Feelin' Good, Feelin' Great !

Hey Road Runners!

I have some cool things I'd like to share with you all, and welcome you into my world of running! I am going to recommend 2 of the coolest Nike+ running shoes that I have in my closet!

Now for starters, in order to be a great runner, you have to own great running shoes! If you are here in Scottsdale, I suggest that you check out the newest Nike store at Scottsdale Quarter. It just opened and it is 2 stories high! They offer running, tennis, basketball, and also golf. The staff is very outgoing and willing to talk to you about the products. The best part about the store is that you can try on a pair of running shoes and run on their treadmill before you buy them to make sure they feel good enough to buy.

For those who have never been to Scottsdale Quarter, check it out! It's like SanTan Mall, but even BETTER. Here's a pic.

NIKE STORE LINK

Ok, so here are some shoes that you may want to go in and check out.

Here are my latest pair... Nike Free Runs.

These shoes are the next best thing to barefoot running. They shoes allow for improved natural foot movement compared to conventional shoes. I think they are a great strength trainer for your feet...which equals awesomeness. Really comfortable and I absolutely love them. I wear them for all my runs and for my weight lifting. I noticed that after running 10 miles in these shoes, my ankles hurt less than before! 

Nike Lunar Swifts

Pretty fun shoe. They are super light (8.6 ounces) and I barely hear my feet hitting the ground when I run in them. Great cushioning, great support for stability when running, and they have a reflective swoosh for when you are running at night time (how clever).

Both run about $85 each in the store. You may be able to get the Lunar Swifts for $50 at Finish Line. Don't forget to get the Nike+ monitor so you can monitor your runs on NIke Running.

A quick reminder for those who have yet to go pick one up!!....

Buy It. Love It.

Peace, 

Tiffany

Diary of a Foodie

Hey RoadRunners,

Remember that one blog where I said that I could eat something, and love the hell out of it? Yeah. I'm struggling right now, and I need your help!

I have the appetite of  a runner, and I'm in big trouble if I want to drop pounds. I have noticed that by running 10 miles, I burn a whopping 1800 calories. After I run, I am hungry and want to eat my right arm. I force myself to go to bed to ignore these horrible thoughts. I'll usually treat myself to a cup of OJ or half of a Luna Bar. When I wake up in the morning, I am ready to plow through food.

It's so funny. Here I am running my butt off, but needing to lose weight so I can't eat whatever I want.

Just because you all care enough to read my blog, I owe it to you to be transparent and be honest about the things I love to eat.

Horrible things I ate last week::

Cheese Dip (Jays, Scottsdale)
Rattlesnake Pasta (Jays, Scottsdale)
Ice Cream
Gummy Bears/Worms
Halloween Oreos

I can't believe I'm telling you guys all this stuff! AH! Do you see a trend here people? Carbs carbs and more carbs. This has GOT TO STOP. I find myself having the attitude of, "oh I'll just run it off later." But this is not ok...especially if I plan on fitting into my New Year's Eve dress that my friend brought back for me from NYC.

So today, I'm checking myself, like fa real.

Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios (in a small cup)
Yoplait Yogurt

Snack
1/2 Cliff bar
Sunchips
Apple

Lunch
3' sub
7-9 baked lays

((ok already you can see that I effed up during my snack time, but luckily I didn't finish my lunch))

I'll keep you posted guys, but I am really eating my words that I posted in earlier blogs...literally. What you eat affects the way you run. My 10 mi run on Thursday felt like hell. I wanted to quit at mile 2! How embarrassing. I was really disappointed in myself. This will NOT happen again. WTF Tiff?

The hard part is running 10 miles. The easy part should be EATING!!

I'm getting pissed just thinking about it. I will not be overcome by temptation. I'm a RUNNER which means I have control over my thoughts. I'll keep you all posted on how the weight loss goes this week. I'm expecting to drop some pounds.

I ate Subway today (turkey breast on wheat) but for Tues-Fri I will eat lean cuisines under 400 calories. My goal is to take in 1200 calories a day, but see this could be an issue because I'm running off about 500 calories and of course lifting weights.

Does anyone have advice for me? I sure could use it. I hate meal plans, I'd prefer to be told the total amount of calories I can consume.

Peace Out,

Tiffany

210mi Reality Check

Hey Bloggies,

Just doing my usual Nike+ Challenge check in.

As of 10/19/10 I have 107.80 miles completed !

I told y'all to be ready to party. So..let's get get get it !! Well...I can't party until after my 10 mile run tonight. So holla at me if you wanna get it in to celebrate my half way mark!

Peace,

Tiffany

selah.

Hey Road Runners,

I'm back from Fall Break, did you miss me? Well boy have I got some news for you!! Allow me to start by just saying this. I am humbled by this entire process of becoming a runner. I literally have tears in my eyes as I sit and type to you all. I am blessed to be able to take on a journey such as this, and I thank God daily for life...I truly believe that it has been His will for me to become to a runner, and here I am walking in His will.

This week, I have learned that anything is possible. I am limitless in my efforts and cannot be stopped. Bob Proctor once said, "If you see it in your mind, you're going to hold it in your hand."

My goal was to run 10 mi on Thursday.

I have been conditioning and weight lifting to become a stronger runner. I have realized that I am an athlete and must train like one. Even though all I want to do is run, stretching and lifting weights is a must if I want to pick my pace up and make running easier. If I build stronger muscle, then it will be easier to run a half marathon because it wouldn't take so much energy.

