Friday Five – Favorite City

Jan9

Another Friday means another Friday Five link-up hosted by Eat, Pray, Run DC, Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What? Today’s topic – 5 Things You love about your Favorite City….

I will admit that I almost skipped this one because at heart I really am a country girl. Now I live in the burbs and not the country, but at heart I am a country girl. I grew up with space and I admit that the suburbs are as citified as I want to become. Then I gave it a second thought and realize that even though I am not a city girl, I do enjoy an occasional visit to the Big City.

New York City, of course!

Some of you who have been with me a while may remember my first (and at this time only) NYC run last year. It is where I discovered I’m a Little Bit Country, but Now I’m a Little Bit Rock N Roll. This is where I saw a different side of NYC and realized that I liked it. I really really like it. So Here we go…..

Top 5 Reasons

It’s New York City. I mean come on their slogan alone says it all. The city that never sleeps. The city where Broadway was born. The city where you can go to Chinatown, Little Italy, and everything in between all in one day.
Central Park. This is really what sold me on NYC. My first NYC Half Marathon in Central Park. That in the midst of this massive city is this massive park. It is amazingly beautiful!
The People. There are whole books written about them. Facebook Page dedicated to them. I even bought my former NYC living sister one of the books for Christmas (Humans of New York). Very cool book filled with all the types of people that you will meet at any given time in the City.
The amazing skyline – It is one that can really only be seen to be appreciated. The buildings are a site to see from the Empire State Building to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Stunning.
Last but not least. It is a City that hosts one of my Bucket List Items that I am working towards in 2015 for 2016. The New York City Marathon. The largest marathon in the world. A marathon that closes major bridges. A marathon that I hope to run one day.

Everyone should visit NYC at least once in their life. I am lucky to live just an hour away, so I can visit more often and this year I plan on spending a good deal of running time there too:)

What is your favorite city?

We All Need a Little Rest

Jan7

As the year starts to slowly begin, I am still pondering how to meet my goals for it and also how I can remain injury free. I think when you start running (or really anything) as a younger person, you don’t contemplate possible injuries as much as you do when you start in your 40’s. Life is really not as footloose and fancy free as it is when your younger and the thoughts of being sidelined by an injury does not creep in until you are older (not that I’m old). Besides the fact that as a mother of three and the Household Manager (fancy title isn’t it?), I really don’t have time to nurse a possible preventable injury.

Now when I say injury, I am not talking bad toe nail or such. I’m talking the type that will require rest, doctors, ect. Things that I don’t have time for. Things I started thinking about after my Marathon when my ankle developed some tenderness. Tenderness that I still notice now and then. I must remember that I am not that spring chicken that my mind things that I am.

Yes, that sucks.

As I’ve said before since starting this journey, I have never been good about the “Rest Day.” In the beginning, my Rest Day would consist of Crossfit. I will admit that Crossfit is NOT a rest day. I love it. I really do. I love adding on the weights and seeing how far I can push myself. But that is not a rest day especially if the WOD includes Box Jumps or running or any other things. Crossfit by design is meant to push your body to the limit. The more I read, the more I realize that my running rest day should be something that isn’t pushing myself with high impact exercises but something low impact.

There are many other things that I can do on my Rest Day’s. Things that give my joints a break. Things that I enjoy too.

Things that I could use for my Tri training too.

Swimming

Biking

also

Bikram Yoga

Even strength training, but maybe not at the intensity that Crossfit requires.

I’m struggling with this.

I haven’t been to Crossfit a lot recently.

I thought that I would jump back into it as I enjoy it,

BUT

I’m struggling to put a plan in place.

I’m struggling to realize that going may not be what I need to meet my goals.

The more I think about it,

the more I know the truth.

The sadder it makes me.

Kind of like saying by to a good friend that you know you won’t see for a while.

I guess this post is making me see what I need to do…..

Time to sign up for swim lessons again.

Time to get to Yoga again.

Time to give my body low impact rest days on rest days:)

Time to show off (not really) how much I can lift at YMCA.

I’ve already been told that I lift a lot for a girl.

Really:(

What is your go to “rest day” exercise?

The Most Expensive FREE Sport Ever!

Jan5

We’ve all heard the expression that anyone can run because it doesn’t cost anything.

Now I don’t know who said this, but they are an idiot.

Just saying:)

From the outside looking in, it may appear that running is a “free” sport as there is no charge to run in the street. I would love to think that running is a free sport. I would further like to convince my husband that running is a free sport, but he is a smart man and an accountant at that so I believe he knows better. Yes, I would like to think that running is free, but I am only fooling myself and no one else.

