The Right Shoe Makes All the Difference

Shoes. Shoes. Shoes.

When you're a runner, finding a good pair of shoes is one of the keys to success. You have to find a pair that suits your running style and fits your feet perfectly. They have to mold to you. The wrong pair of shoes can cause major bodily issues including plantar fasciitis, ankle injuries, or flaring of sciatica. 

But the right pair of shoes can change your life! (Just ask Cinderella)

When I first started my running journey I had trouble finding a good pair of shoes. Every pair I tried were too heavy or didn't have enough support. I struck gold though when I received a pair of New Balance 880s. My job allows me to work with many awesome groups that host their meetings and conventions. New Balance decided to host one of their many meetings with us and was gracious enough to provide a pair of top of the line running shoes for employees that would be interacting with them during their visit. After wearing these 880s for a week of being on my feet at work, I fell in love! 

These were the first pair of sneakers that I actually felt comfortable in. They had everything I had been searching for! 

Comfort. Cushion. Design.

They were generous enough to allow the employees to keep the shoes. It was great to be able to take those babies for a run. 

My first big run in them was the Peachtree. For the first time my feet didn't hurt and my knees didn't ache. It was amazing to feel weightless and pain free. 

Now that I've put them through the ringer, I was in search of another pair that made me feel the same. In my new quest I found another pair of New Balance that I love just as much! The Fresh Foam! 

I am in L O V E! I cant wait until I get to use these in my next Peachtree and the other half marathons coming my way this year! 

Goodbye, Old Friends!

Hello, New Buddies!

I am a New Balance girl now! They officially have a customer for LIFE! Thank you for amazing shoes that do the job perfectly! 

Check out their website below and see if they are a perfect fit for you too!

https://www.newbalance.com/

My Biggest Challenge, My Greatest Reward!

26.2!

A marathon! 26.2 miles. Twenty-Six Point Two! Who ever thought that would be a good idea is insane! I guess I'm insane because my goal for my first year of running was to accomplish this by the end of it.

In March of 2018 I had signed up for the Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon. I took it one step further and thought go big or go home... so I had also signed up to do the Remix Challenge by taking on the Marathon Saturday and 5k on Sunday. Almost 30 miles in two days.

After my knee injury in June I thought about backing out of it. I hadn't been training as much as I should have and was nowhere near ready. The week of the races approached quickly and I was losing my mind. I wanted to follow "normal marathon rules". The night before I carb loaded with a huge spaghetti dinner and got a good night sleep.

Saturday morning arrived, the sun hadn't even risen yet and I was dropped off at my corral. When the gun went off I ran with everything I had. The first two miles felt incredible. I had this new found push in me. The live music along the course helped keep the runners going when you start to tire out. With each mile. I found a new feeling that I couldn't explain.

I was feeling comfortable until around mile 9. My knee started to pinch some and I was exhausted. At mile 11 there was a group of people cheering on the runners telling them how many miles they had left. I was mostly with half marathon people at this point so they kept yelling, "you only have 2 miles to go!" Then they saw my bib and told me, "except you..  you have 15 to go!" I felt defeated. When I came up on the half/full split I had every intention of changing distances and just running a half, but my body took me down the full path instead. With the full marathon you run across the Harry Truman Parkway. This was excruciating because of the heat and lack of shade. Around mile 14 I saw my mom and dog waiting to cheer me on and it gave me my second wind. I needed that little boost of confidence. At mile 16 my knee started to hurt again. Then mile 17 my other knee started to give out, but I was more than halfway so I needed to keep going. I had to do this for myself! At mile 22 my feet felt like they wanted to fall off. I wanted to throw in the towel, have the van pick me up, and cry like a baby. I knew I was in the back of the pack. I was 1 of 4 marathoners in my area. We all gathered together and kept each other's hopes up. We motivated each other with every step. None of us wanting to give up. I picked up a little speed and so did this one gentleman who was with me. We didn't want to be the last ones to cross the line. 

This guy was in his sixties. He had battled cancer and put run a marathon on his bucket list. We got to know each other and it was amazing making a connection with a fellow runner. When we came up on the finish line I saw my mom and dog waiting for me again. I gave the last half mile every thing I had, and so did the gentleman. When we almost hit the finish line he stopped and let me run across first to have my moment. When I realized this, I made sure to stop and cheer him on as he ran across. It was such a special moment and I've never experienced such kindness like that before! 

I made sure to stop and thank him for his kindness and support along the course and to congratulate him on his major accomplishment. It was so sweet to see his wife and granddaughters run out to hug him. Its support like that that makes you know you can do anything you put your mind to!

After the marathon I could barely walk. I didn't know how I would run the 5k the next day. I thought about backing out of it and going home. However, a beautiful morning walk around River Street turned things around for me! I felt ready to conquer the next 3 miles. 

We lined up for the start of the 5k which runs through some local Savannah neighborhoods and ends at Home Base on the field for the Savannah Bananas. Its beautiful to run underneath the moss covered trees and by old plantation houses. 

