Thursday, February 25, 2010

Never Too Early for a Bikini

Running tip: Going on vacation doesn’t have to be an excuse to throw your training out the window. Pick a hotel with a fitness center, or better yet, run through the city you are visiting or along the beach. Many runners would agree - the best way to learn about a new place is to run through it!

I bought this yesterday:


I know, I know. The top looks a bit small. That is because my boobs are non-existent a bit small.

Yes, it’s from Target and I’m proud. For all the money I spend there I should probably have a permanent tattoo that reads Cherokee. Or maybe Mossimo, because that sounds kind of mysterious and/or expensive. People will ask me on the street what it means. Maybe I will find out how to write it in Chinese and that would really cause a ruckus. Really, I should just get the red bulls eye tattooed where the sun don’t shine, but that might be kind of awkward at the gyno.

Notice I am not modeling this bikini. If you want that, you will have to ask for it.

Why, you ask, are you buying a bikini in the middle of February? For starters, each piece was only $7.98, and I never turn down a bargain. Second, I am thinking ahead to a warmer and gentler time. A time when people actually expose their skin without fear of frostbite. A time when ice isn’t crusting over your favorite body of water. A time when a breezy day doesn’t mean the temp falls well below zero.

Let me tell you how I cope this time of year. I plan trips to warm places. I start this in November. It is an expensive past time and coping mechanism. Here’s what’s on tap:

March 28: Playa del Carmen, Mexico. All inclusive. Family trip. We went here last year. It did not disappoint. This picture is from last year, after a few drinks. This was part of my strength training:





May 22: Vegas. Wynn Hotel. The first two days I will take classes to get certified as an RCAA running coach. That way, when I give running tips I have some sort of leg to stand on (be it kind of wobbly). The next three days after training will be pool, blackjack and trouble with the girls.


June 8: Dade City & Amelia Island, FL. Visiting the in-laws and taking a side trip to AI. This is the Ritz Carlton and probably not where we will stay because I shop at Target not at Nordstrom.
. Make no mistake about it. These trips have everything to do with running. I will run in the fitness center in Mexico like I did last year. They have these treadmills that overlook the ocean and it is incredible. I will sweat and go replenish with a margarita and a bucket of guac. I will be five weeks out from my marathon at that time, so there can be no slacking. In Vegas, I will be going to a coach's training. There will be no running. In Florida, I fully plan on some beach runs and some routes from the in-laws home (so they can tell me how crazy I am and ask me if my knees hurt and why I run so far and why I put my body through this and why, why, why).

Any vacations planned for you yet this year?

PS: Don't forget my giveaway. It ends tomorrow.

PPS: Ran ten miles today with only one squirt at mile 9.8 (it just had to get in there, didn't it?)

Drinking: Oregon Chai

62 comments:

  1. Nice, going somewhere warm is the trick to get through winters like ours! I am getting certified as a running coach, too, though close to home, Cambridge MA!

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  2. Such a cute bikini! You'll smoke it.

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  3. Awesome. You've inspired me to go to Target. These dark Feb. days need inspiration after all.

    Like you I plan for lights at the end of my winter tunnel: Caribbean cruise mid March. It will be our first. I will be so white.. but... alas..

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  4. I don't mean like in a roll it up and light it sense. Maybe I should've said you'll rock it?

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  5. I'm going to Hawaii on March 6th! I am counting down the days. And there will be running.

    Cute bikini! My 3-year-old walked in while I was reading this and asked why there are boobs and panties on my computer.

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  6. Rawr! Hot bikini!

    (Did you get away with having no stretch marks or are you just able to rock a bikini without it bugging you?)

    Hope you have a great time on all of your trips. I adore Vegas.

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  7. Oh, and I am traveling to Seattle for the RnR marathon (yep. running) and in late July/early August heading to Vancouver, BC to visit family. Yay! Possibly Mexico just after Christmas. Busy year.

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  8. Beautiful hotel in Mexico!!! Jealous!! Cute suit too . . . I love traveling to warm places!

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  9. I am so jealous of your upcoming vacays!