The second hydration belt I bought because I liked the waterproof pocket of it compared to the first one WAS totally necessary. The shoes that need to be replaced as the miles add up. The shoes I bought that didn’t feel right when I used them that needed to be replaced (plus they squeaked). The Gu by the case from Amazon to keep me going. The running tights, the sports bras, and on and on the list goes. We won’t even get into race fees here as I’m just talking about “gear.” Yes, running does not have to break the bank, but I think once you hit a certain point in your running you do need to dip into the Piggy Bank not just to prevent injury but also for comfort.

That is where I am at right now.

Comfort

As the weather changes, I am an the search for the perfect running jacket. Yes, I did buy a nice jacket recently. I really like it, but I’m not sure if it will be the right jacket for me to run in. This may end up being only something to run in when it is REALLY cold and snowy. This will also be a great jacket for playing in the snow. I do know that I tried to use it for my half this past weekend and I got too warm in it relatively quickly. The temperatures at the start was in the mid twenties. Underneath the jacket I had a base layer of a long sleeved under armour and a short sleeved heat gear shirt. Yes, I do know that I tend to run hot so for me this jacket might not be the right fit to run in or I need to adjust my layers. So off I am looking for another jacket when I’ve already made a decent investment in one and it is driving me nuts. (For those curios – I got the Athleta Maribel Ski Jacket on sale, of course). I think I need something more breathable, but I also want something waterproof.

In my search, I have found many jackets that I would get in a heartbeat if I wasn’t worried about the price. Then there is also the part where you think that you are getting something that will fit your needs and realize that it doesn’t. Case in point the jacket that I just bought. Sometimes you need to take things for a test run to find out and sometimes you need to take it on several test runs. I’m not giving up on my sleek warm waterproof jacket, but I know that I need other options too. And so it goes with running in a place with fluctuating temperatures. Just like your normal wardrobe, you need different things for every season of running.

Light Jackets, Rain Jackets, Heavy Jackets, Layers…

On and On it goes..

Admit it, you’re running gear is busting out of the drawers too or is that just me?

Damn You, Dawn! Damn you:)

Jan4

I did something unexpected today.

I did something I hadn’t really planned on doing.

I ran a half marathon.

Yup, I’m just as surprised!

As much as I am a planner, these things seem to happen to me a lot. So maybe I am not as much as a planner as I like to think. Maybe I just like to think I have a plan!

As you know I’ve fallen off the wagon HARD after the Philly Marathon. Really only doing a handful of runs and the longest run probably only being 5 miles or so. Then I get a text from my dear friend Dawn telling me to join her for a local trail run. I check the weather it doesn’t look promising (cold with chance of rain), but I miss the trails and Dawn. So I say yes. Somewhere along the way though even though I do realize it’s 2 loops on the trail it slips my mind that this means we are running the Half Marathon distance. It must be the way my mind protects itself. Similar to the way that it made me think my first half was a flat course even though I was familiar enough with the area to know the truth. Funny how the mind likes to play tricks. I guess that way it ensures the legs will get out the door.

Off I went.

Once I realized that I was indeed running a Half Marathon, I was worried. As I said, I haven’t really been running. Was I up for it? I seriously thought about stopping after the first loop, but I didn’t. I kept on going. I did hit a bit of a wall around mile 8 or so. I was saying that I needed another Gu, but was waiting till we hit this one point. Dawn turned and took one look at my face and told me not to wait. I’m glad I didn’t because it did give me the pep I needed to finish.

It really is a great thing when you find someone whom you are not only compatible with personally but also running. On trails this is especially helpful to have a like mindset to start walking at the same points without thought. I was joking with Dawn that we are the Ying and the Yang on our runs. She motivates me and pulls me along in the beginning. Setting the steady pace to keep us moving. Then without a word or intention there usually comes a point especially when on trails that I end up taking over the lead at the end pushing us to the finish. It’s nice when that works out.

I did it.

I got out the door and not only proved that I could run again, but I also can cross off one of my 2015 goals already!

I ran a Trail Half Marathon.

Although I am already signed up to do another one in October, it is motivating to already have met one of my goals.

Now even though I went into today totally unprepared and am slightly sore because of it, I am very glad went. I’m very happy the rain held off till I was done. I am further glad I ran the distance proving that as the saying goes,

“I’ve still got it!”

