L A C E U P

this is insane. finally, there's an urban running crew in your neighborhood that's committed to helping people lead healthy lives. you'll know us by the races we run in, the gear we wear, and the charities we support.

it is our goal to create a culture of runners that support one another at races and special events. in addition to this, we  hope to be at the forefront of societal demands when it comes to educating our people of living a healthy lifestyle.

yesterday we met up for a photoshoot so that we could spread the word. i'm really excited because i know that there are a lot of people out there that really want to get back in shape but don't know where to start. what makes this running crew so awesome is that runners are grouped by pace and experience. so there's no embarrassment here, it's all a positive experience.

we are launching the crew's website in 2 weeks...so get ready to lace up with us, as we will be meeting once a week to RUN THE CITY. the site will be loaded with mixtapes, conditioning advice, nutritional facts, and also running gear reviews. get readdddddy !

(( chicago. cleveland. miami. phoenix. ))

Ms.Twenty Six Point Two

it's about to be onnn and poppin !! (in my chris brown singing voice)

it has always been a dream of mine to run a full marathon. it wasn't until i ran 10 miles (on a long run day), that this dream could actually manifest in my life. marathons have always been a foreign event to me. nobody in my neighborhood ran, unless they were trying to beat curfew or catch the bus.

just the other day a black teacher from my school came over to me and asked, "ok now, black girl...how did you get into running?" she and i both laughed, no offense was taken because through the eyes of the arizona community, she really had a point. i quickly responded, "i know right! but you'd be surprised how many blacks are getting into distance running." i went on to tell her about the blog and about a running group that my friends and i are starting (LACE UP--coming this february).

i have to take this time to acknowledge those that have or are b r a v e l y stepping into a new direction. people that are doing something that they're "not supposed to do" for whatever reason. this acknowledgment goes far beyond running. i want to take this time to identify with you, and let you know that by embarking upon a new journey, you've already won.

it's time to abolish those social norms and stereotypes. black women don't run marathons? old men in their 70s don't lift weights. white women don't teach hip hop dance? black men don't blog? latinos don't become vegetarians...you get the point here. they are all absurd.

i truly believe that when you chose to control your thoughts, you have the ability to become             
p o w e r f u l.


and in a brave manner, this black young sista is running in the rock n roll san diego FULL MARATHON on sunday june 5, 2011. hollaaaaaaa !! run across the beach? don't mind if i do...hair blowing in the wind and all.

i start my training today with nike plus. i'm looking forward to it. you can join me too. i have a 12 week schedule, hit me up and i'll email it to you. let me know if you're interested, i'll pass the registration information along to you as well.

cheers to knocking down fears, because you and i both know that fears limit us in our ability to become successful and happy.

p e a c e,

queen t.

running with boobs

a long time ago, i decided that running was not for me. there was no way you were going to see me dashing across city lines with these boobs. for starters, i didn't want to knock myself out. people agreed with me and simply told me to swim instead.

it's unbelievable how we limit ourselves just by our inability to be open minded. i cheated myself out of blessings that God had for me years ago...all because the Lord gave me a little bit more up top (wink).

well, not this year. not today. not ever. you and i will not allow our conditions or circumstances to get in the way of our beautiful future that is promised to us. (pun intended)

i received an awesome message via facebook the other day... "ok tiffany, you have the same problem as me; big boobs. what sports bra do you use?"

that message made my day. you guys, when i started running in may last year i made it a point to ignore the big boobs. i told myself that if i had to use duct tape just to run a 5k, then that's just what i had to do. shoot. i appreciate that message because it's a reminder to me that there are others like me that want to run, but have this minor issue.

quick points before i get crazy and start posting pictures and links...

1. FULL COVERAGE is key. this goes for daily life too ladies. if you're falling out of your bra, it doesn't fit.

2. There's a HUGE difference between your regular bra and a sports bra...no matter how big or small you are. You need to invest in a good sports bra. It will help improve your posture...and even your performance.

3. Wireless makes life convenient. Leave the wire bras at home when it comes to running.

4. You get what you pay for. Don't expect a $10 bra to help you run faster.


Ok, now that we got that taken care of...here's what Queen LaTiffany runs with:

Moving Comfort ($46) www.movingcomfort.com
Full coverage, so nothing poking out. Makes the bouncing go away, and the straps have cushion. I remember running a 5K once, and I literally had bruises on my shoulders. Look for straps with cushion and support. If you can't afford this, go to Macy's and find something similar to it.

Nike Pro Compression Tank ($30)
www.nike.com

This adds support, and reinforces the bra. In addition to this, it has Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat away and help keep you dry and comfortable. I dare not run without my compression tank. Trust me, grab 3 or 4 of these. You may be able to get them cheaper at Sports Authority or any department store.

