I cannot believe that Mister J returns to school in two weeks and Miss M in just 9 days! This is the part of summer that usually has me getting excited, but I can't start the back-to-school countdown just yet. You see, M is away at her first spend-the-night - and she got to stay for two nights! She's been having a ball, which makes me so happy! Also, I've had some one-on-one time with J. I think we should make time to do this more often, but somehow we manage to let our "free" weekends get away from us. They are few and far between, and we often spend time enjoying the simple fact that they are unplanned. But even a few hours one-on-one would be something to celebrate. Hmmm... Food for thought.
I've managed to continue running throughout the summer, and even improve my pace! I cannot wait for cooler weather - I love to run in the fall and winter. Actually, I just love to run - which is how I've managed to keep up the routine over the summer (though I did take a bit of a break early on). I am thankful for the cooler-than-normal summer, and think that's a big reason I've been able to continue running. I have also reached the point that I don't ditch a run just because my running buddy can't make it. I'm tackling those mental roadblocks and learning to enjoy being out there even if it's just me. However, I do have a bit of a physical roadblock - so I'll be taking at least a few days off. I've managed to deal with (and treat) pain from a tight quad and I've conquered plantar fasciitis, but I've been sidelined because I took a spill on (or rather, off of) a bike yesterday. Ouch. Most of the impact was to my elbow and shoulder, but I also have a bruised hip. I'd love to say I'll be back out there Wednesday morning, but that may be a bit too ambitious. Darn.
And - surprise! - I've taken a part-time job at our church. It's 4 mornings a week, and when school is in session it will be during the kids' school day - perfect! I'll do drop-offs and pick-ups just like always, and I'll be home for homework in the afternoons. I started about 3 weeks ago, so we've had to do a bit of juggling with camps, transportation, and child care - but thankfully Big J has some flexibility with work and the kids are able to entertain themselves if he is working from home. I think the transition to the school year may be a bit challenging - I'm used to grocery shopping on Monday mornings, going for a run in the late morning, and spending a day doing laundry. I know that part of my schedule will necessarily change - and I'll still need to fit in volunteer hours at school on my day off - but I'm certain we'll figure it out. I have to admit, these first few weeks have left me worn out in the afternoon. It seems odd to me - because it's an administrative position - that I should be so tired in the afternoons. Again, another adjustment and I know it'll just take a little time.
For now, I'm looking forward to getting the last of the school supply shopping complete, meeting the kids' new teachers, and getting back into a routine. Summer is fun, and I love that we can send our kids to camps that feed their interests, but some of us around here seem to operate better with a routine. (Um, that would be me and Mister J!) Also, I love fall. Jeans weather! Camping weather! Running capris weather!
So, how've you been doing? What do you love about this time of year? Or do you prefer summer?
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Monday, August 12, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
First Day of Summer Break - 2013
Technically, it's not M's first day of break - last Thursday was her last day - but today was J's first day of break. To me, it's the first day of summer because the lunch-packing and taxiing about is over for just a little while.
Today has been such a fun, cool, special day that I wanted to post a quick rundown.
Here's my Facebook status from mid-afternoon:
Today's Top 5 (and it's not even 5pm):
1) Getting my run in first thing this morning
2) Getting the boy off to camp (big smile from him and no tears from me!)
3) Making orange-mango creamsicles with the girl
4) Chocolate cayenne protein bites in the fridge (recipe from A Foodie Stays Fit)
5) Fun things in the mail from new friends
That's a pretty good start to summer vacation, I think!
I met my best running friend at 6:15am. It was already warm then, and I've had a short break from running, so today seemed especially hard. But I was out there and I got the miles in. And going for a run just makes me feel good!
(I didn't even include the yummy breakfast I made in the top 5. I did that as soon as I got home - I was hungry! Bacon, roasted lemon thyme asparagus, and baked eggs. A one dish meal, and I put some sliced tomatoes on the side. My husband ate it, but I don't think he's convinced that meal is really 'breakfast.')
The end of the school year for J meant saying goodbye to J's teacher of the past two years. I thought I would be a wreck - she is such a treasure, and she loves not just J, but all of us! I made it through yesterday okay, but figured sending him off to camp this morning would really be hard on my mama heart. After breakfast and a shower, I dropped him off for his ride to camp (he rode with a couple other boys and their dads/leaders).
