Cleveland Marathon weekend is so popular that everywhere I went the past few months someone asked me “are you running the Cleveland half or the full?”. And I always tried to respond with “I’m running the 10k!”. But there were a few times I caught myself saying “no, just the 10k”.

Ummmmmm…….what, Heather? What a total douche bag comment.

No matter what distance you ran this past weekend, the 5k, 10k, half or full marathon – we were ALL runners. We ALL got our butts out of bed early on race morning, made the trek downtown, and ran our little hearts out.

We ALL crossed the same starting line and ALL lapped those who were still in bed when we got home!

COULD I have run the half marathon on Sunday? Of course! But did I WANT to? HELL NO. So I should have never felt the need to say “just the 10k”, it was my decision and one that I was completely fine with. Actually, MORE than fine with.

So when someone asks what distance you are running, or what max weight you are lifting, don’t ever sell yourself short. Be proud!

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I am, but just the…….”? Why?

Seriously. I hate ‘em. With a passion.

I probably hate them so much because I suck at them. Ok, not probably. Definitely.

Lift your chest, Heather! Knees out! Push through your heels!

So go figure that we’ve done TONS of squats lately. Overhead squats, front squats, back squats………..you name it, we’ve done it in the past week. Ugh.

Squats and burpees. Kill me.

But I suck it up and do the best I can. At some point all this hard work has to pay off, right?

(quite possibly the WORST photo of me ever. ha, and now it’s on the internet.)

Give me a workout with a jump rope and double-unders any day. I love it so much! But we all love what we’re good at. I need to work on what I’m NOT good at if I want to get better – I mean, it took me almost 4 months for the double-unders to click! But that damn bar. It’s just so intimidating.

And when I use it for squats I sometimes just want to cry (real tears). It’s just so.damn.hard.

I refuse to let that bar win, though. So far it’s winning the 10k, but I’ll be damned if it wins the marathon.

What’s your least favorite exercise?? What’s your favorite?

You all know me by now, and to say I spend 90% of my life in workout clothes could actually be an understatement. So I love any chance I have to get dressed up and put makeup on!

So it was a no brainer when Canopi contacted me to attend an event, hosted by Elle Magazine and Wella Hair Professionals.

(from Charles Scott’s Facebook page)

The event was held at Charles Scott in Rocky River, where I’ve actually had my hair and nails done before. However, it was much different from what I remember.

The place had been remodeled and there was a DJ, professional photographer, cocktails (champs!), appetizers, and complimentary hair styling, makeup, and nails!

(me and Suzanne)

I didn’t waste any time picking up a cocktail and sitting down to get my hair done.

I’m a sucker for pampering.

Plus, I ran into a lot of my favorite Cleveland bloggers so that in itself made it a good night!

Bloggers chatting, drinking, and waiting to get their nails done. We’re definitely a chatty group.

The only issue I had with that night was trying to sleep without messing up my waterfall braid!

I didn’t get much sleep that night because I kept waking up trying to make sure I wasn’t moving around too much. Hehe. I’m ridiculous, I know this.

Do you get your nails done, do you do them yourself, or are you a bare nails type of girl?? I live for shellac, but right now I’m doing them myself!

Today was a good day. It was Cleveland Marathon day!

It all started on Friday at the VIP Reception (for sponsors and bloggers). I got to hang out with some of my favorite Cleveland runners, and feel special (hollerrrrrr, VIP treatment!).

And then this morning started out nice and early. J and I had a plan: drive to West 25th and then bike the rest of the way. We did this for two reasons:

1. We didn’t have to deal with parking situation.
2. We could sleep in longer since we didn’t have to deal with the parking situation!

We timed it perfectly because we got there just as the half and full marathons were starting. I love watching the start – and for some reason today I was real emotional – I couldn’t stop getting teary eyed watching everyone run!

After J finally wiped my tears and pulled me away from the start, we found our friend, Jen, and lined up to start the 10k.

3-2-1, GO!

