An Island, Some Good Finds, and a Bike Ride

Things that are making me happy.

Discovery Bay: We finally made it to this popular part of Lantau Island in Hong Kong and right away noticed how peaceful it is. There are no private cars here and only a limited number of golf carts. Public transport consists of handful of buses that loop through the villages (residence areas) and shopping areas.

D'Decks - two story shopping and restaurant area on the water.

DB Plaza - an open community area great for taking a break while shopping.

Tai Pak Beach - setting up for Dragon Boat Festival

DB North Piazza - another open community area on the north end of Discovery Bay with more shopping and restaurants.

DB Love Lock Promenade -  romantic place to walk or sit and hang a lock with your love.

Some great finds: 

A namesake road.

What I'm wearing: tank and shorts

A place to get acai bowls.

Flavored rice cakes. I've been searching for these for months!

Comfy sports bras. 

Fun foods lately:

After six weeks of no alcohol I had to have a daiquiri.

The best flourless cake.

Green smoothie healthy pop. (spinach, avocado, and banana)

A bike ride that beat the rain with my BFF on National Best Friends Day (or maybe a day late. I'm not sure).

What's making you happy right now?

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6 Holiday Gifts for Runners

Every year my list of gift ideas for runners pretty much stays the same: store gift cards, massages, books, magazines, etc, but I like to highlight my favorite products. These are the ones you see see me using, wearing, and going ga-ga over on Instagram. Click here if you've been missing out!

All of these items are easy to order and ship online, but can probably be found in most running and sports stores in your neighborhood, too. (I've linked to my favorite brands, but I'm not being compensated for doing so.)

My faves:

Head bands: BAMR Bands - Love! So many pretty and affordable bands to choose from, plus 10% of sales goes to charity. Win, win.

Running shoes: Mizuno - I'm currently wearing Wave Rider 19s, although I've worn other styles and loved them just as much.

Running socks: Feetures - I don't know how I ever ran without these socks. They are so light, but at the same time the softness feels like a cushion.

Recovery shoes: Oofos - I wear these babies all the time. My feet and legs just bounce with happiness.

Training Log: Journal Menu - I just started using a journal to keep track of my workout details: distance, pace, weather, route. This one also has room to jot down injury notes (which in my case is very helpful) and race plans. Oh and you can design it yourself!

Water bottle: Simple Hydration - Best hands-free option out there. Holds just the right amount of water and makes hydrating during your run...simple. Just hook it on your waistband or Flipbelt.

Other favorites of mine not pictured:

Oiselle Distance Shorts $46 - These shorts are the best because of the front pocket that makes it easy for me to carry the gate fob to our apartment villa plus more in the back pocket if needed.

Athleta Relay Capris $69 - These just make me feel like a rock star...

Flipbelt $29 - Perfect for carrying my iPhone 6 and other essentials as needed.

Nike Racerbacks $25 - They fit just right and they're longer than other brands which is important since I have a longer torso. I have a lot of these because they're often on sale at sports stores.


What gifts do you recommend for runners?

Do we have any faves in common?

Fall Running and 3 Non-running Products I Love

Running in New England has been such a treat. I've been enjoying long sleeves, capris, and all the COLOR!

Then yesterday was rainy in NJ, so I used the fitness center here at the hotel for the first time. The treadmills have workout programs, so I selected a 4:1 interval workout. Usually the workouts are 30 minutes long. This one was 60! I happily completed 6 miles and then put in a good stretching session.

When I set out for my #runstreak mile this morning, I was disappointed to see the temperature was back up in the high 60s. It's a gorgeous fall day, but for running, I would rather see 40s. I run better in the cold.

Afterwards, I did a 30 minute strength session in the fitness center. It's equipped with free weights, medicine balls, and a Bosu ball. I mixed up some arms and legs with little spurts of cardio like we did at Boot Camp on Saturday. I might have been a little excited about the Bosu ball though; I felt a little tweak in my left hamstring, so I stopped.

