Body After Baby // Week 6

You guys! I am on the highest of highs right now. I just finished my first fast workout in what seems like forever. I had given up on hard running when I was experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. So, I'd say that was a year and a half ago? I thought somehow running with much effort had something to do with all that. I mean, I was always looking for something to blame (and my doctor assures me the running had nothing to do with it).

EXERCISE

Fast forward to now -- 6 weeks postpartum -- and I woke up feeling great. But I didn't feel like doing my usual 3-mile slog through the neighborhood. It's hot, sunny, and I'm kind of bored with it and need to get back to my old routes. Today's solution: You might remember that we bought a treadmill this year. I looked up some interval workouts and found this one on PopSugar.

I feel like it's the perfect mix of gentle and challenging to get back into the swing of things. (Somehow I didn't follow it exactly and did a lot more of the 7-8 MPH -- oops!)

FOOD

Going dairy free has had an interesting side effect. I'm only a couple days in, but the food choices I've been making overall have been much healthier. I've been consuming a lot more protein and less carbs. I've been choosing more fruits and veggies and shunning more desserts.

I will probably break from the dairy free just briefly this weekend when we visit my parents in Wellsboro. It's my birthday, and I would like to indulge in some cake and home treats I only get on occasion. (There this food truck that has THE BEST grilled cheese!)


I do wonder, though, for those of you nursing mamas who went without dairy: Did you notice a change in your supply? I feel like I've had slightly less milk the last few days. But I realize it might also have to do with reaching 6 weeks, which is when things regulate a bit, right? I'm trying to add more fats to my diet regardless. An avocado a day . . . :)

CONFIDENCE

My body hasn't changed much in the last several weeks, but I don't really mind it much. It took a long time to get pregnant, a long time to cook baby, and it'll take a long time to reach "normal" again. And I know from having Ada that "normal" will be different anyway. I actually felt like I got fitter in some ways after I had her despite not having my body look like it did when I was younger.


Exercising and eating well is making me feel so great. We've been sleeping better, too. Eloise had been doing some 5-6 hour sleeping stretches while on vacation. Since we've returned it's been more like 4 -- but it's all good.

So, that's week 6 in my postpartum fitness and body journey. I'll be back tomorrow with reflections from vacation (as well as some essentials for taking a newborn to the beach).

Happy Wednesday!

Read more...

Turkey Trotting

Happy Friday, friends. If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you saw my flurry of activity in the last few days. I am all or nothing with that thing -- yikes. Anyway, we ended up getting nearly a foot of snow on Wednesday, so my plans to run the Turkey Trot 5-miler seemed dashed when I woke up to this in my backyard.

Gorgeous, but slick!

The last race I ran was back in early August. Since then (and a while before), we’ve been TTC and I haven’t been running seriously or fast or long or anything. Actually, I’m quite frustrated with running at the moment because I can’t figure out if I can just keep training like normal or if I’ll need to lay low until pregnancy happens. It all seems to be different depending on the person, and so far it doesn’t seem like running is helping or hindering either way. In other words, I’m in exercise purgatory.

Back to the race. I had to shovel myself out of the garage and drive on some slippery highways to get to the park to register. I wasn’t terribly nervous because the last time I ran fast was so long ago -- I knew it wouldn’t exactly be a fast day, especially combined with the weather.

The plan? Have fun and take in the Rave Run scenery!


To my surprise, a lot of trotters showed up. I got there early for registration and then had to wait in the cold for quite some time before the gun went off. I ran a warmup mile just to stay warm. Then I settled myself in the middle of the pack to start.

I’ve been running lately with the Nike app because it’s fun to hear cheers as you plod along, and this race was no exception. I got 8 different cheers along the way. I was also surprised to hear that I was averaging 7:35/ mile the entire way despite a clogged first quarter mile where I basically had to walk to get through all the people and the slush. Yeah, the slush and freezing puddles. My feet were soaked and freezing by the end, but I didn’t fall once!

My lack of training/stamina caught up with me a bit in the final mile, but I crossed the finish in 38:28 -- 7:40/mile. It’s actually a PR by a few seconds since my last 5-mile race back in 2006.


So, I’ll take it, and I’m extremely pleased with anything below 8:30, which is the fastest pace I’ve been running most days in the last several months. My body is totally unhappy with me today, though. Ouch. Still, I love racing on holidays! When I got home, Ada and Stephen had built a snowman and then we watched the Macy’s parade. And ate and ate and ate. But that’s a story for another day.

Did anyone else run a Thanksgiving race? Hope you’re enjoying your holiday!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Running These Days

I know some of you are probably wondering if running will ever make much of a comeback on this site. The answer is yes . . . and no. When I started writing, I was in the thick of my craziest high-frequency racing phase. We would spend most weekends running local events and sign up for all sorts of bigger races up to the marathon distance. I probably used to do 20 some races a year, and I loved every minute of it. Because I had lots of minutes to spend.

After we had Ada, a lot of things changed both with circumstances and mindset. We aren’t able to travel as frequently, sleep is sometimes elusive, and money is tighter for extras. Stephen still kills it at lots of races near and far. And I, too, started out getting into running and racing again less than two months postpartum -- a 10K in 51:25. Stephen lapped me that day. Jerk.

I tried continuing my usual pace with racing for that whole first year, often pumping and dumping before the start, doing long runs during naps, and otherwise finding all the time I needed to get back out there. I did a solid job. But somewhere along the way it stopped being as important to me. And I don’t consider that defeat.

What’s funny is that nothing with my training frequency has really changed. I still run just as many miles as I used to, depending on the season. Granted, I’ve scaled back a bit recently while we’re TTC and plan to treat running much differently in pregnancy #2. But I had been running 30+ miles a week, which is pretty normal for me. I still keep up with a few key events and try to run at least two half marathon races a year to keep my motivation up. I’m still PRing most every time I lace up, but the act of racing itself holds little excitement for me anymore.

