About Me

HEY! I’m Ashley.

1. Lets talk about where I got the name of my blog: My hair is extremely long, curly, nappy and any other word you can think of that means impossible to deal with. When I ran it was all over the place. This past year I discovered I can run with it in a bun on the top of my head (like I used to wear it when I was 13) and it doesn’t move. It is amazing.

Before (MESS):

Dreadlock mess

After (NO MESS!):

Bun Heaven

2. Why I wanted to blog: I think the fit/fitness/running/healthy living/eating blogging community is freaking great. I want to make new fit friends and running buddies with similar interests. I want to be able to track my workouts and list my fitness goals (it helps to be held accountable for them!) I really just want to learn as much as I can through others and hopefully provide some insight of my own.

3. I currently live in north NJ with these characters, Fizz, River and Harley.

Best friends

Just so you don’t get confused, Fizz is my boyfriend (his name is Mike, but I only call him that around his family so they don’t think I’m talking to all of them), River is our adopted pit bull, and Harley is our French Mastiff.

4. I work in NYC at a Hedge Fund. My office is right near Central Park. Amazing running, all the time.

5. I started seriously running two years ago, and I am in love. I started slowly, first two miles, then a 5k, and then a friend helped me train for the 2010 Long Branch Half Marathon. I was addicted to the feeling I got when I crossed the finish line.  So I don’t have to keep updating this section when I run another race, check out the Race Review page!

NJ Marathon 2011. Sunburned sweetness. Gimme that medal!

6. I am a vegetarian (Animal cruelty is on the top of the list of my LEAST favorite things). Since adopting a plant-based diet, I have never felt happier or healthier.

7. My family means the absolute world to me. You’ll hear a lot about them, especially my sisters, Brittany (Blondie below) and Shelley (Bangs below). We are best friends. Even though I’m a lot shorter than them, not sure what happened.

Mom. Dad. Bun. Shelley. Brittany. Matt.

8. I had two hip surgeries (one on each side) for labral tears. Left in 2004 and right in 2005. My doctor told me I would not run again (because I also have hip dysplasia). I waited about 4/12 years before I ran again. I am happy and thankful I did. Running has changed my life for the better!

9. I love running fast. I would LOVE to be fastER. I would like to thank my Mizuno’s for helping me inch toward my goal this past year (Neon makes you fast, in case you didn’t think that already).  If anyone wants to help me become the speedster I dream of being, PLEASE pass any advice along, I sincerely appreciate it! **I’ll buy you a puppy in exchange for running coaching services**

A Race? I hope I win.

10. Just so you all know a little more about me, my favorite things:

    • Spandex – I wear it as much as possible. I believe the shiny ones from American Apparel are Business Casual.
    • Dogs/People who help dogs – I find myself donating money I don’t have to random animal shelters all over the country in the middle of the night to help save animals. I can’t help myself. I  think the people who work for Team ASPCA have the best job, traveling around, running and saving puppies combined? Sign me up please?! My contact information is a few tabs to the right. I’ll make myself available for an interview. I’m an ASPCA Guardian if it helps.
    • Bruce Springsteen, always.
    • The New York Football Giants
    • Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee (black)
    • Blackjack (which comes hand in hand with AC and Vegas)
    • Sarcasm, if you don’t like sarcasm, you won’t like me
    • White wine
    • HGTV
    • The beach (with SPF 70, I’m basically Powder)

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy, let me know if you have any questions and I appreciate comments and/or feedback. I would love to hear from you!

28 thoughts on “About Me”

    1. Running Bun Post author

      Thats perfect, since I moved to NJ with my boyfriend, I spend a majority of my time with Pinot Grigio and my dogs. Talk about anti social. Sounds like we will get along just fine :)

      Reply ↓
  4. jmclau17

    Haha so I read this after commenting on your kayaking post, and we are eerily similar…I have your hair exactly (and that green nike shirt in your picture, I use it as a goalie jersey for soccer) and I’m finally starting to appreciate it (the hair!) too. I also LOVE to run, and I’m not quite at your stage yet but I just ran my first half marathon in Charlottesville, VA and I’m really addicted (and will get back to it when my knee injury heals up). I really wanna work on my fitness and live healthier, love your blog already! We’d definitely be friends (:

    Reply ↓
    1. Running Bun Post author

      Awesome! Congrats on the half! I am extremely prone to knee injuries as well. What helped me was giving my body the rest it needed and doing other forms of cardio for a while (spinning, elliptical). Thanks for the love! Much appreciated!

      Reply ↓
  5. Stacy Lazar

    Really wishing I could rock out in your race photos as much as you. Instead I just look like I’m dying. Looking forward to staying up to date with your running and your wild hair!

    Reply ↓
    1. Running Bun Post author

      Hah! I used to never smile and ALL of my race pics looked like I was I was one more step away from keeling over. So I decided it was better to scout out the photogs instead :) Thanks for following along! I love your blog too!

      Reply ↓
  9. gmruns

    I have been following you on twitter and just took the time to stop by your blog and I think it might be a new fave. I mean, if you are a Giants fan you are already awesome in my book :)

    Reply ↓
  10. Jessica

    Hi friend-

    So proud of you always :) This is awesome and i miss you.

    Everyone- let it be known that my neon clad bff here was my inspiration to become a runner!!! Anyone who knows me knows that although I am active, I was always a terrible runner. With Ashley’s support and tips, I have run two half marathons this year! (with pretty good results if i do say so myself)

    We are running another one together for the first time in October and I couldnt be more excited!! I better kick my training up a notch :)

    Love you!! <3

    Reply ↓
  14. SeeBriRun

    Hi Ashley! I recently came across your blog and fell in love! I have super crazy curly hair and have ended up with a massive bun on my head when I run :) I look forward to reading your posts! xo Bri

    Reply ↓
  15. caren @ voodies

    Girl, you had me at HGTV, spandex office attire and wine. The fact that you are a crazy dog lady and a vegetarian just put me over the edge.

    Will you marry me?? I’m sure my husband will make this one acception if I promise not to bring any more stray animals into our life.

    SO SO SO glad I found you.

    I adore your writing and what you stand for.

    XO

    Reply ↓

  16. Pingback: Fit Blogger We Love: Running Bun | The Fit Stop

    1. runningbun Post author

      Ahhh Happy you found it (and hope you like it)!!! Try putting it in a pony first then a separate hair tie for the bun :)

      Reply ↓

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