Labor Day Weekend Coffee

Happy Friday!

And, not only is it Friday but it is the start of a long weekend…and it’s extra long for me because my office is closed today for our last “Summer Friday” of the season! I’m ready to kick back and relax so for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m joining Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. Grab your favorite beverage and let’s chat.

Over coffee, I would tell you that the college move-in day was a big success! I am so impressed with how well the college organized everything. We had him unpacked and set up in under 2 hours with plenty of time to hit the bookstore before enjoying the family barbeque and music on the main green.

Over coffee, I would tell you he gave me a quick call after his first day of classes and I could literally hear him smiling through the phone 🙂

Over coffee, I would tell you that I returned to acupuncture this week and I’ve never been so happy to be a human pin cushion again. As I shared just a couple of weeks ago, there are many benefits to acupuncture and I’m hopeful that I can find some relief to this on-again, off-again TFL pain.

Over coffee, I would tell you that we just booked our anniversary getaway! We’re Sonoma-bound for all the wine tasting, fabulous meals, and spa treatments we can handle. We don’t leave until November but it’s fun to have this to look forward to. Can. not. wait!

What would you tell me over coffee? Any plans for the long weekend? 

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Week 33 – Keeping it Simple

I’m squeezing all the goodness I can into this last weekend together as a family. We’re in the crunch of prepping to move my son into school while packing in as much family fun as possible. The work week continues to be busy and so the goal was just to fit workouts in where I could.

Here’s a quick peak into my week in fitness. As always, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

Week 33 – Keeping it Simple

Monday — Flash 15, Core, & 2-mile walk. I was inspired by Kim to return to a Flash 15 (Peloton) workout – these are great (and intense) 15-minute full-body workouts with instructor Jess Sims. Jess programs quite a bit in a short period of time – stacked with a core workout and power walk – perfect for a busy Monday!
Tuesday — Rest day. I had an uber-early start to the work day with a long commute on both ends so a rest day was a good thing.
Wednesday — 3 miles & Stretch. Everything clicked on this run and it turned into a much speedier run than I had planned. My only complaint was not having enough time to run further.

Thursday — 2.5-mile walk, Lower Body Strength, and Hip Mobility work. My legs were jelly after this workout and the sports massage I had scheduled after work was a nice reward.
Friday — 3 miles, Core & Stretch. The massage did the trick – my legs felt fresh and this was another solid run.

Saturday — Peloton Bike, Upper Body, Core & Stretch. Peloton dropped 160 new classes for their All for One music festival which started on Friday. I stacked a bunch for today’s workout and look forward to taking more and checking out some new-to-me artists over the coming weeks.
Sunday — On the plan this morning 5 miles then some family fun!

Running continues to be pain-free so that’s a big win! After some mild temps earlier in the week, summer’s heat and humidity came back in full swing by the weekend and looks to be sticking around for much of the upcoming week. I never want to wish the days away so I’m trying not to complain – emphasis on trying LOL!

How was your week? Are you ready for fall?

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Five Ways Runners Can Benefit from Acupuncture

I’m happy to say that my quest to find a new acupuncturist is finally over and I cannot wait for my appointment! I’ve been a big believer in acupuncture since I was first introduced to acupuncture over 20 years ago as a solution for my once debilitating migraines.

When I became a runner, acupuncture became a go-to solution when dealing with an injury and was a key staple when I was training for the Chicago Marathon. Thanks to COVID, my practitioner paused her practice and then eventually closed shop for good. So, it’s been almost 3 years, and I can’t wait to get back to it!

Why am I so excited? Let me share just a few ways runners can benefit from acupuncture.

Five Ways Runners Can Benefit from Acupuncture

Accelerates Recovery — Acupuncture improves blood circulation, which helps with muscle recovery and healing.

Improves Mobility — The insertion of acupuncture needles in key points can aid in releasing tightness in myofascial tissue providing greater mobility and decreasing muscle imbalance.

Strengthens Immunity — Research shows that acupuncture can help regulate the immune system which can be especially helpful to runners who are taxing their systems with intense training. Seriously, who wants to miss runs or a race because of illness?

Improves Sleep — Runner or not, we all know important sleep is to give the body time to rest and repair.

Relieves Pain without Side Effects — The World Health Organization has actually endorsed acupuncture for pain relief. Acupuncture aids the nervous system to produce painkilling chemicals and, because it works naturally with the body, there are none of the side effects of traditional pain medication.

Have you ever tried acupuncture?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Time to Think About Training

Well I finally have a fall race on the calendar so it’s time to start thinking about training again. But before I get ahead of myself, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Here’s how this week in fitness played out…

Week 32 — Time to Think About Training

The view from Friday’s miles

Monday — Peloton Strength Split & Stretch. After loving last week’s Strength Split with Robin, I decided to try another program, this time with Callie. Day 1 was 45 mins of Back, Biceps & Legs.
Tuesday — Rest day. I had a jam-packed workday so there was some much-needed stretching and not much else happening.
Wednesday — 3.1 miles & Stretch. After 6-days the heatwave finally broke! This run in light rain and upper 60s felt like heaven.

