2014 Hope, Steps, & A Cure Walk/Run

Dear Friends & Family:

On Sunday, April 27, 2014, our family will again be joining TEAM PAT REEP and other families in the fight against Aplastic Anemia, MDS, PNH and other rare bone marrow failure diseases.

For the last three years, my family, friends and I have been serving on the volunteer committee for the Annual Los Angeles Hope, Steps & A Cure fundraising and awareness walk.  My involvement with this event has had a significant impact in our lives since Mom passed in 2012.  We are bound by ties of empathy for those whose journeys resonate within us, and with those whose good heath and well-being our happiness depends.

Mom's journey with MDS was a short one, and I continue to devote my time and energy to this organization so that we can find a cure so that no one has to experience what Mom and our family went through.

Please join us by participating or making a contribution to the Hope, Steps & A Cure Walk, which raises much needed funds for the AA&MDS Foundation, so they can continue to provide programs and services, hope, inspiration, and support to other patients and families, just like ours.  (Just click on a red button below to get started.)

Get involved and give back by joining the 5thAnnual Hope, Steps & A Cure 5K Run/Walk Los Angeles 2014
SUNDAY, APRIL 27th 5K starts at 8:00 a.m. Walk starts at 9:30 a.m.			Shoreline Village and the Long Beach ShorelineMarina

Peace, Love, and Blessings to you all.

Maggie Reep O'Neil

Committee Member, Hope, Steps & A Cure 5K Run/Walk

Spartan Race Giveaway WINNER!!!

Thank you to everyone who came to visit my blog and to those who entered the Spartan Race Giveaway for a free race entry!

Using the Random Number generator at Random.org, the winner is Shahana!

Please email me at Love2Mags (at) gmail (dot) com to receive your promo code.

You can still receive 15% off registration for any Spartan race by clicking here.

Now go become a Spartan!!!

Spartan Race Giveaway!

Wow it has been a long time since I've blogged, and I'm excited to return with an awesome giveaway!

Last week I was contacted by the Spartan Race group, and they are offering my readers a code for a free Spartan race!!  I've run this race before and it's hard and SO MUCH FUN!  You won't want to miss the opportunity for a free chance to participate in this awesomeness!! It's easy to enter:

To enter:  Comment on this post and tell me why you want to be a Spartan!
Date:  Enter by Tuesday, June 11 at Noon PST
Winner:  A winner will be chosen at random, and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, June 12

If you're so excited and ready to be a Spartan NOW, here is a link to generate a 15% off coupon for your next Spartan race!

Do you have what it takes to be a Spartan!?

Surf City 1/2 & LA Color Run 5K This Weekend!

This Sunday I'm running the Surf City 1/2 Marathon for my third time!  I'm running it as a training run for the LA Marathon in March, which is only 47 days away!  Weeeeeeeee!!!

This morning I ran for the first time in a week after discovering I have shin splints.  I spent the past week resting, icing, wrapping, elevating, stretching, and this morning when I hit the pavement my shins felt much better.  I did 45 minutes of intervals at race pace, and I feel much more confident (I was worried that not running for a week would hurt my training...it didn't, phew).  I was able to get a 22 mile bike ride in over the weekend though, which I'm sure helped.  I'm going to run tomorrow and Thursday, and continue icing, and I hope I'll be A-OK for Sunday!

Another fun thing that's happening this weekend is the LA Color Run!  For Christmas, our friends D&L registered me and my hubs for the Color Run.  I did the OC Color Run with my cousin last year and we had a blast!  Since Lisa and I are both running Surf City on Sunday, we're going to take it easy and walk/jog the 5K as a fun double date with our hubbies!

I'm looking forward to this fun-filled & race-filled Super Bowl Weekend!!!  What are your Super Bowl Weekend plans??

I am a TRIATHLETE!

I did it!  I completed my very first sprint triathlon (800m swim + 11mi bike + 5k run)!  And I can say without a doubt that it won't be my last :)  I had so much fun I can't even explain.  It was difficult (the ocean was choppy), it was challenging (the bike course was not flat), and most of all, it was fun (good experiences with good friends)!

We did it!  We are triathletes!!!!

Lisa, Sam (baby bro), me

I'm so proud of my brother, Lisa, and Koko (not pictured above, but she came in 3rd in her division!) for competing and finishing!

Race recap to come!!

Signed up for my first Triathlon!!!!

I signed up for my first triathlon!!  I'm bursting at the seams with excitement!  It's on my 30-before-30 list, but I didn't think I would do it this year until my friend told me she was going to sign up and that we should do it together!  No convincing necessary!  Done deal!  So yesterday I signed up for the Long Beach Triathlon!

