The Casual Tuesday's

My friend Christina (@pretty_creative on IG) hosts a group run every Tuesday at the NJ Running Company store located in Hoboken, called The Casual Tuesday's where anyone is welcome no matter how fast or far you plan on running. I've only gone once before last night but it's a pretty great run along the water with a killer view of NYC. Also Christina's amazing, welcoming upbeat personality, is worth the trek! She started hosting the runs last summer, and weekly she produces an awesome playlist to give the run a theme, and a mandatory dance break two miles in! Yes, a dance break! Christina runs with a Bluetooth speaker, which is pretty genius, and runs along the group singing and dancing which is great motivation during a run!

This weeks run was actually hosted by Mizuno, and they had a contest to go along with the run, with the prize being a swag pack from Mizuno. The contest asked entrants to post a photo to Instagram, with the hashtags #TheCasualTuesdays and #MilesChangeYou, and for you to describe how the miles have changed you. I thought that was a pretty good topic considering runners come from so many backgrounds.

The Freedom Tower! The view is just breathtaking! 

For myself the miles changed me because I learned to be proud of myself, and learned how I really am capable of challenging myself, setting a goal, and hitting it! I described how when I first ran in high school, how defeated I felt because I couldn't run a mile as fast as everyone else, so I didn't really run it, and ended up finishing in just over 20 minutes. But as I grew up I held on to that mile, and when my fitness and health improved it was my mile to beat. When I tried running again in 2009, it was terrible, I finished in 23 minutes. I was completely out of breath, out of shape, and felt like I actually ran more. I could've told myself that was it, that I just really wasn't a runner, but I didn't want to, I wanted to better myself! So I kept going at it, and slowly but surely I got faster! Then I was motivated to sign up for my first 5k, which was a huge deal for me! But when race day came, and I had less than a mile to go, I was ready to call it quits. Everyone was passing me, I was exhausted, my legs felt so tight, and sore, I was ready to quit. My younger brother ran that race with me, and he finished in like 17 minutes, but came back for me and ran with me to the finish.  I was on the verge of tears when he came to get me, but he coached me and pushed me, and when I crossed the finish, that sense of pride never left me! Yea I finished almost last, but it was the fact that I finally did something and didn't quit, and that I wasn't the best at it but it was ok! And from that day on, each mile I've run has made me a better person, I'm more confident, I've learned to be proud of myself, and I know that when I do the things I set my mind to, I really can accomplish anything! And I know that every mile that lies ahead of me will make me stronger and better than the last! 

#MilesChangeYou entry!

While I didn't win the contest, I did win a t-shirt! And we had an awesome group run to some Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, and other old school jams. When we got back to the running store we were treated with beer, gluten free cookies, and raffle prizes!! It was such an awesome run, I wish I could've stuck around for some food after, but I found some pretty amazing pizza for the train ride home! I'm a sucker for a thin, crunchy, cheesy slice, and Hoboken now may have one of my faves! Hope I can make it to next weeks Cinco De Mayo themed run hosted by Hoka! 

The Casual Tuesdays Runners

Who doesn't love a post run beer?

Mizuno tee I won! :)

Pizza so good, I took a bite, then a pic! 

Anyways til next time, stay classy, not trashy! Xoxo ;)