My fastest mile repeats

Well it's been a crazy week.  Our little guy is battling croup, and the other 2 guys had a touch of flu this past week.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that this week will be a healthier one!  We spend MLK day at doctor's office and getting chest X-rays. 

 This guy was a trooper with all the doctor's visits he had today!

  Cole was a great helper, but he loved just being home today!  When we were home he was dressed as every character possible.  He has the best imagination. 

 

We started our Saturday day off with some runs and lots of errands.  On Sunday, it was freezing so we kept our workouts indoors.  I have been doing some of my workouts at the local high school where my husband coaches.  It's a big playground for the boys, and I get in a great workout.  Win-win!  

 

 

After our workouts on Sunday we celebrated my nephew's 6th birthday at Medieval Times. 

 



Cole was beyond excited.  The experience was a great one!  We all had so much fun. 

My workouts from this past week...

Tuesday: 5 miles at 8:00 pace on the TM and 20  minutes of tabata

Wednesday: 6 miles @ 7:35 and 15 minutes of strength (squats, lunges, push-ups, bridges, and planks)

Thursday: MILE REPEATS!  5 miles- 1 mile warm up at 7:40, mile 1- 6:12, mile 2- 6:12, mile 3- 6:08, and 1 mile cool down at 7:40 (my goal was to hit 6:15 for each repeat)

Friday: OFF- work bowling party

Saturday: 70 minute run, 9.62 miles, and 20 minute of strength

Sunday: 5 miles @ 7:50 on the TM

Monday(today): 6 miles @ 7:50 on the TM and 30 minutes of strength ( 4 rounds of: 10 single leg step-ups/ on each leg, wall sit with bicep curl for 1 minute, 20 KB swings, and 12 burpees) I followed it up with some core work and bridges


It's a 4 day work week!!! I hope that you have a great week.  I am hoping for some warm weather so I can get out and run.  I have some half marathon goals that I will be sharing later. 

What are your running goals?

A whole lot of fun, and a little bit of running

We've been BUSY, and have had 2 sick kids this weekend!  I'm tired, and it's only Monday! 

Workout recaps:
Thursday: off; 25 min of at home strength

Friday: 5 miles on the treadmill.  I started out with 15 minutes at 7.8 pace, for the next 15 minutes I increase my speed every minute (8.0-9.5), and then I recovered at 7.8 until I hit 5 miles.

Saturday: we were out of town and I hadn't planned to run, but managed to get 45 minutes on the treadmill with my sister-in-law and a bit of core work.

Sunday: OFF!  I think walking all over the water park carrying kids counts as a workout.

Monday: 6 miles with 8 1-minute pick ups.  Average pace 7:15 and 25 minutes of at home strength

This weekend was a fun one!  We started off with a coaching clinic for my husband.  He earned his 7th Coach of the Year award!  He's pretty awesome. 


We then met up with the rest of our family in Wisconsin Dells.  It was a crazy busy, but crazy fun trip! 

wrinkled shirts and bedhead to start the day

we lost a child for a few minutes

Planks before swimming  

This guy was having a blast.

We spend so much time playing in the water.  Everyone was pretty exhausted by the time we left on Sunday!  Too much fun!

 

My goal for this week is to focus on my nutrition. My food choices have been very poor (pizza, burgers, cookies, anything bad for me.)

What is your biggest food weakness? 

I have a huge sweet tooth--- so ice cream, fro yo, cookies.  They kill me! 

Hope you had a great Monday:)

Focus on Strength

TGIAF- Thank God it's Almost Friday

Flowers from the hubby just because!  He's a good one. 

Workout recap:
Tuesday and Wednesdays workouts: 5 easy miles @ 7:40-7:50 pace.

Today (Thursday): off-  I felt very tired Wednesday night that I decided to call Thursday a rest day.    I was itching to still do something so I did the following:

My workout buddy

30 seconds of each move x3
1. jumping jacks
2. wall sits with bicep curls
3. push ups
4. v-sits
5. chair step-ups
6. plank
7. over head press
8. lunges with front raise
9. push ups with rotation
10. side planks

I have been keeping my runs pretty easy this week because my body is still recovering from the flu and I had an 11 day running stretch that has my body feeling tired.  Also with no races on the calendar I can kind of do what I want!


These 2 make strength training much more fun. 

 

My first true love is running.  If I could only run I would, but I know the importance of core and strength training for injury prevention and performance.  I have had issues with piriformis syndrome since having both my boys.  The only way I can stay running is if I include bridges, lunges, squats, and planks into my weekly routine.  Once I started to include strength training into my routine I felt so much better during my runs.  I keep most of my strength workouts to simple workouts that can be done at home and with body weight, or 10 pound dumbbells. 

