Coffee time! I don't often make it for a coffee date with friends these days, but I'm trying to be better about being social. So, I'm joining up with Deborah and Coco for a virtual coffee date. I managed to get a run in with Deborah recently and ran into Coco at an event, so I'm even doing some real life socializing! I’m also linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for Friday Five 2.0. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I went from no races to a huge number of races in a flash this spring. I didn't mean to, but somehow it just happened! Somehow I've run 17.75, a timed trail race, and two half marathon that I did not have on my race calendar. This weekend I'm finally running the Frederick Half Marathon - … [Read more...]
Shaking things up to get #SummerStrong
Bob's Red Mill and FitApproach sponsored this post. All opinions are my own. Y'all know I love to run. In fact, running is really the only fitness activity that I do because I love to do it. I occasionally do other things, but it's never because I'm excited to do them. I do them because I know I should or I get a chance to take a free class or someone guilts me into it. But that has to change. My core is weak, my upper body has zero definition, and my hips and legs have been sending up "pre-injury" signals for a while. I know that building some muscle will only make me a better runner, so that's my goal as I get ready to start marathon (and maybe ultra) training. So, how do I plan to get #summerstrong? Strength … [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...]
Go big or go home (+ a winner)
Beer Geek has a few days of leave he has to use by the end of the year. Because this year he's covering the office during Christmas week, he's decided to take a few random days off between now and then. Monday was the first of those days. Being the good wife that I am, (stop laughing), I asked him what he'd like to do on his day off. His response? Let's bike to Mad Fox Brewery and back. Although my immediate reaction was "hell.no.", what came out of my mouth was "Sure, I can do that." What??? Let me tell you a little bit about the planned ride. It's hilly. It's 5.5 miles each way. Some biking in traffic is required. It was windy yesterday. And, oh yeah, it's HILLY! And the farthest I'd ever ridden before was 3 … [Read more...]
(Wo)Man of Steel™
Disclosure: The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Soldier of Steel ™ So far, June is the month of not running. (That's not completely true as I did run a half marathon. A long half marathon.) My various body parts have asked for a break from the pounding that is running. One of my ankles is really angry at me and in fact threw a complete temper tantrum this morning. Jacked up ankle + 3 inch heels? Recipe for face plant. That's all I'm saying. So, I'm looking elsewhere for fitness. Yoga, Best Body Bootcamp, Pilates, Spinning and, now, Soldier of Steel ™. I swear, the perfect opportunities seem to fall in my lap just when I need them. What am I talking about? Check this out... I want to … [Read more...]
Five for Friday
1. I've been doing Tina Reale's Best Body Bootcamp for the last 8 weeks. I'll write a review this weekend, but {spoiler alert} I'll be signing up for the next round. Today, the workout involved upper body weights with burpees in between. In fact, it called for a total of 125 burpees! Umm, I've never done more than 5 burpees in a row, ever. But I did it! The last few of each set of 25 might have involved a pushup on my knees and something that looked more like crawling than jumping my feet forward, but I did it. Who'd like to come feed me later when I can't lift my arms? 2. I've also been participating in the What's Beautiful campaign with Under Armour (through FitFluential). Yesterday a box came in the mail with some free … [Read more...]
Proud of myself
Some things you may or may not know about me: I don't like exercise, unless it's running I am not an evening exerciser. If things don't happen before dinner, the likelihood of me doing anything is somewhere between slim and none. I'm 42 (GAH!) and as much as I don't enjoy strength exercises, I need to do them. Yesterday was one of those days where I not only had a lot to get done, I needed to do some of it not sweaty. (OK, as hot as it got, I was still sweaty. But I was clean under it. LOL) So, instead of running and then immediately doing the strength workout for Best Body Boot Camp like I have been, I ran and then jumped in the shower. I spent the day working, meeting friends for lunch, and meeting my boss for our monthly … [Read more...]
Work in Progress: Best Body Boot Camp
I've done a lot of running so far this year. I also did a whole lot of not running while my calf healed. What I didn't do was a whole lot of strength training. My once a week yoga class, while awesome, was not enough to build muscle. I'm paying the price now. I have zero upper body strength, my glutes are mushy, and even my legs leave a lot to be desired. I joined the Best Body Boot Camp to try and rectify the situation. If the first four days are any indication, I'll be in amazing shape at the end. Tina has sent us workouts for each day with prescribed weight workouts 3 days a week + directions for cardio. You can choose any form of cardio (elliptical, bike, etc.) and, as you can imagine, I've chosen to run. At first … [Read more...]
I don’t like to exercise
No, really, I don't. At heart, I'm a lazy girl who would like to sit on the couch with a book and a beer. (Just for the record, running is not exercise. It's a drug. A very addictive drug.) I'm not a fan of the gym or going to classes or riding a bike for anything other than fun. Oh, sure, I talk a good game. I talk about how I want to cross train. I talk about how zen yoga is. I write great reviews about the awesome class I attended. And I mean all it before AND after. It's the during I have a problem with. I'm the one mentally cursing the instructor. I'm the one hating on the "pain" (ok, really it's just muscle burn). I'm the one peaking at the clock, willing it to go faster. But you know what, I'm still there. … [Read more...]
Baby Steps
This week's TIART topic at the Runner's Lounge is strength training, Pre-kids, I used to work out at the office gym 4 or 5 times a week. At least two of those days, I did strength training for about 45 minutes. I still preferred cardio, but I did my weights and saw some nice muscle definition. Fast forward 8 years and 2 kids and the abs ain't what they used to be. My legs are strong from all the running and my arms are strong from toting around a three year old, but muscle definition is seriously lacking. Add in age related metabolism slow down and it's not a pretty sight. One of my goals for the year was to start doing strength training. Since I always put it off when it involved even a 15 minute commitment, I decided I'd do 5 … [Read more...]
Mama got a new pair of socks!
So, I've managed to keep up my weight workouts for two weeks. I'm seeing a bit of muscle in my shoulders and back and my legs feel a bit stronger. If I keep it up for two more weeks, I get to buy some new running tights. Hopefully that will be enough incentive to keep going and hopefully by then, I'll see enough body improvements to want to keep doing it for that. I am pretty excited by the new socks though LOL and Jones loves his new Brooks shoes (and Shoo seems to think that the 26.2 magnet I bought belongs to him LOL). All in all, a good trip to the LRS. I did a 10 mile run yesterday and it felt pretty good. I averaged just under a 10 minute pace, with only one mile being over 10 (mile 7 where I hit two stoplights and ate a Gu). If I … [Read more...]
