Joyride and Weds Spin Playlist.

This morning I taught my spin class then left the gym with a strange burst of energy. Normally I would rush right home and get ready for work but temps were in the 50s – which is near perfect running weather so I knew I needed to take advantage of it. I threw my running shoes on and set out for a quick 4 mile joyride.

Great run and I still had time after to get some good yoga stretching in.

Here’s my spin playlist for the week.

Endorphins- Sub Focus feat Alex Clare: Warm up

Club Can’t Handle Me Right Now- Flo Rida feat David Guetta: Standing run, level 7

You Know I Want Love Celebration- Madonna/Pitbull/Lady Gaga Mashup: Climb 7/8/9

I Love It (Clean)- Icona Pop: Accelerations 10 seconds on/off

Next to Me- Emeli Sande: Flat road, slowly climb back to 7

Run this Town- Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna: 7/8 jumps, double time at chorus

Let it Rock- Kevin Rudolf feat Lil Wayne: Rolling hills

Rock the Boat- Bob Sinclair Feat Pitbull: Sprints

The Man Who Never Lied- Maroon 5: Active recovery

Can’t Hold Us- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Standing run, level 8

Mirrors- Justin Timberlake: Start on a flat road, climb to level 10

Live it Up- Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez: Level 7 jumps

Troublemaker- Olly Murs feat Flo Rida: Last set of rolling hills for the day

U Can’t Touch My Humps- MC Hammer feat Black Eyed Peas: Sprint to the finish

Cococure- Maxwell: Cool down

Two days til the long weekend! We are almost there – I can taste it

On Repeat and a Lazy Girl Meal.

Last night’s dinner…buffalo chicken wraps. It’s basically like the dip except wrapped up in iceberg lettuce. I will definitely be making these more often since it’s a great lazy girl meal.

I mixed up chopped cooked chicken with light cream cheese and Frank’s buffalo sauce. Bake in the oven at 400 for about 10-15 minutes and let it marinate. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on top. Good stuff…I think next time I will add green onions and veggies in the mix.

This morning I rolled outta bed and ran 4.5 miles at an easy 9 minute pace. Humid with temps in the 70s but the occasional breeze and cloud cover helped.

The cherry on top was seeing this beautiful hibiscus at the end. At least I can pretend I’m in Hawaii or the islands somewhere.

Going along with the tropical staycation theme I made myself a post run smoothie with roasted coconut sprinkled on top.

I’m glad I got this run in early because there’s a line of thunderstorms coming in today so I wanted to make sure I didn’t get rained out. That and the fact that I am scheduled to get a 60 minute massage tonight with my favorite therapist. Can’t wait.

Until then I will just be listening to this song on repeat…this one is staying on the playlist.

Any songs you’re listening to on repeat? What’s your favorite thing to put in a lettuce wrap? 

11 Miles, a Shakeout Run, and Wknd Snapshots.

Hey hey hey! How was the weekend? Back on that grind today. Workout done – 55 minutes of spin class to kick off my Monday.

This weekend was filled with lots of r & r! Time to charge the batteries and exhale a bit…oh yeah, and run. Lots of runnin’ and gunnin’ involved.

Friday night I did let my hair down a bit and went out to play with the girls for a vino tasting then dinner at Taco Diner.

Made it an early night since I had to get up for a sunrise run with my girl Elyse. 11 miles of straight hills and humidity.

That big steep one in the middle was a killer. It has been a while since I’ve done hill work and it kind of reminded me of this race but I got it done. Mounds of opportunity.

I came home and refueled with a smoothie – strawberries, banana, greek yogurt, coconut almond milk, and agave.

Also my favorite thing to eat post run. Nothing like ice cold watermelon after a hot hot run.

Saturday evening I went to church so I could get up and play some more on Sunday Funday. Love that Saturday night option.

The next morning I was up and thought I would get a quick shakeout run in. In 80 degree weather. Kind of reminded me of a sauna but I pushed the pace a bit to see what I could do. Not too shabby.

Cleaned up and had lunch with my cutie pie mama.

Tried the fajita chicken salad at our favorite brunch spot. The patio at Frankie’s never lets us down.

I really enjoyed the low-keyness of this wknd since next weekend I will be in Houston for Memorial Day with my honey. I can’t wait!!

How was your weekend? Restful, crazy fun, productive?

What’s your favorite meal of the day?

I would have to say brunch.

Did anyone PR or run a rockstar race this weekend?

TGIFriday Faves.

Gosh I love Fridays. Don’t you?

Hope you all had a marvelous week! I am ready for the weekend for sure. Time to kick back, relax…oh and more time in the day to RUN!