It was 9am on Thursday morning. I woke up, had breakfast and laced up my Nikes for my first long run. The longest run that I had ever gone on was 4mi...this was the moment of truth. I walked in the gym, stretched and hit it hard. I started signing, "I'm on a pursuit of happiness..." by Kid Cudi. You guys, by mile 7 I had tears forming in my eyes. I thought to myself that even if I quit, I would still be a winner because it was still my longest run.

I didn't give up.

By mile 8.5, one of the gym employees came up to me and said, "girl, where are you running to?" I laughed and informed him that I was training for the PF Changs half marathon in January. He smiled and said that he would be there to support me. How awesome is that? I was humbled by this.

Small note..I out ran that treadmill. It cut off at the 8th mile. Haha. I won! I had to restart it so I could hit 10 miles. Boy am I a beast.

By mile 9.2 my phone rang and my biggest supporter called asking me if I was done yet. I quickly hung up and continued my run. My Nike+ applicator congratulated me on finishing my 10 mile run...and then Lance Armstrong congratulated me on my best mile and longest run.

I looked out the gym window to the parking lot to avoid being embarrassed as the tears of joy rolled down my face. I did it. I finally pushed myself to the limit. I did something that others thought I could not do. I couldn't stop crying, thank God I had a sweat towel to use as a tissue.

I finally got it together, and walked towards the door. The gym employee gave me a high five as I walked out the gym.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

I was on a runner's high for real. I was floating in my mind and couldn't really express how I felt to my friends who wanted to know how it was. All I could say is, "I'm so thankful. I did it."

This blog is named SELAH for a reason. The Amplified Bible states Selah as "pause, and think of that". Basically, I sat after my run, and meditated and thought about what just happened. This running thing is real...

How many times have you sat and thought about all the awesome things you have done for yourself? I promise that when you do it, you will begin to repeat the behavior because you are acknowledging the fact that you are doing something positive in your life.

Peace,

Super Woman.

great, just great.

This post is not a happy one.

I hate being limited. I just hate it. I have been running for months now, and of course now I can't. Roadrunners, this is serious. My ankle is swollen!! I have had this issue for about a week now, but I have been ignoring it and still running, but after last night's 2mi run, I am definitely a hurtin' unit. I have been icing my ankle for days, but this morning I woke up and could hardly walk!

What is it?! What's wrong with my ankle?! Am I being dramatic? Hell, who cares...running is my drug and the pavement is my crack house. Pardon me for being such an actress, but running is all I have!!

Ok ok, I need to chill out...it's a good thing Bevmo sent me a little coupon in the mail. They are having their 5 cent wine sale...guess who's taking a night off? Yep, I'm going to take tonight to recuperate and celebrate the weeks of running. Now, this is what I was talking about when I blogged about creating BALANCE in your life. Don't kill yourself running Tiff ! I have all my life to be a runner! What's one day off?

Thanks to all my friends that told me to chill out. This week's lesson::

RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression & Elevate)

 Peace,

Tiffany

210mi Reality Check

As you all know, I signed up for a Nike+ challenge. I have to run 210 miles before new year's eve!!  Initally I was freaking out...Now, I know that I've got this challenge in the bag!

As of 10/3/10 I have 76.44 miles completed !

Now when I hit 105 miles, prepare for a party! I am right on track with my goal. I have 12 weeks to complete 133.56 miles. Which means I have to average 11 miles per week which is what I am doing now. The biggest thing here is CONSISTENCY. I cannot tire in my efforts nor can I give up!

I should be able to blow this challenge out of the water!

Thanks for your support!

Peace, 

Tiffany

Aunt Rita's AIDS Foundation 2010 5K

This post is going to change your life.

My alarm went off at 7:15am. Right away, I jumped up and threw on my running clothes and laced up my Nike Lunar Swifts. I grabbed a yogurt and raw granola and hit the door. I had no time to play games...those infected by HIV/AIDS in Phoenix needed my full support today.

I immediately jumped on I-10 headed downtown, as I turned onto 3rd Ave and Washington, I saw a sign stating that there was a special event. I immediately felt a rush, my fingers began to tingle, and of course, my heart began to race. The day was here! The day that I set aside to challenge myself physically...I had a lot to prove this day.

I parked and only took my car key and iPhone with me. I walked up and look what I saw...

SHOW TIME !! It was time for me to get it poppin !! This little logo that I saw online was starring me dead in my face!! I saw people walking around in their t-shirts, and I immediately got hyped up! The day was here!

Here I was in beautiful downtown Phoenix, with a 5K race in front of me. There was nothing that was going to stop me...

I saw tons of runners in the crowd, and as I walked up, I'd politely smile at those I could tell were on the Nike+ team. It's great to come together for a great cause. When you love running and when you love service, the feeling you get after everything is amazing.

I can't get over how many people were there! So many sponsors! Shout out to Walgreens for donating $100,000 to this foundation. The announcer told us to shop there everyday for the rest of the year. LOL. I plan on it. I noticed that the mood was positive and the energy was pretty high! There was music playing and people dancing...of course I was one of them.

I felt so good after seeing that there were other people around me with the same passion for running and servicing their community. I was with a group of women from my illustrious sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Many of them were not runners, in fact they were planning on walking the 5K. There were a couple that were planning on jogging/running. I informed them that I had a goal and was planning on beating a time of 37:30. There was one Soror of mine that told me that her goal was to beat 47:00. I told her that if she ran with me, I'd make sure that she beat that.