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  10. Oh and coming from someone who loves running and adventure . . . TO someone who loves running and adventure . . . check out this blog, very motivating: http://chuckiev.blogspot.com/2010/02/overly-aggressive-progressive-overload.html

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  11. SOOOOO, jealous of all of your fabulous trips! It’s my first Colorado winter and I am very tired of it ( I was tired of it in January).

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  12. My mother-in-law gave my family a cruise during Spring Break. Better yet, she is coming with us to help with the kids - and don't fret, we get a long GREAT!

    I also won a trip to West Palm Beach Florida for 3 nights including airfare, but my hubby won't go and leave the kids. Boo! He told me to take a friend, anyone interested? LOL!

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  13. Nice! The sound of the treadmill view is oh sooo awesome!!! Great way to stick to your training schedule and enjoy the vaca...and guac. :)

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  14. Including a trip to the inlaws doesn't count! That's torture - not reward! :)
    We are going to Maui in November for Thanksgiving. I have to wait all the way to November, but I live in Cali so the weather hasn't been that hard on us :)
    And I WANT to see the suit modeled!

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  15. I love Target and their swim suits :) Lucky for me I moved t Florida to go to grad school, so I'm sort of in the warmth, although I've been told it has been uncharacteristically cold this year. Tonight it is supposed to freeze. I'm going to Vegas with the girls at the end of March, actually exactly one month from today :) Your trips sound amazing!

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  16. Those vacations sound awesome! I wish we were going somewhere this year, but next year we're thinking about going back to Kauai with our boys. We went there for our honeymoon, fell in love with it, and vowed to go back. By this time next year my youngest will be completely potty trained and both of our boys will know how to swim....so the vacation is in the works!

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  17. Running on beaches (esp barefoot) great way to experience a place...most recently I did that in Cali when a shark warning was in effect.

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  18. You will be leaving for vacay numero uno as I am getting back!! That suit is super cool & if you are looking for a couple more Vicki's has some on clearence! I want one thats like 4.99 a piece! SWEET DEALs! Anyways, i love yours-- i would go stalk target but i gave that amazingness up for lent so i cant go in there until AFTER easter!

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  19. Victorias Secret has those swimsuits that have padding, and make me look like I have boobs, LOVE them. THey are on sale for cheap too. http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/Sale/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GS-234405&size=S&rfnbr=3690

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  20. Oh my gosh I got a bikini from Target in JANUARY!!! I couldn't find one when I went on vacation last October, so I jumped on them as soon I saw them :) I'm pretty sure I have "mossimo" etched on my back from it being on so many of my tags.

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  21. From the deepest part of my heart...
    I hate you.
    (have fun)

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  22. i totally want to go bikini shopping too! i'm really glad that you can buy bikini separates because my boobs are non-existent too but the rest of my body looks normal haha

    unfortunately i will have no where to wear said bikini until summer. no vacas for me :(

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  23. Are ya tryin' to make us all jealous???holy moly! Those are some cool vaca's. I stayed at the Wynn a few years ago, and man talk about a fitness center!
    I'm Hawaii bound in 4 weeks for Lavaman tri and can't wait!...but don't have another heavenly trip on the horizon afterwards...gotta start plannin'

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  24. I totally do the same thing. When it's cold outside, you can bet I'm looking at palm trees on my computer screen planning our next trip. We are going to Cabo San Lucas Mexico May 15th and Destin FL (our every-year end-of-summer getaway August 28th!

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  25. I am so jealous! What awesome vacations you have coming up!!! We are planning a fanily road trip in August...lots of hours in the car with 2 little kids...yikes!

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  26. Love the suit...and the price!! I'm going to New Orleans in April. Can't wait!!!!

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  27. I am a giant target fan!! ahhh it is a stupid addiction and I can probably single handedly fund a store with as much as I shop there!

    Hawwwtt bikini

    We go to the outer banks every year and this year is no different but we also have plans for NYC AND San Diego, can't get too much more exciting with a 3 year old and a 1 year old!

