Roaring into March

March 7, 2021 by 36 Comments

As I sit here sipping my coffee, I think this is the first morning this week that I don’t hear the wind. They say March either comes in like a lamb or lion and this week we certainly heard the lion’s roar in the form of the wind. Here’s how this week’s workouts went down.

Weekly Run Down Week 9

Monday — 20 min ride, 20 min Upper Body Strength, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. Wind advisory outside so I was happy to stay indoors. I snagged a PR on this ride and this upper body workout left me with jelly arms..but in a good way!


Tuesday — Rest day plus 10 min core and a stretch.
Wednesday — 3 miles, 10 min core, and a stretch.
Thursday — 20 min ride plus 5 min cooldown ride, 10 min arms toning, and 10 min core. This ride had a lot of in and out of the saddle with heavy resistance – my legs were fried by the end. The playlist was a good one!

Friday — 1.5 miles, 10 min core, 20 min yoga. I woke up with everything feeling creaky – the yoga was so needed!
Saturday — Double workout day! I repped my state in the Zooma’s International Women’s Day 5K in the morning and then jumped on my bike for a 20 min ride, plus 10 min core, and 10 min stretch later in the day.

While I haven’t had much motivation for virtual races I liked that ZOOMA is using proceeds to help sponsor Women for Women International, an organization that supports women in countries affected by conflict and war.

Sunday — As I noted at the start of this post, I’m still sipping coffee, but with the wind being a non-factor, I’m sure I’ll be heading out for a few miles.

March Goals

As you know, I like to set monthly goals. I’m keeping it simple for this month…

  • 60 run/walk miles
  • Continue with daily core workouts
  • Focus on hydration – 64 oz/daily – I’ve let this slide a bit so I need to follow my own tips and get back on this!
  • 3 strength training sessions/week – 1 upper-body, 1 lower-body, and 1 full-body

How was your week? Did you set any goals for March?

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

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Filed Under: goals, Weekly Run Down

Five Things over March Coffee

March 5, 2021 by 40 Comments

It’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and me! We look forward to linking up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites!

This Friday, I’m kicking off the weekend with a little catch-up over the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. So grab a mug of your favorite beverage and let’s chat a little!

Five Things Over March Coffee

Over coffee, I would tell you that spring cannot get here fast enough. I cannot wait for more time outdoors – to break out the deck furniture, get back in my garden, set up the fire pit on the patio…and of course, run without all of the layers!

Last month over coffee, I shared how crazy things were at work. I wish I could say that since then things have improved but the days have still been long and stressful. At least I have re-gained my weekend time back.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I just received an email announcing that the 1st race New England 10 Miler Series (the Portland 10M) has been postponed from April to September. I registered to run this 3-race series last year before COVID and was grateful that the organizers deferred the series instead of going virtual. The first race will now be the Newport 10M in June. With the RDs offering a deferral credit, the question is to wait and see if RI lifts restrictions in time for the June race or consider deferring the whole series to 2022.

Over coffee, I would tell you how much I’m looking forward to having my oldest son home for spring break in a couple of weeks! Given the quarantine restrictions of both my boys’ schools, I’m sure our spring break plans will be pretty low-key – but no matter, I’m always happiest when we’re all together under one roof.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m looking forward to diving into my MasterClass subscription and trying out some new things this month. I’ve had the subscription since Christmas but haven’t made the time to explore any of the classes yet. I think I’m going to start with Gordon Ramsey’s cooking classes.

What would you tell me over coffee? Would you wait to try to run

Welcome to FitFive 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! Who’s ready for some fun?


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

February is a Wrap!

February 28, 2021 by 37 Comments

We made it! I swear these past 28 days felt l-o-n-g! As I recently runfessed, I am winter-weary and oh so ready to put this month and all of the snow and ice that came with it in the rearview mirror.

So before I declare February a wrap – I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down. Here’s how the last week of the month played out.

 

Weekly Run Down Week 8

Monday — 3 miles, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. Mother Nature was not playing nice so that meant more time on the mill.
Tuesday — 20 min ride plus 5 min cooldown ride, 20 min core, and 10 min stretch. I’m not even sure why but this was one of those days where everything felt hard, as evidenced by my post-workout selfie from the floor!


Wednesday — 4 miles, 10 min core, and a stretch. What a difference a day makes! Mother Nature served up 50 degrees and sunshine, and my run felt effortless!


Thursday — 3 miles, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. Everything that started to melt the day before froze overnight, so it was back to the mill again.

Friday — 3 miles, 20 min core, 30 min ride. Matty’s core class was just 20 minutes of evil, but the soundtrack of Cody’s BHM Celebration ride was oh so good!

