Weekend Activities

Does anyone else ever feel like the weekend went by so fast that it actually didn't happen? We were relaxing on the couch Sunday night after a crazy weekend and I felt like it was still Friday night and we had 2 full days to fill with so many great activities (boy oh boy was I WRONG!). 

Friday I started off with an 8 mile run on the treadmill binge-watching Gilmore Girls (definitely a #guiltypleasure of mine) and then had a serious craving for a bagel and cranberry juice. Luckily we have ONE bagel shop in all of Steamboat that could cure me of my hangriness. 

The rest of the day went by relatively smoothly and we got out early (wohoo) so the weekend was here! We had leftovers (so glamorous, I know) and got some chores done (hellooo endless amounts of laundry- does it ever stop? and cleaning out the car). 

Saturday we originally planned to go for a hike, but the weather showed a pretty good chance of storms so we put that on the backburner. I had 8 miles to do, so I headed into town and did a little over a mile before my Power Barre class at Steamboat Pilates Studio and then did the remaining 6.85 miles afterwards! Talk about a seriously long work-out session. The class was really challenging and I knew that I would need to push through the rest of my miles (luckily I just had an easy pace scheduled so I could take it as slow as I needed and just get the miles under my belt). It didn't go as bad as expected and I met up with Alex & Stella afterwards to go check out the Farmers Market! We both got Falafels for lunch and shared a lemonade. 

The rest of the day was spent doing some grocery shopping and cooking! I made the mustard-glazed chicken thighs from Practical Paleo and twice-baked stuffed jalepeno sweet potatoes (find the recipe on my Recipe Pinterest page!). Both things were seriously SO good.

Photo was taken before they went in for their second bake!

I also made some homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies (those were gone by Sunday night), Superhero Muffins from Run Fast Eat Slow (for breakfasts this week), and roasted some beets for smoothies!

On Sunday (rest day), we finished up chores in the morning (lots and lots of cleaning!) and then headed out for a short hike with a few friends. I can't believe I didn't take any photos the entire time! So unlike me, I know.. Just take my word for it- the view of the lake below was beautiful! 

I did some meal-prepping for the week ahead and for dinner and made up this lovely salad for lunches for the week and dinner Sunday night with Salmon. Super easy and it had: Spinach, Arugula, Onions, Strawberries, Sesame Seeds, Feta, Broccoli, Thyme, Salt, Pepper, and basil. 

We headed out Sunday afternoon to the lake! We live less than 2 miles away from it and this was our first time being out on the lake. We just got a kayak so we wanted to test it out and rented a paddleboard (since the kayak was a one-person). I ofcourse ended up falling in the water on the paddleboard after getting a bit toooo cocky in my abilities and trying some warrior 2 yoga poses... I held it for a good minute and while waiting for Alex to retrieve the camera, fell in. It was pretty funny though and luckily the water wasn't TOO chilly.

That was our weekend full of chores, activities, and a little bit of rest! I'm excited to get back to a week of training and another long run on the schedule this coming weekend. 

How was your weekend?

Thoughts on splitting up a run between a work-out class?

Ever tried yoga on a paddleboard or paddleboarding?

Remaining Positive During the Tough Times

This morning as I was entering mile 3 of my 6 mile tempo run, I had a really difficult time staying positive. My stomach was feeling funky and I was tired and the miles weren't flying by as fast as they normally do. I really just wanted to be done, but I knew I would be super bummed at myself if I just gave into these 'silly' feelings! So, I figured others could also be feeling this way either in their runs/ life/ work-outs/ your job/ personal life etc. and wanted to put out a few tricks that I do to help me get out of my 'rut'. 

1. Remember how far you've come. This doesn't have to necessarily relate to running (although it definitely can). Thinking back to other obstacles that you've overcome, goals you've accomplished that once were seen as impossible or difficult, places you've been able to experience that you never thought you would set foot on, or miles you've ran that you once thought seemed impossible-for-you can really help put things into perspective. I know this morning when I started to get really down and thinking there's no way I can go on like this for 2 or 3 more miles, I think back to when I've really ROCKED training runs or races and how at some points, they were hard too (and I once even thought those runs/races were impossible for me to accomplish). Know where you've started and be PROUD of that. You may not be where you want to be right now, but think of how far you've come during your journey- you are more badass than you give yourself credit for!

2. Take yourself out of the moment. This really really helps me when things get really tough. I start to day-dream. I might think about my day ahead or something I'm looking forward to. Sometimes when I'm having a really tough time, I think to something I've excited for MONTHS from now (i.e. Las Vegas or Dopey Challenge!). Knowing that you've got something to look forward to and plan for can help switch your mind from those negative self-talk to positive self-talk and happy thoughts. Maybe while thinking about these fun things that you have planned, you'll realize that where you are right now is a stepping stone towards reaching those trips/experiences etc. This is also a good time to daydream about those trips that aren't yet scheduled! I love to daydream about the places I want to visit someday or experiences that I want to partake in. 