You could say my running is silent, but not stagnant.

And I sort of like it this way. Whereas I used to track my times and blurt it out for everyone to see, I’m hugely content heading out sans watch and not even tracking my mileage for any given week. I have a loose training diary online, but I keep forgetting to enter data into it. I know I’m keeping up, and that’s really all I need at this point. Running gives me something big . . . but it’s far different than it used to be. A healthy body, yes, some times to feel good about, too, but the mental and spiritual aspects are much more important these days.

So, if you’re like me and you run a blisteringly fast 10-miler but no one is there to see your time or plot your route, it’s just as important. It still happened. You’re just as much a runner if you’re not out there pounding the pavement every weekend and pinning countless race bibs onto your tech shirts. To me, running is all about me -- my journey apart from anyone else's. It gives me time to think. Time to celebrate myself and my physical accomplishments.

Yay, me!


I have this strong sense of security by now that I’ll have running with me for life, barring any physical ailments. I don’t know if I felt that way back when I was racing all the time. I want to keep a steady stride into the next several phases of my life, and I think evolving my way of thinking about the sport is all a part of that. Or maybe I’m just soft and have lost my competitive spirit.

Whatever the case, I’m extremely happy and moving my body. I feel good in my body -- head, heart, and bones. I’d say those far less tangible prizes are better than more race metals cluttering my closets! And who knows, maybe the tide will change and I’ll go crazy racer again. I’m up for anything so long as I’m still running.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Must Love Hills

With moving to a new house (tour here!), we've also moved to a whole new neighborhood. And, well, the running is tough. Tougher than I expected. I thought the Laurel Festival 10K was bad with all its mountains and valleys, but it seems like I'd be in great shape next year if I chose to do it again.

At our old place, I could run up to 13 (or more!) miles with few inclines to break my stride. In fact, to compare to everything I'll show you in a moment -- here's the elevation map for my all-time favorite 4-miler that I used to run at least a couple times a week.


Now? I used MapMyRun to check out some of the routes I've tackled or plan to try soon.

And . . .


OK. So, these hills are still nothing compared to running in Wellsboro (and other places, I'm sure). I mapped out one of the long runs I did last month when I was visiting my parents and was sort of shocked with what I discovered. So, I guess it could be worse.


Anyway, after playing around with different paths, I was able to map out a relatively flat 10 miler for my next long run. The only problems: It's not in the nicest area. Not dangerous, but just sort of urban decay. And it's out-and-back, and I don't love being far away from home during the summer months with heat and all.

But this looks better, doesn't it?


Not really.

But if you examine all those jigs and jags carefully, you see that the elevation only toggles between 870 and 885 feet or something like that. This image is a tad deceiving. So, I'm feeling hopeful I'll get some flat ground and finish my run without too much peril.

Runners who live in hilly areas: WHAT DO YOU DO!? 

I am getting the idea that I just need to shut up and run, and that eventually my body will adjust. I guess I'm thinking ahead to my next pregnancy. I've already written at length about what I want to change about running the next time around. Not entirely sure if I should run all these hills on the regular. Will I be doomed for the treadmill?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Hit the Hills // A Workout

Thanks for all your congrats on my race win! Since my kitchen is mostly packed up and I've been eating off paper plates, there's not much in the food department to talk about now. Only 5 more days, though! Anyway, several of you have asked about my training, so I thought that'd be a fun topic for today.

// THE CLIMB

Over the past year, I've made some solid gains in my race paces at all distances. I haven't done much (if any, really) speedwork, though. So, I wanted to share my "secret weapon" workout with you guys today because it's one that truly works. It will make those typical "hilly courses" we all complain about feel like a cake-walk, too!

But first: On every training run, I try to do at least one climb. If it's not a long hill, I try to find a steep one and go as fast as I can. If it's a long hill, I try to just power up at whatever pace can carry me there. But I do this every single run at least once during the run. If you live in a flat area, try running up man-made inclines (like bridges) or visiting the treadmill more often.

Then once a week I try to do hill repeats.

This workout, which I did as part of my half marathon training, has the potential to be as long as 10 miles. I know. That sounds a bit nuts. I usually just do 10 repeats for a total of 7 miles. However, when I was starting out, I'd do 6-8 repeats and even shorten the warmup to just a half mile warmup/cooldown. You can also choose a shorter hill. Anything over .10 of a mile is better than nothing!

Basically, you can get the idea to modify according to your race distance. And you can even choose to simply follow the general idea of incorporating regular HILL REPEATS into your training. Stephen also favored hills versus speed for his training this year and is seeing similar gains in his race times. Something must be working!

Otherwise, I don't do "workouts" necessarily. I run the rest of my mileage at an easy pace. If on a short run I feel particularly strong, I'll choose to go faster that day. And I always try to get a long run of 8-10 miles in on the weekend despite where I am in a training cycle.

How do you work to get faster? Do you like doing repeats at the track or preferring heading for the hills? Or are you a beast at both!

For more running tips, be sure to check out our RUNNING PAGE full of information about workouts, races, nutrition, gear, and much more. We haven't written much in recent years -- but I'm hoping to add to this area on the site as time goes on.

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Sustainable Fitness: Assessing Your Situation

As you can imagine, sustainable fitness is different for each individual. We all have different histories, abilities, motivations, jobs, family situations, and bank accounts (to sign up for races, pay gym fees, etc.). These factors -- and more -- seem to change year to year, or even more frequently.

