Running Playlist Roundup

I am "one of those" and if you are anything like us, you absolutely cannot workout without music. Made it all the way to they gym and laced up only to find that your headphones are missing? That's a NOPE. I will turn around and go home (and have). It's borderline snobbish, but a stale playlist can also deal a heavy blow to my motivation. Sharing new music apps, songs, artists, etc. is a great way I keep my tunes fresh and my motivation high. Apps like Spotify make it so easy to stalk check out what your friends are listening to. Follow me on Spotify here and look out for more Running Playlist Roundup posts in the future! Just don't make too much fun of my occasional Michael Jackson binges... Each new playlist will be themed- because who doesn't love a theme- so leave a comment with what you'd like to hear next.

PSA: I choreograph sick dance moves in my head while I'm running. Sometimes the moves are so SICK they can't be contained to just my mind, so if you see me doing a hair flip on Morehead, that's what happened. I'm half kidding.

Here it is, dolls. Just for you, a girl power running playlist with all of our favs from Brit to T. Swift! FREAK OUT.

CLTRunning | Girl Power

Being a Woman About Town - Running Routes

When I moved back home from DC, I had to get used to running down country roads rather than through the big city. Although the peace of my little neighborhood in Mint Hill was pretty conducive to getting your zen on, I much prefer running in an urban area. I think it has something to do with accountability. No, those poor souls leaving the office at 8pm don't care that you're running, but I use each person I pass as a reason not to stop... especially if you're one of the creeps catcalling as I'm sweating like a 400lb man. Being an uptown girl, I'm somewhat limited in the route department, but some popular favs are listed at the bottom of this post.  

Things to keep in mind:

Crosswalks. Nothing is worse than hitting the wrong intersection at rush hour. This is both a timing and route-mapping issue.
Pedestrian traffic. You don't want to have to bob and weave too much and no one wants your sweaty body rubbing against them on their commute... well, some do... and for them, we have pepper spray.
Safety. As much as I love my tunes, make sure you can still hear your surroundings and that you are also visually aware of the people and cars around you.

Travel. Don't be shy about getting in your car to drive to a fun new route. You have to keep yourself interested and your body guessing!

Modify. Don't like a certain leg of a route you want to try? Change it! It's your run, you're the boss. Combining routes and changing them to suit your needs is a great way to change it up.

It's worth waking up a little early for a sunrise like this! Morehead in front of the Dowd YMCA.

All of my maps were created with RunningMap.com. The blue flags are mile markers and the red bubbles are points of interest.

Uptown(-ish):

Uptown Proper: It's pretty easy to crisscross through uptown and make up your route as you go. I started to make a map for this route, but it was plain stupid and I have much greater faith in you than to post a loop through Uptown's grid. Have fun with this one and improvise!

Dowd YMCA: Adding a pit stop to your route can be a game changer! Don't think you can run a full 6-miler? How about trying two 3-milers with a short break? I use Sgt. Roy's Total Strength or Heather's Barre class as my breaks if I can. (2.25 miles, one way)

Like, Sports and Stuff: Train like a pro while you run by all of Charlotte's major sports venues: Panther's practice field, Bank of America Stadium, BB&T Ballpark, and Time Warner Cable Arena. (3.29 miles)

Dilworth: The Scott Ave hill is one of my most and least favorite places to run. Expletives usually cannot be helped at the top. This route is light on stops at crosswalks. (3.39 miles)

The Rail Trail: Gets a little crowded, but a great "back-and-forth" route, nonetheless. Again, I won't insult your intelligence with photo of a line through South End. This route follows the light rail.

Around Town:

Montford to Freedom Park: I did this route for my beer run post and loved it! Any Charlottean worth her salt knows Freedom Park can be a little slice of Heaven. (4 miles)

Little Sugar Creek Greenway: passes the Metropolitan. Resist the urge to stop at Target. This Greenway is also a part of the Montford route above if you want a long run.

4 Mile Creek Greenway: Asphalt and boardwalk trail in Matthews. Guess what?! It's 4 miles.

Toby Creek Greenway: Links to Mallard Creek Greenway in the University area. Parking at 235 E Mallard Creek Church Road (Mallard Creek Park) or the Harris Teeter shopping center at the other end of this route on University City Blvd is a breeze.

Out of Town:

Running to The Battery in Charleston, The Loop in Wrightsville Beach, or around the monuments in DC are my personal favorite routes on vacation. Make sure you plan carefully when you're in an unfamiliar place, though. Don't be afraid to stop and explore a little either!

What is your favorite route?