Today’s my rest day…oh how I love rest days. Recharging the batteries for tomorrow’s 11 mile run. Pretty pumped about it.

Let’s talk about my favorites this week…besides you guys, of course.

-Maxis and jean jackets. This outfit is basically my work day go to right now. Very lucky I get to dress pretty casual at the j-o-b….easy breezy.

-Loving this nude shade for spring and summer. OPI’s Care to Dance. Love all the sassy nail polish names.

I also kind of wish this was a real job because I would apply for it.

-Kind of wanting to make these cookies. I really have to stop looking at this girl’s blog because I want to make EVERYTHING she makes. All about it.

-I’m just a happier person when I work out. Aren’t you?

And just in case you need a good laugh…check out this little throwback of me getting my cert for Hip Hop Hustle. I’m the one hiding in the background on the right in red.

Have a fabulous Friday!

What are you doing this weekend? Anyone racing or long running it? 

What’s your favorite spring fashion (or running) essential? 

Do you like to dance?

Humid Run and Some Like it Hot.

After sleeping in a bit this morning (which was heavenly – hey, a girl needs her beauty rest) I was out of bed around 7:45 for a quick and easy run before things get a little crazy….work all day then teaching a class tonight. 4 mile jaunt in the ‘hood sporting my new Boston tee.

About 80 percent humidity but with little bit of a breeze. I will take it because I am bracing myself for triple digit temps this summer. Training for marathons in this TX heat is no joke.

The next couple of days is looking like a sauna too…hopefully the sun will come out and allow me time to kick it by the pool. I am hopeful.

Breakfast post run…my favorite Clif bar and a banana.

I had very little time after doing some yoga stretching but I threw together a spinach salad for lunch…with red pepper flakes to spice it up. Not sure what’s with me and spiciness lately. I love to make it hot.

Do you like it hot? If so what’s your favorite kind of spice to put on your food?

What’s your favorite kind of running weather? 

Weds Spin Playlist and a Little Runspiration.

I made quite a tasty breakfast this morning from the Chelsea Café. Spinach, feta and eggs on toast. Actually my attempt to make an omelet failed so I decided to make a sammy out of it and it was delicious.

This morning I taught 55 minutes of spin class with a throwback playlist from my music vault. Love mixing up the old and new.

Round 2 of happy hour is tonight. Let’s go for a ride!

Stereo Love- Edward Maya feat. Vika Jigulina: Warm up

Don’t Wake Me Up- Chris Brown: Standing run, double time it at the chorus

Where Have You Been (Papercha$er Remix)- Rihanna: Working in and out of the saddle, level 7-8 resistance

Crank it Up-David Guetta feat Akon: 20 second sprints

How Low Can You Go- Ludacris: Active recovery

Harder Better Faster Stronger- Daft Punk: Rolling hills

Take Over Control- Afrojack: Back to a flat road, work up to a level 9 hill

Cry- Flo Rida: Accelerations

Titanium- David Guetta feat. Sia: Active recovery

Diamonds- Rihanna: Keep resistance at level 7, work up to 10/11 hill

Scream- Usher: Last set of rolling hills for the day

I’m a Machine- David Guetta feat. Crystal Nicole: Team sprints to the finish

Solider of love- Sade: Cool down

And a little runspiration for those of you getting your run on today. Work it.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? 

Any group fitness instructors out there? What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

Do you have any words of runspiration for us today? 

Breakfast Running Club and No Excuses.

This morning I was up around 6 am for a quick 5 mile jaunt with my breakfast running club ladies. We have formed a little running club in my neighborhood so a couple of the ladies met up to watch the beautiful sunrise and sweat it out a bit.

Although I love my solo runs I do like to switch it up during the week from time to time and run with friends. I am so lucky that the girls in my neighborhood love getting up early and busting it out just like I do. I think running with friends definitely helps to give you a boost and sometimes will push you to work a little harder when you don’t want to.

My friend Elyse is super fast and also runs marathons like myself so I love trying to keeping up with her for most of the way.

After the run I came home and did a mini strength set in my living room. I keep the weights by the tv so there’s no excuses not to get my lift on. This set takes about 15-20 minutes…great if you are strapped for time. Or do a few more rounds if you want to go a little bit longer.

Do you have a workout you like to do in your living room or if you’re strapped for time? How do you encourage yourself to work harder while you’re running?

10 Miles, A Little Salsa and Mama’s Day Wknd Recap.

This morning’s workout- rolled out of bed and taught 55 minutes of power packed spin class amped up on caffeine. Always a good time.

My goal always is to make people look like that guy at the bottom. Torture is fun.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was filled with the things I love the most…running, dancing, and fun times with the cutest mama in town.

