Am I Running or Swimming?

Oh, the humidity! I’ve been trying oh so hard to not complain about the weather, but this week truly tested me. The humidity was, quite simply soul-sucking but I managed to get my runs done outdoors – though it felt more like swimming than running. There was a lot of self-talk and some cursing 😉 Here’s a quick look at my week in fitness.

Am I Running of Swimming?

Monday — Extra early commute + long day in the office = Rest day
Tuesday — 2-mile walk and Full Body Strength
Wednesday — 4 miles & Core


Thursday — 2- mile walk & Yoga
Friday — 5 miles & Core
Saturday — College tour with my son = 4 miles of walking according to Garmin
Sunday — 4 miles

Perhaps it was re-entry after 9 days off from work or the impact of the humidity or probably a combination of the two, but things just felt off this week. The weather forecast is showing more of the same…sigh. If only there were a way to arrive at the starting line of a fall race without summer training LOL.

How’s the weather been where you are?

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

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Enjoying a Mid-Year Break

I’m soaking up the final day of a 9-day break from all things work-related! My office has an org-wide shutdown for the week of July 4th so I’ve been blissfully logged off my computer since end-of-day June 30th! I runfess that leading up to the time off my fuse was getting a little short – so this mid-year break couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve used this staycation to catch up with friends and family, do some remodel-related shopping, read, lounge on the deck (when the humidity would allow), and generally just recharge.

And yes, of course, there were workouts – here’s a quick peek into how this week in fitness played out.

Enjoying a Mid-Year Break

Monday — 3 miles. My youngest decided to join me – so fun!


Tuesday — 1.5-mile walk, Upper Body Strength & Core
Wednesday — Rest day – I was feeling super lazy so I embraced it and spent the day reading and lounging. No regrets!
Thursday — 3 miles & Core
Friday — 2.5-mile walk, Lower Body Strength & Core
Saturday — 6 miles. The humidity was absolutely soul-sucking – this was definitely a character-building run

A sweaty mess at the halfway mark!

Sunday — Yoga and Hip mobility work

This weekend marks 12 weeks until the TC 10M. It feels good to be starting this training cycle already at 6 miles for my long run – I can ramp up gradually taking the weather and my upcoming vacation time into account. I plan to stick to running 3 days a week so I’ll also start to add a bit more to my weekday runs. I also just picked up a pretty new yoga mat which I hope will inspire me to get in at least 1 yoga session a week to complement my daily stretching and hip mobility work.

How was your week? Are you training for a race?

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

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Fit Five Friday – Summer Fitness Goals

With the summer months laid out before us,  I’ve been thinking about what my goals will be. So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing some summer fitness goals.

Fit Five Friday – Summer Fitness Goals

Have a Healthy Build-up for Fall Racing — While I haven’t landed on a fall race calendar, I have several options I’m considering. I shared over coffee that I’ll be working with Coach Marc again – my goal is to reach the starting line (s) healthy and feeling confident.

Acclimate & Embrace the Heat — I make no secret that summer running is my least favorite, but I’m going to do my best to navigate summer running by focusing on my hydration & electrolyte intake and getting out extra early.

Daily Stretching/Mobility Work — I’m already off to a good start with this one so the goal is to keep this streak going all summer long.

Dial in My Nutrition — While I don’t like to focus on the number on the scale, I can feel that I’m carrying more than I’d like. I’ve let my chaotic schedule get the best of my eating choices over the past couple of months, so now I’m going to make the most of the season’s farmers’ markets and grilled proteins to get back on track.

Have Fun/Try Something New — Summer is about having fun and I’m here for it! I’ve been thinking a lot about getting out of my comfort zone and joining one of the local run groups. The thought of running with others is intimidating to me (cue the “I’m too slow” voice) but I’ve also been craving building some new connections – and why not through running?

Tell me, what have you got planned for the summer? Registered for any fall races yet?

