Parthatex

going to be in Tucson for this year’s festival. We’ve taken Liv a couple of times when she was a baby, but it was P’s first time. They have inflatables for the kiddos, a huge petting zoo, games, Bingo with awesome prizes, lots of great food, face painting, etc. The kids all run around living their best fall lives. We had pizza in my stepmom’s classroom with the fam before the activities began, and then headed out to the field for 3 hours of so much fun. 



It was Liv’s first time in the hamster ball! 



She had mixed feelings about it.

We ventured into the petting zoo, which had quite the variety of animals: bunnies, chickens, ponies, a pig, a huge tortoise, goats, sheep, and an enormous turkey. Liv was like, “Let’s go see the turkey” so we walked over to him, just to say hi, but not pet him because turkeys are scary. He stuck out his neck and gobbled right at us! The girls have never crawled up me screaming so quickly in their lives. Of course they were cracking up about it as soon as they were safely in my arms, away from the turkey. That’s been the story of the weekend… getting gobbled at by an enormous turkey.





They got their faces painted, played a ton of games, went down the inflatable slide quite a few times, we lost at Bingo, and won at the cake walk. We didn’t get home until 10pm, and since it was so late and they were half-asleep, I let them some frosting before bed and gave them pieces of cake with their omelettes the next day. 

Saturday morning, we had dance, I took an Orangetheory class and got some work done:

 

(Whole Foods lunch while I typed my face off)

and then we met up with the madre’s side of the fam for dinner at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. The Cowboy Cookout was one of our favorite events when we stayed on property a couple of years ago, so I was stoked to find out that you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy dinner there. 

Outfit pic:



Dress is from Madewell with these booties <— sold out but these are similar





We got to property just in time for sunset and to pet as many of the horses as possible during their dinnertime. They were so sweet and friendly; they walked over as soon as they saw us by the gate.





The Cowboy Cookout was just as amazing as I remembered. They had live country music, BBQ food for days, and prickly pear margaritas. It’s all you really need in life. We piles our plates with the goods: salad, veggies, baked potatoes, corn, steak, cod, hamburgers, hotdogs, cornbread, etc. The girls crushed it on the dance floor and then made s’mores. While the dinner was all very good, the showstopper is the cobbler. They have berry, peach, and cherry, and it’s the BEST. (You know how some pies/cobblers taste cornstarch-y? These ones don’t have that weird texture. Everything is really fresh and aaaaaamazing.)





I think I’ll always remember the girls on the dance floor wearing their cowgirl boots, the twinkly lights shining on them as they ate their s’mores, and laughing at the table with the fam with my prickly pear margarita. It was a really good night. <3

Sunday morning, we met my dad and stepmom for crepes, headed to church, went to swim class, and caught up on some chores around the house. I also stayed up way too late reading The Book of Essie.

I hope you have a wonderful morning! I’m getting ready to teach TRX later today and getting stuff together for P’s birthday party.

Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by the blog today.

xoxo

Gina

The post and then he gobbled at me appeared first on The Fitnessista.

as compelled professional athletes to take up meditation, which is a key component in honing your emotional wherewithal. Now weekend warriors are realizing that EI can be the different between a plateau and a PR.



The Best Mental Strategies to Power Through Pain



To prove it, researchers at the University of Padova in Italy recently asked 237 half-marathoners to complete a questionnaire that, unbeknownst to the runners, revealed their EI scores. A postrace comparison revealed EI was a key factor determining finish times, after controlling for running experience and training load. The higher the EI, the faster they ran.

It’s not about being more positive; rather, it’s acknowledging emotions and using them to gain an edge, says study author Enrico Rubaltelli.

“Someone with high EI can control their nerves at race start, then tap into excitement near the end,” Rubaltelli says.

It helps especially at that inevitable point during a race when things get ugly.

“People with high EI anticipate the level of pain and think through how they will respond before it comes, which helps them regulate pace and ultimately go faster,” Rubaltelli says.

EI also teaches you to lean into discomfort. In fact, happiness is considered a “low arousal” emotion, lulling you into complacency.

“Unpleasant emotions like anxiety and uncertainty can help motivate someone to achieve better performance,” says Andy Lane, a professor of sports psychology at the University of Wolverhampton in the U.K.

