Michelle

Week 44 – Hello November

November 7, 2021 by Michelle 28 Comments

I’m back from our road trip. We saw family members we haven’t seen in ages so it was nice to catch up, despite the circumstances that brought us together. After all of the driving to and from upstate New York both this weekend and last weekend, I’m looking forward to not being back on the road for a while.

I have the NYC Marathon on the DVR and have managed to avoid any coverage on the socials, so before I plant myself on the couch, here is a quick look at how the first week in November fitness played out.

Weekly Run Down – Week 44

Monday – Hello November! 3.1-mile run, Core & Stretch

Start of a new day, new week, new month.

Tuesday – 2-mile walk & Core

Wednesday – Lower Body Strength, Core, Peloton Ride, & Stretch. This was a great stack that I definitely plan to repeat!

Thursday – 3-mile run followed by a sports massage!

Friday – 2-mile walk, Core & PT exercises

Saturday – 3-mile run. After 7 hours in the car on Friday, this run felt so good. Our hotel was just a short drive to Lock 32 State Canal Park, so it was a brisk (27 degrees!) run along the Erie Canal.

Sunday – Another long car ride…there may be yoga later, but I may just become one with my couch.

November Goals

The mini-goals I set for the post-race weeks in October worked so well that I’m putting them on repeat for November (minus the 2-week sugar detox!). My hip continues to feel really good so why mess with a good thing, right?

There were so many races this weekend – congrats to all of the runners, including Weekly Run Down link-up hosts Kim and Deborah.

Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

November Coffee Talk

November 5, 2021 by Michelle 23 Comments

It’s that time again for a little catch-up over coffee with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. And, of course, it’s Friday so that means another Fit Five Friday link-up! So grab a mug of your fave hot beverage and let’s chat.

November Coffee Talk

Over coffee, I would share the somber news that my mother-in-law passed away last week. Her health had been in decline since her stroke six years ago, so on many levels, her passing brings some peace. The funeral is this weekend so we’ll be heading to upstate New York later today.

On a much lighter note, over coffee, I would tell you that my husband and I visited my son at college last weekend for Parents’ Weekend. It was so good to see him and we had a great time! And now I count down the days until he’s home for Thanksgiving 😉

And speaking of Thanksgiving, over coffee I would ask if you are as annoyed as I am by how this holiday gets short-changed? I have already spied some Christmas decorations on houses during my runs and don’t even get me started on the retailers!

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m excited about a potential new career opportunity on the horizon. I’m also crazy nervous about all this new position might entail. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can share more about the opportunity soon.

What would you tell me over coffee? Have you seen Christmas lights and decorations out 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! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

Spooky Runfessions

October 29, 2021 by Michelle 13 Comments

It’s Friday and I’m so excited to be leaving today for parents’ weekend to visit my college boy! But before I pack up I’m making a stop at the Runfessional with Marcia.

It’s also time for another Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renee, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly, so let’s get started.

Spooky Runfessions

Since we’ll be traveling this weekend to visit my oldest we will basically be missing Halloween festivities. I runfess that I’m not upset about this! While I do enjoy handing out candy to little ones in their costumes, I’m not really much of a Halloween fan. There…I said it. Scary movies, blood and gore, haunted houses? Just not my favorite thing.

This weekend also marks the last couple of days of my 14-day sugar detox. The first week certainly had some ups and downs, but I really feel like I hit a groove by Saturday, and this week things have felt pretty smooth. Having said that I runfess that I cannot wait to put a little sugar in my morning coffee again! That is one thing I truly miss…that and a nice glass of wine 😉

Are you a fan of Halloween?

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! Share your fitness-related link (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!), link back to your hosts, and share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers! Please don’t just drop a link.

Filed Under: Runfessions

A full moon kind of week

October 24, 2021 by Michelle 16 Comments

Is it just me or was this quite the week?! Everything felt just a little…off? I’m going to chalk it up to the full moon… or perhaps the effects of my sugar detox (more on that in a minute). First, here’s how the week’s workouts played out.

Full moon spotted on Thursday morning’s walk.

Weekly Run Down – Week 42

Monday — Lower Body Strength, Core, Peloton ride & Stretch. Out of curiosity, I tried one of the Barre classes on the Peloton app as part of my strength workout. I did not love it. Thankfully, I picked a short class.

Tuesday — Day 2 of the sugar detox and I hit the sugar wall (at least that’s what I’m calling it)! Felt really sluggish and had a withdrawal headache. This combine with a cray cray workday that left me spent…I took a rest day.

