RunCLE- getting my run mojo back

Call me Stella, cause I just got my run groove back! And it feels like an old friend and I'm pretty happy about it! I had been holding back a little because of my knee and I was afraid of what was going on with it but this week still had to happen, I didn't want to stop training, so I took it easy and figured I could always stop if the pain was too much and guess what? There was no knee pain this week! I don't know how that happened but I'm pretty jazzed about it!! 

Monday- This was a rough one. I had spent the weekend away and it wasn't the easiest run at all. I completed just under 3 miles at lunch and called it a day. I got some miles in with no knee pain and that was good enough for me. I also started this little routine before bed to get some abs, push-ups, and planks into my day. I like it and I had a cute little shadow too.

Tuesday and Wednesday- I didn't run but I did get in my bedtime routine in 

Thursday- I had a little extra time today at the gym and was able to crank out 4 solid miles on the treadmill. It felt good and started to build my confidence that I can do this marathon again and maybe even without knee pain. 

Friday- another decent 3ish miles on the track at lunch time but I was feeling more winded than Thursday. 

Saturday- Lynanne and I set out with the goal of 8 miles no matter how slow on the track and slowly but surely the miles just ticked away, one by one. We cheered at the end of each mile and by the time we hit 8 we had the confidence to know that not only are we going to do another marathon, but our time will improve too! It felt good to get back to the distance running, a mileage that I haven't seen since the fall when we did the Akron half.  

We actually bought track passes for the year here, so this will be a familiar scene to us in the next 12 months!

How are you guys feeling? I know that there is a lot of work to do this year but I know that I'll be able to get there again! What did you do this week that gave you confidence? This doesn't have to be running either. Sometimes getting your baby to take a nap for an hour of quiet time can boost your mom confidence!

Have a great week running! Can't wait to see what you are up to!

RunCLE- training and birthday fun!

 Week one is in the books, and my book spreadsheet is not quite that large at the moment. The week started off better than it ended. I have continued to do planks and pushups daily to make sure I’m working on my guns! But I also want to get some full body conditioning in as well. And I promised to keep it really REAL here for you guys. So, this week was quite light in the training. Work, knee pain, and other obligations totally got in the way. 

 

Monday- 3 miles that seemed pretty decent and kind of like old times. It used to be my warm up but im getting it back. 

 

Wenesday- 20 minutes in the am of abs and 3 way faster miles that felt really good until my knee started bothering me. At about halfway in my left knee that been kind of on the fritz since November was bothering me a lot. So I took a little walk break and finished until I hit my goal. But the rest of the day it was a little painful. I decided to take Thursday off to let it be and call a Dr. 

 

That’s it, I know, it wasn’t great. My knee was a booger the rest of the week and I spent the rest of the weekend in Buffalo for my adorable nephews first birthday!

 

See- he’s the absolute cutest thing! The boys and I had a blast and want to go back more!

 

                 

The good news is that I got a run in today and my knee seemed better and the better news is that I will be home all weekend so I’ll be able to start the long weekend runs this weekend too! I’m going to take it easy until I know my knee is 100% cleared to run, but I’m excited to get back out there and get some really awesome miles logged on the weekends! 

 

Also, super fun is that I have the official ambassador button on my page now, hooray!!!! Check it out to the right!

                        

What have you guys been up to? What do you guys do to cross train? I have found some awesome workouts on pintrest!

Run CLE- starting slow

This is it, the beginning of training season and I feel similar to the way I felt the second time I was pregnant. I was so excited, I had the glow but I also knew what I was up against! So here I am, getting ready to train for marathon number two and I'm super excited, can't wait to get involved but also a bit hesitant that I have what it takes again! My first marathon (and baby) I was blissfully unaware of the long ass runs (or long sleepless nights).

I want to keep it really real this year. Not that I didn't last year, but I think I'm similar to a decent niche of runners out there. I'm a mom of two busy little guys (ages 2 and 4), I work full time an hour from home and I barely have time to meal plan. So taking on a serious training schedule on top of everyday life is a pretty lofty goal some days. Life gets in the way and it's ok. We all do the best that we can and its important to remember that. I envy the people that are able to stick 100% to their training schedule or run outside before work or even after work on a daily basis. Right now, it's not really a possibility but someday it will be. 

Still, this race is important to me, showing my boys that setting (and sticking) to a goal is important.  I'm training to be faster this year. My main goal last year was to finish and I did. This year my goal is under 5 hours and it seems achievable. I know I'm not fast, but 26.2 miles is still 26.2 miles! 

