There Goes Molly Rose - Fitness & Travel & Life

How Often Should You Brush Beard? Easy Ways to Practice!!!

How Should One Practice Brush Their Beard For Better?

We live in a contemporary era, which is amending day by day and is open to different aspects every day. It is much convenient for you to have an eye-capturing personality that can lift up your confidence and allow you to have an unforgettable impression over people around you. for women, there are different options, whereas, for men, there are several options simultaneously.

Beard growing can surely come in handy for creating an unforgettable personality. Growing a long beard is a tough job to perform, but somehow with the optimal products and care, you can achieve the long beard look. Another difficult job is to maintain your beard as men are required to be considerate about several aspects, from care to brushing your beard. So, if you are hassling with the same thought how to maintain your beard or how should one brush it for better, then we are here helping you to resolve this problem. To know the comprehensive guide, it is better to continue reading the article until the end.

Why should one be considerate about beard brushes and combs?

Growing beards seems an easier job to perform; nevertheless, it is not. You have to work really hard to get a long full, grown beard. Most people who aren’t aware of the concept of beard growth often consider that growth is much easier with beard oil, and that’s all you are required to perform, and spending high on brushes is a waste of money.

However, you need to understand the fact that it is convenient for you to have the best brush for beard that can assist in multiple ways. Getting a convenient hair brush depending on your beard length can aid in getting the fine growth of the beard.

How Often Should You Brush Beard?

When one practices choosing for the brush and comb depending on their beard length, you can untangle beard hair for preventing them from falling. It is a convenient practice to perform as going for the wrong brush or comb might lead to awful results such as damaging hair follicles and further resulting in an uneven beard. Several options of best brush for a beard along with comb are provided in the market you should be selective for one that suits your beard length.

Hence, these are the primary details behind why one should be considerate about brushing their beard for better growth.

How to take optimal care of your beard?

Well, there is a myth about a growing beard that it is not necessary for you to have any particular beard regime for growing your beard well. You must understand the fact that our body functions in a certain specific way, and so does it grow. If you are willing to grow a massive beard, then it is necessary for you to have the optimal working a certain area of the body to grow it well.

Once you are out from the shower, then you are required to make use of different gentle towel for your beard. As you have wiped out water droplets from your beard, then it is necessary for you to use the top-notch brand of beard oil that is suitable for your beard growth and skin type. Once done with beard oil, then use comb over it to spread out the oil into the beard all over. If you have a short length of a beard, then you should have a narrow tooth comb that can appropriately deal with the short length beard, whereas if you have medium or long length beard, then it is necessary for you to have the wide-tooth comb.

How Often Should You Brush Beard?

The comb

By making optimal use of the comb, you can easily untangle the hair of the beard and make sure you go for the untangling process gently so that your beard hair follicles don’t get damaged. One should be very particular about this step of the beard set. Once you have successfully spread out the beard oil, then you are required to use the best brush for beard that is pores bristle brush that is good to go with the medium and short length beard only nevertheless it is not convenient for going for the long beard as it might get stuck in it and pulling as well as tugging would be more that is not good for your facial skin.

You can end with a narrow tooth comb for the final set and giving the final touch of perfection to your hair. This setting is good to go for the day; however, if you are a self-obsessed person, then twice would be enough to brush your beard through the day.

Bonus tip: The details stated above are pretty much informative and unveils several concepts regarding beard growth and maintenance. So here is a bonus tip for you, beard oil or products that you are considering for your beard should be of top-notch quality. If you are unable to find results for a longer time even after spending high on top-notch quality products, then you can be considerate about DIY beard oil as that is more effective and free of adulteration still if you don’t see any result on your beard growth, then considering a dermatologist or trichologist, as that would be a better option for you to opt.

The final verdict

From the details mentioned above, we can easily conclude to the fact that it would be convenient for you to choose for the best brush for beard for dealing with the beard accurately. It is perfect for people with short and medium-length as well as for long lengths to get the brushes and combs that can suit well with your beard for attaining higher benefits. Additionally, you must be considerate about the fact that brushing your hair with the best comb or brush isn’t enough, as you are required to follow a healthy regime for it. So, these were some of the necessary details regarding beard brushing it well for making it better that you all should be considerate about it. We hope you find details stated above informative and helpful for growing good length beard for adding on an x-factor to your personality.

Health

How Does A Vacuum Work Science?

When picturing about the perfect skin type, we tend to picturise as a skin having a clean and clear skin that is acne free. However, what if the ideal picture gets ruined with the blackheads that are a complete no-no for everyone. In the modern world, when you are surrounded by hectic schedules and pollution in the atmosphere all around, that can affect our skin adversely.