Wednesday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch. Mother Nature finally hit the switch on the fall weather, my energy level bounced back, and I couldn’t have been happier!

Thursday — 2.5-mile walk & PT exercises. Another nutty workday so I was super grateful to have a sports massage scheduled at the end of the day.

Friday — 1-mile walk, Full Body Strength & Stretch.

Saturday — 4-mile run, Core & Stretch. More 50-degree perfection and this run felt so good!

Sunday — 3.5-mile walk, PT exercises, & Yoga.

Just 2 runs this week and felt great on both. Slow and steady progress!

Sugar Detox Week 1 Done.

Going into the sugar detox I had been warned of possible withdrawal side effects — headaches, sluggishness/low energy, muscle aches — check, check, and check. I definitely rode the roller coaster of these effects with Tuesday being the worst of it. My energy level kind of ebbed and flowed so I let how I felt dictate whether I walked or ran. By Saturday I woke up with some pep in my step and that’s carried over to this morning as well. Week 2 of the detox is on deck.

Five Things to Consider Before Applying to be a Brand Ambassador

October 22, 2021 by Michelle 24 Comments

Everywhere you look it seems like more and more brands have jumped on the ambassador bandwagon. I’m sure I’m not alone in receiving a consistent stream of DMs from brands touting their ambassador programs. Combine that with many of the more established brands that have either opened or will soon open their applications for 2022, and brand ambassadorships seem to be at an all-time high.

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of some great (and a couple of not-so-great) ambassador programs. Here are a few things to consider before you hit the submit button on your next application.

Do you really love the brand? — This one may seem obvious, but if you are not a true fan of the brand, just stop right here. As an ambassador, you should be able to authentically share with others your love of the brand…both in words and consistent use of the product.

Are there any potential conflicts? — Will representing the brand present any conflicts for you in your professional life? Or, what about other brands you may already be working with – do they offer a product in the same category? For example, if you love the hats of one brand, can you promote them if a brand you’re currently working with includes hats as part of its product line? Some brands may consider this a conflict.

What are the program requirements? — Consider how often are you expected to post via social media? Blog posts? Are you expected to attend live events (when they return)? The range of commitments is as diverse as the number of ambassador programs out there, and no two programs are alike so be sure you know what you are committing to. You owe it to the brand and yourself to be clear about what you can and are willing to do.

What are the program rewards? — Is the brand providing you with free products or are they offering a discount on your purchases? I was recently contacted by a company that wanted the sun, the moon, and the stars, but in return, they were only offering a very modest discount. Consider whether this will be a mutually beneficial relationship – your time and your reputation are both valuable.

Do you have the right audience? — Will promoting the brand fit with the rest of your content or will it feel like it’s coming out of left field?

Brand ambassadorship programs can be a lot of fun and a great way to connect with others…and they can also be a lot of work. So, choose wisely.

How do you choose a program?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday

Let the base-building begin

October 17, 2021 by Michelle 28 Comments

So Summer-like weather made a return appearance this week with its sidekick Humidity in tow. As planned, the miles were low as and walking made a return to the schedule. Here’s a quick peek at my workouts this week.

Weekly Run Down – Week 41

Monday — 2.6-mile run & PT exercises. A return to the roads! How could I not run on Marathon Monday?! Oh so humid – what happened to fall?! But best of all my legs felt fresh after the week’s rest and no pain!

Tuesday — 2.5-mile walk, Core & Stretch.
Wednesday —1-mile walk, Strength for Runners, Core & Stretch. I paired a couple of the Peloton Strength for Runners classes which gave me a lot of single leg work, and left my legs feeling like jelly…but in a good way.
Thursday — 2.7-mile run & Core. I also added a foam rolling class for glutes and calves on the Peloton app – perhaps using the app will get me to break out the foam roller more often.

Friday — 3.25-mile walk & PT exercises.
Saturday — 3.1 mile-run, Core & Stretch.
Sunday — After a very fun Sat. night out with friends – great food and some adult beverages – I’m still lingering over my coffee. Fall weather seems to have finally made an appearance this morning so I plan to grab a walk and hit my yoga mat.

So nothing wildly exciting, but there was also no squawking from my hip – I call a pain-free week a win! In the forecast for the week ahead looks like fall weather will be making a welcome return so I’m looking forward to #optoutside with a slight bump up in my run miles and more walking.

How was your week? Does it feel like fall where you are?

In case you missed it:

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

As always, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down link-up. Join us!

