Life Lately...

Oh heyyyyyyyyy.  I wonder if you're sick of me talking about California?  I realize I did 5 posts about my trip.  I guess I couldn't help myself.  There was so much to share with you and I wanted to keep re-living each part.  I hope I didn't bore you.

It was hard to get back to reality for a couple weeks after I returned.  And I think it was a bit more than 'post-vacation blues'.  I really missed California.  I missed everything I saw and how I felt out there.  I came back and the seasons had started to change here and it made me sad.  I'm sad to see the summer and sunshine go.  I am a fair-weather gal for sure and unlike a bear, I do not appreciate being forced into hibernation for months on end every year. 

Despite all of that, I am trying to readjust back to my normal life, while still keeping that sunny flame alive.  So since I've talked about CA ad nauseam perhaps you've been wondering what I've been up to lately?  Or maybe not.  My normal life is not nearly as exciting as my road trip life!  Oh well, this is what I've been doing anyway....

1.  I have a new baby at work.  Did I mention that before I left?  I don't think so.  She was born just before I left so she is a WEE little thing! Brand new to the world.  I love newborns.  They are probably my favorite population to work with.  So, now I have two under 2!  All the mommas out there know how crazy THAT can be!  So I've been working a lot and don't have any down time during the day anymore so it's been hard to keep up with blogging.  It still kind of amazes me that I get to work with brand new humans.  I love being there as they see the world for the first time.  It's kind of magical.

2.  Running is still mostly a no-go.  My leg/back of knee didn't bother me AT ALL while I was out in California, and I walked a lot.  Miles upon miles every day, in flip flops no less!  But when I got back home and started working out again it started to bother me!  So I don't know if it's the stress of my day to day life, or some particular workout that aggravated it.  It's quite frustrating since Fall is actually the most ideal running weather.  I've done a couple long walks where I've alternated run/walk mile by mile and it was borderline ok but over the past couple of weeks it has become increasingly irritated :(  So that's where I am with that.  Perhaps one day I'll have a job with health insurance again and I can get to the bottom of it!

3.  As much as I complain about the Fall weather, it is also pretty ideal not only for running, but for hiking.  The leaves have just begun to change here in MD and the woods become so inviting with their new colors.  I went to one of my favorite spots over the weekend (Gunpowder Falls State Park) and felt 'ok' for the first time since I've been back.  There's just something about the outdoors that speaks to the soul, isn't there?  If I could be outdoors 24/7 (in a WARM climate!) I would.  Perhaps I should look into a career as a forest ranger?! 

Behind the beauty of those changing trees lies a hidden warning though.  Winter is coming.  I can't even think about it.  Months of snow and ice sound about appealing as a death sentence right now.

4.  I went to the library last week.  I figured losing myself in alternate realities might help!  Currently reading this book:

It's about showing our true selves to the world, something most of us don't do for myriad reasons.  But the author contends the only way to reach true, deep, meaningful and intimate relationships with each other is to let everyone see exactly who we are.  Not who we want to be, or pretend to be, or who we think we should be.  It's hard to do and I don't think we realize how often we try to cover up parts of ourselves.  It's a good read so far.


Andddddddd that's my life back in Baltimore!  There are still a lot of things going through my mind, spurred by my trip, that I hope to put into action.  I just hope winter does not suck all of the motivation out of me.  It has a way of doing that.

I'm just going to keep reminding myself of this:

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." ~ Albert Camus

Oh God, I hope so.


I hope you've all been well :)



How do you feel about Fall?  Can you enjoy it for its own beauty or do you fear what is coming behind it as I do?!

Parents out there:  Any experience with two kids under 2?!

What are you currently reading?

Looking For A Fall Half

First off, I just wanted to say Thank You for all of your kind and encouraging words on my last post.  It took a lot of gumption and a big change of heart for me to stand up for myself, and then recap that entire string of events, and I wanted to put it out there for anyone else who's ever been in the same position.  The thing is, I'm realizing, is that I LET people take advantage of me far too often.  I give people the benefit of the doubt A LOT because I tend to think that most people will do the right thing, but it turns out that's just not the case many times.  No one is going to look out for you, but YOU.  Hard life lesson to suck down right there.  I don't think the world will ever turn this dreamer cold, and I'll probably always be the empathic, believer-in-all-that-is-good person but I realize I also need to make sure my needs are being met before trying to save the world :)

Now on to today's running business...