Modern science has introduced several innovations that are proven helpful for resolving skin issues. The vacuum is one of the innovations that is proven helpful to fight the several problems of the skin. If you are also struggling with the skin issues, then continue reading the article where we are stating the some of the essential points related to vacuum working.

How Does A Vacuum Work Science?

Effective working of vacuum

The vacuum is considered to be effective for the different skin issues as they can deal with the problems without scratching or pulling. They are gentle on the skin as compared to any other extraction method of pulling out dirt and blackheads. These pore vacuums are effective for you as you don’t have to deal with the harsh ways of pulling out the dirt and other chemicals from your skin, surely. The low pressure of the suction pump sucks out all the impurities and excess sebum that is oil from the skin without going through any painful procedure.

Why consider a vacuum pump?

The modern technology has assisted us with multiple magnificent things to correct different problems of the skin and all over the body. The vacuum pump is also one of them below; we are stating some of the easy points that can explain to you well why it is better to consider the vacuum pump.

Convenient for use

Unlike any other modes of skin correcting issues ways, it is easy to get along with surely. Medications and different extraction methods are not really convenient for use and don’t allow you to have the easy practice to correct the different skin issues. However, using the best blackhead remover vacuum is easy to use, and you don’t have to hustle to perceive the working of the vacuum pumps.

Good to with every skin type

Everyone has a different type of skin. Some might have oily, dry, sensitive, and other types. Not all skin types are responsive to the same medication to correct the same skin severe problems. In addition, the vacuum pump is good to go with every skin type as it simply cleanses the skin from within from the different impurities that cause harm to your skin. So whatever skin type you may be having, you can conveniently go for a vacuum pump without any hesitation and worrying about your skin type.

It is pain-free

In contrast to other extraction tools and methods that are painful and cause damage to your skin, the vacuum pump is free of pain. These are specially designed for all kinds of skin types; hence they are designed gentle to use on the skin. If you super sensitive or excessively oily skin, then it would be a decent choice to go along with as these are gentle on the skin. In short, you will get rid of the several skin issues without realizing any pain.

Less time-consuming

In the modern world, we all are in a rush; we cannot go for the time-consuming things to deal with the skin issues. The vacuum pump is a result of your expectations that can correct the skin issues within a blink of an eye. So it is better for you to with this one if you are willing to get the fast results. Additionally, no longer slower and steady wins the race nowadays; the smart one wins the race. Therefore it is better to go for the blackhead remover vacuum that is fast and convenient for you.

Pocket-friendly

Dealing with skin issues by spending larger bucks is easy, but surely it is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, if you are also looking for a pocket-friendly alternative, then a vacuum pump is the decent choice to make. These are provided in multiple range and options; you can choose optimally accordingly. Instead of spending larger bucks on the different exfoliation processes or any other extraction method, it is better for you to have this one.

Instant glow

Millennials are highly obsessed with the idea of having instant results than a vacuum pump can be proven helpful in fulfilling your desire of instant glow. This facial vacuum better said as the pore vacuum that is optimal for dealing with the instant glow for the skin. Using any other medication method takes time, whereas using the vacuum allows you to have glowing skin under the blink of an eye. The reason behind it is that it sucks all the impurities present in the pores and opens the clogged pores.

Well, these are some of the considerable points that explain well why it is better for you to have the vacuum pump for correcting the severe skin issues.

Bonus tip: you might direct everything perfectly for correcting your skin issue, but here is a pro tip for dealing with them effectively and quickly. It is better for you to deal with the right vacuum pump that can be proven effective for you. If possible, try using the convenient scrub along with the use of the vacuum pump as it can pull out the blackheads optimally and easily shed the dead skin that has clogged your skin. Making the gentle use of the vacuum allows you to have better results and finer skin health.

The final verdict

From the details mentioned above, we can easily conclude the factor that it is not easy for you to get rid of the blackheads’ problems and sebum production. You need to have a special thing to get rid of these skin issues and using the blackhead remover vacuum that can optimally help to correct the problem. However, it is a better alternative than going for the expensive medications that can create a negative effect on your skin as well. Additionally, it is prompt for people with sensitive skin types as it is gentle to use on the skin.

Health, Reviews

When Do Stretch Marks Start in Pregnancy

Nothing can equate to a woman’s pleasure once she discovered out that she is pregnant. Carrying her child for nine months will be a completely new experience for her. But this joy comes with a little cost. Apart from gaining weight, almost every woman fined it bothersome to have these stretch marks. Although a baby is regarded as the most valuable gift, those hideous marks are considered as a problem. These can cause a woman to feel distressed about herself. Most women discover ways to clear off these marks by utilizing the stretch mark cream for pregnancy.

