Marathon Mom

After a few weeks of poor meal planning resulting in last minute frozen pizzas, dinners out and less than healthy foods  we are back! The past week coach Nichole has also upped me to running 6 days per week. which I haven't done in years. I need to focus on recovery after the tough days and having the right fuel will be key along with gentle yoga on day 7. Meals Sunday Lentil Tamales with black beans and fajita veggies (Hosting Christmas Eve) and of course plenty of cookies: Almond crescents, molasses and I healthified (is that a word?) my grandma's toffee bar recipe! Monday Vegan GF Lasagna with garlic green beans Tuesday Turning Sunday leftovers into fajitas Wednesday Christmas with Matt's family Thursday Tofu curry or Jambalaya (can't decide yet!) Friday "Fried" cauliflower rice Saturday Dinner out? Workouts This past week started my 6 days of running, plus got to kick off the holiday weekend with a family Crossftit workout and last weekend...

I think I said this last year but here we go again…I will embrace winter and make the most out of it! Last year we bought snowshoes and this year it will be cross country skis. I figure the more I have to do outside the better it will be, right? Last year O was given skis so what better family activity. Benefits of Cross Country Skiing for Runners Great aerobic cross training- XC skiers tend to have highest VO2max Safer than running on snow and ice Improve balance Strengthens ankles Improves flexibility Strengthening pelvic/hip muscles The problem now comes that I have now cross country skied since those days in junior high gym class when the entire class trudged through the school yard attempting to keep up and not get sweaty! Yes a lot has changed in my life since then. So tell me what do I need to know to get started? Any tips for a new skier?  I'll make sure to share my progress and what I learn this winter skiing. Photo Credit- West Yel...

I made through the biggest week in marathon training and my last long training run of my unconventional training! I think I peaked at 45 mpw when I used to run 65+ mpw, wow! But my focus has been on more strength and cross training instead and I feel much better and heck even think I look better! So how did my goals end up? 6 Days P90X3 including X3 yoga which is wonderful Yes! Have I said how much I love this workout?! 4 Days running:  1 speed, 1 long run (22 miles!), 1 hills and 1 easy Yes: Tues 7 miles on hilly course, Thurs: 7 miles with some intervals, Sat: 22.1 miles, Sun: 5 miles easy  3 additional core focus days Yes: 21 DF 10 Minute Abs, Pilates and Piyo Core Non Fitness Goals: Clean 1 more room   Barely Start Part 2 of my project plan Yes, but not much No wine on weeknights No, work dinner Wednesday with a couple glasses of wine Finish unpacking from vacation 2 ½ weeks ago! Finally! Now I am less than 3 weeks until my 26 th mar...

Check this out…3 days in a row posting to my blog! Are you overwhelmed? My goal is to get better, okay not daily but more than once a week and  I guess I just have lots to say this week! Last week I decided to take a huge leap and do something that I thought was very much out of character for me but I soon realized was a perfect fit. I became a Beachbody Coach!!  Check it out… Marathon Mom also be sure to follow me on Facebook where I will share the upcoming challenge groups. Who’s up for a 7 Day Healthy Eating challenge or Month long fitness challenge? I mean why not?! I love fitness, I love running, I love working to achieve a higher level of health and wellness for myself and family and I love sharing this passion with others. As an injured runner I’ve been looking for something else to compliment my workouts as I slowly increase and build back my running. I am loving Piyo and can’t wait to try the next. What runner doesn’t need a low impact workout that is foc...

Today marks the day I have been eyeing on my calendar for since my injury kept me out of running for many weeks. June 23 rd the day I had as my goal to be back 100%, to be back to a strong runner, to feel great and to mentally know I could do it again. Well the day is here, marathon training is set to begin…18 weeks and counting. I was hoping my first attempt at a program similar to Hansen would bring me to my goal of 3:15. Well here we are and I am accepting that my body is not ready, not ready to run 6 days a week, not ready to do multiple days in a row, not ready to push every day without risking injury. While I am starting to feel good when I run, my miles are low and pace is easy. My new baby! I am kicking and screaming as I accept this but I need to look even further than October if I want my running to improve. So my plan? A lot of cross training, some running, strength, yoga and improving my nutrition even more. I just brought home my new bike last week and can’t wait...

