#WUFPACRanRichmond - My First Sub 2hr Half Marathon

This past Saturday, November 15th, I ran my second half marathon in Richmond, Va. I dedicated this race to supporting young women in politics via WUFPAC. I raised just under $1300 for the cause and had some absolutely amazing support for my race. (Click here to check out my fundraising page)
The run itself was beautiful, in the fall foliage of the capital of the Confederacy and I beat my pace goal by about 30 seconds. I finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 2 seconds, which I was VERY happy about!

Here's a recap of the day, which was pretty awesome.

Pre-race morning:

• We AirBnB-ed it at and got a great place in Richmond. Our place was the style of an early 1900s home but with modern kitchen and bathroom. I loved the historic feel of it, until about 2am when I was convinced there were ghosts. 
• I woke up with "game-day" butterflies in my belly. I chowed a bagel with peanut butter and pounded some OJ, gatorade and water.
• It was 27 degrees when I woke up. I layered up in my race outfit and then layered again with some cheap throw-away clothes we got for me to wear to the starting line to stay warm. I looked HOT. 
• We made our way to the starting line with "plenty" of time.

Starting line meltdown:

• The cold hit me when I got out of the car and immediately, all of the hydrating I did with breakfast became regrettable. About 15 minutes until my start time and I was about to pee my pants. 
• The lines for the bathrooms at the starting line were gigantic and I soon realized I was not going to be able to start with my wave. Not being seasoned in this whole race deal, I thought that meant I was going to my race entirely. This made me cry.
• I didn't figure out that this wasn't the case until Nick pointed out that a good chunk of the people in line were also doing the half. As more time went on though, I got worried I was going to have to start with the full marathoners & try to figure out the half course. Sheer terror.
• It was close, but I got off and running with the last wave of half marathoners and an empty bladder.

The race:

• I had never been so happy to start running and I instantly let go of the crisis at the starting line.
• My pace was much faster than I'd expected and hoped for right off the bat. I thought about slowing down but decided not to because I felt great.
• After the 10k mark I saw Nick twice, which I was surprised about since I figured our starting line crisis had messed up his spectating plan. One of the times I saw him, he was dancing to Taylor Swift's "Shake it off" with his sign that said "Run 4 Da Oreos" (my post race treat to be paired with champagne). I don't think I will ever loose that visual.
• The foliage was SO pretty. The day was cold, but the sun was shining and the fall leaves were just gorgeous. 
• At mile 9, I had a cup of beer.
• At mile 10, I felt my legs start to fatigue.
• At mile 12, I realized I was going to finish this thing in under 2 hours.
• Mile 13, I ran my fastest mile of the race.

Results:

• Out of the  8,452 runners in the half marathon, I placed 2,678th.
• Out of the 5,551 female runners in the half marathon, I placed 1,253rd.
• Out of the 1,062 runners in my women 25-29 division, I placed 275th.
• My official time was 1:59:02
• HAPPY CAMPER!

Post Race:

• After the finish, it became clear immediately that I had pushed myself during the run. Upon meeting Nick after the finish line, I laid on the ground and had him stretch/work on my tired legs. It was definitely soreness for the books, but the best kind.
• Back at our Air BnB, I had the best shower ever. With Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" on repeat and a bottle of orange gatorade in the shower with me, I basked in my sub 2 hour run and being in hot water after a morning in the chilly temps.
• My stomach was funny for a bit, then I basically ate everything in sight. When I say ate, I mean inhaled. Progresso chicken noodle soup (best food ever after a cold run), Olive Garden left overs and those double stuffed oreos. All paired with champagne.
• Spent the afternoon snuggled in my race long sleeve, new aloe fuzzy socks from Al & under my finisher blanket. 

Race days are pretty fantastic. I've only had 3 "big ones" and every one has been a blast. My first 10k, my first half and my second half were all amazing for reasons completely unique to each other. No run or race day is ever the same, and that is SO cool. Thank you to all my supporters, donors, family, friends and even other runners on the course for your encouragement! 

I'm excited for my next finish line! 