Hi, I'm Tiffany...and if you run with me, your life will change.

She politely took the challenge, and as the horn went off we smiled at each other and hit the pavement. There were tons of volunteers and they all were very supportive. I was in my goofy mode, so I made sure to give them all the thumbs up and tell them, "you guys are awesome!" ... of course they responded, "no! you're awesome!"

There was music at different street corners, and of course I just had to stop and dance with the volunteers! LOL. Hey, this was my first race and I had to make it fun! At one point when I was running and becoming weary, I saw a volunteer that I knew! A fellow member of another sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc. I ran up to her, kissed her on her cheek and kept running. She was cheering me on and clapping. This felt great!

Now, I had to finish with a bang, even if I didn't beat my goal, I had to come in under 40 minutes. I mean, come on, I owed it to myself. So I winked at my Soror, and told her I was going to take the lead. She encouraged me to keep going.

Wait, let me back up...All while we were running, my Soror was quoting scriptures and telling herself, "I can do this, I can do all things." I kept pushing her. I told her not to stop running, to keep going. Never give up...DON'T STOP. She replied, "I have on sunglasses, but if only you could see the look I am giving you!" LOL. I told her that I was going to change her life!

Ok, so I took the lead and finished in 38:36 at a pace of 12:23. Hey, I'm totally cool with this, besides, I was dancing and joking around a quarter of the time. Petting dogs, dancing, joking, and  high fiving. That's what 5K races are all about when you're just starting your journey as a runner!

I hit the corner of 3rd Ave and Washington, and on the big stage there was live music with a guy telling me (or all runners) to push and finish strong. He was thanking us for contributing to such a great cause. People were clapping...the energy was high! Of course I pushed through and finished.

I grabbed a water, caught my breath and looked for my sorority sister that had to beat her goal of 47:00. She hit that corner and finished in 42 and some change. I clapped and jumped up and down! "I told you that you could do it!" She immediately started crying. She sat down and drank water with her daughter on her lap, she said to me, "Tiffany, all while I was running, all I could imagine was myself fighting the bad things in my life, the things I hated or was unhappy with...this race was about me doing something that I thought I couldn't do, and as  I hit that corner, all I could hear was my daughter telling me that I could do it...and just like that, I did it."

Running is an emotional activity...and just like that, your life can be changed at an event like this. Thank you all for sharing this awesome day with me.

xoxo,

Tiffany

It's Official

11:38/Mile.

I'm prepared not to write anything else but just that, 11:38/Mile..

You see, there's a point that you reach in running when NOTHING can stop you from growing. People probably think that running gets boring after a while, but I'm here to tell you today that  it is a very personal experience that allows you to escape from the worries of your life and allows you to grow emotionally and physically.

I went from out of shape full figured woman to an energizer bunny! No really. I have so much energy, as you can see! I am running 4-5 times a week. I have to pick and choose which friends I want to run with during the week.

((clears throat))

Back to 11:38. What you all need to know is that this was my fastest run EVER. I got on that treadmill and ran 4 miles at a pace of 11:38. This run was so outstanding that Lance Armstrong said to me (via a recording) that this was my best run..and of course that I was beautiful and the prettiest runner he had ever seen in his entire life.

((flips hair))

I have a new view on life. I am a powerful being that has gotten rid of her fears. You guys, I can do anything that I put my mind to. Let me change this blog around...


Y O U can do anything (I don't care how big it is) you can do anything you want to do! Don't let anyone or anything limit your dreams. People around you will try and limit you, but it's up to you to accept it or not.

You're probably wondering who I am speaking to right now. I'm speaking to the overweight people that feel like they will be that same size for the rest of their lives. HELL NO. I'm telling you right now to break that mentality and change your life! It's up to you! I never never never thought I'd become a runner. I'm full figured, and of course, I carry 2 big objects with me everywhere I go (if you catch my drift). People would ask me if it hurt to run. I immediately would ignore the possible excuse.

You mean to tell me that I ran 4 miles at the pace of 11:38? Ha! If you would have told me that back in May when I got those running shoes, I would've bet my rent money against it! There was no way that I was going to run 4 straight miles.

And as the gospel song goes..."THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

That's right. MY best is yet to come! So be prepared to keep reading this blog. Imagine us (you and I) in 6 months. This journey has not been boring at all. It has been quite interesting.

And as the blog is titled, if the shoe fits...you damn right the shoe fits! I was destined to become a runner! It was up to me to accept the blessing God had for me. Ask yourself, "am I walking in my destiny?" Once you accept your destiny, your life will forever be changed....

My body is changing, my friends are changing, and the way I treat life is changing.

i'd rather be running.

i never thought i'd say this...but i can't stop thinking about running. somebody call 911, i'm addicted to the feeling that i get when i put on my lunar swifts and hit the pavement hard. it's come to a point that i enjoy the feeling of jogging to the mailbox or even to the car when i'm trying to make it to work on time.

it's something about the way i stride when i'm in the mean streets of tempe...letting everyone know ((with my body language)) that i'm a road runner...and yep, that's right, I RUN TEMPE. here i am, sitting at my desk, and all i can think about is what time i am going to hit the pavement, and how many miles i plan on running. who cares about what's for lunch? i'm just going to burn it off when the clock strikes 5pm.


"Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward," Kanarek said. "As with food intake and other parts of life, moderation seems to be the key. Exercise, as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of one's life, is a good thing with respect to both physical and mental health." [Source: msnbc.com]

i'm offically down 14lbs as of this morning. the funny thing is that i'm running fun and i'm eating to lose weight. i can't wait to post before and after pictures. i'll make sure to do this new year's eve after i beast on my 210 mile challenge.

peace,

t.

The Countdown Begins...

Oh-EM-gee !

I have 5 days and 18 hours until the Phoenix AIDS 5K run !! You guys, this will be my first real race as a RUNNER. I am preparing myself mentally to really beat my new 5K time of 37:55. My goal is to get in under 37:30. I know I can do it!

I was thinking about what to wear, which shoes to run in...but ya know what? I could go out there in my pajamas and come in at 38:00..what really matters is that I'm out there for a good cause. I'm helping people that are living with AIDS in Phoenix.

If you'd like to run, it's not too late to sign up. http://www.aidswalkphoenix.org/

I'll make sure to take tons of pictures and post them so that you all can see the event.

CHEERS !

QLTiffany

growth

I will never forget the way I felt when I stepped off that treadmill yesterday. Allow me to re-introduce myself....I am now a RUNNER.

The time was 9:07pm. I looked down at the Nike+ on my iPhone and noticed that the time said 38:08 with a pace of 12:15. That's right, I ran a 5K (3.1 miles) at about 12 minutes per mile. This is a great accomplishment for me, and I am so proud of myself for pushing my way from the average 13:10min/mile pace to 12:15. WOW!

I was huffing and puffing with sweat rolling down my pretty little face. This queen gave that treadmill a run for its money! I instantly thought about the journey that I took to get to where I was at 9:07pm 9/22/2010. I began to have flash backs of the old Tiffany, you know...the I Hate Running Tiffany. I tried to keep my composure as I walked past the current treadmill runners and Planet Fitness staff....but I had an itch inside of me.I'll never forget the feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT.

This wasn't just any old accomplishment. I shaved almost 1 minute off of my average pace! I had that kind of itch that made me want to do a cartwheel right there in the gym parking lot. You guys should've seen me. I had a grin on my face from ear to ear.

Now there are runners out there that would probably laugh at my 38:08 5K run. But F them. It's about reaching MY level...not theirs. For anyone that has been reading my blog and may feel intimidated by the term "pace," know this...running is a process. You don't go from 0 to 10 over night. The art of running takes the power of discipline. Take your journey of running one day at a time.

After leaving the gym, I called a running guru friend of mine and he congratulated me on such a great run. I'd like to take this time to personally thank any and everyone that has ever pushed me to go to the next level. Although running is a personal task, you all must realize how much motivation I get from my friends and family. When I am running, you all are right there with me...in my heart, of course. Come January, you all will be with  me when I am running my first half marathon.

Cheers to moving to the next level. Cheers to the sore legs in the morning. Cheers to the bragging rights.

xOxXXOoXOoX,

Tiffany

i'm a hustler baby.

Hey Guys!

I have soo much to blog about! I will try not to overwhelm you but I will make sure to leave you wanting more ;) I hope everyone is doing well this week on their running journey. I am becoming more and more excited about my life as a runner. I feel so good!

Many of you may feel like you don't want to run. But hey, don't ever be stuck in this situation...

Make time for exercise! Do it! If you don't, I'm afraid your health won't be good....and who wants to die due to something that they could've controlled? Today is a new day for you. If you are reading my blogs and still haven't stepped up to the plate, now is the time. Stop creating excuses for yourself.

((You too could be a runner if you stopped creating excuses for yourself. I'm proof.))

This weekend was great for me. I created a goal on Nike Running.com to run 12 miles in 1 week. It was Saturday night at 11pm, and I realized that I needed 0.60 mi to meet my goal. Of course Nike sees Sunday as a new start of the week...I jumped up and ran to the gym and hit a 5k. Hehe.

((That's right. I'm a hustler. I can't lose dude. I'm a hustler.))

With that, I wanted to say to everyone. Don't cheat. Don't take short cuts! Shiv Khera says, 'There are no shortcuts to success.You have to take the stairs. Your hard work will definitely pay off...so just stop cutting corners. Realize that if you cut corners you are only hurting yourself in the long run. 

 Hahaha. That's effen hilarious, isn't it? LOL. Ok, so that's it. Be a hustler. Real athletes hit the pavement hard. Do it.

Peace,

Tiff

Sore and Celebrating

Hey Bloggies!

I hope everyone's day is off to a great start. Let me just say that I am so happy that today is Thursday! I have got some news to share with you...I ran my first 5K solo dolo style last night, and I am so proud of myself! It was my day off and I still went in and ran 3.1mi last night. I felt amazing when I finished my run, although I finished in 40minutes...no bueno. I need to shave that down to 30 minutes at the least.

This morning I woke up sore, as usual, but I have to say, I have lost 10lbs since I've started blogging! Words cannot express how good it felt wearing my favorite black slacks today. The best thing about this all, is that I don't feel like I'm dieting or even trying to lose weight! I'm really just walking into my calling as a RUNNER!

For breakfast I eat yogurt and granola (total under 200 calories), for lunch a nice salad with chicken, and for dinner after my work out I only eat protein, no carbs after 5pm for me. I usually on average run off about 400-750 calories. You guys, the weight is just falling off of me. WOW.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a foodie. I can eat whatever and love the hell out of it. But with me being a runner, I am very conscious about what I put into my body because I need it to perform well when I'm training. I don't want to put junk in my body because when I run a 5K I will seriously want to kill myself and quit right in the middle of the run.

