Finally Feels Like Spring

Yes, I know that I’ve probably just jinxed myself with the title of this post! But, this was the first week where we finally strung together a few days of consistent Spring weather which was a nice boost to my #optoutside streak.

Enjoying Sunday’s quiet roads

Week 15 – Finally Feels Like Spring

Monday — 3-mile recovery run & Stretch. I woke up feeling every bit of Sunday’s 8 miler. The thought of running more was just so unappealing so I pushed my run to after work. Late-day sunshine and 60s made for a nice run.


Tuesday — 1.5-mile walk, otherwise a rest day.
Wednesday — 3.1-mile run & Stretch. A midday 5K, 72 degrees, and negative splits!


Thursday — Peloton ride, Upper Body Strength, 1.5-mile walk
Friday — 4-mile run, Core & Stretch
Saturday — 2-mile walk & Yoga. So much fun volunteering at the Boston Marathon Expo! My assignment was “Expo Ambassador” which basically means I greeted runners and answered questions/provided directions as needed. I got to chat with runners from all over and even got to catch up with Jennifer (runs4dounuts on IG)!  My legs were really feeling it by the end of my volunteer shift – 5 hours is a long time to be on your feet. I kept my #optoutside streak going with a walk and some yoga.

Sunday — 6-mile run, Core & Stretch

My schedule was full and hectic this week so I’m pleased I was able to get all of my runs done. The running itself has been a bit all over the place and I’ll admit I’m not quite where I want to be with 6 weeks to go until the Run to Remember. My hip flexor continues to be an on-again-off-again issue so I am catching up with Coach Marc this week to talk through options.

Happy Easter and Passover to all who celebrate!

How was your week? Are you enjoying Spring temps? 

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

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A down then up week

The title of this post pretty much says it all. The week started out with me in a front-row seat on the struggle bus and ended with the longest run I’ve had in a while. I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down – here’s how the week played out.

Sunday’s 8 miler

Week 14 – A down then up week

Monday — 2-mile walk and Yoga for hips. My plan called for a 3-mile recovery run, but my hip flexor clearly didn’t get the memo. So I opted for a walk instead to keep my #optoutside streak going.

Tuesday — 2-mile walk, otherwise rest. Of late, Tuesdays are a rest day, and with the hip flexor still not feeling 100%, another walk was the right call.

Wednesday — 3-mile run, Core & stretch. An early morning run in light rain calls for bringing your own sunshine.

Thursday — 2.5-mile walk, Strength for Runners, Core & Stretch. Stacked a couple of Peloton’s Strength for Runners classes which always feels like a good PT session.

Friday – 3.1-mile run, Core & Stretch. This was the kind of run I wish I could bottle up! The weather was on-point (hello shorts!) and my stride felt strong and easy. Why can’t all runs feel this good?!

Focused on the weekend!

Saturday — 3.6-mile walk, Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch

Sunday — 8-mile run, Stretch & Foam Rolling. I was a little worried going into this run because I just couldn’t seem to muster up any enthusiasm for the distance. There were a lot of “what ifs” about my hip flexor holding up which led to a lot of procrastinating before finally getting out the door. My hip flexor and the hill at mile 6 had words, but a little extra push from Eminem helped me to dig in and get this run done.

I can’t remember the last time I ran 8, so definitely finished the week on a higher note than where things started. Another plus for the week, I’m on day 11 of my #optoutside streak. I still need to keep an eye on this hip flexor. There are 7 weeks until the Run to Remember so no need to panic yet.

Tell me something about your week.

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Fit Friday Five – Be a Race Volunteer

Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? The month is dedicated to recognizing the importance of volunteering.

I’m a big believer in giving back and that includes giving back to the running community. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a race director on a couple of occasions, and I can say without a doubt that there’s just no way to put on a great race without the support of people willing to volunteer their time and energy.

So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m re-sharing five reasons to be a race volunteer (This post was published in August 2018 and has been updated.)

Fit Five Friday — Five Reasons to be a Race Volunteer

Give Back — The most obvious reason to be a race volunteer is it gives you a chance to give back to a sport that you love and to support the running community.

Stay Connected — If you’re sidelined with an injury or slowly working your way back from one, being a race volunteer is a great way to help you feel more connected to running and racing.

Make New Connections — You never know who you’ll end up working with when you volunteer for a race! Volunteering can give you the opportunity to connect with brands, running groups, and race directors…who knows where that might lead? Also, some races reward their volunteers with swag and discounted or free entries for future races.

Five Reasons to be a Race Volunteer #FitFiveFriday #Running #Runchat #RunningCommunity Share on X

Gain Some Perspective — Once you see all that goes into making a race day come together and the effort and enthusiasm of race volunteers, trust me you’ll have a whole new appreciation for those volunteers along the course the next time you’re racing.

Be Inspired — There’s inspiration all around when it comes to race day and being a race volunteer gives you a chance to experience that inspiration up close and personal. Spend a morning working at a race and I dare you to not come away fired up for your own training!

