Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 Things)

January 10, 2013 by 9 Comments

After being couch-bound yesterday trying to shake this crud/cold thing, I managed 4 very windy miles this morning. As long as my energy level holds up, I’m heading to my favorite 2 hour torture, er I mean, yoga class tonight.

It’s interesting to me how many people don’t walk in a straight line. While on my run, I passed 4 different walkers and as I was coming up behind each of them it was funny to watch them veering a little to the left, then a little to the right, then back again. Made me wonder if I do the same?

Why do some women insist on dousing themselves in perfume? I passed a woman today who seriously had a perfume cloud around her – it was not a pretty thing to be caught in!

What have you encountered on your runs lately?
 
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Filed Under: 3 things, observations

Turning Motivation into Habits

January 7, 2013 by 9 Comments
Source

Right now everyone’s all fired up to make a change, to bust out some new goals, declare their resolutions. The gyms are busier than ever, and all types of assorted diet products are flying off the shelves.

But what happens in a couple of weeks…after the dust settles…after the New Year’s confetti is gone?

Here are a few tips to help turn all that New Year’s motivation into good habits all year long.

Pace yourself — It is very easy to get too hyped up – even “over-motivated”? – go out too hard, and then fizzle, or get injured. Start small…baby steps can add up to big payoffs down the road.

Be consistent — Everything I’ve ever read says that it takes between 21 and 28 days to build a good habit, and from personal experience I believe that to be true. A little something each day during the first 3 – 4 weeks will help ensure the new habit sticks.

Be kind to yourself — Everyone experiences set backs. When you fall down (either literally or figuratively), the key is to not beat yourself up over it, but be willing to pick yourself up and begin again.

Find a partner or group — There’s a lot to be said for being accountable to someone else and having someone to draw motivation from on those days when you’re not feeling it.

Surround yourself with success — Part two of finding a partner is to beware of spending time around others who don’t support your efforts – they will drain you! As much as possible, spend time with others who model the behavior/habits you’re striving for.

Keep visual reminders — Whether it’s a word, phrase or photo, posting visual reminders where you’re sure to see them will help keep your goals at the forefront. Energy flows where attention goes so make your goals hard to ignore and you’re more likely to follow through.

What new habits are you trying to build?
What tricks work for you?

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Filed Under: building good habits, goals, motivation

Are you ready?

January 2, 2013 by 20 Comments

Happy 2013! 

I woke up yesterday morning feeling very revved up to get this new year off to a great start! I truly love that feeling of staring at a blank calendar and the anticipation of what lies ahead (OK in truth my calendar is already filled with my sons’ hockey games, lacrosse and baseball skills clinics and various other school activities…but you get my point!)

Over the past few days, I’ve poured over various race listings trying to get a handle on how I’m going to tackle the 13 in 2013 Challenge and balance my family’s ever-busy schedule. I’m still playing with several ideas, but I do know that I want to run another half this spring before running Boston’s Run to Remember Memorial Day weekend. So I’m targeting St. Patty’s weekend – it gives me 11 weeks, and with my current base and the Old-Fashioned 10 miler next month, I should be in good shape. The next question is which race? I’m considering  RnR USA, New Bedford Half or the Historic Quincy Half. While we had a fun family weekend in DC at RnR last year, but I’m leaning towards staying local this time around.

In any event it’s time to get moving! I’ve got my training plan mapped out, and kicked it off yesterday with an easy 5K. Today it’s time to get back strength training. Let the games begin!

Are you gearing up for a spring race?

 

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Filed Under: #13in2013, half marathon training, race calendar

Recharging for 2013

December 29, 2012 by 8 Comments

We’ve been in full holiday celebration mode for a week now around my house – soaking in time with family and friends. After all of the rushing around and planning, it’s been great to be present in the moment and just enjoy the days as they’ve unfolded. It wasn’t until late yesterday afternoon, curled up under a blanket nursing a sore throat that I really started to think about goals for 2013.

Looking back at the running goals I laid out in January, I’m happy to say that I hit almost all of them (the 10K PR still eludes me). I had a heck of a lot of fun this year with lots of highs:

  • taking the whole family along for a race in DC
  • getting to meet a bunch of runner/bloggers
  • serving as a ZOOMA race ambassador
  • getting away with my friend E for run and fun at ZOOMA Cape Cod
  • working with my running coach Bennett Cohen – learned so much!!
  • new PRs in the half marathon, 10-miler and 5K
  • ran over 900 miles

Now that I’ve had a little down time, I’m looking forward to kicking up my training for a half marathon in March (still debating which one!). So, what are some of my running/fitness goals for the upcoming year?

  • complete the 13 in 2013 Challenge— I think I’ve almost got the race calendar sorted out!
  • looking to shave some more time off my best times for both the half marathon and 10K (specific target times to come later) – I really need to find a flatter course for the half!
  • continue to do all of things that I believe helped to keep me off the injury-reserve list — yoga, strength training, massages and time with the chiro.

But, as always, the biggest goal is to continue to have fun — to run with friends, to run in some new locales, try an obstacle course race (or two), be a race volunteer, and have more blogger meet-ups!

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Filed Under: #13in2013, goals, keeping it interesting, PR

Jingle Bell Run Recap

December 24, 2012 by 7 Comments

Last Sunday I wrapped up my 2012 racing season with the always fun Jingle Bell Run! This time I got to run it with my brother — it was his first 5k and I was so psyched to run it with him!

