The State of My Leg

Hello, Welcome, and Good Evening my Fellow Americans.  Tonight we gather to discuss the State of our Union.  J/K.  I'm here to discuss the state of my currently gimpy leg.

Addressing Congress...

As you may or may not have noticed, there has not been much mention of RUNNING on this here running blog the past few weeks.  In fact, it has indeed been nearly 4 weeks now that I've abstained from running in the hopes that whatever this twinge/strain/inflammation on the back of my leg was would make a hasty retreat.  I'm sorry to report that has not happened :(

Truth be told, I have not really been resting my leg.  I've maintained my normal workouts, save for running.  My weekly workouts have generally looked like this the past month:

Monday:  Strength or HIIT workout (Bodyweight only, at home)
Tuesday: Strength workout (Weight lifting at the gym)
Wednesday:  BodyCombat (Les Mills kickboxing class)
Thursday: 4 mile walk (outside)
Friday: Bicycling + Rowing workout (gym)
Saturday: REST or Hike outdoors
Sunday:  4 mile walk (outside)

Throughout all of this my leg has not been in pain, but it didn't really feel like it was getting much better.  To be clear, this is not a knee injury.  It is an inflammation/pain of the tendons, ligaments or muscles in the fleshy part of the back of my leg behind my knee.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and let me tell you, I have been dying for a run.  So, last Thursday I turned that 4 mile walk up there into a 3 mile run.  Bad news bears.  1 mile in I felt GREAT!  I was RUNNING for heaven's sake.  The wind in my hair, finally breaking into a real sweat, endorphins starting to kick in, and then I felt it.  An ache.  A twinge.  A pinch in my leg behind my knee.  MOTHER F#$*(&^@!!!!

I convinced myself it wasn't that bad and continued to run.  Another mile.  It was definitely there.  Pain.  Mile 3.  Ok time to stop.  And I definitely paid for that drug-induced endorphin-induced relapse right there, because my leg has been sore ever since.  I've been getting some strange numbness up and down that leg now and into my foot/arch as well.  It comes and goes.  Very strange.

I still don't know where this mystery injury came from.  Is it because I'm wearing running shoes that are far past their prime?  Could be.  My shoes are 9 months old.  Way beyond their lifetime at this point.  Is it because I've been doing 2+ mile walks daily in flip flops with my charges at work?  Probably a contributor.  Did I strain something in my new kickboxing class and continue to aggravate it each week?  Also a possibility!

I had planned to run this trail half marathon with my friend November 1st, but now it seems that may not be a possibility.  Even with the very abbreviated training cycles I do, I still need a minimum of 8 weeks to adequately up my mileage for a half.  That means I would have to start training Sept 1st and that just doesn't seem a possibility right now.  I guess as a last ditch effort I could try to abstain COMPLETELY from all physical activity for the rest of August and attempt a run come September 1.  But who are we kidding.  If you got me to sit still for 2 1/2 weeks you should buy a lottery ticket because you're definitely a miracle worker.  I think at the very least, I will cut out as much walking as possible, as that seems to aggravate it the most. 

[PSA:  I'm somewhat making light of this but if I was in extreme pain, if I felt something may be broken, or if my daily activities were being hindered in any way, I'd obviously abstain from physical activity and possibly see a Dr.  I'm not advising anyone take my advice regarding overuse injuries right now!]

Any suggestions, commiserations, pity parties are welcome!  If you are running right now, LUCKY LUCKY you.  I want to be you.

You haunt my dreams

The State of our Union is strong my fellow Americans (mmm, debatable), but the state of my leg is not.  Send good vibes.  And I'll send some your way :)


When was the last time you suffered a running injury?

What was it and how long did it last?

And HOW DID YOU DEAL!?!?

Fitness Friday: Let's Talk About Half-Marathon Weight Gain

Type "marathon weight gain" into Google and you will be rewarded with a plethora of hits and personal stories.  Gaining weight while training for a long distance race is such a common phenomenon that there are probably many of you out there who can relate with stories of your own.  Many other bloggers have written about this anomaly as well (ie. Susie and Erica).  And, although I've never trained for a full marathon, I have experienced weight gain while training for some of my halves. 

Source/via Pinterest

I know generally around what my weight is, but it's not something I focus on or use as a yardstick to measure my level of health, fitness or self image.  I don't own a scale so don't weigh myself regularly.  Every once in awhile I'll step on the scale at the gym, or I'll get weighed if I go to the doctor, which is never!  I think obsession with the scale does more harm than good, and the accuracy and implication of the number you see can be very skewed.  As women especially, our weight fluctuates due to so many factors: hormones/time of the month, hydration level, time of year, sleep, work schedules, food, vacations, etc.  I honestly don't see how it's possible to be the EXACT same weight every day unless you are a robot and your eating/drinking/activity level/sleep are exactly the same every single day! 

So, with all of that being said, how do I know that I've gained weight during half-marathon training cycles and how do I feel about it?  I can tell because I honestly feel a bit heavier and notice my pants are just a little snugger in the BOOTY area!  That is where I tend to put on weight.  Why I didn't inherit the gene that directs weight gain to my BOOBS like most of the women in my family, I will never know.  I also did weigh myself at the gym after my half marathon at the end of April, and the number was a few pounds more than what I think of as my 'usual'. 