 

There is nothing like Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality. Savannah delivers on both and so much more! I look forward to another Run-cation here again soon. 

The Best 4th of July Parade!

Peachtree Road Race

The Peachtree Road Race is the biggest and best 10k in the country! People from all over descend on Atlanta for the opportunity to run the race on the 4th of July. The race where the runners are the parade. Families make it a tradition to line the streets and cheer on the runners. Other families make it a tradition to run the race together. 

  

This was my first time running the Peachtree. It was exhilarating! The atmosphere was electric. You really feel like you're part of something much larger that you can't explain. The first two miles of the run are fairly easy, but then at mile three you come up to Cardiac Hill. There are two reasons it is called Cardiac Hill. 1. Piedmont Hospital is located at the top. 2. This hill climbs 12 stories in one mile and tends to get the best of some runners. They end up passing out or having trouble breathing due to issues in their chest. 

I decided to push myself and run the entire way up the hill. So it made me extremely happy and emotional to see some familiar faces when I got to the top. My dad and stepmom were waiting to cheer me on! 

 

I cried when I saw them and got hugs to power me forward. Right after seeing my family I was able to get a slice of pizza and a beer from Mellow Mushroom. Sometimes all you need to give you the extra edge is an alcoholic beverage. 

However, the best part of the Peachtree is the coveted tshirt! This is the only race where you get your medal before the run, but the tshirt is after. The community votes for a design, but nobody knows the winning one until the first person crosses the finish line. Even the winning designer doesn't find out until its completed! The designs always show a piece of history from the race which make them unique and collectors items. 

I can't wait to be a part of this magnificent tradition for its 50th running on July 4th 2019! Cheers to freedom and fun!

Life Ain't Easy

Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Colon Cancer Awareness Month 

Colon Cancer.

Cancer.

The number 1 killer in men.

People in their 20s are now being diagnosed more frequently. 

This is my reason. 

My grandfather was originally diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014. He is my rock. The glue that holds my family together. 

In February 2014, our whole world got turned upside down. My grandfather's diagnoses was devastating. We went into this battle headstrong. He decided to have the surgery to remove the cancer and then went through two different rounds of chemotherapy. By the end of the year he got the all clear from his doctor and our lives began to fall back into normalcy. 

That was until February of 2018. Almost 4 years to the day. He went in for a check up and the doctor said they found something on the scans that they wanted to further investigate. We all prayed that it was nothing and they were mistaken. Unfortunately, the prognosis came back that the cancer had returned. We talked it out and weighed all of the options. This time the only downside was that surgery was not an option. His options were: intensive chemotherapy or no treatment. The family practically begged for him to push forward and go through chemo again since it worked the first time. So he did.

This time it started destroying him from the inside out. My grandfather practically became a shell of the man he once was, but I loved him still the same. He lost a ton of weight, lost all of his hair, and lost his tastebuds. Everything he ate burned his mouth and the slightest bit of sun scorched his skin. Yet still we got through it. By the end of 2018 things were looking better. 

Then a few weeks ago we got word from his doctor that they spotted a brand new tumor. Same region of the body, just different chemical makeup. So now we are weighing all of the options once again.

Please pray for us as we go through this 3rd diagnosis in 5 years. 

Keep your family close. 

Always say 'I love you!'

Never give up!

✔your:

It's simple and takes minimal time.

Stay informed.

This is my reason.

My reason for learning.

My reason for living.

My reason for running.

Each and every race I endure, I run with him in my mind and heart. 

I am blessed with such an amazing man in my life and I wouldn't have the slightest idea of what to do if he weren't here anymore.

He is THE reason I am training and pushing so hard to be able to run the NYC Marathon in 2020 for the CCF (Colon Cancer Foundation). 

Turning Point

Turning Point 

One year ago I was already on my new journey of running, then another new journey happened upon me. Suddenly I found myself single. With my new single self I made the decision to throw all of my effort into making a new, healthier, better lifestyle. I was thoroughly enjoying my new hobby of running and it became my therapy to get away from everything that bothered me. 

I was ready for another race! I craved it! I searched for one close to my home and found the Lucky Leprechaun. It's a small race in a local park and I felt that it was just what I needed. 

On March 18 I made my way to the park. The run was short and sweet. Once again, I beat my time with a finish of 37:52. This event even had a photographer that offered the pictures for free. 

(Seeing this picture made me realize that I made the right choice in my new hobby)

I determined it was time to work towards something bigger than a 5k. That is why I signed up for my first Peachtree Road Race! But then I took it one step further! I set a major goal and added a HUGE task to my bucket list for the year... I signed up for a MARATHON. 

Extra Yard

The Extra Yard

I realized I was having so much fun running and I wanted to share that moment with someone I cared about. My boyfriend at the time was a former Marine and had mentioned that he wanted to get back into the shape he was during bootcamp. This was the perfect way to do what we both wanted! 