As for team sports, EI allows you to intuit the emotional state of your teammates and opponents. Who’s fading? Who’s raring to go? Sensing when your rivals are strong or unraveling can give you a strategic edge.

You’re not trying to control emotions—confidence, worry, etc.—instead, you learn how to stop them from getting in the way. Make this how-to a normal part of your training, as valuable as leg day and long runs. You may just find it helps you in life, too.

Building That X Factor Muscle

These exercises may not torch calories, but they can help carry you through the hardest part of a race.

Meditate

This teaches the brain to stay focused. In a competition setting, a practiced meditator can usher out feelings of fear or self-doubt when they arise. It’s a challenge to access this level of focus when the going gets tough, so familiarize yourself now. Sit in a quiet room, eyes closed, emptying out thoughts (a work deadline, what’s for dinner) when they enter your mind. One method is to envision circling each and pushing them away, like balloons. It’s not easy, but a mere 5 to 8 minutes per day can have lasting effects on performance, Rubaltelli says.



A 10-Minute Meditation Session for Beginners


Relax

The next step is being able to release tension in the body. Tightness is often a physical embodiment of mental stress, and staying loose in a race setting helps ensure you’re moving efficiently. Sit quietly and take inventory of areas in your body you store anxiety, like your jaw, shoulders, lower back, and pelvis. The goal is to get to a place when you can tell your body relax, and it responds.

Repeat

One of the most successful ways to handle tough emotions during a grueling race is to remind yourself why you’re there. Start by writing down your goal, and the motivation behind it. Repeat it, often. “During a race, it helps you overcome the ‘why am I willing to suffer?’ moment,” Rubaltelli says. Remembering the larger purpose can override a chorus of “stop the madness” when it inevitably arises.

This is about as historic of a matchup in baseball as you can get. Both franchises date back decades, and they’ve faced off in the World Series before, all the way back in 1916 when Babe Ruth was still pitching for the Sox. Back then, the Dodgers were known as the Brooklyn Robins, and the Red Sox won the title after taking the series 4-1.

 


 

The Dodgers are making back-to-back World Series appearances after losing to the Houston Astros in 2017, while the Red Sox are back after last appearing in 2013 when they won it all. The Dodgers haven’t won a championship in three decades, the last one coming in 1988 after the heroics of Kirk Gibson.



Here’s How Dodgers Star Cody Bellinger Trained His Way to a Record-setting Rookie Year


Here’s everything you need to know about the 2018 World Series.

The Schedule

The World Series gets started with Game 1 at Fenway Park in Boston at 8 p.m. ET with television coverage from FOX. First pitch is scheduled for the game at 8:09 p.m. ET. The first two games of the series will be at Fenway Park, and will shift to Dodger Stadium for Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5. If necessary, Game 6 and Game 7 will be back at Fenway Park. See the full schedule at MLB.com.

Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Here’s the full schedule for the World Series:

Game 1 – Fenway Park, Oct. 23, 8:09 p.m. ET

Game 2 – Fenway Park, Oct. 24, 8:09 p.m. ET

Game 3 – Dodger Stadium, Oct. 26, 8:09 p.m. ET

Game 4 – Dodger Stadium, Oct. 27, 8:09 p.m. ET

Game 5 – Dodger Stadium, Oct. 26, 8:15 p.m. ET

Game 6 – Fenway Park, Oct. 24, 8:09 p.m. ET

Game 7 – Fenway Park, Oct. 24, 8:09 p.m. ET



The 11 Most Clutch Baseball Players of All Time


How It Happened

Los Angeles Dodgers: This season the Dodgers started off slow, causing many in the baseball world to wonder if they could bounce back in a tough division to make the playoffs. As ESPN put it in May, “Are the Dodgers more likely to rebound or miss the playoffs? The team got off to a 16-20 start, and the team was even in third place in their own division at points in September. Clearly, the Dodgers completed that turnaround, making this run to the World Series even more impressive.

Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers won the NL West by one game over the Colorado Rockies, who defeated the Chicago Cubs to make it into the playoffs. The Dodgers finished the season with a 92-71 record and a plus-194 run differential, by far the best in the National League. The team faced off against the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series, winning 3-1 before advancing to play the Brewers. Los Angeles advanced to the World Series after a strong performance in Game 7 to take the series 4-3 over Milwaukee.

Boston Red Sox: As the team with the best record in baseball at 108-54, the Red Sox were one of the favorites to make it to the World Series out of the American League. The team had a dominating offense that scored the most runs in the MLB with 876 and the second-best run differential in the league at plus-229.

The Red Sox won the AL East by eight games over the Yankees, then played the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series. Boston then advanced to play the defending World Series champions in the Houston Astros, and beat them in five games, winning the series 4-1. Boston entered the season with a MLB-high $223 million payroll, so it’s not a major shocker they’re here at the end to represent the American League.



The 10 Best MLB Playoff Performances of the Millennium


The Pitching Matchups

Chris Sale is starting Game 1 for the Red Sox after getting some extended rest due to an illness during the American League Championship Series. (He blamed it on a belly button ring—although he likely was joking—read here for more.) This will be Sale’s first time pitching in the World Series. It’s possible that Clayton Kershaw could go in Game 1 after helping the Dodgers close out Game 7 against the Brewers, but if he doesn’t, expect to see the All-Star in Game 2. It’s likely that Kershaw will start Game 1 for the Dodgers.

Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images,
Here’s a look at the other starters for both teams, plus the potential matchups that could go down in the World Series:

Game 2: Rich Hill against David Price – Price finally notched his first postseason win in the ALCS against the Houston Astros, and he’ll try and keep that momentum going with a likely start in Game 2. Hill was solid for the Dodgers during the season with a 11-5 record and 3.66 ERA, and he’ll be facing his old team in the Red Sox in this series.



MLB Playoffs: the Top 5 Most Dominant Postseason Pitchers of All Time


Game 3: Walker Buehler against Nathan Eovaldi – Even though Buehler is a rookie, he hasn’t pitched like one this season. Buehler started Game 7 for the Dodgers against the Brewers and only gave up one run, and he has a sub-2.00 ERA at home for the Dodgers this season. Eovaldi can get his fastball up into the high 90’s, and that always makes him a dangerous starter on the mound. Eovaldi pitched well against the Yankees in the Division Series, and he likely will get at least one start for the Red Sox in the World Series.

Game 4: Hyun-Jin Ryu against Rick Porcello – Ryu didn’t pitch well against the Brewers in Game 6 of the NLCS, but he will have a chance at redemption for the Dodgers in the middle of the series. Ryu likely would go up against Rick Porcello, who was hit around a bit by the Astros in the ALCS for the Red Sox.



MLB Gold Gloves: Baseball’s 13 Most Athletic, Gravity-defying Catches of the Millennium


The Top Hitters

Mookie Betts, Red Sox, Outfield – Betts put together an MVP-level season for the Red Sox, hitting for a .346 average with 32 home runs, 80 RBIs, 47 doubles, and 30 stolen bases. He’ll be the player the Dodgers worry about the most in this series.

Tim Warner/Getty Images
Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox, Outfield – Even though Mookie Betts got all the attention this season for his MVP-level play, it was Bradley who starred in the ALCS against the Astros. Bradley had 9 RBIs in the series, including a grand slam off Houston closer Roberto Osuna in Game 3, and earned ALCS MVP for his play.



MLB’s Best Gloves: the 13 Most Incredible Home Run-robbing Catches of the Millennium


Yasiel Puig, Dodgers, Outfielder – Puig can run hot and cold when it comes to his hitting, and heading into the World Series he’s on a hot streak. Puig is hitting for a .321 average in the postseason and has been an energy-boosting presence for the Dodgers.

Manny Machado, Dodgers, Shortstop – The biggest acquisition of the trade deadline made his way to the Dodgers, and Machado has provided a spark for the team through the second half of the season and in the playoffs. Machado had a couple “dirty player” moments during the Milwaukee series, and now the spotlight will be even bigger as Machado plays in his first-ever World Series. Machado has three home runs in 11 postseason games as the World Series gets started.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
J.D. Martinez, Red Sox, Outfield/Designated Hitter – Martinez has also had an MVP-level season for the Red Sox, and to keep him in the lineup, the team likely will use Martinez as an outfielder in the games at Dodger Stadium. Martinez had an insane season for the Red Sox, swatting 43 home runs while putting up 130 RBIs, 37 doubles, and 111 runs scored.