So why does this happen?  Well for me, it's definitely a case of overeating.  I hate to use this term, but "runger" is a real thing.  A couple hours after I complete a long run, and even the day following said long run, I feel like I am STARVING!  This feeling tends to continue throughout the training cycle.  But, I definitely overcompensate and eat far more than my body actually needs.  I think a lot of long distance runners get into the mindset of "I'm running x___miles so I can eat anything I want!", myself included.  But there's absolute truth behind the advice that you can't outrun a bad diet.

I also think many people in general overestimate the calories burned during physical activity.  The very general rule of thumb is that running burns roughly 100 calories per mile, but this number varies WIDELY according to your weight, fitness level, body composition, speed, running conditions, terrain, etc.  Since I'm a small, fit runner, I know I burn less (closer to 80 calories/mile). [Try a running calorie calculator to get a more accurate number based on your weight/height/speed.]  Also, something to keep in mind is that as you continue to run, and become more fit, your body becomes more efficient and uses less calories than it did initially to do the same activities.  (Thus the need to consistently challenge yourself and switch up your workouts to avoid plateaus.)

Source/via Pinterest

When I'm training for a race, I tend to crave/overeat carbs, and not always the healthy kind!  Suddenly, I want all the bagels, cookies, candy, vegan treats I can get my hands on, and I feast with wild abandon.  However, on a more regular basis, and especially after a goal race is complete, my hunger naturally decreases and I crave more green foods, fruits, and cleaner options.  Honestly, I actually look forward to being less hungry!  When I decrease my mileage, I definitely tend to eat more 'normally', or what is normal for me. 

Personally, I don't worry about the few pounds I gain for half marathons because I know it always levels off naturally when I'm no longer training.  Since I don't have any goal races planned for the summer (waaaaaaaaay too hot for that!), I'm looking forward to not have to constantly think about fueling, running on a schedule, etc.  I'm looking forward to focusing more on strength training, HIIT, biking, hiking and other types of workouts that I don't have time for when there's a goal race ahead of me.  I also tend to naturally eat lighter, more fresh foods in the summer because they're plentiful and in season and it's too hot to eat giant bowls of pasta! 

So, I know what I need to do to stave off the 'inevitable' half-marathon weight gain, but I will I do it next time.  Ehhhhhhhhhh, probably not!  I'm not that worried about it.  But I think it's important to keep in mind that running doesn't automatically lead to weight loss or come with a free "All You Can Eat" pass!  I still think it's one of the best ways to maintain fitness and even after 20 or so years of running, it still makes me happy, so that's why I keep at it.  Why do you?


Have you experience weight gain while training for a long distance race?

What do you think led to it?

Have you altered any of your behaviors to prevent it? 

St. Luke's Half Marathon Recap

I intended to sit down and write this recap Monday night, but with everything going on in Baltimore, that didn't happen.  I join the rest of the residents of the city, and the nation as a whole, in praying for a peaceful resolution. 

Half marathon #6 is donzo!  I went into this race feeling pretty relaxed, and without many expectations.  However, if we're being honest, I think most runners go into goal races hoping for a PR, even if we realize that can't happen every time!  I thought this may be a good course for me to try to beat my best time, and although I didn't do that, I came pretty close :)  Here's how it went down.

Pre-Race:
I ate all my usual pre-race foods the day before and actually got some good sleep Friday and Saturday night.  Where I failed to prepare was hydration.  I got a migraine Friday night due to not drinking enough at work during the day (happens often).  On Saturday, I tried to make up for not drinking enough throughout the week but I think it was too late.  I did however manage to increase my Vegan Treats intake to 2 treats instead of just 1.  Necessary carb loading :)

Speculoos (cookie butter) and brownie batter vegan soft serve. 

I could die eating that and be happy.

Double chocolate vegan brownie

Weather:
PERFECT running weather!  Low 40's, full sun, and no wind for the 8am start.  Couldn't have planned it any better.  I wore a fleece and sweatpants over my tank top and shorts, and disrobed right before lining up at the start.  Trying to snag a date any way I can. 

The Company:
I ended up getting a ride to the race with a friend of my dad's.  She races halfs often and usually runs anywhere from 1:45-1:50 so she's definitely faster than me.  We chatted on the way over and she told me her training had been spotty this cycle because she had been sick for awhile and then didn't get in many of her long runs due to the long winter in PA.  She asked me what I typically run, and I told her I'm usually right under 2:00 and was hoping to go for 1:55 today.  She said she wasn't sure she'd make it under 2:00 due to her lack of training, but thought maybe if we ran together we'd push each other!  I've never run a race with someone so I wasn't sure what to expect but decided to give it a go. I figured if either of us wanted to break off at any point we could. 

The Race:
I positive split the crap out of this race, and it did not feel good.  I typically am good at negative splitting the half marathon distance when pacing myself, but I couldn't seem to do this when running with someone else.  Our Mile 1 split was 8:45 and that's fast for me.  We then proceeded to have a few more splits in the 8:45-8:50 range before moving on to 9:00s.  (3 in a row at 9:00 exactly).  From there they kept creeping up to the 9:10-9:15 range and even a few in the 9:25's).  At least I know I pushed it at the end because Mile 13 went back down to 8:57!

I felt really good the entire first half of this course.  It was almost exclusively flat and it did not feel like I was running faster than I normally do on my long training runs.  This was probably due to the fact I had taken 4 days off from running in the days leading up to the race.  I was just raring to go.  I also chatted with my running partner (she was a talker!) which seemed to make the miles fly by.  In fact I was surprised when we touched the half-way mat and the clock displayed 54:xx.  If I actually could've maintained that pace for the second half I would have finished in the 1:48-1:50 range which would be SUPER speedy for me! 