I am starting a little slow this year and I have seemed to (over) enjoyed the holidays and added on a few extra lbs which isn't super fun to admit, but full disclose right? I also haven't really been in training mode for awhile so I'm excited to get back at it!

This week went well. I have been doing a plank and push-ups every morning before i hop in the shower. Every little bit helps right? 

Mon- 3 miles at lunch. These 3 actually were quite painful, maybe because I ran Sunday too?!? Not sure. But it felt good to sweat

Wed- another 3 miles at lunch and it felt much better and I even picked up some speed

Sat- 4 miles at the kickoff training run. This was the best run of the week, I felt strong again and it was also so fun to see my CLE ambassador friends and meet some IG friends in real life. I think I learned how to take an action selfie while running. I'll give it a try Heather!  

Sun- 20 minutes of full body workout

It's going to be a good year! Don't forget to check out what the other ambassadors are doing with their training! There are some serious badasses in the group and they will motivate you daily!!!

Any one else ever feel like they choose running over just about any other chore? What are you doing to ramp up your training mode? Happy running CLE! Until next week!

RunCLE, here we go again!

Here we go 2016!

So it’s already 9 days into the New Year and I have yet to recap the year that was. I’m sure you can forgive me. 

By far, 2015 was my most committed year to running I have had. In the fall of 2014, when I was chosen to be an Ambassador the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon I had already been toying with the idea of running a full marathon at some point in the near future. Then I got bit by the bug hard, talked my running bestie into doing it with me and off we went! She signed up for Pittsburgh and me Cleveland. It worked well with training since our races were only 2 weeks apart. 

Most of January thru May was dedicated to training for our first marathon and I have to say with absolute certainty; I couldn’t have done it without her! Once you get up to 16, 18, and 20 miles, I don’t care how long and awesome your playlist is, it was so beneficial for me to have someone there with me to talk to. Now, we were serious about the training, we always got the miles in, but we also had one hell of a fun time!  We are compatible running because we run for fun and not always for time. Yeah, I like to push myself, but I also have just as great of a feeling when I complete a run, even if it takes longer than I had hoped for. 

It was a pretty amazing Month of May! I watched Lynanne run her Marathon in Pittsburgh and she came to see the fun of Cleveland. 

And I can’t recap without talking about what an incredible group of people I had the privilege of being grouped with, the Cleveland Ambassadors. We had meet ups a few times before, but that weekend was like we were all long lost friends and everything just clicked. 

 

If I had to pick one moment, this was my favorite of the year. Getting the cross the line with my Ryan, who was so proud that he got to finish too was pretty incredible! 

After I finished my marathon, I took a really awesome break! Flew off to a girls long Memorial Day weekend in Sunny California and soaked up some rays. 

In June I ran a 5k in some serious Cleveland heat with my Uncle and cousin and her adorable pupster. 

In July I ran a small 5k in Warren in some serious heat whilst pushing Jack in the jogging stroller trying to convince him to stay seated for the back half of the race. He was less than thrilled to be participating in his first race. 

In August Lynanne and I were back at it and participated in the Panerathon 10k and in true Ohio form, it was sweltering. The silver lining was that we got to wear tutus and had a blast!

In September Lynanne and I ran the half marathon in Akron, another super fun and quite hilly race. It was great to see a bunch of my CLE ambassador friends there too! Its always really fun when we get to hang out!

 

In October I dressed up as a runner for works Halloween party, because duh :)

In November, we ran a 5 mile Turkey trot. 

 

And in December, we ran the Christmas Story run as well as the Jingle bell 5k. The jingle bell 5K we shockingly PRd just a pinch under 30 minutes.

I’m really looking forward to 2016 and picking at least one race a month to participate in. I think some races in the beginning of the year will help me gear up for the full in May! 

I’m also so excited to announce that I have been asked to be an Ambassador for the Cleveland Marathon again and I couldn’t be more honored and excited to be a part of the race that I just LOVE! And to be a part of the group with some of the most talented runners that I am lucky enough to call my friends! 

You can follow all of my awesome friends! And now is a perfect time to sign up for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5k. This year is also so exciting, because there is a challenge series, so you can run a race on Saturday and Sunday! It was just announced today that there will be an app for the race this year as well as in-training apparel that will be on sale soon!

So, lace up those sneaks, because 2016 is going to be one for the record books!

What are your goals for 2016? Any first time runners out there?Or first time race entrants?  Once you start, you will be drinking the juice and want to do more!