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

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

Thursday Thoughts – Race Week

November 8, 2012 by 9 Comments
Tazmanian Devil
What?!? I’m calm! (Source)

    • Half way through crazy week…..er I mean race week. All sorts of ailments real or imagined have taken hold but I’m doing my best to keep distracted. Ice, foam roller and KT Tape have become my new BFFs.
    • Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the northern East Coast again, this time in the form of a Nor’easter with snow! So the ground is a slushy, icy mess and I’ll be doing my last pre-race run indoors. The crazy part is the weather forecast is for temps in the upper 50s this weekend! I’ve given up trying to figure out what my race day attire will be….just going to make sure all my favorites are clean and then make a last minute call.
    • Turns out Sunday’s race conflicts with my son’s last lacrosse tournament of the fall. He’s announced that he really wants to see at least part of my race (yeah I know, how sweet is that!) so J and I were studying the maps last night trying to figure out where they could view part of the race and then quickly get to the highway for the hour’s drive to the tournament so he makes his first game. Ah the joys of an active family 🙂 But I’m not complaining – I really love how supportive my family is of my running! And, if my legs cooperate, I’m hoping to surprise him at his last game of the afternoon!

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    Filed Under: 3 things, race week

    Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 Things)

    October 18, 2012 by 6 Comments

    1.   If someone sees my zen, could you please return it to me!  It’s almost hard to imagine that last week this time I was getting ready to head out of town with J for a weekend away to celebrate our anniversary. (By the way, thanks you for all the good wishes!)  We had a great time! But a few days back into the grind of the daily routine, kids’ school work & sports, etc. and that weekend away seems like a million years ago! As a friend pointed out, “The zen disappears the moment you pull into your drive way.”

    2.  It’s Thursday so that means I hit the track this morning which always makes me happy (despite not being a fan of 1000 meter repeats!) There’s always something about finishing a track workout that leaves me feeling a little badass — gotta work on translating that feeling to the road more often! Just a little more than 3 weeks until the Chilly Half Marathon — I think I may try to go check out the course this weekend to see what I’m in for.

    3.  I participated in a great Twitter chat on Tuesday hosted by FitFluential and Commitment Day. What is Commitment Day? It’s a movement to get 300,000 people in over 30 cities to participate in a nationwide 5k on January 1st, and more importantly to set the tone to commit to a healthier lifestyle in 2013. You can run, walk, skip if you want but the point is to get out there. I especially love that they are encouraging families to come out and participate together (in fact children register for free with an adult!) I’m planning to participate in the Boston event with J and our boys and encourage you to check out the event in your city — check the Commitment Day website for more information.

     

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    Filed Under: 3 things, Chilly Half, Commitment Day, crazy week, FitFluential, track work, Zen

    Thursday Thoughts – Back at it

    September 27, 2012 by 4 Comments

    1)  While I’m still very excited about Saturday’s PR, it was time to get back to training this week – the “A” race, the Chilly Half Marathon is a little more than 6 weeks away. By Sunday evening, Coach Bennett had sent me the next phase of my training plan – the hill repeats have been replaced by speed work. And, while I love being on the track, I’m scurd (yes, that’s beyond scared) just looking at some of these workouts!

    2)  When I looked at my splits from ZOOMA, it’s clear that just a couple of miles kept me from an even bigger PR, despite the course’s never-ending hills. I’m really encouraged by that, but know that I have to do everything I can to strengthen my hip/ITB area so they’re not an issue come November.

    3)  My brother just asked me to help him to put together a training plan to first get ready for a 5k and then work up to a 10k! Yea another runner in the family – can’t wait to get started!

     

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    Filed Under: 3 things, family running, half marathon training

    Thursday Thoughts: More hills, Mocktails and Pre-Run Food

    August 23, 2012 by 7 Comments

    It’s Thursday so its week 2 of my new hill workouts. I got some quizzical looks from a couple of people putting out their trash this morning as I barreled up and down their street. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was running the hill over and over that got them, or all the muttering and cursing that went with it 😉

    4 weeks till ZOOMA Cape Cod and the excitement is building! ZOOMA just announced that they will be hosting a Mocktail Hour the night before the race for all you ladies who are running and their “fan clubs!” The event is sponsored by Hint, and will be a great time to hang out with friends, meet other runners and special guest Finessista. Be sure to RSVP on the ZOOMA blog.

