Fitness Friday

Well I made it through the first week of grad school….though that’s probably the easy part lol.  I cannot stress enough how different grad school is from undergraduate.  Hello responsibility!  I may be a student but I work for the school so I’ve got emails and meetings out the wazoo!  Also, really no class assignments and certainly no busy work(thank you), but lots more time intensive studying and homework(if you wanna call it that).

P.S. employee parking for this little grad student like a Boss!  Proud to be a Wildcat 🙂

VIP yo! 😀

…..But I digress….It’s a 3-day weekend and there’s no time for dwelling when you can be having a good time am I right?  My best friend flew into town for the weekend I couldn’t be more excited to show them my new home!

First up, my favorite pizza joint…..Mmmm hawaiian pizza, how I dream about thee 🙂  We also hit up a new breakfast place Sat. morning and I got the most delectable Pecan French Toast of my whole life.  I’m not really into food photos so didn’t even think about taking one, but holy crap I was in Heaven.  (can you tell I like food?)

I also practically forced some Bourbon chocolates on him (saying no to chocolate is foreign to me).  But I eventually got him to eat one, as well as purchase some to send home to share.  I don’t personally like them, but hey it’s something unique to Kentucky and it’s chocolate so I spread the wealth 😉

This was obviously supposed to be posted Friday (hence the title, I’m a little late) so I should fill you in on my August numbers.  I barely made my August goal of 70miles.  This last week with orientation and classes I literally didn’t get any in (embarrassing I know).  I’m going to leave my Sept goal at 70 for now, but I may up it to 80 like I originally planned later on.

So there ya have it, there’s still a lot of weekend left ahead of me so I’ll leave y’all to it!  Have any fun Labor Day Weekend plans?

Kels=)

“The only man who never makes mistakes, is the man who never does anything.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

Giveaway Winner!

Ok, ok.  I know y’all are wondering who won my Birthday Giveaway…I’ve been so busy with classes starting this week and grad student orientation and whatnot.  My department went to a ropes course the other day.  Best first day ever?  Uh yea, I didn’t have my phone on me so couldn’t snap any pics for y’all, I’m sorry 😦

Actually now that I think about it, I don’t have any pictures for this post….Hmmmm  Let’s see, random picture of my dinner while I watch The Tudors and write this post for your enjoyment 🙂

cranberry and pecan salad Mmmmm

Besides livin it up team building, I’ve also been receiving my Grad projects and assignments and I can’t WAIT to get started!  It’s gonna be a very busy semester for me, classes, jobs, projects, programs, papers, homework, etc but one full of learning and fun!

Somehow I’ve managed a few moments of free time to write this.  And it’s about time I revealed the winner, I understand so ‘drum roll please’……………………………..

Congratulations!!!  I’ve sent an email with details of claiming your “birthday” gift to the winner so be on the look-out for it!

A big HUGE thank-you to everyone who took the time to wish me a happy day and entered my giveaway.  Thank you ten times over 😀

How’s everyone else’s week going?  Half way to the weekend!

Kels=)

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.”

-Dalai Lama XIV

Sunshine Award

It’s been a long weekend, for some reason my body decided August was a good time for a cold.  Cold be darned though because I got the best pick-me-up I could have gotten!

Shawn @ Fruity ‘N’ Nutty nominated me for the Sunshine Award, how cute is she!  Everyone needs to go check her out she’s seriously adorable.

So here’s the rules about the award:

1. Post the award logo in a post
2. Link to the person who nominated you (see Shawn above)
3. Answer the 10 questions about yourself
4. Pass the award on to 10 others, let them know and link to their blog

Shawn’s question’s

1. What was the last book you read?  I just finished a book called Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult (one of my favorite authors) and am currently reading The Orphan Sister by Gwendolen Gross.  Random fact, the best part of moving somewhere new is getting that first piece of mail with my name on it so I can get my new library card! 😀

2. Do you prefer cardio or weights?  As a personal trainer I should tell you about the benefits of both, but as since this is all about me, I really do prefer cardio.  There’s nothing as freeing as a good ole fashioned run.

3. How long have you been blogging?  I started this blog a few months ago (5months?)  to chronicle my fitness exploits, but I had a previous blog Southern Blonde Out of Humidity I started when I moved to Boston last year for my family to be able to see what I was up to.  It’s since been put out of commission.

4. What’s your favorite movie?  Easy, She’s The Man, hands down!  I could quote that movie from here to the end of time!  My best friend and I have an ongoing contest to see who can slip in a STM quote into daily conversation the best haha.

5. What’s your dream vacation destination?  Hmm this is a tough one b/c I like to travel to new places, but I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii or Australia.  I’m kinda a terrible flyer (aka I hate it) so who knows if either of those will ever happen lol.

6. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook, though I do use Twitter as well.

7. What was the highlight of your summer? Highlight of my summer = moving closer to home!  Ever since I graduated high school ( we won’t mention how long ago that was)  I’ve always had to take a plane home and now I only live a relatively short 2.5hr car ride from them!  I see many sister’s weekends in my future 😉

8. What are 3 things you can’t live without?  My family, my best friends, and books.  (I suppose the first 2 really aren’t “things”, but what the heck I’m bending the rules).

9. Why do you workout? I workout to not only look awesome but to feel awesome.  It’s also my number one stress reliever so there’s that.  Oh and it keeps me employed 🙂

10. What kind of music do you listen to? I’m about to reveal to you just how hillbilly I am at heart…..I love bluegrass and old country western.  Yes I am that girl 😀  But I’m also a fan of really anything but Metal, or dare I say it Classic Rock ‘gasp‘…I know and I’m sorry 😦

Yay wasn’t that fun?  That was a serious bonding moment people 🙂

Here are my questions:

1. What is your favorite book?
2. Pick one song that is currently the soundtrack to your life.
3. Why did you start blogging?
4. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
5. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? (health side-affetcs aside)
6. How many places have you lived?
7. What’s your biggest phobia?
8. What is a fitness/racing pet peeve that you have?
9. If you could work any job for a day what would it be?
10. Who inspires you the most?

Ok now to nominate my own little lovely blogger friends who bring sunshine into my life via their amazing stories and words.

1. Matilda @ RunMum
2. The Haynes family(girls) @ Running with the Hayneses
3. Sarah @ Sweet Miles
4. Catherine @ A Two Storey Home
5. Kelsie @ Kelsie Lou’s Blog
6. Audrey @ Lose Weight By Eating
7. Jacqueline @ Skinny Chick Blog
8. Beth @ Racing Robsons
9. Becca @ From Snickers to Marathon
10. Welcome to the Nuthouse

Go check out all these lovely ladies and make some new friends!

Kels=)

“Your Life is your message to the world.  Make it inspiring.”

-Lorrin L. Lee

Cross-Training on a Friday

It’s finally the weekend (in a few hrs) but since the semester starts next week I’ll be a busy little bee for all of it.  Next week is Grad student orientation, plus a job interview, plus the start of GOTR practices (have I even told y’all about that?), plus the beginning of classes, plus my best friend flying into town to see me, PLUS the end of August!

Phew, I need a mental break just thinking about it all…..

Random picture of the strange weather this week

So this weekend besides getting ready for all of that, I also have CPR/First Aid re-certification (there goes my Saturday).  I’m so glad those things last 2 years, sigh.  Then it’s into the mail for my CPT forms to turn in my CEU’s!

I won’t have time to get in my long run of the week (5 miles) in my Half Marathon training this weekend so I did a little cross-training at the gym tonight.  (It really is convenient working at a gym sometimes).  Seriously technology just amazes me, there’s machines that now simulate running, besides a treadmill of course,  while taking away impact to your joints.

Odd angle but can you see it?

I felt like I was flying!!  My mile splits were 5:50!!  yea that’s Waaaaaay too fast for me by a few minutes so obviously it’s not a completely accurate transition so I ran an extra mile just for good measure.

This is the screen during my warm-up

That brings my total mileage for August up to 64!  Whoo!!  Only 6 away from my goal and a week to do it in!

Also you still have a little bit of time to enter my birthday giveaway!  Hurry it’s ending soon!

How do you make-up a run you had planned?  Be sure to check out the RunningBloggers Fitness Friday link-up!

Kels=)

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”

-Edmund Burke

Vetran’s Park

So this new park is one lots of people have told me about and I just now got around to checking it out myself……Dude…..it has a freaking tank at the entrance…..Like life size, climb on it if you dare, tank….

I mean really!?!?

Yea, this would fall under the hashtag “#MyRunWasCoolerThenYourRun”

Anyway this park has 2 loops to choose from, one being exactly 1 mile and the other is about 1.25miles give or take one go around.  For longer runs (anything over 3miles) I usually alternate between the two loops to get more of a change of scenery. Although this behemoth lies between the two…..it’s about a quarter of a mile straight up, no lie….

Yea, have fun with this guy 🙂

Besides the mountain to climb in the middle, both loops are generally flat (or as flat as you can get around here) and shaded pretty well, at certain points it turns into a trail through the woods.  Actually now that I’m writing about it I realize the terrain changes quite a bit from neighborhood, passed a school, by a horse pasture (is that what they’re called?), over bridges, through the woods, sadly no Grandma’s house though…at least not mine….