 

My typical post run series is the following:

1. stretching for 5-10 minutes (on a good day, I am bad about skipping stretching)
2. squats 15-25
3. plank (regular and side lunges)
4. lunges 20-25
5. bridges 15

I try to repeat it at least 2 times

I'm spending some time signing up for some races!

In 2015 I was recovery from my pregnancy and I was very inconsistent in my strength training.  I am making it a goal to keep strength my focus in 2016!  We will see how it goes.

What is your focus for 2016?

When the motivation just isn't there

Well winter has finally hit the Midwest.  It's hard to believe that on Christmas day I was running in shorts, and today I couldn't get enough layers to stay warm.

Today was our last day of winter break and I really had nothing planned. Poor boys, I am so not fun.  Actually, I have been trying to get myself feeling 100% again.  After being hit with the flu and sinus infection on New Year's Day I've been in catch up mode.  I wasn't sure whether I would get a workout in or not.  We spent the first few hours of the day jumping while daddy had practice!

The boys have been loving their bounce house that they got for Christmas.  Honestly,  a bounce house in the living room is the best thing for getting their energy out! I really wasn't feeling a workout but Chris texted me to see if I wanted to come to the high school and lift.  So out the door we went. 

 

I find when I am not motivated to workout I try to find little signs that motivate me to move.  Chris is not big on lifting and the fact that he texted me to come out was a huge sign for me to get out the door!  The boys had fun getting out the house, and we had fun building some muscle! 

The boys enjoyed exploring the gym while I did the following workout x3:

25 walking lunges

25 push ups

20 V-ups

30 jumping lunges

60 second jumping jacks

15 lunge back and front shoulder raise (per each leg)

30 squats with side shoulder raise

60 second wall sit with 20 bicep curls

20 tricep dips

60 second plank

 

 

All that working out made these kids hungry... blueberries for them and avocado toast with an egg for me.

We had a busy afternoon, but I managed to squeeze in a FREEZING cold 5 mile run.  I kept it easy today and just went by feel.  5 miles at 7:45 pace.  Now it's time to switch gears a get some lesson plans done! 

I honestly didn't feel like running today, but I kept telling myself "just 30 minutes", so out the door I headed for a 30 minute run.  30 minutes is my magic number.  Once I hit 30 minutes I felt re-energized and felt like I could keep on going.  I knew I wanted to keep it an easy run so I made sure to stop at 5 miles. 

So when I am not motivated I try to...
1. Set a small goal "30 minutes or just 1 set of each move"  I often find that once I get moving I want to keep moving.
2. I browse the running community on IG.  Their runs always motivate me to get out the door! 
I hope everyone had a great weekend! 
3. I like competition.  I always like to keep up with my hubby. If he ran that day, I feel like I need to run too!  Since he ran and lifted, it motivated me to get out the door!

Did you run today?  How did it go?

 

2016- New Year, New Goals

Well, I have decided to giving blogging another go.  I stopped blogging when I was expecting my second son because I was on auto-pilot and just trying to survive another hard pregnancy.  My life was very boring and running was pretty much non-existent. 

Well, that little guy is 15 months old now, and I have been running consistently for about a year again.  I am feeling stronger and better than I have in a long time.  One big reason for all my running success is because after 10 years together I have finally decided to take my husband's running advice.  He has helped me PR in the 10K (42:59) and 5K (20:09) with a few minor changes to my regular training plan. 

So my goal is to continue to blog about my runs and other workouts to keep myself accountable.  I have a huge passion for running, health and goal setting.  I may not know much but my hubby is a super stud cross country coach and track coach at Yorkville High School.  In his 11 years of coaching he has brought home 7 state championship trophies; a total of 11 state trophies including his 2nd and 3rd place finishes.  He has earned the NCAA Illinois State Coach of the Year for 2A girls XC more times than I count (6 years? 7?). 

Today's run was an easy one because I started the year off with a terrible flu bug.
 * I ran 6.2 miles @ 7:43 pace
 followed by: stretching and...
* 3 x 1 min wall sit with bicep curl
* 3 x reverse lunge with front raise (12 on each leg = 1 set)
* 3 x 1 min side plank with shoulder raise (1 minute on each side = 1 set)
*  I finished off with 1 min of each: squats, walking lunges, push ups, bridges, and plank.  I don't have any races on the schedule until the spring, but I am hoping to keep my body healthy and strong this winter.  Strength often times gets pushed aside, but I am focusing on making it more consistent!

