Wintertime Blues....

The sun setting before i get out of work is a bit of a drain on the motivation pool. 

There was a lot going on this winter... we moved, there was Netflix to catch up on, and Candy Crush to play... It is possible that I was busy with other things but it is all a blur and I could have just been really lazy. Let's not forget the record breaking snowfall this year. 

To put in perspective, I ran more one day in October than I did November through until March. 

Here is a little winter recap via Instagram:

I have signed up for my second annual Ras na hEireann 5K, hoping to do a lot better than last year, but without as much training. (Sometimes I set myself up for failure) 

Here goes! 

Blogging Hiatis

It has been a while, but things got a little crazy in my life. I am not going to lie, my half training hasn’t been what it should have been.

There has been a lot more of this than running.

Of course when one of these opens down the street you have to check it out!

There was also a lot of this... 

Then feeling like this...

And who wants to run when you slept on the rock solid ground all night? (Should have packed the air mattress)

Camping at the beach... very nice, only wish the weather had been better.

I finally got the Garmin, splurging on the Forerunner 610 and so far my only concern/complaint is scratching the face. It keeps me off the treadmill, only problem has been finding a trail to run on.



Soon after the Garmin entered my life I figured out that Marathon Sports will honor a gift certificate without the physical piece of paper. IF only I had called before… wha whaaa...  These shoes make so much difference.  I have already noticed certain aches going away.

The people at Marathon Sports were super helpful, and they ask just the right questions to make sure you don't leave the store with something that doesn't seem right on your foot. It was a little tricky because after they figure out what support you need base on how you pronate and your support needs it is up to you to make sure you feel comfortable. I have been wearing New Balance for so long they just felt natural, but the cushion in the Asics and Saucony just made me feel like I was floating. I must have tried on 8 pairs of shoes. The best part, for those of you who are similarly large footed, they really didn't seem to have a problem with finding shoes in my size.  (I have gone to other stores where a 10.5 or 11, I have big feet, was just not easy to come by.) They also have a great return policy, make sure you get the most use out of the shoes as possible in the first 15 days and if you find that they are not the shoes for you, full refund.

I ended up with a pair of Saucony's so far so good.

Gym or Sauna?

I showed up to the gym this morning and should have left immediately and taken my running to the streets.  It was hotter and steamier in the gym than it was outside.  For anyone that has been in the Northeast in the past month knows that this summer hasn't let up on the heat waves. (not a complaint, FYI) I did a measly (mumble) on the TM and some strength training and left.

It has sparked some ideas: Time to start a challenge! I have been extra lazy with cross training... lets face it I have been extra lazy with most things.  With 67 days and counting it is time to step up my game.

My fitness/cross training challenge is to do "A Plank a Day" even on off days and even when I am sitting in front of the "most dramatic finale of the Bachelorette EVER!"

In other news if you live in the area (Salem, MA) and want delicious food and drinks! Opus!! Oh and a chill atmosphere...

who doesn't love a light up bar! 

crappy weather + crappy TV = me on the couch

(Warning: This post is full of excuses and no follow through)

It might have started with the trip to the beach Sunday.  Gavin and I met up with my buddy Amy at the beach on Sunday.  I was already not feeling 100% since the day before, just a general feeling of blah.  Hydration is usually my go to cure all. Although, I think there was some over compensation with the sports drinks.

Then there was a huge dose of vitamin D. I do it to myself, I love the beach Gavin and I make a point to go when we can. (Yes, we were sunblock.) I am beat!

Waking up on Monday... I could barely muster the energy to make it to the gym yesterday. "Ugh, alright I will go in the morning" So much for that, the weather didn't help, but I also had to finish watching the Bachelorette before Gavin got up. Everyone has a guilty pleasure, but this season is pretty good. (Judge if you must)

I like to get up an hour before I have be at the gym to relax, have a cup of coffee and breakfast. This morning I actually took a nap before hopping in the shower to get ready for work.

Moral of the story... I have been lazy and I haven't gone to the gym in a few days.

Tomorrow is another day, with less excuses. I am also looking forward to a good nights sleep.

It has become an Obsession

I have signed up for my first half, which inspired me to start this blog as the few of you reading my know.
Saturday I booked the flight to San Jose, where the Rock’n’Roll  (aka my very first) Half Marathon will take place.  This is getting real!

Workout: 3.42 miles / 37 minutes

Although I haven’t hit any significant distances why am I obsessed with  running more of them, I am so close to signing up for a second that I am starting to worry about my sanity.

Today is National Running Day, I actually planned so that running was in my schedule for today. Also, to celebrate the big day, the good people over at RnR have decided to give out $20 off your next race if you sign up today. I am on the verge.  I have been eyeing the Savannah one for weeks (Love that city), but it is pretty much a month after my first and I feel like that just might be too soon. Not to mention the logistics of getting down there and staying over. (The official Kibosh!)

That leaves St Pete, FL (2/9/2014) which would be a great winter get away or Washington, DC (3/15/2014) I am leaning towards DC. I can drive there, I have family a few hours away, and when I did my internship in DC I would run along the Potomac and LOVED every minute of it, even taking my lazy butt back home on the Metro. Lastly, Gavin might actually be able to take time off to go down with me.

