Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs
Here are a few that I remember seeing:
Happy Running! Do you have any favorite running signs?
Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!
This week, the theme is Spring
Here are 5 things that I am looking forward to this spring:
1. Running in a skirt and without a jacket
I am sooo tired of layers…
2. Flowers
It’s hard to imagine the snow melted but it will happen. Seeing flowers in bloom always brightens my mood.
3. Returning to my usual running routes
My running has been restricted due to the ice, snow, puddles. I have had to run in the road or around UAlbany campus. I am looking forward to running in the parks and on the bike paths again.
4. My Next Half Marathon
I can’t believe it will be here in a month. No, I’m not training well at all but I am still excited .
5. Annual Tennis Vacation
This is female bonding at its best. We’ve been traveling together since 2002 and to Naples, Florida in May since 2005.
Happy Running! What are you looking forward to this spring?
Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!
This week, the theme is 5 Things in My Day/Day in the Life
Obviously I do more than five but here are the main things I do on a typical Friday:
1. Social Networking on my iPad
I start every day with the Today show, breakfast and reading e-mail, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin on my iPad. I get up extra early to fit it in.
2. One Minute Plank
I always (almost always) do my plank on the bathroom floor when I am waiting for my shower to heat up.
2. Work
Not the highlight of my day but it is essential – it pays the bills and pays for my races. I work in a law school in IT and help staff and faculty with technology. In other words, I spend a lot of time on the computer.
Yes, I am sitting most of the day. When the weather is nice, I go for a 15 minute walk outside in the morning and often walk at lunch. In the cold weather, I SIT!!
3. Running
Usually three times a week, I run after work. If at all possible, I run outside. This has been a very snowy, icy winter so my most popular route is been around UAlbany campus. They keep the path that goes around the perimeter pretty clear.
Once the snow melts, I will return to my other running routes in town and the park.
4. Mah Jongg
Every Friday night from 7-11 pm, I play Mah Jongg with a great bunch of women. If everyone showed, we’d have 12 – 3 tables but usually we have only 8 and during the winter, sometimes it’s only 4.
a mah jongg anniversary dinner – 6 years together
We play, eat, drink and chat… so much fun and “brain” exercise, too.
4. Reading
I cannot fall asleep at night without reading. No matter how late, I go to bed, I read. Sometimes it’s just a few pages and sometimes I read for hours.
So that’s my Friday.
Happy Running! What do you do on a typical day?
Running down the Bump N Grind Trail in La Quinta, CA
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Weight Loss or Maintenance While Distance Running
I signed up for 4 half marathons – one in January, one in April, one in May, and one in June. That means I am running long on the weekends from October-June.
My goal is to maintain my weight although losing 5 lbs would be nice.
Each mile you run burns, on the average, 75-125 calories. For me, I think it’s around 100 calories. So you need to eat but not overeat. Seems pretty logical.
However, I realize that everyone’s metabolism is different.
But here’s what works for me:
Yes, it’s the most important meal of the day. I never run on an empty stomach. I always have oatmeal–2 or 3 packages with almond milk.
You need energy to run. I always eat one packet of Gu for each 4 miles of running and only drink water.
I am a dessert person. I crave sweets.
During the day if I need something sugary, I’ll eat a protein bar or if I want a treat, I’ll buy a latte or frappuccino at Starbucks but I’ll have it non-fat and without whipped cream.
At night, if I crave a snack while watching TV, I’ll have a cup of herbal tea. (and yes, I do cheat and have ice cream.)
You burn calories when you run. If you don’t eat right away, you will wind up overdoing the calories later.
After a run, I might have some fruit, a bagel or chocolate milk.
I usually do except when I eat in a restaurant. (Everything goes out the window when I see my choices on the menu, especially the desserts.)
Healthy eating to me means dinners consisting of lean meat or fish, lots of veggies and brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
Lunch – bagel, yogurt with granola, apple, cheese (I eat at my desk between 10 am & 2 pm)
Happy Running! How do you maintain your weight when training?
Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!
This week, the theme is Friday Favorites:
1. Favorite Race:
West Palm Half Marathon. The year is still young but so far this is my favorite…great views…flat course..perfect running weather and I got a PR and Age Group award.
