Just Stylin’

February 12, 2011 by 5 Comments

The lovely Kittee over at Running Half Crazy was sweet enough to bestow this lovely award on me. Now many of you have seen this so you know the rules:

  • Make a post and link back to the person who tagged you. – If you have not checked out Kittee’s blog, please stop by and say hi!
  • Share 7 things about yourself
  • Pass the award along to 7 other bloggers
Hmm…ok…so 7 things about me….
  1. I’m mom to two little boys who are really quite the characters and keep me on my toes. It’s funny I always knew that I would be mom to boys. And, I’m accepting the fact that my house will never be quiet!
  2.  I love food! I love to cook and I love to eat. Sharing a great meal with family and friends and lots of wine is a perfect evening!
  3.  I use to own a artisan olive oil company. I love running my own business and given that I’ve lost my “self-edit” button it’s probably better that I work for myself. I’m looking for my next biz idea.
  4. I’m a huge football fan – my hubs actually gave me tickets to see my favorite football team as an anniversary gift (at the time the 49ers in Candlestick) – still one of the best gifts ever 🙂
  5. I’m an avid reader – though at the moment I’m way behind on my reading wish list.
  6. I love to decorate – a wall of paint samples can seriously make me giddy!
  7. And, yes Emz, I did play rubgy. I played in college first as a hooker (my parents are so proud!) and then I quickly wised up and got out of the scrum to play fly-half. You gotta love a sport where you beat the tar out of each other and then share a beer or two (or twelve!)

Now to pass this on…since many of you have already received this award and because I have too many favorites I’m breaking the rules and I’m not going to pick.  But if you haven’t played yet and want to, consider yourself tagged!

Have a Great Weekend!!
signature
Filed Under: awards, food, football, general musings, kids

Today I learned….

January 30, 2011 by 6 Comments


…. how much staying up with a sick little one can take a toll on the next day’s run

…. it is important not to short-change hydration just because it’s the dead of winter
 
…. I should not pick the treadmill closest to the wall at my gym because there’s no air circulation

The Bourne Supremacy (Widescreen Edition)…. how much I miss Patriots football

 …. watching Matt Damon (ala Bourne Supremacy) certainly helps to pass the time

….  some days running is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other

…. and sometimes it’s as hard as putting one foot in front of the other

 …. I would be in big trouble without ice, compression socks and a foam roller 🙂

 What did you learn today?

signature
Filed Under: foam roller, general musings, Matt Damon, tough runs, treadmill run

Enjoying the downtime

December 27, 2010 by 4 Comments

After a great Christmas weekend filled with family, great food and lots and lots of laughter, I’m still basking in the after Christmas glow!

Today we’re digging out from the blizzard that hit much of the northeast. Building snow forts with the kids and romping through the snow with my oversized puppy definitely count as my cross-training for today! 

Had to share a pic of my pup
in between snow dives!

My ITB has now had a full week of rest and, with Mother Nature’s help, it looks like it may get a day or two more. I figure there’s no point in stressing about it — if I hope to get this ITB under control and be ready to race again in February than this is the way it has to be now.

So my plan this week is to enjoy the rest, get in some yoga, another TRX class and, of course, more “cross-training” with the kids and the pup!

signature
Filed Under: general musings, injuries, TRX, weather

Notes to Self

December 12, 2010 by 4 Comments

A couple of notes to myself after this morning’s run…..

…too much holiday cheer (in the form of a party and many glasses of a very good Prosecco) the night before a long run is ill-advised

…your kids will always wake up early the following morning, so sleeping off said holiday cheer is never an option

…running with perpetual cotton-mouth is also ill-advised and should be avoided in the future

…getting the run done, despite the holiday cheer and rain — oh yeah did I mention it started raining about half way through the run?! — is very satisfying 🙂

signature
Filed Under: general musings, holiday cheer

Running Respite

December 8, 2010 by 9 Comments

Every year I promise myself that I will slow down and actually enjoy the holiday season, instead of sprinting through it, feverishly checking things off my to do list as I go. Well, with 17 days to go until Christmas, let’s just say that I’m moving at a very fast trot…so that’s an improvement.

And, while I was sure that by this point the frigid temps would have kept me indoors, my running time has become an even more necessary respite. It’s a chance to step away from volunteer commitments at my son’s school, gifts to be purchased (or wrapped, or shipped), cards still not addressed, a Christmas dinner menu still to be planned…the list goes on and on. It’s a chance to focus on nothing except putting one foot in front of the other, while Eminem or the Black Eyed Peas provides a little motivation to fight through the chilly headwind.

