running

#140Wednesdays: Fill in the Blank: You Know You’re a Runner When…

Written on September 5, 2012 at 4:23 pm , by Colleen Moody

Written by Deanna Cioppa, editorial intern

Whether you run 3 miles a day or 10, runners are one-of-a-kind. Not many other people would think it’s acceptable to cover yourself in BodyGlide or compare blister sizes, but when it comes to the sport, not many topics are off the table. We checked in with our Twitter followers to see when they realized they had joined the club.

@WannaBHeathNut: People take one look at your calves and ask how often you run!

@KarenSmither: You have a knee injury. (Editor’s Note: Feel better!)

@zam8: You have 10 pairs of sneakers!

@MissColochita: You carry running shoes with you in your car.

Now tell us: You know you’re a runner when _____

More from FITNESS Magazine: 8 Tips to Rock Your Next Run

Staying Fit on the Campaign Trail With Fox News Reporter Shannon Bream

Written on August 27, 2012 at 1:36 pm , by Karla Walsh

We wanted to learn more about what it was like to try to stay in shape on the campaign trail, so we turned the tables and put Bream in the hot seat right before the Republican National Convention that she’s covering in Tampa.

What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming convention?

It’s basically like a big pep rally that the political parties hold every four years. They elicit the best speakers and you are able to see the party faithful gather and get ready for the final election push. I lived in Tampa for years and actually trained for my first marathon there—my husband and I actually ran past the convention center hosting the event hundreds of times. I’m excited to go back and revisit the place where I turned into a runner!

We’ve heard a lot about how Paul Ryan and his P90X routine. How do you stay fit, both at home and on the road?

I run, lift weights and take bootcamp classes. For me, fitness is about feeling a certain way. It’s a huge stress reliever.

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Fit Blogger We Love: Clean Eating Chelsey

Written on August 16, 2012 at 1:22 pm , by Samantha Shelton

There’s not much we love more than a tasty, easy-to-whip-up recipe for any meal of the day. Which is why we love popping over to Clean Eating Chelsey when hunger strikes – we’re always guaranteed to find something as yummy as it is healthy! Pop on over for some inspiration of your own and you might find some fun – we hear there’s a delicious giveaway going on this week.

My favorite way to work out: Running! I’ve had to cut back lately, but running will always be my favorite way to exercise. I have run a few half-marathons, and I hope to continue to compete in races in the future. It’s a great time for me to clear my head and get some “me” time.

On my fit life list: I would love to run a marathon or complete a triathlon some day!

My fave fit snack: Raisins and almonds – I usually eat that combination every day after school (I’m a teacher) to get me through the afternoon until dinner time.

My biggest indulgence: Chocolate – I can’t live without it.

Most embarrassing song I’ll admit I work out to: I’ve got something even better: during my last half-marathon (Disney Half in January 2012), I sang out loud to Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never.” Apparently that song made me run really fast because I was flying as I was singing it! I figured I would never see those people again or they couldn’t hear me anyway.

Do you have a favorite fit blogger you want us to highlight? Leave a comment below or email blog@fitnessmagazine.com

Fit Blogger We Love: Run For Your Life

Written on August 9, 2012 at 10:20 am , by Samantha Shelton

A runner since her teens, Emilia from Run For Your Life knows a thing or two about the sport – and all the ups and downs that come with it. After sitting on the sidelines for a few months due to an injury, she’s back in the game and more than ready to ramp up training for her third go-around at the ING NYC Marathon this fall. We can’t wait to cheer her to the finish line!

My favorite way to work out: Running, of course! I don’t have a gym membership, but I’ll occasionally do something different to mix things up (like racing to the top of the Empire State building last spring). After having to sit out most of the summer due to injury, though, I’m more grateful than ever to be able to run in the mornings again.

On my fit life list: Qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon. While I’m definitely proud of my current best times (I broke four hours in this year’s Houston Marathon), I’m the queen of positive splitting right now and have a long way to go to make this goal happen. Maybe by the time I’m 30?

My “I Did It” moment: Finishing my first marathon, the 2010 New York City Marathon, in 4:09 – more than 20 minutes faster than my goal time. It was my long-term goal all throughout college and I was really proud of the training I put into running it one year after graduation. My second NYCM running in 2011 did not go as well, so I’m looking forward to showing the Queensboro bridge who’s boss when I return on November 4!

My fave fit snack: Chobani zero percent strawberry Greek yogurt. I’m not much of a breakfast person, so I eat this with a side of frozen mango pieces as my “morning snack” almost every morning when I get to work.

My biggest indulgence: Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. It’s a Texas thing. I rarely go a day without a dessert and this is most often it. I know my flavor choice sounds so, well, “vanilla,” but seriously, it’s the best.

Do you have a favorite fit blogger you want us to highlight? Leave a comment below or email blog@fitnessmagazine.com

Featured Fitterati: Running Blog Skinny Runner

Written on July 31, 2012 at 5:33 pm , by Samantha Shelton

Each Tuesday, we’ve highlighted one category of winners from our Fitterati Blogger Awards! To wrap things up for us this week, the spotlight shines on the Best Running Blogs!