Thursday — Split training Day 2 – Chest, Shoulders & Triceps.
Friday — 3 miles, Core & Stretch.
Saturday — Split training Day 3 – Legs & Core
Sunday — 4 miles & Stretch.

Running this week felt really good – no doubt the break in the humidity and cooler mornings ushered in after Wednesday’s rain certainly helped!

In my cool weather giddiness, I signed up for the Western Mass 10. I love the 10-mile distance and there are so few around here so I jumped at the chance to register for this new race. I’ve got 12 weeks to prep, which is more than enough time, but this will help to add some extra motivation to my runs. If training goes well I may register for the Philly Half later in November or the Frosty Half Marathon in early December.

How was your week? What’s on your fall race calendar?

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Five August Goals…a little late

I know, I know, it’s already the 12th of the month – perhaps it’s a little late to talk about the month’s goals. But, I did set some at the start of the month and meant to share them earlier, then work/life got in the way and I never posted.

So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing my goals to keep myself accountable.

Five August Goals….a little late

Hydration — Despite the heat, I got way off my hydration game last month which sometimes resulted in headaches. The plan for this month is to track it carefully. I’m also testing out a few different electrolyte supplements (thanks Erica!) to see if that helps.

Build my long runs to 8 miles — In anticipation of fall races, it’s time to stretch the long runs. 8 miles feels like a good target because ramping up to a 10M or half marathon from there doesn’t feel like too much of a leap.

Daily Stretch or Foam Roll — Similar to the hydration, I’ve fallen off consistent stretching – it’s become too easy to be pressed for time, and let it slide. I’ll be correcting that this month.

Settle on Fall Races — And speaking of fall races, I’m feeling the itch to register for a couple and fill my race calendar so the goal is to find at least two races and commit.

Peloton Split Strength Program — I’ve been interested in trying out the Split program since it was introduced in the Spring. There are 4 programs offered by Robin, Adrian, Callie, and Matty. Robin’s one of my favorite instructors so my goal is to complete Robin’s program at least twice during the month along with trying at least one other.

What are you taking on this month? Any fall race suggestions?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

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My Non-Running Week

After last Sunday’s struggle to complete 4.25 miles, the quad and TFL pain continued into Monday. So, instead of fighting with it, I decided to just give in and take the week off from running. I only have one fall race on the horizon (November) so there seemed to be no point in aggravating the situation. Plus I’m not mad about missing some truly awful weather conditions. Here’s how my non-running week played out.

Week 31 – My Non-Running Week

Monday — Upper body strength, core & stretch. I decided to give one of the Peloton Split Strength Programs a try this week and chose Robin’s Advanced Program with 3 30-minute sessions. Day 1 focused on chest and triceps.

Tuesday — 2.7-mile walk, core & Stretch.
Wednesday — Split training Day 2 – legs & core & stretch. I had delusions of stacking another class after this but my legs were toast!
Thursday — Peloton ride, 2.75-mile walk, & Stretch. In lieu of my traditional birthday run, I jumped on a rare (for me) live ride in hopes of getting a shoutout, but no luck. Still enjoyed the ride and shared lots of high-fives, and then my hubby joined me for a power walk. I also treated myself to a much-needed sports massage after work.

Hello 56!

Friday — 1.5-mile walk otherwise rest day.
Saturday — Day 3 of Robin’s program – back and biceps, Core & Stretch. My arms were jelly when I was done.
Sunday — Finally a run! While 82 degrees and oppressive humidity were not ideal, I was really looking forward to running this morning. 3.2 miles done with no pain!

I’ll be looking forward to getting back to more running this week. We’re in the thick of a heatwave so the runs are likely to be on the shorter side, but as long as they continue to be pain-free I’ll take it.

How is summer running treating you?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!

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Catching Up Over August Coffee

Happy Friday everyone!

My office is closed for a Summer Friday and I’m more than ready to dive into a long weekend! And, is there a nicer way to kick off a weekend than with a little catch-up with friends? So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m joining Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. I’ve got my iced coffee, so let’s chat!

Catching Up Over August Coffee

Over coffee, I would tell you that we had a great vacation in Stowe last month. There was lots of hiking, kayaking, a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory (of course!), and a day trip of sightseeing in Montreal. So much goodness and way too short – the week went by in a blink. So, of course, I’m starting to plan the next vacation.

I loved our time on the water!

Over coffee, I would tell you that I have completed my professional certificate program! I wrapped up my final project on Sunday and grades were posted late Monday. While I really enjoyed the coursework, it feels so good to have it all wrapped up.

