Sometimes I just can’t be creative with my post titles. So, here are some Friday Favorites:

  1. Inspirational: You must read about these 7 inspirational Boston Marathon stories. That Jeff Bauman and his wife…..they are my heroes!
  2. Happy Chicken: I ran 4 miles Wednesday and was so happy about my decision to chicken out of my NJ Marathon goals because I was struggling so much that I most definitely would have been grouchy had I been trying to keep a certain pace. I think I ran too soon after a big meal and after today’s run I also think the seasonal allergies are getting to me.wed-run
  3. Capris: Yep, I ran again yesterday.
    Testing out the Saucony Bullet capris

    Testing out the Saucony Bullet capris

    The sole purpose was to give my new running capris a test. I went ahead with the Saucony Bullet capri recco (Thanks Steph!) and they fit great! They didn’t budge one bit. And I LOVE the side mesh pockets that are big enough to hold my iPhone 6 and fuel. I might be able to lose the spi-belt for races if I wear these. The only issue is that I sweat so much. I’ll have to get a waterproof case for my phone. In the 3 miles I ran with it the camera lens got all wet since it’s the only part of the side of the phone facing my thigh that isn’t protected by the case. But the phone stayed put and I didn’t even feel it. I picked the pattern over solid because I saw a review that said if you sweat a lot it will look like you peed yourself. LOL. I have to say the pattern does a great job of masking that.

    Photo on 4-21-16 at 5.08 PM

    This big iPhone 6 fits in the pocket.

    Photo on 4-21-16 at 5.09 PM

    Ta-dah!

  4. Freshly Groomed: Duncan went to the groomer and upon returning home exhausted he grabbed his corn on the cob toy and proceeded to take it to bed for an afternoon siesta. I love how he picked a color coordinating toy.

    sleeps with yellow things

    sleeps with yellow things

  5. Seeing Duncan’s Pal: Before the groomer we walked at the park and bumped into Chance, the boxer, Duncan’s pal. We haven’t seen Chance in at least 6 months and I think his tongue grew a few inches.

    This is Chance and his ridiculous tongue

    This is Chance and his ridiculous tongue

  6. Talking About Running: I was interviewed for a podcast series this week and it should be out next week. I’ll share all the details as soon as I get them. Stay tuned! Spoiler alert: I admit to wanting to run another 5 half marathons in 5 days in 5 states like I did at the Center of the Nation Series.
  7. Honeysuckles: They’re starting to come out—earlier than usual—but I’m not complaining.IMG_2538
  8. Sunsets: Especially when the create a glowing doodle tail.
    he's glowing

    he’s glowing

    What are your Friday Favorites?

I can’t remember the last time I felt the endorphins like I did today. I ran 5 miles which is the longest I’ve run this year.

5 miles to start....building up to 13.1

5 miles to start….building up to 13.1

Even the iPod felt good enough to last 52 minutes all while saying "battery low".

Even the iPod felt good enough to last 52 minutes all while saying “battery low”.

Happy!

Happy!

And technically I’m calling this my first long training run for all my Spring races. I’ve got the Cherry Blossom DC 10 miler the beginning of April followed by the Philly Love Run Half Marathon the week after that and the NJ Marathon (Half) the first week of May.

Yesterday I slogged through 3 miles but definitely didn’t feel as amazing.

3-kicks-watch

New kicks couldn't give me the oomph.

New kicks couldn’t give me the oomph.

I’ve been fighting a cold since I came home from Vermont. But today the cold symptoms didn’t hold me back one bit.

This is all so perfect for me right now. To feel that boost in self-esteem and to feel happy and excited for racing again.

Aside from sniffling, coughing until my abs hurt and going through 1,250,400 cough drops and tissues, not too much has happened since I came back from my ski weekend last Sunday. I worked from home the first 3 days of the week.

This was my Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

This was my Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Duncan got a haircut…

Coiffed!

Coiffed!

Thursday and Friday I worked in the city. Friday morning was interesting. It was snowing heavily for my commute in but by the time I left in the evening you’d never know it.

First I had to clean off the car

First I had to clean off the car

I drove to the train station and walked through a winter wonderland to get to the platform

I drove to the train station and walked through a winter wonderland to get to the platform

and then I waited forever for the train

and then I waited forever for the train

Two hours later I got into the city to see that the snow wasn't even sticking.

Two hours later I got into the city to see that the snow wasn’t even sticking.

