Some September Runfessions

September 24, 2021 by 24 Comments

OK, I feel like I’ve said this a lot this year, but seriously, where did the month go?!

Somehow here we are once again on the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the runfessional. It’s also time for another Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renee, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly, so let’s get started.

Some September Runfessions

Canceled Race — This week I received an email from race organizers announcing that Boston’s Run to Remember scheduled for November has been canceled. All registrations are being moved to Memorial Day Weekend (the traditional race date). While I was initially surprised and disappointed (I’ve always wanted to run this course in cooler fall temps), I runfess that I was also relieved. I had been agonizing over how far behind I was in my training plan thanks to my cranky hip, and wondering how I was going to pull this off without pushing too hard to make up miles, and risking further injury. Crisis averted!

Pain tolerance — Following Monday’s cortisone shot in my hip I got my first chance to take a run on Wednesday. I runfess that I don’t think I realized just how much discomfort I’ve learned to tolerate – running felt smoother and lighter…how nice to be able to say that!

Shoe Challenges — Back in July I runfessed that I had been holding off on trying out the new pair of Brooks Glycerins I won in a giveaway for fear that switching shoes would only add to my hip woes. Well, I finally took them out on the road a handful of times and I runfess I don’t love them. I’ve run in Glycerins before – in fact, the 17s were my marathon shoe and I loved them. The current model (19s) has more cushion than I would like – they feel, for lack of a better word, mushy. Whomp, whomp.

What are you run-fessing? 

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Five Reasons to Run for a Cause

September 10, 2021 by 20 Comments

As someone who works with a non-profit organization, I can tell you that fundraising in the time of Covid is more difficult than ever.

So as you make your race plans for the fall or are looking ahead to 2022, I urge you to consider putting some of your miles to work on behalf of a charity.

Photo by Capstone Events on Unsplash

Five Reasons to Run for a Cause

Raise much-needed funds. The money raised from registration fees and fundraising pages help to directly advance the charity’s mission.

Raise awareness. Beyond the immediate money raised, many charities can also benefit from a boost in awareness. This awareness can lead to new volunteers and partnerships, and future potential donations down the road.

Pay it forward. Running in support of an organization that has directly impacted you, your family or friends gives you an opportunity to give back.

Get inspired and inspire others — On those days you just don’t feel like training, having a “why” bigger than yourself can be very inspiring. Additionally, your efforts to support your chosen cause can also inspire others to join you or get out in support of a cause of their own.

It feels good! This one may sound selfish but there’s no denying that quite simply it feels good to do good!

Do you run for a cause? Five reasons you should! #bibchat #backonmyfeet #BOMFBR #bibravepro #FitFiveFriday Share on X

I always try to run in support of a couple of charities each year. This year one of the causes I will be supporting is Back on My Feet.

Back on My Feet operates in 14 major cities across the country, focused on combating homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources. The Back on My Feet Running Festival will be held September 18 – 25th and features a range of distances (5K, 10K, 15K, or 30K). I’ll be running the 10K. If you’d like to join me, use the discount code “BibRave5!” to save $5 off registration.

Have you run for a charity? Tell me a cause you’d like to support.

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Five Reasons to Focus on Strengthening Your Core

August 20, 2021 by 6 Comments

For one of my goals this month, I’m working on completing Matty’s Summer Crunch core challenge on Peloton.  So far, it has been a great way for me to return to consistent core work. While many instantly think of 6-pack abs when they think about core exercises, a strong core is really about much more than the aesthetics of flat abs.

Your core is actually a whole series of muscles including pelvic floor muscles, diaphragm, internal and external obliques, transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, multifidus, erector spinae, and glutes. This complex set of muscles are your body’s powerhouse and key to all movement.

So for today’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing five reasons to focus on strengthening your core.

Five Reasons to Focus on Strengthening Your Core

Enhanced stability and balance — When you strengthen your core, you engage the pelvis, lower back, and hips to work in better coordination, providing both balance and stability, and minimizing the risk of falling.

Improved running efficiency — In addition to enhanced stability and balance, when these muscles are moving smoothly in sync, you expend less energy, which can help your running efficiency.

Improved posture — Strong core muscles stabilize the torso, and help you to remain upright. Maintaining good posture, in turn, reduces strain on both your muscles and joints and can be especially important for runners in the later stages of a race or long run, when fatigue sets in and running form may start to suffer.

