Gretch Runs

Hi everyone! As you can all probably figure out, my workouts lately have been pretty different than what I'm used to.  Not only did I stop training for a marathon , but I also cancelled my gym membership last month.  This means that I've had to do things a bit  differently lately!  Today, I thought it would be fun to share what my workouts look like lately.  I know that this is only temporary, but I thought it might be helpful to those of you who are also in fitness-limbo! Running I still run occasionally, but now I'm not following any schedule or plan.  In fact, I haven't even been timing or measuring my runs at all.  I go out when I want to, run however long I want to, and I'm enjoying every minute!  I'm also going on runs with Selma which has made us both very happy. Since it's been heating up outside, I've also loved to run on the trails.  I've always loved trail running, so it's been great to get back to that and not worry a...

Happy Tuesday everyone! As many of you know by now, I like to race ...a lot.  Last year, I ran 15 races, and this year my goal is to run 20.  I like to use races as training runs, as practice for larger races, or as a goal race.  I love running races of all lengths- from a 5k to a full marathon and everything in between, and on every surface possible- tracks, trails, roads.  One type of race that I've never done, though, is a VIRTUAL race! To be honest, I never heard of virtual races until last year.  I figured for it to be called a "race", other people had to be involved and there had to be a set time and place.  Lately, though, virtual races are the next big thing and I can understand why! There are so many reasons why virtual races are a great idea, and why I decided to run my first one this month: - You can select your own course.  When you're running a race, you might not be running in your ideal location.  While I prefer hills and...

Hi everyone!  I always love to hear what people use as gear during training, so today I thought I would share some of my favorites.  Some of these products I've used for years, while others are new to my running collection or specifically used for marathon training.  I hope you enjoy this sneak peak into some of my favorites and I would love to know yours as well!  Be sure to let me know in the comments :) Clothes Athleta Fastest Track Top (see original review here ) Even though this is a recent purchase, it has quickly moved up the ranks as my favorite shirt to wear running!  It's so comfortable and is appropriate for a wide range of temperatures.  I also love how it looks, which is just as important as comfort, right?   Saucony Bullet Capri  (my version  here ) I think these capris are really comfortable and flattering, but I also love how funcitonal they are.  There are large pockets on both sides that can hold my cel...

It's day two of my 2015 Favorites Week, and today we're going to be focusing on my running favorites!  I'll be taking you through my favorites in every area imaginable- from clothes to races and everything in between.  I hope you enjoy hearing about my favorites, and I would love to hear what you loved this year as well! P.S. - I included some Amazon affiliate links in this post.  These are all items that I used and loved all year, and everything was bought with my own money!  Thank you for supporting Gretch Runs so I can bring you better content in 2016!! Clothes Vest I got a bright white vest on a whim last winter at the Columbia outlet, and it's quickly become my favorite running piece.  It's great in a variety of weather conditions, and I wear it almost on a daily basis.  The one that I got was really inexpensive from the outlet mall, so I suggest heading there to find a good deal! Lululemon Speed Shorts This year I also bought my f...

Hi everyone!  As I mentioned yesterday , I ran my final race of the year on Sunday- the Jingle Bell 5k.  Today I'm going to be recapping of the race.  I'll start with an overview, followed by a breakdown of the location, event, course, and how I did. Location Overview This is a race that I've done years and years ago at North Park, but it was recently relocated to the North Shore in Pittsburgh.  I love this location for races, because it's easy to get to, there's lots of convenient parking, and registration/packet pickup is in the Great Hall in Heinz Field.  The hall is covered, which is perfect in case it rains, and there are also lots of real toilets .  For all you runners out there, this is a huge luxury! Event Overview This race is very family friendly and has lots of different events going on.  There's a pet costume contest, a tinsel trot for kids, 1 mile run/walk, and a 5k.  Almost everyone dresses up in costumes- both spectato...

I have to admit that I'm the worst at staying active in the winter.  Between holiday parties, traveling, holiday cookies/food/drinks, and cold weather, it's really hard for me to keep my motivation and get out for runs.  Isn't that what baggy sweaters and leggings are for?! Since I'll be running a full marathon in April (the Gettysburg Marathon for those of you who asked), I need to train through the winter.  That is going to be a real challenge for me!  I'll be sharing more about my training in the next few weeks, but today I wanted to share a few tricks that I'll be using to stay in shape and train during the coldest months of the year : - More cross training Now is definitely the time to spend more time in the gym for me!  In the spring, summer and fall, it's easy to want to stay outside all the time to enjoy the warm weather.  I definitely neglected cross training while training for my previous races, so I want to make that a priority this time ar...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin When Dan started getting interested in running, he immediately started asking me about all the things he would need.  Did he need a heart rate monitor?  What about special socks?  Are regular gym shorts OK to run in? As a few of my other friends started running and asking me the same question, I thought it would be useful to others to come up with a guide of a "Running Starter Kit".  These are the items that I think are useful, if not necessary, for a runner who's starting their running journey.  People may say that running is a cheap sport, but unless you're running in cotton tee shirts and bargain shoes (which is  completely fine!! ), there's a big up-front cost! I'll be sharing my choices for a starting kit from clothes to accessories, from summer to winter and everything in between.  I also break it down into a "save" and "splurge" version and offer my opinion on what's worth a splurge, and wher...

2015 has definitely been an amazing year so far. Not only did I start a blog (which has truly surpassed my expectations..but that's another post!) , I also managed to PR in almost every distance that I ran this year! I put in a lot of hard work and dedicated myself to training hard, so it was nice to see all of that pay off. Now that the year is coming to an end and all of my big races are over, it's tough to come up with running-related goals. I have two races left in the year- the local Turkey Trot 5 miler and a Jingle Bell Run. I'd love to try to PR in these races and really finish the year with a bang , but I'm just looking forward to getting back to training and running/cross training regularly again. You all know by now that I'm graphic-obsessed, so here's what my year looked like mileage and PR wise, along with my goals for my two remaining races. Along with my races, I have a lot of other goals for the rest of the year. Thankfully, S...