Every pregnant woman looks beautiful while she carries her baby. But holding those unattractive pinkish lines on the abdomen, thoraces, and anywhere can reduce your confidence. As your child grows, your skin will expand to support the baby and these stretch marks will grow more and more obvious. Fortunately, there are now solutions to prevent the presence of these stretch marks or at least pale the tan surfaces of your skin. You can take a look and apply the stretch mark cream for pregnancy and you can give birth after nine months with lighter or no skin or stretch marks at all.

Stretch marks arise in the layers of skin are split apart due to weight gain or pregnancy. These split skins can be treated by a nutrient that carries them called collagen. There are collagens nutrients previously present on your surface but they are not adequate to maintain or restore the broken layers. The consequences are the hideous lines that you can observe on the skin. There are a lot of accessible creams you can get on the market for clearing off those marks. But afore you do so, it is very essential to do some analysis first. There are a lot of fake products that deserve to be useful but can do more harm to your skin. Some may feel itchiness, develops redness, and some may still cause even darkened skin if you purchase the faulty product doe to the chemicals too firm.

When Do Stretch Marks Start in Pregnancy?

Check out the best suitable stretch mark cream for you

Today, there is a wide category of creams available on the shop and all of them deserve to be the terminal solution for removing the stretch marks, quick and forever. But be very cautious about what you purchase, as not all products are as practical as they deserve to be. The essential things to look for in the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy is that it includes only original ingredients that will excite the creation of collagen in your skin. Such ingredients are vitamin E, vitamin A, squalene oil, grapefruit seed extracts and aloe vera. They are perfectly safe, natural components and will own no side effects on your surface.

These ingredients, when mixed properly and used topically enhance the production of collagen in a good way. You can be calm because the extra collagen will keep your skin fibers unitedly and prevent the occurrence of stretch marks. So do your analysis before you buy anything, and be assured that you apply the stretch mark cream for pregnancy and your product should be worth for your money.

Read a few reviews by exploring a certain stretch mark cream online. Know how many women can prove if they are capable or not. Verify also that they have experimented ingredients that are reliable for practice on pregnant women. Look for a thing that contains original and natural ingredients to further increase the creation of collagen on your skin. Some of the most traditional creams are Cocoa butter and Shea.

Look for the product that also has vitamin E and A, and squalene oil. These are soothing ingredients that won’t injure your skin or your baby’s.

Research the stretch mark creams for pregnancy and discover out what serves for you best. It’s time to concentrate and experience your pregnancy and bother less about the stretch marks.

How to find the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy

There are various creams accessible in the market. It can be difficult to determine the most suitable stretch mark cream for yourself to heal your skin. But, before you buy a cream, it is suited to understand what stretch lines are and why they are made. They are uniform scars developing on the skin when the skin is extended beyond its endurance. The lines typically arise during puberty or pregnancy when massive transformations occur in your body in a very short-term period. Below is the list of a few things that you can look to find the most suitable stretch mark cream to battle those unpleasant scars.

Herbal creams

Herbal creams are very useful in treating them. One great thing about herbal products is that it does not carry any harmful, hard chemicals that may provoke skin soreness. Remember, you cannot be too cautious to choose the stretch mark cream for pregnancyas you are seemingly going to use it on your belly while your baby is cuddling inside. Additionally, if you see stretch marks on the thoraces, it is more helpful to apply herbal creams, as these are very delicate areas of your body.

Creams containing vitamins

To get the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy, you can likewise look for cream holding vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin E. These vitamins improve skin muscle re-building and are notably good to get the flexibility back in your surface. Creams based on vitamins are more supposed to have less toxic chemicals and are hence quite safe to apply.

Collagen replacement creams

The break up in the connective protein of surface tissues or collagen is the cause behind the occurrence of stretch marks. Hence, creams, which have collage restore properties, can improve the healing of these scars speedily and completely. However, confirm that the product is of a well-known brand afore buying it. You can additionally join an online discussion and put questions about the stretch mark cream for pregnancy with collagen restoring properties. A healthy pregnancy cream can be costly, but, if it is truly useful, it will be worth it.

Health, Reviews

What are the benefits of air purifier for baby?

air fresh

Reducing the indoor air pollution is one of the most challenging tasks to all parents. You can follow the different methods to improve your indoor air quality. However, an advanced yet user-friendly air purifier is recommended for everyone with a desire to purify the indoor air. The first-class air purifier is used to reduce the level of airborne pollutants and also allergens in the particular area. The overall specifications of the best baby air purifier play the main role behind its efficiency for removing the air pollutants. Designers and manufacturers of the latest air purifiers provide the best-in-class nature of products at the competitive prices with an aim to make customers satisfied.