Source/via Pinterest

I'm currently looking for a fall half and open to suggestions.  When I take another peek at the running goals I set back in January [side note: how is it MID July right now?!], I see I've got some wins and some losses.  I had wanted to run 2 half marathons again this year, but the first couple months of 2014 were so hectic for me schedule-wise that I realized early on a Spring half was just not going to be a possibility.  In addition, I wanted to run some more short distance races this year, including my first 10K, which I did back in April, so Yippee on that one!  I've really enjoyed mixing up my workouts the first half of this year, and not having to train seriously for anything.  While running is always a constant for me, it was nice not having to stick to a strict schedule since 5K's and 10K's didn't really require any training (although I really should start doing some speed work!).  I also loved trying out some new workouts over the past several months like Barre and a new Boot camp.  I am a workout junkie so sign me up for pretty much anything and I'm like a kid in a candy store.

Case in point - This is how varied my workouts were last week:

Sunday - Rest
Monday - 2.5 mi walk (morning); 30 min interval bike workout/2000m rowing/5 min abs (evening)
Tuesday - 5K run
Wednesday -  2.5 mi walk (morning); upper and lower body strength training/5 min abs (evening)
Thursday - 5K run
Friday - 2 mi walk (morning); 1 hour swim/10 min sauna (evening)
Saturday - 1.5 hour hike

Although I am really enjoying running just for running's sake right now, I'm kind of getting the itch to run a longer distance race again.  Sooooooo, I've been prospecting fall halfs.  My sister, who just ran her first half marathon EVER in March, has signed up for her second!  She will be running the VIA Half Marathon back home in PA on Sept 7th.  I considered running this race with her for quite some time, but just felt I wouldn't be prepared for the early Sept race date, plus I honestly think the weather the weekend after Labor Day is just too hot for a half marathon!  I really don't feel like squeezing my 10, 11 and 12 miles runs into the last weeks of August, ie. 95 degree temps and 100% humidity here in Baltimore.  However, I did briefly reconsider again when I saw this race is advertised as the 2nd fastest course in the US?!! WHAT?! I hope my sister PR's like a beast.

September is also going to be a busy month for me, as I'll be planting myself in the Deep South later that month to help my other sister out with Baby #3!!!  Wheeeee!  So, I'm setting my sights on October for a fall race.  Although I'd absolutely love to make a trip out of it and go someplace new, I don't really have the funds for a destination race right now.  So, I'm searching for something within driving distance - MD/DC/VA/DE/PA/NJ/NY.  Wow, that's a lot of states.  Hahaha, there's gotta be some good races in there somewhere.  I've been checking out various half marathon calendars and am currently eyeing up the Hershey Half Marathon on October 19th (same weekend as the Runner's World Half & Festival, but I already ran that last year).  Has anyone ever run Hershey?  It seems like this may be a somewhat flat course which of course got my attention. 

I'm also (somewhat reluctantly) considering the Baltimore Half Marathon, which I've somehow avoided all of the past 10 years I've lived in this city because the HILLS...MY GOD, THE HILLS!  But, on the other hand, this just might be something I want to cross off my Baltimore bucket list before I move on...

And last but not least, I'm looking at the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 23, because I've always wanted to run a race in Philly and have yet to do so.  However, Philadelphia weather at the end of November can be like running through the Arctic tundra.  Man, I am really such a baby about running weather - too hot, too cold.  MAKE UP YOUR MIND, BEAN!

So, there you have it.  Pretty solid plans we're looking at here: a race, probably in October, somewhere along the eastern seaboard.  Nothing like laying a solid foundation.

I would LOVE suggestions from anyone in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic area for a great fall half.  If you are doing one, let me know and maybe we can do one together! And if you've done any of the races I've mentioned above, I'd love your feedback on them to help narrow down my choices.


Running any fall races?  Where/What distance?

Fall Workouts and Fitness Goals

via Jillyruns on Instagram

 

 

Ok, ok so I guess I like Fall a little bit.  There was no denying the beauty around me on my morning walk yesterday.  Those are actual pictures from the streets of Baltimore - kind of unreal right? 

