Week 15 – A little of this and that

April 18, 2021 by 31 Comments

Happy Sunday!

Wow, it felt like this week went by in a blink. There was no real theme to this week, just tried to keep moving. Here’s how the week’s workouts played out.

Weekly Run Down – Week 15

Monday — 30 min Ride plus 5 min Cool-down, Core, and Full-body stretch. I took a cue from Coco for this ride and it was so much fun!

Tuesday — A poor night of sleep left me feeling tired and creaky so I gave my body what it needed – rest!

Wednesday — 3 miles, Arms & Shoulders, and Core. The rest day did me a world of good. I woke up before my alarm and caught this beautiful sunrise on my run.

Thursday — 20 min Low-impact Ride plus 5 min Cool-down, Glutes & Legs, and Core. I had enjoyed last week’s low-impact ride so I decided to try another one this week. These rides offer a great combination of the steady-state tempo with a couple of moderate climbs. Combined with Selena’s lower body workout, my legs were jelly.

Friday — A run was planned but Mother Nature has a twisted sense of humor and thought a Nor-easter would be fun. I had absolutely no desire to hit the mill so I opted for time on my yoga mat.

Saturday — 4 miles and Core.

Sunday — 3.4 miles and Full Body Strength. This run was all about staying one step ahead of the struggle bus. I mapped out a new route which included a stretch through a new park in my town – the scenery was a nice distraction!

Vaccine Update

I’m very excited to say that I finally have a vaccine appointment! The final phase here opens tomorrow and there have been all kinds of dire warnings on the news about how long the waits could be for an appointment given the combination of the size of the group (ages 16+) and the reduced supply thanks to the recent pause on the J&J vax.

Thankfully, going through the pre-registration process a few weeks ago seems to have paid off as I got an alert this morning telling me my window to schedule an appointment was now open. I’m booked for the week of the 26th and will soon join my husband (who got his first shot this week) on Team Moderna!

How did your week play out?

In case you missed it:

Running Unplugged

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

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Running unplugged

April 16, 2021 by 14 Comments

My finicky Garmin is the inspiration for this week’s Fit Five Friday.

My Garmin? It’s just a little over 4 years old, but boy oh boy has it been having some major fits lately. It has frozen on several occasions while trying to both save a run or sync with the app, and it’s been off in measuring the distance (almost like it’s losing the GPS). There have been a few runs where I haven’t even bothered to wear my watch. Couple that with forgetting to charge my headphones, and I have found myself forced to run… naked! (Cue the horror music!)

So today I’m sharing a few reasons to consider running unplugged.

5 Reasons to consider running unplugged

No delays — How many times have you found yourself waiting for your watch or headphones to charge because you forgot to plug them in the night before? Or, waiting for your watch to locate a satellite? On a gadget-free run, you truly just lace up, step out the door and you’re off.

A break from the numbers — Feedback from your running watch can be very valuable, allowing you to compete with yourself and track your progress. On the flip side, always watching the numbers can cause added pressure – can we become so focused on our pace that we forget to enjoy the run itself?

Let your body lead — There are lots of variables that can affect a run on any given day (sleep, nutrition, the previous day’s workout, etc.). Running by feel vs. your watch gives your body a better chance to adjust to those variables.

Focus on your form — Running without music gives you the opportunity to listen to your feet. Is your footfall soft and light? Are you scuffing your feet? For me, when I hear scuffing, I know my form’s starting to fall apart.

Take in your surroundings — Running gadget-free not only gives you a chance to tune into your body but to tune into your surroundings as well… to truly be in the moment. What sounds will you hear or what sights might you take in?

5 reasons to consider running unplugged #FitFiveFriday #bibchat Share on X

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not ready to completely convert to running naked. Running with a watch and music provide both useful feedback and motivation. But every now and then, there’s value in running unplugged.

Do you ever run unplugged? What’s your must-have gadget?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Week 14 – Riding the rollercoaster

April 11, 2021 by 31 Comments

Between work, home life, and the weather it has been a bit of a rollercoaster this week. Here’s how my workouts played out this week:

Weekly Run Down – Week 14

Monday —  20 min Peloton ride, 15 min Bodyweight Strength, and 10 min Core. I have been feeling much stronger on the climbs on my rides lately and I think the work is starting to pay off as I scored a new ride PR! A nice way to kick off the week!