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekly Run Down

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

October 15, 2021 by Michelle 16 Comments

I recently shared that one of my goals for this month is to participate in a 14-day sugar detox. After receiving some messages/questions about the detox, I thought I’d share some reasons why I’ll be giving this break from sugar a go.

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

Let me start with a general disclaimer that I am not a medical professional or certified nutritionist. I have done my homework, and these are a few reasons I’m interested in trying a sugar detox.

Added Sugars Everywhere

Did you know that sugar is the most popular food additive in the US? Sugar can be found in 3 out of every 4 products on grocery store shelves. And, we’re not just talking about baked treats and candy. Refined sugar shows up in a range of foods from sugary drinks (including energy drinks, flavored waters, and sweetened coffees and teas) to sauces and condiments; from bread and pasta to protein powders and bars. While I don’t consider myself a “sugar junkie” by any means, it’s easy to see how added sugar can easily creep into your daily consumption. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), added sugars account for approximately 17% of the U.S. adult diet.

A Range of Health Impacts

A high intake of added sugars is linked to a whole host of negative health outcomes, from heart disease to weight gain to depression. A 2014 NIH study found people who consumed between 17% to 21% of their total daily calories from added sugar had a 38% greater risk of dying from heart disease than people who ate less added sugar – about 8% of their total calories. Added sugars come with a lot of empty calories and zero nutritional benefits.

Some Benefits of Hitting the Reset Button

Reducing your added sugar intake can result in:

re-balanced hormonal production
reduced inflamation
decreased viseral fat
improved gut microbiome, strengthening your immune system
improved energy level and mental clarity

The sugar detox program I’m doing kicks off on Monday – I’m looking forward to seeing how I feel in a couple of weeks.

Have you ever done a sugar detox?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Nutrition

Week 40: Recovery Mode & Some Mini Goals

October 10, 2021 by Michelle 32 Comments

With last Sunday’s 10K done and my November half marathon canceled, this week was all about recovery with no running. Here’s how the week went:

Weekly Run Down – Week 40

Monday — Yoga
Tuesday — Upper Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Wednesday –– 2.5-mile walk, Core & Hip mobility work
Thursday — Low-impact Ride, Core & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile walk & Hip mobility work
Saturday — Full Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Sunday — Low-impact Ride & Core (planned)

A highlight of the week was volunteering at bib distribution for the Boston Marathon on Friday. I always love the energy of the city on Marathon Weekend! It was great to meet and talk with runners from all over – you could really feel and see how grateful people were to have made it to this point. I even had one runner ask me to join her in a photo of getting her bib! So fun!

The Weeks Ahead – Some Mini Goals

Running — I plan to get back out on the road tomorrow. With the Run to Remember Half now pushed off until May, there’s nothing to train for, which is really the best thing for my healing hip. The week off has done me a world of good and the plan for the rest of the fall is to enjoy the weather and just run to run.

Walking — I make no secret that the fall is my favorite season, so why not maximize my time outdoors before winter creeps in? On the days I’m not running, I plan to get out for 2-3 miles of walking.

Lower Body Strength & Core — The orthopedic doc wants to see me put a focus on strengthening the muscles around my hips, so I’ve pulled out my PT notes and will be re-taking some of my favorite Strength for Runners classes on the Peloton app.

Sugar Detox — A friend invited me to join her for the 14-day Sugar Vaca hosted by Rhianne at Believe in Your Health. I’m looking forward to using the last 2 weeks of October to give my body a re-set I think it needs.

So those are basically some mini-goals to carry me through the rest of this month.

Best of luck to everyone racing this weekend!

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

Filed Under: goals, Weekly Run Down

2021 Ocean Road 10K Race Recap

October 8, 2021 by Michelle 20 Comments

Welcome to another edition of Fit Five Friday! Today I’m sharing a quick recap of the Ocean Road 10K.

2021 Ocean Road 10K Recap

Last Sunday, I was lucky enough to toe the line for the Ocean Road 10K. There had been so many race cancelations announced in the past couple of weeks, and I was holding my breath hoping this one would go off as planned. I ran Ocean Road in 2018 and loved it! In 2019 the race date was too close to the Chicago Marathon and last year …well COVID, so it was great to be able to run this one again. And, added bonus, I got to run another race with my brother!

The course is a point-to-point route that winds along the RI coastline, offering beautiful views of the ocean. It’s also a rolling course — nothing crazy in terms of elevation, but some of the long slow inclines definitely proved to be taxing for my recovering hip.

