Jun 27, 2012

D1 Savannah Workout

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Holy Toledo.

It has been 36 hours and I am still sore. Like almost post-marathon sore. And when I saw Madeline at Book Club last night, she was sore.

D1 Sports Training Savannah is Elite. But not only for elite athletes. They have programs for children to fine tune their agility, speed, and endurance. Yep. Calling all future Tebows to the field! Programs start at age 7!

 But they also have boot camp and total fit, which are adult focused programs. Both guaranteed to kick your ass.

I am so glad that Zach called me up from D1 post JCB Mud Run for a test run. I asked if I could bring a blogger sidekick and he was more than willing. We set a date and a sweaty lovefest was made.

How Fifty Shades are we? Resistance “shackles” on our ankles and silver “weighted balls” ;) Sadly we were the only one that giggled like school girls when I mentioned that. Sigh.

After numerous laps up and back with drill after drill (which by the way, I totally need to work on in order to my running vastly), I was a hot sweaty mess. Like my pants starts out light grey and turned dark.

#PROOF

Can you see that sweat? I. LOVE. IT.

But don’t be scared. Sweat is just your fat cells crying! Or like they say in the south. You are glistening.

I loved everything about this program and the gym. I loved how the trainers encouraged us and how I didn’t feel out of place even though I was on the slow end. Their equipment both inside and out is state of the art and can be used by all walks of life. If I had a little peanut that wanted to be a sports star, heck  yes, they would be at D1 working on their game.

Thanks, Zach. Love two very sweaty ladies!

If you are in the Savannah area, please go check them out. Or if you live near one of their other locations, I bet they won’t disappoint either! They are super nice and ready to work you out. And please, don’t be intimidated. We had people in our class we modified each exercise!

Want to watch us after the workout?? Check out our quick recap of the sweaty workout and possible Tebow giggles!

Filed Under: Savannah ·
Jun 26, 2012

Transformation Tuesday- New Mom Edition

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Welcome to another edition of Transformation Tuesday! I am stoked to bring you my new Savannah friend, Madeline. We met through FitFluential and lo and behold, her hubby ended up being stationed here :) I really enjoy hanging out with her and Emmie. Plus our hubs get along well too!

But before we dive into just how fabulous Madeline looks 8.5 months after having sweet Emmalyne, there is something I want to discuss.

I love the Transformation Tuesdays. But obviously there are 52 Tuesdays in a year and will I get 52 people every year to step forward??? So I am thinking maybe doing 1-2 a month and it doesn’t have to be weight loss, it can be a financial journey, home transformation project, recipe transformation etc. The focus will primarily by weight loss or running, but what you do you think about the add-ons? Thoughts? Suggestions? Want to be featured? Email me at victoriaruns1{at}gmail dot com.

OK. I digressed.

Oh… and tomorrow. Yeah you are in for a treat. You will see Madeline and I’s workout at D1 Sports. She is posting it today with a video, but mine will be up tomorrow. So check her’s out. We were some hot, sweaty messes.

Sheesh. Back to the reason y’all are here….

******

1- Why did you start your weight loss process?

I started my weight loss process after giving birth to my daughter
Emmalyne. I had a goal of reaching my “pre pregnancy” size by 6-9
months postpartum. I had gained 32lbs during pregnancy.

2- How long did it take you to get to your maintenance weight? And how
many pounds did you lose?

It took me 6 ½ months to reach my pre-pregnancy weight and I lost 12lbs.
I had gained 32lbs during pregnancy but left the hospital 20lbs lighter so I
don’t count those ;)

3- What are your best/favorite tips for those just starting their journey?

• Be patient. This particularly applies to postpartum weight loss. It
took me 9 months to gain the weight and I had to remind myself it
wasn’t going to fall off overnight.

• Be kind to yourself. It is easy to have negative thoughts when
trying to lose weight and the pounds are S-L-O-W-L-Y coming off.
Focus on being positive and what you HAVE done and you’ll get to
where you want to be and be a lot happier along the journey.

• Embrace the things your body can do. For me, I had just had a
baby! I mean come on … that’s pretty awesome! My body grew
and birthed a beautiful baby girl. There’s not much it can’t do.
Embracing the potential and working towards it was key for me.

