Join Us to Run 2,015 Miles in 2015

Last week I shared a few of my goals for 2015, well, I've added another that will help me achieve those. I've teamed up with Grace of Lean Girls Club and Woody to go after the 2,015 in 2015 Challenge! 

You've likely seen this on Facebook as I did, and you may have even been like me immediately dismissing it because it just seems so daunting! Even the 1,000 mile challenges have been out of reach for me in the past (I've tried and failed) so what I really love about this challenge is that you can do it with a team to split the miles and have a built in support system.

It breaks out like this for each person:
1 person = 2,015 miles in 365 days (5.5 miles/day)
2 people = 1,007.5 miles in 365 days (2.75 miles/day)
3 people = 672 miles in 365 days (2 miles/day)

672 miles in a year, I'm pretty confident I can handle that! It'll keep me accountable - not only to myself but to my teammates - helping me achieve those PR's I have my sights set on, and encourage Woody to keep up his new hobby. He's more competitive than I am, so it'll be interesting to see how he takes this on!

The challenge is organized by Adam Goucher (retired pro-runner, running coach and husband to Kara) and Tim Catalano (running coach and educator) - co-founders of Runner the Edge - and from what I've seen thus far it seems apparent that a lot of thought and preparation has been put into the program. 

Registration will be left open for a little longer, so there's still time to join in the fun. If you're thinking about it, here's what you need to know:

• The basic cost is $25 (more if you choose options like the finishers medal or a shirt)
• While teams are more than welcome, it's best to cap your team at 3 people or the challenge becomes less of a challenge
• You can form a team before or after you join, but each person needs to register individually
• Miles can be accumulated through running and walking however because the challenge is meant to be accomplished on foot, biking doesn't count. (But this doesn't rule out snowshoeing!)
• The challenge is open to anyone around the world
• Once you sign-up, you'll be able to join a private Facebook group for updates and to share encouragement with other participants, and there are freebies and discounts from partners including Oiselle and Nuun

If this all sounds fun to you, please join us! You can sign up HERE.

Grace and I will be sharing our journey on our blogs and Instagram, so if you're not already following her, be sure to head over to Lean Girls Club!

Whether this or another, what challenge are you setting for yourself this year?

A Look Back and A Look Ahead: Happy 2015!

Happy 2015! It's a wonderful thing, isn't it? We get to start a new year. 

Hope you all had a fabulous New Years Eve. It was pretty tame in our house, just the way we like it. 

January 1 brings a fresh start. The perfect opportunity to go after our goals with a renewed sense of optimism and energy, and reflect on what's happened during the year we're leaving behind. Enjoy the moment and take a deep breath because there are many great things ahead!

While not completely void of a few low points, 2014 was a pretty good year as I accomplished a few things that I'm quite proud of. Among them: I finally caught my breath and learned to run at altitude, I expanded my workout routine to include snow shoeing and trail running, I ran my way to 5k and 4Mile PR's, I challenged myself and visited yet another new (for me) place with Bird Camp in Bend, OR, we bought a house (!), I learned (or more accurately, am learning) Photoshop, and I got through another year without any major injuries!

I have much to be thankful for - far too many things to list here - but I will take a quick moment to thank you for stopping by throughout the year, taking time to read my ramblings. The blog has had it's ups and downs since we moved to Colorado, but it's not going anywhere. 

Looking ahead, there are a lot of things on my list that I'd like to accomplish in 2015. Realistically, I know that some of them may not get crossed off over the next 364 days, but hopefully I'll take a lot of steps forward.

There are some bigger goals (on the fitness, personal, and professional fronts) that I'll be focusing on and thankfully I got my hands on a copy of the Believe journal to help me stay on track throughout the year. On the fitness front, my goal is to build strength, endurance, and speed.

For me, this includes mastering the 3 minute+ plank, racing a new distance (10Mile or 15k) and hitting some PR's (5k, 4Mile, and 10k). I have a lot of work cut out for me!

While there are a lot of things I want to do in the coming year - beyond these running related goals - there are also a few things I think we all should leave behind in 2014, like:

- Filling silence with our social media feeds
- Letting our fears dictate our actions (or inactions)
- Spending more time sitting than on our feet
- Making decisions based on what others think/say instead of how we feel & what we believe
- Focusing too much on the future and not the here and now

For me, one of the little fears I need to let go of is running in the cold and snow, so to kick the year off right we went for a cold (8 degrees!) run on the snow packed trail around Washington Park! It was really cold but neither of us fell (success!) and eventually our core temps warmed up and it was a beautiful morning and the perfect way to start of 2015!

