Five Friday Faves :)

 

 

I've taken some time- maybe too much? But I woke up this morning with a new resolve and eager to get into spring!

I'm excited to reflect on this weeks favorites with you!

1. Favorite Workout

Today! And before you ask, it was not my only workout. . .

3.14 miles for pi day :) can't be any more fun than that, right? It was a hard run. Wind+BOB=brutal. For real.

But look at this sweet face swinging after our run:

Oh, and have I mentioned she's nosy?

 

2. Favorite Article

I read this article on Finding Joy. I just need it this week. Read it. Maybe you do too.

 

3. Favorite Picture




Yeah, just hanging out eating blueberries in the middle of the kitchen floor. Love her.

 

4. Favorite Meal

I should have taken a picture. But imagine if you can: frozen waffle, scoop of plain Chobani, sliced apples, sprinkled cinnamon. Yum!

 

5. Favorite Moment

Lately, we have been trying to be diligent about having a family bible study 1-2 nights a week. Nothing makes me prouder than hearing those sweet voices recite 1 Peter 3:8. But beyond that, Noah's apology now includes, I wasn't loving as brothers. I love his tender heart.

Oh and that moment that taxes are done? Yeah love that moment too! Haha!!

 

Five Friday Faves: week 1

 

New for 2014!

In a effort to reflect on the positives of my week, each Friday, I will bring you 5 favorite things of the week in the following categories:

1. Favorite workout either I did or saw and can't wait to try out

2. Favorite article

3. Favorite picture

4. Favorite meal

5. Favorite moment

*****

Week 1

1. Favorite workout

This week, I saw a stability ball ab workout over at Be Mom Strong. I couldn't wait to out my new stability ball too good use! Tried it. Loved it.

Check it out:

2. Favorite article

I loved reading all my favorite bloggers recaps of 2013. But my favorite article was peaceful parenting: What Should a 4 Year Old Know. It's an older article (2011), but I ran across it for the first time this week. I was reminded of what's important in my parenting journey. Make sure you hop on over and read it.

 

3. Favorite picture

An oldie, but a goodie. I found this picture of Chad and me while browsing around old pictures looking for something for my new blog header. This was taken in Chicago when he took me for our 5th anniversary. Love him.

 

4. Favorite meal

It's true what they say: it always tastes better when someone else cooks it.

Tuesday, my mom treated us to a mall food court lunch- my pick: Chipotle. And then Wednesday was the leftovers. Yum!




5. Favorite moment


Easy. All my kids curled up with their daddy for bedtime stories before bed.

*****

What are your favorites for the week?










photo credit: f∞lish kamina via photopin cc

 

 

A week of rest. Some fall fun. A new plan.

First, a huge shout out to friends Lucas & Jana for rocking their half (halves?!) Saturday! Maybe one day we can run one together!

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I have taken full advantage of this week of rest and ran a whopping 5 miles, and walked 2.61 miles. Ha!

It was more than just resting my body, since I didn't run the race super speedy. I also needed to rest and rebuild my mind. I feel like I'm ready to jump back in this week- and started the morning off with yoga and then after services and lunch; an easy 5 miles felt good.

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Since yesterday was the last Saturday before Halloween, AND costumes aren't allowed at school anyway- I planned for the kids to make pumpkin shirts.

We started with hot chocolate (which, of course, I didn't get pictures of since I was tracing the pumpkins onto their shirts while they with sipping).

<love her smile>

<traces of hot chocolate on the face of concentration>

<Lydia causing trouble>

And the finished projects:

Mom win: overhearing Noah say to Madison, "this was the best day ever".

Check back later in huge week for photos of 3 cuties wearing their shirts. And costumes- momma's got some work to do yet on those...

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During this week of rest, I thought about what I wanted my goals to be during the next few months while I'm inbetween training schedules. Working on speed is probably top priority as far as running goes, especially if I want to run a sub-2 half with Elizabeth in April. I think I also want to focus on strength. And a lot of easy miles too. So, I have come up with this schedule:

Each day will start with 8 minute Yoga for Runners by Yoga Yin:

 

Sunday: 3 easy miles

Monday: alternate between 10 miles and Yasso 800s- I'll start with 4x800 and work up to 8x800, at a goal of 4 minutes per repeat followed by a 4 minute recovery (I read that you can use the same Yasso marathon philosophy with a time goal for a half marathon but double the time essentially)

Tuesday: active rest - strength exercises I can do in my living room

Wednesday: 5 miles at least 10k effort (speed will be slower when pushing BOB)

Thursday: 3 easy miles and strength exercises

Friday: 3 easy miles

Saturday: Tempo - 15 minute warm up and cool down, I'll start with 3 tempo miles and work up to 8 miles

What do you guys think?

