If you're reading this, you've either come across my blog randomly online (yay, thanks for reading!) or I've sent you the link because you've sponsored me through Team for Kids. As many of you already know, it's my personal goal to raise at least $26.20 from 100 people before running the NYC marathon on November 4.
If you have not yet had a chance to donate, I would love your support. It goes to a great charity doing wonderful things for the kids in its programs and also for the adults getting ready to run in November. The video explains much better than I do:
Thanks for your support!
Heading toward 26.2 this fall!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Back to Life, Back to Reality...
To continue the playlist theme, here's a throwback with a nice beat for a running playlist. Good for getting back in the groove, I think.
Since my knees were bothering me a little bit before my travels, I'm going to chalk it up as a good thing that I did not hit my mileage while traveling. Actually, considering the amount of walking we did in London, I very well may be close to the mileage I was going for, I just wasn't running those miles on my schedule. And my knees are feeling better - ready to run.
Now that I'm back, I'm committed to hitting my goal mileage this week:
Today: 7 mile challenge run (speedwork!)
Tomorrow: 6 mile easy run
Friday: rest or cross train
Saturday: 18 mile long run (Holy cow, 18?!?!? This is for real.)
Follow along and see if I can really get that many miles in!
London was a blast, but I'm glad to be back. Just one more thing to close - Sunday we visited this exhibit at the Portrait gallery, which was excellent. I love Dorothy Wilding's image of the queen for her coronation, and I love this quote:
In lieu of a long run, this weekend was more about coffee and good friends. Because, it's good to have a balance.
Off to get 7 miles in!
(PS, I'm back to posting in real time. Thanks for catching up.)
Since my knees were bothering me a little bit before my travels, I'm going to chalk it up as a good thing that I did not hit my mileage while traveling. Actually, considering the amount of walking we did in London, I very well may be close to the mileage I was going for, I just wasn't running those miles on my schedule. And my knees are feeling better - ready to run.
Now that I'm back, I'm committed to hitting my goal mileage this week:
Today: 7 mile challenge run (speedwork!)
Tomorrow: 6 mile easy run
Friday: rest or cross train
Saturday: 18 mile long run (Holy cow, 18?!?!? This is for real.)
Follow along and see if I can really get that many miles in!
London was a blast, but I'm glad to be back. Just one more thing to close - Sunday we visited this exhibit at the Portrait gallery, which was excellent. I love Dorothy Wilding's image of the queen for her coronation, and I love this quote:
"Let us not take ourselves too seriously."
~Queen Elizabeth II
In lieu of a long run, this weekend was more about coffee and good friends. Because, it's good to have a balance.
Off to get 7 miles in!
(PS, I'm back to posting in real time. Thanks for catching up.)
Woke up in London yesterday...
Found myself in the city, near Picadilly...
Even before I was planning my London trip, I was in love with this song. It gets me so pumped up for a long run, so it was on my playlist anyway, but I've been listening to it a lot more since I've been here!
It feels like autumn has arrived in London, with a few leaves blowing around and a clear, cloudless sky letting the sun warm anyone basking outside. It is a lovely break from the steaminess I've been running through in the US lately. Today I did about 5-6 miles around Kensington - up to Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park. I love exploring runs, they are so refreshing!
(PS, this post is also time-delayed, sorry!)
Even before I was planning my London trip, I was in love with this song. It gets me so pumped up for a long run, so it was on my playlist anyway, but I've been listening to it a lot more since I've been here!
(PS, this post is also time-delayed, sorry!)
A long run and a spot of Vitamin Water (oops, time delay!)
(Ooops, I did not have as much internet access as I thought I would this week, so this post is slightly delayed in its publication. Sorry!)
Hello from across the pond! This week's runs took me past some very scenic things. Yesterday I did about 7-8 miles, though I walked the end because I was quite tired after adjusting to the time difference, and not starting with enough fuel! I had a vitamin water and felt 100%.
There were two lovely things along the way today...
The second really notable thing was Tower Bridge, of course, with the paralympics symbol now up. It was lovely running along the Thames, and even though I'm still way below my mileage for this week, I was happy with 7 miles, and a lovely little stroll at the end with my vitamin water.
More to come!
Hello from across the pond! This week's runs took me past some very scenic things. Yesterday I did about 7-8 miles, though I walked the end because I was quite tired after adjusting to the time difference, and not starting with enough fuel! I had a vitamin water and felt 100%.
There were two lovely things along the way today...
The first was a pub with extraordinary flowers. I had to pause my run to take a photo because this just isn't something you'd see in the US.
More to come!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Training on the go!
Hello marathon fans! I've been tied up a bit with work (last week) and travel (this week), so I haven't posted as much as I'd have liked to. Despite my recent crazy schedule, we've had some great runs along the way!
To make my 7:30 meetings all last week, I had to get out pretty early to get a few runs in. The best part of this was definitely seeing the sunrise over lake Michigan. Last week was mostly about shorter runs and fitting in time to run at all!