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! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Ways to Beat the Heat – Summer Running Tips

Welcome to another edition of Fit Five Friday! With many of us already getting our first taste of summer-like temps, it seems like the perfect time to share some summer running tips. I have made it no secret that running in the heat and humidity is not something that I enjoy, but as a fan of fall races, there’s just no way around it. So I’m going to do my best to embrace it, keeping these tips in mind…

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in the summer of 2014, and has been updated.

Ways to Beat the Heat – Summer Running Tips

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Hit the road early —  Temperatures are much lower earlier in the day so why not get out before the sun’s rays become too intense. This one is a must-do for me!

Get acclimated — As you make the adjustment to running in warmer temps, this is not the time to get hung up on hitting target paces. Take those first hot runs slowly, focusing more on effort than pace. Your body will adjust within a couple of weeks.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate — I’m always surprised by the number of runners who proclaimed not to carry any fluids with them when they run regardless of the distance. For long runs, I get that not everyone loves carrying a handheld water bottle but there are other options – a hydration vest, fuel belt or just strategically stashing water along your route. For shorter runs, at least make sure you hydrate well before and after your run. Drink according to thirst!

Dress the part — I’ve said it for winter running and the same holds true for summer – avoid running in cotton clothing! All cotton does is trap sweat, stay wet, and potentially cause chaffing (which of course always begs the question – Why any race shirt is cotton?!). Stick to light-colored, moisture-wicking apparel…and don’t forget sunglasses and a hat or visor.

Be willing to head indoors — That’s right…I said it! Sometimes, it’s going to be just too dang hot to run – so be willing to switch things up. Either hit the treadmill or opt to make it a cross-training day — great days to head to an air-conditioned gym, studio, or the comfort of your own basement, right? And, if you’ve got access to a pool – lucky you!

Above all, I think the biggest key to managing your workouts in the summer heat is to listen to your body! You can never go wrong with that approach, right?

How do you manage summer running?

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! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!


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Heat Runfessions

It’s the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the Runfessional!

It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Zenaida, and Me! So, let’s get started, shall we?

Heat Runfessions

I runfess that I almost didn’t write a post for this week because I’m trying really hard to not complain about the weather. I mean it’s summer, …it’s supposed to be hot, right? Clearly, I’m losing this battle!

Last month I runfessed that given how humid the weather can be in September that I was holding off on registering for the Philly Distance Run until I tried a couple of double-digit runs in July. Well, I runfess that I haven’t done a run longer than 5 miles this month…so you can see where this is headed.

I’m pretty sure I’ve used this meme before, but it fits!

Despite how I have been feeling about running in this heat, I runfess that I have surprised myself by actually enjoying a return to speedwork this month. It will be fun to see if this pays off in the fall.

Any runfessions to share?

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! Please share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

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Summer Running in Full Effect

In a blink of an eye, June is in the rearview mirror. As the month wound down, the temps definitely dialed up, and there’s no doubt now that summer running is in full effect. Here’s a quick look at how the week’s workouts played out.

Week 26 — Summer Running in Full Effect

Monday — 3-mile walk, otherwise rest
Tuesday — 2-mile walk & Bodyweight strength (upper & lower body)
Wednesday — 3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch
Thursday — 3-mile walk, Lower Body Strength, & Stretch
Friday —  3.5-mile run, Core & Stretch
Saturday — 2.5-mile walk, Upper Body Strength & Stretch
Sunday — 4-mile run, Core & Stretch

Overall, it was a pretty low-key week. I finished the month with 94 run/walk miles and I’m closing in on the century mark for my #Optoutside streak. Thursday’s strength training brought a return to heavy lifting (and some serious DOMS!) which will definitely be a focus for the summer. I have no summer race plans and am still debating my fall options, so for now, the goal is to focus on the things that will help to keep me strong and injury-free.

Tell me about your week? Any summer race plans?

