Coffee Wisdom

Those of you who know me, or follow me on instagram or twitter, know that I love my morning Dutch Bros {small sugar free white chocolate latte with coconut milk please}.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we take our coffee very seriously...in Medford there is a drive through coffee stand on {almost} every corner, up in Portland you will never be more than a block from a coffee shop, and Seattle is home to the original Starbucks.  Recently, my cup of coffee has been more than a caffeine pick-me up, it's an unexpected sip of encouragement and a little reminder of how to live life to the fullest.  

Words of wisdom from my morning cup of joe:

I encourage you to ask yourself, "Am I doing my part to be the change I want to see in this world?"  We can't do it alone, but every little part adds up. More can always be done, but I spend a lot of my time giving back to charities and organizations that hold a special place in my heart, in an effort to leave a positive impact and impart change. 

Life is short...let the people you love know how much they mean to you, on a daily basis.  Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while, send a "just-because" card in the mail. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life that we forget to invest time in that which is most important: personal relationships.  

SMILE! 

A smile creates happiness in the home, 
promotes good will in business, 
and is the cornerstone of friendship.

It can perk up the weary, 
bring cheer to the discouraged, 
sunshine to the sad, 
and is nature's best antidote for trouble.

What a great reminder...Love Abounds. Next time you are down, or feeling like the world around you is crumbling, take a moment to focus on all of the love that is present in your life and in this world.  

Words to live by: 

These lids, that to most are just a lid, remind me that I need to slow down and enjoy the little things; it's amazing to me how many people aren't even aware of these tidbits of encouragement on their coffee lids. What wonderful, uplifting things are you and I missing as we go through life, because we aren't taking the time to slow down and enjoy.

I challenge you to live life to the fullest...and that includes enjoying the little things, like your morning cup of joe! 

Relay Running, it's Easy {and Fun} as 1,2,3

Today I am doing my first guest blog post over at Rebecca Roams: Relay Running, it's Easy {and Fun} as 1, 2, 3 

A Runcation in the Rose City

One of my favorite aspects of the Rock N Roll events is that they are always in fabulous cities, and thus a great opportunity for a runcation.  Being from the PNW, one of my all time favorite cities to run in is Portland. But Portland has so much more to offer than just fabulous scenery to enjoy; make sure to make the most of your time in Portland and enjoy all the Rose City has to offer. 

FAMILY FRIENDLY:

 Oregon Zoo: One of my favorite places to visit when traveling to a new city is their zoo. The Portland Zoo is  a quintessential Portland experience.  

Rock N Roll Denver

OMSI: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is a scientific, educational, and cultural resource center dedicated to improving the public's understanding of science and technology. OMSI makes science exciting and relevant through exhibits, programs, and experiences that are presented in an entertaining and participatory fashion. 

While at OMSI, make sure to take a tour of the U.S. Navy's last non-nuclear, fast-attack submarine, the USS Blueback (SS-581)! The Blueback was the first battle-ready class of submarines to use the teardrop hull. It was in official operation throughout the Pacific Ocean for 31 years. The USS Blueback served in the entertainment industry too! It appeared in the hit movie The Hunt for Red Octoberand an episode of Hawaii Five-O and has been used as a location for a Discovery Channel documentary and various commercials.

FOR THE ADULTS IN THE GROUP:

One word that most runners love is BEER! Grab up to 15 of your friends, fellow runners, & cheer squad {must be 21 or older}, and pedal your way through a by seat tour of Portland's finest breweries:

Combining Portland’s love of handcrafted beer and biking, the BrewCycle will take you, as fast as you can pedal, to your next ice cold brew! Where you take your bike is up to you, but here are some possible stops:

WHERE TO EAT IN AMERICA'S MOST ORIGINAL FOOD DESTINATION: 

Portland is know for their fabulous restaurants, and the options are endless, but here some of my top picks:

Pok Pok {Thai}

A culinary mecca where chef-owner turns out "lip smacking," "mind -blowing street food" like "unbelievably good chicken wings"

Little Big Burger 

This "hip" local fast-food chain with a penny-pinching, six-item menu slings "fantastic" "made-to-order" sliders that are "tiny but full of flavor" and complemented by "wonderful" white truffle oil–laced fries and ketchup with a "kick"; good thing the service is "rapid", because its no-frills, red-accented shops offer "limited" seating and the line is "often out the door" – it "blows other burger bars away."

