The holidays took more of a toll on my training than I had anticipated.

First, the traveling was hard to deal with. On Christmas Eve I worked out in the morning in a gym with more people on treadmills at one time than I had ever seen. I knew the house I'd be visiting that night would be full of unhealthy foods, so my training session in the morning helped me make better choices that night. I snacked on oranges and drank a lot of water before a big meal of ham, potatoes, vegetables, sparkling wine, and bread. Whew, that's a lot of food!

I packed my running gear anticipating doing a run on my hosts' treadmill Christmas morning. Much to my dismay, this did not happen! The morning of opening presents, playing with new presents, and then preparing to head to the next family gathering took too much time.

The second culprit of my derailment was all the good food and drinks! I come from an Italian family, so holiday dinners are usually filled with pastas and wine. My family is good about offering vegetables and salads, but I must admit, it's hard to eat these when there's good (less-healthy) food galore!

Finally, I had to work the day after. This was a day-long process of getting up early and driving from the suburbs to the city, so there was no time to work out in the morning. Then I went straight from the eight-hour work day back to my hometown to hang out with my family. I spent the night eating McDonald's and drinking Fat Tire. Good stuff.

My holiday recap:

• Runs missed: 3
• Cookies eaten: 147
• Glasses of spirits consumed: Enough to make a happy Briana happier!

I really did approach the holidays with the mindset that I can overcome temptations of all things unhealthy. As you may relate to, I see my family about four times a year, so I don't feel bad letting all my cares loose and enjoying my time with them. My training came second for a mere three days of about 60 previous days. Moreover, I didn't eat as bad as I make it sound, but I did eat things I don't eat as part of my daily diet. Thus, I don't feel that bad going off track. I just have to be very diligent until my race!

I still have two weeks until my half, and you can bet I'll be training every one of these days!

If you find yourself stuck without a treadmill don't forget that WalkJogRun allows you to find routes created by locals in over 200 countries around the world so you can always find a running route that is safe and well thought out!

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Are you worried about going off track during the holidays? Me too! Below are "rules" that I follow when going to parties in general, and do so more strictly during the holidays.

1. Drink water! This is my golden rule I follow any time I know I'll be faced with a lot of food and spirits. Drink a glass or two before you leave for the party and again before a big meal. Water helps you to feel full, and therefore you'll eat less!
2. Eat breakfast. We all know that eating breakfast is the way to go when trying to lose weight or eat healthier. Eating breakfast will jump start your metabolism and help you feel full.
3. Drink clear spirits over dark-colored ones. Dark alcohols like red wine and bourbon are made from acetone, fusel oil and tannins, which are present in much higher quantities among darker liquors than lighter ones. They are also believed to cause the headache part of hangovers. No good if you have to do a long run the next day!
4. Eat the sugar cookie. Choose low-calorie cookies like frosting-less sugar and gingerbread cookies about the size of a lipstick.
5. Don't deprive yourself. Remember that the holidays come once a year and they're full of foods you wouldn't normally eat. Enjoy these foods -not the usual chips and dip- using portion control.
6. Get a visitor's pass. If you're traveling for the holidays, check out a local gym and get a visitor's pass to help you stay on track with your training.

2010 is just around the corner, and WalkJogRun has some more surprises in store for you to help you keep on track, or even pledge to start the new year with a healthy kick. I hope my two cents will help you feel better about indulging for the holidays!

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The Brooks Nightlife Jacket is one of the greatest purchases I've made for my runninng wardrobe.

First, the 360 degree of candle power retroreflectivity will help ensure your visiblity when exercising outdoors in low-light conditions. It's availalbe in both neon yellow, which I have, and black with neon yellow accents. Now that the sun sets at about 3:30pm here, I get good use out of this!

The zipper zips high, but unlike some jackets I own, I cannot feel the zipper rub against my neck as it's covered by a fleece cover.

Inside pockets hold money and an mp3 player with a hole for headphone cord. The chest pocket is the perfect size for my iPhone, so I wear this on my extreme long runs when I feel a phone may be necessary.

Drawstrings at the hip allow the user to make it as snug or as loose as possible. However, the only con of this jacket is what to do with the hanging strings once they've been pulled tight so they're not hitting your legs with each step.

The vents in the back and underarms allow for great breathability. It's also good in a variety of temperatures , good from 35-65 deggrees, depending on what you layer underneath. It's made of Brooks Shelter AireplexII 100% Polyester Microfiber with Teflon DWR. I've worn this in 30 degree weather with a long sleeve shirt and it was almost too hot! It's also wind and water resistant, so this is my go-to jacket for bad weather.

What's a great purchase you've made for your wardrobe?

