I have a lot of people ask me what my fave running items are, so I thought I would take the easy way out and do a blog post on them! So enjoy...

1. A good pair of running shoes.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to get good running shoes before you start training for a race. My favorites, are my Brooks Launch and my NB 1400. Love them! For a longer run shoe, I usually wear the Nike Pegasus. Go get fitted at a running speciality store, AKA Run On! ;), and have them pick out shoes that are great for your specific feet and activity. I promise, you won't regret it.

2. A running watch

I use the Garmin Forerunner 610. It's my favorite! It has a lot of special functions, which a lot of beginner runners don't really care about, so find one that fits your needs and fits for you.
I recommend doing a lot of research on them to find the perfect one. You may want to start with a basic watch, like the Nike sport band, and then work your way up to a Garmin watch or Polar watch. I love the heart rate function/band attachment that many watches come with, especially so I can keep an eye on my murmur.

3. GU
This is my go-to nutrition supplement during my longer runs. I don't run a race without it. It keeps me going during the parts of the race where my body is beginning to break down muscle instead of fat. There are many different varieties of gels, so find one that works for you!
My fave flavor is Island Nectar...it's about as yummy as these things can get ;)

4. Fuelbelt & Spibelt.
For my longer runs, I usually use my fuelbelt. For my shorter runs and races, I usually wear my Spibelt.
My fuelbelt is velcro, so it fits perfectly around my waist and it has 2 water bottles on it. Although, you can get them with 4. It also has a small pouch, perfect for a couple GU's and my keys.

The spibelt has a spandex material pocket that can fit SO much stuff. I can fit my phone, house key, GU's, and headphones in it and it doesn't usually bounce around. Only downside is it doesn't have water bottle attachments. But that's why I carry it for races and short runs.

5. Body Glide
This stuff is a lifesaver. This product prevents chafing! It looks like a deodorant stick and you just put it on your body in areas that are susceptible to chafe. I swear, it is a miracle worker. The only time I have ever had a problem with it coming off was when I did Boston last year and I was sweating so much that I couldn't keep it on. (sick, I know.)

6. KT Tape
When I have had tendonitis in the past, this product has helped me out so much! I use it all the time now during long runs and races when I know that my tendonitis may flare up again.

It is like a wrap that actually moves with you and stays on while you sweat. I can keep mine on for about 2 days, and even shower in it! Love this stuff.

7. Foam roller
Do yourself a favor and go buy a foam roller. It can be a cheap one or an expensive one. The firmer the foam roller, the more painful, but also the deeper it will get into your muscles. Once you get the foam roller, youtube exercises that you can do with it. I promise this will become your best friend after races.

I have a foam roller, but I also have what is called "the stick" and it fits in my suitcase, so I can travel with it to and from races.

8. Compression sleeves (or socks)
I use CEP compression calf sleeves for after I run marathons. I wear them immediately after I am showered from a race to aid in recovery. They increase blood flow in your legs (and arms if you get arm sleeves) which in turn promotes muscle recovery. I am obsessed with mine. They are also festive if you get them in different colors ;)

9. Yurbuds
I don't usually wear headphones, but if I am on the treadmill or just going for a shorter run, I always wear my Yurbuds. They are headphones that are used a lot with Ironman participants because of how well they stay in your ears. They go in your ears and then you turn them so they basically "lock" in your ears. I can literally tug on mine and they won't budge.
I love them!

10. Road ID
I highly recommend this to anyone, but especially if you have a health issue or something important you would want someone to know about if you were unresponsive during a run.

They come in many different sizes and colors and styles. I wear one on almost every run, especially during races, because of my heart murmur and arrhythmia. I know I have talked about them before on my blog, but I just know how important they are in times of danger. And they aren't that expensive either! Contact me if you want a $1.00 off coupon.

11. Running rainjacket
I know this is a random add-on to the list, but I keep my Brooks rainjacket in my car so that I can go for a run even when it starts to rain. It is waterproof and windproof and it has saved me multiple times!
Go find one you like, but I love this one...

12. Thera Pearl
This is basically a glorified ice pack. I use my ALL the time. Especially lately with my tendonitis. They are made of "pearls" that you just put in the freezer and keep for whenever you need it. They have all different sizes for different parts of your body.

