Jingle Bell Run Race Recap

December 20, 2011 by 11 Comments

On Sunday, I ran the Jingle Bell Run with my husband J and friend E. I had wanted to run this last year but was injured — so glad I got to this year! This race was fun from start to finish!

It was a balmy 23 degrees when we got to the race so we hung in the car for as long as we could before heading over to the starting area. We made a quick pit stop, and I saw one of my favorite costumes of the day – a group of 6 guys with huge inflatable reindeer heads tethered together “pulling” another guy dressed as Santa with a cardboard sleigh. They were guided by two women dressed like elves. And yes, they ran that way! Unfortunately, my camera was not loving the cold weather and failed on me so I didn’t get any pictures of them or some of the other fun costumes we saw along the way. E and I agreed we were going to have to be much for festive in our outfits next year ~ we also made a pact that we better beat the reindeer 🙂

E & I post-race and ready for a beer

The 3 of us ran together for the first half mile or so, then J headed off – he had a goal to hit 30 mins. E wanted me to just run and she was going to just try to hang with me and keep me in sight. I had no goal except to have fun…I even left my Garmin at home! It was a nice course with some rolling hills. I settled into a nice comfortable pace and enjoyed the sights. This race went by so fast – before I knew it we crested the last hill, turned the corner and could see a great down hill stretch to the finish.

There was a huge bottle neck at the finish as many people just came to a dead stop. The bottleneck continued as runners moved down the street in search of water and medals – this was my one complaint about the race, it was very disorganized at the finish! E, J and I re-grouped – J hit his goal of 30 minutes and E got a big PR in only her 2nd 5k!

Now it was time to celebrate. There were at least a dozen local pubs sponsoring the race, (did I mention the race medal was a bottle opener!) so of course a post-race beer (or 2) was necessary!

Definitely a fun race and one to keep on the schedule for next year!

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Filed Under: Jingle Bell Run, just having fun, race report

Finding Balance during the Holidays

December 15, 2011 by 6 Comments

I think many of us are on a quest to strike a balance in our daily lives. But, when the holiday season rolls around with all of its extra time demands and food temptations, it’s really easy to end up off-kilter. This week the FitFluential Ambassadors are sharing tips for staying balanced during the holidays — here are a few things I’ve found that help me stay on course.

  • Don’t forget to eat — I know this may sound counter-intuitive with all the holiday parties and treats floating around. But, I know that in your daily running around trying to cram in all that needs to get done, that it is very easy to skip a meal for the sake of time. Don’t do it! Feed your body and feed it well. You’ll be less tempted to down that extra cookie and you’ll have the energy you need to get all of those “to do’s” done.
  •  Drink up — Water I mean! I find hydrating in the winter is something I really need to focus on. Again, staying hydrated helps to keep your energy level up, helps you to feel full and helps to balance that extra glass of wine or holiday cocktail.
  • Keep moving — Commit to carving out time each day to move, whether it’s your regular run or dancing the night away at a holiday party. And, remember every little bit counts so take the stairs when you can or park at the far end of the parking lot when you’re out shopping. Got snow in your area – a snowball fight with the kids or a walk with your dog are great calorie burners!
  • Take in the moment — It’s way too easy to get caught up in the “get it done!” mentality. Remember to stop, breathe and take in the moment. The holiday season is not a race – Enjoy the time with friends and family.
  • Sleep — Just like eating well, don’t sacrifice sleep in the name of getting more done. Try to maintain your normal bedtime – your mind and body will thank you.
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Filed Under: FitFluential, holiday sanity, seeking balance

Monday Ramblings

December 12, 2011 by 9 Comments
  • If you’ve been following along with me for a while now then you know I’m big on making lists…well I think I’ve crossed the line when I start putting “make a list” on the to do list! Is there a List Anonymous Group I can join?
  • I need to work out a deal with UPS that they deliver no packages on the weekends….my kids are getting suspicious and I’m running out of places to hide gifts!
  • And, whose brilliant idea was it to starting painting my kitchen/family room just a few weeks before Christmas?!!? Oh yeah…that would be me…my husband is really a good sport.
  • I’ve started doing a little writing for the Examiner.com’s Boston edition – you can check out my first article HERE (yes…shameless plug). The funny thing is I had tons of article ideas floating around in my head, then I got the gig and have been having writer’s block. 
  • On the running front, despite not being thrilled with being sidelined for a bit at the beginning of the month with a cold, the rest has clearly done my knee some good. My last few runs have felt good and been pain-free!