Anyway, although I am sore as hell I am celebrating! Yes, I'm celebrating for 2 reasons, first because I earned all the pain I feel right now. If you go to the gym and walk away feeling like you never went, this is an issue. Secondly, I am celebrating because of the 10lbs that I lost all due to my passion for running.

Not trying to sound weird, but I don't even feel like I'm training for a half marathon, or even dieting. I truly feel like I am  becoming a runner and this to me feels great. I challenge you to make changes in your diet if you're just throwing food down your face. Key word:: CHALLENGE. I challenge you to make fitness a part of your daily routine, make it fun...make it something that you look forward to doing.

Talk Soon!

Tiffany

HOT WATER

Hey Roadrunners,

I did it! I ran 4mi yesterday people!! Can you believe it?! I am sooo happy right now, I could just scream across the state of Arizona. I went to a soft track at Phoenix College downtown where I ran with tons of people from the community. It was a great experience to be around people who had the same goals as me. I loved it!

I am so thankful for the track at Phoenix College because my knees don't hurt this morning! That concrete did nothing for my legs, except kill them! So here's the plan, MWF I will run 2-3mi on concrete in my neighborhood, and TTR I will run 4+ mi on the soft track. This will prepare me for the half marathon in January.

I just thought about something...I cannot wait to see and hear people cheering me on at the PFChangs half marathon. The thought of someone pushing me to reach my goal is awesome. That's what you all do for me, you push me to accomplish my goals. THANK YOU!

So of course, after my run I felt SUPER hyped up! I was so happy and pleased I didn't know what to do with myself. I took that energy and invested it in myself. I began to demonstrate the power of affirmation in my life long journey to be a runner.

I am a winner. I am a runner. Running is a part of my life. The words "no," "can't," and "not sure" do not belong in my vocabulary. I'm a woman in hot water...

Talk to you all tomorrow! XOXO

Ms.Road Runner

Challenge !

This morning, my legs hurt! What a good way to start off today's post. My legs hurt guys!! But I'll tell you one thing, I hit the pavement hard last night, even though it was my day off.

Last night, 2 of my friends decided to run with me. This was awesome because we were able to spend some time together and really encourage each other to succeed. So anyway,  another friend of mine who happened to be out of town challenged us to a 2mi run in under 23minutes. In my group, I was the only consistent runner, but we were pretty excited to beat this goal.

((shout out to nike+ for making long distance competitions amongst friends possible))

In the end, our Nike+ friend beat us, but we finished off the race as WINNERS. We had tons of energy after the race was over and were extremely happy that we finished together. There's nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment. There is no excuse for why we didn't beat our Nike+ friend, but in regards to yesterday's post, tomorrow is a new day!

So today, I will be hitting the track hard for my first 4mi run. Yep, I'm gonna do it. I'm not even thinking negative thoughts...I'm going to complete this run with a smile on my face, and proudly submit my run to Nike+.


This post is for me. It's for you. Hell, it may even be for the person that's not even a runner, who just may need a push in their life. You need to start challenging yourself. I know it's uncomfortable, but that's what life is. It's about continual growth.

Stop being comfortable with your daily run. Start challenging yourself. Instead of just running 1mi or 2mi consistently, go ahead and run 4mi. I gotta tell ya, 4mi seems overwhelming right now to me, but I came this far, and I can't wait to show you all who I am in a year.

p e a c e ,

queen la tiffany

tomorrow is a new day...

Hey Bloggies!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I definitely had a busy one, which is why I am just now getting online and updating you all on my life. So yeah, I gave my muscles a  break on Friday and hit it hard Saturday and Sunday. I'd like to point out that Saturday was physically a difficult run for me, I don't know why?

I got home after my run and was immediately discouraged. I was really hard on myself, wondering why the 2mi run took so much energy out of me, and I wondered especially why I didn't blow it out the water. Well, I spoke to my friend and #1 running supporter and she reminded me that this was a lifetime journey. Running is something that I am going to be doing until my legs no longer work. She had a valid point here. The  best part about this conversation was that she was the one that gave me my running shoes and Nike+ monitor, in other words, she has been with me the entire time and has seen me grow.

It's great to have someone remind you of how far you've come. I appreciate her willingness to inform me that although Saturday's run wasn't the best, that Sunday was still waiting for me.

In other news, on Nikerunning.nike.com they have different levels for runners and of course they are color coded. The beginner level is yellow, the next level is orange. In order to move up to another level, you have to run a certain amount of miles...and guess what?? I made it to the orange level yesterday!! I'm really proud of myself!

b e f o r e

a f t e r

When you change levels, the background color you see changes and a video pops up of an amazing athlete who congratulates you on your accomplishment. I must admit, I played my video about 3x before I left the site.

The next level I am looking forward to is my favorite color, green! I have about 120 mi before I reach that level, but I'm not worried...I'll reach that in no time!!

I have officially signed up for the Nike women's half marathon training on the website. I now have a 12 week schedule that I must stick to in order to be ready for the PF Changs half marathon in Tempe on January 16.

For those who don't know a half marathon will be 13.1 miles. So anyway, on the nike website Coach Jay defines my workouts and it's really cool because I know exactly what I need to do everyday for the next 12 weeks.

