Bidwell Park

Weekend Things

January 28, 2018 by Hillary 1 Comment

Guys — this was my last weekend in Chico. Ok, now that that’s been said, let’s move on. I am already feeling sentimental, so I’m going to save the sappy stuff for another post.

Changing the subject… How was your weekend?

Can I just say how good it feels to be blogging again? Like really good. I’m slowly – piece by piece (or rather page by page) – trying to clean up the blog, as it feels rather outdated. I’m not deleting content per say, but it is in need of some serious freshening up. I organized the Workouts page a bit, so if you’re looking for a quick at-home or gym workout this week, check it out!

Workout of the Week: 45-Minute Hilly Walking Treadmill Workout

And also, on Friday, I sent out a Nutrition Nut email newsletter to subscribers (the first one in over two years!). If you’d like to get on the list, sign up here.

I captured much of my last Chico weekend on Instagram, but the gist of it includes: running the Yahi Trail in Upper Bidwell Park, a solo stroll through the Saturday farmer’s market, sipping Vital Proteins matcha collagen, eating kale salads on my living room carpet (ehh, the no furniture life), and keeping the crop top obsession alive.

Still can’t fathom that I only have a few days left before I hop on a jet plane to Florida (while our cross country road trip was a blast, I’m opting for a few hours in a plane to travel to the other coast this time around). Looking forward to spending some quality time with friends before then, and soaking up the sweetness that is Chico.

I hope y’all have a great week. By the way, since I was on an extensive hiatus from blogging, feel free to leave a comment with a question or just to say hello!

-Hill

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tight jeans are OK.

March 8, 2011 by Hillary 34 Comments

This post isn’t extremely overdue or anything. When will regular blog posting become a part of my daily life again? Ummm, that’s a different story for another time.

* * *

… if it means that your beefy thighs set a new PR.

I knew my jeans were getting increasingly tighter over the past few months for a good reason.

While I’ve fought with myself over why – after weeks and weeks of dedicated training and smart eating – my clothes aren’t fitting as I’d like and why the scale seems to display numbers I had hoped I would never see again, I will own my new PR of 1:39:41 [7:37 pace] and my sexy, muscular legs that got me across the finish line of my 4th half-marathon.

If it wasn’t the thighs that did it, perhaps the new Nike running capris – they just scream fast!

Anyway, I woke up Saturday morning and immediately got an anxious swarm of butterflies in my tummy. Today was the day. I hesitantly looked out my window and said one million and one thank-yous to the clouds as the sky was dry.

Since the weather looked like it was going to cooperate, I thought I might have a chance of reaching my secret time goal and went ahead and “tatted up” my left arm with a Sharpie.

I used CoolRunning.com to calculate my “I’m dreaming” splits: mile 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 respectively.

Yes, to all of those who asked, I sure did use my iPod, and I wore it in the most obvious place possible, haha. I am a rebel with a cause. No one hassled me, and there were many others running with music. I honestly don’t think I could have run the race I did without my pumping playlist.

After a bit of a late start, the first wave [finishing <2 hours] of runners started their strides through the park. The first 3 miles were not fun. I could not figure out my pace because the 5K mile markers were confusing me, and I immediately got a very dry mouth. Dehydrated already!? I took water from the first aid station, around mile 2, which I never do.

Finally, around mile 4, the course thinned out and I was getting into my groove; my pace was steady and I felt like I had things under control now.

I didn’t feel like I was going unusually fast, but I was crossing the mile markers a little ahead of what my tattoo told me I needed to do. As I passed mile 8, my watch read exactly 60 minutes [7:30 pace]. I had 40 minutes to run 5 miles – the positive mantras increased as the pressure was on!

After a while, I observed that there were hardly any other women within my sight. I tried to keep up with a few of the dudes and used them to pace myself. Great work, gentlemen!

Fast forward to mile 12… I was still feeling strong and knew then I could definitely make my goal time. Whoa, where did this competitive character come from?

