Michelle

Vacation Re-Entry

July 31, 2022 by Michelle 10 Comments

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?

Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Heat Runfessions

July 29, 2022 by Michelle 14 Comments

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 Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, 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 More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs 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!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Runfessions, Summer running

Week 28 – A Mid-July Check-in

July 17, 2022 by Michelle 26 Comments

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!

Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Five Ways to Enjoy a Summer Staycation

July 15, 2022 by Michelle 16 Comments

I was lucky enough to have a bonus week off from work last week – the organization I work for closed the office for the July 4th week, giving us all a paid week off! I was feeling very fried leading into the July 4th holiday and so it was a perfect time for a little staycation!

For today’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing five ideas to enjoy your next summer staycation.

Five Ways to Enjoy a Summer Staycation

Play tourist in your hometown – Most cities are full of special attractions that locals often take for granted. Spend a day or two exploring some local attractions.

Create an outdoor oasis — Turn your deck or patio into an outdoor “room”, a space perfect for alfresco dining, reading, working out, or just soaking up some sunshine.

Spend time on a favorite hobby or start a new one — Take advantage of the free time to indulge in a favorite pastime or try your hand at something new.

Set up an at-home spa retreat — How can you argue with a spa day? Collect your favorite skincare treatments for both your face and body, try an at-home mani/pedi, and don’t forget to also focus on your internal wellness with time spent journaling, meditating, and practicing yoga.

Truly unplug — Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you have to stay hyper-connected. Give yourself a break from screentime on your phone – less social media, don’t check your email…you get the picture.

How do you spend time on a staycation?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Staycation, summer mode

Five Things about the BAA 10K

July 8, 2022 by Michelle 19 Comments

Happy Friday!

For this week’s Fit Five Friday, instead of a traditional race recap, I’m sharing five things about my recent BAA 10K.

Five Things About the BAA 10K

So Freakin’ Hot!
There’s no way to talk about my 10K experience without talking about the heat and humidity. Yes, I know that this is a summer race so heat is to be expected, but this is my 4th time running this race and I don’t ever remember it being this bad. Miles 3 and 4 were the worst because it’s an out-and-back stretch along Comm Ave and there isn’t a lick of shade. And did I mention that mile 3 is a slow steady climb? This is where the wheels came off the wagon for me.

Brotherly Love
I’m always happy when I can convince my brother to toe the line with me. We always have such a good time together and he really kept me going when things turned ugly.

Rookie Mistake!
Given how hot it was I cannot believe I made the rookie mistake of not carrying fluids with me. I figured there was a water stop at each mile marker and our plan was to walk the water stops. Well, it turns out there was no water stop at mile 3 – wait, what? So yes, the hottest stretch of the course had no water stop. Can you see how things started to unravel for me?

Camaraderie (or Misery Loves Company)
Despite the heat, or maybe because of it, runners along the course were really pulling for each other. We chatted and encouraged each other and I appreciated how many of the speedier runners who were already on their way back in cheered those of us still making our way out to the midpoint. This race always has a good vibe and this year was no different.

Runs Like a Swiss Watch
The lack of a mile 3 water stop aside, this was such a well-organized race. From the pre-race communication to bib and t-shirt pick-up; from gear check to the post-race misting stations and food and drink, and all of the amazing volunteers from start to finish, the BAA really does know how to provide a smooth race experience!

Thanks to the heat, it was not the race day I wanted – it was probably my slowest 10K ever. But, I believe every finish line should be celebrated!

For anyone looking for a Boston race, I would definitely recommend this one. Just come prepared for the summer conditions. I was intrigued to see in the post-race survey that there were questions gauging people’s interest in running this race at another time of year. Personally, I would so love to see this race moved to the fall though I know this could be tricky given that 2 miles of the course run through the center of the Boston University campus, but a girl can hope 😉

How do you feel about summer racing?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, BAA, race report

Summer Running in Full Effect

July 3, 2022 by Michelle 27 Comments

In a blink of an eye, June is in the rearview mirror. As the month wound down, the temps definitely dialed up, and there’s no doubt now that summer running is in full effect. Here’s a quick look at how the week’s workouts played out.

Week 26 — Summer Running in Full Effect

Monday — 3-mile walk, otherwise rest
Tuesday — 2-mile walk & Bodyweight strength (upper & lower body)
Wednesday — 3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch
Thursday — 3-mile walk, Lower Body Strength, & Stretch
Friday — 3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch
Saturday — 2.5-mile walk, Upper Body Strength & Stretch
Sunday — 4-mile run, Core & Stretch

Overall, it was a pretty low-key week. I finished the month with 94 run/walk miles and I’m closing in on the century mark for my #Optoutside streak. Thursday’s strength training brought a return to heavy lifting (and some serious DOMS!) which will definitely be a focus for the summer. I have no summer race plans and am still debating my fall options, so for now, the goal is to focus on the things that will help to keep me strong and injury-free.

Tell me about your week? Any summer race plans?

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

Filed Under: Summer running, Weekly Run Down

Catching Up Over July Coffee

July 1, 2022 by Michelle 14 Comments

How is it possible that it’s already July?!

I’m kicking off the new month with a little catch-up over coffee, joining Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday so let’s make it a two-fer and chat! (This post contains affiliate links).

Catching up over July Coffee

Over coffee I would tell you that now that the summer is in full swing, I am working on perfecting my margarita recipes. There are so many options from classic to spicy, straight or frozen, and every possible fruit in between! While I do enjoy a nice sipping tequila, margaritas, in my opinion, are the perfect summer cocktail.

Source

Over coffee I would tell you that thanks to all the time I’m spending in traffic commuting to and from work, I am learning to embrace audio books. I recently finished Deena Kastor’s “Let Your Mind Run” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I enjoyed both books – I think Reid’s book especially would make a great summer beach read!

