Five Things Over February coffee

February 2, 2024 by 13 Comments

And just like that the first month of 2024 is in the rearview mirror and we’re welcoming in February. For this week’s Fit Five Friday, as we roll into the first weekend of the month, I’m joining Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. So grab a mug of something hot and let’s chat.

Five Things Over February Coffee

Over coffee, I would ask you how was your January? I feel like the first 31 days of the year flew and despite my best efforts to slow things down, a lot of the time I felt like I was hurling along on a runaway train. It was not a bad month just a bit more hectic than I would have liked. My goal for February is to hopefully pump the breaks a bit.

Over coffee, I would tell you how fun it has been over the past few weeks to watch the college acceptances roll in for my highschooler. The college application process can be a brutal one, so it’s been wonderful to see his anxiety lessen as he’s received good news. It’s great to have options that you’re excited about and I cannot wait to see where he lands.

Over coffee, I would tell you that thanks to my oh so long commutes to the office lately (why is there so much traffic?!?), I have been embracing audiobooks. I am currently listening to Cicely Tyson’s memoir, Just As I Am — what an amazing woman.

Over coffee, I would tell you that we’ve had a bit of a restaurant boom in my town which is helping me with my goal of more connection as I happily fill my calendar with dinner and brunch dates with friends. It’s great to support the local economy and the food has been so good 🙂

Over coffee, I would of course want to update you on my home renovation. After framing the addition and reconfiguring walls, this month will be all about putting things back together. One bath vanity was just delivered and the other vanity and the kitchen cabinets will be here by the end of the month. Things continue to roll along – my mantra is “if there’s pounding, there’s progress!”

How was your January? What would you tell me over coffee?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

Runfessions – January 2024

January 26, 2024 by 15 Comments

It’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and me!

And, since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia for Runfessions.

Runfessions – January 2024

I runfess that for as much as I would like to get back to running, I’m holding out for “ideal” weather conditions. Yes, as someone recently pointed out to me I could start on my treadmill, but I simply don’t want to. While there are certainly times I’m grateful to have easy access to a treadmill, (especially when I’m training for a race) I prefer to run outdoors and I figure if I’ve waited this long I can wait a little longer.

I also runfess that the weather whiplash that has been January is getting old – how much longer until Spring?

Any runfessions to share? Do you enjoy treadmill running?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Runfessions

Week 3: A Long Short Week

January 21, 2024 by 25 Comments

Despite having Monday off from work for MLK Day this work week felt oh so long. Why does that always seem to be the case? Despite the hectic schedule, the workouts continued. Here’s a quick recap of the week.

Week 3: A Long Short Week

Monday — Lower body strength & Core
Tuesday — Upper body strength, Core & 1-mile walk
Wednesday — Unplanned rest day
Thursday — Upper body strength & Core & 2-mile walk
Friday —  Lower body strength & 2-mile walk
Saturday — Peloton bike, Upper body strength & Core
Sunday — Yoga

Highlights & Lowlights:

Wednesday was one of those days that was a reminder as to why I’ve made returning to early morning workouts a goal. Best to work out before your day gets hijacked!

On Thursday, I had my follow-up appointment with my sports ortho – of course, this was the week that some intermittent glute pain returned…sigh. Thankfully he didn’t see any reason for me to test out some run/walks as long as I let “pain be my guide.” He also wants me to keep up with my PT/mobility exercises and to put in more time on the Peloton. I followed up the appointment with a trip to my massage therapist. Overall this day was a win!

Given the pending forecast for this week of more snow and icy conditions, my first attempt at a run/walk may or may not take place this week – I’ve waited this long, I can wait a little longer, right? There will, of course, be a lot more time on my bike 😉

In Case You Missed It:

My 2024 Fitness In and Out List

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

My 2024 Fitness In and Out List

January 19, 2024 by 16 Comments

This week’s Fit Five Friday topic is all about gym don’ts. Well, since I haven’t belonged to a gym since 2019, I’m going to pivot.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve enjoyed reading the In and Out lists people have shared, so today I’m adding my five fitness ins and outs list to the mix.