Sarah Moore

• 29, Aliso Viejo, California

Sarah immersed herself in the running world in October 2008, when she completed the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon in San Francisco. Since then, she’s hit the pavement and never looked back, completing more than 35 marathons in four years! Her recaps on her blog, Skinny Runner, are fun and informational, but we really love her “no excuses” attitude, showing readers that all it takes to reach your goals is hard work, determination and a bit of fun to balance it all out.

Running Rest “When I’m not running for a workout, I go to Xtend Barre and take the Body Bootcamp, Barre and Piloxing classes there. They’re so different from running and have elements of strength training, stretching and core work – all stuff that I rarely do on my own!”

Motivation Mantra “‘Goal Big’ is something I tell myself when I’m contemplating future running goals or races. Instead of simply dreaming big, I make big-time, audacious goals and set the bar high instead of settling for mediocrity. Failing to meet a goal isn’t failure in my book; failing to try in the first place is.”

“When I’m actually running, I tell myself to ‘Be Strong’ – my little brother, Matti, texted me that during my very first half-marathon and now it’s something I always repeat to myself when things get tough.”

Fun Fuel “I snack throughout the day on things like apples and peanut butter, granola bars, Greek yogurt and a healthy does of the good stuff: I love my gummy candy and champagne!”

Fit Blogger We Love: One Twenty Five

Written on July 19, 2012 at 3:54 pm , by Samantha Shelton

If you’re looking for someone who lays everything out on the line, regardless of what other people are going to think of her, then you need to immediately click over to One Twenty Five. Liz, the writer behind this weight-loss blog, shares her uncensored thoughts, which is exactly what we love about her. Now if we could just pack up and visit her in Melbourne, life would be pretty swell, don’t you think?

On my fit life list: Drum roll please…an Ironman. I know it sounds ridiculous to say as, um, I’ve never biked more than a 5K or swam more than one kilometer. But (and this is a big but), I once dreamed of doing a full marathon when I was over 200 pounds and the mere thought of a 5K made my heart skip a beat. And guess what? I ran that full marathon. So I know it’s possible to dream big and accomplish something once deemed impossible.

I’m happiest when I’m: doing CrossFit or running. Wait, what? Did you really believe me? Let’s clarify that: I’m happiest when I just finished a CrossFit session or a run. The moment I stop my watch after a run I didn’t want to do, or the moment I fall to the ground to get my breath back after a CrossFit WOD (workout of the day), is always my favorite. They’re my happy, self high-five moments. It’s always a battle to get out there, but always so worth it when I’m done.

Most embarrassing song I’ll admit I work out to is: Are you ready for this? I don’t actually listen to music when I run. Nope, I listen to super-duper-steamy-trashy romance novels. I found out when I get into peak training for a marathon, I can’t download music quick enough, so instead I listen to, “she felt his burning eyes…” They’re entertaining, cheap on iTunes and so silly that it’s easy to distract myself from the pain of a long run.

My “I Did It” moment: Since I decided not to be a couch potato and actually knock off some of my “bucket list” tasks, I have to admit I’ve managed to accomplish some pretty awesome things. Three full marathons, a month-long hike to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp, and a move to Melbourne, Australia, to name a few. But my favorite “I Did It moment” was, without a doubt, when I was running the last 50 meters of the Chicago Marathon. Going from obese to running a full marathon within a year is very emotional, and seeing that finish line was just incredibly overwhelming.

My motivation comes from: Knowing I am capable of more than I’ve done. Which yeah, I know sounds really corny, but I’ve decided I am no better or worse than anyone in this world, so why can’t I do all the awesome things out there? Exactly – I can.

Do you have a favorite fit blogger you want us to highlight? Leave a comment below or email us at blog@fitnessmagazine.com.

Featured Fitterati: Weight-Loss Blog Runs for Cookies

Written on July 17, 2012 at 6:26 pm , by Samantha Shelton

Each Tuesday, we’re highlighting one category of winners from our Fitterati Blogger Awards! This week we’re focusing on the Best Weight-Loss Blogs!

Katie Foster

• 30, Newport, Michigan

Tired of being overweight, Katie hit the point where she was ready to drop the extra weight – for good. Shedding 125 pounds from her frame through small, realistic changes and blogging about it at Runs for Cookies, her story was even showcased on Dr. Oz! She shared her secrets to success with us, and filled us in on what running time she’s gunning for next.

Fit Wish “I would love to run a half-marathon in under two hours. My current personal record (PR) is 2:02.57, so I’m close. I know that I have a sub-2:00 in me, I just have to work hard to make it happen!”

