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Meeting Ali Vincent and a Go Girl Run 5K Training Update

go girl run

Me, Ali Vincent and Dawn with University of Missouri Health Care after the event!

The following is a post sponsored by University of Missouri Health Care. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Remember how I said I’d be introducing Ali Vincent for a special event in Columbia, Mo.? Well, it happened, and let me tell you, it was AWESOME.

First, I’m a Mizzou alum, so coming “home” to speak was truly an honor. Second, although I was super nervous for it, once I stepped on the stage to give my 15-minute talk on willpower and habits (which I’ll be doing a more in-depth version of tomorrow night online for free!) all the butterflies were gone. The audience—full of Ali Vincent fans—was amazing. I expected to have to pump them up a bit, but they were already amped and ready. I told them to stand; they stood. I made them do something goofy; they goofed it up. They even high-fived each other without me having to tell them twice. My kind of people.

Third, Ali is such a joy to be around! She’s just like you’d expect her to be—upbeat, funny, encouraging, down to earth and a hugger. She loves her fans and loves to help others, and if you ever have the chance to see her speak, DO IT. Her presentation about her time at The Biggest Loser ranch and her weight-loss journey is as inspiring as it is funny. (Also be sure to check out her TV show!) Fourth, the University of Missouri Health Care people I’ve been working with on this project have been amazing. They know how to put on a show, have a fantastic new blog, and I am super-duper excited to run their Go Girl Run 5K soon.

university of missouriWhich brings me to the topic of training…while I’ve been running twice a week for about two to three miles, I haven’t done nearly as much speed-work and hill-work as I’d planned. And Columbia is a hilly, hilly town. Seeing that I’m less than two weeks out from my race? Well, let’s just say that training isn’t the kind of thing you can cram for. In fact, you sort of do the opposite of cramming by doing the hard work early and then making sure your body is well rested so that you can push it to its max come race day.

With that said though, the last time I did a race my legs weren’t nearly as strong as they are now, as I hadn’t been working out three days a week at this place doing lunges, squats and deadlifts galore. So, I’m sticking with my goal to do this 5K in less than 30 minutes. And Dawn (who’s pictured above) is going to do it with me. Get ready hilly Columbia…we’re coming!

Any advice or pointers for us as we break the 30-minute 5K barrier? I’m all ears! Running Go Girl Run, too? Let’s meet up! Love Ali Vincent? Tell me all about it! —Jenn

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