Cleveland

Race Cancelled.

| The Bee Life

Today I received an email from the Rock n’ Roll Marathon series informing me that they are cancelling the upcoming race that is nearly a month away!  I am so disappointed. Also, I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of a race, especially of this stature being cancelled so late in the game! They said it was cancelled due to “low levels of participation and local support.”

http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/cleveland

I had originally planned for this to be my last half marathon, but now I feel like I still need to run one more. I really enjoyed the Rock n’ Roll Marathon series, when it was in Cleveland last year, plus it was the Inaugural race in Cleveland, so it’s really a shame they they couldn’t keep it going for a second year.  The energy of the race and atmosphere was amazing! So I would like to try and find another RnR series… just now in a different city.  I am going to try and continue on with training (not that I have been doing a very good job) but also work to get more cross training into the mix.

Before I received the news of the race being cancelled, I had drafted this…

I made double digits this past week in training!!  But that is just an excuse I still missed out on 6 miles… I need to keep working up to more miles each week.

Week 6 Training – Recap

Monday – 4 miles

Tuesday – 2 miles or cross

Wednesday – 4 miles + strength
Complete – 36:28

Thursday – Easy Run

Friday – Rest

Saturday – 6 miles
Complete – 54:55

Sunday – Strength

Week Total Miles: 10 miles

Also, I got new running sneakers (thanks mom!), because I get black toe nails/loss my toe nails (sorry – TMI!) every half-marathon and training.  My aunt who is an avid, long-distance runner wears a size larger to help avoid that… which surprisingly for as long as I have run and as many races as I have completed, I haven’t heard that!  How many of you runners out there run with a size bigger to avoid black toe nails? Any other tips or tricks?

Happy Running!

 

The Heart of Summer.

| The Bee Life

I feel like we are in the heart of summer… even though it seems like it’s just about over (as my coworkers so graciously remind me!)  This past weekend, felt like the stereotypical summer weekend, and it was so much fun! It started on Thursday night when a friend invited us out on her boyfriends boat. A bunch of us loaded up with yummy hors d’oeuvre, some drinks of choice, and then we cruised along the coast, singing, talking, and watching the sunset!  Not to mention the weather was perfect. It was nice to socialize with everyone outside of the office, and with our significant others!

Cleveland!
Co-worker photo
Kelsey, Me & Allie
With Moz!
Kevin & Allie
B and Me

Friday evening we went out with my aunts.  We have a recent tradition were we try and go out to dinner whenever they are about to go out of town, which is about once or twice a month (esp. over the summer)! We had happy hour dinner and drinks at Georgetown in Lakewood.  They have a great happy hour!  I would highly recommend the “One Drop” Martini – Vodka, Olive Juice, Tabasco Sauce, and Blue Cheese Stuffed Hot Pepper… it was so good!  I also had the Mushroom Pizza, which had Wild Mushrooms, Prosciutto, Basil, Parmesan, balsamic and olive oil drizzle, amazing!

Saturday, I road tripped up to Vermilion, OH with a bunch of girls for our friend Erika’s bachelorette party! Our days itinerary started with brunch on the beach followed by a winery tour via limo bus to a few different wineries in the Vermilion area.  We went to; Quarry Hill Winery, Vermilion Valley Vineyards, Matus Winery, and Paper Moon Winery.  I was very impressed with the wineries, although they were very spread out, so the limo bus was a smart move! The tour was an all day event! The boy came out and picked me up and we grabbed a later dinner at a local brew-pub.

Sunday, we got our morning workouts in and then headed to his parents house for a classic pool day, lounging out and cooling off in the pool when needed!  Plus we brought Moz and she went for a swim a few times (even though she is not a fan!) when she wasn’t playing with Haywood, his parents labradoodle.

Erika’s Bachelorette Party!
Lauren, Erika & Me
The Captain aka Bride-to-Be!
Moz & Haywood
Pool Day!

The weekend was full of sunshine, good friends and family and good times!  It was definitely your typical summer weekend.  I can’t wait for more warm, sunny days!

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Week 2 Training: Lions, Houses and Bands

| The Bee Life

Now that half marathon training is in full swing, I came out strong in week two, and boy… did it feel GOOD!  I haven’t had a solid workout week like that in a LONG time… sadly I’ve come to realize that these types of weeks will be few and far between due to work, life, and everything else. I just need to stay motivated and remind myself of how good it feels.

