Run Damnit!

I traveled all around Chicago and Holland Michigan last week and was super busy doing super fun things (and going to bed late and waking up early).  It’s hard to travel while maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.  I work in an industry where we all love good food and good drinks so much!  So it’s always challenging to be on the road.  While it’s not as much as I would have liked, I’m thankful that I still got in 3 runs and 3 days of the 100 push-up challenge!

Run # 1

2.5 miles 

On the treadmill.

25:00

Run # 2

3 miles (I think…didn’t map it)

Around Lincoln Zoo which was across the street from my hotel - so great, check it out: http://www.lpzoo.org/

30:00

There were about a million people running, it was so cool!  

Run # 3

3 miles

On the treadmill.

30:18

The only song pic I can really say that stuck in with me was my last one and it was “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.  Totally random, I know.  But it totally got me pumped!

Check out the awesome map of the park I ran in:

Super glad to be home.  I’m off to the gym now for a run + pilates.  Hoping to buy some new running shoes this weekend!

Good couple of runs this week (plus the usual spinning, pilates, strength training, etc).  Still not logging as much total mileage as I would like but I’m getting there…

Monday

3.2 miles.

Blackstone Blvd.

31:39

This was fun, my first OUTDOOR after work run of the year!!  THUMBS UP!  Appropriately, my favorite song of the run was “Daylight” by Matt & Kim.

Saturday

5 miles.

Blackstone Blvd. + down by the river.

49:30

Great fun!  Felt good, felt strong - THUMBS UP!!  I hit the ground running a little too hard for the first 2 miles so had to consciously adjust so I didn’t get too pooped in the end.  New addition to my mix, “Paradise” by Coldplay.  I’ve always felt a little lame liking Coldplay, but I do.  I suppose it’s no lamer than Nicki Minaj, but I digress…*

Sunday

5 miles.

Blackstone Blvd. + down by the river.

50:14

WALK BREAK!  I give this run a THUMBS DOWN.  I was a little slow after some St. Patrick’s Day festivities, coupled with a bit of left foot pain (that I’ve been ignoring but feels awfully similar to “THE” foot pain that led to my broken foot…just need some new shoes, I think.  Not to mention I’m PARANOID that I’ll break my foot again).

I took a walk break around mile 3 for two blocks or so, hence the time.  All in all, I was actually more pleased with my time than I thought I would be considering the walking.  ”Fly” by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna was my song pick.  Talk about being torn about whether to like someone or not.  Nicki Minaj?  Part of me says NO NO NO but the other part of me says OH YES!  One second I’m convincing myself she has a good message, maybe this is what feminism looks like to HER, the next I hope my young nieces NEVER hear her music or see her videos…

Whatever, I like to run to it.

The upside of this run??  T-SHIRT WEATHER!!!!

Off to Chicago next week, so it might be an interesting run week.  I broke my foot while running in Chicago a few years ago so I still have a weird phobia of running in that city!!!  

*I really only listen to this stuff when I run or when I am at the gym.

6 miles.

Blackstone Blvd + by the river + a quick trip into Pawtucket & back.

61:00

I was bummed when I got to the park because I realized I forgot my watch.  So, I don’t know more precise time, just that I ran from 12:56 until 1:57.  This is super cool because…

I RAN FOR AN HOUR!  I know I’ve done it before a few times…just it felt really good yesterday.  I felt strong, I felt light on my feet, I felt like it was the perfect distance.  It felt sustainable, like 6 miles is my new 5 miles.  It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t hard either.  

I listened to my pop mix again.  So my song pick was definitely “Umbrella” by Rihanna.  I just LOVE running to her!  Maybe if I keep running, my legs will look like hers.  Oh wait, except that they’re like a gazillion feet long!!!

This was a good workout week.  Monday yoga, Tuesday spinning, Wednesday pilates, Saturday 6-miler and Sunday yoga.  Feeling good.

You know what’s super exciting?  With daylight savings, I can run after work before it gets too dark!  I have a feeling I’m going to be improving even more!  

I needed this workout today.

3 miles.

On the treadmill.

29:04

+ 1 hour of yoga. 

Wonderful workout!  Great combo of cardio, strength training & stretching.  Just what I needed.

February was kind of a bad month, running-wise.  I didn’t get injured, I didn’t get sick, I just got busy and mismanaged my time!  So while I was running “regularly”, I wasn’t running nearly as much as I would have wanted to.  I suppose I stopped making running a priority.  Coupled with a few aches and pains, busy work weeks, a nasty hangover one Saturday morning that derailed my running weekend, I needed March 1st to come to hit Refresh!

Then March 1st came and I found myself in the urgent care for a painful UTI (TMI?  sorry…) and I’m on some antibiotics that are kicking my butt.  Literally. 

But then came tonight’s workout and I feel like I’m back on track.  I feel refreshed!

But there’s more…

I’ve been feeling kind of bored with this tumblr.  I do this - or I should say, I’ve done this before - I start a blog, it reaches a peak (in either content or in capturing my interest), and then I stop.  I don’t want to stop this one, I just need to reevaluate what it’s for.  What does it do for me and what do I hope it does for you.  The reader.  Hello???????  Is there a reader out there?????  Oh, hi Mom!

So fun things to come on the blog front.  Just not ready yet.

Another poppy tune for tonight’s song pick.  I might be reaching my pop tolerance and need to switch to something new.  I’ve recently covered a lot of 80’s and pop so it’s time to move on.  If I switch my playlists frequently enough, then I never get too sick of my music!

Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”.