#WUFPACRanRichmond

Richmond, Va. View from Hollywood Cemetery.

Don't Get Distracted.

I had an epiphany last weekend after I ran ten miles outside without my headphones and music. The run only happened after I threw a mini tantrum over the fact that it was "impossible" for me to run that long and far without music! The thought on only focusing on running was terrible, but I'm getting down to the wire on half marathon training and really needed to get a run in.

Off I went & who knew, I had my fastest and most enjoyable ten miler ever. No distractions, less of a sense of time, and much more of a sense of bliss and escape. I was able to take in things around me, which in D.C. is very cool. I was also able to get lost in my own thoughts, which is usually a pretty daring adventure. It might have been the endorphins from running but all of my thoughts were positive, reflective and motivating. There is something to just being 100% in yourself and in the moment, and I found what it was on that run.

I was really surprised by this, and it got me thinking that maybe we don't need as many distractions as we think, and that we might just be better off without them.

This week had the potential to make me really lose it, in more ways than one.  My family put down our family cat, Oliver and I could not hold it together, all day. Work has been a BIT stressful/busy but this is to be expected when working in politics a week before mid-terms. It's fine, I'm stress eating trail mix like a champ. I'm also moving this weekend, which turns me into a basket case and kind of a b*tch even when nothing else is going on. In 2 weeks I need to run 13.1 miles & reach my fundraising goal for WUFPAC and in 1 week I need to be the belle of the ball at the Marine Corps Ball. I'm not complaining about any of this, it's all actually awesome stuff. Just a lot, in a small period of time and gives you perspective of why my head is spinning really fast.

To keep my head on my shoulders in order to avoid having no choice but to resort to a sexy headless horseman's halloween costume, I gave this whole "no distractions" thing a shot. Heres a few things that worked and made my week better:

• I have forever been a fall asleep with the TV on kind of gal. My brain has hard time shutting down and shutting up when its time to sleep so I try to numb it with mindless shows, specifically BRAVO. (No shame.) I left the TV off and my brain and body followed suit for a killer nights sleep.
• Set the tone of your day, before the day sets it for you. Coming off a great nights sleep I did a 6am long run, no headphones. My brain wasn't awake until about mile 7 and it wasn't as "blissful" as the outdoor run but it was ten miles at 6am on a treadmill at my goal pace. WIN. 
• One thing at a time. This was tough and I actively had to stop my brain from thinking of my full to-do list vs. focusing in on a task and getting it done before moving on to the next. Doing so made me way more productive, and thank god.
• Give yourself a minute. I took breaks and when I did, I didn't think of what I was taking a break from. I applied this to work, working out and packing. There comes a point where it actually is productive to disengage from a big project, even when you're on a roll.

Overall, I focused more on being present in what I was doing. Even little things like not answering a text or an email as soon as I received it made me feel more in control and able to be in the moment. Cutting the distractions has made me embrace tasks and experiences more this week.

There are so many different tweaks that we can make to shift the tone of our lives, and I'm glad I discovered this one.

Happy Friday & Happy Halloween! I hope no one is actually going as a sexy headless horseman...Here is a photo of my gals & I last year, can you guess our costumes?

Pace.

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." 

- Abraham Lincoln

Photo Cred: Katherine Cresto

The whole "one day at a time" bit is difficult for those of us who love instant gratification to fully grasp. I am not a patient person, I know this to be one of my faults. There is a lot that I want from life, the world, the mall and the gym, and I would like it now. 

I have never been a "pace" person, until half-marathon training forced me to do so.  In that case, it doesn't take long to realize that the first sprint that empties your tank before 1/4th of your race is over, probably wasn't such a good idea. Getting my pace to where I want is a constant challenge for me.

The Marine Corps Marathon is this weekend, and to me running 26.2 miles is SO damn impressive. I know a few people running it, one of them quite well actually.

Good luck and huge props to ALL of the runners Sunday, I am cheering you on!

Myself & some guy who is running the MCM that I have
a crush on...This was NYC 2013 the day after he ran
the marathon there.

