Short Post/Update :)

It's the start of my long weekend and what better way to start if off then by writing a new fitness post?  #heyhey Well It's been well over a month since our marathon and I am now ready to start training again.  Training for my first sprint triathlon that is.  :) 

I'm so exited for this new adventure.  I was going to start training for another marathon but the more I thought about it I decided I need to step out of my comfort zone.  Honestly swimming and bicycling have always been a struggle for me so it will be nice to train and get better!  I've learned training for something is so important.  In the past I never thought I would ever be able to run past three miles but putting myself on a training program changed this notion. :) 

Jalen got me a fitness pass to UCLA.  They offer an assortment of different classes which I am super exited to start attending.  My fiance is da best!  We've been hiking a lot these days.  We like to go every Saturday and Sunday.  There's nothing quite like early morning air and mountain walks.  One of my all time favorite things.  We take our pup Rio and he absolutely loves it as well.

My goals for this month are to eat healthier, work on my core and of course start training for my sprint marathon which I will run within the next month or so.  :) I want to share one of my favorite morning smoothies.  I hope you enjoy. 

Have a wonderful and safe weekend everyone!  Proud to be an American!:)

Morning Smoothie:  Terra Whey Protein, Pineapples, Blueberries, Almond Milk, Kale, Flax seed, Parsley & Lemon.  #yummy

Our first MARATHON!!!!!

Wow I've got to be theeee worst blogger ever!  ;) Where does one find the time? I always think back to my younger days when time was all I had.  Not the case anymore..  hehe I would love to make a habit of posting at least once a week, month??  Anyhoo I just finished reading one of my best friends blogs and she inspired me to post a new one myself.  So thank you my beautiful Jrose.  :)

Well where do I begin..  So much has happened since I posted last.  Things are changing left and right and I don't really know where to start but here we go. :) (I like smiley faces:)). We started training for our first marathon back in January.  Jrose and Conrad were on our same running schedule.  Although we were so far apart we felt like they were right there beside us.  Most days we would be running at the same time.  I learned very fast we were not all only competitive but very very competitive.  The guys tried to hide it most days but Jackie and I loved talking about our times and how we could improve. Not a bad thing in our books. 

We traveled home for a weekend getaway back in April and it turned out to be one of the best weekends of our lives.  Jalen proposed to me!  Yup he did it.  :):):):):)  It was one of the most magical weekends ever.  We also found out some of our best friends were expecting their first baby!  Those best friends being our training partners.  Yup this is the change I was talking about earlier. :)   This all came right in the middle of our training.  We had a wonderful weekend of celebrating and just being together.  A weekend none of us will never ever forget.  :)

When we got back to California it was hard to get back on track.  We were on still on cloud nine and the celebrations continued with family coming to visit, traveling to San Diego and then to The Grand Canyon!  Our training schedule kind of went off course for a bit but that's okay.  I found myself getting frustrated at times because I would miss a run or 2 or 3 but we just had so many wonderful things happening.  I wasn't going to miss out on any of it.  Things got back to normal after our Grand Canyon trip and our training was sort of back on track.  We were getting so close to the race.  It was important for us to eat well and get plenty of rest. 

We traveled to Santa Cruz, California to run our Marathon.  We were ready. We trained hard and I mean really hard.  Before we knew if we were at the starting line.  It all happened so fast I'm actually really happy to be writing right now so I can re-live everything yet again. 

 Boom here we go.  Mile 1.  We felt great and our adrenaline was in full force.  We lost Conrad at mile 2 I believe.  I was trying to keep up with him but he was going way too fast.  He's a beast spartan warrior just like my Jalen.  The run was so breathtaking beautiful.  I can't really explain how beautiful it was.  I just remember telling jalen at least 10 times to look around at how magical everything was.  
The race went on and on and on.....  After all we were running 26.2 miles.  Can you believe it?  We ran the first half a lot faster than we had anticipated and we saw Jrose!  She was snapping so many pics and cheering us on.  So so very thankful for her!  The second half of the marathon was so much harder.  There were so many hills and it started warming up a lot.  We kept going.  There was no stopping now.  It wasn't until mile 25 where I hit a huge wall.  I found myself weaving everywhere.  I just didn't want to run anyone.

