Tag: fitness

fitness

Essential Fitness Gear & Run Happy Ambassador

February 9, 2018

Last year, I opened up about how running helped me with my depression, my work with the Black Marathoners, and even showed you guys what it took to cross the finish line of the New York Marathon recently. My passion for the running and health community is authentic and true no doubt. I have made a lot of big goals for the year. I am all about goal setting and just simply asking and working hard for what you desire. Last year, I was accepted into the New York City Marathon on the first try, which is super hard to do, I tweeted I wanted to know what it took to be a part of the Brooks family. If you guys have been following me, you already know I am a huge fan of their bras as well as I have been running in their shoes for countless years. A year ago, I tweeted about this moment and it is happening! Now with less than 3 months until Boston Marathon I am excited to share what is another dream come true. I am now a part of the Brook family as a #runhappyambassador. What is a Run Happy Ambassador? Until last year, this title/role was reserved for most elite runners and coaches, which I am totally not at all. Most elite runner – the fast ones – run a marathon (26.2 Miles) in less than 3-4 hours. I – Alexandria – ran NYC in over 7 hours. Yep. Child! I am more like an elite slow runner. HA! But, that’s the great thing about the Run Happy philosophy. It’s not about speed but about the heart. I am honest about being a runner who doesn’t fit the typical mold but that’s exactly why I run— well happy! Running has opened up so many doors for me including helping me battle depression and literally run happy. The words Run Happy remind runners everywhere why they fell in love with running in the first place. Foundational Workout Gear You Gotta Have I am a giver so I am even more excited to share that I will be able to pass along some benefits to you guys!!! So to celebrate, I decided to answer your questions about what workout gear should I invest in or what items you must have to get started when working out. I created a cool workbook book of the essential pieces you must have and to invest in. Having improper fitness attire is TERRIBLE! From incorrect sports bras to pants rolling down or tearing up while running, these are all things that will hinder you from getting active. Anywho, scroll down to see my pick and also grab a copy of the free workbook for details. And also get into these looks! Grab The Full Look Book Today! FTC: I received this gear complimentary as part of my Brooks Run Happy ambassador partnership and to produce this workbook guide. As always, all thoughts and ideas are my own. Yal know I keep it real. All images were shot by the lovely and talented Phoenix Michele Photography.

New York City Marathon

November 12, 2017

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lou Last year, I made a goal to run the NYC Marathon and less than a year later, thousands of steps the journey and goal has been completed. My NYC weekend isn’t the typical weekend because I can never do anything basic. I am always extra with everything. Additionally, I am always representing the Black Marathoners or doing something for the organization so it’s never a dull moment in my life. Brace yourself, it’s a bit lengthy but I couldn’t leave out anything because it was packed weekend and it’s a dream come true! It’s a good read I think. So with that, here is my VIP NYC Marathon recap. Friday – New York City I Am Here I arrived in NYC Friday and basically had mapped out my day with going to hang out and tour the Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale office and then hit the expo and I did just that. The NYC Marathon is not a typical race as most because it’s an entire weekend event of stuff. You really have to be organized or you might just miss out on running the actual race. HA! Anywho, I had a packed weekend so here goes… If you don’t want to read then feel free to enjoy the video epic documentary with scores, scripts and more extraness on my youtube channel. Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale So Rodale owns some major magazines you probably read, one being women’s health but also runners world, men’s health, and Prevention. As a 2x Women’s Health Action Hero of the year, I wanted to finally meet the folks I had been working with for now a few years. It was a cool office and experience. It was even cooler as I got a chance to see the wall of magazine covers! NYC Expo So my goal was to do everything I could at the expo and avoid it on Saturday. I did just that. The expo is basically split into three big sections. Section one is the intro to the NYC where you get everything for the race, (bibs, VIP, etc.) Next section is the NYC Merch and New Balance – the sponsors. The third is full of the other vendors. There was a lot of NYC merchandise and it was very busy. Honestly, it was crazy. The expo can be overwhelming at times. I took breaks because I was so scattered brained and wanted everything but the way my pockets were lined up…. Yeah, Nah son. The lines weren’t too long for me, as I didn’t have a wait at all. After debating on jackets for an hour, I ended up getting a windbreaker NYC jacket because I knew it would look cool with my brooks NYC shoes and red is my favorite color. The next part of the expo is basically the other sponsored stuff and picture time. This also includes the section where you do the thank you wall. I loved this because it was really cool to see all the different nationalities and ethnicities that were represented. It felt like the Olympics and we were the athletes on opening day. I couldn’t just write just one thing but I wrote multiple ones because I am extra… After that, I hit the United section and obviously more and more picture taking. Also, they had a cool section to learn about “visualization” for running from Olympic athlete Meb Keflezighi. You can check out the video in my NYC Race recap, which was really helpful during the race. Once I learned a few tips about visualization when running then I hit up the general expo section for goodies for the race. (Really look at my video recap for details on this.) I met so many people and companies at the expo that it was kinda of a blur. The best thing I did at the expo was NormaTech system. They look like large boots that basically help with dynamic compression devices designed for recovery and rehab. Basically, you put the boots on and they are supposed to help you recover faster between workouts by reducing muscle soreness and improving circulation. I did this before and afterward my race and let me tell you it works! My feet were super sore from just walking, traveling and such. After 10 minutes sitting with it – the swelling was gone. The boots provided circulation to flow better and offered more oxygen. If you get a chance to try this at an expo please do! Anywho, I got a chance to do a lot at the expo, needless to say, I was there basically for hours. From getting VIP badges in the Blue room to picking up a complimentary custom pillow, I had a great time at the NYC Expo it was lit! After the expo, I watched the NYC parade. My phone was basically about to die so I don’t have any footage of it nor do I care. This race/weekend made me just live in the moment and just take it all in. It’s like that sometimes. … SATURDAY – Social Day In the video, I show you a better glimpse of the hotel I stayed it but I stayed in the DoubleTree in the Financial District in New York. It was right off the Ferry stop and very convent to all the trains in New York. I picked this location because I wanted to roll out of the bed the day of the race. Most of my friends had over an hour or so commute just to get to the Ferry stop due to the subways being packed. I had a 3 minute walk! I was able to enjoy some sleeping in a bit. Instead of going for a quick shake out run the day before like most folks, I just took a quick 2-mile tour of the financial district and grab a few

