The good: I just won a super cute Tough Chik t-shirt from Running Diva Mom! She's one of my favorite running bloggers, and all while she rocks being a single mom of two. I bow to her!
More good: I was whining on Facebook yesterday about needing a treadmill, and alas, a friend offered me her old one for FREE!!!! I'll probably pick it up this weekend and will be forever grateful. The winter up here can be rough, and I busted my butt last year trying to run through it. Literally. It hurt. Now I don't have to do that again!
The bad: Sickies and ouchies. Sickies being the kids (well, just one, but we all know how that goes...) and ouchies being me. Right now I have pretty nasty shin splints. I usually try to run through them, but right now it's at the worst ever and I need to be healthy for my upcoming events. Which leads to...
The ugly: See the upcoming races tickers on the side? Look closely at the dates and notice their proximity both to now and to each other. Yep. I'm awesome like that. I signed up for the Tough Mudder with very high hopes and excitement. I would be at the top of my game--a lean, mean, butt-kicking machine. Well, I got the mean part down. The butt-kicking machine has broken, though. I just didn't get to do what I had hoped with the kids and the moving and and and. I know, excuses are like assholes, everyone has one, right? Well, I have about 15 (excuses, that is).
Anyway, I decided that The Bronx Marathon half the week before would be an excellent addition to the Mudder. Genius, right? Right??? It's part of my beloved free Van Cortlandt Park trail racing series, which was threatened to be shut down but is magically happening now. And I really REALLY want to join the Half Fanatics, so I figured what the heck. As long as my shins can handle it, the rest of me can. I recovered well last time, and I hope to just take it easy and not hurt myself for this one. So let's all just cross our fingers and hope for some magic! I'm on a roll with the shirt and the treadmill, I can catch some running luck too...right?
I'll keep you all updated on how the races go, and hopefully I'll have my "i <3 mud" Tough Chik shirt in time to sport it at the Mudder. If I don't feel great while doing it, at least I'll look great! And that's all that counts when you're just making shit up.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
A great weekend!
Wow, I had a really fantastic weekend! I ran two races this weekend, which is for sure a record for me! Plus, we had some excellent Halloween activities and I'm all charged up for fall fun and runs.
First off, I did the Sleepy Hollow 10k, and I PR'ed! A PR for me isn't so amazing, as I'm a slowpoke. But everyone has to start somewhere, and I'm getting better consistently. I did it in 58:32, which is a 9:26/mile average. Considering that a year ago I averaged almost 2mins/mile more, I'm pretty satisfied.
The event itself was very cute. About 10% of runners were in Halloween costumes, along with some spooky fun along the route. We ran next to the Hudson River for a short bit, and the view was amazing! Add in a little time in downtown Sleepy Hollow and a Headless Horseman, and it made for a fun race. Then there was free beer at the end, but unfortunately I had to race home as per stomach's orders. (Note to runners--if you for some dumb reason think it's wise to eat a spicy sauerkraut chilidog the day before a race, I'd rethink that one. Just sayin'.)
Saturday continued with an awesome downtown kiddo parade, dinner with friends, and a trip to the circus for the big girl. What a great day!
Sunday, my race was The Cupcake Classic virtual 3.7m, for the race creator's birthday age. What a fantastic idea! I got a cute little race bib emailed to me, and I was urged to eat a cupcake afterwards. Can't beat that! I took the race to another level by going to a local state park with the family and making it a double stroller trail race. It was brutal, especially considering I realized the tires were mostly flat only after I was finished. Yes, I'm a genius. But dammit, I'm a fit genius!
Add in some fantastic Korean food that night, and it made for one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. I woke up this morning invigorated and with a new running plan in place. Now I'm aiming for 6 days/week with two morning runs being short 2-milers, two 4-milers with the jogger, one 6miler in the middle (my only early wakeup), and a long run on the weekend . I'll still up my mileage, but I'll wake up early less often, which is great since we've already seen that I can't do that well anyway. So now I have the motivation, we'll see if it sticks....
How did your weekend go? Any great workouts come out of it? How about Halloween fun? I'd love to hear it all!
First off, I did the Sleepy Hollow 10k, and I PR'ed! A PR for me isn't so amazing, as I'm a slowpoke. But everyone has to start somewhere, and I'm getting better consistently. I did it in 58:32, which is a 9:26/mile average. Considering that a year ago I averaged almost 2mins/mile more, I'm pretty satisfied.