Tuesday — Core, otherwise rest day.
Wednesday — 30 min Ride and 10 min Core. This ride was a great reminder that “low impact” does not equal “easy”.
Thursday — 3.25 miles, 20 min Chest & Back, and 10 min Core. So much sunshine!

Friday — 2 miles and 30 min Yoga. I have been neglecting my yoga mat and the deep stretch was needed!
Saturday — 5 miles and 10 min Core. New shoes always help to put some extra pep in my step!

Sunday — And, just like that the weather turned cold, drizzly, and dreary again. Currently, I have coffee cup in hand as I debate my options. Most likely it will be a Ride and Lower Body Strength.

So about that rollercoaster ride…

All rollercoasters have highs and for me this week that included picking up those pretty new Adrenalines pictured above, wrapping up a big work project, enjoying some beautiful spring days with temps in the 60s and 70s, and my husband scoring a vaccine appointment!

As for the rollercoaster lows? Well, that came in the form of watching my son be so excited to return to a full in-person class schedule, only to have to go into quarantine by Thursday after one of the varsity players on his lacrosse teammates tested positive. My son’s on JV (and tested negative), but “close contact” means a 10-day quarantine for the whole team and coaches. It’s so frustrating to see him stuck back on Zoom again.

How was your week? Is it warming up where you are?

In case you missed it:

Reasons to Run in the Morning

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

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Reasons to Run in the Morning

April 9, 2021 by 13 Comments

One of my April goals is to return to early morning runs. So as I make the shift back to my early morning workouts, I thought I’d share some of the benefits of getting an early start.

Five Reasons to Run in the Morning

Fewer schedule conflicts — We all know that as the day wears on there’s a high probability that life will get in the way of the best-laid plans. Getting out early for a run reduces the possibility of schedule conflicts and any stress related to worrying about how to fit a run in later in the day.

More time in your day — Being able to check the box on completing your run early in the day, essentially frees up time to take on more – adding more time to your day.

Alert and focused — Running gives you a great boost of both endorphins and adrenaline, which can help you to feel more focused and alert – not to mention the positive mood boost. That sounds like a good way to start the day to me!

A range of health benefits — Did you know that studies have shown a range of health benefits from early morning runs, including lower blood pressure, a more resilient immune system, and better sleep?

A moment of quiet beauty  — Quiet roads, fewer people to dodge, no mask needed…and the possibility of a sunrise. Getting out for an early morning run offers a moment of quiet to breathe and prepare for the day.

What's your favorite time to run? Sharing 5 reasons for early morning runs. #FitFiveFriday #bibchat Share on X

Are you an early morning runner? What’s your favorite time of the day to run or work out?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, early morning runs

Week 13 – Hello April

April 4, 2021 by 17 Comments

Well, so much for in like a lion and out like a lamb – March came roaring in with strong winds and went out in a blustery fashion as well. While there were hints of spring weather along the way, the weather was all over the place, and things here turned pretty chilly again this week. In other words, a typical March in New England!

I felt a little like the weather this week…all over the place as a migraine put a crimp in my days. Here’s what I managed workout-wise for the week:

Signs of Spring from Sunday’s miles

Weekly Run Down – Week 13

Monday —  A ride and upper body strength have kinda been my M.O. for the past few Mondays so it was a 20 min Peloton ride plus 5 min cool down ride, 20 min Upper Body strength, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch to get the week started.

Tuesday — I woke with a headache that had all the makings of a migraine so I took a 1-mile walk and called it a day. Unfortunately, it was a long day at work, which did nothing for my head!
Wednesday — 2.2 miles plus core. The migraine persisted but I was happy to get a couple of miles in.
Thursday — 1.7 miles plus core. It was pouring buckets when I woke up, but with the migraine fading, I snagged a little time on the mill to kickoff my April miles.
Friday — 30 min Ride, 10 min Arms Toning, 10 min Core, and 10 min full body stretch. It felt so good to wake up and finally feel good!
Saturday — 4.25 miles plus Marcia’s 6 Essential Exercises for Runners.

Sunday — I got another quick 2.5 miles in this morning before breakfast and look forward to having a low-key day.

