First Coffee Chat for 2023

Happy Friday!

It was a bit of a rough “re-entry” into the first week of the new year and I must admit that I’m ready for the weekend! I’m kicking off the first Fit Five Friday of 2023 by linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. So grab a mug of your beverage of choice and let’s chat a bit.

First Coffee Chat of 2023

Over coffee, I would tell you that it’s hard for me to believe that I will be celebrating my first year anniversary at my job! And, what a year it’s been – big fundraising events, a change in the CEO position, and so much more. It’s been hectic at times, but I do enjoy the challenges of my “new” position.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m going to my high schooler’s college counseling meeting for parents next week. It’s starting to get real that my “baby” will be applying to colleges this fall.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I am hoping to dive into a house remodeling project this year. My husband and I have never loved our kitchen/family room layout and if we can settle on a contractor we like, construction could begin in the spring.

This could be me in the Spring

Over coffee, I would tell you that thanks to the anticipated remodel project, one of my non-fitness goals for 2023 is a massive purge! I am on a declutter tear and my boys are hiding their things LOL

Over coffee, I would tell you that the Fit Five crew has decided to try something new this year and we have created a whole calendar of suggested topics for the Friday link-up. You can, of course, write about whatever fitness topic strikes your fancy, but we thought it would be fun to try some themes this year, (we’re all still planning to continue to link up for both coffee and Marcia‘s Runfessions) – I hope you will join us!

What would you share with me over coffee? Any home remodeling advice you care to share?

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?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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One Word for 2023

Kim and Zenaida have invited everyone to share their word for the year for this week’s Tuesday Topics link-up. I love to see which word others have selected! (After reading here, be sure to check out what others are sharing!).

I have picked one word to serve as the theme for the year since 2015. Past choices have included Thrive, Progress, Belief, Brave, Intentional, Curate, Mindset, and Emerge. For 2023, my word is Cultivate.

Cultivate — to promote growth or development; to devote oneself to; to give special attention

This word will serve as a good reminder to intentionally invest in the things that matter most – family, friends, fun, and my physical and mental well-being – and, to say no to the things that don’t.

Have you picked a word for the year?

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Wrapping up 2022

I’m not gonna lie, this final week of this whirlwind year was a bit of a rollercoaster. While it’s been great to have some much-needed time off from work, having my mom in the hospital has been stressful. Thankfully she’s been steadily improving and will be heading to rehab. There has been a lot of family chill time filled with games, movies, and lots of food.

My workouts took on a “whatever you feel like” vibe this week and I’m good with that. Here’s how things played out….

Week 52 – Wrapping up 2022

Monday — Core & Lower Body Strength. It was family pajama day but snuck in a quick stack of Peloton classes before anyone else was up.
Tuesday — 3-mile walk & Yoga
Wednesday — 3-mile run & Core
Thursday — 30 min. Bodyweight Full Body Strength
Friday — 3-mile run

Such a beautiful morning and 40 degrees!

Saturday — 3.25-mile run
Sunday — Currently lingering over coffee. The family joined me for a 2.5-mile walk earlier this morning. Undecided on what’s next.

With Saturday’s miles, I wrapped up the #3for31 Challenge and finished the year with 836 run/walk miles. I also racked up 10,928 minutes on the Peloton app.

I’m still noodling over my 2023 fitness goals — will there be more races than the four I did in 2022? Will I stick with 10M or less in distance or will there be a half marathon in the mix? How many Peloton minutes will be logged? While I ponder these questions, I am diving right into the ZOOMA Love Run Challenge for six weeks of a daily run or walk and core work.

In case you missed it:

End of Year Runfessions

How was your week? Any big goals for 2023? Wishing you all a very happy new year!

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

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End of the Year Runfessions

Can you believe that we’re at the end of 2022?! Well, before we put this year in the rearview mirror, Marcia has opened the runfessional so we can stride into the new year with clear souls soles. It’s also time for another Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renee, Jenn, Zenaida, and yours truly, so let’s get started.

End of Year Runfessions

While the slow and easy approach over these past few weeks appears to have helped my hip flexor/quad issue quite a bit, I runfess that I’m not fully convinced that I’m out of the woods yet.

I have rationalized that I could stick with what I’m currently doing and see how things go, but I also runfess that I’m growing tired of this cat-and-mouse game. So, I checked in with my primary care doc the other day to get a referral for PT.

