A New Trail Discovery

 

Last night when my grandfather suggested we enjoy Italian for dinner, I knew that meant one thing only: a morning long run! I normally only eat Italian or pasta the night before races and long runs so it instantly got me excited for an outdoor run in Savannah.

My dad, who is definitely not a runner, surprised me with a great trail suggestion for this morning’s run. Our county, Chatham County, purchased hundreds of acres in 2000 from the YMCA in order to create miles of recreational trails. Like any public development, the project has taken years but is now well underway.

I enjoyed a delicious sandwich thin breakfast including 1 thin schmear of peanut butter and a half of banana since I knew I wasn’t doing more than 7 miles due to time.

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The trail is only ten minutes from my parent’s house and I was able to enjoy the sunrise as I crossed over the bridge.

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At this point, the paved portion of the Whitemarsh Island trail is only 2 miles long but the plan is to make it over 10 miles by the time it is done. They are well on their way as there were over 20 workers out this morning laying asphalt, clearing brush, and bull dozing.

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Luckily, it connects to the YMCA’s 1 mile trail which circles their property. IMG_1511 (500x373)

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It was more humid than I expected and my legs were exhausted from yesterdays hill workout on the treadmill and three days of walking with my mom. I easily could have stopped after my speedy first 3 miles which I did in a 9:45 pace, but keeping with my promise I pushed on and finished 5 miles. It wasn’t the 7 I had planned but it was a gorgeous trail and I enjoyed getting outside with nature.

Five miles and 48:45 minutes later, my legs were happy to be done but my body wanted more time in the sun.

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Luckily, my mom and I have plans for one last long walk before my afternoon flight back to New York City!

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How to Celebrate A Birthday

We aren’t on a tropical vacation or even enjoying a huge, fancy birthday party today for my mom’s 60th birthday. But, I’m not going to lie, I think we’ve enjoyed every minute of her 60th year thus far!

We woke up early and enjoyed a five mile walk on the beach.

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We fueled a day of shopping with a few of our favorite things including fountain Diet Coke, Panera, and bananas!

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Now we’re off to enjoy dinner at our favorite Savannah restaurant, Elizabeth’s on 37th.

Question: What is your favorite way to celebrate your birthday?

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Savannah Spa Day: Glow Med Spa

Thus far our vacation has been wonderful! It’s included lots of cooking , movie watching , a few great workouts , and family time.

Today, after a visit with my grandmother in the hospital, my mom and I treated ourselves to a holiday spa day. We both were in need of some rest and relaxation and our dry skin was crying for a hydrating facial. Luckily, via Twitter and South Magazine, I discovered a new to us spa which specializes in skin treatments.

Glow Med Spa & Beauty Boutique opened three years ago, which brought a science and beauty spa together under one roof. It brings the future of cosmetic medicine to Savannah while also offering traditional spa services for those people who aren’t willing to take their beauty to the next level.

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Glow’s bright walls immediately greet you as you walk through the doors. White walls and counters, detailed with bright aqua blue, welcome you to the beauty oasis while relaxing music soothes the soul. A friendly receptionist, welcomes guests with a “Hi y’all, how may I help you?”  and offered champagne or water to my mom and I.

We were quickly escorted to our room, including two tables, since we were enjoying an afternoon of treatments together. This meant that we’d share one room, with each aesthetician and masseuse coming into our room versus us having to move after each treatment. It really was such a treat to be pampered together. Our room featured dim lights, two heated tables, and beautiful mood music, relaxing us more and more by the second.

We enjoyed three treatments today:

A Not So Basic Facial

Glow’s twist on the traditional facial. This treatment combines skin-type specific cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and an individualized treatment mask chosen to suit and soothe. This facial is the perfect jumpstart to get you back on the road to beautiful skin. Ideal for frequent facial fans or maintenance between our more intensive facials, it can be further customized with a variety of facial build ons.

Glow Signature Massage

This tension-melting marriage of tension taming massage techniques is a virtual
countdown to ‘butter’, so climb out of that standard-sixty-minute-rub rut and onto
a perfectly-warmed massage table, where we’ll loosen you up, target your most
troubled muscles.  And to put a little more pampering into your massage-we even apply an anti-aging warm hand treatment to leave you soft all over.

Body Scrub

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Each treatment was an hour long and took place in a warm, lit room. My favorite was definitely the facial as it was everything I expect of a wonderful facial- relaxing, purifying, and enhancing. I entered the room with dry skin, dulled from the harsh winter wind and weather. By the end of the hour treatment my entire face was moist, supple, and quenched- including my lips. The aesthetician, Ursula, put together a specialized mask and scrub based on my skins needs. I have never had a facial which included a 10 minute fingertip facial massage. This portion of the treatment was absolute bliss!

I fell asleep for most of the massage but was quickly awaken when the masseuse found my IT Band. Even though I’ve only enjoyed 4-5 mile runs lately, my legs are still tight and sore. I did however love the soft scent of their massage lotion as it wasn’t overwhelming or headache inducing.

The scrub was the most awkward of treatments but the results are amazing. My mom and I felt like holiday turkeys, rubbed down and put in the oven, during the entire hour long treatment. We were rubbed down in a salt, moisturizing mixture which both exfoliated and hydrated our skin before wrapped in heating foil to “marinate” for 5-10 minutes. After doing the other side we were left with baby soft skin free of any white or red dry patches.

I highly recommend a relaxing spa day the next time you are home with your mom or sister. We caught up, laughed, and relaxed during these three hours of uninterrupted pampering. There were no cell phones, no demanding family members, or errands. Instead, we enjoyed some quality girl time and have already promised ourselves that this will become a Savannah tradition every time I’m home visiting.

For more information, head over to Glow’s Med Spa’s website or Spa-Finder to find a wonderful spa in your own hometown.

What is your favorite spa treatment?

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