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

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Five Summer Fitness Goals

With a couple of fall races on the calendar (yay!), I’ve been thinking about my goals for the Summer months. So for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m laying out some summer fitness goals.

Five Summer Fitness Goals

Acclimate & Embrace the Heat — I’m going to do my best to properly prep for summer running, focusing on my hydration & electrolyte intake and getting out extra early if necessary. I make no secret that summer running is my least favorite, but I’m going to put my word of the year Mindset to work here and shift my mental attitude to do my best to embrace the season.

Monthly Strength Challenges — Each month I’m going to take on a different strength “challenge”. For June, I’m following Adrian’s Strength Stack on the Peloton app. There’s a different stack featured each month by a different instructor. I haven’t decided yet what I’ll do for July or August so stay tuned.

Daily Stretching/Yoga Streak — I’m already off to a good start with this one. I’ve been stretching for at least 10 minutes a day since June 1. The goal is to keep this streak going all summer long.

Sharing some summertime fitness goals for today's #FitFiveFriday link-up! What have you got planned? Click To Tweet

Build a Healthy Base for Fall Training — It’s been a long time since I’ve laid out a training plan, but I’ve decided to go all-in for my fall half marathon and actually follow a training plan (I may even throw in some speedwork…gasp!). To get training off to a good start at the end of August, I want to have a solid base. So this will mean scaling back the number of days I spend on the Peloton bike and adding more time on the run.

Enjoy the outdoors — Beyond running, I’m looking forward to getting back into hiking. My family usually does a lot of hiking during the summer months, but not so much last year. I’m also looking forward to some time kayaking or white water rafting…may even make it to the tennis courts.

Tell me, what have you got planned for the summer? Registered for any fall races yet?

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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Chicago Marathon Training Week 6

The theme for this week was heat, humidity, run, repeat.  Week 6 of Chicago training is in the books! Here’s a recap of how it all played out.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 6

Monday — 4 miles plus plank series. A nice, uneventful early morning run.

Tuesday — Strength training. After missing my strength session last week, it felt great to get in a solid workout focusing on hips, glutes, and abs.

Wednesday — 5 miles, at tempo pace plus plank series.  Just like last week, this mid-week run was the highlight of the week. I hit my target pace and felt strong despite the rising dew point.

Thursday — 4.25 miles plus plank series. Tired, just tired – it was a slog from beginning to end. Thankfully, I had a massage scheduled in the afternoon – so needed!

Friday — Rest day!

Saturday — 8 miles on scorched earth!

Post-run deep breath!

Sunday — 8 miles on the treadmill

Total miles for the week 29.25

Total miles on the road to Chicago — 104.15 (My son had asked how many miles I’ve logged so far so I thought I’d start keeping track)

Running 5x’s in a week

I ran 5 days this week and survived! Week 6 of @Chimarathon training is done! #weeklyrundown #mychicagomarathon #marathontraining #runchat Click To Tweet

Last Sunday Coach Marc sent me an email saying that he wanted me to try running 5 days/week. I will admit that I was a little nervous when I saw the week’s plan, but I’ve said from the beginning that my goal with this training plan has been to 1) – trust the plan and 2) be willing to get out of my comfort zone.

All-in-all, running 5 days wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. My strategy was to just run the mile I was in and not worry too much about what was coming next.

The weather, of course, added to the challenge. Mother Nature seemed to up her game daily in the heat & humidity department and took things to a whole new level by the weekend. Overall, I feel like I managed Saturday’s run pretty well, but it was clear to me by how drained I felt Saturday night that I was just not up for a repeat performance. So, for as much as I am not a fan of treadmill running, it proved to be the lesser of two evils this morning.

Thankfully, this heatwave should break by Tuesday and logging miles should hopefully feel a little easier.

How are you holding up in this heat?

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

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Chicago Week 4: Who turned on the furnace?!