OK…now I’m off to tackle one of my many lists!

Happy Monday!
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Filed Under: Examiner, general musings, left knee, to do list, writer's block

Mid-week Motivation

December 7, 2011 by 5 Comments

After dealing with this head cold/cough/crud thing that got hold of me last week and hung on, I’m feeling the need to jump start my workouts. Yes I’m feeling a little behind on my ever-growing holiday to do list, but I’m also determined to strike some balance, not get distracted, and to finish this year strong and lay the foundation to kick off 2012 right.

How are you doing – are you hitting your goals? Are you finishing the year the way you want?

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Filed Under: finishing strong, motivation, seeking balance

November Rewind

December 1, 2011 by 7 Comments
Good things for the month:

 

  • While I logged just 60 miles – one of my lowest months of the year – this still goes in the “good things” category because they were quality miles that helped lead to 2 PRs this month!

 

    • I was selected to be a FitFluential Ambassador! I’m really looking forward to connecting with other bloggers and the opportunity to test, review, and hopefully giveaway various brands of fitness gear/equipment/books/food.
     
    Things I could do without:
    • My left ITB/knee saga – Yeah…enough already!

    On the decks for December:
    • The Jingle Bell 5k – my last race of the year!
    • Returning to acupuncture for my ITB — it really made a difference in the days leading up to Philly. 
    • A little 2012 planning — trying to figure out my training plan for my next half marathon…and maybe a little race shopping 🙂
    • Diving full force into the holiday season!!

    How was your November? What do you have planned for this month?

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    Filed Under: acupuncture, FitFluential, ITB, month in review, PR

    My New Faves – Margaritaville Eyewear Review

    November 30, 2011 by 3 Comments

    A little over a month ago I was contacted by Margaritaville Eyewear to see if I was interested in trying out a pair of their new polarized sunglasses. One quick scan of their site, and I was in!

    I selected the “Down Island” style and they shipped them right out to me. Before I had even opened the box, the first thing I noticed was how ridiculously light it was! The glasses came in a sturdy case, along with a protective sleeve and neck strap. The frames are whisper thin, so light in fact that I wondered how they’d stay in place during a run.

               Here’s what Margaritaville says about their frames: 
    The new Ultralight Margaritaville Proprietary Composite Material acts like metal, yet feels like plastic. This revolutionary ultra lightweight material has all the amazing durability aspects of titanium, without the weight, brittleness or heat conductivity.

    They instantly felt good on, but of course the real test was to run in them. Well, let me just cut to the chase here – it was LOVE at first run! I have run in these glasses non-stop, including in both of my recent races. They stay in place and are so lightweight you truly forget you have them on.

    What they say about their lenses:

     All Margaritaville polarized sunglasses feature premium fused polarization technology.  MPT Fused lenses diffuse glare through the use of an integrated, pre-formed polarizing filter, layered within the injected lens, allowing incredible clarity even in the harshest conditions.

    Here’s what I say — in bright sunlight, overcast mornings, and serious wind these glasses have performed flawlessly — the lenses are super clear and don’t fog up!

    Yeah it’s safe to say, I like them just a little 🙂 They’re definitely keepers!

