Weekly Workouts (11/24-11/30) & Cincy Turkey Trot

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I enjoyed my time in Ohio with family and away from blogs and social media! It makes me want to step back a little on my blog reading and social media participating...life is great to be lived :)

This was my last week before marathon training begins (and included my first race since May)! I enjoyed all my runs and loved running in new areas in Ohio and with my brother(s).

Monday: 40 minute elliptical (abs)

Tuesday: 4.05 miles @ 9:52 before work (weights)

Wednesday: Off (travel day!)

Thursday: 6.2 miles @ 8:56 (Cincinnati Turkey Trot 10k) (abs)

This was a freezing race (upper 20's, windy and cloudy). We had to wait by the stadium for about 30 minutes in the cold for the start. That really sucked. Once the race started (over 17,000 people took a while to get going!) I felt fine, and it was a GREAT route, albeit hilly, and the whole family had fun. This also went across a bunch of bridges, which caused some of the hills (and we even went into Kentucky)!-> that was the first time I have crossed state lines during.This was a much different Turkey Trot than the small race I am used to, but was a great way to explore a city I don't know much about. It was super crowded, and I had to dodge walkers for the first two miles, so my time wasn't a PR, but not too shabby, either! Definitely earned my turkey this year!

Running up a hill on Vine Street at the start.

City in the distance.

Final time (per my watch).

First time seeing the Bengals stadium!

Warming up and all smiles back at the hotel after the race.

Friday: 3.1 miles @ 9:17 (arms)-> SORE today. Nice Cincinnati neighborhoods.

Saturday: 7 miles @ 9:11 (ran through OSU with the tailgaters for their big game vs. Michigan with my brother) (abs)

Sunday: 2.15 mile walk before car ride back from Columbus!

I felt pretty sore after the race on Thursday, but I do feel strong and am excited to start increasing my mileage! Have a great week easing back from the lovely break :)

Thanksgiving Travels

I am excited for the two day work week! Can every week be like this?

I started off my day early with a 4.05 mile run. It is warm and humid in Virginia today, so it was a little odd adapting to the temperatures when it has been so cold lately. I do not miss humidity in my runs, that's for sure. I don't love being cold, but once I warm up I do so much better in those temperatures. Even though marathon training officially starts next week, I am using this week as a prep for the schedule of running/cross train days. I think it will work out well!

Due to the snow forecasted for the east coast, our travel plans have slightly changed. Instead of leaving for Ohio tomorrow morning, we are beginning our drive this evening. Hopefully we will make it to Charleston, West Virginia, which would set us up to be out of the storm tomorrow. Driving in the mountains in the snow is not fun. I am bummed I have to miss class tonight, but life happens. I don't think I will be penalized, but missing class in a PhD program when they're only three of you makes it harder. I can't just pretend I'm not there! We also are catching up on material I hate to miss.

So this is starting the whole trip off on a sour note, but all should be good once we get there. We will be gone until Sunday, so it'll be a long time but a nice break from work and day-to-day life! It will also be nice to see my brothers and extended family (grandmom, aunts/uncles and cousins from both sides). I think the race on Thursday morning will be cold (maybe some flurries!) but fun to run.

Oh, and I decorated on Sunday! I figured I had an excuse to pull out the Christmas stuff early, since I will be out of town the rest of the week! I put up a tree, some wall hangings, tinsel, and candles/bowls for the tables (speaking of bowls...HA!)

Grandmom's pillow

Small tree for the single, condo-living gal :)

Old boy snuggling on a pre-Thanksgiving Sunday.

Safe travels for all your plans! I will be back with an update on Friday (hopefully) to talk about my race!

Weekly Workouts (11/17- 11/23)

Pumped up for my upcoming marathon training season, so I got in some longer runs this week! I am going to start incorporating my pace times, too. Just for fun:) I still can never seem to skip a whole day of exercise- I just hate sitting, but I did ok with cross training this week.

Monday: 40 minute elliptical (weights) -> Started using weight machines instead of body weight

Tuesday: 4.35 miles @ 9:11 before work (abs)

Wednesday: 35 minute elliptical before work (weights)

Thursday: 7 miles @ 9:08 at sunset (abs) -> This run felt AWESOME!

Friday: 2 mile walk at work (arms/legs)

Saturday: 7.1 miles @ 9:24 (abs)

Sunday: 4 miles @ 9:28 (arms/legs)

Excited for my Thanksgiving Day Race (it might be snowing in Cincinnati)! No time goals, just hoping to enjoy the sites and running with my brothers.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

A lot can change in just a few days!

Whereas a week ago I was gearing up to watch the Richmond Marathon, thinking there was NO WAY I would run one myself...this week I am so motivated by watching the race and talking with my friends who ran that...

I AM OFFICIALLY SIGNED UP FOR A MARATHON!!!

Now that it feels like winter, and I have more of a handle on my doctoral classes, I know that I have time to do the training. I am also a fan of winter running. Despite my HATRED of being cold, I like running in the cold (yes, I'm weird). I think this is because I hate to sweat and have a hard time breathing in the heat- cold weather does not hurt my lungs and picks up my pace! The past few weeks of cold, cold, COLD weather for November in Virginia have been great! I also have trained in the winter for the Shamrock Half Marathon for the past two years, so I know how it will work. My runs will just be a little longer on Saturdays (though I got up to 14 last winter for the half), and I will need to incorporate one semi-long run during the week. My goal is to run four days a week and crosstrain another, with two full days off each week.