Monday – 3 miles
Completed: 27:09

Tuesday – 2 miles or cross
Completed: Walk 1.5 miles

Wednesday – 3 miles + strength
Completed: 28:24

Thursday – 30 minute cross

Friday – 30 min. run
Completed: 29:51 (3 miles)

Saturday – 4 miles
Completed: 37:38

Sunday – Strength
Completed: 1-hour Spin Class

Week Total Miles: 14.5 miles

On top of training we had a jammed packed weekend.  Friday night, Bentley and I went to Twilight at the Zoo which we have had the pleasure of attending for 3 years now!  A little rain tried to ruin our evening, but it quickly stopped and turned out to to be a beautiful night!  Food was sparse, but beers were flowing.  My favorite animal spotting of the evening was a Malayan Sun Bear, he was a cutie! Bands were scattered throughout the zoo each with a different genre!  We wish our friends would’ve been able to join us but we still had a fun date night together!

Saturday, my parents came into town from NY!  In between the downpours and crazy boomers, we were able to go to Lakewood’s Art Fest to visit our favorite vendor, Foundry Woodprints we have a small collection started of illustrated  vintage prints of downtown Cleveland.  We also have a bunch of wooden coasters, because they are just so fun!  In two weekends, Foundry will be at a festival at Edgewater Park!  Saturday evening we went to my cousins marching band competition, yes you read that correctly!  He is a senior in high school and has been traveling all summer with a marching band-camp, grueling through 12-hour practices and sleeping on gym floors,  the whole thing is quit impressive.  Plus we got to see more family, which is always fun.

Sunday, I started my day with a 1-hour spin class at Harness Cycle, it was an awesome and challenging work out. I was glad I got back for another class.  Followed by Brunch at Market with my parents, aunts and B.  Followed by house hunting!! Followed by me being absolutely exhausted by the time we got home that evening. This week has continued with the trend of busy, lots of work duties with little working out. I am finally at the part of my week were fun is ahead of me and hopefully a workout or two squeezed-in before the start of Week 4 training! I just hope I can let the good training weeks, outweigh the bad!

Happy August 7th Everyone!

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Week 1 Training: Inspiration

| The Bee Life

Last Monday was the official start of half marathon #7 training! As of today, one week down – 11 more to go before the Cleveland Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon.  As I mentioned in my recap in May, I didn’t train very well… I’d like to think I am off to a better start this time around.

Here is my week breakdown:

Monday – 3 miles
Completed: 27:32 (3.59 miles)

Tuesday – 2 miles or cross
Completed: 17:57

Wednesday – 3 miles + strength

Thursday – Rest
Completed 🙂

Friday – 30 min. cross
Completed: 1-hour Spin Class

Saturday – 4 miles

Sunday – Strength
Completed: 31:41 (2.30 miles)

Week Total Miles: 7.89 miles

I gained a little extra inspiration when we went to support a friend’s brother at his movie premiere on Wednesday night called “Running the Edge.”  It premiered in Cleveland at Capital Theater, the film follows the journey of a man and his family while he works to break the record for running the Colorado trail…which is 468 miles long.  His goal was to complete this in 8 days, 7 hours and 17 seconds, running anywhere from 12-14 hours a day and getting minimum sleep.  It was incredible, his determination, time spent and self-discipline it took to accomplish this was beyond motivational. 

Friday, I was able to try out the local spinning hot-spot, Harness Cycle, for a co-worker’s “Bride Ride Happy Hour” … a sweaty hour work-out + happy hour afterwards, was my kind of night!  The spin class was a lot of fun, especially with all the girls from work!  Not to mention it was a challenging work out (which I am always game for), mainly because it was really different from the spin classes I am used too. This class made you work your body more in tune to the beat of the music … and good music at that! I have always been a fan of group classes, because they help me stay motivated and push myself harder than I would if I was working out alone. I am definitely hoping to get back to Harness, the work out was great, and their studio is beautiful!

My goal is to continue to push myself harder each week regardless of the busy weekends and long days… because the busy weekends never stop!  

Are you training for a half marathon, or any kind of race?  What keeps you motivated? 

Happy Training!

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78.6 race miles + a few hundred in training

| The Bee Life

Yesterday I finished my 6th half-marathon, which helps me cross off one of my NYE resolutions for 2014!  (And I will be running my 7th half-marathon and potentially my last this October!)  Before, during and after every half-marathon, I always ask myself… “Why am I doing this?”  and every time I have a different answer.  Sometimes it’s because I like challenging myself, physical and mentally and other times I am trying to beat my own goal.

If you’re not a runner, or if you’re not a long distance runner, the sounds of running 13.1 miles for essentially 2-hours sounds crazy ridiculous.  But when you tack on 12-weeks of training that includes long weekend runs (10 or 11 miles) you might think that is even more crazy. Well yes, it is.  Unfortunately this race, I struggled both in training and on my actual race (because I didn’t train enough).  I am still trying to find the balance between work, life and my workout life, it has been a roller coaster this year, but I am confident and determined!