13. Gatorade, gummi bears, & Special K protein drinks
I am clumping these all together because they are all food items.
I use gatorade and Special K protein drinks for recovery and I use gummi bears for during the latter part  of races and longer runs. I get a little bored eating GU for 20+ miles, so I throw gummi bears in there for fun because they are YUMMY and because they are sugars/simple carbs that give me a quick burst of energy. I can't believe I just gave away my secret weapon, but I did. Now you all know! ;) I buy the tiny packs of them that are used at bday parties and such, so I can fit them in my belt.

The grape low-cal gatorade is my absolute favorite. I drink it pretty much every weekend, all weekend long. That's when I do the most running (Friday-Sunday) so I usually am running more than an hour each day. I don't recommend it if you are running for less than 60 minutes or burn more calories than you are taking in, just because it's extra cals that you don't need. Stick to water if you are just going out for a quick 30 minute run, but drink some sort of sports drink if your workout is longer than an hour.

The Special K protein drinks are sometimes my breakfast if I am running out the door in a hurry, but they also make good recovery drinks for me! They are full of vitamins and the proteins I need to recover, and they taste amazing.

I hope this answers some questions and helps other people know what products are out there! If you have any questions, please let me know! I am happy to help and I love talking about running.

Have a great week :)

It’s better to have run and gotten injured than to never run at all.

As most of you know, I am currently nursing a small injury right now...tendonitis in my right foot. Not being able to run for 7 days, 18 hours, 36 minutes [totally kidding…kinda], has made me think about why I run and realize why I love running more than the average human being.

I can’t even count on two hands the amount of times people have asked me why I run. I get that question all the time.

“Brittney, why do you run? I just can’t run for that long.”

“I get bored.”

“I have so many other things to do.”

“It’s hard.”

To be honest, I am always blindsided by the question. It stops me in my tracks for a minute. Why do I run?

I run because I can. Because when I do, I get to test my limits, see how far I can push myself, and aim to be an extraordinary runner.

Running is so much more than exercise for me.

Sure, it started out that way, but it has become so much more than that. I ran competitively all through junior high and through high school, and then recreationally all through college. I have the genes for it, I have the experience for it, but I also have the heart for it.

Running is how I find my inner peace. It’s when I talk to God the most. It’s how I let out stress, anger, anxiety, joy, & happiness. It’s how I release my build up of emotions.

I run to get out of my head. It sounds silly, I know, but I get to release everything and think clearly. And I get to escape myself and the stresses of life for a little while. It’s the only time I can wander to my own special work and no one can reach me. When I’m running, it’s the only time my thoughts are quiet. Don’t get me wrong, some runs I am constantly speaking into my phone about things to add to my to do list, but the majority of the time, it’s just me. And my running shoes. And the road.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a competitive and passionate person. And you can see that through my running. Running is how I express myself. My passion shines through most during my runs, especially during a race. I am constantly setting new goals and working my butt off to reach them. I have a constant drive to beat myself. I have a need to constantly get faster. Sometimes I think it’s a game I subconsciously play while I run. During races, I love the feeling of knowing that I couldn’t possibly have given anything more and that I did everything I could to run to the best of my ability. There is beauty in that feeling.

I also run to explore. It is the way I explore new cities or new environments. When I was in college, I think I ran every inch of Waco (except the sketchy parts). And when we moved to the outskirts of Dallas, you better believe I explored our new city on foot. It’s so much fun! And I get to learn my way around by doing a sport I love.

I’m one of those people that get jealous when I see someone running when I am driving in my car. I can’t stand that they are getting to run when I can’t. I know, it sounds stupid, but that is seriously how much I love running! I would run every minute of every day if I could.

Some people always stop me around this point, and say, “Britt, this still just doesn’t make sense to me how someone can love it this much to want to do it as much as you.”

Running is the only thing that I love that I am actually really good at. Running is one of the only things that I have stuck with for more than 10 years that I legitimately enjoy doing. How many other people can say that? Sure, it’s kept me fit and healthy, but it has also made me such a better person. I am disciplined and motivated in everything I do because of running.

Running as made me a better person, inside and out. I do better in other aspects of my life because of running. In school, I am more focused. At work, I’m not as antsy. I sleep & eat better. And I feel like myself when I run. Running as truly helped to make me the best version of myself. (Along with other things of course ;))

Some say I am addicted. And some say I’m crazy. But I am just a runner with a love for pounding my feet on the pavement (sometimes a treadmill) every single day.

The sport itself is truly wonderful. And I couldn’t be more passionate about it.