Reduced risk of back injuries — Without a strong core, you are asking your back to work harder to support your body, which can lead to muscle strain and back pain.

Everyday movement — From carrying groceries to pulling weeds in the garden, having a strong core makes bending, lifting, twisting, and reaching overhead easier.

Are core workouts a part of your routine? 

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, core work, Uncategorized

Time for Some July Runfessions

July 30, 2021 by 9 Comments

It’s the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the Runfessional!

It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and me! So, let’s get started, shall we?

July Runfessions

Vacation Re-entry — Can I start by saying this week felt so l-o-n-g! Why is it that re-entry following a vacation is always so hectic?! I runfess that I didn’t realize just how much I needed this vacation until I actually got a chance to step away. While I enjoyed my staycation in May, nothing can beat time away. I’m determined to strike a better balance between work and home life moving forward.

New Shoe Delay — You may remember that I was lucky enough to win a pair of Brooks Glycerins as part of a Dick’s Sporting Goods giveaway. When they arrived at the end of June I couldn’t wait to run in them. Then my hip started acting a little wonky and I got skittish about changing shoes. Well, call me paranoid, but I runfess that I didn’t take them out for a run until just this past weekend.

Weather fatigue — OK…you know it’s coming so I’m just going to say it… I runfess that I am so over this weather! We had one of the rainiest Julys on record, and when it wasn’t pouring, the humidity was off the charts. I bracing myself for August.

Ready for training? — The time off from running while on vacation seems to have done my hip a world of good! But now with my fall races on the horizon, it’s time to start to increase my miles and I runfess that I’m a little nervous to see how my hip responds. I’ll be building some extra time into my schedule to return to some of my key PT exercises and I runfess that I’m willing to sacrifice some miles, if necessary to keep injury at bay.

It's time for another edition of #FitFiveFriday and I've got some #Runfessions to share! Share on X

How about you – any runfessions to share?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Narragansett Running Festival 10K Race Recap

July 16, 2021 by 12 Comments

Happy Friday!

It’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday! My schedule was cray, cray last week and I missed posting in the linkup, so I’m happy to be back this week. And, I’m back with a race recap from a live race! Last Sunday, I ran the Narragansett Summer Running Festival 10K with my brother – my first in-person race since February 2020!

Narragansett Summer Running Festival 10K Recap

This was my 3rd time participating in the Festival. My son and I ran it in 2013 as my son’s first-ever 5K and I ran the 10K with my husband and brother in 2019. The Festival is usually a 2-day event held on the Stonehill College campus, with the 5K and 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. This year, thanks I’m sure to the uncertainties of Covid, the race was condensed to a 1-day event and the 5K was eliminated. I had registered long before the state gave the green light to in-person races, knowing that the race organizers had committed to giving everyone a refund vs. switching to a virtual option if the race wasn’t allowed to go forward.

Pre-Race

My brother and I planned to meet at the race around 6:30 am. At that early hour, Stonehill is a quick 20 min drive from my house, and there was ample parking designated for the runners. Bib and t-shirt pick-up was quick and easy, a short walk down the hill from the parking area. It felt so good to see so many runners! We had a lot of time until the 10K’s 8:00 am start (half marathoners started at 7:30) so we headed back to the cars to drop off our shirts, grab more water, and try to stay cool. While it was relatively cool (upper 60s) you could feel the humidity creeping up fast. We hung out chatted with some of the other runners and eventually decided to make our way down to hit the porta-potties and get to the start line.

Pre-race and ready to go

As we headed to the start line, it was nice to see that this year they had added pace markers to encourage people to self-seed. I think everyone had the same thought as we did of taking slow and easy because it seemed like most of the runners were hanging in the back. So much so that the race announcer was actually trying to encourage people to move to the front. The humidity was rising and my brother and I both knew once we stepped out of the shade of the start that it was going to get uncomfortable really fast.

The Race

The 10K course is two 5K loops through the campus with a mix of paved paths, gravel, grass, and two wooden bridges. It’s mostly flat with a couple of moderate inclines at the end of each loop. While I had worried about how my hip would deal with running across the gravel in the first mile, it seemed to take the uneven terrain just fine. In fact, my hip proved not to be a factor throughout the whole race. The humidity, on the other hand, proved to be the real challenge!