World Suicide Prevention Day 2014

Today is the 11th annual World Suicide Prevention Day and I am adding my voice to others across the globe in saying "You are loved" in my own small way. As I mentioned in my first post, I lost my baby brother, Nolan, this summer to suicide and am honored to stand beside those that are fighting the same battle that he lost.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 

1 Corinthians 13:7-8

  To Write Love on Her Arms is an organization dedicated to giving hope to those living with addiction, depression, self injury, and suicidal thoughts. Join me and write the word "love" on your arm, light a candle near a window at 8pm for support or remembrance, pledge to cycle (or run!) for the Cycle Around the Globe Event, or simply pray for those facing these issues- we lose someone to suicide every 40 seconds. When you are asked what the word written on your arm or the candle burning in your window represents, consider it an open invitation for honest dialogue on the issues of depression and suicide. If you or someone your know is struggling, please reach out. There is help available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, your local resources, or friends and family.

 My half marathon training is dedicated to Nolan's memory.

Taylor, me, and Nolan at Thanksgiving. Rest peacefully, Nolie.


Break stigma, one conversation at a time.

Fabletics Review

I went through about 4-6 gushing iterations of "Y'all, OMG" titles for this post before I settled on the super creative "Fabletics Review"... I figured that I needed to conserve my energy because, Y'ALL. OMG. This site is amazing. 

Fabletics offers awesome deals on activewear you'll actually want to wear... and maybe even be active in (I see you, chick in the running leggings at bottomless mimosa brunch)! Kate Hudson is also a co-founder- c'mon, what better endorsement could there be than the most svelte little lady in Hollywood?

Getting started with Fabletics: 

1. Take a quick lifestyle quiz.

2. Fabletics creates a virtual closet of picks just for you based off of your quiz. 

3. Choose an outfit and checkout as a regular member or join as a VIP (fo' free) and get $25 off of your first outfit!

At the beginning of the month, Fabletics VIPs get new outfit choices sent to their inbox and you have by the 5th to either choose one for the discounted VIP price or pass on that month at no charge. WHERE ARE THE STRINGS? I can't find any reason why you wouldn't join this service. Here are my favorites:

1. Palm | 2. Gulf | 3. Field | 4. Ocean (not pictured: adorable open back)

Not loving the blue? No problemo! You can customize your outfit with different color options. This is "Ocean" with my personal twist:

My favorites of my favorites are #3 and #4, so naturally I couldn't help myself and they are now resting peacefully in my closet. Sorry I'm not sorry!

A word on sizing:

I had to exchange the shorts and top from #3 because I ordered a small in both and they were too large. However, the small leggings in #4 are comfortably snug. The sports bra in #3 is great and true to size- I've already run in it and it offers great support with a TO DIE FOR keyhole back. Although sizing is a little wonky, don't fret, Fabletics offers a no-sweat exchange policy with free shipping both ways. For real.

Fabletics for all!

Blending to a Better Bod

Detox, cleanse, torture, insanity... whatever you want to call it, cleanses can be really intimidating and downright scary. I highly suggest trying Dr. Oz's 3-Day Detox Cleanse if you're new to cleansing like me! Before I really start my regimented training schedule for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I wanted to try it and it was so much easier than I thought it would be. Still definitely not easy, though. I was shocked that I wasn't ever hungry, but cravings for someone with a sweet tooth like mine were vicious. With a little resolve, you can get through. Plus, we know a little about mind over matter as runners, right?

My take-aways:

• My grocery bill was about $90-$100, not the $16/day that Dr. Oz estimates. That being said, I also had a ton of leftovers post-cleanse.
• This is not about weight loss. It's about jump-starting the path to eating healthier. Get off the dang scale.
• The lunch smoothie is pretty bad. Not gonna lie. It's really, really chunky. I started thinking of it as a gazpacho and eating it with a spoon which kind of helped... kind of. It also made the equivalent of 2 smoothies so it was a lot to choke down. I mastered this smoothie on day 3 (of course) and I think the trick is a little less celery with a little more liquid.
• The breakfast and dinner smoothies were GOOD! Just don't add too much lemon or cayenne. 
• I never had the snack smoothie... just wasn't hungry! Isn't that amazing? A good cleanse is not about deprivation and this one definitely doesn't leave you feeling starved. Just make sure those Oreos are well hidden in your pantry or else you'll feel like they've grown eyes and are staring you down at about 9pm every night. Stay strong.
• Make sure your blender is large enough. The ingredients themselves start out bulky before you begin blending so you'll either need to chop them up or blend a few ingredients at a time then add more, especially for the lunch smoothie.

Have any questions about this cleanse and my experience? Leave a comment below!