Perspective – “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view”

Prior to learning that I was surgery bound, I have to admit that I was becoming pretty negative about my running. I was drowning in a see of “should be’s” and was increasingly frustrated with my body’s seeming inability to do what I wanted to do. Little did I know that my body was actually performing surprisingly well under increasing stress.

I’m now 3 weeks post-op and my doctor pointed out that I am doing great with my recovery due in no small part to the good condition I was in prior to surgery. Ah perspective…. a great reminder to always honor what your body can do.

Linking up today with Deb for Wednesday Word. Be sure to check what others are saying about “Perspective.”

I was provided a copy of The Runner’s Brain for the purposes of a review. All opinions expressed here, as always are my own.

While my running continues to remain on hold, I’ve had some extra time to catch up on my reading. One interesting book I recently finished, is The Runner’s Brain by Dr. Jeff Brown – because what else does a sidelined runner read about except running 😉 I have always been fascinated with the mental side of sports, so when Runner’s World reached out to me with the opportunity to review this book, I couldn’t wait to dive in.

In The Runner’s Brain, Dr. Brown lays out the science behind the critical role your brain plays in your running performance, and makes the case for how you can think your way to better running.

The book addresses a range of topics from goal setting and visualization, to running through challenges and dealing with treadmill training. In chapters 18 and 19, Dr. Brown also includes Worksheets for a Healthy Mind and Body and a 7-Day Fit Brain training plan, both of which I’m looking forward to putting into practice when I get back out on the road. The Runner’s Brain offers something for everyone, with easily digestible chapters, so you can focus in on the topics of most interest to you. In a sport often described as 90% mental, this book can be a useful tool in helping you manage your strongest and most important muscle.

How do you manage the mental side of running?

My running is still on hold….

I swear the minute you’re told you can’t run, the weather seems to be perfect and it feels like there are runners everywhere.

I’ve been trying to take advantage of my “free” time to get more yoga in – there’s no “yoga high,” but I’m sure my hamstrings will thank me.

I’m also refocusing my time on house projects and getting the paper creep under control. School has only been back in session a few weeks and I can no longer see my kitchen counter. 

How do you keep yourself occupied when you can’t run?

I’m linking up again with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud  

The thermometer hit 50 degrees yesterday and I can finally see a good chunk of my backyard. The frozen tundra is receding and I can feel that spring is finally just around the corner! So before I wave goodbye to March, let’s see how things shaped up?

Good things for March:

• March Movement – I consider my goal to move for 31 days a success. I did take a couple of rest days when I was fending off the beginnings of a cold.)
• Discovered the Arc Trainer and it was love at first workout!
• Return to Yoga — a big part of reaching my movement goal was getting back to yoga.
• Reclaiming my morning routine!

Things I could do without:

• Yeah…I’ve whined enough about the weather….let’s just move on, shall we?

What’s up for April:

• BAA 5K — this has become a favorite event to kick off Marathon Weekend!
• #StripatNight – RnR Vegas registration opens today
• Just looking forward to things finally feeling like spring…and planning to enjoy every minute of it!

How about you – was March a good month? Any big plans for April?

It’s the first Saturday of the month which means its time for the Ultimate Coffee Date! I’m linking up again with Coco, Lynda and Deborah so grab a cup of your fave beverage and join us!

 
If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that almost a week later I’m still giddy over my beloved Patriots winning the Super Bowl. It was an unbelievable game and I must say the final two minutes almost took me out!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I’m really happy that both my husband J and my oldest son have decided to join me again in running the B.A.A. 5K! This race has become crazy-popular in the past couple of years so we wasted no time registering when it opened on Wednesday. We had so much fun last year – it’s a fun way to kick off Boston Marathon weekend. And, speaking of the marathon, I also submitted my application to volunteer again  – it will be a couple more weeks before I get my assignment.

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I was so psyched to finally receive my discount code for the Rock ‘n’ Roll races that I can share with everyone! You can use the code RUNATTITUDE015 to save $15 on both half and full marathons in the US & Canada or £3 (GBP) off international races.

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that my new favorite addiction is BarkThins!  I especially like the dark chocolate pretzel…seriously, I made need an intervention.

If we were having coffee together, what would you tell me? 

What’s your current snack addiction?

Hello October!

Did September fly by as fast for you as it did for me?! Well it’s time to kick off a new month and one of my favorite ways to do that is by joining the Ultimate Coffee Date!  So grab a mug of coffee, tea or another favorite beverage and let’s catch up for a bit!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you October is probably one of my favorite months! The weather is perfect for running and the foliage in New England is beautiful – it’s a great time to be outdoors! And, all things pumpkin are plentiful – win!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you we heading out to western Mass to go apple picking tomorrow. It’s a family tradition – we go to a great family run farm that has a wide variety of apples, peaches and pumpkins plus hayrides, an amazing farm stand and a great barbecue. It’s such a fun way to spend the day and I tell you those apple cider doughnuts are killer!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I am on a decluttering kick! After just one month of school, homework, volunteer projects, etc. I’ve lost sight of most of my dining room table and a counter in the kitchen. But, truthfully, I don’t plan to stop there – I’m going after closets, the mini-man cave (aka our playroom) and…our home office. 

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that my husband J and I will celebrate our 22nd anniversary later this month (another reason I love October!). We’ve actually been together 26 years! As cliched as it may sound he truly is my best friend. I don’t know what we’ll do to celebrate but given the way the calendar looks this month, it will probably be at one of the boys’ sport events!

If we were having coffee together what would you tell me?

It’s Friday again already and I’m linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia (aka the DC Trifecta) for this week’s Friday Five! This week’s theme is “Race Day Rituals.” I really have any special rituals for race morning –  but I do have some key things I always do during training to get me prepped for race day.

Long Runs as Dress Rehearsal — Every long run is a chance to practice your fueling and hydration strategies.

Train for the Course — As often as possible, I try to pick routes that will mimic the race course. (If you’re facing a hilly course but live in the flatlands, make hill work on the treadmill part of your training!) Best of all, if you live near the course, try to run at least parts whenever you can.

No New Gear — It always amazes me when someone picks up new running clothes at the race expo and then wears them on race day. There are a lot of things you can’t control on race day, so where you can eliminate any surprises – like discovering that cute new shirt you picked up at the expo chafes in all the wrong places!

Go Easy on the Expo — If you’re running a larger race, then packet pick-up can also means a trip to the race expo. While it can be fun to check out the latest gear or a new vendor, be careful to not overdo it and spend too much time on your feet.

Catch Some ZZZs — If you’re like me then the night before the race is usually a rough night of sleep. While you should do what you can to get enough sleep throughout training, life happens right? So I make it my mission to get to bed early during race week so I’m as well-rested as possible come race morning.

Do you have any race day rituals? Be sure to stop by the link-up and check out how others manage their race day.