Winter Running And A New Year Are Here

Happy 2016 Friends! We had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year here in VT. Mother Nature also decided to come out of hiding and cast white stuff down upon us finally. Last year we had a pretty brutal winter. The snow wasn't that bad, it was more the cold and bitter temperatures that challenged us. For many of us runners the unwelcoming weather conditions do not stop us from getting out there and doing our runs. I have been happy that December was so warm and cannot complain that winter has finally arrived. I am hoping spring decides to grace us with her presence early as well. Until the I will bundle up and pound that pavement no matter what the conditions.

This means I get to use me new winter running shoes. A proper shoe for winter conditions is really important if you plan to stay on your feet an injury free. A couple years back I invested in a pair of Salomon trail shoes that were awesome. It was time again for a new pair and even though I have to admit I looked at a few other brands I ended up going with the Salmon Speedcross 3. The first time I took them out it took some getting use to. Now that I have gotten to put a few miles on them I really like them. The tread is like a snow tire, they hug my feet, keep me warm and grip the road. Of coarse I still have to be cautious as I run and my time is slower than I like.

Which leads me to hating my slower times! I know I need to be safe and realize this is only temporary. Yet I am a bit obsessive with writing down each run, miles and time. When I look down at my Garmin and see that I am 30 seconds to a minute behind what a normal pace would be for me it does get to me. I have worked hard at getting to a pace that I am proud of and like challenging that pace and pushing myself. I know a run is still a run and getting out there in the winter months means I need to change some of my own expectations of myself. I am not in control of the weather or conditions. The bottom line is staying safe and having fun on my runs. Letting that go is something I need to work on and I know this.

At the end of November I talked about "Taking The Focus Off Of Running". Now it is time to put that in affect. It is time for me to dedicate some time to my cross and strength training on the days I am forced to stay inside. To be a better runner we have to be sure to take care of every part of our body. This means working different muscle groups in order to perform better when we are out on our run. A few important benefits of cross training is that it helps to prevent injury, allows your body to rest and recover from your runs and increase a runners performance with power and efficiency. I strive to be a better runner with each run. It has nothing to do with anyone else but myself. When I first started running I only ran. Once I added in strength training I saw a difference in the way I ran and felt withing my runs. Over the next couple of months I will be putting in more time to cross train before I start training for my Half Marathons in a couple of months. In retrospect I am in training mode, working on being stronger and more flexible for those runs.

Last week I talked about my goals for 2016 . I was able to get one last run in for 2015 and finished with a total of 1,444 miles. That ended the year for me with 255 more miles than last year. To add to my 2016 goals I would like to hit 1,500 for the year. It's a new year with so much to look forward to. I am excited to see where this year will take me physically and mentally. Working on being a better runner means I am also a better mother, partner, friend and a happier and healthier version of who I aspire to be. I am a work in progress, there is always room for improvement and growth. I am ready to work on all of it! 

Happy New Year! What are your goals for the following year?  

Similar Posts:
Finding Time To Exercise And Staying Active With Your Child
My Favorite Smoothie Ingredients And Their Super Food Benefits 
Cold Weather Running: Staying Safe And Warm

Taking The Focus Off Of Running

I spent early spring into most of the summer in "training mode" I had four Half Marathons on the book from April to October which meant I was logging some serious miles each month. Having those races scheduled gave my running more of a purpose for me, besides the usual therapy session it always is when I am pounding pavement. Having a race date meant I would be that I was ready for each one of those races. I kept up with my long runs and committed to cross training on my off days. By the fall I was even cross training and running both in the same day. Now it is the end of November and there are no more races on the schedule for the remainder of 2015. I am no longer training and it is time to shift my focus.

I have to admit I am conflicted with the fact that there isn't just "one more" Half Marathon before the end of the year. Then there is another part of me that is happy I can fall back into my running without having to complete a certain distance or time. My miles have decreased and as I write down each run and begin adding up my miles for November I hate that they have depleted as they have. The beginning of the month my husband was gone for ten days which cut out miles for me. I did some stroller running but that just isn't the same. I know with the winter weather coming that soon conditions will also limit my miles and how often I get outside. I do live in Vermont so it is inevitable that the snow will eventually fall.