My 2024 Fitness In and Out List

In for 2024:

  • Daily stretching/mobility work
  • Early morning workouts
  • Lifting heavy
  • Focusing on protein intake
  • Prioritizing sleep

Out for 2024:

  • Perfectionism – no more negative self-talk!
  • Comparing myself to my past self and others
  • Running in pain
  • Skipping rest days
  • Missing workouts because of work

What’s on your in or out list for this year?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday

Week 2: Oh that Wind!

January 14, 2024 by 17 Comments

Mother Nature made sure to remind us that winter is still in full effect. This week we had snow, then driving rain, but it was the wind that was the most challenging. Nonetheless, I still managed to get outside most days to log some walking miles.

I’m joining Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down. Here’s a quick peek at my week in fitness.

Week 2: Oh that Wind! 

Monday — Lower body strength & 2-mile walk
Tuesday — Long day at the office with an uber-early commute so rest day.
Wednesday — Core, Yoga & 2 mile walk
Thursday — Upper body strength, Core & 2-mile walk


Friday — Lower body strength
Saturday — Upper body strength, Core & 2-mile walk
Sunday — Upper body strength & 3-mile walk

With today’s workout, I’m now halfway through the Arms with Tunde program on the Peloton app. It’s a 4-week program and I have been incorporating the program as part of my upper body strength workouts. My lower body strength workouts continue to be a mix of all of the single leg work and glute/hip exercises that my PT programmed for me.

I have my follow-up appointment with the sports ortho coming up on Thursday and am keeping my fingers crossed that I get the green light to start running!

In case you missed it:

Five Things I Want to Accomplish in 2024

How was your week? Did winter weather make an appearance where you are?

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Filed Under: Weekly Run Down

Five Things I Want to Accomplish in 2024

January 12, 2024 by 14 Comments

For this week’s Fit Five Friday we’re talking about 5 things you want to accomplish this year. Since I’ve already shared my Fitness Goals for 2024, I thought I’d share some other goals I’m hoping to check the box on this year.

Five Things I Want to Accomplish in 2024

Turn our renovation into a home — I have mentioned our ongoing renovation so it should come as no surprise that top of my list is not only completing the renovation but also making the new space feel like home. I can’t wait to see the construction completed and to spend time turning the new space into a cozy home.

Read more — I love reading and it took more of a backseat than I would have liked last year. So the goal for this year is to read a minimum of 24 books.

Redesign my garden — Time in my garden is a gift to myself! Come Springtime, with all of the construction done, it will be time to re-imagine the gardens around the house. I love that for Christmas, family members gifted me with gift cards to my favorite nursery and I can’t to put those cards to use and create a new design and spend time in the dirt!

Need to re-think where the roses will go

More connection — My work-life balance was often out of whack last year and sometimes I missed opportunities to spend time with friends. This year I want to make spending time with friends a key goal. Dinners, brunch, cocktails, or a run, walk, or just a gab session – my goal is to spend time with friends at least 3x’s a month this year.

Better Self-Care — Better is my word for 2024 and when it first came to mind, better self-care was top of mind. I want to do a better job of not short-changing myself. It’s very easy to let yourself slip to the bottom of your to-do list as you focus on taking care of everyone and everything else. I will remember to prioritize my self-care this year.

What are you looking to accomplish in 2024?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, goals

Hello 2024!

January 7, 2024 by 19 Comments

Hello 2024! Can you still say “Happy New Year” when we’re already a week in? I think so..Happy New Year!

It’s been more than a minute since my last check-in for the Weekly Run Down – September 17 as a matter of fact – say what??! Yep, at the time I had just been told by my primary care doc to stop running until I got an MRI to figure out what was going on with my ongoing quad/hip issues.

