Fit Five Friday – Five Places I Want to Run

March 15, 2024 by 7 Comments

Welcome back to another edition of Fit Five Friday! Today, we’re talking about places you want to run.  So let’s embark on a virtual journey to five breathtaking destinations where I’m itching to lace up my running shoes and hit the ground running. From exotic coastlines to picturesque countryside, I think these locations would be great places to both vacation and run.

Fit Five Friday – Five Places I want to Run

1. Maui, Hawaii: Hawaii has been on my bucketl list for a while – so why not run while I’m there, right? Picture yourself running along the sun-kissed shores of Maui, with the gentle sound of waves crashing against the golden sand. Whether you’re exploring the lush trails of Haleakalā National Park or tracing the scenic coastline along the Hana Highway, Maui offers a paradise for runners seeking both tranquility and tropical beauty.

2. Big Sur, California, USA: While I’ve driven and hiked along the beautiful coastline of California I haven’t run there. Running the winding roads that hug the cliffsides and taking in the breathtaking panoramas of the Pacific Ocean seems like a winning combination!

3. Lake District, England: Tucked in the northwest corner of England, the Lake District beckons with its rolling hills, shimmering lakes, and quaint villages. Although I haven’t done much trail running, I think it would be hard to not want to explore the network of trails that wind through this UNESCO World Heritage site.

4. Vancouver, Canada: I got to briefly visit Vancouver last summer, as it was the port we sailed out of for our Alaskan cruise. In the brief time we were there I instantly fell in love with the natural beauty and charm of this vibrant city. I’d love to get back there to spend more time and take a run along the scenic seawall that encircles Stanley Park – great views of the city skyline and snow-capped mountains in the distance. I’d also like to explore the Pacific Spirit Regional Park for a peaceful run amidst towering trees and babbling creeks.

5. Côte d’Azur, France: It’s been years since I’ve been in the south of France – and when I was there I wasn’t a runner. How amazing would it be to run along the stunning coastline of the Côte d’Azur with views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea stretching out before you – need I say more?!

I could certainly go on and on, but I stop there! So many places so little time 🙂

Where would you like to run?

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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Fit Five Friday: Tips To Conquor Daylight Saving Time

March 8, 2024 by 5 Comments

Happy Friday!

Today’s Fit Five Friday post is inspired from a recent conversation about Daylight Saving Time (DST) with my son who was bemoaning the lost of an hour’s sleep and how the time change really throws him off. I must admit that while I love that DST signals warmer weather and longer daylight hours are just around the corner, that “missing” hour can sometimes leave me feeling sluggish too.

Thankfully for my son, his spring break is next week so he can sleep in! But for the rest of us, I’m sharing five tips to help you smoothly transition to DST and hit the ground running (like what I did there?!)

Five Tips to Conquer Daylight Saving Time

1. Adjust your sleep schedule gradually. Try shifting your bedtime 10 – 15 minutes earlier each night starting tonight. This small change can help nudge your internal clock in the right direction without causing significant disruption to your weekend plans. Then you can continue to shift your bedtime into next week so your body can continue to adjust to the the DST time change.

2. Embrace the sunshine. Light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle. In the mornings after DST, get outside for a short walk or run as soon as possible. Sunlight helps suppress melatonin production and wakes you up naturally.

3. Stick to your routine. Consistency is key when it comes to sleep regulation. As much as possible, maintain your regular sleep and wake times, even on weekends. This will help your body stay on track and minimize daytime fatigue.

4. Prioritize pre-bedtime relaxation. Create a calming bedtime routine to wind down and signal to your body that it’s time for sleep. Take a warm bath, read a book, or practice gentle yoga or meditation. Be mindful of late day caffeine consumption and minimize using electronic devices before bed – the blue light emitted from these screens can be a sleep disruptor.

5. Be patient. It takes time for your body to fully adjust to the time change. Don’t be discouraged if you experience some initial sleepiness or fatigue. Remember, listening to your body is key!

Do you struggle with the DST time change? What other tips would you share?

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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Catching Up Over March Coffee

March 1, 2024 by 22 Comments

Well Hello March!

I feel like I say it every month, but boy are these days flying by! Even with the extra day, February blew by and here we are welcoming in a new month! For this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m linking up with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. So grab a mug of your fave hot beverage and let’s chat a bit.

Catching Up Over March Coffee

Over coffee, I would ask if you knew that today starts meteorological spring? We had a brief taste of spring temps earlier this week before plunging back into frigid weather. Needless to say, I am so ready for the milder temps to stick around. A friend recently commented about how much she enjoys the cold weather and I seriously had to wonder how we’re friends! (Kidding…kinda)

Over Coffee, I would tell you that my latest TV obsession is HGTV’s Married to Real Estate. It’s a great design show featuring a husband and wife team combining real estate, renovation, and design. I love the couple’s chemistry and I may have borrowed a design idea or two for our remodel!

And, speaking of remodeling, over coffee I would tell you that our renovation continues to click along! With the framing, electrical, and plumbing rough work done, we’re knee-deep in final design selections. I have been torturing my husband (his words not mine!) with paint palettes.

What would you tell me over coffee? Have you had a taste of Spring yet?

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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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, renovations, Ultimate coffee date

A Couple of February Runfessions

February 23, 2024 by 20 Comments

Yay for Friday! This week flew by in a blink thanks to Monday being a holiday and then I decided to take today off from work! I’m looking forward to spending the day with a friend – shopping and a long lunch are on deck! But first, it’s time for another edition of Fit Five Friday, and, since it is the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia to share some Runfessions.

A Couple of February Runfessions

While I’m happy to have started to ease back into running, I runfess that this return is feeling especially hard. I just want to go out and run 5 miles and not think about it. Clearly, this is not where I am right now so if you’ve got any extra patience, please send it my way!

I also runfess that there were times this month when boredom got the better of me and I started to slack on my PT exercises. Well, my hip/quad quickly let me know that this was the wrong path to venture down, so needless to say I quickly got back to it!

And finally, would it be February Runfessions if I didn’t complain about the weather? Well, I runfess that my tolerance for (or willingness to tolerate!) cold weather seems to diminish with every passing year. And, we’ve now reached that inevitable point in the season where winter just needs to show itself to the door!

Are you seeing any signs of Spring where you are?

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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Five Things I Love About Working Out

February 9, 2024 by 6 Comments

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and the Fit Five Friday crew is inviting you to share what you love about working out – of course, you can join the link-up with any fitness-related post you have. There are so many reasons why I love working out that it might be hard to narrow it down to just five, but I’ll give it a shot!

Five Things I Love About Working Out

1   Working out always improves my mood!

    2    Working out is something I do just for me – it puts me on my “to do” list.

        3   Working out connects me with lots of fun people! (online and in person)

            4   Working out challenges me to get out of my comfort zone.

                  5   Working out gives me a sense of accomplishment.

What do you love about working out?

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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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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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!

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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!

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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!

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, goals

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!

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Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, Ultimate coffee date