Caffe Mingo:

Like dining at your Italian grandmother's house; lovingly prepared pastas and main meet up with a fantastic wine selection

Tasty N Sons {Breakfast}:

drop dead deliciousness

Ox

The custom-made, wood-fired grill stars at this  Boise-Eliot Argentinean that's pulling in crowds for its sizzling mash-up of South American and Pacific NW cuisines

Laurelhurst Market

It's all about the meat

And of course a trip to Portland wouldn't be complete without a stop at the world famous, Portland quintessential,  VooDoo Doughnut for one of their bacon macon bars, VooDoo dolls, or any of their unique, one-of-a-kind donuts {and yes, you will have to wait in line}

And of course, a trip to Portland wouldn't be complete without dining at one of their infamous food carts:

With over 500 Food Carts to choose from, it can be quite a daunting task :) These are my favorites:

The Grilled Cheese Grill: Where else can you enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich on the second story of a double decker bus?

FlavourSpot: Home of Portland's Original Waffle Sandwich.  Being willing to get out of your comfort zone and try the Sausage and Maple OR Ham and Gouda, I promise you will be happy you did. For the more conservative taste buds, the S'more Waffle is mouthwatering deliciousness.

The Whole Bowl: Vegetarian; comforting and healthy medley of brown rice, red and black bean, fresh avocado, salsa, black olives, sour cream, Tillamook cheddar, cilantro, Tali sauce and trace amount of attitude
PBJs Grilled: Oh my, this isn't your average PB&J sandwich.  I really want to try the Spicy Thai: PBJs Peanut Butter, Siracha, fresh basil, curry, and orange marmalade. 

If you are someone who has a hard time making a decision, especially with so many fabulous options, why not take the Food Carts Portland tour?? Join Brett, the defacto food cart ambassador, for a fun and informative tour, while enjoying sample from several of Portland's best carts.

Aren't you excited for a weekend in Portland now, I know I am!!! If you haven't already signed up for the Portland Rock N Roll, you still have time, but HURRY {you only have til the 12th} ! Use "HOLLYROCKS" to save $10  off your  registration

Eugene {half} Marathon: The Highs & Lows

It's hard to believe it has been over a week since the Eugene {half} marathon! This race was supposed to be THE race...I hired a coach, was committed to and focused on my training, and went into it in {by far} the best running shape I have been in.   There was NO doubt in my mind I would crush my sub-2:00 half marathon goal.  So while the outcome of the race was a low, let me start by sharing a high.

I started my weekend by attending a Beth Moore conference Friday night & Saturday morning with my mom. Filled with 7300 women, the Matthew Knight Arena was overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Over the course of the two sessions, Beth talked about how its All About Time.  There was so much information in such a short amount of time, that it really deserves its own post; but it was an emotional, empowering, uplifting, and rejuvenating conference.  Two points from the sessions that really stood out to me are 1) We are NOT running out of time and 2) God calls us to redeem the time {we need to buy back our time}...I am in desperate need of re-prioritizing and buying back my time. 

Mother-Daughter time 

 

Saturday after the conference ended, I was planning on heading to the expo to meet some blogger/twitter/NUUN friends. Things didn't quite go as planned, but I was able to meet up with one of my fellow NUUN teammates, Meghan and meet fellow Medfordite Robyn.  Luckily, thanks to twitter, I was able to quickly meet Corey, Molly, Holly {who is on the Hood-To-Coast team & will be running Ragnar Tennessee with me} and Stephanie.  Sidenote: People who don't blog and aren't into social networking don't understand the friendships that are created among people who don't actually know each other. My friends and family  didn't understand why I wanted to get to the expo at a certain time and why it was so important to hang around to see people...it was kind of frustrating. I am glad I was able to at least briefly meet and chat with a few people! 