    Disclaimer: I received the glasses from Margaritaville Eyewear, but the opinions expressed here are completely my own

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    Filed Under: fave things, Margaritaville Eyewear, product reviews

    Friday Five

    November 25, 2011 by 8 Comments
    • Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I spent a wonderful day with family – food, football and a lot of laughing made for a really good time.
    • Went for a short run this morning – I wanted to give my left leg a little break, so aside from some yoga and my usual pilates class I haven’t done more than walk since Sunday. It’s crazy warm here, especially for late November so it was nice to be out, even if the leg was just so-so.
    • Despite not having started my shopping yet and just 4 weeks until Christmas, I couldn’t bring myself to face the madness of Black Friday. I love a good deal as much as the next girl, but the combination of waiting on line for hours, large crowds and the unstable disposition of some of the clientele – yeah…no thanks!
    • Cyber Monday is more my speed. Plus, I’m also hoping by then my boys will have their wish lists put together. Actually, in the case of my youngest, I’m just trying to get him to be a little more definitive than “everything in the Lego store.” The thought of more Lego in my house makes my head spin.
    •  With only one more race left my calendar for this year, I’m just starting to play around with a race schedule for 2012. Is it my imagination or is the 10k becoming a dying breed…or are they just scarce in New England? I wanted to add a few for next year because I think the 10k a good challenging mix of speed and distance. Hopefully I can find a couple.
    Did you take on the crowds of Black Friday? 
               Are 10ks easy to find in your area? 
                        Have you got your race calendar for 2012 set yet?

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        Filed Under: 10ks, Black Friday, left knee, race calendar

        Philadelphia Half Marathon Recap

        November 21, 2011 by 14 Comments

        What a great experience! I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of the Philly half – and not just because I got a PR of 3 1/2 minutes! But because I ran a strong race, I learned a lot and I was able to soak in the great crowds vibe, to be in the moment and enjoy the day!

        Pre-Race:

        With our boys safely tucked away with family, J and I flew down to Philly on Saturday. Thanks to the flight delay (seriously, US Air is a hot mess!), we didn’t get to our hotel until about 2:30. The hotel staff was super nice and was handing out gift bags to guests who were racing, which looked like pretty much the whole hotel! We quickly dumped our stuff and headed to the expo. There were so many people it was crazy! I got my number, shirt and swag bag and milled around for a bit. But by this point I was desperately hungry so we headed to the Reading Terminal Market (huge indoor marketplace) for a late lunch. We then decided to go check out the starting line and see just how long it would take us to walk there from our hotel. I have to say it wasn’t until I saw the corrals set up that it started to hit me just how many runners there would be. This was by far going to be the biggest race I had ever run in – that thought was both exciting and intimidating!

        By the time we wondered around for a bit and then headed back to the hotel, the thought of sitting in a restaurant for dinner was really unappealing – I was toast! So J canceled the reservations and we opted for Subway and putting our feet up in front of the TV. I got my gear laid out, took one last look at the course map and one last review of the race plan the awesome XL at Taking It On put together for me (she seriously rocks!). I set 3 alarms (yes I’m that Type A) and was out cold by 9:30.

        Race Day:

        I was up by 4 and we were out of the hotel by 5:45. It was the funniest sight, all these people dressed in various forms of throw-away garb, tramping through the streets at pre-dawn. We made our way to the corral, hit the porta potties, chatted up people in line and took a short warm up run. It was already low 50s so I decided to pass off all of my throw-away stuff to J before leaving him to weave my way through the corral. As I listened to the National Anthem I remember thinking how crazy it was that I was so calm. I was just so excited to be there and I was ready to run!

        The hardest part was waiting for our corral to move to the start (we went off 26 minutes after!). Given the size of the group, I really wanted to be towards the front to avoid as much weaving as possible. By the time we got to the start I had only one row of runners in front of me and I got a high-five and “Good Luck” from Mayor Nutter. We counted down and were off. I knew I would see J just after the first mile marker and again around 5. My legs felt fresh and while I knew I was going faster than I had planned, I was feeling good and was almost afraid to break my rhythm.

        The first few miles seem to fly by – I was just rocking to my tunes and enjoying spectator signs. Before I knew it, we were at 5 miles and then I spotted J – he yelled that I was looking strong and I remember yelling back that I felt great. The spectators along Chestnut Street were 3-deep and really into it! Shortly after I hit the 10k mat, I walked briefly to take a couple of Chomps, get some water and rip off my KT Tape that had been flapping around my left leg (clearly gotta work on my taping skills!). I took the hill between 7 and 8 fairly well. The steeper hill between  9 and 10 was much tougher but overall I was still feeling strong.