I had run this race last year with J and my friend E and I swear we were practically the only ones not dressed in some form of costume. Well, after telling my brother about the range of outfits from last year, he decided if he was going to to do this he had to get into the spirit of it. During the week leading up to the run, as I heard about his planned race outfit, I knew I’d have to get in on the act. So with the help of my trusty adviser (aka my 7 year-old) and a trip to Target, I put together a respectable showing 🙂

(These pictures don’t really do our outfits justice. You can’t see my light-up bracelets or the sparkle that covered my Santa hat. And, yes that is a giant ball of mistletoe on my brother’s hat – it was a big hit along with his shirt that said “What happens under the mistletoe stays under the mistletoe”)

The race itself once again did not disappoint – it was a lively group with some really creative costumes! My brother had said his goal was to just “finish under my own power” and to have fun doing it. We had a good time laughing at the sights, and it was fun to just go out and run without any concern for time.

Medal/Bottle Opener!

All -in-all a great day and best of all my brother’s talking about his next race!

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Filed Under: family running, Jingle Bell Run, race report

Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 Things)

December 20, 2012 by 9 Comments

1.
You know that feeling at the beginning of week when you have a mile-long to do list,you’re staring at the calendar trying to figure out how to wedge in one more commitment, and then you get thrown a curve ball and all plans go haywire? Well, my curve ball came in the form of having kids home sick on two different days. On the good side, both boys are feeling better and I got some quality snuggle time with my kiddos 🙂

2.
I did make it to the chiro this week for another appointment. After seeing him twice a week for the past few weeks I’m happy to report that the majority of my ITB pain is gone! We’ve agreed to take a couple of weeks off and then see how I feel as I start to build my mileage back up – fingers crossed, nothing will flare up.

3.
The lottery gods were unkind to me for the Cherry
Blossom 10 miler lottery, so it stays on my race bucket list for another year.

I did lock in the early bird rate on Boston’s Run to Remember for the end of May, but am still on the hunt for another half marathon or 10-miler for the spring – Any suggestions?

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Filed Under: 3 things, Boston's Run to Remember, chiropractor, ITB, kids, race calendar, to do list

13 in 2013

December 19, 2012 by 9 Comments

Continuing under the theme of getting out of my comfort zone….

I’m doing the 13 in 2013 Challenge! Yeah, 13 races next year? That should keep it interesting!

Want in? Check out the details HERE!

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Filed Under: #13in2013, comfort zone, race shopping

There are just no words

December 17, 2012 by 3 Comments

If you want to help the Sandy Hook victims and their families, here are some ways (thanks to Beth at Shut Up and Run for posting them).

 Wishing you peace,

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Lessons from Training

December 13, 2012 by 8 Comments

As I make my racing plans for 2013, it seems only fitting that I do so based on lessons I learned during the past training cycle.

Lesson 1 – Get comfortable with  being uncomfortable
Almost from the outset, I remember looking at the workouts, target paces and mileage Coach Bennett had laid out for me and often my thought was – “he wants me to do what?!” But I chose to work with a running coach because I wanted to shake things up, right? So good bye comfort zone!

Lesson 2 – Trust in the training
Despite being uncomfortable, I followed my plan as it was laid out.  This was much more a test of me getting out of my head (fighting the “I can’ts” or “What ifs?”), and just taking each run as it came.

Lesson 3 – Hill work will make you stronger
‘Nuff said here.

Lesson 4 – Listen and be kind to your body
As much as I embraced my plan, I was also careful to listen to my body and cut a run short or take the rest day when I needed it. I was also diligent in what I call “proactive self care” – in the form of lots of foam roller, icing, massages and a lot more yoga. Collectively, I believe this all helped me to stay off the injured-reserve list.

Lesson 5 – Reflect and find the positives
My bi-weekly calls with Coach Bennett were so critical for this. As I mentioned HERE before the ZOOMA Half Marathon, the biggest gift Bennett gave me was to help me to take the time to look back, whether it was the past 2 weeks, the past month or the entire training cycle. To remind yourself of the challenges faced, obstacles overcome and successes all help to put your mind in the right space.

For 19 weeks I worked with Coach Bennett – through the crazy heat of summer, through hill work, through a sometimes cranky ITB, through many, many miles…and the results this fall were 3 races and 3 PRs. But more importantly, I believe I’m a changed runner, which will hopefully serve me well as I get ready for 2013.

 

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Filed Under: lessons learned, running coach, training

Decaffeinated Monday

December 10, 2012 by 7 Comments

I was racing to get out the door this morning to get to BOKS on time so there was little time for coffee…and I went from there to a chiro appointment. So it’s late in the morning and I’ve still not had coffee yet…(never a good thing)…so a bit of randomness coming at you:

  • Wrapped up week 3 of the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge with a woeful 30.75 points. Having kids home and a little knee pain at the beginning of the week really threw me off my game. Definitely looking to up the numbers this week!
  • And because I love a good challenge, I just signed on to the Chilly Challenge for the month of January. This fun challenge is sponsored by Amy from Running Escapades and Janine from The Purple Giraffe It’s a friendly team competition to see who can log the most miles in January – just pick a team and start logging those miles. (And of course, there are some fun prizes involved.) Great idea to get the new year off to a good start!
  • I’m starting to do a little race shopping for 2013. I already have the Old-Fashioned 10 miler for February but want to find a spring half marathon. While I was super excited when the Nike Women’s Half Marathon announced they were coming to DC this spring, the $160 price tag quickly killed that enthusiasm. Seriously?!
  • 14 more shopping days till Christmas and I am desperately holding on to my zen! This will be a week of power shopping and online ordering!

OK, now for the safety of those around me, I’m off to find some coffee!

So tell me – what’s the most you’re will to pay for a race? 
Are you done with your shopping yet?
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Filed Under: Chilly Challenge, Holiday Bootie Buster, holiday sanity, race shopping