I ran my fastest mile today! 13 minutes! Which I know isn’t that impressive, but what ev’s, I worked my ass off for that 13 minutes! I pushed myself harder than I ever have and it was totally worth it. I guess you could say I have a love/hate relationship with running. It’s my least favorite exercise but the one I’m always the most proud of.

So I came up with some quick RUNNING TIPS to help you if you’re trying to improve your running experience. I mean, i’m no professional, but i’ve been able to cut my mile time in half just from doing this stuff. 

1. EAT A GOOD MEAL -

My best runs have always been when I’ve eaten a healthy meal about 2 hours before hand. My body has time to digest the food and i’m filled with energy by the time I get to the treadmill.

Eating 10 minutes before I run does nothing for me! Even worst, not eating before running obliterates me! When I don’t eat, my mile times are pathetic! Without eating, I don’t have the energy to go 100%.

Food can make or break your run!

I mean, you wouldn’t go on a road trip without first filling your car up with gas, right? The same goes for your body.

Eat something! Eat well! and your running will drastically improve!

2. CARDIO FIRST -

I try to do 60% cardio and 40% strength training when I workout. I think that’s a pretty good balance for weight loss. 

My routine is always been to do my runs before my weights. Whenever I’ve done strength training first, it never ends well. My body will ache and beg me not to go hardcore on the treadmill. Honestly, who wants to start a run feeling sore?

My best workouts always come when I run first. It gets my heart pumping and sends a signal to my body that it’s time to get to work! Plus, it feels awesome to sit on a bench after running and just do some bicep curls. 

3. WEAR FITTED CLOTHES -

This one seems like a no brainier, but i’ve fallen victim to the comfy sweat pants trap one too many times! Wear clothes that fits! Don’t be the person pulling up their shorts during a run. Not only is it annoying as hell, but it takes your focus off of your workout.

Also, wearing clothes thats too tight can be really uncomfortable. You need to be able to breathe when you run! That’s kind of important. So dress comfortably and I promise it’ll improve your running. 

4. WORKOUT BUDDIES! -

The next time you go to the gym, take a friend with you! Make a friendly bet that the loser has to buy smoothies and then race your heart out! You’ll be surprised how a little friendly competition can improve your workout. 

5. GO HARD, BUT NOT THAT HARD - I can always tell when I push my body too hard. I feel abnormally weak afterwards and sometimes I’ll even get sick. 

Push yourself, go hard, but don’t go so hard that you make yourself sick! Sure you finished that mile faster than you ever have, but it’s not worth it if you’re too sick to finish you’re workout. 

6. SET THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS - You probably won’t cut your mile time in half over night. You probably won’t be able to keep up with someone who’s in much better shape than you. Set the right expectations for yourself. Don’t go into the gym and say “I’m gonna run 18 miles in an hour today” because you’ll only bum yourself out if you don’t reach that goal. 

Make goals for yourself, but make them realistic. I swear, nothing feels better than hitting a goal you’ve made for yourself. Don’t make that fantastic feeling unattainable! 

7. MAKE A WORKOUT PLAYLIST -

This is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT RUNNING TIP I could give you!

I’m super duper cereal you guys, a strong playlist is an absolute must!

Music has the power to push you more than anything else! I know when I run, I need to have a strong beat blaring in my ears to keep my mind off of how hard my heart is pounding!!

I don’t care if you’re feeling tired or ugly or heartbroken, everyone has that one song that takes them to another place. A song that makes you forget you’re even working out. A song thats your anthem. 

Make a playlist full of anthem songs and you’ll notice the music pushing you through your miles!

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So those are just some tips that have helped me improve my running. Hopefully some of you can benefit from these tips as well. 

Also, If you guys have any advice for me, please feel free to comment! I still think of myself as fitness newbie and I need all the help I can get!

#bebrave 

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I’M IN LOVE.

Well, it might be too early to say that with such vigor, but it’s truthfully how I feel. 2012, is the love of my life right now and I am head over heels for her. 

This is kind of coming out of nowhere isn’t it? 

Let’s back up a little bit….

2011:

2011 broke my heart more times than I care to admit. I’ve never been through hell like that before. Young and unarmed, I walked blindly into a dragons layer and got obliterated. Don’t let this post-surgery smile fool you, there are deep scars on this soul. Scars that have crippled me and left me on the edge of hopelessness. For months, the world sat on my shoulders until my dreams were crushed. 

Everything

(i’m gonna repeat that for dramatic emphasis)

EV.ER.Y.THING fell apart in 2011.  

The year completely destroyed me.  

And as I write that, I find myself smiling. Maybe because I’m happy about it. I’m happy 2011 was such a bitch to me because I needed to be destroyed in order to be rebuilt. I am a completely different person now because of the hell I’ve lived through. I’m stronger now. I’m kinder now. I would even venture to say that I’m much more mature now. 

I’ve always gotten along better with even number years. 2012 is no exception. I’m beyond shocked at how kind she’s been to me. It’s like without me saying a word, she knows of the heartache 2011 put me through. I can tell that she’s making an honest effort to make it up to me. 

This past week has been one of the best weeks I can remember. On Sunday, I scored a free ticket to an amazing concert. On Tuesday, I went snorkeling at Epcot! (I didn’t even know they did that!) On Wednesday I passed a really hard test at work that I’m so so excited about. And because of the All Star games here in Orlando, The mall I work at has been crawling with celebrities.  

I have a lot of FUN stuff planned for this year!  

I have a lot i’m looking forward to accomplishing! 

More than anything, I’m really excited with the way I’ve been able to inspire others. It gives meaning to the half healed scars on my chest and encourages me to keep going. 

I suppose i’ve learned a pretty profound lesson: No matter how awful things get, they will ALWAYS get better. Just trust me on this. The night can only last so long, the sun will rise and all the pain you’ve lived through will be worth something.

I can say with total confidence that being destroyed is absolutely worth it when God rebuilds you into something stronger. 

Be faithful. Be patient. Be brave and enjoy your reconstruction. 

I know I am!

(right after I swam with sea turtles and sharks. Pretty legit)