The saying goes, “if you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.”

This could not be more true. Props to anyone who is running out there in this world, but I have so much respect for people that run marathons. It is not easy. Not at all.

Marathoners train for countless hours per week, log countless miles per week, and still manage to have a life. Then come race day, we put it all on the course. We endure the pain and fight off the little voice in our head that says “you can’t finish the last 3 miles”; we find the determination and strength with absolutely no energy left to help us cross that finish line. It is an unexplainable feeling that comes over us when the line is crossed. It’s one of wonderment, exhaustion, beauty, pain, and pure joy. We turned one of the hardest events of our lives into something to be proud of, regardless of the time clock.

Once the pain & extreme soreness subsides, we are getting right back out there, ready for the next one. Running marathons has truly changed my life.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me through all my races, my track meets, my training, and my running days. You know who you are. You have made it so easy to go out for runs during holidays and on weekends and you know it’s just something I have to do. You are truly the best!

So there you have it. The long version of why I run. I hope this will help some people understand the crazy side of me now ;)

So many things have happened in the past few weeks! Our lives has been slightly chaotic, but what's new, right?

For starters, I started back at the running store! Part time of course, due to my crazy school schedule.

Also, I started school again yesterday. Blah. I love it, but this semester is going to be super challenging.

This past weekend, Eric & I went to Conroe/Houston for the Chevron Houston Marathon. I ran the full marathon on Sunday, and set a new PR by 1 minute! Not much, but still enough. It was such a cold and wet day. It was 40 degrees and it rained, and even sleeted for a couple miles during the race. I remember starting to feel numb to the extreme weather/temp and then once I crossed the finish line and started walking, I became EXTREMELY cold. I felt like my appendages were going to fall off. I had no idea it was THAT cold during the race, not to mention, my body temperature was going crazy.

This may be TMI, but I also had stomach issues after about mile 10. My pace was about a 7:20 min/mile all the way from the start to the halfway point, but after those stomach issues hit me, it decreased by about 30 seconds per mile. No bueno.
But now that this race is over, I have Boston to look forward to and maybe a couple smaller races in between.

Carbo-loading?!

I am kind of going backwards, but during the expo, when I went to pick up my packet and bib for the race, Ryan Hall was there signing autographs. I had planned to get in line to get it, but by the time I got there, they had cut the line off since he was speaking soon after. I was so disappointed! Ryan Hall is one of my running idols and I couldn't wait to meet him in person. Instead, I was a creeper and my mom took a picture of me while he was autographing for someone else...

Ryan is running the Boston Marathon, so hopefully I will get his autograph and a pic with him then.

Over the weekend, we also did a couple other things. Our cousin, Becky & her husband, Michael, had their second child, a baby girl named Evelyn last week. So, we paid them a visit in College Station to see them and to meet their new baby! She is absolutely adorable and was just so content being passed around from person to person. What a trooper. Her older sister, Cora, was as cute as ever. And such a big help to her baby sister.

Evelyn Clare...so beautiful :)

We also went to my cousin, Jason's, 2nd birthday party. He is obsessed with Elmo, so of course, it was Elmo/sesame street-themed.

When we got home from the race, school started full swing. And I was the gimp wobbling & limping from class to class yesterday and today. And tomorrow too. I'm pretty sore still, but nothing a little R&R won't fix.

I have a tendency to speed up the recovery process after a marathon just because I can't wait to get back out there, but I am really trying to take this one slow. Especially because I found out today that I strained a tendon on the bottom of my foot during the race.

I went to the podiatrist today and found out the news. I have been having some pain on my foot ever since the race and it has really been killing me. I literally can't walk. So, the doc gave me this cool band to wrap around the middle of my foot that has a pad that goes under my arch, and keeps the pressure off the part of my foot that hurts. It's really cool. And it has definitely eased the pain! Now I can actually walk!

Other than all of this, I have been working on finishing up my transfer graduate school applications. And guess what?! They are ALL DONE. Seriously, what a relief! It is like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Now, it's just the waiting period until April. Once I find out where I get in, Eric & I may have some news depending on where we want to be for a couple years.

Please pray for us!

I hope everyone has such a great week!

I am going to have a good time laying on the couch. Wait, who am I kidding? I don't ever lay on the couch. ;)

Our Udell Christmas vacation started off with visiting with friends before we all left Dallas for the holidays.

