The Giant Race 2014

San Jose Giants 5 Mile 2014 

Earlier this year I participated in the San Jose Giants 5 mile.  Usually, my family does this race with me, but this year I was all by my lonesome.  As you can see, that wasn't really a factor for me.  It my yearly short race.

It also doesn't hurt that I get an additional goody for doing both this and the San Francisco Giants run.

Last year I came in at 52:04. 

Here are my results from this year:

San Francisco Giants Half Marathon 2014

Last week I participated in the Giants Half Marathon for the 4th time.  And it seems like every year I say I didn't train.  lol  Well nothing changed this year.  I didn't train.  I got the San Jose 5 mile run in, and I got in another 6 mile with my Concrete Runners, but I hadn't really run anything over 2 miles besides those 2 runs.  But, I do have my everyday training that I get in, a light run and weights in the morning and either Muay Thai or  Core40 at night.  Well looks like all of that is working for me. 

I honestly didn't think I was going to PR this year.  I only hoped that I wouldn't come in adding on too much time.  But, to my surprise I did so much better than I thought I ever could. 

The run felt pretty good.  I had to breathe through a couple of cramps, but nothing too out of the ordinary.  And, I realized that I would be retiring the shoes I was wearing after that run.  I stopped to hydrate around mile 6, 8, and I think 10ish.  I normally don't stop that often, but I kept going.

I knew that when I crossed the start line the clock already read after 5 mins.  So when I came in and saw the clock at 2:23 I was shocked.  I came in, in less that 2:20!?  Then I remembered to stop my app so I could get a better read.  Well, my phone somehow was buttdialing while I was running b/c my phone was disabled for about 1 hour.  lol  There goes that idea! lol

Later that night, one of my friends texted me with my results.  Last year, I came in at 2:30:47

Here are my results for this year:

I took off 12 minutes off my time!!  Needless to say I was EXCITED!!!  I could not believe that I did that!

072514 Smoker #2

This Saturday, I did my second smoker.  I was extremely nervous.  More nervous than I've ever been for a fight.  I have been in the gym training and training hard, but I haven't had a full sparring session in soooo long.  So, I was nervous that my reflexes and fighting in general would be more than sub par.  But, Coach Mark insisted and I did it. And I'm glad that I did.

When they say trust your training, in which ever sport it may be, you should really trust your training. 

I know I gave her the first round for sure.  She came in guns blazing, and I was just trying to settle in for the a good portion of the first round.  After that, I was good.  I settled in and got to work.  Rewatching the footage, I know I should've thrown my right kick so much more.  I don't know why I didn't.  I let my arms fly more this time...thankfully.  And I was able to get in a good knee.  Totally proud of myself for that one. 

All in all, I was definitely happy with my performance.  Next time, I'll be sure to get more sparring sessions in. 

Here's the footage, enjoy!

Bay 2 Breakers 2014

i ran the bay 2 breakers again this year.  i didn't run with anyone this year.  this year i ran by myself.  it doesn't really bother me since i always end up running at my own pace anyway.

i was a little scared this year b/c when i looked at my run calendar, i realized that i hadn't hit the pavement since january!  oops.  i knew it wasn't going to be so bad though b/c i've still been actively working out and getting little spurts on the treadmill here and there.  but the majority of my cardio has been coming from muay thai.  so, i knew my it bands were going to be the brunt of my pains.  which turned out wasn't so bad.

the weather was perfect.  not too hot not too cold, there were cool breezes from time to time which i definitely welcomed.  the one bad thing, which happens at almost every race, but more so with bay 2 breakers b/c this definitely brings out the runners without any running etiquette the walkers on the left.  please people WALKERS TO THE RIGHT!  trust me the person running behind you trying to figure out every which way to get around you will appreciate it.

so i crossed the finish line and i shocked myself.  7minutes faster that last year.  i was definitely happy.  and honestly not too sore, maybe i should have gone a little bit harder.  oh well.  next year!

here's my official time from last year. 

here's my official time from this year.

single? yes, but very happy

i've often been asked why i'm still single.  hmmm kind of a loaded question don't you think?  where shall i begin to even try to answer this.

many of my guy friends preface this question by telling me something along the lines of me being a cool chick with a good head on my shoulders, having a good job blah blah blah.  my usual response…" i don't know, but thank you."