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So summer weather showed up in full force this week. Heat and humidity were on a constant high. But, until I can figure out how to train for a fall race without running during the summer, there was no choice but to get out there. Here’s how Week 4 went down.

 Chicago Marathon Training Week 4

Monday – Rest day.

Tuesday – 4-mile run.  It was tempting to sleep through my alarm since my pup had decided to alert the whole house about something he’d spotted in our yard around 3 a.m., but it wasn’t too bad once I got out the door.

Wednesday – 5-mile run. Humidity levels hit 83% – just why?!

Thursday – Spent the morning getting plants into the garden, before enjoying the holiday with family.

Friday – Strength training. I have been slacking on strength training lately so it felt good to get this one in. I had planned to hit the gym but at the last moment decided to take my workout to my back deck instead before it got too hot.

Saturday – 7-mile run. This run was such a battle both mentally and physically – just so freaking hot! It was one of those runs where you knew before you even stepped out the door that it was going to be a rough one. I had wanted more miles but considered it a win to get the 7. I’m so glad my husband J joined me – we really kept each other going!

Sunday – 3-mile shakeout run. Mercifully, the humidity broke!

Total miles for the week – 19

While my total mileage was not as high as I would have liked, the weather forecast is looking a bit better for the week ahead so that should help. I am happy that I got some strength training in,

Testing New Gear

After runfessing that I need to figure out my hydration plan for Chicago, I did some research and ordered a new handheld – the Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Flask.

And, since I’ve struggled with carrying a handheld in the past, I also decided to order a new fuel belt to test – Nathan Peak Insulated Waist Pack.                         I got to run with them once each this past week and will keep using them on runs over the next couple of weeks to see if one emerges as the favorite.

How was your week? Do you run with a handheld, belt or vest?

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

In case you missed it:  Recapping the BAA 10K over coffee

 

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Summer Running Plans

Though it is clear Ma Nature has clearly not gotten the memo, summer officially kicks on Friday. While I’m usually first to whine, er…um…express my lack of enthusiasm for summer running, I’m going to do my best to embrace the season. In fact, I’ve even got a couple of races on the calendar…I know, right?! Who am I?!

2019 Summer Running Plans

Marathon Training — Well no big surprise here! First and foremost I’ll be logging summer miles with one key goal in mind: making it to the starting line of the Chicago Marathon. When dealing with challenging situations, it always helps to remember your “why”  – so when the heat and humidity become unbearable, there will be no bigger “why” for me than this one!

 BAA 10K — On Sunday I’ll be lining up with my brother once again to take on the BAA 10K. This race features a nice out and back course through the heart of Boston. We ran this race together last year, but I was seriously hobbled so it was a grin-and-bear-it affair. I’m looking forward to enjoying the run this time around.

Narragansett Running Festival – Somehow I let my brother talk me into another race – this time the Narragansett Running Festival in mid-July. There are 5K, 10K, and half marathon options, plus a “Beat the Heat Challenge” which involves running a combo of either the 5K or 10K and the half marathon on back-to-back days. While I haven’t officially registered yet, I’ll more than likely join my brother for the 10K. I’m hoping we can turn it into a family affair as my oldest son and husband are also thinking of running. There will be music and beer, and it’s a 20-minute drive from my house…so really, what’s not to love?

An August race, too? — I’m toying with the idea of going for the trifecta and running a race in August as well. While there is, of course, no shortage of 5Ks, I am intrigued by a race called Triple Threat. The Triple Threat features a 1-mile, 5K, and half marathon, with the choice of running one race or all three, back-to-back-to-back for 17.2 glorious miles along the beautiful coast of Cape Ann. I’ll have to check in with Coach Marc and see where I am with my training plan, but it could be a more interesting way to get a long run in. Plus, race day happens to fall on my birthday – a fun (or insane) way to kick off another trip around the sun!

Any races on your summer calendar? Do you use races to break up marathon training?

I’m linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.

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