And to make things even more exciting, two others are doing it with us, and it’s all our first tri!!  I have pretty much everything (running gear, swimsuit, goggles, cap) and I'm going to borrow my Dad's road bike.  So I really just need to get a helmet and a wet suit.  If anyone recommends any tri wet suits, please let me know!  

Here is the training plan we are going to use, courtesy of TriNewbies.com:

I also reached out to my blogging buddy, Ms. Efo, for any tips/advice since she ran her first tri last summer.  She gave me some great tips.  Thanks Erin!!  I really appreciate it!!

If you guys have any advice or tips for a tri newbie, please let me know in the comments or email me at Love 2 Mags (@) gmail dot com.  I'd really appreciate it!


Weeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

Working Out Again + Upcoming Races!

I started working out again two weeks ago.  With everything that’s happened, I didn’t make time for the gym.  I would go on long walks around my neighborhood, but nothing like that super-sweaty-I-really-pushed-myself-I’m-going-to-be-sore-tomorrow-butt-kicking kind of workout.  So two weeks ago I hit the gym and had that kind of workout!  After 15 minutes I got really emotional and the tears just came.  I almost stopped, but I knew before I started that working out would make me vulnerable as I pushed myself, so I asked Mom for strength and I continued to push through.  An hour later I felt empowered and accomplished, and my body and mind felt so clear.  I’m back to working out 4 days a week and it’s such a stress reliever and a great outlet for my emotions.

I also went for a short run that day after the gym, and man oh man has my running endurance diminished.  After a mile I was exhausted!  Therein my goal was established:  to get back in running shape.  Yesterday I walked 4 miles at a 13:00pace (which was great, especially on the beautiful day we had here), but now it’s time to throw in some intervals and run.  I'm running the Seal Beach 5K this Saturday, something I've done the last 3 years, and I'm going to use Jeff Galloway's method and run 3 minutes walk 1 minute.  Then Sunday a bunch of my friends and family and I are doing the Color Run!  That will be a blast!  I expect us to come out looking like this:

Source:  The Color Run website

Do you prefer regular races or color/mud/zombie runs?  Or both?

Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon! (quick post)

Yesterday was the Inaugural Tinker Bell ½ Marathon at Disneyland!  I did it with my cousin, her friend, and three other ladies, and we had an absolute blast!  We talked, we laughed, we sang, we danced, and the miles just ticked by.  Before we knew it we were at mile 9 with only 4 miles to go.  So we sang, we laughed, and we danced along the course some more!  We were being silly and enjoying all the Disney characters along the course.  Twenty years from now we can say we were a part of the very first Tinker Bell race…how cool is that?!  It was so fun and the beginning of a lasting tradition :)

Full recap to come later this week! 

What goes around comes around :) Good Karma

Call it kindness, call it coincidence, or call it karma.  Whatever you call it, it’s pretty cool.

Last week I gave away my bib for the LA 13.1 Half Marathon that I was unable to run.  Two days after I gave it away to Miss J, I got an email from a friend offering me her friend’s bib for the Disney TinkerBell half marathon on January 29^th!  I was so stoked because I tried signing up for this race last fall and it was completely sold out.  It’s the inaugural race, which is so cool to be a part of, and it’s Disney!  I love Disney! :)  Of course I said yes!  My cousin is also doing it and I’m so pumped to be doing it with her and some other family!  And of course we’re dressing up!  Green tutus galore!  It’s going to be fun :)

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Ten days until the LA 1/2 marathon

Remember when I won a race entry for the LA 1/2 Marathon a couple weeks ago?  Well that race is 10 days away!!!  TEN days!!

I'm super excited for a couple reasons:
1.  I've never won anything until now.
2.  The half marathon distance is my favorite distance*.
3.  Efo is an inspirational runner, great writer/blogger, and I'm happy to call her my friend.  Thanks Efo for having this awesome giveaway on your blog!!!
4.  It's a beautiful scenic beach course.
5.  This kicks off my 2012 race season!  (I'm still working on my race schedule for this year, and once it's done I'll post it.)


I'm super nervous for many reasons:
1.  I haven't been running much the past 5 weeks (I have been working out a lot though so at least I'm in shape)
2.  My last long run was on Halloween when I ran 9 miles.
3.  Between Halloween and my wedding on December 3, I was logged in several 3-4 milers.  Since my wedding though, my running has been hardly there (see #1 above).
4.  It's a point-to-point race.  I have to park at point A, run/walk the race, end at point B, and wait who-knows-how-long for the shuttle to take me back to point A where my car will be.