So, the first step toward making doable fitness goals is to assess your unique situation. Think about what's going on in your life. Write it down if it's helpful. It's by doing so that you'll discover opportunities to either increase your training/banish excuses to meet bigger goals or, alternatively, give yourself a break and identify why, for example, you can't complete all your workouts.

(Hint: The answer isn't always that you're being lazy!)

Scenario A:

When I was in my mid-20s, I had all the time in the world and motivation/desire to work out. I worked a 40+ hour desk job that required some travel, so I'd run in the early morning or late evenings if I couldn't find time right after work. If I ran a 20+ mile long run, I could take the rest of the day to lay on the couch, watch TV, and gorge myself with food. I could sleep in and shift around my workouts as necessary.

Otherwise, though, I mostly worried about myself and our lives as newlyweds. We had just bought our first home, so finances were a bit tight -- but we still carved away enough for a gym membership located just around the block.

• I trained (running) 35-50 miles a week -- 5 days/week.
• I focused on half marathons and full marathons.
• We raced several times a month + traveled to race multiple times a year.
• I took spinning classes 1x/week.
• I did yoga 1-2x/week.
• I found time for strength training 2-3x/week.
• I'd walk during lunches or ride my bike around town for fun.

At this stage in my life, if I wasn't working or fixing up our house -- I was moving my body. On the go, so to speak. Stephen did the same, so it was just sort of our lives. We were athletes and chasing PRs. It was what we did with our free time. It was what we chose to spend our excess income on. It was the area in which we found more friend connections.

Scenario B:


I'm now in my early 30s. I've left my desk job to work around 30 hours at home each week. I also take care of our 2-year-old full time. I've taken a pay-cut as a result, as you can imagine. Free time isn't nearly as abundant either, and I use the early morning and later evening hours to fit in work or family time. Sleep can be unpredictable and instead of literally running myself down, if I can sleep in -- I do.

Though we've tried several locations -- we've decided a gym membership isn't in the budget (or schedule) right now. When we did have a gym membership, Ada was hit or miss with enjoying the childcare they provided -- and a lot of good times to go to the gym conflicted directly with activities for toddlers, so I often felt torn.

• I train (running) 20-30 miles a week -- 3-4 days/week.
• I focus on 15Ks and half marathons.
• I race locally a few times a year.
• I do at-home spinning OR yoga maybe 1-2x/week.
• I walk the stroller around on nice days for extra movement.
• I do push-ups, squats, and lunges -- sans weights -- at home.

I'll be the first to admit that balancing my life (exercise and beyond!) after having our daughter has been difficult. Though I stay home, since I also work -- I do find myself feeling guilty just taking off for an hour at night to go to the gym. I feel pulled in a lot of directions, with the desire to be all places at once. I find myself skipping more workouts depending on each day's situation.

Stephen and I work together to make sure we get running time, which these days is much less for racing and proving myself (to myself, not to others) and much more for de-stressing. I do feel like I make a lot of excuses and bow out of races/events where I used to go all in.

+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +

Life can change so much, so quickly. So, it's no surprise that priority on fitness either shifts up or down accordingly. I find myself frustrated and often beat myself up because I can't maintain previous levels. I know it can be done. I read about and see others doing it -- and more -- every day. But in my particular situation, if I am really honest with myself, I'm doing enough.

That isn't to say I don't have goals, it's just a matter of finding ones that fit into my new lifestyle. And that's the next stop in this series -- setting goals that fit within your lifestyle. Finding peace in exercise and learning how to better fit it into life versus take over your life.

Whether work, school, children, or whatever else, we're all going through changes!

What has shifted for you that's had an impact on fitness or goals/motivations?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

16 Winter Running Surfaces, Explained

Raise your hand if you live where it's cold. OK. Now, keep it up if you've recently had (or can generally expect) some significant sleet/snow. Cool. Now, keep it up if you don't have a treadmill (or won't use one on principle!) or a gym membership, but are hell-bent on running. Perfect. You guys/gals are my intended audience for this post.

Basically, we hardcore winter runners have to wave a fond goodbye to speedwork and other more quality sessions for a while. We can sneak them in when it's "nice" outside, but those days can seem like few and far between. Time on our feet is usually slower and more frustrating. Trips and spills? Yeah. We are familiar friends by now -- my left thigh has a huge bruise, actually.

But have you ever noticed how MANY difference surfaces we're dealing with here? Here are just a few I noticed on my usual 5 mile loop last night.

Mirage: You think you see it up ahead. Why, YES! That's a perfectly clear sidewalk -- no snow or even stray flakes. Yet, when you step onto the surface, it's either deceptive black ice or residual snow on your shoes, making you slip + fall flat anyway.

Home Field (Dis)advantage: When you're comfortable -- overly confident -- that your own shoveling job was perfect. I actually slipped and fell the very moment I stepped onto my own sidewalk on my last run.

Cruel Intentions?: When a neighbor did a pretty good job shoveling, but left a thin layer, a membrane, even, to remain. Just enough to be slick as hell. Did they actually WANT you to fall? Hey, you'll never truly know. Smile and wave!

Eroded Sidewalk: When you reach a point in your regular, well-worn route, and . . . it's just gone. Washed away in a sea of plowed, hardened slush.

Wet 'n Wild: You know this spot. All the snow has turned to dark brown, icky wet stuff despite the temperatures being well below freezing. There's no way around it either, so you try your best to high-step and keep your feet dry.

Pirates Cove: A snow-covered sidewalk with buried treasure to boot, like shovels or sleds. Bonus points if you don't twist your ankle or fall onto your face.

Virgin Territory: A vast expanse where people either forgot, neglected, or downright refused to shovel. Goes from powder to packed to block of ice over time. Very often on the less favored side of a grand property (if you can afford to power that huge x-mas lights display + fuel those SUVs, pay some kid to shovel your sidewalk!)