Alright, time to get this year going. Next up for us, time to watch the Cotton Bowl - Go Spartans!!! How are you kicking off 2015? What are some of your goals for the year?

Running on Goals

It’s been a while since I’ve had any real, focused running goals. This past year I’ve been running for fitness mostly – getting acclimated to running at altitude – with Bolder Boulder as the race I was running towards. Since I started running in 2006, I always used races to set my goals. But after moving here I kind of lost my focus.

But that’s changing.

First up – next Tuesday, Woody and I will be running the Running Bear 5K in Glen Arbor, Michigan. It’s a small, local race on a weekday morning in a beautiful Northern Michigan town. We ran this race two years ago, and were slightly disappointed by the lack of lake views along the course, but were overwhelmed by the abundance of post-race refreshments. It’s a great community event with little pressure. While the race definitely pulls in fast runners, it’s really just a big party. My goal for this is to run a strong, fast and smart race. I’ve been pushing myself a bit harder on my training runs in Wash Park and I’m feeling good about how hard I can go. But, it will be interesting to race at sea level again!

Next on the line is BirdCamp in August. I’m beyond excited to travel to Bend, Oregon for the first time, to meet many of my amazing Oiselle teammates and to catch up with others I haven’t seen since moving to Denver. I’m feeling stronger and more confident in my running now that I’ve gotten acclimated to this altitude. That said, I will be running with women who are so much faster and stronger than I am, so my goal is to run hard, run smart and hold my own. And to have fun. To do that, I’m pushing myself harder, running more often, and training on a variety of surfaces – gravel path, asphalt/concrete (sidewalks and streets) and real mountain trails. I’ve also been pushing myself harder in the gym with weight training. I’m feeling stronger than I have for a long time. Now I just have to stay injury free for at least another month!

Lastly, I want to become a trail runner. With our two trail runs at Chautauqua (oh yeah, we went again this past weekend!), and a few others, I’m on the right path but still have a long way to go. I’m not sure when I will feel like a real trail runner – or what that really means – but perhaps it’ll be once I feel comfortable enough with my footing that I can actually look up and enjoy the view for more than a split second, and when I buy my first pair of trail running shoes. To reach this goal, we’ll keep exploring trails! This is on the list because the few times we’ve gone, I’ve loved the variety of the terrain, the fresh air, the endless places to explore and how strong I feel when we finish a really challenging run. I want to do more of it.

I’m going after my running goals, what are you working towards?

The Challenge Staring Me Down

I’m heading out of town for the weekend. Leaving my husband at home to go play in the North with my family. My nephew is turning 5 so it’s time to celebrate! As excited as I am to see my family – and I have to say, seeing my nephew and niece will be the biggest treat about it – I am also a bit nervous.

The last month or so I’ve been really focused on my goal to shed a few pounds and while they’re coming off slowly it is working and I’m afraid that stepping far outside the comfort zone and routine I’ve created is going to set me back. Thankfully the hotel my parents and I are staying at has a small gym, so I will run both Sunday and Monday (traveling early Saturday morning – maybe a few laps of the terminal?), probably chase the little munchkins around a bit and do my very best to indulge only a little.

My mantra for the weekend:

This Sunday is the NYC Half Marathon. It’s a great race that starts in Central Park and finishes here in my neighborhood downtown. I’ve only run it once, a few years ago when it was still in August; it was fun to run and a great one to cheer for. I’m definitely disappointed I won’t be here to support all the runners and for what is bound to be an awesome Oiselle Team meet-up. Good luck to all the Oiselle birds who’ll be out there running: Allison, Jocelyn, Katie, Meggie and Stephanie!

My exciting news? I’ve registered for two more races this Spring so I now have three on the calendar!

• Sunday, May 12: Japan Run in Central Park (4M)
• Thursday, May 30: AHA Wall Street Run (3)
• Saturday, June 8: Oakley Mini 10K

What are your plans for the weekend? * How do you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – corned beef, green beer or a shamrock shuffle? * How do you stay on track with your health & fitness goals while you travel?

Standing at the Start Line of 2013

While I haven’t been running lately, I made a decision the other day that the best way to start 2013 would be to start it with a run. So, this morning I bundled up and headed out for a chilly run.

Even though it was after 9am by the time I got out, there was hardly anyone on the streets. Definitely a holiday morning! I took a random route running through Battery Park City, Tribeca and the Financial District. It was a good run, for being the first time I’ve put on my running shoes in over a month. Great to get out there in the cool air to start the New Year!

