Michelle

Recharging for 2013

December 29, 2012 by Michelle 8 Comments

We’ve been in full holiday celebration mode for a week now around my house – soaking in time with family and friends. After all of the rushing around and planning, it’s been great to be present in the moment and just enjoy the days as they’ve unfolded. It wasn’t until late yesterday afternoon, curled up under a blanket nursing a sore throat that I really started to think about goals for 2013.

Looking back at the running goals I laid out in January, I’m happy to say that I hit almost all of them (the 10K PR still eludes me). I had a heck of a lot of fun this year with lots of highs:

taking the whole family along for a race in DC
getting to meet a bunch of runner/bloggers
serving as a ZOOMA race ambassador
getting away with my friend E for run and fun at ZOOMA Cape Cod
working with my running coach Bennett Cohen – learned so much!!
new PRs in the half marathon, 10-miler and 5K
ran over 900 miles

Now that I’ve had a little down time, I’m looking forward to kicking up my training for a half marathon in March (still debating which one!). So, what are some of my running/fitness goals for the upcoming year?

complete the 13 in 2013 Challenge— I think I’ve almost got the race calendar sorted out!
looking to shave some more time off my best times for both the half marathon and 10K (specific target times to come later) – I really need to find a flatter course for the half!
continue to do all of things that I believe helped to keep me off the injury-reserve list — yoga, strength training, massages and time with the chiro.

But, as always, the biggest goal is to continue to have fun — to run with friends, to run in some new locales, try an obstacle course race (or two), be a race volunteer, and have more blogger meet-ups!

Filed Under: #13in2013, goals, keeping it interesting, PR

Jingle Bell Run Recap

December 24, 2012 by Michelle 7 Comments

Last Sunday I wrapped up my 2012 racing season with the always fun Jingle Bell Run! This time I got to run it with my brother — it was his first 5k and I was so psyched to run it with him!

I had run this race last year with J and my friend E and I swear we were practically the only ones not dressed in some form of costume. Well, after telling my brother about the range of outfits from last year, he decided if he was going to to do this he had to get into the spirit of it. During the week leading up to the run, as I heard about his planned race outfit, I knew I’d have to get in on the act. So with the help of my trusty adviser (aka my 7 year-old) and a trip to Target, I put together a respectable showing 🙂

(These pictures don’t really do our outfits justice. You can’t see my light-up bracelets or the sparkle that covered my Santa hat. And, yes that is a giant ball of mistletoe on my brother’s hat – it was a big hit along with his shirt that said “What happens under the mistletoe stays under the mistletoe”)

The race itself once again did not disappoint – it was a lively group with some really creative costumes! My brother had said his goal was to just “finish under my own power” and to have fun doing it. We had a good time laughing at the sights, and it was fun to just go out and run without any concern for time.


Medal/Bottle Opener!

All -in-all a great day and best of all my brother’s talking about his next race!

Filed Under: family running, Jingle Bell Run, race report

Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 Things)

December 20, 2012 by Michelle 9 Comments

1.
You know that feeling at the beginning of week when you have a mile-long to do list,you’re staring at the calendar trying to figure out how to wedge in one more commitment, and then you get thrown a curve ball and all plans go haywire? Well, my curve ball came in the form of having kids home sick on two different days. On the good side, both boys are feeling better and I got some quality snuggle time with my kiddos 🙂

2.
I did make it to the chiro this week for another appointment. After seeing him twice a week for the past few weeks I’m happy to report that the majority of my ITB pain is gone! We’ve agreed to take a couple of weeks off and then see how I feel as I start to build my mileage back up – fingers crossed, nothing will flare up.

3.
The lottery gods were unkind to me for the Cherry
Blossom 10 miler lottery, so it stays on my race bucket list for another year.

I did lock in the early bird rate on Boston’s Run to Remember for the end of May, but am still on the hunt for another half marathon or 10-miler for the spring – Any suggestions?

Filed Under: 3 things, Boston's Run to Remember, chiropractor, ITB, kids, race calendar, to do list

13 in 2013

December 19, 2012 by Michelle 9 Comments

Continuing under the theme of getting out of my comfort zone….

I’m doing the 13 in 2013 Challenge! Yeah, 13 races next year? That should keep it interesting!

Want in? Check out the details HERE!

Filed Under: #13in2013, comfort zone, race shopping

There are just no words

December 17, 2012 by Michelle 3 Comments

If you want to help the Sandy Hook victims and their families, here are some ways (thanks to Beth at Shut Up and Run for posting them).