I’ve decided that after 35 years of living in the frozen tundra I’m going to do my best to embrace winter. After years of talking about it I was finally convinced after O’s birthday party last weekend. I wasn’t sure how things would go but as part of her party at the nature preserve the naturalist offered to take the kids snowshoeing to find animal tracks. O loved it, she immediately took off like a pro! This of course led to wanting to go again and Matt buying her snowshoes that night! Ironically the next day we were offered a pair of skis for her as well, why not?! So now we have a 4 year old with her own snowshoes and skis and neither Matt or I own either, time to fix that! Thank you REI for your big 1 day sale on Wednesday, we are now waiting on our own snowshoes to arrive. I’m excited and hope that this will be extra motivation to get out and enjoy winter. What great cross training for running. I have been so limited with the cold weather and snow covered paths that way too...

Another Monday in the midst of what is already shaping up to be a brutal winter, last week we got dumped on twice by snow and now another day with wind chills of -20s! December has not proven to be nice to me: my first migraine in months and it lasted 3 days, then a stomach bug hit us, now O is going on week 2 of a nasty cough this is truly nothing more than annoying! With the nasty weather my motivation is truly lacking and honestly running outside sucks! Yesterday I managed 10 miles on semi-cleared paths with less than great footing, I’m just not ready to give in to the treadmill yet! Although I will admit the treadmill has been my friend for early morning speed intervals. My weeks have also been filled with less running and more cross training to let this leg fully heal. Today hitting the pool for some laps and then off to yoga. My bike has once again become my friend and Netflix is getting me through hour + elliptical workouts. This afternoon will be another appointment with...

Yes, I am still here! I have sat down to write many times over the past couple weeks, including my marathon report, but have yet to find time to finish a post…life! We are still adjusting to my working full-time plus all the additional activities and races this time of year. Add Matt’s grad school and 3 year old meltdowns to this and you have our crazy lives right now. I think things are on the way down for craziness (or I hope!). To help out the weeknights I am back to Sunday meal prep and plan to spend the afternoon in the kitchen prepping for the week. So what’s on the menu for us? Chipotle Mac ‘n Cheese Samosa Pie Veggie Egg Bake with Roasted Potatoes Spaghetti Squash with Stir Fry Veggies Pre-run Protein Shake ??Salad and Soup pre-Halloween night out Yesterday in attempts to use some cranberries from our CSA I decided it was time to bake and the result is wonderful. The texture is a little soft and dense but still tastes great. Pumpkin Cranberry ...

What a week, I’ve written many posts in my head but just not what I feel like writing now, so today is just a collection of my thoughts, decisions and struggles from this week. Honestly how did such a short week turn into such a tough, long week? Vegetables Yesterday we met friends for vegetable picking at a local farm, unfortunately with our crazy cold spring and now hot spell there isn’t much to pick. The kids had a blast and we have plenty of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Plus they gave all the kids a small cantaloupe. I think the best part was all the dirt they were given free run in! Heck O was doing flips in the fields, she had dirt from head to toe! Thursday is also CSA day but we after pick up we were still lacking one thing for dinner so off to the farmer’s market we when for corn. Once again I went a little nuts: corn, apples and 3 gluten free baking mixes later we finally left. Pretty sure we won’t need produce for at least a few days! Dance On Wednes...

