Rock and Roll DC Half Marathon & Shamrock 5K Weekend 2014 Recap

Just yet another reason I'm an awful blogger (but still a super awesome person) is that I get super behind on race recaps, etc. and have a bunch of posts just sitting in the drafts folder. Since I'm running the Rock 'n' Roll DC Half Marathon and KELLY Shamrock 5K back-to-back again this weekend, I thought I'd finally publish last year's weekend recap! 

Spoiler alert: it involves lots of sore legs and cold beers. 

 I had run the KELLY Shamrock 5K in Baltimore 2012 & 2013 and actually have my 5K PR from that race.  My winter running cabin fever got the best of me, and I signed up for the RNR USA half months earlier because there was a really cheap price deal on it.  Then I realized that the Charm City Run B3 Race Package which included two other races I wanted to run, included the Shamrock 5K so I was running it again!  That's how it happened that St. Patrick's Day weekend I'd be running races back-to-back. Talk about a way to jump-start spring running! 

The Friday before the race after work I took the train from Baltimore to the metro to another metro and hiked down to the expo at the Armory-yes it was really out of my way and no fun lugging all my bags with me. There was a line to get in because of Armory security which was added to my stress. It was nice to peruse the expo by myself and look at all the fun gear plus grab free samples of all the snacks I could find. I stocked up on salted caramel Gu and was really tempted to buy some of the cute St. Patrick's Day-themed running shirts for sale.  

My Big Fall Goal Race & RNR Brooklyn

It seems that everyone has running fever now that the weather is warming up. That means sporadically signing up for all the races #raceeverything! It's hard because with trips and events you have to sign up and book so early in advance. Sometimes it's difficult to plan for things you've signed up for 6 months out especially with commitments just popping up all the time. 

I am happy to share that Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series finally announced that the inaugural Brooklyn half marathon will take place Saturday, October 10, 2015.  Registration is open for only Tourpass holders until March 15, and the general registration will open to the public on Monday March 16. You can sign up for an email reminder about registration here. 

Check out the full details on the race here!

I really wanted to run this race, but I unfortunately can't because I'll be in Chicago getting ready to run the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2015! 

Yes, it was quite lovely to see this email in my inbox this morning: 

Thanks to last year's Chicago Marathon time, I time-qualified for guaranteed entry this year.  I'm running Chicago again because despite being sick the week before, I had a really amazing race. I came only 1 minute shy of a 3:35 Boston-qualifying time for my age & gender group. I know in my heart that I can come back and get my goal time of 3:30 on it's fast, flat, energetic course.  Part of me wanted to re-type that and just say under 3:35, but let's be honest I'm aiming for 3:30. 

Goals are supposed to be big & scary, right?

Hopefully I can have a strong training cycle and show up to race day healthy and ready to run!

The 2015 Chicago Marathon lottery entry opened yesterday and closes Tuesday, April,21 so check it out if you are looking for a great big fall marathon!  Be sure to read my recaps from last year's expo and race.  

It looks like it's going to be another summer of #breathedeeplyandrunchitown. 

at last year's Chi Marathon expo. word. 

Do you have a goal Fall race picked out yet? Are you already planning big events for later in the year?

ZOOMA Annapolis Kickoff

Last week we had two snow days after getting a little over 6 inches of snow on Thursday. While I should have been productive, I mostly snacked, slept, and watched a lot of Netflix. Living that pajama life, you know. 

  Sometimes a break like that is necessary and refreshing.  After lots of takeout and eating out, getting my butt out of bed Saturday morning to head to the ZOOMA Annapolis kickoff run event at Charm City Run Annapolis was just what I needed.  

I showed up bright and early right after the free yoga class ended in the store. I've actually never been to this location, but the staff were just as friendly as they are at other locations.  It was a bit chillier than I'd liked but the turnout was still great!  Unfortunately it was a little icy around the Annapolis Towne Center, but run leaders made sure everyone was safe and we got in a nice 3 mile run.  It was awesome to chat to more of the other ambassadors. 

We're a fun bunch, if you can't tell! 

Charm City Run was offering a 15% discount on gear so I snagged a cute shirt perfect for Saint Patrick's Day and got a sweet ZOOMA bag and tech shirt from the race last year with my purchase.  

They also had Einstein's bagels, coffee, and the fixings for mimosas.  I was ever so grateful for the coffee.  

