I didn't set a lot of specific goals for 2018. I knew I was venturing into uncharted territory with my increase in work hours. I also had changed up my training with the Faster Way to Weight Loss and I had no idea what that was going to do to my running. Short story: It was an awesome year for the most part, FWTWL is still working for me, and I love working for ZOOMA, but it took most of the year to get my heel (90%) healed. Long story, well, grab some popcorn and settle in. 2018 Goals Running Continue running injury free. Yeah, that didn't work out at all for me. I, like many runners, ignored the "niggle" and kept running half marathons. Until I couldn't. Then I spent from May until late November dealing with off … [Read more...]
Five Reasons to Run ZOOMA Great Lakes
Disclaimer: I work for ZOOMA, so I am a bit biased, but I also think ZOOMA is pretty awesome. Credit to ZOOMA for most of the below pictures. The course is lovely. It's mostly on back roads, with decent shade and some nice views of the lake. There are rolling hills (my favorite!), but no huge hills to speak of. The resort grounds are spectacular. (I haven't been in the rooms, but they look nice on the website.) There several pools, a miniature golf course, and various other outdoor games and sports. There is also a boat rental where you can rent anything from kayaks to paddle boats to pontoon boats. Oh, and they have nightly bonfires! And there's been a short extension on the ZOOMA rates for the resort. Book your room at … [Read more...]
Memorial Weekend Races around DC
Before I get to the Tuesdays on the Run topic of Memorial Races, I need to share that I've lost my muse. I haven't run much at all in the last two weeks and I'm starting to lose my mind and I'm definitely losing my ability to write. The worst part is that the pain is in multiple places in my foot/ankle and I never know what part is going to hurt the most. Thankfully it does not seem to be aggravated by the exercise bike or the rowing machine, so I will be doing my best to get some endorphins tomorrow. Endorphins = people in my house are allowed to live plus maybe I'll actually be able to think of something to talk about. /whine Memorial Weekend Races around DC Looking for a race ON Memorial Day? Check out the RINGING IN HOPE: A … [Read more...]
DuClaw Gose O’s Gose Ale Parfait
Thank you DuClaw Brewing for sponsoring this post and sending me the DuClaw Gose O's. All opinions and the parfait recipe are my own. Welcome to the April 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 "DuClaw Gose O's", a gose beer with a slight sourness and a hint of cantaloupe and salt. I have to confess that it reminds me a bit of a jolly rancher (this is a good thing - sweet and tart at the same time.) My mine immediately jumped to summer picnics and jello salad. What? I'm from Wisconsin and I'm Lutheran. EVERYTHING is celebrated with a jello salad. But instead of creating … [Read more...]
Five of my favorite fives
Today I am busy running around the Lost Pines Resort helping with the ZOOMA Texas Expo and prepping for the race. Since I was crazy busy before I left and will be crazy busy for the next two days, I decided to share five of my favorite Friday Five posts. Conveniently, today's topic for Friday 2.0 is "oldies but goodies." Gotta love it when things line up that way. All about me: This was one of the very first Friday Fives I ever did and it contains some little known facts about me. If you are new to MCM Mama, this a great post to learn more about me and why I run and why I write. Here's more if you haven't gotten enough. Five races that are better with friends: Since my number one race was ZOOMA and I'm currently at ZOOMA, this … [Read more...]
Running is not always my favorite
There I admitted it. I mean, I often wax poetic about running. I've written love letters. I've talked about how it's helped me with depression. But it's not always rainbows and unicorns. So, since our topic for Tuesdays on the Run is "what I hate about running," I'm going to share why it's not always my favorite. It's hard to improve, but easy to lose your gains. I'm in amazing shape right now thanks to the Faster Way to Fat Loss. (I get commission if you buy through this link.) Have you seen my arms lately??? I'm strong and I've lost a lot of inches. But my running kind of sucks. I stopped running long in December and I find myself once again heading into half marathon season undertrained. And those speed gains I worked so hard for? … [Read more...]
DuClaw Cargo Schwarz S’mores Waffles
Thank you DuClaw Brewing for sponsoring this post and sending me the DuClaw Cargo Schwarz. All opinions and the waffle recipe are my own. Welcome to the January 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 "Cargo Schwarz", a schwarzbier or black lager. You all know I love a good dark beer and this beer gives me that toasted malty flavor without the heaviness or the high ABV. As per usual, we came up with some ideas and then a taste of the beer sent us in a totally different direction. With a sort of "biscuity" flavor with hints of chocolate and coffee, this beer just screamed … [Read more...]
2018 Predictions: Certainties and Uncertainties
Here we are, two weeks into 2018, and I guess what? I have no idea what the year will bring. At this point in time, I've registered for 1! race - the Frederick Half Marathon. I've bought no plane tickets and made no travel plans. While I am far from a type A personality, I usually at least have things planned and I feel like most of my life, including my running, is like nailing down jello right now. Since the topic for today's Tuesdays on the Run is "2018 Predictions", I'm going to read the lines in my palm and tell you what I see (or something like that...) Things I see as definites: Somehow I WILL manage to run (or at least finish) the 2018 Marine Corps Marathon. I know that I have options to get in, so somehow I'll get in … [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...]
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...]
The highs and lows of summer 2017
Summer is over. Normally, summer hangs on until it is no longer officially summer, but for some reason this year, summer decided to leave when the kids went to school. We've had perfect running weather nearly every day for the last couple of weeks. I've actually even managed to go out for some runs without taking water in the last few days. I know, crazy for this time of year. I am very thankful, especially considering what much of the rest of the country is going through. Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are taking a look back at summer and sharing our highs and lows. I was lucky - our summer was mostly highs! High I got to meet Marcia finally! Low I didn't get to meet Susie or Wendy on this trip to Chicago. High I … [Read more...]
Lessons learned at another multi-race series
I've finished another multi-state adventure. It went both better and worse than I expected. I also learned a few new things at this race. Don't worry, I'll tell you all about each and every race soon. For Friday 2.0 with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness, here's what I learned this time. ChafeX is amazing. Not only does it help prevent chafing, but if you chafe (because you didn't think to put it someplace), it helps you survive the next day's race without crying. When you are running out and backs multiple times, a hilly course is killer. I was quite literally counting how many hills I had left, rather than laps. Salty broth and noodles are better than Gatorade. I swear nothing tastes better 10 or so miles into a … [Read more...]
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