The event itself was very cute. About 10% of runners were in Halloween costumes, along with some spooky fun along the route. We ran next to the Hudson River for a short bit, and the view was amazing! Add in a little time in downtown Sleepy Hollow and a Headless Horseman, and it made for a fun race. Then there was free beer at the end, but unfortunately I had to race home as per stomach's orders. (Note to runners--if you for some dumb reason think it's wise to eat a spicy sauerkraut chilidog the day before a race, I'd rethink that one. Just sayin'.)
 |
| I think I scared the Headless Horseman with that face. Eek. |
Sunday, my race was The Cupcake Classic virtual 3.7m, for the race creator's birthday age. What a fantastic idea! I got a cute little race bib emailed to me, and I was urged to eat a cupcake afterwards. Can't beat that! I took the race to another level by going to a local state park with the family and making it a double stroller trail race. It was brutal, especially considering I realized the tires were mostly flat only after I was finished. Yes, I'm a genius. But dammit, I'm a fit genius!
Add in some fantastic Korean food that night, and it made for one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. I woke up this morning invigorated and with a new running plan in place. Now I'm aiming for 6 days/week with two morning runs being short 2-milers, two 4-milers with the jogger, one 6miler in the middle (my only early wakeup), and a long run on the weekend . I'll still up my mileage, but I'll wake up early less often, which is great since we've already seen that I can't do that well anyway. So now I have the motivation, we'll see if it sticks....
How did your weekend go? Any great workouts come out of it? How about Halloween fun? I'd love to hear it all!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Will run for food
I love holidays. I love the feeling in the air, the decorations everywhere, the lazy days with a husband home from work, all the outlet sales.....and I LOVE holiday food! It doesn't matter if it's Memorial Day or Halloween, each major holiday has some rocking food or snacks associated with it. And I will run my ass off for them all.
I've also come to love that most major holidays have some sort of race attached to them. There are Memorial Day Marathons, Thanksgiving Turkey Trots, Haunted Halloween Runs, and so on and so forth. And I will sign up for as many as humanly possible, because I can sit down that evening and chow down in front of everyone without one ounce of regret or guilt.
I know, I know, it's not really a super great reason to run....but it works for me! And since I already run, it just ensures that I'll be on my feet and not in my bed that morning. Plus, they often have fun little events for the kiddos surrounding these races, which is a major bonus when you want someone there to cheer you on but don't want to listen to your spouse complain about lunatic bored children on the way home!
In NYC, there has been a fantastic race series called The Holiday Marathons. They're fantastic FREE trail races of all sizes from 5k to ultra-marathon. And they're a blast! Right now, they're being threatened to get shut down in an attempt to quiet the track club about a trail-conserving initiative. It is heartbreaking, but hopefully the races will endure the attack. Of course, they're not the only races of their type out there. I mentioned it before, and I'll mention it again--look up your local track club and find more (probably not free, but still fun) holiday races. You'll feel so good when you sit down and snarf all that turkey this year, knowing you ran it off ahead of time!
My upcoming holiday races are the Sleepy Hollow 10k (tomorrow) and probably the Chattanooga Turkey Trot 8k, if we can get down there. I'm sure I'll throw in a jingle jog here or there too. Do you have any holiday races (or special fitness events/traditions) in line for this season?
I've also come to love that most major holidays have some sort of race attached to them. There are Memorial Day Marathons, Thanksgiving Turkey Trots, Haunted Halloween Runs, and so on and so forth. And I will sign up for as many as humanly possible, because I can sit down that evening and chow down in front of everyone without one ounce of regret or guilt.
I know, I know, it's not really a super great reason to run....but it works for me! And since I already run, it just ensures that I'll be on my feet and not in my bed that morning. Plus, they often have fun little events for the kiddos surrounding these races, which is a major bonus when you want someone there to cheer you on but don't want to listen to your spouse complain about lunatic bored children on the way home!
In NYC, there has been a fantastic race series called The Holiday Marathons. They're fantastic FREE trail races of all sizes from 5k to ultra-marathon. And they're a blast! Right now, they're being threatened to get shut down in an attempt to quiet the track club about a trail-conserving initiative. It is heartbreaking, but hopefully the races will endure the attack. Of course, they're not the only races of their type out there. I mentioned it before, and I'll mention it again--look up your local track club and find more (probably not free, but still fun) holiday races. You'll feel so good when you sit down and snarf all that turkey this year, knowing you ran it off ahead of time!
