The Power of Time Off

Did I really let 14 whole days pass without writing? Whoops. You guys still there? Did you give up on me yet? You know it’s bad when Facebook starts sending you those little reminder messages encouraging you to post because you haven’t in so long…and I did so well last month! What happened?

Truth be told, I actually don’t have a challenge for June (gasp!). I had every intention of doing one, and well, life got the best of me. For the last few months I’ve been working 2 jobs with some freelance work thrown into the mix, and well—I’m pooped. Going from working 30 hours a week to 50 has been an adjustment, and while it’s all for the best (a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do), free time has been hard to come by and I just don’t have a challenge in me right now.

But things are about to shift in a better direction, and next week I’ll go back down to 1 job again (phew), finishing up my time at lululemon and heading back to doing graphic design and social media work. It’s been a wild ride with lulu over the past few years full of crazy-amazing experiences and some incredible people, but I feel complete with my time there, and something’s been telling me that it’s time to move on. It was nice—essential even, to have a break from my career and to take a breather (I’m all about Sagmeister‘s “time off” philosophy), but it’s time to get back to work, so that’s what I’m going to do.

So hang in there with me as this career transition takes center stage for the time being. My plan is to be back in blogging business for July though, so keep checking back. I may squeeze in a post here and there before then if I can too. I can’t stay away for too long…

A Short Run Is Better Than No Run

Guys…I did it! I ran every single day this month—woohoo! I think this might be the first time in 12MOL history that I fully completed a challenge without cheating (I hope that doesn’t change your opinion of me, but I usually cut myself a little slack here and there), and I have to say, I’m kind of proud of myself.

This morning’s final “Mile A Day May” treadmill session ended me at 32 miles for the month, which compared to last month’s zero miles, is a pretty big improvement, right?

For whatever reason, I used to operate under the assumption that it wasn’t worth going for a run if I didn’t do at least a few miles, but what happened more times than not was that this thought process prevented me from running at all (hence the zero miles I ran last month). What this challenge showed me though, is that running a mile might not seem like a lot at the time, but those miles add up, and a short run ends up being way better than no run at all.

That being said, I think I’m ready for a day off, so tomorrow you can find me taking a well-reserved rest day and lounging around in the sun at a Great Lake. Ahhh…

Thanks Mile A Day May, you were a good one.

Sweat Angels

Last night I switched up my normal treadmill-running routine and hit up lululemon’s weekly run club. Here’s what I learned:

Running Outside > Running Inside

Running with Friends > Running Alone

and

Stretching on the floor after a sweaty run = Sweat Angels (you know, like, snow angels, but with sweat)

Kristyne and I’s post run club glow

 

Running Jams

When I run outside I often forgo music, but when I’m stuck on a treadmill, it’s pretty much the only thing that gets me through—even if it’s just a mile.

I have a few upbeat playlists that I typically circle through (my series of hipster dance party compilations leftover from my early-20’s titled “Danceachusetts” usually do the trick), but I decided to start a “run” specific playlist this month that I could keep adding to. Here’s my work in progress—anyone have any song suggestions to throw in the mix? I’m all ears.

Oh, and as a side note, I have it arranged by musical genre: 1. Pop/Dance, 2. Hipster Dance/Electronic, 3. Classic Rock/Alternative.

1. Till The World Ends / Britney Spears
2. Sexy Bitch (feat. Akon) / David Guetta
3. Whatcha Say / Jason Derulo
4. Drunk in Love (feat. Jay Z) / Beyoncé
5. Just Can’t Get Enough / Black Eyed Peas
6. Hello / Karmin
7. I’ll Fly With You / Gigi D’Agistino
8. Ni**as in Paris / Kanye West & JAY Z
9. Whataya Want from Me / Adam Lambert
10. Show Me Love / Robin S.
11. Earthquake (feat. Tinie Tempah) / Labrinth
12. Beautiful Life / Ace Of Base
13. Little Bit (CSS Remix) / Lykke Li
14. Lola / MIKA
15. Jerk It / Thunderheist
16. Like a G6 / Far East Movement, The Cataracs & Dev
17. Dirty Mutha / Steed Lord
18. Kate Moss / Roxy Cottontail
19. Perfect Fit / Tilly and the Wall
20. Over and Over / Hot Chip
21. Affection / Crystal Castles
22. Girl’s Night Out / The Knife
23. Back & Spine (Extended Original) / Kasper Bjørke
24. Blackout / The Knocks
25. Fa-Fa-Fa / Datarock
26. Sisters (feat. Northern Voice) / A Tribe Called Red
27. Par avion / FM Belfast
28. Take It To Fantastic / Cannonball Jane
29. Freedom / George Michael
30. Boy Blue / Electric Light Orchestra
31. Takin’ Care of Business / Bachman-Turner Overdrive
32. Cum On Feel the Noize / Quiet Riot
33. Born to Run / Bruce Springsteen
34. The Devil Went Down to Georgia / Charlie Daniels
35. Carry On / Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
36. Say You Love Me / Fleetwood Mac
37. Amphetamine /  Everclear
38. Excuse Me Mr. / No Doubt
39. God Bless the S.O.S. / The Explosion
40. Dear Sergio / Catch 22
41. Superman / Goldfinger
42. Asleep at the Wheel / Hippos
43. Bitch / Kicked In The Head
44. Cars & Calories / Saves The Day
45. Song 2 / Blur
46. Golden Touch / Razorlight
47. Such Great Heights / The Postal Service
48. Do the Whirlwind / Architecture In Helsinki
49. Way You Walk  / Papas Fritas
50. Intro / The xx