I got to spread the Feetures! love and giveaway four pairs of socks which was great. It was awesome to see a few people come out who will be running their first 10K or half marathon at ZOOMA in May with us.  

I'm actually really excited to get to run the beautiful course through Annapolis at the end of May. You should join me on Saturday May 30-it's going to be such a great event! 

You can still use my discount code LAUREN15 to save 10% on registration for the 10K or half marathon. 

Luckily on Sunday it hit over 50 degrees in Baltimore so that meant running outside in the sunny weather capris.  It was crazy because half of the harbor was still frozen. It's amazing how happy the warm weather can make me (unlike the cold). I ran into Sarah on my long run so we ran together for a bit which made the miles go by quickly.  I ended up slowly finishing the last few miles to make it to 13.1 miles for the day. Spring needs to stay! 

I don't feel prepared for Rock 'n' Roll DC this weekend at all, eek! 

 Have you ever run a ZOOMA race? What are you most looking forward this spring?

Dear Winter, It's time to go.

Dear Winter,

It's been real, but it's time for you to leave. I'm blaming you for my craptastic running this winter. I'll also be cursing you when I run a half marathon in less than two weeks that I'm wholly under-prepared for (I'm looking at you Rock 'n' Roll DC with those hills).  You forced me to struggle through a ten mile run on the treadmill yesterday morning that was only slightly bearable thanks to 3-4 episodes of Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

You're not all bad. I do like the beginning of winter and how lovely the season goes with the holidays. Bundling up around the fire with some hot chocolate is lovely.  A white Christmas always makes me smile too. Winter can be magical around the holidays. 

Not returning from a run drenched in sweat is nice. I can re-wear some of my layers because everything I wore isn't disgusting after a run. Having to put on 10 layers and bundle up before leaving the apartment is not so nice. I'd also like to be able to feel my fingers and toes again when I'm outside, thanks. 

Snow is pretty. It does make everything look like a winter wonderland. I'm all for having fun and building snowmen and making snow angels. Snow that causes a big mess and doesn't even get me ANY snow days off from work this year is not cool.  A couple measly two-hour delays are all you doled out to me this year which still forces to me to have a less than pleasant work commute.  I know Baltimore didn't get hit as hard as other cities, but it's just been annoying here. Slightly warmer and okay weather one day and then below freezing and an ice storm the next day. 

The main culprit lately has been ice. The devil of winter. I'll bundle up and take on the cold with minimal complaining. Taking a chance of wiping out and possibly busting myself up on a patch of ice? No thank-you. It was very unpleasant on Sunday to see the weather forecast as "ice pellets". 

5 Favorite Marathon Training Products #2

Disclaimer: As a Team Nuun member I receive discounted product and as a Feetures! ambassador I receive complimentary socks.  . I was sent a Forerunner 15 watch to test & review from Garmin. I did not, and will not, receive any financial compensation from Nuun, Garmin, or Feetures! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Even though we're stuck in the thick of winter, I'm holding on to the fact that spring isn't too far away. While I'm under-prepared for my spring race season (oops), it is quickly approaching. Soon everyone will be running, racing, and coming out of hibernation to train. I thought I'd share five of my favorite products from training for my second marathon-the Chicago Marathon, last year. This list is slightly different from my favorite gear list during training for my first marathon.  

Actually all of these products, besides the shoes,  I use all the time no matter the distance I'm training for!

1. Adidas Energy Boost 2

I'm still a Brooks Running lady at heart, but the Adidas Energy Boost 2 shoes were good to me this past marathon training season. I've been spoiled because no shoe I try ever feels as bouncy as these do. I loved the responsiveness and slight cushion of the boost material along with the thinner, slightly stretchy upper. I felt like I definitely had enough support for long runs and the constant pounding of me feet. These also gave me no problems during the actual marathon which is obviously super important. 

2. Garmin Forerunner 15

Also picture is my Road ID which I highly recommend. 

Last summer I was sent a Garmin Forerunner 15 tester to use & review, and I haven't gone back to my Garmin Forerunner 405 since.  Besides this particular Garmin being in one of my favorite colors (it comes in many), I love how much more lightweight it is.  The Forerunner 15 has solid GPS tracking along with step/activity tracking.  It retails at around $140  which is reasonable for a GPS running watch.  I like that the sporty design, clear display, and fairly long battery life.  The setup of the watch is really simple and clear, but you can get more details and features when you sync it online. Even though it can track steps, it doesn't track sleep, so that's why I still like using my FitBit sometimes.  It only displays two data fields at a time (i.e pace and distance) so you have to press a button to flip through them which is sometimes inconvenient. 

