Monday Morning in Bullet Points

October 22, 2012 by 9 Comments

It’s Monday, I haven’t had coffee and I started my morning in a school gym with 40 very energetic kids…it’s a bullets kind of morning!

  • Saturday’s 12 miler was my last double digit run before the Chilly Half Marathon. Just 3 weeks to go!
  • I did go and check out the race route yesterday…let’s just say, sometimes ignorance is bliss! The good news is the course winds through some lovely neighborhoods in the picturesque town of Newton, MA. The bad news…I’ll be rolling through the hills once again.  Could someone please remind me to check the course elevation before registering for another half 🙂

  • I’ll be running the Canton Fall Classic on Sunday. This is a great local race that I’ve run the last couple of years. I haven’t run a 5k since the Jingle Bell Run last December and I haven’t “raced” a 5k since this race last year when I PR’d! This race is always a good time so I can’t wait!
Saucony Triumph 10
  • These lovelies showed up on my doorstep at the end of last week – Yes those are the new Saucony Triumph 10s (due out in November)! It took great restraint to not deviate from my training plan and go run in them immediately! But I’m off to take them for a spin now….review to come!
Happy Monday!
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Filed Under: Canton Fall Classic, Chilly Half, long runs, Saucony, Triumph 10

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

Kona Kase Review

October 15, 2012 by 7 Comments

As I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, I’ve been on the hunt for the fueling options that will work best for me.  So when I was contacted by the guys at Kona Kase I was definitely intrigued.

What is Kona Kase?
Kona Kase is a subscription service delivering a collection of endurance nutrition samples to your doorstep every month. (Each Kase is $15 and shipping is free.)

Kona Kase Goodies!

I received the September Kase which included 10 products: Hammer Heed, Honey Stringer Waffle, Cliff Bar, Cliff Shot Bloks, GU, PR Bar, Cytomax, Picky Bars and Urgent Rx Headache Relief.

I appreciated that the day my package arrived that I received an email from Taylor at Kona Kase saying that he saw that my Kase had been delivered and was interested in my feedback.

 So I’ll tell you what I told him:

  • Loved the collection of products, (it’s a good mix of products I was familiar with and others that either I wasn’t familiar or had never tried).
  • It would be very helpful if some product information was included in the Kona Kase to help educate recipients about the products. 
  • Also, along with the product information, recommendations for how best to use the products (pre-workout, during a workout and recovery) would be helpful.

Taylor told me that starting with the October shipment that they are including educational inserts and are labeling the products pre/during/post-workout. And, soon recipients can go back to the Kona Kase site and order their favorite products from the Kases.

Overall, I really like this concept behind Kona Kase! There are so many products on the market, I think this is a great way to see what’s out there and to sample until you find the ones that work best for you! (Hint to my family – a subscription would make a great Christmas gift 🙂 )

I received a Kona Kase for the purposes of a review. As always, the opinions expressed here are solely my own.

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Filed Under: fueling a run, Kona Kase, product reviews

Thursday Thoughts – By the Numbers

October 11, 2012 by 15 Comments

11 — miles done this morning

4 — first 4 running and chatting with my friend E

5 — hills on my route

1 — driver on his phone who rolled through the “walk” light when I started to cross

?? — names I proceeded to call him…too numerous to count

6 — times I thought “This is why I love running in the fall!”

3 — truck drivers who waved

20 — years of marriage I’m celebrating today!  J & I are heading out of town for an extended long weekend to one of our favorite inns in New Hampshire to celebrate!

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Filed Under: by the numbers, general musings, wedding anniversary

Running Pop Quiz

October 8, 2012 by 5 Comments

Christine over at Big Dream Runner posted this quiz and invited others to play along. And this seems like more fun than brooding over my struggle through 11 miles this weekend thanks to an ITB flare up…so here goes:
 
1. FUEL: Shot Bloks, GU, Energy Chews, Candy or Other?
I’m actually still trying to figure out what works best for me. Of late I’ve been using either GU or GU Chomps on my long runs, but I’m still playing with the  timing of when to take them.