The role of the air purifier in the baby’s room

An indoor air is more polluted than an outdoor air. Almost every baby spends most of their time indoors. They suffer from exposure to poor indoor air quality and require the safe method for improving the indoor air quality. As a parent of a baby, you can take care of your baby indoors by using the first-class air purifier. You may get confused with different types of air purifiers available on the market and think about how to be successful in your approach for the air purifier shopping as per your requirements. You can contact and consult with specialists in the top brands of air purifiers. You will get the most expected guidance and fulfil air purifier shopping expectations on the whole.

Setting up the first-class nursery for your baby is one of the most exciting things in your life. On the other hand, you have to be conscious about how to prefer the rocking chair, changing table, crib, decorations and an air purifier. You may get surprised an air purifier in the nursery for a baby.

Consider important things

Air pollution is increasing on a regular basis and one of the main reasons behind various health problems to individuals of every age group especially babies. An advanced design of the air purifier is very helpful to successfully enhance the quality of indoor air. There are loads of significant things to consider while comparing a huge collection of air purifiers. However, some of these things are as follows.

Brand
Features
Effectiveness
Square footage
Cost
Style
Warranty

As a beginner to the huge collection of modern and affordable air purifiers for sale, you can directly contact and consult with experts in the air purifiers. You will get the absolute guidance and take advantage of the professional approach to pick and buy the air purifier. Easy-to-understand details about features, pros and cons of top brands of air purifiers give you the complete guidelines and make positive changes in your approach for investing in one of the most suitable baby air purifiers. You will get 100% satisfaction when you invest in the world-class nature of affordable baby air purifier. You will be confident to recommend the best baby air purifier to anyone with a requirement for improving the quality of indoor air and overall health of the baby at the same time.

Baby Air Purifiers

Focus on the important benefits

The main benefits of high-quality baby air purifier these days are as follows.

Boosts the mood and sleep quality of the baby
Prevents Malaria by eliminating mosquitoes
Prevents cancer by trapping airborne tobacco and cigarette smoke
Prevents Mesothelioma by removing asbestos particles presence in the air
Prevents chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Protects the baby from allergies and risk of leukaemia and lymphoma, pneumonia
Improves the baby’s lung function and immune system
Reduces the possibilities of Autism, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and other health problems

Health-conscious people these days enhance the overall quality of indoor air by using the air purifier. They search for the best baby air purifier on the market with an aim to make their baby healthy by breathing good air. They read honest reviews of top brands of air purifiers one after another and make a good decision about how to be successful in their approach for investing in one of the most suitable air purifiers. They listen to testimonials from customers of the company specialized in the air purifiers sale and get an overview about how to successfully pick and purchase the suitable air purifier.

Health

Pros & Cons of Blue Apron

Now that I’m a few deliveries into Blue Apron, I thought I’d put together a post Pro-Con style to share what I like and dislike about the company, in case you are interested in trying it out. No sponsorship or advertising here, just willingly sharing since I think it’s great!

PROS

1: Less money and time spent at the grocery store.

Am I the only one that wonders around the store, buying bogos and stuff that when put together doesn’t exactly constitute as a meal? K good, I love not being alone 🙂 Since I know 3 of my weekly dinners are already set, I really don’t buy all that much except for the staples and lunch stuff.

2: You have a present at your door once a week.

If you’re like me and get some sort of satisfaction out of seeing a package at the doorstep for you, then you will love this company. Coming home from a long day at work to see 3 delicious meals just waiting for you to put together is pretty darn great.

3: Eating out less

The food is fresh, but not forever, so it’s imperative that you cook it when you get it (I usually spread it out throughout 1 week, so cooking like every other day). This in turn, causes you to eat out less which is a good thing in my opinion! You know everything that is going into your meals, and you get the satisfaction knowing YOU made it.

4: It’s healthy & fresh & fantastic

5: It causes you to try cooking something completely new

We all have our go-to’s, and while we’re pros at them by now and can do them blindfolded with only minor burns, it’s good to branch out. Nudge the noggin. Open your mind and your senses. See what’s out there.

6: The recipes are all online, so you can go back and recreate anytime you want!

Before this, I had never made my own sauce (seriously). Now, I have tasted some real good stuff that I made, and can refer back at any time to the recipes online! They give you recipe cards with your shipment, too, but if you tend to lose things like me…. #internetisforever

7: All you really need are pots and pans and salt and pepper and aluminum foil.

