Dare You To...

Here are some snaps from this weekend's Neon Dashand the Damon Runyon 5k for Cancer Research!

The Neon Dash 5k I ran in about 31 minutes, which I thought was pretty darn good accounting for the slow-down while getting neon tossed at me and the blister I got from wearing my very old sneakers.  The excited atmosphere and pumping music kept me going.  Great intermediate race to gear up for my first 10k next month!


It was cool to do a nighttime run--very different from the usual.  Summer night are more manageable than the days, and the path wove around through an open field, so there was a nice breeze. 

It was awesome that thesky appeared to be NEON, too!




For those who plan on doing a Neon Dashin the future, three things: (1) Go in a group! (2) Dress up like crazy! (3) Know that you can definitely run, walk, or danceyour way to the finish line.  All three were popular choices for this race, which isn't even timed, so no pressure!! 


The "neon" stations--where you get "…

Hey friends!

Since I decided to get back into running and sign up for my first 10k race, I've been upping my running game a bit--not quite as much as I'd originally envisioned (yet), but a bit.  If you follow Dare You To on Instagram, Twitter, or DailyMile, you may have noticed my runs and walks.  Earlier in May and June, I was so excited to get outsidefor some open-air runs.


However, by the end of June and now in July, the heat has been prohibitive and runs were exhausting.  When the weather is right, I've still successfully gotten out in the morning or evening, trying to avoid peak heat hours. I've been able to cover my target distances, but I'm moving far more slowly than I used to!  It's hard to tell if this is due to the heat or this year's lack of training, but it's probably a combination of the two.

To give myself some extra running motivation, I signed up for an awesome race that is making its debut in New York Citythis summer:

The Neon Dash!
Au…

What a whirlwind 2013 has already been!  As June approaches (gasp!), I can't believe we're nearing the halfway mark.  I gave a teaser in January for all the exciting goals I had going for each month, and then completely failed to keep you updated on my progress.  Please accept my sincerest apologies.

I've been kind of busy, working full time and doing things like this, too:


Now that THAT's done with, it's finally time for an update!   Here's a quick glimpse into what I've been up to:
Natural Skincare. 
Taking the paleo/primal lifestyle a step further: Skinfood. Ditching the toxins and replacing them with nature's own moisturizers, cleansers, etc.  This started withswapping my lotion for coconut oil, and has gone much further since then. I'll be sharing as I experiment over time.  If you're looking for some information on this, I recommend the Skintervention Guide. I first started on my own, taking bits and pieces of information from various sourc…

Happy October, friends!It's time for all the wonders that come with fall: scarves, boots, leaves, pumpkins, candy corn, costumes, coats, and... races!

Perhaps you read other athletic bloggers describing their training plan, or maybe you see more runners on the road than usual.  You might even notice a road or two blocked off later this fall, and have to take a detour to your Sunday brunch.  Why?  It's marathon time!  

So many big races are held in October and November.  Full marathons and half marathons, 10ks and "Turkey Trots" -- the crisp fall air makes it prime time for runners, new and old, to hit the road and prepare to accomplish their goals.


Although my running has admittedly (though not entirely regrettably) fallen by the wayside, I want to give running some attention this fall and share with you advice, stories, and tips from other runners.  Throughout October and November, these guest bloggers will let you into the life of a runner and dare you to take your…

Last weekend, I attended the Healthy Living Summit, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.  For the many of you who want to know how it went, I'm sharing!  In stages.

This is Day 3.  
Click here for Day 1.
Click here for Day 2.

For those of you who are not interested in my blogger-fest activities, today you canset S.M.A.R.T. goalsor make fluffy quinoa.  Oh, you want a NEW dare?  Dare you to follow on Google+ and find me on Facebookto stay up to date with posts, see exclusive shares, and browse my instagram feed. 

After the fun night before, I was in a great mood waking up for the 8:00am 5k run!


The 5k Fun Run/Walk



The weather was perfect - it was nice and cool, in the 60s maybe.  A nice relief from the past few days' heat!

Nice sights on the run :) Love the water views!


 Also some nice Boston views, pretty areas, beautiful homes, greenery...


Sometimes we waited for a stoplight. Necessary when running in a giant herd of girls (and Jon)!




The sights and chatter kept me entertained, so befor…