Stepping Stones: Where a man-made path has been created on Virgin Territory by one person and continued by others. Requires some expert balance/aim to make it from one over-sized deep foothole to another.

Alaskan Express: Maybe this area wasn't initially shoveled at all, but the Stepping Stones were expanded to pack down the entire path to a nice, firm wintery road. I actually like running on this surface. I imagine sled-pulling huskies like it, too.

Hurdles: At the end of almost every street corner, there's a knee-high (or higher, depending on snowfall) snow hurdle one must clear to keep running another tenth of a mile. Repeat.

Water Jump: Along with the hurdles, there are often pools of water at their edges -- almost like nature's steeplechase. I hope you're wearing waterproof socks!

Tsunami: That random super-high pile of gross/brown packed, plowed snow -- usually near some large intersection. There's no jumping in the world that could get you over that hump. Go around.

Captain Crunch: Where rock-hard snow boulders -- of all shapes and sizes -- have taken up residence. Footing and balance are particularly hard. Ouch.

Toe Pick: When the sun has melted the snow down, but it has frozen in the night to form a thick sheet of ice. Kate Moseley could probably use this area for figure skating practice. (And if you haven't ever seen that movie -- it's one of my Christmas favorites!)

Salt Mine: When someone got a little overly enthusiastic with salt or cinders. Those little pebbles are just, well, everywhere, wrecking their own unique brand of havoc. 

Down the Rabbit Hole: When you dodge another obstacle by swiftly switching to the street for a moment and land a leg in a gigantic, newly formed pothole. Except there's no trippy adventure, you just -- uhm -- trip.

I'm sure you have more to add, so please do so in the comments!

Psst: Be sure to check out our gift lists!

Gifts for the Active Family
Fun Gifts for Foodies
Active Gifts for Women
On Stephen's List
On Ashley's List
On Ada's List + 80 toddler gift ideas split into 20 fun categories!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Changing of the Goals

It's funny how we can get so fixated on or dedicated to something, like training, we think is terribly important. Then in an instant, it all seems insignificant and even silly that it mattered so much in the first place. That's sort of where I am with my half marathon training right now (and life in general). I had an awesome week of exercise -- complete with running, swimming, and biking -- and even ran a comfortably fast 10-mile race. I was starting to feel invincible, which is a way I haven't felt in a very long time regarding running.

And then last week I didn't break 10 miles total.

Some of you might know what's going on with us these days. I don't mean to dwell, but it is what it is, so it's hard to ignore. I don't like to be a quitter, however -- I'm almost certain I'm dropping out of October's half marathon. It's just too much to add to the schedule right now and I've made my peace with the ever-changing thing that has now become our lives. We'll get through it and be stronger, better people for it in the end. (I'm starting to think the Wineglass Marathon is jinxed anyway -- the last time I ran the course, I DNFed.)

What I'm taking the time to focus on with my running and myself is just getting one foot in front of the other. Not so much for my physical health (though keeping it up during rough times is certainly important), but more for my mental well being. There have been days when even the thought of lacing up my sneakers and jogging down the street makes me shudder. When I have absolutely no energy to give to anything but stewing and worrying about things I can't control. When looking outdoors and thinking of taking time for myself -- even 20 minutes -- seems far too selfish.

What I realized on tonight's extremely labored and uncomfortable 4-miler (that should have been 12) is that there's nothing selfish at all about taking care of myself. That the number of miles and the pace don't matter. That walk-breaks when I get too inside my head are necessary and welcomed. That just moving along and getting nervous energy out in a positive way is important for me and for those around me.

Those 4 miles hurt more than I'd like to admit, but what hurts more is that overwhelming feeling of paralysis when I do nothing. I need motion to move forward both physically and metaphorically. And I feel lucky to have running as a coping mechanism. In the past, I'd turn to other things to get by, whether it'd be junk food or one too many drinks on a given night or simply not coping at all and letting issues swallow me whole.

So, for the next however long, because at this point we really don't know, I'll get in miles however I can get them. If that's a single mile every other day -- great. If I feel like doing more, fantastic. I know a 1:40 half is in me somewhere, but it will have to wait. I will keep moving with the only goal being momentum.

And perhaps my sanity.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Running Lately

My training lately has been solid. I had planned to run the Boilermaker 15K this coming weekend, but due to various circumstances, we ended up selling our bibs. Now, I'm running consistently . . . but with no real race until October.

So, I'm trying some new tactics with a couple non-race goals in mind:

• Increase weekly mileage (to 30-35 miles) 
• Run 5-6 days/week
• Incorporate strength in a sustainable way

Here's the last two weeks at a glance:

M: 3 miles
T: 4.5 miles
W: 5 miles
R: 3.5 miles
F: OFF
S: 6.5 miles
S: 4.5 miles
= 27 miles

M: 5K + .5 cooldown
T: 4 miles + kettlebells/pushups/burpees
W: OFF
R: 6.2 miles -- x-country run
F 4.25 miles + pushups/burpees
S: OFF/travel
S: 10 miles at 9:12 pace
= 28 miles

I didn't try any strength that first week back after being sick, but even just one day of kettlebells last week was tough. I'm hoping to take a class at our gym which is 45 minutes long, twice a week -- hopefully other people and a scheduled time will motivate me to stick with it.

Mileage-wise, it has taken me a really long time to push past 20-25 miles a week. When I was breastfeeding, I felt the energy was literally sucked out of me several times each day -- and running 4 times a week was a gigantic accomplishment. Then, I got used to running 4 days a week because it allowed my body to rebound and avoid injury.

Now? I'm feeling strong and, all of a sudden, ready for more. As I prepare for pregnancy with number 2, I'd like to develop a bigger base, too. So, I've been experimenting with 5-6 days a week and -- so far -- haven't had any issues. I have been making sure to increase weekly mileage slowly from week to week and am thinking I will likely top out around 30-32 miles this coming week.


