Turning the Bad into Good: Half Marathon training

So I wrote this little post about my half marathon training. In a nutshell, some aspects of training were really really wonderful… and other aspects were just plain sucky.

I received some wonderful advice (thank you everyone!), and decided that I just needed to suck it up and stop being a baby about it. I love running. I might not be the best or the fastest or the most gazelle-like, but I am running this half marathon even if it kills me!

On Sunday, I went out for another 8 mile run. And you know what, it rocked. Like everyone has suggested, I am aiming to go longer and longer on my runs to get my body accustomed to going the distance. I have readjusted my training plan so that I am focusing on important miles and not just small amounts of running/cardio like I was. On Sunday I am going to run 9 miles (woo!) Then just a couple more long runs before I taper off.

 

Today, I bite the bullet and changed up my running route! I ran during my lunch break instead of just doing my normal cardio machines/weight lifting. Although it was weird not being on my beloved Eastbank Esplande, it was really fun running somewhere different. New sights and tons of people watching. What more can a runner ask for?

The countdown clock keeps ticking away! New goal: Just go with the (running) flow.

 

Oregon Brewers Festival 2012

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…“

Everyone in Portland goes to Oregon Brewers Fest. It’s literally a reunion of all of Portland!

I saw people from middle school, high school, college, and work! All enjoying beers and lounging in the sun in the middle of downtown!

There were 85 beers this year, all from breweries from around the country. PDX is totally Beervana.

It was the perfect weekend.

Last year was my first Oregon Brewers Fest experience and I fell in love! I will now being going every year.

Little known fact: The couple that drinks beer at Oregon Brewers Fest together, stays together!

Some tips:

• Unless you are a huge beer snob, skip the “taster” and just do a full pour. No point in standing in line for 20 minutes to just get a small amount of beer
• Pick up a program! I really hate dark beers, so with the help of my handy program, I knew where all the light, fruity beers are so I didn’t end up waiting for an icky beer
• Be prepared for crowds. Like I said, anyone and everyone in the Portland metro area will be there!
• If you go with a go with a group, grab a table spot! It’s good to have a “home base” for everyone to come back to and meet up.
• Beer tokens are equivalent to gold… don’t lose them!
• Start your own “woo” with the crowd. Just do it, people will follow suit!

Travalo Elite giveaway winner & promo code!

drum roll please…

The winner of their very own Travalo Elite is…

#10 Jennifer Bourdreau!

Congrats to Jennifer!

Now don’t worry if you didn’t win! The people at Travalo created a promo code that gives all of my readers 50% the Travalo Elite and Elite gift sets!

Just use ROYA50 while purchasing your Travalo Elite! You have until July 31 to get 50% off. 

Be on the lookout for more reviews and giveaways in the upcoming weeks!

Mid-Week Music: Stars Go Blue by Ryan Adams

I have been failing at the whole mid-week music thing (sorry!)

But I am excited to share this song! I know that many of you know it, probably just by different artists.

Tim McGraw covered it, The Coors and Bono sing it during concerts, and of course, who can forget the One Tree Hill version (anyone, anyone?!)

Ryan Adams wrote the song and his version is so powerful and haunting. I have been listening to it on repeat this past week.

City girl in the Country

This past weekend, Bridgette and I went with Dannica to her hometown of Baker City, Oregon. The occasion? Miners Jubilee!

 

I have NEVER been to the country. Complete city girl here. But I loved my time in Baker City and I plan on forcing Dannica to take me every year!  Baker is a small town of 10,000 people, many of whom are legit farmers and cowboys. Not like those move-type cowboys, like REAL COWBOYS.

Basically it’s nothing like I am accustomed to, being a big city girl and all. But there is something about that town and Miners Jubilee that brings a big smile to my face!

Miners Jubilee celebrates the strong mining history of the area. Everyone in the city comes together for parades, festivals, carnivals, beer gardens, and the rodeo.

I can’t even begin to describe how much fun I had this weekend discovering my country roots with two of my best friends. I almost died though at the rodeo (from screaming so much). It is terrifying…

I would give anything to be back at Dannica’s house drinking sweet tea and eating beef jerky while talking with her giant family.

I love everything about Baker City

The drive

 

The beer garden

The parade

The traditions

The BBQs

The rodeo

The animals

The cowboy hats

A big thank you to Dannica’s parents Ron and Doris for having us this weekend! Little do they know that they have created a country girl!

Travalo Elite review and giveaway!

I was recently contacted by the people at Travalo to do a review and giveaway for the Travalo Elite!

The Travalo Elite is a refillable perfume atomizer that is…

• 98 percent recyclable, environmentally-friendly, lightweight material
• TSA approved
• Features a clear window to gauge level of perfume
• Works with removable nozzle bottles
• Available in pale pink, hot pink, gold and silver
• Spill-free internal refill system; no funnels or other parts
• Holds 65 sprays of perfume or cologne

Basically it’s the coolest invention ever made! Choose your favorite fragrance, pump it in the bottle, and now you have a portable spray for your crazy, daily life.

Ever since I have received it, I have used it all the time! If it’s not in my gym bag, it’s in purse. I love things that make my life easier, and the Travalo Elite is totally perfect for the woman (or man!) on the go. 