In training for a marathon or a half marathon, pace is a HUGE thing. Figuring it out is tricky, takes work, takes time and patience. This I've found to be applicable to a lot of the things I am working to do in my life, none of which offer instant gratification.

As I continue to "grow up" my endeavors and goals become more extravagant, material things I want are more expensive and my expectations of myself and my relationships have sky rocketed. This is a part of the natural progression (I think) and it's a good thing. 

• I'm learning my potential and I'm anxious to use it. I now know theres a great big world out there, that I am compelled to explore and change for the better. 
• Trendy stuff isn't as appealing to me anymore; I deem looking and feeling good in a pair of really nice jeans to be a necessity along with a reliable vehicle and a "homey living space.
• Quality over quantity has  proven true in regards to relationships. I've realized that cutting the bullshit and fair weather folks gives you a bigger appreciation for the truly genuine people in your life. No relationship should ever be forced, rushed or settled for, if it is it's probably not worth it. 

All of this sounds fine and dandy right? Even adult-like? Well yeah, it is, but it's certainly all easier said than done. None of what I mentioned above happens instantly, without work, time and emotion in figuring out how the hell to do it. The light bulbs will come on gradually when something needs to change or improve, but specifically how, when and what to do is left for us to figure out. The most important part I think, is to determine your pace in doing so. One that is both reasonable and realistic, and then sticking to it. All the awhile understanding the importance of it's existence and being patient with results. My Dad always says, "if you do the right thing, the right thing will happen", it just doesn't always (almost never, actually) happens as quickly as we want it to.

I'm NOT saying timeline out every endeavor, absolutely not. What I'm saying is that we must understand that bigger changes, improvements and life transitions take time and need to be done at a pace. You can't rush anything without expecting to have to do it all over again, and with grown up stuff,  thats pretty scary. We can't treat life as fad diet, a get rich quick scheme, a dash down the aisle or a hop scotch game from job to job/place to place.

It's not a sprint, theres not one finish line there about one million throughout the course of our lives.

We need to pace for it.

Holy Hiatus. What's Been Happening: 5 Takeaways Since My Last Post.

I wish there was a good excuse for why I haven't posted in MONTHS. Writers block, lack of inspiration, too busy...nope none of that. Sorry about that guys!

I mean yes, I am crazy busy (who isn't), but I've actually had a lot on instances where I go "I need to blog about that". That laundry list has grown to be pretty long, so I made a list of the top 5 take-aways since my last post. Also included, some photos from what I've been up to! 
I'm back!

Toomey family vs. Washington

Top 5 Take-Aways Since My Last Post

1) Heat exhaustion. 

SUCKS! Happened to me on an afternoon in the high seventies, so not exactly a scorcher. It kicked in at the end of a 6 mile jog and I didn't quite know what was happening, just chocked it up as fatigue and being out of running shape. 
It's definitely serious if it progresses too much, so keep aware to recognize these signs: muscle cramping tightening, dizziness, disorientation, irritability & nausea. If you do find yourself experiencing these symptoms, stop running, get horizontal, and naked (take off your yucky running clothes), hydrate with water, eat what you can and drink as much Pedialite as you can stand.
It does take a bit of time and maintenance to recover, my episode hadn't progressed too far and I felt yucky for about 24 hours after, while constantly hydrating with water and Pedialite. 
Avoid episodes like this by staying properly hydrated and fueled when doing any activity in even the slightest bit of heat. OH, and listen to your body! If somethings feels off, it probably is, don't "tough it out" as it worsens. You could end up completely out of it, with a blanket over you on your bedroom floor as your 2 neighbors (who you've never met) are standing over you telling you to drink water as your boyfriend sprints to CVS. True, and embarrassing story.

2) People are stronger than we think, so let them be.  