 

Yoga for Runners

I can’t go all month without mentioning how awesome yoga is for running, right? My goodness, some deep stretching makes a world of difference…

The other day I stumbled on this yoga practice by Goldie Kaufenberg, a Boston-based teacher who is lululemon’s SeaWheeze yoga ambassador this year. After this morning’s run—my 25th of the month, might I add—I rolled out my mat and spent 48 minutes stretching out every muscle that needed a little extra attention. In short, it was awesome, a practice that I’m bookmarking for sure, and one that I recommend to all you runners out there (and to anyone really). Enjoy.

p.s. WordPress just informed me that this is my 500th 12 Months of Lent post, ahhh! Crazy, right? Break out the bubbly!

Today’s Run Brought To You By: Britney Spears, Jason Derulo, and Beyoncé

After yesterday’s bragging about how “effortless” my runs have been lately, today’s run was anything but. Serves me right for gloating, I suppose. After work I went to Pure Barre, which isn’t out of the ordinary for me, but today’s class kicked my ass 10,000 times more than it usually does (holy thigh work), and my poor little legs were yelling at me to couch myself for the rest of the night.

Sorry legs, I still have to get a mile in before midnight. FML.

After an extended bout of procrastination, I dragged my sore self down to the gym and slowly, but successfully, eked out my mile. Phew. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Britney Spears, Jason Derulo, and Beyoncé though, who provided the soundtrack that I had fun lip-synching to in the gym mirror as I ran. On another note, I’m also glad that I was the only person in the gym tonight so the aforementioned lip-sync sesh was possible.

#whateverittakes

I’d love some suggestions too, what are your favorite songs to run/workout to? I’ve been working on a running playlist for the past few weeks and would love some new additions. Pop, classic rock, hipster dance hits, I’m all ears…

20 Days and Counting

This morning’s mile marked my 20th consecutive day of running. Wait—who am I? This is definitely a first in the book of Danne.

So, how’s it going? Am I liking it? Actually, yes, I feel like I finally found my running groove. The first 2 weeks(ish) consisted of me forcing myself onto the treadmill, slowly jogging while I impatiently watched the little digital screen as it tracked my mileage, but the past few days have been different. I’ve been running—dare I say—more effortlessly (it’s only a mile though, let’s not give me too much credit here), and there have even been a few times that I’ve looked forward to my daily run, or even decided to keep running past a mile. Woah. I may or may not even be considering a 1/2 marathon for 2015. Again, woah.

But for now, I’m 20 for 20 and totally on board to get my runs in for the next 11 days so I can proudly say that I successfully completed “Mile A Day May”.

Has anyone else been running? How’s it going for you?

One and done.

Workout Clothes For Days

It’s borderline embarrassing to post this, but yeah, I could show up to the gym in a different outfit every day this month. This is what happens when you work for an athletic apparel company for 2+ years. At least I can be excited about cute workout outfits, right?

 

And this is just the bra and tank section too, don’t even ask how many pairs of stretchy pants I have…

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’

Granted a mile isn’t really all that far to run, when your body isn’t used to it, your muscles can take a minute to adjust (read: your poor little legs are pretty sore). Cue the foam roller, my new BFF this month. If you have one at home, check out this awesome 10 Minute Self-Massage with Foam Roller from Yoga International that I’m doing immediately following this post.

And in case you missed it on Twitter and Instagram last night, even though I worked a 12 hour day yesterday and didn’t get home until after 10pm, I hopped on the treadmill at 10:38pm and managed to get my mile in. Danne. Bam.

I might have bought new running shorts to motivate myself for the aforementioned late night mile. Whatever works though, right?

 

#beastmode

Slightly sweaty and rosy-cheeked, I walked into our apartment’s gym the other night and was greeted by a guy from our building that I’ve met a few times before. As I hopped on the treadmill, he looked at me and said (in a slightly confused tone), “Hey Danne, how’s it going?…Wait, it looks like you already went to the gym”, to which I replied, “Ha! You’re right. I actually just got back from Pure Barre and I’m getting a quick run in before I head to yoga”. Which was 100% true. Pure Barre + Running + Yoga = Beast Mode. I’m totally crushing this month.

While I can’t say that I’ve actually enjoyed running any of the last 11 days (I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with running), I’ve still managed to do it regardless. Whether I like it or not, committing to get a mile in a day is pretty doable and not so bad after all. Plus I’ve already lost a pound so there’s that, right?

11 for 11 and the month continues on…

and…Happy Mother’s Day to all the mammas out there, especially my own. I might look more like my Dad, but I’m pretty sure I’m my mother’s daughter in every other way. Thanks for always being the “cool mom” and for giving me the best upbringing a girl could ask for. Love you lots Mumsie xoxo