Friday Five – April Goals

April 1, 2016 by 14 Comments

Happy Friday!

As last week’s runfessions revealed I’ve been feeling a little whiny about my running. So in an effort to focus on the positive, I’m skipping my monthly rewind, in favor of looking ahead to goals for this month!

April Goals

 

  1. Run all the miles — Don’t leave any run shorter than planned.
  2. Lose the negative thoughts — Going to replace that negative voice that’s been all too present on the road with me lately. I will focus on the mile I’m in.
  3. Return to morning runs — I’m best when I start my day working out – then when the schedule runs amok, at least I’ll know I’ve already taken care of myself.
  4. Step-up the strength work — Going back to work with Trainer Stacy and I can’t wait!
  5. Lose 3 pounds — One of my 2016 goals is to lose 12 pounds, and while I’ve been making a little progress here, I know I lost my focus a bit last month – I’m recommitting.

What are your goals for April?

I’m linking up with Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia for the #FridayFive link-up – This week’s theme is “fitness.” DC-Trifecta-Friday-Five-linkup

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Filed Under: Friday Five, goals

RtR Week 3 recap

March 28, 2016 by 18 Comments

RtR Update

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? For those who celebrate, a belated Happy Easter!

Week 3 of Run to Remember training is in the books and I’m joining Holly and Tricia for their #WeeklyWrap. Be sure to stop by and check in on how last week treated everyone.

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Monday 3/21:  Strength workout – legs and abs.
Tuesday 3/22:  44 minutes on the Arc Trainer.
Wednesday 3/23:  3 hilly miles on some very tired legs.
Thursday 3/24:  Rest Day!

Family run
Friday 3/25:  Family run – while I didn’t run as far as I’d planned, nothing beats the whole family running together!
Saturday 3/26:  The plague hit…seriously I felt horrible – there was no running, just couch time and movies with the kids.
Sunday 3/27:  Still not feeling fabulous by a long shot, but that little voice in my head kept nagging me that I was going to be more unhappy if I skipped it vs going – 3.5 miles done.

Thankfully after a very quite weekend, I’m feeling more or less plague-free today. As I run-fessed I’ve been feeling a little uninspired by my runs, but I’m focusing on an attitude adjustment for this week!

How was your week?

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Filed Under: training, Weekly Wrap

March Runfessions

March 25, 2016 by 8 Comments

It’s the last Friday of the month…so you know what that means….time to cleanse my sweaty soul with some Runfessions. Link up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice and join us, won’t you?!

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Runfession #1 — I’ve lost my running mojo! Despite looking forward to running a half marathon again, I’m not feeling in any kind of groove – in fact most days….I runfess that I just don’t feel like running.

LOST_MOJO

Runfession #2 — I’ve been letting my schedule totally rule me instead of the other way around. I haven’t been good about carving out dedicated time for my runs and workouts – instead just trying to jam them in when I can. The end results is I’m feeling kind of stressed to just check off the “workout box” instead of looking forward to that time. Might be contributing to Runfession#1 – don’t ya think?

Runfession #3 — I’ve been thinking that it might be beneficial to work with a run coach who can help me improve my gait and mechanics. I was really enjoying the work I had started while I was doing PT – they had a good team…might be time to reconnect. I’m just feeling like I need someone to observe and correct…or at least make suggestions 🙂

Kinvara 7

Photo Courtesy of Running Warehouse

Runfession #4 — I am lusting after the new Kinvara 7, but am really having a hard time justifying spending the cash – I have 2 pairs of Mizunos and a pair of ISO Zealots all in great condition with low mileage. Yet still I covet…

It's time for #Runfessions! Link up with @teamarcia and share Share on X

OK so now it’s your turn….what do you run-fess?

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Filed Under: Runfessions, Schedule vs Training

Thursday Thoughts – Odds and Ends

March 24, 2016 by 8 Comments

Is it me or is this week moving at a glacial pace? How is it not Friday already?!

Computer problems have been the bane of my existence this week – there have been many moments where throwing my laptop out the window seemed like a reasonable option.

Computer probs

Just as I was diving into a little spring fever last week, Mother Nature decided to pull a fast one and smacked us with snow on Monday…but then it was all melted by the late afternoon. Yesterday was in the 60s, but this morning they’re talking about the return of an icy rain mix and the temps are dropping again. I’d like to have a long talk with that groundhog!

groundhog day

I received a nice email earlier this week from Healthy Moms Magazine informing me that Running with Attitude had been selected as one of their top 100 blogs. A big thanks to them! You can check out the full list here.