Common Mistakes By Beginner Runners

March 30, 2017

If you are following me on Instagram, you know I am geeked out as I have been accepted to run the 2017 New York Marathon. Woohoo! As such you can expect more fitness, training and personal post as I work on achieving one of my life long goals. As an RRCA Certified Coach, I am often asked what are some tips for beginner runners. Below are 13 Common Mistakes By Beginner Runners. Running too Fast: Everyone wants to be faster, but it takes time, conditioning and proper planning to be consistent. Many runners run too fast too soon. Running 13min miles on Tuesday for 3 miles and then increasing to a 9min mile the following day is not beneficial. I recommend having a running coach, joining a local running program. If these are unavailable, I recommend testing various paces to see what is a comfortable pace and to increase after a few weeks gradually. Running too Much: This is probably the number one mistake I see as many runners think they should run every day of the week. Running 3-4x a week while incorporating cross-training such as yoga, cycling, and weight training is vital. Improper Footwear: Small minor injuries often are the result of not having the proper footwear. Most people just buy a pair of shoe that is the cheapest or looks good. My actual running shoes are at least two sizes larger than my actual foot due to the expanding of my foot and have ample support for my pronation. Just as I go annually to the doctor for a checkup, I make sure to do a foot analysis and review my running shoes. Things change within a year and models are often replaced and may not fit the same. My running shoes vary depending on the season and mile. This is an excellent time to for what I consider a running tune-up. Not Properly Training: A lot of runners just lack proper training. I cringe when I see people sign up for a half-marathon and the have never run more than 5 or 6 miles. There are a lot of training plans on the net, but these may not work for you and your schedule. It is important to have a running coach or a certified RRCA running club for training. Not Properly Moisturizing Hair: Women forget their hair is battling the elements such as heat, dirt, and sweat while running. It is vital to keep hair moisturized before, during and post workouts. I always keep a daily moisturizing spray like the Mane Choice in my gym bag and car to ensure my hair isn’t dry. Not Listening to Your Body: Many runners simply ignore the pain or medicate signals the body is saying. Popping over-the-counter medications or adding KT tape on a sore muscle consistently is a recipe for disaster. I recommend keeping a running log and noting daily how your body is feeling so that you can discuss with your team of doctors what is going on. There are hundreds of races each year, so if your doctor recommends some off time, you should take it. Not Listening to the Professionals: Too often I see runners asking in forums or social media for advice on if they should push through an injury or should they ignore their doctor’s advice on not running. It’s always great to discuss with your doctor your training. Not Incorporating Chiropractic and Massages into Training: Adjustments and Massages often are overlooked when training. As runners hit the pavements, the body can be sent out of alignment causing multiple issues if left untreated. It is important to schedule adjustments, treatments, and massages as a regular part of training and healthy lifestyle Lack of Proper Hair Regimen: Every morning, I see women sweat for 60-90 mins only to apply heat just a few minutes later with no heat protector or suitable products. Many women do not have a proper hair regimen while training or working out, which can help you avoid hair loss or damage follicles. Make sure you create a custom hair regimen that includes the proper hair accessories, products, and regularly scheduled hair appoints to keep hair healthy. Not Resting: The “No Days Off” movement distorts the important that a rest day is a part of training. Resting is one of the most days of the training plan. Runners should adjust rest days to his or her personal schedule, Lack of Proper Nutrition: Most runners don’t understand the direct connection between performance and nutrition. Eating too much or not enough can directly impact a run or on race day. Make sure in the early part of the training you learn what meals, snacks, and fluids work best during base training. Once you find what works, stick to it. Avoiding Stretching: Stretching keeps the muscles in the body flexible allowing muscles to utilize their full range of motion. Many runners avoid stretching and Avoiding Foam Rolling: I honestly hate foam rolling, but it’s vital for anyone who exercises especially runners. According to Breaking Muscles, “By applying pressure to specific points on your body, you can aid in the recovery of muscles and assist in returning them to normal function. Normal function means your muscles are elastic, healthy, and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.”

