How I spend my Monday mornings

November 26, 2012 by 9 Comments

I started this Monday morning the same way I have started my Mondays for the past 8 weeks – in a school gym with 40 energetic kids! I’ve been volunteering as a Lead Trainer for a before-school physical activity program called Build Our Kids Success, or BOKS.

The premise behind BOKS is quite simple, that through physical activity you can jump-start a child’s brain and help set them up for success throughout their school day. The program combines play, team games, physical activity and short talks on nutrition. BOKS is an initiative of the Reebok Foundation and those of us who serve as trainers were invited to the Reebok World Headquarters for a day of training before bringing the program into our schools. I attended a training session back in August and left so enthusiastic, I couldn’t wait to get started!

We kicked off the program in my sons’ school in mid-October, meeting twice a week before school for a 50 minute session. It’s been great working with the kids, watching them learn a new skill every week (this week was burpees!) and listening to them as they eagerly want to tell you about how active they were over the weekend or what new healthy food they’ve tried. Hopefully these kids are gaining some skills and habits that will stick with them long after the program ends.

I’ve had so much fun with this program that I will probably sign on again to help coordinate the Spring session. You can’t help but feel motivated after working out and playing with the kids – sets a great tone to start the day!

By the way if you are interested in finding out how to bring BOKS to your child’s school, you can check out their website HERE

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Filed Under: BOKS, kids, volunteering

Discombobulated

June 15, 2012 by 7 Comments

Perhaps it’s that my youngest finished Kindergarten on Tuesday, while my oldest doesn’t finish 4th grade until next week….

Perhaps it’s that post-ear doctor visit I still cannot hear clearly out of my left ear (apparently it will clear on it’s own…and it takes time…note my skepticism)….

Perhaps it’s end of school-year fatigue (how many concerts/art shows/class project presentations, etc can one attend in the course of a week?)…

Perhaps it’s that I haven’t been sleeping well – I deal with bouts of insomnia from time to time…

It’s probably a combination of all of the above that’s left me feeling just a step off all week. It hasn’t been a bad week at all…and I’ve even managed to get my workouts in. There’s been a little less running due to the inability to get up uber-early (not sleeping well will do that!) – but there has been some running, even track work today, along with strength training, yoga and running around in whatever new game my son has invented for us in the backyard.

I’m sure next week will be a bit more of the same until 4th grade is complete  and lacrosse and t-ball season wind down. Then we can all shift gears into summer mode!

How about you? Have you shifted to a summer routine yet?

 

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Filed Under: kids, Schedule vs Training, school vacation, summer mode

Thursday thoughts – School vacation, workouts & meditation

February 23, 2012 by 5 Comments

It’s vacation week here in Massachusetts so this week is all about creativity…. being creative with keeping the kids occupied so they don’t live on all sorts of various digital devices 24/7… and being creative with getting my workouts in.

We’ve been bowling, played all sorts of games, read books, watched movies, enjoyed this crazy mild weather and yesterday J took them for a day of skiing and snowboarding! And yes there has been some video-gaming time logged.

My little guy taking on the slopes!
My oldest’s 1st time snowboarding!

I’ve managed to get in some strength-training, speedwork at the track and a pilates class so far! I hope to sneak a short run in tomorrow before J leaves for work and then my usual long run Saturday. My mileage will definitely be down for this week but I’m okay with that.

And, once again I’ve signed up for another of the Chopra Center’s 21-day Meditation Challenges. I’ve mentioned before how much more centered and calm I feel when I meditate. So why have I stopped? Because schedules get crazy so I let it slide a day or two and then bam! Fell off the wagon again. The timing of this challenge was perfect as it started on Monday – perhaps Deepak knew I was facing vacation week 🙂 I’m on day 4 and hope to stay on the wagon well beyond day 21!

So far so good this week – we’ve avoided major meltdowns, my boys are enjoying each other’s company and my sanity’s still in tact – a win all around!

How’s your week going?

