ashleyd /

213 days and counting…

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I almost started crying when I received this last night. I was actually laying sideways on the floor foam rolling the knots out of my legs. If you follow me on twitter you may have seen my comment about last nights Lululemon Run Club workout. This was our second week and I couldn’t be happier that we have made the commitment to stick with it weekly. Every Wednesday it forces me to leave the office at a decent time, 6pm, and spend an hour pushing my legs in ways that I have never done before. Last night’s workout was the first TRUE speed workout I think i’ve ever done. After meeting at the Lululemon on East 66th and 3rd Avenue we jogged over to the 72nd transverse in Central Park (~1 mile). Then we met the Lincoln Center Lululemon group and reviewed the workout. The coach last night told us she wanted us to push ourselves but respect our bodies since it was a steamy 86 degrees outside! The workout was a mile warm up jog up to the reservoir loop, then a speed workout which consisted of two loops around the reservoir (1.68 miles each loop). The goal was to do a time trial to see how fast we could do the first loop and then hopefully do the second even faster. The reservoir path is perfect for time trials as it is packed dirt, perfectly flat, and has gorgeous views.

I decided that I was going to focus on keeping my body loose, my arms and abs engaged, and run the first loop as quickly as my legs would allow. I got in the zone by plugging into an old favorite, ACDC and taking off. I could immediately tell I was running faster than normal as my heart rate sky rocketed. Before I was at the half way point my heart rate was pushing 175! I finished the loop in 13:04 which meant i’d kept an 8:06 mile pace! Holy cow! I’d done it! I’d pushed my legs and lungs harder than ever. The second loop was slower but still completed. After completing the two loops we stretched as a group and did some squats and jumpies. The workout ended with a mile run back to Lululemon to retrieve our gear. What a great Wednesday night!

So, here is to the official start of NYC ING Marathon training and excitement! Leslie and I were gchatting back and forth yesterday since we both are in the 2010 marathon. She was lucky and ended up being one of the few “chosen” ones in the lottery while Bo and I both qualified through the NYRR last year by completing 9 races in 2009 and volunteering for one. 

Last but not least, please support my fellow NYC Marathon gal, Leslie, in her quest to win the National Flaunt Your Rock contest!

http://keridoolittlephotography.com/blog/2010/04/denver-wedding-photographer-flaunt-your-rock-national-contest-vote/
Couple #2
All the way baby!

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ashleyd /

So Fresh and So Clean, Clean

“Ain’t nobody dope as me I’m dressed so fresh so clean
(So fresh and so clean clean)
Don’t you think I’m so sexy I’m dressed so fresh so clean
(So fresh and so clean clean)
Ain’t nobody dope as me I’m dressed so fresh so clean
(So fresh and so clean clean)
I love when you stare at me I’m dressed so fresh so clean
(So fresh and so clean clean)” – Outkast So Fresh, So Clean

It has taken three months to get accustomed to showering at Equinox and then heading straight to work, but as Outkast would say, these days people are complimenting me because i’m “so fresh and so clean clean.”  If you’ve been reading my blog from the beginning, you know that Bo and I joined Equinox in January to bust out of our honeymoon/holiday workout rut. This was exciting, BUT this also meant that everyday i’d have to shower and get ready at Equinox versus the comfort of my own apartment.

How does one do this without looking like a wrinkled, rushed mess? As I was showering for Easter Sunday at Equinox I realized that it would probably be helpful to share some of the tips and habits I have learned after 3 months of morning workouts. The picture below was taken 45 minutes after ending Sunday’s spin class at Equinox. I think it’s safe to say I’m slowly mastering it!  

Wear Your Work Clothes to the Gym: If you wear your work clothes to the gym then you don’t have to worry about looking like a wrinkled mess. Bo and I each wear our suits/work clothes to the gym in the morning and then hang it in our locker when we arrive. This insures that you don’t leave any integral pieces at home such as a bra, tie, belt, etc.

Keep a few basics in your gym bag: I keep a spare pair of underwear, socks, barrettes, and rubber bands, in a zipper section of my Lululemon gym bag. I hate when I get to the gym and can’t find a rubberband  for my workout.

Bring your own toiletries. You know the products that work best with your skin, hair, and face. Why would make life more difficult by relying on your gym’s sketchy all in one body wash/shampoo/conditioner if you know your hair requires a moisturizing shampoo? Why would you trust this same soap to remove the grime of your workout if you know you have sensitive skin? You can find almost ANY product in a small size which makes it convenient to take to the gym. Bo and I each have a Ziplock bag which holds our razor, shampoo, conditioner, and face wash. Even though Equinox stocks their bathrooms with amazing Kiehl’s products I still bring my own face wash and conditioner. I use their body wash and shampoo but see a difference in my hair and the final product if I use what I know. If you’re having a hard time finding a small size of your favorite product hop over to Sephora’s Beauty to Go site or think of investing in some mini plastic containers to carry your product. Nalgene Travel Bottle Kit - Medium

Make sure your gym beauty routine includes the KISS principle My makeup bag for the gym is basic but it gets the job done QUICKLY each morning. I use lots of makeup that multitasks. The makeup worn in the picture above is as follows:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: This provides a smooth, moisturized base with a hint of color.