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  28. Running in all those wonderful places will surely be fun.
    Is this a running bikini? :)
    OK, could not resist. It is hot. Tomorrow I am heading to Target. Or maybe I'll wait to lose some more weight. Then, why wait?
    Looks like you are going to have a lot of fun. Can't wait to read your reports.

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  29. Cute suit!

    Yea - we have two big vacations coming up. Vegas June 1-5th (for a friend's 50th birthday) and then another big, BIG trip Oct 30-Nov 11th to the Mediterranean.

    I love vacations too! I always try to run and exercise on them too.

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  30. $7.98 for wach piece??? I need to head over to Target.

    You've got some exciting trips planned. Only a little jealous :)

    I'm going to Maui this June and CANNOT wait to run along the beach front with my daughter and watch the sunrise.

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  31. I live about 15km south of Playa del Carmen! If you want to get off the dreadmill, drop me a line. jamnkats at gmail dot com

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  32. OMG! I bought the EXACT same suit today -- sadly, I didn't get it for the same bargain you did. I love the color and pattern, but I'm not so sure about the tie around the neck.

    I'm going on a cruise in a little more than 2 weeks and I'm pumped! I'll be about 2 weeks out from my first half ... so no slacking for me!

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  33. You go girl - love the bikini. with your body - it will look great.

    Enjoy your trips to warm climates. We vacationed in Mexico a couple of years in a row - then I discovered snow skiing and we haven't been to the warm, sunny climates since.

    Maybe next year we will enjoy a week of sun and beach relaxation and then a week of snow skiing. That would be the best.

    Happy Belated Birthday. ;-)

    Let us know if you run into Frog man again this year!!!!!

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  34. NOT READY for Bikini yet.. UGH! No vacations planned yet, I should make plans...

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  35. I love Playa del Carmen!! I climbed coconut trees too, who knew??? Please model the new bathing suit IN Target, riding on the red cart again...I still snicker about that picture when I go to Target. Weren't you buying chocolate or something??!! Crazy girl.

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  36. As I sit here late at night listening to the wind howling (yes it is literally howling) outside (of course it's outside, the roof didn't blow off yet!) I needed to see those great pictures. I feel slightly warmer already!

    Awesome swimsuit but if you model it, I will only be reminded that I am eating too much and not doing enough weight training! I need some of your genes!

    We are going to FL in late June. Yipee! And I am hoping to go to AZ once Army son has started his AIT.

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  37. Cute swimsuit! I bought tons of swimsuits last year that were so cute, but then chickened out and didn't wear them because I was feeling blah about the weight I'd gained. Now that I've lost some of it, I'm kind of excited for swimsuit season! (Just gotta manage to keep it off...)

    I'm superjealous of your upcoming vacations! They sound awesome. :)

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  38. I am a Target shopper and proud of it. I don't get my swimsuits from there though - I make my own. (talk about cheap!)

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  39. Luuuuv the bikini! And way to go with looking towards better (or sunnier) times to come! I try and do the same, but mostly weekend trips. Planing a trip to France i June and either Italy or Greece in September. But I live in south Spain so cant really complain now can I?!

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  40. heck to the yeah on cheap swimsuits... in FL I now need to feel bikini ready all year, it's odd.

    I love planning trips!

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  41. I'm ENVIOUS of your trips right now... they all sound wonderful!

    I have a few planned myself this year..... a weekend with Tall Mom for RnR Seattle and a secret trip for another RnR race late this year... not spilling the beans just yet. ;)

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  42. Love this dose of motivation - running in a new city is a great idea - might be fun to take the camera and capture some shots for your blog!!!

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  43. The bikini: Woo Woo!
    The trip: Great to look forward to.
    As for Vegas, my fave. hotel is the Venetian.
    Our trip this year was suppose to be to the Greek Islands (you're familiar with them) but due to family members getting married and others having babies, that was put on the back burner. Bummer!

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  44. Wow, you have some great trips to look forward to! I will be headed to San Fransisco and wine country in July. I can't wait.

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  45. Ooooh! You have such great trips planned! and you're so right about seeing a city by running through it! Hell, I've lived in Toronto for 15ish years, and see new things by signing up for races all the time!

