Stretch it out...

CoolRunning.com is proving to be a great resource while I journey to complete my first 5k. I'm quickly learning that warm-ups are something serious and stretching is not something you can skimp on. I pulled my groin towards the end of my first week of training and after a few days of rest I started getting back to my routine. I wanted to find a stretching regimen to help ensure my muscles are adequately warmed and stretched so I can avoid future injuries. The following stretches should be incorporated into your running routine (pre and post run). You can repeat each stretch 2 to 3 times and hold for 30-40 seconds each. Also, keep in mind that it's a good idea to do your stretches after a 5-10 light run/warmup because "warm" muscles tend to stretch more easily.




1. Wall Pushup #1

Stand about three feet from a wall, feet at shoulder width and flat on the ground. Put your hands on the wall with your arms straight for support. Lean your hips forward and bend your knees slightly to stretch your calves.






2. Wall Pushup #2

From the previous position, bend forward to lower your body to waist height. Bring one foot forward with your knee slightly bent. Lift the toes of the front foot to stretch the muscle under the calf. Stretch both legs.





3. Wall Pushup #3

Put your feet together, rocking back on your heels with your hands on the wall and your arms straight to form a jackknife with your body. This stretches your hips, shoulders, and lower back.




4. Back Scratch

Grab your elbow with the opposite hand and gently push the elbow up and across your body until your hand reaches down to "scratch" your back. Gently push on your elbow to guide your hand down your back as far as it will comfortably go, stretching your triceps and shoulders. Stretch both arms.




5. Hamstring Stretch

Lie down with one leg straight up in the air, the other bent with foot flat on the ground. Loop a towel over the arch of the lifted foot, and gently pull on the towel as you push against it with your foot. Push only to the point where your muscles contract. Stretch both legs.


6. Quadriceps Stretch

Kneel on your knees (without resting back on your heels). Lean back with your body erect and your arms to the side. Hold for 15 seconds.





7. Heel To Buttock

Stand on one foot, with one hand on a wall for balance. Hold the other foot with the opposite hand and raise the heel of the lifted foot to the buttocks (or as close as comfortably possible), stretching your quadriceps. Keep your body upright throughout. Change legs and repeat.





8. Hip & Lower Back Stretch

Sit on the ground with your legs crossed. Lift your right leg and cross it over the left, which should remain bent. Hug the right leg to your chest and twist the trunk of your body to look over your right shoulder. Change legs and repeat (i.e. looking over your left shoulder).



9. Iliotibial Band Stretch ** my favorite stretch... this feels amazeballs**

Lie on your side with both legs bent in running position. Bring the bottom leg toward your chest and then bring the top one back toward your buttocks, so that the running position of your legs is exaggerated as possible. Hold for 30 seconds then flip sides and repeat.



10. Hamstring & Back Stretch

Lie on your back with your knees bent. Hug your shins to your chest to stretch your hamstrings and lower back.



11. Bridge

Lie on your back and, with your feet flat on the ground, lift your hips up until your body forms a flat plane. Repeat this one ten times for 30 seconds each to stretch your quads and lower back.


12. Groin Stretch

Seated, put the soles of your feet together. With your elbows on the inside of your knees, gradually lean forward and gently press your knees toward the ground.

Dinner Fail...

So last night I'm in the midst of one of the many phone conversations I have with my mother (we speak at least twice a day, every day) and I made a huge error. Somehow I was so wrapped up in telling her a story that I added the Velveeta cheese (that comes in the pack) to the freaking boiling water before the shells were even done! I know, I know... a big time fail. I've never done ANYTHING like that before. The second that cheese hit the boiling water I was instantly pissed at myself for being so distracted. I tried to scoop it out and salvage the meal but it was too late. I didn't want to tell my husband because he's obsessed with Velveeta and would've been annoyed that it was no longer going to be part of dinner... (though he's probably reading this post so now he knows lol... sorry babe lol...) but I ended up throwing it all down the garbage disposal. Which makes me think of how great those things are! Well, aside from the the time I accidentally crushed up a shot glass lol... even then the garbage disposal broke that thing all the way down!

My dinnertime fail made me realize how important it is for us to really give our full time and attention to things as we're doing them. It's nice to be a multi-tasker but sometimes it's okay to just do one thing at a time. I honestly can't remember the last time I did just one thing. Tonight we ate dinner, watched TV and laundry all at once. Even as I write this blog post I'm listening to music, sending some emails, and thinking about everything else I need to do before I go to sleep lol. Tomorrow I'm going to do an experiment - - only one thing at a time for me... no multi-tasking at all. Let's see how this goes.

On another note, has anyone ever promised to make dinner then suddenly realized they didn't feel like cooking at all? I usually have this epiphany around the time the dinner is supposed to actually be done lol... I've had to order my husband a last minute pizza or grab some Chinese takeout more than once.

What dreams are made of...

"As light jubilantly bounced from the chandeliers and sparkles gleamed from the marble floors, an overwhelming sense of peace came over me. I was in heaven... heaven on earth... Forever21!"

Sunday night I dreamed a dream. The kind of dream that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. The kind where you find yourself awoken with a grin still lingering on your face. I dreamed that Forever21 came to South Carolina and I was working there!