From the moment you meet someone to the point in your relationship where you feel the closest with them, it's nearly impossible to really "get" all the battles they've fought or have been fighting. Our role, as friends, significant others, family members etc., is to let those people know they aren't fighting it alone and in whatever capacity they need, or don't need you, you're simply there. Expressing rage about their tough situation, or saying how much you'd like to knock your friends ex out, only goes so far, for you and the person you're trying to help. Just be there. Then find yourself blown away by how perfectly your girl friend handles that awful break up,  and learn from that person who has used the value of acceptance and faith as fuel in their fight. You will find yourself taking some pages out of their book.

When summer doesn't end in September in D.C. This is what we do.

3) Making decisions. 

Sometimes deciding when/where to go to dinner can be a point of stress for me and what to wear to that dinner...thats a whole other thing. It's easy to get stressed out by decision making on matters that are large and small, but it does get to a point where we can only look so much before we leap. There are many things in life we need to swallow our self certainty and just go for, all in. I'm not saying to ditch any intuition (especially us girls), but do your research, soul searching, whatever and come to a decisive conclusion. Deep down, we know what we want and need. We just need to make the decision to go get it.

Yes, I celebrated my 25th
on a Pirate Party Yacht.

4) Birthdays will ALWAYS be something to be celebrated. 

Turning 25 had me in a bit of a quarter life crisis mode. I don't know if it's being able to rent a car, or officially being in my mid twenties, but leading up to this birthday was the first time I had ever had that funny, "Oh gosh" feeling about a birthday. I began evaluating all the things you think you're supposed to before a pivotal birthday. I soon realized all of the things that are deemed "important" by the faceless "society" are all pretty much bullshit and don't weigh significantly on the level of happiness I have in my life. So I did my own evaluation, which may have been a bit biased, since I get to live in my pretty awesome life, but too bad. "It's my birthday." I can report that I am doing pretty damn well for a girl in her MID TWENTIES.

5) Don't Obsess. Don't Settle. 

This could be applied to ALOT of aspects in life, but here I'm referencing it in regards to diet. I've been more lax with my diet recently, mostly with more cheat days than normal but also letting myself slide when theres no reason to. No, I don't regret the half dozen Georgetown Cupcakes I ate during my Birthday weekend, but yeah, I do regret the random donut I had on Wednesday morning at the office, simply because it was there. I don't and will never believe in obsessing over diet because it's too simple of a thing to be obsessed over. Eat great, feel great, look great. Eat bad, feel bad, look bad. I do believe that it does take some discipline,  more than we'd like, to not settle for letting our eating habits slide just a little too much. All of us have been or are guilty of being on one end of the scale of diet obsession or settling, it's all about the balance, and I myself need to get back to it!

Again, totally sorry for the hiatus! Hope you enjoyed the update and are ready for more to come! Heres to big things on the Too Fit horizon for all of us!

I couldn't forget. The Nats, my second hometown team clinched the division!
Play offs here we come!
#NothingButOctober

Wizard Girls Auditions. Rejection & my big ego

If you're bad at rejection, you probably have a big ego.

Guilty, guilty and more guilty!
...On both accounts. 1) Bad at rejection. 2) Big ego. 

Many of you, or at least some of you know that over the last couple weeks I had been prepping for and in the process of auditioning for the Wizard Girls here in D.C. A friend of mine had suggested the idea to me, almost as a challenge a couple months ago and I went for it. 

I missed dancing, OH MY did I miss dancing, the butterflies, performing, even putting on stage make-up and tights. My heart skipped a beat every time I did something to prep for it and audition morning felt like Christmas. I had done everything and anything to be adequately prepared; hair extensions, dance and fitness training, and work with Sideline Prep (a GOLD pro cheer/dance resource). 

 All that was left to do was to perform, point my toes, smile and bask in the glory of the joy that came from it. More joy came as I made it through a few rounds, and was able to dance my way through week one of training camp. By training camp, the competition was beyond tough, the toughest and best I've seen at any audition. Not only were the other WG hopefuls fantastic dancers, they were some of the sweetest and coolest chicks I've met at an audition. 