The heat + humidity has played a major role, but not necessarily in a bad way. Make no mistake: I HATE summer running. But it forces me to slow down most days and run my hard workouts hard and the rest at much easier paces, which taxes my body less, too.

>> Take yesterday's long run -- 10 miles at 9:12/mile (as logged on my Garmin 10). Usually I run my long runs between 8:15-8:30/mile, depending on distance . . . but with the humidity, I just went along at what felt comfortable.

>> Today, I was able to go out and run a shakeout run without any aches + pains + tiredness. Yet, I was also able to show my speed on last Monday's 5K hard effort with 7:37/mile. I've never been one to go as easy as I should on maintenance days, so learning how it works, when to hold back, and when to go fast has been a big step.

Have you been doing anything new with your training?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. Or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Running X-Country

Hope everyone had a great holiday! Ours was packed with activity, food, and fun. And it all started with a morning run of Stephen's high school cross-country course in NJ.

It's been a long time since I've run on grass versus roads -- so, to say this course was incredibly challenging for me is an understatement. We started after 10AM (dumb!) with the temps already in the mid-80s and the humidity at 95%.  To complicate things, it's been raining a lot in our region -- so the ground was saturated, muddy -- and extremely steamy with the sun's rays.

I think you can see where this is going.

The plan was to run the 5K course twice (for me) and 3x (for Stephen). The first loop, we'd do together so I wouldn't get lost. If you've never run a cross-country course around a high school before -- basically it zigzags irregularly around the grounds and woods surrounding. At Stephen's school, there were markers, but nothing is numbered -- so it was easy to get confused. Even Stephen forgot some twists and turns.

The first mile was alright. We finished in 8:10 . . . but the humidity was oppressive. I'm sure that's a relative statement, but for this Northern girl . . . I have little tolerance. This was WAY beyond even my most extreme capacity for heat. Thankfully the second mile dipped into lightly shaded trails, so we got some respite, although an incline to boot.

Soon after that, we found ourselves in this gigantic cornfield. And this is where I had a mini-panic attack. Not really. Sort of? Well, we ran down, down, down the field and I knew it was humid, but because we were zooming with little effort it was OK. Then we had to go back up the incline again. The sun had been covered by the clouds but was swiftly revealed again as soon as we hit the uphill, and -- all of a sudden -- I couldn't breathe.

I told Stephen I had to stop . . . I tried getting a breath, but felt completely trapped and suffocated by the thick air. I think my lungs are still recovering from my chest cold a couple weeks ago, so that could be part of it. But whatever it was, I spent 30 seconds frantically trying to get a good inhale. Eventually I calmed down, some breeze hit me, and we decided to keep going.


After the first loop, I just didn't want to do it again. So, I rested under a tree for 5 minutes or so. Drank some water, too. Stephen went off to finish his run on the roads (he wasn't feeling it either, plus the mud was tricky to maneuver). I ran to the track to do a few drama-free loops + eventually headed back to the shaded part of the trail and finished up my other 5K.

I definitely was running 1-2 minutes slower than my usual pace -- it was a little shocking to see on my watch. But in the heat, you do what you can, right?

Yup. It was an up and down sort of run. I'm sure you've had them. I guess even the most dedicated and semi-"hardcore" runners can freak out and have a massively bad day. Still, it was really fun to see where Stephen raced so many times when he started his running career.

Let's go back in the fall, shall we?


Did you sweat to celebrate the Fourth? I'm thinking a lot of you ran races! Tell me about them!

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. Or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Why Taking a Break Isn't the End

I thought I'd take a break from food today to share a continuation on a freelance article I wrote this week about Getting Back Into Running After Sickness. A part II, if you will. Though, if you'd like a basic how to start back again on the path to normal training, you should definitely check out the other piece.

So, in short -- I was really sick and didn't run for twelve days. As in, almost two weeks. I've written before about the DOs and DON'Ts of running while sick, and since this cold resided in my chest with a low-grade fever, I knew I shouldn't even try to get in my nomal miles. What a bummer.

When I headed out on one of my return-to-running runs yesterday, it struck me that my attitude toward this topic has changed dramatically over the course of my time with the sport. When I was a newbie, I was devastated whenever I was sick. Time off my feet meant getting off schedule and getting off schedule was catastrophic. I'd try desperately to sneak in any distance at any pace just to maintain some semblance of continuity.

Otherwise, I felt DOOMED.

I distinctly remember one cold February afternoon in college when I slugged along to run my 4 miles on the treadmill, "sweating out" a fever. I'm sure that did me no good at all -- not for my sickness, not for my race plan. It wasn't an isolated incident either. Now -- years, many illnesses, injuries, and a pregnancy + postpartum period later, I'm faster than I have ever been and have had multiple lapses in my training ranging from days to months.

Yes. There have been times when I haven't gone for a run in months.
And yet, here I am.
Still alive.
Still breaking personal records.
Cool, huh?

Each and every time something happens that takes me away, I've learned something. Over time, that accumulation of knowledge has enlightened me to the fact that -- yeah, I might not be performing at optimal levels at all times, but ultimately, it doesn't matter much. Our bodies, if we otherwise maintain some consistency with running, rebound. It's like riding a bike in that respect.

Getting back into it is difficult, but the muscle memory is there.
The cardiovascular system catches up, lagging only slightly.

If you are sick or discouraged in the wake of some unplanned hiatus, I hope this is encouraging news to hear. It can be one of the hardest messages to deliver to ourselves. I mean, during the height of sickness . . . it can feel like you're a tragically frail character in a Victorian romance novel . . . but you'll heal and be back running (as it nothing ever happened) before you know it.