And not only is it convient, it was surprisingly easy to get your favorite perfume in the Travalo Elite.

1. I chose CK Summer, which is my favorite summer scent

2. I removed the spray head from the bottle

3. Place the Travelo Elite on the “straw” and pump up and down

4. Ta-Da! CK Summer is in my Travelo Elite!

It’s totally become a staple in my life! The gym, work, date nights, vacations. Anywhere and everywhere, my little gold Travelo Elite is with me.

 

The people at Travalo have offered to give one of my readers their own Travelo Elite ($19.99)

How to enter to win your very own Travelo Elite

Mandatory to enter this contest 

• Leave a comment about which color you would like to have (pale pink, hot pink, silver, gold)

Extra entries (please leave a separate comment for EACH)

• Subscribe to my blog (via E-mail or WordPress)
• Like Travalo on Facebook
• Follow ME on Twitter @RoyaGhorbani
• Tweet this about the giveaway “I just entered @RoyaGhorbani‘s Travalo Elite giveaway!” and include the link!

I will be announcing the winner Friday afternoon via Random Genorator 

Come back on Friday — if you didn’t win, Travelo is going to give my readers 50% off code for the Elite Travelo!

 

Life of Roya turns 1!

My baby blog officially turned one yesterday!

When I started Life of Roya, I had no idea what I was going to write about. As you can tell from my first post, I was just trying it for fun.

Life of Roya has kind of taken a life of it’s own. I have loved it so much and am grateful to anyone who follows along!

It has been a lot of trial and error, but I have seen some success (ahem freshly pressed and Sweat Pink!) and I have made some great friends through the blogging world.

Even though I know I won’t ever be blog famous (a girl can dream though right?!), I really enjoy blogging and am looking forward to celebrating two years with my little corner of the internet.

Who knows how different my life will be a year from now! Thanks to everyone who has followed along!

(Stayed tuned tomorrow for another review & giveaway!)

Cheribundi giveaway winner!

drumroll please…

The winner of a 12-pack sampler of Cheribundi is…

 

#68 Alex from Healthy Life Happy Wife!

Congrats Alex and thank you to everyone who participated in my first giveaway!

Check back next week for another giveaway!

The Good & The Bad: Half Marathon Training Update

We are officially under 40 days until the Eugene Women’s Half Marathon!

I wish there was a manuel that would tell me how I should feel right now. The closer I get to August 26, the more unprepared I feel… Is that normal?

I don’t even recognize that girl in March who was so excited about 13.1 miles!

I am still super excited. But nerves are getting the best of me. And although 13.1 miles is going to be physically killer, my problem is more my mental state then anything.

Training update

The Good:

I have been working out like crazy. I can’t even imagine going more than a day without breaking a sweat! Working out during my lunch break has been so wonderful for my mind; it totally helps break up the workday.

I have gotten in some really great runs. The kind of runs that leave you feeling emotionally refreshed and physically exhausted (the best kind!) With the sun out and the Portland Waterfront abuzz with activity, my runs have been so much more enjoyable this Summer.

Instead of just focusing on running/biking/elliptical-ing, I have found other ways to cross train. I walk everywhere in Portland, and Steven and I made a point to walk during our vacations in Seattle and the coast. This past weekend, we went on a hike in Manzanita. I loved it. And I loved the fact that I got a great workout in while spending time with Steven on the gorgeous Oregon coast!

The Bad:

That beautiful training plan I had? I somehow got behind and now I am panicking. Life is getting in the way (which is a good/bad thing). I have big plans every weekend for the upcoming weeks, which is going to throw off my training even more…

I cherish my route on the Portland Waterfront. It’s gorgeous, right by the river, perfect people watching, and I love sprinting across the bridges. The problem is… is that I don’t want to run anywhere else. I need to suck it up and run during my lunch break. It might not be my beautiful run, but a run is a run and I need to do more of it.

I am so stressed out about the half marathon, that running isn’t fun anymore. I need to just relax and go with it. Running should not be stressful. Because it doesn’t matter to me how fast my pace is or how many walk breaks I am going to need during this half marathon. I just want to run it. And that should be what I focus on.

Any advice out there half-marathoners?

(don’t forget my Cheribundi giveaway! You have until tomorrow to enter!)

The Ben & Jerry’s Truck in PDX!

Ice Cream and Summertime. The two go hand in hand.

And today, the Ben & Jerry’s Truck stopped by the University of Portland and gave us some free ice cream!

Best work day ever!

And the best part for you Portlanders? The Ben & Jerry’s Truck can stop by your office/house/fav hangout!

Last week, I saw that the Ben & Jerry’s Truck (@BenJerrysWest) was looking for places to go in the Rose City…

And knowing me, my love for ice cream and free things…

Ask and you shall receive!

Not only did the UP Marketing office get to enjoy free ice cream, but all of my office building did!

They had three different flavors of their new greek frozen yogurt, which were all fantastic The Blueberry Vanilla Graham was to die for!

Not going to lie, I’m feeling like a cool kid right now. 

Live in Portland? You should tweet at them! They are here until this Friday!