This post contains affiliate links. I make a commission for purchases made through the links in this post. These types of links are indicated by an *. 2018 has been a year of trying something new. I'm trying to roll with the punches for our family schedule, I've taken another part time job running ZOOMA's ambassador program, and I'm working out in a different way. I've had to make some changes to my life to accommodate those things. I keep a running list of tickets I need to buy and races I'd like to run (along with deadlines for price increases, although I'm currently of the opinion that I'll pay more and actually run a race rather than register early and lose that money if life gets in the way.) I have timers on my computer that I use … [Read more...]
Building a home gym #MakeYourMove
This post is sponsored by Kohl's. I was paid for this post and received the included exercise equipment as compensation. Confession: I am not good about cross training and I like to take the path of least resistance when it comes to exercise. I can't tell you how often I've said I'm going to take a class or hit the gym and just not done it. I'm much better about doing workouts in my home. (Not as good as I am about running, because well, I have a love affair with running, but definitely better than if I actually have to leave the house). Despite that, I've maintained a membership in a gym for the last year, so that I could occasionally do cardio besides running. Not any more. Beer Geek and I have been talking for a while about … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon Zen
In 3 days, I'll be lining up at the start line for the 40th running of the Marine Corps Marathon. I'll be joined by approximately 40,000 of my closest friends. I'm feeling surprisingly zen about the whole thing. When I originally decided to run MCM, I had a goal of getting a PR. I trained with the Hansons plan to try to finally break 4:30. And there was a portion of the training cycle where that looked like it might actually be possible. And then there were the dark days. The days were I was coughing constantly and my hip had me grounded from running. For a while there, I wondered if I'd make it to the start line, much less actually get through to the finish line. Now, I'm in a different place entirely. Why? Runner's World … [Read more...]
Final Week of Summer
The countdown has begun - the kids have 1 more week off of school and 2 weeks from today, I'll be lacing up my Altras and stepping up to the start line of the first of 6 half marathons in 6 days. Gah! I think I'm ready. I mean, I need to pack, but I've now run 5 days in a row with my shortest run being a fast (for me) 7 miles and my longest one being a slow 12 miler. This weekend was a good weekend, but not one for many pictures. Friday I took Jones to the zoo in the morning. Shoo doesn't love the zoo, so I took advantage of Beer Geek working from home and left him at home to entertain himself. (Sometimes having older kids ROCKS!) After the zoo, I worked for a bit and then crammed in a 7 mile run before we headed … [Read more...]
10 ways marathon training is like having a newborn
Trained for a marathon? Had a baby? Then you know how similar the two experiences are! *This post was sponsored by Vocalpoint and Dick's Sporting Goods. All opinions are my own.* Google will be your best friend. And your worst enemy. The laundry will be never-ending and often gross. Everyone will have an opinion on whether you are doing it right. Especially those who have never done it. You will able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere. Including in the middle of a sentence. (OK, maybe I'm stretching here, maybe I'm sleeping...) You will be hungry all.the. time. You will second guess your decisions several times each day. Your choice of bras may be the most important decision you make all day. You will occasionally … [Read more...]
TOTR: Fall Race Schedule
Here we are, a good chunk of the way through summer. Some kids are heading back to school (not mine, sigh) You are almost half way through marathon training if you are doing a mid-late October marathon. 20 mile runs are popping up on the calendars. So, of course, Patty, April, and I want to know: What's your fall race schedule??? My schedule feels kind of light, but it's really not: 7 half marathons and 1 marathon. (OK, maybe what's bothering me that I'll only have a total of 10 races at the half or longer distance this year. No 15 in 2015 for me.) Here's my plan: Source: Mainly Marathons Center of the Nation Series: 6 half marathons in 6 states in 6 days at the beginning of September. This is another of the Mainly … [Read more...]
Hansons Marathon Method Review
Today on Friday Five with Cynthia, Mar, and Courtney, the topic was a day in the life. Since I did one on Wednesday, I figured I'd do something different. I am currently about halfway through my training for Marine Corps Marathon using the Hansons Marathon Method, so I thought I'd share my impressions so far. 1. The mileage is higher than you realize. I'll admit, I looked at the training plan before I read the book. And the mileage didn't scare me. Well, some of the runs are longer than they are on the plan because if you are doing a tempo or a speed workout, you are expected to run a warm up mile (or 3) and a cool down mile. End result? I'm spending a lot more time running than I expected. 2. 6 days a week is a lot more than 5 … [Read more...]
TOTR: Running free for all
All of us over at Tuesdays on the Run have a little bit of crazy going on in our lives right now, so we decided to make this week be a "free topic" week. So write about any running related topic and link up with April, Patty, and me this week. Real topics resume next week: August 11: Fall Race Schedule August 18: Running Role Models/Runners You Admire August 25: Running Bras I'm packing like a crazy woman (the boys and I are leaving Beer Geek here and heading to Wisconsin). I've also been busy attempting to evict a squirrel from my attic. OK, actually, we did evict him, but he (or probably more accurately she) would like back in and has spent the last two days chewing. Me? I spent the day squirting her with the water hose … [Read more...]
Hills and Beer
The title pretty much covers my trip to Asheville last week. It was an amazing trip, but it did not do any amazing things to my marathon training. (Didn't quite derail it, but close...) We drove down to Asheville via Chapel Hill. I went there for grad school, so wanted to take the kids there and show them the campus. Unfortunately, we hit awful traffic leaving at DC (note to self: on a summer Friday, always leave as early as possible), so it was close to dinner time by the time we arrived. I'd splurged and gotten us a suite at the gorgeous Franklin Inn (because we couldn't afford it when I was a student. Oh, and I had an apartment LOL). They upgraded us to the Presidential Suite. It was amazing! … [Read more...]
Fun weekend and the training week that wasn’t
It's Monday, so of course, it's time to recap my weekend and last week's training plan. This past weekend was fun, fun, fun. I was the guest instagrammer for the Skirt Sports instagram account and we had a busy weekend planned. … [Read more...]
Thinking out loud: Ch-ch-ch-changes
Welcome to another episode of "brain dump" AKA Thinking out loud Thursday with Running with Spoons. Today's brain dump will focus on Ragnar, marathon training, and fortuitous beer. 1. It looks like I won't be running Ragnar DC this year. You may recall that I LOVE Ragnar. I'd run every Ragnar every year if I had that kind of time. I had an amazing time at Ragnar DC last year and and even better time (didn't know it was possible, but yes, it was ) at Ragnar Cape Cod this year. So, of course, I signed up for Ragnar DC this year. Except the date has changed to October this year. Have I mentioned how insane October is around here? Birthdays and races and work conferences and soccer and... I knew it was going to be a crazy weekend, but … [Read more...]
Basil parmesan pasta + Hanson’s week #2
Monday again, huh? Even with a 3 day weekend, the weekend wasn't long enough. I'm counting down the days until vacation... Friday was a holiday around here, so Beer Geek had the day off of work. We both got up early and got out workouts in and then Beer Geek suggested we head to a local beer bar mid-afternoon. Time to chat with my husband + good beer? Yes, please! (One of us doesn't understand the concept of summer beers. Oh, yeah, that's me.) … [Read more...]
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