Volunteering at Boston 2017!

I’ll be back volunteering next weekend at the Boston Marathon (my 7th time!) and I cannot wait! Each time has been such a great experience. As more and more races return to being in person this year, I’ve noticed a lot of RDs putting out requests for race volunteers. I encourage every runner to get out and be a volunteer at least once at a race, large or small – you won’t regret it!

Have you ever volunteered at a race?

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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Hello April

It’s a new month, which around here means setting a few monthly goals to keep me accountable and on track. But first here’s a quick look at this week’s workouts.

Week 13 and Setting April Goals

Monday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch
Tuesday — 2-mile walk & Yoga
Wednesday — Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Thursday — 3-mile run & Stretch
Friday — 4-mile run
Saturday — 2-mile walk & Upper Body Strength
Sunday — 7-mile run & Stretch

It was a pretty busy week which left me with less time for strength training and it was a rare week without a Peloton ride. But, I am happy to have logged another 4 run week!

Sunday’s 7 miler was my longest run in a while

April Goals

I had 3 goals for March:

  • Run 4 days/week and reach an LSD of 8 miles by month-end
  • Opt outside daily
  • Prioritize sleep

I was consistent with the 4 weekly runs and came up just a mile short on the long run. I also racked up 74 miles for the month which is the most miles I’ve had since sometime last fall – I call that a win! The daily outdoor plans took a hit as there were many days over the course of the month when Ma Nature thought serving up icy rain was a good idea. I think I did a much better job with my evening routine which contributed to better sleep – though there’s still room for improvement.

So what’s the plan for April? Pretty much more of the same:

  • Continue to increase my monthly mileage to 90 miles and get the long run up to double digits
  • I’m going to give opting outside daily another go. Right now I have a 4-day “streak” going – hopefully, the weather will cooperate!
  • Return to early morning runs – as much as I have enjoyed my lunch-time runs for the sake of milder temps, my April calendar is starting to look fairly hectic so getting up and out the door early will be a necessity. And, truth be told I really do prefer getting out on the roads early before the rest of the world (and distracted drivers!).

What have you got planned for April? Any races planned? What’s your preferred time of day to run?

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

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Catching up over April coffee

Happy Friday!

We’re rolling into the first weekend of the month which means Coco and Deborah are hosting the Ultimate Coffee Date. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday! I’ve got a big mug of coffee in hand, so grab your fave hot beverage, and let’s catch up a little.

April Catch-up Over Coffee

Over coffee in February, I shared my challenges trying to find a new car.  Well, I’m happy to say that a couple of weeks ago the planets aligned finally and I found my new ride!

Over coffee, I’d tell you that I was recently interviewed for an article for Women’s Running Magazine on the impact of fibroids on running. Believe it or not, the article’s author found me through a blog post I wrote back in 2015. The article is part of Outside.com/Women’s Running’s member-exclusive content and can be found here.

Over coffee, I’d tell you that I’m planning to return to school for a professional development certificate program. I haven’t taken classes since business school so let’s hope I haven’t forgotten how to do this!

Your turn…what would you tell me over coffee?

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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Um Spring – where did you go?

Just as I was welcoming spring weather with open arms, it seems that Spring has slipped into hiding. Yes I know that it’s only March, and in typical New England fashion, I really shouldn’t expect things to really warm up until mid-April…but I’m itching to shed the layers so hope burns eternal 😉

It was another 4-day run week, and with the exception of today’s stomach issues, running continues to feel pretty good. I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Here’s how things played out.

Week 12 – Where did Spring go?

Monday — 3.3-mile run & Core
Tuesday — Rest day.
Wednesday — 3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch

Thursday – Peloton Ride, Upper Body Strength & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile run, Full Body Strength & Stretch
Saturday — 3.6-mile walk & Yoga for hips
Sunday — 4-mile run. The plan called for 6 but stomach issues had me struggling from the outset of this run (and fighting the wind didn’t help!). Dizzy and nauseous I finally pulled the plug at 4. I’m not sure what went sideways here, but I’m happy I still got a few miles in.

At least it was a beautiful morning.

The week ahead looks to be a busy one as spring break comes to an end, lacrosse season kicks into gear, and I’ll be easing into my hybrid work schedule.

How was your week? Are you enjoying Spring or has it gone into hiding?

 

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March Runfessions

Happy Friday! March has blown by and now we’re here on the last Friday of the month, which of course means it’s time for some soul (or is that sole?) cleansing. Marcia has opened the runfessional and I’ve got some ‘fessing to do, so let’s get to it, shall we?

March Runfessions

Runch Lover

Last month I runfessed that I was chasing the weather to find the day’s most mild temps. Well, I runfess that all that weather chasing has turned me into a fan of “runches” – runs during lunch. I have found myself stalking my weather app and when possible planning afternoon zoom calls around my run schedule.

Shoppers Anonymous

I runfess that I think I may need to put myself in a shopping timeout. I seem to be craving “all the gear” lately and may or may not have a number of items in the carts of a couple of my favorite brands.