I caught a gorgeous sunset with the Statue of Liberty to the left while waiting for the ferry home

I caught a gorgeous sunset with the Statue of Liberty to the left while waiting for the ferry home

And then captured this shot....all the exhausted, disgruntled commuters inside the boat and the gorgeous colorful sunset and statue right outside the window

And then captured this shot….all the exhausted, disgruntled commuters inside the boat and the gorgeous colorful sunset and statue right outside the window

And now it’s time to prepare for the Superbowl. I have no interest in the game really, just the food, commercials and the Puppy Bowl during halftime 🙂

Got any plans for the “Big Game”? 
Have you had any endorphin filled runs lately?

Happy Monday!

Summer is now officially here! I went running last night and timed it to catch the first official sunset of the season.

Summer's first sunset

Summer’s first sunset

I covered 8 miles and brought my anxiety level down a whole lot of notches!

8 miles

8 miles

It was really peaceful and for a hot summer day I lucked out as there was a great ocean breeze and the humidity had dropped.

IMG_6404

Sometimes birds will just chill out on these wood pilings. I always get a kick out of that.

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

happy!

My view for a few of the miles!

I'll never be able to move away from the ocean.

I’ll never be able to move away from the ocean.

Here's the hare....I guess I was the tortoise =)

Here’s the hare….I guess I was the tortoise =)

sweating out the small stuff

sweating out the small stuff

I had a highly emotional weekend. It started on Friday with a trip to my friend’s house. Her mom is in her last days as she has been battling cancer and it’s taking a toll. She’s lived a very long life but it doesn’t make it any easier to see someone deteriorate and suffer with the. I went for a run friday too.

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

I’ve been much slower but just happy to be able to run. I’m on track to start NYC Marathon training in about 3-4 weeks. Woo hoo!

Saturday I joined my friend and his family for the Walk to Defeat ALS. His mom was diagnosed last year as was a former coworker’s husband. It was a wonderfully successful walk and my friend’s mom even walked the whole thing but it brought so much emotion out. The cold hard facts about this disease are grave and hard to believe.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

My former coworker’s husband found a unique way to raise money for ALS research. It’s called Pickals. Go check it out.

After the walk I took Duncan to his first ever doggie birthday “paw-tee”. Peanut was having a bash for her 6th birthday.

it's not a party without a cake!

it’s not a party without pup-cakes and paw-tee bags!

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

It was really cute. Duncan was a little freaked out though by all the noise and hoopla. We stayed for an hour or so and he even won a prize for doing tricks. Then we had to head out to my brother’s house for a BBQ.

Playing with his loot the next day

Playing with his loot the next day

There was also some bargain shopping and some cleaning that went down in between everything else. And lots of chill time with this loyal companion…

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

in the car on the way to Peanut's birthday paw-tee

in the car on the way to Peanut’s birthday paw-tee

Here’s to a good week! Hope you all have a good one.

Tell me about your weekend?

Hi!

Before Duncan and I get too involved watching the Golden Globes I thought I would just share a li’l recap of my weekend.

labradoodle

Golden Globes? Snooze!

It was the first weekend I had no commitment to anyone. No family get togethers. No friend get togethers. No dates with the boyfriend. Just me and the doodle. We enjoyed some time just before sunset on Friday just running around in the snow. We he ran around and I just took too many pictures watched.

labradoodle-snow run-free winter-walkAnd then for dinner I opted for a healthy combo of cheese, chips, chocolate and some wine.

My version of a healthy dinner

My version of a healthy dinner

Yesterday I did some cleaning and some finally finished my 2014 running highlights post in the morning and early afternoon and then I made the last minute decision to do my first long run.

looking all fresh BEFORE my run...

looking all fresh BEFORE my run…

7mile-long-run

I was originally planning on doing the run this morning. But after looking at my weather app although the temps looked to be a few degrees warmer today, there was only partial sun in the forecast. And at 3pm yesterday afternoon the sun was so strong I decided I’d rather have the solar power to warm me so I drove out to the flat path that runs adjacent to the beach. I was 100% right that flat terrain is exactly what I need to keep the knee happy. I covered exactly 7 miles and it didn’t really give me an issue. I also took a few minutes during mile 6 to test out my new iPhone tripod and timer camera app. Enter exhibit A: jumping shots…
up

up

jumping

jumping

All in all I call it a success!

I started off today with laundry, grocery shopping and a little more freelance work and then spent about 20 minutes doing strengthening and stretching exercises for the knee, hips, glutes and hamstrings. Later in the afternoon I met my friend and her dogs for a walk. It’s amazing how fast a day can go when you have no real plans.

Here’s to a great week ahead!