Hard to complain about views like this!

My husband J, who wasn’t running thanks to a hamstring issue, offered to drop my brother and me off at the start so we could avoid taking the shuttle and the long wait before the start of the race. J and I picked my brother up just after 6 on Sunday morning and had an easy ride down to Narragansett, arriving at the Point Judith Lighthouse before the 7:30 road closure. A quick trip to the porta-potties, a quick photo, and it was time to line up. Runners were asked to self-seed for the wave start, so we worked out way through the crowd to start in the 3rd wave. The race started at 8 and by 8:07 we were crossing the start line.

The first 5K

As you can imagine, I was very psyched to be running an in-person race and will admit to going out too fast. I appreciated the wave start as it really cut down on the amount of bobbing and weaving that typically happens at the start of a race. My brother and I took in the views and clipped along. Some of the local residents came out to cheer on the runners from on their decks – a special thanks to the person who set up speakers and blared the Rocky theme 🙂 J decided to drive the road parallel to the course which gave him a chance to park periodically and walk over to cheer us. He caught up with us the first time just after the first water stop after mile 2.

The first long incline came in the 3rd mile and by the time we hit the 5K mark, I could feel my hip tightening up. Ugh…

The final 5K

I had been using 4:1 intervals, but in the 4th mile, I needed to walk a bit more. I urged my brother to keep going. I stopped to try to stretch things out a bit and started again trying to keep him in my sights. I saw J again just after the next water stop. My hip was getting tighter and it must have reflected on my face because as this woman passed me she looked at me and said: “Come on we got this” and motioned for me to join her. I didn’t walk and fell in step with her. We chatted and ran – Nicole was also doing run/walk intervals and we were running at about the same pace so it was perfect. Soon we were passing under the Narragansett Towers and down the homestretch to the finish. We high five and thank each other for pushing to the finish. My brother was waiting at the finish line having finished just a few minutes ahead.

Final thoughts

This race offers a beautiful course and an overall great vibe. Getting dropped off at the start was a huge win vs. taking the shuttles and having a long wait at the start (the downside of any point-to-point race). Race organizers once again opted to offer rental mobile lockers vs. a traditional bag check – after my previous experience a couple of years ago, I opted to skip the lockers and leave my extra layers in the car…another benefit of getting dropped off at the start. Overall the race was well organized and the race directors did a great job of getting information out to runners before the race.

I would run this one again!

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ocean Road 10K, race report

Weekly Run Down – Hello October!

October 3, 2021 by Michelle 25 Comments

Hello October! Isn’t it crazy to think that we have just 89 days left in the year!

With a 10K race today (and the orthopedic doc preferring I not race at all), this was a super low-keyed “race week”. Here’s a quick rundown on how things played out…

Weekly Run Down — Week 39

Monday — 2-mile walk and Yoga
Tuesday — 3-mile walk, Upper Body Strength, Core, & Stretch. Got up and out extra early to beat the storms headed our way. I had planned a short run but decided to listen to my body and opted for another walk. I broke out my Noxgear for the first time this season, but I have a feeling this vest will get a lot of use.

Wednesday — Peloton Ride, Core & Stretch
Thursday — Peloton Ride & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch. October kicked off with a picture-perfect fall day! My temperamental hip continues to let me know that it is not a fan of inclines, but otherwise, the run felt pretty good. Lots of stretching and foam-rolling followed.

Saturday — 2-mile walk and Yoga.
Sunday — Ocean Road 10K! It felt great to be at a live race this morning! And so happy that my brother was out there with me. While I definitely didn’t set any land speed records, it was a fun morning. Full recap to come.

Ready to run!

As I sit here on the couch resting my sore hip, I think the week ahead will probably be fairly low-keyed as well. I’m still debating my goals for this month…more on that later.

In case you missed it:

Catching Up Over October Coffee

Did you race this weekend? Any big plans for October?

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

Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Week 44 – Hello November

Weekly Run Down – Week 44

November Coffee Talk

November Coffee Talk

Spooky Runfessions

Spooky Runfessions

A full moon kind of week

Weekly Run Down – Week 42

Five Things to Consider Before Applying to be a Brand Ambassador

Let the base-building begin

Weekly Run Down – Week 41

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

Week 40: Recovery Mode & Some Mini Goals

Weekly Run Down – Week 40

2021 Ocean Road 10K Race Recap

2021 Ocean Road 10K Recap

Weekly Run Down – Hello October!

Weekly Run Down — Week 39

Hi, I’m Michelle

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