Katie's Running Guide for Non-Runners

Run to the Sun, 2007

It's funny that I am even writing this post. I have many talents but athletics have never been one of them...that's Abigail and Michael's thing. However, for the past few weeks I have gotten back into training with the goal of running the Derby Festival Mini Marathon at the end of April. I ran a few races back in high school and haven't done much with it since. Needless to say, I am no expert. BUT what I have realized is that you don't have to be an expert to run...you don't even need to be athletic. All you need is a pair of running shoes. 

Also, there have been a few things that can help with running and getting motivated (which I've figured out mostly through trial and error) and I thought it might be good to share them here so that if anyone else is having trouble getting started that maybe I could help a little.



1. Set a goal. 

Pick a race, any race, and sign up. It's simple...if you paid money for it, you're more likely to do it! There are so many interesting races out there now. Find one that makes you excited to run!

Just to get you started, some really cool races I've come across are: 

The Color Run
Color Me Rad 5k
Run for Your Lives
Mud Mania
Country Music Marathon and Mini Marathon
Derby Festival Marathon and Mini Marathon




2. Make a training schedule.

I work so much better from a schedule so before I started, I made a plan for the entire spring and put it in my agenda where I could see it every day. That way, I could mentally prepare myself for when I needed to run and work it into my schedule. Also, seeing it down on paper made it feel like something that I had to do...making it much more unlikely for me to blow it off.

My training schedule was based on one I found online that I extended a bit on the front end to help work up my milage. I'm currently on Week 5 (out of 17) but you can start where ever you want!

Here is my schedule if you want to look at it!




3. Figure out how you run.

A lot of people enjoy running with friends, but I like running by myself. It gives me time to be alone and just think. But different things work for different people, so what might work for someone you know might not be what you should do. Just think about how you would most enjoy the time and make that part of your routine.




4. Map your route.

My favorite site to use is USA Track and Field's map. That way, I knew exactly how far I needed to go to reach my goals. I used to try to track it in my car but I think this website makes it a whole lot easier. Also, get creative with your routes. Like I said before...figure out what works for you. For me, I love running in neighborhoods because I enjoy looking at the different houses but it's fun to mix it up...like this weekend I was able to run on the beach! Some people might enjoy running on trails and seeing nature. Just figure out what scenery can help "distract you" and map routes that include that!

The view from my Italy runs

5. Get a good playlist. 

I've found that running to music is what really gets me motivated. Recently, I've been listening to *Nsync Pandora and it helps to pump me up (seriously you all, I have no shame...I do the "Bye Bye Bye" dance during my run and don't care who sees!)

If you need some new songs, some of my favorites include:

Blankest Year - Nada Surf
The City Is At War - Cobra Starship
Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects
Do It Alone - SUGARCULT
The Fighter - Gym Class Heroes
Goodbye - Kristina DeBarge
Lucky Strike - Maroon 5
Night Drive - The All-American Rejects
Show Me The Money - Petey Pabloe
Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
Valerie - Amy Winehouse




6. STRETCHHHHHHHHH.

I can't emphasize this enough. Back in high school, I was in the chiropractor all the time during my training, but I can't do that now because I'm not in Louisville. What I have found is that if I really take the time to stretch well before and after my run, my problems are minimal. Again, I'm not an expert and if you have serious problems, talk to your doctor first but I do know for a fact that stretching is ultra important and can make a big difference.




7. (last but not least) Know that some days are going to suck

I was laughing the other day because my runs almost always go like this: 

First 1/2 mile - "This sucks...I don't want to do this...why did get myself into this...this was a terrible idea"

Last 1/2 mile - "I love running...life is so great...I can do anything...this rocks...I rock!"

What happens in the middle? I get into my groove. The hardest part is getting out the door but once you get going, it gets easier. And once you get back, you get a rush of endorphins that makes it all worth it. Some days are great days and some days are really hard. That's the way it's always going to be...and the hard days you just have to power through.

Derby Festival Team Marathon, 2007

I don't know how insightful any of this was but hopefully it can at least get you thinking that if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Let me know if anyone decides to do any races because I'm doing a few of them!!



xoxo

The 2012 List

If you've talked to me this year, it is very likely that you've heard me mention my 2012 list. It was my New Years Resolution last year to be more adventurous, try more new things, and push myself out of my comfort zone. Why? Because of this:

I decided the best way to do this would be to have a concrete list of things that I've always wanted to do and had never done. The list wound up having 15 things on it and I accomplished all but 4...which will roll over now onto my 2013 list. I'm just going to share a few checks off the list (some may not have been blog appropriate!) but the funny thing was...as I was living my resolution and trying all kinds of new things, I realized I needed to start a new list: things that should have been on my 2012 list. 

So without further ado...

The 2012 List

Things That Should Have Been On The 2012 List

You'll have to wait and see what is on the 2013 list but a lot of the things on the list have to do with physical activities so a lot of the focus of 2013 is on getting back into shape :) (more about that later!) Also I'm going to try really hard to do a blog post a week...we will see if we can get Abigail on board!



xoxo

Final Residential Project: Philly Loft

For a while this semester, I've felt like I've been just trying to stay afloat. I've been getting my final grades back and it seems like things are starting to fall into place. It's a weird feeling to realize that I might actually be swimming now! 

It's kind of been a cool process because I can look and see how much better my work is getting and it makes me so proud of myself and how hard I've worked this semester. 