With the migraine behind me, I’m looking forward to logging more miles this week. As I mentioned in my April Goals post, I’ll also be working on making the shift back to early morning workouts this week so I can play Mom-Uber for my son’s lacrosse practices in the afternoons.

Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Easter!

In case you missed it:

April Goals

Fit Five Friday Over Coffee

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Stop by and join us!

 

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Fit Five Friday Over April Coffee

April 2, 2021 by 38 Comments

Welcome back to the Fit Five Friday linkup!

Today I’m starting off the weekend with a little catch-up over the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. So grab a mug of your favorite beverage and let’s chat for a bit!

Five Things Over April Coffee

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m feeling a little sad because my son heads back to school today. I swear his spring break blew by in a blink! It was fun having him home and I cannot believe that his high school graduation is now in sight!

And, speaking of high school, over coffee I would tell you that we just got word that my youngest son’s school is planning to move from our current hybrid plan to full in-person learning. Interestingly, they will be starting with the Seniors and Freshmen first, and if all goes well, then expanding to the Juniors and Sophomores. So, come Monday, he’ll start his first full week of in-person classes since March 2020.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I was really excited to get out into my gardens last week to start cleaning up and planning some re-design. I am now itching to get back to my favorite local nursery to start to bring my sketches to life!

Last month I shared that I was looking forward to putting my subscription to Master Class to use. Well, over coffee, I would tell you that I really enjoyed the Gordon Ramsey class, and now I’m working on improving my knife skills and making pasta dough 🙂

Over coffee, I would tell you that I was finally able to register for the vaccine. My group will not be able to schedule appointments until the week of April 19, and given that the group is ages 16+, there’s no telling how long it will take to get an appointment…but I am encouraged to be moving one step closer.


Now I’d tell you that my cup is empty and I need a refill. So your turn, 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 Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date

April Goals

March 30, 2021 by 19 Comments

If you have spent any time around here, then you know that I am a goal setter! I have often said that I especially like to set monthly goals to help keep me accountable and provide a focus – these short-term goals are a great way for me to break down bigger yearly goals into manageable chunks. So with the start of the new month just around the corner, it’s time to lay out some April goals.

April Goals

  • 65 – 70 miles — Through the ZOOMA Run Club, I set a (rare for me) annual mileage goal of 750 run/walk miles, which nets out to 62.5 miles/month. As I write this I’m slightly behind, but know with the spring weather that I’ll be itching to log more outdoor miles.
  • Return to early morning runs — I runfessed that I have been chasing the weather, often pushing my runs to the warmer afternoons vs. dark early morning hours. But, truth be told I’m much happier when I get out early to start my day. Also, with my youngest son’s lacrosse practices kicking in this month, I know if I don’t get out early, schedules may collide.
Do you set monthly fitness goals? Sharing my goals for April. #bibchat #TuesdayTopics Share on X
  • Clean-up my eating — Quite simply, I need to lose a few pounds. I’m not much for scales – I prefer to go by how I feel in my clothes, and, if I’m keeping it real, a few things are starting to feel a little snug. So before these pandemic pounds become permanent, it’s time to clean up my eating. Specifically, no more late-night snacking, more spring vegetables, and being much more mindful about sugar consumption.
  • Balanced strength training  — For March I targeted 3 sessions/week – 1 upper-body, 1 lower-body, and 1 full-body in addition to daily core. This worked well, so as the saying goes if it ain’t broke…

Are you a goal setter? Any goals for April?

I’m linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up.

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A Runfession or Two

March 26, 2021 by 27 Comments

Happy Friday and welcome to another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and me!

It’s the last Friday of the month, so I’m linking up with Marcia to share a Runfession or two…so let’s get started.

March Runfessions

I runfess that I am in a running rut…on the one hand, I have no complaints because my runs have felt pretty good! But on the other hand, the runs are all starting to feel and look the same. I need to mix up the distances, routes, paces…something. It’s time to shake things up a bit I think.

I runfess that I decided to take the deferral credit on my entry in the New England 10 Miler Series. While this race series had announced a tentative in-person schedule (after being postponed from 2020), I shared over coffee that race organizers have already had to alter the schedule given COVID restrictions. With still so much uncertainty around when I will be vaccinated and varying state restrictions, I opted to take the deferral credit. The credit gives me the option to register for any of the races offered by this race group later in the year or in 2022. I runfess that I’m happier not stressing about if and when these races might go off. I’m still fairly confident that we won’t be racing in this area much before the summer.