This is really awesome. Yesterday I ran 2mi, so today, I have been advised to get my cardio done in the pool. I have to be honest, I really want to run tonight :-/ maybe I'll run and then hit the pool, LOL.

Ok...one last thing, I met a lady yesterday that lost 60lbs from running! She has been looking for someone to train with for the 1/2 marathon in January, and of course I told her I'd train with her. So starting Tuesday, we will train at a local college downtown 2x a week with her running coach! WOW! I'm super excited, and cannot wait to start! I'll definitely take some pictures so you all can see how things are going!

That's all folks, I hope everyone has a peaceful Monday.

Tiffany

I'm a hurtin' unit.

Hey Road Runners,

I have been hitting the pavements hard these past few weeks. Yesterday after work, I ran errands, met a friend for dinner, and decided to go to a lounge to celebrate a friend's birthday. Well before going out, I told myself that I had to get in at least 2mi. I hit the road, ran 2mi, loaded it up to Nike Running and hit the shower. Wow! I was so proud of myself.

Well, this morning I woke up, and could barely walk. My knees and legs are sooo sore. I'm not sure what to do. It seems to be getting worse. I played sports throughout high school and college and I've never been this sore. I'm a bit worried because I am preparing for my first 5K, half marathon, and also I have this 210mi goal to complete. I CANNOT fail these important goals.

Although it's painful, I don't have the interest to quit or give up. I need to be smart though...I need to be careful about really injuring myself and never being able to run again. I'll go see a Sports Medicine Doctor and see what they can do for me.

But other than my knees, I feel great! I have tons more energy and I'm a lot happier. Can you suggest any remedies or suggestions that may help solve this issue? If so, you could be a real lifesaver!

Enjoy your Friday friends. I look forward to blogging about an amazing run I had this weekend very soon.

p a c e (peace in Italian),

tiffany

Networking

Hey Road Runners,

I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for all your support. I am sooo happy about being a runner. It feels good to have control over my thoughts and flesh. I feel like I am a powerful and disciplined being.

I have received so much support and encouragement about this blog...so I wanted to say thanks to each and everyone one of you for following this blog and participating in dialogue with me about running.

I'd like to introduce you all to the running blog that keeps me motivated. As you've probably guessed, it's on Nike Running's website.

http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_reporter-en_US/

Nike has put together a team of running correspondents. They are all truly awesome, and they offer running advice for people like you and me that are becoming runners.

Check out this website, I'm sure you won't leave unsatisfied. If anything, you'll leave motivated and ready to reshape your life.

Until Next Time,

T i f f a n y

Creating Balance

Hey Bloggies!

So this weekend was awesome, I went to Las Vegas for a friend's birthday celebration. Of course it was Friday-Monday and we stayed at the beautiful Venetian hotel.

I'm sure you're wondering, "did Tiffany go running at all during her party weekend?" Well YES I did! You all would be so proud of me! I figured that I must create a balance in my life and hold true to myself. Just because I'm vacationing doesn't mean I don't deserve to do something positive for my health!

I woke up, and of course I was tired from the events the night before. I did not want to get out of bed, let alone go running in a busy city. I made up my mind when I brought my running shoes along with my pumps...I am a runner, and running is a part of my life. I called the front desk and immediately requested information on the gym.

Not only did I make my way to this huge gym, but I beasted on my run and beat my personal best! Yay Tiffany! I'm so proud of myself! I noticed that when I got back to my room, I had a huge smile on my face...and of course my friends were so proud of me for handling my business. This was a great experience, I even made friends at the gym (again, the corn ball in me).

After my run, I went to the Nike store in town. I just have to share with you all the laces that I bought for my running shoes. For only $4 you can walk away with some cool Nike red laces and save someone's life in Africa.

Join the movement. See, running can be fun....

Ok, so back to the lecture at hand. Creating balance is something that everyone needs to do in their life. Too much of one thing will have you off balance. Use me as an example...I can't starve myself of celebrating with friends, and my body and health don't deserve to go without attention. I encourage you to be disciplined, and control your thoughts.

Create balance in your life.

PAZ,

Tiffany

My First 5K Run !

Hey Road Runners !!

After last night's amazing run with one of my blog readers, I decided to challenge myself and sign up for my first 5K run in Phoenix. Yep, that's right. I'm holding myself accountable for not only beating my 210 mi run before 2010, but I'm also pushing myself to run against other people in the community for a great cause.

If you're in Phoenix, come join me! We have 32 days to prepare together on Nike Running's website. The race is only $30, and all proceeds to go the AIDS network. Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 @ 7am at the Cesar Chavez Park. For more info, visit http://www.aidswalkphoenix.org/.

I'm freaking out a bit because my time will be recorded and I'll be running against people who have been runners for years, but at the same time I'm really excited and celebrating the fact that I am going to run my first 5K in Phoenix! Who do I think I am?

Taking it a step forward, it's time to take what I love doing and apply it to a great cause. For those who don't know, infection rates are on the rise, and our communities of color, especially the African American community, have experienced alarming increases in the number of people testing positive for HIV.

So with that being said, it's time for me to step up and contribute to my community. Keep you all updated with pictures from training and from the race.


p e a c e

210 Miles before New Year's Day

What in the hell did I just do?

Friends, I just committed myself to running 210 miles before 1/1/2011 on Nike Running's website. I did the calculation, and I am FREAKING OUT !