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Filed Under: 3 things, Chopra Center, kids, meditation, school vacation

Friday Five

July 29, 2011 by 6 Comments
  •  “I wish Morgan Freeman could narrate my life” – saw that on a bumper sticker on my run this morning. It cracks me up what people will put on their cars! (though if I were to have someone narrate my life, Morgan is a good choice!)

    • Worked on hills in my run this morning….still need a lot more work here!  
    • I’ve been debating running a 3rd half marathon this year – in part because I’m curious to know what I could do with this distance in cooler temps. My hubs J suggested I wait to see how I feel after next Sunday before I commit to another one…he may be right.
    •  I admit I’ve started the weather watch for Providence – so far sunny and a high of 82.
      • Today’s is the Tiny Terror…er, I mean my youngest’s 6th birthday! We’ll celebrate after camp today with some of his favorites – a family water gun fight, pizza dinner, giant Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownies and presents! This weekend we’re headed to an amusement park with friends to celebrate their son’s birthday (which is Saturday), the Tiny Terror’s birthday and my oldest son’s birthday (turning 9 next Saturday) — should be a fun day filled with crazy rides and too much junk food!

      Happy Friday!
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          Filed Under: birthday celebrations, Half marathon, kids, Morgan Freeman

          Monday Motivation – Week 2

          June 13, 2011 by 6 Comments
          “Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way.
          Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.”
          — Marsha Petrie Sue
          Week 2 Plan:
          Monday – Rest Day — (Much needed since I took advantage of the rainy day yesterday to push my pace a bit)
          Tuesday – Track work (4)
          Wednesday – Easy run (2) & Strength work
          Thursday – Yoga
          Friday – Long (8)
          Saturday – weekly Pilates reformer session
          Sunday – Easy (3 or 4)
          My schedule this week could get a little nutty as my boys’ schools continue to jam everything into the final few days of school – Seriously, why do teachers do that? So I may have to play with the days a little to get it all in.
          When it becomes a battle of your schedule vs. your training – if you have to give up a workout in your plan, which one do you forfeit?

           

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          Filed Under: kids, Monday Motivation, Quotes, Schedule vs Training, track work, training

          Run like a kid

          May 1, 2011 by 7 Comments

          Today was the annual Fun Run at my son’s school. I volunteer every year and once again I got THE best job – handing out the medals to the kids at the finish line. I just love watching those kids from the 4 yrs olds to the 5th graders running their hearts out, running for the sheer fun of it! We adults should remember to run with that kind of joy!

          I had a pretty joyful run myself this morning – it was a perfect cool spring morning, the streets were quiet except for one other runner. I ignored my watch and just ran. It was one of those runs that felt smooth and easy – even my chatter brain slept in. It was a great way to start a Sunday.

          While it was good to get a little extra rest on this step back week, I’m now looking forward to gearing up for the final push to my half. Just 4 weeks to go!

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          Filed Under: general musings, Half marathon, kids, watchless run

          Feeling inspired

          April 19, 2011 by 2 Comments
          • My hubs J and I took the boys to watch part of the Boston Marathon yesterday. While I try to catch the marathon every year on TV, I haven’t been to see it live in a few years. There is nothing like being there as the runners give it their all. 
          • As I stood out there cheering them on, I thought of all the hours of training, the dreams being realized, the causes being supported, the individual stories being played out. How could you not walk away feeling inspired?!
          • It’s April vacation week for my kiddos, which means getting up extra early to get my runs in before J leaves for work. During the winter I had let my runs slip to late morning to ensure running in daylight — and truthfully because the thought of running in both the dark and bitter cold was really unappealing! But since the clocks turned back I have been meaning to get back to early morning runs…and now with this week I have no excuses.
          • So an easy 3 miles was done before 7 and on deck for tomorrow is a 5 mile tempo run and then another long run of 10 on Friday. I’m hoping to get back on the yoga bandwagon that I fell off of last week and some much needed ab work and strength training. Hopefully the kids will cooperate 🙂