However when I'm running I just need a simple watch to help with speed workouts and to track my pace, time, and mileage so this watch does the job. 

3. Fuel: Salted Caramel Gu & Nuun Energy

Clearly as a Team Nuun member for the second year in a row, I love me some Nuun. The tablets are like Alka Seltzer and dissolve in water, leaving me with a slightly effervescent, flavored hydration drink with no sugar and lots of vitamins and electrolytes.  For races I love the Nuun Energy Lemon-Lime flavor. It has the usual electrolyte mix but is boosted with caffeine (about the amount in a cup of coffee, nothing crazy).  Nuun has no carbs though so I always need to fuel during long runs and training. My marathon method of choice this past time was the delicious Salted Caramel Gu every 5-6 miles. I used this throughout training to make sure I felt good with it. Each packet is 100 calories with 22g of carbs and was enough for me during the marathon after doing a pre-race carb-load.  

Hydrating with Nuun as I spectated the 2014 Boston Marathon

4. Pacebands

From the Pacebands Facebook page

I bought two Pacebands before the marathon training started-a 3:30 reach goal, and a 3:35 one. I ended up wearing the 3:35 one during the race, and since I started the race just trying to have fun and run as well as I could, it was nice to focus more on my paceband and less on my Garmin. I used the paceband a couple times during tempo runs to practice with it and make sure I felt good pacing myself. 

I know I've seen stickers or even people writing the paces per mile to reach a certain goal time on their arm, but I liked the idea of a reusable band I could wear on my wrist. They retail for $8.99 and come in a variety of paces for races including half marathons,marathons, 10Ks, and even 5Ks.  

5. Feetures! running socks

 I've mentioned multiple how excited I am to be a Feetures! Ambassador this year. I discovered the running socks brand when I was training for my first marathon 2 years ago and realized how important a good pair of socks was. I mostly use the high performance Feetures! in the light cushion style.  They have just the right amount of cushioning for my feet.  I love how the socks are so soft and comfortable, but also keep my feet blister-free and dry when the mileage creeps up during training. 

What are your favorite race training products?  Do you have any big spring races coming up?

This post was linked up for Friday favorites here, here, and here. 

RNR Philly News & WIAW Favorite Foods Lately

Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary 3 pack of  Great Low Carb Bread products for review. As a Rock 'n' Blogger, I received a complimentary Tour Pass 3-Pack. I did not, and will not, receive any financial compensation as a Rock 'n' Blogger. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Before I start talking about food on this WIAW, I wanted to give everyone a heads up about a big race. After scheduling issues due to the Pope's visit this Fall, the Philadelphia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will be held on October 31,2015. It's the day before the New York City Marathon which is difficult for many people. It should be back to it's usual time in September next year. 

It was my first half marathon ever back in 2012 so it holds a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to return to run it this year.

Registration opens tomorrow and the first 1000 registrants will only pay $55!  

Remember, you can save $15 all year on Rock and Roll half and full marathons with my code RUNWITHLAUREN. 

I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite foods I've been eating lately.Besides the staples of nut butter, bananas, and something green everyday of course.  I love food and cooking but always seem to get into trends with what I'm eating. 

My Five Favorite Foods Lately

1. Chicken Thighs

Once you go dark meat you never go back. 

I've been meaning to rant about this for a while. The facts are there and dark meat and chicken thighs have gotten a bad rap. A 3.5 ounce chicken thigh has 209 calories and 11g of delicious fat, while the same amount of chicken breast has 165 calories and 3.6 g of fat. Fat is fuel and is delicious. If you really care about calories, you can remove the thigh skin too. The dark meat is SO MUCH more flavorful  and moist than chicken breasts-my boyfriend doesn't want to buy anything else anymore! Seriously boneless, skinless chicken breasts are so blah after you've been eating chicken thighs. Come to the dark side!

  I usually keep it simple and just cover the thighs with salt, pepper, olive oil, and some herbs and roast in the oven at 375F for 30 minutes. Delicious!

2. Peanut Butter and Jelly

This is one of my favorite food's always, not just lately. Any kind of nut butter and any type of jelly will do the trick for me. One of my favorite combos lately is Justin's vanilla almond butter and strawberry jam-it's amazeballs.