M and I spent some time in the kitchen today. I haven't been in the kitchen for anything besides just regular meals lately, so making some special treats was wonderful! We took a basic recipe and made our own variation with what we had on hand - that became the creamsicles. We had fun tasting as we went, deciding how much vanilla we needed and realizing we didn't need all the honey the recipe called for (glad we only added a little at a time!).
A friend of mine from college organizes a fun little "swap" between her Instagram friends called #flappymail. I'm trying it for the first time, and my goodies came today. They are just perfect! I will send my package off pretty soon, and I'm excited for my 'person' to get her package.
And the rest of the day kept on in the same vein. M and I went to the local running store. I picked up my new running shoes, a belated Mother's Day gift, and also found a new pair of shoes for M, too (on sale!).
Maggie had a little bummer of a situation to deal with, the result of a misunderstanding, and she was very calm and mature in working through her disappointment and finding the silver lining. I was so proud of her, and I'm not sure that I can even express to her just how proud. But I did take my big girl - whose love language is gifts - out for a sweet treat at her favorite local ice cream shop. As we were headed in for ice cream, we happened to see J's teacher coming out of another store in the shopping center. We had a brief visit (Maggie had actually called out to her to day hello) before heading into the ice cream shop.
After that, we headed home to try out our new shoes with a quick dash up the street and back. Of course, with those speedy new shoes on, M was the fastest! Our plan is to really break them in at the Popsicle Fun Run tomorrow evening.
Shortly afterwards, M's fourth tooth fell out! We knew it wouldn't make it to the weekend :)
And then - then! - we worked together on dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs (M helped mix and shape the meatballs), a salad (M helped prepare nearly every item), and popsicles for dessert (ones we made earlier in the day; and yes, she had dessert before and after dinner!). I adjusted the meatball recipe a bit, but started with the basic recipe from The Mom 100 Cookbook. This cookbook is fantastic! It was a gift last Christmas, and it's the one I pull out most often right now. The vinaigrette recipes - yum! The marinated flank steak - tasty! The chicken tenders - oh, my! I have even given this one as a gift - I love it that much!
Big J and I enjoyed every bit of dinnertime conversation with our girl this evening. She is just a riot - and she really has some time to shine while her brother's at camp.
Then she watched a bit of a hockey game - to the extent of cheering for a particular team - before declaring hockey "violent"! So then we switched to a show about building tree houses and snuggled a bit on the sofa. Love her....
Switching gears to the boy at camp - wow, it's different with him gone. I had the opportunity to go with him, but I am so glad we decided that he should attend solo if possible (we had to find another parent going who would be J's "adult" for the week, which we were able to do). But this is a time for him to shine, too. He really needs this chance to just be himself, be responsible, and make his own choices. Of course, I spent time with him packing, talking about some of the non-negotiable things (like brushing teeth, sunscreen, etc.), and telling him that I know he can do it. And I tucked a note into his bag when we wasn't looking. He should find it tomorrow night :) And we have seen a picture of him with a smile on his face waiting in line for dinner - so that did a mama heart good.
This is an all-over-the-place post, so here's the summary:
What an awesome first day of summer break - for all of us!
Today has been such a fun, cool, special day that I wanted to post a quick rundown.
Here's my Facebook status from mid-afternoon:
Today's Top 5 (and it's not even 5pm):
1) Getting my run in first thing this morning
2) Getting the boy off to camp (big smile from him and no tears from me!)
3) Making orange-mango creamsicles with the girl
4) Chocolate cayenne protein bites in the fridge (recipe from A Foodie Stays Fit)
5) Fun things in the mail from new friends
That's a pretty good start to summer vacation, I think!
I met my best running friend at 6:15am. It was already warm then, and I've had a short break from running, so today seemed especially hard. But I was out there and I got the miles in. And going for a run just makes me feel good!
(I didn't even include the yummy breakfast I made in the top 5. I did that as soon as I got home - I was hungry! Bacon, roasted lemon thyme asparagus, and baked eggs. A one dish meal, and I put some sliced tomatoes on the side. My husband ate it, but I don't think he's convinced that meal is really 'breakfast.')