Life Lesson “Through my journey, I learned that it’s very important not to make any changes you aren’t willing to live with forever. I knew that working out 6 days a week for two hours each time, or living on 1,200 calories a day, wasn’t something I would stick with for life, so I didn’t try to reach my goals that way. I shaped my exercise and diet around my life, rather than shaping my life around them.”

Craving Kick “So I don’t go crazy, I usually eat a portion of whatever it is that I really want. I tend to crave desserts, and I find that eating a sweet treat every day keeps my cravings under control. I plan it out in advance, so I have something to look forward to.

Title IX Talk at the Olympic Trials: What the Athletes Are Thankful For

Written on July 16, 2012 at 1:05 pm , by FITNESS Editors

Written by Lindsey Emery, freelance writer

It’s hard to imagine growing up in a world where you couldn’t run as far or as fast as you wanted. But before June 23, 1972, when Title IX was created, women were nowhere near being placed on an equal playing field with men in sports, and people seriously thought that if you were a girl you couldn’t safely complete a mile, let alone 13.1 or 26.2. Some people even thought your uterus might drop out if you did—true story.

Though Title IX’s birthday has passed, we got the chance to catch up with some of the fastest, strongest, most competitive women at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, OR, to see how it has changed their lives for the better.

Thank you Title IX for never making us choose. “I entered high school in 1971, and we didn’t have a girls’ cross country or track team. We had a track club, and the longest distance women could race at the time was 800 meters (1/2 mile),” says running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson, 55, who won a gold medal in the first-ever women’s Olympic marathon in 1984, just 28 years ago. “By my junior and senior year, women could run the mile, but if they did, they couldn’t participate in any other events, for fear they might overexert themselves.”

“I can’t even imagine what that must have been like,” says Alissa McKaig, 26, who placed 8th in the Olympic Marathon Trials and 11th in the 10,000-meter Trials. “We grew up in a time when you were supposed to be active. In fact, I wasn’t willing to choose between soccer and running in high school, so I did both. I would compete in a track meet, and then go play a soccer game—that never would’ve happened before Title IX.”

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Featured Fitterati: Inspirational Blog The Wannabe Athlete

Written on July 10, 2012 at 5:55 pm , by Samantha Shelton

Each Tuesday, we’re highlighting one category of winners from our Fitterati Blogger Awards! This week the spotlight is on the Best Inspirational Blogs!

Callie Cowan

• 29, Venice, Florida

This mom of one (soon to be two!) knows how to deliver a hefty dose of inspiration whenever our mojo is out of wack. Her real, down-to-earth attitude resonates with readers who visit The Wannabe Athlete, reminding us that there’s no need to fit into a cookie-cutter mold of “perfect.” It’s even OK to be  a bit – dare we say it – vulnerable. After all, every single healthy step takes us closer to our goals, no matter how big or small.

Pumped-Up Playlist “I actually really like to run to praise and worship music. The meanings and powerful messages of the song get me amped up!”

Motivational Mantra “‘Dare to dream big.’ I’m not a natural athlete or a fast runner, but I’m not afraid to reach for tough things. After all, that’s usually when the best things in life happen.”

Body Bounce-Back “After the birth of my first child, Mini Athlete (13 months), I lost all of my baby weight – about 40 pounds! I fell more in love with running during this time, and even finished two half-marathons before becoming pregnant with baby number two! It wasn’t easy, but now I know that since I did it before, I can do it again.”

Fit Blogger We Love: Food. Fitness. Fashion.

Written on July 5, 2012 at 12:11 pm , by Samantha Shelton

A former smoker, Ali from Food. Fitness. Fashion knows what it’s like to have difficulty breathing. But did she let that stop her from tackling a 5K? Nope. Nor did it hold her back from running 8Ks, half-marathons and even a marathon! Talk about a health comeback. We wanted to find out more about what this girl loves to run to and the gear she truly can’t get her sweat on without. Read on for her answers, then pop over to her blog for more fit-spiration.

On my fit life list: As a runner and Bostonian, running the Boston marathon is a huge dream that may become a reality this Spring! I’d also like to conquer a high ropes course this summer. I work at a program for teens with autism spectrum disorders, and I would love to model fearlessness for them on the ropes course, even though I’m terrified of heights!

Most embarrassing song I’ll admit I work out to: I’m not easily embarrassed, but there is one song I listen to when running that I will admit is super cheesy – “One Moment in Time,” by Whitney Houston. It reminds me of all of the times I exceeded my own expectations with regards to education, fitness and my career.

5 things I can’t live without: Besides my husband, Adam, and my miniature daschund, Oscar – coffee, my Canon Rebel camera, Garmin Forerunner 405, Brooks Adrenaline running shoes and red lipstick.

I’m happiest when I’m: Running and doing CrossFit! I love the feeling that running gives me and that I’m able to set small, measurable, attainable goals and reach them. CrossFit makes me feel strong, fearless, powerful and exhausted. To me, those are perfect workouts.

Do you have a favorite fit blogger you want us to highlight? Leave a comment below or email us at blog@fitnessmagazine.com