today, someone said something to me that was quite thought provoking...for me at least.  he told me that he didn't think he could keep up with me.  when i asked him to explain, he told me that i had so many events going on in my life.  true.  i do!  i have a huge family and a very active life.

but, my response, was that i fill my life with things that make me happy.  i don't have time to deal with anything that isn't contributing positively to my life.  "ain't nobody got time for that!"  lol but seriously, it's true.  i surround myself with those i love and the things that keep me happy.  b/c honestly, life would be boring otherwise.

my downtime is filled with me working out, family events, supporting my family and friends at their events, etc etc. you get it.  and although, my life is "busy," it's what keeps me happy and makes it all worth it.

now back to the boy aspect of things.  i'm single partly by choice.  am i open to dating?  yes.  but, first of all, rarely do i ever get approached, and when i do it's not normally worth it.  so again i say, if it's not contributing positively to my life, it's not going to be a part of it.

and before you go on and say that i'm just picky, let me just interrupt you with just one word:  reciprocity!  is it so bad to want someone that can meet me half way.  i'm not trying to be the mom of the relationship, and no you don't have to treat me like a princess.  worship me like one, maybe! lol (if you're reading this, and you don't know me, i hope you get my humor.)  but really, i'm not looking for that.

if you can be honest with me, loyal, make me laugh, get my humor b/c i honestly have a problem with sensitive people, and sensitive people will NOT make it in my family...but, that's a-whole-nother subject...hold a conversation…and i guess "keep up," we're good to go.  

so, until i find someone worth adding on to my already busy life…i'm quite happy being single.

and, to those friends out there that feel the NEED to hook up their single friends, like they are just going to get along b/c they are single, please stop.  just b/c someone is single doesn't mean they are miserable and are looking for you to save them from their misery.  stop acting like being single is a disease.  you are not going to cure the world of singles.

Nike NTC Tour LA

This past weekend, I went to one of thee dopest events that I've been to in a long time. I kept telling everyone that it was a Nike event and they automatically assumed it's another marathon or run. It's been lengthy and tedious to try to explain every time. So to my blog I go...

It's been 3 years since I first posted about the NTC app that I came across. Check out my first post here: Make Yourself!

Well I tried it and actually got hooked for awhile.  You can pick the type of workout you want, lean, toned, strong, or even focus on a certain area of your body.  You get awards and badges for doing so many hours and such.  I really liked it, and honestly I'm a sucker for those badges.  lol Hey, whatever motivates you!  When I'm not hitting up Muay Thai and I want to get a workout in, this is my default.

Anyway, Niketown started hosted NTC trainings on Tuesday nights.  I have yet to go on a Tuesday, it's a bit hard for me to get to the city in time, but next week I'm going to try.  I did however go to an NTC event they held on a Saturday, and I loved it.  So, when Nike announced they were doing an NTC Tour in LA, I was all about it!  Gotta thank the fellow Running Divas Arlynn and Jess for staying up on the events.

So, what did we actually do at this event.  WORKOUT!  ALL DAY!  And that's fun to me, you ask?  Why yes it is!!!

The day started off with everyone in the main tent doing a workout session together.  I guess you can kind of describe the workout like a boot camp work out.  And then there were 3 sessions afterward of your choosing.  There was a barre class, yoga, Barry's Bootcamp, flywheel...and we got to learn a couple of 8 counts from Derek Hough (a dancer on Dancing with the Stars). 

Oh and how could I forget that this all took place on the Santa Monica pier!  Annnnd that we all got the rose gold Fuelbands!!

Here are some pictures!

#OperationMelanie

A guy friend of mine showed me this inspiring message about fit girls. And, I'd like to think he was speaking to me. lol

But, really, I was never really a "skinny" girl, I always had meat on me. But, I was always pretty fit. That is until I moved to Santa Barbara for college. I didn't move as a Freshman, so I can't say that I gained the "freshman 15," and honestly, I probably gained much more than 15 pounds in that first year. I'm gonna go ahead and call it the "transfer 20" maybe even 30. But, before I moved back home, I got my ass into gear and lost all the weight. I wasn't trying to come back home looking like that. I think it was about this time that Justin Timberlake came out with "Sexy Back," so all me and my girls would talk about "bringing sexy back" and bringing it back to high school and how we looked then. I actually think that when I moved back home I looked better than I did in high school. And we all know I thought I was hot sh*t in high school. Hahahaha!! If you didn't know my back then, my prom dresses were the epitomy of bourgie hood. lol 