This means I will need to run approximately 2 miles for 7 days everyday, until 1/1/2011 or run 3 miles 4 days out of the week. Friends, I'm gonna need your support because I really need to beat my goal of 210 miles. I think that I am going to run 3 miles because I really enjoy some days off to rest...plus this will be good for my muscles.

This is more than losing weight. This is about losing fear. I need to realize how powerful I am...especially when I begin to chose my thoughts (reference from blog #3). I am more than a conqueror and I am the master of my fate!

I will be looking to you all for support. I really need encouragement along this journey. If you're on Nike Running.com, I encourage you to run with me so that we can together become succesful.

Just like Nike said.... "Just do it" and that's just what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna BEAST on these 210 miles. Who knows...ya girl may just end up running 220 miles.

p e a c e .

Road Runner...

Hey Team Runners!

I hope your day is off to a great start. I just had to check in with you all let tell you about my AWESOME run yesterday! I got in about 2.1 miles, and I was really proud of myself...not because of the length, but because of how I felt when I was done.

As I was running, I saw my reflection in a store window. I thought to myself, "Go girl!" I mean, I was actually running, handling my  business on the road. Immediately, M.I.A.'s Road Runner song came on and I began to sing along..."Road runner, road runner...goin' hundred miles an hour. With yo radio onnnnn!"

Yep. That's right. Call me Ms.Road Runner.

 (Las Cruces, NM. Road Runner)

I continued my run, enjoying the beautiful AZ weather, there was water, greenery, people all around me. I just had the biggest smile ever on my face. Here I am running 2 miles after a long day of work, and I feel great. Thank you God for the life you give me daily. It's only right that I appreciate and cherish it.

I kept running, and as I reached the 1.5 mi point, I began to get tired and think to myself, "I can't do this...maybe I should just cut the route short and get home to these papers that are due." Then as I hit one of the street corners, I saw another runner. Then another runner. It was my reminder that there are others out there just like me that are challenging themselves. Of course the cornball disease came over me and I gave a thumbs up to a fellow runner. He smiled and shook his head. I even noticed that his nod wasn't the normal, "I got this" nod, it was more so, "I'm dying over here, and thanks for the encouragement."

Runners United.

I finally made it home. As I ended my run, Lance Armstrong congratulated me on a great run. Not gonna lie...it made me feel really awesome! Although it was only a recording from my Nike+ monitor, I did something great during my run. I beat my personal best.

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement. You guys are awesome. I look forward to hearing your stories about running and fitness. Tonight, I'm going on a run with one of my readers, and I am really excited!


p e a c e .

grub.

Hey Runners!

Happy Monday, I hope your week is off to a great start! I woke up pretty sore this morning, but I gotta stay focused, I plan on running as soon as I get home this afternoon. My goal is to really hit it hard! People have been hitting me up left and right asking if I would run with them! How awesome!!

I wanted to post something on eating before running. For some of us, we like to run early in the morning and get it out of the way. Good plan, and keep it going. Yesterday (Sunday) I woke up and ran at about 9am. I want to provide you all with some eating tips before running.

First, we all know that nutrition and fitness go hand in hand when creating a healthy living style. You'll be roadkill if you decide to run a mile with garbage in your stomach.

Q u i c k   T i p s

-Before your run, you shouldn't be full and you shouldn't be starving. Your body needs energry to perform!
-Avoid fatty foods, such as cheese, bacon, ect. They will sit in your stomach and make you feel uncomfortable.
-Avoid caffeine...after running your stomach won't be happy.
-Eat 45 minutes before running to avoid cramps.

Some of my faves

-Toast with peanut butter!

-Small bowl of cereal

-Nutritional Bar

-Almonds

-Egg whites

I have to take this time to share my favorite nutiritional bar with the ladies::

It's the Luna bar! You can find them at your local grocery store, sometimes on sale for $1. They have so much nutirion in them, I eat one before my run and feel satisfied. The other cute thing about this bar is that they have inspriational quotes on the back...which I love. Oh..did I mention they are filled with FIBER? Hehe. I think you know what that means.

It's important not to put crap into your bodies. Seriously. You need your body to perform well when you're running. Treat your body well with nutrition and it will excel when training.

That's all folks. Talk to ya'll soon! XOXO.

Today is the day !!

Hey !! Hopefully everyone had a pretty cool weekend. I wanted to check in with you all, and first thank you for all your support thus far. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback about this blog...hopefully I will motivate others to transform their lives.

I just got in from a 2mi run, and I gotta say, it was pretty motivating for me. All while I was running, all I could think about was this blog, and how excited I was to get on and talk to you all about running!I hope that everyone was able to get out there and start running or walking today.

If not...I strongly encourage you not to wait until Monday. Why do we always put things off until Monday? We have got to break out of that mentality. Same goes with a diet. If you decide to start a diet, don't wait until Monday to do it...start challenging yourself the second you decide! I've learned that when we over think things, we have the opportunity to talk ourselves out of doing something.

I have a running partner that usually doesn't get off work until late in the evening. I noticed that by time my partner got off work, I had eaten dinner, and was settled at home. By then, I told her that I was too tired and would go the next day. Well this week I took accountability for my actions and goals.

Key word ::        a c c o u n t a b i l i t y

What are your goals? What do you want to do? Define them, remember them, and celebrate them.

So back to my story...My goal was to start running. To get off my butt and take better care of my health. To invest in my mental and emotional stability. I got off of work daily at 330pm, and right fromwork, I went straight to my room, threw on my running clothes, grabbed my iPod and hit the door. I didn't even think about how far I'd run until I got out to the trail. After my run, I felt great, and I had my entire evening to myself.