Over coffee, I would tell you that we’re in the midst of a flurry of family birthdays with both my sons’ birthdays being just a week apart and my husband’s is in a couple of weeks. I marked another trip around the sun yesterday, and to be honest will be stretching out the celebrations over several days – I met a friend for dinner Tuesday, celebrated with the family Thursday, heading to lunch and shopping today with a friend, and brunch plans with another friend on Saturday.

I see nothing wrong with an extended celebration 😉

Over coffee, I would tell you that we are now a household of 4 drivers as my youngest got his license a few weeks ago. I would also tell you that I haven’t driven with him yet – seriously I don’t think I can do it without clutching the door handle. And let’s not discuss car insurance with two teenage boys under 20! It is kind of hard to imagine that my mom Uber days are over.

What would you tell me over coffee? Do you enjoy celebrating your birthday?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Vacation Re-Entry

How crazy is it that we’re at the end of July already?!

After a great week away with the family full of hiking, kayaking, and sightseeing, this past week was all about vacation re-entry. And what a whirlwind week it was! The fact that I was still sorting through emails at 5:30 on Monday should tell you all you need to know! But, I managed to finish the week feeling back on top of things, and also managed to get caught up on my coursework. Between my work, classes, and a slightly cranky TFL, my workouts were seriously dialed back.

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Here’s how things played out.

Week 30 – Vacation Re-Entry

Monday — 1.2-mile walk, Core & Yoga. It’s been a while since I pulled out the yoga mat, but after hours in the car driving home on Sunday, it was just what I needed.

Tuesday — Upper Body Strength, Core, & 1-mile walk.

Wednesday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch. Mother Nature gifted us with morning temps in the low 60s and no humidity! I had a crazy early start to my work day otherwise I would have run longer.

Thursday — 3.2-mile walk, Upper Body Strength & Core. My right TFL was starting to make noise so I swapped in another upper body strength sesh for my planned lower body workout.

Friday — Peloton Ride, Core, 1.2-mile walk & Stretch. I had planned to run, but the TFL wasn’t having it, so we pivot. Thankfully, riding the Peloton bike doesn’t bother it.

Saturday — Rest day. I can’t remember the last time I took a complete rest day, but I really needed it!

Sunday — 4.25 mile run & Stretch. The heat was back with a vengeance so this was definitely a “forward is a pace” kind of run.

So with Saturday’s rest day, my #OptOutside streak came to an end at 121 days – unless you count lounging on the deck as opting outside 😉 It was fun while it lasted, but I have no regrets…always need to listen to what my body needs. My TFL is still pretty cranky – I was in good shape for the first 3 miles this morning but then it started to complain. We’ll see what this week brings…

How was your week?

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Heat Runfessions

It’s the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the Runfessional!

It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by DarleneRenéeJennZenaida, and Me! So, let’s get started, shall we?

Heat Runfessions

I runfess that I almost didn’t write a post for this week because I’m trying really hard to not complain about the weather. I mean it’s summer, …it’s supposed to be hot, right? Clearly, I’m losing this battle!

Last month I runfessed that given how humid the weather can be in September that I was holding off on registering for the Philly Distance Run until I tried a couple of double-digit runs in July. Well, I runfess that I haven’t done a run longer than 5 miles this month…so you can see where this is headed.

I’m pretty sure I’ve used this meme before, but it fits!

Despite how I have been feeling about running in this heat, I runfess that I have surprised myself by actually enjoying a return to speedwork this month. It will be fun to see if this pays off in the fall.

Any runfessions to share?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Week 28 – A Mid-July Check-in

Happy Sunday!

After enjoying a relaxing and fun staycation last week, thanks to an org-wide shut-down for the July 4th holiday, this week was a bit of a shock to the system. The workweek was pretty crazy  – there were multiple days of commuting to the office, three major presentations, and generally, a meeting-heavy schedule. Throw in quite a bit of coursework as I’m closing in on wrapping up another unit in my certificate program…and yeah, I’m feeling a little fried around the edges.

This week was about fitting in workouts where I could – here’s a quick look at how things played out.

Week 28 – Mid-July Check-in

Monday — 2-mile walk & Core
Tuesday — Peloton Bike, Core, 2-mile walk & Stretch
Wednesday — 1.5- mile walk, otherwise rest. An extra early commute into the office followed by a long work day, had me missing my run. I was happy to snag a lunch break walk with a colleague.
Thursday — 1.25-mile walk, Core & Lower-body Strength.


Friday — 3-mile Tempo run, Core, 1.5-mile walk & Stretch. I can’t remember the last time I’ve done any form of speed work so I was pleasantly surprised to nail my paces.
Saturday — 1-mile walk, Upper-body Strength & Stretch
Sunday — 5-mile run & Stretch. The humidity was so thick this morning! I was grateful for the occasional breeze and my wonderful hubby who drove out to bring me water.

So while it was a super busy week, I’m not complaining as I’m heading off for a week away in Stowe, VT!

In case you missed it:

Five Ways to Enjoy a Summer Staycation

Tell me something about your week?

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join Us!

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