I've always thought I wanted to do Residential Design and so it's been fun for me to take this as a class and I've really enjoyed it. This last project is almost exactly what I'd like to do. We took an apartment shell, space planned the whole thing then picked out furniture, finishes, and decorative items for three of the rooms. It was fun but extremely time consuming.



Here are the project requirements:

The Client

The Park family have recently moved from Korea to the US for husband Chan's work with a large auto manufacturing company. They will be designing a home in this new apartment complex in Philadelphia and were impressed by your work. The family includes wife Mikyoung, and her father Yong Hwa and mother Shin Hye. Chan and Mikyoung plan to have children, but not right away. The husband also has elderly parents who could benefit from sharing the new home. They are all independent people who require privacy, so separate entries are necessary for the main unit and parents' unit.

The couple has a good income but little in the way of savings. The parents have the necessary capital to buy the units and finance the down payment. Though they are currently in perfectly good health, it is important for the parents' apartment to be accessible. A layout consisting of side-by-side units with separate but related entrances are necessary. The family's aesthetic is traditional eclectic. You may mix multiple historical styles and may make use of historically-inspired contemporary furnishings. Use care in mixing multiple styles that you pay attention to scale, proportion, form, etc. so that everything, while diverse, goes together. You can use the Connected Lines Furniture Style Guide to help you.

Parents' Unit: approx. 750 sq ft

• A combined kitchen/dining/living space with a media wall and shelving for books or additional storage
• Bedroom with sitting area, closet space for two, desk, shelves
• Laundry space
• One bathroom

Main Unit: approx. 1500 sq ft

• Combined kitchen/dining/living space with a media wall and shelving for books or additional storage
• Master bedroom with sitting space and closet for two
• Two bedrooms for guests, adaptable for future children
• Study/office
• Laundry
• Two bathrooms

Deliverables

You will present a digital presentation in a format of your choosing. Give careful consideration to how the presentation is organized, what information should be provided, and how a reader will navigate what is provided. Presentation to include:

• Furniture plans for both units with a graphic scale executed in a method of your choosing
• High quality digital samples of finishes with identifying labels for Master Bedroom, Living OR Dining, and Kitchen OR Bath in Main Unit ONLY:
• Floors, walls and ceilings
• Window treatments
• Furniture fabrics/finishes
• Decorative lighting
• Estimated budget for three rooms chosen above, using the prices published in the Interior Designer's Portable Handbook

Since this was a digital presentation I'm putting the whole PDF on here if anyone is interested in looking at it. You can't do it on your phone...only a computer but it's kind of fun to flip though!

                     Open publication - Free publishing - More floorplan

If you are on your phone or don't want to look at the whole thing, here are a few highlights!

Also, we had to do a budget and if you were wondering, my budget came out to $84,094.57 (including construction). Here is my budget breakdown if you're interested (or if you want to see where any of the furniture came from)

                      Open publication - Free publishing - More budget

xoxo,

Some Recent Art Work! (aka hey look at me!)

This is my "Hey look at me" post so please humor me! I haven't really shared any art projects that I've done since I've been back since Italy but if you think that means I haven't done much then you don't know me very well ;) 


So without further ado here is some projects that I've done lately!

A Thomas the Train cake for Collins' second birthday!

Reversible bubble skirts for Dagny and Lydia! The pattern is from Lil Blue Boo and fun fact - the purple and yellow plaid fabric is from a sarong from Lauren and Patrick's honeymoon :)

Dad helped me build this faux wooden pallet and I painted the quote from The Help on it for Jani and my "friend-aversary" 

Obviously from this summer but this is what happens when people let me draw on their chalkboards!

I used one of Collins' John John patterns to make this for his birthday! The cuff at the bottom is made from an old tie.

I LOVE how this dress for my friend's daughter turned out. I altered this Oliver + S pattern and the fabric is just from Jo Ann's!

Only slightly sketchy pictures ;) I was supposed to have this needlepoint belt made for Michael's graduation...but that didn't happen. Finished it up during my Italy trip!

And speaking of needlepoint...here's the belt I'm working on for myself. One day I'll finish it!

Another name art...started a last year for Brittany's birthday but I finally finished it up for her this year. (One day I will get them up on my Etsy site...when I finally get my Etsy site back up in the first place...)

Just some quick hair bows for Dagny and Lydia for Halloween!

I was workout Barbie for Halloween and I needed pink sparkly shoes so why not make my own?? Basically you just Modge Podge the shoes, sprinkle glitter on top, and seal them when they dry. Unfortunately, I somehow picked the cheapest shoes from the thrift store and the bottom of my shoes literally disintegrated but they looked good for the night!

Completed another thing off my 2012 list - learn to smock! I'm currently working on a Christmas insert for some overalls for Collins...don't have much done though :)

Just some proof that I actually do school work. These are some gray scale renderings that I've done throughout the semester. It's just pen with marker on top.

This was another finger painting that I did in my art journal. The tutorial/inspiration was from Alisa Burke.

This is what I actually do during lecture classes :) Anyone picking up that I love song lyrics?

I was trying to use up some fabric scraps that I had so these pants were born for Dagny's 4th birthday! The pattern is from Oliver + S (they seriously have the best patterns!)

And last but not least...made these brownies for our election party on Tuesday. No comments on the results but the brownies turned out well. All I did was trace the designs on a small piece of cardstock then cut that out with an exact-o to make my own stencil. You just put that on the brownie then sprinkle powdered sugar on top!

Hope you all enjoyed my mini art show :)

P.S. Has anyone seen the other half of this blog?? I'm declaring her MIA! :)