The Most Epic Run Ever

I'm still on cloud nine from my run yesterday. I've been waiting for this run for a while now, and it finally came in the form of perfection. Let's rewind to Saturday.

I worked my very last shift at the dog daycare, and it was bittersweet to say the least. I'll miss the dogs, some of my coworkers, and doing not much of anything and getting paid. But I will not miss not having a freakin Saturday, my boss being a little on the crazy side, and cleaning up explosive dog diarrhea. Like I said, bittersweet. After work, I went to the Potomac River Running Store. It's local to Northern VA, and they put on a lot of popular races and they have great gear. So of course, I was like a kid in the candy store and bought WAY more than I planned on getting.

Let's put it like this; I went in for a water bottle to run with, and this is what I left with......

The water bottle that holds my phone/fuel and fits to your hand, three different kinds of fuel, GU water tabs things, running socks, and a visor. Hi, my name is Crystal, and I have no self control. It didn't help that I had just gotten paid so I felt like spending $50 was totally ok. NOT OK CRYSTAL.

Sunday morning, I woke up at 5:30 for my run. I refused to deal with  bullshit extreme heat again, so early it was. I decided to try the Shotbloks and GU water tabs (you drop a tab in your water and it's a light flavor, a little carbonation, and electrolytes!) for my run to see how I did with it. Mind you, this was my first time EVER running with fuel so I didn't know what to expect. Will it give me wings? Will I feel no pain? Will I breeze through the run like a glitter unicorn?! You shall see.

The run started off pretty good. A little slow, but good. I started on a trail that's super hilly, so my first 2 miles weren't fast. Had to stop and find a potty too, but I made sure to run while I was looking for one, so I was still getting mileage in. After that fiasco, I made it to a new trail I wanted to try around mile 2.30. It was basically the hilly trail, but going in the opposite direction than I usually go. It. Was. Perfect. Barely any hills, cool breeze, and not too sunny since it was only around 7 am. The trails weren't crowded yet, so I just got comfortable and kept it moving. It was so refreshing running through Old Town Alexandria. My mom grew up there, so it was nice seeing places she's talked about, the street she grew up on, and how much the city has changed. Around this time (mile 6), I was still feeling good, and I took the first serving of shot bloks. So delicious. I had the orange flavor, and they pretty much just taste like thicker gummy bears.

 It was my goal to run across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to get a feel for it, since the end of my half marathon crosses that same bridge. I've already run most of the course, so I wanted to try the last part, the bridge, with no pressure. So of course as I'm nearing the bridge I get a wee bit lost, because it's kind of tricky finding the pedestrian trail. Finally found it, after having to turn around 3 times. Woops. By the time I got to the bridge I was at mile 7.32, and I was supposed to turn around to head back at mile 7. So I made the decision to keep going and just end up with a longer run. The bridge was amazingggg to run across. It wasn't steep at all, like a lot of people who've run the half said. The only downside is that it was crazy windy up there, but that's to be expected.

When I got back across the bridge I was almost at 9 miles, and after reading other blogs, I decided to take more shotbloks every 3 miles. So at 9 miles I ate the last 3 and drank some of the water with electrolytes. I don't know if I'm just so used to running with no fuel and no water, but I swear the combo of shotbloks and water made me feel like a new woman. Seriously, I didn't start to feel fatigued until mile 12. That is unreal to me. I felt like I was floating and flying through air. I know I sound like a cheeseball, but I've never had such a pain/fatigue/dead leg free run in my life. I felt amazing throughout the whole thing. I only meant to do 11 according to my plan, but guess what. I ended up doing 13.1. I ran a half marathon. AND I finished it in under my goal time for the actual half. My goal is 2:30 and I finished in 2:25. I finished and sat in my car and just smiled. And teared up a little bit because I couldn't believe I had done it. I ran 13 freakin miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes and I still had energy at the end of it! Usually after my long runs I lay around for the rest of the day contemplating cutting off my legs, but I got home, ran up the stairs and played with Tiger for a while! It's amazing what some shotbloks, nice weather, and a little bit of courage can do for a girl.