Halfway - Lookin' feelin' like a million bucks

But right after we passed the half way point, we entered the Parkway.  The Lehigh Parkway is a large park in Allentown with a crushed rock trail.  Miles 7 - 11 of the race were through this park.  What I did not remember from running this race 3 years ago was that this section was completely littered with rolling hills! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.  I don't know if it was the hills or the dehydration but I got a cramp/side stitch/whathaveyou around mile 7 and as much as I fought it off, it kept coming back throughout the rest of the race.  So that sucked balls.  Cramps are usually brought on by 1 of 2 things (for me anyway):  Dehydration, or irregular breathing.  So it definitely could have been a combination of those two things.

Although I train with hills near my house, these were different.  These were a series of little steep up and down hills, like the kind on a little kiddie roller coaster!  The hills I run on at home are few and far between and they are large, gradual inclines, that end in flat straightaways.  The constant up and down of the course really started to shred my legs and they were very heavy and feeling like lead by the end.  I also rarely get side stitches during long runs (usually only get them when sprinting or running fast, short distance like 5K's) so I'm thinking the hills had to be a factor. 

I knew I had lost a lot of time in the park, but even though I was still fighting off the cramp, I decided to just push as hard as I could once we got out. We caught up to the 2:00 pacer and she told us she was ahead of time and to pass her and run like the wind to the finish!  And so we did.

Exiting the parkway - Almost done!

This race finishes inside a high school stadium.  So just when you think you're done running 13 miles, you have to run 600 meters around a track to get to the finish line.  So rude.  I had flashbacks of running high school track and they were not good.  Not good at all.

The Finish:
I crossed the finish line in 1:58:57!  My PR was set at the Runner's World Half in 2013 where I finished in 1:58:xx but I can't remember the seconds.  I tried looking it up online but they already deleted the 2013 results.  I'm thinking it was around 20-30 seconds faster than this but I guess I'll never know!  I felt pretty crappy the entire second half of this race, so I'm pretty proud that I pushed through and managed to finish that close to my PR. 

 

That face! I can't even take him he's so cute.

 

Post-Race Thoughts:
I didn't do any speed training so as much as I would have liked to PR, I guess I couldn't expect it.  I think I'm pretty much built for distance, and not for speed (#TWSS) and unless I put in the work doing tempos, track work, etc, then I will probably always finish just under the 2:00 hour mark.  But for now, I'm happy with that.  I am not a professional runner.  I don't get paid to run or blog about running.  It's something that brings me joy and I don't want to ever ruin that by making it a job. 

But, I will say that something else is brewing.  I've been thinking about doing a marathon for at least a year or two now, and it's becoming more than a want.  The half-marathon distance is becoming routine for me.  I recover much faster from double-digit runs than I did before and I want to see what is beyond 13 miles.  I read somewhere that less than 1% of the US population has run a marathon, and I'll tell you, I want to be in that 1%.  I know these little legs can do it.  They've got a lot of heart behind them :)

As for running now, I'm taking a few days off.  I have been insanely thirsty since Sunday and am trying to rehydrate myself!  I will probably get back to the gym in a couple days.  I want to focus on strength training and some HIIT workouts for awhile.  Running long distance and training for races sometimes leaves me feeling kind of 'soft' and I want to get some of my muscle back.  I also am looking forward to cutting back on carbs. I seem to crave them and eat more of them when I'm running higher mileage, but once I cut back the mileage my appetite naturally decreases.  However, I'm sure by this weekend, I'll be back out for a run!

I'm looking to do a Fall half (possibly two, as one of my best friends is thinking about doing her first ever, so I may sign up to help her through it!) and then who knows.  Full next year?! 

OMG that was so long.  If you read through that entire recap, you're a saint.  If you just skimmed to the end to see my time, I don't blame you.  I've done that too.  HAHAHA  Have a great Wednesday. 


Anyone race this weekend?

Is there a way I can magically get faster without doing any speed work?! Please say Yes.

What made you take the leap from half marathon to full?

Fitness Friday: Pre-Race Rituals

 

 

We are T-2 days from the St. Luke's Half Marathon, so I thought today would be a good day to talk about my pre-race rituals.  Runners are a quirky bunch and I'm sure everyone has their own little idiosyncrasies.  I don't think mine are too weird, but I'll let you be the judge of that!

 

1 Week Before Race

• Increase water/fluid intake.  This is an area of my health that I regularly slack on, so a week before a goal race I try to make sure I'm drinking more water throughout the day.  Unfortunately, I did not do so well this week.  Some hectic days combined with my absentmindedness left me definitely lacking some days.  I'm usually so much more focused on the kids' needs throughout the day, that I end up slacking on my own.  Plus, drinking more water means more bathroom breaks, which I also often don't have time for!
• Start scoping out race day weather.  Weather can change this far out, but I like to check throughout the week so I can generally prepare myself for what to expect.  So far, it looks like race day weather will start out around 40 degrees Sunday morning.  I think I'll probably wear a sweatshirt over my tank top and shorts and check a bag at the last possible moment.
• Get more sleep.  Ah, another area I am continually behind on.  I tried to get more sleep this week but my early work hours combined with my night-owl tendencies seemed to get the best of me yet again!

 

2-3 Days Before Race

• Reduce intake of high fiber foods.  The last thing anyone wants on race day are loose stools!Enough said. 
• Clip toenails.  Is that one gross?!  It's not like I have long, gnarly toenails but I've forgotten to cut them at times and there is nothing more uncomfortable than cut, bleeding feet while running. 

