White Out and White Hot: Victory for MSU

This past week has been a blur but the BEST part of it was going to the MSU vs UofM basketball game on Tuesday night. Even though I went to State, I never had the chance to go to a basketball game while I was a student. Since graduating, I have been to only one game and it was a horrible one. The Spartans lost horribly to Purdue and it wasn’t a very exciting game. Well, let me tell you, Tuesday’s game overshadowed my past experience without compare. The stadium was a buzz since entering. My boyfriend and I got their at least an hour early and there were still some empty seats in the house (Breslin Center). But that soon changed. The Bres was packed! The game was a white out so all you could see was a sea of white with tinges of green and some yellow color.

White Out at the Bres

MSU vs UofM

The building was electric! At the start of the game, I was a little nervous. Michigan was ranked #1 and you actually have to win some games to get their. I didn’t know what State team would show or which Wolverines came to play. Well, within the first 10 minutes, we all had our answer. The Spartans dominated Michigan. We knew what we wanted and we were going to take it every way we could. 3 after 3 after 3 were being hit. Defense was on fire with aggressive blocks and insane turnovers. Derrick Nix was drinking the Kool-aid. Michigan could not get a break. Every shot they took seemed to hit the rim or backboard and just roll off like there was an invisible force covering the net. In the end, it was a blow out that I don’t think anyone expected. Michigan fans made their big exodus 5 minutes into the second half. We stayed until the end. It was the best game I’ve been and will probably ever go to! Here’s to taking over the BIG 10 and I cannot wait until March!

Everyday I’m Spartyin

Posted in Sporting Shenanigans | Leave a reply

Training for a Half Marathon: I Did and You Can Too!

I know what you’re thinking….13 miles that is impossible!

Well, I am here to tell you it isn’t. Training for a half marathon can be done and done successfully.

My First Half Marathon Training Experience

To give you some more insight about my experience, I never ran track or cross-country in high school. I played field hockey and softball but really did not get into running until going to MSU. Throughout college, I ran to get into better shape but never really pushed myself or got involved with coordinated races. After college, I was going through a personal rough patch and my friend Megan suggested training  for  the Detroit Half Marathon together as a stress reliever. Megan had run track in high school but had fallen off “the running wagon” since college. A friend had referred us to a half marathon training schedule that had us following a weekly training schedule which had us gradually increasing our mileage over a 2 month period.  Let me tell you, weeks one and two were hell. Megan and I had stopped running over a six month period so jumping right back in was not easy. Training in hot and humid August was not easy! It took a lot of motivation and hard work to complete each week’s increased mileage. Finally, after weeks of training, Megan and I completed our first half marathon. 13.1 miles, running from start to finish! Since then, I have run 4 more half marathons and have PR’d (finished with a better time) each one!

Detroit Half Marathon

Megan and I before the big race.

 

My Advice for Anyone Training for a Half Marathon

  •  Train for your first half marathon with a friend. Having someone by your side is a great motivator when running the longer distances. If a friend isn’t available, check out local running groups in your area. They will have various groups of runners who may be training for a run themselves. Running Fit not only sells great running clothing but also has local running clubs and running technique workshops. It is a great resource if you are just getting your feet wet or a more experienced runner.
  • Find a training schedule that fits you. Don’t expect to be able to run the entire 13.1 the first week. Having a gradually increasing schedule will ease you into the farther distances without too much strain. Marathon Rookie is a great resource for beginner runners trying to find support and running schedules.
  • Have fun! Do not forget about what a great accomplishment you are about to complete. Everyone has their own abilities when it comes to running. Don’t expect to be the first one to the finish  especially if this is your first time. Enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of the day!

Check out 5 Crucial Tips For a Runner for more suggestions!

Posted in Working Out - Love it or Hate it | 1 Reply

Welcome to my blog!

Happy Runners

Welcome to my first foray into the blogosphere. I always find myself searching challenges and better ways to stay healthy but with a realistic and more manageable view. I have tried new recipes ( thank you, Pinterest), new workout trends and new fashions – all in hopes to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have had great successes, like finding a low-carb, delicious new recipe and have had ultimate fails, like trying group fitness classes that made me absolutely miserable. Check back for my reviews of different health trends and workout fads I try. Follow me as experience success and laugh with me at the epic failures I know I won’t be able to avoid!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Introduction | 2 Replies