I'm unstoppable bitchezzzzz.

-Crystal

Liebster? Meeee?

Hellooooo

So the fabulous Laura at Life With Lolo nominated yours truly for a Liebster Award! I didn't even know what that was before I was nominated, but now I feel pretty great about it. A little bit about this little gem:

 "The Liebster Award is generally given to bloggers with less than 200 followers to give them some much deserved recognition! When you are nominated you share 11 facts about yourself, answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you, then nominate 11 bloggers and give them 11 questions to answer."

So. On with the questions that Laura has given me!

1. What is your chapstick of choice?

Please don't kill me Laura, but I haaate chapstick. Honestly I don't like anything on my lips. I danced up until I graduated highschool, so lipgloss, lipstick, chapstick all that stuff just reminds me of stage makeup haha. And my lips never get chapped, soooo yea. 

2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

I only have liiike 8 pairs. Maybe 9? And 3 of those are for the gym. Awkward. My feet are a size 9.5-10 so up until more years, shoes for big foot women haven NOT been cute.

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I went to Europe when I was in highschool with People to People Student Ambassadors, and we only got to see the touristy parts, so I'd really like to go back without all of the restrictions that we had. But besides that, I think I'd like to go somewhere tropical..This is my friend Lauren and I somewhere in Europe.. Good god we look like babies.

4. What is your favorite sport to watch? To play?

I never played traditional sports in highschool. I danced 3-4 days a week though and I'll be damned if that's not considered a sport! To watch, The Summer Olympics. That's really the only times that sports can hold my attention. Plus drinking games. Sooo you can't go wrong I think. 

After my final Senior Performance! I'm in the bottom right!

5. What's on your desk? (photos, calendar, food, etc...)

Food. All of the food. Lots of peanut butter...I like options, ok? My coworkers think I have a problem. My desk is right when you come in the office, so I can't decorate as much as I would like..lame. But our office is moving in a couple months and I'm finding a way to decorate it dammit!

6. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Moving out of my mom's house at 22. Ever since I was little she taught me to be independent and self-sufficient. I was saying those words before I knew what they meant and before I could spell them. Now I'm livin it babyyyy! 

I love my mom, but Lord knows I needed to move out.

7. If you had to shop at one store for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Oh shit this is a hard one... For regular clothes, Forever 21. Does that make me trashy? They just have such a wide range from going out, to work, to casual...it's great. For active wear? Old Navy. duh.

8. Salty or sweet?

Salty 4eva. I have to truly be in the mood for sweets.

9. Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

I don't think so? I can do different accents/impersonations of friends/family really well..but I'm not sure that's a talent.

10. If you could choose one word to describe yourself what would it be?

Comforting, if that makes sense. I like to make sure people are comfortable in whatever setting I'm in, so I like to make people laugh, whether it be gossiping, drinking, or just chit chatting. I sound like a typical college girl. whatever.

11. What is your favorite Disney movie?

I was never a big Disney fan, but I remember really loving Lion King and Cinderella when I was younger!

And nowwww 11 random facts about me. Please don't feel obligated to read this, I know it's getting long. Pshhh I wouldn't know if you read it anyways. 

*I have to wear socks to bed. Even if its hot. I may take them off eventually, but I'm not gettin in that bed with no socks.

*I've been friends with my core group of girls since 7th grade and I wouldn't trade those hussies for the world. For the most part we're all in the same area, but a few have moved far away. Hasn't changed a thing, and we all still act reckless when we get together.

*I was born in Japan, on Okinawa Air Force base.

*Up until I was abouttt 12, I pronounced any numbers starting with 'tw', like twenty, twenty-one, like "chwenty, chwenty-one". No idea what the fuck that was about.

*I have daddy issues. Mostly, my dad decided to show up when I was 14 and I said HELL NAW issues. My mom did a kickass job on her own, and we didn't  need no man!

*I could eat popcorn and chips & salsa everyday of my life and be perfectly content.