Having said that, as far as goals are concerned, I only have one:  TO HAVE FUN!!!  I want to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the oceanfront course and not start off the season with an injury due to lack of training :)


*I have yet to run a full marathon.  Once I finish my MBA program this coming winter, I'm going to tackle the 26.2!!!

LA 1/2 Marathon!

A few days ago my blogger buddy Erin posted a giveaway on her blog.  The giveaway was a free race entry for the LA 1/2 Marathon on January 15, 2012!  Of course I entered because I'm a fan of her blog, I love half marathons AND it's a race close to home!  I never win anything so I entered and didn't think much of it.  To my suprise and total excitement, this morning I woke up to an email from Erin saying that I WON!!!  I'm so stoked!!!  I've never won anything and this is a super awesome thing to win!!  Thank you so much Erin!!!

LA, here I come!!!

Thanksgiving? In Two Days??

Yesterday I did a double workout, each with a lot of cardio and a lot of weights.  Today I feel great!!!  I'm sore, but it's that good sore one gets from really pushing oneself.  I love it!


Can you believe Thursday is Thanksgiving??  I sure can't!  Where has this year gone!?
I love Thanksgiving...running the Turkey Trot (last year's recap) with my family in the morning then spending the evening with them engaging in wonderful conversation and enjoying delicious food and terrific wine.  It's one of my favorite holidays because it's all about family, friends, and giving thanks.  There are many things to be thankful for this year :)  I will share my list with you on Thanksgiving Day.


Is anyone running a Turkey Trot?  How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

First Race as a Mrs!

I just signed up for the 2012 Surf City 1/2 marathon on Super Bowl Sunday!

I ran this in 2010 as my first half marathon with my cousin, and I'm so excited to train for it and run it again!  I'm especially excited because this will be my first race as a married woman!  Woohoo!!!!


Do you guys have any races coming down the pipeline you're super excited for?

Chance to run the Women's Nike Marathon from Somersault Snacks!

Do you want to run the SOLD OUT Nike Women's Marathon?  Even though it's sold out there is still an opportunity to run it!


I was recently approached by Somersault Snacks, which is a company that produces delicious, healthy snacks baked with sunflower seeds and toasted grains (who doesn't love a tasty snack?!).  The Company has an awesome opportunity for 6 lucky winners to train and run the Nike Women's Marathon with them in San Francisco on October 16th!


It's so easy to enter!  All you have to do is:


1.  Like Somersault Snacks on Facebook and complete the sentence:  "I run to be_____" and tell them why you should be picked for Team Somersaults!
2.  Tweet about the contest referencing @SomersaultSnack in your tweets!
3.  Enter the contest via Facebook here!


It's an awesome chance to race in one of the most fun Marathons, and don't forget, you get a Tiffany's necklace at the end of this race.

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon???

About two weeks ago I received an email from Run Disney..."FINAL RACE INSTRUCTIONS."  Final race what?  "Oh crap!" I thought.  I had completely forgotten that I signed up for the Disneyland 1/2 months ago, partially because I can't believe September is here.  Where did the summer go?  Where has the year gone?


So tomorrow morning, I will be waking up at 2:30am (ugh), leaving by 4am to be lined up in my corral by 5:30am of a race I have not trained for at all.  I could get all stressed and worried, but I'm not.  I'm actually looking forward to it!  Honestly, who can say they've gone into a 1/2 marathon untrained?  Only a dumbass who forgot she signed up, i.e. me hahaha!  I am going to go out there tomorrow and have fun!  I will probably get super tired, sore, hit a wall, build a thousand blisters, BUT IT'S DISNEYLAND, and it will be so much fun!!!!!  Training or not, let's do this thing and have fun!!!!


Wish me luck!  :)


PS-I get my Coast to Coast bling too after finishing!  My fiance and I ran the Disneyworld 1/2 in Florida back in January which was so much fun!!!

I'm a Sucker for Race Challenges!

I am a complete sucker for race Challenges and their medals!
Challenges like the California Dreamin’ Racing Series which I completed in 2010 (now the Beach Cities Series) and Disney’s Coast to Coast Challenge which I will complete after I run the Disneyland half marathon on September 4th this year!


Today I received an email from the San Francisco Marathon introducing their new challenge – the “You can HALF it all!” challenge! Here is the description:

Run the 1st Half Marathon and 2nd Half Marathon in 2 consecutive years, and pick up a special Half it All Challenge Medal at the finish line!

Now you can Run the Golden Gate AND Cruise through the Haight, covering all 26.2 Miles!

