Category Archives: Cool down/Stretching

Call Me Vein.

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Thank you for clicking “follow” friends!! You guys are ahhh-maaay-ziing! I know this because I stalk your blogs whenever I have a free moment.

I decided to document just how hot and sweaty I get after a run by documenting some before and after pictures for you. Yes, I do kind of feel like a Jenny Craig ad model. But wait until you see the after shot!

Let’s start with the before:


Before

 Not too bad, right? I had to tame my bangs with a hair band and I look pretty ready for a run. I went for a 7K and had to slow my pace down because my food was not digested in my stomach. Ugh, I hate that feeling. So, I went with it and yet again it was so hot running the t-mill. When I got to the locker I saw this beauty looking at me:


After



Yes, that is quite the attractive face. Seriously, do you see it?! I have two veins that decided to come out and play after my run. And, they are in the shape of a “V”. I felt just like my fav, Kristin Chenoweth. Apparently we both get blood rushing to our head sometimes.

Kritin Chenoweth

I’d like to think of it as my body telling me that I had a great workout but really it’s just because I have a veiny forehead. You really do learn something new everyday!

For this run I didn’t pick a playlist. I just put my ipod on a jukebox shuffle starting with Dolly’s 9 to 5 and off I went.

The Playlist
9 to 5- Dolly Parton
Magahlena- Sergio Mendes
Your House- Jimmy Eat World
Basket Case- Green Day
Learn To Fly- Foo Fighters
Driving Me Crazy- Sam Adams
I’m Real- Jennofer Lopez

Cool Down/Stretching
You’ve Got You- Eric Hutchinson
Dancing With Myself- Glee Cast

Stats of the Run
Distance: 7.01 km
Pace: 4:30 min/km
Incline: 1%

CHALLENGE ALERT!
Nike+ is having a mileage contest over 30 days! For every km clocked, different companies will donate $10 to $100 to Japan! Join me in the challenge HERE!

My Friday Confession

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In the morning, I start my day doing my hair and make-up with music and more often than not- singing and dancing in the mirror. Latley my ipod has been playing all the same music and I have been getting pretty bored of it so my singing and dancing had come to a minimum. And then today, a song came on that I have a little crush on. Here it is- my Friday confession…

Sometimes this little city girl turns a little bit country. My rocking out came into an all-time high again. I just can’t help it. Here’s another confession for you, I use to call this song “The BBQ Chicken Song” because of the line “BBQ stain on my white t-shirt.” And really- I just could never remember what it was called. Sorry, Tim McGraw. This is how you know I’m not a country girl. But I do love pretending to be one!

I didn’t want the fun to stop so I clicked the genius button on my ipod so that more songs like this one would come on. I continued to rock out to the twangy song Stay Beautiful by Taylor Swift and then another sparkling treat Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5.

I LOVE Dolly! Her glitter, her big hair, and the way that she just doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Another confession- if I had to wake up everyday for the rest of my life to 9 to 5– I would be a little more than OK with that!

My latest workout was a 7K tempo run at a 1% incline with a killer 1K sprint at the end. Powersongs were definitely needed. And I learnt that I reeeeaaaaally need to get myself a Lululemon Action Gym Towel. The amount of sweat that I was breaking was just ridiculous! Too bad they are all sold out and I don’t know when it will be possible to get one.

Just look at how amazing they are! They have a pocket to hold all of your small items and it can even loop over your t-mill. The perfect companion.

 Dear Lulu,

Please bring back the Action Gym Towel!
So Much Love,
Siobhan
The I’m Like A Firecracker Playlist
*On jukebox shuffle
Tilt Ya Head Back- Nelly & Christina Aguilera
Do It Well- Jennifer Lopez
Jump- Madonna
Stronger- Kanye West
Always Where I Need To Be- The Kooks
When You Were Young (Victoria Secret Remix)- The Killers
Suddenly I See- KT Tunstall
A-Punk- Vampire Weekend
Have I Been A Fool- Jack Penate
Cool Down/Stretching
You Could Be Happy- Snow Patrol
Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning)- Kaiser Chiefs
Gravity- Embrace
Stats of the Run

Distance: 8.33 km

Pace: 4:20 min/km
Incline: 1%

Guiness Birthday Cupcakes!