3. Know that the pain is temporary. I'm really not a big fan of this saying, but it is really true and helps me push through the hurt (especially during races). I also like thinking that the faster I go (unless I'm in serious 'injuring myself territory'), the quicker I'll be done. That normally always does the trick because when you're in pain you really just want it to be over with! This also helps me get out of funks sometimes- know that the storm may be intense now, but there will be sunny skies up ahead and to just keep pushing through. Try to find the silver lining in your situation and just focus on that. It could be something as simple as being done with your day and going home to snuggle with your cat/dog/significant other (if they aren't a furnace like Alex is- too hot for snuggling!). 

What tips do you use to get you through tough times or hard runs?

Are you a fan of mantras? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Also, head over to the fitness tab- I've added 2 new arm exercises with the Bosu Ball that I'm loving lately!

Hanson's Marathon Method Week 3 Rundown

I seriously cannot believe that week 3 of the Hanson's Marathon Method has already come and gone! You guys this training cycle is flying by! I'm pretty glad that I document it because I may otherwise never remember what I ran each week. I started doing a few new things to compliment my training this week and I really believe they've been helping boost my recovery. I also switched around my rest day from Saturday to Sunday so I could get my long run in on seriously sore and tired legs (boost up that marathon mental strength). 

Heres the run-down of week 3 & training thus far:

Monday: 6 miles easy

• I like to start off my week of running on the treadmill so I know my recovery pace will truly be really easy (I keep it towards the 10:20 min/mi range) and it's kinda nice to kick off the week on the treadmill and be able to catch up on the news. I did a 60 minute JumpBoard Pilates class at noon and was sore for several days afterwards!

Tuesday: 1. 5 mile warm-up (outside); 8 x 600s (@2:44) with 400 Recovery (@11:19) between sets; 1.5 miles cool-down => 8 miles total

• I normally like to do my speedwork on the treadmill and I was all ready to complete my warm-up and hit the track, but there were soccer players on the track at 6:30am! I was not quite ready to suffer with others, so I headed back to the gym and finished my workout on the treadmill and hit my paces there.

Wednesday: 7 miles easy

• It was pretty cold and rainy out this morning, so I figured to just keep up my indoor running streak (exaggerating) and hit up the treadmill for this one again at a 10:10 min/mi pace. I did a 20 minute strength session before my run, but was still pretty sore from my pilates class on Monday!!

Thursday: 1.5 mile warm-up; 6 miles @ tempo (8:41 min/mi); 1.5 mile cool-down

• I was pretty exhausted come Thursday morning and shut-off my alarm and decided to sleep-in instead of going to the gym, so that meant an after-work running sesh for me! Normally, I try to listen to my body and when it needs more sleep, I'll just rearrange my schedule to fit it in (and lucky I have such a great support system at home to be able to do this). It was pretty hot out after work, so I headed to the treadmill to get this one done since I had specific paces that I needed to hit. It went really well and I felt a bit sore afterwards, but not too terrible. 

Friday: 6 miles easy

• Finally made it outside for this run! I did my favorite run around the river and had a hard time keeping the paces really slow. Average pace was 9:58 min/mi. 

Saturday: 10 miles at Long-Run Pace (9:29 min/mi)

• Since 10 miles doesn't seem to really be considered a really "long long run", I slept-in and did a bunch of housework in the morning before getting ready for my run. It was 1 in the afternoon before I started and I was pretty nervous since my legs were pretty fatigued by the week of high mileage and speed/tempo sessions, but I knew that the more I'm able to train on these tired legs, the better equipped I'll be to handle those last 6 miles of the marathon! So I headed out (luckily it was pretty much overcast) with extra water and totally nailed my pace of 9:29 min/mi. I stopped a few times just to make sure I was cooling my body down (it does NOT do well in heat) and getting enough fluids. This run was definitely a self-esteem builder.

Sunday: REST DAY

• I did a bunch of foam rolling and also a quick round of weights (arms/abs/legs), then really just relaxed the rest of the day which was definitely needed! Alex had hurt his back from his softball game the week before and we just took the day and watched the Breaking Bad marathon that was on AMC! One of the best shows to binge-watch. 

Sunshine Goods:

• I hit my paces for all three SOS (something of substance) work-outs
• I managed to keep my recovery easy runs really easy (thanks to the treadmill!)
• I took 2 Epsom Salt Baths this week <-- I REALLY think these help with recovery!
• I put my legs up the wall twice this week <-- another really important recovery tool
• Trying to be a "mindful" eater & remember that food=fuel and that I'll continue to need more fuel as I train 
• I pushed through my long run on Saturday on pretty tired and sore legs

Gloomy Goods:

• My legs were pretty fatigued by Saturday
• I'm tired a lot of the time and maybe relied on caffeine a bit too much last week!
• I'm also hungry allll the time (trying to eat every 2 hours now)
• I had to run on the treadmill a bit more than ideal this week

JULY MILEAGE

Last day of July! Can you believe it?!? This month definitely FLEW BY for me. I think starting the month off with our vacation really made this month super funky and go-by with a bit of jet-lag. 

