Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to recap all the running fun I've had this year. I've been doing Miss Zippy's Year in Running post for several years now. I've done it in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012, so I'm thankful that Courtney has taken it on. I write this post for myself, but I hope you enjoy reading it as well. I paired down the questions to only 5 for Friday Five 2.o with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness. Best Race Experience: Rehoboth Half Marathon was amazing this year. It was well organized, in a great location, and a ton of my friends ran. I had a fabulous time at the race, with one of my top 10 fastest finishes and then I got to spend the rest of the morning/early afternoon drinking good beer with … [Read more...]
Shaking things up: Faster Way to Fat Loss
For the last few years, I've been in a bit of a rut. Or maybe it's more of a repetitive pattern. Build my mileage, run a series of half marathons or a marathon, drop my mileage for a while. Repeat over and over. This has worked really well to get in new states and a few series, but the results haven't been great for my overall fitness. Sure, I can run long and slow for a really long time, but I have zero upper body strength and I've become "chubby fit". This summer I had a really awful stomach bug with symptoms that lasted for nearly a month. The only good thing about that was that I dropped 5 pounds. (Not a weight loss method I'd recommend.) I feel much more comfortable in my clothes now, but not necessarily comfortable in my skin. I … [Read more...]
Tips for staying fit during the holiday season
Shoo turned to me recently and asked the date. When I told him it was the 6th, he turned to me and exclaimed "Mom, Christmas is less than 20 days away!" Yes, Dear Child, thank you for sending me into a panic. I immediately went online and ordered Christmas cards (from Cards Direct again because it was fast and easy) and put together the photo calendar I do each year (which necessitated staying up until midnight, which totally went against my recent "get more sleep" attempts.) This has definitely been a week where I'm juggling (not totally successfully) all.the.things. But other than the calendar night, I've been really good about two things - 1) going to bed even if things aren't "done", because really things are never totally done and 2) … [Read more...]
Lifetime Half Marathon #71: Rehoboth Beach Half
This year has been filled with amazing races. I tried out a couple of new races that I loved: St. Patrick's Day 10K and the Navy Air Force Half Marathon. I also returned to some old favorites: Marine Corps 17.75K, GW Parkway 10 Miler (one of my all time favorite races), Marine Corps Marathon, and then, just this past weekend, we went back to Rehoboth Beach for their half marathon. I know that the topic for Tuesdays on the Run this week is "Favorite Race in 2017", but really they were all my favorites. So, I'm going to recap my most recent favorite race. Rehoboth Beach Running Company Half December 2, 2017 2:12:48 Temp: low to mid 40s What I wore:hat, tank top, Reebok half zip, a Skirt Sports Happy Girl, compression socks, and Altra … [Read more...]
Best gifts for the Ragnarian in your life
It's that time of year! Time for all the bloggers to write gift guides on various topics. We'll tell you what to buy the runner in your life or what winter items to buy or what you should buy for the runner who isn't training right now. Most of the time, when I write a gift guide, I try to include things I've tried. I'd hate to suggest something that turns out to be awful. But I'm coming from a different perspective this time. As a Ragnar runner, here are 5 gifts that are on my Wish List. These fill NEEDS I have, therefor I believe they should be needed by all Ragnar runners. Sound logic, right? I don't actually have any of these, so don't blame me if they don't live up to their claims. Some of the links are affiliate links, which means if … [Read more...]
DuClaw For Pete’s Sake Vegetarian Chili
Thank you DuClaw Brewing for sponsoring this post and sending me the DuClaw For Pete's Sake Porter. All opinions and the vegetarian chili recipe are my own. Welcome to the November edition of “Cooking with Beer”! Each month DuClaw Brewing sends me a beer and a friend and I create a recipe. It's a fun time to think outside the box and try a new beer and new food. This month's beer is "For Pete's Sake Porter", an Imperial Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. In other words, this an Imperial version of Sweet Baby Jesus (one of my favorite of DuClaw's beers). This is my second time getting this beer and I absolutely love it. If I were given a choice, I would not cook with this beer. I would just sit and enjoy a bottle all by itself. But … [Read more...]