They provide everything. We’re talking even the “2 tbsp butter”. How nice is that?! Not only that, but everything is perfectly portion-sized for you. You rarely measure things out and you don’t have to worry about over-eating. Each meal is approximately 700 calories.

8: You can customize your meals and delivery.

You let them know what you like and don’t like when it comes to the protein (and there’s a vegetarian option) After your first delivery, you get to choose out of 6 meals which ones you want to try. You can choose when it gets delivered and whether they can leave it on your doorstop or not. You can skip weeks (just make sure to do it at least a week ahead of time!)

9: You feel like you’ve become a chef who should have their own TV show

Thought about contacting Food Network but I realize I have limitations.

CONS

1: It’s a bit expensive.

I guess if you put it in comparison to going out to eat, then not so much. But it is $60/week for 2 people for 3 meals ($10/meal). So I’d just take a look at what you normally spend on food, and see if it’s worth it to you.

2: It is time consuming

I bet if I did a poll, most people would say they eat out because it’s quick and convenient. Yup, sure is, and I am totally guilty of it quite often. But doing it too often can become expensive and not so great for your health, so putting the time and effort in the kitchen really is worth it. Pour yourself a glass of wine, have some patience (if you’re impatient in the kitch like me) and enjoy the cooking process! It’s been rewarding for me each time, but I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who might not find the time it takes to be worth it. It’s not for everyone or every family. So far, its taken me about 40 mins to an hour from start to in my mouth 🙂

3: No leftovers

Since it’s portion-sized ready for you, it’s made for exactly 2 people, no more no less. I am super happy that it is super filling, however don’t count on leftovers. Usually when I cook on my own in the blind (aka whatever I come up with to cook and oftentimes scary and unpleasant to the average palate) there are leftovers that can be used for lunch the next day. So just make sure you get food for lunch at the grocery store!

Tell me….

what is your go-to meal to cook?

how often do you eat out? (no judgments)

do you enjoy the cooking process?

who has taken cooking classes?

Give away

Giving BLUE APRON A Shot!

I love reading blogs. I love reading reviews of products and getting new ideas for things I want to try or buy. But I typically think thats cool and move on without much more thought. Well, I think by this point, I’ve read enough Blue Apron reviews that I HAD to try it out for myself…

Janae from Hungry Runner Girl absolutely loves this company and raves about the quality and taste of the meals. She was awesome enough to give the first 100 readers to sign up a $20 discount on their first Blue Apron purchase recently… so I decided to bite the bullet and go for it!

I’m decently challenged in the kitchen, and often find myself cooking the same thing over and over, usually because it’s easy or quick (read: bacon and eggs totally counts) With Blue Apron, they provide 3 meals for 2 people (the package I purchased) and it comes with all the ingredients, perfectly portion-sized, with the directions online making it SO DANG SIMPLE.

Meal #1: Catfish Piccata & Fresh Fettuccine —> My two hands have never made anything so flavorful in all their lives. It took me about an hour to prepare, but so worth it in my opinion! It was lemony and saucy and really really great. It was a bit too flavorful for Ryan but we have totally different palates… and this was my whole point of doing Blue Apron to begin with: wanting to try different things! We were both plenty full and satisfied from this first meal!

Meal #2: Sumac-Spiced Steak & Honeynut Squash —-> another hearty meal. Our plates ended up looking so colorful and everything was delicious. This was my first time “pickling” onions and loved how they turned out. The apple walnut salad you make with it for a side was really good too… I can definitely see myself making it in the future. I found that we had to cook the steak a bit longer than it suggested, but other than that the recipe was simple to follow.

(Ryan got a larger portion of the steak than me)

Meal #3: Spicy Korean Chicken Wings —> this was like a good Chinese + sushi meal combined as far as the flavor goes. The sweet and savory glaze you make to go with it was AMAZING and I sure hope restaurants aren’t offended when I make more of it and bring it to add to every meal I ever eat again. (dramatic much? no but it was really that good) This one was hubs’ favorite!

We received our next shipment for the week and I am already looking forward to get cookin’! I probably won’t do posts for each week, but feel free to follow along my instagram, as I like to show off some of the meals. (Don’t hate, I’m used to seeing my meals look a LOT like scrambled eggs and unseasoned chicken) 😉

Tell me….

Have you tried Blue Apron?

Where do you find most of the recipes you put to use? Pinterest? Passed down from family? Your own concoctions?

Challenges, Health

The Great Westchase 5k Recap

Second 5k of the season under my belt!