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil: I put this on over the moisturizer for a finished look. This also helps stop the shine and sweat that can sometime continue after a hard workout or during the hot blow dry session. I use the mini on the go version at the gym and in my purse since it keeps powder from spilling all over and takes up less room.

Covergirl Smoky Shadow Blast: This great tool allows you to line and fill in your eyelid with vibrant color!

Covergirl Lash Blast Length this product in black adds enough darkness to my eyelashes that it looks like i’ve taken the time to get dolled up while also adding a bit to the edge of my eyes to give a liner effect

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips This great gloss adds a rich coat of color while also moisturizing and plumping lips.

Brit Sheer Eau de Toilette Roll-on

Brit Sheer EDT Rollerball: Nothing makes you smell fresher than your favorite fragrance. Most perfumes are available at Ulta and Sephora in a handy travel spray or rollerball. These won’t leak in your purse or take up space. In addition, the mini size allows you to try a new scent without investing too much money since most are under $30!

Keep your toiletries, makeup, and lock in your bag at all times! It’s easy to take items out of your bag at work or when you get home but it’s hard to remember them at 5am when you’re half asleep. Therefore, I spent the few extra dollars to buy duplicates of some items. It may seem like a pain to buy an extra foundation or frizz crème but what happens the day you forget it in your other purse or in the bathroom? Trust me, you don’t want to be messy and stressed before that big 8am meeting!

Thanks to everyone for the great business card suggestions! I spent some time at Zazzle today and produced this beauty.

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(I’ve cut off half to protect my privacy but you get the idea.)

I also purchased the domain www.healthyhappierbear.com today. I’m going to work on transitioning over the next week or two but will keep you posted. I’m excited about all the positive change taking place.

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ashleyd /

Joining the Wolf Pack

Who remembers that great scene in The Hangover when Alan preaches to the other guys about the power of the Wolf Pack and becoming a part of a group.


“You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when my sister brought Doug home, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack… it grew by one. So there… there were two of us in the wolf pack… I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later. And six months ago, when Doug introduced me to you guys, I thought, “Wait a second, could it be?” And now I know for sure, I just added two more guys to my wolf pack. Four of us wolves, running around the desert together, in Las Vegas, looking for strippers and cocaine. So tonight, I make a toast! “

Tonight, Bo and I had the great opportunity to feel like we were part of the running wolf pack. We’ve never been part of a weekly running club together due to two barriers: time prioritization and intimidation.

After my experience with the Bryn Mawr running club i’ve been hesitant to join anything more than the NYRR. While the people at the BMRC were all very nice, they didn’t have formal workouts or pace groups. Therefore, I was often running alone as most of their regulars were seasoned runners training for races such as Boston or New York and keeping a pace of less than 8 minute miles. This left me feeling intimidated and dissapointed in my running ability as I would always compare myself to those around me.


Once we moved to NYC, a running club was never a priority for us because we didn’t realize the power of the pack. We figured that it’d just be an inefficient way of getting our workout in and end up wasting our time. But, running with a group is EXACTLY the opposite as we both found out tonight. The East Side Lululemon (66th and 3rd) and West Side (Lincoln Center) stores sponsor a weekly Wednesday night running group Spring through the Fall in Central Park. Some of the benefits we discovered were as follows:


-A coached run with leaders for each pace group (7-8, 8-9, 9-10, and 10 plus minute miles) ensures that you’re running with people of your caliber and won’t feel out of place.
-Running with other people who are sometimes faster helps you to push yourself and realize your true potential. Tonight I kept a 9:30 pace for the first mile and Bo found himself keeping a 7:15 at one point!
-A coached run provides an established workout plan so you are forced to focus on intervals, speed work, or other often avoided forms of training. Tonight’s workout was 2-3 laps of the lower loop in the park. The first lap we were focusing on speed and power as we went up the hills and then recovered during the downhill portions. The second lap we focused on speed during the flat and changing our stride on the hills while using them for a recovery. Including hill workouts and speed fartleks in my weekly training should really help me improve my half marathon time!
-Everyone was so friendly and high off the positive endorphins! The people are inspiring as many of them are passionate about the sport of running whether they are Iron Women, Iron Men, triathaletes, or a beginner runner who is enjoying their first endorphine high post run. I even ran into an old friend from UGA who I hadn’t seen in 3 years and a fellow blogger- Jesse from Jesse Runs the City!!
-The run leaders ensured that everyone had finished and returned before they headed back to the stores. They wanted to make sure no one was left behind in the dark.



So, as you can see from the above, Bo and I absolutely loved our experience tonight and would recommend a local Lululemon running club to everyone! You can go to your local Lululemon store site to find out more about their community events. Most stores offer a running group once a week and a yoga class once a week free of charge.


**DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY GALAXY GRANOLA GIVEAWAY HERE!

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