 

Day Before Race

• Sleep in.  I never get much sleep the night of the race so I always try to get more 2 nights prior.
• Pick out race day outfit.  Check weather one last time and plan clothing accordingly.  I don't really adhere to the 'nothing new on race day' rule.  What can I say, I live on the edge!  I've worn new shirts or socks that I bought specifically for a race without ever having worn them before.  The only thing I probably wouldn't wear brand new would be a pair of shoes.  The past few races I've been wearing the same sports bra, which now feels lucky.  Is that weird?!
• Charge Garmin.  This race has pacers and I think I'm going to run with one of the groups, but I still want to keep track of my splits myself.
• EAT PASTA!  I eat the same thing every night before a race: Spaghetti and meatballs and a bottle of Gatorade.  Old school + Italian, there you go.

Sometimes, I let my cats pick out my race day outfit 

 

Race Day

• Eat 2 hours prior to race start.  In addition to eating the same thing every night before a race I also always eat the same breakfast: A bagel (plain) and a bottle of Gatorade.  I also drink at least a bottle of water.
• Go to the bathroom.  ESSENTIAL.  I'm talking #2 here.  And that's all I'll say about that.
• Take an Imodium (optional).  I usually only do this before a half marathon, not shorter distance races.  I don't think I've mentioned it here before but I have a long history of IBS.  Maybe some day I'll do some posts on it.  But, running long distances often exacerbates digestive issues, even in healthy people.  I just do not have time for bathroom stops during the race so this ensures that.  And I've never been constipated a day in my life, ever (TMI?!) so there's no lingering after effects for me.
• Double/triple check that my shoes are tied!

 

Post Race

• EAT!  Anything and everything I want.  VEGAN TREATS!!!
• Thank my family and friends.  For standing outside, often in less than ideal conditions, cheering me on and waiting for me at the finish line!
• NAP
• Sign up for the next race :)

 

And that's me.  Quirks and all.  Hope I didn't scare any of you off.  I'll be back with a recap next week!  Have a great weekend!

 

 

Your turn!  What are some of your pre-race rituals?!  The weirder the better :)

Step by Step

You totally broke out in NKOTB lyrics after reading that title didn't you?!  Step by step.  Oooooooh baby.  Gonna get to you girrrrrrrrrrrrl.

What glorious gorgeous weekend weather we had here in Baltimore!  I hope Spring is making its way to your neck of the woods as well.  The sun, the blooming trees and the first smells of cut grass were all welcome sights and scents this weekend.

I got in my last double-digit run yesterday.  I was actually supposed to get to it Saturday but I was feeling kind of run down, so I moved it to Sunday.  Even so, it was still a bit of a struggle. 

It was a beautiful sunny day, but it was the warmest weather I had run in so far this year, and I got pretty dehydrated.  I am not the best at keeping up with my water consumption, especially in the winter.  I have to remind myself to drink more now that the weather is getting warmer.  I felt thirsty and a bit nauseous throughout this run and ended up with salt all over my body by the time I was done.  I was going to take a picture but I figured that would gross you out! Ha  I gulped down a bunch of Gatorade when I got home and started to feel a little better.  And then I ran to Target in my salty, sweaty state.  So attractive.  Just some more fuel for the #whyI'mstillsingle argument.

The course I run around my place in Baltimore is fairly hilly, and I wanted to share with you how I approach hills.

 

When I'm running, the hills always seem easier to tackle if I focus on the steps right in front of me, instead of looking up ahead to the top of the hill.  It's often too intimidating to look ahead and see how far and high I have to go.  I almost feel defeated before I even begin.  But if I just focus on putting one foot in front of the other, before you know it I've reached the summit! 

 

source/via Pinterest

 

I think this mindset can be really helpful and applicable to many of life's challenges.  Whether pursuing an educational goal, climbing the corporate ladder, trying to lose weight, or raising a family, the big goal can often feel out of reach.  But if you just focus on taking small steps, little by little, you'll get there.  As much as we want to sometimes, there is no fast forward in life.  We can't skip steps, take one giant leap, and be where we want to be.  We have to trust that the hard work and the little steps we're putting in will get us there.  And they always do. 

 

source/via Pinterest

 

 

Keep on truckin' everyone!  I believe in you :)

 

 

 

Do you look ahead when you're climbing hills or focus on what's right in front of you?

 

How was your weekend running?

 



 



 



Fitness Friday: 2 Weeks til Race Day, Weekly Workouts and Body Combat Review

It's Friiiiiiiiiiday!  This week flew by, and I suddenly find myself 2 weeks away from the St Luke's Half Marathon.  That's what happens when you sign up for a half marathon 6 weeks out!  HA 

Two weeks left means I only have one more double-digit training run this weekend.  The following week will be a taper week and my last 'long' run will probably be about 1/2 the distance of the race, so around 7 miles. 

Do you embrace the taper before a race?  I just read this article re: tapering mistakes on Runner's World, and it has some good pre-race reminders.  I personally always taper one week before a half-marathon, and I can definitely feel the difference/freshness in my legs and entire body on race day.  Sometimes, I even take a few days off running before shorter races like 5k's too.  After a hard training cycle, you will not lose any fitness in a few days' time, but this break gives your body a chance to reload its glycogen stores and your muscles a chance to rest and rebuild themselves as well.  I really believe it gets you to the finish line faster.