I’ve been told it’s a good park for off-road biking, but I have yet to venture onto the dirt trails to find out.  I’d hate to get run over by an over-zeaous biker, you see.

Anyway, this park is my new go-to running spot, there’s always other ppl there but it’s never crowded like some I’ve been too.  It’s like a hidden gem, no one believes this place exists when I tell them about it.  “a tank?” ,they say, “are their unicorns too?”  Just to set the record straight, no…sadly there are Not unicorns at this park…..

Where do you run?  Do you have a special go-to running park or trail or route?

Also don’t forget to enter my $20 gift-card giveaway!!

Kels=)

“Everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.”

-Andy Rooney

Birthday Backpacking

Have you entered my Birthday Giveaway yet?  Hurry there’s still time to win and who doesn’t like winning!

Now on to my backpacking trip!  My Padre gifted me with a camping trip into the Smokies, which just so happens to be the most beautiful place on Earth (just sayin).  He must love me or something, because the views alone were gift enough for a lifetime! (not implying I never want to go back however lol).

We headed out thursday afternoon and hit the trailhead an hour or so later.  Right after parking a couple was just coming down and said they had seen some bears so hopefully we would see some too…..Hopefully?  In my head I was like, “Are you crazy lady?  I don’t wanna see any Bears!!” haha  But luckily we didn’t so all was well.  Though a little mouse did chew through my backpack and tried to eat my nut and cranberry trail mix, the little devil.  It rained that night and I’m convinced it was a blessing in disguise or else the mice might just have eaten all our food.

Now let me tell you a little about my Dad……He’s become somewhat of a gourmet cook on our camping trips since I was young.  For dinner we had pasta with cranberries, sausage, and veggies.  If that’s not 5-star dining in the middle of the woods then I don’t know what is!

The master chef himself!

The next morning we had egg and sausage veggie wraps before we headed on up the trail.  I kid you not it was 3 miles of straight up hill!!!!  My legs were a burning, but the downhill return trip was almost worse! (Good thing I had my ProCompression socks to wear the next day 🙂 ).

We crossed a few creeks along the way, some had bridges…others didn’t lol

We never quite made it to the top of the Bald due to time constraints on making it home in time for my birthday dinner my Mother was preparing.  Some would say this made the whole trip a bust, but I disagree.  The view at the top does always make a steep climb worth it, but you also have to find joy in the journey as well.  (you could relate this to any struggle or experience in life).

So we didn’t make the top, but we did have a great time with great company, which made it a success in my book!  Marvelous Monday indeed!

Kels=)

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

-Confucius

It’s My Birthday, I’ll Giveaway If I Want To!

So it was my Birthday yesterday…….I’ll thank you in advance for the birthday wishes 🙂

My Padre took me backpacking in the Smokies!  What better way to celebrate life then to get out into nature and hike 9 miles right? It brought my grand total of August mileage up to 48/70! (If that’s not a Fitness Friday then I don’t know what is!) I’ll be posting about our trip a little later.  Here’s a sneak peek of our trip to get you excited though…..

Crossing creeks like a boss!

My Momma got me my first pair of ProCompression socks!!!  And did I wear them after hiking for 2 days, you better bet your bottom dollar I did!  Oh sweet relief, I’m a believer!

Isn’t she the best…yes, yes she is 😀

I also celebrated by hitting up a Bluegrass Music night in the park.  Super impressed with these guys’ talent and I’m so happy I could rally a few people to go with me 🙂  I took video but since I’m not as technologically blessed as some I couldn’t figure out how to post it on here, a picture will have to make do.

I was the youngest in attendance by a few decades, oh well.

Anyway, I had such a wonderful time, I was able to go home and see my family and friends.  Then I got to thinking, why can’t I share the love with all my wonderful readers?  So I’ve decided to hold a “fake” birthday giveaway for y’all!!  Now I don’t know what you want for your “birthday” so I’m raffling off a $20 gift card of your choice!  That’s right if you win my giveaway I’ll send you a $20 gift card to where ever you want!!  If the place sells gift cards then it’s in the running for you to win.

What’s the best way you’ve ever spent a birthday?  Also make sure to let me know where you’d like the gift card in the comments!  Good luck and a very Happy “Fake” Birthday to you!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kels=)

“It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.”

-Louis Sachar

Exploring Lexington

I’m gonna be MIA for the rest of the week.  My Padre and I are embarking on a Birthday Backpacking Trip!  But before I leave you I’d thought I’d finally get around to posting about  my Mother coming to visit for a few days last week.

We spent those days exploring my new city together.  It’s actually really fun having so many different family members visit because each one has their own interests (and being a good host we stick to their interests) so I’ve seen so many different sides of Lex because of it!  I’m the real winner behind it all.  My sister and I explored all the shopping Lex had to offer(not to mention 2 separate cupcake bakeries) while my Mother and I learned about the history of the city (and the chocolate history, guilty as charged).