We talked about doing a run together and I signed us up for the Extra Yard 5k. This race intrigued me due to the fact that it follows the College Football Championship Game around the country. The race is organized to provide financial support to schools around the city where the game is held. 

Well, what I had forgotten about was the fact that this race was to be held on January 7th. Yes, the day after another run I was completing. 

That morning we woke up and took MARTA down to Atlanta. The air was a staggering 22*, but we lined up ready to take on this task together. 

The race began and I found it to be such a cool experience running through the city I grew up in. I had the ability to see parts of the city that I had long forgotten were around. Within no time my boyfriend took off in front of me. I was ok with that. In fact  I was proud of him for working towards his goal. 

Around mile 2, I almost gave up due to the frigid weather. However, I told myself to push harder. When I did, it didn't take long for me to catch up to him. We rounded the corner of the Georgia World Congress Center and came up on the finish line. 

It was a different experience being able to share this with someone and it somehow made the finish more special. 

I had a finishing time of 39 minutes and 6 seconds. This was the first time I realized that my time kept improving. That was something that floored me. It got me thinking that maybe I could improve my time with each race moving forward.

LifePath

LifePath

After celebrating the feeling I experienced from my first run, I scrolled through the internet looking for more than I could accomplish. I signed up for one called the Atlanta Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis. Unfortunately,  they cancelled it due to a massive snow storm that hit. I took that as a sign that maybe I was a one-and-done kind of girl. That was until my mother received an email from her work about running the Braselton LifePath 8k/5k. I decided to sign up for it, but wanted to take it one step further. Instead of doing the 5k, I chose to run the 8k!

January 6th 2018 was right around the corner and this time I was going to be slightly more prepared for the run. I scoped out the course map and felt like it would be fairly easy with it being mostly flat. Once again it was below freezing and it had rained the night before. 

I stretched and lined up with the group. Soon we were headed down the road. While running I decided that my best bet to keeping a good pace would be to find someone and keep up with them. I found one girl and started up a conversation. Next thing I knew we were side by side for most of the race. It felt good. I passed by the 5k split and kept pushing forward. 

I ran the 8k turnaround and looked behind me. There was an 80 year old man with a walker that was doing the run. Seeing him gave me that extra push I needed. If he could do this, then I definitely could. I crossed the line while running the hardest I could. My finishing time was 1 hour and 5 minutes. I smiled so big at yet another accomplishment. 

My First Run

Chateau Elan Muscadine Run

November 18, 2017. My first run.

Remember when I said my best friend convinced me to add 'Run a 5k' to my bucket list? Well I went all of 2017 debating if I really wanted to do that. I kept telling myself "you'll never be able to complete one." I knew I wasn't strong enough to compete or even try.

Until one day, I was scrolling through my email at work. There was an email that caught my eye. The tagline was RUN THE CHATEAU ELAN MUSCADINE RUN. I sat there staring at the contents for about 20 minutes. The body of the message read something along the lines of:

Have the opportunity to run through the vineyards that you walk through day to day. For FREE!

Then there was a registration form attached. I thought, what better way to cross this off of my bucket list than to run a 5k at my job (yes, I work at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort) and for FREE! After another 5 minutes of contemplation, I filled out the registration form. 

Two weeks later, I received an email informing me of the details for the race. I started having a small panic attack when I realized the run was only three weeks away.

The morning of November 18th snuck up on me. I drove into work and saw at least 150 standing around and stretching. I walked up to get my bib number and thought twice about turning around and leaving. It was freezing cold outside and the air was wet from rain the night before. 

I decided to line up towards the back of the pack in hopes of blending in. Before I know it the gun goes off and everyone picks up a quick pace. I'm quickly lost in the mix. I decided that if I'm going to do this then I'm going to do it right. I started running and ended up running the first quarter mile. 

I quickly became winded and wanted to give up, but kept pushing forward. It was beautiful scenery to run through. The vineyards were still in bloom and the feeling of seeing new parts of the property made it well worth it. 

I ended up walking most of the race because I hurt my knee, but made sure to finish strong. My finishing time ended up being 44:06 and boy was I shocked beyond belief. I had actually completed a run.

When I crossed the finish line, I loved the way I felt. It was freeing and therapeutic. From that moment I knew it was something that I wanted to do again. I wanted to feel that way again. 

BIO

Welcome to my Blog!

My name is Kristin, but I tend to go by Kris. I'm almost 27 and I discovered that I'm a tiny girl with a big passion. Growing up I was always active. I did everything from karate to dance to bowling to colorguard.

The one thing I never seemed interested in though was RUNNING. I was that girl that dreaded each time in high school where we had to run the mile. I would find shortcuts or fake being sick or injured.

I never understood people who had a fascination with running. I thought they were crazy. 

That was until my best friend started running for FUN. She kept talking to me about how amazing it was and how she was going to get me into it. I simply laughed at her everytime. 

In 2017, however, I set a bucket list for the year. She had finally convinced me to at least try a 5k. And that is where my new found passion and journey began...