Since I'm currently not in taper, this is what my workouts looked like the past week:

Saturday - 11+ miles outside
Sunday - Rest day (Easter!)
Monday - Strength training (Upper & Lower body - combo of free weights and machines) + core work (variety of crunches/twists)
Tuesday - 3.3 miles outside
Wednesday - 1 hour Body Combat
Thursday - 3.2 miles outside
Friday - Rest day
Saturday - 10 miles (planned)

My friend has been inviting me to take Body Combat with her for weeks and I finally went this week.  It's been awhile since I've taken classes at the gym. I used to take Body Pump religiously.  That was my favorite.  But when my work schedule changed a couple years ago, I couldn't get there for awhile and then just fell off the wagon.  I've been lifting weights on my own but I do miss Pump.  The only other Les Mills class I've taken is Body Attack and I am not really a fan.  It's HIIT which I like but there's too much choreography to learn!  Most of the time I was getting lost with the moves so I didn't feel like I was getting the best workout. 

But I thoroughly enjoyed Body Combat this week!  It was a great way to mix up my cross-training workouts and left me sore (in a good way).  I definitely used muscle groups in that class that I haven't used in awhile/forgot existed!  A bit of history here.  Years ago I used to take a kickboxing class at my old gym that I LOVED.  The instructor was phenomenal and many of us developed a personal relationship with her.  A coworker and I used to attend her classes 2-3 times a week.  After a year or two, she had such a following that she was able to coerce the gym to get us standing bags like this:

which were AWESOME!  Obviously, I'm not a physically violent person but having something to punch and kick after work was pretty cathartic! Hahaha

Ok, getting back to Body Combat.  If you've never taken it, Les Mills describes it as "the high energy, martial arts-inspired, non-contact workout".  If you did Tae-Bo back in the day, it's like that!  This is a non-contact class, meaning there are no punching bags, so you are punching/kicking 'air', however it is definitely a high intensity class that moves quickly.  If I did not have a history with kickboxing, I probably would not have been able to pick up the moves so fast on my first class.  Luckily, I remembered most of the punch and kick moves and was able to get into the combos pretty quickly.  There are low and high intensity variations for most combos so you can adjust the workout to suit your current fitness level or needs.   My shoulders, biceps, triceps and back are sore today so I guess I've not been working them as much as I should be!  Upper body strength is an area often neglected by runners (myself included) but the more of it you have, the more power you will have for your runs.  True story.

A few tips I would offer for those new to Body Combat.  First, if you've never taken a kick boxing type class, go slow the first class.  It is high intensity and you don't want to overdo it or pull something your first time out.  Secondly, and this one is for myself as well, wear proper shoes.  I wore an old pair of running shoes (I never wear my current pair of running shoes for anything other than running), which was not the smartest choice.  The cushioning in them was long gone, and since I'm a neutral/supinating runner, there is very little support.  Because of all the pivoting and jumping, I could definitely feel some discomfort in my feet and I was wishing I had a more supportive cross training shoe. 

I'm looking forward to working more classes back into rotation after my race and Body Combat will  be one of them.

Hope you had a great week of workouts and enjoy the weekend!  Catch you on the flip side :)


Do you like taking group exercise classes or do you prefer solo workouts?

Ever take any Les Mills classes (Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack, etc)?

Any spring races coming up?

Weekend Contemplations: On Being Human

Helloooooooo!  How is it Monday again?  This weekend was fairly uneventful and quick.   And cold.  It's still been in the 40's and it's almost April.  What is going onnnnnnnnnnnn.  Winter is really dragging it's a$$ around here this year.  Anyway, just a few of my random thoughts today.

Friday afternoon after work I went to the gym near work.  It's much bigger than the location by my house and has a massive cardio arena.  They must have at least 100 or more treadmills, bikes, ellipticals and stairclimbers in this space.  After I finished running, I went over to the stretching area to foam roll and do some planking.  I looked over at the giant cardio space where I just came from, watching all these people furiously motoring away on their respective machines, and it just looked so funny and weird to me?! I don't know why.  I was imagining what it might look like to aliens or people in the great beyond who lived centuries before us.  How odd it must appear to them that humans jam themselves inside hot sweaty buildings and run or bike in place?!  Hahaha  What did people do before gyms were invented?  So weird.  I guess this is why I prefer exercising outdoors.  It's just more natural.

Moving on.  After the gym I stopped to get takeout from a sushi place that was introduced to me by a friend.  It's called Edo Sushi, and they've got a few locations outside of the city.  Everything I've ever ordered there is superb.  This rainbow roll and shrimp tempura were just what I needed after my intense mental workout contemplating the weirdness of humans working out in gyms!

 

 

Going to take a more serious turn here for a moment because it's something I've been thinking about  all weekend.  On Friday night, I watched the movie, "12 Years a Slave" for the first time and it was one of the most disturbing, heartbreaking things I've ever seen.  Honestly, I found it incredibly hard to watch. So much so that at several points, I almost turned it off completely.  But I kept watching.  At one point, I actually almost vomited (during the scene when Lupita Nyong'o's character is whipped).  I was in tears throughout this movie and it was just one of the most disturbing things ever.  By the end of the movie, I felt ashamed of the color of my skin.  I know that may seem like a strange thing to say, but that's just how I felt.  I don't know what else to say other than it made me really sad to be a human.  If you haven't seen it, just be warned.  I think it's an important film to watch but my God, it's just horrific what we can do to each other.  Again, this makes me wonder what other species looking down on us must think of our behavior??