The overall experience was an absolute blast and I'm SO glad I did it. I kept saying things like that throughout the audition process too. "I'm glad I'm doing this, even if I don't make it." "I'm just happy to have made it this far." "This is a blast." I truly felt great about my performance, and how competitive I felt, almost an un-entitled sense of accomplishment. Or maybe it was entitled, just because I was doing it. 

However, did that stop the kick in the stomach feeling when I got cut?

No.

Was I glad in that moment, that I had busted my butt to "reach for the stars"?

No.

And was my confidence where it was just minutes before getting the bad news?

No.

While in some capacity, these feelings may be natural to everyone when experiencing rejection. For those of us with big ego's, we tend to magnify them and can become over-consumed. This is toxic, and we need to cut the shit.

It's pretty crazy how fast and hard we can be knocked off our high horse. Us big ego folks, are automatically in a vulnerable spot for that while other more even keeled people are protected. But quite frankly, that doesn't matter.

What matters is putting yourself in a place to be rejected by something, or someone you care about, a lot. When I think about this, it's funny because I have done this a lot, and yet been rejected a lot. You'd think I'd get better at rejection with such practice, but no. I still cry and find comfort in oreo's and wine and have moments of questioning myself. However, in due time, I'm at it again, going for something that I feel might be a little out of reach.

It's been a week since being cut, and the sting is still there (thanks to my ego). What's not still there is the feelings of defeat about busting my butt for an opportunity that I cared about. My confidence, though dashed for a moment is back and I don't feel like I got kicked in the stomach anymore. I wouldn't trade this audition experience for anything, not even my weave (yes, I got a weave and it's awesome). 

I don't think I ever stopped truly feeling and believing the things I was saying throughout the audition process, even when I got cut. If I ever began to, my amazing, amazing, AMAZING support shut it right down, this experience would've been much less of what it was without these guys...

Senich - Thank you for the suggestion, whats next?

Kait - Thank you for making me your deviled eggs to snack on throughout auditions and for being a positive light of encouragement.

Theen - Thank you for convincing me that I would and did "kill it" and for making me feel proud in another time where I didn't think it was possible.

Mom & Dad, Friends & Family Members - Thank you for not doubting, criticizing or ever second guessing why I went for it. Your encouragement, love and high hopes for me drive me in everything that I do.

Tooms - Thank you for the text that got me out of my funk this week.

Lisa - Thank you for the oreo milkshake from our fav, dunks & big hug...it meant more than you can know!

Nick - I don't even know where to start, thank you for everything and most of all for this...

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

One Dimensional & The "Glory Days"

One Dimensional -
Synonym: Lacking depth
Antonyms: Profound

I don't know why I haven't ever examined the idea of being, or becoming one dimensional in my life before. Perhaps because I've never really seen it as an option the way I do now.

How I feel about being one
dimensional. And a way to
combat it - 3D goggles.

Living in this world of a "twenty something" has gradually revealed many things to me. I anticipated "growing up" to include some lessons, and I have been 100% right in that regard. What I did not anticipate was how easy it is to become, and how difficult it can be to not become, one dimensional.

My usage of the term is fairly loose, as I think it's impossible for any human to be completely one dimensional. However, the real world, and adjusting to it makes it easy to get on a narrowed path. Initially because, it is a transition and from there, it is very easy to get used to the status quo, which isn't so bad".You have a bittersweet feeling about this whole "adult" thing and you start to relate to songs like Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days".

This is a funny and nostalgic time where we figure out the things we are moving on from, or moving forward with in "real life". This is tricky, and depending on what we decide, this whole figuring out thing can make us feel like our "Glory Days" are over. 

Everyone's versions of "Glory Days" are different, but regardless we've all had to let parts of them go. For instance, it is no longer acceptable to tape beer bottles to both of your hands and then race to see who can finish them first, and without puking. It is also, (painfully) unacceptable to pile on sparkly eye shadow to go have scorpion bowls at the Asian restaurant down the street, or anywhere. 

There are more to our "Glory Days" than that (hopefully), but those are clear cut things we can look back upon fondly, and say "never again". However, there are certain aspects that are less clear cut and can end up being sacrificed for the "real world". With that gray area we tend to loose sight of the crazy things we dreamed of doing, that trip we wanted to take or a passion we've always held onto. In the real world, those things take a little more work, but now more than ever, they are possible. Those things will actually never be more possible again in our lifetimes. 