And, speaking of books, over coffee I would tell you that I am just about halfway through my professional certificate coursework. I am not going to lie, it definitely took a minute to shift into a “classroom” mindset, but I’m really enjoying it!

Over coffee, I would tell you how excited I am to have essentially half the month off from work! Our organization is closing for the week of July 4th and then my family is on vacation for a week later in the month. The timing is such that I’ll be working every other week!

Over coffee, I would tell you that for our vacation we’re looking forward to returning to some time in the mountains at Stowe. We’ve booked the same beautiful townhouse we stayed in last year, and can’t wait to spend time hiking, kayaking, and hopefully a day trip to Montreal (last year the Canadian border was closed).

What would you tell me over coffee? What’s your favorite summer cocktail?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

Week 25 – Enjoying a Little Staycation

June 26, 2022 by Michelle 15 Comments

This week brought some much-needed time off!

My office was closed Monday for the Juneteenth holiday and then I took Thursday through this upcoming Monday off for an extended weekend. It’s been bliss to have some downtime. There has been lots of time spent on the deck – reading and catching up on my coursework; some fun family time; finally got to see Top Gun Maverik, and I have a day planned to catch up with a friend for tomorrow!

This week was also brought the official start of summer and the heat and humidity made an appearance in full force…just in time for race day.

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

Week 25 – Enjoying a Little Staycation

Full disclosure this photo is from last Sunday’s run – but it was also the best run of the week!

Monday — 3-mile walk, Core & Stretch.
Tuesday — 1.5-mile walk & Upper Body Strength.
Wednesday — Peloton ride, 1-mile walk, Core & Stretch.
Thursday — 3.5-mile run & Upper Body Strength.
Friday — 3.6-mile run, Core & Stretch.
Saturday — 2.5-mile walk, otherwise rest.
Sunday — BAA 10K. I’ll recap this race at a later date but suffice it to say … Heat & Humidity 1, Michelle 0.

My #OptOutside streak hit Day 88 today, and the #3for31 Challenge continues to roll along.

In case you missed it:

Some June Runfessions

Tell me something about your week? Do you have any time off planned?

Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Some June Runfessions

June 24, 2022 by Michelle 23 Comments

Happy Friday! It’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday, – and since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia to share a couple of Runfessions. So let’s dive in!

Some June Runfessions

I runfess that I’m wavering a bit on my fall race plans. Back in February, I highlighted some races I wanted to run this year – that list includes the Philadelphia Distance Run – a September half marathon. Back in February the humidity that is often still hanging around in September seemed like a distant memory. Well now that things are starting to heat up, the thought of a steamy September half is giving me pause.

It’s not quite there yet, but you can feel it coming!

I runfess that I will definitely be waiting a while before registering – let’s see how a couple of those 10-mile long runs (in July!) go first. I’m also looking for some late fall options.

I runfess that I’m reaching the end of my rope with my Garmin Venu Sq. A couple of weeks ago in mid-run, I looked down at my watch to see a blue triangle – the watch had crashed, despite having a fully charged battery. I stopped and fought to get it to reset but my run was gone. I wrote it off as a fluke…until it happened again…and again. The watch isn’t even a year old – the Apple watch is starting to look really good to me.

Any runfessions to share? Do you have your fall races set yet?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!
Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please be sure to show your hosts some love and visit some of the other bloggers in the link-up.

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Runfessions

Five Ways to Revive Your 2022 Goals

June 17, 2022 by Michelle 7 Comments

Can you believe that we are quickly approaching the halfway mark of 2022?!

As you reach the midway point of the year, it seems like a natural time to reflect and ask how are you doing with those goals and resolutions you set at the beginning of the year. Are they still top of mind? Are you making progress or have some of them slipped off your radar?

If some of your goals got pushed to the backburner, then consider these five ways to get back on track.

Five Ways to Revive Your 2022 Goals

Assess — If you have goals that you have not paid much attention to it’s important to first stop to consider if those goals are still important to you. What was your why for setting the goal in the first place? If you find that some goals just don’t resonate with you anymore, then there’s no crime in letting them go.

Prioritize — It’s easy to get ambitious at the start of a new year and set too many goals at once. It’s important to be realistic about the demands on your time and to recognize that trying to spread yourself too thin could leave you with goals unfulfilled. By setting priorities, you can create a realistic timeline mapping out all of the steps needed to move you closer to your goals and then determine a reasonable action plan.

Track Your Progress — According to a 2014 study, 33% of those who failed to achieve their goals did not track their progress. Use an app, habit tracker, or good old notebook to set up a system that will help you consistently track your progress.

Evaluate — Set aside time on a consistent basis to review your progress so you can see what’s working and where you may be struggling or need to consider a new approach.

Celebrate Along the Way — While the journey to achieving your goal may be challenging it should also include moments of joy. It’s important to celebrate wins, both big and small, along the way. Consider rewarding yourself when you hit key milestones. At the end of the day, if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing!

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, goals

Vacation Re-Entry

Week 30 – Vacation Re-Entry

Heat Runfessions

Heat Runfessions

Week 28 – A Mid-July Check-in

Week 28 – Mid-July Check-in

Five Ways to Enjoy a Summer Staycation

Five Ways to Enjoy a Summer Staycation

Five Things about the BAA 10K

Five Things About the BAA 10K

Summer Running in Full Effect

Week 26 — Summer Running in Full Effect

Catching Up Over July Coffee

Catching up over July Coffee

Week 25 – Enjoying a Little Staycation

Week 25 – Enjoying a Little Staycation

Some June Runfessions

Some June Runfessions

Five Ways to Revive Your 2022 Goals

Five Ways to Revive Your 2022 Goals

Hi, I’m Michelle

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