2. Race Length: 5k, 10k, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, Ultra or Other?
I love the 1/2 marathon distance! I would like to run more 10ks because I think they’re such a great mix of speed and endurance, but as I’ve mentioned before I feel like races in this distance are getting harder to find around here.

3. Workout Bottoms: Skirts, Running Shorts, Capris, Pants or Other?
Usually I’m either in a running skirt or capris unless it’s ridiculously cold out!

4. Sports Drink: Gatorade, Powerade, Cytomax, you stick to water when you run or Other?
Water or Nuun – everything else seems to upset my stomach.

5. Running Temperatures: HEAT or COLD?
Cold!! I’ve made no secret of the fact that running in the heat and I are not friends!

6. Running Shoe Brands: Saucony, Mizuno, Nike, Brookes, Asics or Other?
Since discovering Saucony Mirage and Kinvara, my closet has been dominated by Saucony!

7. Pre-race meal: Oatmeal, Bagel, Banana, Eggs, Cereal or Other?
 I try to keep this consistent with my long runs, so of late it’s a Honey Stringer Waffle and half a banana.

8. Rest Days: 1x per week, 2x per week, never ever ever or Other?
2x per week — I like to book-end my long runs with rest days.

9. Music: Have to have it or go without it?
I went through a long stretch without music, which I talked about here. And while I try to get some runs in without, I definitely prefer to run with music.

10. #1 reason for running: stress-relief, endorphins, you love to race, so you can eat all the cupcakes you want, weight-loss, love running for social reasons or Other?
I run for lots of reasons, but sanity/”me time”/stress relief would be high on my list!

 So how would you answer any of these questions?
 
 

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Filed Under: general musings, no music, Saucony

Midweek Motivation

October 3, 2012 by 3 Comments

What limits will you push today? Get after it!

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Filed Under: motivation, Quotes

September Rewind

October 1, 2012 by 15 Comments
Good things for the month:
Yes Dimity is very tall…and I’m so very not 🙂
  • PR at ZOOMA Cape Cod! 
  • Managed to cut off an ITB issue before it turned into an injury.
  • Lots of fun blogger meet-ups thanks to a great ZOOMA race weekend – plus I got to meet and chat with Dimity & Sarah from Another Mother Runner!
Things I could do without:
  • Cranky ITB that resulted in decreasing my miles – just 78 for the month.

What’s up for October:

  • Returning to speedwork to get ready for November’s Chilly Half Marathon.
  • Continue to build on the strength training (3x’s/week) so any ITB issues don’t flare up and I can complete all of my training runs.
  • Focusing on better post-run care — consistently using the foam roller after runs and Epsom salt baths after long runs.
  • Cleaning up my eating – which definitely got a little sloppy as I was adjusting to the new schedule of the kids back at school and all the after-school activities.
  • Running the Canton Fall Classic – a fun local race. I’ll be looking to shave some time off my 5k time, though I’m toying with running the 10k to make up for missing the Tufts 10k for Women (I’ll be cheering my son at his lacrosse tournament instead!)

What have you got planned for October?

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Filed Under: Another Mother Runner, Canton Fall Classic, Chilly Half, ITB, month in review, ZOOMA Cape Cod

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

ZOOMA Cape Cod Race Recap

September 24, 2012 by 16 Comments

Let me start by saying that I don’t think this post can do justice to the great time I had at ZOOMA!

Fun started Friday evening

Brooke, Felice, Tricia, Amy, me & Brae

E and I headed down to Falmouth late Friday afternoon. We checked in and headed to the expo so I could pick up my packet. First person to greet us was the wonderful Tricia! We did a quick tour of the handful of vendors there, met up with a few of the Ambassadors and chatted up Dimity (of Another Mother Runner fame!). Then we headed over to the “Mocktail Hour” sponsored by Hint water. It was great catching up with the other Ambassadors.