Saturday — 2 miles, 20 min ride plus 5 min cooldown ride, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch.

Sunday — 4 miles, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. I took advantage of a break between rainstorms to get outside for some miles this morning. I love how peaceful Sunday mornings can be.

This week was heavy on short runs, and light on strength training – not really planned, just went with how I was feeling.

Despite keeping my runs short throughout the month, I manage to hit my goal of 50 miles. And, with today’s workout, the enCore 28 daily core challenge is now complete. I’m still undecided on my goals for March so I’ll share them later.

How was your February? 

In case you missed it:

Sharing Some February Runfessions

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Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Sharing Some February Runfessions

February 26, 2021 by 42 Comments

Happy Friday!

A big thank you to everyone who’s linked up or stopped by to support the new Fit Five Friday link-up! My co-hosts Darlene, Renee, Jenn, Zenaida and I really appreciate the support!

And, speaking of link-ups, it’s the last Friday of the month, so I’m linking up with Marcia to share some Runfessions…let’s get started, shall we?

February Runfessions

I runfess that I am winter-weary. While I love cold weather running, all of the snow and ice this month have made outdoor running really challenging. I’ve done my best to take it all in stride, but I’m really ready to move on.

February wraps up this weekend and with it, the enCore28 daily core challenge. After my daily yoga challenge in January, and now this core challenge, the obvious question is what’s next? I runfess that after two months of daily challenges, I’m kinda looking forward to having no daily “challenge” on the plan for March.

I runfess that I have finally put an in-person race on my 2021 calendar –  the Narragansett Summer Running Festival! This is a great local race and I’m psyched that they’re making a go of it this year. I also runfess that what sealed the deal for me was the RD’s promise to offer a full refund and to not go virtual if COVID restrictions prevent a live event from taking place. It’s not until July and more and more things are opening up here in MA, so I’m hopeful!

Lastly, I have been jonesing to buy a new pair of run shoes. I runfess this is not about need, my running mileage has been on the low end and I have a couple of pairs in rotation…and still I stalk the websites.

Any runfessions to share? Have you registered for or run any in-person races yet? How many pairs of running shoes are too many?

Here are the guidelines:

  • Your link should center around some kind of fitness (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… really the possibilities are endless!)
  • Please link back to your hosts! It’s the right thing to do!
  • Share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!
  • Feel free to share about Fit Five Friday on your social media! Tag #FitFiveFriday to get the word out!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Runfessions

Light at the End of the Ice Tunnel

February 21, 2021 by 34 Comments

While there was more snow and ice to contend with this week, a quick peek at the forecast ahead has me downright giddy!

I Spy 40’s!!

Ah yes…light at the end of the ice tunnel! OK, so before I get ahead of myself, here’s a quick recap of this week’s workouts.

Weekly Run Down Week 7

Monday — 2-miles, 10 min core, 15 min strength, and 10 min stretch. I had the day off for Presidents Day so it was nice to have the chance to sleep in a little. The weather was a mess of icy rain so it was another short treadmill run. I really enjoyed Jess’ Flash 15 workout – she knows how to make the most of a 15 min strength session!


Tuesday — 20 min ride, 20 min core, and 10 min stretch.
Wednesday — 10 min core, but otherwise a rest day. I woke up feeling really off and struggled to get moving so I took a pass on my run. A visit to my massage therapist after work was the perfect remedy.
Thursday — 3.5 miles, 10 min core, and stretch. Another gray day but 27 degrees felt balmy! Following Wednesday’s massage, my legs felt fresh and I really enjoyed the playlist from Matty’s BHM Motown run!

Friday — 2.5 miles, 15 min core, 20 min ride and there was shoveling…again. The snowstorm that was supposed to hit Thursday made an all-day appearance on Friday. I wasn’t motivated to be on the treadmill for long so I hopped on for the last of the Year of Yes runs for just a couple of miles. I wanted more cardio so I took the BHM Broadway Ride – this was my second ride with Ally, and again I found her to be too theatrical for my taste…for me, it detracted from the ride. On the plus side, I loved the soundtrack! This was also one of my favorite core classes of the enCore28 Challenge – I bookmarked it and definitely plan to take it again.

Saturday — 4 miles, 10 min core, and 15 min upper body strength. With the roads and sidewalks still a mess, it was another date with my treadmill. The back-to-back Peloton runs helped to keep the mill miles tolerable.

Sunday — As I draft this post I’m still undecided. After 3 straight days of running, I had planned to ride today, but the sun is out and the lure of another run is strong. The compromise may be a walk for some outdoor time. Day 21 of the enCore Challenge is also on tap, along with an extended stretch session or yoga.