{let’s talk about my little girlfriend Emmie and how adorable she is. Those sunglasses. I. Die.}

4- What was your biggest challenge or hurdle?

This is going to sound counterintuitive but my biggest hurdle was eating
MORE. An important aspect of weight-loss is fueling your body properly.
You try to find that careful balance of eating enough but still losing weight.
Postpartum I went back to my eating habits pre-baby … around 1700-
1800 calories a day, which maintained my pre-pregnancy weight. Well for
a breastfeeding, exercising mama that was nowhere near enough and the
scale wouldn’t budge. Once I realized my error, upped my calorie intake to
around 2300 a day, the scale continued to drop.

5- What is your favorite food that you have discovered as a result of
seeking out healthier options?

I love hummus. I eat it as a snack almost everyday. It is also a great
addition as a dressing for salads. I also stock up on Chobani Greek yogurt

every week at the grocery store for a quick and healthy afternoon treat.

6- How is life different now than before, outside of diet and exercise?

I remember the whole reason I started my weight loss journey, which
began with an angry little cry of a sweet baby girl entering the world. Life
is different now and will never be the same because of it. Whether I am
training for half marathons or just chasing around a busy and mobile 8
month old there is never a dull moment in my life. I wouldn’t change it for
the world.

 *****

Isn’t she lovely? And I will say that her after photo doesn’t do her justice. Last night during our killer workout, she was was working it like a lean mean sprinting/squating/pushup/etc etc queen!

xoxo

Filed Under: Transformation Tuesday ·
Jun 25, 2012

Weekend Recap

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So this weekend rocked. Like one of those weekends you want to put on rewind over and over again.

Let’s start from Friday morning, I got some great news. I will let y’all in on a secret, it has to do with running. I can’t wait to tell you more and I am so honored to be apart of this Savannah panel of amazingness. And yes, that is a word.

As far as Friday night, I’ll be honest. It was my usual Friday. Dinner with the hubs and watching tv. Just a great time for us to unwind.

Saturday mornings I woke early for our Fleet Feet Savannah CREW run at one of my favorite running spots in Savannah, Rails to Trails/Fort Pulaski. And if you live in Savannah, make sure to go to the meeting to save the trail on July 6th!

 I wish I had left about 2 minutes earlier, because the sunrise I saw while driving over the bridge was even more amazing. But the above photo will have to do ;)

The half basic group had an easy 4 mile (as in easy pace, not saying 4 miles is easy for everyone in the group) run on the books. They would run into The Fort and back to the lot, then one mile onto the trail and back.

I really am blessed to have such gorgeous places to run around Savannah and the Coastal Empire.

Once done with the run, Lydia (Head Trainer for Fleet Feet) had set up a Chiropractor from HealthSource Chiro to speak to us. Erin was great and talked about how running can impact our alignment and how even a simple adjustment (or a few) can help improve performance.

After the run, the hubs and I hung out at the house doing laundry, cleaning and all that fun before I had to headed off to the Bad Marsh 50k Night Ultra hosted by Low Country Ultras. This would be my first time spectating and volunteering at one and I was so excited. I was helping with packet pickup and number callout for a lap or two (what, no time chips?!).

This is the type a race a girl can get used to!

I met Tim (@TimWaz) who is the Race Director for this year’s race and he was super welcoming.

Everyone say, “Hi, Tim”!

I also met a few other “third party acquaintances” ;) Everyone was great and all the runners who checked in were super nice and awesome athletes. Totally inspirational!

You want to know what else is inspirational?

Gummies, salt, chips, bananas, PBJ sammie halves, M&Ms, peanuts, oreos, potatoes (for potassium), oranges etc. It was like the best spread I have ever seen. Maybe one day (because this whole ultra thing may or may not be on a bucket list) my tummy could handle running and eating the above. Maybe I should start practicing and giving a break to my beloved Shot Bloks and HoneyStingers.