Fellow Medfordites

I was so excited {maybe too excited} for the race to begin; I was up all night, like a kid on Christmas Eve.  Race morning we headed to Hayward Field, and I just had a feeling this was going to be the day...I had truly tapered, was well hydrated, my legs felt fresh, and I was confident I would do it.  My race plan was to start off "slow" and negative split it, which has alway been successful for me {when I execute it properly}. Due to the crowd at the start, our first mile was close to 10:00 because we weren't able to get around people.  Mandy and I sort of panicked {knowing that wasn't going to cut it} and picked up the pace. Still working our way through the crowd, we hit 9:26 for mile two, which was about right.  Miles 3-8 we were right at a 9:00 minute pace, which was exactly where we needed to be. But then we hit the hill at mile 8 {which I was fully prepared for...mentally and physically}, but it went downhill from there {no pun intended}...As I write this, looking at my splits, I was right on track with my goal {which is refueling my frustrations with myself}.  I reached the top of the hill {which wasn't even that steep of a hill}, and I was mentally done. Why? I am not sure. Yes, I was physically tired...but nothing out of ordinary for being at mile 9 of a half marathon.  

High: Great running friends and being able to run with my dad

I knew I would see my mom around mile 9, so I kept waiting and waiting, and finally I saw her and my brother, which gave me a little boost, but not much.  I decided to stop & walk for a second so I could turn on my music, get my headphones untangled, turn OFF my GPS tracking app {which was telling me my pace every mile, and at this point only making matters worse}and give myself a mental pep talk.  From that point on my only goal was to finish. Each mile, actually 1/2 mile, became harder and harder, fully aware that my goal was no longer attainable. It wasn't because I wasn't physically trained for it; I mentally crashed. Which is difficult for me to grasp, because mental strength is usually one of my strong suits.  

Mandy coming in strong

I was happy to enter Hayward Field, but it wasn't the victory lap I had anticipated. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I broke into tears...You know, the ugly-sobbing-can't talk kind of cry.  This was a first for me. I usually cry tears of joy every time I cross the finish line, because it is always such a feeling of accomplishment. But not this time.  These were tears of disappointment. Failure. Frustration. While these were a different kind of tears, they symbolized the same thing my tears of joy do: PASSION! My passion for running. Passion for constantly bettering myself. Passion for wanting to make my dad proud.  Passion for accomplishing my goals. Passion for living life to the fullest. Passion for having fun while living a healthy life. 

This training/racing cycle was different for me.   I usually don't take the training quite as serious {if something comes up, it is ok if I miss a run or cut it short}, and I really love the races and have fun.  This time, I was really focused on my training {wouldn't skip a run and did exactly what was on my schedule}, and to be honest, didn't really enjoy the race {that is for another post}.  I DO NOT want to get to the point where racing is no longer fun, so things are going to change! Through the process of running the race, contemplating everything in my head the days after, and in writing this post, I have learned a lot, and know the next race will be better. 

When I first thought about writing this post, I wasn't going to share my finish time, due to embarrassment. Not embarrassment because it is a slow time {I hate the word slow, speed is so relative}, but embarrassment because I know I am capable of so much more {I have raced and ran several long training runs at a much faster pace}. But bottom line, it is my finish time, and I can't change it now:

2:06.?? 

{I guess I could re look up my official time, but that is close enough}

Another high: it is a course PR

A little fun to cheer me up

NUUN for the win

While I struggled with the outcome of my race, I knew I had to pull myself together to celebrate other people's victories...Mandy who had a course and all-time half PR. My dad who had a phenomenal race. Stephanie who had a HUGE course and all-time half PR. David who ran his first half marathon.  Jenny who also had a course and all-time half PR.  I loved switching roles to cheer, take pictures and celebrate in the accomplishment of all of the NUUN/Oiselle runners who ran the full.  Watching the finish of a marathon is so empowering...seeing people fight, with everything in them, to cross that finish line.  Seeing the smiles, from ear to ear when people cross the finish line for the first time OR realize they are going to qualify for Boston.  This finish was even more powerful than most,  as people put their hand over their heart in honor and memory of Boston.  