*I was a trueeee band nerd in highschool. Most kids rented their instruments. I had a $700 clarinet and private lessons. I was ranked 4th in my county, and 4th in my district. For so long I wanted to audition for All Virginia Band, but I got lazy in my senior year.

*I majored in English and French in college and I really wish I had pursued a career in either of those fields more.. Ugh..

*My mom is a lesbian, and I grew up with 2 moms. They were together from when I was in 1st grade until my junior year of highschool, sooo it sucked when they broke up. My mom is now a serial dater and it is probably the most hilarious thing of my life. She even went on a date with a man recently, because she said women are too much drama. My family is crazy.

*My brother and I didn't really get along/bond until I went away to college. We more so coexisted up until then. Now I love that turd. Even though he is a hot ass mess.

*I didn't really enjoy highschool. I wasn't "popular", people were assholes, and I just didn't enjoy it. I had the same friends and we had a great time, but besides that...yea no thanks. I also gained a lot of weight my senior year while I was in a super unhealthy relationship. No bueno. 

If you've read all of this, you're practically royalty in my book. You go Glen Coco!

I don't even know 11 people that read this blog...so if you're reading this and you have a blog, I NOMINATE YOU. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. GO NOW. GO GO GO. DO THIS. Don't pull a "well she didn't name me specifically..." because this is me nominating you specifically.

And answer these questions, mmmkay? Great.

1. Do you prefer your men to wear boxers or briefs?

2. What person/celebrity would you trade places with for a day?

3. If you could put a hidden camera anywhere to watch people (making a fool of themselves, not in a creepy/pervy way) where would it be?

4. What is your favorite show to binge watch on Netflix?

5. Favorite adult drink?

6. What's the greatest lesson your parents ever taught you?

7. Have long have you known your BFF?

8. What's your most embarrassing story?

9. What's one really weird habit that you have?

10. Favorite snack?

11.What's the best pet you've had? Or what pet would you want if you don't have one?

I stole some of these from Laura...I do what I want!

Comment with your link if you do this so I can read your answers!!

-Crystal

My boyfriend thinks I'm a blogger

Ok so I think the boyfriend is more in love with me blogging than I am. Anytime we go somewhere and I look semi decent/not like a hoodlum/bum he says, "so I guess we'll be taking selfies or some pictures for your blog today, right?" And he's dead serious. It cracks me up everytime. Mostly because I usually forget to take said pictures. So tonight I asked him to take some pictures of me with my new fall outfits, and he gladly obliged, even though he was in the middle of playing video games. SHOCKER. So this is what I got the other day at the mall. I'm tryin to class it up a bit since my office is moving to a classier/gorgeous young professionals everywhere area in a few months. Ignore my hair. I just got out of the shower from after a run, sooo I'm not cute. Also my dog photobombed everything. 

Forever 21 dress! $20 hollaaaa

This dress is absurdly comfortable. Super stretchy. And mustard screams fall, so I snatched that sucker up FAST. I'm thinking brown boots? Perhaps dark green tights in the fall? Reel me in and smack some sense into me if that sounds hideous. I'm trying, ok?!

Forever 21 again! I think it was $15?

Ok so I wore the mustard one to work yesterday, but this little number is stayin in the closet till fall. It's obviously way too short to wear without tights and ya girl is not tryin to get fired for lookin like a night walker. I'm thinkin patterned tights for fun night out and solid opaque tights for the office. And booties. I need black and brown booties. Yes? Freakin Tiger man...

Crew neck sweater from Forever 21 ($15)

Striped pencil skirt from Gap (on sale for $24 from $50, ugh I hate spending money)

I really love this combo, mostly because I used to not wear crew neck anything because all you would see was BOOBS. They were just huge and in the way and took over my life. But now I can wear crew necks and I'm excited about it. I'm not excited about the fact that my baby makin hips are most definitely bigger than my waist, leading to some awkward loos-ness, but what can ya do? At least whenever I pop out some children they'll fall right out. I'm thinkin black booties again for fall. And opaque tights. 