It may seen strange that one would fill with delight over the idea of working at Forever21, but I don't think you all understand - - South Carolina doesn't have ONE Forever21 store and since moving here in October, my inner fashionista has slowly been withering away.

This is the first time I haven't worked a corporate job in 7 years.... which is both scary and a bit strange since I'm only 26... but I've been obsessing over the idea of working at Forever21 while my husband finishes out his military contract. The life of a stay at home wife/student isn't necessarily bad... I mean, waking up whenever I want for the first time in YEARS is quite nice, but I do find myself missing the team environment you get with a company and just being around pretty things. Say what you will, Forever21 is my happy place and I LOVE being there. When I worked in Chicago I would spend my lunch breaks wandering around Michigan Ave... sometimes even making a dash for Water Tower or State St. so I could peruse the racks at my favorite store.

South Carolina is scheduled to get their first Forever21 this spring and I've set my sights on the possibility of working there. Now, I've never worked retail before, but I do consider myself to be the ultimate Forever21 consumer. I know what kind of experience I liked when I was dishing out money, so creating that experience for others would be a breeze.

I still have my feelers out there for any media-related jobs, but the market in SC is rather dismal at best. Forever21 seems like a good option right about now... we'll see how things progress.

Entering the race...

I wanted to wait until I had successfully completed my first week, but now I feel comfortable sharing with everyone that I'm training for my first 5k! I don't know when the idea to run hit me, but I'm a goal oriented person so I thought it would be nice to use my time in SC to accomplish a few things on my list.

Last year I went to Road Runner Sports and had my feet analyzed and they suggested an awesome pair of running shoes. The Saucony Guide 3 shoes I picked up happen to be perfect for those that average under 15 miles a week of running. I also bought insoles at the time which have been making my feet very happy, but I'm quickly learning that running is a real sport with real injuries.

In the week I've been training I've already had a pulled groin and gnarly foot cramp. I'm definitely a beginner so any pro runners out there with tips for how to stretch, warmup, etc...  are greatly appreciated.

For anyone interested, I found a great online resource that I'm using to train. It's a 9 week program to help take you from the couch to your first 5k! Though the training is 9 weeks long, I planned to run my first race in 5 weeks. I'll have to see where I'm at in a few weeks and make an executive decision at that time. If not, I'll have to find a later starting race. The weather is getting nice out here so I'm sure there will be a few going on.

Final Stretch...

I wanted to give a big Thank You to everyone that has shown me support during my journey to become one of the new vloggers for NaturallyCurly.com. Tomorrow is the final day of voting and I'm currently at about 900 views, which equals about 900 votes! Knowing that so many of my friends and family have clicked the link and watched the video really does mean a lot to me and I truly appreciate all of the support. I'm entering the final stretch and wanted to rally everyone up one last time to cross the finish line.

Please take the time out to watch the video again or send the link to anyone you know that has an interest in curly hair. For more updates please subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Twitter or Facebook!!

Again, thanks for all of the support you all have shown me thus far!

Can you really have it all?

Looking around it seems like if someone has the man, they don't have the career... If they have the career, they don't have the kids... and more than a few have the kids and not the man. As I approach 27, and my official foray into my late 20s, the concept of whether or not we can really "have it all" has been on my mind.

Now that I'm married the idea of having children sooner than later has crept into my mind more than a few times. Yet, I'm still working on my career so I tend to beat the thoughts to the background... constantly convincing myself that I must have A, B and C in place before kids can be part of the equation. I don't know if this is just effective planning on my part or if I'm allowing motherhood, one of the most organic things in the world, be another "task" on my list of life.

In an interview for Marie Claire*, when asked why she encourages women to plan early for a family, MSNBC reporter Mika Brzezinski touched on this subject:

"I don't want to impose rules on people, but you have only a short window, and you're sorely mistaken if you think you can put off having a family. It's very hard to find a good man, and it's never 'a good time' to have a baby if you have a career. Plus, someone who is rabidly ambitious and holds off on family -- it doesn't come off as that smart. You just know that a woman who has her own life and is raising children really has her act together."

I keep telling myself that maybe in 5 years I will be "ready" (on paper) for a child, but then I think about what 5 years really means. I would be almost 32 and forgive me, but the idea of being 32, married for over 6 years and without any kids kind of scares me! My mother was done with kids by 30 so I've been getting a major side eye from her in regards to this entire situation.

Being a control freak and someone obsessed with planning and list-making, my current struggle is keeping in mind that our 20s should be spent laying the ground work to "having it all", leaving our 30s to enjoy the fruits of our labor... yet trying to focus on enjoying where I am currently and creating my sense of "all" for that moment. It's easy to get caught up in what you don't yet have and are still working on and forget all the ways you've currently been blessed. Maybe God gives us each things in our own time that we can handle. This first year of marriage has already taught me that there's nothing better to prepare you for children than taking care of a husband... but that's another post.

How do you handle the delicate balance of career, family and romantic relationships? Does one usually have to suffer? Do you feel like you have it all?

* Interview in February Issue of Marie Claire