2. Favorite Running Apparel
Champion Jacket – I bought it at Target. It is light weight but warm enough with layers…zippered pockets…cheap. I have it in 3 colors.
3. Favorite Running Shoes
Mizuno Wave Rider 18s – I got them last fall to review. I loved them so much that I bought them in another color. They are supportive but light with a wide toe box.
4. Favorite Food
Granola with yogurt. I eat it everyday for lunch. Preferably granola with flax seed and/or chia and Greek yogurt.
5. Favorite place to run
UAlbany campus – lately this is the only place that is clear. We’ve had a tough winter with lots of ice and snow. There is a road that goes around the perimeter of the campus that is 3 miles and it is easily to add on a mile with a variety of additional loops. It is also well-lit at night.
Happy Running! What are some of your favorites?
This month I decided to participate in a #FabulousFitgear swap with Renee from Bendiful Blog.
This is how the program works: you register by the 5th of the month, Renee will send you another blogger, you check out their blog, get to know them and you send them some fabulous fit gear ($20 value) by the 15th of the month.
I love new gear and I love meeting new bloggers. A win-win.
If you would like to participate click here and it will take you to this month’s link up!
Happy Running! Have you participated in this swap?
Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Favorite Post-Race Treat
Unfortunately, you don’t get it very often. That was one of the reasons that I enjoyed Sean’s Run (pictured above and below) so much.
I’m not fussy, I don’t care what kind. After a race is the only time I drink it.
Happy Running! What is your favorite post-race treat ?
Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!
This week, the theme is FREE so I chose: 5 Things I Like About Running in the Winter
All I have been doing on this blog is complaining about how cold it is and how I hate it!
So I decided to point out what I like about winter running:
1. It doesn’t rain.
not a fan
I will run in the snow and cold but I will not run in the rain. Hence, no rain is a good thing for my running.
happier here
2. I don’t sweat.
So I have less laundry because I can wear my running clothes more than once.
And I can sneak out at work and go for a run and not be sweaty for the rest of the day.
lunch break run
3. It’s pretty outside.
Well, at least most of the time.
4. There are free races.
Race fees add up. I am lucky that our local running group (HMRRC) sponsors 6 free races during the winter. There are 3 distances to choose from at each race.
It’s informal so it’s just a run with friends and food after.
5. There’s not a lot to do and it’s get me outside.
In the summer, there’s boating, biking, hiking, tennis, gardening…many things to do outdoors.
But in the winter, I don’t ski, ice skate, snowshoe or snowmobile. Running is my only outdoor activity.
Happy Running! What do you like about running in the winter?
This month I’m linking up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. This my second Runfessions post. Maybe I will continue to do this monthly.
Most of my Runfessions from last month repeated themselves except that I didn’t eat ice cream this month.
This month has been very very cold. In fact, the coldest, ever!!!
Here are my Runfessions:
1. I was not very good about the Take the Leap 30 Day Yoga Challenge.
I had good intentions and I love yoga.
So I started out well but it went down from there.
I watched some videos, I downloaded some apps.
But I really prefer going to classes and I didn’t get to any. The one I like is on Wednesdays and Saturdays and I always seem to have something more important to do.
Some days, I have just done a one minute plank and a few quick stretches.
Finally, I quit it all. Nada.
2. I hate the treadmill so much that yesterday, I suffered rather than use it.
I had planned to run on the treadmill so I didn’t bring my warmest outdoor running clothes.
Luckily I forgot my clothes at work (and you know that I have no qualms about re-wearing running clothes.)
The day before it was almost 30 degrees so I didn’t bring my fleece-line tights nor did I have an extra shirt or warmer hat.
Yesterday, it was 18 and single digits with the wind chill. Out I went. I thought that it wouldn’t be so bad.
The good news is that it was my fastest run in a long time. The bad news is that I froze. I was cold the whole time. I couldn’t feel my face or my fingers by the time I was done.
Still… better than the treadmill.
3. I can’t stop myself from signing up for races.
If I am supposed to training for a half marathon in April and then one in June, why am I signing up for short races???
It messes up my weekend long runs… but I love racing, I guess.
Well, that’s it for now.
Happy Running! Have any Runfessions to share?
My First 5K and More... 