MLB’s Best Home Runs: the 15 Strongest, Longest, Most Powerful Homers of the Millennium


Fun Connections

Elsa/Getty Images, Jeff Roberson – Pool/Getty Images
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously played for the Red Sox, and he was in the middle of quite the memorable moment for fans. It was Roberts who scored the tying run for the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 2004 playoffs that helped get them to the World Series, which they won to break their decades long curse. Funny enough, Roberts isn’t the only manager in this series that played for the opposing team: Alex Cora previously played for the Dodgers (and also the Red Sox) during the beginning of his career.

a checkered past. The challenges they face are personal as well as environmental, as they struggle with their fears and interpersonal turmoil when confronted by the flames.

You can watch Wildland on PBS starting October 29 at 10 p.m. EST. In the meantime, check out an exclusive clip from the documentary above.

And most of the tips can help you prepare for any race – any distance! We get into timing your pre-run food and making friends and more!

It’s a really fun conversation too – I forgot until she mentioned  – we first met at The Reach the Beach Relay race years ago that we go way back!

We’re sharing a lot of tips and kinda hang out with us on this episode!

In case you’re new here… I’m Monica Olivas – a marathon runner, marathon eater and podcaster in Southern California. I started RunEatRepeat.com to share my running and weight loss story – it grew into an amazing community online and now it’s this podcast. Thank you for listening!



Podcast Warm Up:

I ran the Revel Marathon Big Bear . And I’m talking to you … so I didn’t die.

But I did get a little sick right before the race and I did this interview with Ashley the day after so I’m a mouth breather and sound a lil congested. Gross. But if you run faster it sounds better … so speed up!

I shared a short race recap here >>> Revel Marathon Big Bear Top 10 Highlights

But let’s talk about how it really went down…

I realized I was getting sick on Thursday and tried to fight it off with sleep and vitamin C. But I had a fancy VIP trip to Disneyland planned for Friday and couldn’t bail on that. So… I got a lil sick. It was mostly mocos and mouth breathing.

Saturday… I got up early and bought new tires for my car because I was driving all the way to Redlands with my only friend and wanted her to be safe. And my brother told me it’s not smart to be driving on flat old tires so… yeah.

On the way there SR was hungry and I realized I hadn’t eaten lunch so we stopped at Chick Fil A around 4:30pm. This wasn’t the best pre-race meal but SR lives in Alaska where there’s no Chick Fil A and I live in a fantasy world without reason.

We got our bibs and went to my Nino and Nina’s house – they’re about an hour from me and were about 20 minutes from the shuttle bus pick up for the race.

Revel Big Bear starts up the mountain in Big Bear so you have to park and take a shuttle to the start line. It takes almost an hour to get to the start! So SR scared me because she kept worrying that she’d have to pee on the bus so she ducked out of line to pee somewhere and then I thought I should and might have peed on SR’s Boston Marathon poncho. And we’ll find out if she listens to the show if she tells me something about it. Boom.

Race – last week I set a few goals for myself, mostly because I felt like just saying – I’m running a marathon. K. Bye. – and leaving it at that was awkward.

My goals were:

A. Run a sub-4 hour marathon

B. Finish the marathon strong – run smart, pay attention to fuel and how I feel to learn from it

C. Finish.

D. Not die.

 

I hit my goal and ran it in 3:50:47. Pace 8:48.

Notes: I never really felt like I got in the zone. When you’re running 26 miles and aren’t going for a PR – I like to get to a pace where I feel like ‘I can do this all day’.

I felt kinda meh the whole time. It felt like it took more effort than it should have given the paces I was running trying to keep it easy. There are a lot of reasons I didn’t feel 100% – my fitness level, the altitude or me being a lil under the weather or my nerves or crappy fueling or stomach … ?? But I am happy that despite not feeling great I did it!

I stopped at the restrooms 2x and took my time.