(Nor did I mention the three paintings M worked on this morning. She was so happy to get paints and canvases out!)
The end of the school year for J meant saying goodbye to J's teacher of the past two years. I thought I would be a wreck - she is such a treasure, and she loves not just J, but all of us! I made it through yesterday okay, but figured sending him off to camp this morning would really be hard on my mama heart. After breakfast and a shower, I dropped him off for his ride to camp (he rode with a couple other boys and their dads/leaders).
M and I spent some time in the kitchen today. I haven't been in the kitchen for anything besides just regular meals lately, so making some special treats was wonderful! We took a basic recipe and made our own variation with what we had on hand - that became the creamsicles. We had fun tasting as we went, deciding how much vanilla we needed and realizing we didn't need all the honey the recipe called for (glad we only added a little at a time!).
A friend of mine from college organizes a fun little "swap" between her Instagram friends called #flappymail. I'm trying it for the first time, and my goodies came today. They are just perfect! I will send my package off pretty soon, and I'm excited for my 'person' to get her package.
And the rest of the day kept on in the same vein. M and I went to the local running store. I picked up my new running shoes, a belated Mother's Day gift, and also found a new pair of shoes for M, too (on sale!).
 | ||
| Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 |
After that, we headed home to try out our new shoes with a quick dash up the street and back. Of course, with those speedy new shoes on, M was the fastest! Our plan is to really break them in at the Popsicle Fun Run tomorrow evening.
Shortly afterwards, M's fourth tooth fell out! We knew it wouldn't make it to the weekend :)
And then - then! - we worked together on dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs (M helped mix and shape the meatballs), a salad (M helped prepare nearly every item), and popsicles for dessert (ones we made earlier in the day; and yes, she had dessert before and after dinner!). I adjusted the meatball recipe a bit, but started with the basic recipe from The Mom 100 Cookbook. This cookbook is fantastic! It was a gift last Christmas, and it's the one I pull out most often right now. The vinaigrette recipes - yum! The marinated flank steak - tasty! The chicken tenders - oh, my! I have even given this one as a gift - I love it that much!
Big J and I enjoyed every bit of dinnertime conversation with our girl this evening. She is just a riot - and she really has some time to shine while her brother's at camp.
Then she watched a bit of a hockey game - to the extent of cheering for a particular team - before declaring hockey "violent"! So then we switched to a show about building tree houses and snuggled a bit on the sofa. Love her....
Switching gears to the boy at camp - wow, it's different with him gone. I had the opportunity to go with him, but I am so glad we decided that he should attend solo if possible (we had to find another parent going who would be J's "adult" for the week, which we were able to do). But this is a time for him to shine, too. He really needs this chance to just be himself, be responsible, and make his own choices. Of course, I spent time with him packing, talking about some of the non-negotiable things (like brushing teeth, sunscreen, etc.), and telling him that I know he can do it. And I tucked a note into his bag when we wasn't looking. He should find it tomorrow night :) And we have seen a picture of him with a smile on his face waiting in line for dinner - so that did a mama heart good.
This is an all-over-the-place post, so here's the summary:
What an awesome first day of summer break - for all of us!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
10k - check!
Just popping in with a quick update to say -
Woohoo! I did it! The 10k was yesterday, and I can check it off of my list now!
It was a beautiful day, but 10-15 degrees warmer than any day I've gone running in preparation for this race. That made it a little harder, especially in miles 3 and 4. I also didn't do the best job pacing myself (running about 25 seconds per mile faster than usual) - I had lots of butterflies beforehand and the closer it got to race time, the more excited I got.
Still.... I finished 5 minutes faster than my estimated time - which was pretty exciting!
The best part - my family coming to see me! I got to see them at 4 different points during the race, and my sweet husband even ran with me for a bit of the last mile so he could check in on how I was feeling and give me some encouragement to make it to the end. And there's nothing like having high fives from your kids or having them run alongside for half a block!