 



I've been seeing a lot of articles like this one floating around the internet lately.  Have you?

 

 

They are articles about how running will 'sabotage' your weight loss.  I believe the target audience for these articles are novice runners, or people who are just beginning workout programs, but even so I think they are sending the wrong message.  Lifelong runners aren't running to 'lose weight'.  You wouldn't keep something up for the duration of your life if you didn't enjoy it.  We actually LIKE to run.  We obviously know running alone isn't the only kind of exercise you need.  Doing the same thing all the time will not only lead to plateaus (performance and weight) as your body becomes accustomed to the daily demands, but can also lead to injury, burnout, muscle imbalances and more.  If you want to lose weight there are a NUMBER of factors you need to consider and doing a variety of exercises is just one of them.  Changing your eating/drinking habits are also a big factor.  But if someone enjoys running why tell them it's going to make them fat?!  Listen, if you like knitting, bird watching, wearing acid washed jeans, you just keep doing you.  Pay no mind to fear-mongering articles telling you acid washed jeans are out.  You might just bring them back.

 

What else did I want to tell you today?  Oh yes, a bit of nutritional advice.  Before heading out for a long run, or perhaps before doing any strenuous physical activity, you may not want to consume massive amounts of these:

 



 

Big mistake Bean.  Huge.  Miles 2-5 of my 10 miler yesterday were a bit rough because of that Laffy Taffy. I felt quite nauseous and was pretty sure I was going to vomit up a rainbow.  I finally started feeling better by mile 6.  So that was uncomfortable and annoying, and completely my fault.  I just couldn't resist after I found that giant bag at Walgreens. 

 

I took this picture after my run and when I looked at it, it didn't look like me!  I say that because I always thought I had brown eyes, but apparently they've changed to green.  Can this happen?!

 

 

I mean "Brown Eyed Girl" always used to be my song.  What am I supposed to do now?

 

I continue to love my shoes.  I was debating whether to put myself in a new pair of Vomero's for my race in April, but I think I'm going to go with the amazing, orthopedic-looking Hokas.

 

 



I am 36 now.  It's only fitting I wear giant Golden Girls-esque clodhoppers on my feet. 

And finallyyyyyyyyy.  This quote from Dean Karnazes popped up in my IG feed last night and I just loved it:

via/Ultramarathon on IG

Well, that was certainly a giant cornucopia of unrelated thoughts.  I think I better stop this train right here.  I hope your week is off to a great start!



Have you ever seen '12 Years a Slave'?

Why do you run?

Favorite running shoes right now?

Bethlehem Birthday Weekend

Turning 36 has been pretty great so far.  I don't know why I never thought to drag out my birthday celebration over an entire week before?!  Genius.  It was nice to have a few extra days off this weekend to visit with extended family and friends that I don't see often. 

The weekend started off with me driving up Interstate 95 in a snowstorm Friday morning?!  The first day of Spring brought 3-6 inches of snow from MD to PA.  It was weird.  It felt more like the middle of winter but whatever.  I am holding fast to the notion that Spring is here despite the bipolar tendencies of Mother Nature.

On Saturday, my parents took me out for a delicious Italian meal.  It was full of carbs which proved to be integral to my long run the next day.  I mean, Italians really know what they're doing when it comes to carb loading.  Behold:

My mom got a smartphone last year and she really loves taking pics with her phone now.  Therefore, she felt the need to document me eating dinner:

 

 

She also knows how to put fancy filters on her photos.  Look at those SKILLS!  The restaurant told us they were just starting to feature Vegan Treats on their menu and they gave me one gratis for my bday!  Just winning all around at that meal.  I love that local businesses are featuring my beloved bakery. 

After that giant meal, I went to visit one of my best friends and her family.  I got to hang out with her kiddos, including the new baby!  Who despite being 1 month old now still looks just as tiny as when I first met her.

I have no idea how we knew to coordinate our outfits.  We must be psychically connected.  My friend also surprised me with a non-dairy birthday cake!  I never forget that I have the best friends in the entire world.

On Sunday I knew I needed to get a long run in.  Last week I did 10 so anything greater than that was fair game.  It was pretty cold and windy in PA but my running felt really good that day so I decided to go for the whole 13 to get an idea of where I was time wise.  Not too shabby Bean.  Not too shabby at all.  The one thing I forgot to do here was put some fuel at the halfway point or in my pants (#twss) so by mile 11 I definitely felt like I needed some glucose.  Next time!

 

I came back from that run to the smell of my mom's homemade sauce on the stove.  She was having our extended family and friends over for yet MORE birthday celebrating!  The good thing about having multiple birthday cakes is that you get MULTIPLE wishes! Am I right?! 

 

Sunday dinner featured (what else) MORE pasta, sausage, stuffed shells (def NOT vegan), garlic bread, salad, bean dip, artichoke dip, and shrimp cocktail.  If you are a part of my family, or if you are invited to a family gathering, there is 0 chance you will ever be hungry.  I'm pretty sure Italians think eating can cure any ill.  You have a headache?  Eat something.  Stomachache?  Eat something?  The flu?  You better eat something.  HAHAHA  That's my mom on repeat. 

 

 

I had lots of help from all my cousins, nieces and nephews blowing out those candles. 

 

And to top off that epic weekend of family, friends and eating, I stopped at Vegan Treats to get the bubblegum ice cream they featured for me that weekend!