    In response to your comment on my post... coach had us count the number of strokes it took to get to the other end. 6 kicks to starI started with 17. Then he had us focus on head forward a bit rather than looking straight down, long strokes, really catching the water, rolling shoulders, same 6 kicks to start, my stroke count dropped for 15, even with a faster turn-over... Hope that helps! Let me know how it goes, feel free to email me at mel [.] 2ndchances @ gmail [.] com if you have any questions :) Happy weekend!

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  46. I am so jealous right now looking at all of the pictures! The bathing suit looks adorable! Have a great weekend :-)

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  47. Your trips sound great! I'm heading to Moab in March for Canyonlands 1/2, Nashville in April for Country Music Marathon, and Paris/London in September for a real vacation!

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  48. yes...they have EVERYTHING to do with running. Riiiiiiight. Looking forward to the recap of how much guac you squirted in your shorts during your beach runs.

    And maybe once you get certified as a coach it will be time to write a book: The Runner's Guide to Uncontrollable Bodily Functions. I smell a best seller. *sniff, sniff* oh, wait, maybe that was just shit...

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  49. what fun trips - I am jealous! Also jealous that you can fit into a top that small - those things would just be pasties on me. :) Damn over endowment.

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  50. Love Playa Del Carmen. Husband and I honeymooned there.

    Your poop comments are classic.

    Winks & Smiles,
    Wifey

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  51. Ooooh, your trips I am envious of! Especially Mexico cuz I just love the beach! The RRCA coaching certification class is the one I am certified in (last year in Atlanta), you will love it and the instructors (well, one chick is kinda weird). Can't wait to see ya Sunday...I got all the gas stations lined up for ya, too!! I'm hoping if I run with you enough, some of those amazing abs will rub off on me!! :)

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  52. I wanna go back to Maui, but have to get the DH on board first. I hate to say that I've almost got him convinced, but I think I just might.

    Funny that your in-laws ask about your knees and pain and all that, mine just call me a granola and crack a beer. ;)

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  53. Cute bikini! Great price on that too! I might have to stop in a tar-jee to see what they have :)

    Exciting about becoming a certified running coach. I would love to hear what that entails!

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  54. Love the suit. I was just hopping on here to post about warmer days. I see I am not alone in reminicing about those warm temps.

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  55. I can't say that I cope with the cold. It kicks my butt and I just take it.

    Your trips sound like fun. I hope you have a great time on all of them. I've been to AI. It's beautiful, but that's biased because I used to live in FL and I love oaks covered in Spanish moss, saw palmettos, palm trees, beaches and the sun.

    BTW, good for you on your planned certification!

    Our trips this year are both planned around marathons. PA in May, run in York and then have fun in Philadelphia. CO in September, run and hike in Crested Butte. Looking forward to both!

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  56. we booked a resort in jamaica with a track and huge gym so i can stick w/ the training.

    oh, and target bathing suits are adorable. i buy all mine there.

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  57. I am completely jealous of your bikini status, but I must ask you...are you at all concerned about the red stripe through the crotch of the bottoms...my eye kinda went straight there!? However, this will probably be of no concern since everyone will be blinded by your killer bod!

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  58. A bikini? That is so, so foreign to me. I'm jealous that you can still wear one (I haven't since high school, 30 years ago) and I'm more jealous that you are heading to warm weather. Lucky girl!

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  59. The bikini is cute and I hope you enjoy wearing it in exotic, tropical places! We're in Florida and you need one year-round because even in winter you never know when someone will say "let's go hot tubbing!"

    I just took a family-free vacation to a friend's wedding in SC. http://runningbetty.com/back-from-gsp
    and I plan to visit my mom with my daughters during their spring break. We'll try to run with my dad if he's in town. He started doing 3 miles every 2 days when he turned 60 - and he never did any working out that I can remember when I was growing up. I wish we had run together back then.

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  60. My major vacation this year is to Nashville in April. This is a running trip since I plan to run the Country Music Half (my first) with a fave friend! :)

    Heading to Memphis in May...no sunny beaches for me. They scare me.

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  61. I am going to disneyworld in a week and will be running, and this summer a cruise and I will attempt to be running

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