I wanted to walk the rest of the race around mile 19. I walked through the water station and had SR take some pics of me around that point.

I didn’t want to quit but I wanted to just walk it in the last 6 miles. But SR kept bugging me and we argued. And she was quiet for a bit and then started again and I got mad.

But I’m glad she pushed me because I am proud of how I did.

And I’m extra grateful she came out to run this race with me because I’ve registered for several marathons in the last year and a half and either stepped down to the half or back out all together of every single one.

I probably would’ve done that again – so SR deserves all the credit that I ran a whole marathon.

And I feel a lot better about myself and my abilities now. It’s not about the time – it’s that I didn’t think I could.

This is Barles Hambone aka my only friend aka Skinny Runner aka Mayor of Alaska aka …


And with that…

I’ll remind you there are Race Discounts for RNR LA – RNR VEGAS – LEXUS LACE UP and more!

Check out the Race Discounts Page for more!!


Now let’s get to the Main Event:



 

New York City Marathon Training, Race Day and What to Eat – The Best Tips Podcast

Ashley Diamond is a runner, blogger, wife and mom working in e-commerce in New York City. She’s run and spectated the New York City Marathon several times and considers it her favorite race. Today I’m asking her for all the best tips on training, race morning, the course and where to eat. She’s currently training for a half marathon and you can keep up with her at My Healthy Happier Life



Tips for the NYC Marathon – How to have the best race day at one of the best races in the US!

1. Let’s start with training…

What’s the NYC Marathon course like? Any specific training we should incorporate?

– What’s the course like?

– Start time / Logistics is challenging… how do you train for that with fuel & hydration?

What and when to eat race morning!


2. Tips for the expo?

She’s volunteered at the expo a few times too!

3. Race day Tips and Reminders:

NYC Marathon start line logistics are very unique! When I ran it I took a bus to the start line. But I think you’ve taken a ferry? Let’s talk about our race morning experiences & tips for each.

– The options to get to the start.

– Plan / Pack Fuel

– Throw away gear

– Corrals / Running with Friends

– How to find your people after the race – great tips for spectators! What to wear, where to stand and other notes to make sure you don’t miss your cheerleaders.




4. The Course

I think the best thing about the race is the amazing crowd support. There’s nothing like it.

What is your favorite part of the NYC Marathon course?

What should runners make sure to enjoy?

5. Victory Lap – (Best Food / Fun in the city)

What is the BEST post race victory lap?

All her running favorites:

> Favorite race / distance to run? Half Marathon – she’s going for a sub- 2 hour half marathon this weekend!

> What are your favorite running shoes? Brooks Levitate 2 – good support and cushion & bright colors

> Must Have Running Gear? Apple Air Pods – they stay in place and stand up to sweat // Brooks Greenlight 7” Shorts (they’re my fave too)

> What did you listen to on your last run / workout? Running Podcasts – Ali on the Run, Another Mother Runner, Hustle…

> What’s your favorite post-run / post- race victory lap? Burger & Fries



 

You can follow her on Instagram @Healthy Happier and her blog is My Healthy Happier Life

Tips for Spectators of the NYC Marathon via Healthy Happier Life

NYC Marathon Recap via Healthy Happier Life


I ran New York in 2013 – here’s my blog recap of the race and pictures:

NYC Marathon Expo

New York City Marathon Race Recap – there are a lot of pics in there too

(I think the only post-race picture I have was with Ben) I was freezing after the race and just wanted to find him and get inside. He was watching the race with friends and as soon as they found me they snapped a pic of use together and we headed inside.


 

Awards:

1st place goes to SR aka Skinny Runner aka @BarlesHambone for being my only friend, photographer, and agreeing to sleep with me but not actually touching me.

2nd place – Brooks Running sent me a pair of the special edition NYC Marathon running shoes! They are so fun! I love them!!


If you have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover for an upcoming podcast… let me know!

Email me at RunEatRepeat@gmail.com with Podcast in the subject line or call the RER voicemail.


Hi! Let me know what you’re doing while you listen by tagging @RunEatRepeat on instagram



The post New York City Marathon–Tips & Must See Course Highlights with Healthy Happier Bear Podcast appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.