We spent an entire day wandering around downtown, which has a few different historical houses and museums. (Mary Todd Lincoln’s family home and Henry Clay’s estate to name a few).

Now the chocolate…..yum, the chocolate….We were told enthusiastically at the Visitor Center that we just “had” to visit Old Kentucky Chocolates and get some chocolate covered grapes.  Grapes you say?  Yes grapes, sounds weird, tastes surprisingly delicious!  (Bourbon chocolate truffles not so much, bleh  >:P )

Chocolate covered pecans, Mmmm

I also discovered that Lex has some beautiful art and architecture around their downtown.

Living in Augusta,GA (where the Master’s golf tournament is held for those who don’t know), businesses will buy a golf cart and place it outside their shop and have it decorated.  Well Lexington is no different, except they paint (what else?) Horses!!  It is the Horse Capital of the World they tell me after all.

This one was one of my favorites!

I love this city more and more with every passing day and each new part of it I discover.  I’m so happy to call it home for the next 2 years 🙂

Whether you’ve lived in your town for a few days of many years I highly recommend playing tourist for the day, you never know what new fun you’ll find!

Kels=)

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

-Abraham Lincoln

Weight Loss Specialist

Wanna know what my free time has looked like the past few weeks?

Notice my TN pillow underneath the laptop 🙂

Fun right?  I’ve been studying to become a Weight Loss Specialist (WLS) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), which is the same organization I became a CPT through.  Although lots of the concepts are very familiar to me and are things I’ve been learning for years, there are specific NASM stats, calculations, theories, etc that I need to know for the test, which by the way I took this weekend.

I was studying at work lol

I honestly don’t know if I’ve talked much about my career goals on here so I’ll lay down my outline right now!  I love my one on one training and the group classes I run, but long term (hence grad school) I’d like to be a Health Promotion Specialist (aka more of a life coach) that deals with physical and psychological aspects for an entire life change.  THEN, my dream job would be to work with overweight kids.

Now for the news I’m sure everyone wants to know….Did I pass?

Why YES I DID!!!!  YAY!  It’s official!  I can now sign my name

Kelsey CPT, WLS

Pretty fancy right?….And in 2 yrs I’ll have added an MS and possibly either a PES or CES.  So many letters goodness!

So it truly is a Marvelous Monday for me.  How’d y’alls weekends go?

Kels=)

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

-Mother Teresa

Race Training

This morning was super humid and muggy out which always reminds me of home.  Living in Southern GA seemed to have made me immune to humidity, but I will admit it’s not the most ideal running weather by any means.  As much as I love running, I don’t enjoy swimming through the air haha.

Anyway, after my short 3 mile run this morning at a new park I tried out (more on that later), I cozied up on my couch with a bowl of pudding and my laptop.  I must just be really bad in the kitchen b/c it was supposed to be an Avocado chocolate protein shake but mine was so thick I ate it with a spoon.  Seriously it tasted like chocolate pudding, so idk why I’m complaining lol.

Anyway, I’ve got a few exciting things to share today.  🙂  I know I’ve already told everyone that I’m running Ragnar TN again this year (at least I think I did, you can read about my first Ragnar here) but the second bit of news is I’ve also signed up for my first Marathon!!!  Ok so it’s a relay marathon with teams of 4, but with my bum knee a solo marathon just isn’t in the cards so I’m totally counting it lol.

Essentially I’ll be running a marathon(26.2miles) then Ragnar(200-ish miles) relay style all in the month of October.  Kind of a big running month for me, and I can’t wait!!

Name of my 2012 Ragnar team

Although both races are relay style, in the Marathon race I’ll be running a little over 7miles and then Ragnar should be 16-17miles for me.  To build back up my mileage (it’s seriously slacked off since May) I’ll be following a 10-week Half Marathon training plan.  I’d like to run another Half over Christmas break anyway so I figured this was a good way to go.

I also need to take into account my bad knee, and can only run max 3 days a week, but on the safe side 2.  That being said I’ve altered it a bit to fit me (which everyone should do when following a training plan) and will run no more then 3-4 miles during the week, then use Saturday as a long run day.  Each week my Sat. run will increase by 1 mile till I hit 13, but as always I’ll listen to my body and improvise as I go depending on how I feel.  I’ll also be cross-training throughout the week to make sure my cardio is properly built up, as well as strength train like normal 2-3x a week.

Any suggestions for me from all you “actual” marathon runners out there?  Anyone else ever run a relay style marathon?

Kels=)

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit.  Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.”

-Muhammad Ali