Anyway, I got to my goal and got to my ideal body figure before I moved home. Life was great. I just graduated from college, moved back home, and I was feeling great about myself...looks and all. And then, I don't know what happened. I guess I just got comfortable. Got into a relationship, where I moved in with the dude. We ate out a lot, and late, and a lot of times on a really late night tip. To this day I just don't know how I let myself get like that. I'm still not my ideal weight/shape as I type, but I'm working on it and it's coming along. I look at old pictures, and at at first I was in digust, and now I'm just in awe. What the hell happened! 

I'm still quite embarassed as to how the hell I got like that. But, that friend of mine that showed me the message above, told me to be proud. Be proud of what I accomplished. And so I am. I'm not one to put myself on blast with the selfies. And, I know this is a bit different b/c I'm showing my success with fitness. And, I see people do it all the time, and of course I clap it up for them and congratulate them...I just don't know if I'll ever do the famous sports bra and shorts shot. Maybe when I get closer to my goal it'll happen. For now, those have been saved for those closest to me, that I know won't be secretly hating with their snide remarks.

But, I will show you this. 

To the left is a picture of me on October 18, 2009 when I ran my very first Nike Women's Marathon in 02:47:36. To the right, is a picture of me running the Nike Women's Marathon this year, October 20, 2013. I made a PR for this course at 02:37:46. 

#OperationMelanie is in full effect. I'm really on a mission this time. No more being consistantly inconsistant. A little while ago I posted on twitter and facebook a little note to my abs - "Dear Abs, I see you peaking out. It's time to come out and play." Funny, I know. But I'm also being completely serious. I've tasted a sliver of accomplishment and I'm ready for more.

UFC 167 - 20th Anniversary

The gym that I go to for Muay Thai, Evolve Training Center, had a contest called "Refer and You Shall Receive." The basic premise was, if you brought in people and they signed up, you got points. At the end of the contest, who ever had the most points would win. 

 
I didn't really think anything of the contest at first b/c no matter how many people asked me about the gym, or who I brought in, in the past, no one ever signed up. BUT, it just so happened that my cousin finally brought in my nephew for Muay Thai and Ju-jitsu and she happened to also take part in the boxing for fitness class. I say FINALLY b/c I had been telling her for months already to just come in and check it out. And then, she decided to sign both of them up. At this time, I wasn't even thinking of the contest. I was just happy that someone that asked me about the gym, finally came through and would be sharing in my joy. But, lucky me, it just so happened that it was double points week. I wasn't even in the running and all of a sudden, I was a contender. WOO HOO! 

 
In the end, I WON!!! Yesss! The grand prize? A trip to Vegas for UFC 167, the 20th Anniversary of the UFC. That's right, my flight, my hotel, and my ticket for the fights were all paid for. 

I flew out Friday morning, with Mark and Audrey. And we tried for an early check in at the MGM (yes I did stay at the hotel venue!), unfortunately, it couldn't happen. So, we checked our bags in with the concierge and did a little eating and shopping. Later that night, we went to Light at Mandalay Bay and partied it up a little. 

 
Saturday, John flew in and we met with Mark and Audrey for brunch. And later we got to enjoy the fights! The first fight started at 330pm and I must say they didn't disappoint. And, so it had begun. None of the fights were disappointing, even the fights that were not even broadcast on TV were good. And, the main event, GSP vs Hendricks, even with all the controversy following the results, the fight was a great one. Every minute was exciting. The atmosphere in the arena, Bruce Buffer's introductions, the crowd's energy … I'm so glad I was able to experience that. This very well could be the only time that I will ever be able to experience this, I'm so glad that I was able to. It was an amazing weekend.

Thank you ETC for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this in person. So, much better than my big screen. lol 

Oh and I did stand only a few feet from Nick Diaz. No I didn't get a picture with him. I was too shy. I was just shocked that he was right there. And really he and his friends were in their own world, I didn't want to bother him, he was out for a night of fun. 

Here are the few photos that were taken this weekend.