This year, the Cleveland Rite Aid 10k, Half and Full Marathon had a new route around the city – which was really great, moderate hills and a change of scenery.  However the last 3 miles down the shoreway to the finish were tough!  To add another twist on running 13.1 miles I decided a few days in advance that I would try and live tweet during my run, and I did! #emrunscle2014

I crossed the finish line at 2:14:05
Bentley finished at 2:02:39 – and he didn’t stop! I couldn’t be more proud of him!

Here are a few in case you missed them:

After every race, it is hard not to feel extremely accomplished and this race was no different! Especially when you check the time and see it’s 10:30am to realize you’ve already run 13.1 miles and finished a free beer, wouldn’t you feel accomplished? Or just me? 🙂

If you are planning to run a half marathon here is the training routine I use, it allows for a mix of running and strength training, which is VERY important. These routines also allow for a variety of levels including beginning, intermediate and advanced, even a walking program!

I hope to document my training for my upcoming race in October, although that won’t be until end of July… and I hope to be able to train better to end my half-marathon career with a bang and lucky #7.  Of course I plan to have updates before then! Much fun is looming in my future, our friends are getting married this weekend, we will be traveling to NYC for an upcoming weekend – just to name a few!

Happy Running!
xo – eb

 

Unemployed. College Graduate. in CLE.

| The Bee Life

Well, it has been 1 month and 18 days since I have graduated from college.

All my friends still in college ask and say to me, “How is graduated life?! I am so jealous, I can’t wait to be done with school.”

And I say… not totally truthfully (of course), “It’s great! Relaxing, just on the job hunt! So we shall see what happens!”

  • Truth: I am actively on the job hunt
  • Lie: It’s not so great, it is kind of horrible.

Sure the first few weeks at the end of December were great, because I was busy with the holidays and it was nice not to have to worry about working or classes. But now that we are in the very short month of February, and I have been on a handful of interviews, some I am still waiting, some no, it is becoming mortifying!

Will I ever get a job? I thought I had a pretty decent resume and some good experience…

Of course I will get a job, but how long am I going to have to wait for it?!? I have to live and survive and eat… just the simple things, I am not even asking for anything zealous or unnecessary (maybe the occasional purchase of a bottle of wine or a six pack of Blue Moon).  I have student loans to pay for!  The list could just go on forever…

A few things on the plus side:

  • I have still been able to workout somewhat, (thanks to my aunt’s treadmill in her basement), but boy do I miss the gym membership from CSU. That was gold.
  • I am still living in the city I am currently crushing on, fabulous Cleveland.
  • I have the most amazing support system ever, my man Bentley, my parents, his parents, my aunts, and my girlfriends.

My Goal: I hope that I can get a job by my 23rd birthday, which is 1 month and 9 days away, which is a shorter length of time than I have already been on this job hunt.
Challenge accepted!

Good to be in CLE

| The Bee Life

This past weekend was a busy one!

Friday night I attended the ever so fabulous Best of Cleveland Party at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, thrown by Cleveland Magazine.  This was my second year attending and it was filled with nothing but the best! Burgers from BRGR 9 and B Spot, cupcakes, and Sushi Rock sushi! (for the VIP’s) Not to mention Pier W had thee biggest shrimp I have ever seen! The music by the areas best cover-bands echoed throughout the legendary Rock Hall, while everyone enjoyed yummy samplings of food and tasty cocktails.  Throw that in with great friends and you have a great evening with everything I love about this awesome city of Cleveland!

Saturday night we attended the Cattle Barron’s Ball (actually in Akron) which supports the American Cancer Society.  It was a night of jewels, jeans, and cowboy boots (which I pulled out of the closet and rocked!) all for a great cause. Friends of ours joined us for this lovely occasion.  A silent auction took place for most of the evening, along with a live auction during dinner, where an adorable lab/doberman mix sold for $800.  And a Pandora bracelet went for $4,000 only to be given to a little girl fighting cancer who got the bracelet donated in the first place! It was a touching night and brought the sad reality about how many people in this world do fight but sometimes survive this devastatingly horrible disease.

By the time Sunday rolled around and the 70 degree sunny weather hit, I was just ready to relax, get a good workout in and hope for the Browns to come out of their loosing streak! Which they did! It was a good weekend to be a part of this amazing city.

 

#runCLE

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The Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon 2012

This was my second year running the CLE half, my third half marathon overall. And I ran it with one of my favorite people and one of my biggest supporters! I don’t know if I would’ve been able to finish as good as I did without him by my side! Finished just over 2 hours, even with the 70 degree weather at 10 o’clock in the morning!

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