 After a few hours of helping, I had to make my way back to Savannah for our dear friends Mike and Mareesa’s housewarming party. I was too busy living to take any photos but let me tell you…. there was a whole lotta living going on ;)

After a solid night rest, Hubs and I made our way out to the beach for some kayaking and a picnic.

We had such a great time paddling and exploring out on the Little Tybee area. I love our Sunday Fundays and doing things that don’t cost a small fortune. And plus, using our kayaks which were the coolest wedding present ever is totally awesome.

We wrapped up our weekend with a dinner party at our friend’s house. I brought a super simple Summer Salad—- spinach, chopped onion, cubed watermelon, feta crumbles with lemon poppyseed dressing drizzled on top. So easy and so summery.

How did you spend your weekend?

xoxo

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, Uncategorized ·
Jun 21, 2012

HIIT Workout

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Ever feel like you are late to pick up a fad.

I’ve been reading all over the blogosphere about HIIT workouts and I just finally gave in last week. Where the heck have I been??

HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training.

Shape Magazine gives eight amazing reasons why everyone should incorporate HIIT into their weekly workout calendars.  The top three that stick out to me and why I am going to try and do two HIIT workouts a week:

1- Burn More Fat.  Umm Hello. I love to sweat. I pretend sweat is my fat cells crying. But in all seriousness. Your body is kicked into high gear and burns more fat during the workout and within the 24 hours after.

2- Increases Metabolism. Speaks to itself.

3- Challenging, Anywhere Workout. Think work travel, vacation pick me ups, or you woke up late and need to get in a workout before work, workout.

Tonight I happily dragged my friend Holly with me. She has a few 5k’s under her belt and I am plotting out how we can run RnR Savannah and wear our medals to work while skipping down the hallway.

So we left work and went to an open field to get down to business.

Sweaty, sweaty business.

Holy Batman. 86 degrees. Direct sun. Sweatastic fun.

I hope Holly comes back for more, because it’s on and totally more fun with a buddy then doing the set in your guest room while your dog licks up your nose.

Enjoy!

Q: Do you HIIT? Any fun workouts you have? Treadmill HIIT? 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized ·
Jun 19, 2012

Transformation Tuesday- Amanda with Run to the Finish

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I am really excited to bring you Amanda from Run to the Finish.  Amanda hosts amazing 30 day Challenges and challenges for self everyday to push her body. Please welcome her with open arms!
*****
1- Why did you start your weight loss process? I wanted to look like the athlete that I felt I was meant to be. I simply wasn’t comfortable in my skin.
2- How long did it take you to get to your maintenance weight? And how many pounds did you lose? I lost about 20lbs in two years and then another 15lb in the next two years. I have been at my current weight for about 8 years.
3- What are your best/favorite tips for those just starting their journey? Don’t change everything at once. Make small changes that you can stick with and eventually they add up to big changes.
4- What was your biggest challenge or hurdle? My husband. I adore the man, but he can eat anything that he wants and look like a Greek God so his cabinets are filled with cookies and other tempting foods. {Peanut Gallery– how many of us can understand that one!!}
5- What is your favorite food that you have discovered as a result of seeking out healthier options?  Hummus! Seriously I am addicted to using this on salads or making dessert hummus for a healthy snack.
6- How is life different now than before, outside of diet and exercise? Running was a core part of my transformation and now regardless of the number on the scale I have ways to feel proud of myself for taking on new challenges and to appreciate my body for all that it does.
******
I think we can all learn to appreciate our body and how it takes us to new levels. Thanks Amanda for joining us for another installation of Transformation Tuesday!  And congratulations on maintaining for 8 years!!
Filed Under: Transformation Tuesday ·
Jun 18, 2012

JCB Mud Run- Race Recap

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One word- DIRTY.

Holy smokes, I am still finding mud in places I didn’t know mud could stick. Fleet Feet worked with JCB for six weeks to make sure the course was fabulous. Plus the last two weeks have had torrential storms some days. God must have really wanted us to have extra mud ;)

www.jcbmudrun.com

Overall:

This is my first mud run (remember, I had to watch the Dirty Girl Atlanta), so based on my friends recaps of Tough Mudders, Warrior Dashes and watching Dirty Girl… I feel like this is a medium course. Fun, muddier than others, but still challenging. Like I am sore all over and my knees & elbows look like they little knives decided to play all over them. My only friendly offerings would be to have timed starts and waves. The response to this race was overwhelming. So naturally some of the obstacles got backed up. I think a way around that would possibly to have 8am start and waves. 10am start and waves etc…. also, more water on the course. The response was so astounding that the event reportedly raised between $120-130k for the Lady Bamford Center!!