Everyone give a round of applause to the boyfriend for taking many pictures till I was happy, and to Tiger my background model. And thanks for not making fun of my obvious "I'm not a fashion blogger" setup and apartment background. Seriously though, I don't know who has time for staging shit, but more power to you guys. Also feel free to give me advice for jewelry colors, where to find not off the wall expensive boots/booties (that are still comfy at the end of the day...) and all that jazz. Help a sista out. I'm just tryin to be an adult out here on a 22 year old who has no money budget. 

-Crystal

Fall Obsessions and Goals

Fall is HEREEEEEE mothafuckaaaaassssss.

Sorry, but I really love fall. A lot. A lot, a lot. (In my British accent..like in Parent Trap, when lindsay lohan was normal. Was that reference too vague? Too far in the past? Ugh, whatever guys.)

I digress. New season, new goals, new obsessions.

1. The Tudors on Netflix. Friends, even if you have zero dollars of interest in 16th century England/European history, please just do me a solid and try it. Mostly because Johnathan Rhys Meyers is a hot piece of ass. And that British accent. lawddddd help me. But really, it's actually a very interesting show. My 10th grade AP European History teacher would be proud, I just know it.

2. Shopping. I know some people are natural born shoppers. I am not one. I always thought it was just because I found that ish boring. But no, it was just because ya girl could never find cute shit in Forever 21 for, ahem, size 14-16. Now that I'm a size 8-10 I've been blowing all of the dollhairs on all of the clothes. I follow a million boutiques on Instagram and it is so very dangerous to my bank account. Especially since ya know, I have bills an all now. Yesterday the boyfriend and I were sitting around and realized we had an extra $200 after bills and rent. So what do the responsible adults do? Save it? OF COURSE NOT. We went to the mall and spent it all. And now we regret everything. But! I have some cute outfits that will transition well for fall, so I give zero fucks...until Sallie Mae hits me up for my loan payment. Ugh, life.

I'll show you guys my new outfits tomorrow, because I'm pretty pumped about them. Now I just need to convince said boyfriend that boots, booties, and a jean jacket are all completely necessary next purchases...

3. This one is my goal for September. I told you guys already, I stayed consistent and focused all throughout August and lost 5 pounds, finally breaking into the 160s. Of course I weighed myself this morning to see what the old hag (bitchass scale) had to say about things and the little bitch said, "You had a little too much fun this weekend, that'll be 179 to start off your week biiiiitch." I laughed at her and went about my day, poked at my bloated stomach a bit, and ate my normal amount. None of that cutting calories to lose it shit. I know about 90% of that is water weight and I'm honestly not concerned in the least bit. BUT! I am determined to get to 165 this month. So once I get rid of this water shit in the next couple days, its back into overdrive for meeee. Nothing extreme, but yea. No shenanigans here. I miiiiight do the 24 day Advocare cleanse, not to lose weight (but hey, I don't mind that part) but because it gives me so much energy and makes me feel amazing. Everyone hates the fiber drink, but honestly that was my favorite part. So that's that.

4. Starbucks. Just like every other basic betch in America. I tried the Pumpkin Spice iced coffee. Not a fan. I'll stick to the Pumpkin Spice Latte. And my old faithfuls Cinnamon Dulce Latte or Vanilla Latte. Can never go wrong with those two. Also has anyone tried the Blendicano that's been floating around the interwebz? I'm not a fan of frothy drinks, or whipped cream texture.. so if you've had it and it doesn't taste like those, let a sista know so I can get in on that. Kthanks. 

Sorry for the awkward lack of pictures, but uhhhh yea I'm too lazy to find pictures from life an stuff...and I'm a bad blogger so I usually forget to take pictures of things happening. It's kind of a part of the whole enjoying life instead of documenting it thing. I'm working on it.

-Crystal

That time I got rear ended on the highway

Hey friends.