All-in-all it was a fabulous weekend! One thing I know for sure, I will be running my next race naked {no watch, GPS app...NOTHING!}; I will focus on having fun and not worry about my time. 

It's Not Always About the PR

If I would've written this post immediately after the race it would've been a rather negative post, about how disappointed I was, how I was NEVER going to run the Pear Blossom again, how much I hate this race etc.  But I have since had a change of heart and perspective.

What the Pear Blossom Race means to me:

1) Sentimental: This is the race I used to cheer for my dad for years, and years, and years; and one day decided I was going to run it with him.  I have now been doing races with my dad for 5 years and I cherish everyone of them, and look forward to many more.

2) A Family Tradition: A couple years ago, my cousins came down for the Pear Blossom {that year it was the same weekend as Easter}to cheer & "cowbell" with my mom.  It has been a tradition ever since for them to come down, and this year, more family came down and RAN the 5K.  

3) Celebrating others' accomplishments: For many people, the PEAR is their first run. The first time they take on the challenge of running a 5K or 10 miles. They overcome their fears and doubts, and celebrate a huge accomplishment. For many, the feeling of victory when they cross the finish line opens the door to even bigger possibilities; those who run the 5K decide to sign up for the 10 mile the following year, those who run the 10 mile decide to sign-up for a half marathon.  The finish line is bursting at the seems with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and excitement. Nothing quite compares to cheering people on to a personal victory. 

3) A major mental block: For whatever reason, this course, which I have not only raced several times, but run parts of quite frequently, is a HUGE mental barrier for me. 

Daughters who run together!

The twins

Coming into the finish

A fight for the finish...I told Whitney she better win {and she did, by a second}! 

I was one proud sister, my brother ran his first 5K

A huge part of the Pear Blossom race is the Mayor's One Mile and Two Mile events...These events are a fundraiser through the schools, and the school that has the most participants sign up receives a scholarship. I love watching the kids run their little hearts out for a mile.  If you want to see determination, smiles radiating with joy, and  a genuine feeling of accomplishment, watch a kids' race. 

His reaction says it all...

It's a FAMILY tradition

My dad's running friends..this is a great community event

I decided to run the race by myself and not meet up with any friends, etc. My race plan was to break it up into 3-5Ks...the first 5K was going to be a comfortable pace, I would push the middle 5-K {which has one hill, which you go up and over twice, once into the turn around, and then coming out of the turnaround}, and then really kick it in the last 5K and into the finish.  

I felt good the first few miles, picked it up at mile 3, felt strong going over the hill the first time, but things didn't go so well after that.  I went over the hill the second time, and was TIRED {why?? I train on hills all the time!?}...normally when I am running down hill, I catch my breathe and my legs have a chance to recuperate, not this time. My legs felt heavy and weak. I kept telling myself to relax and regroup, because once I turned the corner at mile 6, it was game on. Well I turned the corner, and rethought my plan...now I was going to make it mile 7, and then kick it in. Mile 7 came, and I was going to make it mile 8, and kick it in. You see the pattern here. For the last three miles my only focus was to keep running and maintain my pace.

I was relived approach the corner to the finish line and hear people cheering & shouting my name

While it wasn't a course PR, it was a PR from the last three years...I will celebrate that victory. I will celebrate a fabulous weekend with family.  I will celebrate people running their first race, people knowing what it feels like to accomplish something that they thought was impossible, people becoming aware that they are capable of far more than they realize, a community coming together to support one another, and crossing the finish line after another 10 miles with friends and my dad {there is victory in every finish}

Celebrating in style

Sometimes it's more than a PR...

Rockin Runs in Portland

Competitor Running Magazine editor, Brian Metzler's said it best, "Running will endure and we will, too..." If ever there was a time to run... #RunNow.

This Sunday, April 21st, 10am, Rock & Roll through the streets of Sellwood with Foot Traffic.  

A rock n roll themed event with a LIVE band, Sellwood SCAVENGER HUNT run/walk, beer, food and more! TONs of prizes from top brands will be part of the scavenger hunt raffle so come ready to win! 