I hope that everyone's 2016 is off to a great start! 

My 2016 goals:
1. strength train 3 times a week
2. eat more veggies!!
3. keep running 5-6 days a week/ 1 day cross training
4. blog regularly!

Marathon completed

First of all, I have taken a break from blogging to focus on a few other things in my life- being a good wife, mother, friend, and teacher. Please tell me how those of you that work, train, spend time with your family/ friends, do housework, and blog do it all! I have decided that blogging will take the backseat; however, I still have great ideas and really want to start a GOOD blog. I don't like to do things only partly. For now, this will be a place for me to pop in when I have time. 

Well marathon weekend was last weekend.  I have so much to write about and so much to say. For now I'll leave you will a few pics and comments. 

Marathon start in corral B. Loved watching the elites warm up while I sat and shivered. 

I saw my sister and hubby 3 times on the course. Such a boost. 

Well I finished in 3:29. 1 minute and 22 seconds off a PR.  I'm not upset with the time. I'm upset with how I ran the race. It was almost 100% positive splits. Terrible. The first half was awesome and fairly consistent at 7:40-7:50 pace but at mile 16 I hit a wall will stomach cramps galore. I allowed myself to slow down but not walk. At mile 19 the 3:25 pace group passed me and I just had to hang on. My Dream of a PR was unrealistic and I knew that because of my training but I had a little bit of hope. I'm glad I worked at staying mentally in it an not giving up when they passed me. My last 3-4 miles went up to 8:15-8:30. I ran the race all wrong. Live and learn. Another marathon in the books. It was a beautiful day and Chicago knows how to put together a fantastic race. I love love this race!!! 

When I have time... More to come.  I took the week off and did an easy 7 today. Hoping to recover well for a 10K next week!! 

Week of Workouts

My blogging is taking a backseat lately. I was working with a friend and we are/were in the process of creating a new blog called " A Running Couple's Life". I honestly just haven't had the time to get it up and running.  Another reason why this blog is so plain.  I'm trying to make time:) I like to do things well or not at all.  I will keep you posted when/if the change happens. 

This little man keeps me busy :)

As my schedule continues to be busy, especially with the marathon in 3 weeks I do still want to blog my workouts to keep me accountable, but with less frequency.  

So here are my workouts from last week:

After my run Sunday my shin/calf issue was killing.  I pray I have the strength and little to no pain to run in 3 weeks. PR goals are out the window.  Just hoping to run and enjoy it! 

Monday- rest

Tuesday-rest ( 2 days in a row is hard for me- trying to be smart) 

Wednesday- 30 minutes elliptical before work- 30 minutes after work. 100 of each- squats, girly push ups, sit ups.  I broke it up into 5 rounds of 20

Thursday- 60 elliptical before work.  Tried a run after work.  Made it 2 miles and stopped.  Shin/ calf pain :(

Friday- 60 elliptical.  Squats, girly push ups, and abs. Didn't make it to a full 100 of each. Maybe 80?

Saturday- Spin class for 50 minutes and a long walk 

Sunday- supposed to be 20 miles. Didn't happen. 

So I'm frustrated but focusing on the positive.  I've been really lucky in much of my training up to this point.  I am icing, wearing compression and trying to do more low impact exercise. I would love to get a sports massage. Maybe I can find a local groupon deal.  As for now I'm trying to stay active and realize that some things are out of my control.  ( I like control, if you couldn't tell). My hope is to show up at the starting line of the marathon and enjoy the experience. 

In other news, I am excited to be starting an after work exercise group with some fellow teachers. We are hoping to run 2-3 days a week, yoga/ workout DVDs the other days.  A few people are a bit intimidated, but I am hopeful that they will love the endorphins and keep coming back for more.  I think this will be a great way to boost the moral of our school! I understand that not everyone loves working out the way I do, but I hope they find this a fun way to unwind, laugh, and have fun while getting a good sweat. 

I have so many ideas running through my mind lately. Fitness/ a health lifestyle are a huge passion of mine, and lots of new things I would like to investigate! 

In other news we celebrated my Babcia's 85th birthday today! She is one strong woman. 

Best cake ever! 

Love these kids! 

I hope you had a great weekend! I am hoping to be back this week! I have some fun workouts to share and a tasty dark chocolate banana muffin recipe to share!   

Question

What's the biggest obstacle that holds you back from getting our workouts in? 

I find that I MUST write them down on my calendar or I just come up with an excuse.  Lately waking up has been hard, but I just keep reminding myself how much better I feel all day if I work out! I'm exhausted at the end of the day so it's easier to do it in the morning for me.