 

I hate to admit this, but it was TOO sweet for me.  I hadn't had bubblegum ice cream since I was a kid, so I guess it's not a stretch to say my taste buds have changed since then.  This got me thinking about memories and the way we perceive things in our past.  I think memories have a way of endearing themselves to you, and making things sometime seem more perfect and rosy than they actually were.  This little ice cream reminded me that it's important to stay in the PRESENT and experience things as they are NOW, instead of pining for the way things WERE.  You can never go back in time, and there's probably a reason for that.  Thank you deep spiritual guru soft serve.

Well, I think it's time I finally conclude my birthday celebrations, as well as this post.  I've been rambling forever.  I hope you had a great weekend and encourage you to celebrate your next birthday as many times as possible!


Does your family celebrate special occasions with giant meals?!

Do you think you sometimes see the past through rose-colored glasses?





Fitness Friday: Half Marathon Training, and some Friday Faves

Well hello and happy Fitness Friday to you!  So, this finally happened last night:

And it's about time because apparently the registration deadline is March 15th?! Leave it to Bean to leave everything to the last minute.  That's my trademark.  I was hemming and hawing on registering for this because I felt my running has been spotty and somewhat lackluster this winter.  The snow, all my random illnesses, etc had me feeling like I wasn't in the best shape.  And I only just recently started what I would call 'training' for this.  And by 'training' I mean ensuring I'm running 3x/week and slowly upping the mileage on my weekend runs.  And this race is only 6 weeks away.  Oy.  I always do this.  Ideally, if you are training for a half marathon your training cycle should be about 12 weeks (I'll talk more about this later). 

To give you an idea of what my training typically entails, I'll share the workouts I did this week:

Sunday:  8 mile run outside
Monday:  20 min bike interval workout // 1000m rowing // 1 min plank
Tuesday:  5K interval/speed workout (treadmill) // 30 pushups // 1 min plank
Wednesday:  Strength training - Upper and lower body (combo free weights & machines) //static crunches and Russian twists w/ 12lb dumbbell
Thursday:  5K easy outside (in shorts!)
Friday:  Rest day (Planned)
Saturday:  Rest and/or cross-train (Planned)

I think I will feel more confident if I can get at least a couple double-digit runs in over the next few weeks.

Now, back to the topic of training for your first half marathon.  I ran my first half in 2011 in Atlanta:

Prior to that race, I had never done a double-digit run.  So if you're in the same boat no worries!  If you have a plan, you'll get there.  I didn't follow any specific plan for mine, but I did research some of the big ones and then created my own plan around those.  Below are some of the best resources for choosing a half marathon training plan:

Hal Higdon
Runner's World
Jeff Galloway
Active.com

Most of these resources have plans for beginners, intermediates and advanced runners.  One caveat here:  Before attempting any training plan you may want to consult a professional.  You should also be running regularly (at least 2-3 times/week) and can run a minimum of 3 miles at one time.

My half marathon training cycles usually look like this:
Running:  3x/week  (2 shorter weekday runs/1 long weekend run)
Cross-training:  1-2x/week (Biking, Hiking, Walking, Swimming, HIIT)
Strength-training:  1-2x/week

Some half marathon training plans prescribe 4 days of running per week.  Personally, I find that to be too much.  With my history of shin splints, I need a day off between each run day and I've always trained with only 3 days of running.  But if you can do back to back run days, then more power to you!  If you want me to go into more detail in the future re: half marathon training plans, please let me know!


And now to end this post with some of my Favorites from the week!

 

• I got 7 hours of sleep on Wednesday night!  Glorious.  I usually average 5 hrs/night during the week so this was a nice treat.
• I love folding baby laundry at work.  I find it adorable and relaxing.  I also love washing dishes.  I have a dishwasher but don't use it and wash all my dishes by hand :)

• On the same note, is there anything better than a baby falling asleep on your chest?! Heaven on earth, truly.
• I got an email this week entitled "The Best Bras for Big Boobs" HAHAHA Good one.  Maybe in my next lifetime.
• And I ran outside, in SHORTS yesterday.  Thanks Daylight Savings Time.  You're the best.



That's it!  I'm going to live it up TSwift 22 style this weekend because come Monday, it seems I'm going to find myself in my late 30's?! 


Have a great weekend!


If you run half marathons, where do you get your training plans?

Tell me some favorites from this week!

The Big Surprise

Last Thursday morning, unbeknownst to my sister, I boarded a plane headed south to the Big Peach.  Later that day, I stuffed myself inside a box and waited outside her house until she came outside to find the surprise her husband had planned for her.  It was epic!  Even after I popped out of the box my sister was still so confused as to what I was doing in her front yard!  Hahaha  I blame it on the pregnancy brain.  (I have a video but unfortunately, when it was sent from my brother-in-law's phone to mine, it got all blurry and scrambled.  And it's also too long to email for some reason, so I apologize but I unfortunately won't be able to share this magical moment with you.)

A little background here:  My sister is currently 36 weeks pregnant, a mom to a 1 year old and 4 old and literally JUST moved into a new house (like a week ago).  To say she has a lot on her plate right now is an understatement.  My brother-in-law knew she was feeling super stressed lately and so a month or two ago he approached me about coming down to surprise her, help her and just generally lift her spirits as only a sister can do!  And dare I say it was a raging success!

I had a few goals for my 5 day visit, number one being to get the crib for the new baby assembled.  Mission accomplished!  I put this crib together with my own two hands.  Credit also goes to my 22 month-old nephew who assisted with his plastic hammer.  Definitely a key factor :)

I also helped her out by watching the kids while she ran around like a nut trying to get things done in the new house!  Hanging out with kids is just what I do, so no arm twisting required there.  Plus, I mean, how can you resist these faces?!?!

