Finally the long weekend is upon us! Hope you’re doing something fun. I was up early this morning to kick things off with an 8 mile run. Humid, warm, a little bit of a breeze.

Sun peeking through the clouds to greet me good morning.

Moving on…what am I loving this week? A few things…

Stacked bracelets from Stella & Dot. I especially am loving the spiked ones. Love me some arm candy.

Skinny funfetti cookies. I made some for my mom last weekend and they were a big hit.

Running in my pink Newtons. They are like my power shoes this week.

Signature necklaces…how cool is that? Have your loved one tatted on your neck at all times.

Praying this week for Oklahoma. Lots of ways you can help out those in need here.

Stalking this girl’s Pinterest for yummy eats and inspiration. Holding onto this quote.

Getting off early from work then I’m off for the quick hour long flight to H.town to see my sweetheart!

Have an fantastic weekend.

-My first marathon back in October 2010 – the Chicago Marathon. I remember how nervous but oh so excited I was to run this race. I had trained all summer long with my running group so I knew I was ready. Boy did I not really know what I was getting myself into though. After mile 20 you start thinking…’wait, so why am I doing this‘? ‘I am never doing this again!’ Then it becomes a TEST of your will and mental fortitude. The remaining 6.2 is ALL HEART. It’s something you can’t quite explain or understand unless you have been through it. I truly crossed that finish line a different person.

With some awesome people.

I loved the city of Chicago…the sights, the diversity…oh and the Garrett’s popcorn. Now that was the highlight of my trip.

-Feb 2011- Rock N Roll New Orleans Marathon. I signed up for this race with my running buddy Lori. I was so excited to run down in the bayou. New Orleans is an amazing city with so much rich culture and amazing cuisine. It’s also so much fun to run there! The course was mostly flat and the weather is always ideal that time of year. I shaved about 30 minutes off of my previous time down in the Nola. It was an amazing feeling. I also raised $1,500 through the American Cancer Society in memory of my late aunt who lost her battle to brain cancer. She was an avid runner and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was watching over me and pushing me the entire way.

-Oct 2011- the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. I trained for this race all summer with my dear running buddies. Boy was it hot that summer! I was ready to run in some cold weather. And cold it was – a blustery 30 something degrees. Cold weather makes me want to run FAST! And run fast I did. I P.R.’d that year with a time of 3:54. I felt on top of the world and on top of my running game.

-Feb 2012- Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon. I signed up for this race on an absolute whim just so I could run on the beach by the water. Plus Galveston is just a fun place. I trained for this race solo while also volunteer coaching the spring program over at Luke’s Locker. Race day it was raining like gangbusters with near 40 mph winds. Totally unexpected but I told myself to stay strong, and keep my mental game tight. If any race tested my mental and physical strength, it would have been this one. I look back on this race with a smile on my face because I know how hard I fought for that 3:56 time. Plus having my sweetheart there cheering me on the whole way was just the icing on the cake!

-Oct 2012- Back to the Marine Corps Marathon for another go round. This was a comeback race for me following an injury I had suffered during the springtime. A pulled hip flexor is nothing to play with ya’ll! After rehabbing it for MONTHS and no running I started training and slowly ramping back up my mileage. I gradually gained my strength back in the summer after lots of slow running and decided to make a go of it. Definitely not my best time here but I loved running by the sights and monuments in D.C. I just enjoyed the ride and running it with some incredible friends. After the race I stayed in D.C. for a week and enjoyed a nice vacation. Also got to catch up with some of my bestest buds from college which was so much fun.

-Feb 2013- There is a trend here with Oct/Feb races I guess…so I ran the Cowtown Marathon, a local race here in the DFW area, a few months back. I trained solo for this race and went into it with no expectations (which in my opinion…is the best way to go into a race). I knew the race would be super hilly so I just held on for the ride. The course was beautiful and maintained a great pace and actually felt great the whole way. My heart was definitely in the game. I shaved nearly 20 minutes off of my previous time with a 4:04. Fine by me! I knew I earned that time after fighting through all of those mounds of opportunity.

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

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.

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!!

I would have to say brunch.

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? 

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

It’s my favorite.