In the Spotlight

Head on over to Fitblogger and check out who is in the blog spotlight today......

 

......yep, that's right - THIS girl!!!

I am super excited to be a guest contributor for the blog spotlight for today!!! I spent hours writing and re-writing my post. In the end I was pretty happy with it and I hope it comes across like I intended it to. I have to say seeing it posted on their page feels pretty amazing!! 

 

I am also excited for tonight - to top off  the end to a great week I get a "date night" with my wonderful husband. Earlier in the week my husband texted me, while I was at work, asking if we had any plans for tonight. We were invited by some friends/neighbors to go along to the Rodney Carrington concert.

 

I have to admit that I am not even sure what he sings - but I have heard of him. I really didn't care who the concert was- we are getting out of the house for an adult night!

 

 

Run, Work, Run... Repeat

The story of my life this week has been: run, go to work, go to bed, get up, and repeat.... several times! I picked up an extra shift to help out a co-worker plus my extra shift that I went up to the beginning of the year, plus my normal shift - this week I am feeling the extra shifts! Add in the tragedy in Boston, kids activities, and normal everyday life "stuff" and life feels a little out of balance this week! Somehow we are getting it all done.

 I have had some of the best runs this week. I have felt strong and re-energized. I have a new sense of motivation that has come from all of the coverage of Boston. It feels amazing to be a part of such an wonderful community of people that have pulled together to stand united!

 

With all of the craziness this week I realized that I still hadn't updated my Weekly Chase for the week. Last week I was dealing with sick kids and being sick myself. I did the best I could during the week  but I didn't reach many of my goals. I have continued to work on them again this week and will report in on them on Monday!

Challenge Goal: Improve my eating habits!

• This week I will make sure to have at least one fruit or vegetable with each meal/snack.
• This week I will be more conscious of my water intake and I will get it back to where it needs to be each day.

Challenge Goal: Become a stronger runner!

• This week I will do my daily planks and at least two core workouts.
• This week I will add in at least two strength sessions.
• This week I will make sure to get in at least one cross-training session.
• This week I will get all of my marathon training runs completed.

Challenge Goal: Become a better mother!

• This week I will make time to spend time with each of my boys individually.
• This week I will have conversations with the boys about what they would like to see change in our life/family so that we have stronger connections.

How is your week going? What has the effect of Boston been like for you?

My heart (& mind) is in Boston!

I am just about speechless about the tragedy in Boston yesterday. From watching the news coverage for hours, reading all of the posts on Facebook and social media sites, to finally getting away from it all and heading out the door for a quick 5k run despite it being a rest day - it has consumed me since I first heard about it yesterday afternoon! As I watch the news coverage I can't imagine what those spectators, runners, volunteers, etc. went though. My heart is with all of them!

 

It has been amazing to see how everyone is coming together to support the people in Boston! Today I am wearing a race shirt as part of the movement to show our support! Are you? If you don't have a race shirt, wear blue and yellow to show your support!

 

This morning I also showed my support by getting back out there and running! 5 miles done this morning to honor and remember Boston. Despite running on the treadmill indoors I had chills for most of my run! The news coverage was on the TV directly in front of me and it was heartbreaking to watch as they told some of the stories, especially about the little 8 year old boy that was killed watching his father cross the finish line. It was also uplifting to see the stories of the heros that stepped in to help! Get out there today and run to remember Boston! Runners UNITED!!

 

Pushing Through and Staying Positive

Winter is refusing to leave Wisconsin!  I have to say to Mother Nature that she needs to put on her big girl pants and stand up to that bully! Spring wants its chance in the spotlight too!

Really? This is my yard on April 12!

Over the past couple of weeks the miles for marathon training have been increasing and it is getting harder and harder to get them in. Add to that a stomach bug that has been going through the house and the above mentioned weather and you get a couple of tough weeks.

I have to admit that it feels like I have hit a wall and am starting to doubt myself! The Green Bay Marathon is only 37 days away - I don't have time to hit a wall! I don't have time for negative thinking! I am picking myself back up and I am going to push through this wall just like I will have to do during the marathon! Only positive thoughts from here on out!



As long as we continue to make progress - that is the goal!

Can't is not allowed in this house anymore!

 

We got this!