Before I headed out I caught up on Twitter and read the great news that Oiselle announced the signing of Lauren Fleshman as a sponsored athlete and business partner! It’s a great partnership that will be really exciting to watch develop. You can read about it all HERE.

Speaking of Oiselle, not only did I wear my favorite Happy Hoodie (above) on my first run of the year this morning, but also my very favorite running top – the Rundelicious top! Super cute, comfortable, warm and the perfect length. Plus, it has a zip pocket on the back!

At the start of a new year, as we’re all well aware, it’s a tradition to make resolutions and set goals for the coming year. More often than not it seems resolutions are forgotten or brushed aside within a few weeks, probably because it’s easy to let life get in the way. Funny how that works, isn’t it? We try to make our life better by making resolutions yet the every day makes it difficult to follow through.

I’ve decided not to make resolutions because of this. But, also because I think life can pass by in a flash and it’s when I make plans that I’m more likely to accomplish things, I did come up with a few goals for 2013. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s important to quantify goals, hopefully I’ve set them up so that they’re attainable.

Running

As I ran 6 races in 2012, I hope to run at least 6 in 2013. Three which I have my sights set on are the Riverside Park Hot Chocolate, the NYRR AHA Wall Street Run and the NYRR Mini 10K – one of my favorite races. We’ll see what else comes up during the year. My hope is that I’ll set a few PR’s this year but I also need to do my best to get through another year without a stress fracture! Keeping up with strength training should help!

Fitness Classes

Now that I’ve made it a year without a new stress fracture, I’m ready to try new things. Trying new classes and experiences is key for staying excited and interested! Keeps things fresh! This year I’m up for trying new things like SurfSet, a proper spinning class (I’ve only taken one class if you can believe it!) and possibly even CrossFit! We’ll see what else!

Cooking

I’ve been slacking lately in the kitchen. I do enjoy cooking and trying new healthy recipes, but I haven’t been doing much of that the last few months for various reasons. I’m hoping that’ll change in 2013 and I’d like to try 4 new recipes each month, whether it be a healthy coffeecake like the one below that I made while my parents were in town, or a stew or new salad. I think both Woody and I are getting a bit bored with the rotating menu that we’ve been eating lately!

Connect

Something else I haven’t been very good at lately is staying in touch with friends and family. Life is too short and unpredictable so another goal is to reach out to friends or family at least four times a month. Whether it be by email, phone, letter or in person.

Explore

I do love to explore this city and the world – it’s the best way to learn about history, others and myself. I want to continue to travel starting with Savannah later this month, a trip to Minneapolis for my nephew’s 5th birthday and Denver in March, perhaps a weekend trip to Philly later in the Spring and who knows where else.

2013 is going to be a big year for us, so while I’m slightly nervous about all that it holds, I’m also excited to see how it all turns out!

• How did you start the new year?
• Do you make resolutions or goals?
• What are some of your goals for the year?

************

Today’s workout -

• Run

Running. What I Haven’t Been Doing.

If you’ve been reading my blog much this year, even though I haven’t posted very often you’ve probably gotten the idea that I haven’t been running much. All year.

You might remember that last year I had two stress fractures. One in my left femur during the Spring when I was training for the Broad Street Run which I was supposed to run over my Birthday weekend during a trip to Philadelphia. We cancelled the trip.

In the Fall I fractured my left femur again while I was running the Detroit Half Marathon. Different spot but worse this time. I knew immediately that something was wrong and ran limping across the finish line. I called my Sports Doc’s answering service from Detroit Metro Airport to schedule an appointment for the next day and was on crutches as soon as we got back to our apartment.

My goal for this year was to get through the year without any stress fractures. I needed to fully heal before running again, then limit my running and focus on strengthening my bones. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I wish for it, it’s not that easy to strengthen bones. I can take calcium and vitamin D but until I get my annual bone scan, it’s not possible to know if there’s any progress. It’s incredibly frustrating. I just have to hope that my diet and supplements are working.

I’ve only run five races this year. The only year I’ve run less than five races since I started running 6 years ago was last year. I’ve gone weeks without running. When I first realized I had to cut back dramatically on running I was incredibly frustrated and sad. I’m sure you understand. When you’re dealing with an injury it’s hard to stop running. Your mind and body want to be out there running. Moving. Working up a sweat and pushing yourself. Let’s just say there were a few tears.

I hate to admit though, over the past months I’ve gotten used to not running. I’ve gotten a bit lazy. I spend a lot of time at the gym but I haven’t been pushing as hard as I probably should because I’ve been afraid. I just want to get through a calendar year without a stress fracture.