So my labor day weekend was quite spectacular. Let's back that ass up to this past Thursday. I left home around 7:30 pm heading to Va Beach to see some sorority sisters for the long weekend.  I was trying to beat some of the holiday traffic, and I was successful, until I got to to Va Beach. Apparently someone had a really good idea to do nightly construction on a freakin 2 lane highway. Yea, 7 mile backups are super cool. Of course by this time the radio has already repeated Taylor Swift's new song at least 8 times....Kill me.

Got to my friend's apartment a lot later than expected. We chatted and caught up with life an all, and called it a night around 1:30 am. Aaaand then I woke up at 7:30 to go workout on campus. My alma mater finally got with the times and started a Crossfit class that's free and open to alumni! I was a little skeptical at first, like ok yea it's just some random professor teaching it..but no! It's an instructor from an actual Crossfit box. I was impressed.

So the WOD (workout of day) was on teams. My team had 3 people and we had to run 2 miles with a 40 pound bag and a kettlebell. One person couldn't hold both so me and another girl switched off the whole time. The other girl on our team had just started working out for the first time, so the workout was a little harder for her but my team decided we would stick together and finish strong instead of letting her fall behind. I gave her breathing advice and tried to encourage her while we were running and it made me think back to when I first started working out. I could barely run for 30 seconds and I was so grateful to people who would try to help instead of just leaving me behind. I was so proud of her when she finished the 2 miles strong and we ended up winning!

You know I had to flex.

Moving on, I had packed some meals so I wouldn't go absolutely crazy, so I had that for lunch. For dinner I had sushi and hibachi because I only eat it when I go down to va beach. NO RAGRETS. Also went with one of my sisters to get her first tattoo! 

The self proclaimed princess got a crown tattoo.

That night I drank with my friends and had a dandy old time eating drunk food. Saturday morning I had every intention of working out, buuuut I slept till 10 instead. I don't think I've slept in till 10 in over a year. So I met up with another sister and went to the beach for the day, and it was glorious. I haven't been to the beach in FOREVER. I used to hate the beach. I would either keep my coverup on or I wouldn't get up to get in the water because I didn't want people to look at me. This time I wore my VS bandeau bikini and got in the water and even walked the beach on the water for a good half mile or so. I wasn't self conscious at all and it was really refreshing.

After the beach we got Mexican at my all time favorite restaurant, Plaza Azteca. It's a favorite of literally everyone at my college and it's relatively cheap. You can't come to town and not go. I had a jumbo margarita, chips & guac, a huge burrito and I felt zero dollars of guilt. Ya know why? I ate healthy every single day in August. No cheat meals at all. I deserved this deliciousness.

Yep, that's me in the top left. Drunk in a restaurant. Forever classy.

When you get drunk at 3pm, you feel like sleeping for the rest of the day. I went to Hooters for another drink anyways, and to see another sister that I love so much. So yea, everyone went out and partied and got drunk, and I went back to my friends apartment, watched Netflix and passed out. 

The next morning I got up to go home because I missed my little family a lot actually. About an hour out from home, I'm singing real loud to Sia's song 'Chandelier' and traffic is slowing down and I happen to look up and see a car dangerously close to me. So I tried to swerve out of the way, but no, too late. I got rear ended. His car bounced back, and I guess he panicked and hit the gas accidentally instead of the brake, because he rear ended me AGAIN. So I screamed and then pulled over as I'm shaking like crazy. Called the po po, talked to the little college kid and sat in the freakin hot sun for forever, and went on my way. The guy said he dropped something and bent down to get it without looking at traffic. WHY. Whatever. Homeboy's car was fuuuucked. His hood was completely smashed and he was trying to convince the cop that he could drive it. Yea, no. My car on the other hand is basically indestructible. I've been rear ended 3 times with this car, and every time it's just a couple scratches haha. My bumper is just that really durable plastic but apparently it's pretty fantastic. 

And that was my weekend! Tiger hasn't left my side since I got home. Ugh, I love her.

-Crystal

Blahh Running

I'm feelin grumpy today. Ya know why? Because running is not going so hot these days. Yes, I'm getting all of my runs in, and increasing my mileage and all that jazz, but I haven't had a "hot damn that was a good run!!" run since my 7 miler a few weeks ago.

