Apparently my blog has been reduced to a coffee break. Oh well, that's where I am in life right now and I'm just going to own it. I'm joining Deb and Coco for another virtual coffee. Someday I'll get to have coffee with friends again. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I have a crazy busy fall ahead. In some ways, it feels almost like we are back to normal, but the receipts for new masks in my email inbox pretty much show that to be a lie. I am looking forward to my first (and maybe only) in person race this fall. I'll be running the 46th Marine Corps Marathon. You can still sign up to join me if you'd like. Heck, you can even sign up to do the races virtually and earn the trifecta coin. I am slower than molasses these days … [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...]
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...]
Time for some cross training: winter is coming!
I confess, when I'm marathon training (even as poorly as I trained this year), I drop cross training like it's a snake. I stop strength training, I don't hit the gym, I don't do yoga. Heck, most times I don't even use my foam roller. Guess what? I can tell I've been doing nothing but running. This morning my core hurt more than just about any other body part, just from doing its job yesterday. Yes, I know that a strong core makes for a stronger runner, but I don't think I've done a plank since school started. Oops. So, I guess it's a good time to talk winter cross training here on Tuesdays on the Run. I know what I'll be doing - what's on your agenda? First up is re-acquainting myself with the gym. Last spring I would drop Shoo at … [Read more...]
ZOOMA Summer Fitness Challenge
Confession: I've fallen off the running wagon. Life has just been crazy. Not necessarily busier than usual, but just more things from different directions. It's like trying to keep 1000 balloons in the air rather than five balls - they move slower but there are so many more of them! I have, however, been doing an informal strength fitness challenge with friends and I've done great with that. Shocking, I know! But it's time to get back on a more formal program. I'm going to be spending this week getting the Hansons's training plan onto my calendar to get ready for Marine Corps Marathon in October. (Why, oh why, is my favorite marathon a fall marathon??? I hate training in the summer.) But I don't intend to just run this summer. I like … [Read more...]
Home Gym Essentials
For the last few months, I've been slowly but surely turning my children's playroom into my personal home gym. The room that used to be filled with legos and cars and balls is slowly but surely being converted into a place to exercise for me. After all, at 14 and 10, my kids really weren't using the space any longer. In fact, they gave me carte blanche to throw or give away anything out there. Since it's Friday and the topic is "fitness", I'm going to share the five things I think every home gym should have and what versions I happen to have. A cardio machine - Sometimes running outside or riding a bike or getting to a class is just not an option, whether that's because of the weather or a kid home sick or needing to work out at an … [Read more...]
FE Strong Home Gym Trainer Review #trainbold
It's been pretty strongly established on this blog that I love to run, but I'm not good about doing anything that resembles cross training. I'll take a class here and there and I've done some sessions with a trainer, but when push comes to shove and time gets tight, running wins every time. So, I was pretty excited to be given the FE Strong Home Gym suspension system to review. I've used a suspension system both at the gym with my trainer and at Orangetheory, I knew how to use one. The FE Strong Home Gym works just like any other suspension system. You anchor it to a door or some overhead option like a jungle gym or a really sturdy tree branch. Then you use the system with your body weight to do a workout. There are TONS of videos … [Read more...]
Cross Training for Runners around Washington DC
This week has been a bit of a rough one. Circumstances beyond my control have prevented me from having a convenient time to run or go to the gym and my own emotional struggles have kept me from putting myself first. I did manage to run on Wednesday with a group of friends and I'm working in my running clothes today and WILL find at least 20 minutes to get out for a short run. (If nothing else, I need the endorphins.) But while I've been stuck waiting for things, I've been thinking about all the cool workout options I'd love to explore in the DC area to get some cross training back in my life. Orange Theory - This combination treadmill, indoor rowing, and weight class keeps you in a target heart rate to torch calories during the … [Read more...]
Snowzilla hit DC this weekend
As I mentioned on Thursday when I was "thinking out loud about winter", there was a big storm AKA Snowzilla slated to hit the Washington DC area this past weekend. I have to admit that I had a fair amount of skepticism about exactly how bad the storm would be. We do get the occasional HUGE snowfall, but more often than not, the weathermen are way off around here. (Unless you were completely off any sort of media or social media outlet this weekend, you know the weathermen nailed it this time.) But let's backtrack a bit... Our weekend started early when the kids did not have school on Thursday. Roads were still slippery around here and some of our county is super hilly. I dragged the boys out to a doctor's appointment with me - the … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to Hire a Personal Trainer
It's not exactly a secret that I'd rather run any day than hit the gym. When I do hit the gym, I'd rather take a spin class or jump on the elliptical. I'm not sure when this started - I used to weight train 2-3 times a week before we had kids. I think it's because I don't get quite the endorphin "high" from weight lifting that I do from cardio. And, as a mom, I need that high. Really. Anyways, after I ran Marine Corps Marathon, my body was begging for a break from running. I joined a gym and on a whim, took them up on a personal training deal. The five sessions were amazing and I really wish it was in the budget to continue. Here's why I think you should hire a personal trainer... Accountability - this is huge if you are good at … [Read more...]
Core Strength for Runners – TOTR
Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are chatting about core strength and workouts for your core. Many runners (ok, I'm referring to myself here) neglect any sort of core work, in favor of just running. Yet a strong core is important for running, especially for long distance running. … [Read more...]
Let’s talk injuries (Tuesdays on the Run)
Sometimes it feels like "runner" is synonymous with "injury". I mean, how often do you open up a blog post to read and find out that one of your favorite running bloggers is dealing with an injury of some sort? Shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, achilles tendonitis - which one do YOU have? But it doesn't have to be that way! That's why April, Patty and I have suggested "injuries" as the topic for this week's Tuesdays on the Run. Have you ever heard of Berenstain Bear's Bike Lesson? (No? Go. Read it now. Love that book!) "This is what you should not do" Sin 1: Ignoring that little niggling pain - Oh yeah, I do this one all the time. One thing I was told in my RRCA coaching class was that if it hurts when you … [Read more...]