Ok, now, after those 2 things..it's totally up to you. You can just run in the bra and tank if you want. Depending on the weather, you may want to toss on a shirt. If you are grabbing a shirt, make sure it's light and breathable.

Ladies! I hope this helps!! I will be posting another blog about running apparel such as shorts, shirts, and socks SOON!


XOxoxXooOx,

Tiffany

what it feels like.

the first thing i did was stare at the time on my nike plus application. 2:13:58. damn. nice job tiff. my goal was to just finish, but here i am finishing with a good time.

#kanyeshrug

i hit the home button on  my iphone and called mom. the same mom that asked me why in the hell i was running so far everyday. "you got bad knees little girl! go swimming, not running! you need to be careful." she picked up the phone all the way from houston, texas with a calm "hello." all i did was breath... like the crazy person that i am. after 5 long seconds, i said, "momma, i did it. i just ran a half marathon. mom! i just ran 13.1 miles!"

tears ran down my face. the people and music around me me didn't matter. all i wanted to do was tell my mom how happy i was. this was a very emotional moment. the 1 person in all of the world that believed in me needed to know that anything is possible.

you see, there comes a time in life when even the closest people to you will not understand your goals. you may be a little extreme to them. there even comes a time in life when you may be accomplishing that goal solo dolo. it became very apparent to me that being an extremist is ok. people say "no" because they don't know. and that's ok. i love my mom, but she doesn't understand what running has contributed to my life. she doesn't understand how happy running makes me feel. all she wants is for me to be safe.

stand strong on your goals. do what YOU have to do to be happy. because at the end of the day, i looked around, and i was the only one (from my world) standing there celebrating. this was an intimate moment that i shared with myself. running my first half marathon made me love tiffany more.

on mile 2, i wanted to cry because my nike plus application started to freeze and mess up my pace. but then i thought, "there's no crying in running!" well...not that kind of crying. so i sucked it up, and got through the race. on mile 5 i thought, "hell yeah, i got this!"

at this moment, my power song was kid cudi's "pursuit of happiness." straight up, these words go hand in hand when it comes to my running world...
 
"I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold. I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good."

the journey was rough. my left knee was sore, and my body wanted to quit. for me, it was mind over body until the lady said in my ear, "congratulations, you've reached your goal of 13.1 miles."

all i could think about was 13.1 needing to flash on facebook and twitter. i know this sounds funny to you....but i know for a fact that i can help people by setting an example. of course i ran this race for me, but i also ran it for the out of shape mother of 2 that is looking for a starting point. i ran this race for the person that thinks they will always be fat and running is impossible to do. i am running this race for the old me, the runner that is afraid to run anything over 4 miles in one day.

believe it or not, on mile 2, i thought about you and how i was going to get you out there on the pavement. it's time to push yourself. stop creating excuses. just start by apologizing to yourself for not being happy sooner.

after the 13.1 flashed on my profile, my inbox flooded with questions about running. is it hard? when did you start? what was your time? how many miles did you run before the half marathon?

i sat there in my ice bath, believe it or not, with my iphone in my hand answering each message. i was sore as hell, tired, and of course freezing my a$$ off (literally)...but the only thing i could think about was motivating at least 1 person to change their lifestyle.

friends brought me flowers and thanked me for inspiring them. i guess running does have it's perks. (smile)

now, back to us. you and me. what are your goals? define them. remember them. celebrate them.

as for me, i've entered into a whole new world of running. it's amazing. i've got my whole life ahead of me to run. who knows, i may become an ultra runner one day. all i know is that i am going to keep this running thing going, perhaps a full marathon this year? hehe.

peace,

t.

look ma! no meat!

happy new year to my readers!!

now, earlier i mentioned that 1 of my goals for 2011 was to give up meat and become a vegetarian. well, last thursday i gave up meat for 7 days...just to see how my new lifestyle would be. i must say, the 7 days was not difficult at all. i freakin rocked as a vegetarian, and i even inspired a few friends to jump on board with me. (wink)

i will say this, i began to feel a little sick on days 3 and 4, maybe because i wasn't taking in enough protein or amino acids...but i changed that quickly. i stepped my multi vitamin game up and chose carefully what i was going to eat. i noticed that within the 7 days, i dropped 3lbs. the amount of calories i consumed dropped ...which was awesome. i'm feeling less bloated, which allows me to wear clothes that were once uncomfortable for me. (uh...BONUS)

i incorporated more veggies and complex carbs to my diet and shook my head at the turkey, beef, pork, ect... i'm pretty proud of myself. becoming a vegetarian has allowed me to spend more time being creative in the kitchen and i love it.

everyone has been really supportive of my decision to become a vegetarian. one of my friends even bought me a vegetarian guide and cookbook. awesomeeeee. 

i'm not ready to become a vegan...i love dairy too much. sue me.

p e a c e,

t.