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I runfess that I’m excited about starting PT (someone please remind me in a couple of weeks that I said this!). I’ve got races I want to run next year and I’d really like to toe the line not hobbled.

How about you – do you tend to go the PT route or try to course correct on your own?

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 remember to link back to your hosts and share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Dashing through December

No great surprise that this month continues to fly by – seems to have been the theme for 2022.

The week included everything from multiple days in the office, a lengthy board meeting, a work social, Christmas shopping and prep, and 7 hours in the car out and back picking up the college boy. And, yes there were some workouts as well.

Dashing through December

Monday — 1-mile walk and Lower Body Strength
Tuesday — 2-mile walk and Upper Body Strength
Wednesday — 2.5-mile walk and Peloton Bike
Thursday — 3-mile run
Friday — 2-mile walk, core, and hip mobility work (following all day in the car!)
Saturday — Yoga
Sunday — 4.5-mile run

The workout highlight of the week was this morning’s run. While I was a little slow to get out there, once I got going things just seemed to click. Love runs like that! I also hit my 300th Peloton run. I don’t always run with the Peloton app so I didn’t realize I hit the milestone until after. This is my longest run since scaling way back on running a few weeks ago. Slow and steady progress continues to be my mantra.

In case you missed it:

Keeping Holiday Madness in Check

Just have a couple of days of work this week and then I’ll be taking time off through the end of the year. I’m so looking forward to all the Christmas festivities, and time with family and friends!

How was your week? Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating!

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

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Keeping Holiday Madness in Check

So how’s everyone doing?

Hanukkah begins Sunday. Christmas is 9 days away. Students are winding up semesters in a flurry of projects, exams, papers, and performances. Work is a sea of urgent requests, budget negotiations, or insert your industry’s last-minute push here. While I love the holidays, this time of year can be stressful! So for today’s Fit Five Friday, I’m sharing a few tips on keeping the holiday madness in check.

Keeping Holiday Madness in Check

First, and most importantly, give yourself some grace. Often the holidays can feel like an endless to-do list of shopping, cooking, hosting, and decorating. If you’re striving for the holidays to be “perfect”, let it go. Cut yourself a break and don’t feel the need to do all the things. And, always remember that it is ok to say No.

Give others grace — This time of year is hard for many for a whole host of reasons so check your expectation of others. Letting go of the “shoulds” as in s/he/they should do/be is very freeing. Focus on why you’re together and if someone is truly toxic do your best to minimize your exposure to them (see tip number 1 above!).

Move your body — Be it a run, walk, strength training, yoga, ice skating, or other activity, moving your body and protecting your fitness routine is good for your mind and body. Commit to carving out time each day to move. Some days you may have time for your regular run, but other times you won’t so have some quick backup workouts ready. And, remember every little bit counts, so take the stairs when you can or park at the far end of the parking lot when you’re out shopping.

Get enough sleep — As tempting as it may be, don’t sacrifice sleep in the name of getting more done. Stay consistent with your regular bedtime – your mind and body will thank you!

Take in the moment — As simple as it sounds, remember to stop, breathe and take in the moment. The holiday season is not a race – Enjoy the time with friends and family. And, embrace some self-care time for yourself.

How do you keep holiday season stress in check?

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! 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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Keeping it low key

The schedule continues to be jammed packed – tis’ the season! Always grateful for the sanity balance that working out provides.  Here’s a quick peek at my fitness week.

Keeping it Low Key

Monday — 2-mile walk & Yoga for hips
Tuesday — 3-mile run, Core & Stretch
Wednesday — Bodyweight Strength & Hip Mobility
Thursday — 3-mile walk, Core & Stretch
Friday — 3-mile run
Saturday — Upper Body Strength
Sunday — 3-mile run & Stretch

The workouts continue to be low-key but the running has been pain-free. I’m certainly not mad about that! So while not terribly exciting, it’s clear that this slow and steady approach is paying off.

Happy Mama Moments:

The highlight of the week was seeing my high schooler perform in his school’s winter concert. His group played 3 songs and as the drummer, he was front and center. Out of respect for the privacy of his bandmates, I won’t share the video here, but trust me when I say he crushed it! And this week, I’ll be picking up my college boy as he wraps up exam week so you know I’m looking forward to having us all back under one roof for a bit.