 I got the chance to review some products from the Great Low Carb Bread Company. Their cinnamon bagel with peanut butter and jelly makes for an awesome breakfast on the go. I've been totally craving bagels lately so this hits the spot. Their bagel isn't gluten-free, but it has 2 g of net carbs and 14g of protein. The only problem is I already ate the whole pack of bagels! 

Mamma Chia Energy Drinks {Review & Giveaway}

Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary 4 pack of  Mamma Chia Energy Beverages for review. Giveaway was offered and is provided by Mamma Chia. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I've been a big fan of chia seeds ever since I read Born to Run, which described how the super-runner Tarahumara tribe in Mexico used them as fuel. I love mixing a spoonful into my smoothies and oatmeal, even though I always manage to get them stuck all up in my teeth.  #healthnutproblems

Chia seeds have rich, plant-based Omega-3s, fiber, protein, and antioxidants and was used by both the ancient Mayans and Aztecs.  I've tried the yummy drinks and squeezes from Mamma Chia company and was really excited to try their new energy drink.

Mamma Chia paired the magical forces of chia seeds with the clean energy of guayusa into an organic fruity Chia Energy Beverages.

It is lightly sweetened with only 14 g of organic cane sugar and each bottle packs a big punch with: 

• only 120 calories per 10 ounce bottle
• more than a day's worth of Omega-3s (2500 mg)
• 25% of one's daily fiber (6 g)
• 4 g of complete protein
• 90 mg of natural caffeine (about as much in an 8 oz. cup of coffee)
• 2x the antioxidants of a cup of green tea
• Calcium, powerful antioxidants and valuable minerals

 The texture is just like their other chia drinks or sort of like a gelled beverage. I love the fruity flavors-especially the grape and the raspberry flavors.  The boost of energy was subtle, but has been a great mid-afternoon snack to help me power through work.  

All Mamma Chia products are non-GMO verified, gluten-free, vegan-kosher, and USDA certified Organic. These Mamma Chia Energy Beverages retail for only $2.99 and can be found at select retailers including Whole Foods, Safeway, and Target. 

Check out Mamma Chia on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Mamma Chia has kindly offered to give 1 reader a set of 4 Mamma Chia Energy Drinks , a Mamma Chia Camel Bak Water Bottle, and a week supply of Mamma Chia Chia Squeezes!

Just follow the steps listed on the Rafflecopter to earn entries before the giveaway ends on March 6th at 12:00 AM EST ,US Only, 18+. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you eat chia seeds? What flavor of Mamma Chia Energy Beverages are you most excited to try?

This post was linked up with Tasty Tuesday. 

Five Friday Favorites 2/20/15 featuring Shake Shack Baltimore

Today I'm linking up with my 5 Friday favorites from the week here , here, and here. I'm sharing my favorite things from the past week. It's been a long and cold week so I'm happy it's Friday. Minus that today I woke up and it was 1 degree outside. I know Chicago and Boston have it worse, but I'm still not happy about it.  It makes me want to hibernate and never leave the apartment. 

1. Favorite Meal: Shake Shack Baltimore

Shake Shack Baltimore FINALLY opened this week on Monday. However I snagged an invite to the Friends and Family Day on the Sunday before which allowed my boyfriend and I to try out their menu as they trained their staff. 

As you can tell from the photo, we hated everything. 

It was also really sunny in there-no joke. 

I got the Hamburger which was so delicious and juicy. We split some crinkle fries which were glorious and crispy along with a special Baltimore-only concrete, the Pratt St. Pie Oh My. It's frozen vanilla custard with a slice of local Dangerously Delicious blueberry pancake pie mixed in. It was SERIOUSLY amazing. We split a single, and it was definitely satisfying enough after all the other food. It was all worth every single calorie! 

 I hope Shake Shack does well in Baltimore-I know it's where I'll be treating myself all the time. 

2. Favorite Feature: 2015 Feetures! socks ambassador

I found out in January that I was selected as an 2015 Feetures! running socks ambassador. I'm super excited about yes, socks, because after trying multiple brands during marathon training, I finally settled on Feetures! being my favorite last summer.  I just ordered a few more pairs so it's all I've been wearing to keep my feet blister-free and happy.

I'm also really excited because Feetures! is also a sponsor of the ZOOMA race series (just another good reason to register for the ZOOMA Annapolis race in May with my code LAUREN15 to save 10%)!