Not every month is about the running
The month of November is not over. In fact, I still have 13.3 miles to run in the next three days. I've run 100 miles a month for the last 11 months, so I absolutely plan to hit those miles. Thankfully, I'm doing the Runner's World Run Streak again, so I'm slowly chipping away at them. Today for Tuesdays on the Run, we are rating our month. Normally, I just rate my running, but this month I'm going a bit deeper and talking about some other aspects of my life. Overall, I'd say my month started with a C, but it managed to pull itself together and end with around an A-. So, here's what's been going on with me... A few weeks before the Marine Corps Marathon, I started having some weird symptoms. Nothing major or painful, but … [Read more...]
Post Thanksgiving Runfessions
Happy Black Friday to all of you who celebrate! OK, I know it's not a holiday and you won't catch me in any stores. So far, I haven't even bought anything online. I'm sure I'll breakdown and take advantage of a race discount at some point. After all, I don't actually have any races on the calendar after December 10! Crazy! November has been a bit of a crazy month, so here are my Black Friday Five Runfessions. Wednesday I got a personal email from a charity offering me a bib for the Chicago Marathon. I runfess that I seriously considered it for a short time. It's a group I have supported in the past and the amount was reasonable and, unlike Boston, I'd be happy to run it as a charity runner. But then reality set in and I turned it … [Read more...]
Thankful for the Unexpected Life
Today's Tuesdays on the Run theme is "Thankful". I've had a surprisingly hard time writing this post. Not because I have nothing to be thankful for. I do. I have a wonderful husband, two boys who only occasionally drive me crazy, a loving extended family, a nice home, food on the table... Heck, I could write a whole post just about how thankful I am for running. But something else has been struggling to be put down on paper, so here I am at nearly midnight, free-writing a post. My life has not gone as "planned". If you'd asked me in my early 20s, if I wanted to spend my life in the DC area, I would have said absolutely not. If you'd asked me in my mid-20s if I ever thought I'd have kids, I would have said no. If you'd asked me in … [Read more...]
Give thanks AND give back
November is the time of year when everyone is giving thanks. It does make sense why people focus on it because, duh, Thanksgiving Day. But giving thanks, while showing that we appreciate the good in our lives, is not an action. It's more of a reflection. Turning a thankfulness for something into an action gives back and creates good and possibly creates change. For example, showing that you are thankful for always having enough to eat by helping feed the homeless is a way of turning your thankfulness into an outward goodness. So, for those of us who are thankful every day of the year for running, here five ways you can give back through your running or to the running community. Get matched through I Run 4. IR4 is a group that … [Read more...]
Runner Gifts for the Off Season
Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links. Some products I was given for free. It's that time of year. No, not the holiday season. The off season. Most big fall races are done and it's not yet time to start training for the next big race. Most runners use this time to give their body a break and do some cross training. So, here's the perfect list of gifts to help a runner make the most of some down time. Runner Gifts for the Off Season by mcmmama on Polyvore Amazon.com : j/fit Dead Weight Slam Ball - 15 lb : Exercise Balls :... / Amazon.com : Bosu Balance Trainer, Pink : Balance Boards : Sports &... / Amazon.com : Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Light Gray) with... / Amazon.com : TRX Training - … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots in the DC area
I'm a big fan of starting Thanksgiving Day with a bit of exercise and the best venue for that is a Turkey Trot. Why? Because I'm also a big fan of eating whatever I want at Thanksgiving. I am not one who is going to give you tips and tricks to not eat your weight in pumpkin or pecan pie. (Mostly because I could totally drink a glass of water and eat an apple and still eat all.the.things at dinner. Might as well just eat all the things.) In addition to benefiting your health, most Turkey Trots also benefit local charities. Instead, here are some fun Turkey Trots in the DC area that happen on Thanksgiving morning. (There are lots of others the weekend before and after if you'd like to get some more miles in...) 5K SOME's Thanksgiving … [Read more...]
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