Week 2   was a tough one but as I said on Friday things are improving with my hamstring J I am loving this new clinic and doctor. I have been able to run pain free on flat routes and am thrilled, even managed a slightly hilly run Saturday without pain! This week has also brought the return of allergies and on top of that issues with thyroid continue. I have been hypothyroid since my diagnosis in 2007 and rarely keep the same dose, once again I am in the middle of dose changes thanks to my thyroid slacking and making me even more fatigued plus I get the joy of hanging on to a few extra pounds L Monday:  Pilates DVD in morning, 1 hour elliptical, no way I was getting back in the freezing pool! Tuesday:  Morning spin/weights with trainer & Easy evening Run 5.5 miles Wednesday:  1 hour elliptical while O went to kid’s yoga at the gym J Thursday:  Morning Spin/Weights, Run 5.5 miles (walking on hills), 1 mile walk in afternoon and core Friday: ...

Well, looks like I am back at it again. I made the decision to run the Swan Lake Marathon in 3 weeks and started following a back to back marathon recovery/training plan . I guess we can call this Week 1 again since I have decided to run the marathon in June! Guess what, no snow this week! But record heat on Tuesday and then storms all weekend, ugh! I had my first (and only) visit with the sports doc, yes I thought it was good but he is not near what I got from the guy I used to see. So despite things being less than ideal (further and no child care) I am switching. Spring is here, no more snow pictures this week, yeah! Monday:  Swim 15 minutes (sad, but that is my limit) in a very cold pool with broken heater! 45 minute easy bike Tuesday:  Strength workout with trainer and 5.5 mile easy run in 92F Wednesday:  6.5 mile run/walk Thursday:   1 hour bike in am and weights in afternoon Friday:  1 hour spin Saturday:  1 hour elliptical in...

Source As I mentioned in my  race recap  from this past weekend I started having hamstring issues well that soon migrated to my calf leading to a failed run attempt on Sunday and then time off. The last I ran was An easy run Tuesday with my team which included walking. A similar calf issue crept up last winter while I was training for Boston and my approach was to keep running and just complain about it, not such a smart idea but I know every runner has done it! This resulted in a tibial stress fracture and continued calf and hamstring issues all year. This time I am taking my own advice and a new approach: no running! I am still early in the year and I can not deal with another poor racing season. So my plan this year is to  Be Smart  and  Listen to my Body.  I have been sticking with elliptical, strength training and biking instead, had hoped to do some pool running but the deep pool hours are terrible and often too early or during naptime....

A not so great Week 4 is behind me and a learning experience. My long run was not as I hoped, yes even after years of running I still have runs I hate! I did complete the 30 Day Yoga Challenge and hope to continue it as a habit few days a week. My weekly lessons 1) don’t eat gluten, duh! 2) stretch and foam roll after running and 3) might be time to cut back of the weights before long runs I am, as always, working on fueling before and during long runs. You’d think after 20 marathons I’d have this figured out by now! For some reason I seem to be hungry before I run on weekends despite eating the same as I had before, I think some is waiting to run longer. I have been playing around with long run fuel again. A while ago I was given some Island Boost to try but hadn’t been running long enough to need it. I first tried it a few weeks ago and thought it was good but sweet so on Sunday I mixed it in my bottle with water and it was a still sweet but better. Easy to sip as I went...

Today is Day 1 of my 30 Day Yoga Challenge and hopefully as you are reading I am done with my first of many yoga workouts! Why yoga? I have been saying for months I need to do this again, the benefits are endless! Increased strength and flexibility, injury prevention and decreased stress. I was talking to someone the other day who said she has taught her young daughter yoga to calm herself when she gets upset or frustrated. What a great idea, I decided to start trying this (kind of) too since O tends to be a little dramatic and easily gets herself worked up. The other day in the midst of a near fit I told her to show me some stretches from dance, she sat down started stretching and breathing and her mood immediately changed. AMAZING! Since I am not taking a class on this first day I turned to Pinterest for the answer, I love Pinterest! Here are a few workouts I found: Good Morning Yoga Pretty simple to follow and easy moves, great workout outside to start the day off   ...