You can say that I'm in denial or naive, but I'm convinced I am still in my "Glory Days" and that I can drag them out for awhile. No, I don't live like Beyonce, and yes, the aspects of my "Glory Days" have certainly shifted, but they are not gone altogether (I still have the sparkly eye-shadow, I just don't use it.) 

Most recently, I've gotten back in touch with a passion of mine that I let go by the wayside while figuring out my way in the "real world". Sure it makes me a bit busier, but it also makes me so much happier. It also has shut down the feelings of turning into a "has been" in something that I love. I didn't realize how crappy of a feeling that was until it disappeared. And guess what, my "real world" is doing just fine, actually better than ever.

When you add dimension to your life, you will be surprised by those whom step up to support you and encourage you. People who you look up to will tell you how they wished they had done more of that, and to go for it. People around you will become genuinely interested and intrigued by your endeavors. Of course, there will be people who are less encouraging, but that should just confirm that you're breaking the mold, and thats a good thing.

Quite frankly, I don't care if you're 25 or 60, we don't have to surrender our "Glory Days". It seems more older people these days get that, than us younger "kids". So I'm calling out my generation here!

I love this song, but I don't plan on relating to it anytime soon.

Summer Loving - Basking, Birthdays & Bikes

It's summertime and the living is easy, right?

Not quite, but it's good enough to keep this girl happy, who likes easy anyway? 

Last week was a whirlwind that had me feeling pretty overwhelmed, exhausted, happy and grateful all at the same time. It reminded me that life really is a roller coaster. The ups and downs come hard and fast, and we need to stay true to ourselves and to those who are along for the ride with us. That balance can be challenging, but it's achievable and worth it.

Happy 25 Hannah!

The weather has been GORGEOUS, and with summer in full swing all I want to do is be outside. The nice weather stays much longer in D.C. than in Boston, but I think the mentality that I need to savor every moment of it will stick with me forever.

Saturday, I got in a good workout and then spent the day by the pool. I was in my glory with sunshine, seltzer water and my new book - Thrive by Ariana Huffington (highly recommend). By late afternoon, it was time to put on my party pants to celebrate this beauties birthday at Cantina Marina (not a very popular place in D.C. in the spring/summer...NOT), with Corona-ritas and cake.

Sunday turned out to be an epic #AdventureSunday, with a 20 mile round trip bike ride to Mt. Vernon! The Mount Vernon Estate, which was home to our first president and his family, had been on my D.C. tourist to-do list so I was very excited to go. The mansion itself is beautiful and it was surreal to be in George Washington's home. We spent a little over an hour there and didn't even see half of the estate. I will certainly be back for more exploring.

Will I bike there and back again? That is a very good question. Unexpectedly, I WORKED HARD basically the whole time on the bike, (please refer to the stomach sweat in the photo below.) No, I hadn't been on a bicycle in probably close to ten years, and yes, I totally forgot how much of a workout it is. At the end of the day my legs felt like spaghetti! All I wanted to do was drink wine, eat fish (see below for a quick fish fix) and sit in a hot tub, so that is precisely what I did. Cheers to you #AdventureSunday !

Even though this #AdventureSunday kicked my butt, I was glad to be doing something physical as well as entertaining and intriguing. We can sometimes forget the many different ways we can get ourselves moving, it's easy to do , cause there are SO many! 

As far a exercise is concerned, the world literally is our oyster. Making an adventure out of a workout makes it more stimulating, and thats exactly what we are looking for isn't it? I know the 4 walls of your gym might be your haven (or might not be), but there's a great big world out there, get after it! Get creative, get moving, and get outside!

QUICK FISH FIX - I continue to be impressed with the frozen fish from Trader Joes. We thawed some sole, topped it with olive oil, pepper, garlic powder and chopped onions and baked for about 12mins on 425. Delicious!