        When I checked my Garmin at 10 I knew I was in a great position. As I closed in on the 11 mile marker, my left leg announced that it was done – it felt like my leg seized up – I  couldn’t even tell what gave way first. It was just like the whole leg decided “Hell no  – we’re done with this!” I started bargaining with myself “OK just a short walk break then finish this thing,” but the other side of me was screaming “Don’t stop, you’re on pace!” I slowed to a walk and my leg really started to tighten up – OK, not good, keep moving. I passed the 12 mile marker, just willing my leg to cooperate for one more mile. Then on the bridge overhead, among a rowdy bunch of spectators was J. I could hear him yelling that I was almost there and to keep going, that I could do this. I allowed myself one last glance at my Garmin – I knew 2:30 was slipping away, but in that moment I told myself it was ok, now it was just a matter of how big a PR I could get. The crowd of spectators in that final stretch was a fantastic sight and I threw everything I had left into the final 3/4 of a mile to the finish.

        I was ecstatic when I finished: Chip time – 2:31:40! As I got my heat blanket and medal you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I had run the race I wanted to and had a lot of fun doing it. While I hadn’t hit my biggest time goal, I had gotten a lot more out of my left leg than I expected and a PR! And, I know that when the time comes for my next race, not only can I hit 2:30, I can get below it!

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        Filed Under: Philly Half, race report

        Goals for the Philly Half

        November 18, 2011 by 10 Comments

        Why is it that a race can seem so far off when you register and then bam before you know it’s a little more than a day away and you find yourself wishing you had more time?

        When I first started training for Philly, I had in the back of my mind a goal of running 2:30 or better – recognizing that a 5 min PR would be quite an accomplishment. But this training’s been really up and down — I have either felt very strong or concerned that my left ITB/knee would completely derail my even getting to the starting line. Now with Sunday just around the corner I can’t say I’ve completely let go of a time goal, but I’ve got other goals as well:

        • Start Slow and Build — I need to learn from my first 2 halfs and not go out too fast. This is really hard for me cause I get so caught up in the moment!
        • Attack the Hills– I’ve been working on attacking hills in my training runs vs. just surviving them.
        • Run a Strong Final 5k — I’d like to have enough left in the tank when I get to the 10 mile marker to really be able to push hard over the last few miles.
        • Win the Mental Battle — This is a 3-parter: 1) not let every twinge from my left leg cause a panic; 2) use the mantras and other mind tricks I came up with over my last few long runs to help when it gets hard out there; and 3) don’t second-guessing myself and trust my training.
        • Time goals — This is a 3-parter as well, in order: 1) Beat my time in Providence, 2) PR and 3) hit 2:30

        And, it should go without saying that the overall goal is to go out there and have a good time! OK Philly here I come!

        Good luck to everyone racing this weekend
        – especially to my fellow bloggers heading to Philly!
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        Filed Under: goals, Philly Half

        Coming in off the ledge…a little

        November 12, 2011 by 10 Comments

        Huge huge thanks yous to everyone who left comments, tweeted or emailed words of encouragement! I really appreciated each and every one! I’ve had my freak out and have quickly moved on to the “do whatever it takes to get to the starting line” mode.

        Since Thursday, it’s been all about ice, rest, Advil and compression — gotta say, I’m loving my new Tommie Copper knee sleeve! I took a tentative run late this morning and managed to log a little over 7 1/2. They weren’t the prettiest miles but they gave me hope. KT Tape may be my new BFF!

        I also went to see my acupuncturist this afternoon and let him work his needle magic. Tomorrow will be another rest day. I’m trying to get comfortable with the concept that there just may be very little running between now and next Sunday. Going to just take it one day at a time…..

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        Filed Under: left knee, on the ledge, pulling out all the stops