I have a tentative training plan set up, but I am open to suggestions! Luckily, there is a training group very near my house (at a very reasonable price), so I will meet up with them for my long runs on Saturdays. I will have a solid 16 weeks to train (give or take potential inclement weather affecting some days). I plan to run Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week. That will work out with my spring class schedule (I have class Wednesday and Thursday nights) AND only requires me to do one morning run before work during the week :) It will feel weird sleeping in a little more, because now I get up early probably 2-3 days a week!

I may be crazy, but I honestly feel like there is no better time to do it. I have my training motivation back (after taking about 8 months off from racing) and am excited for the experience. I have no time goals and just want to finish (cross that off the bucket list!). I also will be able to stay at a hotel right next to the start and finish line, so I don't have to worry about race day parking and can get help mid-race if needed (not that I am planning on that). That's awesome!

Wish me luck- running has done such tremendous things for my body/mind/spirit, and I am excited to learn more about myself through this training :)

Who else is winter training for a marathon or big race?

Weekly Workouts (11/9- 11/15) & No Gluten for 15

Didn't do well on my goal to get more rest days...that will begin THIS week, I promise! I did begin using the weight machine at my complex's gym this week, though, so I got good arm/chest workouts. I will keep up with this!

Monday: 40 minutes elliptical + 2 mile walk at work (weights)

Tuesday: 3.5 mile run (abs)

Wednesday: 3.15 mile run + 2 mile walk at work (weights)

Thursday: 3.2 mile run + 2 mile walk at work (abs)

Friday: 50 minute elliptical (weights)

Saturday: 3.5 mile run and watching the marathon!!! (abs)

Sunday: 6.2 mile run

I had SOOOO much fun watching the Richmond Marathon on Saturday! I stationed myself at miles 5 and 18.5. I may have gotten the bug...:)

I also registered for the Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day Race for Thanksgiving morning since we will be in Ohio visiting family for the holiday! Both my brothers will be running it with me. Should be fun and the first race I have done since May! It will be very cold, though...hopefully no snow:) It will be a nice way to spend Thanksgiving, though, since we will be in a hotel for the first time EVER over the holiday.

And...I am officially 15 days into no gluten! It's been easy and I feel great. Bloating is gone and my energy seems more stable. No huge notices on the skin front, but I am enjoying simply feeling better. It has also been very easy and I have not felt deprived at all. I have been eating much more REAL food. It is amazing how easy it is. Just requires a little bit of planning and understanding from friends (sometimes if going out to eat with a group, I eat ahead of time if the menu looks limiting...but I still have drinks)! And it's a nice way to save some money:)

Have a great week!

Walking @ Work

I am very fortunate that I am able to take "wellness time" at work now. Our students leave when I have about 2 hours left at work, so I save my lunch break for a walk in the neighborhood behind my school.

You can see the clearing field ahead that leads to my school!

I have recruited a few people to walk with me, so most days I have people to chat with. We aim to get out three days a week if possible. Sometimes meetings get in the way.

Paths through the woods!

The neighborhood has great paths and goes along a reservoir, so we have lots of options! We also can walk on the streets. It makes for differing routes most everyday. We try to stay out for 2 miles. It has been great in getting me out of my desk and sitting. I feel so much better getting in the quick walk, and I don't feel pressured to do other activity in the evenings when I am busy. This walk coupled with morning workouts has been great at splitting up my fitness!

Do you get to walk or workout at work?

Quick Days, Dark Nights

I would say "Happy Hump Day," but I have felt like it is Thursday all day, so there is nothing happy about that!

Now that the time has changed and it gets dark early (which I am not complaining about because I appreciate the sun shinning earlier in the morning), I feel like days go by quickly. However, I feel like I do a lot less! I typically do not do much in the evenings, especially the nights I have class until about 7 PM, but even on days when I don't, I am finding low motivation to do things. It's not that I don't want to, but I get lazy and don't reach out to other people. I also feel like I have spent a lot of money lately with travel and random things I have bought myself, so doing things would be an added expense. That coupled with the darkness coupled with me not knowing what any of my friends are doing, leaves the evenings long and uneventful. Blah.

I have been running in the mornings again simply because I like getting the run out of the way, so that frees up my evenings, too. I don't run great in the afternoons before dinner, and now that it gets dark early there is no light after I eat, so running in the morning vs the evening is all darkness. I can access my complex's gym in the evening to catch up on shows, so I sometimes do that or I just watch TV. Though, my TV watching is less than usual because I am not in to many shows right now and find myself just wanting to go to bed at 9 PM :) !

Where am I going with all this? No where really...just that this is a transition time of year, and I am hoping my social life can pick up during the week and not just exist on the weekends! I have isolated myself a bit with being back in school in terms of reaching out to friends, but the truth is that everyone is busy or low-key in the evenings. Spring and summer are definitely better for social gatherings after work- even front porch sitting :)

I am working on new "traditions" to start with friends! I have book club once a month and I volunteer once or twice a month, but what other fun events can I incorporate into my day? Any ideas?