I’ve been running with 5:1 intervals and my brother was fine with that so we ran together through the first 4 miles. By the time we headed down the hill to start the second loop I was really starting to struggle with the humidity. My brother was holding up pretty well so I urged him to go ahead while I continued my humidity shuffle. While there were not a lot of spectators, those that were out there were really enthusiastic – I would have never guessed how much I missed the sound of a cowbell! The volunteers were also super upbeat and encouraging. At the 5 mile marker, I started targeting runners to pass, and soon I could hear the music at the finish line. One final push and I was done!

No medals for the 10K, but I appreciate the gender-specific cut

Post-Race

My brother was waiting at the finish line having come across just a few minutes before me. We were handed a couple of bottles of water and then headed down the green to the beer garden. Each runner received 2 beer tickets and there was a range of ice-cold Narragansett beers to choose from.

Everyone spread out on the grass and enjoyed the live music. There were several vendors, but we were content to hang out on the lawn for a bit before packing up and heading home for breakfast.

Post-race glow!

Overall this is a really fun race with a great atmosphere! I think I will always have a love-hate relationship with this race because it offers so many pluses, but summer running, especially the humidity is my nemesis.  But I’m almost certain that I’ll run this again next year. 🙂

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! Please be sure to show your hosts some love and visit some of the other bloggers in the link-up. Who’s ready for some fun?

 

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Narragansett Running Festival, race report

Fit Five Friday and July Coffee

July 2, 2021 by 34 Comments

Happy Friday and welcome back to the Fit Five Friday linkup!

I’m ready to kick off this 4th of July long weekend with a little catch-up over the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. So grab a mug of your favorite beverage (or perhaps given this heatwave, a tall glass of something over ice!), and let’s chat for a bit!

Over coffee, I would tell you how excited I was to receive a new pair of Glycerins last week! I won them in Dick’s Sporting Goods National Runners Month giveaway back in May and had actually kind of forgotten about them so it was a fun surprise when they arrived!

Over coffee, I would tell you that I hit my 100th Peloton run on Sunday. I don’t always take a Peloton “class” when I run so I had no idea I was closing in on the century mark. It’s always fun to hit a Peloton milestone!

Over coffee, I would tell that Olympic fever has hit our house! We couldn’t get enough of the Olympic Trials – swimming, gymnastics, and of course, track and field – so many amazing performances! I am just in awe of these athletes, especially with having to wait an extra year and stay at peak performance.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I am really looking forward to our family getaway to northern Vermont later this month! Hiking, kayaking, and a tour of Ben & Jerry’s are among the items on the itinerary.

Over coffee, I would tell you that for as much as I am looking forward to some time away, I am really wishing that the days would slow down just a little. I feel like June blew by in a blink! And, now the whiteboard double calendar in my kitchen reminds me that in just a mere 8 weeks from today we’ll be dropping my oldest son off at college.

What would you tell me over coffee? What are you looking forward to this month?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Runfessions – June edition

June 25, 2021 by 34 Comments

It’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly! And, since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia for Runfessions. I’ve got a few things to share so let’s get to it!

Runfessions – June Edition

I runfess that I panicked a bit when my hip gave me trouble on my run a week ago. I’ve been working hard to keep up with my strength training and stretching – an injury after this effort would be so frustrating! I continue to stretch and roll like it’s my job and keep my fingers crossed.

I runfess that I am running out of patience for my Garmin. I mentioned back in April that my Forerunner 235 was occasionally finicky. Well, it’s getting worse not better as it becomes more and more temperamental. Clearly, its days are numbered, so I need to hurry up and settle on a replacement.

In an effort to give my eating a boost in the right direction, I runfess that I have returned to counting my macros. I have a love-hate relationship with this process. On the one hand, tracking has proven to help me to be more mindful of what I’m eating – on the other hand, the tracking is oh so tedious. But, for now, my clothes are fitting better so there’s that.

Any runfessions to share? 

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! Please be sure to show your hosts some love and visit some of the other bloggers in the link-up. Who’s ready for some fun?

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5 Things on My Summer Must-Do List

June 18, 2021 by 18 Comments

It’s Friday again and time for another edition of Fit Five Friday! Last week was all about my summer fitness goals… But this week I’m all about my Summer Must-Do List.