I soared through the finish line with a smile [inside]. I had just conquered one of my hopes & dreams for 2011 :)

2/38 age group [18-24 year old females]

66/558 overall

I have a lot more to say about the race, running, and life in general – as is expected when posting occurs once in blue moon – but my contacts are getting sticky and my body is apparently pooped from Running Tuesday [8 miles // 64 minutes – TM @ 0.5 incline].

Good thing Spring Break is right around the corner because my blog needs some major attention!

Always,

HILLontherun

Ten [8-mazing] Miles

September 18, 2010 by Hillary 22 Comments

Hello Hello Hello!

What.a.week! If you couldn’t tell by my minimalist posts this week, I was absorbed by all things school this week. It was a tad crazy, but I managed to make it through to Friday… somehow I always do. There was little sleep, projects in the library, a 2-hour heart-to-heart phone call with my mom, and many many circles run around the track. I knew if I pushed though my responsibilities though, I would be rewarded with something fun.

… and FUN it was!

The alarm clock went off early yet again this morning, but lucky for me, it wasn’t to get to class. I was running a race :) I can’t remember the last time I ran a race; it’s been far too long. You wouldn’t know it from my blog, but I’ve probably run 30+ races in my life [not including my adolescent triathlons, swim meets, etc.]. I’ve been competing in running races since 8th grade, or so [over eight years].

When I discovered there was a local 10-mile race exactly 1 month before my big race, I got really excited. Running 10 miles is exactly where I want to be at this point, so I thought participating in a race would be a true test of where I stand with my training.

Before leaving the house this morning all by myself – my first solo race I might add – I fueled with a piece of quinoa wheat bread with a smear of peanut butter and half of a banana… then a few more bites of a second piece.

How do you feel about peanut butter before a race?

I made it easily to the start of the race in beautiful Bidwell Park with plenty of time to stretch and pump up my ‘pod. The weather was ultimate for running a race: cloudy & slightly cool – thank you, Mother Nature.

My sweet roommate planned to meet me at the finish of the race, but I guess she got there a little earlier than planned to take a few paparazzi shots.

009

Where’s ~~Waldo~~ Hillary?

Almost there – about 0.25 miles to go!

Sprinting to the finish with a smile.

Balloons :)

Walkin’ it out.

Hydrating & Happy

I didn’t drink a drop during the race. The Chico State x.country runners were keeping the aid stations stocked with water and electrolytes, but the thought of consuming anything during a race makes my stomach churn. [I plan to take a few swigs of water during my half, don’t you worry.] Are you a thirsty runner?

Race Details:

I had a flexible time goal in mind, but with my lack of long runs this training season, I was a bit skeptical of my endurance. I can feel a difference in my strength between the abundance of speed workouts and strength training (BodyPump = love), but I didn’t know what that would do for a 10-mile run.

Lesson learned today: You are stronger than you think you are.

Mile 1: 7:45ish – Ummm, holy crap. Slow down, Hillary!

Mile 2: 15:45ish – No need to be going this fast. You’ve got 8 miles to go.

Mile 3: 24ish – Ok, so 8-minute miles seems to be the theme?

Mile 4: 32ish – Am I really still doing this?

Mile 5: 40ish – Halfway done. Hope I don’t ‘crash ‘n’ burn’.

Mile 6: 48ish – I love running.

Mile 7: 56ish – Jamming to my tunes, feeling strong.

Mile 8: 64ish – I owe you, WREC track.

Mile 9: 72ish – You’re getting under 80, girl.

Mile 10: 78 something – I’m waiting for the official results to go up; will update via Twitter.

What I would have done for a Garmin Forerunner/exact mile splits!

I honestly did not know I had that in me. And the scary part… it wasn’t that tough. The course was completely flat, but I was comfortable and relaxed until about mile 8.5… then I cranked up my new playlist, started to kick up my heels a bit higher, and me a my pacing partner [some random guy] began pushing one another.

What does this do for my expectations for the half!? I have no clue. Do I account for the SF hills, or push for the same pace?

* * *

Feeling like 100 bucks, my roommate and I strolled back through the dewy park to our cars. I made a pit stop at Starbucks for a tall latte before coming home to make waffles for my cheerleader and I.