 

Now that my big race is over, I'm in what I would consider my 'off-season'.  Although I work out consistently year-round, I'm not officially in training for anything right now.  This season for me usually happens in the months of Nov/Dec/Jan.  So I wanted to talk about what my workout plans are for the next 2 months or so, until after the Holidays. 

 

Last week I took it pretty easy after the RWHalf.  I did two long walks on Tuesday/Thursday of 4.5 miles each and then an hour swim on Friday.

 

This week I was back at it, but scaled back on the running.  My workouts this week looked like this:

 

Sunday - 5K Run

Monday - 25 min HIIT workout - This one, from my Pinterest board @Jillyruns

Tuesday - 1 hour BodyPump (weightlifting)

Wednesday - 1 hour swimming + 10 min in sauna

Thursday - 4 mile walk (morning) + 5K run (evening)

Friday - Rest Day!

 

Over the summer, I tried to concentrate on cross-training a lot more than I normally do, and this is one of the things that I believe led to my PR in the RWHalf.  So for the next couple of months, I want to focus on cross-training and strength-training so I continue to get stronger, build muscle and (hopefully) prevent my recurring leg issues (tibial tendinitis and periostitis) from rearing their ugly heads again. 

 

Last year around this time, I used a Groupon for a month of unlimited CrossFit and I really felt myself get stronger in that month.  I actually became addicted to the intensity and challenge of CrossFit in that time and it's something I wish I could afford to do on a regular basis.  I think it was actually a really nice complement to running.  However, membership fees at CrossFit 'boxes' are just out of my league right now, so in the alternative, I scour Pinterest and the web for WOD's you can do at home. 

 

This year during my off-season, I'm going to be using a Groupon I bought for a boot camp style workout studio.  It seems like the workouts are somewhat CrossFit-esque and the owner keeps you guessing by changing up the game plan every class.  I've seen videos on their Facebook page of clients doing everything from running laps around the parking lot carrying medicine balls to doing handstand wall walk drills, so needless to say, I'm excited to get started!  I am definitely a high-intensity workout gal so this sounds like it's going to be right up my alley :)  Once I get into it, I'll post some reviews and updates of the classes on here. 

 

In addition to cross-training, one of my goals this year was to try to get into yoga.  Well, it's now November and I've made 0 progress on that one :(  I feel like I need some kind of workout that's a bit less intense, and have been reading a lot about the meditative and spiritual benefits of starting a yoga practice.  Those elements are something I want more of in my life right now.  In addition, I've also been wanting to increase my flexibility.  I was a gymnast as a little kid and used to be really flexible, and sadly I've lost a lot of that over the years.  In any case, it looks like this may become a 2014 goal. 

 

After the Holidays, I'm going to be looking for a spring race.  I've considered entering the raffle for the Nike Women's Half in DC again (which opens Nov 5th, btw) because I had a really great time at the inaugural race this past April, however I've run the course already.  I kind of like my big races each year to be in new venues.  So, I'm open to feedback for a Spring half - please send me some recommendations!  I think I may want to travel for the race too, and use it as an excuse for a long weekend to see someplace new :)

 

I'll still be running over the next couple of months, but with no set mileage in place.  I'm going to run for the pure unadulterated JOY of it.  Isn't that a novel idea?!

 

And I'm also planning a few shorter distance races and 'fun runs' in the meantime.  I've already signed up for a local 5K next weekend in my neighborhood.  The course actually runs along roads that I use for my long training runs so I dk how I'm going to get it in my head that I'm racing and therefore need to speed it up a bit!  I always think 5K's are the hardest distance because they're so fast - you are literally just sprinting for 3 miles :/  Ugh!  I'm also thinking about doing a Turkey Trot back home in Bethlehem over Thanksgiving.  And maybe something over the Christmas holiday.  We'll see.  The goal over the next two months is to give my legs a rest, cross-train like a maniac, grow some muscles and come back in January/Feb ready to train for my next race, wherever that may take me...

 

Oh, one last thing.  Lately, a little seed has been planted in my head and has started to grow; I'm thinking I *might* want to do a full marathon.  Eeeek!  I can't believe I just put that out there.  Maybe once I get 5 Halfs under my belt, I'll feel more confident?  Anyway, this is a next year, or the next year goal, not a Fall goal, so I'll just leave it at that :)

 

 

How about you? 

What do your workouts look like lately?

 

Are you currently training for anything?

 

Any recommendations for a nice Spring half marathon?