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          Filed Under: Boston Marathon, kids, motivation, training

          Just Stylin’

          February 12, 2011 by 5 Comments

          The lovely Kittee over at Running Half Crazy was sweet enough to bestow this lovely award on me. Now many of you have seen this so you know the rules:

          • Make a post and link back to the person who tagged you. – If you have not checked out Kittee’s blog, please stop by and say hi!
          • Share 7 things about yourself
          • Pass the award along to 7 other bloggers
          Hmm…ok…so 7 things about me….
          1. I’m mom to two little boys who are really quite the characters and keep me on my toes. It’s funny I always knew that I would be mom to boys. And, I’m accepting the fact that my house will never be quiet!
          2.  I love food! I love to cook and I love to eat. Sharing a great meal with family and friends and lots of wine is a perfect evening!
          3.  I use to own a artisan olive oil company. I love running my own business and given that I’ve lost my “self-edit” button it’s probably better that I work for myself. I’m looking for my next biz idea.
          4. I’m a huge football fan – my hubs actually gave me tickets to see my favorite football team as an anniversary gift (at the time the 49ers in Candlestick) – still one of the best gifts ever 🙂
          5. I’m an avid reader – though at the moment I’m way behind on my reading wish list.
          6. I love to decorate – a wall of paint samples can seriously make me giddy!
          7. And, yes Emz, I did play rubgy. I played in college first as a hooker (my parents are so proud!) and then I quickly wised up and got out of the scrum to play fly-half. You gotta love a sport where you beat the tar out of each other and then share a beer or two (or twelve!)

          Now to pass this on…since many of you have already received this award and because I have too many favorites I’m breaking the rules and I’m not going to pick.  But if you haven’t played yet and want to, consider yourself tagged!

          Have a Great Weekend!!
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          Filed Under: awards, food, football, general musings, kids

          Voice of a 5 year-old

          September 17, 2010 by 3 Comments

          Today was a tough run. One of those runs where you want to scream – “Why am I doing this?!?”

          On paper it was suppose to be a 5 miler, with 3 miles at tempo pace. Instead it turned into a test of wills. Thick humidity, intermittent rain and some serious stomach woes were all conspiring to let me know that this was NOT going to be the run I had hoped for…no this run was clearly going to be craptastic at best. “Do you really need to do this?” that voice in my head kept asking and as I neared 2 miles I actually stopped and thought about turning for home.

          But then I could hear the voice of my 5 year old as he was sitting in the backseat on our way to school this morning (ok we can discuss all the voices in my head in another post!) — “You are going to run today right Mom ’cause you didn’t run yesterday so you gotta run today, right?” And, I know my little guy will ask me when I pick him up today, “So how was your run Mom?” the same as he’s done after each one of my runs since I started on this journey. Could I really look at him and tell him that I didn’t finish? That I was having a bad run so I gave up and went home? Well not a chance of that happening so I finished my 5 miles, much much slower than I had wanted. But some how I know that when I pick him up today and look into those big brown eyes I’ll be happy to tell him that I did it!

          Have a Great Weekend!
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          Filed Under: kids, motivation, tempo runs, tough runs, training

          It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

          September 7, 2010 by 2 Comments

          For anyone who has kids….or at the very least has seen that classic Staples ad, you know what I’m talking about. Yep that’s right, it’s the first day of school!!

          Now don’t get me wrong – I love my kiddos! It’s been a good summer and we had a ball on our vacation! But I am really ready for them to go to school now. I actually bounded out of bed this morning when the alarm went off just before 6. And I swear as I headed out for my run, there was an extra bounce in my step!

          [Of course there is a downside to this time of year, the streets aren’t so quiet now as people return to work and kids await school buses….oh and the school bus drivers…yikes! They deserve a whole post themselves…but I’ll save that for another time!]

          Right now I’m going to enjoy this feeling that only the first day of school can bring!

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          Filed Under: back to school, general musings, kids