The next couple of months I am going to do my best to take my focus off the miles and put it into strength training. Over the past year I have become stronger, faster and a better runner because of cross training. Just recently I purchased my first sandbag. I will blame this new obsession on my friend Annmarie from Fit Foodie Mama. I have been following this amazing chick and became fascinated with watching her sandbag workouts. Annmarie is a DVRT Master Instructor, fellow runner and foodie. (If you do not follow her I suggest you do! Trust me, she has some good stuff over on her site!) It was only a matter of time before I caved and invested in my own sandbag. That is exactly what happened a couple of weeks back! Guess what?! I love it!

Perfect timing for me to get into DVRT Sandbag workouts! While winter takes it's time to go by I can at least spend some time strength training and getting ready for running in 2016! I can't wait to start putting races on the calendar and running towards new goals. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about running...a lot! For me it is something I can call my own. Running frees me and makes me feel fierce. I know with every mile I am creating a better me. I don't do many things for myself, but I do run!

Exercise does not need to be work. It does not have to be dreadful. To be successful in any exercise routine you need to find something that you enjoy doing. I rarely do a workout a second time if I did not like it. For me I want my workouts to be fun. I want to feel like I did something. I want to sweat! These have been the key things for me in my cross training which make me want to do my workout. I have said it before and I will say it again: Grokker! I love the variety of workouts to choose from. I have been using Grokker for months and find it to be such an asset. There really is a workout for everyone on here. For the Foodie, they even have recipes!

Vermont winters may not be a runners best friend yet maybe this is Mother Nature's way of making me appreciate my runs even more when I do get out there.  I will fill the time in between with cross training and looking at the calendar to start planning for 2016! 

Happy Running And Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!  

 

Setting New Goals And Keeping A Commitment

I can't believe that we are half way through 2015 already. May and June seemed to have just rushed on by and now we are at July. I had set a goal for myself that I would run three to four Half Marathons this year. I completed one in April and my second one in May. Yesterday I committed to my third one of the year which will be the Charlotte Covered Bridge Half Marathon. This will be the first time that I have run this race as well as it being my Fifth Half Marathon. I love running in new places. There is something thrilling to me when exploring new roads to run. I do find comfort in some of the routes I frequent yet I enjoy the adventure of a new run.

May was my highest mileage month for me this year hitting 131.08 miles (not a PR for me though). June I fell short for some reason only reaching 116.01. I was pretty disappointed in that. I had thought I even put in a few extra days. I think what happened is that since I was not officially in "training" mode for another Half I allowed some of my longer runs to fall short a couple miles of where I would have liked to be. Now that I have committed to my next race in September I am hoping to start pushing myself to at least break 120 miles this month.

I am still cross training on days I don't run. I have a few video's on You Tube that I enjoy. Adding to my love for Jillian Michael's, I recently discovered and developed a girl crush on Rebecca Louise. She has a full body workout on You Tube that I have been doing along with an arm workout. We can't forget to work on our core so there are days I also do her 10 Minute Ab Workout. I do like to mix up my workouts so I am sure to work all areas of my body. I get in a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) once to twice a week as well. This is effective as well as challenging, not to mention important if you are a runner. If you want to get in a quick but effective workout look up some HIIT video's to try.

For a couple years I ran without any cross training, silly me! Cross training has indeed made me stronger for my runs. My times have improved as well as my stamina. I really wanted to sculpt my body more to gain muscle and tone my body.  I am still a work in progress. I continue to work on where I want to be physically knowing that with each workout or run I am creating a better me. I may not ever be exactly where I want to be when I look in the mirror, yet I hope to be happy with the work I have put in and being where I am at now.