    Of late I’ve been finding that my tried and true pre-run breakfast of a multigrain English muffin with almond butter has not been sitting well with me lately on my runs – especially the long runs. So I’m going to try to play with some other options and see if I can find the right combination before my fall races.

    Do you find you have to change up your pre-run meal? What’s your favorite go to food before a run?

     

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    Filed Under: 3 things, fueling a run, ZOOMA Cape Cod

    Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 things)

    July 19, 2012 by 7 Comments

    The humidity finally broke last night following some crazy thunderstorms so this morning’s run was the first really pleasant run of the week – a 3 mile Fartlek, run #3 in the Merrell Pace Gloves…I’m still very happy with them!

    I’ve got a massage scheduled for later today. As I mentioned in a post about acupuncture earlier this year, one of my big goals for 2012 is to stay injury-free, and one of my “proactive self care” steps is to try to get regular massages. Obviously my wallet will dictate how often I can go, but I’m going to do my best to make them a consistent part of my fall training plan.

    64 days until the ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon & 10k! I’m so psyched that my friend E has signed up to run the 10k so we’ll be Cape-bound together! The course map is now up on the ZOOMA website and it looks like this course will offer a little bit of everything…great ocean views, tree-lined streets and rolling hills. You can checkout the course HERE. Registration is capped at 1,000 for the two races so don’t wait to register – you can still use the code CCAMB3 and receive $10 off the half marathon or $5 off the 10k.

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    Filed Under: 3 things, massage, ZOOMA Cape Cod

    Thursday Thoughts plus a Winner

    April 12, 2012 by 7 Comments

    My brain is a bit mush right now….so if you continue reading, just remember you were warned!

    Playing race director has me ready to pull my hair out! Managing the logistics isn’t too bad, but securing donors and sponsors…well let’s just say I’d rather walk over hot coals than ask people for money. I am grateful for the team I have assembled to work with me on this event otherwise I’d be WAY over the ledge by now.

    Running with my boys last weekend was so much fun and the best part was they really enjoyed it and have talked about going again. Hopefully we get some a little running in while they’re home on April vacation week next week.

    Hills are hard….that’s all.

    I was invited by Newton Running to attend one of their Natural Form Running Clinics taking place in Boston as part of the pre-marathon events. They’ve teamed with my favorite local running store Marathon Sports to host these sessions to help runners learn how natural form running can improve speed, efficiency and, hopefully, reduce chances of injury. I’m interested to see how this approach differs from Chi Running – so tomorrow morning I will be up bright and early running along the Charles River and soaking in some knowledge from the Newton experts!

    Giveaway Winners!

    Thanks to Random.org the two winners of the ProFoot Insoles are:

    Christy from The Buhrs and Dai from Lazy Punch

    Please email me at runningwithattitude (at) yahoo.com so I can get you hooked up with ProFoot.

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    Filed Under: 3 things, ChiRunning, family running, giveaways, Natural Form Running, Newton Running, ProFoot

    Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 Things)

    April 5, 2012 by 4 Comments
    1.

    So today my plan called for 6 miles with negative splits. You know those runs where you feel like you’re flying, like you could just go forever…that everything’s in sync. Yeah well that was NOT today’s run! “Holy Craptastic Run Batman!” I will get no style points for today’s run – but negative splits were achieved. Runs like this will make me stronger…or at least that’s what I kept muttering to myself during the run.

    2.

    I’m trying to keep strength training interesting so I’ve been mixing it up where I can. The latest addition is my TRX Rip Trainer class. The Rip Trainer provides a mix of rotational resistance and core stability which I figure will give me a chance to really work my weaker left side, plus get the added core work I need. I haven’t been the most consistent with my strength work as I want to be so I like the idea of the class to help hold me accountable. I’m in for at least the next 6 weeks.

    3.

    Going for my first run with my son tomorrow! Cannot wait to see how he does!

     

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    Filed Under: 3 things, family running, tough runs, TRX

    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