Switching gears, I wanted to share three products that I am loving right now (and I'm stocking up on while in the US).

Keep Me Clean Facial Wipes: I have talked about these before, but they are so good that I'm still talking abut them. I use them daily, but they are perfect for post workouts when I can't shower right away. I've used other brands, but these do not leave my face feeling dried out. I can usually find them at Ulta.

Clinique Moisture Surge: I started using this in China when I bought a makeup bag and found free samples inside. I love the cool feeling when I apply it, which is especially refreshing in tropical China, but also after a good workout. I have normal skin and this does not make my skin greasy.


Aquage Straightening Ultragel: I was just introduced to this at the salon when I got my last color & cut, and it is amazing! I straighten my hair and this cuts the time in half. Plus, it doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or crunchy the way I other "gels" have in the past and it works by using just a small amount (which is saying a lot because I have a ton of hair!).

Do you like Fall weather?
Any awesome products you are using right now?

Fitness Friday: The Love Club

To celebrate the day of LOVE, here's a glimpse of what I've added to my list of loves lately.

Saucony Bullet Vegans - I've always wanted a pair of "cool" casual shoes. You know, the casual shoes that look good no matter what you are wearing. I spotted these Saucony Bullet Vegan's in the Athleta catalog and knew they were exactly what I was looking for. They're great with leggings, jeans, and fitness wear. I can wear them as an everyday shoe and during my indoor workouts. Score!

Nike Tech Fleece Hoodie V2 - mrC gave this to me for my birthday and even though I haven't taken it for a run yet, I love how comfy it is. It's definitely a great lightweight coverup to wear to and from SurfSet class.

Apera Yoga Tote - Apera sent me this gorgeous bag in Pearl and it is amazing! It has multiple storage for all my running gear and worked perfectly for SurfSet class. With all the room that it offers, it is not too big either.

Take a look at why I'll be taking my Apera bag as my carry-on the next time I travel!



This book: Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run - Author Alexandra Heminsley writes candidly about the process of becoming a runner. For those of us who have been running for awhile, it takes us down memory lane and brings back a renewed appreciation for the sport we love. For new runners, Heminsley tells the truth about the struggle, pain, and glory in going from "I can't run" to "I ran myself happy."

RunSaveRun - This is a new website where runners can find hundreds of coupons and discounts on all running related items. You can search for coupons by store, category, or race. Some favorites you'll probably recognize include Road Runner Sports, Active.com, and ZOOMA.

What's warming your heart today?

Fitness Friday: Summer Favorites

Happy Friday! 

Everyone looks forward to summer and I'm no different. It's been very hot and humid here in New England and the bugs (deer flies) have been making me a little crabby. So today, I thought I would think about some of my summer favorites and bring back the happy!

Swimming - it doesn't matter if it's a pool, a lake, or the ocean. I love to swim when it's super hot and jumping in the water makes you feel so refreshed.

Exploring - in the summer there is more time to go exploring. Whether we are walking around town or going for a walk in the woods, I love seeing new things in old places or checking out new spaces.

Traveling - Summertime means weekend trips to Newport, maybe a race-cation, and going home. I always try to spend at least one week in Cincinnati visiting with family and friends.

Reading - I have always been a reader. It's hard to read for pleasure during the school year when you're an English teacher, so I love diving into books of all kinds in the summer. Between the bookshelves at the library and the local transfer station, I can stock up.

Racerbacks - It wouldn't be right if I didn't mention some of my favorite summertime running attire. With the high temperatures and a decent tan, racer back tanks are most comfortable to wear in the summer. One of my current favorites is the Go Long Tank from Oiselle.

What brings a smile to your face during the hot sticky months of summer?

Now, some giveaway business. Congratulations to Emma Cross Moyer! You are the winner of the Allstate 13.1 giveaway. You should receive an email from my pal Dom with details on how to claim your race entry.