Next up, increasing speed! I'm running a 5k in May, and I need to set my time goal for that race. I'll have to go back and look at my old 5k times, my current 5k pace, and figure out a good goal to work towards. Although I'm not excited about hill repeats and track workouts, I know they are good for me! And when I reach that goal it will all be worth it!
Woohoo! I did it! The 10k was yesterday, and I can check it off of my list now!
It was a beautiful day, but 10-15 degrees warmer than any day I've gone running in preparation for this race. That made it a little harder, especially in miles 3 and 4. I also didn't do the best job pacing myself (running about 25 seconds per mile faster than usual) - I had lots of butterflies beforehand and the closer it got to race time, the more excited I got.
Still.... I finished 5 minutes faster than my estimated time - which was pretty exciting!
The best part - my family coming to see me! I got to see them at 4 different points during the race, and my sweet husband even ran with me for a bit of the last mile so he could check in on how I was feeling and give me some encouragement to make it to the end. And there's nothing like having high fives from your kids or having them run alongside for half a block!
Next up, increasing speed! I'm running a 5k in May, and I need to set my time goal for that race. I'll have to go back and look at my old 5k times, my current 5k pace, and figure out a good goal to work towards. Although I'm not excited about hill repeats and track workouts, I know they are good for me! And when I reach that goal it will all be worth it!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Big catch-up post in photos
And it's in reverse chronological order, because that's how blogger uploaded them :)
March 2013 - Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet - B&G is the celebration of scouting's birthday, so we ask families to bring desserts to our banquet. Miss M took pictures of some of the other desserts (a couple of the scouting-themed desserts were made to look like campsites!), but this particular one is mine. Since B&G happens near my birthday, this is *my* birthday cake, too. Big J baked it, I frosted it and made the decorations. And thankfully, Big J made sure I got a piece for dessert :)
I really enjoy trying recipes that I find on food blogs - especially if they involve baking! For this particular recipe, I was experimenting with a new-to-me ingredient: cardamom. The blogger suggested buying cardamom in the pods and grinding it yourself - it's less expensive and it's fresher this way. I realized that I think I sold my tiny coffee grinder in one of our garage sales, so I broke out the mortar and pestle. Only took a few minutes - and talk about feeling super-accomplished! (I. Have Made. Cardamom!) {Can you name that movie?}
I've picked up running again - see previous post - and I am loving it more than ever! 10k prep is going great, and I've even logged a few decent solo runs. This was my run on Valentine's Day - check out that "Love to Run" shirt! Sometimes I'm so stinkin' happy I just have to take a picture - even if I'm sweaty!
Mister J participated in the Derby for the 3rd year in a row. Big J and I are on the committee, and for the first time competed in the Leaders and Parents Race. Miss M was bummed that she didn't get to make a car, but as it turns out she got to race after all. One of the boys was out of town, but boys in our troop are able to race cars if they can get someone to race the car for them. M raced for a scout a rank ahead of her brother, and that car made the championships! So, we got to race a LOT that day!
Back in December we took a trip to see my dad in FL. It was *so* nice to have warmer temps for a couple of days. We had a great visit! The kids loved hanging out on the screen porch (with a swing!) and playing in the rain. Take a peek at the bottom of the downspout - the rain had stopped but they still found some running water. And - if you couldn't tell - they totally posed for this photo. They are so funny! (And yes, still in pjs!)
Mister J reading the story of the wise men at our church's Children's Christmas Eve service.
Miss M playing the role of Maggie. Our children's service allows all children to participate - as readers, characters in the stories of Christmas, animals, angels - everyone can have a part. It's a really sweet service.
And this is how I've spent several mornings during the fall and winter - at my favorite coffee shop (aka "my office") working on Bible studies, meal plans, and much of the other work of being a mom, wife, and volunteer. Even in the middle of a busy coffee shop, I find a peace that allows me to focus and tackle my to-do list. The scone and hot tea don't hurt, either.