It's pretty darn tempting!  Right now registration is $105, which isn't too bad, relatively speaking.  But then add the cost of the flight, and we're starting to get a little pricey.  I want to do it, but with our new house (mortgage!) and wedding, I don't know if I should.

What do you think about racing series and challenges?  Love them or hate them?

2011 Races

Happy Friday!
In recent posts I've written about focusing on 5Ks and maybe 10Ks this year, which is still my plan!  I've found some fun races, and there are definitely more I'd like to register for to hekp fill my year.  For now this is my 2011 race schedule:


Disneyland 1/2 Marathon -- January 8 (DONE!)
Seal Beach 5K -- April 2 (DONE!)
Saints on the Run 5K -- April 9
PCRF Cinco de Mayo 5K -- May 1
Palos Verdes 5K -- May 14
Billy Goat Hill Climb 1/2 Marathon -- June 18
City of Cypress 10K -- July 23
Disneyland 1/2 Marathon -- September 4 (I'll complete the Coast to Coast Challenge!)
Chapman 5K -- October 15
LB Turkey Trot 5K -- November 24


I threw in a couple 1/2 Mary's (Disneyworld I ran with my fiance!  It was his first and we had a blast!) but for the most part it's 5Ks.  It should be a fun running year :)


That's all for now!

Saturday's 5K + 1st Wedding Tasting!!!

This Saturday I’m running the Seal Beach 5K with two of my best friends.  Last year Lisa and I ran the 10K, but this year we decided to go with the 5K since neither of us have been running as much as we were this time last year.  For me, this race is not about “racing” but about going out and having a fun run with two people I love!  I’m not looking to PR (I need to work back up to my current PR of 30:04 at LB Turkey Trot 2010), but it should provide a good sense of where I’m at now and how hard I need to work to achieve a PR.  It’s just going to be FUN!!!!



On a wedding-related note, Sean and I are meeting with our caterer tonight for a preliminary tasting!  Of course closer to our BIG DAY we’ll do another tasting to narrow down and choose our entrée options.  Oo the fun yum stuff (food and wine!)!  I know it’s going to be a blast!  Delicious food with the best company!  <3

Happy Wednesday!

Building my base with a plan!

Yesterday I found myself toying with the idea of running Long Beach again, even though my focus is not on longer races this year. I started thinking about running the LB ½ again for redemption, because I TOTALLY hit the wall last year (I did finish though!). Worst.Race.Ever. But then my vivid imagination ran wild with that idea and I started thinking about running the full! I thought about it to the point where I actually built a training plan…a full fledged full marathon training plan. Hmm.


Reality soon sank in when I saw some midweek runs of 8+ miles. I don’t have that kind of time. Between working 40-70 hours a week and going to grad school 6 hours a week + allotting an additional 8-10 hours of studying, my “extra” time is quite limited. My free time right now is mostly spent planning Sean’s and my beautiful wedding (we just got our invitation proofs today and they are G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!), then getting some runs in and working out with my trainer, and maybe hanging out with the fam and friends. Where would I fit a midweek 10-miler in?! I wouldn’t.


I realized what was behind this drive (aside from the fact that I indeed want to and WILL run a fully mary one day) and why I built a training plan for something I won’t do until next year (did I say that out loud? ;) ) Well, here it is: I realized I’m the kind of person who needs a training plan. I need a goal, something to work towards. Without a goal I’m just moving. I want to be moving towards something. It keeps my running on schedule with all the busy aspects of my life. It helps me focus and stay focused. With that said, I built myself a nice little plan for the next couple months. It’s what I call my “base-building” plan:

I have a couple 5K’s coming down the pipeline, two of which I mentioned here, and I just signed up for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundations Cinco de Mayo 5K on May 1st which will be super fun! I’m also planning on running the Palos Verde 5K then cheering on Kristy, Penny, and Lauren as they run the half marathon!

Do you follow a running schedule or just go with the flow and run?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! + Another 5K!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Today I will be celebrating my Irish heritage with work all day and night class.  Perhaps after class we'll grab a green beer :)

And I have another 5K on the books!

My company is sponsoring a local 5K on April 9th and graciously waived the fees for employees.
A 5K?  For free?  OKAY!  You don’t need to ask me twice!  I immediately signed up and now I’m running the Seal Beach 5K on April 2nd and the Saints on the Run 5K on April 9!
Heck, maybe I should find two more the following weekends since I’m already on a roll.  If anyone knows of any 5Ks in the OC/LA area on April 16/23/30, let me know :)

That’s all for now. Happy St. Paddy's Day, and Run happy!