In case you missed it:

Fit Five Friday – Stocking Stuffers for Runners

How was your week? Are you feeling the pinch of the season?

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

 

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Fit Five Friday – Stocking Stuffers for Runners

Happy Friday!

The holiday shopping crunch is on! In my house, stocking stuffers are a big deal so for this week’s Fit Five Friday I’m sharing a few stocking stuffer ideas for the runners in your life. This post includes affiliate links.

Heat Holders — Heat Holders offer socks, hats, and gloves made with an advanced insulating yarn designed to trap your body warmth and keep it close to your body. Every winter is a challenge for me dealing with Renaud’s syndrome so I’m all about gear that will help to lessen the effects of winter.

These Oslo Gloves come in a variety of colors but I think the black stripe is so cute!

Noxgear — I’ve been a big fan of Noxgear vests for years. The Tracer Lamp is a great addition to the Noxgear line-up. The lamp is a 500-lumen rechargeable light that securely attaches to the buckle of any Tracer vest to help light your path and improve your visibility.

Road ID – This is a must for any runner, walker, and cyclist. There are so many options in colors and designs.

Knockaround Sunglasses — Polarized lenses, durable, lightweight, and in a range of fun designs, Knockaround sunglasses are a great addition to your favorite runner’s gear. I’m personally a fan of the Paso Robles model.

Sukeen Cooling Towels — Once activated these towels will stay cool for up to 3 hours – perfect for those hot summer runs or after any intense workout. Just soak it in water, wring it out, snap it and go!

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! 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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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Hello December!

And, just like that, we’ve hit the last month of what has often felt like a sprint of a year. It was another busy week as everyone at work tries to jam in “all the things” before year-end vacations kick in. On the fitness front, I’m still trying to decide what my new, off-season routine will look like. Here’s how this week played out:

Week 48 – Hello December!

Monday — 3-mile walk, Hip Mobility & Core
Tuesday — Rest day
Wednesday — Peloton Bike, Core, & Stretch. I started with a 20-min HIIT ride that included 16 sprints…ouch! The cool down ride and stretch were a must! My legs were jelly.


Thursday — 3-mile run. Day 1 of Peloton instructor Robin’s #3for31 challenge – run or walk 3 miles or move 30 minutes daily in December. I also paid a visit to my massage therapist – I was long overdue!
Friday — Lower Body Strength, Core & Stretch
Saturday — 3.5-mile run. The wind was just rude! I certainly chalked this up to resistance training.

keeping my hat was a struggle with the wind!

Sunday — 3-mile walk and planning for some time on the Peloton bike post-coffee

Just 2 runs for the week, but both were pain-free so I’ll take it! Overall, the goal for this month is simple – do what’s necessary to heal my lingering hip flexor/quad issue.

How was your week? Any big goals for December?

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

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December Coffee – The last coffee of 2022

I swear once we hit Thanksgiving it always feels like a sprint to the end of the year. Well, I’m doing all I can to slow down and enjoy this last month of the year, and that begins with a little catch-up over coffee with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. And, of course, since it’s Friday, it’s also time for the Fit Five Friday link-up! So grab a mug of your fave hot beverage and let’s chat.

December Coffee — The Last Coffee of 2022

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m looking forward to breaking out the Christmas decorations this weekend. My husband still insists on getting a real tree so we’ll wait on getting one right now for fear that it will be a fire hazard before Christmas – but we will take care of all of the lights and all of the outdoor decorations, along with most of the indoor stuff.

And, speaking of Christmas, over coffee I would also share that I am really struggling with gift ideas this year. By now I usually have some inkling of what I’m getting everyone, but this year I’ve got bupkis. I’m trying not to panic.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m really looking forward to my son’s school concert next week! It’s been more than two years since the school has hosted a concert and in that time my son has switched from the trumpet to the drums – a much better fit for his personality! The drummer is always spotlighted in these performances and I can’t wait to see him perform.

Over coffee, I would tell you that we had a fantastic trip to Sonoma last month! And, we’re still enjoying the effects of the trip as shipments of wine continue to arrive. Clearly, we were enjoying ourselves because we didn’t fully remember what we had ordered LOL. Now the question is what do you do when you have more wine than you have wine rack space?

What would you tell me over coffee? What are you looking forward to this month?

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! 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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


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