March 2013 - Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet - B&G is the celebration of scouting's birthday, so we ask families to bring desserts to our banquet. Miss M took pictures of some of the other desserts (a couple of the scouting-themed desserts were made to look like campsites!), but this particular one is mine. Since B&G happens near my birthday, this is *my* birthday cake, too. Big J baked it, I frosted it and made the decorations. And thankfully, Big J made sure I got a piece for dessert :)
I really enjoy trying recipes that I find on food blogs - especially if they involve baking! For this particular recipe, I was experimenting with a new-to-me ingredient: cardamom. The blogger suggested buying cardamom in the pods and grinding it yourself - it's less expensive and it's fresher this way. I realized that I think I sold my tiny coffee grinder in one of our garage sales, so I broke out the mortar and pestle. Only took a few minutes - and talk about feeling super-accomplished! (I. Have Made. Cardamom!) {Can you name that movie?}
I've picked up running again - see previous post - and I am loving it more than ever! 10k prep is going great, and I've even logged a few decent solo runs. This was my run on Valentine's Day - check out that "Love to Run" shirt! Sometimes I'm so stinkin' happy I just have to take a picture - even if I'm sweaty!
The first weekend of February is destined to be a crazy one for our family. For the past two years, it's been both Cub Scout Pinewood Derby and Girl Scout Cookie day. And I've been the cookie mom. I was so thankful to have the help of three other moms and several girls with the pick-up and sorting this year. Our troop has 30-ish girls, so we had a LOT of cookies! And, also thanks to their help, I was able to go to the PWD races, as well - including the leader race!
Mister J participated in the Derby for the 3rd year in a row. Big J and I are on the committee, and for the first time competed in the Leaders and Parents Race. Miss M was bummed that she didn't get to make a car, but as it turns out she got to race after all. One of the boys was out of town, but boys in our troop are able to race cars if they can get someone to race the car for them. M raced for a scout a rank ahead of her brother, and that car made the championships! So, we got to race a LOT that day!
Back in December we took a trip to see my dad in FL. It was *so* nice to have warmer temps for a couple of days. We had a great visit! The kids loved hanging out on the screen porch (with a swing!) and playing in the rain. Take a peek at the bottom of the downspout - the rain had stopped but they still found some running water. And - if you couldn't tell - they totally posed for this photo. They are so funny! (And yes, still in pjs!)
Mister J reading the story of the wise men at our church's Children's Christmas Eve service.
Miss M playing the role of Maggie. Our children's service allows all children to participate - as readers, characters in the stories of Christmas, animals, angels - everyone can have a part. It's a really sweet service.
And this is how I've spent several mornings during the fall and winter - at my favorite coffee shop (aka "my office") working on Bible studies, meal plans, and much of the other work of being a mom, wife, and volunteer. Even in the middle of a busy coffee shop, I find a peace that allows me to focus and tackle my to-do list. The scone and hot tea don't hurt, either.
One other thing that hasn't made it here with a photo - but I don't want to forget - Miss M lost her first tooth yesterday. There was some - ahem - drama with it. She was not content to just let it hang and hang and hang there until it fell out (like another little person who lives here). She pulled it out even though it hurt and bled. :) She's had a LOT of questions about how her new tooth will get here - I am impressed with her curiosity. And - most charming of all - calls the tooth she lost her "gone tooth."
And one more... Mister J is at his first spend-the-night birthday party. Mom is handling it ok, seeing as how it's been a crazy busy week and she's just impressed that she was able to stay awake past 9:15 (unlike last night). And Miss M is handling it ok, too, since she's controlling the remote and watching what she wants to on Netflix.
No promises
that I'll be back here regularly - or any time soon - life is very full!
I haven't given up on Mom's Magic, but it's taking a back seat to
several other things right now. I'll be back when I can. Thank you for stopping by!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
8 weeks and counting!
My BRF (best running friend) has convinced me to run a 10k. It's 8 weeks from today.
She surprised me, back in December, by helping me run 2 miles non-stop. I thought I was months and months away from that. I'd been running intervals on my own and had been struggling - pushing myself too hard - and wearing myself out very quickly. I was lucky if my workout total was two miles. Earlier this month, I was convinced that the 10k was within my reach.
Today, we ran 4.14 miles after a roughly 1 mile walk to warm up. And honestly, today wasn't a great run. It was at a time of day I don't normally run, I didn't fuel properly, the air was drier than it's been in several days - blah, bah, blah. For a host of reasons, it wasn't a great run. But we got out there, and we did it! And for me, that feeling of accomplishment - that I got out there, whether it was a great run or not - is the reason I keep going.