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In November I celebrated my one year anniversary with WalkJogRun. What a year it's been! This time last year I was only running to stay in shape. The most I'd run was two miles. Writing the newsletters and talking to our users got me focused on training for races. This, and having Adam as a coworker has pushed me further!

At some point during this last year, specifically training and running my first half, I realized that running is me. It's my hobby, my therapy, and a social experience. I'm grateful that Adam and Jeff gave me this opportunity to work with WalkJogRun. It's truly been a life-changing experience!

This last year of running has helped me make a vast amount of lifestyle changes. I've taken my training a little more seriously by doing most of the cross training planned; I've changed my eating habits and eat foods that give me energy and help me recover; I run in -10 degree weather (!); I change my shoes every three or so months; I wear comfortable shoes and cut down my use of stilettos to save my feet, and my running wardrobe is now probably worth more than my every-day clothes!

My running has also greatly improved. I ran my first 10k in June I finished in 57 minutes. In October I finished the Nike Human Race 10K in 49 minutes, placing me at ~3900 of 128,000 US runners.

I've also inspired four people I know to run regularly and/or to run their first races. This makes me feel

Races I did in 2009:

• Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago, IL
• Legs 8K in Madison, WI
• Run for the Zoo 10K in Chicago, IL
• Madison Mini Marathon in Madison, WI
• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Milwaukee,WI
• Nike+ Human Race 10K in Chicago, IL
• Tyranena Beer Run Half Marathon in Lake Mills, WI

Whoa, when I list them all, I guess I ran more than I thought!

Planned for 2010:

• Los Angeles 13.1 Series
• New York City 13.1 Series
• Crazy Legs in Madison, WI
• Chicago 13.1 Series
• Madison Mini Marathon in Madison, WI
• **Chicago Marathon

Yes, I plan on running my first marathon next year! This is all due to my experienece watching Adam run it this year. He suggested that if I trained hard enough, I could qualify for Boston. Hmmmm...

WalkJogRun has also come a long way in one year. Some of the things we've done:

• Released our iPhone app
• Had our first booth at a race expo
• Site redesign

We have so much in store for you in the months to come! I don't want to give anything away, so stay tuned!

How was your year? And, for those of you who remember us this time last year, do you like the improvements we've made? Have any suggestions?

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I was inspired to write this entry after an off-duty firetruck slowed down to watch me run. I could feel and see all four sets of eyes looking at me. Did I have something on my back? Was I running completely awkward? These are usually the first thoughts that come to mind when something of this sort happens. So I stopped to check to see if I had a big "kick me" sign on my back or something out of the ordinary. Nope.

Getting ogled during my runs has at times caused me to change my running route or even the way I run. While in college, I'd run down the lakeside path where guys would often fish. After a few times of getting cat-called by the same guys, I would just simply walk my route when I'd pass them in order to not give them something to stare at. Why not change my route, you ask? Well, running on the lakeside path was the safest and most simple way to complete my runs.

The more I run the more I notice others running and their form. Now aware that people do watch runners as they pass by, I've become increasingly more self-conscious about my form. Do I look like I'm a runner when I run? Is my posture and technique correct, or do I just look completely silly? Can runners tell my level of experience by these factors?

These are two of the reasons why I choose to do most of my running down Chicago's lake shore path. These, and because it's an uninterrupted run.

I've also noticed that my thoughts on this subject depend on my mood. Sometimes I run just to run and I'm in my own little bubble. Other times I feel fully aware of the other people around me that may or may not be judging the way I run. I'm working on this issue because it's definitely affecting my runs!

I'd like to know: Does getting ogled while running make you feel special, or would you rather people mind their business? Are you a self-conscious runner?

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My second half marathon did not go nearly as well as I hoped it would. I trained for eight weeks and then of course got sick the week before the race. It was a bad cold complete with fever, aches, and stuffy nose. I knew my loss of appetite would not be good for my training (yes, I still ran during the week, but not as much as I was supposed to).

I asked our Twitter and Facebook fans if they'd run if they were sick. The response was an overwhelming no. I know, I should have listened, but I'm stubborn! Plus I spent a total of $90 for registration and transportation.

But much to my surprise, my being sick was not the worst part of the race. The Tyranena Half Marathon ran out of water cups at miles 5 and 10! Come to find out later, they were reusing cups. This may have been the reason why I was able to get water at mile 8.

Let me back up and give more details on this excruciatingly awful race day. It was sunny, in the lower 70's, and the race began at 11:30. Race directors should have taken all of these conditions into mind and planned for more water.

As mile 4.6 approached, I was in need of water. I had the dehydration head and side aches. Mile 5: Where's the water?! Finally, after running up a hill nearing mile 5.5, I saw a table...but it was empty! Needless to say I was upset. They got water out of a well and poured it into my hands to drink. What was this?! This only exacerbated my horrible feelings.