The plan was for J and I to run this race together, but I should have known better. We never run good together. Never. And I know this (which is why we do Crossfit together now instead!). So once we started to get on each other’s nerves we finally just decided to run our own races (after about three and a half miles). Which is what we should have done from the beginning. Oh well, lesson finally learned.

(post-race)

It was a great morning to run, and I LOVED the new 10k course! Please, please, please keep this course, Cleveland!

And to everyone else who ran today, CONGRATULATIONS!! Whether you met your goal or not, no matter which race you ran, you are all ROCK STARS in my book. *hugs*

Do you like to run with your spouse/significant other?

As an official blogger for the Cleveland Marathon, I received a free entry to the race and VIP reception/brunch tickets. All thoughts are my own, as I support the Cleveland Marathon 100% and always, always will!

Man, I don’t know how Alicia does it all, but she puts on one hell of a party.

Both the food and drinks were spot on Wednesday night.

I immediately went for the drinks and Jay, obviously, went for the food. I wish I had a picture of him, you guys. He was on a MISSION. A mission to eat all.the.food.

Which he definitely did.

All those check marks?? Yeah, he tried all of those. 29 out of 40. TWENTY-NINE. And the only reason he didn’t try all 40 is because it was food he had had already (Angelo’s pizza, Aladdin’s hummus, etc).

Jay’s two favorites were Deagan’s and L’Albatros (with Jammy Buggars giving them a run for their money!).

Mine? Deagan’s (omg, the chicken paprikash was to die for!) and Blue Canyon (s’mores, yum!). But I mostly dominated the cocktails. It was that kind of night.

And, best of all, we got to support The Arthritis Foundation and all our favorite local restaurants in one night. A win-win!

Plus, a lot of our favorite people were there, too, so it was a complete trifecta!

It’s sad that our favorite event of the year is over already, but we’ll be back for more next year. That’s a promise!

Do you have a favorite dish from a local restaurant where you live?

This is it. It’s Cleveland Marathon week! 

You’ve probably read all about and prepared for fueling, water stops, what to wear, how much to carb-load, etc.

But have you thought about what you want your EXPERIENCE to be like?

We all have different goals. Some want to PR, some want to “just finish”, and some are out to pace others. But, no matter what, PLEASE don’t forget to HAVE FUN!

This could quite possibly be a day you remember forever.

So remember to:

• smile for the photographers
• high five the kids cheering you on
• thank the volunteers
• give your friends and family a hug/kiss/thumbs up when you see them

And respect the marathon. Respect the distance. Don’t try to beat it, because it WILL beat you if you let it. Follow your plan, roll with what mother nature offers on Sunday, and take it all in. Again, it could quite possibly be a day you remember forever (can you tell how much I cherish my Cleveland Marathon memories?? ).

To everyone running on Sunday – go get it, and make some kick ass memories!

Are you racing this weekend???

Crossfit has me doing all kinds of running lately. And I’ve been LOVING it!

Saturday J and I attended Crossfit Cleveland’s 5k Run Plus……

It was a 5k run, with a lot ton of work along the way:

Holy hell. My chest is still sore from those double hand release pushups. And it’s a good thing I can run because it was the only way I was able to keep up. I’d fall behind during the “work” and then catch back up during the run!

But even though it was tough, it was fun, too. We got to workout with people we hadn’t seen in awhile and do some smack talk, which always takes the edge off a little.

Then today I did my first HERO workout at Birdtown Crossfit:

(pistols = one legged squats; HSPU = hand stand push ups)

This was killer. Like, I want to throw up, killer. That last 800m run felt like the last quarter mile of a 5k race when you can’t breathe, think, or feel your legs – you know, exactly what it’s supposed to feel like.

It’s been awhile since I’ve pushed myself this hard. I liked it. The train is on course, kids………and I’m back on it!

What’s the hardest workout you’ve done lately?

My poor family husband has had to trek to 5 different states so far for me to run marathons. To say we’ve learned a few things along the way is an understatement.

