We’ve been reaching the mid 50s here in New York City lately! I’ve been really testing my willpower and not running even though it’s been such great running weather. So I’ve been doing a lot of the next best thing….walking with the doodlebug.
watching the ducks
no parking! duck crossing.
Duncan was a little weirded out by the horses (in the background)
it’s nice that they are prepared for this lake to freeze over
I don’t even know how to tell you all about my merry little Christmas without this post becoming a novel. So I’ll save you all the details and just tell you some of the highlights.
1. I have spent the last 14 Christmas Eve’s with my dear friend Sue and her Italian family celebrating Christmas Eve the way the Italians do with a Seven Fishes dinner. (well this year was 6 but who’s counting?)
Tilapia and shrimp oregonata
Pasta with white clam sauce and calamari
“baccala” codfish salad
Sue’s mom, who is 91 years old and currently undergoing chemo for pancreatic cancer, and her 89 year old aunt, remarked at the dinner table about how they forgot to have fun these last 30 years! That really struck a chord with me. I live my days to their fullest and don’t EVER want to forget to have fun.
Somewhere in between the fish dishes and the conversation we watched some classic I Love Lucy episodes and Duncan and his girlfriend Lucy got matching Santa toys.
Duncan and Lucy with their matching toys
Duncan and his new santa toy
I love Lucy!
I don’t know if next Christmas Eve will be the same but I know that this one will remain so meaningful to me. My prayers and thoughts will be with Susan’s mom as she continues to work at living…..even at 91. She isn’t ready to go yet! God bless her.
a warm candle light, a fragrant holiday wreath and festive flowers really decorated our evening.
2. I don’t want to get all mushy gushy about the boy here, but let’s just say I spent some quality time with him and I am JUST.SO.HAPPY!! This awesome running vest was one of many sweet, thoughtful gifts he gave me.
Nike Aeroloft 800 Running Vest
Little does he know I didn’t need anything for Christmas. He sure is my gift. The vest packs into the back pocket and has a hand strap so you can easily run with it if you decide you’re getting too warm. I can’t wait to try it out. But I’m trying to stick to my plan and not run for a couple weeks. #SoHARDToDo. He also got me this awesome tripod for my iPhone.
Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand
Joby GripTight stand
I love that I can wrap it around things like tree branches vs a traditional tripod that can only be placed on a flat surface. Here’s to some new running pose pics for my blog for 2015!
3. This sunset.
Sunset 12/26
After spending 3 days away from home visiting with friends, family and the boy I got to see this beautiful sunset just before arriving back home last night.
Today is all about cleaning and enjoying the unseasonably warm temps later with a nice long walk with Duncan. You know, quality time…..because Duncan hardly gets that. LOL!
And the winner of the Luna Bar giveaway is:
Luna Bar Giveaway winner!
LeeAnn I am sending you an email requesting your mailing address so we can get that box of bars to ya. Congrats!
QUESTION: How was everyone’s holiday? Any meaningful moments for you? Any great gifts? Running gifts? Favorite gift?
First let me just give a big shout out to my dog and wish him a happy 6th birthday! Y’all know how much Duncan means to me. He’s truly my best friend. (Well, except when he is misbehaving lol).
Sock monkey destruction
Proud of his gifts but tolerating the hat
Waiting patiently for me to give him the ok to eat his cookies
I’m 6 which means in dog years I’m older than my mom
Yesterday I kicked off my 2 week vacation with a relaxing morning with 2 of my favorites.
Two great mugs!
And then, late morning I decided to go for a run. I covered just over 5 miles.
thinking about running in place inside to avoid the cold and cloudy outside
OK so here’s the boring novel I’m about to share about “runjuries”. Feel free to skip if you want and go directly to the Luna Bar Giveaway instruction below =)
I was pretty banged up when I got home. My right piriformis (butt cheek muscle) has been a bit spazzy the last couple of days. My chronic tight left hamstring was SOOO tight and I could feel the tightness behind my knee and down the side of my calf. And the right knee! The annoying, frustrating mystery knee pain that started at the beginning of October decided to be a punk for the last 2 miles. Interestingly I really had no issue at all during our holiday windows run this past Saturday. While we covered between 6 and 7 miles we stopped frequently to admire the store windows and tree and also walked a lot too so I’m guessing the impact was much less than a normal run of that distance.
These “runjuries” are really disheartening. If I can’t make it through an easy 5 miler without lingering pain, how will I start marathon training in a few weeks? My first long run is usually 7 or 8 miles. That just isn’t going to happen the way I’m feeling lately. Not to mention, i feel like my usual mental health benefits of running aren’t happening because I’m to fixated on the physical stuff during the run that I can’t clear the cobwebs in my head like I’m used to.
So here’s my short term plan:
• Start icing knee 2X a day.
• Take ibuprofen for a few days straight
• Foam roll legs (especially quads, hamstrings and glutes)
• Strengthen core, hips, glutes, hamstrings and quads using exercise from PT and online
• Keep exercise low impact for 2 weeks. Try not to run but if i must run then only 1-3 miles on soft, flat paths.
Long term I’d like to get my running form/gait evaluated and probably get a new primary care doc who will be happy to send me to a PT who specializes in running mechanics and injuries. I’m also prepared to start my marathon training a few weeks later than normal and/or fall back to the half if i have to. The New Jersey Marathon is April 26th and a 16 week cycle would have me start on 1/4. So realistically if I can be healed by 1/18 I’ll still get 14 weeks of training in. And if I struggle at all, I can drop back to half training 10 weeks out starting mid February to give myself an extra month to heal. I’m saying all this like a mature adult. But I can tell you that if I am not healed or have to drop back to the half I’ll probably cry and feel sad and go through all those emotions. =)
Luna Bar Giveaway!
Gift from Luna
So about a week ago, Luna sent me a box of their newest, and now gluten free, bars. I have had 2 of them so far. The chocolate dipped coconut one was my absolute favorite. They are now gluten free! And Luna has offered to send a box of bars to one of my readers.
To enter just leave me a comment below about anything you want. (make sure you’ve added an email address when posting so I can contact you if you’ve won.). I’ll select one reader at random on Friday afternoon 12/26 so leave your comment before 9am (EST) on that day. This giveaway is only available to my U.S. readers as the bars can only be mailed to a U.S. postal address.
That’s it! I’m off to start baking now for Christmas Day. I’m bringing homemade brownies (yes! from scratch, not a mix) and my grandmother’s famous rum cake. It’s basically a doctored up yellow cake mix cake with rum in the batter baked in a bundt pan but the glaze has lots of rum and sugar and walnuts. OH SO YUMMY!
I won’t be reunited with my laptop until after the holiday so if I don’t post again beforehand have a very merry one!
Hi!
How’s your little weekend going? Mine is going great!
First, before I tell you about my Holiday Windows Run I wanted to share a couple of cute dog pictures I took at the Pictures with Santa event at the dog park I volunteered at. I mentioned it in this post from last weekend.
Shane!
Rocco!
And while I’m in picture show and tell mode…
Here are some pictures I took for my friend and her husband’s christmas card. Aren’t they the cutest couple? She wanted a little vintage/throwback look. She did all the styling herself. A bit of a fashionista. =)
This porch was full of charm from the arched windows to the hanging lantern style light and the weathered floor boards
a little gift prop for added color =)
how cute is this?!
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