Let’s back it up to Saturday morning. I was up early to hit the streets…10 miles in my ‘hood for breakfast at an easy 9:20 pace.

Marathon training season is ramping back up for me so time to start cranking that mileage back up a bit…this race will be here before you know it.

I of course did stop a couple of times for water and to take photos of the sunrise as usual. It was a good run and time flew by quickly. I love going for long solo runs when I have lots on my mind. Just to work stuff out in my head and think things through in my crazy brain. I always come out on the other side with just a little bit more clarity.

I didn’t fuel or eat much before this run, but afterwards I worked up a bit of an appetite and had this Clif Bar along with lots of water. It was delicious with just a little jolt of caffeine and reminded me of those Thin Mint girl scout cookies.

After the run I met up with mama for lunch at this swanky restaurant by Klyde Warren Park which sits right the heart of downtown Dallas. Gorgeous day for a stroll.

We shared a little vino and cheese on the patio.

Later on in the evening I recharged the batteries with a nap and met up with a few of my running buddies to celebrate this hottie’s upcoming birthday. A little salsa dancing at Gloria’s.

Sunday I took mama to church and we had brunch at our favorite spot with my cousin Crystal and her two daughters, one is 2 and the other is 5. Love these sassy chicks.

Busy busy weekend but I still made time to stop by Trader Joe’s for my grocery haul. Yummy spinach salads on deck all week long.

Fun fun weekend and happy I got to spoil my mama cuz she’s the best ever.

Did you spend Mother’s Day with your mom/family? Did you run a long run or RACE? 

Have you ever gone salsa dancing? 

It’s my favorite.

TGIFriday Faves.

Finally Friday! So ready for the weekend. I am already starting to count down the days til I get to visit the BF in Houston for Memorial Day and the start of SUMMER! It will be here before you know it.

My faves this week -

Morning runs by the lake. My time to reflect, ponder the day, and pound the pavement a bit. Plus how could you ever get tired of this view? Hasn’t happened yet.

Essie nail polish. I can’t wait to add to the collection. So many yummy colors.

This shirt. Describes me to a T as I am quite the party animal during the work week.

Watermelon and feta? Sign me up. Anything with feta or goat cheese and I’m on board.

Blushing a little bit at being able to Ship my Pants.

These triathlon ready Asics Gel Noosa running shoes. Just slip ‘em on and go. I have a love affair going on with Asics plus the colors are so right up my crazy alley.

This Trader Joe’s find. I am loving coconut anything lately. I must warn you though they are addictive and delicious.

Statement necklaces. Because every girl needs a little bit of sparkle in her life.

What are you up to this weekend? Are you going to spoil your mama silly for Mother’s Day? What’s your favorite running shoe?

Breakfast Tater Skins and Tracks on Deck Thursday Spin Playlist.

So last night I decided to cook up some breakfast for dinner…also known as BRINNER (probably one of my favorite words). I’ve been craving eggs like never before so I decided to whip up some breakfast tater skins.

I added some roasted asparagus on the side. Oh and use crumbled chicken sausage and laughing cow cheese in the potato mix. Maybe a little bit of crumbled blue cheese. And preferably the jalapeno chicken sausage from Trader Joe’s.

Get creative.

This week’s spin cycle playlist-

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody- Fergie feat. Q Tip and Goon Rock: Warm up

Shut it Down- Pitbull feat. Akon: Jumps w/ 6-7 resistance

Blurred Lines (Justin Sane Bootleg Remix)- Robin Thicke feat T.I. And Pharell: 7-8 resistance, double time intervals out of the saddle

Against the Floor (Mashup)- Rihanna, Britney Spears, Pitbull: Rolling hills

Come and Get It (Fast version)- Selena Gomez: Accelerations

Love on Top (Ted Smooth Remix)- Beyonce: Active Recovery

Freeze- T. Pain feat. Chris Brown: 7-8 Jumps, Double time it at the chorus

Hard- Rihanna feat Jeezy: Back to a flat road, working all the way up to level 10 hill

Boyz- M.I.A.: Sprints 30/20/30/20

Clarity- Zedd feat Foxes: Short recovery, working back up to level 7

Crazy in the Deep (Mashup)- Adele vs. Cee-Lo: Starting at 7 working up to level 10 (11 if you have it in you!)

The Other Side- Jason Derulo: Recover on a flat road, then back to rolling hills

Hit the Lights- Jay Sean feat Lil Wayne: Team sprints

Beautiful- Mariah Carey feat. Miguel: Cool down

Oh and I’m loving this little 101 on spinning. Brush up on your cycle etiquette and get some good tips.

What’s your favorite BRINNER meal? 

Do they have a Trader Joe’s where you live?