Following my first one 2 weeks ago, I have been working on getting faster by adding some interval training to my runs. I only did 2, but they seemed to help! I walked away with a brand new PR and finally broke 25 mins 🙂

I’m even more ready and excited to continue this kind of training to see how it will help the rest of my races.

The Great Westchase 10k/5k was only about 15 mins away from where I live, which allowed a bit of “sleeping in” again like last time. I had originally signed up for the 10k at 7am, but a couple weeks ago decided I wanted to try for another 5k success. I made the switcheroo and was happy with my decision: when I made it to Westchase, the 10k was beginning and it was PITCH BLACK out. The lighting in the streets wasn’t very good, and I was ever so happy with my decision to do the 5k later in the morning.

I parked and made my way to the registration/packet pick-up table where I was pleasantly surprised with the lay-out: gender specific dri-fit shirt, a drawstring bag with the race’s logo on it (and purple! I love purple!) with goodies inside including a race coozie (because the 2.3 milli we have at home will never be enough) and much-needed Biofreeze and Advil. It’s the small things in life sometimes…

Any way, I hustled back to my car to drop it all off, put on my race bib, earphones, and chug some water before heading back to the start area to get ready to race!

I didn’t warm up (aka jog a bit) before… I completely forgot! I was reminded right at the start of the race, when my legs told me they should’ve been shaken out a bit beforehand. Oh well, off I was!

This race was much bigger than the last, and I wanted to stay near-ish to the front (more like front-middle) to challenge my pace a bit. Unbeknownst to me (ps autocorrect helped me spell that word), Ryan was up and drove to the race, was in his car finding parking at the start but was able to catch me!

right in the middle with the orange shorts

When I mentioned to him later “I’m surprised you were able to spot me!” He replied, “You have a very distinct run”…. I don’t know how to take this. However, the pic the race photographer got of me is horrendous so I now know. I’m using the “Copywriting is illegal” excuse here to get out of sharing it with you.

The whole race felt hard, again I don’t think I ever fell in a groove, but my Garmin helped a bunch to pace me. If I saw faster than 7:45, I took it down a slight notch (because right now I just can’t hold that pace for too long and didn’t want to burn out), and if I was slower than 8:10, I’d pick it up. A bit exhausting looking down at the watch a lot, but I really wanted to meet my goal of a sub-25 minute 5k, and sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do to meet a goal! I knew in my head an average pace of 8:00 would get me just under 25 mins.

As I was on the home stretch I could barely make out the time clock, but could see 24:1x so I knew it was time to book it so I could beat my time! Getting closer, I heard someone yell out my name, which is a miracle since I blare my music at the cochlear-damaging level, and I turned to see Ryan smiling and taking pics. So surprised and happy that he was there, and that’s what I needed to push it just a bit more to cross the line.

looking for who was cheering…

face of happiness (& fatigue)

My mile paces were: 1- 7:46 (fastest mile to date on my Garmin) 2- 7:58, 3- 8:04 average pace 7:53/mile with a Garmin-recorded time of 24:41 (my chip time was 24:43 but since it’s slower I’m disregarding that 😉 )

on my Instagram

So not doing very well on the “negative splitting” goal I set out for myself, but I think it may just be harder for shorter distances. Form was addressed earlier and I’ll leave it at that 🙂

Post-race was quite a set-up! This is a very kid-friendly neighborhood so there was a lot for kids to do, including a 1-mile fun run- so cute! Plus it was Halloween so nearly every vendor was giving out candy. Score. Good food catered from a nearby restaurant, and beer available, so obviously I will be back next year.

One of my favorite families came out to cheer me on…. the one on the left was my whole world for about 1.5 years right out of college– I had the privilege of being her nanny while deciding what I wanted to do with my life, and it was the greatest job ever. She now has a sister and the fam somehow got cuter.

Needless to say, this was a great race and happy day for me, I feel truly blessed 🙂

Today I am resting, wearing my compression calf sleeves (my calves get ridiculously sore following races, but never training!?) and plan to foam roll and stretch if I can slide off this couch.

Tell me….

What gets most sore on you after a hard race?

First job outta college? Did it have anything to do with your degree?

Do you wear a watch to pace yourself when running, or strictly go off of feel?

Challenges, Health

Run 4 Recovery 5k Recap

First race of the season: check! This girl was anxious to get back out there!! Westbridge’s Race4Recovery (benefitting families of those coping with disorders) was held at a close-by park, on shaded and smoothly paved trails, which made it an easy decision for me to sign up and go for it. They offered a 5k run/walk and a 1 mile.

wpid-20151017_194642_hdr2.jpg.jpeg flat molly

This race was VERY small… we’re talking 50-something people total. I think it may be the smallest race I’ve ever run, but I’m not gonna hate…. I placed 3rd overall female, HA! Probably the only time soon this will happen, so I’m taking it!