We started by having brunch with my good friend Julie, who is now working in the Dallas area. We ate at Eric & I's fave restaurant here in Plano called Whiskey Cake. If you haven't been, then you need to stop what you are doing and go now. Greatest food ever.
Julie is one of Eric & I's great friends, who just so happened to be one of my bridesmaids, college roommates, and sorority sister.

Typical running pose.

Brunch at Whiskey Cake.

Next up...the Allens.
My best friend, Liz & her hubby, Brooks, are leaving Texas to go to San Diego so Brooks can attend law school there. I am so incredibly sad to see them leave, but I know they are going to have SO much fun in Cali. Eric & I met up with them the night before we left for San Antonio. We had dinner at Fireside Pies in Grapevine, and it was wonderful. It was also half price wine bottle night, so it was just our luck ;)

Loved having them a part of our big day.

I didn't get a group picture, and I'm kicking myself for that now. Now they are in California, and I miss them like crazy!

Our heads/hair makes a heart...true love!

Love her so much.

We miss you guys and are so glad you made time out of your busy moving schedule to have dinner with us! Can't wait to go visit them in San Diego :)

The night of dinner with the Allens, we got ready to go to San Antonio, and this little girl was in everyone's business.

She was digging through the presents and causing trouble.

The next morning, we began our 5 hour trek to visit the family.

Our packed car with 2 canine passengers.

We stopped in Dripping Springs first to have dinner with our aunt and uncle, Gus & Mary Ellen.
We always love visiting with them.

That night we drove to Eric's parents house to settle down for the holidays.
The Fernandez family went to College Station for the holidays, because our cousin, Becky is 2 weeks from her due date with sweet Evelyn. So, Cindy had Christmas at her house with that side of the family on Saturday night.
I didn't take many pictures, but these are the ones I did get.

We also passed out early Christmas presents, which included sugared pecans that Yours Truly made (a Christmas tradition), and a hard apple cider that Eric made. He is newly into the hobby of brewing beer and ciders, so he couldn't wait for everyone to taste his product. And it was a success!

And guess who made the label?! ME! And it's strange because I usually don't have a creative bone in my body, but I guess one decided to make an appearance. And yes, it does say, "Naughty List Hard Cider". Tagline: "First it's nice. Then it's naughty." (My dad obviously helped :))

That weekend, I completed an 18-mile long run that begins my tapering for the Houston Marathon in January. (This weekend was only 13 miles! That means it's getting closer!)
The weekend also consisted of going to the SA Riverwalk to see the lights & play human Frogger in the middle of huge crowds of people. It was insane! Never going to the Riverwalk over the holidays again. We did find a Pat O'Briens and get some yummy hurricanes to pass the night away.

For Christmas Eve, we had family over at Cindy's house to play Bunko and eat lots of great food. I have never played Bunko before this, and it was so much fun! I think we should make it a tradition.
Cindy had prizes for the winners and biggest loser, which I won neither of. The Ward family dominated.

I am so mad at myself because I have been slacking at taking pictures lately. I usually am on top of things, but not so much these days. I just get too wrapped up in everything and it totally slips my mind.

I did get pictures on Christmas morning though.
We went to Adam & Melissa's house on Tuesday morning to watch our adorable niece, Abigail, open her presents. Just to rewind, here are a couple pictures of her on Santa's lap...

She asked him for a choo-choo train book.
And she got it! She was so happy! That's literally all she wanted. Oh kids.

Anyways,
She had a great time opening presents. She would rip off small pieces of wrapping paper to open her gifts. And she loved all her presents. Eric & I got her an Ariel mermaid doll that was so cute. She sat with it the whole time.

So cute!

Ripping it off, piece by little piece.

Christmas night we spent at Wita's house just visiting, opening gifts, and once again, eating too much great food.
I always love visiting with the Ward family when they are in town, because we don't get to see them that often, seeing as that they live in Arkansas.
So it was so nice to just hang out with them and relax.
I don't do much relaxing in my everyday life, and that was the theme of this week, minus all the get togethers. When we were home, we were home just hanging out. It was wonderful!

Here is proof...

Overall, we had a great Christmas!
And we plan on having a happy new year!

Oh and by the way, I got a Samsung Galaxy S3 for Christmas, so I am selling my iPhone 4.
If you or anyone you know is interested, here is the ebay listing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170967469098?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I hope everyone has a great new years! Here is to a great & exciting 2013 :)