In the battle between wearing multiple layers and catching the sunrise vs fewer layers and warmer afternoon sunshine, I runfess that the warmer temps are winning. I’m just tired of wearing all the layers so, for now, I’m letting the weather app dictate the time of day that I run.

Any runfessions to share? Do you let the weather dictate your runs?

Welcome to FitFive 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! Who’s ready for some fun?

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Runfessions

Week 11 – Oh So Tired

March 21, 2021 by 18 Comments

It may have been a slow adjustment to the time change or the constant fire drill that my work continues to be, but I struggled to find my energy this week. “I’m so tired” was a consistent refrain playing through my head. The workouts did happen, though some were fairly low-keyed. Here’s how the week played out.

Weekly Run Down – Week 11

Monday — 30 min Peloton ride, 15 min Upper Body strength, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. While I seriously thought about taking a pass on working out, I know how much better I feel when I get the week off on the right foot. And, the BHM Fresh Friday ride with Denis was the perfect antidote to my Monday blahs.

Tuesday — Unplanned rest day. It was ridiculously cold when my alarm went off. With no desire to run in the dark (thanks DST!) and bitter temps I pushed my workout to later…and later, for a whole host of reasons, never happened.
Wednesday — 3 miles, 10 min core, and 10 min stretch. With 50s in the forecast for the afternoon, I made sure to step away from my laptop and get out for a run. It was worth the wait!

Tired but happy runner

Thursday — 20 min ride plus 5 min cooldown ride, 20 min Full Body strength, 10 min core, and lower body stretch. This was a great stack of classes!
Friday — 3 miles. This run felt sluggish and slow – I was definitely feeling some DOMS from Thursday’s stack, but I got it done.
Saturday — 4 miles. Had to greet the first day of Spring with a run, even if multiple layers were needed. It did warm-up enough later in the day to venture into my garden to begin my spring clean-up (in other words, lots of weeding and raking).

Love seeing the return of painted rocks on my run

Sunday — I’m feeling the effects of my garden “workout” so I’m taking my sweet time to get into gear. The forecast is showing 50s later so the plan is to snag some afternoon miles along with some yoga to show my very tight hamstrings some love.

The upcoming week is a short work week for me as I have Thursday and Friday off! We’re taking a day trip to visit a college as my oldest inches closer to making a decision.

How was your week? Did you celebrate the first day of Spring with a run?

In case you missed it:

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up on Virtual Races Yet

I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Stop by and join us!

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Why You Shouldn’t Give Up on Virtual Races Yet

March 19, 2021 by 31 Comments

After a year of watching races either cancel or go virtual, I know that many runners are itching to toe the line as in-person races slowly start to pop-up across the country. But it’s clear that the return to in-person events is going to be a slow drip at best, largely dependent on keeping all things COVID-related in check. No easy task for sure!

So before you turn back on virtual races, I’m sharing a few reasons that you shouldn’t give up on them just yet.

Why Take on a Virtual Race?

Gives you a target — Virtual races give you something to train for, a distance to focus on, with the added benefit of no pressure. This can be a great option for someone coming back from an injury or long layoff.

Serves as a time trial — On the flip side, you can also use a virtual race as a time trial in preparation for an in-person race in the future. Some virtual races provide the opportunity to submit your finish time and feature a leader board for additional bragging rights.

Offers fun bling and swag — If bling and swag are motivating factors, virtual race organizers have really upped the ante in the past year to capture runners’ attention. Beyond medals, many virtual races are offering everything from half zips and hoodies, to water bottles, hats, socks, and more. You may just come across a theme that’s too much fun to resist!

Don't give up on virtual races just yet! #FitFiveFriday #Bibchat Share on X

Supports a charity —  Virtual events have become vital fundraising tools for many nonprofit organizations. Running a 5 or 10K in support of a cause near and dear to your heart is always a good way to spend a weekend morning!

Creates a shared experience — Until race-cations and runner meet-ups return to being a regular thing, virtual races are a great way to run “with” friends. While running alone, it’s more fun knowing that friends are out pounding the pavement, trail, or treadmill completing the same distance.

What say you – are you still open to running a virtual race or have you hit virtual fatigue?

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! Who’s ready for some fun?


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, virtual race