Top 100 Running Blog - Healthy Moms Magazine
Linking up again with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursdays.
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Tell me something about your week!
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Filed Under: Thursday Thoughts

Earn that Shirt!

March 22, 2016 by 7 Comments

So the lovely ladies of Tuesdays on the Run linkup (that would be Marcia, Erika and Patty) are asking an age-old question this week – Do you race in the race shirt or not?

Race shirts

              Just a few from the growing collection

I’m not a judgmental person when it comes to race day – hey if you’re out there I applaud you for putting in the time, showing up and toeing the line! Wear what you want to wear and good luck to you!

However, I have to admit that the minute I saw this race shirt question I had an immediate reaction – you’ve got to earn that shirt! Since my very race – a local 5K…cotton shirt (don’t even get me started on wearing cotton to run under any circumstances!) –  I’ve wanted to do the distance before donning the shirt.

If I choose to wear the shirt at all, it’s usually later that same day (post-shower of course) or the next day – Of course there are some shirts that I never bother with because a lot of races still go with unisex sizing and those shirts are always too big. I beg all race directors to recognize that there are more women running races than men – embrace the women’s cut t-shirt!…but I digress.

So tell me: To race or not to race in the shirt – which do you do?

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Filed Under: general musings, Tuesdays on the Run

RtR Training Week 2

March 20, 2016 by 22 Comments

 

RtR Update

Wrapping up another week of training. So let’s take a look at how things went, shall we?

Monday 3/14:  Strength workout – legs and abs.
Tuesday 3/15:  3 mile run – I just couldn’t bring myself to run in the cold rain so headed to the gym to face the treadmill. I admit that I went into this run with the wrong attitude and it showed. 
Wednesday 3/16:  Rest day! Sports massage – 90 minutes of unknotting muscles.
Thursday 3/17:  T25 Beta – Core Cardio.
Friday 3/18:  Strength work – legs and abs.
Saturday 3/19:  4 miles – This was a hard run. Legs felt heavy and I just had no energy – the heavy winds probably didn’t help. 
Sunday 3/20:  3 miles more.

While I did hit all of my workouts I felt like I was all over the place this week and completely out of rhythm. I’m really not sure how missing one extra hour could have such a big impact but I swear Daylight Saving threw me for a loop at the beginning of the week and I never really caught up! It was one of those weeks that between work and home life, I felt like I was always trying to squeeze a workout in.

This week should be quieter, and hopefully I can settle into more of a groove.

I’m linking up again for the #WeeklyWrap with Holly at HoHo Runs and Tricia at Miss Sippi Piddlin rp_WeeklyWrap-1-300x300.jpg

Ever have a week where you just feel out of sorts? How was your week?

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Filed Under: Boston's Run to Remember, training, Weekly Wrap

RtR Training Week 1

March 13, 2016 by 34 Comments

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Training for Boston’s Run to Remember is officially under way. As I mentioned over coffee, this will be my first half in two years – so my goals for this training cycle are simple:

  1. Hit all of my workouts
  2. Build my mileage slowly
  3. Reach the start line injury-free

I want to use RtR to get back up to the half distance and lay the foundation for more rigorous training this summer. So how’d the first week go?

Monday 3/7 — Given how crazy my Mondays have been because of work lately, I’ve decided to make Mondays a strength day. I broke out the resistance bands and did a lower body workout I use to do when I was working with a trainer. My legs felt like jello when I was done!

Tuesday 3/8  — Woke up with a really upset stomach that stayed with me all day. So I decided to push my run to Wednesday and opted for some yoga.

Wednesday 3/9 — An absolutely gorgeous day  – temps in the 70’s! I still didn’t feel great and actually dressed too warm in a long sleeve shirt, but just didn’t care. 3 miles done.

Thursday 3/10 — Still feeling really off – decided to listen to my body and took an unplanned rest day.

Friday 3/11 — 3 miles more.

Saturday 3/12 — As the weeks go on, Saturdays will be my long run day. For today, just 4 miles…with too many hills!

Sunday 3/13 —  More yoga.

All-in-all not a bad first week, especially since I didn’t feel fabulous for most of it. I rolled like it was my job every night – and while that lacrosse ball is a little slice of torture, I do think it’s helping. The good news is whatever bug I was dealing with didn’t take hold and I’m feeling pretty and looking forward to week 2!

Linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap.rp_WeeklyWrap-1-300x300.jpg

 

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Filed Under: Boston's Run to Remember, training, Weekly Wrap

Thursday Thoughts – Volunteering and other stuff

March 10, 2016 by 22 Comments

 

A few random thoughts this morning….

 

bostonmarathon logo… I was so excited to open my email yesterday and find out that not only will I be returning as a Boston Marathon volunteer again this year, but I got a finish line assignment! I love volunteering at this race and cannot wait for an up-close and personal view of those elites crossing the finish line!

… speaking of the Marathon…there’s a film being made here in Boston about the bombing and they recently put out a casting call to runners for the marathon scenes.  Um…no thanks to that. I could not imagine wanting to re-live that day in any way…could you?

… and from the department of “gym crazies”… there’s a guy who’s been coming to my gym and working out in jeans…I kid you not! I’m all for squeezing a workout in when you can, but seriously how uncomfortable must that be!?! What is it about gyms that bring out the…er…more interesting behavior in people?

Linking up with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursdays

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Tell me something random. Do you think you could be an extra in that movie?

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Filed Under: Boston Marathon, gym crazies, race volunteering, Thursday Thoughts

Race Calendar Revisited

March 8, 2016 by 20 Comments

So earlier in January, I was still debating so many race options….then this happened….

Team-2016

Well that just opened a whole new can of worms …options…so many options

I already planned to run RnR Philly in September, and had wanted to add a half marathon in both October and November – problem solved!

So now the plan is…

Run to Remember Half — May

Finish at the 50 10K — July (Yes July…I may regret this one!)

RnR Philly Half — September (flat and fast…goal race perhaps?)

RnR Brooklyn Half — October (Perfect way to spend the long weekend in NYC!)

Canton Fall Classic — October (5K and 10K option – TBD)

RnR Las Vegas — November (I was all set to run the #StripAtNight last year, then the surgery happened, so I don’t want to miss a 2nd chance to run this one!)

Now…if I allow myself to dream and the travel gods were to smile on me, RnR Dublin in August would be a fun way to celebrate my birthday, and then there’s RnR San Antonio in December. Let the stalking of airline websites commence!

Want to add an Rock’n’Roll race (or two) to your calendar? As a member of the Rock’n’Blog team, I’m happy to finally be able to share a discount code with you! Use code ROCKATTITUDE and save $15 on domestic half marathons or marathons, and €/£3 on international races.

 Will I see you at any of these race this year?

rp_Tuesdays-on-the-run-150x150.jpgLinking up with Erika, Marcia and Patty for Tuesdays on the Run

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Filed Under: #RocknBlog, race calendar, Tuesdays on the Run

Ultimate Coffee Date – March 2016

March 5, 2016 by 26 Comments

The Ultimate Coffee Date

Busy morning ahead, but before I get going I’m making a little time to join one of my favorite link-ups, The Ultimate Coffee Date. Thanks to Coco, Lynda and Deborah, as always, for hosting! Be sure to check out the link-up and see what the other ladies are dishing about.

Grab a mug and join the #UltimateCoffeeDate linkup Share on X

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that there is very little white space left on our kitchen calendar. We’re in the icy grip of hockey playoffs while outdoor practices for lacrosse begin in another week! Let’s just hope the right equipment bag makes it to the correct destination 🙂 Throw in some school activities, including my oldest son’s school play, and…yeah I’m thinking of cloning myself.

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that after hibernating through a good bit of last month (there’s just something about February!) I’m looking forward to having some fun catching up with friends this month! I’m making a point of it to have at least one night out/lunch/something with friends each week – finding time to slow down and connect is the perfect counterbalance to the calendar madness.

alvin-ailey

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I’m also really looking forward to taking my mom to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for her birthday.  The grace and power of these dancers is just simply amazing. If you ever have the chance them to see them perform, run don’t walk to get tickets!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I’ll be returning to a training plan this week as I get ready for Boston’s Run to Remember.  For the past couple of years I’ve run the 5-mile option, but this year I’ll be running the half. Believe it or not, I have not run a half marathon since fall of 2013 – what?!

MinionsYeah I’m looking forward to getting back to this distance, and what better way to do it than with one of my favorite races!

So what would you tell me over coffee?  

What are you looking forward to this month?

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Filed Under: Boston's Run to Remember, Ultimate coffee date