There are lots of things I’m looking forward to this Summer, including some time away. Here are 5 things on my summer must-do list:

Time at the Beach

It’s just not Summer for me if I don’t get to spend some time at the beach!

This view makes me so happy!

Outdoor Music

After seeing Cari’s recent post about attending a concert in the park I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to sit outside and enjoy some music. I’ve been scanning the local events calendars and it looks like there may be some opportunities on the horizon. Such a great way to spend a summer evening.

Farmers Markets & Street Fairs

A new farmers market just opened in my town last weekend and one of my favorite outdoor street markets has returned. I love the fresh produce and unique items that can be found!

Boston’s SOWA Market makes for a fun Sunday afternoon

Gathering with Friends and Family

Thanks to the pandemic, all of our traditional summer get-togethers were put on hold. I’m really looking forward to hosting as well as getting out and about again.

Alfresco Dining

The pandemic aside, when it comes to the summer, I’ve always enjoyed dining under the stars, at home on the deck, or a restaurant’s outdoor patio.

What are some of your summer must-do’s?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, summer mode

Five Summer Fitness Goals

June 11, 2021 by 32 Comments

With a couple of fall races on the calendar (yay!), I’ve been thinking about my goals for the Summer months. So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m laying out some summer fitness goals.

Five Summer Fitness Goals

Acclimate & Embrace the Heat — I’m going to do my best to properly prep for summer running, focusing on my hydration & electrolyte intake and getting out extra early if necessary. I make no secret that summer running is my least favorite, but I’m going to put my word of the year Mindset to work here and shift my mental attitude to do my best to embrace the season.

Monthly Strength Challenges — Each month I’m going to take on a different strength “challenge”. For June, I’m following Adrian’s Strength Stack on the Peloton app. There’s a different stack featured each month by a different instructor. I haven’t decided yet what I’ll do for July or August so stay tuned.

Daily Stretching/Yoga Streak — I’m already off to a good start with this one. I’ve been stretching for at least 10 minutes a day since June 1. The goal is to keep this streak going all summer long.

Sharing some summertime fitness goals for today's #FitFiveFriday link-up! What have you got planned? Share on X

Build a Healthy Base for Fall Training — It’s been a long time since I’ve laid out a training plan, but I’ve decided to go all-in for my fall half marathon and actually follow a training plan (I may even throw in some speedwork…gasp!). To get training off to a good start at the end of August, I want to have a solid base. So this will mean scaling back the number of days I spend on the Peloton bike and adding more time on the run.

Enjoy the outdoors — Beyond running, I’m looking forward to getting back into hiking. My family usually does a lot of hiking during the summer months, but not so much last year. I’m also looking forward to some time kayaking or white water rafting…may even make it to the tennis courts.

Tell me, what have you got planned for the summer? Registered for any fall races 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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, goals, Summer running

Five things over June Coffee

June 4, 2021 by 34 Comments

Welcome back to the Fit Five Friday linkup!

I’m ready to kick 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 for a bit!

Over coffee, I would tell you that school wraps up today for my youngest son – the first year of high school is done and dusted! So the RWA household is officially in summer mode! We’re starting to flesh out our annual family summer bucket list, which I’m expecting to be pretty long since there were so many of our summer favorites we didn’t get to enjoy last year.

And, speaking of being in summer mode, over coffee I would tell you just how much I enjoyed my staycation – it was a good balance of unplugging and doing. I don’t think I truly realized how much I needed some time off until I took it! And now, while it is barely in the rearview mirror, I’m happy to say we have a family vacation booked for July!

Over coffee, I would tell you that while I thought I was done with all of my plantings for this year, I’m now toying with the idea of removing a couple of older plants and adding some additional rose bushes. The real question is whether I can convince my husband to take on another project (read lots of digging!) with me.

These roses started blooming in my garden last week!

Over coffee, I would tell you that I want to get back into my home organization groove after a bit of a lull over these past couple of months. My boys’ rooms are in need of a purge and refresh and I’ve still got some finishing touches to do on our home office. What do you think the chances are of getting two teenagers to willingly participate?

Over coffee, I would tell you that cannot believe that my youngest is going to take Driver’s Ed classes later this month. I must admit that I’m just a little afraid nervous.

Full disclosure I used this gif a few years ago when my oldest started driving. Still fits my current mood LOL

What would you tell me over coffee? What’s on your Summer bucket list?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date