5 Things…
Hello! In addition to Day #4 of NaBloPoMo,, it’s time for Tuesday Topics!! Join Jenn and me for this fun link up- we provide a topic every week, but you don’t have to follow it. People link up with race recaps, book reviews, and more. It’s just a fun way to connect with the blogging community. This week’s topic is “What makes you grateful for running/fitness?” I can never quite stay on topic, so I’m listing five things I was grateful for on my recent long run. 1. The trail I like to call this trail “Florida-beautiful.” We don’t have colorful leaves, but it’s beautiful in its own way. This natural area has miles and miles of trails to run on, and I’m lucky to have it nearby. 2.Trail shoes I’m wearing the Topo Ultraventures, and they’re a great trail shoe. I don’t like them on the pavement, so I only wear them for a real trail run. 3. Fuel I tried Ucan- I gave it a fair shot, and didn’t like it. Now I’m back to Gu gels (although all gels- other than Ucan- seem to work for me). Here’s what I had for this long run. 4. Fun podcast Lately I’ve been bingeing back episodes of the Currently Reading podcast. This episode kept me entertained for part of my run, and I got a new book for my TBR- I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. 5. Yet another lesson learned Around mile 12 of this run, I didn’t feel good. I really wanted to stop… but I DNF’d a long run a few weeks ago, and didn’t want to do that again. So I kept trudging along, slowly, and a mile later I realized I felt good again, and ran the last two miles feeling strong. Just goes to show- things never always get worse. When you’re in a difficult time, keeping moving forward, and at some point, things will turn around. Welcome to the new Tuesday Topics, hosted by Jenn at Runs With Pugs and Jenny at Runners Fly! Once a week, we come together to share random topics about running, fitness, and life! Use the weekly prompt or write on your own topic! Next week’s topic: Black Friday preview: running edition. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter Top photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Fall Back Sunday Recap
Hey there! How’s NaBloPoMo going so far? Yesterday afternoon I noticed a had a typo in the title of my blog post. Seriously? It’s only November 2nd and I’m already totally losing it. Anyway, onward! I love the day we turn the clocks back. However, my apologies to everyone with young children. I remember ranting and raving about the time change when my own kids were young, but now that I’m past that phase, I’m singing a different tune. I got up at 5:00 this morning (which FELT LIKE 6) and drove to my favorite trail. Because of the time change, I was able to get there and start running early. This trail is in a beautiful natural area. The weather was gorgeous, and I ran 15 miles. I drank a protein shake on the way home but didn’t eat anything else, so by noon I was SUPER HUNGRY for our fall charcuterie board! Now… the day before, my husband went grocery shopping and I told him to get some vegan cheese for the board. This is what he got: Parmesan??? When I questioned it, he tried to convince me that people put that on a cheese board all the time. Um… okay. I also told him to get some vegan cold cuts, and he got this: Anyway, it was all delicious (the parmesan was a little dry and crumbly, but had a good flavor). I remember a while ago Elisabeth asked what people like on a charcuterie board- OLIVES AND NUTS for me! Yum. Then I relaxed on the couch reading blogs and watching football. The Dolphins lost on Thursday, so we already got that over with- I just half-watched whatever games came on. And, I drifted off to sleep for a while. Later in the afternoon I had to drive my daughter to the gym, clean up from lunch, and do a load of laundry. Then, dinner! I used the leftovers to make myself a veggie bacon cheeseburger (NOT with the parmesan!) Now I’m settling down for more blog reading, and I’ll finish my book, finally! It was my favorite kind of Sunday- a perfect day to have an extra hour. Would you put parmesan cheese and bacon on a charcuterie board? Did you have a nice “fall back” weekend? Top photo by Kerstin Wrba on Unsplash
Weekly Rundown- It’s About Time!
Woohoo! We’re FINALLY turning the clocks back! Boy, did I have a lot of darkness this week. I’m ready for some daylight runs. I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown (thanks, ladies!) and of course I’m joining the incredible San and an intrepid group of bloggers for NaBloPoMo- 30 posts for 30 days of November. Let’s get to it… Monday 4 mile run to start the day. It was dark when I started, dark when I finished, and pitch dark while I drove my daughter to school. Bleh! Later I did Adriene’s yoga for lower back pain. It really helps! Tuesday I started the morning with Caroline Girvan’s deadbug workout.. Then, leg day at the gym! I always focus on squats- no deadlifts for me right now. My hamstring is feeling good, but I’m not taking any chances. Wednesday Another 4 mile run. Later I did Adriene’s yoga for hips and lower back release. Thursday I started with Caroline Girvan’s 4×4 abs workout, which I hated. I thought I was doing the “4×4 tucked abs workout” but this one was different, and had a lot of moves where I had to lift my head off the mat, and that always strains my neck. Whatever. Then I moved on to hip stability exercises- I know I always vaguely mention this, but here’s what I do specifically: Runner’s Touch, two or three sets of ten on each leg. I also do side planks with leg lifts -amazing for abductors- again three sets of ten on each leg, and then one leg sit-to-stand, which Brad Beer, in his book You Can Run Pain Free, recommends doing 36 times on each leg. And a piriformis exercise from Brad’s book, which is really hard to describe. Clam shells would probably do just as well, and I might switch to those because Brad’s version sometimes hurts my SI joint. Speaking of that SI joint… at night I did Adriene’s low back pain yoga again. Friday Happy Halloween! It was a dark and spooky 4 mile run… But! That is the last one for a while- next week my runs will be in the daylight, hooray! This run was extra special because it was the first time we’ve dipped down to the 50s overnight. Saturday Upper body strength at home. Luckily I’m enough of a weakling that the dumbbells I have are sufficient for a hard workout. At night- yoga for low back pain. Sunday Oh tap- 15 mile long run! I’m taking advantage of the extra hour to get out to my favorite trail. I can’t wait! What are you doing with your extra hour today? Would you rather have the daylight in the morning or evening? – You know my answer! Top photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Happy NaBloPoMo! (and Halloween Recap)
Guess what- it’s November 1st! That means it’s time to join San and celebrate NaBloPoMo- 30 posts for 30 days of November. San has posted 50 “5 Things” prompts on her page, and to get in the spirit of it all, I’m starting with 5 things about Halloween. 1. Our weather was phenomenal! Oh yes- this is why we live in Florida. It was our first cool morning of the season- what a way to celebrate and kick off the month of November. 2. Breakfast tea in my “magic potion” mug! 3. We got the all state results! Every year the all state results come out on November 1st- but since this year November 1st fell on a Saturday, we got the results a day early. My daughter made the band on piccolo! She was thrilled, and I was very relieved- I’m always a nervous wreck waiting for the results. (This also means I get my annual trip to Tampa in January, hooray!) $. My daughter and her friend went trick or treating. 4. My outdoor decorations were… minimal. Last year we got so few trick or treaters, I decided not to decorate outside this time. At the last minute I put up a string of orange lights to signal that we were giving out candy. We got about the same number of trick or treaters, and I saved myself a lot of work. 5. The evening descended into chaos. Someone in our neighborhood was setting off fireworks, which freaked Charlotte and Muffin out. And Foxy tried to run outside every time someone came to the door. We only got about 15 trick or treaters, and I was relieved when it was over. How was your Halloween?