I hate PF!

Really? Is there any more to say than that? I hate PF. It's been an ongoing battle for about 2 years now. It has really flared up this weekend. What stinks is that yesterday's run was really good. I could have run several more miles even. But today, I can barely walk. And of course, today was our trip to Six Flags.  Wasn't that good timing? I survived though, but it hurts like the dickens.

I already have it taped, so tonight I'll either sleep in a compression sleeve or wrap it. And ice it. I hate icing when it's cold, but I know I have to. 

I've read about some essential oils that are supposed to help, so tomorrow I'm on the hunt for those. Can't hurt at this point.

But back to yesterday's run...

Mom was coming to town so we could help her run 18. I wanted 8 and Carrie was up for some too.  However, we woke to find some wet stuff falling from the sky. Not thinking it would last long, Mom and I took off anyway. We ran in the coolest snow ever! Snow! I ran in shorts on Christmas Day!  It was awesome though. We laughed about how crazy we are. We were fine most of the time and only had problems when the sleet hit our eyes and then when the snow turned wet.  The roads got slushy and we were worried we'd fall. But Carrie wanted her chance in the snow so we ran 1 mile with her before heading home to warm up with coffee.

Merry Christmas to me!

My gifts to myself were a run on Christmas Eve with my sister and sister-in-law and then another with my mom and sister in Christmas Day.

For Christmas Eve, we got up early and ran 4 cold miles (plus walked another). We were all in good moods and excited about Christmas.  It was a great way to start the day!

On Christmas Day, I fit in a Santa Hat run after lunch with my in-laws and before dinner and gifts with my husband and kids. We definitely felt like we were trudging the first mile, but the second felt better. I'm sure we looked silly, but hopefully we made the people who passed us smile.

I think it was the best thing I could give to myself.

Still in!

25 days of the #RWRunStreak and counting! Yes, I had to jump on the treadmill at 10:30 pm to get it done, but I did it!

We've had a sick little boy yesterday and today, so I've been all kinds of off.  On call doc says it's likely the flu, but it could be something else too. We are too late for Tamiflu so we ride it out unless something changes. I'm going we wake up to a fever-freekid tomorrow, but I'm fully expecting a trip to sick time in the next two days.

With us all being home for Christmas break, I'm going to have to try a lot harder than I did this weekend to eat well and keep my running on track. Scheduling a run for 7:30 in the morning was the first step (and maybe not the smartest since I just finished tonight's run).

Long week

The last week before Christmas break is always crazy! My classes have been surprisingly good, and I kept teaching instead of showing movies. Today will be total chaos as it is a "fun day" for the kids. But, I've got my mile done, and I'm putting dinner in the crockpot before I leave. I will survive!

Day 23 of the streak! I really can't believe I've run at least a mile every day!

I really need to add some other workouts in though. I'm hoping being home next week that maybe I can do that and get into a habit before school starts back up in January.

Just an update

Yesterday, I ran 8 miles with my mom and sister. It was hard, but today, I only had a couple of sore spots (left calf and back). That makes me feel like I can totally be ready for the half I'd already signed up for back before I fell. For now, remaining long runs will be 5, 8, 10, 8 and then the race.

I'm also half way through the #RWRunStreak! I've run at least a mile every day since Thanksgiving. That's 18 days of running! I'm super impressed that my body is tolerating this.

I've also been doing really well at increasing my fruits and veggies during the week. The weekends, on the other hand, are leaving me feeling just awful. I probably get half of what I normally do in those two days. So, now I know what needs improvement.

And since I didn't grocery shop today like I needed to, I'll have to make do for breakfast and lunch until I can get to the store after school.

Race Day!

Today was our local Y's Holiday Hustle. I signed up for the 10k, but I considered doing to the 5k. Instead, I convinced my sister to run with me.

A couple of weeks ago, we were supposed to run a race with Mom wearing the tutus she made, but it was pouring rain that race. We decided to wear them today instead.