Training for the 10k - the official, we're-using-runner-terms-to-describe-our-workouts kind of training - starts on Monday. I'm so excited, even though I'm still aching from running today (I told you, it wasn't my best). I think that's when you know you have found something you love!
10k, here I come!
She surprised me, back in December, by helping me run 2 miles non-stop. I thought I was months and months away from that. I'd been running intervals on my own and had been struggling - pushing myself too hard - and wearing myself out very quickly. I was lucky if my workout total was two miles. Earlier this month, I was convinced that the 10k was within my reach.
Today, we ran 4.14 miles after a roughly 1 mile walk to warm up. And honestly, today wasn't a great run. It was at a time of day I don't normally run, I didn't fuel properly, the air was drier than it's been in several days - blah, bah, blah. For a host of reasons, it wasn't a great run. But we got out there, and we did it! And for me, that feeling of accomplishment - that I got out there, whether it was a great run or not - is the reason I keep going.
Training for the 10k - the official, we're-using-runner-terms-to-describe-our-workouts kind of training - starts on Monday. I'm so excited, even though I'm still aching from running today (I told you, it wasn't my best). I think that's when you know you have found something you love!
10k, here I come!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Running in the Rain
A tweet from this morning:
Resisted the lure of drive-thru coffee this morning. In favor of going running. This is big.
I dropped the kids of at school, actually drove past the place where I was going to buy an iced vanilla coffee, and kept going. I went home, changed into my running clothes, grabbed my iPod and my Garmin, and walked out the front door. It was sprinkling, but there wasn't that stuffy kind of humidity - the temperature is finally dropping around here. I did a short walk to warm up, and off I went.
I ran intervals for 2 miles, keeping up my pace until I got a little warm (I wore a long-sleeved short thinking I might get cold in the rain - should've stuck with layers with a short sleeve underneath). I used a shorter rest interval than the 5K training program is using right now. I'm a volunteer coach/mentor, so I sort of feel like I need to be a step ahead! My pace wasn't great today, but even my best pace isn't as fast as the other volunteer coaches. That means I'll be working with the slowest pace group - fine by me! My pace suffered over the summer when it was too hot to run : / Hopefully, I'll be back to my personal best pace soon.
Things I loved about my run today:
It was so peaceful to run in the rain - perhaps because most other folks decided against going out in the rain! I've run in the rain a few times - and today was not the hardest rain I've been out in - and I love it.
I ran past a house in the neighborhhod adjoining ours. I said hello to the gentleman out front, and he actually said hello back and asked how I was doing! I said good and asked how he was doing - he was also fine, thanked me for asking, and then said I was "hard core out running in the rain." Total ego boost! As I was running by his house at the time, that was about the end of the conversation - but dude was also pretty hard core himself - washing his car in the rain! Ha!
I rocked at crunches in my post-run core work.
Things I didn't love about my run today:
Dressed too warmly.
Couldn't stick to intervals near the end.
I did not rock at plank and push-ups in my post-run core work.
Always room for improvement - small goals! But hey - I'm (back) out there, and it feels great!
Resisted the lure of drive-thru coffee this morning. In favor of going running. This is big.
I dropped the kids of at school, actually drove past the place where I was going to buy an iced vanilla coffee, and kept going. I went home, changed into my running clothes, grabbed my iPod and my Garmin, and walked out the front door. It was sprinkling, but there wasn't that stuffy kind of humidity - the temperature is finally dropping around here. I did a short walk to warm up, and off I went.
I ran intervals for 2 miles, keeping up my pace until I got a little warm (I wore a long-sleeved short thinking I might get cold in the rain - should've stuck with layers with a short sleeve underneath). I used a shorter rest interval than the 5K training program is using right now. I'm a volunteer coach/mentor, so I sort of feel like I need to be a step ahead! My pace wasn't great today, but even my best pace isn't as fast as the other volunteer coaches. That means I'll be working with the slowest pace group - fine by me! My pace suffered over the summer when it was too hot to run : / Hopefully, I'll be back to my personal best pace soon.