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I decided to take rest days so that I could heal my legs and get them back pain free. So, I took the time to celebrate my birthday! And- that is why I haven’t posted in a few days. Sorry friends! But I have a fun recipe and a run to fill you in on!

One: Guiness Birthday Cupcakes!
These are an amazing way to start your day on St. Patrick’s Day! (Especially when it’s your birthday!)

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, plus more for dusting finished cupcakes

2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purposeflour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch fine salt
1 bottle stout beer (recommended: Guinness)
1 stick butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature
3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
1 (1-pound) box confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.

In another medium mixing bowl, combine the stout, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at time. Mix in sour cream until thoroughly combined and smooth. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

Lightly grease 24 muffin tins. Divide the batter equally between muffin tins, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for about 12 minutes and then rotate the pans. Bake another 12 to 13 minutes until risen, nicely domed, and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Cool before turning out.

TO MAKE THE ICING:
In a medium bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the heavy cream. On low speed, slowly mix in the confectioners’ sugar until incorporated and smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. Icing can be made several hours ahead and kept covered and chilled.

Two: My Latest Run!
After some great rest days I decided to go out for an easy pace run and I just ran without a distance or pace goal. And the best part was- I was pain free! I’m really glad that I stopped running and allowed my body to heal for a few days because now I can kick in to full gear to get race ready. And my running bff’s sent me this amazing package for my birthday:

Thanks Tash and Shanzi! I love them!

So, I’m back and ready to get at my training! I also added a new class to my schedule. Instead of Boot Camp I will be taking a Personal Training Extreme class. I’m not too sure what it all entails. All I know is that I’m going to get my butt kicked with strength and cardio! Bring it on, PTX!

The Cardio Playlist
*On jukebox shuffle
Boys- Britney Spears
Yes (Remastered 2003)- Merry Clayton
Ke Nako- J Pre, Wyclef Jean, Jazmine Sullivan, & B. Howard
Smile Like You Mean It- The Killers
Miami- Will Smith
Someday (I Will Understand)- Britney Spears
Dirty Dancing- New Kids On The Block
Whatever You Like- T.I.
Born This Way- Lady GaGa
When I Look At You- Miley Cyrus

Cool Down/Stretching 
You and Your Heart- Jack Johnson
Lay Me Down- The Dirty Heads feat. Rome
Enchanted- Taylor Swift

Stats of the Run
Distance: 8.77 km
Pace: 4:37 min/km

Sorry Circadian Clock!

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During yesterday’s workout I decided to throw in 2 hills. I don’t know what was with me but it was a bit of a struggle. Going up the first hill killed. I started to wonder how I was even going to make it for the rest of the run. And then the worst happened– the shin and ankle pain came back. I ended up cutting my run short at 6.68 km. I thought I had rested my legs enough but apparently not.

When I got home I was completely exhausted. I went to have a restful evening on the couch while heating my legs and I fell asleep at 8:30pm. I think I am about to blame daylight savings time. I love waking up in the morning and seeing that it is sunny and now that the clocks have gone back an ahead one hour I wake up to darkness. Waaah! My circadian clock is definitely thrown off. I didn’t think moving the clocks back one hour really made that much of a difference to my body but– I was sadly proven wrong. This morning, coffee is my best friend even after ten hours of sleep.

I’m hoping to get a good stretch and strength workout in tonight but I do not want to become a zombie again afterwards.

Also, my teeny bopper side is coming out strong today. I found some new music by the cutest celeb teen couple, Selena Gomez and The Biebs. I think my circadian clock threw me back to my crazy teen pop days because I think I like these songs a lot.

Selens and The Biebs

The Cardio Playlist
*On jukebox shuffle
Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)- A.R. Rahman & The Pussycat Dolls
Sex On Fire- Kings of Leon
Dreamer- Chris Brown
Hot N Cold- Katy Perry
Being Here- The Stills
Halo/Walking On Sunshine- Glee Cast
Check It Out- will.i.am & Nicki Minaj
Girls and Boys In Love- The Rumble Strips

Cool Down/Stretching
Streetlight- Joshua Radin
Back To December- Taylor Swift

Stats of the Run
Distance: 6.68 km
Pace: 4:28 min/km
Incline:

 
Guess what tomorrow is–MY BIRTHDAY!! If you want to do something for me I would love it if you voted for me in BEST HEALTH MAGAZINE’S BLOG AWARDS! You can do it HERE!