the curls return and an uphill bike ride all the way

20. October 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: cross training · Tags: , ,

How is it Monday again?!

I’m just having a quick cup of coffee and the i’ve gotta hightail it to get ready for work!

Yesterday I set out for another bike ride. (Duncan just posed for the photo below when I got back because he’s a ham sandwich).

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It was sunny and cool and super windy. I felt like I was skiing because the cold air blowing on my cheeks was leaving them tingly. I took practically the same route as Thursday’s ride but the wind kept changing directions and it seemed like every single downhill left me pedaling just as much as the uphill! Like riding into a wall….Wow! What a workout. That’s the thing about bike riding. It’s not necessarily the mileage that makes the workout intense. It’s the hills. And I kinda am ignoring that calorie burn readout of 254. Runkeeper had no idea how hard I was pedaling. =)

When I moved into my home 14 years ago I had a little house warming party and someone got me these cute scarecrows which I proudly display on the bench by my front door each year. I added a pumpkin I got when apple picking a few weeks ago and boom…a little Autumn decorayyyysshhh.

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I finally washed my hair yesterday since getting it cut and blown out straight on Thursday. It was lovely to be reunited with my signature curls. I missed them.

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I have a feeling that my workouts are going to take a back seat this week. I’m REALLY busy and have lots of birthday plans coming up. Might just be a handful of walks and maybe I can get to the gym during lunch tomorrow. Most of my friends are in their taper phase for the NYC Marathon anyway so at least I won’t be reading about their 20 mile runs to make me feel bad. Speaking of NYC Marathon, I’ve got to make my plan for being the best spectator ever!

Have a great week everyone!

What did you do this weekend?

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#Schwinning!

18. October 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: cross training, labradoodle, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,

Hi folks,

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! Since I’ve been trying to keep my running to a minimum for the next 10 days to let my little aches and pains resolve, I decided to go for a bike ride.

bikeout

#schwinning!

I must admit I’ve been using the hashtag #winning too much lately. So today, I got a little more creative #schwinning! You’re welcome =)

I biked for about an hour covering almost 8 miles of rolling hills and I have to say I REALLY enjoyed it.

Later in the day the Doodle and I met up for our walk with the Dogues…

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Athena and Zeus. Zeus is the one with the enormous tongue hanging out!

When it’s 67 degrees and sunny with gorgeous blue skies and rainbow color leaves everywhere I want to spend every waking moment outside and Duncan is totally ok with that =)

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warm and fuzzy

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the hills are alive…

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and I'm starting a new selfie trend #upsidedown

and I’m starting a new selfie trend #upsidedown

Today is probably going to be a repeat of yesterday only swap the bike ride for house cleaning (boo!). But I’m going to try for another ride tomorrow morning.

Have a fantabulous Saturday!

What are you doing today? Have you ever laid flat on the ground in the middle of the park to get an upside down aerial selfie? If you haven’t then follow my trend! It’s superfun!

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My favorite color is October

01. October 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: cross training, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , ,

Hello.

Saw this posted on Facebook today. #absolutely

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I was planning on running yesterday morning but still have some soreness on the bottom of my foot. It’s almost gone but with a half marathon 12 days from now I decided to err on the side of caution and go to the gym at lunch for a short cross training session of the rowing machine and bike.

So I packed up my gym stuff in this handy dandy 2011 NYC marathon recovery bag. 🙂 swag in action.

photo 1

13 minutes on the rower followed by a killer 20 min on the stair master. I was drenched with sweat. And actually felt good about the decision to cross train.

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This morning I got up super early to take the doodle to our local park. With me being away for a week and then having a busy long weekend I hadn’t taken him in over 2 weeks. He was so happy to reclaim his territory. And I was happy to see the beginning signs of autumn.

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pretty soon the green will turn orange and red and yellow

On our way to my favorite place. Gonna lift my leg on everything!

On our way to my favorite place. Gonna lift my leg on everything!

Tomorrow if my foot is ok I am going to try for an 8-10 mile run. If it isn’t ok I’ll wait until the weekend. Last chance long run opportunity before the Staten Island half marathon. I’m not really worried about finishing. I just want to work on keeping a consistent effort for 2 hours or more. Lately I have been peetering out to quickly. Mostly because I am not accepting that my average pace has slowed since being injured and I start out too fast.

I told you that my favorite month is October because it’s my birthday month AND i love Autumn. But I forgot to share with you another reason it’s an important month to me. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. First I wanted to give a shout out to my dear friend Nicole!

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She’s a survivor! Hard to believe that with a newborn she went through a double mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction all while continuing to work and care for her family. (She owns a pet-sitting company and I met her when Duncan was just a puppy and I was looking for a dog walker.) Her diagnosis really shook me. After my husband died so young from cancer I sort of went through this irrational notion that I paid my dues and nobody close to me would ever be sick again. So when my 36 year old friend was faced with cancer I was knocked back into reality and reminded that I’m not excused from from it. I also wanted to share this link. Meggan is a runner I met last year while on that photo shoot in Charleston, SC for the Dicks Sporting Goods Every Runner Has a Reason campaign. She has been battling breast cancer for 6 years. I didn’t even know it at first. She’s so amazingly strong and brave. I’m wearing my Power in Pink shirt today to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Power in Pink!

Power in Pink!

I’m almost done with my recap of day 2 of Ragnar Napa. It’ll probably be up tonight. Thanks for being patient. =)

 

I’m assuming most of my readership is female (well except for this guy). Are you up to date with your mammos? Do you do self-exams? 

Do you acknowledge any awareness months?

I make a big deal in May for Melanoma Awareness Month as well as this month’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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My favorite Month is coming

29. September 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: cross training, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , ,

I’m so giddy that October will be here next week! My birthday is in October. I LOVE this time of year. The leaves are starting to change colors and Saturday I went apple picking. It was actually in the 80s which is a little too warm for this time of year but I know the cool crisp nights are just days away.

Let me back track to Friday though. I went for my first post-Ragnar run! 4.3 miles sporting my finisher’s t-shirt. Nice and easy and how lovely to not have to shove myself into a van afterward =)

post-rag-run

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