Me being as touristy as possible! (I think I nailed the look)

Places I would love to run by… and I used to run by.

OK, so the MLK Jr Memorial didn’t exist in the days I interned there, but you can see TJ in the distance.

Do you think it is too soon to commit to something that far in advance?  Plus, what if I hate the whole half experience?

Even if the first one sucks they can only get better, right?

In other news I signed up for my first 10K the other day, part of the Narragansett Running Festival. Now if you are thinking the town in Rhode Island or the arch nemesis of my high school in field hockey team you would be mistaken. It is the beer company and I did it more for the after party than the actual run… although if I had known it was 2 loops around the Stonehill College campus.I might not have signed up. I get bored easily so looking at the same thing twice might not be as much fun as I thought.

Last obsession is the Ragnar Relay on the Cape.  I volunteered at it this past year where I managed to get a black eye.  (stunning self photography)


As much as I promise people not to share my black eye misfortune I can’t seem to get 11 other people as excited as I am to run 3 separate legs of 5-7 miles overnight through the mean streets of Cape Cod. Go Figure! (And when I say mean streets of the Cape, I am referring to the wild turkeys, I  hear they can really eff you up!) 12 people, 2 vans, 2 days and 1 night of running, what else could you ask for?  Oh and from what I saw, a whole bunch of crazy.

Look at the swag! (They double as bottle openers)

{Ragnar Cape Cod's Facebook page}

Who is with me? It is the first weekend in May 2014 SOOO much time to train.

Riding the Runners High

Workout: 4.04 miles / 43:40

After a bit of a mishap with my original treadmill choice, I moved onto another one and I was off and running!

I decide for the sake of my nose I would run in a climate and room with an air filter. Turns out it was for the best it was steamy outside even at 7:30. Even with my generic target variety Claritin, my nose has been losing its mind.  If only you saw the sneezfest I had when I got in my car.

My goal was 4 miles based on my sub 60 10K training program. Goal complete! My biggest issue was I didn't give myself enough time to run 4 miles.  I never give myself enough time when I run in the AM... truthfully I am terrible at timing things, but when I know I need to be on the treadmill for at least 45 minutes... I should probably give myself at least 50.  I could get up earlier in the AM... that would mean getting to bed earlier.

So here is the rub, Gavin gets home about 9:30PM every night, that gives me about an hour to hangout with him before I turn into a pumpkin.

Anywhoodles, while I was running I just felt so good, if I had given myself more time I probably would have run longer. Due to the time constraint I just upped the speed with 15 minutes left and progressively sped up. I have some lessons from not giving yourself enough time after a workout.

• I didn't stretch, all that paranoia about getting hurt and I am just willing it to happen by ignoring my stretches.
• Rushing to get ready, no bueno! (TMI alert: I keep a tooth brush and deodorant at work just in case I forget... it was that kind of rushing this AM)
• Get off the treadmill sweaty, go directly into a hot show and according to an episode of Seinfeld... "the shower didn't take". I was just as sweaty post shower... gross, I know! 

GEORGE: "What day is today?....Aw. ..Tuesday! Damn it. I shouldn't have worked out today. Mr Wilhem has called a big meeting and now I'm gonna be sweating through the whole thing."

JERRY: "Why. You took a shower?"

GEORGE: "Aahhrgh...it wouldn't take...... long pause, audience laughter) ten minutes from now, I'll be sweating all over again ,I can feel it. I'm a human heat pump!"

KRAMER: "You should take cold showers."

GEORGE: "Cold showers? They're for psychotics."

You really can find anything on the Interwebs, apparently even every Seinfeld script is out there.

I officially had a runners high today! Not sure if it was because I felt so good during or if it was because I hit my goal. Days like today I want to run all over again and then days like the past 3, where I wanted to hit the couch like a sack of potatoes.

I am going to take today's high and hit that cross training machine (elliptical) tomorrow!

June 5th is National Running Day, will you be running?

Today was my first time contributing to #tbt (Throw back Thursday) Who am I to forgo the trends, actually I am usually just a little late to the party, (and here we are, full circle). Oh my, does anyone know what time it is?

#tbt Here you Go! (different one than on Instagram... so hit me up there if you want to see more)

Where did this week go?

Alright so after walking across the entire city of Boston twice on Monday. I have been incredibly lazy.

Not joking, across the city, from Congress Street (Barking Crab) in Southie, alright barely Southie, to Fenway Park (Standing Room "Seats) and then back to the Barking Crab. Saving on parking is overrated. My pedometer (cheap one that my work gave me) had over 16,000 steps I guess it is only about 8 miles.

Alright now that it is all out there, "Anne, really, you signed up for 13.1, suck it up!"

Here are a few pictures from Memorial Day.

 

First time we had been back in the city since Patriots Day... we will have to stop a bit longer next time.

One of my favorite places, BPL! Strong!

I do enjoy a good selfie (my freakishly long arms are put to good use)

We were on the Bud deck... so far not my favorite SRO tickets

I just really loved this guys camera! 

Enough said, first thing in the AM I either hit the treadmill or run outside!