But I hope you're all well!
What's on your training plan today?
 
Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Last Week in Running + Fitting It In

I had all these grand plans for training really hard for the upcoming Boilermaker 15K. We've been so busy with various things, from house projects to family obligations, that I've just been running where I can fit it in. Not only that, we're getting into my least favorite season for exercising outdoors.

Excuses, excuses.

M: 9.3 mile long run at 8:25/mile average pace
T: 3.5 mile shakeout run, not timed
W: Yoga for 1 hour at gym
R: Off
F: 3.1 mile jog, not timed
S: 3.1 mile progressive run (8:10, 7:50, 7:30)
S: 6 mile stroller run at 8:30/mile

TOTAL: 25 miles. But that 9.3 should have happened on the Sunday of the previous week. So, yeah. I need to get back to serious training if I want to meet my 1:40 half marathon goal for the fall.

You read that right, I didn't do much cross-training either. After a grand post about my at-home spinning routine, I skipped my cycling workout to rest. Grrr.

• I feel good that I am actually getting out there most days and moving myself. 
• I feel bad that it's not for longer distances or more challenging workouts. 
• I feel good that I'm living a healthy balance and actually enjoying my workouts. 
• I feel bad that I might be stalling my progress toward a major goal by being lazy.

Now that I'm a mom (yup -- the mom-card), things really are different with training + racing. I always knew they would be, it was just a matter of to what extent. How much time would the baby take away from my running? Or, rather, how much time would I take away from running to focus on other things?

For example, I see/know some moms training for marathons, Ironmans, etc. -- and I think, WOW. That's incredible. On the other hand, I think -- WOW. That's absolutely insane. I'd rather do other things with all that time.

Right? I'm not sure all the time. I waver. Toggle between cool-with-it and feeling like I'm just lazy.


What I do know.

• I don't have the desire to completely fill up my weekends with running events. I'd rather focus on family time, me time, and getting things that need to be done . . . done.
• I don't have the desire to wake up early on weekends to get in key training runs; I get up early enough during the week (5:30) to start my work while Ada's still sleeping. I don't deserve a medal, but if Ada sleeps past 7:30 on a Saturday, I'd like to as well.
• I have a bigger social life now that "our" friends have encompassed Ada's friends, too. Instead of planning a day around working out, I'm finding myself squeaking in runs before/in-between/after birthday parties, picnics, and other play-dates. That stuff is important.
• Sometimes being at home with a toddler all day long is great and other times, not. Some nights I'd rather use my free hour to get out + see friends. Or watch TV. Or get my hair cut.
• And my free time is limited unlike before. As in, finite. I only get so much, so if I do feel like doing something instead of working up a sweat, that's it.

Again, I hate making the excuses. So, instead of fitting in key workouts, I'm finding I'm fitting in working out in general. Period. Mom or not, I'm sure you can relate. We all have periods of life that just push our priorities elsewhere. I'm OK with that. I just can't be surprised when I don't do well at a race. I can't mope when I'm not knocking minutes off PR-times.

What I am committed to:

• Working out 4-5 days a week. Even if it's just Jillian's Ripped in 30 + a short jog. Which I started last night. My butt hurts. I ran two miles after the video and almost cried died.
• Keeping my comfortable long run distance 10 miles. This way, I can easily jump to the 15K or half marathon serious training if need be.
• Cross-training. I WILL get in my spinning workout this week.
• Doing some type of speed-play with my running, whether it's intervals or what. I need to get my legs moving fast.
• Signing up for a 5K. As a reality check. It might help motivate me back into hard-core training if my time isn't so great. We'll see.

Moms + other busy runners of the world (that's everyone, right?): How do you fit in your training?

Do you have a similar experience of wanting to train hard but having life just get in the way?  I know it can be done, but I think balance is always good -- and when there's a lot to balance, everything has to give a little.

Do I just lack discipline? Maybe!

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Half Marathon Training Update

I have less than two weeks till the half marathon, and I've begun a slight taper so my legs will be fresh on race day.

M: 12 miles long // didn't take watch
T: 3 miles easy recovery
W: 4 sets squats + 1 hour yoga at gym
R: Rest
F: 4 miles, first 3 @ 7:30/mile sustained + cool down at 8:30
S: 6.35 miles -- Run for Boston
S: Rest, home alone during Stephen's 77.7 mile relay race

I've pushed my long runs to Mondays for a variety of reasons. What's not on this chart is my last real long run that I completed yesterday: 13.1 miles in 1:50:00, 8:23/mile. Phew. I'm glad that's over. Thankfully the distance/my endurance is coming back, and I'm feeling much less worried about upping my mileage for my fall marathon (Wineglass).

Overall, I'd say my training this cycle has been relatively consistent and strong. Just to help recap, here's a look again at my plan, which I didn't follow exactly . . . but was pretty close:


Cross-training, specifically swimming, was going to be a new focus for me this time around. What I didn't anticipate is that our gym would be working on our pool for several weeks, so I've been unable to log those yards, ultimately taking an extra rest day. I'm not thrilled because swimming has really helped with my cardiovascular training, but I'll survive.

I have done at least one good 1-hour session of yoga each week, whether it was at the gym or at home. Between the stretching/strengthening and running 4 days a week versus 5, I'm feeling much less injury-prone. It's also helped with our family/life balance -- it's hard when both parents are training, but somehow we're making it work.

Last, I've been impressed with how I've actually completed the hard pace workouts and have even pushed the times I outlined in this plan. I have stuck with it, which I'm hoping gains me some results -- as in a sub 1:45:00 finish.