Course-

4.3 miles with over 10 obstacles in teams of two. We climbed hills of straight mud numerous times. Then slid right back down. Into jumbo mud pits. IT WAS AWESOME. We had to swim across a pond (don’t worry, there was a ‘water bailout’ for those that weren’t too keen on the swimming aspect). Climbing over walls and hay bails. Seven hills of tires. Oh those tires.

Trail running. And trail falling. Oops. Running through I swear felt like miles of mud, but was really about 200m of ankle to knee deep mud.

The best part was having a buddy that was cool with having fun and making mud angels, falling, laughing, oh yeah, hoisting me over the walls. And wearing TuTus with pink socks. He looked so purdy.

The best part of the race. Getting dirty and not caring. ONE BIT.

Thanks Matt for having fun. And ladies, he really did enjoy all the cat calls he got in his TuTu before the race.

After the race they had the Train Wrecks band, great post food by Spanky’s, and lots of people hanging out…. after rinsing off. Fun for all!

Great job Fleet Feet and JCB. Can’t wait for next year!

Oh and want to see a video of the course? Check out this guy’s video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvBLDoEI0Gc&feature=share

Rad!

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, races ·
Jun 14, 2012

Runs for the Week & First Open Water Swim

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Spoiler Alert: I didn’t get eaten by a shark nor gator.

Whew. You may read on without anticipation that I had to fight off some water creature.

We are in the second week of Fleet Feet CREW training and everyone is doing amazing. I mainly mentor runners that maintain between 12:30-13:30(ish pace) on the run portion and they do 4:1′s. Everyone is so pleasant, despite being early wakeups! A few from the No Boundaries program I coached earlier in the year signed up, so I am really pumped because I adore them. Hi ladies! xoxo

So on Monday we ran 3 miles on Isle of Hope. I love the houses out there and am trying to convince my parents to move there… to the Bluff. Because of this.

So Monday came and went and then came Tuesday….

I tweeted about some tips for open water swims as it would be my first. Thanks for all the tips! I am a strong swimmer, it’s my favorite and best of the three tri sports. I have just never really open water swam before. Sure, I have frolicked in the ocean. I am a certified PADI Rescue Diver… but swim a mile in the ocean or river. Nope. Am I going to swim in circles due to murky water? I can’t flip turn! How do I know I have gone a mile? What if I get a calf cramp?! SHARKS! We are going to be swimming at dusk… ummm hello. Feeding time. And gators. Ew.

Once I pulled up to my run buds’ Maureen & Richards’ house, also members of the Savannah Tri Team, I felt at ease. Everyone is so relaxed and I was amongst veteran athletes. Plus Richard was going to be kayaking along side and I just knew he would take the paddle and swat off any predators for me.

So we dove right in and off we went. Or so I thought.

Once we rounded the corner it was like hitting a ton of bricks. Eh. Current. I swear I looked at the same damn shrimp boat that was docked for about ten minutes, so did a few other swimmers. Well hell, this was depressing. I think my portion of the group only did about half a mile out in like 37 minutes. WTH. In college (D3 athletics, mind you), I swam the mile in like 20 or under- per my memory and based off my 100′s and 500′s times. Pool times vs open water times.

I didn’t exhaust myself, I was never out of breath so I guess I could have pushed a lot more. I was nervous that I would not be able to help myself out there for some reason I guess. Weird, being that I used to save others as a lifeguard and diver. Oh well. Next time, I am pushing it and I WILL work my way up to the front…. and swim the mile then back….

Tuesday came and gone, and Wednesday was another early morning for CREW. We met out at Thunderbolt. (Coach Joey, if you are reading… see Thunderbolt… not just some place in Savannah! ha).

