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freelance life essentials and some running

04. March 2017 · 1 comment · Categories: running · Tags: dogs, freelance life, running

Hi there,

Happy weekend! This was my view when I woke up this morning.

Morning!

I love a good doodle view but I wish I would have got up earlier to see the sunrise. I haven’t seen a sunrise in so long. Facebook shared this photo I took 3 years ago yesterday. I was doing 16 miles in preparation for the NJ Marathon and I got to see this beauty.

sunrise

I just got back from an 8 miler. It wasn’t too bad the first half but the second half my hamstrings were on fire. I guess I kinda knew that they weren’t going to be cooperative so I’m going to have to keep working on strengthening, stretching and foam rolling and possibly go back to see Dr. Williams who helped me when my knee was causing issues. Of course he’s not on my new insurance plan so I’m going to keep trying to fix this on my own. Good news is that by the next day I usually feel ok so I’m not as bad as I was at the end of last year. It was so cold and windy today. But I kinda liked it. We’ve had such a mild winter that my body was yearning for the frigid temps.

before and after selfies. My cheeks got a lot rosier after.

So last Tuesday I went to a networking event in the city. I left Duncan (with his fresh new haircut) at Mr. SOTSS’ house when I traveled into the city. I got in a little early so I stopped in Bryant Park for a bit to enjoy the beautiful day. It was in the 60s. Then a client asked me to send some files so I tethered my phone to my laptop and got to business right there in the park. #freelancelife.

freelance life

Speaking of freelance life….when you work from home there is one major freelance essential: coffee! I was so happy my delivery came last week as I was running dangerously low.

my biggest freelance life essential…coffee!

After my networking event, when I got back to Mr. SOTSS’ house I got to see his girls for a few. His youngest was getting ready to go to gymnastics practice and asked me to french braid the top of her hair. I ALWAYS say yes when she asks me to braid her hair. She has the best hair! It’s so relaxing for me to braid it.

Another freelance life essential is having cute doggie coworkers who don’t really work. They crack me up.

Just stares at me while I work

Chester is just so big! He’s on Duncan’s little perch but enjoyed the breeze coming thru the window.

I had hoped to run 2x during the week but alas only got out once (on Wednesday) for a 4 miler. Meanwhile can we talk about the fact that it was in the 70s when I ran on Wednesday and I wore short sleeves and today it was 28 degrees with winds at 20mph.

But, I’m excited that the weather is finally cold again because I got to wear my new race swag yesterday.

My first pom pom hat ever!

So what’s on your agenda today?

Are you a coffee drinker?

Do you like to catch the sunrise?

What would your freelance life essentials be?

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my blog was down but it’s back up now

27. February 2017 · 7 comments · Categories: running · Tags: blog down, dns issue, mexican, movie, running, sick

Because I’m sure you were all worried about me!

Seriously though I hate when I’m out of control. This was a DNS server issue and my hosting provider has fixed the issue”. But hopefully you were all busy enjoying your weekend away from the phone or computer and didn’t even realize.

After having a really good run early last week two so-so runs: A neighborhood 4 miler on Thursday and a 6 miler at the beach on Saturday.

All ready for my 6 miles at the beach

just keep swimming

I think that part of the issue is that I’m still not feeling 100% since getting the flu 2 weeks ago. Between fatigue, coughing, congestion and this nasty nasal drip that’s been leaving me so nauseous I’m just struggling. But I really enjoyed the sun on my face and warmer than normal temps considering it’s February still! My hamstrings do get a bit irritated after each run but I recover well and by the next day I’m fine.

In other news Chester and Duncan just get cuter by the minute. Duncan started limping again today. I am starting to realize at 8 years old he’s middle-aged and gets sore and achy just like his middle-aged mom 🙂

Oh and my phone broke on Thursday too! I had it in my hand and was walking around the neigborhood to stretch my legs and scrolling through Instagram and all of a sudden the screen went yellow, then got black vertical lines and then the screen just died. It’s out for repair and they gave me a loner in the meantime.

Other than getting in that 6 miler this weekend, Mr. SOTSS and I went out to a local Mexican restaurant for some burritos and then we saw the movie Lion which was really good! We saw his daughter’s gymnastics meet this morning an then spent some time with the handsome doggie duo. And Mr. SOTSS has been teaching himself guitar so he practiced a bit.