Is the weather forecast improving where you are? 

In case you missed it:

Running Pet Peeves

Five Quick Tips to a Good Night’s Sleep
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: weather, Weekly Run Down

Five quick tips to a good night’s sleep

February 19, 2021 by 13 Comments

Can a good night’s sleep feel elusive at times?

Lack of proper sleep can significantly affect your ability to think clearly and focus, weakens your immune system, impacts your overall mood.

If you’re a runner, sleep deprivation can impair both your performance and recovery. During sleep, growth hormones stimulate muscle growth and repair, bone building, and metabolism. Sleep deprivation slows the release of growth hormones, and when growth hormone levels are down, cortisol (stress hormone) levels are on the rise. Too much cortisol in your system can also disrupt your body’s ability to recover properly. Additionally, lack of sleep can also impact glycogen storage – clearly a big deal for endurance running.

For this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing some tips to help set you up for a good night’s sleep.

Have a consistent bedtime — A consistent bedtime helps to regulate your body clock. For me breaking the habit of falling asleep on the couch while watching TV, and instead, heading to bed at a consistent hour has been a big help in improving my own sleep.

Unplug from technology — According to the Sleep Foundation, your phone or laptop can impact your sleep by disrupting the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for controlling your sleep-wake cycle, and when this hormone level is out of whack, you may experience insomnia. So, try powering down your tech at least half an hour before bed (ideally an hour before) to help to keep your body’s circadian rhythm on track.

Is sleep elusive for you? I'm sharing 5 quick tips for this week's #FitFiveFriday Share on X

Keep your room dark and cool — Did you know that your body prepares for sleep by lowering its core temperature? A cool bedroom may help keep your core body temperature constant, in turn, helping to promote better sleep. And, darkness helps to contribute to the release of our old friend melatonin.

Watch what you eat and drink — Late night snacking, alcohol, and caffeine can all negatively impact sleep patterns.

Relax your mind — I find meditating for 10 minutes or more helps me to unwind. If mediation is not your thing, try journaling or creating a quick brain dump list to help you to clear your mind of your to do’s or any other stresses of the day before turning out the light.

What helps you to have a good night’s sleep?

Welcome to another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly!

Here are the guidelines:

  • Your link should center around some kind of fitness (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!)
  • Please link back to your hosts! It’s the right thing to do!
  • Share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!
  • Feel free to share about Fit Five Friday on your social media! Tag #FitFiveFriday to get the word out!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Sleep

Running pet peeves

February 16, 2021 by 23 Comments

Running pet peeves? Oh come on now, you know you’ve got one or two…or a few 😉 For this week’s Tuesday’s Topics, Kim and Zenaida are inviting us all to get a few things off our chest and share some of our running pet peeves.

I actually did a similar post a few years back, which you can read here – it’s funny how some of those peeves still hold true!

Runners who don’t acknowledge other runners — This is one I really do not understand. How hard is it to raise a hand, nod, something when another runner greets you? When we’re out there pounding the pavement a little acknowledgment of someone’s effort could go a long way.

Drivers who treat stop signs and red lights as optional — I have had one too many close calls with drivers who roll through a red light attempting to turn right on red without ever looking. Had this happen just the other day and let’s just say I had some choice words for that driver.

Races that are advertised as “flat and fast” when they clearly are not! — Why not just be honest about the course elevation?

Disrespecting the “Back of the Pack” — I have no place for judgmental people, especially someone who thinks it’s ok to judge/comment/criticize someone else’s effort. On both social media and at races, I’ve seen runners show their disdain for slower runners – really? First of all, pace is relative. More importantly, just because you happen to be faster than another runner doesn’t give you the right to comment on whether they should be running or racing. As long as runners have seeded themselves appropriately for a race, why should those in the front corrals feel entitled to comment on those in the back? Personally, I applaud anyone who’s willing to put themselves out there and give it their best effort – whatever their pace.

So tell me, what are some of your running pet peeves?

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Filed Under: Tuesday Topics

Taking the weather in stride

February 14, 2021 by 30 Comments

Another week of frigid temps, snow, and ice…it is February after all. While I was indoors far more than I would have liked, I am very grateful to have both a treadmill and Peloton bike at the ready. Here’s a quick look at my week in workouts…

View from my Sunday run

Monday — Peloton 20 min Ride, Arms & Shoulders, Core, and Stretch.

Tuesday — 20 min Core, Strength for Runners, Stretch…and there was shoveling. The Miley Cirus soundtrack made this core class extra challenging – if it weren’t for the fact that it was part of the enCore28 Challenge I would have taken a pass.
Wednesday — 10-min core class, otherwise a rest day.
Thursday — 3 miles on the mill and 10-min core.
Friday — 3 miles on the mill, 20-min core, and full-body stretch. To break up the monotony of another mill run, I split the run in two with the core session in between.