The race started at 8, so I was able to “sleep in” a bit the morning of. Once parked, bibbed, and laced up, I was ready to go. And this might come as a surprise, but I started out too fast. Surprise! When (how?!!) will I learn!? I started off immediately 3rd female, and was pretty happy to keep that throughout the race.

I was running alongside a guy who’s pace I felt I could manage, but as I looked down at my Garmin and saw 7:30 , I knew I’d need to slow down or I’d never make it.

I’d say I fell into a “rhythm” but does that really happen during a 5k? I feel like you gotta run HARD throughout the whole thing.. which is what I did. I kept telling myself this is not supposed to feel easy, and just went with it. I didn’t want to look back to see if there were any females close behind me, so I just kept my head forward and focused on keeping this fast (to me) pace.

According to my watch, I averaged an 8:06 pace, giving me a new personal best (yay!) but just 8 seconds away from breaking 25 mins (boo) but hey! This gives me major motivation to work on getting faster so that I can see a 24:xx on my Garmin next time.

3rd place female got me a medal and gift card to a running store- WOOP! Mind you… 1st and 2nd gal were nearly 3 whole minutes faster than me (that is a lot for a 5k) but it still felt pretty great to stand up there with them!

may have treated myself a bit. can’t say no to Panera

FORM CHECK: there was someone taking photos out there, but I’m not sure they’ll be posted anywhere…if I find them, I’ll later edit this post and add them. I tried to mentally focus on my form especially the last mile-ish. I could feel myself tiring, and I kept reminding myself to swing my arms and keep my back from slouching.

PACE CHECK: welp! gotta work on this one more! My paces per mile: 8:00, 8:15, 8:11 so not terribly off, but I’d still like to see my last mile faster than the first. It’s just a personal goal, dats all 🙂

Tell me…

Smallest race you’ve run?

Largest?

Have a race planned for Halloween? If, so are you dressing up?!

Challenges

Running Goals For My Upcoming Racing Season!

The air is a tad cooler…. The pumpkin spice lattes are being ordered…. The light jackets are tagging along for outings…. This can only mean one thing….

WINTER IS COMING. in Florida. 😉

And with “winter” comes what I consider RUNNING SEASON. Woop!

I believe my body has really appreciated the time I’ve taken off from running. If you keep up with this blog, you may notice I did a lot less running and a lot more strength training and yoga. I completed a 12 week strengthening program, and I’ve been to various yoga studios along with incorporating more yoga/stretching on my own. To boot, I’ve made the squat rack my best friend.

While I’m going to try hard not to lose touch with those cross-training clutches, they will lessen a bit, because I know I will be running more. I truly have missed running, and I am more ready to get back out there than you know!

Below you’ll see my racing plan and goals for the next few months. I’ve written approx 20 drafts of this post, because I’m just all over the place deciding how “hard” to make my goals and what distances I want to focus on, therefore which races to sign up for. In the end, I’ve decided to throw 1 half marathon in there, because I’m due for my yearly torture, and the rest are smaller distances. I’m not signed up for all of them (yet!) and I’m sure I’ll sprinkle some more in as weeks come and go. I’m not sure I’ll be able to achieve all my goals- but isn’t that the purpose for setting them? They shouldn’t be super achievable because then what the heck do you have to work hard for?! 🙂

October: potentially 3 races-all 5ks! Ballsy? Yes. Prepared? Meh. But I’m just that excited to get running more again. Got one to celebrate the end of my 27th year, and one for Halloween because who doesn’t want to run on a ridiculous holiday. AND ONE THAT MY HUSBAND IS JOINING ME ON(<– recapped).

November & December, I’m hoping to shoot for some 5ks/10ks to work on pacing, speed intervals, and form.

Jan 17: Clearwater Half Marathon! Woop. It’s in the same family as the Halloween Halfathon I did last year… they offer 4 half’s over a 6 month span, and I’ve chosen the most difficult one to do. What!?

Wellllll… since I achieved a sub-2 at my last half, I don’t have a time goal anymore for the half. I know, I know, what a terrible runner/blogger/human being 😉 But honestly, I’m not a fan of staring at my Garmin for half my training and during the entire race to make sure I’m going to meet a goal. So I’m going for a different challenge this year with the half marathon I’ve chosen. There are 4 ascents over bridges, making this the hilliest race I’ll have run to date.