The rest of the course was on a state trail. There were no first aid stations or patrol people to make sure everyone was at least alive. This worried me. Mile 10 came. No water. So I walked the rest of the race. I finished in 2:45, but I was a-okay with that. Oh, and they ran out of water bottles and bananas at the end of the race.

To cap it off, there was no medical tent at the end of the race. The DJ had to ask over the speaker system if there was a doctor on the grounds. I'm glad I didn't need any medical attention.

I've began training for my third half marathon. This one will be in Los Angeles. Even if it's bad conditions, just this fact alone will make it my favorite race. It already is!

Have you had a bad race experience? If so, please comment below.

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I have my second half marathon coming up on Saturday. I'm running the Tyranena Beer Run in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. It's a small race- with the 1/6th marathon and half marathon totaling 1500 participants. When I told this to Adam, he said, "You could probably place!" So, as usual, this idea was put into my head. I've been jazzed about the race for a good week now, and even more so after I drove by the route the other day.

I mapped it out and it's a relatively flat race, much less hilly than my first in Madison, Wisconsin. Because of this, I hope to PR this race. Can I place? I looked up last year's results. Answer: I'll place pretty much smack in the middle of everyone. Oh well, this is just my second race! My goal is to eventually get to that point where I know I have a good shot at placing.

It'll be my first race for which roads are closed, I'll have to run on the left side, and run single-file. This will be interesting, but definitely a good experience. Knowing that I won't place, I now look forward to the lasagna, brewery tour, and the UW-Badger football game playing in the tent afterward!

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Last week, three men died while running the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon. If you're not familiar with the story, three men, ages 26, 36, and 65, died within a 16-minute span. The 26 year old, Jon Fenlon, was diagnosed as a child with having a large heart, but was cleared to race numerous times. For Rick Brown, 65, this was one of over 50 marathons he ran. You can read more from the Detroit Free Press.

Reading this story has made me rethink my new love of running and my goals to run half marathons and full marathons. I'm pretty healthy, but I'm scared of sudden death caused by an unknown health condition. Then again, we face danger each time we step out of our homes. Should I also be scared to leave my house?

Running has taken over my life. If I stop now, what will I do? It's my exercise, my therapy, and my hobby. There's not much like it that can replace it.

For now, I'll continue running and let my fears subside...

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Cut to the end of this entry, Adam may have inspired me to run a marathon!

Sunday began bitterly cold, but I figured if Adam was out running 26.2 in that weather, I could stand all bundled up and watch him! So, I bundled up, in clothes that I thought would keep me warm, and headed out to mile 8. If you were in Chicago on Sunday, you know that the city was hard to navigate through with all the street closures and crowds walking in all sorts of directions. My first "this is awesome" feeling came when I could hear roaring cheers before I could see any runners. The crowd was amazing, even in such cold weather! When I reached mile 8, I picked out a spot where my line of vision wouldn't be interrupted.

I watched as the front runners passed. Wow. The following group of runners looked so ambitious. This was my second inspirational experience.

I then realized that I had no idea what Adam was going to be wearing or even where he was placed in the pack. How was I going to find him? Well, I remembered he posted a picture of his marathon outfit, so I loaded it on my iPhone screen and stood there with it in hand trying to match my screen to the runners. It worked! I saw Adam as he turned the corner and I started cheering, or "quietly cheering" as Adam would later tell me!

As I walked home, I felt the urge to run. I didn't, but that's not the point! I never gave the idea of running a full marathon much thought until I saw one in action. Perhaps I will do one...We'll see!

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I wear pink for my mom: On Sunday, September 27 I ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a first of a lot of things for me: first 5k, first Race for the Cure, and my boyfriend's first race. It was quite the experience, one that I'll probably do every year.

This was also my first race I ran that benefited a cause as great as breast cancer awareness and research. So, as we approached the race grounds, I was in awe of how many people were participating-13,000! That, and how much pink was all around!

As great of a cause that this benefits, I was unhappy with how the race officials handled the event. First,it started 32 minutes late. There's nothing like a bunch of anxious runners waiting for the start of a race! Second, there was supposed to be a separation of walkers and runners. This, however, was not the case. There were a lot of walkers in the runners' path, slowing the runners down. Personally, I wasn't running for a PR, but I feel for those who were!

However, the general atmosphere of the whole morning was uplifting. As I stood waiting for the start, I realized that everyone there came in support or in memory of someone who was/is affected by breast cancer. It was a sort of supportive experience for me to know that a majority of the people that had experienced the same loss. I was both sad and happy at the same time. Strange!

Me nice and sweaty after the race:

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