Head Trainer Lydia explained interval training and everyone was excited to try it for the first time.  Everyone did great whether they tried the intervals or not!

And a gorgeous view too!

So there you have it! Runs, open water swim and gorgeous views. Thank you Savannah (and for full disclosure… Thunderbolt… which is a Town in the same County as Savannah).

And what am I doing this weekend, you ask?

Well getting dirty!!!

I am running the JCB Mud Run. 4.3 Miles with 10 obstacles. I hear you have to duct tape your shoes on, wear goggles, and prepare to swim. I. CAN’T. WAIT.

Oh and it’s in teams. Sadly hubby can’t go… so I have a replacement (no, not like that)… oh and a special outfit. This is Victoria Runs after all ;)

Q: What are YOU running this weekend? Any tips for a mud run?

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, Run, Savannah ·
Jun 12, 2012

Transformation Tuesday

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Welcome back to another installment of Transformation Tuesday! I am excited to introduce my friend Katie who is almost at her maintenance weight. I am so proud of her and all her hard work! She is also training for her first Half Marathon with Team in Training for the Rock and Roll Savannah. Want to support her and their mission to fight blood cancers, donate HERE.

1- Why did you start your weight loss process?

I kept seeing pictures of myself and noticing how hard it was to fit into my clothes, so when the New Year came around I did the typical “I’ll lose weight” resolution. It still took my about 3 weeks into the year to join Weight Watchers. I’d been doing Couch to 5K and was really struggling, so I knew I needed another push. Eating right, plus some cross training, was definitely it! I also had a friend that was losing weight and I told him I’d do it better…. A little competition never hurt, right?

 

2- How long did it take you to get to your maintenance weight? And how many pounds did you lose?

As of last weeks weigh in I am 7 pounds away from maintenance! At that point I will have lost 40lbs total. It’s taken me about 5 months to get here.

 

3- What are your best/favorite tips for those just starting their journey?

Getting started is the best part of the journey! I was excited and super committed. That feeling stays around to some degree, but it hasn’t ever been as strong as it was that first week I lost 3 pounds. I think the best advice I was given was to really educate myself. I learned as much as I could (and I’m still constantly learning) about food, and how different people’s bodies respond to weight loss, running, injury prevention, and so on and so forth. The best advice Icould give is to have a partner in crime! It will make everything much easier. I have two girls that I text/email/facebook all the time and they’ve both made a huge difference.

 

 

4- What was your biggest challenge or hurdle?

The first 2 months of doing Weight Watchers was in a really controlled environment. I was living in Indiana and didn’t know many people so I spent a lot of my free time at the gym, and never had friends calling me up to go out drinking. So the biggest challenge has been coming back home where I go on dates and hang out at bars. I’ve also struggled with not seeing the progress I’ve made. I think that will be a hurdle I’ll constantly be jumping.

 

5- What is your favorite food that you have discovered as a result of seeking out healthier options? 

I’m a HUGE fan of zucchini. Huge! I also used to eat a giant bowl of really sugary cereal every morning and now I enjoy a nicely portioned bowl of oatmeal. Can’t go wrong with oatmeal! I love it so much I can’t seem to eat anything else in the morning, I have to force myself to have an omelet every once in a while.

 

6- How is life different now than before, outside of diet and exercise? 

I feel more productive. I’m still lazy from time to time, but I can’t sit around doing nothing like I used to. I feel 20 times more confident. I love clothes! I used to resent shopping; it made me angry with myself. Now I love it! I’m happier. I care less about what people think about me. I don’t worry about going into a job interview and having them not consider me because I’m over weight. I don’t mind pictures being tagged of me on Facebook! I love walking upstairs and not being out of breath. People tell me I’m an inspiration! That still blows my mind. I could go on, and on. Life in general is just… better!

*******

Thank you, Katie, for sharing your journey and inspiring others! Keep it up and can’t wait to see how FABULOUS you will look at maintenance ;)

xoxo

Filed Under: Transformation Tuesday ·
Jun 11, 2012

Date Night & Weekend Shenanigans

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The key to a great relationship, is taking the time to have a relationship. Sure anyone can have a roommate and go through each day doing the mundane tasks of life and running a house, but keeping the whole reason you married that person (or if in domestic partnership  or committed relationship) alive is what makes a relationship GLOW.