My goal is to eat those bridges up 🙂 I will feel so accomplished if I can do just that, and make that finish line crossing just as memorable as my last two. My goal here is strength, not speed. And to survive. This flat-land girl cannot handle bridges easily. Heck, climbing the 30-odd steps to get to my condo leaves me winded (wish I was kidding…)

Feb 6: Best Damn Race 5k/10k. I ran the 5k last year and loved the course and atmosphere. The weather was perfect. And it was my personal best! I’d consider the half marathon, simply because the weather is ideal during this time, and it’s a neat area of town to run through,however it’s so close to the half marathon I’m already signed up for that I don’t think my body will be recovered and ready for those miles by then. We’ll see though!

Feb 21-22 Gasparilla. Gasparilla is a running highlight in Tampa, and I have plans to partake in it again this year. Last year I ran the 15k+8k combo, and I’m not sure if I’ll do that again, or just sign up for one individual race. They offer distances 15k, 5k, 13.1, and 8k.

March. Sooooo many options I’m looking into for March. Some are past races I’ve done, but I’m also considering the Gate River Run in Jacksonville! I feel like this month is too far out to decide on which race(s) I want to do, and what distances I feel I can tackle at that time. But there will be at least one!

Come April it’s getting hot here and my running basically stops- hah! #HardCoreRunner.

There’s a good chance a lot of all the above could change— but for now, this is what I’m looking at and mentally preparing for.

My main goal here, friends, is s t r e n g t h. I’ve worked harder than I ever have before on toning up and making strength training a regular part of my routine. Along with various workout classes, I’m really hoping my strength will pull me through these races, not just fast times- which is what I was chasing (pun intended) in the past.

Of course I would like to become faster and graduate from the “middle of the pack” ….but right now it’s important for me to keep my muscles strong and secure and to avoid injury. Thankfully I haven’t been injured in a long time, but I want to keep it that way! I know my body, and I know running endless miles will only hurt me and not help me become the overall fitness gal I long to be 🙂 Of course it would be nice to run a personal best in one of the distances (c’mon sub-25 min 5k!), but we will see where my training takes me.

Besides for feeling strong through my training and racing, I’d like to see my form improve. Race pictures in the past have made me cringe, and it’s not like I’m going for “cute” here, I just don’t want to look like the hunchback of Tampa Bay. I’m big on posture as it is, and I’d like to see it reflect when I’m running. (See: any past race recaps) 😉

Also… I want to be able to negative split the majority of my races! Negative splitting is running the second half of your run faster than the first. It’s easy to start out strong with the crowd during a race, only to realize you’re going too fast and ya slug through the second half. (Just me?) I want to work on pacing and finishing strong. Stay tuned!

So there’s my novel on my racing season that probably nobody cares about but me but I’m still typing all this out because it excites me and pumps me up for the upcoming season. Boom.

Running Ready!!

Tell me…

What distance is your next upcoming race?

Do you rotate your running shoes?

Any tips on how to negative split a race? I need help!

*ps* you have 1 more day to enter the necklace/headband giveaway! Ends Oct 8 @ midnight. Get on it, girl!

Give away

Avery Rose & Co – A Giveaway!!– CLOSED

Hi beloved readers of mine… I have an exciting post comin’ at ya! My beautiful and amazingly talented cousin, Chelsie, has her own lil Etsy shop called Avery Rose & Co. She creates fun, cheerful necklaces for girls to wear. I think they’re perfect for an outing with your girlfriends, a casual party, or to jazz up a night out on the town.

She was sweet enough to give me an FSU one to wear (this is big of her, given she’s a Gators fan) I’m not a huge jewelry person, but can appreciate a statement piece, especially when it takes a basic outfit to the next level. You may have noticed the necklace did just that when I wore it to dinner with a basic black dress on our cruise ship as we left St Lucia…

I also wore it to the FSU-Boston College game I attended a couple weeks ago:

Along with necklaces, Chelsie makes cute and comfy headbands! I like to sport a headband she made me when chillin in my house or running errands:

the way gangstas wear their headbands, obviously

You can see more of her makings on her instagram and on her Etsy shop. My personal faves from her shop….

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Avery Rose& Co is giving you a chance to choose any necklace or headband from her shop and will ship anywhere for free in the United States. You have 1 week to enter!

*Giveaway ends Thursday October 8 @ midnight, and the randomly chosen winner will be announced right hurr on this blog Friday Oct 9!*

2 simple ways to enter giveaway:

1. comment below letting me know which necklace/headband from her shop is your favorite

AND/OR

2. follow AveryRose& Co on Instagram and leave a separate comment below letting me know you did so (for an extra chance to win!)

Good luck & happy browsing!!!