Saturday — Peloton 30-min Ride, 10-min core, and 10-min stretch. Added bonus of some extra time on the bike catching up with some blogger friends via Zoom.

Catching up with Coco, Deb, Kim, Renee, and Kim!

Sunday — 3 miles earlier, plus 10-min core class, and I’m still planning some time on my yoga mat post-coffee. I was happy to log some outdoor miles! Even though it was cold and gray, it was peaceful.

We were clearly spoiled by a mild January, but I’m doing my best to not complain and just take it all in stride. Based on the forecast for the week ahead it looks like I’ll need to continue to embrace the indoor workouts. On the plus side, I have Monday off for Presidents’ Day and a much, much-needed massage scheduled for Wednesday!

How’s the weather where you are? Are you still getting outdoors or taking your workouts inside?

In case you missed it:
Five Fitness Products I’m Loving Right Now

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

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Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Five Fitness Products I’m Loving Right Now

February 12, 2021 by 29 Comments

In honor of Valentine’s Day when all thoughts turn to love (or something to that effect), I’m sharing 5 fitness-related products I’m loving right now. (This post contains affiliate links).

Lush Pullover from Ink & Burn – I’m such a fan of Ink & Burn and I cannot say enough about this top! It has a beautiful floral design, a brushed interior for extra warmth without the bulk, and thumbholes! Perfection!

OCOPPA Rechargeable Handwarmers – As someone who suffers from Raynaud’s, my biggest challenge for winter runs is keeping my hands warm. I’ve used disposable hand warmers in the past, but the one and done approach can get pricey and isn’t doing much for the environment. This rechargeable handwarmer offers 3 heat settings and fits nicely in the palm of my hand.

Legiral Massage Gun — I think every runner should have a massage gun in their recovery toolbox. I love this one because it offers multiple speed settings (20) and different attachments (6). It does the job and is reasonably priced compared to some other models I considered.

And, speaking of the recovery toolbox, the Rollga Foam Roller is another item I’m making good use of these days. Now seriously, does anyone really love foam rolling?! I do like the contoured design of the Rollga – it helps to get to those important spots without mashing bones and tendons. And, since it’s less painful than a traditional foam roller, I find I’m more inclined to use it.

Sharing 5 fitness-related products I'm loving right now! #FitFiveFriday Share on X

AfterShokz Air Headphones — I’ve been running with AfterShokz for 5 years. The Air model is a nice upgrade from my original Trezk Titanium – especially the lighter, more flexible wrap-around design. I love that AfterShokz has an open ear design so you can stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying excellent music quality.

What fitness-related items are you loving right now?

Welcome to another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly!

Here are the guidelines:

  • Your link should center around some kind of fitness (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!)
  • Please link back to your hosts! It’s the right thing to do!
  • Share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!
  • Feel free to share about Fit Five Friday on your social media! Tag #FitFiveFriday to get the word out!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, fave things

Week 5 – Snow and Ice

February 7, 2021 by 37 Comments

Mother Nature gave us a run for our money this past week with a heavy dose of winter weather, so this week was all about working around the snow and ice. Here’s a quick peek at my week.

Monday — 3-mile run, day 1 of the enCore28 challenge (10 min core) and 10 min stretch class.
Tuesday — 20-min Peloton ride, 20-min core, and 10-min stretch. And, there was shoveling.
Wednesday — Day 3 of the core challenge with a 10-min core class, otherwise a rest day.
Thursday — 20-min Peloton ride, 10-min core, 10-min strength, and 10-min stretch. I had a run planned, but thanks to frigid temps the streets were just too icy. This stack of classes was a great alternative and my favorite workout of the week!

Friday — 3 miles on the mill and 15-min core. An episode of The Home Edit helped to pass the time. I’m so thankful we finally installed a small TV above the treadmill!
Saturday — 4 miles, 10-min core, and 10-min stretch. It was a bit warmer than it had been the past couple of days so I was determined to run outdoors. I definitely found some patches of black ice along the way but managed to stay upright. (Maybe the core work is paying off?)
Sunday — Right now coffee but I plan on a 30-min ride, core, either a short stretch or yoga class later.

Another snowstorm is heading this way today and there’s more snow and freezing rain in the forecast for later this week, so it looks like I’ll be spending some quality time on the mill…or riding a lot more.

So how was your week? 

In case you missed it:
February Coffee

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

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Filed Under: Weekly Run Down