This is where I’ve been working up a sweat this year.

Yeah, not too exciting.

Now that I’m almost there, I don’t want to jinx it, and of course, my goal will only move further out. But next year I’m hoping to get out there, run more and get back to my old running shape. Or at least closer to it. It’s something I love and I want back in my life. I have a feeling it’ll take a bit of time to get back into the groove and choose the cold over the warmth and easy nature of the gym, but I have confidence it’ll come back.

On a happier note, after going to the gym and doing laundry Sunday morning Woody and I spent the afternoon traipsing around town Christmas shopping and checking out different holiday fairs. This is from Bryant Park. (I think we have around 100 pictures of us that we’ve taken. Apologies for the close-up.)

 

• Have you ever had to take a year, or several months and dial-down your running to get healthy again? How did you get back into a routine?
• How did you spend your weekend?
• Who raced this weekend?
• It was 50’ when we left for the gym at 5 this morning. Is it weirdly warm where you are too?

************

Today’s workout -

• 40min elliptical
• 3x10 weighted side bends
• 3x12 upright row
• 3x12 bicep push-down
• 3x12 hammer curls
• ab exercises
• stretching

The Start of a Great New Year!

Yesterday was a pretty lazy day for me, which is exactly how I wanted it. We actually slept in until 9am (crazy, I know!) and then I made my delicious and indulgent peanut butter and banana stuffed French toast. I didn’t let that indulgence get me off on the wrong foot though. I also did some cleaning, laundry and got myself to the gym.

I love and loath the gym from January – March. You know, after people have made their resolution to get fit and go to the gym more often and there are lines for equipment and people who still don’t quite understand the need to wipe off a machine after use. Thankfully today our regular gym was closed so I went to the workout room in our building. It was empty when I arrived just after noon but didn’t take long to fill up. By the time I left there were 10 other people, which is a lot of people in the small space.

There was one totally ripped and fit woman who, I admit, I was staring at and was in awe of. Probably in her late 30’s, she was incredibly fit and strong. Great motivation. A few hours later, I was thinking I should have asked her if she’s a trainer! I could use one.

I had to laugh when three guys walked in together a few minutes before I left who were all wearing bright white sneakers. One guy got on a treadmill only to quickly say to his friend “I think I should stretch a little first.” Ah…newbies.

So, because I can’t yet start on my race schedule for the year since I don’t even know when I can run yet, I have to come up with other goals for the year. One thing I want to focus on this year is going to yoga more often. I do love yoga, and in the past I’ve had my spurts of yoga-ness, but this year I’m going to make a more concerted effort to make time for it. I think it will be good for me – mind, body and soul.

There are three places I have in mind –

Yoga to the People on St. Marks Place, where I’ve been several times before. They have big studios that fill up quickly and work on a donation basis, asking for $10. The studios are pretty basic and it’s in an old walkup building on a busy street, but conveniently located between work and home. I’m going to try going here during the week for their Power Vinyasa Flow class once I’m done with PT.

YoYoga is only a few blocks from my office. Only $12 a class, I haven’t tried this studio yet but a few co-workers have. They have a class at 6:45pm each night that I might be able to get to once in a while.

Lululemon stores in the city have free open-level classes on Sunday morning, which I have been to quite a few times with Grace and Kether. The two closest stores to our apartment don’t have their January schedules posted yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll still offer these classes in 2012.

So far, this is the only fitness goal I’ve set for the year. We’ll see how my appointments with my Endocrinologist this Wednesday and Sports Doc on Friday go before I start setting any more ambitious goals.

I’ll tell you this though, I want this year to be a healthy, fun and adventurous year. I hope you have the same thing in mind for yourself!

• Did you start the year with a run or workout?
• What is one goal you have for the year?
• Have you ever recruited a buddy to achieve goals with?
• What are you looking forward to in 2012?

************

Yesterday’s Workout -

• stretching
• 125 ab exercises
• 2x15 back extension
• 25min elliptical
• 3x10 hip extensions
• 3x10 hip abduction
• 3x10 hip adduction
• 3x10 cable twists (each side)

Today’s Workout -

• 3x10 cable-pull pushdown
• 3x10 bicep curl
• 3x10 lat pull-down
• PT balance exercises
• 3x10 weighted side bends (each side)
• 10min rowing machine
• 26min elliptical
• 2x35 sec plank, 1x45sec plank
• 100 ab exercises
• stretching