My upcoming holiday races are the Sleepy Hollow 10k (tomorrow) and probably the Chattanooga Turkey Trot 8k, if we can get down there. I'm sure I'll throw in a jingle jog here or there too. Do you have any holiday races (or special fitness events/traditions) in line for this season?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
My Workout Schedule (-ish, kinda)
Okay, so I mentioned on my Facebook page that I wanted to write about baby carrying next. Well, that post just never came flowing, so I'll write something else. Wait for it though, babywearers--the time will come! And I'll hopefully pair it with some fun workout moves, so we'll just say I'm waiting until I have a decent camera, mkay?
Instead, I've decided to share with you all my workout "schedule". I write it like that because it never happens the way I plan it to. Here's what it looks like:
Planned schedule:
Monday--up at 7am, 1hr run
Tuesday--up at 7:30, 45 mins strength/yoga
Wednesday--up at 7am, 1hr run
Thursday--up at 7:30, 45 mins strength/yoga
Friday--up at 7am, 1hr run. Evening yoga by candlelight class
Saturday--free day, since I've worked so very hard!
Sunday--long run, aiming for 14 miles
Actual schedule, as life happens:
Monday--sleep in, frantic 3mile run that evening while hubby makes dinner
Tuesday--Thomas wakes up with me, cranky kid all day, short stroller jog if I'm lucky
Wednesday--up by 7:30 because I slept in, pushed Tuesday's strength training until today
Thursday--Annalie is up all night, so sleep in again. Another frantic evening run.
Friday--finally wake up on time, but drank coffee slowly, just a 45 min run. Order Greek food instead of going to yoga.
Saturday--free day, because we're simply too busy for me to work out. I feel guilty.
Sunday--tired from Saturday, so the long run becomes 10 miles.
So yeah. My goal of 32 miles/week and 2 strength sessions quickly turns into 18 miles/week and one short strength session. It's still pretty great and I enjoy it all. And I get better with time. But I remind myself that every bit counts. A year ago, I would have been super duper impressed with the second schedule. So there, old me!
Hubby has suggested that a good solution is to set a goal for myself on the blog, and that the goal affects all of us in the family. His idea was to count my mileage starting next Monday (easy with a Garmin--get one!!!) and then by vacation time next year, the number of miles I build up is the number of miles away that we're allowed to take vacation. So, I'm not sure if he has tons of faith in me, or if he's just not very bright. But I'll pretend it's the first one, and I'll take the challenge!!! So, I now need to figure out how to put a fancy running ticker thingy on the side of the blog and count towards a super awesome vacation! Though, I'm fairly sure Hawaii will be out...
Tell me your obstacles and goals, I'd love to hear them!
Instead, I've decided to share with you all my workout "schedule". I write it like that because it never happens the way I plan it to. Here's what it looks like:
Planned schedule:
Monday--up at 7am, 1hr run
Tuesday--up at 7:30, 45 mins strength/yoga
Wednesday--up at 7am, 1hr run
Thursday--up at 7:30, 45 mins strength/yoga
Friday--up at 7am, 1hr run. Evening yoga by candlelight class
Saturday--free day, since I've worked so very hard!
Sunday--long run, aiming for 14 miles
Actual schedule, as life happens:
Monday--sleep in, frantic 3mile run that evening while hubby makes dinner
Tuesday--Thomas wakes up with me, cranky kid all day, short stroller jog if I'm lucky
Wednesday--up by 7:30 because I slept in, pushed Tuesday's strength training until today
Thursday--Annalie is up all night, so sleep in again. Another frantic evening run.
Friday--finally wake up on time, but drank coffee slowly, just a 45 min run. Order Greek food instead of going to yoga.
Saturday--free day, because we're simply too busy for me to work out. I feel guilty.
Sunday--tired from Saturday, so the long run becomes 10 miles.
So yeah. My goal of 32 miles/week and 2 strength sessions quickly turns into 18 miles/week and one short strength session. It's still pretty great and I enjoy it all. And I get better with time. But I remind myself that every bit counts. A year ago, I would have been super duper impressed with the second schedule. So there, old me!