Jillyruns/IG

The answer to that question is that you can't. 

Bedtime selfie!

 

 

We ran a lot of errands while I was in town and it never ceases to amaze me, every time I'm in ATL and out with my sister, the number of 'twin' comments we get.  Literally every sales clerk at every store we were in asked us if we were twins.  A woman in Lowe's actually shouted across the aisle - 'Excuse me.  Excuse me!  Are y'all twins?!'  Hahaha I dk what the fascination is there.  Even more interesting is that SEVERAL of my sisters friends, who she sees on a very frequent basis in her neighborhood or at my niece's school, actually thought I was her, that I had delivered the baby, and returned to my pre-baby body all in the span of less than a week! HAHAHA  Someone actually called her to congratulate her on having the baby and she was like WHAT?!  

 

This pic is from a visit last year.  We didn't manage to get a pic together this time around.

 

 

My sister is a big smoothie fan and during our visit, she introduced me to my new favorite concoction.  It is delicious and super easy and once again, I forgot to take a pic :(  It contains only 3 ingredients:

 

Coconut/Almond milk blend

1 frozen banana

Generous scoop of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa

 

Try it! You won't be disappointed.

 

Oh I also found these cookies, in a gas station of all places down there.  I had heard about these for awhile but never came across them in Baltimore.  Vegan.  Protein.  Chocolate.  All wrapped up in a giant cookie.  SOLD!  Now I just need to find them up here.

 

 

 

While down in Atlanta, I also had to keep up with my half-marathon 'training' (I use that phrase loosely here since this has been the shortest training schedule ever).  With the heat and humidity down there, I honestly wasn't sure how I'd make my last long run happen.  I wanted to get in a double digit run since we are literally less than 2 weeks away from race day (let that sink in).  So far, I've squeezed in multiple long runs (a 10mi, 11mi, 11mi the last 3 weeks) so I've been feeling pretty good about the race, but I wanted one last long run 2 weeks out. 

 

I decided to run at night, after the sun went down since the daytime temps were about 97 degrees and 75% humidity!  I've visited my sister many many times over the years and knew her old neighborhood well, but I knew zippo about her new one.  In hindsight, setting out alone in the dark in a place where I had zero sense of direction may not have been the best decision but my lord it felt great!  That night I had one of the best double digit runs of this training cycle.  I absolutely loved running by the light of the moon.  I'm a night owl naturally (definitely not an early morning runner) and running in the dark was so peaceful.  I did 10 miles and my legs felt light the entire way.  I honestly felt like I could have run several more miles but it was already after 10pm so I decided to call it a night.  When I arrived back at the homestead I was completely drenched from head to toe.  I don't think I've ever run in humidity like that!

 

 

I always have a great time when I visit my sister.  It doesn't matter if the trip is more about business or pleasure, I'm just happy to see her and her fam.  I hope having me around for a few days gave her some sense of peace and lifted the stress she had been feeling lately.  In hindsight, scaring the crap out of a nearly full-term pregnant lady by popping out of a box on her front yard may not have been the smartest plan, but it sure was fun!

 

 

 



 

What have you been up to the last few days?

 

Ever surprise a family member in a big way?

 



 



Recently...

1.  I went to the doctor last week and my blood pressure was 88/57.  My heart rate was 56.  I'm no M.D. but I'm pretty sure with vitals like those, I should be dead.  IT'S GOOD TO BE ALIVE PEOPLE!

2.  I did another 11 miles on Saturday after I buried my feelings in Chipotle the night before and I most surprisingly felt pretty swell.  Much better than last week's 11 and a few minutes faster too.  Lesson:  Massive amounts of Chipotle will make your run faster.  Try it.

 

 

3.  After my run, I went to check out Runner Appreciation Day at Holabird Sports.  I had never been to Holabird before because I always get my running shoes from Charm City Run.  However this event sounded fun, it was free, and there was a chance you could win some cool running stuff! SOLD!  I ended up getting some free socks, picked up some Nuun and tried on the new Adidas Energy Boost shoes.  Verdict on those - I really liked them!  Ran around the parking lot for awhile and whatever that Boost material is, it definitely feels different from the normal foam cushioning in most shoes.

 

 

4.  My Saturday of fun continued when I stopped by the library and picked up lots of new books.  There's not much that makes me as happy as new books that are also FREE.  (Running, Babies.  It's a short list.  I'm easy to please.)

 

 

5.  On Sunday I went to my cousin's daughter's 3rd birthday party.  I hadn't seen these particular cousins since Christmas so it was really nice to spend some time with them. 

Aunt Jill, supervising the kids on the play set, drink in hand. #RoleModel

 

 

6.  This happened:

 



I was ice bucket challenged.  So if you ever wanted to know what I sound like IRL - there you go!  I'm a munchkin from the Land of Oz.  [You may be wondering how I filmed this here video considering I live alone.  If you guessed I taught my cats how to use an iPhone you'd be wrong, but that would be awesome.  No, I duct taped my iPhone to the bannister of my balcony.  Real life MacGuyver over here.  NASA should hire me.]

 

After I doused myself with ice water, I ran the fastest 7 miles of my life.  It was like running with built in air conditioning.  This has been noted and I will be ice bucketing myself immediately prior to running my half marathon.

 

That's all folks!  Enjoy your week :)

 

 

Tell me something random and fun!!!