It’s a chance to re-group, to recharge and lately, I’ve been feeling very grateful that I’ve found running!

signature
Filed Under: general musings

On a chilly morning

November 19, 2010 by 5 Comments

On this morning’s run, I discovered….

  • 36 degrees feels so much colder when it’s windy and the whole run feels like you’re running into the wind!
  • I may have been out of my mind registering for a race at the end of February on Cape Cod!
  • running by the bank display when it reads 36 degrees is no better than running by it when it reads 86 degrees
  • …and I’m still wondering who decided banks needed to provide the temperature in the first place!
  • I’m not sure the point of wearing “wicking” material when I’m too cold to generate a sweat!
  • those extending dog leashes should be outlawed if it means people and their little dogs are allowed to take up the entire sidewalk
  • …and why is it you never see a big dog on one of those things?
  • running with a cap with a brim in the wind = a lot of wasted effort to keep the darn thing on
  • despite moments of whining, I’m glad I got out here!
Have a Great Weekend!
signature
Filed Under: general musings, Hyannis 10k, weather

Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 things)

November 11, 2010 by 3 Comments
  1. If someone finds my motivation, could you please return it to me! I haven’t run or cross-trained in a week — nothing, nada, zip! My mood is starting to suffer a bit.
  2. “I am not my To Do list!” — This has become my mantra this week as I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by my commitments. (Definitely contributed to #1)
  3. A simple, but heartfelt Thank You to our men and women who serve, to our veterans and their families!
Happy Veterans Day!
signature
Filed Under: 3 things, general musings, motivation, Veterans Day

A Very Public Thank You!

October 25, 2010 by 6 Comments

Mark Remy at Runner World has a great blog post today, declaring today National Married-to-a-Runner Appreciation Day and encouraging his fellow runners to salute their supportive spouses.

I just love this idea! My hubby has been my biggest supporter since the first moment I entertained the idea of starting to run. He pumps up my ego when it get seriously bruised by a bad run or the number on the clock. He listens to my endless agonizing over running routes, workouts and race choices. He never complains when I disappear on a Sunday morning and does what ever he can to help me get my runs in during the week while not disrupting the boys’ schedules. Heck, he spent our 18th wedding anniversary on the streets of Boston cheering me on in my first 10k race and he’s the first one to tell me that I can do a half marathon (he actually tells me he’s waiting for the day I announce I want to do a full)!

I’m not surprised by this support – this is the way he’s always been for what ever new venture I dive into. It’s one of the many things I love about him!

So today I want to say a very public

Thank You to My Wonderful Hubby!!

Why not take a moment and thank your biggest supporter too!

 

signature
Filed Under: general musings, Runner's World

A random Wednesday…

October 6, 2010 by 2 Comments

Is it just me or is this week crawling along?

It’s still raining in the northeast, and over the past couple of days I’ve wondered if we should start pairing up the animals two by two?

But I’m trying hard NOT to diss Mother Nature because the forecast for this long weekend looks fantastic! (May the weatherman be right for a change!)

I didn’t do my scheduled run yesterday because my tweeky knee is seriously acting up, so I figured extra rest and ice was a better choice. Hopefully I can get tomorrow’s run in.

I’m trying to put together a playlist for the race — my last few long runs have taught me that the tempo of the second 5K needs to be faster than that of the first 5K.

Is it crazy that this race isn’t done yet and I’m already thinking about running another one?

signature
Filed Under: general musings, race, training, weather

Open letter to Mother Nature

September 28, 2010 by 5 Comments

Dear Mother Nature –

OK girlfriend it’s time you and I had a little chat!

Have you looked at your calendar lately?

It’s officially fall!!

Here in the northeast that means, leaf peeping, apple picking and cooler temps! I didn’t slog it out running in the crazy heat and humidity you threw at us unrelentingly all summer to be greeted with more of the same now! I mean seriously, I went out for simple 3 mile run this morning and I’m a dripping mess! And throwing us a bone in the form of the occasional crisp fall day just isn’t cutting it! There is a reason that I and many of my fellow runners signed up for races in the fall….to enjoy the cool, crisp air on race day. Do you see where I’m going with this?

So please, I’m begging you…enough of the hot flashes….embrace your inner ice princess and please cool things down around here and try to keep it that way at least through December!

Sincerely,

signature
Filed Under: general musings, training, weather