Sandy Hook Elementary School Fund: Chris DeLetto of Champaign, Ill., started this fundraiser on Crowdtilt, hoping to raise $50,000 in 30 days.
Help for the Sandy Hook Elementary School Families: Raising money for the Sandy Hook Parent Teachers Association.
Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund: Raising money for the school’s PTSA organization.
Secure Schools: Becky Hoover launched this campaign to get security systems in place in all U.S. schools, including pass-key systems with cameras.
Wall of Love: This interactive website, designed following the tragic shooting, wants to show everyone affected by the tragedy that there is more love than hate in the world.

Wishing you peace,

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Lessons from Training

December 13, 2012 by Michelle 8 Comments

As I make my racing plans for 2013, it seems only fitting that I do so based on lessons I learned during the past training cycle.

Lesson 1 – Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
Almost from the outset, I remember looking at the workouts, target paces and mileage Coach Bennett had laid out for me and often my thought was – “he wants me to do what?!” But I chose to work with a running coach because I wanted to shake things up, right? So good bye comfort zone!

Lesson 2 – Trust in the training
Despite being uncomfortable, I followed my plan as it was laid out. This was much more a test of me getting out of my head (fighting the “I can’ts” or “What ifs?”), and just taking each run as it came.

Lesson 3 – Hill work will make you stronger
‘Nuff said here.

Lesson 4 – Listen and be kind to your body
As much as I embraced my plan, I was also careful to listen to my body and cut a run short or take the rest day when I needed it. I was also diligent in what I call “proactive self care” – in the form of lots of foam roller, icing, massages and a lot more yoga. Collectively, I believe this all helped me to stay off the injured-reserve list.

Lesson 5 – Reflect and find the positives
My bi-weekly calls with Coach Bennett were so critical for this. As I mentioned HERE before the ZOOMA Half Marathon, the biggest gift Bennett gave me was to help me to take the time to look back, whether it was the past 2 weeks, the past month or the entire training cycle. To remind yourself of the challenges faced, obstacles overcome and successes all help to put your mind in the right space.

For 19 weeks I worked with Coach Bennett – through the crazy heat of summer, through hill work, through a sometimes cranky ITB, through many, many miles…and the results this fall were 3 races and 3 PRs. But more importantly, I believe I’m a changed runner, which will hopefully serve me well as I get ready for 2013.

Filed Under: lessons learned, running coach, training

Decaffeinated Monday

December 10, 2012 by Michelle 7 Comments

I was racing to get out the door this morning to get to BOKS on time so there was little time for coffee…and I went from there to a chiro appointment. So it’s late in the morning and I’ve still not had coffee yet…(never a good thing)…so a bit of randomness coming at you:

Wrapped up week 3 of the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge with a woeful 30.75 points. Having kids home and a little knee pain at the beginning of the week really threw me off my game. Definitely looking to up the numbers this week!

And because I love a good challenge, I just signed on to the Chilly Challenge for the month of January. This fun challenge is sponsored by Amy from Running Escapades and Janine from The Purple Giraffe It’s a friendly team competition to see who can log the most miles in January – just pick a team and start logging those miles. (And of course, there are some fun prizes involved.) Great idea to get the new year off to a good start!

I’m starting to do a little race shopping for 2013. I already have the Old-Fashioned 10 miler for February but want to find a spring half marathon. While I was super excited when the Nike Women’s Half Marathon announced they were coming to DC this spring, the $160 price tag quickly killed that enthusiasm. Seriously?!

14 more shopping days till Christmas and I am desperately holding on to my zen! This will be a week of power shopping and online ordering!

OK, now for the safety of those around me, I’m off to find some coffee!

So tell me – what’s the most you’re will to pay for a race?

Are you done with your shopping yet?

Filed Under: Chilly Challenge, Holiday Bootie Buster, holiday sanity, race shopping

Running for Recovery

December 6, 2012 by Michelle 6 Comments

Looking for a way to help those still trying to recover from Hurricane Sandy?

Join the Race for Recovery 5k/10k hosted by Michele at NYC Running Mama. Michele has put together some amazing giveaways, but more importantly, by participating you’ll be supporting a great cause! 100% of the proceeds goes towards the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

There’s still time to register – you can go HERE for more information.

Filed Under: Hurricane Sandy, virtual race

Reflections on Training

December 6, 2012 by Michelle Leave a Comment

Since wrapping up my last big race of the fall a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been thinking a lot about this past training cycle

Working with a coach was one of the best decisions I could have made. Throughout the 19 week plan that Coach Bennett Cohen designed for me I was pushed well outside my comfort zone

Filed Under: Uncategorized