Then, over the weekend we were off to DC. We were staying with friends in Alexandria, so we decided the most scenic route would be to head to DC. The weather was okay for our long run, with rain/drizzle when we got to the Mall. We had a great time anyway! We ended up running about 9-10 miles, and then biking back. It was fantastic scenery for a workout.
How do you fits runs into a busy schedule?
To make my 7:30 meetings all last week, I had to get out pretty early to get a few runs in. The best part of this was definitely seeing the sunrise over lake Michigan. Last week was mostly about shorter runs and fitting in time to run at all!
Then, over the weekend we were off to DC. We were staying with friends in Alexandria, so we decided the most scenic route would be to head to DC. The weather was okay for our long run, with rain/drizzle when we got to the Mall. We had a great time anyway! We ended up running about 9-10 miles, and then biking back. It was fantastic scenery for a workout.
How do you fits runs into a busy schedule?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Cross Training and an evening run along the lake
Good morning, marathon fans! Wednesdays are my cross-training days, and yesterday I survived an 80-minute session with Greg the personal trainer. What I like best about working with a trainer is that it forces me to get out of my comfort zone and try new exercises.
After such a great session in the morning, I decided to double-up in the evening and head out to try for the 7 miles we had on the calendar for Wednesday. That was a great idea, until I actually started running and realized just how tired my muscles were from all those weights earlier in the day.
While Evan took off with a burst of speed to go for the whole the 7 miles, I worked in some of Jeff Galloway's famous walk breaks. It was just a little too late, and I was a little too tired to get up to the 7-mile mark, but I was happy to stay in the 4-5 mile range. And it was a lovely evening to be out & about at the lake.
The great thing about running along the lake in Chicago is that there is only really that one trail, so Evan ran to our 3.5 mile marker and turned around, while I cruised back and forth along the 2 mile marker, and we finished together. I was proud to meet his pace on the way back, and even sprint the last block, once my muscles were feeling warmed up.
What do you do to cross-train?
After such a great session in the morning, I decided to double-up in the evening and head out to try for the 7 miles we had on the calendar for Wednesday. That was a great idea, until I actually started running and realized just how tired my muscles were from all those weights earlier in the day.
While Evan took off with a burst of speed to go for the whole the 7 miles, I worked in some of Jeff Galloway's famous walk breaks. It was just a little too late, and I was a little too tired to get up to the 7-mile mark, but I was happy to stay in the 4-5 mile range. And it was a lovely evening to be out & about at the lake.
The great thing about running along the lake in Chicago is that there is only really that one trail, so Evan ran to our 3.5 mile marker and turned around, while I cruised back and forth along the 2 mile marker, and we finished together. I was proud to meet his pace on the way back, and even sprint the last block, once my muscles were feeling warmed up.
What do you do to cross-train?
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Overhead excitement to mark 15 miles
Hello marathon fans! Evan and I finally made it to the 15-mile mark on Saturday! We took about 2 hours, 45 minutes. The goal for the long run is to finish and push endurance without regard to time. Our running coaches from Team for Kids are encouraging a long run pace of approximately 1-1.5 minutes slower per mile. So, we are in a good place, though we are working in more speed training this week on shorter distances.
Saturday's 15 miles were accompanied by the blue angels flying overhead (I totally failed at taking pictures, but I love this photo, from the J. Parker's FB page). The air & water show was in full swing, so we altered our route a little to detour through Lincoln Park instead of home along the lake front. The airplanes overhead were actually pretty inspiring and great entertainment along the way.
On Sunday I cross-trained by going to Ikea and moving/constructing furniture. That probably counts as a rest day, but I was still recovering from Saturday and definitely felt like it was enough physical activity for the day. Check back for a post of our shiny new TV and the bench it lives on.
Monday I had a goal of 7 miles on the calendar, but ended up splitting it into 4-mile runs both Monday and yesterday because work got a little crazy on both days, so I didn't have as much time as I'd hoped. I've been doing evening runs during the week and yesterday the lake was just lovely. I'll bring my phone tonight to capture some evening action shots.
What keeps you going on your long runs?
Saturday's 15 miles were accompanied by the blue angels flying overhead (I totally failed at taking pictures, but I love this photo, from the J. Parker's FB page). The air & water show was in full swing, so we altered our route a little to detour through Lincoln Park instead of home along the lake front. The airplanes overhead were actually pretty inspiring and great entertainment along the way.
On Sunday I cross-trained by going to Ikea and moving/constructing furniture. That probably counts as a rest day, but I was still recovering from Saturday and definitely felt like it was enough physical activity for the day. Check back for a post of our shiny new TV and the bench it lives on.
Monday I had a goal of 7 miles on the calendar, but ended up splitting it into 4-mile runs both Monday and yesterday because work got a little crazy on both days, so I didn't have as much time as I'd hoped. I've been doing evening runs during the week and yesterday the lake was just lovely. I'll bring my phone tonight to capture some evening action shots.
What keeps you going on your long runs?
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