Well, It’s 1am so I better turn in for the night. Just wanted to let you all know I’m still here! Still running, still eating sweets and still obsessed with my dog 🙂

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The Cold Feat 10k and day 1 of half marathon training today

21. February 2017 · Write a comment · Categories: running · Tags: cold feat 10k, half marathon training, running, trail running

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I ran the Cold Feat 10k trail run on Saturday and had a great time. It was more like a hike vs a run as I was still getting over the flu and just didn’t have the energy to move very fast, especially up all the hills. But eventually I made it to the finish line so I accomplished my goal!

After hiking these trails in the dark for the last 6 weeks it was fun to get re-acquainted with them during the day! I’m grateful for any time I can spend outdoors in the woods.

All you have to remember is to follow the pink ribbons and the arrows

This is one of the shorter hills!

The weather warmed up into the low 50s by the end of the race which was just lovely. And I’m loving my swag! I’ve never owned a hat with a pom-pom on the top. Isn’t that crazy?

Meanwhile Winter is on hiatus for a while. It’s been in the 60s! What?! I hope we get some cold weather and snow again before Spring officially arrives in a month.

I had a really great run today…
I am starting out the week with my official half-marathon training schedule. Ironically after declaring that I wasn’t concerned about my pace or finish times at all for this training cycle, I just had such a zippy and fairly effortless first run. I chose the multi-use path by the beach today because it’s flat and I want to ensure I am kind to my hamstrings so I can make it through all the miles over the next 3 months.

I’m planning on 2 shorter weekday runs each week of 3-5 miles and flat when I can control it. And then I’ll build up my long runs each weekend starting with a 6-8 miler this coming weekend. Plus I’ll keep up with those weekly Wednesday night hikes and I’ll be doing lots of strengthening and stretching of the glutes/hammies/core/hips!!

Well, I’m off to do some glamorous stuff like laundry and paying bills. Catch ya later!

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Hip + hamstring headaches and some trail miles

07. February 2017 · 8 comments · Categories: running, Uncategorized · Tags: dogs, greenbelt, hamstring pain, hip pain, running, staten island ferry, trail running, trail system, white trail

Happy Monday Internet friends!

It seems I’ve turned into a once-a-week blogger and I hope you’re ok with that. I just can’t seem to find the time (to check in more frequently). I’ve also become a once-a-weeker in running and hiking too. I’m trying to fix my hamstring (and now hip!) issues by easing up on anything too strenuous more than once or twice a week and adding in 2 scheduled rehab days of lots of hip and glute strengthening exercise and foam rolling until my fascia is happy. I’m currently trying to rehab on my own but I might be making an appointment to see a sports injury doc soon if I can’t make progress.

A much less strenous activity last week was taking the Staten Island Ferry into the city last Tuesday to meet some former coworkers for some much needed cocktails and conversation. The view of the NYC skyline really never gets old….especially in the early evening when the sun has just set.

It was FREEZING on the outer deck but I couldn’t take the picture through a dirty window now could I? 🙂

So these night hikes have led to meeting some new people who like running on the trails as well as hiking. Yesterday morning I met up with a couple of them for 4.25 miles. And, my next run will be next Saturday so that works out!

I love trails that are just named by colors. Easy to remember

when you discover a random chimney ruin in the woods you take a picture in front of it

Mr. SOTSS and I had some fun with his girls this weekend doing some “candy chemistry”. We watched what happened when you drop Mentos candy into a bottle of diet cola.

This weekend we tried out a fun chemistry experiment with #mentos candy and #dietcoke and enjoyed watching the wild reaction. PSA: don’t wash your Mentos down with carbonated diet cola. ???????????? #latergram #weekendfun #candychemistry

A video posted by Sally Stilwell (@sweatoutthesmallstuff) on Feb 6, 2017 at 4:24pm PST

Oh and I signed up for another race…. I’ll be running the Spring Lake 5 miler Memorial Day weekend. After spectating in 2014 and 2015, I ran it last year. It was hot! Anyway, I’m excited to run again and have some yummy brunch after with friends.

Duncan and I did plenty of exploring in the woods last week too.

So you hike these trails in the dark ma? How can you see any squirrels?

And I got a bee in my bonnet to do my hair straight this weekend. But only for a day.

And just a couple of cute dog pics to share before I sign off:

cute dog on couch #1

cute dog on couch #2

Tell me what’s new in your life. Any good news to share?

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