B.A.A Distance Medley – 5K Race Report

May 3, 2013 by 7 Comments

This year I’m participating in the 2nd Annual  B.A.A. Distance Medley which consists of a 5K, 10K and half marathon. The 5K was held the Sunday of the Boston Marathon weekend.

It was a great morning for a run — sunny but cool (just 40 or so). J and the boys decided they wanted to come cheer me on so the whole family headed into downtown Boston. Getting in and parking was easy. It was definitely chilly so I left the guys to do some warm up strides. Just as I was heading over to get my good luck hugs from my kiddos, I was lucky enough to find fellow FitFluential Ambassador Amy from Running Escapades and her husband in the crowd!

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As we stood in the shadows of the high-rises it was even cooler and I did my best to stay warm and loose. I chatted with some of the other runners and just tried to soak in the atmosphere. I couldn’t get over the size of the crowd for a 5K (5,000+ runners)  – the energy was great!

The downside of a crowd that big on a course that winds in and around the narrow streets of Boston’s Back Bay was the amount of bobbing and weaving I had to do.  IMG_1989There were also a fair number of people who clearly didn’t seed themselves properly as I found myself running up on people who stopped to walk within the first half mile….seriously?! But I settled in the best I could and just enjoyed the run.

The B.A.A. had set the course up so we would finish the final “right on Hereford, left on Boylston” stretch and across the Marathon’s famous finish line. J and the boys were watching from the grandstands and said they could see me make the final turn on the jumbotron — my boys thought that was pretty cool and allowed my oldest son to catch these shots of the finish. (My youngest liked that I passed that guy right at the end!)

BAA 5K Collage

I made my way through the corral, got my medal and a bag of snacks and found my wonderful cheer squad!

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Overall I was happy with my time of 30:56 and I’m really looking forward to the B.A.A. 10K in June!

 

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Filed Under: #13in2013, B.A.A. Distance Medley, FitFluential, race report

April Rewind

May 1, 2013 by 6 Comments
I’ve always loved turning the page on the calendar and see a whole new month laid out before me. While April clearly provided some agonizing days, there were, for me, many good things mixed in there too!

 

Good things for April:
  • Continuing to run injury-free….always something to celebrate!
  • Returning to speed work at the track — truly my favorite workouts
  • Ran races #2 and 3 for the year (BAA 5K and the Newport 10 Miler) — race reports still to come
  • Fun blogger meet-ups
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Jill, Nancy, Samantha, me, Amy

  • Volunteering at the Boston Marathon!! This was hands-down one of my most favorite experiences! I was assigned to the Athletes’ Village working as a “bus greeter.” The energy of all of the runners was just the best and I had an awesome team of volunteers to work with.  There is no doubt that I will be back to volunteer in 2014!
 
What’s up for May:
  • RuntoRem Boston’s Run to Remember Half Marathon! This is my goal race for the spring and with all that has happened in Boston, I know this is going to be an extra-special race this year!
  • Log 100 miles
  • Another 30-day Ab Challenge
  • Continued focus on my nutrition

How ’bout you – any big plans for May?

 

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Filed Under: #13in2013, B.A.A. Distance Medley, blogger meet-ups, Boston Marathon, Boston's Run to Remember, month in review, Newport 10 Miler

Turning 3

April 29, 2013 by 7 Comments

Running with Attitude turned three over the weekend!  three

I continue to marvel at all that running has brought into my life and it’s been great fun to share and connect with so many wonderful runners!

So very happy to be a part of this great running community!

Cheers to you all for being a part of this journey!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: milestones, running community

Nutrition Update: #DesignerWhey Product Review

April 26, 2013 by 7 Comments

Recently this showed up on my doorstep

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The folks at Designer Whey sent me a crazy array of their products to try! I was expecting to receive just one of their protein powders – instead they sent protein bars, ready-made shakes and Protein 2Go drink mix, in addition to two protein powders.

I’ve mentioned here before that one of my goals for 2013 is to get a better handle on my nutrition. And now that I’m finally feeling like I’ve got a handle on my fueling during a run, I’ve started to turn my attention to what I’m eating during recovery.  So getting to try out these products came at a great time for me.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had a chance to try everything — and the verdict….love them!