Peloton Sharing

While I love having my oldest son taking classes from home for a bit, I runfess that I am less fond of having to share my Peloton bike. I mean yes technically we bought the bike for “the family” and everyone tried it initially, but I’m really the one who wanted it and have been the only one consistently riding it ….until now.

Joining @teamarcia for March Runfessions #FitFiveFriday #Runfessions Share on X

Are you a fan of midday runs? Anyone else need a shopping intervention?

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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Running into Spring

Well, we made it to the first day of Spring and I couldn’t be happier! I celebrated the start of the new season with my longest run in quite a while and I’m pleased to say it was a strong effort! Here’s a quick look at how this week in fitness played out.

Week 11 – Running into Spring

Monday — 3.14 miles & Stretch. Joined Kim in wrapping up the #WeekofPi challenge with one more Pi run to celebrate her birthday! It was a bit frosty, but I finished in the glow of the sunrise.


Tuesday — 2-mile walk & Yoga. I discovered this Hips-focused class on the Peloton app that will definitely be in constant rotation for me.


Wednesday — Peloton Ride, Core & Stretch.
Thursday — 4 miles & Stretch. So much fog – it was like running in a cloud.

A little green glow for St. Paddy’s Day!

Friday — 3 miles, Core & Stretch. 70 degrees and a runch was a perfect way to head into the weekend!


Saturday — Upper Body Strength, 2.5-mile walk & Stretch.
Sunday — 6.25 miles & Yoga for hips. I was not feeling this run at all when I started but I settled in quickly, enjoyed Rebecca’s 90’s Hip Hop playlist, and had a surprisingly strong run – I love when that happens!

In case you missed it:

Five Friday Favorites

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

How was your week? What have you got planned for the spring?

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Five Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

I’m sorry I missed out on last week’s Fit Five Friday link-up but I had been cranking on some things for work last week and truly just ran out of bandwidth. So I’m happy to be back this week and sharing a few things that I’ve been loving lately. (This post contains affiliate links).

Fit Five Friday – Friday Favorites

The Dare Crossback Bra from Brooks

I received this as part of my Run Happy Team welcome kit. I’m a fan of the wide smooth straps and the overall fit, and it offers great breathability.

Sharing some current favorites #FitFiveFriday #FaveThings Share on X

Youth to the People Skincare

I discovered this skincare line last year and while I’ve deviated to try other brands cause I’m a bit of a skincare product junkie, I have returned to these products. I especially like the Superberry Hydrate & Glow Dream Mask.

Vuori Performance Joggers

These joggers are not a new discovery, but of late they have become my go-to’s. I am obsessed with just how soft they are, especially after so many washings.

Yasso Greek Yogurt Poppables

Poppables have become my new guilty pleasure. They’re frozen Greek yogurt bites coated in a chocolate and quinoa crispy shell – so yummy!

March Madness

While I don’t follow college basketball consistently I always tune in for the NCAA Tournament. It really is competition at its finest! The quality of play and the heart these kids bring to the game is far better than the pro game in my opinion.

And don’t miss the women’s tournament – as someone who played point guard in high school, the women’s game has a special place in my heart!

What are you loving at the moment?

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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Winter Rebound

Winter weather was back again in full effect this past week. Mother Nature seems to enjoy keeping us off-balance as she threw in a day in the 50s before blasting us with another round of snow and ice. So I zigged and zagged right along with the weather. Here’s how my workouts played out.

Week 10 – Winter Rebound

Monday — 2-mile walk and yoga
Tuesday — 3.14-mile run, Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch. It was the first day of Kim’s Week of Pi Challenge, and while I’m not a streaker, my plan was to run 4 of the 7 days, so I kicked things off with a sunrise run.


Wednesday — Full Body Strength & Stretch
Thursday — Peloton Ride, Core & Stretch. I had planned on running but Ma Nature thought it would be fun to give everything an icy coating.
Friday — 3.2 mile (Pi plus a little) run. 50s & sunshine had me out for another midday run – a perfect way to head into the weekend.

Saturday — 3.14-mile run & Stretch. Icy rain, strong winds, and eventually snow = hello treadmill. Full disclosure, treadmill runs always feel challenging to me and this run was no different. Matty’s Donna Summer playlist was a good distraction. Can someone tell me why 3 short miles can feel like forever on the mill?
Sunday — Peloton Ride, Lower Body Strength, Core & Stretch. The plan was to run 6 miles, but my hip flexor was not having it. I definitely aggravated something during my mill run and decided it just wasn’t worth tempting fate. The hip flexor was fine on the bike and I purposefully picked one of my favorite Strength for Runners classes that plays out like a good PT session.

Between my work/family schedule and the weather, walking miles took a hit this week, but the upcoming forecast is looking very promising for a lot of outdoor time. And, hopefully, the hip flexor will be happier staying off the mill. Just 1 more week until spring!

In case you missed it:

My Ode to Long Runs

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

How was your week? Are you looking forward to spring?

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