 

Another first day and run recap of sorts

Friday, Noah started his school career. Kindergarten is scary stuff: away from what you know all day, not to mention with a bunch of people you don't know. They are just babies after all. But this guy was tough!

And so excited to be at school!

<love this cheese face>

When I left him, he was still smiling. So no tears! Better than I could have imagined :)

He got off the bus with Madison with more smiles (which I captured, but my iPad sd converter is in Lydia's room, and she's sleeping, and you dare not enter when she's sleeping, maybe I'll post one tomorrow).

He likes his teacher. Probably (right now) because she's friends with Philip, and Philip is about as cool as one can get to a 5 year old.

It should be a good year for both the kids. Madison is motivated to start the year on the right foot- we'll see how long the organization lasts! Maybe Mrs. S will leave an impression :)

We are looking forward to a great year for both of them. It will be really neat to look back and see how far they have come.

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This week, running has been hard. I think a combo of the race on Sunday, the kids starting school meaning a new schedule for me. But this week, I will work hard on getting my runs in, and enjoying them.

Sunday, I ran the Little Miami 10k, in 61:17, average of 9:53 per mile.

Monday was rest day.

Tuesday, the kids and I did C25k week 3, day 3.

Wednesday, I ran 3 miles in 29:45, 9:54 per mile

Thursday, the kids and I did C25k week 4, day 1.

Friday morning, I ran 2.71 miles in 30:03, I walked a lot of that last .71mi. I just wasn't feeling it, so I cut it short. First 2 miles were at 9:59 and 10:08.

This morning, I ran 3 miles in 31:06: 10:10, 9:46, and 11:07; average of 10:21 per mile. My breathing was off today. Like I was breathing like I have never run before. It was crazy.

This week, I am resuming my half marathon training with 9 miles tomorrow morning- my goal is the first 6 miles at 10:00 pace, and slow to 11:00 pace for the last 3. A recovery 3 miles Tuesday morning at 10:30 pace. Wednesday morning 3 miles at 10:00 pace. Thursday morning 3 miles at 9:40 pace. Friday speed work: 1 mile at 8:30, 8x400 at 1:45 each with 2 minute recovery walks in between. Saturday morning 3 miles at 10:00 pace.

It looks like a good plan, but I have trouble sticking with my goal pace. Any tips? I'd love a Garmin right about now :)

 

Week Recap and Race Week (kinda)

This morning, as I rounded the corner home, I have never been so happy to see home. For real.

I logged 8 miles on the half marathon schedule- only 5 weeks to go. I ran around town since Chad had to work today, so I had some hills to deal with instead of a flat straight course meant for foot traffic. Check this out:

8 miles in 1:35:10: 11:42, 11:57, 11:56, 12:06, 11:36, 12:11, 11:42, 11:57; average of 11:53 per mile.

Ironic tidbit: this is the 3rd week in a row I have struggled with mile 6. Not sure how to overcome that obstacle... Although, I think for this week, mile 6 was full of waiting on traffic so I could cross the street and then crossing the street again.

I also did C25k week 3, day 1 with the kids- 1.88mi in 30:18.

Week Recap

A few weeks ago, my most favorite blogger, Hungry Runner Girl, started doing a weekly recap of her runs, and I pretty much love it. Plus, her sweet girl is almost exactly the same age as Lydia. Bonus.

Monday: long run at the bike trail 6 miles in 1:05:14, 10:21, 10:39, 10:40, 10:58, 11:23, 11:16; 10:50 average pace.

Tuesday: Couch to 5k, week 2, day 1 with the kids 1.96 miles in 31:12, yep speedy. But no complaining :)

Wednesday: 3 miles in 29:35, 10:02, 9:48, 9:48; 9:52 average pace

Thursday: rest, sore calf after Wednesday. I was really feeling sorry for myself when I saw this big ole goose egg:

 

Friday: not my smartest Runkeeper programing ever, I intended on 1 mile, then 2 minutes walking and .25 mile run 4 times- instead of 2 minutes I programmed 2 miles, so I had do all the math in my head and take screen shots. While running. Yep I'm awesome. . .speed work: 2.04 miles, mile 1 in 8:50, walk .25, run .26 in 1:53, walk .27, run .26 in 1:57.

Saturday: rest

I'm fighting a stinking summer cold, so I took this morning and with the hopes to sleep off some of the sinus headache.

I hope I feel up to 7 miles bright and early tomorrow morning.

In other news, Lydia is THIS close to walking. Makes this mama so sad.

Oh, and grilled cheese using olive oil? Brilliant, try it! I must confess, this grilled cheese is only about 5% cheese, 5% ham, and 90% veggies. So yummy!