Designer shake

I  immediately started with the protein powders – 18g of protein, only 100 calories and naturally sweetened with Stevia. I received both French Vanilla and White Chocolate – they both had good flavor, but the White Chocolate became an instant fave! I was initially concerned it might be too sweet, but it had a yummy creaminess that worked well with my usual smoothie add-ins (unsweetened almond milk, chia seeds, almond butter and frozen strawberries, bananas and cherries)  without being overpowering. It has quickly become a favorite post-workout recovery drink.

My husband J got in on the act sampling the protein bars. We had three flavors to try: Peanut Butter Crunch, Triple Chocolate Crunch and Chocolate Caramel Crunch. Quite simply these bars are so good! They’re 160 – 170  calories with 10g of protein and other vitamins. Designer Whey packs a lot into these bars including a lot of flavor!

 My favorite was the peanutDesigner 2 butter, while J really liked the triple chocolate – he said it tasted “like a real chocolate bar not at all waxy.”

 The last item I received was the Protein 2Go. Designer Whey sent all three of their flavors: Lemonade, Mixed Berry and Tropical Orange. You just pour one of the packets into about 12 – 16 oz of water and shake. I thought these mixes offered a nice refreshing drink with the added benefit of 10g of protein plus B-Vitamins and Vitamin C. I really like these have no artificial sweeteners or flavors, and the packets are easy to carry with you anywhere. I think these will be particularly good in the summer months served ice cold!

A big thanks to the folks at Designer Whey – I’m happy to have discovered their products as they’ll now be a part of my recovery nutrition strategy.

What’s your go to recovery foods/drinks?

I received these products as a FitFluential Ambassador. All of the opinions expressed here, as always, are my own.

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Filed Under: #DesignerWhey, fave things, FitFluential, Nutrition, Recovery

Thursday Thoughts

April 25, 2013 by 4 Comments

This Thursday’s randomness comes in my post-track workout induced haze….

1. There needs to be some basic rules posted at our track — Why would you, as a walker, continue to walk in the same lanes you see people are running in? I can see maybe being clueless the first time round but after you’ve been passed – move over! (And to make matters worse there were 2 of them walking together)

2. My next rule for the track is no perfume. One of the same walkers was doused in perfume – each time I ran by her it was like dodging the perfume counters in a department store.

3. And now completely unrelated….told you this would be random…I got an email this morning announcing that the half I’m running next month Boston’s Run to Remember has sold out and they are looking for more race volunteers. This race is run in honor of fallen police officers and after recent events, registration skyrocketed. This will be the first major race run on the streets of Boston since the Marathon – so if you are going to be in the Boston area Memorial Day Weekend, and want to be part of what should be an incredible day, please consider volunteering. You can check out the race website HERE.

So do you have any rules for the track?

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Filed Under: 3 things, Boston's Run to Remember, track work

Half Training – Week 11

April 23, 2013 by 8 Comments

Well I’ve reached week 11 in my training plan and it’s once again a race week! This time I’ll be toeing the line at the Newport 10 Miler Sunday – still not sure of what my race goals yet – last week was a mixed bag including really solid intervals at the track one day followed by a craptastic long run the next. Going to wait and see what this week serves up then check in with Coach Bennett on Friday.

On the schedule for this week:

Monday — 6 miles with a negative split on the back 3

Tuesday — Cross-training

Wednesday — 5 mile Fartlek

Thursday — Track work: 300 meter repeats & Yoga class

Friday & Saturday — Rest days

Scheduling snafus galore forced me to have to swap Monday & Tuesday’s workouts so I’m off for a rainy 6 now. Running 3 days in a row is usually something I avoid, but mentally I know I’ll beat myself up if I cut back on my mileage too much. I’ll see how it goes…

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Filed Under: half marathon training, listening to your body, Newport 10 Miler, week ahead

Some relief

April 21, 2013 by 8 Comments

What an incredible week it’s been here in the Boston area and now thanks to the amazing work of law enforcement it’s over. Yes, the investigations will continue, but for now people can breathe easier knowing that those behind the attacks on Monday can no longer cause more harm.