Things I loved about my run today:
It was so peaceful to run in the rain - perhaps because most other folks decided against going out in the rain! I've run in the rain a few times - and today was not the hardest rain I've been out in - and I love it.
I ran past a house in the neighborhhod adjoining ours. I said hello to the gentleman out front, and he actually said hello back and asked how I was doing! I said good and asked how he was doing - he was also fine, thanked me for asking, and then said I was "hard core out running in the rain." Total ego boost! As I was running by his house at the time, that was about the end of the conversation - but dude was also pretty hard core himself - washing his car in the rain! Ha!
I rocked at crunches in my post-run core work.
Things I didn't love about my run today:
Dressed too warmly.
Couldn't stick to intervals near the end.
I did not rock at plank and push-ups in my post-run core work.
Always room for improvement - small goals! But hey - I'm (back) out there, and it feels great!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day!
We did things a little differently around here for Valentine's Day 2011 - no gifts! And we still had a lovely day!
In the past, I've gotten the kids books or music - usually something small - to celebrate. I think I spent the most ever for Valentine's Day last year - I spent about $35 on two beanbags for the kids' rooms. It was usually around $16 for childrens' books in previous years.
Today, I spent about $25 - on all four of us! I brought Chick-Fil-A lunch to school, Daddy met us there, and we all had lunch together. It was actually a nice bit of family time, since we get to eat a table away from the activity of lunch in the classrooms. The kids are always excited to have us come for lunch, I got a day off from packing lunches, and Daddy got a cookies-n-cream milkshake for his treat! (CFA was running a buy-two-combos-get-a-shake special today!)
Also - the weather was gorgeous today, and the next session of 5K training began this evening. My goal is an all-running 5K in the spring, and I ran 1.25 miles tonight - no intervals! That's the longest distance I've ever gone without intervals - woohoo!
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and running shoes today.... Miss M came home from school sounding very hoarse and even a bit squeaky (sad face). Mister J has had a nagging cough, too. So, with both kiddos sick, there was no basketball practice for Mister J tonight. Miss M will be home with me tomorrow, and we've had to cancel our after-school doughnut date with a friend. (sigh)
That's just life, though, you know? Thankful that I've got these three to share it with - the ups and the downs.
In the past, I've gotten the kids books or music - usually something small - to celebrate. I think I spent the most ever for Valentine's Day last year - I spent about $35 on two beanbags for the kids' rooms. It was usually around $16 for childrens' books in previous years.
Today, I spent about $25 - on all four of us! I brought Chick-Fil-A lunch to school, Daddy met us there, and we all had lunch together. It was actually a nice bit of family time, since we get to eat a table away from the activity of lunch in the classrooms. The kids are always excited to have us come for lunch, I got a day off from packing lunches, and Daddy got a cookies-n-cream milkshake for his treat! (CFA was running a buy-two-combos-get-a-shake special today!)
Also - the weather was gorgeous today, and the next session of 5K training began this evening. My goal is an all-running 5K in the spring, and I ran 1.25 miles tonight - no intervals! That's the longest distance I've ever gone without intervals - woohoo!
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and running shoes today.... Miss M came home from school sounding very hoarse and even a bit squeaky (sad face). Mister J has had a nagging cough, too. So, with both kiddos sick, there was no basketball practice for Mister J tonight. Miss M will be home with me tomorrow, and we've had to cancel our after-school doughnut date with a friend. (sigh)
That's just life, though, you know? Thankful that I've got these three to share it with - the ups and the downs.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
NEW SHOES - Take 2...
So, as it turns out, the Sauconys were contributing to some major calf pain (think "ice and rest"). I'll skip over all of the boring details, but the amazing folks at the local running store where I shop helped me find a(nother) new pair of running shoes. And here they are...
ASICS GT-2160 in Carbon/White/Plum
I've already taken them out for a (quick, because it was in the 30s) run, and so far - so good. NO calf pain after the run, and my feet (my typical problem area) felt great. Can't wait to get out for my next run, but right now there's snow on the ground (oh, and it's 11:08pm). Hopefully tomorrow will shape up to be a good - though cool - day for an afternoon run!
PS - Don't forget to enter my cake square giveaway! Only four days left to enter!
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