Finishing in a respectable time of 2;55 crossing the finishing line (literally a line drawn on the road) together with my Ying to my Yang:)

Do you have a friend that you run with regularly?

Resolutions or Goals?

Jan2

Happy New Year!

I can’t believe how true the expression of Time Flies really is. Here we are sweeping up from our New Year’s celebrations looking forward to 2015. You will here many people tell you what their resolution for the New Year will be or you might even be the one telling other people. I, myself, am not a person that makes resolutions. It’s not that I think they aren’t worthwhile, because I do. No one ever makes a resolution to make their life worse, so anything that helps a person improve their life; more power to them. The reason that I don’t make resolution is because they don’t work for me. Sure the first month or so, I go all gung ho, but it doesn’t last. I’ve decided that I am more of a goal orientated person.

A Resolution by definition is as follows:

res·o·lu·tion

noun \ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\

: the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something

: an answer or solution to something

: the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail

The definition of a Goal is as follows:

goal

noun \ˈgōl, chiefly Northern especially in 1b & 3a also ˈgül\

: something that you are trying to do or achieve

On the surface they may appear very similar, but to me they have very different meanings. To me if I make a resolution to do something, there is no end. I guess that is the point, but for me I like to strive for something. I like to know that I’ve completed the task at hand. Don’t tell me, but I know that goals and resolutions do go hand in hand. It’s better if I don’t know it:)

For example:

One of my Goals this year is to get a handle and organize my recipes and all my food magazines that I’ve collected. This is an measurable goal as when completed, I will have easy assess to my recipes and the space will be organized and neat. At the same time, I might meet a resolution if I were to make one of keeping my recipes neater. Win Win.

But I don’t make resolutions:)

I’ve also am not making any running resolutions.

You’ve seen my goals for 2015.

They are measurable and attainable.

I also just joined a Nike+ challenge with some friends to run 850 miles in 2015.

Measurable and attainable.

That’s about 70 a month.

18 a week.

Not so bad when you break it down.

It hopefully will motivate me to get back into a regular running routine.

Something I desperately need.

Next week when the everyone is back in our normal routines, I am going to look at mine.

I have realized that if I am going to be pushing my body the way I think I will to meet all my running goals that I really need to make sure that all my activities fall in line with it. I may even have to give some of them up as I want to remain injury free and need to make sure that I give my body adequate rest. I’m still trying to figure it out. When I know, you’ll know.

Have you made any resolutions?

Happy New Year! Join the Friday Five Link Up hosted by DC area bloggers Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up For What?!

2015 Here I Come….

Dec29

We all do it. We all start of a New Year with much hope, high expectations, and big goals. I am no different. I’ve been thinking about where I want to take my fitness goals in the New year. I’m not sure that I will accomplish these goals, but I’ll be ok with that too. As I’ve said before……..

So I’m going to dream big.

I’m also going to use these goals as a guide to push me closer to where I would like to be.

If I don’t reach all of these goals, I can always strive for them the following year.

The secret to life is just never giving up!!

(or at least that’s my secret)

No matter what just keeping pushing forward.

So what are these lofty Goals that I Have for 2015

Complete the 9 plus 1 setting me up for NYC Marathon in 2016
Run a Half Marathon in 2 hours which means I will have to shave 6 minutes off my PR now. Good thing I will have all year to work on this one.
Complete the Iron Girl with a better time from last year or at least better swim time.
Run my first trail Half
A Bib a month Challenge – Complete at least one event a month 5k, 10k, HM, Tri just something. Doubling up in other months will not count.

These seem like doable goals and actually all go hand in hand, because if I’m doing the 9 plus 1, I will need to run 9 races. The hardest one out of all of these to reach, I believe will be the HM time. I’ve bought a plan already through Training Peaks. So when the time is right, I will dust it off and use it. Although it would be cool to have that time for my April HM on my Birthday, I’m not sure if that is just going to be a fun tutu race or not. I’ll work that out later and if I fall short of my goal chances are I will still get a nice PR out of it so win win:)

So I’ve defined them and put them in writing.

I’ve even shared it with all of you here.

You know I want it and believe they are possible.

I’ve got a plan, will continue to review, schedule and do it!

What could go wrong?

Hoping my running buddy doesn’t disown me.

Yes, you Dawn:)

Do you have any fitness goals for 2015?

Have you told anyone yet?

All By Myself…..

Dec28

I’ve been bad.

I’ve been negligent.

I’ve fallen off the wagon.

I’ve eaten more cookies than one person has a right to eat.