I hit my HIGHEST MILEAGE WEEK EVER this month and am still in shock! I'm so awestruck that I was able to run this much this month (including a week of only 20 miles) and am really excited to see what else is in-store for me during this training cycle. I'm feeling fitter and stronger than ever. 

I remember when I first started running and my long-runs would consist of running and walking (I think I was definitely battling Anemia as well) and would feel really disappointed after each training run. My legs would feel really heavy and I would just be defeated and continue to beat myself up about it. Now that I've over 50 miles longer than that milestone, I just feel really lucky, strong, and capable of so much more! It helps to have something stable in your life like running when other things in your life are unsteady and unknown. 

I love how running is always there. Like your favorite sweater, it just fits and works with you rather than judging you if you maybe gain those 5 extra Ibs around the Holidays.

The first full week of the month was spent getting back into work and day-to-day rhythm and also building up my base mileage before marathon #5 training would begin the following week! 

The next three weeks were spent building up mileage by 5 miles each week and now I'm at a point where I'll stay pretty steady around 45 miles for about 4 weeks before adding on a few more to get to 50!

I also got the new Brooks Ghost 10's and have seriously been LOVING them the past 2 weeks! I wish I could wear my running shoes ALL THE TIME. 

I'm still debating adding in a half-marathon into this training schedule either in September or October- any thoughts? I'm torn between wanting to keep building my base and keep chipping-away at my speedwork sessions and also really try to trim-down my half marathon PR to the time that I know I'm capable of! I'm really always into being adventurous and "going for it", but I also want to play this training cycle safe and come to the starting line ready to run it all out. Hmmm...I have until tonight to make my decision on the September race (the price increases by $10) and I'm giving myself a deadline (the end of this week) to decide on the October race! I just really love racing! 

I also had my first double-digit run since the marathon last month (10 miles) and it felt really strong. My training plan had me running at my long-run tempo pace of 9:29 min/mi and I was a bit skeptical of hitting this pace since I didn't start my run until 1pm on Saturday (it was overcast, but still over 80 degrees outside) and my legs were pretty sore from the week of tough training runs. I stopped a few times during my run to get in the shade and cool my body temperature down and take in some extra fluids to prevent dehydration. I kicked it up in the last mile (the bad thing about my garmin is that I'm unable to see what my average pace is throughout the run and only what my current pace is) since I knew I'd be close to hitting my average pace and couldn't be more excited to see that I hit my pace EXACTLY at the end of my run! This was such an uplifting feeling. I'm hoping to have more training runs like this!

I took Sunday as my rest day and ran 6.15 miles on the treadmill this morning to get me to 150 miles for the month at slow recovery pace (my heart rate didn't go above 150 so that's progress!). 

How was your weekend?

Thoughts on racing a shorter distance before a big goal race? 

Any big milestones for you this month or training plans scheduled for August?!

EASY run days & thoughts on your 20's??

Happy weekend! This week sure flew-by for me!

It feels like forever since I've done a life update! I have been very busy with work, running, trying to fit in strength/stretching/foam rolling, sleep, and outdoor summer activities! I'm hoping to do a "what I eat in a day" post here in within the next few days, so don't forget to check back!

I went on an easy run yesterday morning (my first run outside since Sunday!) and really struggled with keeping my pace super easy. Now that I'm starting to gain more fitness and feel stronger than ever, I really want to play with my paces more, but I have to keep reminding myself that now is NOT the time to play with paces! I can play with my paces on my long/tempo/speed runs, but definitely not on the easy runs. The easier my runs are, the more I notice that I can recover faster and I'm gaining more fitness. 

The good thing with the slowing-down that I'm doing is that I can really take-in the scenery! It was so beautiful out and had that "early morning summer dew" smell going on- I kinda really wish there was a candle that had this smell because it always makes me think of summer mornings, waking-up early, drinking coffee on the porch, fog lifting from the valley floor, and cooler-temperature runs. 

Another thing that I'm thinking about is how there is so much PRESSURE on young people these days. I honestly feel like I've had more trouble with putting pressure on myself (and from others) in my 20's rather than in my middle and high-school years. Does anyone else feel this way? I'm sure some personalities can really thrive on this type of "flailing lifestyle" where everything is kinda unsure and up-in-the-air, but definitely not my type-A, OCD, obsessive planner self. It is nice to be a big day-dreamer and have so many goals, but if you look at them in the bigger picture it really is daunting and intimidating! I guess that's why we should really just focus on the smaller tasks (like my post yesterday?) and chip-away towards those bigger goals. 

I also feel like cherishing these times in our life are super important because we always want what we don't have or no longer have, right? So, I'm trying to embrace this stage in my life more and know that it will just make me a stronger person in the end. 

I have a ten mile run at my long-run pace (9:31 min/mi) on tap this weekend and I think I'll just see how I feel whether I do it today or tomorrow. The other day will be a rest day! We will also be resting this weekend (I think the past two weekends of camping really took a lot out of us) and hopefully a date night and maybe some paddle boarding! 

What are your weekend plans? Is anyone racing this weekend?

Thoughts on easy runs? Love them? Hate them?

What were your impressions of your 20's versus teen's? Which one was better or were they both just different?