Hubby has suggested that a good solution is to set a goal for myself on the blog, and that the goal affects all of us in the family. His idea was to count my mileage starting next Monday (easy with a Garmin--get one!!!) and then by vacation time next year, the number of miles I build up is the number of miles away that we're allowed to take vacation. So, I'm not sure if he has tons of faith in me, or if he's just not very bright. But I'll pretend it's the first one, and I'll take the challenge!!! So, I now need to figure out how to put a fancy running ticker thingy on the side of the blog and count towards a super awesome vacation! Though, I'm fairly sure Hawaii will be out...
Tell me your obstacles and goals, I'd love to hear them!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Beginnings
A little over a year ago, we had just moved back to the US from Germany. There, I had no help with the children, no money, no motivation, and a fitness routine consisting of walking the kids to/from the grocery store. Albeit, that's not a terrible routine. Especially when one is strapped on my back and it's half a mile to the store. But it simply wasn't enough. We vowed to get in shape once we were stateside and no longer poor immigrant students.
We moved back, and we instantly found a family YMCA down the road. I could go there, take my kids to the daycare room, and I could have AN HOUR of alone time to work out!!!! And, holy crap, to shower without someone needing me! It was an amazing idea! But I quickly realized that my days of fitness excellence (I was the manager at a women's gym, I knew my shiz) were long behind me. A one-hour zumba class destroyed me, and I was using the lowest possible weights in circuit training. I was bummed.
Along with the Y, we also found a really great park with a .8 mile loop around it. We went as a family a few nights a week, and hubby and I would trade off running/watching kiddos. We sucked. Hard. And I was about to give up, until hubby found the Couch-to-5k program. It's exactly how it sounds--it takes a couch potato, and in 9 weeks allows that person to successfully run a 5k (3.1m)! It involves following a walking/jogging regimen that you can easily find on phone apps and put it directly over your workout music. They tell you when to start, run, walk, and stop. Easy. And we started making progress!
I was enjoying my zumba and my elliptical training, but I was having even more fun (and results!) from the running. So I decided that the best way to force training (take note, this is super important) is to sign up for a race. There are a ton of online sites to find race schedules, and my favorite way is to find my local running club's website. I'm all about supporting local, plus I didn't have to drive far to my event. I picked something within the time frame and distance that I wanted, and I signed up for it the second I had the time and money.
My first race was a steep goal--a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 8k. No, not a 5k. A friggin 8k, over 5 miles. And it hurt. But I did it, I felt so much pride, and I ate the hell out of some turkey with no guilt that day!
I started to notice that once the days got shorter and we had less family park time, I had no time to run. So I turned to Craigslist. I found myself the cheapest double jogging stroller on there and snatched it up. It was one of the best purchases I've ever made. Seriously. The kids had a blast going fast with mommy, and that big heavy beast kicked my butt.
Now I've completed three half-marathons and am starting training for a full marathon in the spring. I'm nothing special, I've had injuries and depressions and sick kids and family vacations and tons of other setbacks along the way. But I never gave up. And in fitness, that's all one really needs. Well, that and a jogging stroller.
We moved back, and we instantly found a family YMCA down the road. I could go there, take my kids to the daycare room, and I could have AN HOUR of alone time to work out!!!! And, holy crap, to shower without someone needing me! It was an amazing idea! But I quickly realized that my days of fitness excellence (I was the manager at a women's gym, I knew my shiz) were long behind me. A one-hour zumba class destroyed me, and I was using the lowest possible weights in circuit training. I was bummed.
Along with the Y, we also found a really great park with a .8 mile loop around it. We went as a family a few nights a week, and hubby and I would trade off running/watching kiddos. We sucked. Hard. And I was about to give up, until hubby found the Couch-to-5k program. It's exactly how it sounds--it takes a couch potato, and in 9 weeks allows that person to successfully run a 5k (3.1m)! It involves following a walking/jogging regimen that you can easily find on phone apps and put it directly over your workout music. They tell you when to start, run, walk, and stop. Easy. And we started making progress!
I was enjoying my zumba and my elliptical training, but I was having even more fun (and results!) from the running. So I decided that the best way to force training (take note, this is super important) is to sign up for a race. There are a ton of online sites to find race schedules, and my favorite way is to find my local running club's website. I'm all about supporting local, plus I didn't have to drive far to my event. I picked something within the time frame and distance that I wanted, and I signed up for it the second I had the time and money.