• Course options will be 3, 4, or 6 miles.
• Win entries to the Rock n Roll Half, Foot Traffic Flat, and other local races! 
• Tons of raffle prizes from great brands such as Brooks, Saucony, Asics, and more! 
• One-day Spring SALE: $15 off SALE on any pair of running or walking shoes. 15% off any apparel items and 40% off all long sleeve apparel, jackets, or pants/tights.

If you have any questions, contact Foot Traffic: info@foottraffic.us

SATURDAY APRIL 27th, 8:30am, Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront

Do you want a preview of the Portland Rock N Roll course? Join the the Red-Lizards {the official pace team} for  7-9 mile tour of the course, with coffee served at the end.  

If you have not already registered, make sure to use promo code "HOLLYROCKS" for an additional $10 off registration

Thoughts on Boston From Afar

I am struggling to put all of the thoughts, feelings and emotions into words, but I wanted to share the impact the Boston bombings had on me all the way across the country

After a not so satisfactory race over the weekend, I started my Monday morning off with a tempo run, channeling the Boston Marathon energy, having a solid run, and getting the mental & physical boost of confidence I needed for my upcoming race {Eugene half}.  I was home by 6:30am and turned on the TV to watch the elite male and females start the race, was following all of my friends on twitter and Instagram who were running, and all dialed in to track those people.  Within no time, I was fully emerged into the excitement of the marathon, texting my friends saying I would be there next year to cheer for them, anxiously awaiting text updates for the runners, and sharing their splits and accomplishments with the twitter world.  I wasn't even there, and I was overflowing with the energy of the race.

4 of the 5 runners I was tracking finished the race, with exceptional times, and I anxiously waited for the FINISH text for Lisa, and it never came...I knew, based on the previous texts, that she was close to finishing, but yet she never finished; I knew something was wrong.  I checked twitter, for the 1,000th time that day, and saw the news, and everyone tweeting "are you ok?" It's hard to put it into words, but it was such a heart and gut wrenching feeling, and my initial thought was that Lisa was right near the finish when the bombs went off. I was flooded with all sorts of emotions. Overtime, it was confirmed that the people I know, even those I don't, were ok.  It was then that the reality of what just happened really started to sink in. An individual{s} turned peoples dreams into a nightmare, turned a festive event into devastation, took the life of an innocent child who was the son of one of the marathoners, injured innocent spectators who were there to support the hard work and dedication of their friends, family and loved ones, and stole the joy of the running community, the residents of Boston & all of America on April 15th.  

Events like this have people asking "Why?" "How Could Somenone?" and they often respond with anger and hatred.  This was an act of anger and hatred; we need to respond by looking for the hope in the situation. From the runners running extra miles to go donate blood, the locals offering food, clothing & shelter to the stranded runners, the outpouring of love and support from the running community, the heroic acts of all of the first responders etc. there were so many acts of hope & love seen during such a tragic time.  

As a runner, I felt like my family was attacked.  3 of the 5 people I was following, and very concerned about, I haven't even met, but I feel like I know them, like I have a unique connection with them, like we have been friends for forever. That's the kind of connection we have with other runners. I was sick to my stomach at the thought that something might've happened to them.  I'm just warning Lisa, Lisa,  and Meghan that I am going to give them the biggest, longest hug when I see them {meeting 2 of them for the first time}! And I can't wait!

I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that it was the spectators, the ones selflessly there to celebrate the accomplishment, dedication, and hard work of their friends, family and loved ones who were the victims of this horrific act. My mom is my biggest cheerleader {literally and figuratively} and is  proudly at the finish line, with her camera and cowbell, at most of my races.  My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude for all she has done....the countless miles she has traveled, the streets she has traversed, the cowbells she has rang, the constant belief, support & encouragement she has shown me,  and sacrifice she has made to be there for ME! Every race I look forward to seeing her smiling face as I approach the finish line..I can't imagine it not being there. 

In light of the Boston Marathon, I will run with more heart, passion, and determination; I will love harder, care more, hug a little longer and tighter, and be a light in the world.

My prayers go out to the victims, the running community, Boston, and all of America.