But...   We did it.  We made it.  We finished hand in hand across the finish line.  What a moment, a moment I will never ever forget.  Anyone who has ran a marathon before knows that feeling.  A feeling of wow I really did it now I can pass out.  Literally that is what I did. :)

Actually training your body and mind to do something you never thought you could do is hard but now more than ever I believe you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to.  This is true in every aspect of life.  Something I will always remember.  2014 has been one of the greatest years of my life.  I did something I never thought I could do.  Looking back at where it all started 4 years ago it is still hard to picture.  I could hardly run a 5k and here I am in 2014 a marathon finisher.  Wow.  Blessed.  Thank you Jesus.

Thank you to one of my best friends Jrose.  You taught me so much about training hard and friendship.  Although I missed you running next to us I always felt like you were right there.  I'm so very exited for this new journey in your life and I can't wait to be there right next to you.  You're an inspiration.  Good Job Conrad.  You seriously rock!!!!!!!

Thank you to my fiance Jalen.  My rock, my everything.  You keep me strong and keep me going.  You keep me sane when I want to fall apart and most of all you teach me everyday to never ever give up no matter how hard things get.  I love you forever.  

I know I kind of went on and on but hey isn't that what blogs are for?  :)  Well my running adventures will continue.  I will forever be a runner.  And yes I will run another marathon.  Until our next journey.  #journey2my1stmarathon 

As I sit here writing this on the first day of 2014, it is hard for me to decide what is more amazing. How far I have come as a runner or how far I plan to go.  The second half of the question is easy. 26.2 miles.  I plan to run 26.2 miles.  Turns out it is as scary yet exciting to write as it is to think or say.  The first half of the question is a little more tricky. 

To see how far I have come over the past year I guess we have to start from the beginning.  I started 2013 coming off my first 10K, a distance I thought to be impossible.  I ended 2013  running 6 miles as an easy Sunday funday workout.  Stuffed between those were two half marathons, hundreds of miles and even more memories.

The miles ran and the times achieved up until this point only tell part of the story.  Running has taught me the meaning of hard work, dedication and determination.  It has taught me the value of friendship, support and perhaps more importantly who I am.


I am stronger.  Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually.   I have shed any boundaries I have ever have put on myself or this world ever could put on me.  I now attack everyday like I would a hill and meet any new challenge like i would a new distance.

I know where I have come as runner and I know where I am going but just like any great long run, I wont forget to enjoy the journey start to finish.
 
If I have learned anything it is that everything is possible. 26.2? lets do it!

Cheers,

Stephanie Miers

rs

Its fall and running is great!

Hello everyone,

It's the weekend!  Yay!  I had a great week of running. Last Sunday Jalen and I ran 9 miles at the Santa Monica boardwalk.  It's always such a beautiful run.  The sunset was absolutely beautiful.  Our pace was 8:24 minute miles.  I'll be honest I wanted to stop at mile 3.  My lungs felt fine but my hip was really hurting and my legs always start cramping.  I think that has to do with not properly warming up.  After mile 4 I finally got a good stride and started feeling better.  It's always the first few miles that hurt the most for me. 

Monday is our stretch and gym day.  I lifted arms and did a few core workouts.  By a few I mean one. hehe.  The core is my worst enemy I think because it is the hardest to workout. 

Tuesday we ran a short 3 miles late at night.  I like running at night when Jalen and Rio get to come with me.  Let me tell you my little papillon can run. 

Wednesday I ran by myself at the beach again.  It was raining all day so the trails were a little muddy but still fine.  I wasn't properly dressed for a cold run but I ran anyway.  It's easy to just give up or make excuses especially when you're not comfortable or you forgot something that you absolutely can't run without.  I struggle with this all the time.  If I forget my running glasses, watch or shuffle I just wont run.  This is something I'm trying really hard to work on.  Sometimes we need to remember why we are really out here running.  It's not suppose to be about all the stuff but about being able to put one foot in front of the other and just run.   No distractions. 

I switched days off this week from Friday to Thursday.  Friday I picked up my boys and went for a 3 miler before dinner.  My stomach really hurt while I was running.  I'll confess I stuffed my face with 3 mints and chips minutes before.  This probably wasn't the best idea.  I paid the price by cutting my run short.  I was suppose to run 5.  Lesson learned. 

Saturday morning Jalen and I ran the Beverly Hills trail.  We ran 5 miles at 8:49 pace.  This is one of my favorite trails.  It is full of runners, people walking their dogs and beautiful trees.  The other nice part is its shady the entire way.  We also ran half of it through the neighborhood and past a pumpkin patch that we will be attending tomorrow.  :)

Mornings now are a little chilly which is great for runners.   I never use to be a morning person but now it is my favorite time of the day.  The time change is right around the corner so I'll be switching to morning runs during the week as well.  My body feels so much better when I can get a run in before work.  Especially because I'm usually sitting all day. 