My first race was a steep goal--a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 8k. No, not a 5k. A friggin 8k, over 5 miles. And it hurt. But I did it, I felt so much pride, and I ate the hell out of some turkey with no guilt that day!
I started to notice that once the days got shorter and we had less family park time, I had no time to run. So I turned to Craigslist. I found myself the cheapest double jogging stroller on there and snatched it up. It was one of the best purchases I've ever made. Seriously. The kids had a blast going fast with mommy, and that big heavy beast kicked my butt.
Now I've completed three half-marathons and am starting training for a full marathon in the spring. I'm nothing special, I've had injuries and depressions and sick kids and family vacations and tons of other setbacks along the way. But I never gave up. And in fitness, that's all one really needs. Well, that and a jogging stroller.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
My new ME (and a blog welcome!)
When I was 10 years younger, I was "skinny". I didn't love the way I looked, but I flaunted it needlessly and, sadly, I thought that I was physically fit because I was skinny. I would walk a mile or two every so often, feel like I accomplished something, and then remind myself that I didn't even NEED to do that, because I already looked good by societal standards.
What I didn't realize was that I was simply an unhealthy person hidden in a tiny body. I had no muscle tone. No strength. No true self-worth or accomplishment. No battle wounds from children and work and life. I was just small and clueless.
Now, fast forward 10 years to today. I weigh 15 pounds more. That extra weight is muscle and left over baby belly. And it is AWESOME. I am strong, fit, powerful, and I love the way I look. I have my issues with the belly, but only because of a medical need (herniated belly button, separated abs). I have no problem with that flab though--it reminds me of the two beautiful people that my body made perfectly! I love my bigger thighs--they can take me for miles and miles, so much faster and more efficiently than I ever thought they could. I love my arms. They're bigger too, but also much stronger. They've been hugging and holding children for four years and I am grateful for all they do.
I am by no means perfect, but I feel so great about myself finally! Women, and especially moms--please take care of your bodies, treat them as they deserve to be treated. Exercise and sweat because you want to better yourself, whether you're thin or not. Come to a truce with that baby flab, because it shows what you've given to the world. And when you're looking in the mirror, LOVE what you see. Perfect or not, it is you and you are wonderful.
This blog is meant to highlight my fitness transformation, share my goals and defeats, and help other moms (and by "moms", I include dads and caregivers) figure out how to get fit while enjoying the children and craziness in your lives. I'll add how-to's for parent/kid workouts, share cool fitness products, show you some awesome diy's so you can MAKE fitness products, send you to some fantastic websites, and even give you some cool playground moves to make you the neatest parent around. Cheers to a bright (and FIT) future!
What I didn't realize was that I was simply an unhealthy person hidden in a tiny body. I had no muscle tone. No strength. No true self-worth or accomplishment. No battle wounds from children and work and life. I was just small and clueless.
Now, fast forward 10 years to today. I weigh 15 pounds more. That extra weight is muscle and left over baby belly. And it is AWESOME. I am strong, fit, powerful, and I love the way I look. I have my issues with the belly, but only because of a medical need (herniated belly button, separated abs). I have no problem with that flab though--it reminds me of the two beautiful people that my body made perfectly! I love my bigger thighs--they can take me for miles and miles, so much faster and more efficiently than I ever thought they could. I love my arms. They're bigger too, but also much stronger. They've been hugging and holding children for four years and I am grateful for all they do.
I am by no means perfect, but I feel so great about myself finally! Women, and especially moms--please take care of your bodies, treat them as they deserve to be treated. Exercise and sweat because you want to better yourself, whether you're thin or not. Come to a truce with that baby flab, because it shows what you've given to the world. And when you're looking in the mirror, LOVE what you see. Perfect or not, it is you and you are wonderful.
 |
| After my most recent half-marathon, in which I was cheered on by my mom and my sweet kiddos! |
This blog is meant to highlight my fitness transformation, share my goals and defeats, and help other moms (and by "moms", I include dads and caregivers) figure out how to get fit while enjoying the children and craziness in your lives. I'll add how-to's for parent/kid workouts, share cool fitness products, show you some awesome diy's so you can MAKE fitness products, send you to some fantastic websites, and even give you some cool playground moves to make you the neatest parent around. Cheers to a bright (and FIT) future!
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