MisFit Ray Is A Holiday Must Have

December 1, 2016

It’s officially the holiday season, which means lots of planning, shopping, gifts, and parties. Over the new few weeks, I will be giving you advice on how to stay healthy, gift picks and much more. This week, I want to highlight the popular premium fitness and sleep tracker, MisFit Ray by Fossil. I couldn’t contain my excitement about receiving the MisFit Ray Rose Gold with gray leather strap. After a few weeks of wearing, testing and working out with it the MisFit Ray, I definitely am making this one of my Holiday Picks for this year. So sit back and get ya tea or juice ready because this a lengthen blog post. The Ray retails for $99.99 (or $119.99 with the leather strap, as I’ve been wearing it.) It looks like a piece of jewelry but the Ray isn’t just for a cute wrist arm bling. It’s a true fitness tracker as it counts steps, alerts me for sitting too long and even tracks my sleep patterns. Once I initiate Bluetooth to sync the Ray with my phone, all of this data is backed up to the app on my phone in a few seconds. The Ray is powered by three small batteries, which are similar to the kinds in most watches. Since it’s battery operated, this means no extra cords or forgetting to charge, which I like a lot. The batteries have last well over a month and are said to last about six months! As far as setup, I did the unboxing on Inst-stories, and most of my followers got a chance to see me go from box to setup within 5 minutes. Fit Features of the MisFit As noted before, the MisFit Ray automatically tracks steps, distance, calories, and light and restful sleep. Additionally, it has the option to vibrate for call and text notifications, movement reminders, and alarms. I liked the vibration and notification for sitting down too long a lot. The Ray came in handy while I was at the movie to see a free screening of Moonlight, which you should see the film too. My cousin was running late so I knew she would call once she arrived. Since this was a screening, they were strict on us not having our phones out period. Since I had on my Ray. When she called, I knew because my wrist vibrated 3x with a flashing light indicating someone was calling me. The light didn’t disturb the other movie goers and no one noticed. Winner! My favorite feature is tracking my sleeping patterns. Going without adequate sleep can have both short- and long-term consequences Each day I was able to see a charted view of the total amount of sleep and points where I wake up, toss and turn, etc. This is critical as sleep is vital to our overall well-being but also healthy and fit hair. Wear It & Accessorize Up! The Ray is probably one of the most stylish fitness trackers I have seen. It doesn’t feel like a regular tracker being big and bulky. As stylish as the tracker is, it complimented by tons of more fashionable yet useful accessories. MisFit offers a banded bundle, which include three various styles of bands from waterproof to leather. The countless accessories ensure you can switch up your style with your outfit or to meet your daily need. The tools for switching come in the accessory pack, which was very convenient. It took me approximately 10-15 minutes to switch the bands. It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t to hard. It’s a learning curve but next time I can do it quicker. If you don’t like wearing it on your wrist, then you can wear it on your shoe, pocket or even on your chest thanks to the Ray’s Lariat necklace. The necklace is a 20″ bar-in-loop closure and relatively light, which makes it perfect for layering or being the centerpiece of your outfit. You can wear the Misfit Ray connected at a single end as a drop pendant or at both ends to create a horizontal bar. Becuase I have a larger “blessed” chest, I opted not to do this but to wear the necklace as a stand alone. I know the Ray would be lost in the girls . I just can’t do it, guys. LOL (Luckily, the Ray is waterproof so the sweat wouldn’t destroy it should this happen to you.) Is MisFit Ray for you? So the big question is if the MisFit Ray for you? The short answer is YES. However, the MisFit Ray may not be for you if you fall into two categories. If all of your friends have a FitBit. Unfortunately, most people have a Fitbit, so the community is pretty active and vigorous (almost like a cult.) This may hinder you from purchasing one as you will be the oddball out. For me, this isn’t an issue and is a positive! If you desire a direct connection to heart rate monitor or extra stuff. Since the Ray is simple and straightforward, there isn’t aren’t tons of advanced GPS and Fitness tracker/watch options. However, the app that powers it is pretty cool as it links to many other health apps such as Google Health, which links to heart rate monitors and other programs. If you are looking for a fitness tracker that doesn’t look like most other fitness trackers, doesn’t break the bank, great quality and doesn’t need to be charged daily then the MisFit has my FitHair Stamp of approval. Since it’s the holidays, I would snag it up on the sales and bundles. Oh yeah, it’s on sale for $69.99 via Amazon so get on it, folks. The folks at MisFit sent me a complimentary MisFit Ray and necklace. I purchased the bundle set on my own. All opinions are honest FitHair Fam.