You have got to start NOW! Don't wait! Your happiness is waiting for you. What's 20-30 minutes of meditation?

When you choose to control your thoughts, you have the ability to become POWERFUL.

Let's do this together. Let's become powerful.

Let the Sunday Funday begin.

c h e e r s !!

tiffany

It's like waxing your brows...

I couldn't resist yet another post. I just had to let you all in on my little secret!

If you're new to this running thing, there's something you must do for yourself. You have got to treat yourself to something new before you hit the trail! No really, I'm serious! It's like the first day of school, you get all new stuff...starting this running journey is just like that. No, as a matter of fact, it's like waxing your brows. Ladies, you know what I mean. When you wax your brows, you automatically feel prettier. Your self esteem goes up, and already you feel confidant. You may even feel like putting more time into doing your makeup. Guys, when your friend asks you if you wanna hit the club or a girl invites you to an event, the first thing you wanna do is get a fresh outfit....I'm just keepin it real.

Running is just like that. (well, for me at least..maybe it's just the queen in me)

Check out your local athletic store. For me, it's the Nike store at Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe. The first thing I got to motivate my new life of running was a new pair of shoes and the Nike + chip for my shoe & iPod.

 Ok, so this right here....is going to change your life. Get your iPod or iPhone and start your life long journey of running. This chip that you see on the left goes under the sole of your Nike+ running shoe. There is another chip that you connect to your iPod or iPhone.

Believe me, you won't be able to feel it when you run. Anyway, this cool tool (haha, that rhymed) will measure how many calories you've burned, your running distance, and performance goals while you're running. Tight, huh?! I remember one day I ended my run and all of a sudden this lady says to me, "congradulations, you beat your personal best!" It stores all your running history. And on top of that, you can create running music and a motivational song for when you're getting tired.  I think the best part is that as you're running, your personal trainer on the software tells you how far you have to go. For example, if I'm running 2mi one day, while I'm listening to JayZ the trainer will chime in and say, "1 mile down, you've reached the half way point."

Now, when I got home, I plugged my iPod into my computer and iTunes automatically sent my results to http://nikerunning.nike.com where I created a personal profile where I could compete with other runners across the world. On top of that, it gives you an option to automatically send your results to Twitter and Facebook so that your friends can watch you transform your life.

Oh, did I mention that this little gadget is only $19.99? Yep, don't sleep. Get on it!

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/

I won't run without it...Oh yeah, let's run "together" Check me out at http://my.nike.com/vellumfive


p e a c e .

keeping up

Hey it's me again!

This blog is going to be AWESOME. If you want to keep up with me, feel free to email me makeup@vellumfive.com or follow me on Twitter @PYT1920

I'll make sure to post a blog once a week!..and that's a threat!


c h e e r s !

Hey Hey !

Testing, testing...Is this thing on?

Yo! I want to thank you for taking time out to read my blog about running! It is definitely more to me than just weight loss and competition, it's a time that I dedicate to myself to clear my thoughts, and imagine myself being the super woman that I am. I have recently started my journey in running this past May when I was gifted a pair of Nike running shoes and Nike+ chip to sync with my iPod. Little did I know that the gift that was given to me was intangible and would be incomparable to any gift ever packaged.

This blog is for the full figured woman that feels like running is the ultimate thought of "F you, and I can't do that." This blog is for the woman or man that was told by their family doctor that they need to get it together before their kids are without them. This blog is for the guy or girl that hasn't participated in sports since high school or college. This blog is for anyone that feels like they need to expand their horizons and challenge themselves.

((That's what life is about, right?))

This blog is for Y O U. No matter what you are going through in life, no matter what battles you are fighting, the answer is simple. Invest in Y O U. Make time for yourself. Whether it be investing in your physical health, emotional health, mental health...whatever. Stop doing everything for everybody and start making yourself happy!

For the past year I have been depressed. No seriously, I hated my job, hated working towards my M.Ed degree, and hated everything around me. Not because I was a negative person...it really was because I had no outlet to dump my emotional feelings into. My typical weekends would consist of me drinking and partying to numb myself of my unhappiness.

Little did I know, running would really be my outlet.

Growing up, I always played sports, but I hated running with every inch in my body. You wanna know how I became the best free throw shooter? I made myself stay after practice everyday to perfect my shooting skills. Why? So that I would make the shots every time "suicides" came around during practice! I don't know what it was, maybe I hated the burning feeling in my heart, maybe I looked at running as a "let's get this over" type of deal. Maybe I thought it was boring...

Well. I stand before you all today as a full figured woman that LOOOOVES to run. Yes it's challenging, but seriously, it has taught me something about myself. I have discovered that I am a queen, and I deserve to foster growth in myself and challenge my level of discipline.

Throughout this blog, I will be keeping it real with you 100% and sharing to you my feelings about running and how it relates to me as a young woman. I want to share updates with you on the latest tools, resources, and events in the local area.

My goal is to encourage someone to step outside of their norm and challenge themselves.Even if you start walking around your community or run a 1/2 mile once a week...whatever it is...I am encouraging you to do something different and invest in Y O U.

Keep in mind that I only started in May. Together, we will be growing and challenging ourselves. Any suggestions, tools, thoughts that you have, I encourage you to share!!

Here goes nothin' .....