THE PROBLEM WITH TRYING

And at the same time, knowing that I have tried + devoted such energy to my training is mentally psyching me out. I usually put in a good effort, but either can't quantify it (don't wear a watch or time myself) and/or don't stick to those key workouts. Then I have a convenient excuse on race day if things don't go as planned.

Honestly, I've poured my heart into this training. If my time is stagnant or even slower, I'll be crushed and somewhat disheartened. Frustrated. And maybe even angry. I feel like by now I should be able to accomplish my goal. I guess we'll wait + see.

There's safety in not trying, right? It's been my method for most races. I'll put in the miles, but -- ultimately -- it's a gamble race day if I PR or not. It's worked for me. I've gained faster race times at a lot of events and, at others, had a safety net for my ego.

And maybe mentally this method helps because race morning when everyone is lining up and nervously chattering before the gun goes off, I can say "well, I didn't really TRY, so we'll see how I do." It takes the pressure off somehow.


Do any of the rest of you share in my experience?

Do you train really hard and gun it for your personal bests? Or, like me, do you like to just see what happens?

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

6 Habits of Highly Annoying Racers

I feel like I already wrote this post . . . twice. But really, I'm just easily annoyed. Especially when exerting myself, like in my most recent 4-miler. It's something I should work on. And I'm sure I've been guilty of a few of these habits in the past. Anyway, here are 6 of the most eye-roll inducing things I see racers doing these days.

(And just so there are no hard feelings, I also think it's annoying to continually share workouts as they are happening. Yet, I do it all the time. Case in point: #yay4milerun)

#1: Starting In the Wrong Spot.

I can give some leeway with this one because -- especially at smaller races -- it can be hard to figure out who's running what pace. But if you run 13-minute miles, it's not smart to start in the first 1/4 of the group. Instead, ask those around you generally how they are planning to finish and try to line up accordingly. And if you never run and are just participating for fun -- please refrain from sprinting the first quarter mile and dropping to a halt, getting in the way of practiced runners. I can't tell you how many times I've nearly tripped over people or have seen others trampled in the crowd.

#2: Expressing Negative Thoughts.

I've heard anything from "Seriously? Only 8:30/mile? Ugh!!!" to "Oh, GAWD. Just LOOK at that huge hill!!!" If you have nothing nice to say, it's best to keep your mouth shut. Or if you just have to blab, try to find something positive to chat about. Maybe there is a killer mountain up ahead, but it's better to say something like: "Alright, guys. We can do this!" Something to keep the group going strong.

#3: Tweeting or Instagram-ing Mid-Run.

This one gets a double eye-roll. Posting before or after the race is fine. Jitters and nerves get the best of me, too, so a little shout for good luck is sometimes in order. And sharing a great finish time is always on my list of priorities -- after I cross the finish line. The way I see it, if you signed up for the race + have time to tweet in the middle, you're not running hard enough. 

#4: Blatantly Disregarding Race Rules.

Maybe it's my inner-goody-two-shoes, but I hate, hate, hate when runners ignore race rules. Examples are no dogs, no strollers, etc. And the ever-popular no head-phones. It means you can't wear headphones -- for your safety. Also: So I don't have to listen to muffled Selena Gomez crap my whole race. If it's hard to run without music, try doing it at least once a week so race day won't shock your system.

#5: Passing Someone RIGHT Before the Finish.

We all try to get the last kick in at the end of a race. Feel free to breeze past those people with little gas left in their tanks and feel good about it. But if you are within like 5 feet of the finish, don't trip someone to move up a place in the overall lineup. It's not worth it. It's just lame and rude. And you could seriously hurt someone. I actually saw a human collision once; it wasn't pretty.

#6: Disrespecting the Race. (From Stephen)

If you disrespect the race, you're indirectly disrespecting the racers. Yeah, you might only be doing this half marathon as a warmup to your epic full marathon. But we don't need to hear all about how above it you are. And runners: If you encounter someone like this, don't give in and say something like: "Oh, well I'm only doing the half today . . ." Self-deprecation isn't necessary. You're awesome and "real" runners run all sorts of speeds + distances.

What annoys you at races? Am I being too harsh? Probably.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

20 Minute Treadmill Workouts

Pssst: Have you heard of Hello Fresh? It's a grocery delivery service. Anyway, this week they have come out with new vegetarian grocery boxes. You should check 'em out. I will be reviewing the service soon, soon, soon!

Treadmill time: I'm struggling to keep up with fitness at the moment. I'm not training for anything, and as the weather has gotten colder, I've become especially good at coming up with excuses to skip. We just had our treadmill serviced a couple weeks ago, and I've been trying to promise myself at least five runs a week.

Even if those runs are only 2 miles. So far, so good.

It's easy for me to get caught in a doomed mindset of "I USED to run X number of miles when I was marathon training" or "Five miles should be EASY for me." It's all very negative and eventually leads to my mental downfall.

So, I've come up with some short, sweet workouts I can do on those days my mind gets the best of me. Each of these sessions can be completed in either 2 miles or 20 minutes. What I've found is that I can often jog a cool-down mile to make it three total. Sometimes more.

If not? No big deal. At least I've done something instead of nothing. Kept the momentum going. The pacing is just what I do. Simply adjust according to your normal paces, whether faster or slower. For reference, my normal jogging pace on the treadmill is 7mph.


I hope you enjoy these short, sweet runs. I always tend to take the winter season relatively easy. There aren't many races on the agenda, so it's a good time to let the damage of harder training heal.

I don't worry so much about my weekly mileage either. My totals range from 10 miles to 30. It's crazy. Instead, it's all about keeping my legs moving and complimenting with cross-training like yoga.

I don't love running on the treadmill, but I get a different quality out of them. Most of my outdoor mileage is run at an easy pace on mostly flat surfaces. On the treadmill, unless I'm challenging myself, I'm bored.