The weather was perfect this morning! Mom took off on her own since she was meeting up with some other runners at the end for another 6 miles. Carrie and I ended up running with my neighbor the whole way. Surprisingly, the tutu didn't bother me too much, even with the jungle bells.

Carrie pulled away from us at the end, but I finished in 1:04:54. Not a pr, but it definitely wasn't my worst 10k time either! Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to medal. Still, I'm super pleased with the run! 

Fruits and Veggies!

I managed to eat 12, yes,  12, servings of fruits and veggies today!

I woke up hungry so I ate a banana first thing.  Then I had sauteed zucchini and tomato with an egg.  Count: 4

For lunch I had a salad with chicken, roasted veggies, baby carrots and clementines.  Count: 4

After school, I had a green smoothie with half a banana, a cup of spinach, and some frozen fruit.  Count: 2ish

For dinner, we had mini meat loaves (with hidden veggies inside), a small sweet potato and a good helping of broccoli. Count: 2

That's 12! Now, I'm not saying everything else was spot on. I caved and had candy after school... but yesterday, I didn't. There's hope yet.

Now, to hit the treadmill for the streak (and I'd really rather not but I can't give up that easily!)...

Sunday setup

Time to plan for the week!

This week for the Holiday Sweat Challenge, we earn a bonus point for each day we reach 9 freggies. That takes a lot of planning! I'll have my veggie and egg breakfast each day (1 cup of zucchini, half a cup of tomatoes and a "fried" egg). For lunch, I'll mix it up with salad, black bean and corn sweet potato, and veggie soup, adding in a fruit for a side. Green smoothies will help as afternoon snacks. Then it's just two or three freggies at dinner, and we are good!
My goals this week
Home: Take out the Christmas decor boxes
Print the kids' school pictures
Make our Christmas cards

Heart: Take a look back at the year and make the kids' ornaments and write in their books (and read past years')
Take some time each day to unplug and relax

Health: 9 freggies a day
All my water and vitamins
Run at least a mile a day

3 weeks until Christmas break! We've got this!

Thanksgiving run

I love to run on Thanksgiving morning. My mom and sister were doing a local turkey trot, but with two Thanksgivings today and food to prepare, I couldn't wait that late.

I headed out on my own at 7, wearing my new Nathan light up hat and fleece - lined Marika pants. It was 32 degrees, and my long sleeved shirt was not warm enough! Lesson learned. Everything else was spot on.

As for the run itself, the third mile was awful and I had to walk some, but after that, I was ok. I ended up running 4 and walking 1 for a total of 5 miles today.

I'm thinking about doing the Runner's World streak, from Thanksgiving to New Year's (maybe?)...

It's challenge time!

Today is the first day of the Holiday Sweat Challenge (formerly the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge). Unfortunately, I was under the weather yesterday and wasn't able to grocery shop or prep veggies like I'd planned. I stayed home sick today and was determined to make the most of it anyway. I did some light stretching and made a veggie soup for lunch. With the soup and a few snacks of fruits and carrots, I managed to make my freggies for the day. And I definitely made sure to get my water!

Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm hoping to get a run in before school and my shopping done after school.

I'm back!

It has been far too long since I've blogged. This has not been a good running year. After having a great first marathon experience in January, I seemed to be fine, until about three weeks after. Then I battled Achilles tendinitis for months. I restarted running in the summer and worked my way up from a mile to 3 or 4 by September...when I either broke my tail bone or tore the tendons around it.

But today. Today rocked!

I ran my first race since my marathon with my mom and sister. In the pouring rain too! It was my sister's first race since her marathon and since having a baby in August.

We weren't even sure the race would happen as it was thundering and lightning most of the afternoon. But there were about 40 of us crazy enough to show up. We were able to run in the pouring rain, and it was awesome!

Mom and I placed 3rd in our AGs, and Carrie placed 2nd. So cool!