And no, you don’t need to be Christian Grey and throw gobs of money around, in my opinion. Although a ride in Charlie Tango would be kinda killer.

Any-who. So Thursday we decided to grab our favorite sammies and hummus from Thrive, which boosts a healthy selection of daily dishes from local and organic resources.

We also brought some brews to toast us while the waves crashed in the background. {Insert collective “ahhhh”}.

With things getting busy due to hubby’s school and my training, plus a busy social calendar it is especially important to take time to enjoy each other no matter how simple it may seem. I mean sandwiches on the beach with a beer? Easy peasy and so, so sweet.

Then Saturday morning I woke up early to run 2 miles solo before joining up with the rest of the CREW groups. The group I am helping mentor had 3.25 on the books and they did amazing! But before we took off we heard some words from Lydia, head Trainer at Fleet Feet and Robert, Owner.

We meet up downtown and enjoyed the sights of historic Savannah.

I love running in Downtown… sidenote, ever in Savannah– please let me know! I would love to meet up for a run or point you in the right direction for some great routes.

After breakfast and speaker on injury prevention, I made my way back home to get ready right quick to spend the day with this lady.  We made the quick drive up to Hilton Head to play on the beach and enjoy an adult beverage.

In all my years of living in Savannah, I have never really gone to HHI for the beach. Just to shop or for dinners.

How amazing are the pergolas with swings? I love how serene the walkways to the beach were. So classy.

I didn’t take any pictures of us on the beach, but I did take a picture of my yummy salad from Market Street Cafe.

After lunch we scooted up the road to the Outlets…. and all I got were some new Nike run socks. Yep. I am holding off until I get to my goal weight, but you better believe I am pocketing away some money for that day ;)

We all made our way back into Savannah and even the hubs met up with us at Vinnie Van GoGo’s for a slice of pizza. I have only been to Vinnie’s once and I honestly wasn’t that pleased. But it totally redeemed it self this time. Good food, good company, and good times.

And Sunday, was spent doing grocery shopping, cleaning and other items that needed to be done. Oh and finishing book #2 in the “Christian Grey you are so cray-cray, but so stinkin’ sexy I can’t put the book down” series.

Q: How did you spend your weekend? And what is your favorite “cheap” date night?

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, Run, Savannah ·
Jun 7, 2012

Real Royalty and Running Royalty

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Unless you live in a bubble, you probably know that the Queen of England’s Diamond Jubilee to celebrate her 60 year reign came to an end yesterday. Over the span of four days there was enough pomp and pageantry to last a lifetime. I swoon. And Kate Middleton. I adore her.

But then there is Prince Harry. He makes me blush. Like ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ blush.

Source for Prince Hotness Picture

So I think my hubs looks like Prince Harry. My hubby hates that photo, but I think it’s the best comparison unless I can put them side by side OR you see hubs in person especially if he has his hair a little scruffy. So Kate, once we become BFFs, let’s all hang out and y’all will see more photos. mmm kay.

And now for Running Royalty.

Happy Day After National Running Day!

I ran with my group I am mentoring yesterday morning and then headed after work to Fleet Feet Savannah to their event to check out the new RnR Savannah course. I am so excited for the new Full course… even though I didn’t mind it last year, but they did get some not so hot comments on it.

I was really excited to meet and run with Jim Ryun. Now I am not going to lie… I didn’t know all that much about this amazing athlete. But I feel like I should get a “I don’t remember sports stats pass” on that one. His is pretty much a running legend, rock star… royalty.

He was the first high school kiddo to go sub-4 min mile. He then went onto three Olympic Games and served as a Member of Congress. Pretty impressive.

Not only did I get a photo with him… sweat and huge bug bite on my forehead are just added pleasure to you…

Oh and that’s my friend Jenn… she is training for her first full! Hey Jenn!

But I also asked him if I could get a video clip for y’all!!

Q: What is your pre-race ritual?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwW8SmifnjQ&feature=plcp

Check it out!

xoxo

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, Run ·