Mizuno Wave Rider 20 Review

November 10, 2016

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mizuno If you are following me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, you probably noticed I was at DICK’S Sporting Goods Store in Allen, Texas to attend a special intimate event with Mizuno and learn about the Wave Rider 20. Since I am training for my next half and full marathon and RRCA Running Coach, I understand how vital picking the right shoe. Investing in quality and proper shoes helps prevent injuries and damage on your body. Mizuno Wave Rider 20 Review I was able to bring my fellow runner and sneakerhead Monisha of Runner’s Revelation with me as my guest. Since we both run and speak to or assist with runners, we got a chance to learn directly from Mizuno District Manager on their longest-standing shoe – the Wave Rider 20. The Wave Rider 20 reflects 20 iterations of refinement to deliver the right blend of soft cushioning and a smooth heel-to-toe transition. Mizuno franchise was the first to incorporate Wave Technology®. The Wave Rider 20 features new cloudwave® technology – designed using convex (u-shaped) geometry. This gives you a well-cushioned, flexible shoe with the support you need directly on your heel. The curve in thecloudwave® is longer and gentler to convert more of the runner’s heel impact into forward motion. You can identify the wave by looking at the white area on the bottom of the shoe. You will see the wave in pink… Waving* So what’s different? New cloudwave technology is the primary difference between the Wave Rider 20 and previous models.In addition, the midsole has been redesigned with comfort and durability. This improvement allows your feet comfort from running to explosive jump jacks during boot camp. Also, the shoe box is beyond AMAZING! After chatting with the expert and testing it out, I recommend this shoe for Runners who seek a Neutral Cushioned. These shoes are intended for runners who have a higher arch that does not pronate or collapse in very slightly. If your running show is the stability category like myself, then I suggest these shoes for Cross Training or Training Shoes. Training shoes are shoes that are used for the gym or boot camp, which is what I use them. They have enough arch support to allow you to run during workouts but plenty of breathing room and flexible for various gym circuits. After learning about the Mizuno Wave Rider 20, we had a mini photoshoot, scavenger hunt and grabbed a little bit from the uber healthy snack bar. The scavenger hunt was tiring as we had an adventure looking around DICK’S Sporting store for items. I didn’t realize they had soooo much stuff there. They have a little bit for every type of sport. You can check out my Facebook Live Video Anywho. If this interest you then you can check out the Wave Rider 20 nationally at your local DICK’s Sporting Goods, run specialty stores and online retailers with a retail price of $119.99. You can also learn more about the history of the Wave Rider and purchase a new pair at http://bit.ly/2eeZygl This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mizuno. All opinions are my own.

Prince Workout Playlist

April 21, 2016

If you didn’t know, I am a huge Prince fan. I will and forever will be. Today, the legend passed away at the age of 57. There have been multiple outlets and people pouring their feelings online and I admit, I too have. I decided to honor him by sharing my top five workout songs by Prince that get me pumped up and moving. Prince Workout Playlist 1999 For the rest of my top picks, head on over to TheFitHair.com roundup of “5 Prince Workout Songs”

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