I'm a little bit behind on the blogging front today. I needed all the extra sleep I could get after not getting to sleep until close to 2 a.m. last night.

But it was so worth it to be in College Park to watch Maryland beat Miami in the home opener on ESPN!

Despite the torrential downpours last night's game and tailgate were one of my favorites ever.

Here's why:

1. A tight game, in less than ideal conditions, ending in a Terps W. I could do a full analysis on what we need definite work on (red zone offense anyone?) but I won't bore you with that.


(Source)

2. Our new uniforms. They are bad ass. The flag helmet's are sick.


(Source)

3. First tailgate of the season with some of my favorite people in the world. It was so good to have everyone back together for the first time in months.





4. The pouring rain. Somehow the torrential downpour added something to the atmosphere. Sure I ended up looking like a drowned rat after the game, but it was so worth it.





5. The feeling in the air. There is nothing like being back on campus for the first game of the season, seeing everyone decked out in their red and black. The grills are running, the flags are flying and the fight song is playing. It brings back a sense of nostalgia and intense Maryland pride. Walking into Byrd Stadium last night was a feeling unlike any other. Seeing the crowds, the band and Testudo running around on the field, it felt like I had never left.

But more importantly, it felt like being home.

I'm so fired up for the rest of the season. In closing I will leave you with this song.



Fear the Turtle.

A few weeks ago, New Balance sent me some running gear to test and review. As a result, I have a brand new favorite running top.

It even beats out my all time favorite Under Armour top that I wear constantly:



Look familiar?

Well, lately that UA top has been sitting in the drawer while this New Balance top has been going with me on almost every run.


The New Balance gear is part of the company's Icefil line, which means the fabric acts as a climate control system. So as your body gets hot, the fabric helps cool you down. The fabric also offers UV protection, which I appreciate since I never put on sunscreen before I run.

I was a little skeptical of the claim that the top would actually cool me down, so I took it for its first test drive on a day when the temps were in the mid-90s and the sun was blazing. Midway through the run, I could definitely feel a difference. My arms, which weren't covered by anything were burning up under the sun's intense rays, but my back and torso felt completely fine.

This shirt gets extra bonus points for being anti-microbial (meaning it doesn't stink), so I can wear it a million times before I have to wash it. In fact, I've had it for about a month now and don't think I've washed it once and it still doesn't smell.

I was also a fan of the super flattering fit and the really funky back.


The small pocket on the back of the shirt is placed perfectly. I've carried everything from my house key to my iPod and cell phone in there and nothing really bounced uncomfortably.



And the reflective strip on the back of the shirt really does work. Check me out in the middle of this picture from the Healthy Living Summit. I look like some sort of Day-Glo freak, but hey, at least I know cars can see me.


Thanks to Beth for the picture!

Huge thanks to New Balance for sending me this shirt to review. I loved everything about the way it performed and the way it looked and would definitely buy gear from the Icefil line in the future.

Do you have a favorite running top that you wear over and over again?

Yesterday I wanted to get the endorphins flowing, and push it hard on the run.

We're talking puke threshold levels, when your lungs are burning and you feel like you're going to collapse and that your heart might just about pound out of your chest.

I've been lazy on the running front this summer and it's been far too long since I have truly pushed myself.

So I decided to run. Fast.

I took off at a sprint, but reigned it in a little bit once I hit the first quarter mile. I didn't want to be completely gassed at mile 2.5.

I pushed hard through the uphills and the downhills.

I glanced down at Garmin as I flew down one of the hills and saw I was flirting with a 7:30 minute mile pace. When I was on flats, I was holding a steady 8:30 and on uphills I was anywhere from 9:00 to 9:30 depending on the length and steepness of the hill.

My lungs were screaming at me during the last half mile (which was of course all uphill). I was sucking wind and could feel the bile in my stomach churning. Yes, I had reached the puke threshold.

I kicked hard around the final turn, breathing deeply, sprinting with everything my legs had left.

I crossed the imaginary finish line, doubled over, hands on knees, sucking wind and forcing the bile back down.

Don't worry I didn't actually puke.

I took a second to catch my breath before looking at Garmin again to see my final time:

26:56, an 8:41/mile average.

Hands down my fastest 5K ever.

I didn't know I had it in me to go that fast. And all it took was me setting my mind to it.

I said I was going to run fast, to push hard, and I did.