I’m going to do better and get back into my routine. I miss my routine. I need it too.

This recently became very apparent when due to not having an outlet for daily stress, I just picked up and went for a 4 1/2 mile run. Wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, but not only was it pouring rain (not just rain, but pouring rain); it was also mid morning of Christmas Eve. I could and should have been doing other things. My body needed it and so did my mind. I played no music as I had my phone wrapped up for it’s protection and just ran with my on thoughts. I wonder how I processed things before I ran. Maybe I never did. Who knows? Although my sister did say that I have become more insightful this past year. I really do believe the running has helped.

Some people meditate.

Some people do Yoga.

I apparently Run.

All By Myself.

There is something to be said to taking time for yourself not just for exercise but to be alone with your thoughts. To carve out a part of the day, just for yourself. It’s not selfish either. Sometimes it makes or breaks your day. This is not to say that every run needs to be a meditative run if you will, but when you need time with your thoughts there is no better way that I know to work it out. Pounding the pavement doesn’t hurt either.

So I need to get back to my routine. Maybe even figuring out what that will be would be helpful.

The funny thing though is that once other people start to identify you as a runner, they will expect you to run. If they are a runner too, they might even expect you to run with them leading to more running. When my sister used to come to town from California, she would ask to go out to breakfast or visit the local downtown. Now she informs me that we need to go running as it’s my fault I talked her into signing up for a half. Not me? I would never do something like that.

Oh wait, I do that all the time.

And since I’ve already poured some kool aid for myself thinking that I might be in for the NYRR 9 plus 1 next year, it’s time to get myself on a schedule and out the door again. Besides now that both my body and mind are used to the running time, they don’t function as well without it.

Break time’s over.

Friday Five Free For All

Dec19

I love participating in the Friday Five link-up hosted by Eat, Pray, Run DC, Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up for What?

I think since we are literally days away from my favorite Holiday, that I need to do a Christmas themed post. There will be enough time throughout the year to talk running:)

So off we go.

Friday Five: Five Favorite Christmas Things

1. Favorite Christmas Memory as a child – I’m going to go WAY, WAY, WAY back here to when I was a little girl. I’m guessing that I was probably in first or second grade. It was a time that my mother did not have a lot of money and I’m stretching that as she had absolutely NO money. She was divorced and doing what she had to do to get by. From the memory, I do know that she was involved with my now Step-Father of 30 years but I was young so that is all I know. Anyway……..

I remember waking up to the sound of Christmas music which would not have been possible because we did not own a radio. I was convinced that it was Santa! So I followed the music past the tree which to my delight had many presents under it. I then followed the music into the dinning room where my now step-father was setting up a stereo for my mother and tuning it to Christmas music. I remember him turning and shushing me, wishing me a Merry Christmas and telling me to go back to bed. I don’t even remember being disappointing that he wasn’t Santa and he was only taking credit for setting up the stereo.

2. Favorite Christmas Cookie – This is a hard one as I do love cookies. But the favorite Christmas Cookie must be the traditional Sugar Cookie. I think it’s not even so much about the taste. Although they are very yummy! It is about remember making them with my family growing up and making them with my own kids. It is not Christmas without a table full of sprinkles!

3. Favorite Christmas Decoration – The Christmas Tree!!!! This may be why I do have three trees in my house which might not be crazy if I lived in a big house, but I don’t by any stretch of the imagination. Unless, of course, you concider a 3 bedroom ranch big? But I love my trees!!

Basement Tree with all the ornaments the boys have made over the years

Window Tree – just because it’s pretty and I like the way the house looks with a tree in the window

Real Tree – This has all the Hallmark ornaments and such

4. Favorite Christmas Movie – I actually am going to pick two here because it really is a tie.

The first one is Ziggy’s Christmas Gift. A short heartwarming story that my sister and I love to watch together at Christmas.

and the somewhat depressing but classic

I love this movie as it is a reminder how important even the smallest acts of kindness can be and how important each and everyone of us is in the world.

5. Favorite Overall Thing about Christmas – How this is the one time of year that no matter what is going on, the family gets together. As the Grinch said best…

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Wonderful New Year!

Check Your Ego at the Door

Dec15

I have gone for runs in the rain.

Light rain, but the rain.

I have gone for runs early in the morning.

I have gone for runs at dusk.