This morning was my 11 mile long run.  I made sure to stretch and warm up for this run.  I only had a glass of water and half a banana before hand.  I had to stop at mile 3 to use the restroom.  This made me a little grumpy.  I think this is something all runners struggle with especially during a long runs.  When you got to go you just have to go.  Yuck.   My watch also gave me problems this morning.  It kept turning off.  Once we got to mile 4 the boys stopped and drove home.  I ran home.  The weather was perfect and I had a great stride.  One thing about long runs is you have lots of time to just think.  I try to get lost in my music and in the run but sometimes when you have a lot on your mind it is impossible. 

My diet this week was over all pretty good.  I snack so much during the day because if I don't I will be very bad at night.  I snack on lots of fruits, vegetables, almonds and string cheese at work.  My favorite juice right now is tart cherry juice.  I read about it in runners world magazine.  It is really good at reducing pain and inflammation from long runs. 

Well anywho my week of running was overall a success.  Jrose and I run our 2nd half marathon in exactly 2 weeks.  Although we won't be running the same race I know we will be right next to each other in spirit.  I'm anxious to see how we will both do running alone.  EKK!!!  Well until next week my friends.  Have a lovely day!

"I like running because it’s a challenge. If you run hard, there’s the pain – and you’ve got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is? Don’t overdo it’ and? Don’t push yourself.’ Well, I think that’s a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond." ~ Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers general manager, NHL Hall of Fame.

Well where do I begin... First I'd like to start by saying I am very exited to start this running blog. Running has become one of my main passions. It helps me in so many ways not only physically but mentally as well. I can say I've grown so much as a person since I've taken on
this amazing sport.

I ran track in high school. Running the 100 meter sprints as well as trying to attempt hurdles (this didn't work out too well lol). After high school I lost touch with it until one day about seven years later my best friend Elena asked me if I'd like to run a 5k with her. I was definitely exited. Before the race I trained maybe twice and let me tell you I paid the price. We ran our first 5k around academy in Albuquerque, NM which is known also as the beautiful land of enchantment. I look back still at this race and almost always laugh and smile at the memory. We were passed by almost everyone. Ladies in their 60s, dads pushing strollers, runners practically walking but we still managed to cross that finish line. Running that race for us wasn't about the time it took us to finish it was about the experience of finishing our first 5k together. We were so very happy and proud of our accomplishment. Our guys were there at the finish line cheering is on although we knew secretly they were telling each other "boy oh boy they are so very slow" Hehe!

After running this first 5k I knew then the passion was there. Little did I know how big this passion would get. I started training with Jrose for another 5k around academy. Jrose has become one of the best running partners anyone could ask for. She's not only a very strong woman she motivates me everyday and makes me want to push myself even harder. She finished the race a few minutes before my 29 minute time. I remember how I felt after finishing the race. My face was the color of a tomato and I felt like I was going to die! Like ouch! It's always nice to look back at these memories.

Jrose and I started training about 3 times a week. We mostly ran around academy. This trail doesn't seem like it would be that tough but don't let it fool you. I can't wait to be able to run there again some day. We also ran around neighborhoods and the beautiful Sandias. We helped each other stay on track and were there to push each other when one of us just wanted to give up. She is awesome!

My boyfriend jalen and I now live in Los Angeles and I get to experience new and beautiful places to run. It had always been a dream of mine to live by the beach and now I get to run by it at least 3 times a week. Sometimes I need to pinch myself. I'm so thankful to have jalen run with me out here. Especially on Sundays for our long runs. I'm seriously not sure how I do it without him. Talk about motivating he does not let me stop even for a second or cheat and stop a mile early. He's a spartan warrior I tell ya.

Well anywho Jrose and I ran our first half marathon here in Ventura, CA. Yup I said it, half marathon! That was seriously one of the best days of my life. An experience I'll never forget. We finished in 1:47 minutes. A time both of us never thought possible. Just goes to tell you your body is capable of anything you work hard for and set your mind to.

I'll be posing on this running blog weekly about my runs and workouts. Just wanted to post a little history of where it all started and the people who have pushed me to become a better runner and person. I love you all! Until we meet again here is one of my favorite quotes,

"I run because it’s so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can’t. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you’re capable of so much more than you thought.

"