Thursday Training Update

I'll just leave that right there....


Thursday: 3.6 miles with the group, cut a little short because one of my runners had a sore foot. Loving my newest skirt, this is the one I'll wear for the Chicago Marathon.



Friday: yoga, squats, and planks. I love monthly challenges!



Saturday was our long run. It was supposed to be 18 miles. My partner had a sore foot and I had a sad tummy so we stopped at 8.6 which I'm slightly sad about but not devastated. Next week is my 20 and that's the one that counts! Also, squats and planks.



Sunday: rest day! lots of walking and squats and planks. Super exciting day! Also tried a yummy new lunch and I'm hooked!



Monday: 3 miles plus yoga, squats, and planks. The hubs ran with me which was a nice surprise!



Tuesday: 6 miles at home. Since it was a holiday weekend, coaches had the option to stay home so I slept in! aaaahhhhhh it was glorious. It's also cooler here in the morning so it isn't as crucial to get up early.



Wednesday: total mental health day. I.did.nothing. Well, I did crochet a little, I'm making messy bun hats with this reflective yarn!



When was your last mental health day?

Wordless Wednesday Date Night Edition

Girls on the Run, Season 6

I've just sent out my introduction email for my 6th season of coaching Girls on the Run! In one week, I'll be meeting my new team, and it looks like I only know a few of them!



If you ever get the opportunity to volunteer for GOTR I highly recommend it. You can Head Coach, Assistant Coach, or volunteer to run the 5k with a girl at the end of the season.



I'm looking forward to another great season!
Have you ever heard of Girls on the Run?

Happy Labor Day

I hope that you are off of work today! If not, thank you so much for Laboring today!

Upcoming Races

I had planned to blog about weekend adventures, but the hubs is at a dirt bike event so I'm on my own today. Instead, let's talk about some upcoming races.
Ever since I started coaching, the list has gotten shorter ....



Ramblin Rose Triathlon in Huntersville, NC. This will be my first tri and my 200th race!



I will be running my 53rd half marathon with Christie. She's one of the amazing ladies I coach and she's become a very good friend!



National Night Run at the Charlotte Speedway. This is a 5k, and not meant to be an actual race, which is perfect, since it's the week before....



OMG
I can't believe it's a month away...almost. I have raised $3000 for Muscular Dystrophy, I'm training hard, and I'm more or less ready to do this thing.



My 54th half marathon. I'm running with Christie again and hoping to see some other friends there!



Race day for the ladies I'm coaching! I'll be running the half marathon, but I'll be staying to cheer for the marathoners!



This is a 4 mile race, which I think is bizarre, but it's very popular here. I might dress up, but I'm not sure. Maybe as a cook again, maybe not. I'll decide when it gets closer!



My final race of 2017 will be with Girls on the Run. I'll he coaching for my 3rd season here in SC, 6th season overall. After the race, the hubs and I will visit Christmasville, which is like walking through a Hallmark movie. Such a fun day overall!

Whatever do you look forward to this Fall?

Anatomy of a Long Run

Long runs are no joke when you are training for a marathon, but they are necessary! Most training plans call for multiple long runs of 16 to 20 miles, and it's best to be prepared so you don't forget anything that morning.



The night before, I pick out my clothes for the run, down to my socks, which aren't pictured. Never wear anything new on your long runs, thisis not the time to find out that yoyr shirt chafes you! I also grab some comfy pants and a shirt for afterwards and put that in my running bag....



In my running bag, I keep all of my every day running supplies... my Nathan belt, Nugo bars, Shower Pills, running hats, body glide, muscle cream, Knuckle Lights, etc. I never have to worry about forgetting anything, because it all stays in that bag.



I apply body glide in the parking lot before the run, but I always stick it in my skirt pocket. You might miss a spot or chafe somewhere weird, especially on humid or rainy days!



Road IDs are so important, y'all. Especially if you have allergies. I always wear one and I put it with my clothes the night before so that I don't forget. Your running buddies may not know the important info if something were to happen to you! If you don't have one, get one. There are discount codes everywhere... Google it!



Recovery shoes! I am all about Oofos. I have 3 pairs of flip flops and these awesome shoes. They can be spendy, but they are so worth it! A cute skirt that won't chafe is also a plus. I am a Skirt Sports girl, it's all I wear! Use FWC20 for 20% off regular priced merchandise!



Once you have survived your long run, you need to recover. The shoes are step one. For me, the bath is step 2.



Last night I prepped for bath time. Instead of stretching my poor tired body over the tub to get my Epsom Salts, I did it last night. I was ready to go when I came back from my long run.

I don't have a pic for this next part. Forgiveness. My run was a disaster today, I had tummy trouble and my running partner had shoe issues. Instead of 18, I ran 8.6 miles. I could dwell on this for days or just let it go. This is why we have more than one long run, y'all. Just let it go.



Eat something delicious and live to run another day!

Have you ever had to cut your long run short?

September Goals

I love monthly challenges. This is no secret. It's also no secret that I suck at them! I always start with gusto and then quit. Sad. But true. Several of the groups I belong to are hosting some monthly challenges, and I have committed to trying them. With the marathon approaching I am giving myself a little leeway, so I am committing to 80% participation.
Should be easy, right?
Many of them go hand in hand, which should make things a bit easier.



This first one is all me. I often get to the end of the day and wonder how nothing got done. My workday ends at 7 am, and yet I manage to get nothing done! I can play games on my iPad and watch Netflix like a boss, though.



I am about to begin my next Step Bet. For my first, I paid $20 and walked away with $29.02. I'm trying to get my own started with friends and followers but it's failing. Hopefully I will be able to start my next one soon. Luckily, the marker is erasable, so I can change the dates. Want to try it out? The link is below and the code to enter the game is Barking Mad. It's a $20 bet.

http://step.bet/s5ah/LxPS58ys5F



This one is also all me. Runners need strong legs, y'all. When it gets to the end, I might delay it until after the marathon, I have to see how my legs feel. The marathon is one week after the month ends, so it might be ok!



If I'm going to be a yoga teacher, I have to be on my game! I want to work on some yoga poses, and these are just a small portion of them. If I work on one a day (knowing it will take more than once day to master some of them, hence the 3 squares) I'll have them all mastered in no time. I can always move the ones I didn't master to a new page once all of these boxes are checked off.



These are both Coach Jenny challenges from her 2017 year long Challenge group. Trail Bingo is meant to get us outside and moving in nature. Every time I do this for at least 30 minutes I get to pick a number. I'm going to use random.org to pick my numbers each time.
Plank Power is pretty self explanatory. You start the first week with one variation and add a new one each week. Can you say abs of steel?



Presence is another Coach Jenny challenge, and this is one I'm very happy about. I'd been trying to add a mindful minute every day and I fell out of it. This will be a daily reminder to get it done. I added the increasing times myself.
The blog list is a way to help me blog every day. I am very guilty of ignoring my blog a few days a week and sometimes I'll go a whole week without blogging.



This is my August mileage. My plan calls for at least 122 miles in September so my goal is 100. I have never had a 100 mile month. Ever. I have trained for 5 marathons and yet I've never reached 100! I have come very close, though!

I have one final challenge that I haven't made a page for yet. One of my weight loss groups has challenged us to workout every day for 90 days. It can be anything, and requires at least 15 minutes. I'm shooting for 30 minutes a day, even if it's just walking in place in front of the tv on rest days!

Ok so there you have it. I'll check back in on October 1 and let you know how it went!

Are you participating in any monthly challenges in September?