Since then, I’ve found a sports ortho I like, I put in 8 weeks of PT with a therapist I also liked (helped that he was a runner!) and leaned into a lot of walking, time on my Peloton bike, and strength work. Running has been largely paused except for a couple of run/walks to test the waters. Once I get the green light to start running (waiting for a follow-up with my sports ortho) I’m thinking of following a couch-to-5K plan so I force myself to ease back in slowly.

And with the new year, I’m going to make an effort to get back to joining Deborah, Kim, and all of you for the Weekly Run Down.

In case you missed it:

First Coffee of the New Year

My Word for 2024

Cheers to a great 2024!

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Filed Under: Updates, Weekly Run Down

First Coffee of New Year

January 5, 2024 by 11 Comments

Happy Friday!

Oh my goodness while it was a short work week coming off the holiday break it has felt oh so long – why is that always the case? I’m more than ready for the weekend! I’m kicking off the first Fit Five Friday of 2024 by linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. So let’s chat.

First Coffee of the New Year

Over coffee, I would tell you that I took the final 10 days of the year off from work and thoroughly enjoyed the downtime. Despite having to pack up the kitchen and other spaces before the demo, the days were lazy and relaxed. Just what I needed!

And speaking of demo, over coffee I would tell you that renovation life continues, and dare I say things are going relatively smoothly. Our kitchen officially bit the dust yesterday, but I am excited to see the new spaces taking shape.

removing kitchen walls

Over coffee, I would tell you that one of the upsides of packing for this renovation has been the purging. Given that I have gone declutter binges before, I’m a little shocked at how much we’ve still been able to throw out or donate. It’s been very freeing.

Over coffee, I would tell you that the new Fit Five Friday calendar is up and ready to go! As always, you can write about whatever fitness topic strikes your fancy. We had a lot of fun with the suggested topics for 2023 so decided we would give it another go – of course, we’re still planning to continue to link up for both coffee and Marcia‘s Runfessions – I hope you will join us!

What would you tell me over coffee?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

One Word for 2024

January 2, 2024 by 8 Comments

Happy New Year!

Jenn and Zenaida are inviting everyone to share their word for the year for this week’s Tuesday Topics link-up. The practice of picking one word as a theme for the year is something I’ve been doing since 2015. Past choices have included Thrive, Progress, Belief, Brave, Intentional, Curate, Mindset, Emerge, and Cultivate.

I love to see which word others have selected! After reading here, be sure to check out what others are sharing!

Better — (v) to improve on or surpass an existing or previous level of achievement

“Better” is not “perfect” or “best” – it reminds me that I am a work in progress and to let go of both perfectionism and comparison. To me “better” also means never stop learning – to approach life with a “beginner’s mind”. It also means, don’t settle.

In 2024, I’m seeking a better balance between work and home life; better self-care; better health and fitness; and better connections.

Have you picked a word for the year?

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Filed Under: one word, Tuesday Topics

Fitness Goals for 2024

December 22, 2023 by 8 Comments

December is quickly winding down and we’re reaching that time when folks start to look ahead to plans for the new year. So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, we’re talking Fitness Goals for 2024.

Fit Five Friday: Fitness Goals for 2024

My primary fitness goal for 2024 is to return to healthy running –  emphasis on “healthy”! That means not gimpy; not running and tolerating an injury, just healthy! I have not been on a regular running schedule since September. I did attempt some run-walks in October but quickly shut it down….being patient is not my strong suit, but I also know that rushing back too quickly has not served me well. Hopefully, down the road, I’d like to plan for a race or two – but, first and foremost, it’s all about healthy running!

My other goal for the year is to complete at least 15K minutes on Peloton. To hit this goal will mean that I’m doing the consistent cycling my sports ortho wants me to do, along with strength training, walking…and running 🙂

Beyond these year-long goals, I will continue my practice of setting smaller monthly goals. For the past few years, doing so has helped to keep me accountable and on track. So if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, right?

How about you – are you declaring any big fitness goals for 2024?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link, link back to your hosts, and please share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Friday Five, goals