How about you? Can you run most every day indoors -- or do you need to play games to pass the time?

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

The Comfort Zone

I have come across a range of blog posts and articles in the past month on the topic of pushing yourself during activity, specifically during running. Some preach to go easy and celebrate all accomplishments, big and small. Others insist if there's no pain -- and there SHOULD be pain -- there's no gain.

Of course, two extremes.

The way we see it, which should be no surprise, is that balance is best. Our bodies are more capable than our minds allow them to be. I have much of a harder time pushing myself than Stephen does because I let my brain rule. The mental aspect of training is what gets me every time.

We all have different capacities to endure discomfort, however. The key to finding a healthy balance is defining your own comfort zone. Doing so will take trial and error. To find your basic zone, consider visiting a nearby track and having a friend time you as you run an easy mile. (We could get much more specific, but we'll save that for another post.)

The pace should be light enough that you can carry a conversation. Once you've figured it out, you can begin experimenting with pushing beyond it. But working out hard shouldn't be a daily thing.


WHEN TO PUSH

• When your plan says you should. Most training plans are divided up into easy days, quality workouts, and rest. Track workouts and hill repeats are the times when you should leave you comfort zone. You don't need to go crazy, but working harder will yield results.
• During races. Pushing it when it counts the most. Throughout, but especially in the final mile or miles of a race, depending on the distance. After all, it's a RACE. That's sort of the point. Right?
• When the mood strikes. Some days, you might just feel like pushing hard. Maybe you need an energy release. Maybe you have missed some days in your regular routine. Whatever it is, go with it.

There's a difference between pushing through pain and pushing through discomfort. When the sensation hits you, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between the two. Oftentimes, that burning feeling in your muscles at the end of a hard workout is the buildup of lactic acid.


Runner beware: Pain can also mean injury. For example, I DNFed at the Wineglass Marathon (wrote about it here and here) in the fall of 2010. Something just didn't feel right. I ended up having an acute IT-band issue that took months to heal.

I hate to think about it, but I have zero shame in stopping. It was the right thing to do in that situation. It doesn't make me any less of an athlete. Taking it easy throughout the healing process helped me bounce back. Being "hardcore" isn't so cool if it's at the expense of your health.

In perspective, it was a mere blip in a long relationship I hope to have with running.


WHEN TO BACK OFF

• During injury/illness/etc. If you're sick or feeling a pain in a specific area time and time again, it's probably time to rest. Visit the doctor. Reevaluate goals. In my experience, pushing through will only hurt more in the long run.  
• On easy days. Or between training cycles. As I mentioned above, you should really only being running hard a few days a week as defined in a training plan. Those quality days are what make you a stronger runner. The easy days are for maintenance, base mileage, and active rest/recovery. Enjoy them.  
• During mental burnout. I am prone to this one. It's why I leave my watch behind on most runs. If you're experiencing true burnout, take some time off. Sometimes all you need is a few days for fresh perspective.

The truth is: Unless you push beyond your comfort zone at least some of the time, you likely won't see significant changes in your race times. If you're a hobby runner, that might be fine. But if you want to see results, experiment.

I started by simply signing up for more races. It was my way of getting in more speedwork while having some fun. Over time, I became s.l.i.g.h.t.l.y more disciplined and have been able to carry over some of it to my training. Stephen has some more specific methods we'll examine in another post.

How do you feel about pushing yourself during exercise? Any experiences to share?


Today on Writing Chapter Three, we have a bit of a photo-bomb for you of 9 month photos at the park. Nine months? REALLY?!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Route Routine

I get bored with my running routes. Often. I have several 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 mile loops and out-and-back courses I cycle through each month. I string some of these routes together for long runs, too. Most of my miles are logged on "city" streets (we live in a residential neighborhood in a very small-ish city).

Blocks and blocks of houses.
A couple city parks.
The occasional bridge.

It works just fine. But I'd rather be running here . . .

Where I grew up, I could run a 4 mile loop around town and hit the hospital where I was born; the church where I was baptized; my first house; my elementary, middle, and high schools; the house where I grew up; the town library; my favorite bagel shop; and the town park (where Stephen and I married). My life childhood tour, if you will.

And if I ran 2 miles out of town, I'd be here:


Or maybe here:


And a quick drive out of town a little farther would bring me here:


Yes. HERE! (Do you see the path at the bottom of the canyon beside the creek?)


I miss it. That's for sure. I rarely got bored with all the gorgeousness around me. End of flashback. Facing reality. I've been thinking a lot about how to jazz up my current routine. I may not be able to run exactly where I'd like to every single day, but I could make my runs more fun by taking some roads less traveled.

I have some ideas for how to freshen up my usual routes:

#1: Run backwards. Well, the routes, that is. Sometimes all I need is a new perspective. Plus, I know I run some of my loops the "easier" way . . . flipping would give me some challenges.

#2: Learn from what others are running. I haven't used it much, but I did take some time a few years ago to look at what other people are running in my area on MapMyRun.com. I should revisit that site.

#3: Hit some parks. Any maybe trails. There are definitely a few good paved areas around here where I could go and not have to worry about traffic. And I've always been interested to run some of the not-so paved paths as well.

#4: Get in the group groove. I absolutely must do more group runs. I joined some women from our runners club last week and it was absolutely fantastic. I'm going with them again tomorrow . . . and hopefully to a big group long run this weekend.

#5: Go crazy. I think I read this tip in Runner's World a few years ago -- but something about making the route a game. Turning right on every second side street. Or going up and down parallel streets. Something fun like that.

What do you do when you get bored of your routine? I'm sure it happens to most everyone.


Psssst: Check out our little swimmer today on Writing Chapter Three. Our Memorial Day weekend was great and HOT, but definitely went quickly.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...