine than to exert yourself every so often.
• Stretch extensively before and after you run.
• Run three or four days a week, and never more than two days in a row. Give yourself time to rest.
• Start by running half a mile. Go at your own pace, even if it’s practically walking pace.
• Go just a little farther each time you run. Build up to going two and a half or three full miles. If you can do that distance, even just a couple of times, you can do the full 5k.
• Stay hydrated all the time, even on days when you don’t run. Drink at least twice as much water as you do now.

If you’ve occasionally run before . . .
• Don’t overestimate or underestimate your abilities. Do a practice run and see how it feels. Stop if you get too tired.
• If you do any training runs that are longer than four miles, carry water with you.
• Don’t slack on your stretches.
• Treat yourself to a decent pair of shoes. Trust me, they’re worth it.
• If you get a cramp while you’re running, it’s OK to walk rather than run it out.
• Add a little bit of weight training to your routine. Lots of studies show that it’s beneficial and can improve endurance.
• Try different routines. Run alone one day, with a friend the next, and then with music.
• Switch up your routes. It’s way more interesting (and a better training method) to run a bunch of different paths instead of the same path every time.

Above all, don’t feel intimidated! A 5k is a great way to ease into running. Just remember: you can do it.
Are you ready to work those legs? Find a race nearby and start training!

But, still; a good workout makes me feel really, really good. I walk out of the gym with an “I’m so sexy and toned” swagger and really feel like I can accomplish anything. It is almost like I’m high but without the horrible munchies.

But the beefy trainer at the gym recently told me that long workouts may not be the way to go. Interval Training – or mixing up your workout routine – will actually burn more fat and calories while improving your endurance for future workouts.

Interval training is simple: instead of hopping on the treadmill and running at the same pace for an entire episode of The Biggest Loser, interval training forces you to vary your speed and intensity. The ideal program would be to run/bike/swim/work at about 85% of your ability for about 3-4 minutes and then bring it down for 1-2. Then do it again. This gives your heart and body a chance to work hard and then rest for a minute before going again.

This form of training is beneficial to you and your hot bod because it allows you to work at a higher intensity than you typically would. Normally, people will try to workout hard but then get tired before their body benefits. Interval training, though, gets you working hard, but also gives your body a chance to recover so you can continue working your muscles, tissue and heart. This harder workout will burn more calories during the workout and keep them burning after, as well. (And the proof is in the Biggest Loser pudding – Bob and Jillian do this type of training all the time and look at the results!)

So get out there and try it. I am hooked. I mean, the post-45-minute-workout high was good, but the still-burning-calories-while-I’m-sitting-on-my-ass high is even better.

This morning while slightly (and by slightly I mean, shoot-me-in-the-face) bored at work, I illegally signed into my AIM.

(Tip to all you working ladies out there: www.meebo.com is a wonderful site where you can log onto AIM and your bosses will never know. Mwahahaha)

Anyhoo, an equally sly and bored friend of mine was clearly also looking for some entertainment so we started chatting.

And at 10:14 AM on October 17, 2007 I had my first New Year’s 2008 query.

Yes, I think this is my new record. Usually New Year’s discussions don’t start until at least after Halloween, but post-college/big city life calls for a whole new set of rules.

And I’ll be honest; all talk of New Year’s has me nervous. Not because I need some big midnight kiss. Or because I am afraid I won’t have anyone to celebrate with. I am nervous because the last time I drank I had 2 beers and I passed out at 11.

Needless to say, I am really not in tip-top partying shape. While all my still-in-college friends rip shots and speak of late night parties, I have spent the past few weekends sipping tea and catching up on my Oprah.

If New Year’s discussions are already starting, that means I really need to trade in my Hot Tea for Long Island Iced Tea and start training for the festivities!

I need to build my tolerance. I need to build my stamina. I need to reunite myself with the burning in the back of my throat from numerous tequila shots and the general feeling of complete satisfaction from late night breadsticks.

I am going to approach New Year’s Training like I do my daily workouts; with hard work and a continuous focus on the goal.

And my regimen is gonna look a little something like this:

40’s on Saturday mornings

Boones Farm Strawberry Fields while getting ready to go out on Saturday nights.

Actually going out on Saturday nights.

No passing out before 3 AM on weekends.

Must drink at least 3 days per week. No more than 7.

No leaving a bar without taking at least one shot, preferably of tequila or whiskey.

It is going to be rough, but my old trainer always used to say, “No pain, no gain!” (as I crawled out of the gym after an hour long hell-session). I am ready for this challenge; I must work hard if I don’t want to spend the first moments of 2008 hugging the bowl in some public bathroom or passed out on some city street (after 3 beers).

I am determined. I will bring in 2008 in style. And on my feet.