Thursday, January 26, 2012
THURSDAY RUNAVATION
Today’s Runavation
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
Black Girls RUN! Gear
They're finally here! Check out our latest hoodies and t-shirts at the Black Girls RUN! store.… [more]
Run Far and Fast with Garmin
I officially call myself a runner, even though I still consider myself a beginner. I’ve been running for almost nine months now and I have three races under my belt. Before my first race I realized I needed a way to track my pace. The stopwatch was not good enough anymore.… [more]
How to Buy Running Shoes
“A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella.” –Anonymous I certainly felt a little like Cinderella as the sales associate delicately slipped my new running shoes on. It was love at first touch. Not with the sales associate, but my new Asics. A few weeks… [more]
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
THURSDAY RUNAVATION
Today’s Runavation
“If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not really trying.”
-Unknown
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Guest Post: You Don’t Look Like a Runner: My First Half Marathon Experience
By Angel Taylor
It’s 2am and I’m woke…and not tired. Just anxious and nervous. Everything is moving in slow motion as I brush my teeth and wash my face. I slip on my marathon relay shirt I picked up from the Disney Marathon Expo the day before. I look in the mirror and tell myself “You don’t look like a runner.” But the shirt fits well and that brings me a little joy this early in the morning. I pull on my pants, socks and then shoes. I eat 2 mini bags of Craisins and a mini Cliff Bar. That’s all my stomach can handle this morning. I pin my race number on, put on my race belt stuffed with Shot Bloks and gel. I glance at the clock. It’s 1 minute until 3:00 am. I take two deep breaths, grab my room key, and head to the bus stop.
I’m scared. Really scared. Am I ready for this? Did I train enough for this? Could have I have lost more weight? I can’t even answer my own questions. I reach the bus stop and the bus transporting runners is waiting. As I board the bus, In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins is playing. How weird. Soon as I take my seat, the bus is in motion. A song by P!nk comes on. I’ve never heard it but it’s speaking to me…”You’re mean when you talk about yourself, you’re wrong. Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead”. I hear you P!nk. I hear you.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
THURSDAY RUNAVATION
Today’s Runavation
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
-Wayne Gretzky
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
BGR! Eats: Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds
Photo taken from WholeLiving.com
By Toni Carey (@toni_carey and @blackgirlsrun)
Quinoa has become one of my new favorite foods. Considered a “complete protein” it’s a great addition to my vegetarian diet. But THE best thing about quinoa is how versatile it is. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can be substituted in recipes for rice, couscous, millet, barley, or any other grain. (However, while it’s used like a grain, for your information, it’s actually a seed.) Not to mention it’s very filling, so if you are trying to cut back on calories, it will fill your belly quickly. And last, but not least, it has detoxifying properties and can help relieve constipation or bloating (Maybe “Aunt Flow” isn’t that powerful after all! POW! )
Quinoa is easy to find at most grocery stores, so you don’t have to worry about visiting a specialty market. I came across this delicious recipe in Whole Living magazine and couldn’t resist sharing. I’ve made it a dozen times and I never get tired of it. It’s light, easy and tasty, not to mention packed with protein, great for fueling up for your run or workout.
Read more
Thursday, January 5, 2012
THURSDAY RUNAVATION
Today’s Runavation
“You want me to do something…tell me I can’t do it.”
-Maya Angelou
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Sole Stories: LaWanda and T’Lai, the Mother/Daughter Duo
Everyone has a story. For some it’s a story of wanting something more, for others it’s a story full of tears, heart and determination. Our series “Sole Stories” will give you a glimpse into what drives women to change their lives and their “soles.” I stumbled upon LaWanda and T’Lai after reading an email from LaWanda requesting a shirt for her 15 year old daughter on a mission to earn a Black Girls RUN! tee. I was hooked and wanted to know more, and needless to say the story nearly brought me to tears. LaWanda explains how she’s leading by example and making it fun along the way.
As I was preparing to run the Thanksgiving Day 5K here in Atlanta, my 15 year old daughter, T’Lai (pronounced TaLay) asked “Mommy can I have a BGR! shirt? They are soooo cute!” I looked at her and explained that my BGR! shirt was not the latest fashion trend, but something I rewarded myself with after running my first 5K. I explained to her that BGR!
is a movement that is focused on motivating black women to take charge of their health.
After my long spiel and deep sighs from T’Lai, I decided to challenge her, if she wanted a BGR! shirt then she had to earn it. I presented T’Lai with the challenge of completing 10 CONSECUTIVE BGR! group runs… if I went…she went! I did allow for some exceptions due to her school commitments, but if she did not attend a run for any reason other than school then she would have to start her count from scratch…yep start over! She accepted and on Sunday, November 27, 2011 T’Lai participated in her inaugural BGR! Atlanta group run and ran/walked 4 miles!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012
Just one day before the arrival of 2012 and we can’t help but (briefly) reflect on this past year and if 2012 is anything like 2011, we can’t wait to get it started. We experienced a ton of growth in 2011 and have so much to be thankful for. If you had asked us two years ago if we’d ever be able to impact thousands of women across the world, we’d laugh. Good thing we really believed in our mission and our vision for a healthier world and boy do we have a lot of work to do.
So, what exactly are we hoping to bring in 2012?
More Black Girls RUN! Running Groups
We get tons of requests every day to start running groups both in the United States and Internationally. We’re definitely looking forward to adding more groups in 2012 to better serve communities around the world.
A New Home
Along with more groups, we will be revamping our website to better accommodate running groups. Think of it as a Facebook/Daily Mile mashup. Epic? You bet ya. There will be more information and resources along with more ways to share, connect and streamline content. Facebook we love you, but we’re just not that into you.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Race Recap: 2011 Rock n’ Roll Savannah Marathon & Half
By Darlene Baltimore
The 2011 Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon and Half Marathon was the culmination to my training during the heat and humidity of the summer months. After waking up for early hour AM runs, I wonder what I would do with all the free time training had consumed in my life. Do I continue training with aspirations to run an ultra marathon in 2012 or do I scale back to add more balance to my busy life style? These are some of the questions that I contemplated as I began to taper in my final weeks of training.
I had taken almost a year off from running while going through a devastating divorce. After finishing the Georgia Publix Half Marathon in the spring, I made the decision that it was time to run my next marathon. I decided on the Rock n Roll Savannah race because it was an inaugural event and I had heard so many great things about Savannah and wanted to visit. Little did I know how that weekend would be a life changing experience.
A few weeks prior to the event, I was asked to participate in the Race and Relax weekend hosted by Run Wifey Run on behalf of BGR! I was humbled by the offer and accepted proudly to serve as an Ambassador for BGR! Another surprise was that the ladies of BGR! ATL had put together a goodie basket of pre and post race day essentials and presented it to me at the Tuesday Standing Run prior to my trip. I felt blessed to have the love and support from my running family. I was on high heading to Savannah ready to conquer 26.2 miles.
The Expo was disappointing for several reasons. The traffic made it a nightmare to reach it and find parking. Once I made my way inside the convention center it was over crowded and a bit chaotic. I was not able to enjoy the vendors and shop like I wanted because of long lines to buy merchandise. I left the Expo feeling a bit annoyed, hoping that things would get better. Read more
Thursday, December 29, 2011
THURSDAY RUNAVATION
Today’s Runavation
“Strive for progress, not perfection.”
-Unknown