What until today I have never really done is gone for a run at dark. I mean dark. Unless you count one summer night where my sister and I ran my neighborhood block for a short mile. I don’t count that one because it was really just around the block. Today was different. I didn’t get out for my run until after 6:00. It was dark, but I really, really, really needed this run. The Christmas cookies all said so. You do what you have to do to get it done.

Now I will readily admit that before running if I saw someone out at night, I would think to myself, “What is wrong with that person?” I realized once I started running that there was nothing wrong with that person. That they just needed to get their run in and obviously this was when they needed to get it in. That being said, I have seen some boneheaded runners at night and I knew early on that I would not be one of them. So even though I never ran at night, I was prepared for I knew that the night would arrive when I would have to go out in the dark if I wanted to get a run in.

The most important thing to do when running in the dark is to check your ego at the door. This is not the time to worry about how cute you look if you are one to worry about those things. This is the time to make sure that not only can you see where you are going as we all know how wonderful the sidewalks and roads can be, but you also have to make sure that others can see you.

1. Headlamp – yes, you look like you are getting ready to go on a mining expedition, but that’s ok as long as you can see and oncoming cars can see your little light bouncing while you run.

2. Reflective Vest – I will say that I bought a bright neon Pink one with pink reflective strips on it. You know pink is my color!

3. Since it wasn’t that cold, I wore a short sleeve shirt with arm sleeves that happen to have reflective strips on them too.

4. I didn’t need my running belt tonight but I wore it again because it had a reflective stripes on it.

5. My running tights which I love also reflective lines on them.

6. Just for good measure, I put on my ankles those yellow reflective bands that most normal people wear on their arms,but I kind of liked them on my ankles and we all know I’m not normal.

Now, I hope you noticed a pattern here with my outfit.

REFLECTIVE!

We all know how people drive during the day when your highly visible. Why not make yourself as visible as you can at night too because their driving really doesn’t get better at night?

Now another way to check the ego at the door that must be done (at least for me) is to SLOW DOWN. Yes I knew the road I was taking, but that doesn’t mean I know every bump in it. I also adjusted my routine to run on roads with both wider sidewalks and more visibility. I also knew that I needed to run safely and take it easy out there. Even though I run these roads all the time, it is different at night. Just know that your night runs are not the time to do a speed workout unless you are at the track.

Lastly, I will say that only other runners understand the need to go out at night. When I shared the picture of me from my run, all of my running friends gave positive comments. Then there was the one non running person whose comment was “Goofy.”

Well I wasn’t trying to be Goofy. I was just trying to get a run in and make it home safe. Just remember that that is the most important thing when you are out on a run. Getting home safe.

As they said in one of my favorite shows growing up

Let’s all be Careful out there!

Do you run at night?

Friday Five – Five Favorite Winter Activities

Dec12

It’s time for another Friday Five!

Thanks to Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat, Pray, Run DC for hosting. This weeks topic is 5 Reasons to Love Winter.

I love winter. I really do. It’s not so much that I love winter activities, because I am not a skier. Although I do take the kids occasionally ice skating, it is a rare enough activities to call it a treat. So this is a great post idea because it will make me think of why do I really love winter.

1. Snow Days!

I love a good snow day. I mean a day where there is so much snow that all activities are cancelled and the whole family has to stay home. As the boys get older with all their activities this is a nice change of pace. We usually have a fire going. I might even whip up some cookies and more than likely we will watch a movie.

Love it!

2. Hot Chocolate

Now I admit that I do love a good cup of Hot chocolate and I mean GOOD. There is nothing better to me than having a cup of Hot Chocolate while snuggled up under a blanket. I will also admit to making my own marshmallows to take this treat up to the next level and my waistline up to the next size:( Boo.

3. A fire.

No need to explain:)

4. Bikram Yoga.

As much as I enjoy yoga, there really isn’t enough time to do it all. As I’ve said before, you can’t do it all as much as you might want to. But I hope this winter to get back to it as I really did enjoy it even if I found that I am not that flexible or have that much balance. I guess that will come with more practice. There is something to be said though for Bikram Yoga on a cold winter morning to warm you right up.

5. Cooking hearty family meals.

Yes, I’m a baker by trade (not really, but I do try), but I do love to make hearty meals that just don’t taste right on warmer days. Things like lazagna, beef stews, chili, homemade bread and what ever else I come across in my Food Network magazine. Case in point this week, I made a big pot of beef stew. I added some Sam Adams Logger to it and it gave it such a warm wintery flavor that could not be resisted.

Now it’s time to jump over to see what everyone else loves about Winter.

Why do you Love winter?

Do you hate it?

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!