We can focus on healing, remembering those lost and continuing to help those most greatly impacted by the attack.

gratitude21I sit here on a quiet Sunday afternoon feeling very grateful – for those incredible people who worked tirelessly so the City of Boston can now breathe a little easier…
for family….
for friends… for the normalcy a routine brings….for the promise of the week ahead.

Here’s hoping we all have a peaceful week!

Happy Running!

 

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Filed Under: gratitude

Boston you’re my home

April 16, 2013 by 7 Comments

Hope

I’ve started this post several times…trying to find the right words…but I don’t know what those words should be.

I’m heartbroken…

I’m pissed off…

This was a day meant for celebration…a day for dreams realized…for memories made to last a lifetime. And it was such a day until 2:50 p.m.

I had expected to be writing today about the amazing experience that is volunteering at the Boston Marathon. Instead I’m left thinking about all of those runners I greeted as they got off the buses in Hopkinton, united in the common goal to run the granddaddy of all races – this day was to be their moment – and now they are forever united for a very different reason.

I selfishly think of my own family who stood on Boylston Street and sat in those grandstands on Sunday to cheer me in the B.A.A. 5k as I crossed that famous finish line. I look at my own sweet boys and cannot imagine that an 8 year old was among the victims. I’m sick to my stomach and….I’m royally pissed off that some low-life pathetic coward(s) would choose to do this to innocent people in the name of some cause?! There are no words.

And yet there are so many questions and so many emotions – more than I can sort through right now. For now I will be grateful that friends and family are safe, that I can hug my boys and that I can run.

I will run today for those who can’t,

I will run today to find some peace in this chaos,

I will run today for Boston.

(Thanks to Jess for the image)
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Filed Under: Boston Marathon, running community

Thursday thoughts: ZOOMA, More ZOOMA & New Shoes

April 11, 2013 by 15 Comments
  1. ZOOMA logo_capecod                              ZOOMA Cape Cod will once again be held in September in Falmouth — I love the Cape in the fall and am very psyched to be a race ambassador again. So grab your BRFs and join me for a great girls’ getaway race weekend. Use code CCAMB2 to save 10% off the registration fee for the half marathon or the 10K. My friend E and I had a great time last year – can’t wait to go back!

  2. And speaking of ZOOMA, I’m happy to announce that for the next 4 months (between now and the Cape race), I’ll be working as their Social Media Coordinator! I love ZOOMA’s mission to inspire women to lead happy, healthy and active lifestyles and I’m very happy to be part of this great team!

  3. Newtons These lovelies showed up at my door recently. The great folks at Newton Running contacted me a couple of weeks ago to invite me to attend one of their Natural Form Running Clinics being held during Marathon Weekend.  I  was invited to attend one of their clinics last year as well – you can read about it HERE. While I couldn’t work my schedule out to go this time around, I was sent this pair of Distance Neutral Performance Trainers to try out! I may take them out on the track today – full review to come.

 If you’re in the Boston area on Friday or Saturday, head to the Charles River at the corner of Memorial Drive and Massachusetts Ave and look for the green Newton Running tent. Clinics begin at 8 a.m

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Filed Under: Natural Form Running, Newton Running, opportunities, ZOOMA, ZOOMA Cape Cod

Gearing up for Week 9

April 8, 2013 by 6 Comments

Week 8 of half marathon training was another solid week — the runs felt good, I felt strong on the hills and my ITB is under control. The one downside of the week was missing my weekly yoga class. I haven’t been able to get to this class with any consistency lately because the collective family schedules have been all over the place! We’re facing another busy week in the RWA household with lots of fun stuff going on, but I’m determined to get back to that class this week.

Training for Week 9 includes:

Monday – 6 miles (with negative split on the back 3)

Tuesday – Cross-training

Wednesday – 4 mile Fartlek

Thursday – 1000 meter repeats & Yoga

Friday – Rest

Saturday –  Shakeout Run with Bart Yasso

Sunday – BAA 5K

Yes – did you catch that? A run with Bart Yasso!  Last week, I was invited by Runner’s World to join a group run with Bart Yasso as part of all the great activities Runner’s World has going on during Marathon weekend. Very excited – hope I can keep up with him 🙂

What have you got planned for this week?

 

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Filed Under: Bart Yasso, Boston Marathon, half marathon training, week ahead