How to make an attempt.

Hey guys!

I just realized I had a 24 hr day last Friday. 4.30am to 4.30am! Is it safe to say that I officially have a life now?? ...Probably not.

#DRR10K

The morning's first event - the Dubai Road Runners10k was my second 10k race ever and for someone who almost never does hill training (I live in Dubai and hate treadmills) I was pretty proud of myself. That 9th monsterously uphill kilometer was sincerely just a mental game.  And guess who was waiting at the top of the hill?? - A photographer!! lol - there goes my chance to get a good pic this time around. Life after that last kilometer though.... A+




My day was filled with genuinely good people, great food and phenomenal drinks. Endorphins FTW. Here are a few pics and hashtags to go along with them.

Gaucho boys.

#TasteofDubai

THIS HUMMOUS was the best I've EVER had.
Times of Arabia #win

LAST - but definitely not least. #Tweetupdxb

How we really looked.

How we hoped we looked

*Hope you all had a great St.Patty's day! *BURP*

xo

 

How to be vegetarian

OK - so, I might be using Lent to experiment with vegetarianism. Sue me.

It's been almost a week since I've eaten any kind of meat, including seafood and I really don't miss it (yet! I have 4 weeks to go). Albeit, I'm not a compulsive meatatarian - I enjoy the occasional steak and find nothing wrong with the taste of a juicy chicken. So what's with all the hype? And why are yoga practitioners and so many sexy celebrities almost always vegetarian??

I think it's a little crazy and unfair to be completely polarized on this topic. There are obvious benefits to eating more vegetables and easily absorbed plant based proteins. However, lean meats are not the devil; they are equally or more nutritious and protein-rich, but sometimes they are harder to digest. And most commonly meat doesn't come in a very "clean" form; so it's easy to eat crap when eating meat. That is all. In my opinion - regardless of what we eat, it just needs to be balanced.

That being said. I have been working out just as hard- if not more. My next race is coming up on March 16th for the Dubai Autodrome 10k and I'll be under a completely veggie diet - let's see how much of a difference it makes! I think cutting out the weekend shisha with friends is probably gonna be more beneficial.

How to run your first 10k

Make travel plans the night before; and definitely do NOT call ahead for a taxi. Clearly; the best strategy is to wander the streets in the dark for 5 minutes and split a cab with a stranger also heading to the marathon. At this point, BBM your bestie that you're now on your way to his/her house with your new-found friend at 6am. Be prepared for a text like "Sharon, we live in the UAE, don't do stuff like this". Noted.

Thank God for kind strangers from St.Catherine's, Ontario, Canada (it's such a small world)! Brian, if you're reading this, thanks for the awesome morning ride and motivation!! I couldn't have picked a better person to split a cab with. xo

Also remember to sneak in a pee at a random building to avoid the 15 minute line-ups at the venue. Be aware; the only way to do this is by convincing the security guard that you would be eternally grateful and indebted to him for such an exclusive opportunity. (I should be putting these skills toward my job search)

oh, and then you run a glorious 10kms =)

To sum it up... I would do it again. and again and again, AND I would do it harder faster stronger longer.
I definitely did not do my personal best. But, I made decent time and ran with people who gave me amazing motivation and kept me smiling through every kilometer.

Also a HUGE congrats to everyone who ran the full marathon and all my fit tweeps in Dubai. You guys are inspirational!! @bettyboodubai @bubblesdxb @missusmarshall @lovesredshoe @laida_vicente @katyvallance @donohof + all supporters.