E, Felice & Amy

After a pizza dinner it was time to hit the room and get some sleep. When I called home to say good night to my kiddos, J & the boys told me that they were coming down to see the race (earlier we had agreed  that it was going to be too early of a start for them to drive down — apparently once I left my boys made it clear that they weren’t happy about not being there to cheer and promised J they’d be up and ready to go!) Needless to say I was thrilled to hear they were coming!

Race Day

It was wonderful to be staying at the Sea Crest – to just step out the front door and be looking at the starting line. E & I worked our way into the middle of the pack and we were off! Our plan was to try not to go out too fast and to run together until we got to the 10k/half marathon split. The first mile was an out and back that brought us up the road about a half mile then back by the hotel – and there at the turnaround was J and the boys! What a great boost to see them right at the start…and little did I know how many times I’d see them during the race!

The first 3 miles flew by! We were going faster than either of us had planned, but the pace felt good and every so often I’d tell E the pace and make sure she was ok. As we hit the 3 mile marker I told E I was going to slow down just a little but she should keep pushing. We high-fived and she was off and I tried to settle in and prepare for what lay ahead….hills! And oh my the hills seemed to never stop – seemed like every time we turned a corner there was another hill. Lucky for me on the very first climb was my family again! The roads were not closed to traffic so J & the boys could literally drive the course – every couple of miles I’d look up and there they were again and again! It was the best! The comraderie among the women on the course was great – there were about 4 of us who stayed within strides of each other for a good chunk of the race and we would chat and encourage each other which really helped!!


The hills took a toll on my ITB and I slowed considerably during miles 8 and 9. I pulled it back together for miles 10 and 11. Then came my least favorite mile – Mile 12, part of it was uphill and then there was this crazy out and back down a side street- uggh. (Big thanks to Nicole who shouted to me that I was in range of my goal!) Over the final mile I just kept picking up the pace and as I crossed the road to the entrance of the Sea Crest there was J yelling to me. I hit the final turn into the drive and my boys were running along behind me on the lawn. I crossed the finish line with a 2 minute and 21 second PR! The first person I saw was E – she yelled “You did it sub 2:30!” and gave me a big hug. When I asked how she did, she had PR’d too! Awesome!!

After catching up with my family and then seeing the women I’d been running with all finish (Nicole PR’d too!), E & I headed to the after party.
Yes I waded into ocean!
with the amazing Colleen

Ever since I was invited to be a Race Ambassador I have been super excited to be a part of this great race series! I just loved the spirit of this event and it reminded me why I love women-only races. I have to say that I was truly honored to been a part of ZOOMA’s inaugural Cape Cod race!

 

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Filed Under: Half marathon, race report, ZOOMA Cape Cod

Getting Ready for ZOOMA

September 21, 2012 by 10 Comments

I just finished my bi-weekly call with Coach Bennett and I’m feeling so positive and fired up I wish I could run now! We talked about my last few training runs this week and how to approach Saturday’s race. But beyond talking race strategy, the biggest gift Bennett gave me this morning was to help me reflect on this training cycle — to remind me of the challenges he put before me and how far I’ve come since we started.  He says things in such a calm, matter-of-fact way that you can’t help but feel confident.

So I am ready to see what tomorrow brings. My goals?

  • Execute a smart race strategy – especially avoiding going out too fast
  • Run strong on the back half of the course
  • PR (I’ve got A and B goals on this one)
  • Finish the race without injury so I’m set up for the rest of my fall races

I’ll be heading down to the Cape this afternoon with my friend E once our kids get home from school. Looking forward to seeing the whole ZOOMA crew tonight at the “Mocktail Hour” sponsored by HINT water – should be a fun way to kick off the race festivities!

Who else is racing this weekend?
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Filed Under: pre-race, race goals, running coach, ZOOMA Cape Cod