TMI: At the doctor I was diagnosed with IBS, google for gross details LOL. If I can't tell blogland about my tummy issues, who can I tell? No one? You're probably right, I should keep that shit (pun intended) to myself, but I digress. It's really affecting my runs and I'm not a fan.

I've tried eating different things so that my stomach will chill the fuck out when I'm being active and running all over, but no, he insists on freaking out whenever I do something active. Dumb.

Yesterday I ran 4 miles and felt nauseous the whole time. Then I started getting a sharp pain my stomach every couple minutes. Not cool bro. I told/complained to my boyfriend about not having a good run lately, and like a guy, of course he says "maybe you'll have a good run at the half marathon!" .....Ok dear. Sheesh. The girl who does the bootcamp class I go to did offer to practice running the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with me, since that's the last part of my half marathon, so I might take her up on that. It has a pretty steep elevation so I'm not looking forward to that ish..

My 10 mile run this past weekend wasn't that great. The first 5 were ok, but after that I just couldn't get into it. It didn't help that I forgot my hat and my water bottle. Literally every time I passed someone with a bottle I debated yanking that shit out of their hand. I have a problem.

All I know is that I need to get it together before October 5 or I will be very unhappy. Any ideas, anyone? #HelpMe.

-Crystal

The Yearly Visit..

To the doctor that is.

For the first time in about uhhhhh a million years, I was actually looking forward to my visit to the doctor today for my yearly physical. First, my doctor is thin, gorgeous, blonde hair and blue eyes. She actually just turned 29 this year, so she's not that much older than me. So it's already intimidating being her patient. January 3, 2013 I went to the doctor for a physical and I was literally sweating getting undressed and putting on the little gown. Not because I was nervous, but because any physical activity, no matter how small, had me sweating. Cute, right? Yea not so much.

Today I went and I was just as chipper as a bird. Hopped on that scale and smiled for once, instead of shaking with sweaty palms and praying to the fat gods that they would go easy on me (every time I was disappointed. Such is life).  But beyond the scale, I was so so much healthier than before and it BLEW my mind. I awkwardly asked my doctor to print out my vitals from my heaviest weight and now just so I could take a look see. I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy, it's fine. I'm gonna try to make a chart to show it, but ya know, I suck at this whole being a real blogger thing so it might not happen... 15 minutes later...

1/3/2013	8/26/2014
234 lbs.	170 lbs.
BMI: 39.95	BMI: 29.70
Blood Pressure: 140/86	Blood Pressure: 118/82
Resting HR: 100 bpm	Resting HR: 74 bpm

I feel like that was really complicated. But all I needed to do was copy and paste. Ugh, do better Crystal..

Moving on. LOOK at those changes. I know BMI is irrelevant because they don't account for muscle mass at all, but still it's a big jump And sweet baby Jesus I didn't know my blood pressure was so high. Why didn't anyone say anything? I mean, I feel like that number is a little out of control. And that resting heart rate. Da Fuck is that? People would jokingly tell me to stop breathing so loud, but I always thought they were overreacting. But no, they obviously weren't if my heart rate when I was just sitting around was 100 bpm. I can't imagine that now! When I workout now, I usually wait for my heart rate to get below 100 bpm so I know I'm starting to cool down. Wow. It really makes you see the difference when you see it in terms of your vitals.

Next time you get your physical you should ask to see your vitals, you just might be surprised!

Also can we just chat about the Emmy's real quick? I'M PISSED. Orange Is The New Black didn't win anything and I don't understand. Was New Girl even nominated?! Where was Grey's Anatomy and Scandal?!?! WHAT ABOUT MY SHOWS DAMMIT. Ugh, do better Emmys. Do better. 

The only good part was Sara Bareilles' cover of Smile during the Memoriam section, because obviously Sara Bareilles can do NO wrong in life. Seriously. I just love her to pieces. My coworkers hate it. So I hate them.

-Crystal