I BELIEVE!

Have you ever hit a wall during training? How did you push through?

Back to the Weekly Chase

I have not forgotten about The Weekly Chase! Life was just a little out of control and crazy over the past several weeks. I have still had goals for myself each week - mostly to make sure I was in the right place at the right time or that I had the right child where they needed to be at the right time.Things are getting under control and I realize just how much I need The Weekly Chase!

 

 



 Since my last post for The Weekly Chase we started a new month which also means there is a new challenge goal and Mindy at Road Runner Girl is now hosting the link ups. This is the explanation for this month's challenge from her blog:

It's Springtime...which is a time of growth and change. So this month's challenge is called "Season of Growth!" I want you to think of one or two things in your life that you want to change or one or two ways you want to grow as a person. For example you may want to grow as a runner. You may want to get faster. So your challenge goal would be to incorporate speed work in your training to help you become a faster runner. Or you may want to change one of your eating habits. Your goal may be to add 2 more fruits and vegetables to your diet each day. You pick! Your challenge goal can be anything you like as long as it's about change and growth in an area of your life.

 

Since a lot has happened since my last Weekly Chase post I am going to start fresh with this week's goals. Each of my goals for this week really are stepping stones to my larger challenge goals for the month! Here they are:

• Challenge Goal: Improve my eating habits!
• This week I will make sure to have at least one fruit or vegetable with each meal/snack.
• This week I will be more conscious of my water intake and I will get it back to where it needs to be each day.
• Challenge Goal: Become a stronger runner!
• This week I will do my daily planks and at least two core workouts.
• This week I will add in at least two strength sessions.
• This week I will make sure to get in at least one cross-training session. 
• This week I will get all of my marathon training runs completed.
• Challenge Goal: Become a better mother!
• This week I will make time to spend time with each of my boys individually.
• This week I will have conversations with the boys about what they would like to see change in our life/family so that we have stronger connections.

What are your goals for the week? In what areas of your life would you like to change and grow?

 

 

 





Stick with it...

 

I came across this picture on Facebook recently and it got my attention and made me think back to just a few years ago when I started working out and running.

I have so many friends/ family that make the comments that they can't do what I do when it comes to running or exercise. They make comments like, "It is so hard", "I can't run", "I could never even run a mile", and on and on. You know what? I use to say those same things!

 

When I started running just 3 years ago - IT WAS HARD! I started out with small goals of running a block or running to a certain point and then as I could do it, I expanded on it. I stuck with it and now as I am training for my first full marathon it is amazing to remember where I was then and how far I have come. As we do our long training runs we are running several of those same routes that we use to do but we are adding several of them together. What was once so hard is now just a small piece of where we are going! There are times that it is still hard but that is because I continue to push myself, challenge myself, and work on improving. It should be hard sometimes - if it's not then you aren't moving forward!

 

Just stick with it but take time to enjoy the journey! In the future you will be glad you did! 

March (Running) Madness

I can't believe that we are already 4 days into April! What happened to March? Where did it go? It feels like we were just celebrating my birthday with a 12 mile run last week but that was already over a month ago. My racecation to Virginia Beach that felt like it was never going to come has come and gone and is just a wonderful memory now. We have celebrated Easter but yet it hardly feels like spring - it is the 4th of April and I still have snow in my yard!! 

My March ended with 92 total miles.

• 90 miles running
• 2 miles swimming

It is a little depressing to compare these numbers to February (during February we really pushed it hard to complete the Indoor Ironman through the YMCA). Even though the total miles for the month aren't that high I feel really good about the 90 miles running! March was really focused on running and that was what I needed. I completed another half marathon, continued on my full marathon training plan, and had my longest run ever of 16 miles!

The March running madness gave me the chance to remember why I run...

During March running gave me the chance to spend wonderful, quality time on long runs with my husband. It gave me the opportunity to go on a road trip with my best friend that I will never forget. I was able to spend time with family that I don't see often. I got to reconnect with old friends and experience a wonderful race in a beautiful place. I was able to prove to myself that I am stronger than I think!

 

Going forward one of my goals is to really take time to enjoy the process and the journey along the way! Running has given me so much joy and I can't wait to see what is to come as we continue with our training for the Green Bay Marathon!