Pittsburgh Marathon

Tomorrow at 12pm the Pittsburgh Marathon registration opens. I've ran the half and the full and Pittsburgh will always have a special place in my heart because that's where I ran my first half and full races. 

The Half Marathon 13.1

This route is beautiful. It's pretty flat but the crowd is amazing the entire way. If I remember correctly, you start in Downtown, go thru the Strip District, thru the North Side, West End, East Carson St. Then you finish thru the Blvd of the Allies. 

The downfall? Running thru the Strip District at 7am and smelling bacon. I loved the half. 

The Full Marathon 26.2 

It's the same half course until you get to East Carson(South side) then you go thru Oakland and the rest was a blur for me. I remembering writing everywhere I was supposed to be on my arm that way I wouldn't get lost. I don't remember anything after mile 16. Mile16 I remember telling Jenna that I could totally do 10 more miles.  Mile 20 I was pretty sure I was going to die. So I don't remember. But I finished and I lived. 

This year I will be running the half marathon.  I'm going to stick to that because trying to train for a full marathon with the winter we had was terrible. I want to do another full next fall.  I will also be counting down the days to the marathon. 

Are you running Pittsburgh?

What distance?

Long Runs and Best Friends

We are down to less than 25 days to the next half marathon. Every summer I make training plans that I really don't stick to. It's hard with two jobs and juggling a house while still having 4 other fitness hobbies. 

I told Katrina we were going to get our 8 miles in and we did. We weren't going to but we did it. We actually fueled it with chocolate pie and beer because we weren't really planning on going. (Don't try that at home) Somehow it became our best run! Haha

We ran 8 miles with a 10:38 pace. Not too shabby I thought. I just bought my new watch and this was our first run with it. I didn't know how it worked and through the entire run it said that we had a 12 minute pace or more so when we finished well under 11 we were thrilled! 

This weekend will be 11 miles. Then we will go back to 8 and then to 6. Then race weekend in Jamestown,NY. I am so excited to see where one of my best friends grew up. 

I'm so glad that I found a great running partner that is close in speed with me. This is the first time that I've had someone to train with and I love it. 

Do you have any races coming up?

My Handana

I've recently gotten to try out a new product. It's a handana. What the heck is that?! Well, it's a bandana for your hand. It's used to wipe sweat off and can also be used for CrossFit. 

I tried this out on 2 CrossFit WODs and one run. I love it!! I'm a super sweaty/snotty person (yes I blow my nose into my shirt. Sorry. Get over it. ) and this took care of it all. You can even customize it with different colors or icons. I love purple and 26.2 miles. 

Here are my true thoughts on it:

Pros

-Super comfortable 

-Takes on a lot of water 

-DOES NOT SMELL THE NEXT DAY

-Affordable 

Cons

-I wasn't a fan with heavy lifting. I don't usually use grips so it didn't make a difference but I wouldn't use this as a grip. It slide down my palm when I went to grab the bar. 

I feel like there are so many uses for a handana outside the gym. 

You can use it as a beer cuzie, grip the steering wheel when it's cold and you forgot gloves... So many options! Haha

I'm pretty excited that I can wear it for my upcoming half and not get snot on the sleeve of my shirt then get weird looks from my husband. If you have asthma or allergies then you get it. 

With all the products coming out like this, do you use anything for running or lifting? 

What else would you use a handana for? 

5 Things Friday

I was tagged by Steph over at www.sasrubel.blogspot.com to write 10 things about myself. 

Here it goes! 

1.) My husband and I have been together since we were 13. Words can not describe how thankful I am for him love and kindness everyday. 

2.) Emily Giffin is my favorite author. 

3.) Between running, CrossFit, and swim-bike-run, CrossFit has become my favorite. 

4.) I'm currently working 2 jobs and training for a half that will take place in October. 

5.) I have 15 piercings and 2 tattoos, including a wedding ring tattoo. (Yes, my husband has the same one)

6.) Here are a few words that I hate: "Hubby", "Wify", "Selfie", "Moist", and "Thigh gap"

7.) I have two different gym memberships just so I can get my training in between jobs. 

8.) My current family includes, my husband, myself, a dog and a cat. And I'm happy with that for right now. 

9.) I would like to purchase my first house soon and the only requests that I have are: a dishwasher (or room for one), a bathtub, a place to put a treadmill and a place to out a little reading nook. I don't think my expectations are too high. 

10.) In the passed year and a half, I have become incredibly close with two girls from my last job. They are two supportive best friends and I don't know how I've lived without them for so long. 

(A really pretty picture on the middle of moving this passed weekend. )

There's my five things Friday! 10 randoms about myself. I pick Susan, Jenna, Alex, Abbey, and Laura.