J is the ultimate spectator now – he still can’t find his way around Cleveland, but give him a marathon course and he’ll figure out the best spectator spots and how to get to them in no time!

So I thought it might be fun to share some of what we’ve learned!

If you have a group of people coming to support you, give them headbands:

I can’t stress this enough. They cost $1.00 at Pat Catans and it’s so easy to spot them in the crowd!

If the weather calls for rain, like real rain, not just a sprinkle, give your “sherpas” an extra pair of socks and shoes “just in case”. It DOWNPOURED at mile 2 when I ran the Pittsburgh marathon in 2010 and my shoes felt like they were 10 pounds each for the rest of the race. It was seriously miserable.

And when my sis told me she saw someone jump out and change his shoes that his family had for him, I remember thinking to myself “how brilliant!”.

Ask to be dropped off at the starting line. There are too many people for your family to really see you:

So have them drop you off and head to their first spectating spot. Hopefully they’ll get a prime spot this way!

You are probably going to be COLD when you’re done running. Unless it’s 80 degrees, you are going to be shivering from the sweat and your body trying to figure out what the hell you just did to it. Ha.

So ask someone to carry a sweatshirt or coat for you so you don’t have to steal your mom’s like I did after Cleveland in 2010.

Thanks, Mom!

If possible, recruit one (or 2 or 3) of them to run a few miles with you. You may not be in the mood to talk, but sometimes it’s just nice to have the company after you’ve been running by yourself for 2 hours.

Miserable around mile 24 of the Columbus marathon last year. Not sure I would have finished without J!

And if you like a specific sports drink, fill an extra and have a plan for when you’re going to make the “switch”.

You can’t tell, but we were headed over to make the switch here during Chicago in 2012. Easy peasy!

And then be sure to thank them a million times over afterwards. It’s not easy being a spectator – they’ve spent all day chasing you around the city!!

Maybe even buy them a drink. Or two.

They deserve it!

Do you use “sherpas” during a race? What’s your best sherpa tip??

I’ve been eyeing these Kate Spade earrings for months and just haven’t pulled the trigger. Same with the Sperry hat. I tried it on in the store and haven’t stopped thinking about it since!

But what I REALLY want this Sunday is a nice, peaceful, stress-free, relaxing day with my two favorite boys.

Life has thrown me some major curve balls the past 2 weeks and I just need a day. A day to unwind. A day to feel like me again.

BUT, if the boys are looking for ideas for presents, any of the above will do.

What are you wishing for at the moment??

Let’s be honest. You never know what the weather is going to be like on Cleveland Marathon day.

I got lucky in 2010 and had the PERFECT WEATHER. It was 55-60 degrees and sunny and just crazy perfect.

But in 2011 it was windy and rainy and cold, and in 2012 it was 80 degrees+. This place loves to keep up on our toes.

You always have to be prepared if you’re a Cleveland runner.

Cold weather tips:

1. Dress in layers: The key is to stay warm at the start. You can remove layers as you warm up.
2. Wear gloves: You can get throw away gloves for less than $3.00 at Target!
3. Wear a hat: Keep your head covered to retain as much heat as possible.
4. NO COTTON SOCKS

Warm/Hot weather tips:

1. Dress lightly: Wear light-colored, breathable fabrics. Moisture wicking is a MUST.
2. Use sunscreen: Be sure to apply all over as your clothes will most likely move while you’re running.
3. Wear sunglasses: This could help prevent a headache from the constant squinting.
4. Wear a headband or visor, especially if you’re a heavy sweater: I never run without a headband to help soak up the sweat!
5. NO COTTON SOCKS

If you ever have any questions on what to wear, check out Runner’s World’s What to Wear tool. You can input the temperature and weather conditions and it will tell you what to wear. I use the site all the time!

What’s your best tip for cold weather running? Hot weather running?

p.s. You can still enter to win tickets to this year’s Silver Spoon Awards Party. Don’t forget you can tweet once a day until this Friday!