Since we still have a couple of months left of summer and July and August tend to be the hottest I decided to purchase a Camelback Hydration Pack. I do not like running with anything in my hand and decided a fuel belt that holds water also wasn't for me. I figured a Camelback might be just what I need. In looking for the right one for me I knew I didn't want anything big and I would only be using it for my long runs. I was also being frugal, truth be told, and though there were other models I liked I was not looking to spend a lot. I instead used Birthday money I received which bought me my new friend. I will keep you posted on what I think about it after I get to try it out.

For me setting goals and following through with my fitness commitments is important to me. Setting the goal is the first part. Once I have set that goal I become determined to reach it or excel beyond it. It's not always easy and there are days I do not have the motivation. I always say I love to run, but that doesn't mean I always want to run. Some days require an extra push, a personal pep talk. I never regret a workout or a run afterwards. Making the commitment to a healthier and better me is one of the best commitments I have ever made.


Did you set any fitness goals for yourself for 2015? What is your favorite way to workout?

January Running: Frosty Lashes and Icy Nipples

I am not sure about you but January felt like it had one hundred days crammed into it instead of thirty one. I am not a winter gal. I do not ski (never have), I do not snow board, ice skate, or take part in the luge. No, this girl would rather be on a beach with a drink in her hand. Scratch that! I would rather be on the beach with sunshine and drink. Yes! That is what I am talking about.

I am so done with the 0 degree temps and frosty eyelashes. I may hate this time of year but it does not stop me from going out and doing my workout. I run. That is what I do. I made the commitment to running so this means I am out there when I would rather be home sipping a beer coffee.

It has definitely been a challenge for me. Since I have been running through the winter for a few years now I am pretty good at figuring out how to dress. I did mess up a few weeks ago and paid for it. We had one day that was 30 degrees and I had such a wonderful run. The next day it was down in the single digits. I must have still been in some euphoric state that I hesitated on my running gear and under dressed. I didn't run as far as I intended and I came home cold. I could feel my skin tingling from the sting of the cold air blowing through my running pants. Parts of me were freezing ( I will let you use your imagination) and no one wants to get frost bite on their genitals. (I know you were thinking it!)

This was taken Sunday. It was a cold but good run!

On most days I do dress appropriately for my runs. The bottom line for me is the conditions which this very cold weather brings. It is more like learning to ice skate on my town's roads with running sneakers, than it is actually running. I don't wear any metal grips on my sneakers like some do. I have thought about trying them but worry about it throwing off my run. I end up doing a lot of running in the road and not the side walk. I do not always feel safe and am trying my best to be alert during my runs. I have noticed that many drivers do not pay attention. People are distracted while driving these days therefor it is my responsibility to be aware of my surroundings and not get lost in the run. Some days it feels like a like a game of Frogger. Me, being the frog of coarse.

We just said goodbye to January. I am hoping February is more kind to us runners out there. With that being said I did complete 82 miles last month. I was  not completely happy with that, I had a higher number in my head that I wanted to achieve. It was almost double what I ran the year before and with that I will give myself a little more credit. I must have been in post baby bliss last January (Wes was only 4 months) since I only did 44 miles.

I am also trying to make more of an effort to cross train. I have been trying video's on you tube on my off running days or on the days that I am forced to stay in my house because of Mother Nature. I am trying hard to put more of an effort in sculpting my body to become stronger for the races I have ahead of me. I have tried out a few and I have to say that the Jillian Michael video's I have done have been my favorite. I like the way she incorporates strength training and cardio into a workout. I feel challenged by her video's which is exactly what I am looking for.

I also decided to do a jumping jack challenge this month! A fellow blogger and runner, Simply Sole Searching, has started this challenge and I decided I would "jump" on board with this too. Check it out at: Simply Sole Searching: Jump for Joy in February. I am not sure if I will be able to complete it as the number of Jack's gets up to 250. But hey, I need to at least try!

Now it is time to welcome February and hope for warmer weather and better runs! Goal for February: 90 Miles minimum! Come on Mather Nature, bring it!

Happy Running!



Please Like & Share!! Much Love!